Shows
English Learning for Curious Minds[BONUS] Scotland vs. England: A 1,000-year Rivalry⚡️⚡️⚡️ Black Friday Sale ⚡️⚡️⚡️Secret link: bit.ly/ELFCMBlackFriday24💰 Save up to 67% vs. monthly cost⏳ Limited availability⏱ Ends 23:59, Sunday, December 1st***A thousand-year rivalry exists between Scotland and England, rooted in battles, political strife, and deep-seated cultural differences. In this episode, we'll discuss how these ancient conflicts still shape modern relationships and national identities today.Scotland and England's thousand-year rivalryDifferences in national anthemsThe Battle of Bannockburn (1314)The Scottish Wars of IndependenceThe Union of the Crowns (1601)Formation of Great Britain (1707)Differences: laws, religion, and educationScottish versus British identityPresent-day migration trends...2024-12-0119 min
English Learning for Curious Minds[BONUS] Cleopatra | History’s Most Intriguing Queen⚡️⚡️⚡️ Black Friday Sale ⚡️⚡️⚡️Secret link: bit.ly/ELFCMBlackFriday24💰 Save up to 67% vs. monthly cost⏳ Limited availability⏱ Ends 23:59, Sunday, December 1st***Cleopatra VII was a remarkable queen who defied her critics, navigated political turmoil, and famously captured the hearts of both Julius Caesar and Marc Antony.From her multilingual skills to strategic alliances, we will explore the legacy of this extraordinary Ancient Egyptian ruler.Cleopatra VII's early life and education in AlexandriaConflict between Cleopatra, Caesar, Pompey, and Ptolemy XIIICleopatra's meeting with Julius Caesar in 48 BCCleopatra and Caesar's alliance and defeat of Pto...2024-11-2921 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#486 | North vs. South | The Great English Divide What's the difference between the North and the South of England?
And when does the "North" end and the "South" start?
In this episode, we'll explore these questions, and touch on differences in accents, lifestyles, and even what people call their evening meal.
The origins of the north-south divide in England
The fuzzy line dividing north and south
Common stereotypes of northerners and southerners
The impact of the Industrial Revolution on the north
The decline of northern industries in the 20th century
Margaret Thatcher's role in closing northern coal...2024-07-0520 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#468 | I Lived In Malta For 7 Years (Part 1) I lived in Malta from 2017-2024. In part one of this two-part series, I'll talk about some of my experiences living there, and try to answer a question I'm asked multiple times a week: "Should I come to Malta to study English?" We'll talk about what types of people come to Malta to study English, how this changes over the year, and what life is really like on a Mediterranean rock. Why I moved to Malta in 2017Brief introduction to MaltaIntroduction to learning English in MaltaThe three different categories of English learner in Mal...2024-05-0317 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#430 | What Is Effective Altruism? It's an idea and a way of life that is all about doing good, helping others, and improving the world in the most efficient way possible.
In this episode, we'll be talking about Effective Altruism, its core principles, and its unique approach to addressing the world's most pressing problems.
Effective Altruism Defined
Thought Experiment: Drowning Child
Peter Singer's Famine, Affluence, and Morality Essay
William MacAskill: Effective Altruism Co-Founder
Effective Altruism's Goal and Approach
Impact Maximization: Notable Examples
Funding Disparities: Pandemics vs. Terrorism
Animal Welfare: Factory Farming vs. Shelters
Sam Bankman-Fried: Effective Alt...2023-12-2223 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#392 | Homes, Homelessness & Evolving English As time goes by, language continues to evolve.
In this episode, we explore the question of evolving English, and the specific question of how we refer to people without a permanent and stable place to live, as this example highlights the politicisation of language.
Language's purpose: communicate information between people
Language changes over time, often for political reasons
Referring to people without a permanent home
Difference between "house" and "home"
"Homeless" as the most commonly used term
Push to replace "homeless" with "houseless" or "unhoused"
Critics argue "homeless" implies streets are a l...2023-08-1118 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#364 | Do Idioms Really Matter? There are thousands of idioms in the English language. Idioms are often present in the books we read, the shows we watch, and in everyday conversations.
In this episode, we’ll look into the different types of idioms, how to learn them effectively and ask ourselves whether idioms really matter.
Do people really say, “It’s raining cats and dogs”?
Alastair vs Kris
The four types of idioms
Do categories of idioms matter?
How native speakers decide to use an idiom
The two real categories of idioms that matter
How to think about...2023-05-0520 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#354 | The Disappearance of Lord Lucan He was a wealthy English aristocrat who disappeared after the family nanny was found brutally murdered.
In this episode, we look at the life and disappearance of the famous gambler and socialite, Lord Lucan.
The evening of 7th November 1974
The early life of Lord Lucan
His life as a wealthy aristocrat
Lord Lucan’s gambling addiction
His deteriorating marriage
Sandra Rivett: the nanny
The murder
The disappearance of Lord Lucan
Sightings and theories about what happened
Parallels with Cluedo
Full interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https...2023-03-3123 min
English Learning for Curious Minds⚡️ A bonus episode from SEND7: World News in 7 minutes. Monday 13th March 2023Today we have some news in English from our friends over at SEND7 - Simple English News Daily in 7 minutes. World News in 7 minutes. Monday 13th March 2023.To listen to SEND7 every morning, search in your podcast app for Simple English News Daily, or go to send7.org
---You might like:🔓 Unlock bonus episodes, interactive transcripts, subtitles & vocabulary lists🧑💼 Demystifying Business English Course📹 A look inside Leonardo English membership⚡️ How To Use Podcasts Like A Boss To Learn English 📧 Join the week...2023-03-1308 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#330 | A Short History of Measurements 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 measurementsEnglish measurement of distance: The FurlongEarly measurement in France: The SetierEgyptians measurements of timeThe metric system & FranceRobespierre & The Festival of the Supreme BeingContainer shipsUK mixing measurementsUnited States' National Institute of Standards and TechnologyWhy water doesn’t freeze at 100C Full interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/measur...2023-01-0623 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#324 | Artificial Intelligence & Language Learning 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 ChatGPTA brief overview of Artificial IntelligenceExisting forms of Artificial IntelligenceIncreasing possibilities of technology in language learningAI as a tool to correct mistakesAI as a 24/7 private tutorAI to correct writingWhy you shouldn't rely on AI to write for youHow to use AI as a tool for learnin...2022-12-1623 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#278 | Londongrad: Why Russian Oligarchs Fell In Love With Britain’s Capital Since the collapse of the USSR, London has become the city of choice for Russian oligarchs.In this episode, we'll explore how the UK's capital welcomed Russian money and why London became nicknamed "Londongrad".Roman Abramovich buys ChelseaDefinition of "oligarch"Why was London the destination of choice for Russian oligarchs?London's cultural appealThe English legal systemThe English libel lawsLondon as a financial hubCompany ownership in the UKThe "Golden Visa" schemeLinks between Russian oligarchs and British politicsEvgeny Lebedev becomes "Baron Lebedev"London doesn't ask questions about the origin of moneyThe Russian i...2022-07-0824 min
