This is a transcribed excerpt of the “Bitcoin Magazine Podcast,” hosted by P and Q. In this episode, they are joined by Eric Yakes to talk about the 7th property of money that Bitcoin introduced, fractional reserves on a bitcoin standard and what interesting Bitcoin projects are happening in the space right now.
Eric Yakes: I’ve been spending a lot of time since the summer just reading news to know how I think Bitcoin “banking systems” will build out.
I actually released a research piece and there’s a lot of discussion. It was back in July that I started digging into this research. A lot of people put together “Here’s how Bitcoin works,” “Here’s title implications,” all that. There’s much information out there around. How is this ecosystem actually going to get built? Bitcoin can’t do anything.
Bitcoin can be a bearer for everything, but in terms of all that functionality, we need an entire financial system that’s going to reemerge in this area. I think that’s gonna be very fundamentally different from what we’re familiar with historically.
I was researching the practical side of it and being like, “Ok, what company is this? How do they function? How does the Lightning Network work? How is that gonna create different financial markets that exist on top of Bitcoin?” When I was getting into that and I was picking around on Twitter and seeing what people are saying, there were a lot of debates around just the general theory of what does credit look like on Bitcoin? Will it even exist? If it exists, what will it look like? Will there be fractional reserves? All these different types of things, and I think there was a piece Nic Carter released this summer, and then Stephan Livera had a response to it. They’re more higher-level discussions around credit than a lot of the public forum that was happening. People didn’t have a very complete understanding. What I released in September was a discussion of that and saying, “Here’s what I think a full reserve system could look like, and here’s what I think a fractional reserve system could also look like.”
To caveat that, when I say fractional reserve, there’s ways that ultimately exists; it’s within the banking model, which is something that, historically, we have [few] examples of because governments control institutions, but this concept of free banking is something where we do have observations and we do have periods of history where we can say, “Ok, there was a system where the government didn’t heavily rely on currency issuance, and that actually just all happened through banks. Those banks decided how much gold they wanted to keep in reserve. Then they lent beyond those amounts and some failed.
In my book, I talk about systems where eventually we had a central bank and that creates this incentive for credit to continually expand until eventually the entire system crumbles. But when you look at free banking systems, rather than issue gold to everybody, a big innovation was to issue paper receipts on top because they’re much easier to trade. So they’re much more fit for transactions. Then once you start issuing paper beyond the amount that you have in reserves, that’s when you would call it fiduciary media.
You’re now expanding the money supply; you don’t just have one-to-one backing for every paper receipt that you issue. It was interesting when you look at some of these systems that were generally free and weren’t heavily regulated, even if there wasn’t a central bank or anything. The U.S. is a good example of an overly regulated system. There were all these laws that were still enforcing all these perverse incentives within the U.S. free-banking system. So bond collateral laws were one of the big ones. We had all these banks that were within various states and there was no central bank in the U.S. for about a century, maybe a bit longer. Different states had separate regulations and we had banks within those who were all issuing their own notes. These states heavily regulated that and forced these bond collateral laws on top of banks where they’d say, “If you guys wanna issue fiduciary media in this state then you have to use our bonds as your collateral, and therefore the collateral got all fucked up.
There were issues that happened with wars going on and things like that, but that system did not function well and there were a ton of problems that emerged from that system. What’s largely not looked at — one of the systems that actually functioned pretty well — was a Scottish free-banking system. That was in the 18th and 19th century; that was for a period of about a century. It wasn’t perfect and there were regulations that were existing on top of it. We saw a pretty well-functioning system for nearly a century. It was only during the Napoleonic Wars that it really had issues. When you’re in a banking system, and there’s a war and all the governments around the world start printing and they start removing their gold standards, that makes it very hard for you to ultimately run a functioning banking system when you have to compete at an international level with something that is freely printing currency.
The point is that with this banking system, things actually function pretty well. That was under a fractional reserve and if you allow it to function in a market, there’s natural limits that are imposed on the market on how much of that “fiduciary media” (aka credit) is extended through these banks.
If you allow the market to say, if there’s a hundred banks that exist in an economy and one of them gets too crazy and it ultimately fails and there is no bailout, then these systems function very differently than the hazard that we have that exists within our current system. The banks will act under the assumption that they can fail. Without getting into all the nitty gritty details, that’s the theory where people need to understand that fractional reserve, while being a bad thing, is not necessarily the devil. There are situations where it’s left up to free enterprise that it’s actually functioned decently well.
Then more of an ethical argument of whether you should be allowed to do that in the first place. Are you allowed to make a promise to people that they can redeem their notes one to one with you while you’re actually printing more notes than the amount of reserves that you have? Austrians will get into the ethics of the debate. It’s important to have those conversations, but what I focus more on is what we will see. What we do see is that throughout history, we’ve never had any sort of persistent full reserve that’s ever emerged. We’ve had banks and large institution groups that have been relegated to being like a full reserve, where they’re just a custodian who is providing transaction services, but they’re not providing any services with notes. We’ve seen that in history, but there’s never been a full reserve system in history. That is one: The expectation that’ll emerge on Bitcoin is an exception to history. There’s been two later, but there’s plenty of arguments to why that will emerge on Bitcoin.
I go into some of the trade-offs between how I see these things emerging and how ultimately we’re likely to probably see both emerge. I’m still digging and researching that. When you look at the problems that Bitcoin solves and then Lightning Network and Bitcoin enabled by on-chain asset issuance I see the ability for being economically viable, full reserve institutions emerge at scale to be a probable event. It doesn’t mean that there won’t be any sort of fractional reserve, but when you look at all these different efficiencies within the system, how quick, how much information and transparency we now have that was never had before in banking, there’s a possibility of full reserves.
I’m digging into a lot of areas around that and the news that is relevant to that is Taro that was announced back in March this year. They recently deployed their testnet. I think that’ll be a big step for asset issuance in Bitcoin.
Premiering Oct. 25, the podcast docuseries hosted by Sara Carter will reveal previously unreported revelations about the border
Press Release –
Oct 20, 2022
ARLINGTON, Va., October 20, 2022 (Newswire.com)
– Today, Radio America released the official trailerpreviewing its new podcast, Dark Wars: The Border, set to premiere on Oct. 25, exactly two weeks before Election Day. Hosted by award-winning investigative journalist Sara Carter, the podcast follows Carter on her perilous journey to expose how the porous U.S.-Mexico border has facilitated a deadly trail from America’s foreign adversaries to your hometown; with cartels, slavery, and death in between. Watch the trailer HERE.
“I am excited to release this podcast, which is a culmination of my on-the-ground investigative reporting of our border crisis,” said Dark Wars host, Sara Carter. “I embedded with border patrol agents via foot, horseback, car, and helicopter – talking to coyotes and migrants alike – to reveal chilling stories about the opioid crisis and human trafficking that you haven’t read about in the news. I traveled to the native countries of these migrants to understand how cartels use social media to recruit migrants under the guise of easy passage and a better life. In reality, they encounter abuse, rape, and death. I’m telling the stories of those being ignored by the media.”
