Apr 9
#604 | Otto Warmbier: The American Tourist Who Never Came Home
In 2016, a 21-year-old American student was arrested in North Korea after allegedly stealing a political poster. Weeks later, he appeared in a strange public confession and was sentenced to fifteen years of hard labour. Seventeen months on, he returned home in a coma, raising dis ... Show More
25m 55s
Apr 2
[From The Vault 🔐] Flight 571: Survival in the Andes
From The Vault 🔐 — normally a member-only episode, unlocked this month for everyone.--In 1972, a plane carrying a Uruguayan rugby team crashed high in the Andes. Stranded in freezing mountains, the young survivors faced hunger, avalanches, and a terrible moral choice. It would b ... Show More
23m 58s
Mar 26
#602 | AI & Learning English in 2026
Ever since ChatGPT was released, people have declared the "death of language learning". It still hasn't happened. Today, we'll look at how AI can help with reading, writing, listening, and speaking in 2026, and where it still falls short. Can AI really make you fluent at English ... Show More
26m 28s
Feb 2023
Legacy of Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand's prime minister | Learn English expression 'overstay your welcome'
" Jacinda Ardern became prime minister of New Zealand at age 37; she was the world's youngest female country leader. Her COVID policies were harsh, but effective, and she won high approval from New Zealanders. But after five years in office, she resigned, letting another minister ... Show More
25m 55s
Jul 2023
Pat Sajak's last spin on 'Wheel of Fortune' | Learn English phrasal verb 'slip up'
" ""Wheel of Fortune"" is a game show staple in the kitchens of American homes. Three contestants compete to solve word puzzle games, as millions of Americans play along at home. For the last 40 years, Pat Sajak has been the upbeat host of the show, but he'll retire next year. Pl ... Show More
20m 39s
Jul 2021
Inside the #FreeBritney movement | Learn the English expression ‘raise awareness’
" When Britney Spears was 26, she had just gone through a series of personal meltdowns. As a result, her father was legally appointed as her financial and personal conservator, meaning he has full control of her life and finances. But thirteen years later, Britney – and a movemen ... Show More
21m 41s
Nov 2022
Netflix's newest hit: a true crime series about a serial killer | Learn English expression 'take liberties'
" In the ultra-competitive world of streaming, Netflix has found a worldwide hit: its series called ""Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story."" In ten parts, the series tells the story of one of America's most notorious serial killers. While the facts of the story have been known for ... Show More
19m 27s
Oct 2022
BBC turns 100 this month | Learn what it means for people to 'band together'
" The British Broadcasting Corporation turns 100 years old this month. The BBC started as a way for radio makers to convince people to buy a ""wireless."" Today, it supplies news, entertainment, and education to hundreds of millions of people every week. -- At Plain English, we m ... Show More
22m 19s
Nov 2022
Ethics of making (and watching) true crime | Learn English expression 'go about your business'
" From ""Monster"" to ""Making of a Murderer,"" true crime has never been as popular as it is now. Many of these, though, are fictionalized, meaning the dialogue and details are invented to fit the overall story. Producers of these have a responsibility to the truth, but so do th ... Show More
24m 18s
A lot has happened in 2022.
In this episode, we look at some of the most unusual British news stories of the year, including footballer's wives, the crime of treason, and the shifting demographics of the United Kingdom.
Full transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/unusual-british-news-202 ... Show More
