Beginner
A safe way to start out is with podcasts that’ll introduce you to basic grammar concepts and “survival” phrases. Typically, they feature short episodes with examples in Russian followed by explanations in English. For a better grasp of the material, listening to the audio should go hand in hand with reading the transcripts.
Episode length: ∼ 20 minutes
With only 30 episodes, the podcast breaks down Russian grammar through contextual learning and pattern recognition techniques. The authors actively involve listeners by encouraging them to repeat the phrases out loud, and after each episode watch a couple of clips from Russian TV on the topic.
Speaking Russian with Elvira Ivanovna
Episode length: ∼ 5 minutes
This listen-and-repeat podcast will help you practice your pronunciation and expand your active vocabulary. Elvira provides several sentences for each word in different contexts – and if it’s a common verb, she will conjugate it first. As a result, you’ll be able to hold basic conversations and recognize filler words.
Episode length: ∼ 2 minutes
Each episode is a brief conversation between the host, Alyonka, and her friends on everyday topics such as work, hobbies, and leisure. Each dialogue is played twice: first at natural speed and then at a slower pace. In the final segment, the hosts highlight new common expressions used throughout the conversation.
Intermediate
As you grow more confident in your Russian, you can enjoy podcasts that focus on storytelling rather than explaining grammar. At this level, the greatest options are entirely in Russian, but don’t worry: they are slow and easily comprehensible, without any complex collocations or constructions. Of course, transcripts are also available.
Comprehensible Russian Podcast – Russian with Max
Episode length: ∼ 30 minutes
From the history of Yandex, the Russian IT giant, to the experience of living in the Russian countryside, Max touches upon complex Russia-related topics with accessible vocabulary. With the knowledge and fun facts shared in the episodes, you’ll impress even native speakers. The author also has a YouTube channel where you can watch the very same episodes with English or Russian subtitles.
Episode length: ∼ 25 minutes
Artyom Nazarov from Novosibirsk shares his personal experiences and records conversations with his friends for Russian learners specifically. With him, you get to explore different locations in Russia and beyond, hear about life in Russia from the point of view of foreigners, and more. A full transcript of each episode is available with a paid subscription.
Episode length: ∼ 15 minutes
This podcast by HSE Moscow students has only six episodes but is definitely worth your attention. Each one is dedicated to a cultural phenomenon, like railways or dacha, and offers a cozy overview of everyday life in Russia. Some of the topics are discussed with guest experts and foreigners.
Credit: ITMO.NEWS
Advanced
While the topics in the advanced-level podcasts may be similar to those at the intermediate level, the delivery changes significantly. You can expect more idioms and slang, with fewer comments and explanations. The speech sounds authentically Russian and features a faster pace, helping you get closer to achieving your own fluency.
Episode length: ∼ 15 minutes
For listeners who would like to master Russian like Alexander Pushkin, the podcast’s author delivers monologues on all sorts of topics including Russian history, cinematography, and more general subjects such as sleep or burnout. Here, there's no talk of rules of lengthy explanations: just natural, conversational Russian speech.
Russian Podcast with Tatiana Klimova
Episode length: ∼5-20 minutes
With over 420 episodes of varying length, the podcast covers nearly every topic, including the viral "quadrobers." Over its 17-year history, it has accumulated a large community of avid listeners in Russia and abroad – what could be a better proof of its quality?
If a deep cultural immersion is what you’re looking for, you don’t have to limit yourself to content created for learners! You can explore various topics like arts, history, science, or finance in podcasts from popular platforms Arzamas, T–Ж, or libo-libo.