Dark Wars: The Border documents an investigation that delves deeper than any previous U.S.-Mexico immigration story to date and comes at a time when Customs and Border Protection and other government agencies have come under serious scrutiny for negligence at the border, as Politico reports. The premiere episode features a wide range of perspectives, from U.S. Senators such as Rand Paul and Marsha Blackburn to Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei to coyotes that work for the cartel among others, all to reveal a border crisis that is more serious and disturbing than what is reported in media, in a shocking portrayal of money and power that connects Mexican cartels to the neighborhoods of everyday Americans.
Visit DarkWarsPod.com for more information on the podcast, which releases on Oct. 25 and can be heard on every podcast platform. To interview Sara Carter or for other queries, please email KennyCunninghamJr@gmail.com.
About Dark Wars Podcast: Dark Wars: The Border is a new podcast series, hosted by award-winning journalist Sara Carter, that conducts in-depth investigations to expose what you are not being told about what’s happening at our 2,000-mile-long border with Mexico. It uncovers how this crisis touches you and every other American across the country. Dark Wars is a joint production of Radio America and The Dark Wire (www.darkwarspod.com).
In this week’s episode of “Bitcoin Bottom Line,” hosts C.J. Wilson and Josh Olszewicz discuss current worldwide events. Wilson discusses how bitcoin has recently been a safety net. Olszewicz states, “Currencies appear to be collapsing on the government’s management. Japan and England have been a complete mess.” The pound is currently at an all-time low, along with many other currencies. Bond markets are doing historically worse than they ever have. Olszewicz says, “It does not make sense to me why the pound is up if England has been printing money and buying their own bonds.”
Wilson explains that all of the national banks lean into each other for stabilization. As trends change, we typically see a 5% or 10% wick over a long period of time. Now we are seeing 20-30% riffs, where the dollar is up 30% against these other currencies in a very short period of time. People are generally unaware of how interlinked all of the central banks are.
Wilson goes on to talk about risk as an investor. “When you are an investor, you want to put your money in a diversified portfolio of risk so you are not all risk, all the time. Bitcoin does not have a yield or natural interest rate so you have to manage your cash flow in order to operate. The problem is that during inflation, your cash flow is being burned much faster than you want.” Wilson believes that inflation is here to stay for quite a while.
Wilson and Olszewicz discuss using bitcoin as a transaction method. “If you want to do a transaction, you can buy bitcoin, send it to someone and they can sell it for cash right away. There is very little volatility between transaction periods. You can decide to exchange it all for cash or you could take a fraction in bitcoin and the rest in cash.” Olszewicz says that bitcoin is “an off-ramp for all of the central banking mismanagement.”
Have you ever started to feel confident about your Japanese ability, only to try and turn on a Japanese movie or TV show and not understand more than a smattering of words? Don’t worry, this is totally normal. Listening can be one of the most difficult skills to improve, but luckily, like any skill you just need more practice.
Podcasts are great for this. There’s a huge selection of free podcasts, comprising hours and hours of listening material, across a wide range of topics and styles. Because of all this, it’s never been easier to improve your listening ability, no matter where you are.
Previously, I rounded up a handful of what I felt were some of the best beginner-level Japanese podcasts around. This time, I’m back with another group, for intermediate Japanese learners. If you’re ready to take your listening practice up a notch, take a look below at some of the best options available!
What Makes a Good Podcast?
It’s better to have very high comprehension than something you have to struggle with to parse a single sentence.
Similar to last time, let’s talk about what makes a podcast good. For our purposes, I specifically mean what makes a podcast good practice. I think there’s sort of a sweet-spot for almost all practice materials. They should be at or only slightly above your current ability level, so that your comprehension remains high — it’s better to have very high comprehension than something you have to struggle with to parse a single sentence. Additionally, it needs to be interesting enough that you remain engaged and want to listen. If you’re bored to tears, you’ll probably stop actively listening, which defeats the point of the practice in the first place. Of course, the sort of content that you’re going to find interesting is different for everyone, which is one of the reasons I’ve collected a list: that way, everyone can find something they want to listen to.
It needs to be interesting enough that you remain engaged and want to listen.
Beyond that, all the same sorts of general podcast criteria apply. How long are episodes usually? Are the host or hosts ‘ voices clear and easy to understand? How is the release schedule? While these are the same sorts of considerations you might think about when looking for a new podcast in your native language, they’re only more important when looking for podcasts in a language you’re learning. After all, how can you hope to study if you have a hard time making out the dialogue?
Of course, I tried to pick podcasts that I felt already matched this criteria. Additionally, I looked for series with a large catalog of episodes, frequent release schedules, or both. That way, you can be sure you won’t run out of episodes to listen to too quickly, allowing you the time you need to get accustomed to something so that it’s as good a practice as it can be.
When writing about beginner podcasts, most tended to follow the same sorts of guidelines. Most series were hosted by a single person, who spoke relatively slowly, on a variety of topics for only a few minutes at a time. While this makes for an easy transition into listening practice, in most cases, it’s something I expect learners to progress beyond fairly quickly.
Intermediate podcasts can feature multiple hosts, more focused topics, and longer episodes.
Thankfully, once you move up to intermediate podcasts, they become much broader. From podcasts with multiple hosts, a more focused topic, and longer episodes, I find these to be much more engaging.
Still the focus is on immersion. And with that in mind, be gentle with yourself. Listening is hard! Like reading a book in another language, I find it takes time to settle into the speech patterns and rhythms of anyone new you’re listening to, even in a relatively controlled environment like a podcast. You might feel out of your depth with some of these at first, but stick with it, and see if it gets easier a few episodes in. Hopefully you’ll just adjust as you’re able to hear more, and can go back through those early episodes later, or if not, feel free to jump back down to the beginner recommendations for the time being. Language learning is a process, and one with many different domains, and a journey that isn’t always linear. Just be diligent, and you’ll get there.
Compared to the beginners podcasts, these intermediate podcasts have a wider range of difficulty, topics, style, and more. I’ve done my best to group them roughly by difficulty, but know that this isn’t an exact science. What’s easier for one person might be more difficult for another, and that’s totally normal.
In this first group, the podcasts still tend to offer some sort of help to Japanese learners, be it in the form of slowed speech, easier topics, and shorter episodes, they represent the first step up in difficulty from the beginner tier.
Easy Japanese
Easy Japanese is a podcast YouTube channel that’s also available on a wide range of podcast services, aimed at providing practice for Japanese learners around the N3 level. The intro promises no script, no editing, just natural, simple Japanese, and that’s what’s provided. Started in January of 2021, hosts Masa and Asami have now logged hundreds of podcasts between then and now, covering a wide range of topics. There’s no English used, but instead the hosts try to stick to simple words, or explain concepts in simple terms when necessary. Since launching, the podcast has become a video podcast on YouTube, and every episode from the very beginning has worked well with the closed-captioning provided on YouTube if you’d like to look at subtitles while you listen. Additionally, the pair livestreams twice-weekly, adding even more content to an already rich archive.