English Learning for Curious Minds[BONUS] A Conversation with Lindsay from All Ears English An interview with Lindsay McMahon from All Ears English.We discuss why learners should focus on "connection, not perfection", why this can be difficult for people, and Lindsay gives three practical tips on what you can do about this.What is All Ears English?What does "Connection Not Perfection" mean?Where does the idea of Connection Not Perfection come from?What is the problem with perfectionism?How does this apply to language learners?3 practical tips that learners can use to better "connect" with EnglishFull interactive transcript, subtitles and k...2022-05-2313 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#246 | Cornish Smugglers In the 18th century, a small region of southwest England was the national centre for the illegal importing of goods such as tea and rum.In this episode, we'll discover how smuggling really worked, who was involved, and why it was so successful for such a long period of time.Cornwall todayCornwall's relationship with LondonThe Cornish identityBritain in the 18th centuryThe reason that import taxes were so highWhy Cornwall was such a centre for smugglingHow smuggling worked in practical termsWhy smuggling was so tolerated by the local populationHonest vs. dishonest smugglersThe strange English l...2022-03-1822 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#236 | How To Use Podcasts To Improve Your English [My Favourite Strategies] Learn how to actually use podcasts to improve your English listening, vocabulary, speaking, and even writing.This is a special episode packed full of tips & tricks to help you use podcasts in a more effective way.What most people do when listening to podcasts to learn a languageListening tip #1: How to become a more attentive listenerListening tip #2: Listening out for word/phrase useListening tip #3: Listening out for sounds of EnglishPodcast superpowers: how to use them as a learning exerciseVocabulary tip #1: How to go from passive to active vocabularySpeaking tip #1: Recording yourself, techniques to d...2022-02-1128 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#232 | When Britain Killed Its King In the 17th century, Britain decided to kill its king and experiment with life without a monarch.In this episode we'll learn about the English Civil War, the 11 years the country spent without a monarch, why the monarchy was eventually restored, and the impact this had on the country.The background to the English Civil WarsThe Divine Right of KingsThe errors of judgment of Charles IDissolving Parliament in 1629Religious divisions in Great BritainTrust breaking down between the King and ParliamentCivil War breaks outThe nature of The First English Civil WarThe r...2022-01-2830 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#212 | A Short History of Childhood Although there have always been children, the concept of "childhood" is more recent than many people think, with one French historian declaring that childhood didn't exist until the 17th century.In this episode, we'll explore how ideas of childhood have changed, from John Locke to Jean-Jacques Rousseau, from the English Romantic poets right through to the creation of the teenager in post-war America.What exactly is a child? What is childhood? When do you stop being a child, and for what reasons?Phillipe Ariès: the author of “Centuries of Chil...2021-11-1928 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#210 | The Illogicality of The English Language There is a lot about the English language that makes very little sense at all.In this episode we look at some of these illogicalities, paying close attention to homonyms, homographs, homophones, and even something called lonely negatives.How many words are there in English?English: The Mongrel LanguageA quick history of the English language: Anglo-Saxons, Vikings & FrenchThe scribes making English spelling very complicatedThe typesetters introducing new spellingsFinding classical ancestry for words in EnglishConfusing English #1: HomophonesFork candles vs. Four candlesConfusing English #2: HomophonymsConfusing English #3: HomophographsConfusing English #4: Lonely NegativesAn extremely confusing sentenceFull interactive t...2021-11-1222 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#208 | A History of James Bond He is the most famous spy in the world and has been drinking vodka martinis and driving fast cars since 1952.In this episode, we'll look at the history of 007, his creator Ian Fleming, how Bond has changed over the years, and the fascinating family business behind the UK's most famous special agent.The classic image of James BondIan Fleming: the creator of the James Bond novelsThe first hit: Casino RoyaleHow the James Bond novels are different from the James Bond filmsWhy did he choose the name "James Bond" for 007?The v...2021-11-0524 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#206 | Queen Elizabeth II She is the longest-serving monarch in British history and has lived through 14 British prime ministers and 13 US presidents.In this episode, we'll take a look at the remarkable life of Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor, and ask ourselves how she, the monarchy, and the country have changed since she became queen almost 70 years ago.Why Elizabeth was an unlikely queenKing Edward VIII and his abdicationThe death of King George VIThe young life of ElizabethBecoming queen in 1952The changing world in 1952The personal life of Queen ElizabethHow much do we actually know a...2021-10-2927 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#188: Bonnie Prince Charlie In 1745 Charles Stuart arrived on the west coast of Scotland with the aim of taking back the throne of England, Scotland and Ireland.It didn't go as planned and resulted in the last battle fought on British soil.In this episode, we'll learn about his failed rebellion, and the legacy he has left on Great Britain.The early life of Bonnie Prince CharlieRelationship Bonnie Prince Charlie and Mary Queen of ScotsMeaning of "Pretender" in EnglishThe Divine Right of KingsArriving in Scotland in 1745Life in Britain under the H...2021-08-2729 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#186: William Wallace He was the Scottish rebel who fought against the English and has become the most famous freedom fighter in Scottish history.In this episode, we'll learn all about his battles against the English, and the legacy that William Wallace left on the country.Introduction to mini-series on Scottish heroesThe brutal execution of William WallaceIntroduction to Scotland (as a part of the British Isles)William Wallace "the man" vs. William Wallace "the legend"The death of Alexander IIGaining a reputation as a hater of the EnglishRaising a small army and fighting t...2021-08-2023 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#180: Winston Churchill & The English Language He is considered by many to be the greatest public speaker in British history, and his words and speeches were a defining force in the British war effort.In this episode, we'll learn all about how Winston Churchill used the English language to inspire a nation.Winning the 1953 Nobel Prize for literatureEarly obstacles to being a great oratorCompleting his education on his ownStudying the great English oratorsSpending four decades as a member of parliamentChurchill's gift for storytellingThe medium: the radioMy grandfather's memories of Churchill's speechesBackground to Churchill's speechesHow Churchill wroteWriting more words than W...2021-07-3029 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#174: 3D Printing It's a technology that some have said will bring in a Fourth Industrial Revolution.Discover how 3D printing actually works, what industries it is revolutionising, and how it will (or won't) change every aspect of the world we live in.A brief history of the creation of objects3D printing vs. traditional manufacturingShould we really call it "printing"?Early versions of 3D printingPatents & 3D printingLowering of costs of 3D printing3D printing & prototypingRecent cost reductions in 3D printingRevolutionising the global supply chainExample of a British car manufacturer3D printing "anything"3D...2021-07-0922 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#162: The Genius of William Shakespeare He is the most famous playwright in history and has been translated into every major living language.In this episode, you'll learn about this fantastic man's life, his works, and why he is still called "the world's greatest living playwright".An exhibition celebrating Shakespeare's 450th birthdayThe two most common questions people have about Shakespeare“He was not of an age, but for all time"“The words of a dead man/are modified in the guts of the living.”Shakespeare's universalityThe life of William ShakespeareDid Shakespeare really write the plays (and does it...2021-05-2825 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#158: George Orwell For many, he is the greatest writer in the history of the English language. Outside the UK, he is known as the author of two of the most important political fiction books in history: Animal Farm & 1984.Learn about the amazing life of this fantastic man and the events that shaped his worldview.Reasons to learn about George OrwellThe statue of George Orwell outside the headquarters of the BBCOrwell's honesty & genius with languageThe early life of George OrwellSeeing the injustices of The British EmpireDiscovering for himself how ordinary people livedA description of co...2021-05-1426 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#134: A Short History of The English Language From a small, wet island, English has come to be the world's dominant language.How did this actually happen, where does English actually come from, and how has the language changed over the years?How many people speak EnglishWhy English isn't a 'pure' language (English as a mongrel dog, and as a soup)Anglo-Saxons & "Old" EnglishAnglo-Saxon words in English today (and why you should use them)“Short words are best, and old words when short are best of all.” Invasion by the Vikings (and the impact on the English language)Invasion by the Norman...2021-02-1919 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#132: Valentine's Day It's the day of the year where we celebrate love and desire.But where does it actually come from?The origins of Valentine's Day are mysterious, and not even that closely related to love at all."One of those mysterious historical or antiquarian problems which are doomed never to be solved.”Theory #1: St Valentine of RomeTheory #2: St Valentine of TerniAlternative legends of St ValentineWhy is Valentine's Day on 14th February?The traditions of the Roman feast of LupercaliaThe tradition of romance in the Medieval eraValentine's Day & ShakespeareThe commercialisation of Valentine's DayHow muc...2021-02-1218 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#130: Rose Island Discover the story of what happened when an Italian engineer decided to build an island off the coast of Italy..and then declare it to be an independent country.Giorgio Rosa - the ambitious engineerThe law about who owns the seaHow he built the islandDeclaring Rose Island to be an independent countryThe political situation in the 1960sWhy people were worried when he declared independenceThe reaction of the Italian governmentDeclaring The Republic of Minerva in The Pacific OceanLibertarianism & declaring new nation-statesWhat will the countries of the future look like?Full interactive transcript, subtitles and k...2021-02-0519 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#128: The Art of War It's the world's most famous book on military strategy.Learn about its fascinating history, about the lessons in the book, and discover how you can apply some ideas from this 2,500-year-old book to your English learning. What we know (and don't know) about the bookSun Tzu: military strategist and generalOther authors & editors of The Art of WarBeing brought by Europe (and used by Napoleon?)#1 Lesson from The Art of War: Avoiding War#2 Lesson from The Art of War: Being Prepared#3 Lesson from The Art of War: Being Adaptable#1 English Learning Lesson from The Art...2021-01-2917 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#126: Chocolate It's the world's favourite sweet snack, and the chocolate industry is worth over $100 billion.Discover the fantastic history of where it comes from, how it became so popular, and learn about some of the economics of chocolate production. The Theobroma Cacao tree: where it all startsAztecs & the early years of drinking chocolateThe arrival of the Spanish Conquistadors & a ‘bitter drink for pigs’Arriving in EuropeHow cacao trees grow (and why it can't in Europe)The invention of the cacao pressThe golden era of chocolateThe industrialisation of the chocolate processChocolate manufacturing & povertyCacao trading & buying future...2021-01-2219 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#122: Bitcoin It's the most famous cryptocurrency in the world, and went up in value by 269% in 2020.In this episode, we take a look at what it actually is, how it works, why some people think it is the future of money and others think it is a giant bubble.How 'traditional' money worksBanks and storing money1971 and leaving the gold standardInflationSatoshi Nakamoto & the Bitcoin whitepaperPrinciples of bitcoinHow bitcoin payments workHow the blockchain worksBitcoin and inflationWhy the bitcoin price goes up and downBuying things with bitcoinThe first pizzas bought with bitcoinWhy people don't like bitcoinThe U...2021-01-0821 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#120: Vespa It's the iconic Italian scooter that has conquered the world.Learn about how it started, how it got its name, and why it has become such a huge, global success story.“A completely Italian product, such as we have not seen since the Roman chariot”1884 and the founding of PiaggioWorld War I and making aeroplanesWorld War II and being bombed by the AlliesRebuilding the factory and deciding to build a scooterVersion 1: Donald DuckVersion 2: The VespaDesigning a scooter from the ground upSelling 1 million scooters by 1956Vespa and HollywoodVespa as an aspirational symbolVespas in the UK: M...2021-01-0117 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#118: 9 Things That Happened on Christmas Day You might think that nothing of historical importance ever happens on Christmas Day, but you'd be wrong.Here are 9 weird and wonderful events.The one thing they have in common? They all happened on December 25th.Jesus of Nazareth - born on December 25th?Event #1 - Crowing of Charlemagne as Holy Roman EmperorEvent #2 - Coronation of William the Conqueror as King of EnglandEvent #3 - Discovery of Celcius as a measure of temperatureEvent #4 - Andrew Johnson pardoning Confederate soldiersEvent #5 - The ceasefire of World War IEvent #6 - The Apollo 8 space shuttle leaves E...2020-12-2517 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#116: Jeremy Bentham & Utilitarianism He was the creator of utilitarianism, a philosophical framework for how societies should be structured, based on the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people.Learn about the fascinating life of this interesting character, how this theory impacted the law, and how he was true to his beliefs even in death.Bentham's early life as a child prodigyEnlightenment principlesIntroduction to the Principles of Morals and LegislationMeasuring pleasure vs. painThe six different measurements of pleasure and painRejecting existing lawsThe Panopticon and treatment of criminalsWhy should someone be killed for stealing?Problems with utilitarianismDefining t...2020-12-1822 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#114: Charles Darwin & On the Origin of Species He is the father of modern biology, and his 1869 book On the Origin of Species presented a revolutionary new idea about how species evolve.Discover the amazing story of Charles Darwin, and the journey of how he developed this groundbreaking theory.Early life of Charles DarwinBeing sent to medical school aged 16Developing an early interest in the natural worldMoving to Cambridge and starting the journey of becoming a priestWhat happens when you put a beetle in your mouthCreationism & evolutionThe trip of a lifetime5 weeks in the Galapagos IslandsReturning to Britain and working in s...2020-12-1122 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#112: Personality Tests The personality industry is worth billions, and promises to help us better understand ourselves.But how did it start? How does it actually work?And most importantly, does it actually work?What are personality tests?Historical ideas of personality & character: The four humoursSigmund Freud & Carl JungKatharine Cook Briggs & Isabel Briggs-Myers: the mother and daughter pair from MichiganThe Myers-Briggs Personality IndicatorPersonality within a family environmentHow The Myers-Briggs Personality Indicator worksCorporate America & personality testsPersonality testing: a billion dollar industryProblems with the personality test industryThe Forer effectWhy The Myers-Briggs Personality Indicator has remained s...2020-12-0421 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#110: Black Friday & A Short History of Discounting It's the biggest shopping day of the year. How did it start, what actually happens, and how much do people really spend?Plus, learn about the history of discounting, and how companies trick you into buying things you don't need.How much people spend on Black FridayHow Black Friday has developed over the yearsThe history of Black Friday (it doesn't come from 'going into the black')Coca-Cola and the first mass discountThe business of discountingTricks companies use to get you to buy stuff you don't needTrick #1 - The Rule of 100 Trick #2 - Us...2020-11-2720 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#108: Penal Colonies Starting in the 17th century, Britain sent hundreds of thousands of people to America and Australia for crimes as small as stealing a loaf of bread.Learn about why this happened, how it worked, and the legacy it has left on the countries where these prisoners were sent to.Sending criminals away as a punishment - as old as timeThe Bloody Code & being killed for stealing a rabbitImpact of the Agricultural and Industrial Revolutions on societyPrison boatsSending criminals to AmericaWhat life was like in America as a prisonerThe American Revolution & finding a new p...2020-11-2016 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#106: Superstitions From black cats to Friday the 13th, superstitions exist in cultures all over the world.Where do they come from? Why do so many people believe them? And is there any evidence to suggest that they are actually true?Definition of 'superstition'Superstitions in Ancient RomeSuperstitions + religionThe Catholic Church + superstitionsWhy are so many superstitions about 'bad' luck?Superstition Story 1: Why you shouldn't open an umbrella insideSuperstition Story 2: Salt over your shoulderSuperstition Story 3: Knocking on woodSuperstition Story 4: Saying 'bless you' after sneezingSuperstition Story 5: Friday 13th Full interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on...2020-11-1319 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#104: Survivalism It's the belief that the world is unstable and unpredictable, and that we should all be prepared for what happens when catastrophe strikes.Learn about where this idea came from, what survivalists do, and why the USA is the world's survivalist capital.What is survivalism?Different types of survivalist1960s and the birth of survivalismReasons that survivalism has grownDoomsday Preppers TV showSurvivalism is big businessCOVID-19 and survivalismSurvivalists: rich and poorWhy is the US the global capital of survivalist?Full interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.l...2020-11-0619 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#102: Daylight Saving Time In 70 countries around the world we change the time twice a year, giving us longer evenings in summer.Why did we start doing this? Why do some people love it, others hate it, and will we ever stop doing it altogether?Early ideas about timekeepingRomans & hours that were longer or shorter than 60 minutesWhen every town had its own time zoneThe invention of standard time zonesThe Earth's tilt and the reason days are longer and shorter by seasonThe proposals to create Daylight Saving Time: collecting insects & playing golfStarting to use Daylight Saving TimeDaylight Saving T...2020-10-3019 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#100: Leonardo Da Vinci He has been called 'the most relentlessly curious man in history', and was the quintessential Renaissance man.Learn all about the fantastic life of the genius after whom Leonardo English is named, from his talents as an artist to his skills as an engineer, and get inspired by his insatiable curiosity about how the world works.His early life in VinciApprenticeship in Verrocchio's workshopKeeping notebooks"The most relentlessly curious man in history"How everything in the world is connectedWriting a letter to the Duke of MilanPainting The Last SupperLater life & moving to FranceLeonardo D...2020-10-2318 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#98: GDP & Measuring Growth “It measures everything in short, except that which makes life worthwhile.” - Robert KennedyIt's the number that world leaders constantly talk about, using it as proof of what a great job they are doing.But what does it actually mean? What does it tell us, and what doesn't it tell us? And what would happen if we stopped using it altogether?Measuring growth in historySimon Kuznets & the invention of GDPJohn Maynard Keynes & popularising GDP after WWIIHow to calculate GDPWhy GDP started being used & when it was usefulCriticism of GDP #1: What is (a...2020-10-1623 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#96: The Vikings For almost 300 years the vikings terrorised large parts of Europe, arriving in boats and killing anyone that got in their way.But they were also traders, inventors, and storytellers, and they have had a lasting legacy on the world we live in.In this episode we cover:The oversimplification of the vikingsThe first viking attack in 793Why did the vikings invade in the first place? Overpopulation, the search for brides, revenge, or they sensed an opportunity?Settling alongside the local populationTechnological advances with boatsHow the v...2020-10-0922 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#94: Cryptozoology | The Hunt for Mystery Animals You've heard of zoology, but you might not have heard about its pseudoscience cousin, cryptozoology, the subculture that attempts to prove the existence of mysterious animals from folklore and popular culture.In today's episode we coverOrigins of Cryptozoology1960s and conspiracy theoriesThe discovery of the komodo dragon and the giant pandaProblem with cryptozoology #1: lack of professionalismProblem with cryptozoology #2: problems with sightings of monstersProblem with cryptozoology #3: where do their remains go?Problem with cryptozoology #4: geological problems with cryptidsCan you be a 'normal' cryptozoologist?We are still discovering...2020-10-0216 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#92: The English of Boris Johnson The Prime Minister of the UK has a unique way of using language, which shows his privileged upbringing and elite education.Learn about how he uses language, why he talks in this way, why this appeals to the British people, and what similarities he has with Donald Trump.In today's episode we cover:The early life of Boris JohnsonJohnson's classical languageClip of Johnson in an Ancient Rome vs. Ancient Greece debateJohnson's carefully maintained imageJohnson's struggle to use simple languageBritish tradition of upper-class r...2020-09-2523 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#90: The House of Medici "He it is who decides peace and war… He is king in all but name.” Quote about Cosimo de' MediciThe Medici family rose to power in Florence in the 1400s, and controlled the city for a large part of the Renaissance. Their legacy lives on through much of the art, culture, and architecture that we now take for granted.In this episode we tell the story of how they rose to power and developed the idea of modern philanthropy.In today's episode we cover:...2020-09-1818 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#88: The Amazing Life of Whales “The whales do not sing because they have an answer, they sing because they have a song.”