The Best Podcasts for Learning Spanish
Podcasts are a great way to keep up with current events, learn about new trends and technologies, and even get some entertainment when you need a break from the day-to-day. They were a major tool for me when I started learning Spanish. There are many different types of Spanish podcasts available, so language learners of all levels can find one that suits their interests and skill. In this article, we highlight the best podcasts for learning Spanish.
Can I Learn Spanish Through Podcasts?
Yes, you can learn Spanish through podcasts! Listening to Spanish podcasts is a great way to improve your listening skills and learn a new language. They provide you with the opportunity to gain knowledge and understanding of the language on your own time.
With podcasts, you can listen to native speakers of the language, which will help you become familiar with the different pronunciations and accents. Additionally, many podcasts offer lessons on topics such as grammar, vocabulary, and even cultural elements of Spanish-speaking countries. There are many great Spanish podcasts out there that can help you learn tips and tricks for learning the language. You can also find podcasts that provide conversation practice sessions so that you can put your knowledge into practice.
Moreover, there are many free podcast options available online so that you can start learning Spanish without any financial cost. Podcasts make learning Spanish fun and accessible for anyone who is willing to take the time to listen and practice. Plus, if you find a podcast that you enjoy, it will be much easier to keep up with and motivated to continue learning.
What Are the Benefits of Learning Spanish Through Podcasts?
If you’re a Spanish student, podcasts can be an invaluable tool for improving the skills that every Spanish learner needs in their arsenal.
But why should you listen to podcasts in Spanish? What are the benefits of podcasts for learning Spanish? Let’s take a look:
1) They’re free! You don’t have to pay for any subscription services or buy extra equipment, which makes them an inexpensive way to learn Spanish.
2) They’re easy to access. You can listen to them anywhere—in the car, during your commute, or when you’re doing chores around the house. Many podcasts are available on Spotify or YouTube, so they can be easily accessed on any device with internet access.
3) The content is diverse and interesting (and often entertaining). You’ll find podcasts on any topic that interests you, such as politics, sports, business news…the list goes on!
4) They can expose you to different accents and dialects of Spanish, which will help you develop a more accurate understanding of the language. Because many Spanish podcasts are recorded by native speakers, you’ll hear how native speakers actually speak, allowing you to hone your listening skills and develop an understanding of the language that simply can’t be achieved in the classroom.
How to Find the Right Podcast for You
So, by now you should be itching to dive into some podcasts in Spanish. But with so many options out there, how do you find the right one for you?
To help you get started, here are the 3 most important questions you need to ask yourself:
1) What level of learner are you?
A podcast that is too simple will bore you, while one that’s too difficult will discourage you from listening. You should also consider whether you’d prefer a podcast that’s just in Spanish, or if you’d also like to have bits of English mixed in to aid your comprehension.
2) What topics interest you?
There are many different kinds of podcasts related to learning Spanish, including ones dedicated specifically to grammar and pronunciation. Others focus on specific topics such as food or travel while others cover topics like history or culture. Choosing one that matches your interests will make it more likely that listening becomes a habit!
3) How much time do you have for podcasts?
How much time can you commit to listening each day? If you only have a few minutes, it might be more effective to try a podcast that has short episodes so you can digest the content in bite-sized chunks. If you have more time, then a longer-form podcast might work better for your needs.
Where to Listen to Podcasts
If you’re looking for a place to listen to podcasts, there are a lot of options out there.
The two biggest platforms are Apple Podcasts and Spotify—but they aren’t the only ones. There’s also:
You can find all of these platforms in the App Store or on the Play Store. Alternatively, if you’d like to listen on your computer these platforms also have websites for easily accessing podcasts.
How to Learn Spanish by Listening to Podcasts: 4 Tips
With the right approach, you can make sure that you’re getting the most out of your Spanish-learning experience. Here are 4 tips to ensure sure that your study time is well spent:
1) Make sure you listen to each episode all the way through.
