A radioactive capsule the size of a pencil eraser fell of a truck in Western Australia. The capsule was part of a machine used in mining for iron ore. That led mining giant Rio Tinto and the Australian government to search a 1,400-kilometer stretch of desolate highway, searching for something the size of a pea. Plus, learn the phrasal verb "set off." -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: ht...
Feb 27, 2023•20 min•Ep. 550
" As Netflix plans to roll out its new policies on password sharing, it faces a balancing act between two priorities: getting password-sharing viewers to pay up, while also not angering legitimate users. The authentication rules will work for the average household, but a lot of people are not average. Plus, learn the English phrasal verb ""grow up."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: ht...
Feb 23, 2023•27 min•Ep. 549
" After turning a blind eye for many years, Netflix is now planning to tighten its rules around password sharing. Out of 215 million paying accounts, the company says, perhaps 100 million share a password with someone outside their household. The company plans to use authentication codes and other tools to determine who is part of the main account and who is not. Plus, learn the English expression ""come up."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full Eng...
Feb 20, 2023•27 min•Ep. 548
" Big technology (and non-tech) companies are laying off thousands of workers. It's the first round of layoffs in many years, so how are employers (and employees) handling it? It's not easy on either side of the table. Plus, learn the English expression ""bulk up."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/547 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our lessons a...
Feb 16, 2023•20 min•Ep. 547
" Jacinda Ardern became prime minister of New Zealand at age 37; she was the world's youngest female country leader. Her COVID policies were harsh, but effective, and she won high approval from New Zealanders. But after five years in office, she resigned, letting another minister lead her party into the next elections. Plus, learn the English expression ""overstay your welcome."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free t...
Feb 13, 2023•26 min•Ep. 546
Natural gas stoves have many advantages, but they may come with some health hazards. Are electric stoves any good? And what about induction? We talk about the pros and cons of each in today's lesson. Plus, learn the phrasal verb "win out." Mentioned in this episode: Ready to improve your listening? Ready to listen fast? Improve your listening with the fast version of this and every episode. The full-speed version is a fresh recording and it sounds just like someone speaking to a native speaker (...
Feb 09, 2023•28 min•Ep. 545
" Actor Alec Baldwin and another crewmember have been charged with involuntary manslaughter, after a gun accidentally fired and killed a cinematographer during the filming of a movie in 2021. Plus, learn the English expression ""meet the definition."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/544 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our lessons are about curren...
Feb 06, 2023•25 min•Ep. 544
" Death is forever, but at many cemeteries, a burial plot may not be. That's because some cemeteries are running out of space for new caskets. What can be done about it? Here are some ways different cultures deal with this grave problem. Plus, learn what it means to be 'short' (but not in stature). -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/543 -- Learning English should...
Feb 02, 2023•28 min•Ep. 543
" FTX was a cryptocurrency futures exchange. However, the firm suddenly collapsed into bankruptcy in late 2022, leaving millions of customers without their deposits. The 30-year-old founder is charged with fraud and could face over 100 years in jail. Plus, learn English phrasal verb ""pay up."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/542 -- Learning English should be ...
Jan 30, 2023•27 min•Ep. 542
" Copyright on films, drawings, and literature lasts a long time...but it doesn't last forever. While classic novels have been in the public domain for decades, some Hollywood icons like Winnie the Pooh are entering the public domain, allowing anyone to create re-makes of beloved characters. Plus, learn English phrasal verb ""slim down."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plaine...
Jan 26, 2023•23 min•Ep. 541
" How does a bank get in trouble? It's usually one of two problems: a liquidity crisis or a solvency crisis. Both are bad, but a solvency crisis is worse. Knowing this can help us understand the crypto crises of the present day. Plus, learn English expression ""sour on."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/540 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our les...
Jan 23, 2023•27 min•Ep. 540
" Dublin, the capital of the Republic of Ireland, is a great place to explore the best of Irish culture: the music, the drinks, and the literature. While you're there, you can also explore the Irish Emigration Museum, cross the Ha'Penny bridge, and fill up with a full Irish breakfast. Plus, learn the English expression ""plan ahead."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainengli...
Jan 19, 2023•26 min•Ep. 539
" A new drug has been shown to slow the progress of Alzheimer's disease by targeting protein buildup in the brain. While this drug makes just a small difference, it opens up a new avenue for treatments in the future. Plus, learn the English expression ""show promise."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/538 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our lesson...
Jan 16, 2023•23 min•Ep. 538
" Qatar, the first World Cup host in the Middle East, faced criticism for its migrant labor system and human rights record. Critics questioned whether the country won the rights to host the tournament fairly. But it was time for the World Cup to go to the Middle East--and Qatar wasn't nearly as bad as some previous hosts. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/537 --...
Jan 12, 2023•21 min•Ep. 537
" The World Cup was full of on- and off-the-field stories. Argentina won in a thrilling final on penalties, making host Qatar the real winner. Morocco carried the banner of the Arab world into the semifinals. Germany and Belgium took early flights home. Plus, learn the English expression ""grow closer."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/536 -- Learning English ...
