Miranda Partners’ Guide To Mexican Podcasts

By  Joe Leonard, Miranda Media

As we are heading into a lonelier than usual holiday season, this is a great opportunity to explore new podcasts and get all of your subscriptions set for 2021. Miranda Partners is here to help you with our Guide to Mexican podcasts, ideal for our Spanish speaking (or listening) friends. 

The Podcast Scene In Mexico

In comparison to Mexico’s robust radio scene, the podcast industry in Mexico is still in its developing stages and currently experiencing rapid growth. According to PwC, while the overall music/radio industry revenues in Mexico are expected to decrease by 19.7% in 2020, the podcast industry’s earnings are expected to increase by $19 million dollars (25.9%). Earnings are achieved mainly via advertisements, and some direct charges. 

In 2020, podcast listeners are estimated to reach 22 million in Mexico, over four times more compared to 2015 when there were only 5 million listeners. 

Spotify

In contrast to more mature markets like the US, podcasts in Mexico have mainly focused on non-news content, with the most popular podcasts being related to comedy, personal growth, entrepreneurship and personal finance. Another difference is that, thanks to the mobile phone market diversification in Mexico, Spotify has been able to achieve a large market share over Apple Podcasts, the leading podcast app in the US.

This is also partly because Spotify has launched agreements with local media outlets to produce podcasts that will be exclusively played on their platform. They partnered with Grupo Expansión, to produce 8 podcasts on business and economy. Spotify has an alliance with Vice News, which created the El Chapo mini-series, and they partnered with Cultura UNAM and Rolling Stone Mexico for the special series on the Tlatelolco massacre. Also, the widely popular personal growth podcast, “Se regalan dudas” is exclusively found in Spotify. 

Así como suena 

Así Como Suena is another major Mexican podcast producer that has put out about a dozen podcasts. They have partnered with El País to make La Lista, Netflix with Nada Que Ver, Valeria Moy (IMCO director) with Peras y Manzanas. Their podcasts are consistently well produced with a high quality modern sound. 

Their description of themselves is, “En Así como suena contamos historias: historias de amor y de odio, de crimen, de política, de corrupción, de vida cotidiana. Nuestro extraordinario equipo de reporteros no se queda en la superficie, en la nota. Cava profundo. Y te ofrece piezas sonoras extraordinarias; historias que merecen ser escuchadas.”

APO Digital

Ana Paula Ordorica’s podcast app (APO Digital) and associated podcasts (Broojula). is also gaining traction in the international news area, also available on Spotify and other channels.

Trends in Mexico

In terms of trends among Mexican podcasts, some of the most popular for general audiences are in the comedy and self-help categories. Like Leyendas Legendarias, a popular podcast that is a mix of comedy, true crime, and paranormal activity stories. However, many Mexicans that we talked to for this piece, primarily listen to podcasts from America in English.

We think there is an opportunity for a Mexican podcast to emerge  that covers more general intellectually engaging topics that would appeal to a wide Mexican audience. A few that come close in their appeal to a wide audience are Radio Ambulante and Las Raras (both not from Mexico). 

Mexican Podcast List

Noticias

Broojula

• From: Ana Paula Ordorica 
• Content: Mexican and international news summary.
• Length: 20 minutes
• Frequency: Daily
• Language: Spanish
• Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/5BH7KHBb28tFMSlwB7qTOm?si=732rFcnLRWyusrPERvIliQ 

Botepronto

• From: Así Como Suena
• Content: Weekly news summary from Ignacio Marván, Carlos Puig, María Scherer y Salvador Camarena.
• Length: 20 minutes
• Frequency: Weekly
• Language: Spanish
• Link:  https://open.spotify.com/show/6yTTxJrxB1YSJseRXpx8kd?si=b5O5dqZjS1WL507fTKWVfA 

El Café de la Mañana

• From: Spotify and Reforma
• Content: The stories behind the news
• Length: 20 minutes
• Frequency: Daily
• Language: Spanish
• Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/7GIjPB112ZItDWPcDSG5Ze?si=N2e30ohAQYultoCiZ2pqXg

Reporte EUA

• From: Ana Paula Ordorica 
• Content: US elections news (this will end after the elections are completely over)
• Length: 20 minutes
• Frequency: Weekly
• Language: Spanish
• Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/3ngnMavYWYnfWIjaNusNL6?si=n1JOVF5iTfic-O7wSRRx1w

Alto Parlante

• From: Alto Parlante
• Content: Mexican news summary and opinion. 
• Length: 30 minutes
• Frequency: Twice Weekly
• Language: Spanish
• Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A926JUcFeABS3xRbGg4c5?si=MkMBC8dFR5mRhrvdjO_P-A 

Investigative Journalism

La Lista

• From: Así Como Suena
• Content: Investigative journalism piece about military members accused of working with the cartel. Especially relevant today with the arrest of Cienfuegos. 
• Length: 30, 40 minutes
• Frequency: Weekly
• Language: Spanish
• Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/1GYHuElvtebmLW5SRT1xAV?si=wsTL5klhTnaU3E_xgObSxg 

