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Why your AI always thinks you're brilliant
Episode 810
Today's story: Large language models like ChatGPT are increasingly sycophantic—flattering users, validating flawed reasoning, and agreeing too easily…
10 months, 1 week ago
New discoveries from ancient Pompeii
Episode 809
Today's story: Archaeologists are excavating a never-before-studied part of Pompeii, the ancient Roman city buried by a volcanic eruption. They’ve un…
10 months, 2 weeks ago
More schools are banning cell phones
Episode 808
Today's story: A growing number of state and national education systems are banning cell phone use during the school day. Supporters say phones are d…
10 months, 2 weeks ago
Newest status symbol? Your water bottle
Episode 807
Today's story: Reusable water bottles have become a big global industry, driven by health trends, social media, and changing values around sustainabi…
10 months, 3 weeks ago
Alcaraz & Sinner: the new rivalry in men’s tennis
Episode 806
Today's story: For two decades, the Big Three—Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic—defined men’s tennis. With Federer and Nadal retired and Djokovic aging ou…
10 months, 4 weeks ago
Canada's sweetest export: maple syrup
Episode 424
In this lesson from the Plain English archives, you'll learn about one of Canada's sweetest exports: maple syrup. In 2021, there were fears of a shor…
11 months ago
⚖️ Emoji in the courtroom
Episode 608
Enjoy this episode from the Plain English archives. Emoji are everywhere, including some unlikely places...like the courtroom.
Court cases often hinge…
11 months ago
How stolen vehicles move around the world
Episode 805
Today's story: How do stolen cars move around the world? Easy. They're loaded into standard shipping containers and sent overseas using the same frei…
11 months, 1 week ago
Car theft goes global
Episode 804
Today's story: Car theft is on the rise, and it's high tech and global. Thieves in rich countries steal luxury SUVs using relay devices and other too…
11 months, 1 week ago
Women are making inroads into officiating men’s sports
Episode 803
Today's story: Umpire Jen Pawol made history as the first woman to officiate a Major League Baseball game in 150 years. Her milestone highlights the …
11 months, 2 weeks ago