Best Strong Female Character Podcasts (2025)

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Ep 65 Talking STRONG Female Characters and Kindred’s Curse With Penn Cole! | Author Interview 1:13:58

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21d ago1:13:58

1:13:58

Send us a text In this episode we’re chatting with none other than THE Penn Cole! Bestselling fantasy romance author of her debut series The Kindred’s Curse Saga, also known as Spark, Glow, and Heat of the Everflame, with Burn of the Everflame on the way! Today’s episode will be completely spoiler free aside from a potential 5 minute spoiler sectio…

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Ep 68 AITA Hotdog Edition! Just kidding (but not really) it’s the 4th of July! 1:04:46

6h ago1:04:46

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Send us a text What is the good old US of A at its core? Well, we decided to take that magical school bus trip to the center of America and what did we find? Not molten lava, The Statue of Liberty, or even bald eagles like you might suspect. We found hotdogs. And boy, were there many. Today we’re resuming our “Am I the A Hole?!” Holiday Series with…

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World building in horror fiction: Julia Armfield on Private Rites 39:35

1d ago39:35

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In this episode of The Writing Life, prize-winning writer Julia Armfield shares insights on world building in horror fiction, and writing catastrophic and intense circumstances. Julia Armfield's work has been published in Granta, The White Review and Best British Short Stories 2019 and 2021. In 2019, she was shortlisted for the Sunday Times Young W…

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Laughing at the Past: The Inherent Problems with UK Sitcoms from the 1960s to 2010s 10:45

2d ago10:45

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Yes, I make nostalgic top ten lists. Yes, I celebrate the sitcoms that shaped us. But that’s only part of the story. In this episode, I’m stepping back from the punchlines to explore the other side of British comedy history — the bits that didn’t go so well. From the 1960s to the 2010s, sitcoms played a huge role in shaping British cultural identit…

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A Barrister for the Earth: Ten Cases of Hope for Our Future w/ MONICA FERIA-TINTA 58:34

2d ago58:34

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“I like young people to know that they're extremely powerful. So I'm one person, but I think I always had this positive idea about my role. You cannot let anyone tell you what limitations are there, so you shouldn't feel limited by anyone telling you this is as far as you can go, or this is what you can do. I think only you know about that, and I t…

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Another World Is Possible: Lessons for America From Around the Globe w/ NATASHA HAKIMI ZAPATA 54:55

5d ago54:55

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“ It's a really dangerous time we're living through, and I do think that when we talk about these progressive policies, a huge problem in the US is that we still have a lot of stigma left over from the Cold War that keeps us from really great ideas because they're branded as socialist or communist. And I’ve seen, in the time I've been a journalist …

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Ep 67 Spark of the Everflame Review, Summary, and Deep Dive | Kindred’s Curse Saga Book 1 1:10:52

7d ago1:10:52

1:10:52

Send us a text "In this episode of Besties in the Books, hosts Liz and Ashley dive into Spark of the Everflame by Penn Cole, the first book in the Kindred Curse Saga. As a fresh romantasy read from a New York Times bestselling debut author, this novel blends strong female leads, a compelling magic system, and light feminist themes that set it apart…

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Top Ten Comedies That Spoke to Us - Literally 8:05

9d ago8:05

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Breaking the Fourth Wall, One Wink at a Time You know that moment when a character stares straight into the camera and suddenly you're in on the joke? That’s the fourth wall shattering—and comedy has been smashing it for decades. In this episode, I run through ten comedy shows (in chronological order, of course) that couldn’t resist chatting direct…

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Welcome to Write to Comedy or Ten Facts About Jacquie J Sarah 9:35

9d ago9:35

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This is the first audio post of the blog Write to Comedy. I’m Jacquie J Sarah — writer, podcaster, and someone who’s spent far too long analysing jokes instead of just laughing at them. This is the audio version of my blog: a safe haven for anyone who’s ever quoted Spaced unironically, argued about the best Brooklyn Nine-Nine cold open, or wondered…