- Gregory ColbertWhales are some of the most amazing animals that have ever existed.From where they come from to how they live their lives, through to the threats that they have faced and how they bring new life in death, it's time to learn more about the amazing life these animals lead.In today's episode we cover:What reall...2020-09-1117 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#86: Electric Cars The history of electric cars goes back a lot further than Tesla and Elon Musk.Indeed, the 'golden age' of electric cars was over 150 years ago.Discover how electric cars have evolved, why some people say they aren't as green as people think they are, and we run the calculations to see what the true environmental cost of electric car ownership is.Electric vs. Petrol vs. SteamThe Golden Age of the electric carElectric: The lady's choiceThe arrival of the Ford Model TThe oil crisesTesla & The RoadsterCriticisms of electric cars: production, u...2020-09-0417 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#84: Tito | The Man Who Stood Up To Stalin Tito, the former president of Yugoslavia, survived 21 assassination attempts, fought in two world wars, and managed to stand up to Josef Stalin and live to tell the tale.In this episode we tell the tale of the fascinating life of Josip Broz, 'Tito'.In today's episode we cover:Birth and early life of Josip BrozJoining the Austro-Hungarian army & World War OneBeing captured by the RussiansReturning home to a different countryWorld War II & the partisan undergroundBeating the NazisStruggling with Stalin & death threatsPost-Stalin yearsAuthoritarian rule within YugoslaviaWhat was Tito's legacy?2020-08-2823 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#82: The English of Donald Trump The former President of The United States of America uses a kind of English you won't find in a textbook. Here we take a look at how he speaks, why he speaks like he speaks, and what Donald Trump can teach you about speaking English effectively. In today's episode we cover: "I have the best words"The vocabulary that Trump usesThe coherence of Donald TrumpThe problems that translators have with Donald TrumpThe vulgar language that Trump usesLinguistic techniques that Trump usesWhy Trump is so effectiveWhat you can learn from Dona...2020-08-2115 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#80: 1MDB & The Missing Malaysian Billions It's one of the biggest financial frauds in history, and involves bankers, politicians, Hollywood celebrities, and The Wolf of Wall Street.It's time to find out what happened to the missing Malaysian billions.In today's episode we cover:Najib Razak comes to power in 2009Malaysia and the role of a development fundEnter Jho LowFrom $1 billion to $10 billionLavish shopping sprees“Big-spending Malaysian is the mystery man of city club scene”The wildest party in VegasThe Wolf of Wall StreetHow the fraud really workedOffshore companiesGoldman SachsHow everything came crashing downNajib Razak, Jho L...2020-08-1421 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#78: Modern Pirates The pirates of the 21st century don't have parrots and swords, but night-vision goggles and AK47s.Discover why pirates have re-emerged, how they work, and what the effect of piracy is on the areas in which they operate.In today's episode we cover:Somalia - the world's piracy hotspotWhy pirates emerged in SomaliaHow fisherman became piratesHow pirates are organisedRansoms and getting paidThe pirate stock marketThe effect on the community on landThe 'new' pirate hotspotFull interactive transcript and key vocabulary available on the website www.leonardoenglish.c...2020-08-0717 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#76: The World Bank It's one of the world's most important financial institutions, but also one of the most controversial. Discover what the World Bank actually is, how it works, what happens when it gets things right, and what happens when things go badly wrong.In today's episode we cover:The creation of the World BankThe difference between the World Bank and the IMFThe ambitious aims of the World BankThe first World Bank loan, to FranceStructural Adjustment (or "you do what we say")The Cochabamba Water War in BoliviaWhy the World Bank imposes conditionsWhat ha...2020-07-3118 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#74: QAnon | America's Most Dangerous Conspiracy Theory? This far-right conspiracy theory has gone from niche internet forums to President Trump's Twitter account.Discover the story behind QAnon - where does it come from, what do they believe, and is it really the most dangerous conspiracy theory in America?In today's episode we cover:The first Q messagePizzaGateHillary ClintonWhat does Q actually believe?Donald Trump & QAnonQAnon & social media companiesWhy is QAnon so popular?US politicians & QAnonFull transcript and key vocabulary available on the website www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/qanon
...2020-07-2416 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#72: The War on Drugs In 1971, Richard Nixon declared The War On Drugs. Almost 50 years later, and a war that has cost the US over a trillion dollars, we take a look at the effect that this war has had on society.Why was it declared, what actually happened, and who are the real winners?In today's episode we cover:History of drug use in the United StatesSherlock Holmes & cocaineThe prohibition eraWhy was The War on Drugs launched?Hippies + black communityWhat actually happenedAre drugs harder to buy n...2020-07-1719 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#70: Human Rights In 1948 the United Nations signed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which set out the 30 'inalienable' rights that all humans on Earth should get at birth.But where did this come from? How effectively does it actually work?And what comes next for human rights?In today's episode we cover:The Universal Declaration of Human RightsThe 'first' human rightsHuman rights vs. Natural rightsThe French Revolution & United States Declaration of IndependenceSlavery & human rightsHuman rights & the lawIgnoring human rightsThe countries that didn't v...2020-07-1021 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#68: What Happens When Languages Die? There are 7,000 languages spoken across the world.Yet 80% of the population speaks just 1.1% of the languages, and 43% of the languages are endangered.What happens when they die out?In today's episode we cover:How people feel differently when speaking different languagesThe 12 'dominant' world languagesWhy have certain languages dominated?Why do languages die out?When the last two speakers of a language hate each otherDying languages in the UKHawaiian - a revival success storyReviving a dead languageWritten vs. oral languagesShould we save languages?Why language is a p...2020-07-0319 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#66: The Weird History of Madame Tussauds Discover the amazing story of how a young woman from France befriended the royal family, escaped the guillotine, made death masks of revolutionaries, and then created the world's most successful waxworks museum. The story of Madame Tussauds has a lot more to it than meets the eye.In today's episode we cover:What is wax-working?Going to Paris to seek fortuneTeaching art to King Louis XVI’s sisterThe arrival of the revolutionDeath masksThe trip to LondonThe UK tourWhy Brits loved itMadame Tussauds in modern timesFull transcript and...2020-06-2616 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#64: The Hidden Cost of Food Delivery Apps Food delivery apps have taken over cities across the world, promising delicious food at the tap of a button.But is it really that simple?In this episode we discuss what the rise of food delivery apps means for us, for restaurants, and for the people who do the deliveries.In today's episode we cover:How food delivery apps workWhy restaurants use themThe early years of food delivery appsUnfair tacticsCharging $9 for a phone callOffers and commissionsChicago Pizza BossRacing to the bottomDark kitchensThe people who deliver the f...2020-06-1916 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#62: The Resource Curse When a country finds gold, oil or diamonds, you might think this would be a good thing.But in many cases, it is a curse for that country, and it would have been better off leaving its natural resources in the ground.In today's episode we cover:Expression: "to strike gold"Wars & conflictWhat happens to your currency when you export natural resourcesGovernment accountability & politiciansEquatorial Guinea (and the $600M president)Prices that change a lotDid