Even if there are large sections where you can’t understand much of what’s being said, you should listen to each episode all the way through. This will give you a better picture of what the conversation was about, and a better chance of learning more from it. The more Spanish you hear, the more exposure you have to native speakers and their accents, which will help you pick up on new words and phrases as they come up in conversation.
2) Write down any unfamiliar words or phrases.
If you catch them, write down any words or phrases that you don’t understand so that you can look them up later. This will help expand your vocabulary, and you’ll quickly start recognizing common phrases and expressions that native speakers use every day.
3) Try listening and reading along with a transcript.
This way you can practice reading in Spanish at the same time as hearing it spoken out loud. This combined learning approach is incredibly effective for learning new vocabulary and grammar as you can visualize the words as you hear them. Certain podcasts, including Learn Spanish and Go, offer interactive transcripts that can be used to carefully read through at your own pace.
4) Don’t be afraid to repeat or relisten to the same episodes again.
It’s generally best to listen to an episode the first time without pausing, as this way you’re giving your brain a better chance to pick up on the rhythm and talking patterns of native speakers.
However, if you find yourself missing the majority of what’s being discussed, don’t be afraid to relisten to the same episode again. Your first listen will have given you an idea of which areas you might benefit from focusing on, allowing you to listen through a second time and pause/spend more time on areas you are having difficulty with.
For more general tips and advice on improving your Spanish, here are some tips to help you reach fluency.
The 15 Best Podcasts for Learning Spanish
We’ve compiled a list of our favorite podcasts for learning Spanish, from beginner through intermediate, advanced, and native levels. They span everything from news and politics to culture and travel. With these podcasts, you’ll be able to practice your listening skills while also learning about the things that really interest you.
Beginner
Here are some of our favorite Spanish podcasts for beginners to help you get started on your Spanish language learning journey.
Language Transfer: Complete Spanish
Spanish Only: No
Transcripts Available: No
Active?: No
Number of Episodes: 90
Average Episode Length: 10 mins
A great podcast for the absolute beginner, Complete Spanish is a podcast that will help you learn the basics of Spanish grammar and vocabulary, without the tedious lessons or memorization. You can start with no knowledge of Spanish, and the English spoken format is a great way to get started.
Learn Spanish with Live Lingua
Spanish Only: No
Transcripts Available: Yes
Active?: Yes
Number of Episodes: 10 units, each comprised of 10-20 mini-episodes
Publishing Schedule: Mini episodes daily
Average Episode Length: 2 mins
With Learn Spanish with Live Lingua, the narrator, Ray, helps you learn Spanish quickly by taking you on a journey through his own learning process. These mini-episodes are meant to break down real-world conversations so you can learn how to use Spanish in your everyday life. The short-form content is ideal for beginner learners that don’t have prolonged periods for podcast listening and want to break down their learning into super bite-sized chunks
Spanish Only: No
Transcripts Available: Yes
Active?: Yes
Number of Episodes: 40
Publishing Schedule: One episode every two weeks
Average Episode Length:
With Coffee Break, each episode covers a topic like “What’s your favorite movie?” or “What do you like to eat?” or “How do you get ready in the morning?”
The topics are geared towards learning how to converse with a native speaker and will help you learn the most common words and phrases used in real-life situations. The hosts also include cultural insights into the language and culture of Spain, so you can pick up some interesting trivia as well as improve your conversational skills.
Spanish Only: No
Transcripts Available: Yes
Active?: Yes
Number of Episodes: 105
Publishing Schedule: Weekly
Average Episode Length: 22
Now Duolingo is coming to you in podcast form with True Stories in Spanish, a new podcast that delivers fascinating real-life stories in easy-to-understand Spanish with English narration.
Each episode features a story that’s both entertaining and educational. It’s like sitting down with a Spanish friend and having them tell you a story one on one.