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Is it a Sitcom? Or Five Rules to Tell If What You're Watching (or Writing) Counts as One 6:11

9d ago6:11

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Not all comedy is sitcom - and yes, we’re drawing lines in the sand now. In this episode, I break down five suspiciously specific rules that separate proper sitcoms from everything else pretending to be one. Whether you're writing a sitcom or just want to feel smug about identifying one at 20 paces, this one’s for you. Side effects may include: ove…

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Top Ten Female Sitcom Characters of All Time (the Brit Edition) 11:49

9d ago11:49

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Last year, I put together a blog post for Bang2Write listing my top ten female sitcom characters. I leaned heavily into the Americans. Sue me (please don't). This time, I’m setting the record (slightly) straighter with a rundown of iconic women from British comedy. It’s not that the UK lacks funny women — far from it — but they’ve rarely been given…

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THE DREAM HOTEL with LAILA LALAMI 41:38

9d ago41:38

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What happens when the state, with the pretext of protecting public safety, can detain indefinitely certain individuals whose dreams seem to indicate they may be capable of committing a crime? Set in a precarious world where sleep-enhancing devices and algorithms provide the tools and formulae for making one’s unconscious a witness to one’s possible…

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Trailer - Coming Soon 1:04

14d ago1:04

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Let’s start with the truth: this podcast wasn’t born from a five-year plan, a production team, or a vision board. It started with one writer, a deep affection for television comedy, and the firm belief that overanalysing sitcoms is a perfectly acceptable use of one’s adult life. I'm Jacquie J Sarah, a writer, podcaster, and someone who’s spent more…

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Ep 66 Wild by Cheryl Strayed: Grief, Finding Yourself, and Journeying as a Female | Books That Made Us College Follow Up 1:37:34

14d ago1:37:34

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Send us a text Today’s episode is officially our second non fiction / memoir that we’re reviewing on the podcast and a follow up to our “books that made us” series covering our college years. Ashley and Liz both presented five of the books that helped shape our personalities as early 20-something’s in the world, put all the titles into our trusted …

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The world of Substack: Eleanor Anstruther & Simon K Jones on serial fiction 57:36

16d ago57:36

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In this episode of The Writing Life, writers Eleanor Anstruther and Simon K Jones discuss the world of Substack, and how they use the platform to publish and share their work. Eleanor Anstruther is the author of A Perfect Explanation, and A Memoir In 65 Postcards & The Recovery Diaries. Her new novel, In Judgement of Others, is out now. You can fin…

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An Actor Prepares - SHARON LAWRENCE on Crafting Complex Characters - Highlights 20:42

22d ago20:42

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“I would encourage you, as I do if you're an actor, to know your own equipment, know your own psychology, and use the great teachers that are synthesized in my favorite teacher's book, Moss, who I studied with later. There is a book called Intent to Live that distills down Uta Hagen, Stella Adler, Bobby Lewis, and Stanislavski. The great teachers a…

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SHARON LAWRENCE on Acting, Activism & The Art of Transformation 1:02:31

24d ago1:02:31

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“That transformation was key to my next step as an artist, to knowing that's what acting is. It isn't just posing; it isn't just being a version of yourself in a way that was free. Performing wasn't just performing; it was transforming. I think that artists find that in many different ways, and as actors, there are many ways into that. I would enco…

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Childhood, Creativity & the Stories that Define Who We Are with MEGAN ABBOTT - Highlights 16:23

28d ago16:23

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“I think that it all goes back to childhood. I’ve always really been writing about family. I suppose we always are. I do think that it is the original wound, and it's where we are kind of wired and built from those early years. So I think every other relationship just replicates that. It's very natural for me to go there, I suppose because the feel…

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Exploring Family Dynamics & Fierce Female Friendships with Novelist MEGAN ABBOTT 49:59

28d ago49:59

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“I always say to young writers, you need to put your heart on the page. Don't worry about being like anyone else. I would say that foremost, in any of the arts, it is self-expression at its core. I don't buy rules or a set criteria or a static criteria. I don't believe in any of that. I think the most exciting talents are kind of inexplicable. You …

