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Plain English

Jeff at Plain English

Improve your English and learn about the world at the same time. Plain English brings you short, modern stories about culture, science, travel, business, and everyday life, all told in clear, natural English designed for learners. You’ll grow your vocabulary, improve your listening skills, and build your confidence one episode at a time. Like the show? Sign up free at PlainEnglish.com and get a personalized learning path.

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All Episodes

26:47

Behind the wheel of a Tesla test drive (Check the boxes)

Plain English ·

2024/12/26

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to take a Tesla out for a spin? It has all the ordinary features of a luxury car, plus all of the benefits – and thrills – of an electric car, like instant acceleration. Plus, Teslas have a feature that might make you less stressed in traffic, and you’ll learn “check the boxes.” On Monday, the lesson will focus on the Tesla technology.Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/435 --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast

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15:48

4 classic Christmas movies (Fend off)

Plain English ·

2024/12/23

Christmas-themed movies are almost as old as the movies themselves. In today's lesson, you'll hear about four classic Christmas movies from four different decades (and two movies that don't count!). Plus, learn the English expression "fend off."Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/532 --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for learning English.You might be learning English to improve your career, enjoy music and movies, connect with family abroad, or

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22:38

What is the purpose of giving gifts?

Plain English ·

2024/12/19

Today's story: Giving gifts is a waste of money. That's the conclusion of economic studies that show the ""deadweight loss"" that occurs when givers buy gifts the receivers don't want very much. But even with this loss, a good gift can still be worth it...if done right.Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/737 --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for learning English.You might be learning English to improve your career, enjoy music and movies,

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25:02

What's the most popular type of book? (Hint: 😘)

Plain English ·

2024/12/16

Today's story: Romance novels are the bestselling genre in publishing, outselling thrillers, mysteries, and self-help books. This story explores what makes a book a romance, the genre’s rich history, its subgenres, and how e-readers and self-publishing have fueled its success.Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/736 --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for learning English.You might be learning English to improve your career, enjoy music and movies,

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21:08

‘Long Island’ is a worthy sequel to ‘Brooklyn’

Plain English ·

2024/12/12

Today's story: Colm Tóibín's novel ""Brooklyn"" introduced readers to Eilis Lacey, a young woman from Ireland who emigrated to America in the 1950's. The story won wide praise and found commercial success; it was adapted into a movie in 2015. Now, the Irish author is back with a sequel, titled ""Long Island"" and set in the 1970s.Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/735Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/735 --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best

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27:56

Should donors get paid for plasma?

Plain English ·

2024/12/09

Today's story: Plasma is a light-yellow liquid that makes up about half the volume of our blood. It plays an important role carrying substances from one part of the body to another. It's also a critical ingredient in life-saving treatments. It's easy and safe to donate plasma, but the world still faces a shortage. Is it time for more countries to allow patients to be paid to donate plasma?Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/734Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/734 --Upgrade all

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22:34

Three self-help books that really help

Plain English ·

2024/12/05

Today's story: This story explores three impactful self-help books that break away from the usual clichés. ""Four Thousand Weeks"" by Oliver Burkeman, ""Deep Work"" by Cal Newport, and ""The Power of Habit"" by Charles Duhigg offer fresh perspectives on managing time, focusing deeply, and building positive habits. These books go beyond fluff to provide readers with thoughtful, research-backed insights that can genuinely improve their lives.Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/733Full

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17:29

Searching for life on one of Jupiter's moons

Plain English ·

2024/12/02

Today's story: The Europa Clipper, NASA’s latest mission to explore potential life in the solar system, is set to arrive at Jupiter’s orbit in 2030. Equipped with high-resolution cameras and advanced instruments, the spacecraft will take photos of what astronomers think is a vast ocean beneath the icy surface of one of Jupiter's many moons.Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/732Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/732 --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best

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21:51

The best side dishes for American Thanksgiving

Plain English ·

2024/11/28

Today's story: Thanksgiving isn’t just about the turkey; it’s also about the delicious side dishes that complete the holiday meal. From savory stuffing and creamy mashed potatoes to tart cranberry sauce and green bean casserole, these traditional dishes add color and flavor to every American Thanksgiving table.Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/731Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/731 --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for

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10:30

How Plain English helped these 3 members

Plain English ·

2024/11/27

**Black Friday specials: https://plainenglish.com/blackCurious if Plain English Plus+ can help you?Listen to the stories of three members: Gustavo, Monica, and Hana. They each learn in different ways, but they're all improving their skills inside Plain English.Our members:Learn in a way that's right for themMake progress in their speaking, listening, vocabulary, and moreHave fun in a supportive environmentIf you're ready to make 2025 your best year yet in English, come join us this Black

