Linguistics and Language Podcasts
Looking for podcasts about language and linguistics? Here’s a comprehensive list with descriptions! I’ve also mentioned if shows have transcripts. If there are any I missed, let me know!
Lingthusiasm A podcast that’s enthusiastic about linguistics by Gretchen McCulloch and Lauren Gawne (that’s me!). Main episodes every third Thursday of every month, with a second bonus episode on Patreon. (Transcripts for main episodes)
Talk the Talk Every week Daniel, Ben, and Kylie cover the news in linguistics and tackle a particular topic.
The Vocal Fries Every episode Carrie Gillon & Megan Figueroa tackle linguistic discrimination in relation to a particular group. (Transcripts for some episodes)
The Allusionist Stories about language and the people who use it, from Helen Zaltzman (Transcripts for all episodes) (my review)
Grammar Girl Episodes are rarely longer than 15 minutes, but they’re full of tips about English grammar and style for professional writing, and more! (Transcripts for all episodes).
The World in Words From PRI, The World in Words has been delivering wonderful interview-drive stories about language and life since 2008.
Conlangery Particularly for those with an interest in constructed languages, they also have episodes that focus on specific natural languages, or linguistic phenomena.
Subtext a podcast about the linguistics of online dating.
History of English Meticulously researched, professionally produced and engaging content on the history of English. I have already reviewed it three times (episodes 1-4, episodes 5-79, bonus episodes).
Lexicon Valley Hosted by John McWhorter, with a focus on English.
That’s What They Say Every week linguist Anne Curzan joins Rebecca Kruth on Michigan public radio for a five minute piece on a quirk of English language.
A Way With Words A talk-back format show on the history of English words, cryptic crosswords and slang.
Word For Word From Macquarie dictionary, with a focus on Australian English.
Fiat Lex A podcast about making dictionaries from Kory Stamper & Steve Kleinedler.
Words for Granted In each episode Ray Belli explores the history of a common English word in around fifteen minutes.
Very Bad Words A podcast about swearing and our cultural relationship to it.
Lexitecture Ryan, a Canadian, and Amy, a Scot share their chosen word each episode.
Animology Vegan blogger Colleen Patrick Goudreau uses her love of animals as a starting point for exploring animal-related etymologies.
Speaking of Translation A monthly podcast from Eve Bodeux & Corinne McKay.
LangFM Stories of people from the world of language, including interpreters, translators, dialect coaches and many more.
Troublesome Terps The podcast about the things that keep interpreters up at night.
Back catalogues and Odds & Ends
There are also a number of podcasts that have only a few episodes, are no longer being made, or are very academic in their focus:
Language Creation Society Podcast (8 episodes, 2009-2011)
Given Names (four part radio series from 2015, all about names. My review)
Speculative Grammarian Podcast (from the magazine of the same name, about 50 episodes from Dec 2009-Jan 2017)
Linguistics Podcast (on YouTube, around 20 episodes in 2013 introducing basic linguistic concepts)
Evolving English: Linguistics at the Library (8 episodes 2018), from the British Library.
How Brands are Build (season 1 of this show focuses on brand naming)
The Endless Knot is not strictly a language podcast, but they often include word histories, fans of the Lingthusiasm colour episode may find their colour series particularly interesting
Word of Mouth (BBC 4, also available as a podcast)
LingLab (very occasionally updated podcast from graduate students in the Sociolinguistics program at NC State University)
Silly Linguistics (ad hoc episode posting, but episode 7 is an interview with Kevin Stroud for History of English fans)
WACC Podcast (guest lectures at Warwick Applied Linguistics)
Sage Language and Linguistics
Queer Linguistics has a couple of episodes, with a bit of classroom vibe
This is a completely revised listing from June 2018. The March 2017 list kept growing (yay!) so I’ve now completely restructured it based on themes. I’m always excited to be able to add more podcasts to the list, so if you know of any linguistics/language podcasts not here, please let me know! (I usually wait until a show has at least 3 episodes before I add it to the list)