Spanish Only: Yes
Transcripts Available: Yes
Active?: Yes
Number of Episodes: 19
Publishing Schedule: Varied
Average Episode Length: 20 mins
In Help Me Learn Spanish Joel, you’ll hear conversations between native speakers from different countries in Latin America. Each episode features a different country and its culture. It’s a great podcast for beginners, as the conversations are carried out at a slow pace and are centered around simple topics such as daily routines.
Intermediate/Advanced
Spanish Only: Yes
Transcripts Available: Yes
Active?: Yes
Number of Episodes: 142+
Publishing Schedule: Weekly
Average Episode Length: 30 Mins
Do you want to learn Spanish and travel to Spanish speaking countries? Although we might be somewhat biased, we’d say there’s no better podcast for Learning Spanish and all things travel related than the Learn Spanish and Go podcast.
Through conversations between myself (Jim), a gringo with a passion for travel and adventure, and May, a Spanish teacher from Mexico, you’ll level up your Spanish in no time. Topics are typically related to travel, Spanish culture, and of course, the Spanish language. We also invite interesting guests from all over the Spanish-speaking world on the podcast so you can learn about different countries and practice listening to different Spanish accents.
So, if you’re looking for a way to advance your Spanish skills while acquiring useful tips and tools for travel in Latin America, Learn Spanish and Go is the perfect podcast for you.
You can also sign up for the Learn Spanish and Go Podcast Membership where you’ll get access to a variety of useful learning material such as full transcripts and English breakdowns for all episodes.
Spanish Only: No
Transcripts Available: Yes
Active?: No
Number of Episodes: 30 beginner, 46 intermediate, 35 advanced
Average Episode Length: 20
The Notes in Spanish Podcast is another podcast that provides authentic listening practice. It’s hosted by Marina, a native Spanish speaker from Madrid, and Ben, an Englishman with a passion for languages. Each episode features real conversations mainly between European Spanish speakers, so you can listen to and learn exactly how Spanish is really spoken in Spain.
There are three levels of podcast difficulty to choose from, meaning there’s something for all Spanish learners. This was my favorite podcast to listen to as an intermediate Spanish student.
Spanish Only: Yes
Transcripts Available: Yes
Active?: Yes
Number of Episodes: 78
Publishing Schedule: Monthly
Average Episode Length: 20 mins
A great podcast for intermediate and advanced learners, No Hay Tos is a podcast hosted by two childhood friends. It’s a great way to learn Spanish, specifically Mexican Spanish, as you listen to Beto and Hector tell personal stories and discuss Mexican culture and the Spanish language in general. Conversations are completely in Spanish, and the hosts have a fantastic sense of humor. This is one of my personal favorite podcasts to listen to. It’s easily one of the best Spanish podcasts for learning Mexican Spanish.
Spanish Only: Yes
Transcripts Available: Yes
Active?: Yes
Number of Episodes: 250
Publishing Schedule: Weekly
Average Episode Length: 30 mins
Hosted by Andrea, a Colombian Spanish teacher, and her partner Nate from the USA, Españolistos has one simple goal: to help you speak Spanish as fluently as possible.
Each episode features interesting conversations centered around Latin American culture, with topics including politics, travel, religion, and cultural differences between Latin American countries.
Conversions are carried out at a slow speed with the goal of increasing the confidence and fluency of listeners.
Spanish Only: Yes
Transcripts Available: Yes
Active?: Yes
Number of Episodes: 173
Publishing Schedule: Weekly
Average Episode Length: 20 mins
For intermediate to advanced speakers, Español with Juan, a weekly podcast, is a great resource. The subjects are fascinating and diverse, covering current events, funny personal anecdotes, and descriptions and experiences from various cultures.
The host of the podcast, Juan, is a language teacher with extensive experience. Juan’s personality makes the podcasts incredibly fun to listen to, and he is also simple to grasp. Just wait until you hear him adopt a different voice and get into character!
