The Indiana women of podcasts
Podcasts are popping up all over, providing opportunity for anytime-anywhere entertainment and info. Something you might be surprised by though? The podcast scene in Indiana is rich with knowledge you never knew you were missing until now… brought to you by impressive women living in Indiana.
Here are the Indiana women of podcasts we’re loving:
Image source: @blackgirlseating on Instagram
Black Girls Eating, Tanorria Askew and Candace Boyd
Tanorria Askew of Tanorria’s Table and Candace Boyd of FoodLoveTog have shared several platforms and stages including co-moderating The DiverseCity Series for Indy Women in Food since 2018, and speaking to members of Creative Mornings Indianapolis. From the start, they knew they had something special and have been working toward a podcast ever since.
Describe your podcast to a new listener: It’s centered around amplifying and celebrating Black culture through conversations on sisterhood, justice, and well-seasoned food.
You might love this podcast if: you love and support Black culture, to eat, and authentic conversation between friends.
Personal recs: Jesus & Jollof, Luvvie Ajayi Jones & Yvonne Orji, and The Friend Zone, Loud Speakers Network
Listen: Apple Podcasts or Spotify
Image source: @crimejunkiepodcast on Instagram
Crime Junkie, Brit Prawat (with co-host Ashley Flowers)
Crime Junkie was started in 2017 by Brit Prawat and childhood bestie Ashley Flowers. Combining their shared love for podcasts and true crime, the two said “I think we could do that!” and created their own dream listening experience.
Describe your podcast to a new listener: For a new listener of podcasts in general, it's kind of like an episode of Dateline, just for your ears. But for new listeners of Crime Junkie, it's like sitting around with two of your friends while they tell you the true crime case that has them down a rabbit hole that week.”
You might love this podcast if: you grew up on a steady diet of Unsolved Mysteries, America's Most Wanted, still enjoy a good binge watch of Law & Order, and know it's best enjoyed with a cup of tea on the couch with your best friend.
Personal recs: Something Was Wrong, Tiffany Reese and You’re Wrong About, Sarah Marshall & Michael Hobbes
Listen: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, wherever you get your podcasts, or through their website
Image source: @danielleireland_lcsw on Instagram
Don’t Cut Your Own Bangs, Danielle Ireland
In the midst of a career change from ballroom dance instructor to therapist in 2017, Danielle Ireland remembers thinking, “Who will take me seriously? Am I too late to make this kind of career jump? Who starts grad school in their mid 30s?" Desiring a creative outlet to replace dance and craving the opportunity to ask deep questions about how others engage in things that scare them, a podcast was born.
Describe your podcast to a new listener: The podcast is the remedy to comparison and feeling like everyone has it figured out but you. It's the messy middle between the before and after photos. The show started as interviews and conversations with interesting, creative, and brave people. One episode (#58) is with retired FBI hostage negotiator, Gary Noesner, whose book was used to create the Netflix series WACO. Another is with a dear friend, Juanita Molana Para (#13), on emigrating to another country and leaving a finance career to become a life coach. Later in the series I began to add shorter episodes (solo-casts) where I explored emotional topics like burnout, self-care, anxiety and perfectionism.
You might love this podcast if: you're looking for support, clarity, community, or a laugh.
Personal recs: We Can Do Hard Things, Glennon Doyle & Amanda Doyle and Armchair Expert, Dax Shepard & Monica Padman
Listen: Apple Podcasts or Spotify
Image source: @melanated-moments on Instagram
Melanated Moments in Classical Music, Angela Brown (with co-host Joshua Thompson)
When Classical Music Indy approached Joshua Thompson - a music sociologist specializing in music of the African diaspora - to shape a podcast, he asked international opera soprano Angela Brown to join as co-host. The rest is history.
Describe your podcast to a new listener: It puts a spotlight on classical works by, for, and about Black people. Each episode is a short-dive into a Black musical subject that encourages listeners to deep-dive into after hearing the podcast.
You might love this podcast if: you have taste! Why wouldn't you love this podcast? If you are listening to Melanated Moments, you are having fun with Joshua and Angela, being entertained and educated, and expanding your mind all at once. What's not to love?
Personal recs: Dolly Parton’s America, Shima Oliaee & Jad Abumrad and UnwinewithTashaK
Listen: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or the Classical Music Indy website
Image source: WFYI.org
Sick, Lauren Bavis (with co-host Jake Harper)
Launched in October 2019 by WFYI investigative reporters Lauren Bavis and Jake Harper, the first season of Sick investigates a doctor who used his own sperm to impregnate dozens of fertility patients in the 1970s and 80s. Season 1 also reviews the fertility industry at large, sharing what patients should know before turning to it for pregnancy help.
Describe your podcast to a new listener: Its investigations and in-depth interviews go beyond the headlines to reveal what happens when the people we trust with our care betray us.
You might love this podcast if: you love true crime stories that examine how people, victims and survivors are affected.
Personal recs: In The Dark, Madeleine Baran and Through the Cracks, Jonquilyn Hill
Listen: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or subscribe to Sick here
Talking Hoosier History, Lindsey Beckley
This podcast started in 2017 as a way for the Indiana Historical Bureau - a division of the Indiana State Library - to share some of the larger stories that can’t always be included on Indiana state historical markers.
Describe your podcast to a new listener: It tells the stories of the people, places, and events that have shaped Indiana.
You might love this podcast if: you love Hoosier history!
Personal recs: Stuff you Missed in History Class, Tracy Wilson & Holly Frey and Futility Closet, Greg & Sharon Ross
Listen: Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, YouTube, or here
This Messy Mumlife, Lateva Woolfork (with co-host Ellie McGrath)
Long, hilarious story short, these two ladies met on Instagram when Ellie McGrath - across the pond in Australia - interviewed CityMom Lateva for the third episode of the podcast. Lucky for us, we can listen to it all unfold here.
Describe your podcast to a new listener: Its talking mom therapy for every woman, every mom friend, every mom fail and every pick me up you need.
You might love this podcast if: you like when not everything about womanhood and motherhood is pretty.
Listen: Here or wherever you find your podcasts
Two Lit Mamas, Heather Kauffman-Peters (with co-host Margie Özemet)
Long-time friends Heather and Margie met while earning MFAs in creative writing at Butler University. Both women - who have a passion for reading and writing children’s books - felt inspired by many years of phone conversations around their shared love of kids books. In the podcast’s first year, topics have included everything from science fiction and cozy mysteries, with an emphasis on diverse characters and authors.
Describe your podcast to a new listener: It’s a combo children’s book review show and mommy blogger-style coffee chat (or wine time depending on when we record). We’re both parents, writers, teachers, and homeschoolers so we hit those topics while reviewing the latest books for kids ages 8-13.
You might love this podcast if: you want help igniting your kiddos’ passion for reading, you’re a teacher or parent, or just want to laugh.
Listen: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, wherever you get your podcasts, or the Two Lit Mamas website
Clearly no one can fault you as you drop everything and get to listening, mamas! All that’s left to say is good luck as you try to choose where to begin among these fabulous local options.
