# Best Finnish Podcasts for Learning the Language (My 2022 Immersion Journey)
How I Used Podcasts to Learn Finnish in One Year
On January 1st, 2022, I announced to the world, on LinkedIn, Instagram, and all my socials, that if anyone I knew spoke Finnish, our conversations would only be in Finnish. It was my New Year’s resolution.
This was a calculated move: to force myself to speak Finnish for an entire year so that, by the end of it, I’d feel much more comfortable with the language.
It was a brutally uncomfortable year in that aspect. Significant time was spent outside my comfort zone. But I also knew the discomfort was temporary, and if I pushed through, the payoff would last for the rest of my life.
To accelerate my progress, I threw myself into Finnish: reading books and articles, watching with Finnish subtitles, doing grammar exercises, and most importantly, listening to podcasts. Podcasts were one of the best ways I found to learn Finnish fast.
This article is about the podcasts that helped me most.
Why Podcasts Are So Powerful
I once met a British-Pakistani doctor who spoke surprisingly good Finnish after living in Finland for only a few months. His secret? For the year before relocating, he listened to FinnishPod101 on his commute every single day.
That story convinced me: podcasts would be essential for my own learning too. Now I make the "How I Learned Finnish - with Ohe" podcast. where I interiview people who have learned Finnish to a high level of fluency to show you how anyone in any life circumstance can also learn Finnish. I even have a filter that allows you to filter guests based on life circumstance (Parent, Student, having a Finnish speaking partner or not, with kids?, fast-paced etc)
How to Start Listening (Even If You Don’t Understand)
At first, I barely understood anything. Most Finnish podcasts are subject-matter heavy and spoken fluently.
But here’s the trick: you don’t need to understand everything. Just listen, pick up words here and there, and let your brain adapt.
Balance harder shows with selkouutiset (easy Finnish news). Listen to 30–60 minutes of selkouutiset daily, and you’ll notice progress fast. By month three, I was already making sense of more advanced podcasts and learning about Finnish culture along the way.
My Recommended Finnish Podcasts
Here are the categories and podcasts that worked for me:
Easy Finnish
- Yle Selkouutiset (news in beginner Finnish)
- FinnishPod101
Perfect for building a base.
Essential for building a strong base. You can find more by searching “selkouutiset” or “easy Finnish podcasts.”
Personal Finance, Investing & Real Estate
- Melkein kaikki rahasta
- Nordnet’s Rahapodi
- Ostan Asuntoja Podcast
- Mimmit Sijoittaa
- Rahamania
- Salkunrakentaja-podi
- Sijoituskaverit
- Taloudellinen mielenrauha
I wanted to understand both personal finance and how the world works so this was one of my favorite categories.
Technology & Science
- Herrasmieshakkerit
- Tiedetrippi
- Tiedeykkönen
I’ve always been a bit of a nerd. My favorite subject in school was biology, so this category was both fun and fascinating.
Pop Culture (Music, Movies, Books)
- Yle’s Kulttuuriykkönen
- Kysy mitä vaan
Light and enjoyable. Great when I wanted input that wasn’t too demanding.
News & Politics
- HS Visio
- Yle Politiikkaradio
Storytelling & Lifestyle
- Kaverin puolesta kyselen
- Yle’s 12 diktaattoria
- Ootsä Varma
Documentary-style and story-driven shows made learning more entertaining and immersive.
Sports
Search for your favorite sport (football, Formula 1, boxing, etc.) in Finnish podcast apps. That’s how I found mine.
A Handy App Hack
I use Castbox, which lets you label subscribed podcasts. I created a label called Finnish, so whenever one show ended, the next Finnish podcast started automatically.
This small system kept me immersed without needing extra actions. Systems like this are game-changers they make doing a thing easier than not doing it because you don't have to think about it.
A Newer Podcast Worth Trying
Recently I discovered the Finnish with Eemeli podcast. It’s spoken slowly and clearly, making it perfect for learners who want easier listening practice.
Final Thoughts
Podcasts became one of the most powerful tools in my Finnish-learning journey. They gave me constant exposure, connected me with Finnish culture, and fit naturally into my daily routines.
If you’re learning Finnish, pick at least one podcast today and just start listening. The first weeks will feel hard, but your brain adapts quickly. Choose a subject you love, stick with it, and you’ll be amazed at how far you can get.