Finding the right English learning podcast can transform your language journey. With thousands available on Spotify, choosing becomes overwhelming quickly.

This guide is here to help.

Below, you'll find podcasts organised by level, from complete beginners to advanced learners, plus a selection of shows not specifically designed for learners but perfect for those ready to engage with native-level content.

Each recommendation includes the accent you'll hear, typical episode length, and recent episodes so you know exactly what you're getting into before you press play.

For Beginners (A1-A2)

6 Minute English

Accent: British (BBC English)
Average Episode Length: 6 minutes
In a sentence: Bite-sized episodes from the BBC that teach useful vocabulary and grammar through discussions of current topics, perfect for busy learners who need something short and digestible.

Recent Episodes:

• "How important is politeness?"
• "Are we becoming a divided society?"
• "Is social media on a downward spiral?"

Espresso English Podcast

Accent: American
Average Episode Length: 3-5 minutes
In a sentence: Ultra-short lessons focusing on must-have phrases and common expressions, with clear explanations and multiple examples in every episode.

Recent Episodes:

• Daily expression lessons
• Common mistake corrections
• Quick grammar tips

For Intermediate Learners (B1-B2)

English Learning for Curious Minds

Disclaimer: this is the podcast we make here. We think it's pretty great, and we hope you will to :)

Accent: British
Average Episode Length: 20-30 minutes
In a sentence: Nearly 600 episodes covering fascinating stories from history, science, and culture, delivered at a learner-friendly pace with interactive transcripts and key vocabulary support. And you can now listen to all our bonus, member-only episodes also on Spotify.

‍Try with our free transcripts today.

Recent Episodes:

• The Unabomber | The Story of Ted Kaczynski
• The Curious Tradition of Words of the Year
• Operation Valkyrie & The Plot To Kill Hitler

All Ears English

Accent: American
Average Episode Length: 10-20 minutes
In a sentence: Lindsay McMahon and Michelle Kaplan focus on natural American English, idioms, and cultural nuances to help you speak fluently and sound more like native speakers.

Recent Episodes:

• American workplace expressions
• Dating and relationships vocabulary
• Cultural differences in communication

Aussie English

Accent: Australian
Average Episode Length: 20 minutes
In a sentence: Pete Smissen teaches you Australian slang, expressions, and culture with over 1,000 episodes covering everything from "having a yarn" to understanding what makes Aussies tick.

Recent Episodes:

• "Expression: Have a Knack for Something"
• "Can You Guess Which Language 'Kayak' Comes From?"
• Australian pronunciation and accent lessons

Simple English News Daily (SEND7)

Accent: British
Average Episode Length: 7minutes
In a sentence: You can follow world news and learn English at the same time with Stephen Devincenzi's SEND7 podcast. There are new episodes every weekday, and they all come in simple, clear, spoken English.

Recent Episodes:

• The Daily News

The British English Podcast

Accent: British
Average Episode Length: 20-30 minutes
In a sentence: Charlie Baxter combines British culture, history, and current affairs with practical language teaching, helping you understand not just the words but the cultural context behind them.

Recent Episodes:

• "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" (British storytelling with advanced vocabulary)
• "British Humour Explained for Non-Natives"
• "How Brits Describe Their Homes" (cultural vocabulary lesson)

The Level Up English Podcast

Accent: British
Average Episode Length: 50 minutes
In a sentence: Michael Lavers covers diverse topics from language motivation to grammar and vocabulary, with monthly guest episodes featuring teachers and experts on language-related subjects.

Recent Episodes:

• Language learning motivation strategies
• British culture and customs
• Interview with language acquisition experts

Thinking in English

Accent: British
Average Episode Length: 30-45 minutes
In a sentence: Thomas Wilkinson explores topics from politics and economics to philosophy and culture, helping you learn in English rather than just learning English.

Recent Episodes:

• "The Economics of Climate Change"
• "What Makes a Good Leader?"
• "The Philosophy of Happiness"

For Advanced Learners (C1-C2)

Luke's English Podcast

Accent: British (with occasional guests from other countries)
Average Episode Length: 60-120 minutes
In a sentence: Luke Thompson's award-winning podcast blends humour, storytelling, and detailed language instruction across nearly 1,000 episodes, making it perfect for learners who want to understand British English as it's really spoken.

Recent Episodes:

• "9 Science-based Life Hacks to Improve Your English Learning Potential in 2026 (Part 1 & 2)"
• "The Words of the Year 2025 with Amber & Paul"
• "The Ramble Before Christmas"

To Fluency Podcast: English with Jack

Accent: British
Average Episode Length: 15-25 minutes
In a sentence: Jack provides practical advice and detailed lessons designed specifically to help advanced learners understand native speakers and reach true fluency.

