The Best Podcasts for Learning Spanish
Why use podcasts to Learn Spanish?
1. Listening to Spanish podcasts can help you improve your listening comprehension skills as you train your ears to recognize different sounds, words, and phrases in the language.2. By listening to a variety of Spanish podcasts, you can expose yourself to different accents and dialects, helping you to better understand the nuances of the language.
3. Spanish podcasts often cover a wide range of topics, such as news, entertainment, culture, and history, providing you with a diverse set of vocabulary and expressions to learn from.
4. You can listen to Spanish podcasts on the go, during your commute, while doing chores, or at any other time that is convenient for you, allowing you to integrate language learning into your daily routine.
5. Spanish podcasts can also be a fun and engaging way to learn Spanish, as they provide an opportunity to learn about interesting topics while immersing yourself in the language and culture.
I've been learning Spanish for a few years now and my favorite way to learn is by listening to podcasts. Podcasts are entertaining and can help with listening comprehension, reading (transcripts), and vocabulary.
Learn Spanish with Podcasts for Free
If you're using podcasts to learn a new language, you will inevitably encounter a word or phrase you don't know. To make this easier, we built a new tool called ListenLanguageLearn which allows you listen to a podcast, easily follow along with the interactive transcript, and highlight words or phrases you don't know to translate them. Check out the homepage to see how it works. Or, you can browse all of the Spanish podcasts with transcripts free here.Here is a breakdown of the best podcasts in Spanish. Some are directed towards learning the language while others exist just for the sake of entertainment to the Spanish speaking world. These are all 100% free Spanish podcasts, and some of the best Spanish podcasts of 2023.
Duolingo Spanish Podcast
Level: Beginner-Intermediate
The Duolingo Spanish Podcast is produced by Duolingo, the most popular education app in the world. It is geared towards beginner to intermediate level learners. A Spanish speaker tells a story while the narrator provides explanations in English so you can follow the story more easily. There are over 100 episodes in several seasons. The seasons ususally follow a topic, for example: "Climate Heroes", "Mexico City", and "Cosumbres" (customs).
I love this podcast and have listened to every single one. It really helped me with vocabulary when I was at intermediate (A2-B1) level. Now that I'm a bit further along in my Spanish learning journey, I usually don't need to read along with the transcripts and translate phrases. I just sit back and enjoy the fascinating stories.
Follow along with Duolingo Spanish Podcast transcripts on ListenLanguageLearn!
We offer every episode of the Duolingo Spanish Podcast on ListenLanguageLearn. We also provide all duolingo podcast transcripts and the ability to translate for free. Check it out here:Browse episodes of Duolingo Spanish PodcastYou can also check out all the podcasts on their website here.
SpanishPodcast.net
Level: Beginner-Intermediate
SpanishPodcast.net is for beginner to intermediate level learners, but also could have some advanced content. This podcast is designed specifically to help you learn the language and guides you through everything you will need to feel more comfortable with Spanish. It covers vocabulary, pronunciation, conjucation, idioms, slang, an everything else. The host of this show is from Spain so it mostly covers European Spanish.
Follow along with SpanishPodcast transcripts on ListenLanguageLearn!
There are over 600 episodes of SpanishPodcast.net. We offer almost every episode of the SpanishPodcast.net on ListenLanguageLearn. Check it out here:Browse episodes of SpanishPodcast.netYou can also check out all the podcasts on their website here.
Radio Ambulante
Level: Advanced
Radio Ambulante is an NPR podcast out of Mexico that tells compelling stories from around Latin America. It reminds me of my favorite English podcast, This American Life, in the way that it tells stories about real people's lives and struggles.
This is not a language learning podcast so the audio is advanced. Radio Ambulante can help a lot with vocabulary and slang, depending on the story.
Follow along with Radio Ambulante transcripts on ListenLanguageLearn!
There are nearly 200 episodes of Radio Ambulate. You can listen for free on their site. We also offer almost every episode of the Radio Ambulante on ListenLanguageLearn. Check it out here:Browse episodes of Radio AmbulanteYou can also check out all the podcasts on their website here.
