Podcast Episodes

Cities are getting that sinking feeling

Episode 797

Today's story: Cities around the world are sinking due to a combination of groundwater extraction, rapid urbanization, and the weight of large buildi…

10 months, 1 week ago

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Microsoft’s ‘Blue Screen of Death’ is going away

Episode 796

Today's story: For decades, white text on a full blue background has meant one thing to Windows users: the computer has crashed and needs to be resta…

10 months, 2 weeks ago

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Alberta flirts with separation from Canada

Episode 795

Today's story: The western province of Alberta is moving toward a vote of independence from Canada. Polls show that only about 30 percent of resident…

10 months, 2 weeks ago

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What citizenship do you get at birth?

Episode 794

Today's story: 'Birthright citizenship' is the legal concept that grants citizenship to children born within a country's borders, no matter the natio…

10 months, 3 weeks ago

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The last Blockbuster [archive episode]

Episode 355

We recently did an episode about how movie titles are translated from their original to other languages. That made us nostalgic for the days of movie…

10 months, 3 weeks ago

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How to apologize [archive episode]

Episode 402

It's sometimes said that the two hardest words to say in the English language are, "I'm sorry." Today, we're republishing a classic Plain English epi…

10 months, 4 weeks ago

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Country music is growing its mainstream appeal

Episode 793

Today's story: Country music has long existed in its own space, with a dedicated fanbase and distinct sound. But recent years have seen major pop sta…

11 months ago

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'Freestyle' chess scrambles the board

Episode 792

Today's story: A new global chess tour is trying to make the ancient game more exciting—for both players and viewers. Spearheaded by Magnus Carlsen, …

11 months ago

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Wave of needle stabbings reported in France

Episode 791

Today's story: Almost 150 people in France reported being stabbed with a needle during a summer music festival in 2025. It's just the latest in sever…

11 months, 1 week ago

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Drone video shows orcas using kelp as a tool

Episode 790

Today's story: Orcas are the largest type of dolphin, and they're known for their intelligence. A recent study proves they are more clever than previ…

11 months, 1 week ago

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