Today's story: The classic advice that breakfast is the "most important meal of the day" may be overstated. But eating a morning meal can bring important benefits to your nutrition, metabolism, and even cognitive functions. Before you write off breakfast, think about ways you can make the first meal of the day work for you. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/784 -- Plain English helps you improve your English: Learn about the world and improve your English Clear, natural Englis...
Jun 16, 2025•14 min•Ep. 784
Today's story: As students use ChatGPT to write essays, solve problems, and complete assignments, teachers are left with difficult choices. Should they try to catch cheaters? Ban devices? Or embrace AI and teach students how to use it responsibly? Many teachers are also using AI themselves, to create materials, grade fairly, and save time—but not everyone is happy. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/783 -- Plain English helps you improve your English: Learn about the world and ...
Jun 12, 2025•14 min•Ep. 783
Today's story: In just a few short years, ChatGPT has transformed what it means to be in school. Students can use AI to for help in their homework, or to do their assignments from start to finish. Educators worry that widespread cheating means that students today are not getting the problem-solving skills they'll need in the real world. "College is just how well I can use ChatGPT," one student admitted. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/782 -- Plain English helps you improve y...
Jun 09, 2025•16 min•Ep. 782
Today's story: High-protein foods and supplements have gone mainstream, moving beyond gyms and into everyday grocery carts. From cottage cheese to high-protein soda, food makers are cashing in on the trend. But not all sources are created equal, and nutrition experts urge caution with processed, protein-enhanced foods. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/781 Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/781 -- Plain English helps you improve your English: Learn about the world and impro...
Jun 05, 2025•17 min•Ep. 781
Today's story: Book and movie titles often change dramatically in translation, and the reasons go beyond simple language differences. Local publishers and distributors choose titles based on cultural context, marketing strategy, and artistic goals—resulting in everything from literal translations to poetic rewrites and puzzling name changes. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/780 Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/780 -- Plain English helps you improve your English: Learn ab...
Jun 02, 2025•19 min•Ep. 780
Today's story: A biotech company in Texas has created three wolf pups using DNA from extinct dire wolves and modern gray wolves. While the company claims this is the first-ever de-extinction, many scientists say the result is not a true dire wolf, but a synthetic animal that only resembles the original species. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/779 -- Plain English helps you improve your English: Learn about the world and improve your English Clear, natural English at a speed ...
May 29, 2025•17 min•Ep. 779
Today's story: Many major airports around the world have chapels or prayer rooms—some interfaith, some religion-specific—offering travelers and employees a quiet place for reflection, prayer, or emotional support. These spaces, first created mainly for airport staff, now serve religious and non-religious visitors alike, helping people find peace in stressful moments. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/778 -- Plain English helps you improve your English: Learn about the world an...
May 26, 2025•16 min•Ep. 778
Today's story: The four-part Netflix series “Adolescence” tells the story of a teenage boy accused of murder. The story is gripping and powerful. But for viewers, the tension is enhanced by the way the series was made. Each episode was filmed in a single take, using just one camera. The creative team overcame enormous technical challenges to deliver a raw, immersive experience. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/777 -- Plain English helps you improve your English: Learn about t...
May 22, 2025•15 min•Ep. 777
Great news -- the expressions are back! "Essential English Expressions" is a brand-new podcast from Plain English. All 14 episodes from Season 1 are available now for you to stream. Click this link to subscribe on your favorite player: https://essential-english.captivate.fm/listen In the meantime, enjoy this sample episode! -- There are two ways to use the phrasal verb "figure out." Number 1: "figure out" means to find the solution to a problem. Now be careful: it doesn't mean fixing a problem. ...
May 21, 2025•16 min
Today's story: Warren Buffett, one of the most successful investors in history, announced his retirement at age 94 during his company's 2025 annual meeting. Buffett transformed Berkshire Hathaway, a failing textile business, into a holding company, where he pursued his disciplined value investing strategy. Over a sixty-year career, he consistently beat the market performance by a wide margin and amassed one of the world's largest personal fortunes. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglis...