Among a crowded and ever-growing podcast pool for Japanese language learners, Easy Japanese manages to stand out as an extremely high-quality and useful resource for Japanese learners. By catering to Intermediate learners rather than absolute beginners, they’ve created a resource with a much longer shelf life, while still being fairly accessible. Easy Japanese sort of strides the perfect balance between natural, unscripted speech, while still being clear, articulate, and simple enough to be comprehensible to a large number of students. This is a great offering for anyone looking for a bit more practice, and really, who isn’t?
Monologue in the early episodes, conversation in the later episodes
Is there a transcript or accompanying material?
Transcript (Free), but only in the YouTube Closed Captioning
What’s the average length of an episode?
~10 minutes
Ian’s Review8/10
Easy Japanese is a great podcast for intermediate learners looking for some high-quality listening practice. It’s clear how much the hosts Masa and Asami care about the show, with a strong emphasis placed on production value. I find they’re both very easy to listen to (as the name implies!) while still remaining engaging and thoughtful. Especially for learners looking to get into conversation-style podcasts, Easy Japanese is an easy recommendation.
Learn Japanese with Noriko
Following the mold of great podcasts hosted by Japanese teachers, Learn Japanese with Noriko is no exception. Updated almost every-other day, Learn Japanese with Noriko has grown to over a hundred episodes, and has a second season.
Noriko-sensei’s podcast is another monologue-style series, but her speech is only slightly slowed. For the most part, her speech is not limited by grammar, vocabulary, or speed, making it good practice for intermediate learners. Additionally, since the episodes are closer to 10 minutes each, it allows you to settle into the study a bit more, and forces you to stay engaged.
Additionally, there is a Patreon where members are given access to a wider range of transcripts and episodes.
Learn Japanese with Noriko is another great entry into the world of Japanese language learning podcasts. As a Japanese teacher, she’s able to remain considerate of learners’ abilities, while not restricting her own speech so much to make the podcast stale. I wish the production quality was a little higher, as Noriko’s voice sounds a bit tinny, but it’s not too difficult to get used to it.
Thinking in Japanese
Thinking in Japanese, a podcast by Iisaku, deviates from the standard Japanese language learning podcast in a few key ways. For one, while Iisaku speaks slowly, they do so by pausing more between words and phrases, rather than slowing down their entire speech like some other podcasts do, which is more natural and makes it easier to understand. Secondly, rather than some of the generic sorts of topics discussed in other Japanese language learning podcasts, or simply chatting, Iisaku covers both topics in Japanese language learning, such as Japanese pronunciation and tips on specific types of practice, and philosophical discussions from their perspective. Because of this, it’s sort of like a language learning multiplier: you’re practicing by listening, and by listening, you might learn something new about Japanese practice too!
While the production quality is nothing to write home about, Iisaku also offers a patreon for $5/month to give listeners access to vocabulary lists and bonus articles. Thinking in Japanese is a unique podcast, pairing beginner-friendly pacing and vocabulary with interesting concepts meant to expand your language ability through the content in itself. For language learners who love the process of learning, Thinking in Japanese is a great option.
Ian’s Review8/10
I really like Thinking in Japanese. While the speech is definitely slowed, the advanced and interesting topics and vocabulary more than make up for it. If you find this sort of dialogue interesting, you’ll certainly find Thinking in Japanese to be worth your time. After all, the best listening practice is the one you want to do!
In this group, the name of the game is speed. Not “fast,” of course, but these podcasts are the first in the intermediate tier to get closer to native speed. Additionally, many of the episodes tend to be longer, so they require you to hold your attention for a longer period of time.
I think you can think of listening practice sort of like music practice. You might start really slow, just making sure you’re not going to make any mistakes, and then slowly increase the speed as your abilities increase. And with these podcasts that expect you to do that for longer, or are conversations, or use more complicated grammar and vocabulary, that makes it even more of a challenge.
Nihongo Con Teppei
If you’ve heard of any Japanese podcast for language learners, chances are it’s Nihongo Con Teppei. In addition to being a native Japanese speaker, Teppei speaks Spanish and English, the former of which being where the name comes from (“con” meaning “with” in Spanish).
After starting the series several years ago, Teppei has gone on to record almost a podcast a day, leading to hundreds and hundreds of episodes, and even a beginner and advanced series, along with collaborative podcasts with other teachers like Noriko sensei.
The topics covered in Nihongo Con Teppei are varied, and episodes tend to run on the longer side, with many clocking in around 20 minutes. His speech varies too, from slightly slowed to normal speed.
Teppei does a good job as host, and remains interesting and engaging regardless of topic. He’s funny, and several recurring jokes help give Nihongo Con Teppei such a welcoming atmosphere. For Japanese learners looking for more immersion material, Teppei is hard to beat.
If you’ve ever looked for Japanese language learning podcast recommendations, chances are you’ve come across Nihongo Con Teppei. And with good reason! Teppei is funny and engaging, and with hundreds of hours of free audio content spread across multiple different skill-levels, there’s something for everyone. Teppei’s intermediate podcast, the regular Nihongo Con Teppei is a staple of study routines everywhere, and seems likely to remain that way.
The Real Japanese Podcast
The Real Japanese Podcast, launched in 2020, is a monologue-style podcast hosted by Japanese teacher Haruka. The podcasts tend to mirror videos from her YouTube channel, where she spends time speaking unscripted on a certain topic. Despite this, transcripts are available should you want to check your comprehension, or read along.
While the format is similar to other monologue-style podcasts, Haruka’s natural speed and unscripted speech make this podcast well worth your time. She talks about events from her life, such as time spent abroad in Canada, personal takes on social issues, as well as general interest topics on Japan and Japanese culture. This more personal touch makes The Real Japanese Podcast feel more tailor-made rather than how other series can feel scattershot at times, and keeps the conversation engaging even if you’re not well versed on the topic.
Finally, her natural speech makes this a great listen for intermediate Japanese learners. With so much of a focus on beginner-level materials, it can be hard to find something that’s well suited for intermediate learners, but The Real Japanese Podcast definitely fits the bill.
The Real Japanese Podcast is a solid addition to the growing field of intermediate-focused Japanese podcasts. While the format is very familiar to Japanese learners at this point, her personal look at topics and natural speech elevates this podcast among some of its peers.
The Miku Real Japanese Podcast
Not to be confused with “The Real Japanese Podcast,” The Miku Real Japanese Podcast comes from the host of popular Japanese language learning channel, Miku Real Japanese, who we wrote about for our YouTube Grammar Channel recommendations article.
Like her excellent YouTube channel, her podcast is also very high-quality. Rather than focus on grammar or a smattering of topics, The Miku Real Japanese Podcast features a lot of fascinating conversations with guests that Miku knows. There’s one about life in Okinawa for example, and more than one episode about Miku’s experiences living abroad.
Episodes tend to run slightly on the longer side, with these conversations coming in around 30 minutes a piece. There are also a sprinkling of other episodes Miku hosts alone in the mix, often closer to about 10 minutes.
