I migliori Plain English podcast (2024)

1
The Surprising Science of Cynicism (Plus: The Policy Paradox of the 2024 Election) 1:07:41

3d ago1:07:41

1:07:41

Derek shares his biggest frustrations about the 2024 election, like the lack of a policy debate and blind spots in news coverage and polling analysis. Then he welcomes Jamil Zaki to the show: a professor of psychology at Stanford University and the director of the Stanford Social Neuroscience Lab. Zaki is the author of ‘Hope for Cynics,’ a new book…

1
Somehow, Abercrombie & Fitch is popular again (Take it easy) 24:17

4d ago24:17

24:17

Today's story: For a generation of Americans, the brand Abercrombie & Fitch was synonymous with overpriced, exclusive clothing for teenagers (and a highly sexualized staff and brand). It fell out of favor when the public mood turned against that kind of marketing. But against all odds, the company has turned its image around and is now a darling of…

1
Matthew Perry and the drug that killed him (As far as I know) 21:39

7d ago21:39

21:39

Today's story: Matthew Perry, the actor who played Chandler on the popular TV series 'Friends,' died of an overdose of ketamine in 2023. Last month, five people were arrested in connection with his death, including a drug dealer to the stars called the 'Ketamine Queen,' government documents show. Learn this English expression: Use 'as far as I know…

1
A Sports Mystery: What Happened to the NFL Quarterback? 47:08

5h ago47:08

47:08

Today, a mystery about what some people consider the most important position in sports: What the hell is going on with the NFL quarterback? We are two weeks into the 2024 football season. And as several commentators have pointed out, the quarterback position just doesn’t look right. Passing yards per game are lower than any other year in the 21st c…

1
Do men need to wear ties anymore? (Close call) 24:13

11d ago24:13

24:13

Today's story: Neckties were adopted in France in the 1600s as a symbol of power and respect. For many, they were a required part of business dress during the boom in white-collar work in the 20th century, but men are increasingly leaving the tie at home, even if they wear suits. So, is the necktie dead? Learn this English expression: A 'close call…

1
Two astronauts are stranded in space (Short run / long run) 27:32

14d ago27:32

27:32

Today's story: Astronauts Suni Williams and Barry Wilmore left Earth on June 5, planning to be in space for eight days. But thrusters on the Boeing Starliner spacecraft malfunctioned, so they have to return on another vehicle in February 2025, bringing their time on the International Space Station to eight months. Learn this English expression: Use…

1
How AI Could Help Us Discover Miracle Drugs 54:57

16d ago54:57

54:57

We may be on the cusp of a revolution in medicine, thanks to tools like AlphaFold, the technology for Google DeepMind, which helps scientists predict and see the shapes of thousands of proteins. How does AlphaFold work, what difference is it actually making in science, and what kinds of mysteries could it unlock? Today’s guest is Pushmeet Kohli. He…

1
Why women's clothing sizes are so confusing (In touch) 23:40

18d ago23:40

23:40

Today's story: Generations ago, women went to seamstresses for custom-made clothes. But today, many women's fashion brands use standard sizing that distills the fit to just a single number. But even that can be misleading, as the size standards vary by brand (and even by year). Learn this English expression: To be 'in touch' is to stay in contact w…

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'Massacre law' in Turkey threatens street dogs (Get out of hand) 24:04

21d ago24:04

24:04

Today's story: Turkey's parliament recently passed a law aimed at removing millions of dogs living on the street. The law doesn't specifically require euthanasia. But many in Turkey are afraid this new law will nonetheless lead to mass killing of the dogs they've grown attached to. Learn this English expression: Something that 'gets out of hand' be…

1
Improvements coming to Plain English 3:57

23d ago3:57

3:57

Preview the changes improvements coming to Plain English this fall: The English expressions you learn may or may not appear in the main story. This will let us focus on those expressions that are most useful to you, whether or not you heard them in the first half of the lesson. Each month will have a theme with three or four episodes. (The remainin…

1
The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories 1:20:07

23d ago1:20:07

1:20:07

Are conspiracy theories more popular than ever? Are Americans more conspiratorial than ever? Are conservatives more conspiratorial than liberals? Joseph Uscinski is a political scientist at the University of Miami and one of the nation's preeminent experts on the psychology of conspiratorial thinking and the history of conspiracy theories in Americ…

1
Biden's awful debate and the rise of Kamala Harris (Down to the wire) 24:43

25d ago24:43

24:43

Today's story: At age 81, Joe Biden was the oldest person ever to seek the U.S. presidency. And while voters had concerns about his age, he easily won the Democratic Party's nomination. But after a terrible debate performance, he withdrew from the race. The sitting vice president, Kamala Harris, will face Donald Trump in the November election. Lear…

1
Summer 2024: Three months that felt like decades (Get out of) 24:19

28d ago24:19

24:19

Today's story: From an attempted assassination of Donald Trump to a landslide election in the UK to an uplifting Summer Olympics, the summer of 2024 was a rollercoaster of news. Learn this English expression: To get out of something is to avoid doing it Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/706 -- Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English i…

1
"Exercise May Be the Single Most Potent Medical Intervention Ever Known" 59:57

1M ago59:57

59:57

Exercise is a conundrum. On the one hand, physical activity is clearly one of the best interventions for preventing physical disease and mental suffering. On the other hand, scientists don't really understand how it works inside the body or what exactly running, jumping, lifting, and squatting do to our tissues and organs. That's finally changing. …

1
Buying vs renting a home (Pay back) 23:12

1M ago23:12

23:12

Today's story: Most American families are confronted with the decision to buy or rent a home at some point. This decision is a common one around the world, but the specific pros and cons can be different, depending on the country. Here's what the decision is like in the U.S. Learn this English expression: When someone has given you money, and you r…

