5 Queer Podcasts To Learn About Empathy And Love

by | Jun 11, 2021 | 0 comments

Happy Pride Month!

Alright! Let’s be honest, being a straight person, coming from a small town and a conservative family, my exposure to LQBTQIA+ Community was limited to stereotypical Bollywood film characters back then. Also, the discussion around these topics or people’ s different choices were ‘ZERO’, like a Big ‘0’. I am super sure that back then elders around me or even my teachers could not have educated me about this. But then, thanks to global connectivity in terms of books, shows and documentaries, my closed mindset opened up. Slowly and gradually, I started understanding that ‘Love or even lust, need not to have any restrictions of age, sex, gender, religion, caste or creed’. It is a personal choice and we just need to respect that.

Almost a decade ago, I remember I went to a friend’s engagement party with my husband. Both of us started chilling with his other set of friends. There was one guy in particular who was very warm and sweet to us, as if he knew us since ages. The reason was, that this friend of mine used to talk about us, ‘Me and my partner’ and recite our weirdly interesting love story to all his friends. Now, this guy (friend’s warm friend) kept on complimenting us for our chemistry and our unconventional love story a lot. But he kept on saying that marriages were not made for him or he could not love one person all his life and stuff. Now, me being an unfiltered one, I quickly asked him, “Are you a gay?” The whole group started staring at me as if I had committed a crime and my partner gave me his dagger eyed look, he would have killed me for this. Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t judging him. It was just an instinctive question, which did not appear wrong to me. I mean, how does that matter if someone is a gay or not, what matters is that I like that person and I want to be friends with him. Coming back to the story, after a long pause and killing silence, he answered, “Yes, I am a gay”. We hugged and continued chilling. The End.

Even after having so many queer friends, my knowledge of queer community is still limited and I can’t even imagine what they go through growing up and beyond. Well, I am listing some of my go-to Queer podcasts which definitely helped me understand this world better.

1) GayBCD with Farhad & Sunetro

By IVM Podcasts

Just as the name suggests, this podcast actually talks about queer language of today’s world. These two hosts talk about being queer, their community and all the aspects related to LGBTQIA+ community.

What I love

This podcast is about two hosts sharing their real-life experiences. What I love the most is that they share their stories about coming-out, college life, workplace, and  all these conversations seems so relatable in some way or the other. I love the way both the hosts give space to each other to share and create a safe space for everybody listening.

2) Shuddh Desi Gay

By Spotify Studios

This podcast is about a cute couple sharing their love story, their life stories, homo sexuality and their USP is their desi style of presenting their show.

What I love

Oh My God! I love love because of these two. They are cute, funny and their ’Bubba and Boo’, lets be honest is cheekily ‘RELATABLE’. ? The stuff they talk about is very basic and how a gay person behaves in such basic situations. Their banter, their love and crackling chemistry will always bring you back to this podcast.

3) De Taali – Life of a Transgender

Spotify Studios

If you want to know all aspects of LGBTQIA+ Community then you have got to listen to this podcast. This podcast is a podium for the ‘Third Gender’ of our society, Transgenders. In this podcast, a bunch of transgenders lead by Fida Khan share their problems, experiences and everything around.

What I love

This podcast has opened my mind to an altogether  different world. Since childhood, I was always curious about them but never had the chance or guts to know. You will be exploring their world with vivacious, courageous and affable Fida Khan. Why do I call her affable? You need to listen to this one to find that out. ?

4) Rainbow Diaries

By Red FM

Yet another attempt to understand LGBTQIA+ Community. Again, a raw, unedited and an honest attempt to dig deep into this community. Not only that, this podcast is thriving to explore and striving to provide acceptance to this community.

What I love

It’s an interview podcast where the members of LGBTQIA+ Community come and share their stories. In this show, you will hear different people sharing different stories, get to know them more and most importantly realize that how insensitive we can be at times or most of the times as a society. ‘Inclusivity’ is not only for Instagram but for us as a society to understand and practice.

5) Keeping It Queer

By IVM Podcasts

Another interesting Queer podcast hosted by comedian Navin Noronha and Chef and Writer Farhad Karkaria. The podcast talks about queer laws, pop culture and the world of queers.

It’s an attempt to normalize the gay conversation and let the world know they are no different than the rest.

What I love

Sometimes you just want to know that you belong here and you are not alone. That is exactly what you will feel while listening to this podcast. You will hear some influential people sharing their stories, their struggles yet letting you know that, ‘You are not Alone’!

If you would like to understand and be more empathetic to the world around you, irrespective of your sexuality, you need to listen to these podcasts.

Be Empathetic. Keep Podcasting!