How to Find Free Podcasts in Almost Any Language
Full disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. ?
Podcasts make it easy to hear your target language at a natural pace, on subjects you already care about. You don’t need to limit yourself to shows made for language learners either: if you’re around intermediate level, you can listen to the same news, sport, science or comedy shows as everyone else.
Beginners can start with shorter learner-friendly episodes or shows with transcripts. Either way, these three routes will help you find free podcasts in almost any language.
A note from the Fluent in 3 Months team before we get started: You can chat away with a native speaker for at least 15 minutes with the “Fluent in 3 Months” method. All it takes is 90 days. Tap this link to find out more.
Use Apple Podcasts Charts for Your Target Country
You no longer need to install iTunes or move MP3 files around. Apple Podcasts Charts works in a web browser and has a country or region selector at the bottom of the page.
Switch to a country where your target language is widely spoken, then browse the charts and categories. If you’re learning French, for example, choose France and you’ll see popular French shows rather than a list of podcasts about learning French.
Search for a topic in the language too. A search for the language name usually brings up courses for learners, while a search for football, films or cooking in that language is more likely to uncover native-speaker podcasts about something you genuinely enjoy. Once you find a show, you can play it in the browser or look it up in your usual podcast app.
Look at Public Broadcasters and Radio Stations
Public broadcasters are another reliable source of current, native-speaker audio. Start with the broadcaster’s own podcast or audio page rather than an old radio directory, then browse by subject and check that the feed has recent episodes.
- For Spanish, RNE Audio on RTVE has podcasts and radio programmes across news, culture, science and entertainment.
- For French, RFI’s podcast page collects its current programmes and episodes.
- For German, Deutsche Welle’s German-learning site offers news and audio for different levels.
The same approach works for other languages: find a national or regional broadcaster, open its programmes or podcasts section, and choose a subject you’d happily listen to in English. If there’s no download button, you can stream the episode or search for the same programme in your podcast app.
Use LingQ When You Want a Transcript
If you want audio with matching text, LingQ has podcasts and other lessons with transcripts across more than 50 languages. Its free tier lets you try the service, but full library and offline features are paid, so think of it as a way to test transcript-supported listening rather than an unlimited free podcast archive.
You can read my detailed LingQ review before signing up, and check LingQ’s current free and paid limits on its own site.
Whichever route you choose, pick one short episode and listen twice. The first time, focus on the gist. The second time, use a transcript if one is available and note two or three phrases you’d like to use yourself. Then take one of those phrases into your next conversation.
Podcasts work best alongside real conversations. Listen on your way to a lesson or language meetup, then put something you heard into practice. If you want help building a regular speaking habit, have a look at the Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp.
Social