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Ep 64 Silver Elite…CONTROVERSIES, CONSPIRACIES, & BRUTALLY HONEST REVIEWS! 1:26:14

28d ago1:26:14

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Send us a text Well… Ashley and Liz put a hold on their neverending TBR pile and rearranged the entire podcast schedule to yap with y’all about this book. Silver Elite by “New York Times bestselling author” Dani Francis (🤔) has taken the book world by storm seemingly overnight and had to investigate for themselves with their very first conspiracy e…

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Writing love stories: André Aciman on Room on the Sea 34:28

30d ago34:28

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In this episode of The Writing Life, bestselling author André Aciman shares the intricacies of writing romance, from the magic of first meetings to the nuances of portraying older characters falling in love. André is the New York Times bestselling author of Call Me By Your Name, Find Me, The Gentleman From Peru, Out of Egypt, Eight White Knights, F…

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"We're connected to the lives of every creature on the planet" EIREN CAFFALL - Highlights 15:07

1M ago15:07

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“The more that you have that evolving relationship with the natural world, that's dynamic and alive to the moment you're in, and that's not afraid of the feelings of fear, hopelessness, grief, or pain that attend paying close attention to the world as it is evolving around you, the better we are able to be flexible in the relationship we need to fo…

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All the Water in the World with Writer & Musician EIREN CAFFALL 1:00:18

1M ago1:00:18

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“We are in a complex and delicately balanced relationship of connection to everything else on the planet. We begin to recognize, write into, and speak into the complex interdependence and interconnection of every gesture that we make on the planet. Most storytelling that I really respond to, whether it's from my own culture or from previous civiliz…

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Ep 63 Page ➡️ PLATE! A Feast of Thorns and Roses "ACOTAR Cookbook" Author Interview w/ Chelsea Cole! 51:23

1M ago51:23

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Send us a text "Ashley and Liz interview Chelsea Cole, food blogger and author of A Feast of Thorns and Roses: The Unofficial Cookbook of A Court of Thorns and Roses. Chelsea shares the inspiration behind her ACOTAR-themed cookbook, which creatively brings meals from the beloved fantasy series into real-life kitchens. She discusses her background i…

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On Motherhood & Memory, Trauma & Survival with Author HALA ALYAN - Highlights 13:28

1M ago13:28

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“I think that it's almost like in some ways the specificity of Palestine also becomes kind of a universality, where you can stay in this specific example because there is something about this experience that makes it specific, right? It's happening because it's been sanctioned to happen in this way. Right? Because you can't slaughter tens of thousa…

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I’ll Tell You When I’m Home - Author HALA ALYAN on Motherhood & Memory, Trauma & Survival 44:41

1M ago44:41

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“I want to live a life of consequence, and I want to live a life that has stakes in it because that means that things matter to you. I think, in some ways, this memoir was a project of sifting through and excavating the darkest hours, both for me and for the lineage and ancestry that I came from. I think the darkest hours were experienced by so man…

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Ranking & Wrap Up FIFTY SHADES OF GREY Trilogy + Parody! | Bonus Minisode 1:08:04

1M ago1:08:04

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Send us a text Today is the epic conclusion of our Fifty Shades of Grey miniseries fondly titled "Fifty Shades of May" series, and boyyy are we excited. Come on this first time journey with us as we do the ultimate book and movie ranking / showdown of the entire trilogy! We give our overall star and spice ratings of the Fifty Shades of Grey book tr…

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Ep 62 WORTH READING?? Mark Hoppus' Fahrenheit 182: "A Millennial Punk Rock Memoir Book Review" 1:14:09

1M ago1:14:09

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Send us a text "In this episode of the Besties and the Books podcast, Liz and Ashley excitedly kick off their first nonfiction memoir feature by diving into Fahrenheit 182 by Mark Hoppus of Blink-182. Longtime fans of the band and deeply connected to the early 2000s pop-punk scene, they reflect on how the book transported them back to their youth, …

