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The best podcast for learning English if you like current events and trending topics. Improve your English listening, learn new words, and build your confidence with the #1 English-learning podcast focused on current events and trending topics. Improve your English listening: Plain English episodes go a little slower than native speed so you can understand every word and improve your English listening little by little. Your host is Jeff. He's a native English speaker from the United States a ...
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Today's story: A new global chess tour is trying to make the ancient game more exciting—for both players and viewers. Spearheaded by Magnus Carlsen, the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour shakes up traditional chess by randomizing the starting position of key pieces. The format reduces the advantage of computer-assisted preparation and rewards raw ski…
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Wave of needle stabbings reported in France
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Today's story: Almost 150 people in France reported being stabbed with a needle during a summer music festival in 2025. It's just the latest in several waves of similar attacks around the world. Victims say they feel a sudden pinprick. Some later feel dizzy, nauseous, and tired. But few reported more serious symptoms and toxicology screens show onl…
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Drone video shows orcas using kelp as a tool
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Today's story: Orcas are the largest type of dolphin, and they're known for their intelligence. A recent study proves they are more clever than previously thought. Researchers captured video of orcas using kelp to groom each other. The behavior shows not only tool use, but also cooperation between individuals—a rare behavior for animals that live i…
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Today's story: You thought only the passengers rated the drivers? Think again: drivers rate passengers, too. And a low passenger rating might cost you. But it's not hard to earn a high passenger rating. To keep a high rating, don’t make the driver wait, be polite, avoid eating or drinking in the car, follow the rules, and don’t slam the door when y…
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Today's story: A company called what3words has divided the world into 57 trillion squares, each three meters by three meters, and labeled each square with a unique three-word combination. This makes it easier to specify precise locations—even in parks, rural areas, or places without formal addresses. This can help when meeting friends or giving dir…
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Today's story: In many parts of the world, buildings don't have formal, complete addresses that can be identified on a map. Locals often use landmarks to explain where they live. But these improvised systems come with inefficiencies and real-world consequences. It's hard for residents to get deliveries, access emergency services, or find brick-and-…
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The five-star rating system isn’t working [Archive episode]
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Leaving a five-star review has become customary for any experience that is excellent, good, average, or even acceptable, and anything below five-stars means terrible in the world of online reviews. As consumers, this system isn’t helpful in identifying the true high performers, and it makes it difficult for people or businesses to stand out from th…
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The resurgence of the mullet haircut [Archive episode]
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Archive episode: Today, we're opening up the Plain English archives to revisit the only episode we've ever done about...a haircut. The mullet hairstyle is known for looking like business in the front, party in the back, and have typically been worn by men from rural, lower income areas of Australia. However, in recent years, the hairstyle has outgr…
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Gut feeling: the microbiome and our health
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Today's story: The gut microbiome is home to trillions of bacteria and microorganisms that help us digest food, regulate our immune systems, and even influence our mental health. Social media is full of (expensive) hacks to improve gut health, but scientists say the path to good gut health is simpler. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.co…
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Today's story: Nate Bargatze rose to fame by rejecting edgy or controversial comedy in favor of clean, relatable humor. His everyman style and family-friendly jokes have made him one of America’s most successful comedians, with sold-out tours, Netflix specials, major media appearances, and Hollywood ambitions. Transcript & Exercises: https://plaine…
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Today's story: The classic advice that breakfast is the "most important meal of the day" may be overstated. But eating a morning meal can bring important benefits to your nutrition, metabolism, and even cognitive functions. Before you write off breakfast, think about ways you can make the first meal of the day work for you. Transcript & Exercises: …
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Today's story: As students use ChatGPT to write essays, solve problems, and complete assignments, teachers are left with difficult choices. Should they try to catch cheaters? Ban devices? Or embrace AI and teach students how to use it responsibly? Many teachers are also using AI themselves, to create materials, grade fairly, and save time—but not e…