Recent Episodes:

• "Understanding Fast Native Speech"
• "Advanced Listening Techniques"
• "How to Think in English"

Bonus: Podcasts for Non-Native Speakers (Not Specifically for Learners)

These podcasts aren't designed for English learners, but they're excellent for advanced students who want to engage with authentic native content. The clear production quality, engaging topics, and relatively standard accents make them more accessible than many other native-level shows.

The Rest is History

Accent: British
Average Episode Length: 50-60 minutes
In a sentence: Historians Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook bring history to life with gripping storytelling and expert analysis, from ancient Rome to modern conflicts.

Why it's good for learners: The hosts speak clearly with standard British accents, explain historical context thoroughly (which helps comprehension), and their enthusiasm makes complex topics engaging rather than overwhelming.

Recent Episodes:

• "The Moonwalkers, with Tom Hanks"
• "Civil War: What Makes Neighbors Turn on Each Other?"
• "Macbeth: The Real History Behind Shakespeare's Play"

Huberman Lab

Accent: American
Average Episode Length: 90-180 minutes
In a sentence: Dr. Andrew Huberman discusses neuroscience and science-based tools for everyday life, covering everything from sleep and focus to exercise and mental health.

Why it's good for learners: Huberman speaks clearly and methodically, defining scientific terms as he goes. The structured format and regular repetition of key concepts make complex material more digestible. Episodes are long, but you can listen in chunks.

Recent Episodes:

• "Essentials: Therapy, Treating Trauma & Other Life Challenges"
• "How to Overcome Addiction to Substances or Behaviors"
• "Essentials: Tools to Boost Attention & Memory"

Stuff You Should Know

Accent: American
Average Episode Length: 45-60 minutes
In a sentence: Josh and Chuck discuss practically every topic imaginable, from historical events to scientific trivia, making it a fantastic way to expand both your knowledge and your English simultaneously.

Why it's good for learners: The conversational format between two friends feels natural and accessible. They explain topics clearly, often defining terms and providing context. The variety of subjects means you'll encounter diverse vocabulary across many domains.

Recent Episodes:

• "How the Panama Canal Works"
• "The History of Board Games"
• "What is ASMR?"

How to Choose the Right Podcast for You

Match Your Level: Don't jump to advanced podcasts too quickly. If you're catching less than 60-70% of what's said, the podcast is probably too difficult and you'll benefit more from something slightly easier.

Consider Episode Length: Shorter episodes (5-15 minutes) are perfect for daily consistency. Longer episodes (45+ minutes) work better when you have dedicated listening time during commutes or exercise.

Try Multiple Accents: If you'll be using English internationally, expose yourself to different accents. Most learners benefit from primarily focusing on either British or American English, then adding variety as they advance.

Listen to What Interests You: The best podcast is the one you'll actually listen to. Choose topics that genuinely fascinate you, motivation is more important than perfect pedagogical design.

Use Transcripts When Available: Many of these podcasts offer transcripts (either built into Spotify or on their websites). Start without them, then check the transcript for sections you didn't understand. This builds listening skills more effectively than reading along from the start. English Learning for Curious Minds offers transcripts with instant translations in 12 languages. You can check it out here.

Making the Most of Spotify for English Learning

Create Dedicated Playlists: Organise podcasts by difficulty level or topic. This makes it easier to choose the right content for your current mood and energy level.

Download for Offline Listening: Spotify Premium subscribers can download episodes to listen without internet access, perfect for commutes or when you want to practice in airplane mode without distractions.

Adjust Playback Speed: Most podcasts sound natural at 0.8x to 1.2x speed. If a podcast feels too fast, slow it down. If it feels too easy, speed it up slightly to challenge yourself.

Use the Sleep Timer: Found in Spotify's playback controls, this stops playback after a set time. Useful if you're listening before bed or want to limit yourself to focused 30-minute sessions.

Check Episode Descriptions: Many podcasts include vocabulary lists, key phrases, or links to transcripts in the episode description. Don't skip this valuable resource.

Start Your Podcast Journey Today

The podcasts above represent hundreds of hours of high-quality English content, all available free on Spotify. The hardest part is simply starting.

Choose one podcast from your level, download a few episodes, and commit to listening for just five minutes today. Then do it again tomorrow. And the next day.

Consistency beats intensity every time. The learner who listens to 10 minutes daily will make more progress than the one who crams two hours once a week.

Your English listening comprehension in six months depends on what you do today. So pick a podcast, press play, and start building the habit that will transform your English.

Looking for more guidance on using podcasts effectively? Check out our Ultimate Guide to Learning English with Podcasts for techniques on shadowing, transcription, and active listening.