If this is what you think, then I’ll change your mind in no time with my list of the best French podcasts.
In this article, I’ll convince you that listening to French podcasts will make a positive impact on your learning. I’ll be sharing valuable resources with you, to help improve your French while listening to podcasts.
Podcasts are old-fashioned
Podcasts were launched in 2004 by Adam Curry and Dave Winer; today, there are podcasts in almost every language. As a consequence, French is no exception. For the last decade, thanks to all Gods of the universe, podcasts are a deep method of communication. I knew about podcasts for many years, but I never took the time to look at them closely. I rediscovered podcasts in 2018 when I was invited on Revolution Digitale’s podcast to talk about my career as a French teacher and school founder. Since then, I’ve discovered so many inspiring people and entrepreneurs thanks to their interviews.
I’ve also tried listening to podcasts on a regular basis to improve my Portuguese and my English. And you know what? It works! Podcasts are probably the best audio resources we have in terms of quality and content. In addition, when learning a foreign language our brain needs to be immersed by the language and, after a couple of episodes, we tend to imitate the sounds and expressions we hear. It’s amazing how powerful podcasts are in terms of improving listening comprehension. Podcasts are also very deep.
Here’s why you should start listening to French podcasts
- You choose the content and the topic you want to listen to.
- You choose when you want to listen to it.
- You choose where you want to listen to it.
- You choose how you want to listen to it.
- It’s mostly free.
- Podcasters and interviewers are not mainstream people, so you can discover hidden gems of talent.
- You are part of a community.
- The opposite of the radio as it’s journalists, podcast speakers, and interviewers who are passionate about the topic they discuss.
- You can slow down the speed if needed.
- It’s the only multitasking way to learn something while doing something else (cooking, walking, running, working…)
- It re-educates your listening skills. Nowadays, we tend to listen to only parts of speech.
How can it help you in improving your French?
It helps you improve your listening skills! You know, francophones speak very fast; practicing and improving your listening skills is essential for your progress in French.
Now, which podcasts should you listen to? Any podcasts talking about a topic that seems enjoyable to you!
Can you listen to podcasts whatever your level?
No, definitely not. I highly recommend that you listen to podcasts once you’ve reached the level B1 (lower intermediate). In other words, podcasts are not adapted for beginners (sorry about that!)
Before listening to a podcast, please be aware that two major houses of podcasts are Nouvelle écoute and Binge audio. Some podcasts are also related to newspapers, such as Slate.fr or radio channels.
Are you ready to improve your listening skills in French with podcasts? You can download the podcast app on iOS or XXX for Android. Most podcasts are available on iTunes, SoundCloud, etc.
Best French podcasts to listen
Now that I’ve convinced you that podcasts are THE media that’ll help you learn and improve your French, here you go with my selection:
Want to learn French via podcasts?
If you’ve clicked on this article, it’s because you want to learn French using techniques that are more fun than books or vocabulary cards.
As you may have guessed, my secret technique is listening to French podcasts. Here’s my selection of podcasts specializing in learning the language of Molière.
1. Le Français avec Yasmine: oui, c’est moi ! I publish a new podcas every Thursday and transcriptions are available to all my VIP students! Have a look, you won’t regret it!
2. One thing in a French day: The podcast with script is available on the website. Laetitia has published a podcast for more than a decade.
To the foodies: Foodcasts
Here is a selection of 4 French podcasts dealing with gastronomy and food in the broadest sense of the term.
1. Plan culinaire: Treats the relationships we have with food.
2. Bouffon: The host was recently fired for being a dick (a member of the “Ligue du Lol”- a cyber harassment group). I hope by the time you read these lines, someone else will be running the program.
3. Les casseroles: Zazie Tavitian gives you all her secrets: recipes, restaurants, bars, épiceries, and places to try. She tells you everything about food and the best places to share with friends. Airs every other Thursday.
4. La Grosse Bouffe: Bouffe is a slang word for food. It’s also a verb: bouffer. It’s commonly used among people but can be a bit vulgar sometimes. If President Macron invites you for dinner, please don’t tell him that La bouffe est très bonne. This podcast is dedicated to food and drink in all their shapes. It isn’t filtered and it’s absolutely honest. Plus, you can learn some slang expressions at the same time.
To the entrepreneur lovers
Do you live and breathe entrepreneurship? Would you like to discover the inspiring stories of your favourite entrepreneurs? Here are a few French podcasts that might interest you.
1. Revolution digitale: Mon chouchou! This is probably my favorite podcast – it’s by far the best podcast in French to get inspired by francophone entrepreneurs from around the world. Last year, I had the chance to be interviewed for the very first time and you can even listen to me talk about my career and how I became a French teacher and school manager here. Whoop whoop!
2. Generation XX: As you can guess by the name, this podcast is dedicated to women entrepreneurs. Siham Jibril interviews inspiring women about their projects and their business, everything in French. It’s a great podcast for believing in your ideas thanks to testimonies. Yes, you can!
3. Vécus: Vécus means lived in French. Yes, it’s the past participle of the weird verb vivre. Je vis —> j’ai vécu. This podcast encourages you to build your career with impacts! They give you their best tips and share with you their successes and their failures.
4. Marketing Mania: This podcast that helps you convert visitors into buyers. If Marketing is not your cup of tea and you would like to explore and learn more about it, this podcast is for you. Learn how to attract customers… in French.
5. Le podcast de l’entrepreneur: Morgane Février, a serial entrepreneur, is probably the pioneer in terms of podcasts about entrepreneurship in French. She started in 2016 and published more than 170 episodes; this is the podcast you need if you are looking for tips, advice, and support. The audience is for aspiring beginner, about to be, and confirmed entrepreneurs. Which one are you?
6. Generation do it yourself: By Mathieu Stefani, happy founder of the digital agency Cosavostra. Mathieu invites entrepreneurs to talk about their business, challenges, failures, and successes. The length of the interviews is long enough to really understand deeply entrepreneurial opportunities and get into a wide variety of aspects about business.
To people interested in the world of work and successful careers
Are you interested in the world of work and want to find out more about working conditions in France?
(spoiler: no, France isn’t Emilie in Paris!)
1. Outils du Manager: This is the most listened-to podcast about management. They tell you everything you need to know to become a better manager. If you are working in a French-speaking environment, this podcast will be a great opportunity to improve your vocabulary and also understand cultural and social aspects.
2. Happy work: Gael Chatelain talks about wellbeing at work and how to improve our work every day. He spent more than 20 years working in corporate as a manager and today he gives tips about his personal experience.
3. Productiv’you: One of those rare podcasts with a transcription available, which is ideal for French learners. This is a great podcast to effectively combine the personal and professional without stress.
Learn the art of conversation
Here are 2 French podcasts worth checking out. You’ll hear interviews of all kinds.
1. Vieille branche: Vieille branche is a friendly expression we use in French to talk about old people. I also personally use it to address my close friends when I text them: comment tu vas vieille branche? Or quoi de neuf vielle branche? As you may know, getting older is a touchy topic and France is no exception. Every two months, the journalist Marie Misset interviews personalities older than 75 who used to work in culture, politics, fashion, etc.
2. Nice to hear you: Discovered thanks to the amazing Carole Cornet, the founder of the great online magazine Brussels is yours, Nice To Hear You is a conversation with entrepreneurs, creators, artists, and other human beings about light topics and/or society’s topics. Every episode helps listeners to discover the life and opinions of the guests. It’s available every other Friday (or almost – ou presque).
Learn more about French society
Curious about the workings of French society? Here are 10 French podcasts to satisfy your curiosity.
1. Splash :Etienne Tabbagh and Lauren Melka are the coolest economy teachers in France. They dissect the trickiest questions from the public debate. Splash is the podcast about economy with zero bullshit.
