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PODCAST

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

18:30

'Barbie' was just the beginning | Learn English...

Plain English ·

2023/08/21

" ""Barbie"" has grossed over $1 billion at the box office--not a bad debut for Mattel, a toymaker that had never made a feature film before. Now, Mattel has plans to release movies based on American Girl, Barney, Hot Wheels, and other well-known characters and brands (including Uno, the card game). -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/600 -- Learning English should be

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22:11

Wine thief swipes bottles worth $600K | Learn English...

Plain English ·

2023/08/17

" A thief drilled a hole into the roof of a California wine store and robbed hundreds of bottles of rare wines and liquors, in one of the biggest wine robberies in state history. The perpetrator, who was caught on camera but not identified, spent four hours in the shop before fleeing after an alarm went off. Plus, learn the English expression ""make off with."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found

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23:10

Tony Bennett bridged musical generations | Learn...

Plain English ·

2023/08/14

" Tony Bennett's career peaked before the age of rock-and-roll. When new stars burst onto the scene, it seemed like his style of music belonged to the past. But he reinvented his career and brought his authentic style to new generations. He became an ambassador of the older songs he grew up singing and formed a late-in-life artistic partnership with Lady Gaga. Plus, learn the English idiom ""fall apart."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English

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22:05

Tony Bennett and the 'Great American Songbook' |...

Plain English ·

2023/08/10

" Antonio Dominick Benedetto--later 'Tony Bennett'--had one of the great American entertainment careers. Born in Queens, New York, he rose to fame by singing early American jazz and musical songs. His most famous song was ""I Left My Heart in San Francisco."" But the peak of his popularity came just as rock-and-roll music arrived in America. Plus, learn the phrasal verb ""give way."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free

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19:40

Why it's so hot this summer | Learn English phrasal...

Plain English ·

2023/08/07

" For many in Asia, North America, and Europe, the theme of summer 2023 is heat. That's because the jet stream is caught in an unusual pattern that traps heat over certain places for extended periods. It's called a ""heat dome"" and it forms when the jet stream forms into a wave. Plus, learn the English expression ""cool off."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/596

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20:03

A look at the world's largest cruise ship | Learn...

Plain English ·

2023/08/03

" Cruise operator Royal Caribbean is making final preparations to launch the ""Icon of the Seas,"" the first in a new class of cruise ships. The ships are bigger and offer lavish amenities. They also run on fuel cells, which are cleaner than burning fuel oil. Plus, learn the English expression ""set sail."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/595 -- Learning English

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23:27

Strong start for Meta's Threads app | Learn English...

Plain English ·

2023/07/31

" Meta, the company that owns Facebook and Instagram, launched a new app designed to compete with Twitter. Threads, as the new app is called, attracted over 150 million users in its first few weeks, helped by its close ties with Instagram. But why is Meta trying to break into a part of social media that has never achieved strong profitability? Plus, learn the English expression ""get off to a good start."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English

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19:04

Pat Sajak's last spin on 'Wheel of Fortune' | Learn...

Plain English ·

2023/07/27

" ""Wheel of Fortune"" is a game show staple in the kitchens of American homes. Three contestants compete to solve word puzzle games, as millions of Americans play along at home. For the last 40 years, Pat Sajak has been the upbeat host of the show, but he'll retire next year. Plus, learn the English expression ""slip up."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/593 --

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22:57

The war over live video game streaming | Learn...

Plain English ·

2023/07/24

" The most popular streaming platforms serve up professional content. But another type of platform focuses on user-generated content. Twitch is famous for letting users watch others play video games and interact with the players. For a long time, Twitch was the dominant player. But now a rival is using its deep pockets and an anything-goes strategy to grab its share of the market. Plus, learn the English phrase ""roll back."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. --

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22:15

Take a year or two off your age? It's true in South...

Plain English ·

2023/07/20

" Age is just a number, but in South Korea, it has been two (or even three) numbers. The country has long maintained a traditional way of calculating a citizen's age, where babies are born age 1 and the whole country adds a year on January 1 instead of on their birthdays. But the country recently adopted the international standard, so everyone got a little younger overnight. Plus, learn the English expression ""imagine that."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. --

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27:50

Russia shaken by private army mutiny | Learn English...

