Best RFI English Podcasts (2024)

1
Turkey witnesses wine boom, despite government restrictions and tax hikes 4:52

3h ago4:52

4:52

In Turkey, hundreds of new producers are growing the country's wine industry, and its international reputation – despite increasing taxation and controls by President Erdogan's religious, conservative government. Grapes have been grown for centuries in Manisa, western Turkey. It is here that Fulya Akinci and her Spanish husband, Jose Hernandez Gonz…

1
Too little, too late? 28:06

1h ago28:06

28:06

This week on The Sound Kitchen you’ll hear the answer to the question about the COP16 Biodiversity Summit. There’s “The Listener’s Corner”, and music chosen just for you by our ace “mixer”, Vincent Pora. Of course, there’s the new quiz and bonus questions too, so click on the “Play” button above and enjoy! Hello everyone! Welcome to The Sound Kitch…

1
Podcast: Dictionary wars, France digests Trump, disaster solidarity 31:30

1h ago31:30

31:30

Controversy around the latest edition of the Académie Française dictionary. How France is processing the re-election of US President-elect Donald Trump. The first disaster to prompt waves of international solidarity. The Academie Française, guardian of the French language since 1635, has issued the 9th edition of its official dictionary, with 21,00…

1
Turkish radio ban is latest attack on press freedom, warn activists 5:38

37m ago5:38

5:38

The banning of an Istanbul-based independent radio station has sparked political condemnation and protests in Turkey. With a mission to bridge the country's cultural divides over the last 30 years, Acik Radio's closure is seen as part of the government's attempts to tighten its grip on the media. Turkey's media regulator, RTUK, revoked the station'…

1
Speedy East Africans at the fore 32:59

8h ago32:59

32:59

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

1
Africans push food systems and climate justice at Cop29 20:48

15h ago20:48

20:48

This week's Spotlight on Africa dives into Cop29’s critical discussions on climate change – focusing on food systems, green energy funding and who should pay for climate disasters. With talks underway in Baku, Azerbaijan, negotiators and experts are grappling with solutions to the growing crisis. Zitouni Ould Dada, representing the FAIRR Initiative…

1
Turkish President Erdogan ready to rekindle friendship with Trump 5:30

5d ago5:30

5:30

With Donald Trump on course to begin his second term as US president, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is eyeing renewed opportunities for collaboration – hoping to rekindle the close relationship the two shared during Trump’s first presidency. Erdogan, who congratulated Trump as a "friend" on social media, sees this as a chance to reshape US…

1
Trouble in the Sahara 21:12

5d ago21:12

21:12

This week on The Sound Kitchen you’ll hear the answer to the question about the troubled relationship between France and Algeria. There’s “The Listener’s Corner” with Paul Myers, Erwan Rome’s “Music from Erwan”, and of course, the new quiz and bonus questions too, so click on the “Play” button above and enjoy! Hello everyone! Welcome to The Sound K…

1
Podcast: France's packaging problem, spider crab invasion, women's labour rights 28:28

7d ago28:28

28:28

After a ban on single-use plastic food containers, France tackles shipping packaging in its fight to reduce waste. A stand-off between mussel farmers and spider crab fishers in Brittany. And the 1924 sardine strike that set the example for women demanding labour rights. France produces 2.2 million tonnes of plastic packaging a year, most of which d…

1
Harris and Trump double down in Pennsylvania on eve of US election 5:45

10d ago5:45

5:45

As the United States stands on the brink of what many are calling the most consequential presidential election in recent history, the nation is focused on the battleground state of Pennsylvania, where both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump organised last-day rallies. RFI's Jan van der Made looks back at a campaign marke…

1
Turkey eyes US presidential race that stands to shake up mutual ties 5:50

11d ago5:50

5:50

With the presidential election in the United States only days away, Turkey is watching the vote closely. While Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan enjoyed a close working relationship with Donald Trump when he was president, analysts warn that a second term for Trump wouldn't come without risks for Ankara. Erdogan has avoided commenting on the U…

1
Caught in the act, or political harassment? 26:15

12d ago26:15

26:15

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

1
UN rapporteur says Israel's war in Gaza is 'emptying the land completely' 12:24

13d ago12:24

12:24

A year of war in Gaza has undermined international law and threatens to make the strip uninhabitable, according to the United Nations special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese. She tells RFI why she is making the case for Israel's offensive to be classified a genocide. More than 1.8 million Palestinians in Gaza …

1
Cultural exchanges beyond borders as African art gains global interest 17:54

15d ago17:54

17:54

African contemporary arts are attracting increasing interest thanks to a packed season stretching from Europe to Africa. Artists and curators from across the continent and the diaspora reflect on the impact of cultural exchanges beyond their borders – from London to Paris, Luanda to Dakar. October and November are set to host a series of events cel…

