The Female-Led Podcasts Redefining India’s Listening Culture

In an age of constant updates and shrinking attention spans, podcasts have emerged as one of India’s most trusted spaces for context-driven storytelling and reflective conversation. Female-led shows, in particular, are setting a new standard—bringing empathy to journalism, nuance to pop culture, and honesty to discussions on wellness and relationships. Their influence extends beyond numbers, shaping how audiences listen, think and engage with the world around them.

Here’s a detailed look at India’s biggest female-led podcasts and why they matter.

1. Moment of Silence (MOS)

Hosts: Sakshi Shivdasani & Naina Bhan
YouTube Subscribers: ~90.1K
Videos: 621+
Core Themes: Womanhood, rage, friendships, pop culture, honesty
Tone: Loud, chaotic, self-aware, deeply relatable

Moment of Silence is built on the idea that women are often told to stay quiet about the things that matter most to them. Hosted by Sakshi Shivdasani and Naina Bhan, the podcast unapologetically dives into unpopular opinions, spicy rants, and everyday frustrations that women are expected to brush aside.

Sakshi brings sharp humour and internet-native chaos, while Naina adds emotional depth, introspection, and lived experience as an actor and intimacy coordinator. Together, they talk about girl rage, girl math, friendships, body image, dating fatigue, and modern anxieties with no filter and no moral policing.

What makes MOS powerful at scale is its honesty. It doesn’t aim to educate or preach. Instead, it validates feelings. The podcast feels like sitting with your girl best friends and realising you’re not broken for feeling overwhelmed, angry, or confused. MOS has built a loyal community that doesn’t just listen, they relate, rant back, and return every week.

2. Faye D’Souza Show

Host: Faye D’Souza
Instagram Followers: ~2.2M
Background: Former Executive Editor at Mirror Now
Core Focus: News, facts, context, dignity

Faye D’Souza’s podcast and digital news presence represent a rare shift in Indian media. Her approach strips news of outrage, noise, and agenda-driven shouting. Instead, she focuses on facts, context, and respect for the audience’s intelligence.

After rising to prominence with The Urban Debate on Mirror Now, Faye built an independent platform that treats journalism as public service. Her podcast and videos cover politics, policy, social issues, and breaking news without theatrical outrage. The dignity of information remains central.

At scale, the Faye D’Souza Show has become a trusted space for audiences exhausted by prime-time theatrics. It attracts listeners who want to understand what’s happening, why it matters, and how it affects them, without being told what to think.

3. Fashionably Pernia

Host: Pernia Qureshi
Positioning: India’s first luxury, lifestyle and fashion podcast
Focus Areas: Fashion, sustainability, culture, creativity, entrepreneurship

Fashionably Pernia goes beyond glamour and trend talk. Hosted by Pernia Qureshi, the podcast opens up conversations around craftsmanship, sustainability, lifestyle choices, and the responsibility that comes with influence in luxury spaces.

One of its most impactful moments came when actor Dia Mirza spoke about sustainable weddings, referencing her own eco-conscious celebration. The episode sparked wider conversations on consumption, tradition, and mindful living, proving that fashion podcasts can influence behaviour beyond aesthetics.

At scale, Fashionably Pernia works because it balances aspiration with accountability. It speaks to audiences who enjoy luxury but are also questioning excess, making it culturally relevant in today’s climate-conscious world.

4. All About Her

Host: Soha Ali Khan
Launched: August 2025
Platforms: YouTube and major podcast platforms
Focus: Women’s wellness, mental health, careers, finances, motherhood
Guests: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Malaika Arora, Sunny Leone, Smriti Irani, Dr. Rujuta Diwekar

All About Her is a women-centric podcast that intentionally avoids being exclusionary. Hosted by Soha Ali Khan, the show creates a safe, non-judgmental space for conversations that are often brushed under the carpet.

Episodes explore hormones, mental health, career choices, body image, finances, relationships, and motherhood through a mix of celebrity stories and expert insights. The tone is reassuring rather than aspirational, making listeners feel supported rather than pressured.

At scale, All About Her stands out because it normalises complexity. It acknowledges that women don’t have one-dimensional lives and that wellness is layered, evolving, and deeply personal.

5. The Super Womaniya Show

Host: RJ Stutee (Stutee Ghosh)
Platform: Fever FM / HT Smartcast
Subscribers: ~3.08M
Focus: Women leaders, resilience and breaking stereotypes

The Super Womaniya Show celebrates women who have carved their own paths across industries. Hosted by RJ Stutee, the podcast features one-on-one conversations that explore ambition, setbacks, confidence, and individuality.

Produced by Fever FM, the show brings visibility to women who challenge societal norms without reducing their stories to inspiration clichés. The conversations are grounded, personal, and empowering.

At scale, The Super Womaniya Show works because it amplifies voices that deserve sustained attention, not momentary applause.

6. Inside Out with Barkha Dutt

Host: Barkha Dutt
Platform: Mojo Story
Focus: Politics, leadership, personal journeys and national moments

Inside Out is where Barkha Dutt steps away from breaking news to explore the person behind the public figure. The podcast features politicians, judges, activists, entrepreneurs, and cultural figures, unpacking their personal journeys alongside public decisions.

Episodes delve into defining moments, ethical dilemmas, and emotional costs of leadership. The conversations are slow, detailed, and deeply human.

At scale, Inside Out stands out because it prioritises depth over headlines. It reminds listeners that power and responsibility are carried by people, not soundbites.

7. What’s Up Sister

Hosts: Kritika Khurana & Deeksha Khurana
Subscribers: ~113K
Focus: Lifestyle, relationships, career, friendships
Vibe: Warm, relatable, sisterly

What’s Up Sister mirrors everyday conversations between siblings. Hosted by Kritika and Deeksha Khurana, the podcast covers breakups, friendships, career anxiety, family dynamics, and self-growth with warmth and relatability.

The show’s appeal lies in its familiarity. It doesn’t dramatise struggles or offer unrealistic fixes. It listens, reflects, and reassures.

At scale, What’s Up Sister succeeds because it feels like home.

8. The Masoom Minawala Show

Host: Masoom Minawala
Subscribers: ~126K
Focus: Entrepreneurship, confidence, finance, personal growth
Guests: Entrepreneurs, financial experts, wellness professionals

The Masoom Minawala Show blends inspiration with practicality. Conversations focus on building confidence, managing money, sustaining health, and navigating professional growth.

What differentiates the show is its emphasis on actionable takeaways rather than motivational noise. Each episode aims to leave listeners better equipped, not just inspired.

At scale, it attracts an audience seeking clarity, structure, and realistic growth paths.

9. Humans of Bombay Podcast

Host: Karishma Mehta
Subscribers: ~1.31M
Focus: Human stories, resilience and lived experiences

An extension of the Humans of Bombay storytelling universe, the podcast amplifies real-life stories of love, loss, courage, and survival. Hosted by founder Karishma Mehta, it features everyday individuals and well-known personalities alike.

The stories are intimate, emotional, and deeply relatable, reinforcing the idea that no one is alone in their struggles.

At scale, the podcast succeeds because empathy doesn’t dilute with numbers, it multiplies.