If you work hard, can you build yourself a better life? For a long time, millions of people believed the answer in the USA was yes. The “American Dream” is the idea that anyone, no matter where they start in life, can achieve success through hard work and determination. You could own a home, have a stable job, raise a family, and earn more than your parents. But today, many people in the US are questioning whether that dream still exists. Housing prices are rising. Student debt is growing. Many ...
May 18, 2026•26 min•Season 1Ep. 390
You are invited to a party. The invitation says the party starts at 20:00. What time will you arrive? Your answer to this question has a lot to do with your culture. Some of you will have said 20:00 exactly, because that is when the part stats. Others will have said 19:45, because it is polite to be early. Others will have said 20:30… or 21:00… or later because it is awkward to arrive too early. Your answer to my question is connected to how your culture understands time: the direction of time; ...
May 11, 2026•24 min
Leonardo Da Vinci was one of the greatest minds in history. He painted some of the most famous works of art ever: the Mona Lisa, Last Supper, and more. He was also a scientist, an engineer, an anatomist, and an inventor. He is often described as the perfect example of a “Renaissance man.” A Renaissance man is someone who is skilled in many different areas, especially during the time of the Renaissance. The Renaissance was a period of history when art, science, and learning were rapidly developin...
May 04, 2026•21 min•Season 1Ep. 386
Four years ago, I made an episode titled “ Should we boycott the Qatar World Cup?” As you might remember, the tournament in Qatar was surrounded by criticism. There were concerns about human rights, especially the treatment of migrant workers who helped build the stadiums. There were some calls for fans, players, or countries to refuse to take part. But despite all of that, the World Cup still went ahead. Millions of people watched, and Argentina beat France in the final. Now, four years later, ...
Apr 27, 2026•22 min•Season 1Ep. 385
In the 1870s, about ten percent of Africa had been colonised by European countries. But over the next few decades, over ninety percent of the continent was taken, occupied, divided, and partitioned by governments far away in places like London, Berlin, and Paris. We call this period in history the “Scramble for Africa.” In a remarkably short period of time, countries like Britain, France, Germany, and Belgium claimed vast territories for themselves without any input from African people. By 1914,...
Apr 20, 2026•29 min•Season 1Ep. 384
“I’m just not good at learning languages.” I’m sure many of you listening right now have thought this before. And I’m sure you’ve thought the opposite about people you have met in the past: “Wow, she’s so talented at English” or “He has a gift for languages.” These kinds of comments are incredibly common. Many people believe that success in language learning depends mostly on talent. Some people are just naturally good at learning English, while others aren’t. But is this true? Is talent real wh...
Apr 13, 2026•21 min•Season 1Ep. 383
In 1994, the small African country of Rwanda experienced one of the worst genocides in modern history. Over a one-hundred-day period, an estimated 800,000 people were murdered. The genocide shocked the world and left Rwanda devastated. But if you visit Rwanda today, you would probably be surprised at that history. The country is often described as one of Africa’s greatest success stories. Its capital city, Kigali, is known for being clean, organised, and relatively safe. In fact, Rwanda has been...
Apr 06, 2026•26 min•Season 1Ep. 382
Imagine living in a place so remote that the nearest inhabited land is over two thousand kilometres away. No neighbours. No easy escape. Just ocean in every direction. And across the island are hundreds of giant stone heads, carved by hand. This place exists… and people have lived there for centuries. This episode will look at Easter Island, or Rapa Nui as it is known locally. Easter Island is in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, one of the most isolated inhabited islands on Earth, and home to hu...
Mar 30, 2026•23 min•Season 1Ep. 381
What does poverty really mean? When we hear the word poverty, I think many of us imagine extreme situations, like homelessness, starvation, or people living in very poor conditions. But poverty is far more complex, and far more widespread, than we often realise. According to the United Nations, more than 700 million people (around 10 percent of the world’s population) still live in extreme poverty. These people are surviving on less than two dollars a day. And despite decades of progress, this n...
Mar 23, 2026•24 min•Season 1Ep. 380
Do you know how to ask great questions? A few years ago, back in 2022, I released an episode called How to Ask Better Questions in English . And today’s episode is an update to that original one. The core idea is the same, because it’s still important, but a lot has changed since then. I’ve changed as a podcaster and an educator, and I think English learners’ needs have changed too. In fact, the way we use English in 2026 is very different from how we used it just a few years ago. We now spend m...