For intermediate Japanese learners looking to get into conversation practice or start listening comprehension practice with more than one person, The Miku Real Japanese podcast is a great way to expand your horizons.
~10 minutes (with conversations running longer, sometimes around 30 minutes)
Ian’s Review8/10
Much like her YouTube channel, I think The Miku Real Japanese Podcast is great. These sorts of long conversations are difficult to find elsewhere at this level. Miku does a great job of keeping things relatively easy to understand, while not limiting her or her guests’ speech too much, and still making the conversations fun and interesting to listen to. I only wish there were more episodes!
YUYUの日本語 Podcast
Launched in January of 2021, YUYU’s podcast and YouTube channel have since exploded with new content, and built up a ton of new fans along the way. Host YUYU is a Japanese teacher, who through a vtuber avatar does long live streams on YouTube among other content.
THe podcast is similarly broad. There are episodes on Japanese history, Japanese language, and of course pop culture, which is perhaps the content YUYU has become most well-known for.
Episodes vary wildly in length, with some as short as 10 minutes, all the way up to a half-hour or more. YUYU is a kind and thoughtful host, with very clear audio, and an easy-to-understand way of speaking. If you’re looking to get your pop culture fix while you study, look no further than YUYUの日本語 Podcast.
Transcript (Free) via YouTube CC or Subtitles on certain videos
What’s the average length of an episode?
~30 minutes
Ian’s Review8/10
While it’s not rare anymore to find Japanese teachers who will talk about pop culture, it is rare to find someone who expresses the same sort of earnest enjoyment and enthusiasm about the topic such as YUYU. This infuses the podcasts with a lot of fun, and of course keeps them very engaging if you share the same interests. Listening to YUYU feels like listening to a friend, which is about the highest compliment I can bestow.
In this final section, your abilities will really be tested. These podcasts feature conversations at or nearly at native speed, or are simply made for native Japanese listeners. With that, this section is a bit of a challenge, at times pushing beyond the “intermediate” label. But don’t worry. If some of these are too difficult now, with diligent practice, before you know it they’ll be a piece of cake. Just make sure you’re not pushing too far, and instead finding something level-appropriate to work through consistently.
Japanese with Teppei and Noriko
If you’ve looked into podcasts for Japanese language learners before, you’re probably familiar with both Teppei and Noriko sensei. But did you know they have a collaborative podcast? Well, they do, and it lives up to the quality you’d expect from this pair of veteran podcasters.
As you might expect, this podcast is very similar to their solo work, featuring a variety of topics. However, with the both of them they discuss these topics at more or less natural speed, making this podcast more suited for intermediate learners rather than beginners.
Like some similar podcasts, it’s a great option for those struggling to comprehend native conversations, though it probably shouldn’t be your first practice in this field.
In this podcast, Teppei and Noriko combine their powers to make a podcast for Japanese learners looking to step up their listening comprehension game. Unlike their solo podcasts, I find this one to be a little more difficult, with the speed of their conversation, and the interjections, but since they’re both teachers, they still do a good job at making sure it’s not inaccessible.
4989 American Life Podcast
Borrowing their name from a Japanese idiom pronounced “shikuhakku,” which means “struggle” or “suffering,” 4989 American Life Podcast aims to describe the difficulties of being a Japanese person living in America. But it’s not all doom and gloom; actually, 4989 American Life is a fascinating look at some of the cultural differences between Japan and the US.
Made primarily for native Japanese speakers, you won’t find very much here to support Japanese learners, though more recently transcripts for the episodes have been added to the official website. Instead, 4989 American Life is almost like a listening comprehension test. But don’t get discouraged!
Host Utako speaks clearly, though at normal speed. She has some interesting insights into living abroad, which might be helpful to those who hope to live in Japan one day. Episodes tend to run about 30 minutes, so buckle in, and let’s put our listening to the test.
4989 American Life is a really interesting podcast, and stands somewhat alone on this list. Intended for native Japanese speakers, 4989 American Life is one of the most challenging podcasts recommended to Japanese learners. Even so, it’s made to be comprehensible, so stick with it if you’re having trouble. What you’ll find is an interesting look at cultural differences between Japan and the US, and some serious practice for your listening abilities, as well.
Let’s Learn Japanese from Small Talk
If you’re looking for a podcast that offers authentic, everyday Japanese, we recommend you check out Let’s Learn Japanese From Small Talk! The podcast is hosted by two native speakers of Japanese, and they cover a wide range of interesting topics about modern life in Japan. We covered this podcast in another Japanese Learning Resources article a year ago, but it has really come into its own since then!
One of my favorite things about the podcast is how well the hosts provide vocabulary support for listeners. Instead of simplifying their Japanese, they provide English translations of difficult words, or explain what words mean using other words in Japanese. At the end of each episode, one of the hosts slowly pronounces each word covered in the episode, leaving enough time in between for listeners to pronounce the words after her. Vocabulary lists for each episode are posted on the podcast blog, which makes this a really great study tool!
I would recommend this podcast to upper-intermediate and advanced learners, however a more beginner level learner could try studying the vocabulary list before listening to the podcast to see if it is more accessible that way. In any case, if you’re in need of an enjoyable and informative Japanese podcast, give it a shot!
Let’s Learn Japanese from Small Talk is a lot of fun. Originally started while the hosts were studying abroad in London, the show has continued into their adult lives. As two friends, the conversations they have are very natural and easy-flowing, making this about as close to a native conversation with your peers as you can get. That said, they do provide vocabulary lists, and break down words or phrases from time to time.
Conclusion
Hopefully you’ve seen the wide range of podcasts available for intermediate Japanese language learners and beyond. This list comprises a larger range of difficulty than my previous beginner level roundup, so hopefully there’s a few podcasts here that can take you from intermediate into advanced.
I think the best listening practice is the one you want to do, so if there’s a podcast with hosts or topics you like, settle in. That way, you’ll stay engaged and actively listening, getting the most for your practice. That said, don’t be afraid to readjust to find something more suited to your level. If you’re struggling to comprehend each sentence, that’s probably a good sign you should try something a bit easier for a while as you build up your abilities.
Hopefully between this list and the beginner version, you’ve found something that strikes your fancy, and even better if you’ve found a few podcasts you’re interested in that you can follow along during your journey. Go for a nice walk, and get practicing!
CLEVELAND, September 6, 2022 (Newswire.com)
– The partnership between Evergreen Podcasts, an award-winning production house, and Sound Talent Media is making the news through their show 2020’d, a series of no-holds-barred discussions chock full of insider information. Recently, 2020’d has been featured in MetalSucks.net, Ultimate-Guitar.com, and Blabbermouth. Hosts Benny Goodman, Cory Paza, and Siobhan Cronin from the band Lost Symphony go backstage to dish perspective on guests’ unique lifestyles and prominence in the entertainment industry with guests like Richard Shaw formerly of Cradle of Filth.
