He was the leader of Nazi Germany and was responsible for the most deadly war in human history. In this episode, we'll explore the murderous life and legacy of Adolf Hitler. The last hours of Adolf Hitler The early life of Adolf Hitler Moving to Munich Serving in the First World War The politics of Adolf Hitler The Beer Hall Putsch Writing Mein Kampf The death of Angela Raubal Hitler seizes power Getting ready for war The Third Reich Assassination attempts Hitler’s reported opiate use Full inter...
Feb 23, 2023•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast Enjoy this bonus episode from Easy Stories in English . Angeline and Annabelle are a classic sister act. Annabelle writes the songs and they sing together, but Angeline gets all the compliments. When a music producer offers a deal to Annabelle, she realises she can’t let the opportunity go. But what starts as a harmonious collaboration soon turns into a discordant nightmare… You can find the transcript for this episode at: https://easystoriesinenglish.com/sisters/...
Feb 22, 2023•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast He was credited with defeating Hitler and industrialising Russia. But he was also a ruthless dictator who was responsible for tens of millions of deaths. In this episode, we explore the brutal life and legacy of "The Grey Blur". The capture of Yakov Dzughashvili, Stalin's son The early life of Josef Stalin His radicalisation Where does the name “Stalin” come from? The 1917 Revolution The death of Vladimir Lenin Stalin’s industrial plans The purges Stalin in World War II The defeat of Nazism The ...
Feb 16, 2023•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast She seized power from her weak husband and would go down in history as a strong and powerful Empress. In this episode, we look at how Catherine The Great managed it, and how she was a victim of terrible double standards against women. The arrival of a 14-year-old princess The early life & character of Catherine the Great Her relationship with her husband, Peter Her miscarriages & the birth of Paul Taking steps to ensure her own protection The death of Empress Elizabeth The coup & ove...
Feb 09, 2023•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast She was the second wife of King Henry VIII of England but fell out of favour after failing to produce a male heir. In this episode, we look at the fascinating life of Anne Boleyn and ask ourselves whether things could have ended differently. The early life of Anne Boleyn Henry declares his love for Anne Appealing to Rome The birth of Elizabeth The affairs of Henry VIII The downfall of Anne Anne is arrested The execution of Anne Boleyn The aftermath of her execution Who is responsible for the fat...
Feb 02, 2023•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast British football fans have a well-deserved bad reputation for hooliganism and violence. In this episode, we explore where this comes from, why British football stadiums have historically been violent places, and why things have started to change. A scene at a football riot The British claim to have invented football 12th-century versions of “football” When the king banned football The term “kick off” Early hooliganism with Preston North End supporters Why do football fans fight each other? Glasg...
Jan 26, 2023•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast He was best known for being the author of books such as "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "Mathilda", but he was also a critically acclaimed poet and adult fiction writer. In this episode, we explore how this former airforce pilot went on to become one of the best-loved children's authors of all time. Extract from "Boy" The early life of Roald Dahl The mischievous childhood of Roald Dahl The Second World War Moving to the United States Roald Dahl as a spy? His first work "The Gremlins" &am...
Jan 19, 2023•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast He was the author of "Alice in Wonderland", and has gone down in history as one of the greatest children's writers of all time. But he had some very unusual habits, preferred the company of children to adults, and took his secrets to the grave. ln this episode, we explore the bizarre life of Lewis Caroll. The famous boat ride of 4th of July of 1862 The early life of Lewis Caroll His speech impediment Winning a place at Oxford University Teaching at Oxford Publishing his first literary work Lewis...
Jan 12, 2023•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast Modern life would be impossible without standardised measurements. In this episode, we look at the development of measurements through history, explaining they evolved over time and why some succeeded where others failed. Imagining a world without measurements English measurement of distance: The Furlong Early measurement in France: The Setier Egyptians measurements of time The metric system & France Robespierre & The Festival of the Supreme Being Container ships UK mixing measurements U...
Jan 05, 2023•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast A lot has happened in 2022. In this episode, we look at some of the most unusual British news stories of the year, including footballer's wives, the crime of treason, and the shifting demographics of the United Kingdom. Being convicted for treason for trying to kill the Queen The Wagatha Christie Trial Boris Johnson’s misbehaviour Neil Parish and the “tractors” Chris Pincher: “Pincher by name, pincher by nature” The shifting demographics of the UK The record-breaking Rishi Sunak Full interactive...