Mar 16, 2026•25 min•Season 1Ep. 379
Is it becoming harder to move to a new country? Everywhere seems to be tightening the rules. Canada, the US, Australia, Europe, Japan, the UK. Countries that once focused on attracting people are now focused on control, limits, and conditions. And these changes are happening fast. If you’re thinking about moving to the UK, already living in the UK, or interested in how the world and immigration is changing, I think this episode matters to you. Because what’s happening in British immigration poli...
Mar 09, 2026•27 min•Season 1Ep. 378
Berlin is one of the most iconic cities in the world. Few cities have been destroyed so completely, divided so deeply, and then rebuilt so many times. Understanding Berlin’s past helps us understand the development of Germany and Europe. The rise of empires, the impact of nationalism, the horrors of totalitarianism, and the tension of the Cold War are all part of this city’s history. Berlin’s story is not just local; it reflects some of the biggest political and social forces of the last 800 yea...
Mar 02, 2026•29 min•Season 1Ep. 377
Every time you type a message, unlock your phone, or trust a computer to make a decision, you’re relying on the ideas of someone you may never have heard of and probably never learned about at school. That person is Alan Turing. He was a British mathematician, logician, and wartime codebreaker, and one of the most important figures in modern science and technology. Turing helped lay the foundations of modern computing. He played a crucial role in breaking Nazi codes during the Second World War. ...
Feb 23, 2026•24 min•Season 1Ep. 376
Grammar Study Pack - https://www.patreon.com/posts/prepositions-of-148657101?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link Last year, I was walking on the street back home in the UK, and I started noticing just how many security cameras there were around me. There were cameras on lampposts , cameras in shops , and cameras at train stations , quietly watching people come and go. Once you start looking for them, you see them everywhe...
Feb 16, 2026•22 min•Season 1Ep. 375
Artificial intelligence is everywhere right now. We use it to write emails, generate images, recommend videos, and even help study English. Some people believe AI will completely change the world, just like the internet did. Others are more sceptical and worry that the excitement has gone too far. Every day on the news, we hear about new AI startups worth billions of dollars, governments investing huge amounts of money, and tech companies racing to become the next AI leader. There is a lot of op...
Feb 09, 2026•24 min•Season 1Ep. 374
Today we’re going to explore a topic that I notice again and again whenever I work with bilingual people, speak with people who are studying a second language, and actually notice inside my own family: code switching . You’ve probably done it yourself. You start a sentence in English, suddenly use a word from your native language, then switch back again. This is a form of code switching and is extremely common. Code switching happens all around the world, in every culture, anywhere multilingual ...
Feb 02, 2026•21 min•Season 1Ep. 373
Grammar Study Pack - https://www.patreon.com/posts/prepositions-of-148657101?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link People often say history repeats itself… but does it really ? When we look back at the past, certain events feel strangely familiar. Pandemics that spread across the world. Wars that change everything. Economic crashes that seem to happen just when people feel most confident about the future. Even though the de...
Jan 26, 2026•19 min•Season 1Ep. 372
In the 19th century, a quiet, curious naturalist named Charles Darwin proposed a theory that went on the shake science, religion, and philosophy. Darwin introduced a new way of thinking about life itself. His theory of evolution by natural selection revealed that every species (humans included) changes over time, adapts to its environment, and shares common ancestors. In today’s episode of Thinking in English, I want to explore the life of Charles Darwin, look closely at his most important disco...
Jan 19, 2026•24 min•Season 1Ep. 371
People love to debate history, especially when it comes to who was first . Last year, I made an episode about the oldest country in the world . I argued that the answer might be San Marino, because it has a long, continuous history as an independent state. And the reaction from listeners was… quite intense! I received comments from people around the world saying things like: “No, Egypt is older!” or “China has been around for thousands of years!” or “What about Iran?” . All of these arguments we...
Jan 12, 2026•30 min•Season 1Ep. 370
Australia is a country that many English learners dream of visiting, studying in, or even working in. Its beaches, culture, and cities are famous all over the world. But how much do you really know about the history of this country? In today’s episode, I want to discuss the development of Australia, from the first Aboriginal Australians who arrived tens of thousands of years ago, to the European settlers, the creation of modern Australia, and life today. Along the way, I’ll explain important voc...
Jan 05, 2026•24 min•Season 1Ep. 369
Interested in joining Patreon in 2026? 20% off with code 2026 - https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish Last year, I made an episode where I openly shared my goals and New Year’s resolutions for 2025 . Now, it’s time to look back and see how I did. In this episode, I’ll review my 2025 goals. I’ talk about what I achieved, what I only partially achieved, and where I failed. And there were definitely some failures. I’ll also share my personal and professional goals for 2026 and hopefully give yo...