1
Office culture in the U.S. (Wrap up) 24:01

1M ago24:01

24:01

Today's story: American office culture isn't exactly what you see on TV. In this story, learn about the typical workday, including what time people arrive, what they wear to work, how much time they have for lunch, and how they get to the office from their homes. Learn this English expression: To 'wrap up' is to finish something successfully Full l…

1
Democrats Are Euphoric. But This Election Is Much Closer Than They Think. 11:48

1M ago11:48

11:48

Derek offers a short but sweet review of the Democratic National Convention, the science of post-convention bounces, and the reality of the 2024 polling: It's still a toss-up. If you have questions, observations, or ideas for future episodes, email us at PlainEnglish@Spotify.com. Host: Derek Thompson Producer: Devon Baroldi Learn more about your ad…

1
Jury duty: what it's like (Check in) 22:20

1M ago22:20

22:20

Today's story: It starts with a notice from a court: ""You have been summoned."" American citizens are occasionally required to appear for jury service. Most people called don't have to serve on juries. Here's what the experience is like, for selected jurors and for those who are excused. Learn this English expression: To 'check in' is to register …

1
What is retirement like in the United States? (Stay put) 22:39

1M ago22:39

22:39

Today's story: There are over 50 million retirees in the United States, about the equivalent of the entire population of Spain. Every person's retirement is different, but today, you'll learn about what retirement is like for most people in the U.S. Learn this English expression: To 'stay put' is to stay in one place and not move Full lesson: https…

1
The Four Biggest Myths About Political Persuasion 46:23

1M ago46:23

46:23

Today's episode is about how we change our minds—and what political science tells us about the best ways to change the minds of voters. Our guest is David Broockman, a political scientist at the University of California Berkeley, and the coauthor, with Josh Kalla, of a new essay in Slow Boring on Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, and the most persuasive…

1
Train travel in the U.S. (Up and running) 21:38

2M ago21:38

21:38

Today's story: Train travel is famous in Europe. In the United States, though, it's a little more complicated. But with some planning, you can make train travel part of a U.S. vacation (if you plan ahead and leave plenty of time). Learn this English expression: A system is 'up and running' when it is fully working Full lesson: https://plainenglish.…

1
Sample Video Workshop: 'Even as' 15:58

2M ago15:58

15:58

This workshop teaches you how to use "even as" to present a potential contrast in a sentence. Full workshop: https://plainenglish.com/videos/even-as Video Workshops give you all the tools you need to express more complex ideas. Workshops include: Video lesson ~10 minutes Quiz Exercises Opportunity to practice & get feedback Watch workshops free tod…

1
Fast Version: A quick tour through America's national parks (One of a kind) 16:26

2M ago16:26

16:26

** Enjoy this fast version of Episode #700. Listen to the fast audio of our lessons by signing up for a free trial at PlainEnglish.com Today's story: America's national parks are an important part of the country's natural landscape and they attract millions of visitors per year. Some parks preserve wilderness areas. Others have pristine beaches. Tw…

1
A quick tour through America's national parks (One of a kind) 24:21

2M ago24:21

24:21

Today's story: America's national parks are an important part of the country's natural landscape and they attract millions of visitors per year. Some parks preserve wilderness areas. Others have pristine beaches. Two parks include networks of caves. All are preserved for future generations and open to visitors. Learn this English expression: Someth…

1
How to Be Happy and the Science of Cognitive Time Travel 1:07:19

2M ago1:07:19

1:07:19

Laurie Santos is a superstar in the crowded field of happiness research. She is a cognitive scientist at Yale University whose course on the psychology of happiness was the most popular class in the school's history. She is the host of the immensely popular ‘Happiness Lab’ podcast. Today, she and Derek talk about her favorite lessons from modern ha…

1
Regional varieties of American pizza (Made of) 22:23

2M ago22:23

22:23

Today's story: You fold it in New York. You put caviar on it in California. You make in a pan for car-parts in Detroit. And you eat it with a knife and fork in Chicago. Pizza is a perfect dish for sharing at parties and around a family dinner table. But pizza is not the same everywhere. Here are four regional varieties in the United States. Learn t…

1
Market Meltdown FAQ: Recession Fears, Global Stock Wipeout, and the Case for Calm 28:36

2M ago28:36

28:36

In a special emergency-ish episode, Bloomberg's Conor Sen joins the show to discuss a buffet of economic and financial fears, including a disappointing jobs report, a meltdown in global stocks, the "carry trade" heard round the world, the smartest criticisms of (and smartest defense of) the Federal Reserve's decision not to raise interest rates, an…

1
School life outside the classroom (Try out) 21:50

2M ago21:50

21:50

Today's story: School is about learning. But for many students, school is about so much more: sports teams, after-school clubs, drama, and free time during the school day. Learn what social and after-school life is like at a typical American school. Learn this English expression: To 'try out' is to compete for a role in a play or on a team Full les…

1
Why Are Robocalls So Hard to Stop? (Plus: Kamala and the Gender Wars.) 54:46

2M ago54:46

54:46

Derek offers his thoughts on Kamala Harris, the new 2024 reality, and gender polarization in the "boys vs. girls" election. Then we talk about the spam apocalypse. The average American receives one spam call or text every single day, adding up to tens of billions of robocalls and texts per year. Derek welcomes Joshua Bercu, the executive director o…

1
The typical American school day (Spread out) 22:39

2M ago22:39

22:39

Today's story: Math, science, history, reading. Learning these things in school is, now, almost a universal experience. But the specifics of the school day differ from country to country. Here, learn what a typical school day is like in the United States. Learn this English expression: To be 'spread out' is to have a lot of space between each one F…

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