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
Today's story: Self-driving cars were supposed to be here by now—but the road to autonomy has been bumpier than expected. The technology has gotten better, but the sensors and cameras remain imperfect. Meanwhile, uncertainties in the business and legal environment have contributed to the delays. Some companies have scaled back their ambitions, while others, like Tesla and Waymo, continue to push forward. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/759 -- Plain English helps you improve ...
Mar 20, 2025•20 min•Ep. 759
Today's story: Amazon has taken full creative control of James Bond, ending six decades of stewardship by the family of film producer Albert Broccoli. Previously, the family carefully managed the creative direction of the Bond franchise, even as big studios produced the movies. Now, Amazon may make more frequent films, expand Bond storylines, and push the character into new media like theme parks and animated specials. But some Bond fans worry the tech giant will dilute the brand and let algorit...
Mar 17, 2025•18 min•Ep. 758
Today's story: Manual transmissions were once a cheaper, more fuel-efficient alternative to automatics. But automatics have gotten better, and consumers overwhelmingly prefer them. Now, only about 1% of new cars in the U.S. and Canada come with a stick shift. Those who prefer to shift their own gears must pay up for a higher trim line or a performance car. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/757 Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/757 -- Plain English helps you improve your En...
Mar 13, 2025•16 min•Ep. 757
Today's story: Los Angeles is facing the aftermath of both devastating wildfires and destructive mudslides. The fires burned vegetation that helped keep soil in place, leading to landslides when heavy rains arrived. Now, the city is dealing with cleanup while also rethinking building codes, infrastructure, and planning to better withstand future disasters. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/756 Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/756 -- Plain English helps you improve your En...
Mar 10, 2025•14 min•Ep. 756
Today's story: Los Angeles faces wildfire risks every year due to its dry summers, drought-resistant vegetation, and the powerful Santa Ana winds. This year, however, was one of the worst in history. A series of devastating fires destroyed thousands of buildings, forced mass evacuations, and left entire neighborhoods in ashes. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/755 -- Plain English helps you improve your English: Learn about the world and improve your English Clear, natural Eng...
Mar 06, 2025•15 min•Ep. 755
Today's story: Five years after the pandemic began, the fight over remote work still isn’t settled. Some companies are demanding full-time office attendance, using badge swipes and tracking software to enforce it. Others are trying to lure workers back with perks. Meanwhile, employees are pushing for more flexibility. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/754 -- Plain English helps you improve your English: Learn about the world and improve your English Clear, natural English at a...
Mar 03, 2025•17 min•Ep. 754
Today's story: Most contractions in English are simple combinations of two words, like “you’re” for “you are.” But some contractions don’t follow the usual pattern. In this lesson, we explore three unusual contractions—“ma’am,” “o’clock,” and “ain’t”—their origins, meanings, and when (or if) you should use them. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/753 -- Plain English helps you improve your English: Learn about the world and improve your English Clear, natural English at a speed...
Feb 27, 2025•14 min•Ep. 753
Today's story: Scientists have discovered the ideal way to boil an egg, ensuring a perfectly firm white and a soft, nutrient-rich yolk. The secret? Alternating the egg between boiling and warm water for 32 minutes. This method preserves nutrients and improves texture—but it requires patience and precision. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/752 -- Plain English helps you improve your English: Learn about the world and improve your English Clear, natural English at a speed you c...
Feb 24, 2025•13 min•Ep. 752
Today's story: Whether you live in cold weather, plan to visit, or are just curious, it's important to know how to protect yourself from extreme cold. Learn how to layer properly, choose the right gear, and protect yourself from frostbite and hypothermia. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/751 Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/751 -- Plain English helps you improve your English: Learn about the world and improve your English Clear, natural English at a speed you can underst...
Feb 20, 2025•15 min•Ep. 751
Today's story: Many English words come from French, but some, like fiancé, façade, and résumé, keep their original spellings, accents, and even gendered forms. To make things even more confusing, some of these words don't mean the same thing in French and English. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/750 -- 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 every week Learn ...
Feb 17, 2025•17 min•Ep. 750
Today's story: Paris's Notre Dame Cathedral was nearly destroyed in a devastating fire in 2019. In the years since, thousands of artisans and specialists worked to restore the 850-year-old cathedral. The roof was rebuilt using oak from French forests. The massive pipe organ was disassembled, cleaned, and reassembled. The limestone exterior was preserved and, where necessary, stones were replaced. New lighting and safety systems were installed. And in December 2024, the cathedral opened to the wo...
Feb 13, 2025•13 min•Ep. 749
Today's story: Saturday Night Live, or SNL, is a late-night comedy show that mixes short sketches, parodies, and music. The sketches poke fun at everyday situations, celebrities, products, and current events. What makes it special is that it's written quickly each week and performed live before a studio audience. This year, it celebrates its fiftieth anniversary on the air, always in the same time slot (11:30 p.m. on Saturdays). Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/748 -- Plain E...
Feb 10, 2025•14 min•Ep. 748
Today's story: English isn’t descended from Latin, but some Latin phrases have made their way into everyday use. This lesson explores eight Latin phrases, such as ""circa,"" ""quid pro quo,"" and ""status quo,"" that are still used in English today, plus some fun facts about Latin's influence on other fields. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/747 Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/747 -- Plain English helps you improve your English: Learn about the world and improve your En...
Feb 06, 2025•18 min•Ep. 747
Today's story: Neon signs have lit up city streets for about a century. But building owners are increasingly swapping hand-blown neon tubes for sleek LED bulbs. The new bulbs are cheaper, easier to maintain, and more energy-efficient. But the old neon signs are a nostalgic part of urban history. What will cities be like without them? Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/746 Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/746 -- Plain English helps you improve your English: Learn about the ...
Feb 03, 2025•14 min•Ep. 746
Today's story: The British Parliament recently voted to advance a bill that would legalize medically-assisted dying in England and Wales. Supporters argue that those with terminal illnesses should have the right to avoid suffering at the very end of their lives. Opponents are concerned about social pressure, a slippery slope, and the role of doctors in ending life. If the bill passes, parts of the U.K. would join several other countries in legalizing the practice. Transcript & Exercises: htt...
Jan 30, 2025•17 min•Ep. 745
"Today's story: Nightclubs around the world are closing their doors earlier than ever before, and some of the world's biggest party hotspots are hosting fewer all-night parties. Club owners and party organizers face tighter regulations and higher costs. But the real culprit is simply that this generation of young people is less interested in club culture than previous generations were. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/744" Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/744 -- Plain En...
Jan 27, 2025•13 min•Ep. 744
Today's story: Every winter, Girl Scouts and their parents fan out across schools, offices, and community events, soliciting orders for cookies. Customers have just one chance per year to satisfy their cravings for Thin Mints, Do-Si-Dos, and Samoas. But it’s not just the customers who benefit—the girls learn skills like sales, planning, and customer service, and cookie sales contribute millions to their Girl Scout troops and regional councils. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com...
Jan 23, 2025•12 min•Ep. 743
Today's story: Jimmy Carter, who died at the end of 2024, was America's 39th president. His term in office was marked by challenges, and he suffered a lopsided loss in the 1980 election. But after he left office, he founded one of the most influential global nonprofits. The Carter Center has had an extraordinary positive impact on humanity in areas ranging from peace to health to democracy. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/742 -- Plain English helps you improve your English: ...
Jan 20, 2025•14 min•Ep. 742
