Best VOA Digital Podcasts (2025)

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Preserving stone wall architecture in Japan's rice paddies 5:23

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15h ago5:23

5:23

Japan's iconic terraced rice paddies are held in place by traditional stone walls. But the craft of building these walls is a dying art. Reporter Hannah Kirshner recently traveled to Fukuoka prefecture, in southern Japan, where she met a group dedicated to preserving agricultural practices, including stone wall building.…

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Survivors of Assad's chemical attacks speak out 7:15

15h ago7:15

7:15

During the 13-year civil war in Syria, the forces under former President Bashar al-Assad carried out some of the most horrific chemical attacks in recent history. One of them was in April 2018, on the outskirts of Damascus, where at least 43 people were killed. The World's Shirin Jaafari visits the site and speaks with survivors, who say they need …

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Octopus population booms off England's South Coast 7:23

15h ago7:23

7:23

The octopus population in the waters south of England is booming. Typically a rare species, fishermen in one town pulled in more than 70,500 pounds of octopus on a single day — compared to the usual average of about 400 pounds. This population boom comes as those same waters are experiencing a marine heat wave that has lasted for several months. Ho…

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Mount Etna puts on another show 0:46

15h ago0:46

0:46

The images of Monday's eruption of Mount Etna in Sicily were eye-popping. Towering plumes of charcoal-colored ash rose miles into the air. But scientists say what made this new eruption interesting was material that gushed across the land from the crater: pyroclastic flow. Host Carolyn Beeler explains.…

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Pressure grows for Hezbollah to disarm after military losses to Israel 5:44

15h ago5:44

5:44

Lebanese militant group Hezbollah is facing growing calls to disarm following its battle with Israel last year. The group is now faced with major losses to its infrastructure and top leadership. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Sami Halabi from the Alternative Policy Institute about the complexities of disarmament for the group.…

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Latin American students consider options as visas are on hold 5:19

15h ago5:19

5:19

US officials have suspended visa interviews for all international students looking to study in the United States. They say they’re revamping policies to include the vetting of applicants' social media accounts. The US has long been the top destination for students from Latin America; many Latin American leaders have been educated in the United Stat…

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J-Pop girl group to solo artist 1:57

15h ago1:57

1:57

Shima's days of being in a manufactured J-Pop band in Tokyo are over. Now, she's doing things her way, with total creative control. Shima's real name is Tina Johnson. As a Japanese American musician, she's made the move to Los Angeles as an electronic solo artist. Host Carolyn Beeler has more.By April Peavey

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Digital addresses in Japan 0:40

15h ago0:40

0:40

Japan is about a week into a new postal program that assigns a digital code to individuals that can stand in for physical addresses. The program is designed to do away with errors in labeling or addressing packages. Host Carolyn Beeler explains that, so far, the seven-digit code can only be used for package delivery.…

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South Korea elects new liberal president 5:05

15h ago5:05

5:05

South Korea appears to have a new president. Polls and early results show Lee Jae-Myung winning a snap election today by a wide margin. Lee is a center-left politician promising to end a chaotic period for South Korea. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with The World's Patrick Winn, who's been following the election.…

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'Explosive' seaweed growth washes up on Caribbean shores 5:29

15h ago5:29

5:29

Seaweed plays a key role in the world’s oceans. But too much of it disrupted ecosystems in the Caribbean this May. Brian Barnes has written about it in a new report published this week by the University of South Florida’s Optical Oceanography Lab. Barnes tells Host Carolyn Beeler that there’s no single scientific explanation for the explosive growt…

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Moscow's plan to build 500 Orthodox churches sparks rare revolt 7:10

1d ago7:10

7:10

In a Moscow suburb, locals have been battling against city officials and the Russian Orthodox Church to stop construction of a new church in a city park. This construction project is part of a plan to build at least 500 new churches in Moscow — a city of roughly 12 million people. And over the past 15 years, thousands of new churches have gone up a…

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South Koreans head to the polls after months of turmoil 4:15

1d ago4:15

4:15

A declaration of martial law. Impeachment. Months of protest and deep political divisions. That's what South Korea has been through over the last six months. Tomorrow, the country will vote for a new president. There's one clear frontrunner. But the political divide — along with big economic and security challenges — will remain, no matter who wins…

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Amid backdrop of airstrikes, Russia and Ukraine pursue peace talks in Istanbul 3:28

