Best RFI English Podcasts (2025)

1
EU struggles for defence independence as Trump turns up the heat on security 6:45

13m ago6:45

6:45

The European Union faces a formidable challenge in bolstering its defence capabilities without dependence on the United States, following President Donald Trump's persistent calls for Europe to shoulder a greater share of the burden. Meanwhile, transatlantic trade relations are deteriorating, as Trump imposes punitive tariffs that could potentially…

1
Erdoğan tightens his grip with crackdown on protests while Europe stays silent 7:51

21h ago7:51

7:51

Turkey’s opposition is accusing Europe of abandoning those fighting to keep democracy alive, as European leaders and the EU offer only muted criticism over the jailing of Istanbul’s mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, and the crackdown on protests. Rubber bullets, water cannons, and mass arrests continue to meet demonstrators protesting the detention of Turkish…

1
Artificial inteIligence and Lingora 22:52

2d ago22:52

22:52

This week on The Sound Kitchen you’ll hear the answer to the question about AI and the French company Lingora. There’s “The Listener’s Corner”, Ollia Horton’s “Happy Moment”, and an homage to Muhammad Shamim, the president of the RFI Golden Eagles Club. All that, and the new quiz and bonus questions too, so click the “Play” button above and enjoy! …

1
The Nazi roots of today's global far-right movements 7:31

5d ago7:31

7:31

The conviction of far-right figure Marine Le Pen has thrown her National Rally (RN) party into turmoil. She was sentenced to four years in prison and banned from public office for five years, a ruling that could stop her from running in the 2027 presidential election. Once deeply controversial, the RN has gained popularity in recent years as it see…

1
Further arrests as Turkey cracks down on protests over jailed Istanbul mayor 5:58

9d ago5:58

5:58

The lawyer of Istanbul's jailed mayor Ekrem Imamoglu has now been arrested, alongside several more journalists, following the country's biggest demonstrations against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan since 2013. Ten days after the arrest and subsequent jailing of Istanbul's mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, thousands of demonstrators have continued to protest o…

1
Topsy-turvy geopolitics 34:42

9d ago34:42

34:42

This week on The Sound Kitchen you’ll hear the answer to the question about the US vote at the 24 February UN General Assembly. There’s an homage to Bangladesh’s Independence Day, “The Listener’s Corner” with Paul Myers, and Erwan Rome’s “Music from Erwan” – all that, and the new quiz and bonus questions too, so click the “Play” button above and en…

1
Podcast: French wine in Africa, confronting obesity, video game giant 29:08

11d ago29:08

29:08

The Nigerian woman helping Bordeaux wine find new markets in Africa. Confronting France's fatphobia by classifying obesity as a disease. And the story of the French video game company behind the hit game Assassin's Creed. As French people consume less wine, and exports to China are slowing down, the wine industry – in Bordeaux in particular – is tu…

1
Turkey braces for more protests over Istanbul mayor's arrest 5:32

16d ago5:32

5:32

Anger is mounting over the arrest of Istanbul's popular mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on corruption and terror charges. Seen as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's main political rival, Imamoglu was arrested on Wednesday, just days before he was due to be named as the candidate for the main opposition CHP party in the 2028 presidential election. Imamoglu's opp…

1
The lost-for-over-100-years sculpture found under a dust sheet 26:05

18d ago26:05

26:05

This week on The Sound Kitchen you’ll hear the answer to the question about Camille Claudel’s sculpture. There’s a lovely spring poem from RFI Listeners Club member Helmut Matt, The Sound Kitchen mailbag, “The Listener’s Corner” with Paul Myers, and Erwan Rome’s “Music from Erwan” – all that, and the new quiz and bonus questions too, so click the “…

1
Syria in crossfire as Turkish-Israeli rivalry heats up over Assad’s successors 4:20

21d ago4:20

4:20

The overthrow of Bachar al-Assad's regime in Syria and its replacement by new rulers with close ties to Turkey are ringing alarm bells in Israel. RFI's correspondent reports on how Ankara and Jerusalem’s deepening rivalry could impact Syria's future. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's already strong support for the militant group Hamas has st…

1
Namibia’s new president 35:38

24d ago35:38

35:38

This week on The Sound Kitchen you’ll hear the answer to the question about Namibia’s president–elect. There’s The Sound Kitchen mailbag, “The Listener’s Corner” with Paul Myers, and Erwan Rome’s “Music from Erwan” – all that, and the new quiz and bonus questions too, so click the “Play” button above and enjoy! Hello everyone! Welcome to The Sound …

1
Podcast: Women wage outrage, farmers face organic slump, Ravel's Bolero 30:17

25d ago30:17

30:17

Despite a raft of laws and programmes in France to address the gender pay gap, women still earn less than men. Organic farmers try to adapt to a drop in demand for organic food. And the story of Ravel's Boléro – the world's most performed piece of classical music. There are some explanations for France's 22 percent gender pay gap – women work fewer…

1
Turkey eyes opportunities in Africa as France withdraws its military presence 5:28

27d ago5:28

5:28

France's recent military withdrawals from the Sahel and West Africa are leaving a void that Turkey is keen to exploit, experts told RFI. But while Turkey is profiting from its position as a NATO member and experienced arms exporter, it needs to be careful not to overstretch itself in terms of resources on the continent. France's handover of its sol…

1
Shine, sisters! 31:24

1M ago31:24

31:24

This week on The Sound Kitchen we’ll celebrate International Women’s Day. You’ll hear the answer to the question about the French Socialist party and the no-confidence vote, “The Listener’s Corner” with Paul Myers, and Erwan Rome’s “Music from Erwan” – all that, as well as the new quiz and bonus questions, so click the “Play” button above and enjoy…

1
Europe's defence vulnerabilities exposed as US shifts on Ukraine 17:17

1M ago17:17

17:17

With war at Europe's doorstep and US support uncertain, the continent must focus on military readiness and strategic autonomy. RFI's David Coffey speaks with Serge Stroobants of the Institute for Economics and Peace on whether Europe can defend itself and at what cost. The sharp decline in US-Ukraine relations has raised doubts about American suppo…

1
Kurdish leader Ocalan calls for PKK disarmament, paving way for peace 5:06

1M ago5:06

5:06

The imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party, the PKK, Abdullah Ocalan, has called for an end to the fight against the Turkish state. This may open the door to ending four decades of conflict that has claimed over 40,000 lives. RFI's correspondent in Istanbul looks at the implications for the wider region. In a packed conference hall in an …

1
Lighting up homes in 12 African countries 30:49

1M ago30:49

30:49

This week on The Sound Kitchen you’ll hear the answer to the question about the “Mission 300” plan. You’ll hear about the island Yap, and hear your fellow listener’s thoughts on “The Listener’s Corner” with Paul Myers. There’s Ollia Horton’s “Happy Moment”, and Erwan Rome’s “Music from Erwan”, too – all that, as well as the new quiz and bonus quest…

1
Future of US troops in Syria in question, under pressure from Turkey and Israel 4:34

1M ago4:34

4:34

The future of American troops in Syria is in the spotlight, as Turkey and Israel push competing agendas with the Trump administration regarding the role of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in countering the Islamic State group. The United States' military presence in Syria has been called into question, as President Donald Trump faces confl…

1
European leaders reframe approach to arms sales to Turkey as Ukraine deal looms 5:58

1M ago5:58

5:58

In a sign of warming Turkish relations, European leaders have started lifting their opposition to key military hardware sales, to the alarm of Turkey's rival Greece. The move comes as Turkey, Nato's second-largest army, is viewed as potentially playing a key role in Europe's security goals as doubts grow over Washington's commitment to the continen…

1
X is X’d off their list 29:53

1M ago29:53

29:53

This week on The Sound Kitchen you’ll hear the answer to the question about the French NGOs that stopped using X, formerly Twitter. There’s “On This Day”, “The Listener’s Corner” with Paul Myers, and Erwan Rome’s “Music from Erwan” – all that, and the new quiz and bonus questions too, so click the “Play” button above and enjoy! Hello everyone! Welc…

1
The French prisoners in Iran 27:34

2M ago27:34

27:34

This week on The Sound Kitchen you’ll hear the answer to the question about the French nationals imprisoned in Iran. There’s “On This Day”, “The Listener’s Corner” with Paul Myers, and Erwan Rome’s “Music from Erwan” – all that, and the new quiz and bonus questions too, so click the “Play” button above and enjoy! Hello everyone! Welcome to The Soun…

