Even more than in some European countries, podcasts have quickly become popular in France. This is because the French enjoy listening to content that resembles radio programmes, and some of the most popular podcasts in the country are produced by radio stations. However, there are other factors that contribute to the success of storytelling, starting with the high quality of the content produced. And the possibility of listening to them at any time and on multiple platforms.
Below is a list of 10 podcasts ranging from technology to space, science to cybersecurity, shows for budding entrepreneurs and ideal for exploring the human mind.
Tech Podcasts
Le Fil AI – A daily programme dedicated to technology, offering bite-sized information to keep up with the daily flow of news related to the evolution of AI.
Episodes last 2-3 minutes, which is just enough time to summarise the topic of the day and not miss out on the latest news about chatbots, features, experiments, and investments in French and international AI. Listen on shows.acast.com
Romain Lanéry – A 360-degree overview of what’s happening in the wide world of technology, covering its many nuances. This is the podcast by Romain Lanéry, a YouTuber with over 1 million followers and other popular podcasts such as “20 minutes avec”.
Starting as a tech product tester more than ten years ago, Lanéry gained a large following on social media, and his podcasts are also available as videos on YouTube. A weekly 20-30 minute show that delves into the topic of the day (from the secrets of Telegram to the success of Shazam). Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcast and YouTube.
Cybersecurity Podcast
Underscore – A long-running project by Micode, the nickname of Michael de Marliave, a videomaker who is very popular in France for his work on technology. In 2021, he launched the talk show Underscore on Twitch and YouTube, dedicated to hacking, the development of artificial intelligence and the hottest technologies of the moment.
Initially broadcast every two months with episodes lasting at least 90 minutes, it has become the most popular French-language tech podcast in France. It has even interviewed the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron. You can listen to it on all platforms.
Entrepreneurship Podcasts
GDIY – Génération Do It Yourself – Starting one’s own business ensures a large following for content related to entrepreneurship and how to improve one’s business. This is why some of the most popular podcasts in the country deal with techniques and offer advice to those who want to create a new professional position for themselves.
GDIY is a collection of interviews with artists, sportspeople and many entrepreneurs who talk about their careers without filters. The topics covered are wide-ranging and topical, from French Tech to cryptocurrencies, investment and ecology. The episodes are long, sometimes over two and a half hours, and can be listened to on the usual platforms as well as on the GDIY website.
A parts égales – A podcast made by women for women, based on interviews with prominent figures offering valuable professional and personal advice. The theme linking all the episodes is the relationship between the protagonist and money: how she manages it, how it has influenced her career choices, and how it has changed her outlook and her life.
Marie-Lahya Simon interviews entrepreneurs, models, influencers, actresses and writers, who offer different, useful and insightful points of view for listeners. You can listen to it on Apple Podcast and Spotify.
Young, Wild and Freelance – The title sums up the target audience of the podcast, which aims to offer practical guidance to those who have chosen a contract-free life to follow their creativity. The podcast consists of two parts: 60-90 minute interviews with entrepreneurs to find out how they found the path to success and the opinion of Thomas Burbidge (creator and host) on the most current issues.
These range from business planning and financial management to practical techniques for selling products and optimising your imagination. In addition to the usual platforms, the podcast can also be listened to on Ausha.
Science Podcasts
La Science, CQFD – Ethics, ecology, and political and economic implications related to current research. This is the focus of the daily podcast La Science hosted by Natacha Triou on Radio France, which tackles topics related to scientific developments with experts in 60-minute episodes.
The right podcast to discover the secrets of matter and antimatter, to learn about epigenetics or which molecules fight bacterial infections. High-quality content is available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
La Terre au carré – Regenerative hydrology that puts water science at the service of natural water cycles, the latest discoveries about galaxies that support the idea that we live in a black hole. These are just two examples of how La Terre au carré covers science, ranging from nature and pollution to global warming and practical solutions.
The podcast is hosted by Mathieu Vidard and alternates between short 4-5 minute episodes and half-hour episodes, which can be listened to on Radio France, Apple Podcast and Spotify.
Space Podcast
Mystère é Étoiles – Delving into the greatest enigmas and investigating the mysteries of the universe to try to understand what lies behind them and what has determined the sequence of events.
This is how the daily podcast by YouTuber Zebroloss opens the doors of astronomy to the curious. The topics are interesting, and the voice and style of the content are very recognisable. It can be listened to on the usual platforms.
Psyche Podcast
Méta de Choc – Why do we think what we think? It sounds like a play on words, but it is actually the ambition of the podcast hosted by Élisabeth Feytit, who explores the human mind to discover how it works.
Metacognition is a huge topic because you have to consider a wide range of factors to understand what goes on in people’s heads and how we form our judgements. But also the reasons for mental vulnerabilities in the face of manipulation, perceptions and intuitions, which sometimes deceive us and sometimes save us. In addition to Spotify and Apple Podcast, the podcast can also be listened to on the Meta de choc website.
