Acknowledging and addressing mental health issues can often be an extreme hardship, even a debilitating one. For some, such as performer, artist and writer Nikki Lynette, it can also be a blessing in disguise.

June 2nd is International Whore’s Day, IWD, which commemorates when, in 1975, sex workers occupied churches all over France to protest police brutality and violence against women. The podcasts we’ve highlighted are about the ongoing struggle for sex worker rights.

I invite you to commit along with me...to find time and space to slow down and listen to these different kinds of conversations, all centering on Black mothers, each with a unique story, message and point of view relevant for these times.

The five episodes on this list feature autistic hosts and/or guests on podcasts that are still actively releasing new episodes. Hopefully, these episodes will help neurotypical podcast listeners expand their understanding of the autistic experience (as I have), and help autistic listeners expand their community and connections.

Women should always be and feel worthy, supported, empowered, and enough. We curated our own list to show just that. These podcast picks delve into the many badass women of history, the myriad experiences of life as a woman, and are produced/hosted by women. As two white women, we want to acknowledge our privilege and voice how important it is to support and lift up all women, particularly women of color.