These recommended best German podcasts for learners come from Michelle Parkin, a Sydney-based German and English teacher. I met Michelle in a German conversation group, and was blown away by her amazing lists of best podcasts for learning German on Instagram. I invited Michelle to share her expertise on podcasts for German learners here.
Whenever Michelle’s not working, sleeping, or interacting with others, she’s almost always listening to podcasts. Here are her recommended best podcasts to learn German.
Michelle’s top picks in each category are listed first.
German Podcasts for Absolute Beginners
Free German podcasts to get you started on your German learning journey.
1. My Daily Phrase German
Teacher Catriona guides beginners through the basics of German with short daily episodes.
2. Deutsch – warum nicht?
Deutsche Welle presents this entertaining multipart story for German beginners with explanations in English.
Journalism student Andreas is working as a porter at a hotel in Aachen when a famous guest suddenly disappears. Join Andreas and his mysterious ex on their adventures.
3. Radio D
Another multipart story by Deutsche Welle with explanations in English.
Paula and Philipp are Radio D reporters with several puzzling cases to investigate. Follow them across Germany and learn German along the way!
Best German Podcasts for Beginners and Low Intermediates
4. Coffee Break German
This deservedly popular podcast series teaches beginner to intermediate German, explained in English.
Coffee Break podcasts are my number one go-to choice for learning a language from the very beginning.
5. Slow German
Annik Rubens, a Munich journalist with a passion for podcasting, presents these short episodes of German spoken slowly and clearly with full transcripts.
6. So ist Berlin
True stories about Berlin recounted in slow German by native speakers.
7. Das sagt man so!
Each two-minute episode of this useful intermediate German podcast by Deutsche Welle explains a common phrase or saying.
8. DaZPod
Passages of authentic German conversation with language explanations in German.
No longer updated, but still worth a listen.
9. Wort der Woche
German is famous for its creative compound words! This Deutsche Welle podcast explains one interesting German word in each bite-sized one-minute episode.
Best German Podcasts for Intermediate and Advanced Learners
10. Coffee Break German – Advanced
Take your German to the next level with Coffee Break German – Advanced.
In each episode, native speaker Andrea and learner Mark discuss a language point. Next, listen to a dialogue with examples of the language point to consolidate what you’ve learned.
11. Auf Deutsch gesagt!
Robin Meinert hosts diverse interviews with native speakers followed by language analysis.
12. Deutsches Geplapper
German coach Flemming Goldbecher hosts discussions of German language and culture and a variety of other topics.
13. Deutsch Podcast – Deutsch lernen
Grammar, vocabulary, and interesting discussions in this German podcast hosted by two highly experienced teachers.
14. Deutsch mit Schmidt
Teacher Sascha Schmidt noticed his students only retained new vocabulary when reinforced with meaningful examples in a variety of contexts.
Hence his podcast, which introduces two new words for advanced learners in each episode, coupled with example sentences.
15. Sprachbar
Another gem from Deutsche Welle. Learn the secrets and peculiarities of the German language. Five-minute episodes explain headlines, literary quotations, idioms, or grammar for C1 learners.
German Podcasts for Native Speakers
The following native German podcasts are not necessarily created for learners, but offer enjoyable listening practice for advanced students.
Listening to popular German podcasts also improves your speaking skills. Even if you do not yet understand every word or phrase, being immersed in the language assists with grammar and vocabulary acquisition while training your ears to the sounds and natural rhythms of the language.
This allows you to develop Sprachgefühl — an instinctive feeling for the language — boosting your pronunciation, word selection, and sentence construction abilities.
Listening to German-language podcasts also increases your cultural awareness by providing an insider perspective into German-speaking society.
Language/Culture/People Podcasts
16. Easy German
Engaging and frequently hilarious chat-style show. Twice a week, Cari and Manuel from the Easy Languages team discuss topics from Germany and around the world, explain words and expressions, and answer your burning questions.
17. Die Deutsche und der Ausländer
Nina is German. Shaun is originally from South Africa, but adopted Germany as his home years ago. Together they discuss current topics, cultural peculiarities, and life in Germany.
18. Talk Wordy to Me
Antonia and Aline, two literature students, discuss books, movies and series.
No longer being updated, but still worth a listen.
19. Halbe Katoffl
Conversations with Germans who have non-German roots, describing their experiences growing up or living in Germany.
