The Best Podcasts for Language Learners (By Level)

Podcasts are one of the most underrated tools for language learners. They train your ears, expose you to real accents, and can be used anytime — commuting, walking, or doing chores. Here are the best podcasts I recommend for each level of fluency.

Beginner:

• Coffee Break Languages (Italian, French, Spanish, German): Clear explanations with gradual progression.
• LanguagePod101: Short, level-based episodes for over 30 languages.
• Duolingo Podcasts: Simple stories in slow speech with English support.

Intermediate:

• Easy Languages Podcast: Natural conversations with transcripts.
• InnerFrench: Entirely in French, but slow and clearly structured for learners.
• Simple German: Spoken naturally, but topics are tailored for learners.

Advanced:

• Native speaker podcasts (news, culture, interviews): For example, “El Hilo” (Spanish), “Transfert” (French), “Freakonomics” in the target language.
• Language Reactor (YouTube + podcasts): Translates and highlights new words as you listen.

Use active listening (pause, repeat, shadow) for learning, and passive listening (background exposure) to build familiarity. The combination helps accelerate fluency across all levels.