Shaw confesses that “My B.S. tolerance seems to have lowered over the years,” as the guitar/songwriter Shaw who played with British extreme metallers Cradle of Filth discusses the impetus for his split. He has told the press: “Touring and writing and recording is the dream – it really is. But to me, it came at quite a high cost, and I wasn’t willing to pay that cost … I still get on well with the band … it just got to a point where I was, like, ‘This isn’t fun anymore.’”
Sound Talent Media’s growing network includes more than 25 shows focused on music and lifestyle with podcasts likeThe Punk Rock MBA,Axe To Grind,Chris DeMakes A Podcast,The Ex-Man with Doc Coyle and more. Since launching in 2020, the Sound Talent catalog has seen exponential growth in downloads with a slate of shows that continues to climb the charts. The network is a project of the talent agency, Sound Talent Group.
Evergreen Podcasts is an award-winning production house that brings entertaining, thought-provoking content to people wherever they are. We produce podcasts that capture the everyday color of modern thinkers, influencers, and personalities. Top thought leaders and breakout brands choose Evergreen to capture inspiring stories through branded content, original shows, and partner podcasts. Ask us how our comprehensive podcast production, creative marketing, and distribution solutions can help connect your brand to a broader audience.
Libby Rodney and John Gerzema of The Harris Poll discuss the TikTok meme that became a mainstream trend in a recent episode of the podcast ‘America This Week’
Press Release –
updated: Sep 6, 2022
NEW YORK, September 6, 2022 (Newswire.com)
– The Quiet Quitting movement is both “business leaders’ biggest fear” and a challenge that they alone can solve, according to Libby Rodney, chief strategy officer at The Harris Poll Thought Leadership Practice. Rodney shared her thoughts on the trend in an August episode of the new podcast “America This Week,” co-hosted by Rodney and John Gerzema, CEO of The Harris Poll.
During their conversation, Rodney and Gerzema explore the origins of the Quiet Quitting movement, which leaped from TikTok to international headlines in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Guardian. They explore who’s disengaging, and why, and delve into the rise of free agent employees who want more money from corporations at a time when those corporations are more likely to instigate hiring freezes and layoffs.
Despite its name, Quiet Quitting doesn’t actually involve quitting, per se. “You’re not outright quitting your job, but you’re quitting the idea of going above and beyond,” said TikTok user Zaiad Khan. As described by BBC News, Quiet Quitting means “doing only what your job demands and nothing more. Quitting doing anything extra. You still show up for work, but stay strictly within the boundaries of your job requirements. So no more helping out with additional tasks or checking emails outside work hours.”
A new survey that Harris Poll conducted for Bloomberg News examines the factors that contribute to Quiet Quitting. The poll revealed that in general, the younger the worker, the more disillusioned they are with their jobs and the more likely they are to quit if employers implement return-to-office (RTO) policies and reduce hybrid or work-from-home (WFH) environments.
Among the findings:
Employers Hold the Reins: More than three-quarters (76%) of Gen Z employees believe employers have more leverage in the job market than employees, compared to 56% of all employees.
Young People Are Free Agents: Among working adults, 42% of Gen Z and 37% of Millennials have recently quit or switched jobs in the past two years; 48% of Gen Z and 49% of Millennials say they are likely to quit their job in the next year.
Fearing the Worst: Among working adults, 57% of Gen Z and 42% of Millennials are worried that they are going to lose their job soon.
Fight vs. Flight: Almost two-thirds (66%) of Millennials say they have stayed in their jobs because of economic fluctuations (e.g., rising inflation, decreasing stock market) compared to barely half (51%) of Gen Z.
Bracing for RTO: Among remote/hybrid working adults, 57% of Millennials say they would quit if they were forced to work five days a week in the office.
Ready to Jump: Seven in 10 (71%) of Gen Z and more than two-thirds (68%) of Millennials say they are likely to try securing other job offers in order to get raises at their current jobs.
Those signs of career unhappiness are behind the Quiet Quitting movement and are why employers are concerned about productivity.
“One thing to recognize is that this is most business leaders’ biggest fear,” Rodney said during the podcast. “This is exactly what they’re worried about and why they’re telling people to return to the office.
“The second [thing], and the most important one, is the context of this. Before the pandemic, the employee engagement rates were really low. There was a massive burnout in workplace culture, and even the World Health Organization deemed it a critical thing that corporate workplaces had to solve. The pandemic just put fuel on that, and we all had to run and sprint through this time, and maybe now we’re in more of a marathon. It’s up to companies to get people excited to be working.”
Rodney and Gerzema dig much deeper into the topic, offering more insight as well as statistics during their discussion of Quiet Quitting, which can be heard at
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For those of us studying Japanese, listening can be one of the hardest skills to improve. Like with most things, the only way to improve is through practice; however it’s easy to try and jump into some native material and then get discouraged or overwhelmed when you can’t understand it. Luckily, there’s a lot of Japanese language podcasts out there for learners hoping to improve their listening skills. In fact, maybe too many! How can you know what podcasts are worth your time, or best suited for your needs?
In this article, I’ve rounded-up 10 of what I think are the best beginner-level podcasts for Japanese learners. I’m sorting the list roughly from the easiest at the top to the most difficult at the bottom, based purely on my experience and impressions. I’m also including a table with helpful information about the podcasts, like what they talk about and how long episodes usually are, as well as if they have one host or multiple, for example. Hopefully this all helps you find just the right podcast for you: one that’s interesting enough to keep you listening, while still being well-suited to your current Japanese abilities.
Ready to take your listening skills to the next level? Let’s dive in!
What Makes a Good Podcast?
First, some ground rules. What makes a podcast worth listening to in the first place? For this article, I wanted to focus on listening practice, which I feel is best improved through immersion. That means sticking as closely as possible to only Japanese, though since these podcasts are meant for beginners, many of them will pepper in a translation of a word or phrase in English now and then. Additionally, I did my best to pick podcasts that are either currently active, have a large back-catalog of episodes, or ideally both; nothing worse than finally getting into a podcast only to have it abruptly end.
One of the best ways to stay motivated and diligent with your practice is to find something that interests you, while not being too difficult to turn you away.
While I did have those criteria in mind while I was searching for podcasts, I wanted to be sure to cast a wide net. After all, one of the best ways to stay motivated and diligent with your practice is to find something that interests you, while not being too difficult to turn you away. Some of these podcasts have specific topics they tend to cover, while others are more scattershot, focusing more on making the Japanese easily-comprehensible rather than covering anything particular in depth. Additionally, there are a ton of different types of podcasts: from shorter ones and longer ones, to monologues and group conversations — and the lengths they go to help Japanese learners varies, too. Some offer transcripts, vocabulary lists, or just try to break down difficult words when they use them, while others are more casual.
If you find a host or a series that clicks with you, stick with it! It’s best to dive deeply into something than to bounce around and only scratch the surface.
What Makes a Podcast Beginner-Friendly?
Next, how can we define what it means to be a beginner? This is tricky, of course. In general, these are podcasts that are intended to be accessible to the widest number of people. Thinking in JLPT terms, I think beginners usually range from the N5 into the start of the N3 level. These learners are probably working through a beginner textbook like the ever-popular Genki series, maybe taking an intro class, and are just starting to get a feel for what the Japanese language has to offer.
