Podcast Episodes
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Japanese workers wake up to a nap's benefits | Learn English phrasal verb 'kick in'
Episode 194
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A new trend in Japan's hard-charging, competitive office culture: reserving the nap room for a 30-minute break. Sleep cafes are opening in Tokyo an…
6 years, 7 months ago
'Downton Abbey' film picks up where series left off | Learn English phrasal verb 'shy away from'
Episode 193
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The British hit show Downton Abbey, which traces the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and the crew that serves them, has moved to the big s…
6 years, 7 months ago
Subscriptions are coming to a movie theater near you | Learn English phrase 'in the sweet spot'
Episode 192
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A company offering unlimited movies in theaters for just $10 a month has gone out of business, but the subscription model is here to stay, as large…
6 years, 7 months ago
Confronting the opioid crisis in America | Learn English phrase 'root out'
Episode 191
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Abuse of legal and illegal opioids has become a public health crisis in the United States; overdoses of opioids now kill more people than car crash…
6 years, 7 months ago
Update episode: the latest news on 5 previous topics | Learn English phrase 'thorn in your side'
Episode 190
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Today we present the latest news on five previous topics: French President Emmanuel Macron has recovered from the gilets jaunes protesters; Hong Ko…
6 years, 7 months ago
Lung illnesses from vaping | Learn English phrasal verb 'take up'
Episode 189
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Over 450 people, mostly young, have fallen ill with lung disease after using electronic cigarettes. Five have died, including a 15-year-old in New …
6 years, 7 months ago
Greenland and influence in the Arctic | Learn English phrase "float an idea"
Episode 188
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US President Donald Trump suggested he would be interested in buying the world's largest island. Although Denmark has no desire to sell Greenland, …
6 years, 7 months ago
The mustache is making a comeback | Learn English phrase 'all the rage'
Episode 187
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Don't look now, but the mustache is making a comeback. If the 1990s were about goatees and the 2000s were about beards, then the mustache is now re…
6 years, 8 months ago
FAST VERSION of Episode 186 on international money transfer
Let's speed things up a little! One key benefit of Plain English Plus+ is a faster version of every episode. Test your listening comprehension with …
6 years, 8 months ago
Why is sending money across borders so slow and expensive? | Learn English phrase 'on hand'
Episode 186
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Sending money via money-transfer agents or even large banks is slow and expensive. To make a transfer work, several banks charge fees; the process …
6 years, 8 months ago