El Chapo: El Jefe y su Juicio

• From: Spotify and Vice
• Content: All about El Chapo and the trial. 
• Length: Less than half an hour
• Frequency: Weekly
• Language: Spanish
• Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/1jcg6pmLFUtw5OVNMt9YuZ?si=IIz0yA9sSV6W0tM9oyGOgg 

La Advertencia

• From: La Corriente del Golfo (Diego Luna) and Antifaz
• Content: On impunity and corruption
• Length: Less than half an hour
• Frequency: Season released all at once
• Language: Spanish
• Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/2fonoXIzfhtGwPdeYV3XTi?si=YSAE8vjvQjysfz6I_EDnng

Economics

Peras y manzanas

• From: Así Como Suena
• Content: Valeria Moy (director of IMCO) talks with her guests about the economy. 
• Length: 20-30 minutes
• Frequency: Weekly
• Language: Spanish
• Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/060bKwAbuuwXzepXP3WA9J?si=k3PiQlPCTvyb9T72qRAxHg  

Historical 

Tlatelolco: La Plaza en Movimiento

• From: Produced by Spotify and Rolling Stone México in collaboration with Cultura UNAM.
• Content: Tells the story of Tlatelolco and how that moment changed history.
• Length: Less than half an hour
• Frequency: 1 season with 5 episodes
• Language: Spanish
• Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/3wsUnsz05U9m5wvw10pnfW 

Art & Cultura 

Hablemos Arte

• From: Roberta Villarreal
• Content: On how art and daily life coexist
• Length: 15-60 minutes
• Frequency: Weekly
• Language: Spanish
• Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/45gZhjzSDsv3T1XHaXWctC

Comedy/Bizarre

Leyendas Legendarias

• From: All Things Comedy, from Chihuahua
• Content: Comedy, true crime, and paranormal activity stories.
• Length: 90 minutes
• Frequency: Twice Weekly
• Language: Spanish
• Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/6wF969GfLUfypoKaicH5gr 

La Cotorrisa

• From: Ricardo Pérez y Slobotzky
• Content: Interviews, public opinions, guests. 
• Length: 40-70 minutes
• Frequency: Twice Weekly
• Language: Spanish
• Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/3a36uQneX1imRuopaknUqw

En Cortinas Con Luisito

• From: Luisito Comunica
• Content: Random funny content
• Length: Over an hour
• Frequency: Random
• Language: Spanish
• Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/711yEp4HYpQOJ3kzJM8BzL

La Chora Interminable

• From: Radio Universidad de Guadalajara
• Content: Psychedelic comedy
• Length: 50 minutes
• Frequency: Weekly
• Language: Spanish
• Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/2pcDHUG4ut5A4SiyoSjUvB?si=rn2fa1FTTjuKw6KS6OszpA

True Crime

Fausto

• From: Damián Alcázar
• Content: True crime stories 
• Length: Less than 20 minutes
• Frequency: 1 season 9 episodes, next season coming soon
• Language: Spanish
• Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/5pMNIoy0SoxMBiWZ1qtk4h 

Advice

Se Regalan Dudas

• From: Laty Sahagún and Ashley Frangie. It is found exclusively in Spotify.
• Content: Advice talk show with interview with experts and friends.
• Length: 30, 50 minutes
• Frequency: Weekly
• Language: Spanish
• Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/0KUjSzqMyxrTyXuw15j4e8?si=yJklTcGQRwW1Oic8AlQk8g 

Mexico, US Bilateral Relationship 

México Centered

• From: Rice University’s Center for the United States and Mexico at the Baker Institute
• Content: Focused on US Mexico relations, with interviews with government officials and experts.
• Length: Always less than half an hour.
• Frequency: Monthly
• Language: English
• Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/1h9YUf5AP5XLyQhv88b2W2?si=9fqLC5fVTxCvUYhUErk1Uw 

Mexican Universities

Revista de la Universidad de México

• From: UNAM. This is a supplement to their magazine 
• Content: Covers subjects such as gender, law, literature, revolution, etc. 
• Length: 15 minutes
• Frequency: Weekly
• Language: Spanish
• Link:https://open.spotify.com/show/4CIvduOo4W097RC0pXzwcY?si=Ap99toVPSKOH1KqFPxn1mg 

Not Mexican But Great Podcasts

Radio Ambulante

• From: NPR
• Content: Thought provoking stories from all over Latin America
• Length: about 1 hour
• Frequency: Weekly
• Language: Spanish/English
• Link:https://open.spotify.com/show/0J74zdNxUVWHq4gLoq8MqX?si=1-ubdCZjRZ6Bma05w_D4yA 

El Hilo

• From: Radio Ambulante Studios
• Content: Deep dive on one news story
• Length: about 30 minutes
• Frequency: Weekly
• Language: Spanish
• Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/3skDSKvB1twtAxgLh0645y?si=M2GLw4qCTYGJSUTLDxwzKA

Las Raras

• From: Google & PRX
• Content: Storytelling, based in Chile
• Length: about 1 hour
• Frequency: Biweekly
• Language: Spanish
• Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/7hBH9nlz59X9pErdalYchr?si=0EDmE3EFSJ6_tq3LMsmEQQ