If you want to speak German, you must spend a lot of time listening to German. Listening should take up a large percentage of your study time and be your top priority. Podcasts are an incredible tool for listening practice because they are available at all levels and there is a podcast for every interest. You can put on a podcast and get passive German input while doing chores or exercising, or you can use a podcast transcript and actively go through the podcast bit by bit. How you incorporate podcasts into your study schedule is dependent on your level and study goals. Below you will find great podcasts for every level, but I encourage you to also find some on your own. While all the links below are for Spotify, most of these podcasts are also available on other popular podcast platforms.
Beginner
Listening to podcasts is a big leap because it removes all context and visual cues. Even if you have been studying German for a while, podcasts may still be difficult. You may know every word in a sentence, but it is still hard to understand them when heard. That is why, even if your overall level is intermediate, you may still want to listen to beginner podcasts. You don’t need to understand everything in the podcast, it’s good to stretch a little above your level because you’ll learn new words through context. However, if you start zoning out from the podcast because you don’t understand anything, then you should find something easier to listen to.
Coffee Break German
Coffee Break German is a great podcast for beginners because the hosts explain German grammar in English with examples and lots of detail. This podcast is great for learning grammar or reinforcing the grammar you’ve already learned.
German Stories
The German Stories podcast is exactly what it sounds like. The hosts teach German through stories and explain the stories in English. They also leave time for you to repeat the story after them, so this podcast is great for shadowing.
Deutsch – warum nicht?
Deutsch – warum nicht is an old but classic German learning podcast. There are four parts to the series, and it walks you through all the basics of German in a fun and interactive way. The first part of the series is for absolute beginners, so this is a good first podcast.
Slow German Podcast for Beginners
In the Slow German Podcast for Beginners, the host talks about a variety of useful and interesting topics in slow, easy-to-comprehend German.
Intermediate
Podcasts at the intermediate level cover a wide variety of topics, grammar, and vocabulary. They are still spoken in clear, slow German, but the vocabulary and grammar are much more varied than that of beginner podcasts. You may find them much more difficult than the beginner podcasts when you first start listening, but after a few weeks of repeated listening they should become easier. I recommend starting with shorter podcasts so you can listen to the episodes multiple times.
Slow German
In the Slow German Podcast, the host talks about everyday topics related to German life and culture. The podcast is interesting and the episodes are short, so you can listen to them several times to help with memorization.
Easy German
The Easy German podcast dives into detail on a wide variety of topics in clear, comprehensible German. The podcast covers so many topics that you’re sure to find something you like.
Alles in Butter
Alles in Butter is a podcast that aims to make learning German easy. The episodes are short but in-depth and very informative, and the level of the episode can also be found in the title.
Deutsch mit Schmidt
Deutsch mit Schmidt is intended for more advanced learners, and it focuses on building vocabulary. In each episode, the host, Schmidt, introduces a new verb and adjective and explains its meaning using examples. This podcast is great for building your vocabulary through natural input.
Advanced
At the advanced level, it’s time to start listening to podcasts created for native speakers. This will be very difficult at first, but as you listen, it will get easier. I recommend starting with just one podcast and listening to most of their episodes. Everyone speaks differently, and by listening to just one podcast, you will get used to the way the hosts talk, and you’ll have an easier time understanding the podcast. Every time you start listening to a new podcast, you need to get used to the way the host speaks before it becomes easy to understand. It takes hundreds of hours of listening, to easily understand most everyday topics, so don’t be too hard on yourself if you don’t understand everything right away.
Hobbylos
One of the most popular German podcasts, this comedy podcast is a lot of fun and a great way to get exposure to natural German conversation. The hosts do speak pretty quickly, but once you get used to it they are much easier to understand.
Fest & Flauschig
Another popular German comedy podcast, this podcast is also great for conversation input.
too many tabs
Too Many Tabs is a podcast where the hosts deep dive into anything they find interesting. In each episode, the hosts each have their own topic that they’ve researched and prepared to explain to the other host and the audience.
Tierisch!
If you like learning about animals, then this is the perfect podcast for you. Each week the hosts talk about a new animal or group of animals in a fun and interesting way.
Spektrum
Each week the Spektrum Podcast covers a new and interesting science topic. Episodes range from quantum physics to invasive species to ChatGPT, so you’re guaranteed to learn something new from this podcast.
Geschichten aus der Geschichte
In this podcast, one host prepares an interesting historical story to tell the audience and the other podcast host. The hosts take turns between who is listening and who is presenting. The stories are well-researched and can come from any time in history.
Stories of Crime
Stories of Crime has a variety of different stories and formats that cover both true crime and fictional crime stories. Because they have different show formats there is always something new and interesting to listen to.
Other Podcasts
You can find other popular podcasts to listen to by going to Spotify’s podcast carts and selecting Germany. In the charts, you can also see which podcasts are the most popular by category.
Additional Listening Resources
LibriVox
LibriVox is a free digital library where you can download audiobooks for out-of-copyright books that are in the public domain. There are thousands of classics available to listen to in German and new ones are constantly being added.
Onleihe
Onleihe is a free digital library managed by the Goethe Institut. All you need to do to access it is create a free Goethe Institut account using an email address. The library has thousands of ebooks and audiobooks available, but since it is a library, there is a limit on how many copies of a book can be checked out and how long they can be checked out. If the book you want is not available, you can put a hold on it and be notified once it becomes available. There is also an app available for both IOS and Android.
Audible.de – Premium
Audible.de is the German version of Audible, with thousands of German audiobooks available for you to listen to. If you are trying to access it from outside Germany, you may first be redirected to the Audible website for your country. If this happens, click on the banner that pops up and confirm you want to go to audible.de. You get one free book for signing up for the 30-day trial and after that, it’s €9.95 for one book per month.
If you are on mobile, click the Marketplace button at the bottom of your screen.
Next, select Audible.de and sign in with your Amazon account. You will most likely need to create a new Amazon account, but you can use the same email as your main account. Once you’re logged in, you have a wide variety of German audiobooks and thousands of hours of content available to listen to.
Thalia – Premium
Thalia is a German-based audiobook website that works similarly to Audible. You pay a set monthly fee for one audiobook per month then get a discounted rate for any additional books you buy.
