A UK charity encourages people to give up alcohol for the month of January. Those who do experience better sleep, weight loss, and better health—but does it make a big difference? Oregon is one of only two states that have full-service gas stations, but that’s about to change. Plus we review English words “sober” and “quirky.” GREAT NEWS if you speak CHINESE, FRENCH, or SPANISH! Follow along with interactive transcripts at plainenglish.com/12 - hover over (or tap) a highlighted word for an insta...
Jan 11, 2018•26 min•Ep. 12
Protesters in Iran are demonstrating against the government, focusing on the economic conditions that include high unemployment and high inflation. The government has shut down social media in response. Many countries have their own New Year’s traditions, including fireworks, religious observances and, in Indonesia, a mass wedding. Plus we review English expressions “shut down” and “bucket list.” DO YOU ENJOY PLAIN ENGLISH? If so, then please leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever...
Jan 04, 2018•24 min•Ep. 11
An electrical fire below ground knocked out power at the Atlanta airport—the world’s busiest—for eleven hours just eight days before Christmas. Passengers were left in the dark, wondering what to do; many had to sleep in the airport that night. Spain’s annual Christmas lottery is a national event and has thousands of winners; the results are sung out by children on national television. Plus we review English vocabulary words “stranded” and “fundraiser.” DO YOU ENJOY PLAIN ENGLISH? If so, then pl...
Dec 28, 2017•24 min•Ep. 10
Saudi Arabia will allow construction of new movie theaters, after a 35-year prohibition. Theater chains are ready to dive into a new market, but some questions remain about censorship and how this deeply religious country will embrace the cinema experience. Facebook has admitted that its users may experience some negative mental health effects from using social media. Plus, we practice English expressions “dive in” and “wind up.” PLAIN ENGLISH is a weekly podcast for intermediate English student...
Dec 21, 2017•26 min•Ep. 9
A series of deadly wildfires has broken out in Southern California; they have been spread by strong, dry winds. The fires have caused over 200,000 people to evacuate their homes and have come dangerously close to the city’s famous Getty Museum. The International Olympic Committee has banned Russia from competing in the 2018 Winter Olympics, although some Russian athletes will be able to compete under a generic Olympic flag. We also review English phrases “crack down on” and “caught up in.” PLAIN...
Dec 14, 2017•27 min•Ep. 8
Disney’s 3-D animated film “Coco”, which is rich with Mexican cultural references, is officially the highest-grossing film ever in Mexico and is popular in the United States. Its all-Latino cast, accurate portrayal of Mexican folklore, and rich animation have contributed to its popularity. Britain’s Prince Harry is engaged to American actress Meghan Markle; the two will marry in the spring in Windsor Castle, just outside of London. We also practice “to go over well” and “to die down.” PLAIN ENGL...
Dec 07, 2017•23 min•Ep. 7
Charles Manson, a cult leader whose followers brutally killed nine people and terrorized Los Angeles in 1969, died in jail of natural causes at age 83. A team of students submitted a design for constructing a sustainable city on Mars. The team envisions a series of domes covering a network of underground tunnels that could house up to 10,000 people. We also practice English phrases “hold a grudge” and “come about.” PLAIN ENGLISH is a weekly podcast for intermediate English students. The pace of ...
Nov 30, 2017•25 min•Ep. 6
The Louvre, one of the most famous museums in the world, opens a second location in Abu Dhabi that will tell the stories of eastern and western civilization through artwork. In China, shoppers spent a record $25 billion on Singles Day; what was originally a light-hearted protest of Valentine’s Day has become the world’s biggest shopping day. We review English phrases “shore up”, “spill into”, and “throw weight behind.” PLAIN ENGLISH is a weekly podcast for intermediate English students. The pace...
Nov 23, 2017•29 min•Ep. 5
An American family escaped a pirate attack in a remote area of the Brazilian Amazon and survived in the jungle for three days. Selena, the Mexican-American artist known as the Queen of Tejano music received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame this month. In the second half of the program, we review the English expressions ‘hitch a ride’ and ‘on behalf’. PLAIN ENGLISH is a weekly podcast for intermediate English students. The pace of the show is a little slower than native English speech and lis...
Nov 16, 2017•23 min•Ep. 4
Catalonia’s leaders make a bid for independence, but regional president Carles Puigdemont is arrested. The Houston Astros won the World Series for the first time in their franchise history. In the second half of the program, we review the English expressions “stop short” and “a stretch.” PLAIN ENGLISH is a weekly podcast for intermediate English students. The pace of the show is a little slower than native English speech and listeners can read the transcript as they listen so they never miss a w...
Nov 09, 2017•23 min•Ep. 3
The Vegas Golden Knights, a hockey team, became the first major league sports team to call Las Vegas home. Tom Petty, one of the most well-known rock and roll musicians, died at the age of 66. In the second half of the program, we review the English expressions “make a splash” and “take refuge.” PLAIN ENGLISH is a weekly podcast for intermediate English students. The pace of the show is a little slower than native English speech and listeners can read the transcript as they listen so they never ...
Nov 02, 2017•22 min•Ep. 2
A series of three large earthquakes hit Mexico in the last month, including the strongest earthquake to hit the country in over a century. The new features of the iPhone X are impressive, including what is possibly the newest word in the English language, “animoji.” In the second half of the program, we review examples of the English phrases “bundled up” and “comb through.” PLAIN ENGLISH is a weekly podcast for intermediate English students. The pace of the show is a little slower than native En...
Oct 25, 2017•22 min•Ep. 1
Would you like to speak English better? Do you have a hard time understanding native speakers because they go too fast? Do you want to learn English expressions and practice with phrasal verbs? If so, then you are in the right place. Plain English is a free slower-speed podcast for people learning English. Each lesson includes a discussion about an interesting topic and an explanation of one English word or phrase. Come join Jeff and JR every Monday and Thursday for new episodes of Plain English...
Oct 01, 2017•2 min