Dec 29, 2022•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast It went from nothing to billions of users in the space of a few years. In this episode, we look at the rise of TikTok, the criticisms it has faced, and how it is changing technology patterns all over the world. What is TikTok? Early history of Tiktok Growth in the United States Design of TikTok algorithm Tiktok’s machine learning Controversy in the United States Security concerns American vs. Chinese technology companies Influence on US culture TikTok in the present day Full interactive transcri...
Dec 22, 2022•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast Artificial Intelligence technology is more advanced than ever before. What does this mean for language learners, and how can you, as an English learner, use AI to supercharge your language learning? An AI's answer to the question of “What impact will AI have on language learning?” Introduction to ChatGPT A brief overview of Artificial Intelligence Existing forms of Artificial Intelligence Increasing possibilities of technology in language learning AI as a tool to correct mistakes AI as a 24/7 pr...
Dec 15, 2022•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast He has been waiting to become king for 70 years, and was the longest king-in-waiting in British history. In this episode, we look at the life of King Charles III. The early life of Charles III School & university The duty of finding a wife Meeting Lady Diana Spencer "Whatever "in love" means"... Charles' approval rating Criticism in the media Charles' affair with Camilla Divorce from Diana Post Diana death The long preparation to become king The contradictions of King Charles III Full intera...
Dec 08, 2022•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, we look at two of the most famous hostage crises of the 20th century: the Florida Hostage Crisis and the Munich Hostage Crisis. Both took place within a year of each other and went on to have a lasting impact on the world of hostage negotiation. Introduction to the Florida Hostage Crisis of 1971 The unusual trio arrive on the runway The situation turns nasty The FBI is alerted Arriving in Jacksonville The end of the hostage crisis Why did this hostage crisis go so badly wrong? T...
Dec 01, 2022•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast Ancient Rome was powered by the blood, sweat and tears of millions of slaves. In this episode, we look at what life was like for really like people unlucky enough to be sold into slavery in Ancient Rome. The capture of a slave in Ancient Rome Aristotle & Slavery How slaves were recruited How many slaves were there in Ancient Rome? Who could become a slave? What happened to slaves after they were captured? The different roles of male vs. female slaves How much did slaves cost in Ancient Rome?...
Nov 24, 2022•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast The FIFA World Cup is full of controversy, on and off the pitch. In this episode, we look at five of the most controversial episodes in World Cup history and finish up with five interesting facts about the world's most popular football tournament. Controversy #1: Diego Maradona & The Hand of God Controversy #2: The murder of Andres Escobar Controversy #3: The Kuwait Goal Scandal Controversy #4: Zinedine Zidane headbutt Controversy #5: Italy decide to play in black Trivia point #1: The unusua...
Nov 17, 2022•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast He was the undisputed King of Pop, with 13 number-one hits, hundreds of millions of fans and a legacy that will continue to inspire artists for generations to come. But beneath the surface, Michael Jackson's life was plagued by insecurity, loneliness, and deep-rooted demons that would ultimately lead to his untimely and tragic death. The early life of Michael Jackson His relationship with his father The early success of The Jackson 5 "I Want You Back" - the first big hit The first number one &am...
Nov 10, 2022•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast For centuries, a woman could be accused of being a witch for the simple crime of being too poor, too rich, or too old. For those accused, the trials were deeply unfair, and the punishment was often torture and death. In this episode, we explore the unfair and bloody history of witches. The Salem Witch Trials The punishments given for witches at Salem What actually was a "witch"? Reasons people could be accused of being a witch Black vs. White magic Witches & the Black Death Malleus Maleficar...
Nov 03, 2022•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast For hundreds of years, people have been afraid of blood-sucking creatures that rise from the dead. But where does the vampire myth actually come from, what happened to the people accused of being a vampire, and what if there was a simple, biological explanation for it all? The start of Bram Stoker's Dracula The fundamental characteristics of vampires Vampires in ancient European folklore Why people might have thought vampires needed to drink blood Vampires being blamed for the plague The Great V...
Oct 27, 2022•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast It has been 5 years since the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia. In part three of this three-part mini-series, we look at what has happened since then and ask ourselves whether we are any closer to knowing the truth. Recap of the story so far Vince Muscat starts talking to the police Melvin Theuma: the middleman Yorgen Fenech & 17 Black The phantom job Melvin Theuma starts getting paranoid The arrest of Melvin Theuma The letter to be passed to Yorgen Fenech Keith Schembri's lost phone The pub...
