Today's story: Wine has been part of daily human life for centuries, and today it's produced in 70 countries. But winemakers and vineyards are facing their biggest challenges in a generation. Droughts, fires, and rising temperatures threaten crops. And younger consumers drink less alcohol (and less wine specifically). Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/829 Get the full story and learning resources: https://plainenglish.com/829 -- Plain English helps you improve your English: Le...
Jan 12, 2026•13 min•Ep. 829
Learn how to use the expression “keep your options open,” a phrase people use when they haven’t yet made a decision. Explore the full lesson & practice using today's expression: https://plainenglish.com/expressions/keep-your-options-open -- 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 even more at PlainEnglish.com Mentioned in this episode: Hard words? No problem ...
Jan 08, 2026•13 min•Ep. 828
Today's story: Labubu is a mischievous, rabbit-eared character created by illustrator Kasing Lung. Chinese toymaker Pop Mart has turned Labubu into a global toy craze, using gamified sales tactics and regularly releasing new collectible sets. Fans can’t get enough. They film themselves opening the famous “blind boxes,” take photos with their Labubus, and bid up the value of their favorites online. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/827 Get the full story and learning resources:...
Jan 05, 2026•13 min•Ep. 827
We're starting the new year right at Plain English, with a new learning path to help you learn the best English expressions. At PlainEnglish.com, we have a library of hundreds of lessons about common English expressions, from "figure out" to "make a difference" to "cater to." And now, it's easier than ever for you to learn the expressions that are best for you. If you're not yet a member, you can create an account now (it's free) at PlainEnglish.com/join If you are a member, the new learning pat...
Jan 01, 2026•4 min
Revisit this classic lesson on cognitive switching from the Plain English archives: What is cognitive switching? It’s when you switch your attention from one task, or one type of task, to another. Cognitive switching could be robbing you of up to 40 percent of your daily productivity, and it may be increasing your potential to make mistakes. Get the full story and learning resources: https://plainenglish.com/lessons/cognitive-switching -- Plain English helps you improve your English: Learn about...
Dec 29, 2025•15 min•Ep. 367
Enjoy this episode from the Plain English archives (with a recent update for 2025): The San José, a Spanish treasure ship carrying gold, silver, and valuable jewelry, sank off the coast of Colombia in 1708. The shipwreck, and its treasure, have been untouched for over 300 years. Now, the government of Colombia is working to bring the treasure to the surface. But who is its rightful owner? Get the full story and learning resources: https://plainenglish.com/lessons/san-jose-treasure/ -- Plain Engl...
Dec 25, 2025•16 min•Ep. 632
Today's story: Classic stories are an important part of Christmas traditions for both kids and adults. They teach values of generosity, family, love, wonder, and belief. Here are five that stand the test of time: <em>The Snowman</em>, <em>The Polar Express</em>, <em>The Legend of the Poinsettia</em>, <em>A Christmas Carol</em>, and <em>How the Grinch Stole Christmas!</em> Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/826 Get the ...
Dec 22, 2025•18 min•Ep. 826
Today's story: Ted Danson stars in *Man on the Inside*, a warm, thoughtful comedy about a retired professor who becomes a private investigator. The show gently explores themes of aging, intergenerational relationships, and finding purpose later in life, all wrapped in a light mystery and comedic tone. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/825 Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/825 -- Plain English helps you improve your English: Learn about the world and improve your English Cl...
Dec 18, 2025•16 min•Ep. 825
Today's story: Though most Christmas trees are plastic, millions of families like to get live Christmas trees every year. Real trees are grown at special Christmas tree farms and they take many years (and twice-a-year trimming) to mature into the picture-perfect trees you see in family photos. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/824 Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/824 -- Plain English helps you improve your English: Learn about the world and improve your English Clear, nat...
Dec 15, 2025•13 min•Ep. 824
Today's story: Scientists used to rely on stickers to track monarch butterfly migration—but that only showed where a butterfly started and ended. Now, a solar-powered device called the BluMorpho is helping researchers track each step of the journey, offering new insight into one of nature’s most complex migrations. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/823 Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/823 -- Plain English helps you improve your English: Learn about the world and improve y...
Dec 11, 2025•16 min•Ep. 823
Today's story: Monarch butterflies migrate thousands of kilometers from across the U.S. and Canada to just a few mountain forests in central Mexico. They rely on the sun, the Earth’s magnetic field, and a unique multi-generational life cycle to complete the journey. But their numbers are falling due to habitat loss and climate change. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/822 Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/822 -- Plain English helps you improve your English: Learn about the...
Dec 08, 2025•13 min•Ep. 822
Today's story: The United States Mint struck its final penny in November 2025, ending a 232-year run of producing the one-cent coin. The decision followed years of debate over the coin’s value, as production costs exceeded its worth and demand declined. Pennies will remain legal tender, but new ones won’t be made. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/821 Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/821 -- Plain English helps you improve your English: Learn about the world and improve yo...
Dec 04, 2025•13 min•Ep. 821
Today's story: Zippers are everywhere: on clothes, bags, and accessories. But the basic design of a zipper hasn't changed in a century. Now, though, the world's biggest zipper maker, YKK, has a new design that eliminates the tape next to the zipper's teeth. The result is a zipper that's lighter, more flexible, and better looking. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/820 Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/820 -- Plain English helps you improve your English: Learn about the worl...
Dec 01, 2025•14 min•Ep. 820
We're opening up the archives to repeat episode 223 from January 2020, just before COVID-19 halted air travel. Enjoy! -- In between economy class (in the back) and business class (in the front), airlines have created a new class of service called "premium economy." This is aimed at travelers who will pay a little more for some extra space, but can't pay the sky-high prices of a full business class seat. In this episode, Jeff reviews his experience in premium economy: he finds that it's more "eco...
Nov 27, 2025•13 min•Ep. 223
Today's episode is one from the archives, originally number 583. Enjoy! -- Cold plunges are the new health trend championed by high-fliers and ordinary people alike. By submerging yourself water that's 15 degrees Celsius (or colder!), you can manage stress, reduce muscle soreness, improve your concentration, and more, advocates say. Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/lessons/cold-plunge -- Plain English helps you improve your English: Learn about the world and improve your English Clear, natu...
Nov 24, 2025•12 min•Ep. 583
Today's story: Parkrun is a free, volunteer-run event that takes place every Saturday morning in parks around the world. Participants run, jog, or walk a 5K route, and the focus is on community, health, and fun—not competition. What started with just 13 runners in London has expanded to over 23 countries. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/819 Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/819 -- Plain English helps you improve your English: Learn about the world and improve your Englis...
Nov 20, 2025•14 min•Ep. 819
Today's story: Snake bites kill over 100,000 people each year, but antivenom (the treatment for poisonous snake bites) has hardly changed in a century. Today, doctors have to know the type of snake that bit a patient, and the hospital has to have the right antivenom handy. But now, scientists are developing universal treatments that work against many types of venom. If successful, it could save lives and prevent amputations. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/818 Full lesson: h...
Nov 17, 2025•16 min•Ep. 818
Today's story: Screen time among senior citizens has been growing recently, as more and more retirees use phones and tablets, in addition to time spent watching television. Online devices can help seniors keep their skills sharp, stay in touch with loved ones, and pass the time. But seniors are also vulnerable to scams and don't have the built-in social structures that younger people do. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/817 Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/817 -- Plain E...
Nov 13, 2025•12 min•Ep. 817
Today's story: Publishers Clearing House made its name by offering magazine subscriptions through the mail—along with the chance to win big prizes. The lure of big winnings helped the company sell millions of subscriptions. Some winners received $5,000 a week for life. But the company recently declared bankruptcy, and the "lifetime" payments stopped. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/816 Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/816 -- Plain English helps you improve your English:...
Nov 10, 2025•16 min•Ep. 816
Today's story: The White Lotus may be fictional, but the luxury hotels in the show are real—and they’re getting a lot more attention. All three seasons of the HBO hit show "The White Lotus" were filmed at Four Seasons resorts. It all started with a risky bet during the pandemic, but now the hotel chain is finally embracing its onscreen fame. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/815 Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/815 -- Plain English helps you improve your English: Learn ab...
