by Laura Jones
Published on April 18, 2023
The 7 best podcasts to learn business English
Why listen to podcasts to learn business English? Firstly, podcasts are an excellent way to develop your listening skills. Business podcasts are doubly helpful, as they give you practice understanding more complex, business-related vocabulary. And whatever area of business you work in — be it tech, marketing or senior management — there’s a podcast related to your field. While business English classes are excellent for a general understanding of business English, podcasts can be more specialized.
And then there’s the fact that you can listen to podcasts anywhere and at any time. That makes them an excellent way for busy professionals to fit some language learning into the day. We’ve put together a list of the seven best business English podcasts to listen to right now.
Widely considered one of the best business English podcasts, Business English Pod has tons of episodes available on topics ranging from English for startups to cryptocurrency and time management. There are often several episodes on one topic, so you can really dive deep. You’ll hear dialogues that are read slowly and clearly, which are then explained as the host goes through useful vocabulary.
Our second pick is Down to Business English. The hosts of this podcast talk about business news stories and then present relevant vocabulary and grammar that are useful for English learners. They also touch on some cultural differences in the business world. There are lots of seasons of this podcast available, and episodes cover wide-ranging topics, like why there was a maple syrup shortage and why wind turbines have been collapsing.
If you’re a B2-level learner of English, the British Council has created several audio recordings packed full of useful phrases. Podcasts for Professionals have topics ranging from work burnout to change management to public relations. The podcasts also have pre- and post-listening tasks to help you practice the vocabulary. They even come with a transcript, so you can read along if you need to.
Check out The Art of Business English for clear explanations of a ton of vocabulary related to business English. You’ll also find episodes that give tips on business skills such as internationalizing yourself and listening empathetically, which makes this one of the best podcasts for young business professionals. The host often conducts interviews with people from around the world, so you get to practice understanding different accents, too.
If you’re short on time, tune in to 3-Minute English by Venturenglish.com. There’s a large back catalog of episodes in which the host explains words and phrases and gives tips on how to use them. The podcast covers diverse topics, including business English jargon, relative pronouns and the difference between swag and merch.
The BBC’s best-known podcast among English learners is probably the famous Six Minute English. If you want a podcast that focuses more on business, turn to Business Daily. This podcast isn’t made specifically for learners of English, but it reports on stories about work and money from around the world. The topics vary widely, so you’re sure to find something that tickles your fancy. How about Japan’s aging population, or the multi-million-dollar industry behind Afrobeats?
Again, rather than a business English podcast, this is a business podcast (or 14 of them) in English. The Wall Street Journal has several podcasts catering to different aspects of work and finances. Our picks for learners are What’s News, which reports on business news and comes out twice daily on weekdays, and Tech News Briefing, which, unsurprisingly, focuses on the latest developments in tech.
If this is your first time listening to podcasts in English, check out Business English Pod or the British Council’s podcasts, which are great ways to dip your toes into the water of learning business English via podcasting. If you’re a more advanced speaker of English, you might want to browse the podcast selections of the BBC or The Wall Street Journal. And for those of you who don’t have much time, the 3-Minute English podcast will do the trick.