May 19, 2025•15 min•Ep. 776
Today's story: Mark Carney, former head of the central banks of Canada and the UK, led Canada's struggling Liberal party to an improbable, come-from-behind victory in the 2025 elections. He focused his campaign on protecting Canada’s interests, after Donald Trump imposed tariffs and threatened to make Canada the 51st American state. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/775 Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/775 -- In this lesson, you heard the English expressions "keep track o...
May 15, 2025•17 min•Ep. 775
Great news -- the expressions are back! "Essential English Expressions" is a brand-new podcast from Plain English. All 14 episodes from Season 1 are available now for you to stream. Click this link to subscribe on your favorite player: https://essential-english.captivate.fm/listen In the meantime, enjoy this sample episode! -- The English expression "make sure" means to confirm that things are as they should be, or that people have done what they should do. You probably "make sure" all the time....
May 14, 2025•13 min
Today's story: The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, one of three major schools of Buddhism. Though he leads only a fraction of the world’s Buddhists, his influence is global due to his role as a symbol of Tibet’s struggle for religious freedom. Now the Dalai Lama is 89, and confronting the fact that he will be the first in over 600 years to die outside Tibet. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/774 Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/774 -- In this lesso...
May 12, 2025•17 min•Ep. 774
Today's story: LinkedIn has evolved from a resume and networking site into a platform where users share personal stories, professional lessons, and insights. Changes to the algorithm, a shift in user behavior during the pandemic, and a more civil atmosphere have turned LinkedIn into a space for authentic content and unexpected influence. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/773 Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/773 -- Plain English helps you improve your English: Learn about ...
May 08, 2025•15 min•Ep. 773
Great news -- the expressions are back! "Essential English Expressions" is a brand-new podcast from Plain English. All 14 episodes from Season 1 are available now for you to stream. Click this link to subscribe on your favorite player: https://essential-english.captivate.fm/listen In the meantime, enjoy this sample episode! -- Learn the English expression, "Expression: Make a difference" What does it mean to "make a difference?" This English expression has two meanings: Number one, to have a pos...
May 07, 2025•16 min
Today's story: When a pope dies or resigns, the College of Cardinals, made up of senior advisors, convenes at the Vatican to elect a successor. Cardinals under age 80 enter a secret Conclave inside the Sistine Chapel, where they vote in silence and prayer until one candidate receives a two-thirds majority. White smoke signals the world that a new pope has been chosen. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/772 Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/772 -- Plain English helps you imp...
May 05, 2025•17 min•Ep. 772
Today's story: Mass timber is a new type of engineered wood that allows buildings to reach heights once thought impossible for timber. It’s efficient to build, environmentally friendly, and gaining popularity in cities around the world, especially in Europe. But challenges like fire safety and moisture still remain. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/771 Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/771 -- Plain English helps you improve your English: Learn about the world and improve ...
May 01, 2025•12 min•Ep. 771
Great news -- the expressions are back! "Essential English Expressions" is a brand-new podcast from Plain English. All 14 episodes from Season 1 are available now for you to stream. Click this link to subscribe on your favorite player: https://essential-english.captivate.fm/listen In the meantime, enjoy this sample episode! -- Learn the English expression, "Expression: Look forward to" Are you happy or excited about something in the future? If so, you're "looking forward to" it You can look forw...
Apr 30, 2025•18 min
Big news from Plain English.... The Expressions are coming back! Announcing... a brand-new podcast, "Essential English Expressions" Every episode in "Essential English Expressions" shows you step-by-step how to use an important expression in English. All 14 episodes of Season 1 are available for you to download or stream right now! Here is what to do: Click here to find "Essential English Expressions": https://essential-english.captivate.fm/listen Subscribe to / Follow "Essential English Express...
Apr 30, 2025•3 min
Today's story: Le Creuset was founded in 1925 by two Belgian entrepreneurs who revolutionized cast iron cookware with colorful enamel and thoughtful design. Over 100 years, the company evolved from a local French producer into a global kitchen brand, with fans collecting its distinctive pieces and even passing them down to their kids. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/770 Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/770 -- Plain English helps you improve your English: Learn about the...