TED Talks en Español
Level: Advanced
This is not necessarily a podcast, but still great audio/video to help you develop your listening ability.TED Talks en Español are talks given by notable speakers across Spain and Latin America and cover a range of topics. TED talks are meant to inspire and inform. Definitely check out renowned Peruvian chef Gastón Acurio's talk¿Puede la cocina cambiar el mundo?Where Gastón tells a story about his upringing and how it made him into the chef/restaurateur he is today.
These talks are made for the Spanish speaking world, so the audio is advanced.
Follow along with TED Talks in Spanish transcripts on ListenLanguageLearn!
There are 15 TED talks. You can check them out on the TED site here.We also offer every talk on ListenLanguageLearn for free so you can follow along and translate what you don't know. Check it out here:Browse TED Talks en Español
Curiosidades de la Historia National Geographic
Level: Advanced
A history podcast for the history nerds out there! Curiosidades de la Historia by National Geographic takes you back in time and tells stories from the ancient world. If you enjoy history, definitely check this one out.
This is a podcast for Spanish speakers, so the audio is advanced. I love to use this podcast to learn Spanish because you can pick up some unique vocabulary about history and ancient cultures.
Follow along with Curiosidades de la Historia transcripts on ListenLanguageLearn!
We offer 21 episodes on ListenLanguageLearn. Browse episodes here:Curiosidades de la Historia National GeographicYou can also check out all the podcasts on the NatGeo site here.
Españolistos
Level: Intermediate
The Españolistos podcast is an excellent resource for learning Spanish due to its engaging and conversational approach to language learning. It is hosted by a native Spanish speaker and an American who are fluent in the language, allowing them to provide a mix of perspectives and insights on the language and culture. The podcast covers a wide range of topics, including grammar, vocabulary, expressions, and cultural insights, and uses a variety of learning materials, such as interviews, stories, and dialogues. The hosts speak at a moderate pace, making it easy for listeners to follow along, and provide transcripts and study materials on their website for added practice. Overall, the Españolistos podcast is a fun and effective way to improve one's Spanish skills.
This is a podcast for learning Spanish, but purely conversational, so the audio is intermediate.
You can also check out all episodes of Españolistos on their site here.
The Unlimited Spanish
Level: Intermediate
The The Unlimited Spanish is a great resource for learning Spanish as a second language. Hosted by a native Spanish speaker, the podcast provides listeners with engaging and informative lessons that cover a range of topics, including grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. The host speaks slowly and clearly, making it easy for listeners to understand, and provides plenty of examples and exercises to practice with. In addition, the podcast features a variety of learning materials, including dialogues, stories, and interviews, which help learners to develop their comprehension skills and gain exposure to different Spanish accents and dialects. The host also offers a range of resources and study materials on their website, such as transcripts and additional exercises, making it easy for learners to practice and reinforce their Spanish skills on their own time. Overall, The Unlimited Spanish podcast is a comprehensive and effective way for learners to improve their Spanish language abilities.
This is a podcast for Spanish learners so the host talks slowly and intruduces new topics. This podcast is intermediate level.
You can also check out all episodes of The Unlimited Spanish on their site here.
Thanks for Reading!
Thanks for checking out my blog! These are just some of my favorites but there are plenty more out there. If you find another one that you absolutely love, let me know. If there are transcripts available, I'll add it to the ListenLanguageLearn platform.
Even if a podcast is advanced, don't be afraid to give a try in ListenLanguageLearn. The beauty of the platform is that you can easily translate the stuff you don't know, so learners from any level can follow along to any story.
Podcasts aren't the only way to learn. Check out another post about my favorite resources for language learning.
Muchas Gracias!
Author
Hi, my name is Alex! I'm an avid language learner and the creator of ListenLanguageLearn. While struggling with Spanish, I started developing tools to help me learn and I'm trying to share them with the language learning community.