With summer truly underway here in the Northern Hemisphere, we wanted to find out what communications leaders around the world will be listening to on their holidays. We asked our agency partners across the Brands2Life Global Network to share their favourite listens for a modern twist on our previous summer reading list.

Whether you’re lounging beachside in Spain, walking through a city park in France, or powering through a long-haul flight to South Africa, this podcast list offers insights and stories from across cultures, industries, and perspectives.

Here’s what the Brands2Life Global Network is listening to:

Spain – Canela

Rest is for the weak – long live history

The Rest is History – If you’re a self-proclaimed “history nerd,” this podcast is sure to become your travel companion of choice. Hosted by history duo Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook, this podcast makes ancient stories come alive.

South Africa – Red Ribbon

A buffet of podcasts for every listener 

  • The Rewatchables – Nostalgic film debates at their best
  • The Squeeze – Husband and wife duo, the Lautners, dive deep into mental health conversations
  • Conspiracy Theories & Crime Junkie – Delve into the world’s most controversial events and explore the true crime cases that will have you scouring the internet for answers
  • Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History – Was Alexander the Great as bad a person as Adolf Hitler? This and many more questions are explored in a long-form, jaw-dropping takes on epic moments in history.
  • Freakonomics Radio – Co-author Stephen J. Dubner uncovers the hidden side of everything. From why it is safer to fly in an airplane than drive a car to why the media so full of bad news


France – Fabriq PR

Innovation, identity, and insight — à la Française (et Anglaise) 

  • Silicon Carne (French) – Blending cultural commentary, startup philosophy, and sharp observations on the U.S. ecosystem, host Carlos Diaz reminds us that innovation doesn’t exist in a cultural vacuum.
  • Génération Do It Yourself (French) – As one of the most influential French podcasts for entrepreneurs, host Matthieu Stefani explore the paths, doubts, wins and failures of startup founders, artists, thought leaders, and more.
  • Remarkable People (English) – What makes someone truly remarkable? Guy Kawasaki gets to the heart of what makes leaders from all walks of life tick.
  • Think Fast, Talk Smart (English) – Hosted by Stanford Graduate School of Business lecturer Matt Abrahams, this podcast focuses on the science and strategy behind effective communication. Whether you’re looking to prep for a keynote or refine a client’s messaging, Matt explores how communicators can speak more clearly under pressure, tell compelling stories, and navigate tough conversations.


Brazil – Sherlock Communications

Real storytelling with fresh perspectives and daily news

  • Rádio Novelo – a Brazilian podcast known for its high-quality journalistic storytelling. It focuses on real stories, exploring complex and current topics in-depth, using sound effects and editing to create an immersive auditory experience. The episodes cover a range of subjects, from investigations to cultural and social themes, always with a reflective and analytical approach. Carefully produced and thoroughly researched, the podcast presents fresh perspectives on events or lesser-known stories.
  • Café da Manhã – Folha de S.Paulo’s (Brazil’s biggest news outlet) daily podcast, produced in partnership with Spotify, and currently ranks as the 4th most listened-to podcast in Brazil on the platform. From Monday to Friday, the show offers a summary of the day’s top stories, along with an in-depth analysis of a relevant topic, such as politics, economics, science, or culture. With episodes lasting around 15 minutes, it is hosted by journalists Magê Flores, Gabriela Mayer, and Gustavo Simon, and aims to provide quick, clear, and accessible information for those who want to start their day well-informed about what truly matters in Brazil and around the world.

 

(For podcast recommendations from Argentina, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panamá or Peru, get in touch – we have many more.)

France – Gen-G

Laughter meets feminism & national transformation 

  • The Guilty Feminist – Host Deborah Frances-White navigates the contradictions and complexities of modern feminism. From identity, activism, work, and body image, Deborah tackles serious themes through a deeply human and often self-deprecating lens.
  • Invested in Better  – This podcast shows how AI is not just a tool, but a strategic lever to reimagine investment at a national scale. In the episode “Invested in Supporting the Saudi Private Sector,” Kimberley Leonard hosts a conversation with Jerry Todd, Head of the National Development Division at the Public Investment Fund (PIF), looking at how Saudi Arabia’s PIF is using AI to drive economic transformation as part of Vision 2030.


Germany – Adel & Link

A show for deep thinkers 

  • The Mel Robbins Podcast – Bestselling author Mel Robbins shares practical wisdom from the most interesting and accomplished experts in science and human behavior. Whether it is about personal growth, business or health – in each episode, science-backed wisdom gets turned into practical advice.


Germany – Maisberger

Bold analysis and cultural clarity

  • Die sogenannte Gegenwart (German) – What do Netflix cooking shows say about modern identity? Is “woke” the new narcissism? ZEIT’s feature editors (with occasional help from Apple’s voice assistant Siri) unpack the cultural quirks that define today’s society — with intellect, irony, and curiosity.
  • Deutschlandfunk’s “Der Tag” (German) – A weekday podcast that dives into the most important topics shaping the world. An essential listen to better understand what’s behind the headlines and what results from them.
  • Doppelgänger Tech Talk (German) – Hosted by Philipp Glöckler and Pip Klöckner, this podcast analyzes the biggest tech and business stories. From GAFAM (Google Apple Facebook Amazon Microsoft) to crypto, it’s Germany’s smartest tech talk.
  • 11KM: der tagesschau-Podcast (German) – Named after the deepest measurable point on Earth in the Mariana Trench, hosts Elena Kuch and David Krause take listeners deep into current topics each episode.
  • Pivot (English) – With great power comes great scrutiny. Journalist Kara Swisher and NYU Professor Scott Galloway offer sharp, unfiltered insights into the biggest stories in tech, business, and politics.
  • Handelsblatt Disrupt (German) – Handelsblatt editor-in-chief Sebastian Matthes explores Germany’s innovation economy with business leaders and policymakers.


US and UK – Brands2Life

Where tech meets culture, controversy, and the future 

  • Hard Fork – Hosted by The New York Times’ tech journalists Kevin Roose and Casey Newton, Hard Fork breaks down the latest in tech, AI, business, and online culture. From Elon Musk’s latest headline to the ripple effects of AI policy, it’s smart, fast-paced, and often laugh-out-loud funny.

 

And, of course, we couldn’t leave you without our very own podcast Brands Transforming Our World.

Hear directly from the people shaping the future of communications and technology. Former BBC Tech Correspondent, Rory Cellan-Jones OBE, and Brands2Life Co-Founder, Giles Fraser interview the likes of Graphcore CEO Nigel Toon; UK tech legend, Martha Lane Fox; Raspberry Pi CEO, Eben Upton; former government COO, Stephen Kelly, and coding / remote working pioneer, Dame Stephanie Shirley about brand-building, purpose, and the power of great storytelling.

Wherever summer takes you, we hope these podcasts bring a spark of inspiration, a fresh perspective, or simply a bit of fun.

Happy listening from all of us at Brands2Life Global!