1
Egypt and Turkey's closer ties spark hope for peace among Libya’s rival factions 4:24

18d ago4:24

4:24

The recent rapprochement between Egypt and Turkey, long-standing supporters of rival factions in Libya, offers a potential pathway to easing tensions in the North African country. Libya resumed oil exports this month after a pause caused by a dispute over control of the country’s central bank, which oversees oil exports. "This was a serious crisis,…

1
Will French politicians learn to compromise? 38:40

22d ago38:40

38:40

This week on The Sound Kitchen you’ll hear the answer to the question about the number of political groups in France’s National Assembly. There’s “The Listener’s Corner” with Paul Myers, Erwan Rome’s “Music from Erwan”, and of course, the new quiz and bonus questions too, so click on the “Play” button above and enjoy! Hello everyone! Welcome to The…

1
France faces credit downgrade as Moody's readies verdict on €3.2 trillion debt 6:03

1M ago6:03

6:03

Earlier this month, U.S. credit rating agency Fitch upheld its AA- rating for French debt, but shifted the outlook from "stable" to "negative." On 25 October, Moody’s is set to deliver its assessment. If France’s budget plans falter, the country risks a credit rating downgrade, which would drive up borrowing costs and further inflate the national d…

1
Turkey fears new wave of refugees as Israel continues Lebanon offensive 4:00

29d ago4:00

4:00

More than 400,000 people have fled to Syria to escape Israel's military operations in Lebanon, according to the United Nations. With the numbers expected to grow as Israel steps up its offensive, neighbouring Turkey, already home to the world's largest number of refugees, fears a new wave of people seeking sanctuary. Over 405,000 people – both Leba…

1
Madam Ambassador 34:51

29d ago34:51

34:51

This week on The Sound Kitchen you’ll hear the answer to the question about the new plan for gender equity at France’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. There’s a recap of this year’s Nobel Prizes, “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 …

1
Ghana grapples with crisis caused by world's throwaway fashion 22:37

1M ago22:37

22:37

This week's podcast focuses on textile waste from fast fashion. As cheap clothes from China, Asia and Europe increasingly end up in West Africa, pollution is rising – particularly in Ghana. RFI spoke to Greenpeace Africa investigators to understand the scale of the issue and how to combat it. Ghana is being swamped by millions of unwanted clothes f…

1
Algerian military’s 'more important role' 22:39

1M ago22:39

22:39

This week on The Sound Kitchen you’ll hear the answer to the question about the new role for Algeria’s military. There’s a poem written by RFI Listeners Club member Helmut Matt, “The Listener’s Corner”, 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! Hello ever…

1
Podcast: French song's popularity abroad, screens in school, France's Nobels 33:51

1M ago33:51

33:51

Why songs in French are attracting new audiences in non-francophone countries. How are French schools using screens in classrooms? And the history of France's Nobel prizes. The Paris Olympic Games and Paralympics gave French-language songs huge exposure, adding new fans to the global audience already growing on streaming platforms. But what kind of…

1
Turkey deepens Somali ties with energy push, but rising Ethiopia tensions jeopardise investments 5:19

1M ago5:19

5:19

Turkey's deployment of an energy research ship accompanied by a naval escort to Somalia is the latest step in deepening bilateral ties. However, rising Ethiopian-Somali tensions threaten Turkey's substantial investments in Somalia, as Ankara's mediation efforts stall. With a great deal of fanfare, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended the…

1
Four for three 32:01

1M ago32:01

32:01

This week on The Sound Kitchen you’ll hear the answer to the question about the number of medals won by French Paralympians in the triathlon events at the 2024 Paris Paralympics Games. There’s “On This Day”, “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 to…

1
What are Africa's economic needs amid rising competition between China and the West? 16:01

1M ago16:01

16:01

Following a month filled with key summits and continued trade negotiations across Africa, this week's edition of Spotlight on Africa examines the growing rivalry between China and Western nations as they vie for business opportunities on the continent. This week, our focus shifts to the dynamics of Chinese-African-Western relations. In September, a…

1
Erdogan's anti-Israel rhetoric falters as Turkey loses regional clout 5:45

2M ago5:45

5:45

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has used the United Nations General Assembly to criticise Israel and its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But as Erdogan tries to lead opposition to Israel, Turkey is finding itself increasingly sidelined in the region. At the UN, Erdogan again compared Israel to Hitler, calling for an "international allianc…

1
Counting the heroes 26:27

2M ago26:27

26:27

This week on The Sound Kitchen you’ll hear the answer to the question about the number of Paralympians in the 2024 Paris Paralympics Games. There’s “On This Day”, “The Listener’s Corner”, great music, and of course, the new quiz and bonus questions too, so click on the “Play” button above and enjoy! Hello everyone! Welcome to The Sound Kitchen week…

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