Want to develop your language skills while driving, working out, or going for a walk? Try a French podcast and watch your listening skills improve! The best part? There’s a French podcast that fits almost every interest and ability level.
While music, movies and television are also great for improving listening skills in a language, podcasts are much more convenient to take along with you throughout your day. You can also find podcasts on a variety of subjects, whether it’s a topic you already know a lot about or you want to learn about something completely new! Podcasts are a great way to immerse yourself in the language, improve your listening skills, and diversify your vocabulary.
With an abundance of French podcasts available, it can be hard to know where to start. Below we outline 20 of the best French podcasts to help you learn French faster through immersion. Tune in to learn about true crime, keep up with current events, or simply brush up on conversational skills!
To get the most out of language learning, you’ll want to pair podcasts with an easy-to-follow curriculum. With audio from native French speakers in every lesson, you can boost your learning with Rosetta Stone to complement your favorite podcast found on the list below!
Want to review French vocabulary before starting? Check out this list of over 100 basic French phrases!
Best French language podcasts by topic
1. Choses à Savoir (Things to Know)
If you’re looking for quick two to three minute episodes on a variety of topics, this is the podcast for you. Each episode is on a different topic of general culture that ranges from atomic bombs to Uber Eats to the holes in your cheese. This podcast is easy to understand and helpful for those interested in a variety of topics!
2. Tueurs en série (Serial Killers)
True crime junkies, this podcast is for you. Focusing on serial killers both in France and around the world, each episode (or two-part episode) spends roughly thirty minutes exploring serial killers’ psychological profiles, backgrounds, and crimes. Greg Polcyn and Vanessa Richardson host this Spotify original podcast.
3. Guerre de business (Business Wars)
For business aficionados and everyone else, this podcast delves behind the scenes of some of the business world’s most famous feuds. Whether it’s the war between ice cream brands or streaming services, each multi-episode season takes you into the depths of rival businesses’ successes and failures in the battle for our money. Episodes range from 20-30 minutes.
4. Chiffon [Chiffonlepodcast] (Cloth)
Those looking to keep up on current fashion trends will love this podcast. Hosted by journalist & Instagrammer Valérie Tribes, this podcast features interviews with different people from around the world, well-known (or not so well-known) in the world of fashion. Each 30-40 minute episode contains an interview discussing the role and relationship of fashion and clothing in the guest’s life.
5. 2 Heures de Perdues (2 Hours Wasted)
Ever watched a movie and wished you could get those two hours of your life back? With each humorous episode focusing on a different movie, everyone is sure to find something to like in this podcast. Host Antoine Piombino discusses new movies, classic movies, and cult classics with his friends in 30 minute episodes. This podcast is very informal so you are sure to pick up on some useful conversational vocabulary!
6. Émotions
Those looking for a deeper dive into psychology, emotions, and self-improvement will enjoy this podcast. With topics ranging from finding love and achieving goals to jealousy and trauma, each 30-50 minute episode discusses why you feel what you feel and how to navigate those emotions.
7. Les Baladeurs (Wanderers)
Ever wondered what it was like to travel by bike from Alaska to Patagonia? Or spend 300 days alone on a desert island? Escape on an adventure to a different corner of the world in each episode of this podcast! Listen to firsthand accounts of travelers who have experienced the unpredictable and unexpected themselves. Episodes range from 30-60 minutes.
8. Science ou Fiction (Science or Fiction)
Host Melissa Lepoureau is here to debunk preconceived notions, urban legends, and fake news in the science world. Clocking in at ten minutes each, weekly episodes cover topics from SPF’s effectiveness in preventing tanning to how much the human soul weighs (hint: it might be 21 grams).
9. Culture 2000
Much like a recording of your friends having a (sometimes heated) discussion, this podcast covers a variety of subjects about general culture, history and current events. They dive into everything from the Roman empire to Josephine Baker and mountaineering. Get ready for a deep dive in one to two hour episodes!
10. Géopolitique
Aptly named, this podcast covers major geopolitical issues facing the world today. Host Marie-France Chatin invites researchers and experts to examine and discuss current challenges from around the world. Put out by RFI (Radio France Internationale), each episode is 39 minutes.