the resource curse cause the fall of the Spanish empire?Countries that disprove the rule"The d...2020-06-1216 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#60: The British Sense of Humour People in Britain have a unique sense of humour.For lots of foreigners it's difficult to understand and confusing. But British people are fiercely proud of their sense of humour, and Britain has produced some of the world's best comedies.In this episode we take a look at what makes Brits laugh, and tell a few jokes along the way.Introduction to British humourWhat do British people laugh about?Sarcasm ("No sh*t Sherlock")What happens when you tell a joke about pasta to an ItalianSelf-deprecation (and putting yourself down)How t...2020-06-0517 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#58: Plastic It has revolutionised our lives, made cars lighter, food fresher, and water safer.But at what cost?In this episode we take a look at the history of plastic, and ask ourselves what comes next.In today's episode we cover:Elephants, combs and billiard balls - how plastic was inventedThrowaway living in the 1950sHow much plastic waste exists in the world?How much plastic do we eat?Recycling plasticThe 5 countries that are responsible for the plastic in the oceansNew non-plastic optionsA simple solution to the plastic problem2020-05-2919 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#56: Turkmenistan It's one of the most isolated countries in the world, ruled by an authoritarian leader with a passion for horses and Guinness World Records.It's time to find out about the weird and wonderful country of Turkmenistan.In today's episode we cover:The cult of personality under NiyazovNo dogs allowed in the capitalThe golden statue that turned to face the sunGurbanguly Berdimuhamedow and the love for horsesFiring a gun from a bicycleThe resource curseChanging money on the black marketCOVID-19Guinness World RecordsFull transcript and key vocabulary a...2020-05-2217 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#54: Harrods | The Playground of London's Rich & Famous It's one of the most famous department stores in the world, catering to the world's rich and famous. But it hasn't always been this way. In this episode we take a look at the story of Harrods, and discover the fascinating and unusual history of this iconic London location. In today's episode we cover: How it all started, back in 1824The Great ExhibitionWhen it all burned downHarrods' famous customersBrandy on the escalatorThe Mohamed Al-Fayed yearsThe lawsuit with Harrods New ZealandThe cash for questions scandalThe feud with The British Royal Famil...2020-05-1523 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#52: The Guinness World Records It's a collection of the biggest, fastest, and weirdest things in the world. But how much do you really know about The Guinness World Records? Today we look at the story behind the book, and discover how an argument about a bird turned into one of the best selling books in the world. Here's what you have to look forward to in today's episode: Finding out the answers to things before the internetHow the idea for the Guinness Book of Records came aboutThe McWhirter twins and their photographic memoryRecord-breaking is bi...2020-05-0817 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#50: A Service Announcement A quick announcement of some exciting developments at Leonardo English. New memberships, request an episode, and exclusive Q&A sessions for members. Find out more at www.leonardoenglish.com/subscribe
---You might like:🔓 Unlock bonus episodes, interactive transcripts, subtitles & vocabulary lists✨ 5 Powerful Tips for Learning English with Podcasts (Faster & Effectively!) [YouTube]📹 A look inside Leonardo English membership 📧 Join our FREE weekly newsletter---Keywords: Learn English, vocabulary, lessons, idioms, aprende inglés, idiomas, aprender inglês, apprend...2020-05-0507 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#49: Fair Trade You recognise the name. You recognise the label.You've seen it on bananas, chocolate, coffee, and all over thousands of everyday products.But how much do you really know about Fairtrade?In today's episode we take a look at how it really works, who benefits, and why some companies are starting up alternatives to Fairtrade.In today's episode we cover:A brief history of 'trade'Why farmers get a bad dealMax Havelaar & the first fair trade coffeeThe Dutch in IndonesiaThe mission of FairtradeHow Fairtrade worksWhy it worksThe criticisms o...2020-05-0122 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#47: Fox News // The Presidential Propaganda Machine It's one of the most powerful television channels in the United States, the current US president’s preferred news channel, and referred to by some as 'state TV'.In today's episode we take a look at Fox News: who watches it, how it really makes money, and what event could cause its downfall.In today's episode we cover:The growth of Fox NewsFox News & Donald TrumpNews vs. opinionVery good, excellent, or superb - North Korean TV in AmericaAdvertisers on Fox NewsHow Fox News really makes moneyIs Fox News really American?The Fox...2020-04-2419 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#45: Guy Fawkes // The Man Who Tried To Blow Up Parliament In the early hours of November 5th, 1605, a man was found in a cellar under The Houses of Parliament. He was moments away from blowing everything up, killing the King, and changing the course of British history forever.Today we tell the story of Guy Fawkes, and how we went from religious terrorist to anti-establishment icon.In today's episode we cover:November 5th celebrations in the UKThe persecution of Catholics in BritainThe plan to blow up parliamentThe anonymous letterWho really was Guy Fawkes?The execution of Guy FawkesWas it all a c...2020-04-1716 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#43: Tulipmania // When Flowers Cost More Than Houses In Holland in the 1600s the price of tulips rose so much that a single bulb reportedly cost more than a townhouse on Amsterdam's grand canal.Today we look at the real story behind one of the greatest bubbles in history.What is a tulip?Why are things expensive?Why were tulips so expensive in Holland?Why were some people in Holland so rich?How tulips growTulip contractsThe greater fool theoryWhen the market crashedWhat really happenedHave we learned our lesson?(BONUS) How to not lose all your money in a financial bubble2020-04-1022 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#41: The Great Train Robbery In 1963 a criminal gang managed to stop a Royal Mail train, steal £2 million pounds in cash (£55 million in today's money), and escape. It took them just 15 minutes.Today we tell the story of this infamous robbery, and the hunt to find the men who did it.The train carrying all the moneyWhy was it carrying so much money?The story of the robberyThe hunt for the suspectsThe discovery of the farmThe Monopoly piece and the fingerprintsThe arrest of the suspectsWho were the robbers?The escape from jailRonnie Biggs in BrazilThe victim of the rob...2020-04-0316 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#39: The Story Of A Fantastic Dictionary In 1755, Samuel Johnson published an English dictionary that has gone down in history.Not only was it the first of its kind, it was full of funny jokes.Today we tell the story of this fantastic dictionary.Dictionaries before 1755Why Johnson's was so famousWhy was a dictionary needed?Why was the English language a mess?'Fixing' EnglishJohnson's dictionary: 40,000 words of fine scholarshipHidden joke 1: the definition of 'oats'Hidden joke 2: the definition of 'lexicographer'Hidden joke 3: the definition of 'lunch'Why writing a dictionary is so hardKey vocabulary: Scholarship, Intriguing, Politically correct, Authoritative, C...2020-03-2713 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#37: London’s Gin Craze // Mother’s Ruin 300 years ago, London experienced a gin craze of epic scale, with the average Londoner drinking 10 times the amount of gin that the world's biggest gin drinking country does now.Today, it's time to learn about how gin almost destroyed London.We'll learn about:👀 Why 'gin' is called 'gin'⚡ The perfect storm that made caused the gin boom🍸 The gin shops🌡 The ingredients of the 'gin'☠ "Drunk for a penny; dead drunk for two pennies; clean straw for nothing.”