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27:59

He's back: How Trump returned to power in 2024

Plain English ·

2024/11/25

Today's story: After losing in 2020, Donald Trump faced widespread criticism and seemed politically finished. However, a combination of Joe Biden's policy choices and Trump's resilient, disciplined 2024 campaign led the former president to an improbable comeback. He became only the second person to win the presidency after once having lost it.Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/730Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/730 --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the

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25:30

Got camel milk? Now, more people do (Cut back on)

Plain English ·

2024/11/21

Today's story: Camel milk, long consumed by nomadic societies in desert regions, is now increasingly available for order around the world. Known for its nutritional benefits, including lower lactose and higher vitamin content, camel milk is easier to digest and offers environmental advantages over traditional dairy. With lower water and food needs, and minimal methane emissions, camels are a sustainable option for milk production. However, camel milk is still a niche product due to challenges in

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23:13

Greenland bets on responsible tourism (Fall from grace)

Plain English ·

2024/11/18

Today's story: Greenland, a vast but sparsely populated island, is investing in new airports and sustainable tourism strategies to attract international visitors. With upgrades to airport infrastructure and policies favoring local businesses, Greenland aims to offer an eco-friendly experience while preventing the kind of over-tourism experienced by neighboring Iceland. These efforts aim to bring economic benefits to the island while preserving its natural beauty and fostering a deeper connection to

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13:54

Lost Mozart composition found in German archives...

Plain English ·

2024/11/14

Today's story: A hand-copied manuscript of a musical composition believed to have been written by Mozart has been discovered in the archives of a German library. Mozart experts believe the composition dates to the 1760s, when Mozart was between 10 and 13 years old. An analysis of the music suggests that the piece is consistent with Mozart's style from this period. The piece is now titled 'Ganz kleine Nachtmusik' and was performed for the first time in Salzburg, Austria.Learn this English expression:

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19:32

The return of the backflip in figure skating (Give away)

Plain English ·

2024/11/11

Today's story: The backflip has been a controversial move in figure skating for decades. It was first performed in high-level competition at the 1976 Olympics by American skater Terry Kubicka, but was quickly banned due to safety concerns. Despite its prohibition, some skaters continued to perform it in exhibitions. Now, nearly fifty years later, the International Skating Union has decided to legalize the backflip once again, though the move won’t earn skaters extra points in competition.Learn this

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20:19

Haggis: Scotland's most famous recipe (Out of reach)

Plain English ·

2024/11/07

Today's story: Haggis is a traditional Scottish dish made from various animal organs mixed with oats and spices. In the traditional recipe, it's cooked in the lining of a sheep's stomach. It's a beloved part of Scottish culture (even if outsiders aren't always brave enough to try it).Learn this English expression: 'Out of reach' refers to something that is inaccessible or unattainableFull lesson: https://plainenglish.com/725 --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best

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21:47

Scientists map a fly's entire brain (On a roll)

Plain English ·

2024/11/04

Today's story: Scientists have completed a ""connectome"" of an adult fruit fly, mapping all 140,000 brain cells and the 55 million connections between them. The map will allow scientists to study in much greater detail how a brain works. And the complete connectome of the fruit fly may pave the way for mapping larger, more complex brains, including those of mice and, potentially, humans.Learn this English expression: 'On a roll' means experiencing a series of successes or feeling confident and

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24:22

What Election Day is like in the U.S. (Pull off)

Plain English ·

2024/11/01

Today's story: When the sun rises on Election Day, about half of Americans will have already voted. But here's what the experience is like for the tens of millions of people who cast their votes in person on the first Tuesday of November. Plus, learn why it takes so long to count the votes.Learn this English expression: 'Pull something off' means to succeed in doing something difficult or unexpected.Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/723 --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the

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23:30

Dengue in Italy, M-pox vaccines, and Netflix’s new...

Plain English ·

2024/10/28

Today's story: Dengue fever has spread to Italy, which has seen 500 cases this year. M-pox vaccines are now being distributed in Africa for the first time. Shohei Ohtani’s translator has pleaded guilty to bank fraud, and Netflix’s new ""Monsters"" series, based on the Menendez brothers' case, has hit number one on the charts.Learn this English expression: 'Sooner or later' means that something will definitely happen, even if the exact timing is uncertain.Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/722

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24:57

Build more homes? Now, some say ‘yes’ in my backyard...

Plain English ·

2024/10/24

Today's story: Across the English-speaking world, the cost of housing (to buy or to rent) has far outpaced increases in incomes. That has caused governments to take a critical look at policies that have limited homebuilding, especially apartments. From London's green belt to cities in America, Canada, and Australia, people are increasingly saying ""yes"" to more building.Learn this English expression: A person who is ""out of touch"" doesn't keep up with latest trends in culture, technology, or a

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