Have you ever thought about why you work 5 days a week? Or 8 hours a day? Why are weekends only two days long? Research suggests that there could be real benefits to reducing employees working hours and shortening the working week. This episode is going to look at the history of working hours, and then discuss whether it would be better for everyone if our w ... Show More
Mar 23
380. What is Poverty? (English Vocabulary Lesson)
What does poverty really mean? When we hear the word poverty, I think many of us imagine extreme situations, like homelessness, starvation, or people living in very poor conditions. But poverty is far more complex, and far more widespread, than we often realise. According to the ... Show More
24m 22s
Mar 16
379. Do You Know How to Ask Great Questions?
Do you know how to ask great questions? A few years ago, back in 2022, I released an episode called How to Ask Better Questions in English. And today’s episode is an update to that original one. The core idea is the same, because it’s still important, but a lot has changed since ... Show More
25m 22s
Mar 9
378. Moving to the UK?: UK’s New Immigration Policies Explained! (English Vocabulary Lesson)
Is it becoming harder to move to a new country? Everywhere seems to be tightening the rules. Canada, the US, Australia, Europe, Japan, the UK. Countries that once focused on attracting people are now focused on control, limits, and conditions. And these changes are happening fast ... Show More
26m 43s
Sep 2025
OVERTIME - Business English vocabulary lesson about working extra hours
Send us Fan MailDeciding whether to work overtime is often a challenging decision to make, and speaking in English about it can make it harder! Today let's talk about overtime, the vocabulary that we can use to discuss it, how we get paid for overtime, and the phrases and grammar ... Show More
23m 4s
Oct 2025
A Practical Way to Fight for a Brighter Financial Future—Together
I sat down with assistant professor of labor studies and author of We Are the Union, Eric Blanc, to discuss: the euphoria and struggle of movement-building as a response to hopelessness, how mid-century suburban development undermined labor power, and why understanding (and wield ... Show More
1h 34m
Oct 2025
Work in the future: What is wellbeing at work?
Work can take up many hours in our lives. So if work makes us feel unwell or unhappy, it can have a big impact. In this episode, Phil and Pippa talk about how the way you feel affects the way you work, with Zofia Bajorek from the institute for Employment Studies.TRY THE READING R ... Show More
11m 46s
Mar 2025
810 - Seven Phrases With Like
Recently, I’ve been working a lot of long days. Yesterday was no exception. I was so tired when I got home last night, I was out like a light. Then this morning one of my buddies asked me if I wanted to do some freelance work for him. I appreciate the offer, but right now, I need ... Show More
9m 34s