Since podcasts focus on listening, you technically don’t need to be able to read hiragana, katakana, or any kanji to engage with these items. However, I think learning the kana syllabaries and starting to learn kanji should be the start of anyone’s Japanese language learning journey, so don’t skip that step! Even more, it’ll help a ton with deciphering what the hosts are saying, checking a transcript or vocabulary list, or even just being able to look up words you don’t know and read the episode titles.
Additionally, listening practice is just inherently a bit more advanced than something like cracking open the first page of Genki, doing the first three levels of WaniKani, or otherwise getting your feet wet in Japanese. For listening practice in general, I think using the audio included with a textbook like the Genki series and the dialogues the lessons focus on should be your first step. Or, absolute beginners can get started with something that uses visual cues to help convey information, like the excellent Comprehensible Japanese videos.
That said, I think the first few entries on this list are even easier than the audio from Genki, so even for absolute beginners, it shouldn’t be long before you’re able to get started with these as well.
Absolute Beginners: Slowed Speech and Ample Pauses
As I mentioned, these podcasts are suited for beginners, but there are a number of different ways to accomplish that. This first section includes podcasts that take probably the simplest approach: slowing down the speaking speed. Japanese is among the fastest spoken languages in the world, and for beginners just starting to do listening practice, it can be daunting to jump into something they’re unable to understand.
With these podcasts, that’s not an issue. Whether they pause between words or after particles, or even just slow the pace of each syllable down, even beginners should quickly begin to realize they’re able to comprehend, and with that, improve.
Slow Japanese by Mochifika
Slow Japanese by Mochifika is a Japanese podcast aimed at providing even beginners with comprehensible listening practice material. The way it does this is as the name implies — it’s very slow! The host, Akari, breaks sentences down into pieces, and pronounces words at a near syllable by syllable pace at times. After starting in September 2021, Mochifika has released episodes at a weekly pace, building a comprehensive library. Additionally, transcripts are offered through the series’ website, allowing students an even more comprehensive look at the language.
Episodes tend to be very short, mostly around 5 minutes. This, coupled with the relatively slow release schedule makes it easy to get caught up quickly, but also easy to run out of episodes to listen to. Thankfully, the consistent schedule means you probably won’t be waiting for too long. Like many Japanese language podcasts, the topics covered vary, but there’s a little something for everyone.
Slow Japanese is a great first step into adding some listening practice to your Japanese study routine, and it’s nice that even beginners can listen and comprehend. However, the pace really is slow, and most students will outgrow the content pretty quickly. Additionally, because the pace is so unnatural, it’s really only a stepping stone rather than something more evergreen. Still, it’s hard to find a better place for Japanese beginners to get their feet wet in listening comprehension.
I think it’s great that Slow Japanese is so accessible. Because of the pace, the short episodes, and clear pronunciation from host Akari, I think Slow Japanese is probably the most accessible podcast to even very beginner Japanese learners, without the use of visual cues to aid comprehension. That said, I’m not sure it has much longevity. The pace is so slow and unnatural, I think learners will both get tired of it and move beyond it quickly. Still, this is probably the easiest entry point into listening practice I’ve found, and isn’t a bad way for learners to get their feet wet.
Thinking Out Loud in Japanese
Thinking Out Loud in Japanese is a podcast for Japanese language learners that started in 2021. This podcast is focused on beginners, offering something that almost every student will be able to listen to and enjoy, while also getting some practice in. Episodes are really short, most clocking in under 5 minutes, and uses almost exclusively grammar from the Genki textbook series, which makes it an excellent companion to students studying using them. In addition to the restrained grammar, Mel, the host, also speaks using a clear voice, and slowly, often pausing between words. This makes Thinking Out Loud in Japanese one of the most accessible podcasts for students. Mel is a tutor on iTalki, so they’re pretty good about catering to students’ needs.
Finally, through Patreon, Mel offers full transcripts, as well as some bonus episodes, if you just can’t get enough. If you’ve wanted to add listening practice to your Japanese study routine, but have found it too intimidating when you try, Thinking Out Loud in Japanese might be just what you’re looking for.
Like Slow Japanese, メルのThinking out loud in Japanese helps beginners by slowing down the speech, but does so by pausing between words and after particles. Additionally, the vocabulary and grammar is a bit more advanced, while still sticking primarily to items corresponding to Genki 1+2. To me, this is a much more natural and beneficial approach for learners, as pausing after particles almost teaches you how to break down a Japanese sentence, understanding it clause by clause. Where メルのThinking out loud in Japanese lacks a bit for me is the topics, length, and slow release schedule. There’s just not a ton here. Still, I think it’s a great stepping stone for Japanese learners.
Sakura Tips
Sakura Tips is a short, daily podcast for beginner level Japanese language learners looking for some level-appropriate listening practice. The host, Mari, speaks in a very clear voice, and slows down her speech, while not overdoing it so much to make it odd. Instead, the speed strikes a nice balance between comprehensibility and naturalness.
Additionally, the podcast is scripted, which avoids any meandering or time-filler phrases, and the script is available to view on her website, in both Japanese and English. This is great for Japanese learners who want to follow along while they listen, or to simply check that they properly heard or understood something spoken.
The topics vary, but with the short episodes, the focus is constrained and easy to understand. Additionally, because of the daily release schedule, there’s a huge back-catalog of episodes; both so you won’t easily run out, and that you’re sure to find topics that interest you. Really, for beginners looking to get started with Japanese listening practice, there might be no better place than Sakura Tips.
Sakura Tips is great. With the huge number of episodes, clear, well articulated pronunciation, and just-slow-enough speech, Mari’s podcast is really something special. With the added benefit of the transcripts, for beginner level Japanese learners, you can’t go wrong. Personally, I wish the episodes were a little bit longer, so you could settle into the practice a bit more, but with how many episodes are now available, that’s less of an issue. Additionally, it really is a beginner podcast, so it won’t be long before you’re ready to move on. But to my mind, Sakura Tips is about as good as it gets.
Japanese with Shun
Japanese with Shun is a Japanese podcast series focused on providing listening practice that’s accessible to beginners. It accomplishes this in a few ways. For one, Shun speaks slowly and clearly, often pausing after particles to give learners a chance to think and parse what they’ve just heard. Secondly, he’s very thoughtful about constraining his speech to use mostly grammar points from the Genki 1 & 2 beginner textbook series, meaning almost any Japanese learner can enjoy.
Shun, like many other Japanese language learning podcasters, is also a Japanese teacher, offering lessons via iTalki, as well as a series of YouTube videos and other related content. For Japanese learners, this lets you know how accustomed he is to teaching.
Episodes are released once-weekly, and most clock in between 5-10 minutes. While this is fairly short, the large back-catalog means you won’t soon run out of episodes to listen to. For beginners looking for a fun, interesting, and level-suited podcast, Japanese with Shun is a great choice.
