# Learning Chinese with Podcasts (3): 7 Theme-Based Mandarin Podcast Categories for Learners

https://ijuhsu.com/en/posts/huayupodcast-3 · 2020-12-28
Category: teaching · Tags: podcast

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## Who Are These Theme-Based Mandarin Podcasts For?

In the previous post, [Learning Chinese with Podcasts (2): 10 Mandarin Learning Podcasts for Learners](/en/huayupodcast-2/), we introduced ten shows focused specifically on teaching Mandarin. This installment is for more advanced learners — those who are ready to engage with content that native Mandarin speakers actually listen to. We've organized the recommendations into seven thematic categories: technology, finance and business, news and current affairs, travel and culture, knowledge and science, literature, and celebrity interviews.

After a conference session wrapped up, a friend and I got to chatting about language learning experiences, and I heard a story that stuck with me.

There was a Japanese grandfather who had been recording his everyday life as a podcast. One day he checked his analytics and was surprised to find a large overseas audience. It turned out that people learning Japanese abroad were tuning in — not because it was a language-learning show (which might feel too easy or too scripted), but because a natural, everyday conversation in Japanese was exactly what they needed to practice listening.

It's the same instinct that leads English learners to start watching English-language TV once they reach a certain level. I'm sure there are plenty of Mandarin learners at that stage who are hungry for exactly this kind of content. So here's a categorized list of Mandarin-language podcasts, organized by topic, for anyone interested in a particular area.

Since there are so many platforms, I'm primarily linking to Spotify; you can also search for any of these shows by name on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and elsewhere. :)
The order is completely arbitrary — just whatever I happened to come across. XD

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## Technology

### 科技島讀 (Tech Island Reads)

### 星箭廣播 (StarRocket Radio)

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## Finance & Business

### Gooaye 股癌 (Stock Cancer)

### 大人的small talk (Adult Small Talk)

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## News & Current Affairs

### 轉角國際 Daily Podcast (Global Turning Point Daily)

### 轉角國際 重磅廣播 (Global Turning Point Heavy Broadcast)

### 百靈果NEWS (BilinguNews)

### 敏迪選讀 (Mindi's Reads)

### The Real Story — By 報導者 (The Reporter)

### 記者手札 (Reporter's Notebook)

* * *

## Travel & Culture

### 解鎖地球 Unlock the Earth

### 旅行熱炒店 (Travel Stir-Fry)

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## Knowledge & Science

### 知識好好玩 (Knowledge Playground)

A small plug: I host the "語言好好玩 (Language Playground)" segment in Seasons 1–4 of this show, which covers topics related to language education and Teaching Chinese as a Second Language (TCSL). :P

### 哇賽心理學 (WOW Psychology)

### 法客電台 BY楊貴智 (Flaw-Less Radio by Yang Guizhi)

### 歷史下酒菜 (History as a Drinking Snack)

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## Literature

### 鏡文化為你朗讀 (Mirror Culture Reads to You)

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## Celebrity Interviews

### 馬力歐陪你喝一杯 (Mario Drinks With You)

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There are so many Mandarin-language podcasts out there these days. The ones listed here are shows I personally enjoy or listen to regularly — but recommendations are very welcome!

Thanks for following this series. If you want to go deeper, feel free to read the original academic paper: [Not Just for Learners: New-Generation Podcasts and Their Diverse Applications for Mandarin Language Learners and Teachers](https://www.academia.edu/44784990/%E4%B8%8D%E5%8F%AA%E6%98%AF%E5%AD%B8%E7%BF%92%E8%80%85%E7%9A%84_Podcast_%E6%96%B0%E4%B8%80%E4%BB%A3_Podcast_%E5%B0%8D%E8%8F%AF%E8%AA%9E%E6%96%87%E5%AD%B8%E7%BF%92%E8%80%85%E5%8F%8A%E6%95%99%E5%B8%AB%E7%9A%84%E5%A4%9A%E5%85%83%E6%87%89%E7%94%A8). XD

Other posts in this series:

[Learning Chinese with Podcasts (1): 3 Reasons Every TCSL Teacher Should Know About Podcasts](/en/huayupodcast-1/)
[Learning Chinese with Podcasts (2): 10 Mandarin Learning Podcasts for Learners](/en/huayupodcast-2/)
[Learning Chinese with Podcasts (4): 7 Teaching-Related Podcasts for TCSL Teachers](/en/huayupodcast-4/)

Questions, comments, or podcast recommendations? Drop them below — I'd love to hear from you. <3

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### Thanks for reading :D

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