1
Podcast: AI 'à la française', immigration fact vs feeling, disability law 33:14

2M ago33:14

33:14

A French large language model adds European context and nuance to the dominant artificial intelligence being developped by US tech giants and China. Is France really being "flooded" with immigrants? The numbers say no, but the feeling remains. And the mixed legacy of a landmark law on disability and inclusion, 20 years later. Countries are looking …

1
Interim president Sharaa weighs up Ankara and Riyadh in power struggle for Syria 5:36

2M ago5:36

5:36

Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa visited Ankara on Tuesday, on the heels of a visit to Saudi Arabia – a move that is being interpreted as a balancing act by Sharaa between the two regional powers, amidst growing competition for influence over Syria. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan did not hold back on the hospitality when hosting Sh…

1
A World Radio Day celebration! 1:14:57

2M ago1:14:57

1:14:57

This week on The Sound Kitchen we’ll celebrate World Radio Day 2025. You’ll hear the answer to the question about former French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his court trials, “The Listener’s Corner” with Paul Myers, and Erwan Rome’s “Music from Erwan” – all that, and the new quiz and bonus questions too, so click the “Play” button above and enjoy!…

1
Azerbaijan and Turkey build bridges amid declining influence of Iran 5:46

2M ago5:46

5:46

With Iran suffering setbacks in Syria and Lebanon, regional rivals Azerbaijan and Turkey are stepping up efforts to secure a strategic goal through the Zangezur corridor project that Tehran had been blocking. Turkish and Azerbaijani foreign ministers met in January in both Baku and Istanbul as part of efforts to deepen economic and trade cooperatio…

1
Gazan filmmakers make it to the Oscars 42:37

2M ago42:37

42:37

This week on The Sound Kitchen you’ll hear the answer to the question about the Palestinian filmmaker Rashid Masharawi. There’s “The Listener’s Corner” with Paul Myers, Ollia Horton’s “Happy Moment”, and Erwan Rome’s “Music from Erwan” – all that, and the new quiz and bonus questions too, so click the “Play” button above and enjoy! Hello everyone! …

1
Podcast: Budget woes, medical cannabis stalled, French comic who defied Hitler 32:27

2M ago32:27

32:27

How France's budget cuts will impact development work abroad and civil society at home. An inconclusive medical marijuana experiment leaves patients in limbo. And how Jewish comedian Pierre Dac used humour in the Resistance. The government’s budget for 2025, if passed, will see public spending slashed by €32 billion. While most ministries are impac…

1
Russia’s interest in Syria 32:55

2M ago32:55

32:55

This week on The Sound Kitchen you’ll hear the answer to the question about Russia and Syria. There’s The Sound Kitchen mailbag, “The Listener’s Corner” with Paul Myers, and Erwan Rome’s “Music from Erwan” – all that, and the new quiz and bonus questions too, so click the “Play” button above and enjoy! Hello everyone! Welcome to The Sound Kitchen w…

1
Turkey’s Erdogan sees new Trump presidency as opportunity 4:09

3M ago4:09

4:09

With Donald Trump returning to the White House on Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sees a chance to rekindle what he calls his "close working relationship" with the incoming US leader. But a Trump presidency could bring risks as well as opportunities for Erdogan. Erdogan was quick to congratulate Trump on his election victory, making …

1
Climate change and rich nations' responsibilities 43:09

3M ago43:09

43:09

This week on The Sound Kitchen you’ll hear the answer to the question about the climate change case at the International Court of Justice. There’s The Sound Kitchen mailbag, “The Listener’s Corner” with Paul Myers, Ollia’s “Happy Moment”, and Erwan Rome’s “Music from Erwan” – all that, and the new quiz and bonus questions too, so click the “Play” b…

1
Podcast: France Algeria fall out, land of dinosaurs, abortion rights 34:50

3M ago34:50

34:50

A big freeze in Franco-Algerian relations as domestic politics drive international diplomacy. France is full of dinosaur bones, but short on paleongolotists to dig them up. And France's law decriminalising abortion turns 50. The often fraught relations between France and its former colony Algeria have hit an all-time low after a series of disagreem…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

RFI English Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide