Best RFI English Podcasts (2024)

1
Crackdown on organised crime gifts Istanbul police with luxury supercars 5:25

22m ago5:25

5:25

Istanbul police now have some of the world's most expensive sports cars – spoils of seized assets in a crackdown on international organised crime. It's part of Ankara's efforts to escape international scrutiny over money laundering as it seeks global investment. In the heart of Istanbul, onlookers gather around taking selfies of the police's latest…

1
A nail-biting tennis match 34:10

3h ago34:10

34:10

This week on The Sound Kitchen you’ll hear the answer to the question about the Roland Garros French Open Tennis Tournament. There’s “On This Day”, “The Listener’s Corner” with Paul Myers, and lots of good music. All that and the new quiz and bonus questions too, so click on the “Play” button above and enjoy! Hello everyone! Welcome to The Sound Ki…

1
African displacements and the search for refuge, in life and art 22:01

6h ago22:01

22:01

Displacement takes many forms, from refugees forced into exile to returnees who find themselves strangers in what was once home. In this episode, we speak to aid workers about the very different experiences of refugees in Sudan and Mauritania, and hear from an artist who draws inspiration from his own migrations between France, Algeria and beyond. …

1
Protests escalate in Turkey over Azerbaijani oil shipments to Israel amid embargo 5:35

6d ago5:35

5:35

Protests in Turkey are intensifying over Azerbaijani oil deliveries to Israel. Despite Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan imposing a trade embargo on Israel over its war against Hamas, the trade, which passes through a Turkish port, continues. Campaigners in Turkey advocating for a boycott of Israeli trade are focusing on Azerbaijan's oil suppl…

1
Politics make strange bedfellows 27:13

6d ago27:13

27:13

This week on The Sound Kitchen you’ll hear the answer to the question about the possible alliances for South Africa’s ANC political party. There’s some poetry as a starter dish, “The Listener’s Corner” with Paul Myers, and “Music from Erwan” from Erwan Rome. All that and the new quiz and bonus questions too, so click on the “Play” button above and …

1
Podcast: Imagining a far-right government in France, forgotten fashion icon revived 34:08

8d ago34:08

34:08

As France heads into snap parliamentary elections with the prospect of the far-right National Rally winning a majority, what powers would its prime minister have, and what would change in France? Also, a look at previous presidents who dissolved parliament and risked getting a result they didn't like. And the story of Jenny Sacerdote – France's Roa…

1
Turkey set on rebuilding bridges with China to improve trade 6:09

11d ago6:09

6:09

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan's visit to China earlier this month is the latest diplomatic effort by Ankara to become a strategic trade hub between Europe and China. But Beijing's suspicions over Ankara's support of Chinese Uyghur dissidents is widely seen as an obstacle. Bilateral trade and developing new trade routes were at the top of Tur…

1
Check the source! 23:34

14d ago23:34

23:34

This week on The Sound Kitchen you’ll hear the answer to the question about the disinformation campaign around the European Union’s “Green Deal” campaign. There’s “On This Day”, “The Listener’s Corner”, and plenty of good music. All that and the new quiz and bonus questions too, so click on the “Play” button above and enjoy! Hello everyone! Welcome…

1
Global South amplifies calls for compensation for historical injustices 17:41

14d ago17:41

17:41

This week, we are addressing the issue of reparations for historical injustices, including slavery, colonial violence, and war crimes. Calls for compensation are gaining momentum, particularly in the Global South, with a strong focus on the Caribbean and Africa. These reparations could take various forms, primarily financial compensation. Activists…

1
How Turkey's support for Ukraine is a double-edged sword 4:49

20d ago4:49

4:49

Turkish companies are emerging as significant suppliers of weapons to Ukraine and are supporting United States efforts to resolve Kyiv's ammunition shortages. However, this support is a challenge to Ankara's efforts to balance its relationship with Moscow and its Western allies. Turkey has managed to tread a fine diplomatic line by maintaining ties…

1
Exile or prison? 38:13

22d ago38:13

38:13

This week on The Sound Kitchen you’ll hear the answer to the question about the last-minute film added to the Cannes Film Festival line-up. There’s “The Listener’s Corner” with Paul Myers, the latest from the Roland Garros French Open, and plenty of good music. All that and the new quiz and bonus questions too, so click on the “Play” button above a…

1
Podcast: D-Day and its aftermath seen through French and American eyes 26:57

22d ago26:57

26:57

The United States played a key role in the Allied effort to liberate Western Europe from the Nazis, but not everyone sees it in the same light. As France marks the 80th anniversary of D-Day, an American veteran reflects on the differing ways the US and France remember the war. Meanwhile, historians recall the large number of civilians killed during…

1
Plundered art and artefacts 35:04

29d ago35:04

35:04

This week on The Sound Kitchen you’ll hear the answer to the question about plundered art in French museums. There’s a quick trip to Switzerland, “The Listener’s Corner” with Paul Myers, Ollia’s “Happy Moment”, and “Music from Erwan”. All that and the new quiz and bonus questions too, so click on the “Play” button above and enjoy! Hello everyone! W…

1
Turkey's Saturday Mothers keep up vigil for lost relatives 4:43

27d ago4:43

4:43

Turkey's longest-running peaceful protest has entered its thousandth week. For decades, the "Saturday Mothers" have been holding silent vigils to demand justice for relatives who disappeared while being held by security forces. At Galatasaray Square, in the heart of Istanbul, a mother calls out for justice for a child who's not been seen for decade…

1
With South Africa's ANC losing majority, coalition government looms 18:38

1M ago18:38

18:38

In this episode of Spotlight on Africa, Melissa Chemam discusses the recent elections in South Africa and the possibility of the ruling ANC losing its overall majority, potentially forcing it into a coalition government. On 29 May, South Africans participated in parliamentary and provincial elections in the most fiercely contested vote since the en…

1
A best friend as a hero 9:02

1M ago9:02

9:02

Feast your ears on listener Rodrigo Hunriche’s “My Ordinary Hero” essay. All it takes is a little click on the “Play” button above! Hello everyone! This week on The Sound Kitchen, you’ll hear a “My Ordinary Hero” essay by listener Rodrigo Hunrichse from Chile. I hope you’ll be inspired to write an essay for us, too! If your essay goes on the air, y…

1
President Raisi's death casts shadow over diplomatic tensions with Turkey 4:39

1M ago4:39

4:39

Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi was laid to rest on Thursday, concluding days of funeral rites attended by thousands of mourners after his death in a helicopter crash last week. Experts say the tragedy may well increase tensions between Iran and Turkey, both vying for influence in the Middle East. Hundreds of thousands marched in Raisi's home town …

1
Forgotten Sudan 26:08

1M ago26:08

26:08

This week on The Sound Kitchen you’ll hear the answer to the question about the Sudan conference in Paris. There’s “The Listener’s Corner” with Paul Myers – who also cooked up “Music from Paul” for us this week - and of course, the new quiz and bonus questions, so click on the “Play” button above and enjoy! Hello everyone! Welcome to The Sound Kitc…

1
South Africa's 2024 Elections: young voters and the legacy of apartheid 17:11

1M ago17:11

17:11

South Africa is holding general and provincial elections on 29 May. In this episode of Spotlight on Africa, we look at young people and the elections and how the country has changed since the end of apartheid in 1994. First, we talked to the director of the Ichikowitz Family Foundation, Ivor Ichikowitz, who outlines the impact of corruption in Sout…

1
Wingèd Victory 25:00

2M ago25:00

25:00

This week on The Sound Kitchen you’ll hear the answer to the question about Nike and the Olympic medals. There’s “The Listener’s Corner” with Paul Myers, Erwan Rome’s “Music from Erwan”, and of course, the new quiz and bonus questions, so click on the “Play” button above and enjoy! Hello everyone! Welcome to The Sound Kitchen weekly podcast, publis…

1
Greek and Turkish leaders ready for diplomacy talks amid Aegean tensions 4:58

2M ago4:58

4:58

Greece and Turkey are stepping up rapprochement efforts, with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visiting Turkey on Monday for talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The trip is part of detente attempts after years of tensions centered on territorial disputes in the Aegean Sea. Monday's meeting follows Erdogan's visit to Athens last December, w…

1
Podcast: Pro-Palestinian student protests, French euroscepticism, Channel Tunnel 31:15

2M ago31:15

31:15

How student protests in support of Palestinians at Paris's political science institute are different from those in the US, a look at France's growing disaffection with Europe, and the long birth of the Channel Tunnel linking France to Britain – 30 years old this week. Student protests against Israel's war in Gaza came to a head in the past week, wh…

1
Turkey cuts trade with Israel but seeks role in resolving Gaza conflict 5:21

2M ago5:21

5:21

Turkey has cut off trade with Israel as bilateral relations deteriorate over the Gaza conflict. The move follows domestic calls for a tougher stance against Israel, while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is seeking a more prominent regional role. The Turkish Trade Ministry announced Friday that all exports and imports with Israel have been cu…

1
From Paris to Beijing 1:14:03

2M ago1:14:03

1:14:03

This week on The Sound Kitchen you’ll hear the answer to the question about diplomatic relations between China and France. There’s a salute to the month of May, “The Listener’s Corner”, Ollia Horton's “Happy Moment”, and Erwan Rome’s “Music from Erwan”. All that and the new quiz and bonus questions too, so click on the “Play” button above and enjoy…

1
Aid flotilla from Turkey aims to break Gaza blockade but risks fresh crisis 4:51

2M ago4:51

4:51

A group of international activists are seeking to break Israel's blockade of Gaza with a flotilla of vessels carrying aid. But with 10 people killed by Israeli security forces in a similar mission 14 years ago, fears are growing that the latest flotilla could provoke a fresh crisis. The loading of medical supplies and food is underway on the Akdeni…

1
A robot in space 28:36

2M ago28:36

28:36

This week on The Sound Kitchen you’ll hear the answer to the question about India’s humanoid space robot. There’s listener news and “On This Day”, “The Listener’s Corner” with Paul Myers, lots of good music, and of course, the new quiz and bonus questions, so click on the “Play” button above and enjoy! Hello everyone! Welcome to The Sound Kitchen w…

1
Podcast: War on youth, Ionesco in Paris, French women's right to vote 33:29

2M ago33:29

33:29

Why French youth are once again under fire as the government vows to crack down on violent crime. The staying power of Ionesco's The Bald Soprano in one of Paris's smallest theatres. And why French women won the right to vote so much later than many of their European neighbours. In recent weeks President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Gabriel A…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

RFI English Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide