Podcasts to improve your French this autumn

Listening is usually the learner's least favourite skill in language learning, but it is extremely important.

The more you can tune into naturally spoken French, the more you will naturally develop your own ability to speak and explain yourself. 

Hearing how words are pronounced and where certain phrases are used cannot be overestimated; soon you will be using them without even realising you have learned them. 

The podcasts listed here are mainly aimed at intermediate to advanced level French as they are targeted at a native French audience. 

However, there are a couple that would be suitable for people at an earlier point in their French journey. 

Les Grandes Traversées

Produced by France Culture, Les Grandes Traversées focuses on different figures from throughout history, dedicating a few episodes to unpacking their lives and stories. 

With over 1,000 episodes, there is a huge back catalogue to dive into and discover the life of a historical, literary or political figure.

Each episode features historians and special guests, who comment on and discuss the life of the chosen personality. 

It is a good podcast for training your ear in français soutenu - more formal French. While it is less likely to be the French you will use in everyday conversation, it is useful to understand how to formalise your French when this is needed.

Similar to watching French TV or films, podcasts train both the listening element of language learning as well as the cultural grounding. 

Learning about historical figures through a French lens can deepen your overall knowledge of the country as well as your understanding of how France has operated during different periods of time. 

28 minutes

The good news here is that 28 minutes is both a TV show and a podcast, so you can choose which format you prefer to engage with. 

Produced by Franco-German collaboration Arte, it is a daily news and debate show, discussing the news on a national and international level.

Despite the title, which came from the show's original format, episodes actually last around 40-45 minutes. 

The debate format makes dialogue quick and snappy, which is perfect for advanced learners. 

Recent episodes have debated the place of AI in literature, France’s debt and whether military service should be compulsory in France.

Maintenant vous savez

With each episode only 4 minutes long, this podcast is great for on-the-go short, sharp bursts of French.

The aim is to get behind the current news stories and reports in a concise format, to explain what is going on without any frills. 

The quick, direct episodes are easier to understand than more wordy debates in the podcasts above, so learners at B1-B2 will do well with this podcast. 

Episodes include the conditions for receiving benefits in France and the healthiest way to cook.

Les Grosses Têtes 

This consistently ranks among the most-listened-to podcasts in France, and comes from the long-standing radio programme originally launched in 1977. 

The format is simple. Guests including journalists and comedians are invited on the show and exchange jokes, quiz questions and anecdotes, with episodes lasting around two hours.

The panel changes over time, albeit with some veteran regulars.

It is less structured and more colloquial than some of the other podcasts on this list, and therefore is more in line with the French you will speak and hear every day. 

InnerFrench

For A2-B1 level, InnerFrench is one of the best podcasts available.

The founder and host previously taught at the French Institute in Warsaw, so he brings his teaching knowledge to help bridge the gap between the classroom and real life French.

The pace is slightly slower than non-learner podcasts, but still does not feel stilted in the way some at this level can. Reviewers frequently praise the podcast for making them forget they are learning while listening. 

Again, like most learning podcasts, it ranges from cultural topics to news stories, which are always very well laid out for the listener. 

Bonus recommendations 

Some podcasts we have written about previously that remain great options include: 

• Small Talk (Intermediate - Advanced) 

• French With Panache (Intermediate)

• Combien ça gagne (Intermediate - Advanced)

Look for more by searching ‘podcasts’ on The Connexion website.