English Learning for Curious Minds
352 episodes - English - Latest episode: 6 days ago - ★★★★★ - 58 ratingsAre you looking for a more interesting way to learn English?
English Learning for Curious Minds is a podcast for intermediate-advanced English learners.
Learn weird and wonderful things about the world at the same time as improving your English.
Every episode comes with an interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary and is spoken at a speed you can understand.
Join listeners from 189 countries and discover a more interesting way of improving your English.
Find the bonus episodes, interactive transcripts, subtitles, key vocabulary, and more at www.leonardoenglish.com
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Episodes
#186: William Wallace
August 19, 2021 22:00 - 23 minutes - 21.5 MBHe was the Scottish rebel who fought against the English and has become the most famous freedom fighter in Scottish history. In this episode, we'll learn all about his battles against the English, and the legacy that William Wallace left on the country. Introduction to mini-series on Scottish heroes The brutal execution of William Wallace Introduction to Scotland (as a part of the British Isles) William Wallace "the man" vs. William Wallace "the legend" The death of Alexand...
#184: Banned Books
August 12, 2021 22:00 - 26 minutes - 24.2 MBIt's often said that the pen is mightier than the sword, and throughout history there are books that have been considered too dangerous to be read. In this episode, we'll take a look at the times when governments have banned books, the reasons for this, and ask ourselves what this tells us about society. What's the link between The Bible, William Shakespeare, Harry Potter, The Quotations of Chairman Mao and Mickey Mouse? What does "banning" actually mean? Correlation between...
#182: The Crazy Life of John McAfee
August 05, 2021 22:00 - 22 minutes - 21 MBHe was an internet security pioneer, and his McAfee Antivirus software was used on hundreds of millions of computers all around the world. But privately, he lived a crazy life that ended in tragedy. In this episode, we'll learn all about the wild, wild, life of this cybersecurity legend. The early life of John McAfee Finding talent for mathematics Early vices: drink & drugs Being kicked out of his PhD programme Working in high-powered technology jobs (and developing a terr...
#180: Winston Churchill & The English Language
July 29, 2021 22:00 - 29 minutes - 27 MBHe is considered by many to be the greatest public speaker in British history, and his words and speeches were a defining force in the British war effort. In this episode, we'll learn all about how Winston Churchill used the English language to inspire a nation. Winning the 1953 Nobel Prize for literature Early obstacles to being a great orator Completing his education on his own Studying the great English orators Spending four decades as a member of parliament Churchill's...
#178: The Space Race - Part Three | The New Space Race
July 22, 2021 22:00 - 19 minutes - 17.9 MBIn 2019, former Vice President Mike Pence said "Make no mistake about it - we're in a space race today". Discover who the key players are, why there is a renewed interest in going to space, why it is now cheaper than ever before, and what the future of space exploration might look like. Enthusiasm for space post moon landing What was the next step in the first space race? Mike Pence's view on the new space race US, Russia and China The emergence of private space companies ...
#176: The Space Race - Part One | The Early Years
July 15, 2021 22:00 - 24 minutes - 22.2 MBAfter the end of the Second World War, the US and the USSR were locked in a race to get to space first. Discover how the race started, who scored all the early points, and why going to the moon first was the biggest prize in space history. End of World War II & Nazi V2 rockets The head of the USA space programme: Wernher von Braun The head of the USSR space programme: Sergei Korolev The early years of The Space Race Why there was such a desire to get to space Communism vs....
#174: 3D Printing
July 08, 2021 22:00 - 22 minutes - 20.3 MBIt's a technology that some have said will bring in a Fourth Industrial Revolution. Discover how 3D printing actually works, what industries it is revolutionising, and how it will (or won't) change every aspect of the world we live in. A brief history of the creation of objects 3D printing vs. traditional manufacturing Should we really call it "printing"? Early versions of 3D printing Patents & 3D printing Lowering of costs of 3D printing 3D printing & prototyping Recent...
#172: The Curious Taste of British Food
July 01, 2021 22:00 - 24 minutes - 22.3 MBBritish food has a bad reputation. It's often considered boring, uninspiring, and tasteless. But it hasn't always been this way. Discover what role William the Conqueror, Henry VIII, The French Revolution and Colonialism all played in making British food taste the way it does. The current reputation of British food The arrival of the Normans in 1066 Henry VIII and the Reformation Making fish taste better in Medieval England Stopping eating dangerous "Catholic" dishes The ...
#170: A Brief History of Scientology
June 24, 2021 22:00 - 27 minutes - 25.5 MBIt is, by some standards, the most successful modern religion. Discover how Scientology went from the pseudo-medical ideas of an out-of-luck science fiction writer to a religion that counts some of the world's most famous film stars among its believers. The early life of L. Ron Hubbard Discovering a talent as a science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard's naval career Moving to Los Angeles and developing a self-help system The publication of Dianetics, a book that contained "mor...