Plain English ·

2023/07/17

" A private army working for the government of Russia turned on the country's official military last month, taking control of a major city and marching toward Moscow. The revolt briefly appeared to be the beginning of a much more serious conflict. But the leader of the revolt halted his advance after just one day. Plus, learn the English expression ""overplay your hand."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript,

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28:31

'Titan' captain repeatedly dismissed safety warnings...

Plain English ·

2023/07/13

" Stockton Rush, the founder of OceanGate, was a tireless advocate of the Titan and its carbon-fiber design. He insisted the design was ""way safer"" than SCUBA diving and angrily dismissed warnings from experts and former employees about the Titan's design. Now, governments are taking a closer look at this unregulated industry. Plus, learn the English expression ""buyer beware."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free

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23:30

Titan: another shipwreck in the North Atlantic |...

Plain English ·

2023/07/10

" Five people died after their submersible 'Titan' imploded deep in the Atlantic Ocean, hours after they left on an exploratory mission to the site of the Titanic shipwreck. On today's lesson, learn about what sponsor OceanGate did and how the Titan's mission was supposed to go. Plus, learn the English expression ""off the coast."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at:

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20:01

Comic Sans: the font we love to hate | Learn English...

Plain English ·

2023/07/06

" Comic Sans is a typeface that was designed to be used in cartoon quote bubbles and in other childlike, informal situations. But since the font was included in an early version of Windows, it has been used in situations that are far from what its designer intended--often in tragic or hilarious ways. Plus, learn what it means to ""play a role in"" something. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found

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17:57

'The Morning Show': a serious drama with a...

Plain English ·

2023/07/03

" ""The Morning Show"" on Apple TV+ is about morning network news, a light-hearted way to start your day. But the show is anything but fluffy: it's a serious drama with a star-studded cast. The show deals with cutthroat media competition, sexual misconduct, the onset of COVID-19 and more. Plus, learn the English expression ""star in."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at:

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21:31

Fish farming moves to dry land | Learn English...

Plain English ·

2023/06/29

" Global fish consumption is rising, but natural fisheries have reached their capacity. Fish farming is typically done in oceans and rivers, near where fish normally grow. However, new methods allow farmers to raise salmon and other high-value fish in tanks in warehouses--often far from oceans or rivers. It's also more environmentally-friendly. Plus, learn the English expression ""put to use. "" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson,

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21:00

Colombian kids rescued after surviving Amazon plane...

Plain English ·

2023/06/26

The Colombian military announced the dramatic rescue of four children who survived alone in the Amazon jungle after their plane crashed on May 1. All adults onboard died in the crash. When rescue teams arrived, there was no sign of the children, leading to a dramatic manhunt to find the surviving kids. They were found alive on June 8, 40 days after the crash. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found

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21:05

The hot new trend is an ice-cold bath | Learn English...

Plain English ·

2023/06/22

" Cold plunges are the new health trend championed by high-fliers and ordinary people alike. By submerging yourself water that's 15 degrees Celsius (or colder!), you can manage stress, reduce muscle soreness, improve your concentration, and more, advocates say. Plus, learn the English expression ""if all else fails."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/583 --

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21:59

What it's like in a low-security federal prison |...

Plain English ·

2023/06/19

Elizabeth Holmes was a young self-made billionaire entrepreneur until her company was revealed to be a fraud. Now, she's about to serve 11 years in a minimum-security prison. Here's what the facilities are like and how she'll spend her days. Plus, learn the English expression ""serve time." -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/582 -- Learning English should be fun

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23:24

Kia and Hyundai thefts affect more than just owners |...

Plain English ·

2023/06/15

" Thousands of Kia and Hyundai cars are stolen every month in the United States. And while that's distressing and expensive for car owners, many more people are affected. Law enforcement, insurance companies, and repair shops are all scrambling to respond to the increase in crime inspired by TikTok and YouTube videos. Plus, learn the English expression ""spend time."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can

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