Deals with issues of integration, identity, racism, and stereotypes, but also how the “Halben Katoffln” benefit from being at home in different cultures.
20. Danke, gut. Der Podcast über Pop und Psyche
Depression and other mental illnesses are still stigmatized in Germany. To change that, host Miriam Davoudvandi interviews public figures from pop culture about mental health challenges they have experienced.
21. angesprochen
This University of Zurich podcast explains the diverse landscape of modern linguistics to a broader public by interviewing linguists about their research.
22. Sozusagen!
Language lovers will enjoy these short episodes discussing curiosities of German as well as other languages.
23. Deutsche im Alltag – Alltagsdeutsch
Reports of everyday life in Germany: work, leisure, society, traditions. Learn local geography and vocabulary with discussions of different professions, hobbies, problems, or habits of people in Germany.
24. Impulse für Lehrende
Goethe-Institute podcast offering pedagogy discussions for German teachers.
Travel Podcasts
25. Weltwach – Abenteuer. Reisen. Leben.
Author Erik Lorenz chats with adventurous travelers about enlightening encounters, struggles with the unknown, and entertaining misadventures. Interviews cover cultural, ecological, social, and political issues of travel.
26. Reisen Reisen
Travel journalists Jochen Schliemann und Michael Dietz discuss diverse travel destinations, both near and far, including insights into local cultures and cuisine and responsible travel advice.
27. Luftpost
Interviews with travelers that take an in-depth look at a destination. Discussions about culture, life, sights, and what to explore.
28. Weltempfänger
Interviews with intrepid travelers who share their inspiring travel stories.
History Podcasts
29. Geschichten aus der Geschichte
Each week, historians Daniel Meßner and Richard Hemmer take turns surprising each other with a forgotten story from history. Topics range from little-known events, extraordinary personalities, to surprising connections in history from all eras.
30. HerStory – starke Frauen der Geschichte
Journalism Jasmin Lörchner recounts the — often untold — stories of pioneering women and queer people throughout history.
31. Frauen von damals
Historian Bianca Walther introduces us to groundbreaking women of the 19th and early 20th century.
32. Eine Stunde History
Charlemagne, the Nuremberg trials, boat people and refugees: What does yesterday have to do with today? Discover how the past and the future are connected in this show for young adults by public radio broadcaster Deutschlandfunk Nova.
Despite its name Eine Stunde History, episodes run about 30-40 minutes.
German News Podcasts
33. Servus. Grüezi. Hallo.
Servus, Grüezi, and Hallo are common greetings in Austria, Switzerland, and Germany, respectively.
Much of what seems politically new and explosive in Germany has long been normal in Austria and Switzerland. Die Zeit, a German weekly, launched this podcast to create a dialogue between the three countries.
The three hosts, one German, one Austrian, and one Swiss, discuss the politics and societies of the three countries.
34. SBS German – SBS Deutsch
Australia-based podcast featuring interviews with German-speaking Australians as well as Australian, German, and international news.
35. Hintergrund
Analysis of current events and developments in Germany and abroad.
36. Acht Milliarden – Der Auslands-Podcast
In-depth examination of selected world news from preeminent German news outlet Der Spiegel.
Bonus: Podcasts in English About German-Speaking Culture
37. Everyday Germany
Nina is German. Shaun is originally from South Africa, living in Germany. Together they compare notes about their perspectives of life in Germany.
From the creators of Die Deutsche und der Ausländer, above.
38. The Germany Experience
Life in Germany, as seen through the eyes of outsiders. Featuring the stories of foreigners who moved to Germany either temporarily or permanently, and tips and advice for life in Germany. Provides an inside view of the joys, frustrations, and quirks of adapting to German culture and learning the language.
Host Shaun Behrens, a South African living in Germany, also presents Everyday Germany (above).
39. Swiss and Chips – Your British guide to Switzerland
Podcast for English-speaking expats in Switzerland. Everything you need to know to find a job in Switzerland; land an apartment; make friends; understand Swiss culture; and, of course, learn Swiss German!
Presented by Jo, a British journalist in Switzerland since 2010 and Simon, her Swiss partner from Bern.
All podcast cover images are copyright of their respective owners.
Have feedback on these top German podcasts or more recommendations for the best German learning podcasts? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
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