Seven European podcasts for you to add to your queue

Andreea Coscai, podcast producer, marketer and founder and editor of Eurowaves, a newsletter spotlighting European podcasts and industries, shares her choice of listening.

The podcasting world, including the UK industry, is closely watching the US market. But there’s a lot to learn from observing what’s happening in other parts of the world.

The European ecosystem has many fantastic projects, cross-border collaborations, and both network-backed and independent podcasts.

Here’s a list of a few shows to add to your queue and help you discover what’s happening in the European space.

You can find more recommendations in my newsletter dedicated to European podcasting, Eurowaves!

Titania/Unleashed by Podium Podcast (PRISA Audio)

If you’re a fan of fiction podcasts or an audio nerd like myself, do yourself a favour and check this out. The podcast is an audio thriller where “technology changes the rules of the game.”

The sound design is top-notch and the acting absolutely lures you in. It’s a must-listen with headphones on to do it justice.

The production is originally in Spanish and it made absolute waves in the Spanish-speaking world.

Titania won many well-deserved awards: “Best Podcast” in Premios Ondas 2023 and “Best Branded” in Premios Ondas Globales del Podcast 2023. The Spanish version wrapped season 2, and the English version was released in 2024.

Goes to show how creative these kinds of partnerships can get if brands are open to the possibilities of audio. I started listening to both the English and Spanish versions so I can practice my language skills, and it’s working!

The Europeans The Oatly Chronicles 

This podcast is all about European news told in a fun, engaging way. Katy and Dominic do just that.

Part 1 is titled The Big Dairy Problem. Us Europeans LOVE our dairy. In fact, as I will have learned from this episode, Europeans consumed 220 kg of dairy per person in 2022. Also, 30-40% of Europeans are vegetarian and only 3-4% are vegan. Not surprising!

This series is so well-done and brings forth so many strong, well-researched arguments about dairy consumption and its impact on the environment.

Part 2 goes into the investment of the controversial firm Blackstone investment in Oatly. Blackstone has directly invested in actors involved in deforestation, displacement and gentrification. They were referred to as “vulture funds”.

The Europeans’ catalogue has your classic, chatty and informative episodes about European news and also hits you with a limited-series like this one that blows you away.

Where’s Home Really? 

After reading Podimo’s 2024 Global Trend Report, I started digging through some of their past productions. One of my absolute favorites I uncovered is Where’s Home Really with Jimi Famurewa.

The last episode was published December 2023 but there is a lengthy catalogue available to go through.

I listened to the conversation with Adjoa Andoh and the one with Nish Kumar. I truly loved learning about their cultural backgrounds, reflections on what home truly means (it’s always a mixed bag) and generally, the banter. A wonderful thing about Europe is how diverse it is and I think we should all spend more time educating ourselves on that and celebrating it.

ARE WE EUROPE

This is a phenomenal podcast that released a series called This Is What A Generation Sounds Like. It’s a collection of intimate stories, bursting with sound design.

I was instantly hooked when I found the episode with Denisa, a Romanian young girl who moved to Germany when she was just a teenager. She goes into detail about her experience, the rollercoaster of emotions and the nuances of it. This is perfect for fans of narrative podcasts.

Born Greek – Made American

The International Women’s Podcast Awards are such a precious resource and space to celebrate the industry’s best!

One of the 2024 runner-ups was Born Greek – Made American. This show explores Greek-American history, international adoptions and broken families, espionage and treason. But ultimately, it’s a human story.

I absolutely love how the podcast is structured, narrated and how it keeps you on your toes. This is also a fantastic example of how cross-cultural podcasts can be tailored and help listeners of seemingly very different backgrounds come together and learn from one another. Amazing!

Dig Where You Stand (Germany)

This is a heavy topic but such a deeply important one. Europe’s history of colonization has an impact until present day. It must be addressed.

This three-part podcast investigates ancestral remains held in Berlin institutions. It is absolutely heartbreaking to hear the stories of people and communities whose ancestors were ripped away from them.

The podcast talks with experts, researchers, activists, filmmakers, and museum directors. It’s aiming to contribute to the conversation of the ongoing fight for repatriation. I appreciate that the narrative puts focus on the people who were most impacted by these horrendous events.

Little Devils by TRZ Media

This podcast goes to show just why audio is so unique. I won’t spoil what the first episode is about, but just know it’s a testament to being human.

The podcast as a whole, actually, is a testament to how far being curious about the human experience will take you.

Take a listen with your headphones on, try not to multitask while listening to this one. Really let yourself be guided by the vulnerability and realness.  

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