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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

09:37

Expression: To have your work cut out for you

Plain English ·

2026/01/15

Learn what it means to have your work cut out for you (hint: it's not about cutting).Explore the full lesson & practice using today's expression: https://plainenglish.com/expressions/have-your-work-cut-out-for-you--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

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13:01

Winemakers are in trouble

Plain English ·

2026/01/12

Today's story: Wine has been part of daily human life for centuries, and today it's produced in 70 countries. But winemakers and vineyards are facing their biggest challenges in a generation. Droughts, fires, and rising temperatures threaten crops. And younger consumers drink less alcohol (and less wine specifically). Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/829Get the full story and learning resources: https://plainenglish.com/829--Plain English helps you improve your English:Learn

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12:34

Expression: Keep your options open

Plain English ·

2026/01/08

Learn how to use the expression “keep your options open,” a phrase people use when they haven’t yet made a decision.Explore the full lesson & practice using today's expression: https://plainenglish.com/expressions/keep-your-options-open--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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13:28

How Labubus became so popular

Plain English ·

2026/01/05

Today's story: Labubu is a mischievous, rabbit-eared character created by illustrator Kasing Lung. Chinese toymaker Pop Mart has turned Labubu into a global toy craze, using gamified sales tactics and regularly releasing new collectible sets. Fans can’t get enough. They film themselves opening the famous “blind boxes,” take photos with their Labubus, and bid up the value of their favorites online. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/827Get the full story and learning resources:

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04:12

Learn the best expressions at PlainEnglish.com

Plain English ·

2026/01/01

We're starting the new year right at Plain English, with a new learning path to help you learn the best English expressions.At PlainEnglish.com, we have a library of hundreds of lessons about common English expressions, from "figure out" to "make a difference" to "cater to."And now, it's easier than ever for you to learn the expressions that are best for you.If you're not yet a member, you can create an account now (it's free) at PlainEnglish.com/joinIf you are a member, the new learning paths have

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15:08

Cognitive switching is killing your productivity...

Plain English ·

2025/12/29

Revisit this classic lesson on cognitive switching from the Plain English archives: What is cognitive switching? It’s when you switch your attention from one task, or one type of task, to another. Cognitive switching could be robbing you of up to 40 percent of your daily productivity, and it may be increasing your potential to make mistakes.Get the full story and learning resources: https://plainenglish.com/lessons/cognitive-switching--Plain English helps you improve your English:Learn about the

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15:45

Who deserves the San Jose's treasure? [archive]

Plain English ·

2025/12/25

Enjoy this episode from the Plain English archives (with a recent update for 2025): The San José, a Spanish treasure ship carrying gold, silver, and valuable jewelry, sank off the coast of Colombia in 1708. The shipwreck, and its treasure, have been untouched for over 300 years. Now, the government of Colombia is working to bring the treasure to the surface. But who is its rightful owner?Get the full story and learning resources: https://plainenglish.com/lessons/san-jose-treasure/ --Plain English

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18:18

Five timeless Christmas stories

Plain English ·

2025/12/22

Today's story: Classic stories are an important part of Christmas traditions for both kids and adults. They teach values of generosity, family, love, wonder, and belief. Here are five that stand the test of time: <em>The Snowman</em>, <em>The Polar Express</em>, <em>The Legend of the Poinsettia</em>, <em>A Christmas Carol</em>, and <em>How the Grinch Stole Christmas!</em>Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/826Get the full

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16:23

'A Man on the Inside' is a sweet, intergenerational...