#168: The Curious History of Spice
June 17, 2021 22:00 - 19 minutes - 18 MBSpices are an integral part of almost every cuisine in the world and are something that most of us now take for granted. Yet spices used to be an incredibly valuable commodity and were the preserve of only the very richest in some societies. In this episode, we'll learn more about how they went from being the preserve of the very richest in society to something that we sprinkle on our dishes without worrying about the cost. What do we actually mean by "spice"? Is salt a spic...
#166: Theranos: When Blood Testing Goes Bad
June 10, 2021 22:00 - 23 minutes - 21.5 MBIt was a revolutionary idea: being able to conduct fast, cheap, and effective blood tests with only a tiny drop of blood. But it turned out that the company behind it was one, huge fraud. This is the fascinating story of how a Stanford dropout went from the youngest self-made female billionaire in history to facing 20 years in prison. Background of Elizabeth Holmes Problem with blood testing Dropping out of Stanford Telling a fantastic story The atmosphere inside Theranos...
#164: The Rise And Fall Of WeWork
June 03, 2021 22:00 - 22 minutes - 20.7 MBIt is the coworking company that was once valued at over $50 billion, but then came spectacularly crashing down. In this episode, we'll learn about the amazing rise and fall of the company that tried to make office space cool. The questions that WeWork gets us thinking about WeWork at its peak The founding of WeWork in 2010 Who was Adam Neumann? Who was Miguel McKelvey How WeWork as a business worked Making office space cool WeWork attracting billions of dollars in inves...
#162: The Genius of William Shakespeare
May 27, 2021 22:00 - 25 minutes - 23.8 MBHe is the most famous playwright in history and has been translated into every major living language. In this episode, you'll learn about this fantastic man's life, his works, and why he is still called "the world's greatest living playwright". An exhibition celebrating Shakespeare's 450th birthday The two most common questions people have about Shakespeare “He was not of an age, but for all time" “The words of a dead man/are modified in the guts of the living.” Shakespeare...
#160: Politics & The Olympic Games
May 20, 2021 22:00 - 25 minutes - 23.5 MBThe Olympics are meant to be a politics-free zone. But is this ever really possible? In this episode, we'll learn about the history of The Olympics, and analyse five times politics was at the heart of the games. History of The Ancient Olympics When The Olympics were banned by the Romans Revival of Olympics in 19th century Baron Pierre de Coubertin & The first modern Olympics in 1896 1936 Olympics in Berlin 1972 Olympics in Mexico City 1976 Olympics in Montreal 1980 Ol...
#158: George Orwell
May 13, 2021 22:00 - 26 minutes - 23.9 MBFor many, he is the greatest writer in the history of the English language. Outside the UK, he is known as the author of two of the most important political fiction books in history: Animal Farm & 1984. Learn about the amazing life of this fantastic man and the events that shaped his worldview. Reasons to learn about George Orwell The statue of George Orwell outside the headquarters of the BBC Orwell's honesty & genius with language The early life of George Orwell Seeing ...
#156: The Grand Tour
May 06, 2021 22:00 - 23 minutes - 21.5 MB“A man who has not been in Italy, is always conscious of an inferiority, from his not having seen what it is expected a man should see.” It was the trip of a lifetime, where young, aristocratic British men would travel across Europe and open their eyes to new worlds. Discover why these men would do this, how they travelled, what they got up to, and what it tells us about our relationship with tourism today. Reasons to learn about The Grand Tour now Who went on The Grand Tour...
#154: Las Vegas
April 29, 2021 22:00 - 20 minutes - 19 MBIt's the world's Sin City, where fortunes and made and lost. In this episode, you'll learn about the history of this unlikely city, from its early days as a desert oasis to its links with the Mafia, from eccentric entrepreneurs right through to atomic bombs. Geographic location of Las Vegas Discovering Las Vegas ("The Meadows") 1905: A sleepy railway town Construction begins on The Hoover Dam Providing entertainment for construction workers 1930s and 1940s: Bugsy Siegel a...
#152: The French Revolution
April 22, 2021 22:00 - 28 minutes - 26.1 MBIt is the most famous revolution in Europe and saw the continent's most populous country execute its monarch and restructure its society. From guillotines to out of touch queens, the French Revolution is the story of how France became the country of "liberté, égalité, and fraternité". French society before the revolution Louis XVI & Marie Antoinette Raising taxes & The Estates General The impact of Enlightenment ideas on France Being "intoxicated with liberty and enthusiasm...
#150: The Industrial Revolution
April 15, 2021 22:00 - 25 minutes - 23.8 MBIt was the period in the mid-18th century where Britain experienced a radical transformation. The Industrial Revolution saw huge improvements in manufacturing, millions of people move to the cities and the fabric of British society change forever. Evolution or Revolution? Pre-industrial life in Britain The inventions in The Industrial Revolution James Watt's Steam Engine The textile industry The canal system The productivity increases: 500 times better Changes in British...