1d ago3:28

3:28

Negotiators from Ukraine and Russia met today in Istanbul, Turkey, for peace talks on the heels of a spike in airstrikes between the two sides. As The World's Durrie Bouscaren reports from Istanbul, the delegations agreed to a major prisoner exchange, but no ceasefire.By Durrie Bouscaren

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Ukraine strikes military and psychological blow to Russia 4:58

1d ago4:58

4:58

Ukraine attacked targets deep inside Russia yesterday, in what Kyiv called "Operation Spiderweb." The Security Service of Ukraine claimed responsibility for the attack using drones smuggled into Russia, which they say knocked out some 41 Russian planes, though Russia disputes that figure. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Samuel Bendett, an advisor a…

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In Mexico City, moths find a home at the museum 1:09

1d ago1:09

1:09

The butterfly sanctuary in Mexico City's Natural History Museum is now the host of thousands of Orizaba silkmoths. Those moths have been steadily decreasing in number in the city due to urbanization. But 2,600 cocoons of the silkmoth were rescued from an empty lot, cleaned and hung up from clothing lines by biologists at the museum. Host Carolyn Be…

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One of the best examples of soft power is on the chopping block 6:10

1d ago6:10

6:10

For 80 years, the Fulbright program has enabled a research exchange between the US and the rest of the world, welcoming foreign scholars and scientists to the US and enabling US citizens to tap into research networks abroad. Not only has it strengthened US research prowess, but it's also become a major geopolitical soft power tool. The World's Josh…

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New Massachusetts law for undocumented migrants sees spike in licensed drivers 4:04

1d ago4:04

4:04

After Massachusetts approved a law allowing undocumented immigrants to drive legally in 2023, the numbers of licensed drivers doubled in a year. Despite growing fears of a nationwide crackdown on immigrants, people in the state are still seeking licenses in higher numbers than before the law was passed. A big reason for that is the state's attorney…

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Tibetan children subject to abuse in Chinese government schools 4:49

1d ago4:49

4:49

A new report from Tibet Action Institute documents a pattern of physical abuse and neglect in Chinese-run boarding schools that many are forced to attend. The report alleges that the schools are designed to separate Tibetan children from their parents and away from their language and culture. Host Carolyn Beeler gets the details from the director o…

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Poland's election upset puts abortion rights and rule of law reforms at risk 3:59

1d ago3:59

3:59

Poland has elected a new conservative nationalist as president in a major blow to Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Karol Nawrocki won the election by a razor thin margin. The result threatens to derail Tusk’s promise to ease Poland’s near-total abortion ban and reform the country's judiciary. The World’s Europe Correspondent Orla Barry joins Host Caroly…

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Desperation turns deadly as Palestinians in Gaza seek aid 6:06

1d ago6:06

6:06

Chaos erupted again near an aid distribution point in Rafah in the Gaza Strip, this time killing more than 20 people, according to the International Red Cross. Local health officials say Israeli soldiers fired on civilians. But the IDF blames Hamas militants for the violence. Arwa Damon, the founder of the International Network for Aid, Relief and …

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Things you might have missed 1:12

5d ago1:12

1:12

Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Carol Hills catch you up on headlines in the news you may have missed.By PRX

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Shakira global record-breaking tour comes to the US 5:20

5d ago5:20

5:20

Colombian pop star Shakira returns to US stages for the first time in seven years with her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran tour — Women Don’t Cry Anymore. Following sold-out shows across Latin America, the tour includes nearly 20 US dates and blends personal storytelling, bilingual performances and global rhythms. It’s projected to earn over $200 million …

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RT on the rise as VOA fades 6:05

5d ago6:05

6:05

The clash between the Trump administration and Voice of America continues. In March, an executive order was issued to eliminate VOA’s supervising agency. Since then, VOA has been slashed and has cut down operations while also challenging the executive order in court. The World’s Daniel Ofman reports that as VOA shrinks, Russian news agencies target…

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Hyperrealistic baby dolls become a fad in Brazil 2:03

5d ago2:03

2:03

Reborn dolls that are hyperrealistic, handcrafted baby dolls have gone viral in Brazil, sparking both fascination and controversy. Co-hosts Carolyn Beeler and Carol Hills explain.By Sarah Birnbaum

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The ideology behind the Rapid Support Forces' campaign of ethnic killing in Sudan 4:59