2. Miroir miroir: A podcast about representations, beauty, body, and norms brought forward by medias, society, and the eyes of others. Jennifer Padjemi receives authors, artists, or testimonies to learn of how to destroy the standards imposed. This airs every other Tuesdays.
3. C’est compliqué: It’s complicated. A podcast about issues people face in life such as “I’m sleeping with an extreme right-wing guy and I feel bad” or “my best friend is a mythoman”.
4. Le collimateur: The podcast about the army and defence strategy.
5. Quoïr: Enjoy nice discussions related to LGTB+ matters and coming out in French.
6. Coucou le Q: A podcast about sexual education. Listeners ask questions about sexuality.
7. Mauvaises langues: Mauvaises langues means “malicious gossip”. If you like gossip and people, this podcast is for you.
8. Floodcast: A funny podcast presented by Florent Bernard, alias FloBer, where he invites his friends to discuss many things with humour, of course.
9. Tchip: The black pop culture podcast posted every two weeks on Thursday.
10. Kiffe ta race: Kiffe ta race means “enjoy your race”. I want to draw your attention to the fact that the name of the podcast is a play on words. In French, it’s strictly forbidden to use the word race to talk about people. It’s a no-no – forget it! In addition, culturally, if a non-white person tells you that they are French, don’t insist with a phrase like, “not you, but your parents, you know… what are your origins?” They are French. Point à la ligne. With that being said, this podcast explores all the racial questions through conversations and lived experiences.
French podcasts by women for women
This is a selection of French podcasts which mainly address perspectives of women and the content is created for and by women. However, this is an invitation for absolutely every woman and man reading this article.
1. Quoi de meuf: The name of this podcast is a play on words that comes from a mix between the expression quoi de neuf (what’s up/what’s new) and meuf (women in verlan- slang). So yes, you got it, it’s a podcast about women. This is a crazy and fun conversations with no filter or taboos where Beyoncé is taken very seriously.
2. Une sacré paires d’ovaires: An international and feminist podcast for ladies and by ladies who run the world.
3. Championnes du monde: Great podcast about badass females in the sport industry. Because, yes, women in the sport industry are also inspiring and passionate. Let’s put the spotlight on those amazing women.
4. La poudre: The most famous podcast about feminism hosted by the fabulous Lauren Bastide. Lauren is amazing and her conversations with her guests are very inspiring and interesting. If you would like to know more about feminism in French, this is your podcast.
5. Les couilles sur la table: This literally means balls on the table. If you ask francophones what podcast they listen to, Les couilles sur la table will for sure be one of them. It has been created to discuss men in society and the relationship and space occupied by women.
6. FemmesProd: Finally, a podcast “made in Belgium” by the talented Chloé de Bon. The aim of the association FemmesProd is to make women visible, to empower them, and address topics that they encounter throughout their life such as birth control, medical violence, stereotypes, having or not having kids, etc. through podcasts and workshops in Belgium.
French podcasts for you gentlemen
After women, here’s a selection of podcasts about men for men. Enjoy!
1. Histoire de mecs: A podcast about masculinity, finally! Men are interviewed to talk about relationships they have with their gender and their clichés about their virility.
2. The Mansplaining: A podcast about masculinity to remind that masculinity is not unique but plural.
3. Histoires de Darons: A podcast about fathers and fatherhood. Daron means father or parents in plural in slang. Guests talk about their lives and relationships with their kids.
4. Les gentilshommes: Three guys investigate the relationship between men and women. To do so, for each episode they invite a woman to talk about a certain topic.
For fashion victims
Do you love fashion? You’ll love these French podcasts!
1. Chiffon: A podcast for the fashionista in French. The Journalist Valérie Tribe interviews women and men, famous or not, from various cities and countries about our relationship with clothes and fashion.
2. IFM: The podcast of the prestigious Fashion Institute of Paris.
French podcasts on parenthood
Are you a parent or passionate about the subject? Here are a few podcasts that might interest you.