Plain English ·

2025/12/18

Today's story: Ted Danson stars in *Man on the Inside*, a warm, thoughtful comedy about a retired professor who becomes a private investigator. The show gently explores themes of aging, intergenerational relationships, and finding purpose later in life, all wrapped in a light mystery and comedic tone.Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/825Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/825 --Plain English helps you improve your English:Learn about the world and improve your EnglishClear,

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12:57

All about live Christmas trees

Plain English ·

2025/12/15

Today's story: Though most Christmas trees are plastic, millions of families like to get live Christmas trees every year. Real trees are grown at special Christmas tree farms and they take many years (and twice-a-year trimming) to mature into the picture-perfect trees you see in family photos.Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/824Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/824 --Plain English helps you improve your English:Learn about the world and improve your EnglishClear, natural

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15:44

Tracking monarch butterflies as they migrate

Plain English ·

2025/12/11

Today's story: Scientists used to rely on stickers to track monarch butterfly migration—but that only showed where a butterfly started and ended. Now, a solar-powered device called the BluMorpho is helping researchers track each step of the journey, offering new insight into one of nature’s most complex migrations.Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/823Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/823 --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for

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12:59

The world’s biggest butterfly migration

Plain English ·

2025/12/08

Today's story: Monarch butterflies migrate thousands of kilometers from across the U.S. and Canada to just a few mountain forests in central Mexico. They rely on the sun, the Earth’s magnetic field, and a unique multi-generational life cycle to complete the journey. But their numbers are falling due to habitat loss and climate change.Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/822Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/822 --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best

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12:44

America has minted its last penny

Plain English ·

2025/12/04

Today's story: The United States Mint struck its final penny in November 2025, ending a 232-year run of producing the one-cent coin. The decision followed years of debate over the coin’s value, as production costs exceeded its worth and demand declined. Pennies will remain legal tender, but new ones won’t be made.Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/821Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/821 --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for

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15:56

The zipper is getting an upgrade

Plain English ·

2025/12/01

Today's story: Zippers are everywhere: on clothes, bags, and accessories. But the basic design of a zipper hasn't changed in a century. Now, though, the world's biggest zipper maker, YKK, has a new design that eliminates the tape next to the zipper's teeth. The result is a zipper that's lighter, more flexible, and better looking.Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/820Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/820 --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best

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13:49

Is 'premium economy' worth it? [archive]

Plain English ·

2025/11/27

We're opening up the archives to repeat episode 223 from January 2020, just before COVID-19 halted air travel. Enjoy!--In between economy class (in the back) and business class (in the front), airlines have created a new class of service called "premium economy." This is aimed at travelers who will pay a little more for some extra space, but can't pay the sky-high prices of a full business class seat. In this episode, Jeff reviews his experience in premium economy: he finds that it's more "economy"

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02:19

💰 Black Friday: Get 2 free months of Plain English

Plain English ·

2025/11/27

Black Friday is here, and Plain English is ready to support your English learning with a great introductory offer:Join Plain English Plus+ today and get 3 months for the price of 1!In three months with Plain English, you can:** Lose the fear of speaking by joining up to 9 live Zoom calls with Jeff & JR** Learn to express your ideas with in-depth workshops** Improve your accent with pronunciation practice** Train your ear to catch more English at full speed...and it's all available for about half

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13:41

The hot new trend is an ice-cold bath [archive]

Plain English ·

2025/11/24

Today's episode is one from the archives, originally number 583. Enjoy!--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.Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/lessons/cold-plunge --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for learning English.You

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15:04

Parkrun is the world’s free running club

Plain English ·

2025/11/20

Today's story: Parkrun is a free, volunteer-run event that takes place every Saturday morning in parks around the world. Participants run, jog, or walk a 5K route, and the focus is on community, health, and fun—not competition. What started with just 13 runners in London has expanded to over 23 countries.Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/819Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/819 --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for learning

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14:52

The quest to make snake bites less lethal

Plain English ·

2025/11/17

Today's story: Snake bites kill over 100,000 people each year, but antivenom (the treatment for poisonous snake bites) has hardly changed in a century. Today, doctors have to know the type of snake that bit a patient, and the hospital has to have the right antivenom handy. But now, scientists are developing universal treatments that work against many types of venom. If successful, it could save lives and prevent amputations.Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/818Full lesson:

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14:07

Seniors are the new screen addicts

Plain English ·

2025/11/13

Today's story: Screen time among senior citizens has been growing recently, as more and more retirees use phones and tablets, in addition to time spent watching television. Online devices can help seniors keep their skills sharp, stay in touch with loved ones, and pass the time. But seniors are also vulnerable to scams and don't have the built-in social structures that younger people do.Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/817Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/817 --Upgrade all

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