💊 Gin craze = crack cocaine epidemic?👶 Poor Mary Defour⚖ The Gin Act of 1751📈 Gin today & the resurgence of g...2020-03-2014 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#35: Is The World Really Running Out Of Sand? After water and air, it's the most used natural resource in the world. But are we really running out of it?If so, why? And what happens if we do?In today's episode we cover:🌡 What do we use sand for?🏘 How much sand goes into a house?🇨🇳 How much sand China uses⏳ Where does this sand come from?👮♂️ Sand mafias🤷♂️ Can we avoid using sand?🗼 Sand in Dubai (it doesn't come from where you think it does)Key vocabulary: Rolling, Dunes, Trekking, Infinite, Implausible, Run out, Pace, Consume, Crucial, Small-fry, Concrete, Asphal...2020-03-1315 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#33: Universal Basic Income What would happen if the government just gave everyone money? That's the idea of Universal Basic Income, and it's an idea that has supporters from all across the political spectrum.In today's episode we cover:✍ History of Universal Basic Income🤖 Are the robots coming?💸 Who should get the money?💰 Who should pay for it?👏 Who supports Universal Basic Income?👍 Advantages of Universal Basic Income👎 Disadvantages of Universal Basic Income🇫🇮 The experiment in Finland - what happens when you give 2,000 people €560 a month?🇱🇷 The experiment in Liberia - what happens when you give alcoholics and drug addicts mon...2020-03-0619 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#31: How Google Works It's the most visited website in the world, with 80,000 searches per second. But have you ever actually wondered how it really works?In today's episode we'll take a look at how this technology giant really works.🔠 Alphabet & Google🖥 What does 'The Internet' actually mean?🕷 Google Spider🤔 How does Google decide what results to show you?❓ How does Google decide how websites are good or bad?📊 Relevance, Quality, and User Experience💵 How Google makes $6,000 a second🛎 How Google Ads work💍Why advertisers pay almost $1,000 for one click📍 3 weird facts about Google - 1) How many new queries are asked...2020-02-2820 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#29: Palantir: The Most Important Company You’ve Never Heard Of You might know nothing about it. But certainly does (or could do) know a huge amount about you.Let's take a look at this incredibly powerful company that has the power to see everything we do.In today's episode we cover:Animating transcriptsPeter Thiel - founder of PalantirWhat does Palantir actually do?Big dataWhat if the technology wasn't used for good?Minority Report in real life - the crime prediction toolPalantir & ICEThe successes of PalantirLord of the RingsKey vocabulary: Poses, Libertarian, Doublespeak, Anything but, Connect the dots, Insider trading, B...2020-02-2114 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#28: Help! Today is a bit of a change from the normal. It's time to ask for your help. Let's build the best podcast in the world together.Animated transcriptsUpdate on the podcast after 2 monthsWhat do I know?How you can helpWhat you get in returnKey vocabulary: Animated, Browser, For one, Condense, Ether, Hand in hand, Pile, Operation, Shape, Priority, Shaping, Ray of light, Pleading****Full transcript and key vocabulary available on the website www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/help
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English Learning for Curious Minds#27: North Korea - The Hermit Kingdom The media might portray it as just a failed state run by a mad dictator, but today we'll find out that things might be just a little bit more complicated than they seem. In today's episode we cover:Post Second World War - US vs. USSR in the Korean PeninsulaThe Korean WarThe post-war yearsNorth Korea & ChinaNuclear weapons (and why do they really have them?)Kim Jong-unNorth Korea in 20204 weird facts about North Korea (haircuts, marijuana, holes in one & the calendar)Key vocabulary: Isolated, Feature, Animates, Neat, Slap bang in the middle, Powerhouse, Pa...2020-02-1820 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#25: What's The Difference Between Great Britain and The United Kingdom? Confused about the difference between Great Britain and The United Kingdom, and always wondered when to call someone British instead of English, Scottish, Welsh or Irish? Let's clear it up, and explain how we got to this, admittedly, pretty complicated situation.In today's episode we cover:Bye bye European UnionDo people in the UK know the difference?The UK vs. Great BritainEngland, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland - countries or not?Key events in the history of the formation of The United KingdomThe British Isles (actually 6,000 islands)Why is Great Britain 'Great'?Why d...2020-02-1117 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#24: Part 2: The Most Common Mistakes People Make When Learning English (and How To Avoid Them) It's time for Part 2 of our most common mistakes people make when learning English.In today's episode we cover:Recap of Part 1Why you shouldn't focus on grammar (and how to actually learn grammar)Why you shouldn't just do 'survival' listeningWhy you don't need to go to an English-speaking country (and how to create your own immersion course)How to set aside time for English learningWhy you should set yourself goalsHow to set yourself goalsHow to avoid getting disheartenedKey vocabulary: Hacks, Rid, Right up your street, Standalone, Discipline, Tricky, Bonus, Genders, C...2020-02-0719 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#23: Part 1: The Most Common Mistakes People Make When Learning English (and How to Avoid Them) It's time to take a look at the most common mistakes people make when learning English, and how to avoid them.In today's episode we cover:📍 Strategic vs. Specific mistakes📕 Why you shouldn't use traditional language learning content👀 Why you shouldn't judge your progress against that of others📈 Are there really any English learning hacks?😍 How to embrace the English learning process🤞 How to get over your fear of making mistakes👨🏻 Francesco, the fearless Sicilian English learner🗣 Why you shouldn't speak too fast🧠 Barack Obama as an orator🔍 Sneak peek at Part 2Key vocabulary: Deviation, Avoidin...2020-02-0419 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#21: Conspiracy Theories Do you believe in conspiracy theories? Millions of people around the world do. Today we're going to ask ourselves why, talk about why they can be so seductive, and zoom in on some of the wackiest ones out there.This episode covers:👀 What is a conspiracy theory?👄Why conspiracy theories can be so seductive🧠Why do we seek connections between events?📈Why are conspiracy theories growing in popularity?🍕Pizzagate & the danger of conspiracy theories❄Why people believe Disney made Frozen🦖Why people believe the dinosaurs built the pyramids⛩Who people think advised on t...2020-01-2814 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#19: British Food Part 4 - The (Earl of) Sandwich Britain's biggest contribution to gastronomy, the sandwich, was invented 250 years ago. How it was invented may surprise you though. Today it's time for part 4 of our mini-series on British food, where we go for a journey into sandwich history.In today's episode we cover:10 days left to get promotional price for transcripts & key vocabularyEarl of Sandwich (and his gambling problem)Did the Earl of Sandwich really invent the sandwich?Growth of sandwich eating in the UKInvention #1 - sliced breadInvention #2 - pre-packed sandwichesScience of sandwich makingSandwiches in the USA (and why they didn't adopt s...2020-01-2118 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#18: British Food Part 3 - The English Breakfast The English Breakfast is a truly British institution, and its history goes back 700 years. In today's podcast we go into the story behind the meal, and reveal how it went from favourite of lords and ladies to the way the working classes started the day.Different types of English breakfastThe Gentry and their breakfastsBreakfasts for normal British people (and how they weren't very