1. La plus belle maman: This podcast is for mothers or soon-to-be-mothers. Each episode shows the life of a mom or the opinion of a professional about kids.
2. Hello Mammas: Moms, and this time fathers as well, take the mic to say together how they live and their daily life. This honest podcast meets mothers of the world and discusses without filters a wide variety of topics surrounding the parenthood.
3. La matrescence: Contraction of the word maternité and adolescence, which means the birth of a mother. This podcast, presented by Clémentine Sarlat, talks about the life of parents or parents-to-be to give them the tools and keys thanks to interviews with professionals and testimonies of parents.
4. Mariés, 3 enfants: The only podcast realised by a married couple who have three kids. They discuss the life of a family.
5. Nouveau chapitre: New Chapter explores the joys and challenges of parenthood through interviews.
6. Les petits curieux: A great podcast for children from 7 to 12 years old. The transcription is also available on the website, which is a great way to improve your listening skills.
7. Les p’tits bateaux: Kids can call the following number every Sunday, +33 1 56 40 43 57, ask their questions, and have specialists and passionate people reply to them. Don’t you want to give it a try?
Podcasts dedicated to the environment
Do you love nature and animals? These podcasts are for you.
1. Bon plants: This expression is a play on words with the expression bon plan which means good deals/tips. This podcast shares tips about agriculture in cities and the vegetal conquest.
2. Les carencés: A podcast about the animal rights cause and its impact on society and the environment. Enjoy news, strategies, arguments, and analysis all in French. This podcast is informative and pragmatic as it tries to go further than the activist speech.
3. Basilic: A podcast dedicated to the environment and positive initiatives.
For sports fans
Do you exercise regularly? Then you’re going to love hearing about it!
1. Jogging bonito: This is the podcast for runners (bonito, as they called them in the podcast), its culture, and its environment. Runners, what better way to improve and practise your French than listening to a podcast about your passion? Are you a bonito?
2. KM42: Bertand Soulier explains his challenge about running a marathon. He explains why he runs, his doubts… Fun fact: soulier means shoes in French 😉
Fan of personal development and well-being?
More and more of us are interested in personal development and well-being. These French podcasts will help you enrich your knowledge (and memorize additional vocabulary).
1. Change ma vie : A podcast presented by the certified life coach Clotilde Dusoulier. You’ll discover advice about many different topics in French, such as how to become an optimist or to welcome emotions. She described her podcast perfectly: this podcast is a tool for your mind.
2. Emotions : A podcast that puts words on feelings, in French.
3. La bonne graine: Another play on words – again, because the French love that. The common expression is mauvaise graine and it’s used to talk about a bad influence. Enjoy meetings with university students in French about their studies and their life.
4. Healthy living: A podcast created by Marion Pezard. She scans the new trends for wellbeing and discovers people who are dedicated to doing good for yourself!
5. Beauty toaster: The very first podcast about beauty and wellbeing in French. Chantal Soutarson, journalist, explores new trends with specialists, creators, and free-minded people.
6. Vertical life: Emeline tells you everything to have a healthier and happier life. She explores the benefits of many activities and habits we should add to our life for our happiness’ sake.
7. C’est compliqué: Listen to a journalist with no specific background in medicine or psychology who wants to talk about your problems.
The French seventh art
Do you love French films of all kinds? Here’s a selection of 2 French podcasts just for you.
1. MDR: 100% comédies françaises: A French podcast about comedies. This good-mood podcast will make you want to spend days watching comedies.
2. Tous les cinémas du monde: The podcast which tells you everything you should know about movies in the world.
Master Your French Skills | French podcasts are the new trend
That’s it for the moment! Wow, more than 50 of the best French podcasts selected just for you! Which one would you like to listen to? Is there a French podcast you like and want to share with us?
Now it’s your turn to improve your French skills and to implement a change in your life. Good luck!