It’s hard to go wrong with Japanese with Shun. While there are a ton of beginner-focused Japanese language learning podcasts under 10 minutes, you can tell how much Shun cares about making sure his podcast is well-suited to learners. Additionally, Japanese with Shun strikes a rare balance, where he manages to restrict the grammar and vocabulary, while still covering interesting and nuanced topics and not devolving into childish themes like other similar podcasts.
Beginners: Take the Next Step With These Teacher-Hosted Podcasts
This next section covers roughly the first jump in difficulty. While these podcasts are still very beginner friendly, they don’t tend to pause between words or syllables. They might speak a bit slower than usual, or repeat key phrases, but they all feel a bit different from the first group. Of course, they still tend to constrain their vocabulary, grammar, and topics to ones that are more on the beginner side of things.
One way to think about doing listening practice is like practicing a musical instrument. In the beginning, you’ll probably start slow, just trying to make sure you make as few mistakes as possible. As you get more comfortable, you might click the metronome up a few steps, until gradually you arrive at the speed the piece was meant to be played at. The same could be said for Japanese. While everyone has different natural speaking speeds, you can practice at different tempos, and work your way up to a generally natural speed. This group represents that first click up on the metronome!
Japanese Podcast for Beginners (Nihongo Con Teppei)
Most Japanese learners who have looked for listening practice are probably familiar with Teppei by now. A Japanese teacher on the platform iTalki, Teppei has long championed listening practice through podcasts, and come out with hours and hours of material through a number of different series, including solo podcasts for beginners, intermediate, and advanced learners, and a collaborative podcast with fellow online Japanese teacher Noriko.
This podcast, the aptly named Japanese Podcast for Beginners (Nihongo Con Teppei), is exactly as it says. Similar to his main podcast series aimed at lower-intermediate learners, Japanese Podcast for Beginners takes everything that’s great about that main series and makes it even more accessible. Episodes tend to be about 4 minutes long, covering a wide range of topics like many other Japanese podcasts.
Unlike many other Japanese podcasts aimed at beginners however, Teppei doesn’t really slow his speech much. Instead, he simply speaks clearly, only really pausing around the title or any other key phrases. Of course, it’s not quite a native speed conversation, but for beginners hoping to work their way up to more natural speed Japanese, Japanese Podcast for Beginners might be just the stepping stone you need.
Japanese Podcast for Beginners (Nihongo Con Teppei) is an excellent first step for Japanese learners looking for some listening practice. While Teppei doesn’t slow himself down too much, he still manages to make a podcast that’s really accessible. But really, Teppei himself is the star of the show. He’s a character, and if you find him funny, I think you’ll be energized by his antics to listen intently, and listen more.
日本語 with あこ
Like so many Japanese language learning podcasts, 日本語 with あこ is a short monologue series hosted by the well-known online Japanese teacher, Ako. Ako has built up a reputation for her thoughtful classes online, particularly a course for Japanese learners hoping to work in Japan in the tech or game development fields.
Luckily for us, Ako’s podcast offers just the same level of consideration and care. Episodes are marked with emoji to indicate difficulty, with a bicycle signifying easier episodes, a rail car denoting N3 or intermediate level episodes, and a rocket indicating advanced episodes. She also does interviews, indicated by an emoji of two silhouettes.
Ako’s speech is clear and easily comprehensible, and episodes are interesting, often going a bit more in-depth than the standard survey you’ll find in most beginner-level Japanese podcasts. While she does her speech, particularly in the bicycle or rail car level episodes, the more thoughtful look at topics makes this a bit more thorough than some other Japanese podcasts. Finally, Ako makes transcripts available on Patreon for a $5 subscription fee for those that want it.
Ako sensei has built up a reputation for her thoughtful Japanese instruction, and luckily her podcast is no exception. While I wish episodes were a bit longer, the backlog and clearly indicated difficulty levels make this a podcast that you can grow with as your Japanese improves.
日本語の聴解のためのpodcast
Another weekly Japanese podcast series aimed at beginners, 日本語の聴解のためのpodcast offers what the title promises: listening comprehension practice. Started in the middle of 2020, the host Akane has now built up a catalog of over a hundred episodes. Each episode’s script is available for free on her blog, as well.
Akane will introduce pauses both in and after sentences, but in general her speech is smooth and flows well. Podcasts cover a range of topics like most beginner podcasts, but it’s more than just your standard simplistic fare. Instead, Akane talks about things more naturally, rather than introducing a simple topic like “cherry blossoms” and listing facts or asking questions.
With Akane’s clear speech, the free transcripts, and interesting topics, 日本語の聴解のためのpodcast manages to stand out in a crowded podcast field. Beginners looking for listening practice would be wise to heed the title — don’t pass this up!
Akane’s 日本語の聴解のためのpodcast is a excellent choice for beginners looking for listening practice, or for those looking for a step up in difficulty from the podcast they’re already listening to. While the topics are a bit more advanced than other podcasts at this level, I find that to be a positive, as Akane keeps things fresh. Additionally, with the free transcripts, learners can check their comprehension later, or look up any new words they want to study more.
Upper-Beginners: Moving Closer to Natural-Speed Speech!
Finally, this group of podcasts tends to be one step closer to native speech. That said, they still cater to beginners in a variety of different ways. Additionally, these podcasts tend to be longer, too. This changes things in two main ways. For one, with a longer episode, it’s more practice of course. Personally, I think listening practice, like reading practice, becomes more difficult in longer sessions; just like going for a longer jog is more difficult than going for a shorter run. Secondly, since these series’ episodes run longer, they tend to cover a topic more in-depth, too. Because of this, it inherently introduces new grammar, vocabulary, and just adds complexity.
But don’t get discouraged! These are all still well within the realm of “beginner level”; you got this. Just like all Japanese study, be diligent, stick with it, and enjoy the journey.
Momoko to Nihongo
Momoko to Nihongo is another podcast series started in the middle of 2020, that’s since grown to over a hundred episodes. The eponymous host, Momoko, also has a popular YouTube channel for Japanese language learners, where she makes vlog videos about her daily life.
Similarly, Momoko to Nihongo covers a wide range of topics from Momoko’s life, such as earthquakes she’s experienced, or moments like losing her wallet. She also covers broader topics, such as studying abroad in Japan.
With the script available for free on her website, you can probably tell Momoko is very thoughtful about her word choice and grammar usage. That said, she’s not locked into this, as she offers interesting asides during her monologues. Additionally, she tends to offer more English support than other similarly-leveled Japanese language podcasts, explaining words or phrases she uses in English. Luckily, this isn’t that intrusive, but if you want to avoid any English at all, it’s something to be aware of.
Momoko to Nihongo is a fun listen, and a podcast that manages to stand out in a crowd. Given the personal aspect of this podcast, I think most people’s interest in this podcast will stem from how much they are interested in or relate to the host, Momoko. I like hearing her take on different topics, and her thoughts on aspects of Japanese culture. I do wish the podcast was entirely in Japanese, but she does a good job of offering support while not distracting from the goal. For Japanese learners looking to take the next step in their listening practice, look no further than Momoko to Nihongo.