Oct 20, 2022•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast A few months after Daphne's brutal assassination, the Maltese police raided a potato shed. They would "find" three men who would later admit to being involved in the murder, but were they really any closer to the truth? The initial investigations of Daphne's murder The December raid on the potato shed Vince Muscat & The DeGiorgio Brothers How the police caught the hitmen November 2019: when everything changed The arrest of Yorgen Fenech The power goes out and Keith Schembri is arrested Yorge...
Oct 17, 2022•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast On October 16th, 2017, a 52-year-old journalist was blown up in a car bomb outside her home in Malta. In part one of our three-part mini-series, we'll learn about who she was, and who might have wanted her dead. The assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia Introduction to Malta Why small island countries are more prone to corruption The early career of Daphne Caruana Galizia Why Daphne Caruana Galizia was so popular Economic growth in 21st-century Malta “Malta is 17 miles by nine and flooded with...
Oct 13, 2022•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast He was the 45th President of the USA and the most controversial in recent history. In this episode, we look at the life of Donald J. Trump and examine how he went from real estate developer to the leader of the free world. The early life of Donald Trump His paternal and maternal influences Accusations of racism against Fred Trump Avoiding getting drafted in the Vietnam War ("bone spurs") Getting into business with The Trump Organization Early business controversies Going upmarket and entering th...
Oct 06, 2022•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast It's one of the most controversial topics in modern Spain; some say it's a cultural art form, and others say it's a brutal form of torture. In this episode, we look at the history of bullfighting through the ages and ask ourselves what lies ahead. The matador looks up to the crowd What happens in a bullfight The early history of bullfighting Bullfighting in the Iberian peninsula The first "anti-bullfighting" legislation in the 16th Century The development of "modern" bullfighting The different s...
Sep 29, 2022•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast We have been recycling for decades, yet only 9% of the world's plastic has ever been successfully recycled. In this episode, we ask ourselves the heretical question, "is plastic recycling actually worth it?" A brief history of plastic usage How much plastic do we really use? The uses (and advantages) of plastic Plastic's advantages in food production Plastic's usage in medicine Plastic as a way to reduce energy usage? The durability of plastic The problem of what to do with plastic after we have...
Sep 22, 2022•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast For thousands of years, humans have had ideas about mankind's potential impact on the climate. In this episode, we look at how these ideas have changed, the men and women who have contributed to them, and ask ourselves why it has taken so long to start paying attention. Ancient ideas about mankind's impact on the climate The North American "rain follows the plough" theory Joseph Fourier & The Greenhouse Effect Eunice Newton Foote's discovery about CO2 The theory that burning coal might be ca...
Sep 15, 2022•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast He was put on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" list in 1999, and he would only be removed after he was hunted down and killed by US operatives in 2011 In this episode, we will tell the story of how Osama bin Laden went from a shy, religious young boy to the world's most famous terrorist. The early life of Osama bin Laden His time at university Deciding not to join the family business The Iranian Revolution of 1979 The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan Fighting in the Afghanistan War The invasio...
Sep 08, 2022•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast He was the American civil-rights leader who was a prominent spokesman for the Nation of Islam. Yet he grew too powerful and was killed by the same organisation he had represented. In this episode, we look at the amazing life, impact and legacy of Malcolm X. The assassination of Malcolm X The early family life of Malcolm X ("Little") The death of Malcolm's father The teenage years of Malcolm X Going to prison and finding religion Joining The Nation of Islam Becoming Malcolm "X" Converting America...
Sep 01, 2022•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast The game of chess played a vital role during the Cold War, allowing Russia and the United States to fight intellectual battles over a board game. In this episode, we'll explore how the game of chess was used in a world where nuclear weapons could not. The modern-day political impact of Chess The life of Anatoly Karpov The start of the Cold War Why chess was the battleground for the Cold War History of chess & statesmanship The "Fried Chicken Tournament" Why the USSR had a head start on the U...
Aug 25, 2022•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast To some, he was a visionary who helped us understand our unconscious mind. To others, he was a sex-crazed maniac who made no contributions to psychiatry. In this episode, we'll explore the fascinating life and works of Sigmund Freud. The early life of Sigmund Freud Theories of the mind in 19th century Europe Meeting the love of his life, Martha Bernays Freud's first medical "treatment": cocaine Moving to Paris and studying with Jean-Martin Charcot The idea of the unconscious mind "The plunging o...
Aug 18, 2022•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