Jan 09, 2023•19 min•Ep. 536
" As the world flips the calendar to 2023, we discuss four stories that will have an impact in the next twelve months. How long will the war in Ukraine last? Will China experience a nasty wave of COVID? Can central banks avoid causing a recession? And how bad is the damage to crypto? Plus, learn the English expression ""be intent on."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainengl...
Jan 05, 2023•23 min•Ep. 535
" Our current calendar is the Gregorian calendar and it's over 400 years old. But the basics (12 months, 365 days, leap years) have been in place for over two thousand years. A small change brought it closer into alignment with the astronomical year, but it's still not perfect. Plus, learn the English expression ""seek to."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/534...
Jan 02, 2023•21 min•Ep. 534
" ""Peanuts"" characters Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Peppermint Patty, and more, entertained millions of readers for half a century. Charles Schulz, the creator, drew every one of his 17,000-plus comics by hand. Plus, learn the English term ""comic relief."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/533 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our lessons are abou...
Dec 29, 2022•19 min•Ep. 533
" Christmas-themed movies are almost as old as the movies themselves. In today's lesson, you'll hear about four classic Christmas movies from four different decades (and two movies that don't count!). Plus, learn the English expression ""fend off."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/532 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our lessons are about current ...
Dec 26, 2022•15 min•Ep. 532
" In this first of our four holiday specials, we talk about a snowmobiling, a cold-weather activity that's only possible in parts of the world that get a lot of snow. A snowmobile is like a jet-ski, only for snow. Plus, learn the English expression ""familiar with."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/531 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our lessons ...
Dec 22, 2022•17 min•Ep. 531
" Forget pushy salesmen and rows of mattresses to try in a store: the new way to buy a mattress is online. New direct-to-consumer companies are upending the industry, focusing on quality, value, and the customer experience. Even better: the mattresses are comfortable. Plus, learn the English expression ""fine-tune."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/530 -- Lear...
Dec 19, 2022•22 min•Ep. 530
" A pair of Venezuelan immigrants to Miami pulled off a bold scheme to defraud members of their country's elite. These individuals were under sanctions, so they couldn't visit their luxury properties. So the Venezuelan couple took out loans on those properties, and used the money to live large. Plus, learn what it means to be ""in the dark."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://pl...
Dec 15, 2022•22 min•Ep. 529
" American real estate is considered a safe asset for wealthy people in unstable economies. They like to buy luxury homes in the U.S. because real estate is considered a guard against inflation. Plus, the legal rights are strong and their home governments can't (usually) access that wealth. Today, you'll also learn the English expression ""cook up."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: ht...
Dec 12, 2022•20 min•Ep. 528
" As fighting continues, Ukraine's railways have adapted to move refugees, supply the front lines, and keep exports flowing. The rail network has proved critical to Ukraine's war effort and its morale. Employees work long hours and comfort passengers in distress. Plus, learn the English phrase ""work around the clock."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/527 -- L...
Dec 08, 2022•20 min•Ep. 527
" A new law in New York City requires all job postings to include a ""good faith"" range of base pay. The purpose is to help jobseekers negotiate fairer compensation. The law's authors hope the new rules reduce the pay disparity between men and women. But there are ways around the law. Plus, learn the English expression ""push the envelope."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://pl...
Dec 05, 2022•25 min•Ep. 526
" The texts seem innocent at first: a case of mistaken identity or a request for advice. But for many victims, these random messages were the first step in an elaborate scam that cheated them out of all their savings. ""Pig butchering"" scams build confidence with their victims over weeks months; then, they trick victims into ""investing"" in fake cryptocurrency accounts. Plus, learn what it means to ""show your true colors."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. --...
Dec 01, 2022•21 min•Ep. 525
" From ""Monster"" to ""Making of a Murderer,"" true crime has never been as popular as it is now. Many of these, though, are fictionalized, meaning the dialogue and details are invented to fit the overall story. Producers of these have a responsibility to the truth, but so do the viewers. Plus, learn the English phrase ""go about your business."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https...
Nov 28, 2022•24 min•Ep. 524
" In the ultra-competitive world of streaming, Netflix has found a worldwide hit: its series called ""Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story."" In ten parts, the series tells the story of one of America's most notorious serial killers. While the facts of the story have been known for some time, the series tells the story from a new perspective. Plus, learn the English expression ""take liberties."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, incl...
Nov 24, 2022•19 min•Ep. 523
" Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, known as Lula, will return to presidency in Brazil, after defeating incumbent Jair Bolsonaro by 50.9% to 49.1%. The election marks a stunning comeback for Lula, who held the presidency from 2003 to 2010, but later served 18 months in jail for corruption. His third win, however, was his narrowest and he will preside over a divided country. Plus, learn the English expression ""on a technicality."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- To...
Nov 21, 2022•25 min•Ep. 522
" The World Cup is the most-watched sports tournament in the world, and the 2022 edition starts Monday in the desert nation of Qatar. Here are some facts to get you ready for the big tournament. Plus, learn what it means to ""risk it."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/521 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our lessons are about current events and tr...
Nov 17, 2022•17 min•Ep. 521