Apr 28, 2025•18 min•Ep. 770
Today's story: In this episode, you'll hear updates from several recent Plain English stories. Daniel Kahneman, who wrote the book "Thinking, Fast and Slow" died at age 90. What wasn't reported at the time: he went to Switzerland to end his own life. Plus, the movie "Rust" is coming out after the fatal gun accident on set. Standardized tests are making a comeback. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/769 Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/769 -- Plain English helps you improve...
Apr 24, 2025•17 min•Ep. 769
Today's story: In this first of two update episodes, you'll hear the latest on several recent Plain English stories. The astronauts who were stranded in space have come home. The former Spanish soccer federation president was ordered to pay a fine for kissing a player after the World Cup. More running records fall, thanks to new shoe designs. El Salvador has dropped Bitcoin. Trump wants to pause the penny. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/768 Full lesson: https://plainenglish...
Apr 21, 2025•17 min•Ep. 768
Today's story: Crumbl Cookies is a gourmet dessert company known for its rotating menu, bold flavors, and eye-catching pink boxes. Since its beginnings in 2017, the company has used social media virality tactics to grow (and consumers are eating it up). But do the cookies live up to the hype? Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/767 -- Plain English helps you improve your English: Learn about the world and improve your English Clear, natural English at a speed you can understand ...
Apr 17, 2025•11 min•Ep. 767
Today's story: Donald Trump announced sweeping new tariffs on nearly every country in the world, triggering panic in global markets. But just days later, he walked back the harshest parts of the plan, leaving investors, business leaders, and political allies confused and shaken. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/766 -- Plain English helps you improve your English: Learn about the world and improve your English Clear, natural English at a speed you can understand New stories ev...
Apr 14, 2025•16 min•Ep. 766
Today's story: Top sheets are a staple in some parts of the world, while in others they’re practically unknown. In places like the U.S., Canada, and parts of Latin America, a flat sheet between you and your blanket is seen as essential. But in much of Europe and Asia, sleepers go straight under a duvet with a washable cover. So what do you say: is a top sheet essential or too much work? Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/765 -- Plain English helps you improve your English: Lear...
Apr 10, 2025•17 min•Ep. 765
Today's story: Skype launched in 2003 and transformed long-distance communication by making voice and video calls cheaper and easier. After early success, the platform was sold to eBay and later to Microsoft, where it became part of the company’s business tools. As newer apps took over the market, Skype lost relevance and will be shut down in 2025. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/764 -- Plain English helps you improve your English: Learn about the world and improve your Engl...
Apr 07, 2025•15 min•Ep. 764
Today's story: Co-living is like coworking for your personal life: flexible, furnished housing in shared spaces without the commitment of a long term lease or the need to own furniture. It can work for temporary stays and international moves, but high prices and limited privacy mean it isn’t for everyone. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/763 -- Plain English helps you improve your English: Learn about the world and improve your English Clear, natural English at a speed you ca...
Apr 03, 2025•15 min•Ep. 763
Today's story: Tariffs are taxes on imported goods, used by governments to raise revenue, protect local industries, or retaliate in trade disputes. They’ve existed for centuries, but have fallen in recent decades. But Donald Trump has made trade barriers popular again. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/762 Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/762 -- Mentioned in this episode: Ready to improve your listening? Ready to listen fast? Improve your listening with the fast version o...
Mar 31, 2025•16 min•Ep. 762
Today's story: Denmark’s government-run postal service, PostNord, traces its roots to the year 1624. But at the end of 2025, it will stop delivering letters. The country has seen a 90% drop in mail volume since 2000, making letter delivery economically unsustainable. While private couriers will deliver letters to some places (at a price), Denmark will become the first country to eliminate universal mail service entirely. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/761 Full lesson: https...
Mar 27, 2025•16 min•Ep. 761
Today's story: Self-driving cars don’t just need advanced technology—they also need a moral code. Engineers must program vehicles to make ethical decisions in life-or-death situations, such as choosing between protecting a passenger or a pedestrian. But how can a machine's software make such personal decisions? Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/760 Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/760 -- Plain English helps you improve your English: Learn about the world and improve your ...
Mar 24, 2025•19 min•Ep. 760
