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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

14:13

The growing popularity of mahjong

Plain English ·

2026/04/13

Today's story: Mahjong, a traditional Chinese tile game, is gaining popularity again around the world. Once a major trend in the U.S., it declined for decades but survived in small communities. Now, clubs, apps, and pop culture are introducing it to new players, drawn by its mix of strategy, luck, and social interaction. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/855Get the full story and learning resources: https://plainenglish.com/855--Plain English helps you improve your English:Learn

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18:13

Expression: Figure out

Plain English ·

2026/04/09

Learn how to use the English phrasal verb, "figure out"Get the full story and learning resources: https://plainenglish.com/expressions/figure-out--Plain English helps you improve your English:Learn about the world and improve your EnglishClear, natural English at a speed you can understandNew stories every weekLearn even more at PlainEnglish.comMentioned in this episode:Hard words? No problemNever be confused by difficult words in Plain English again!See translations of the hardest words and

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15:46

GLP-1 drugs show benefits beyond weight loss

Plain English ·

2026/04/06

Today's story: GLP-1 drugs, originally developed for diabetes and later used for weight loss, are now showing surprising benefits in other areas of health. Patients taking these medications have lower rates of heart attacks, strokes, and fatty liver disease, along with improvements in sleep apnea and addiction. Scientists believe these effects may be linked to reduced inflammation in the body, but more research is needed to understand their full potential. Transcript & Exercises:

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12:38

Expression: Come up with

Plain English ·

2026/04/02

Learn the English expression, "come up with"Get the full story and learning resources: https://plainenglish.com/expressions/come-up-with--Plain English helps you improve your English:Learn about the world and improve your EnglishClear, natural English at a speed you can understandNew stories every weekLearn even more at PlainEnglish.comMentioned in this episode:Hard words? No problemNever be confused by difficult words in Plain English again!See translations of the hardest words and phrases from

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16:17

Can New York ever fix Penn Station?

Plain English ·

2026/03/30

Today's story: Pennsylvania Station was once one of the most beautiful train stations in the United States, but the building was demolished in 1963. New York almost immediately regretted the loss of its grand old station. For decades, leaders have promised to rebuild it, but a series of political and architectural obstacles have stood in the way. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/851Get the full story and learning resources: https://plainenglish.com/851--Plain English helps you

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11:32

Expression: Up close

Plain English ·

2026/03/26

Learn how to use the English expression "up close"Get the full story and learning resources: https://plainenglish.com/expressions/up-close--Plain English helps you improve your English:Learn about the world and improve your EnglishClear, natural English at a speed you can understandNew stories every weekLearn even more at PlainEnglish.comMentioned in this episode:Hard words? No problemNever be confused by difficult words in Plain English again!See translations of the hardest words and phrases from

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14:36

The 'free solo' climb of Taiwan's tallest tower

Plain English ·

2026/03/23

Today's story: Alex Honnold, a 40-year-old American climber famous for his "free solo" climbs without ropes, thrilled millions of viewers by climbing a 101-story skyscraper without any safety gear. The climb was broadcast live on Netflix. His wife, watching the climb from inside the office building, said she was panicking the whole time. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/849Get the full story and learning resources: https://plainenglish.com/849--Plain English helps you improve

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11:39

Expression: Show up

Plain English ·

2026/03/19

Learn the English expression, "show up"Explore the full lesson & practice using today's expression: https://plainenglish.com/expressions/show-up--Plain English helps you improve your English:Learn about the world and improve your EnglishClear, natural English at a speed you can understandNew stories every weekLearn even more at PlainEnglish.comMentioned in this episode:Hard words? No problemNever be confused by difficult words in Plain English again!See translations of the hardest words and

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13:28

America's religious decline may be on pause

Plain English ·

2026/03/16

Today's story: For decades, the United States followed other wealthy democracies in becoming less religious. The share of Americans identifying as Christian fell sharply, while the number of people with no religious affiliation grew. But new data suggest that this long decline may have slowed. Younger generations are no less religious than Millennials, and adults today are not becoming less religious as they age. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/847Get the full story and learning

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08:05

Expression: Come to grips

Plain English ·

2026/03/12

Learn how to use the English expression, "come to grips"Explore the full lesson & practice using today's expression: https://plainenglish.com/expressions/come-to-grips--Plain English helps you improve your English:Learn about the world and improve your EnglishClear, natural English at a speed you can understandNew stories every weekLearn even more at PlainEnglish.comMentioned in this episode:Hard words? No problemNever be confused by difficult words in Plain English again!See translations of

