Try these 10 Ukrainian podcasts to improve your Ukrainian! Isn’t listening the most difficult language skill to master? You work with your teacher and everything goes swimmingly until s/he plays a recording of some native speakers. Their speech seems impossible to understand, doesn’t it?
No need to fall into despair! There is a great tool to help you with it – Ukrainian podcasts! You must have heard something about them. But have you tried using them to improve your Ukrainian? No? Let’s do it then!
1. “Буде тобі наука” (Bude tobi nauka, ‘you’ll have a lesson’)
Level: A2 and up
To be honest, this isn’t really a podcast. On this channel you’ll find recordings of some articles published in “Куншт” (Kunsht), one of the greatest Ukrainian magazines. It teaches readers/listeners about the most fascinating discoveries in science.
This almost-podcast has two major advantages for Ukrainian language learners. First, its language is quite easy to understand as scientists mostly use common international terms. Second, you may find texts of the articles on kunsht.com.ua to use as transcripts.
This way, you improve two skills at the same time and your Ukrainian gets some bonus points. Third, its name – “буде тобі наука” – is a play on words. Aside from ‘you’ll have a lesson’, which is its literal meaning, there’s an idiomatic one: you’ll know better next time, you won’t repeat your mistakes again. Don’t thank me 🙂
2. “Акустика Тіней” (Akustyka Tinei, ‘acoustics of shadows’)
Level: B1 and up
Behind the mysterious name is a podcast about world literature. The author, Ivanna Shkromyda, interviews literary critics and professors to present writers who shaped literature as an art. The most recent episodes are about Hermann Hesse, Albert Camus, and George Orwell. In between the stories of their lives, she plays some music to help you dive into the era they lived in.
3. “Культурний лекторій” (Kulturnyi lektorii, ‘cultural lectures’)
Level: B1 and up
This podcast is a collection of lectures about cinema by Lukian Halkin. If you’re a cinema-lover, you’ll love it too.
Don’t worry, the speaker doesn’t spoil any plot twists. Instead, he presents the history of this art based on facts and – more interestingly – juicy gossip. It’s both educational and entertaining.
Also, it inspires you to watch (or rewatch) the classics, which have formed the world of cinema as we know it.
4. “Радіо Скорбота” (Radio Skorbota, ‘grief radio’)
Level: B2 and up
Don’t be so serious, this podcast is not really about grief. This may be the most ironic podcast on our agenda today. A few guys have decided to play some melancholic music while discussing the most random stuff. What’s in it for you? Native speakers in their natural habitat, that’s what!
Moreover, they play lots of contemporary Ukrainian songs and invite some artists to talk. Among the most recent ones, there are KAZKA, The Erised, and Хамерман знищує віруси. Trust me, you’ll enjoy their silly conversations and witty jokes.
5. Ранкова доза (Rankova doza, ‘morning dose’)
Level: A2 and up
This is one for book lovers. The motto of this podcast is great: “If you are tired of listening to news, it is time to listen to books.” Every morning at 8 they post an extract from a book chosen by a celebrity. The majority of extracts are from Ukrainian literature, so you will get a preview of what Ukrainians write about. If you hear something you like, you may end up reading the whole thing and improve your reading skills as well 😉
6. “Інше інтерв’ю” (Inshe intervju, ‘a different interview’)
Level: B1 and up
The best thing about this podcast is that it introduces you to Ukrainian celebrities. The host, Volodymyr Anfimov, talks to musicians, writers, journalists, etc. He is a professional interviewer who has decided to create his own thing. It is meant to be more natural and enjoyable than usual talks with celebrities. Each person has their own unique experience and knowledge, so it is fascinating. They talk about their ups and downs on the road to success; that is why I find it really inspiring too.
7. “Антропоцешо” (Antropocesho, ‘Anthropocene + what’s this’)
Level: B1 and up
The name of this podcast is a mix of words антропоцен + це шо. Obviously, the hosts explain what Anthropocene is, but that’s not all. They talk about the importance and challenges of being responsible, proactive and eco-friendly. They suggest possible solutions too. This may be the youngest podcast on our list since they have just finished the first season. It is part of a podcast family called Radio Podil. Their motto is ‘Not embarrassing podcasts’ 🙂 You will not regret listening to it!
8. “Подкаст Підкаст” (Podcast Pidcast)
Level: B1 and up
It is the most lively genre of podcasts where two friends (not experts in any field) discuss everything they are interested in. Their favorite topics include Ukrainian politics, society and culture. From time to time they put in more effort and create an episode called Розбір where they take apart some difficult topics, such as coronavirus, American elections or the phenomenon of Ukrainian podcasts 🙂
9. Кляті питання (Kliati pytannia, ‘damn questions’)
Level: B2 and up
The range of topics for this podcast is similar to Подкаст Підкаст, almost anything can be discussed here. The major difference is that the host is a professional journalist and he invites experts from different fields. This way, the conversation is more well-grounded. The podcast provides all the essential information on current issues in Ukraine. This way, you kill two birds with one stone: improve your Ukrainian and stay updated.
10. Ukrainian Lessons Podcast
Level: all
And last but not least – Ukrainian Lessons Podcast, the essential podcast for everyone learning Ukrainian. It covers all the main language points – both grammar and vocabulary.
It has two major parts – Ukrainian and English. The first one is native speakers talking, the second is Anna, the teacher, giving explanations and offering some insight to clarify what was said in the Ukrainian part.
There are three seasons, with each one getting more advanced than the previous. Season 1 is for complete beginners, Season 2 focuses on elementary and pre-intermediate levels. Season 3 is for the intermediate level learners.
What about Season 4 and advanced learners? Well, good news! New lessons are coming very soon!
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I hope you have found something interesting among these Ukrainian podcasts. Put on your headphones, click ‘play’ and give your Ukrainian a boost! And then tell us about your experience in the comments below 😉
If you’re looking for something more visual, you should check out 12+ Ukrainian YouTube Channels To Practice Your Ukrainian
Learning Ukrainian and looking for great resources? Check out 1000 most common words in Ukrainian with the interactive flashcards.