Spanish Only: Yes
Transcripts Available: Yes
Active?: Yes
Number of Episodes: 709
Publishing Schedule: Weekly
Average Episode Length: 10 mins
Even though it doesn’t sound exciting, News in Slow Spanish is a fantastic podcast for intermediate learners. Both the Spanish used in Spain and the Spanish spoken in Latin America are used in their two separate editions. The podcast discusses current events in Spanish, but it is delivered slowly and clearly so that non-native speakers may follow along with ease.
Interesting Podcasts in Spanish for Native Speakers
Spanish Only: Yes
Transcripts Available: Yes
Active?: Yes
Number of Episodes: 213
Publishing Schedule: Weekly
Average Episode Length: 45 mins
Similar to the radio show “This American Life,” Radio Ambulante is produced by the American nonprofit National Public Radio. You’ll be treated to fascinating accounts from native speakers hailing from a variety of nations, sharing gripping stories from throughout Latin America.
Spanish Only: Yes
Transcripts Available: No
Active?: Yes
Number of Episodes: 400+
Publishing Schedule: Weekly
Average Episode Length: 1 hr
Unlike anything listed so far, Sabiduria Picodelica features accounts from host Yannina Thomassiny’s experience using sacred hallucinogenic plants. These plants have a rich history of use and significance in many Latin American cultures, providing a great opportunity to learn about specific cultural traditions you certainly wouldn’t get to study in the classroom.
Spanish Only: Yes
Transcripts Available: No
Active?: Yes
Number of Episodes: 133
Publishing Schedule: Weekly
Average Episode Length: 30 mins
El Hilo is a podcast that offers a unique perspective on Latin American politics, culture, and society. The show is hosted by two storied journalists who share their passion for and interest in Latin America and its unique history, culture, and politics. El Hilo describes itself as ‘An invitation to create conversation and a deeper understanding about the most important news, cultural aspects, and politics within Latin America.’
Dimes y Billetes de Moris Dieck
Spanish Only: Yes
Transcripts Available: No
Active?: Yes
Number of Episodes: 365
Publishing Schedule: Dailey
Average Episode Length: 1 hr
A great podcast for those interested in finance, Dimes y Billetes discusses topics spanning the basics of personal finance to the latest in investing. It’s hosted by Moris Dieck, a native Spanish speaker from Argentina and financial expert.
The Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a way to learn Spanish, podcasts are a great option.
They’re convenient, they’re easy to use, and they allow you to learn at your own pace.
You can listen while you’re driving or cleaning the house, or even while you’re working out. You can also download them onto your phone and listen whenever you have downtime.
The best part is that there are so many different types of podcasts available now. You can find podcasts that focus on grammar, vocabulary building, or cultural topics. You can also find them in many different styles—some are very formal while others are more casual. You can even find podcasts that have native speakers who speak slowly and clearly, which is the perfect format for beginner learners to quickly progress.
All these options mean that there’s something out there for everyone. Whether you want something that focuses on grammar or vocabulary or something specific to Spain or Latin America, there’s no reason not to add podcasts to your Spanish learning strategy.
Level up your podcast experience with a Spanish and Go Membership
Wouldn’t it be great if you could get easy access to full interactive transcripts for all podcast episodes?
Learning Spanish has never been easier! With a Spanish and Go Podcast Membership you can unlock the key to understanding and speaking one of the world’s most popular languages. Enjoy accurate, professionally produced word-for-word transcriptions of every podcast episode we’ve released so you never get lost in the conversation. You’ll also be able to enjoy all podcast episodes ad-free.
We offer three main tiers: “Just the Transcripts,” “The Full Membership,” and “Plus” memberships, with access to advanced features such as speed control, English breakdowns for each podcast episode, a forum to ask questions, and quizzes to test your comprehension.
When you sign up you’ll be joining a community of like-minded Spanish learners, where you’ll be able to join monthly live Q&As, games, and weekly small group conversational classes.
With our flexible online platform, you can learn at your own pace and even track your progress. Join today to start your journey towards mastering Spanish!
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