5d ago4:59

4:59

Ethnic killings in Sudan, documented to have been committed overwhelmingly by the RSF, have been called genocide by the US government. The World's Carolyn Beeler talks with reporter Nicholas Niarchos, who went to Sudan, and whose story about Sudanese fleeing the Rapid Support Forces reveals the ideology that drives the RSF's violent campaign agains…

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The deep friendship behind Van Gogh's portraits 4:25

5d ago4:25

4:25

A current exhibit at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts puts Vincent Van Gogh's portraits of the Roulin family into important context. The French family made the Dutchman feel like he belonged, and their relationship lives on in touching letters. The World's Bianca Hillier reports.By Bianca Hillier

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Canadian wildfires force widespread evacuations 3:52

5d ago3:52

3:52

Growing wildfires in Canada have forced widespread evacuations, with 17,000 people moved in Manitoba. Many of these people are from Canada's First Nations, in remote communities accessible only by single roads, boat or air. Chief David Monias of Pimicikamak Cree Nation is helping coordinate his community's evacuation. He tells The World's Carol Hil…

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Get ready for a world without physical passports 4:56

5d ago4:56

4:56

Under new UN-backed plans to streamline air travel, physical passports could become a thing of the past. The proposal from the The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) could lead to the most-dramatic shift in international air travel policy in decades, moving from a paper-based system to just facial recognition. The World's transportati…

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France bans smoking in most public places 1:07

5d ago1:07

1:07

Beginning July 1, the French will no longer be able to smoke in places where children might be, including on beaches and at parks, sports venues or bus stops. If you're asking "what could be more French than smoking," well the truth is that smoking is on the decline in France. Though, as hosts Carol Hills and Carolyn Beeler explain, you can still s…

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Gaza ceasefire hopes and West Bank settlements expanded 6:27

5d ago6:27

6:27

The White House says it's working on a ceasefire deal for Gaza, and that Israel has agreed to the proposal. Hamas is reportedly reviewing the offer, which would include a temporary truce and the release of Israeli hostages. Also this week, Israel announced an expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank, the biggest expansion of settlements in …

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Sonny Side of Sports - March 29, 2024 29:59

1y ago29:59

29:59

VOA's Sonny Young brings you the latest sports news, personalities and trends from around Africa and the world.By VOA Africa

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Sonny Side of Sports - VOA Africa

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Preserving stone wall architecture in Japan's rice paddies 5:23

1
Survivors of Assad's chemical attacks speak out 7:15

1
Octopus population booms off England's South Coast 7:23

1
Mount Etna puts on another show 0:46

1
Pressure grows for Hezbollah to disarm after military losses to Israel 5:44

1
Latin American students consider options as visas are on hold 5:19

1
J-Pop girl group to solo artist 1:57

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Digital addresses in Japan 0:40

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South Korea elects new liberal president 5:05

1
'Explosive' seaweed growth washes up on Caribbean shores 5:29

1
Moscow's plan to build 500 Orthodox churches sparks rare revolt 7:10

1
South Koreans head to the polls after months of turmoil 4:15

1
Amid backdrop of airstrikes, Russia and Ukraine pursue peace talks in Istanbul 3:28

1
Ukraine strikes military and psychological blow to Russia 4:58

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In Mexico City, moths find a home at the museum 1:09

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One of the best examples of soft power is on the chopping block 6:10

1
New Massachusetts law for undocumented migrants sees spike in licensed drivers 4:04

1
Tibetan children subject to abuse in Chinese government schools 4:49

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Poland's election upset puts abortion rights and rule of law reforms at risk 3:59

1
Desperation turns deadly as Palestinians in Gaza seek aid 6:06

1
Things you might have missed 1:12

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Shakira global record-breaking tour comes to the US 5:20

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RT on the rise as VOA fades 6:05

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Hyperrealistic baby dolls become a fad in Brazil 2:03

1
The ideology behind the Rapid Support Forces' campaign of ethnic killing in Sudan 4:59

1
The deep friendship behind Van Gogh's portraits 4:25

1
Canadian wildfires force widespread evacuations 3:52

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Get ready for a world without physical passports 4:56

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France bans smoking in most public places 1:07

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Gaza ceasefire hopes and West Bank settlements expanded 6:27

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Sonny Side of Sports - March 29, 2024 29:59