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The power of language: Eimear McBride on The City Changes Its Face 34:37

1M ago34:37

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In this episode of The Writing Life, novelist and screenwriter Eimear McBride on the power of language, and the ways literary fiction can evoke emotion and connection. Eimear McBride is the award-winning author of four novels: A Girl is a Half-formed Thing, The Lesser Bohemians, Strange Hotel and The City Changes Its Face. Her debut novel A Girl is…

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50 Shades Freed…BUT FROM WHAT?? | Book 3 Review & Summary | Bonus Minisode 53:25

2M ago53:25

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Send us a text In this third episode of the Besties in the Books mini-series Fifty Shades of May, hosts Ashley and Liz dive deep into Fifty Shades Freed by E.L. James, the final installment of the original Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy. They explore how the controversial dark romance series influenced pop culture, the rise of dark romance in mainstr…

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Ep 61 MILLENNIAL NOSTALGIA | Books That Made Us “The College Years” 1:02:54

2M ago1:02:54

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Send us a text What iconic things from millennial “yesteryear” do you miss? We kick off this super nostalgic episode with an ode to simpler times. Let’s take a moment of collective silence for: the mall (in general), Borders Books (and more!), cheap concert tickets (like $50!??), and makeup when it was creative (what a time to be alive!). Our faves…

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What would it be like to live 100 milion years? Life in the Deep Subsurface Biosphere - Highlights 9:23

2M ago9:23

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“I want to draw the similarities with alien life, and we have these questions. They're the same questions that we would be asking if we could get a sample from Europa or if we could get a sample from Mars. I think the parallels are partly in how we study them. They're teaching us how to look for strange life, but then they're also teaching us about…

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50 Shades DARKER?…YOU SURE ABOUT THAT?? 🤨 | Book 2 Review & Summary | Bonus Minisode 48:32

2M ago48:32

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Send us a text Guess What? It’s officially grey! We are in it. Oh my! It’s Fifty shades of May over here on the Besties and the Books podcast. Welcome back to our spring mini episode series all about the extremely popular yet widely discredited book series: Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James. We’re officially into book two and things are not exactl…

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INTRATERRESTRIALS: Discovering the Strangest Life on Earth with KAREN G. LLOYD 41:55

2M ago41:55

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“It's really changed my view of what life is. So many of the things that we attribute to the trappings of life look like requirements, like oxygen and sunlight. All the things that humans would absolutely die without — they’re not really necessary for life. Studying these things sort of breaks down what is necessary; what are the things that life h…

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Ep 60 Sarah J Maas’ “SECRET BOOK” CATWOMAN | Unpopular Books by Popular Authors 1:13:01

2M ago1:13:01

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Send us a text Welcome to our newest series reading “UnPopular Books by Popular Authors”! Today we’re kicking it off with Sarah J Maas and Catwoman: Soulstealer! ***A huge thank you to The Bookish Queen for Sponsoring this episode!*** **Check out the ultimate bookish shop and use discount code “BESTIEBOOKS15” to save 15% on your order @ https://boo…

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Writing strong female characters: Joanna Miller on The Eights 53:56

2M ago53:56

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In this episode of The Writing Life, writer Joanna Miller shares her insights into writing strong female characters in historical fiction. Joanna Miller studied English at Exeter College, Oxford and later returned to the University to train as a teacher. After ten years in education, she set up an award-winning poetry gift business. She is an alum …

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OUR FIRST TIME🤭… Reading 50 SHADES OF GREY! | Book 1 Review & Summary | Bonus Minisode 1:13:02

2M ago1:13:02

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Send us a text Guess What? It’s gonna be grey… It is grey! It’s Fifty shades of May over here on the Besties and the Books podcast. Welcome to our spring mini episode series all about the extremely popular yet widely discredited book series: Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James. If you’ve been following along and watched our “Dark Romance Enters the …