Nov 06, 2025•15 min•Ep. 815
Today's story: On a Sunday morning in October, four thieves disguised as construction workers used a ladder truck and power tools to break into the Louvre museum. In just seven minutes, they smashed display cases and escaped with eight priceless pieces of French crown jewelry, including emeralds, sapphires, and pearls once worn by empresses. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/814 Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/814 -- Plain English helps you improve your English: Learn ab...
Nov 03, 2025•13 min•Ep. 814
In this episode from the Plain English archives, you'll learn about Dublin, the capital of the Republic of Ireland. It's a great place to explore the best of Irish culture: the music, the drinks, and the literature. -- Cold plunges are the new health trend championed by high-fliers and ordinary people alike. By submerging yourself water that's 15 degrees Celsius (or colder!), you can manage stress, reduce muscle soreness, improve your concentration, and more, advocates say." Full lesson: https:/...
Oct 30, 2025•17 min•Ep. 539
In this episode from the Plain English archives: Electric vehicles promised to improve safety and reduce harmful CO2 emissions, but they’re also eerily quiet, which is causing safety problems for pedestrians and cyclists. Several countries now have regulations mandating that electric vehicles make noise with external speakers, but it’s up to the car companies to decide on the sound. Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/lessons/travel-dublin -- Plain English helps you improve your English: Learn...
Oct 27, 2025•14 min•Ep. 498
Today's story: Get ready for some updates to previous Plain English stories: New York begins rolling out containerized trash collection; Paris opens the Seine for public swimming; BTS announces a comeback; the original Birkin bag sells for a record €8.6 million; Ethiopia opens the long-disputed Nile dam; and the UK, Uruguay, and Italy take steps toward legalizing assisted dying. Transcript & Exercises : https://plainenglish.com/813 Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/813 -- Plain English h...
Oct 23, 2025•13 min•Ep. 813
Today's story: Construction on the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain, is approaching a major milestone after more than 140 years. The basilica’s central tower is nearly complete, and the project is expected to be structurally finished by 2026, the 100th anniversary of the death of Antoni Gaudí. But more than a decade of additional work remains before Gaudí's famous basilica is fully complete. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/812 Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/812 -- ...
Oct 20, 2025•10 min•Ep. 812
Today's story: A British wartime propaganda poster created in 1939 featured the slogan, ‘Keep calm and carry on.’ The poster was never used and the slogan had been forgotten, until it was rediscovered in 2000. In a brand-new age, the slogan took on new meaning, and started to appear on posters, mugs, t-shirts, and countless online memes. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/811 Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/811 -- Plain English helps you improve your English: Learn about ...
Oct 16, 2025•14 min•Ep. 811
Today's story: Large language models like ChatGPT are increasingly sycophantic—flattering users, validating flawed reasoning, and agreeing too easily. This tendency stems from how models are trained: by rewarding responses users like. While some innocent flattery is harmless, models' sycophancy can be harmful in hidden ways. Here's what AI sycophancy is, and how to avoid it. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/810 Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/810 -- Plain English helps ...
Oct 13, 2025•17 min•Ep. 810
Today's story: Archaeologists are excavating a never-before-studied part of Pompeii, the ancient Roman city buried by a volcanic eruption. They’ve uncovered luxury homes, decorated bathhouses, and evidence of how residents tried to survive the disaster. These new finds offer a vivid window into Roman life—and death—in the first century A.D. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/809 Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/809 -- Plain English helps you improve your English: Learn abo...
Oct 09, 2025•13 min•Ep. 809
Today's story: A growing number of state and national education systems are banning cell phone use during the school day. Supporters say phones are distracting, addictive, and bad for learning. Not everyone agrees, but teachers—and even some students—say the changes are making a big difference. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/808 Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/808 -- Plain English helps you improve your English: Learn about the world and improve your English Clear, na...
Oct 06, 2025•13 min•Ep. 808
Today's story: Reusable water bottles have become a big global industry, driven by health trends, social media, and changing values around sustainability and style. Brands like Stanley turned practical hydration into a fashionable status symbol—but are they environmentally friendly if you collect them and don't use them? Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/807 Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/807 -- Plain English helps you improve your English: Learn about the world and imp...
Oct 02, 2025•13 min•Ep. 807
