For most language learners, podcasts are an especially daunting media source. Without the guardrails of images or videos, it’s easy to get completely lost over the course of an extended episode. But, learning to understand podcasts is also one of the best ways to improve comprehension and add more Arabic into your day. We’ve assembled a few of our favorite Arabic podcast platforms and shows here to get you started. Feel free to message us if we’ve missed any good ones and happy listening!

Sowt

Sowt is and always has been one of our favorite Arabic podcast platforms. Based out of Amman, Sowt’s podcasts cover a range of topics including politics, science, social issues, and food. One of my all-time favorite podcasts is Sowt's Eib podcast which addresses difficult or “taboo” topics through interviews and conversations with everyday people. Sowt also has a number of Jordan-centric podcasts like The Parliament and Mal Amal (available in Arabic and English) which capture nuanced perspectives of the country that can be hard to find represented in other media sources. It goes without saying that all their podcasts are excellent Arabic resources and many feature speakers using the Jordanian/Levantine dialect.

Kerning Cultures

Kerning Cultures is another top-notch Middle Eastern podcast platform. Their many story-based shows feature conversations with inspiring women, episodes focused on mental health, and honest reflections on all aspects of life. Kerning Cultures began in Dubai and focuses on stories from the broader MENA/SWANA region and the Arab diaspora. We’ve featured one of their podcasts, Jasadi, on Fi Kalam but Kerning has a whole library of offerings, including two podcasts in English, so it’s hard to go wrong.

Finyal Media

Finyal Media is a Dubai-based podcast platform, recently acquired by Sowt podcasts, with a ton of fiction shows. They're on a mission to connect young people with the Arab world through podcasts about the arts, music, folktales, and more. We’ve previously featured their Watr podcast, a show that interviews musicians about their journeys and their art. Finyal produces both Arabic and English podcasts. A number of the Finyal podcast guests speak in Arabizy - a mix of informal Arabic and English - which can be easier to follow anyone used to Levantine Arabic (like me!).

afikra

afikra is broadly an education and media platform but it has a whole page dedicated to podcasts. Many of the shows and episodes are produced by afikra community members leading to a unique range of topics, conversations, and perspectives. The podcasts are all in English, but it’s one of the most diverse and extensive collections of podcasts on all things MENA/SWANA that we’ve found. Their shows cover everything - historical celebrities, politics and finance, film and music, etc. The afikra founder, Mikey Muhanna, also hosts a podcast, afikra Conversations, where he interviews guests including professors, musicians, artists, historians, and other prominent players in the Middle East.