Why We Built MyRadioGlobal
The story behind a free, ad-free radio streaming platform born from homesickness
Living abroad changes you. When I moved from Portugal to the United States, I thought I was prepared for the cultural shift, the different pace of life, even the food. What I wasn't prepared for was how much I'd miss the simple comfort of Portuguese radio.
There's something magical about radio that streaming services can't replicate. It's not just the music, it's the voices between songs, the local news, the spontaneous conversations, the cultural references that make you feel like you're still part of your homeland. Radio carries the pulse of a place in a way that curated playlists never could.
The Problem with Existing Solutions
So naturally, I turned to online radio. Surely in 2024, listening to Portuguese radio from anywhere in the world would be straightforward, right? Wrong.
Every platform I tried felt broken in its own special way:
- TuneIn Radio wanted $9.99/month just to remove ads, and even then, many stations still had their own advertising
- Radio Garden had a cool globe interface but lacked basic features like favorites or proper search
- iHeartRadio was focused on American content with limited international options
- Most apps cluttered the experience with podcasts, social features, and unnecessary complexity
I didn't want a social media platform. I didn't want algorithmic recommendations. I just wanted to click on a Portuguese radio station and hear home. But every time I tried, I was bombarded with ads, subscription prompts, or interfaces that felt like they were designed by committee.
The Spotify Moment
Then it hit me: why isn't there a “Spotify for radio”? Something clean, fast, and focused entirely on the listening experience. No ads interrupting your connection to home. No registration walls. No premium tiers. Just pure, simple access to radio stations from around the world.
That's when I decided to build MyRadioGlobal.
Building Something Different
The vision was simple: create the radio streaming experience I wished existed. Clean interface, instant playback, and access to thousands of stations worldwide-completely free, forever.
Our Core Principles:
- ✓ No ads
- ✓ No registration
- ✓ No hidden costs
- ✓ Just you, and the voices from home
We launched with 7,000+ radio stations from 35+ countries. Portuguese expats could listen to RFM and Orbital. People from Belgium could listen to NRJ. Music lovers could discover stations from Brazil, France, Germany, and another 35+ countries.
More Than Just Nostalgia
What started as a personal solution to stay connected with Portugal has grown into something bigger. We now have thousands of active users from around the world-students studying abroad, immigrants keeping cultural ties alive, travelers wanting to hear local voices, and music enthusiasts discovering new sounds.
Radio breaks down borders in a way that few mediums can. A jazz station from Paris, news from the BBC, folk music from rural Mexico-it's all there, waiting to transport you somewhere else.
The Mission Continues
As I prepare to move back to Portugal, MyRadioGlobal continues to grow. We're expanding our station database, improving the user experience, and exploring ways to support the radio ecosystem through API services for developers and businesses.
But our core mission remains unchanged: keep radio streaming simple, accessible, and free for everyone.
Because sometimes, all you need is to hear a familiar voice to feel at home.
Try MyRadioGlobal at myradioglobal.com - no signup required, just press play.
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