11. Transfert (Transfer)
This exciting and oftentimes moving podcast brings you a new story every week, told by the person who lived it. From raw fear to unbridled joy, feel the full spectrum of emotions from firsthand accounts. Episodes range from 20 minutes to just over an hour.
12. Nota Bene
History buffs will love this podcast from host Benjamin Brillaud as he explores the past from every angle. Through interviews with experts, historians, archaeologists and more, this charming podcast excavates the social, political, cultural, and economic realities of global history. Episodes range from three minutes to almost two hours, so you can pick and choose just how deep you want to dive!
13. Quête Latérale (Side Quest)
This podcast explores all things video games. Episodes lean on the longer side (anywhere from one to three hours) and truly dive deep into gaming and its culture!
14. L’Heure du Monde (Time for the World)
The well-known French newspaper Le Monde (The World) has a Spotify original podcast. Stay up to date on current events in daily, 20 minute episodes on a variety of relevant challenges facing our world today.
Best learning-focused French language podcasts
Whether you are new to French or an advanced learner, more traditional language learning podcasts can help you improve your listening skills and more. (Want to improve your pronunciation? Try learning with Rosetta Stone’s TruAccent!)
15. Rosetta Stone Stories
Each lesson you learn on Rosetta Stone has listening practice built in. Being able to interpret audio in real time is key in mastering any language!
Rosetta Stone Stories takes the best parts of a French learning podcast and turns them into actionable practice. Each story is tailored to your current level of French. From short poems to fictional stories, you’ll develop a deeper understanding of French culture and have multiple opportunities to fine-tune your pronunciation.
First, you can listen to a native speaker read the story. Then, you can record yourself reading the French text out loud! Once you’ve finished reading out loud, you’ll get detailed feedback from TruAccent to see where you’ve mastered your French pronunciation and where you could improve.
Stories also help you learn new vocabulary through immersion—simply tap an underlined word to see a picture that illustrates it.
16. French Pod 101
Great for beginners, this podcast uses real-life context and current events to help you with basic phrases in French. Alternating between “Absolute Beginner” and “Survival Phrases”, each episode will help you improve your French through immersion. Episodes are between 5 and 15 minutes.
17. Coffee Break French
Listen in as Mark helps Anna and Pierre-Benoît progress through traditional language topics to improve their French. Broken down by vocabulary topic in the beginning level, then grammar topic as the seasons progress, this podcast is a great way to focus on various aspects of language learning. Move through the seasons as you advance in your language learning journey! Most episodes are around 20 minutes.
18. One Thing in a French Day
Short, three to five minute episodes each focus on one aspect of daily life in France. This podcast is for intermediate to advanced learners, as it is entirely in French but made for learners of French. Choose from thousands of episodes to find topics you enjoy, or start from the beginning!
19. Learn French by Podcast
A fairly traditional approach to learning French, beginners can start with the first episode and progress through basic topics. More advanced learners can pick and choose topics they would like to know more about and practice their listening skills. Most episodes are around 15 minutes.
20. News in Slow French
Broken down by level, listeners can catch up on the latest news (slowed down), or choose to focus on grammar topics or stories. Episodes range from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the level and topic. This podcast can be found on the News in Slow French website, or you can download the app on Apple or Spotify.
21. Daily French Pod
Brought to you by Choses à Savoir, this podcast is produced by French teachers in Paris. Short, three to five minute episodes highlight a different vocabulary word and a current event related to that word. A great way to strengthen your vocabulary and improve your listening skills while staying up to date on the news!
22. Inner French
A podcast tailored for intermediate learners, this series moves away from grammar and uses real-life context to immerse the listener in French. Each 30 minute story-like episode explores a different topic at a pace that is accessible to learners that are ready to move on from the basics.
Improve your French skills with Rosetta Stone
By adding French podcasts to your daily life, you can improve your listening skills through immersion in the language. To master French more quickly and naturally, add Rosetta Stone to your routine. Without needing to memorize grammar rules or vocabulary, you will learn French through context just as if you were living among French speakers. And with TruAccent improving your pronunciation, you’ll be on your way to mastering French in no time!
Written by Ingrid Narum
Ingrid is a full-time French and EL teacher. She is currently learning Norwegian and Spanish.
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