Best RFI English Podcasts (2025)

1
Romania's new president Nicușor Dan pledges to counter Russian influence 5:00

22h ago5:00

5:00

In this week's International Report, RFI’s Jan van der Made takes a closer look at the recent Romanian elections, in which centrist candidate Nicușor Dan secured a decisive victory over his far-right rival, George Simion. On 26 May, pro-EU centrist Nicușor Dan was sworn in as President of Romania, having vowed to oppose “isolationism and Russian in…

1
Trump’s aid cuts prompt African leaders to embrace self-reliance 19:10

5d ago19:10

19:10

Some African leaders regard United States President Donald Trump’s decision to halt aid to the continent as an opportunity to foster self-reliance. They have already initiated plans to mobilise the necessary resources to reshape Africa’s aid landscape. “Trade, not aid, is now the pillar of our policy in Africa,” said United States ambassador Troy F…

1
Trump and Erdogan grow closer as cooperation on Syria deepens 7:19

5d ago7:19

7:19

Turkey and the United States are stepping up their cooperation in Syria, strengthening a partnership that has grown despite tensions with Israel. The two countries say they are working more closely on security and stability in the region, reflecting a broader reset in their relationship. The pledge was made during a meeting of the US-Turkey Working…

1
Podcast: Assisted dying in France, Pagnol at Cannes, meet the neighbours 28:15

9d ago28:15

28:15

As French lawmakers consider legalising assisted dying, a look at the citizen's assembly that carefully considered the issue. Also, a film about the writer – and filmmaker – Marcel Pagnol at the Cannes film festival, which is finally tackling sexual harassment in the industry. And the man who created the fête des voisins 25 years ago so neighbours …

1
PKK ends 40-year fight but doubts remain about the next steps 7:08

11d ago7:08

7:08

The Kurdistan Workers Party, the PKK, has announced the end to its more than forty-year fight against Turkey, a conflict that claimed more than 40,000 lives. But the declaration, called historic by Turkish officials, is being met by public skepticism with questions remaining over disarmament and its calls for democratic reforms. Upon hearing the ne…

1
Can Europe withstand the ripple effect of the MAGA political wave? 12:34

14d ago12:34

12:34

Célia Belin of the European Council on Foreign Relations tells RFI that Donald Trump’s administration is treating Europe less as a partner and more as a rival. In backing nationalist movements and undermining multilateral institutions, it is exporting a political mode of operation that risks fracturing European unity. The impact of Donald Trump's s…

1
Turkey's independent media on alert over stance of tech giants 6:34

20d ago6:34

6:34

As Turkey slipped further down in the latest Press Freedom Index, the country's besieged opposition and independent media are voicing concerns that some of the tech giants are increasingly complicit in government efforts to silence them. While protests continue over the jailing of the Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, his account on social media platf…

1
US is a key partner but principles aren't for trade, South African FM tells RFI 9:19

22d ago9:19

9:19

Increasingly tense relations between South Africa and the United States have been marked by trade threats, diplomatic expulsions and deepening divisions over global conflicts. But despite the pressure, South Africa is not backing down on key principles. Foreign Affairs Minister Ronald Lamola tells RFI their “dynamic and evolving” relationship must …

1
Podcast: US science 'refugees' in France, doctor shortages, 8 May massacre 34:33

23d ago34:33

34:33

France is opening its arms to foreign scientists, particularly from the US, as the Trump administration pulls back from climate research. French GPs and trainee doctors are up in arms over proposals to address 'medical deserts', which they say would make the problem worse. And as Europe marks the 80th anniversary of Europe Day, Algeria commemorates…

1
Trump's first 100 days: Tariffs war shakes trade and investment in Africa 14:18

29d ago14:18

14:18

During the first 100 days of his second term in office, US President Donald Trump has issued a series of executive orders that have unsettled the commodities market and prompted investors to hold off from making new investments in African economies. In the last three months, Trump has presented the world with “a ding-dong of measures and counter-me…

1
Trump's first 100 days: Trade, diplomacy and walking the transatlantic tightrope 13:55

1M ago13:55

13:55

Donald Trump’s return to the White House has brought with it a seismic shift in transatlantic dynamics, with rising trade tensions, reduced diplomatic engagement and growing uncertainty over the future of Western alliances. So what has been the early impact of his second term on EU–US relations and how is Europe responding? With Trump's administrat…

1
How Donald Trump shaped a new world in just 100 days and what to do about it 6:48

1M ago6:48

6:48

US President Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office have been marked by unprecedented volatility and deep divisions across the country. Praised by supporters for his pledges to "restore faith in government" and "secure borders," his tenure has also provoked widespread concern among Democrats and political analysts, who criticise his erratic style …

1
'We're not for sale': the election message reshaping Canada's foreign policy 11:41

1M ago11:41

11:41

As Canada heads to the polls on Monday, a historic shift in national identity and foreign policy is unfolding, driven by growing disillusionment with the United States and a renewed embrace of European alliances. Across Canada there is a strong sense that this crucial election is about more than domestic policy. It is being seen as a referendum not…

1
How Trump’s steep tariffs on China are pushing the EU closer to Beijing 7:31

1M ago7:31

7:31

The global car industry is facing major upheaval after US President Donald Trump imposed a 145 percent tariff on Chinese imports in early April – the highest so far in the US-China trade dispute. The tariffs, which apply to dozens of countries including US allies, aim to protect American manufacturing. But they are also making car production and tr…

1
Turkey's youth rise up over mayor's jailing and worsening economy 6:04

1M ago6:04

6:04

Thousands of young people across Turkey are protesting against the jailing of Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s main rival. Many say they no longer fear prison, claiming they have nothing left to lose. University students were among the first to take to the streets after Imamoglu was detained last month. They believe h…

1
Turkey's rivalry with Iran shifts as US threats create unlikely common ground 6:04

1M ago6:04

6:04

With Ankara warning Tehran not to undermine Syria’s new rulers and its ongoing peace efforts with Kurdish rebels, regional rivalry with Iran has been intensifying. However, Turkey’s concerns about potential US military action against Iran over its nuclear energy programme are now providing a rare point of convergence between the two rivals. After m…

1
Turkey's opposition calls for boycott as anti-Erdogan protests continue 7:05

2M ago7:05

7:05

The Turkish opposition has vowed to fight "until the end" against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with the leader of the CHP party accusing the head of state of staging a "coup" in arresting Istanbul's opposition mayor. Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Ozgur Ozel has demanded a snap election that he said would serve as the "biggest no confide…

1
Podcast: War economy, France's supercomputers, La Marseillaise and the Republic 28:53

2M ago28:53

28:53

A French-German weapons manufacturer ramps up production to meet the needs of France's war economy. An encounter with France's largest supercomputer dedicated to artificial intelligence. And how the Marseillaise national anthem has contributed to reinforcing French values and ideals. Shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, P…

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

2M 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

2M 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
The Nazi roots of today's global far-right movements 7:31

2M 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

2M 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
Podcast: French wine in Africa, confronting obesity, video game giant 29:08

2M 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

2M 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
Syria in crossfire as Turkish-Israeli rivalry heats up over Assad’s successors 4:20

3M 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
Podcast: Women wage outrage, farmers face organic slump, Ravel's Bolero 30:17

3M 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

3M 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
Europe's defence vulnerabilities exposed as US shifts on Ukraine 17:17

3M 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…

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RFI English Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen