Now that you’re working at B2 level, the podcast world is wide open!
You’re no longer limited to shows designed specifically for language learners – you can listen to pretty much anything.
That said, just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Choosing the wrong podcast can leave you bored at best and totally discouraged at worst.
It’s important to pick podcasts that are both interesting and accessible – shows that will stretch your skills without overwhelming you or knocking your confidence. The podcasts I’ve selected here hit that sweet spot: they’re compelling, varied and perfect for learners ready to take the next step from B2 to C1.
Here are my recommendations by topic:
- Culture & society
- Knowledge & curiosity
- True crime
- Humour & storytelling
- News & current affairs
- Final thoughts
Culture & society
Facts & feelings
Average episode length: 20 minutes
Facts & feelings is created by Deutschlandfunk Nova, and it explores feelings we all feel, and consults experts to understand them. From following one’s gut feeling or one’s head, to understanding FOMO and developing discipline.
If you can think of it, they’ve talked about it. Expect personal stories, tips and facts.
Deutschlandfunk Nova has great range of podcasts on offer; see if there’s anything else that takes your fancy.
| Why it works: short, clearly structured episodes that mix personal storytelling with expert analysis – a great entry point for intermediate learners tackling real-life topics. |
Servus. Grüezi. Hallo.
Average episode length: 50 minutes
In Servus. Grüezi. Hallo. by Zeit Online, correspondents from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland unpack current debates from their regions.
From discussions on AfD to the death of Abendbrot, you’ll get insights into how big topics differ across the three countries.
Listen to Der Tod des Abendbrots.
Die Zeit has many podcasts to choose from, on a number of different topics.
| Why it works: regular structure, recurring hosts, and a steady rhythm make even political topics easier to follow – plus, great exposure to dialects. |
Deutschland3000 – ‘ne gute Stunde mit Eva Schulz
Average episode length: 1 hour 10 minutes
Eva Schultz is journalist who interviews young people from a wide variety of backgrounds on different topics, somewhere between pop and politics.
The podcast is based on the idea that in meeting others, we learn more about ourselves.
Listen to Evelyn Weigert: Ich scheiße halt auf Perfektionismus.
| Why it works: in-depth interviews help build stamina and vocabulary while staying engaging thanks to varied guests and an open, reflective tone. |
Knowledge & curiosity
Eine Stunde History
Average episode length: 45 minutes
Eine Stunde History is created by Deutschlandfunk Nova. It gives a glimpse into key moments in history, whereby specialists are interviewed, and the past and present are connected.
Learn about Charlemagne, the Nuremberg Trials, refugees and more.
Listen to Geschichte im Film – Die Gladiatoren.
| Why it works: well-structured and clearly spoken, good for building vocabulary around politics, history and society. |
Das Wissen | SWR
Average episode length: 28 minutes
Das Wissen provides daily updates on health and ecology, science, and world affairs.
Episodes are peppered with interviews, giving exposure to different voices, accents and perspectives.
Read the transcripts here.
Listen to the trailer here.
| Why it works: daily topics and clear narration make it ideal for regular listening practice, especially with accompanying transcripts. |
Tiergespräch
Average episode length: 5 minutes
Tiergespräch is created by Deutschlandfunk Nova; it’s perfect for animal and nature lovers. It explores the lives of wild animals in nice 5-minute snippets, perfect for the time poor.
It stopped being produced in 2021, but having started in 2019, boasts a pretty extensive back catalogue.
Listen to Klappt nie – Weißer Hai in Gefangenschaft.
| Why it works: short and focused – a superb way to build confidence without getting overwhelmed. |
Aha! Zehn Minuten Alltags-Wissen
Average episode length: 12 minutes
Produced by Welt, Aha! Zehn Minuten Alltags-Wissen answers the questions it had never occurred to you to ask. From “Can water go bad?” to “Why is it so difficult for us to do nothing?”
The podcast cover health myths, fascinating psychological phenomena and more.
Listen to Wie künstliche Intelligenz unsere Beziehungen verändert.
| Why it works: short, focused, and packed with everyday relevance – the episodes explain real-life phenomena in clear, standard German. Great for the time poor. |
True crime
Weird Crimes
Average episode length: 1 hour 45 minutes
Weird Crimes is created by radio presenter and true crime junkie Visa Vie and comedian and radio journalist Ines Anioli.
The format is always the same: Visa presents the most absurd, bizarre, and unbelievable criminal cases, and Ines reacts.
Visa and Ines generally avoid sharing gory details unless something is highly relevant to the story, in which case they plaster the episode with trigger warnings.
Listen to the trailer here.
| Why it works: self-aware storytelling with recurring formats, on real-life events. Perfect for listening first, then looking up the case in your native language afterwards, to see how much you’ve understood. |
Humour & storytelling
Unfassbar – ein Simplicissimus Podcast
Average episode length: 30–40 minutes
Created by the guys behind the Simplicissimus Youtube channel, Unfassbar podcast presents one “unbelievable” story every week, from dodgy financial schemes, to scientific oddities, political intrigues and more.
The episodes are both investigative and narrative-driven.
Listen to the trailer here.
| Why it works: strong storytelling with a mix of fact and narrative tension. As for Weird Crimes, with Unfassbar, you can google the cases they cover before, whilst or after you listen, for extra support and context. |
Drinnies
Average episode length: 45 minutes
Giulia Becker and Chris Sommer host Drinnies. Drinnies refers to people who like to stay inside (from the word drin).
Giulia and Chris provide a humorous look at current events and the world as Drinnies see it.
Listen to the trailer here.
| Why it works: Giulia and Chris speak clearly and at a reasonable pace. They’ve won awards for the podcast, and with good reason; they’re funny and easy to listen to. |
Skandal, Skandal
Average episode length: 1 hour
Philipp Isterewicz and Yasmin Polat host Skandal, Skandal, recounting the most unbelievable frauds and scandals behind the facade of glamour, wealth, and prestige.
From the swindle with boy bands, a massive fitness lie, shady influencers, charismatic healers, and much more.
The podcast is currently focusing on a mini-series called REALITY: Ein-TV Skandal.
Listen to the trailer here.
| Why it works: engaging stories with a conversational tone and clear structure – good for listeners wanting something juicy but manageable. |
News & current affairs
Was jetzt?
Average episode length: 10 minutes
Get brief, daily news updates from Zeit Online with Was jetzt? podcast.
On Saturdays, they delve deeper into a topic in longer special episodes.
Listen to Spezial: Ist der Willkommenskultur am Ende?
| Why it works: short, timely episodes with great production quality and clear delivery – perfect for regular listening practice. |
Final thoughts
These podcasts are here to help you bridge the gap between B2 and C1 – but that doesn’t mean you’ll understand everything right away. In fact, it’s normal not to. Focus on getting the gist, let unfamiliar words wash over you, and trust that comprehension builds with time.
Not sure where to start? Begin with Skandal Skandal‘s very first episodes – a mini-series on 80s pop sensation and German R&B duo group Milli Vanilli. The beauty of this mini series is that it’s peppered with clips in English – as the case became an international scandal – and being a six-parter, you’ll find your comprehension deepens as you listen, as you’ll start to recognise voices and build a clearer picture as you gather more context.
After that boost of confidence, try out the episodes and podcasts. Remember that we all respond differently to voices, accents, and formats – so if one show doesn’t click with you, move on and try another. There’s no “perfect” podcast, only the ones that work for you.
Find your favourites, stick with them, and enjoy the feeling of tuning in more each time. You’ll be surprised how much starts to stick.
Happy listening – and viel Spaß!
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