Dec 29, 2025•23 min•Season 1Ep. 368
This is a short end-of-year bonus episode of Thinking in English . In this episode, I share a few important updates as we move towards the new year. The Thinking in English AGM 2025 (Bonus Episode) Free to listen to on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/collection/869866 20% of Annual Patreon Memberships ( Use Code 2026 )- https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish Peter's English Courses (Write THINK in the "extra" box for a Free month Patreon subscription) https://peter-english.com/courses Learn...
Dec 27, 2025•3 min
Interested in Joining the Thinking in English Patreon in 2026? 20% Discount is you use the code 2026 - https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish Welcome to a special Thinking in English Christmas episode ! Today’s lesson isn’t about Santa Claus, reindeer, Christmas trees, or anything you might normally expect at this time of year. Instead, I want to talk about a place that literally carries the name Christmas: Christmas Island. Christmas Island sounds like a cheerful and festive place. Photos of...
Dec 22, 2025•20 min•Season 1Ep. 367
In a world of social media, fake news, and deepfakes… how can we know what’s true anymore? The phrase “post-truth” has become one of the defining ideas of our time. Politicians lie without consequence , misinformation spreads faster than facts, and many people seem to trust their feelings more than solid evidence. As a result, truth itself seems less influential than emotion or personal belief. In today’s episode, we’re going to explore what it means to live in a post-truth society…. a society w...
Dec 15, 2025•22 min•Season 1Ep. 366
Today I want to talk about one of the greatest mathematicians of all time. A genius who, with almost no formal training, made mathematical discoveries that still astonish experts today. His name is Srinivasa Ramanujan, and his story is as extraordinary as the mathematical formulas he created. Despite growing up in poverty and facing enormous challenges, Ramanujan produced ideas that continue to shape modern mathematics. This episode is part of my Greatest Scientists Series , where we explore the...
Dec 08, 2025•21 min•Season 1Ep. 365
Thinking in English BLACK FRIDAY SALE (50% Off Annual Memberships) - https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish What is the EU? Is it just a group of countries in Europe? Is it a trade bloc? Or is it something much more complex? When people talk about the EU, they often mention things like the Euro, the Schengen Zone, or European laws, but many people don’t actually know what the EU really is or how it works. In today’s episode of Thinking in English , I want to explore the European Union, whic...
Dec 01, 2025•29 min•Season 1Ep. 364
Thinking in English BLACK FRIDAY SALE (50% Off Annual Memberships) - https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish The biggest city in North America isn’t New York or Los Angeles, it’s Mexico City. Mexico City is also the oldest capital city in the entire Americas and the largest Spanish-speaking city in the world. Today, this enormous metropolis is home to over twenty million people. But its story began centuries ago, long before the arrival of the Spanish, when it was an island city built by the A...
Nov 24, 2025•26 min•Season 1Ep. 363
Try the Lingoda Sprint Today! 20 EUR OFF with code 20THINKING or click the link https://try.lingoda.com/ThinkingAugust The Collins Dictionary Word of the Year is… Vibe Coding ! In this Thinking in English episode, I’m going to define and explain the term vibe coding and talk about why it was chosen as the W ord of the Year by Collins Dictionary . I’ll also discuss some of the other contenders and runners up for the 2025 Word of the Year, including Broligarchy, Task Masking, and Micro-Retire...
Nov 17, 2025•26 min•Season 1Ep. 362
Try the Lingoda Sprint Today! 20 EUR OFF with code 20THINKING or click the link https://try.lingoda.com/ThinkingAugust Have you ever heard someone say, “kick the bucket” or “pass away,” and felt confused? They both have the meaning of “die”… but are used in different contexts. English, like all languages, is full of phrases and expressions that don’t always make sense if you look at the words literally. Native speakers use this kind of language all the time… in conversations, TV shows, songs,...
Nov 10, 2025•26 min•Season 1Ep. 355
Try the Lingoda Sprint Today! 20 EUR OFF with code 20THINKING or click the link https://try.lingoda.com/ThinkingAugust When people think of the United Kingdom, they often think of England. Maybe, on a rare occasion, they might also think of Scotland. But the United Kingdom is made up of four historic countries, including the proud nation of Wales. Wales is a small country with a big identity. It has its own language, culture, and its own parliament. Yet many people around the world know surprisi...
Nov 03, 2025•24 min•Season 1Ep. 360
