3 Podcasts For the Pop Culture Girlies

I got into podcasts in 2018, starting with the once taboo true crime genre and the very popular show, My Favorite Murder. I was a woman possessed (trademark, Cady Heron). I listened to years of episodes in a span of weeks and eventually branched out into other true crime podcasts, and tried out other popular shows for millennial women. Yes, this included several Bachelor recaps.

I really wanted to like these shows, and I listened faithfully, but I then got sick of the constant themes of either depressing murder recaps, constant judgment, complaining, preaching from celebrities, or political topics (when it wasn't listed as a political podcast). And if that's your thing then great, there's about 10,000 podcasts about all of those topics and more! But I personally got to a point around the beginning of Covid where I just wanted something easy and fun to listen to and mostly centered to my interests, which is pop culture.

I decided to only listen to podcasts that made me laugh or could be background chatter as listening to a recap of Ted Bundy's life while working on a spreadsheet isn't the most relaxing or positive thing I could do during the workday. So, I combed through what I think are the three best podcasts for anyone wanting something light, funny, and most importantly, no drama.

1. Juicy Scoop With Heather McDonald

It's funny how I am such a big fan of this podcast but can't remember how I found it! Heather not only has inside scoop (lol) about the entertainment industry and Hollywood, but she also is at a place in her career where she still gets starstruck and shops at Costco. She comments on celeb news and scandals but without the fear of getting blacklisted, which makes her seem much more relatable. Her honesty and takes on pop culture are funny, refreshing, and not perfectly produced or curated which showcase her authenticity. She rotates between different guest hosts who are all fellow comedians and her friends, and she talks about all of the pop culture news plus a little TLC network drama (which I love). Heather was a writer on the show Chelsea Lately and has had other acting and writing stints on various iconic shows and movies, and her experience and comedic timing is great. This podcast airs twice a week, and if you're into topics like the Real Housewives and Christine Brown dating updates, this show will be so fun to listen to.

2. The Toast

The Toast, formerly known as The Morning Toast, is a podcast hosted by two wealthy sisters, Claudia and Jackie, who live on the east coast and talk about their daily lives and pop culture. They usually have a show every day, Monday through Friday, which helps the corporate gals get through the week. Though the hosts have had a bit of controversy in the past, you can't deny the draw of their sisterly relationship, banter and funny quips. They recap five pop culture stories each episode and have inside jokes which make the listener either feel lost or like they've joined a special club. Their fans call themselves "toasters" and eat up the hosts' lives, interests, and merchandise. I randomly found out about this podcast while listening to an episode of Nick Viall's podcast that they were guests on and thought the girls were so relatable in how they told stories. Claudia is actually known on Instagram as "Girl With No Job" which dates back to her college days when she was running a popular meme account. While the show's overall vibe has changed since Jackie moved from NYC, this show is still good for walks and if you want a morning show that's a bit more relatable.

3. An Evening in the Aughts

Nostalgia hits hard with this niche podcast hosted by two anonymous sisters who grew up in the best decade, the aughts. As the show's title states, this podcast covers the best and cringiest 2000's pop culture moments including movies, TV shows, celeb bios, and other instances that are permanently etched into our brains and influenced our upbringing. It's candid, has a loose structure, but sounds like you're hanging out with your best friends or sisters at a sleepover which in my opinion is more fun than the overly produced shows that a lot of celebrities have. While there are other movie recap podcasts, I haven't seen another one that is quite the same formula as AEITA. The hosts are quirky, have inside jokes, and talk about current celeb news in a hilarious manner. This show requires you to pay attention a little bit, but only if you haven't seen the movie or show they're recapping. It's attracted listeners of all ages and opened the door to classics such as She's the Man to different generations. It's unique and so specific, it's impossible not to like or talk about.