Sayuri Saying Everyday-Japanese Podcast
Sayuri Saying Everyday-Japanese Podcast, hosted by, you guessed it, Sayuri, is a Japanese language learning podcast aimed at upper-beginner or lower-intermediate level Japanese learners. Sayuri additionally runs a YouTube channel that’s also popular among Japanese language learners, and actually, the podcast is largely an extension of that. Episodes are also posted to YouTube, and it’s on YouTube that learners will find the transcription should they want to check their comprehension.
Sayuri’s strength is in the naturalness of her speech. Rather than feeling stiff, her podcasts flow very naturally, striking a good balance of feeling unstilted while remaining easily comprehensible.
The topics continue this trend. Sayuri tends to discuss things from her life or from her interests like meditation or food, or aspects of Japanese culture such as the continued use of fax in Japan.
For Japanese language learners itching for more natural Japanese, while still being slow, Sayuri Saying Everyday-Japanese Podcast might be just what you need.
Similar to other podcasters with a vlog, Sayuri Saying Everyday-Japanese Podcast takes a more naturalistic approach to Japanese language learning podcasts. That said, Sayuri keeps things comprehensible for beginners with inserted pauses and slightly slowed speech. For me, I think she strikes a great balance between natural and accessible, and should be near the top of the list for Japanese beginners looking to take a step forward with their listening skills.
Let’s Talk in Japanese
One of the first podcasts you might be recommended if you’re looking for Japanese podcasts for language learners is Let’s Talk in Japanese. Hosted by Tomo, this weekly podcast series has accumulated over 200 episodes over the years. Episodes cover a variety of topics, and are tagged by the JLPT level Tomo intends them to correspond to, meaning there are podcasts for every level here, though the focus seems to be beginners.
Tomo’s speech is clear, though the audio quality could be a bit higher. Really, the incredible thing is the difference between the levels Let’s Talk in Japanese offers. Episodes tagged for N5 or N4 listeners are slow, with carefully selected grammar and words. But after working your way up to the N2 episodes, no punches are pulled. Tomo speaks at a completely normal speed, which can be disorienting if you’re not used to it. Luckily, there’s plenty of other episodes for Japanese learners who aren’t ready for it yet.
As he mentions on his website, the Japanese Tomo uses is conversational at all levels. It’s not perfect, scripted, error-free Japanese; instead, he keeps things natural, regardless of his speaking speed. While this might dissuade some, it’s perhaps the closest look to natural Japanese you’ll find in a podcast that’s suited to beginners.
Transcripts are available on Tomo’s website, though their release lags behind the episode releases quite a bit. That, coupled with the sub-par audio quality hold Let’s Talk in Japanese back from being a true homerun, but it’s still a great listen.
Transcripts (Free), though they’re not updated regularly
What’s the average length of an episode?
~10 minutes
Ian’s Review7/10
Let’s Talk in Japanese is a really strong podcast for Japanese language learners. I love the conversational tone, as it can be difficult to find something natural sounding that’s suited for beginners. In a field of resources with no errors and all the edges sanded off, Tomo’s podcast allows even beginners to practice with the real deal.
The Last Word
Regardless of your current Japanese abilities, podcasts are a great way to practice listening comprehension, and they’re a lot of fun too. With so many podcasts out there, there’s something for everyone. Hopefully this list helped you find a new favorite.
Podcasts can be an awesome active listening practice, allowing you to check your understanding without the pressure of a conversation.
Remember, the best podcast for you is going to be one you can comprehend most of, and find interesting enough to hold your attention and want to keep listening. Don’t think you’re going to be able to throw something on in the background like white noise and suddenly get good at Japanese while you sleep. However, podcasts can be an awesome active listening practice, allowing you to check your understanding without the pressure of a conversation.
Now get out there and get listening! I’ll be back soon with an intermediate edition of this list as well, so if you found all these podcasts a bit too easy, or just want something else in the queue for when you get there, stay tuned!
Laura Nirider and Steve Drizin Take Listeners Inside the Interrogation Room to Investigate True Stories of False Confessions
Press Release –
updated: Feb 19, 2020
NEW YORK, February 19, 2020 (Newswire.com)
– Why do innocent people confess to crimes they did not commit? On Feb. 19, Lava for Good Podcasts, the team behind the hugely popular podcast Wrongful Conviction with Jason Flom, debuts a powerful new audio series that explores – and answers – this question, which lies at the heart of hundreds of wrongful convictions.
Hosted by Laura Nirider and Steve Drizin, co-directors at Northwestern University’s Center on Wrongful Convictions and central figures in the smash-hit Netflix docuseries Making a Murderer, the Wrongful Conviction: False Confessions podcast reveals 12 true stories of false confessions. Using real interrogation audio, Nirider and Drizin chronicle stories of everyday people who falsely confessed to crimes they did not commit – placing listeners as close to the nightmare of being wrongly accused as anyone would ever wish to be. And then, Nirider adds, “We bring you inside the fight to exonerate these innocent people.”
Each episode starts with a tragic crime – and the misguided investigation that followed. Nirider and Drizin recount stories ranging from a Brooklyn teen who falsely confessed to killing his own mother to an innocent New Zealander who was wrongly imprisoned for rape and murder while the actual rapist continued his serial crime spree. Listeners will hear interrogators use mind-bending techniques – death threats, lies about the evidence, and fact-feeding – to extract false confessions from innocents. In many cases, interrogators even ignored crystal-clear recantations, as when Virginia teen Robert Davis told police: “I am lying to you, full front to your face.”
In each case, investigators used confessions to obtain wrongful convictions despite compelling evidence of innocence, like DNA evidence that conclusively identified the real perpetrator. Nirider and Drizin bring listeners inside each person’s fight for freedom, spotlighting the sometimes unlikely heroes – from dissident police officers to victims’ family members – who helped right these wrongs against all odds. “You won’t be able to forget these captivating stories,” Drizin said, “and we hope you’ll join our shared fight for justice.”
The series comes from Lava for Good Podcasts, the team behind Wrongful Conviction with Jason Flom, which features the tragic stories of men and women who have spent decades in prison for crimes they didn’t commit. Jason Flom, the executive producer of the False Confessions podcast, is the founder of Lava Media, which includes Lava Music as well as Lava for Good Podcasts. As a longtime supporter and board member of numerous respected criminal justice reform organizations, Flom has spent over 25 years seeking justice for the wrongfully convicted.
Wrongful Conviction: False Confessions is available through the same feed and platforms where fans already listen and subscribe to the Wrongful Conviction with Jason Flom series. Both series are now in a single feed named Wrongful Conviction Podcasts. Find Wrongful Conviction: False Confessions at www.wrongfulconvictionpodcast.com.
Wrongful Conviction: False Confessions, Wrongful Conviction with Jason Flom, and an upcoming slate of Wrongful Conviction Presents podcasts are produced by Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1 and PRX.
For Media Inquiries: Dawn Kamerling The Press House dawn@thepresshouse.com
