Learn the English expression "run out" (and listen until the end to hear what Jeff's first boss said he can *never* run out of...) Explore the full lesson & practice using today's expression: https://plainenglish.com/expressions/run-out -- 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 N...
Feb 26, 2026•13 min•Ep. 842
Today's story: Coffee is one of the world’s most popular drinks, but not everyone drinks it the same way. The two most popular styles, espresso and filter coffee, were invented in Europe. Turkish coffee is most similar to how people drank coffee centuries ago. And Cuba and Vietnam have their own unique styles. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/841 Get the full story and learning resources: https://plainenglish.com/841 -- Plain English helps you improve your English: Learn abou...
Feb 23, 2026•14 min•Ep. 841
There's no getting around it: you need to learn the English expression "get around" Explore the full lesson & practice using today's expression: https://plainenglish.com/expressions/get-around -- 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 Never be confused by difficult words in Plain...
Feb 19, 2026•13 min•Ep. 840
Today's story: A “millionaire” is someone with a net worth of one million dollars. But the reality of a million dollars today is very different from when the word entered English in the late 1700s. Today’s millionaires are more likely to drive ordinary cars, live in the suburbs, and manage their own daily chores than live the lavish lifestyles we often associate with the word “millionaire.” Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/839 Get the full story and learning resources: https:...
Feb 16, 2026•17 min•Ep. 839
Today's story: The 2026 World Cup will be jointly hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. FIFA says it has received over 500 million ticket requests. So what do fans need to know if they want to attend a game? It probably depends on the type of game they want to see—there might even be some last-minute bargains. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/837 Get the full story and learning resources: https://plainenglish.com/837 -- Plain English helps you improve your English: Learn ab...
Feb 09, 2026•17 min•Ep. 837
Learn the English expression, "turn in." Explore the full lesson & practice using today's expression: https://plainenglish.com/expressions/turn-in -- 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 Never be confused by difficult words in Plain English again! See translations of the hardes...
Feb 05, 2026•12 min•Ep. 836
Today's story: The Hudson’s Bay Company started as a fur trading monopoly in British North America, thanks to a royal charter signed by King Charles II. It later became a retail empire with department stores across Canada. But after years of falling sales and intense competition from big-box and online retailers, the company shut down for good in 2025. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/835 Get the full story and learning resources: https://plainenglish.com/835 -- Plain English...
Feb 02, 2026•12 min•Ep. 835
Learn the English expression "fall for" (hint: it's not something you want to do!) Explore the full lesson & practice using today's expression: https://plainenglish.com/expressions/fall-for -- 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 Never be confused by difficult words in Plain En...
Jan 29, 2026•11 min•Ep. 834
Today's story: Southeast Asia has become the global hub of online scams, where scammers in massive compounds target workers around the world. China and the United States have begun pressuring governments in the region to shut down the scam compounds. But it's still not clear if these efforts will make a difference. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/833 Get the full story and learning resources: https://plainenglish.com/833 -- Plain English helps you improve your English: Learn...
Jan 26, 2026•16 min•Ep. 833
Learn how to use the English expression, " get rid of ". What things do you need to get rid of? Explore the full lesson & practice using today's expression: https://plainenglish.com/expressions/get-rid-of -- 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 Never be confused by difficult wo...
Jan 22, 2026•12 min•Ep. 832
Today's story: LEDs have replaced older light sources in homes, offices, cars, and city streets. They are more efficient, longer-lasting, and more flexible. But unlike older lights, LEDs often give off cooler, bluer light. This shift in color temperature affects how our surroundings feel—and may even affect our sleep. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/831 Get the full story and learning resources: https://plainenglish.com/831 -- Plain English helps you improve your English: Le...
Jan 19, 2026•17 min•Ep. 831
Learn what it means to have your work cut out for you (hint: it's not about cutting). Explore the full lesson & practice using today's expression: https://plainenglish.com/expressions/have-your-work-cut-out-for-you -- 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 Never be confused by di...
Jan 15, 2026•10 min•Ep. 830
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