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Today's story: In just a few short years, ChatGPT has transformed what it means to be in school. Students can use AI to for help in their homework, or to do their assignments from start to finish. Educators worry that widespread cheating means that students today are not getting the problem-solving skills they'll need in the real world. "College is…
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Today's story: High-protein foods and supplements have gone mainstream, moving beyond gyms and into everyday grocery carts. From cottage cheese to high-protein soda, food makers are cashing in on the trend. But not all sources are created equal, and nutrition experts urge caution with processed, protein-enhanced foods. Transcript & Exercises: https…
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How books and movies get their local titles
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Today's story: Book and movie titles often change dramatically in translation, and the reasons go beyond simple language differences. Local publishers and distributors choose titles based on cultural context, marketing strategy, and artistic goals—resulting in everything from literal translations to poetic rewrites and puzzling name changes. Transc…
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Today's story: A biotech company in Texas has created three wolf pups using DNA from extinct dire wolves and modern gray wolves. While the company claims this is the first-ever de-extinction, many scientists say the result is not a true dire wolf, but a synthetic animal that only resembles the original species. Transcript & Exercises: https://plain…
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Today's story: Many major airports around the world have chapels or prayer rooms—some interfaith, some religion-specific—offering travelers and employees a quiet place for reflection, prayer, or emotional support. These spaces, first created mainly for airport staff, now serve religious and non-religious visitors alike, helping people find peace in…
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How makers of 'Adolescence' made their one-take episodes
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Today's story: The four-part Netflix series “Adolescence” tells the story of a teenage boy accused of murder. The story is gripping and powerful. But for viewers, the tension is enhanced by the way the series was made. Each episode was filmed in a single take, using just one camera. The creative team overcame enormous technical challenges to delive…
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Great news -- the expressions are back! "Essential English Expressions" is a brand-new podcast from Plain English. All 14 episodes from Season 1 are available now for you to stream. Click this link to subscribe on your favorite player: https://essential-english.captivate.fm/listen In the meantime, enjoy this sample episode! -- There are two ways to…
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Legendary investor Warren Buffett to retire
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Today's story: Warren Buffett, one of the most successful investors in history, announced his retirement at age 94 during his company's 2025 annual meeting. Buffett transformed Berkshire Hathaway, a failing textile business, into a holding company, where he pursued his disciplined value investing strategy. Over a sixty-year career, he consistently …
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Canada’s Liberals stage an improbable comeback
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Today's story: Mark Carney, former head of the central banks of Canada and the UK, led Canada's struggling Liberal party to an improbable, come-from-behind victory in the 2025 elections. He focused his campaign on protecting Canada’s interests, after Donald Trump imposed tariffs and threatened to make Canada the 51st American state. Transcript & Ex…
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Great news -- the expressions are back! "Essential English Expressions" is a brand-new podcast from Plain English. All 14 episodes from Season 1 are available now for you to stream. Click this link to subscribe on your favorite player: https://essential-english.captivate.fm/listen In the meantime, enjoy this sample episode! -- The English expressio…
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Dalai Lama leads Tibetan Buddhists from exile
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Today's story: The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, one of three major schools of Buddhism. Though he leads only a fraction of the world’s Buddhists, his influence is global due to his role as a symbol of Tibet’s struggle for religious freedom. Now the Dalai Lama is 89, and confronting the fact that he will be the first in ov…
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Today's story: LinkedIn has evolved from a resume and networking site into a platform where users share personal stories, professional lessons, and insights. Changes to the algorithm, a shift in user behavior during the pandemic, and a more civil atmosphere have turned LinkedIn into a space for authentic content and unexpected influence. Transcript…
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Great news -- the expressions are back! "Essential English Expressions" is a brand-new podcast from Plain English. All 14 episodes from Season 1 are available now for you to stream. Click this link to subscribe on your favorite player: https://essential-english.captivate.fm/listen In the meantime, enjoy this sample episode! -- Learn the English exp…
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