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14:06

Shocks, comebacks, and firsts at the Milan Olympics

Plain English ·

2026/03/09

Today's story: The 2026 Winter Olympics were kind to some 40-something competitors, but devastating to the skier Lindsay Vonn. Mikhail Shaidorov brought Kazakhstan its first gold medal since 1994 after defeating the self-proclaimed "Quad God." Team GB won its first event on snow, and Brazil became the first South American country to claim a Winter Olympic gold medal. And an anonymous woman somewhere in Norway got quite a shock. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/845Get the full

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12:22

Expression: Turn the tables

Plain English ·

2026/03/05

Learn the expert-level English expression "turn the tables"Get the full story and learning resources: https://plainenglish.com/expressions/turn-the-tables--Plain English helps you improve your English:Learn about the world and improve your EnglishClear, natural English at a speed you can understandNew stories every weekLearn even more at PlainEnglish.comMentioned in this episode:Hard words? No problemNever be confused by difficult words in Plain English again!See translations of the hardest words

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15:51

‘Heated Rivalry’ is a steamy export from a frigid place

Plain English ·

2026/03/02

Today's story: When a Canadian producer pitched a TV adaptation of a gay hockey romance novel, major U.S. streamers hesitated. It was about a niche sport, featured explicit same-sex scenes, and was based on a romance novel. But a smaller Canadian platform took a chance on the story, and the series became a massive hit in Canada and around the world. Its success surprised everyone. But the clues to its success were there all along. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/843Get the full

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13:16

Expression: Run out

Plain English ·

2026/02/26

Learn the English expression "run out" (and listen until the end to hear what Jeff's first boss said he can *never* run out of...)Explore the full lesson & practice using today's expression: https://plainenglish.com/expressions/run-out--Plain English helps you improve your English:Learn about the world and improve your EnglishClear, natural English at a speed you can understandNew stories every weekLearn even more at PlainEnglish.comMentioned in this episode:Hard words? No problemNever be

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13:41

How coffee is prepared around the world

Plain English ·

2026/02/23

Today's story: Coffee is one of the world’s most popular drinks, but not everyone drinks it the same way. The two most popular styles, espresso and filter coffee, were invented in Europe. Turkish coffee is most similar to how people drank coffee centuries ago. And Cuba and Vietnam have their own unique styles. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/841Get the full story and learning resources: https://plainenglish.com/841--Plain English helps you improve your English:Learn about the

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13:26

Expression: Get around

Plain English ·

2026/02/19

There's no getting around it: you need to learn the English expression "get around"Explore the full lesson & practice using today's expression: https://plainenglish.com/expressions/get-around--Plain English helps you improve your English:Learn about the world and improve your EnglishClear, natural English at a speed you can understandNew stories every weekLearn even more at PlainEnglish.comMentioned in this episode:Hard words? No problemNever be confused by difficult words in Plain English

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16:50

What does it mean to be a ‘millionaire’?

Plain English ·

2026/02/16

Today's story: A “millionaire” is someone with a net worth of one million dollars. But the reality of a million dollars today is very different from when the word entered English in the late 1700s. Today’s millionaires are more likely to drive ordinary cars, live in the suburbs, and manage their own daily chores than live the lavish lifestyles we often associate with the word “millionaire.”Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/839Get the full story and learning resources:

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16:36

World Cup tickets: What fans need to know

Plain English ·

2026/02/09

Today's story: The 2026 World Cup will be jointly hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. FIFA says it has received over 500 million ticket requests. So what do fans need to know if they want to attend a game? It probably depends on the type of game they want to see—there might even be some last-minute bargains. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/837Get the full story and learning resources: https://plainenglish.com/837--Plain English helps you improve your English:Learn about the

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12:21

Expression: Turn in

Plain English ·

2026/02/05

Learn the English expression, "turn in."Explore the full lesson & practice using today's expression: https://plainenglish.com/expressions/turn-in--Plain English helps you improve your English:Learn about the world and improve your EnglishClear, natural English at a speed you can understandNew stories every weekLearn even more at PlainEnglish.comMentioned in this episode:Hard words? No problemNever be confused by difficult words in Plain English again!See translations of the hardest words and

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11:40

Canada’s oldest company closes its doors

Plain English ·

2026/02/02

Today's story: The Hudson’s Bay Company started as a fur trading monopoly in British North America, thanks to a royal charter signed by King Charles II. It later became a retail empire with department stores across Canada. But after years of falling sales and intense competition from big-box and online retailers, the company shut down for good in 2025. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/835Get the full story and learning resources: https://plainenglish.com/835--Plain English helps

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