exciting)The emergence of a new merchant class (and how they tried to emulate the gentry)The Victorian concept of breakfastThe emergence of the modern 'English breakfast'When half of Britain started the d...2020-01-1716 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#17: British Food Part 2 - Fish & Chips It's a British classic, but how much do you really know about it? Today we are diving into the fascinating history of fish and chips, and we'll discover that it might be not quite so British as you might think.In today's episode we cover:How famous people liked their fish and chipsWhy people think fish and chips helped the Allies win World War I and World War IIWhy French housewives might be key to fish and chipsDid Jewish immigrants to Britain invent the fried fish?Or was it a Northern entrepreneur?Why f...2020-01-1413 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#16: British Food Part 1 - Oysters Today is the first of our 4-part mini-series on British food, and we're going to talk about something you might not expect to appear in a series on British food: the oyster.In today's episode we cover:Introduction to the mini-series on British foodOysters in Roman times (and how Romans were crazy about oysters)Oysters as a poor man's foodHow people used to eat oysters (with beer, salt and pepper, and in pies)A time when Londoners used to eat 1 oyster per dayThe meal (and scandal) that destroyed the oyster industryThe future of o...2020-01-1017 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#15: Why Is All The News So Negative? And What If It Wasn't? Episode #015 - English Learning for Curious MindsWhy Is All The News So Negative? And What If It Wasn't?****Why is the news always full of disasters? What would the world be like if it wasn't?Let's take a look at some of the theories about why the news is always so negative, and imagine what kind of world might exist if it wasn't.In today's episode we cover:What is the point of the news?What is the role o...2020-01-0719 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#13: Why is New Year, New Year? Have you ever wondered why January 1st is the start of the new year?In today's episode we cover:History of the celebrations of New YearWhen New Year used to be in mid-MarchHow the Romans tried to fix the calendarThe longest year in historyThe Julian calendar (why it worked, and why it didn't)The pope who brought things back to January 1stNew year todayKey vocabulary: Pressing, Conversation starter, Bringing in, Topical, Timely, Observed, Festivity, Falling out of sync, Toasted, Implemented, Leap year, Pagan, Befitting, Abolished, Circumcision, Circumcised, Reticent, Colonies, Millennia, C...2019-12-3109 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#11: The Book That Made Christmas, Christmas Episode #011 - English Learning for Curious MindsThe Book That Made Christmas, Christmas****Today we take a look at the book that is fundamental to our modern understanding of what makes Christmas, Christmas. No, it's not the Bible. It was written in Victorian London, and tells the story of an old miser who discovers the Christmas spirit.In today's episode we cover:The publication of A Christmas CarolWhen and why the British stopped celebrating ChristmasSummary of the story of A Christmas CarolDickens' m...2019-12-2414 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#9: Who Owns Space (And Why Does It Matter)? Part 3 of the 3-part series on "Who owns the sea, sky, and space?"We humans do a pretty good job of dividing up ownership of the world. But what about beyond that? Who owns space? Who decides who owns that, and why does it matter?In today's episode we cover:Why nobody used to even think about space ownershipThe Cold War (and what people thought it meant for weapons in space)The Space Treaty (and what its real intention was)Where does space start?What happens if a shuttle c...2019-12-1711 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#8: Who Owns The Sky (And Why Does It Matter)? Part 2 of the 3-part series on "Who owns the sea, sky, and space?"Ever wondered who actually owns the sky? Today we'll discuss who owns it, why it's still not clear who does own most of it, and why that doesn't actually really matter.What does 'the sky' actually mean?Different parts of 'the sky'Why only the very bottom of the sky mattersThe 13th Century law upon which western laws are basedHow do countries use ownership of the sky to help their political goalsWhere does the sky end?Key vo...2019-12-1312 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#7: Who Owns The Sea (And Why Does It Matter)? Part 1 of the 3-part series on "Who owns the sea, sky, and space?"Who Owns The Sea (And Why Does It Matter)?***Ever wondered who actually owns the sea? Learn about who owns 2/3 of the surface area of the world, why countries want to claim ownership of rocks in the middle of nowhere, and why this matters.In today's episode we cover:Introduction to the 3-part mini seriesWho owns the world's land?History of sea ownership & the cannon shot ruleThe United Nations C...2019-12-1017 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#5: What Is Soft Power (And Why Does It Matter)? "Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun" - Mao Zedong, 1927"In the 21st century, culture is power" - Park Geun-hye (ex President of South Korea, home of Gangnam Style)How do other countries win the political game without force? Why is language such a fantastic tool to project power across the world? What is Donald Trump doing for US interests outside the US? Learn about how soft power is a vital tool in the global diplomatic toolbox, and how countries use it to advance their diplomatic aims....2019-12-0316 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#4: How To Use Podcasts To Learn English (Like A Boss) In today's podcast we go in depth into why you should use podcasts to learn English, and explain some of the best techniques to maximise your English learning with podcasts.We'll explain how you can take a 10 minute English podcast and turn it into an intensive 2 hour lesson, where you work on your English listening, speaking, reading and writing. Then you can decide whether you're a serious English learner and want to test it, or you'd rather just put on Netflix and trick yourself into thinking that you're learning.In to...2019-12-0317 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#3: The Most Amazing Prison Escapes in History Today we're going to be taking a look at 5 of the most amazing prison escapes in history. We'll travel to South Korea, Mexico, Germany, and the US, and discover some of the ingenious ways in which prisoners evaded their guards.Escape 1: John Herbert Dillinger and the wooden pistolEscape 2: Choi Gap Bok, the South Korean yoga expertEscape 3: The Alcatraz escape - but did it really happen?Escape 4: The Great Escape - how 600 men managed to keep an escape plan hidden from their guardsEscape 5 (and 6): El Chapo, $2.5 million, laundry baskets, tunnels, and motorbikesKe...2019-12-0311 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#2: The Places In The World Where Planes Can't Fly Ever wondered if there are places in the world where planes can't fly? From mountainous regions to hostile states, from theme parks to ancient temples, it's time to find out where planes can and can't fly.A time when Western aeroplanes couldn't go over all of Russia and ChinaHow countries use their airspace as a political toolWhy planes can't go over TibetWhy planes don't fly over Antarctica (hint, it's probably not why you think)What do Disney World, Disney Land and Buckingham Palace have in common?Why are there no planes over Paris?...2019-12-0309 min
English Learning for Curious Minds#1: Meet the English Learning for Curious Minds podcast Wondering what the English Learning for Curious Minds podcast is all about, who is behind it, and whether it's for you?In today's inaugural episode, we'll cover who should be listening to the podcast (hint - if you want to improve your English and learn interesting things about the way the world works, this is you), who is behind the podcast (an English native speaker and avid language learner), and talk about some of the quick things you can do to get the most out of the podcast.Who is behind the podcast (i...2019-12-0314 min