#148: Tax
April 08, 2021 22:00 - 20 minutes - 18.9 MB"In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes" Tax might not sound interesting or exciting to most people, but it affects all of us. In this episode, we explore what paying taxes actually means, and how it affects our relationship with the government and society. And we'll do all of this through the story of two pen-pals, Arlette from Paris, France, and John from Austin, Texas. A very brief history of tax Focussing on income tax Example #1: John i...
Tax
April 08, 2021 22:00 - 20 minutes - 18.9 MB_"In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes"_ Tax might not sound interesting or exciting to most people, but it affects all of us. In this episode, we explore what paying taxes actually means, and how it affects our relationship with the government and society. And we'll do all of this through the story of two pen-pals, Arlette from Paris, France, and John from Austin, Texas. Full transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www...
#146: Diego Maradona
April 01, 2021 22:00 - 22 minutes - 20.9 MBHe is considered by many to have been the greatest footballer to have ever lived, yet off the pitch his life was full of tragedy. Learn about the fascinating history of this amazing man, and discover why he arrived in Naples as a hero and left as the most hated man in Italy. Diego vs. Maradona Early life in Buenos Aires Being spotted by a talent scout and joining Argentinos Juniors An uneasy life in Barcelona Fighting with Athletico Bilbao His surprise move to Naples Nap...
Diego Maradona
April 01, 2021 22:00 - 22 minutes - 20.9 MBHe is considered by many to have been the greatest footballer to have ever lived, yet off the pitch his life was full of tragedy. Learn about the fascinating history of this amazing man, and discover why he arrived in Naples as a hero and left as the most hated man in Italy. Full transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/maradona
#144: Whaling
March 25, 2021 23:00 - 17 minutes - 16.1 MBIt has been called the "bloodiest business in history", and cost the lives of 3 million whales. In today's episode, we take a look at the amazing history of whaling, from how it really worked to the reasons it went on for so long. History of pre-industrial whaling How pre-industrial whaling worked Whaling during the Renaissance era How whale hunting in 19th Century America worked The men who killed the whales What whale products were used for Sailing further and further a...
Whaling
March 25, 2021 23:00 - 17 minutes - 16.1 MBIt has been called the "bloodiest business in history", and cost the lives of 3 million whales. In today's episode, we take a look at the amazing history of whaling, from how it really worked to the reasons it went on for so long. Full transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/whaling
Scotland
March 19, 2021 05:20 - 17 minutes - 15.9 MBIt's one of the four countries that form part of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and has a fantastic history of invention, rivalry with its neighbour, and fierce pride. In this episode, we take a look at the fantastic history of Scotland and ask ourselves how long it will remain part of the UK. Full transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/scotland
#142: Scotland
March 19, 2021 05:20 - 17 minutes - 15.9 MBIt's one of the four countries that form part of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and has a fantastic history of invention, rivalry with its neighbour, and fierce pride. In this episode, we take a look at the fantastic history of Scotland and ask ourselves how long it will remain part of the UK. “We look to Scotland for all our ideas of civilisation.” - Voltaire “Of all the small nations of this earth, perhaps only the ancient Greeks surpass the Scots i...
#140: Cockney Rhyming Slang
March 11, 2021 23:00 - 16 minutes - 14.9 MBIt's a dialect from a small area of London's that might sound impossible to understand. In this episode, you'll learn what "apple and pears" means, what you should do if a friend asks if you want to go to the "battle", and who your "trouble and strife" might be... Example clip of Cockney Rhyming Slang How Cockney Rhyming Slang is formed Funny connections between Cockney Rhyming Slang and the meaning of words Why does Cockney Rhyming Slang exist? Theories about how Cockney R...
Cockney Rhyming Slang
March 11, 2021 23:00 - 16 minutes - 14.9 MBIt's a dialect from a small area of London's that might sound impossible to understand. In this episode, you'll learn what "apple and pears" means, what you should do if a friend asks if you want to go to the "battle", and who your "trouble and strife" might be... Full transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/cockney-rhyming-slang
#138: Disney Part III: The Magic
March 04, 2021 23:00 - 19 minutes - 17.5 MBIn the last part of our three-part series on Disney, we take a look at the magic of Disney and ask ourselves what ingredients are in its special, magic sauce. Can you really explain the 'magic' of Disney? The Hero's Journey The 5 core themes: narrative, characters, morale, humour, songs Theme #1: Narrative Theme #2: Characters Theme #3: Morale Theme #4: Humour Theme #5: Songs Bonus magic factor #1: Beautiful animation Bonus magic factor #2: Easy to internationalise Bo...
Disney Part III: The Magic
March 04, 2021 23:00 - 19 minutes - 17.5 MBIn the last part of our three-part series on Disney, we take a look at the magic of Disney and ask ourselves what ingredients are in its special, magic sauce. Full transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/disney-magic
#136: Disney Part I: The History
February 25, 2021 23:00 - 20 minutes - 18.8 MBIn the first part of our three-part series, we take a look at the fascinating history of Disney. From why Mickey Mouse isn't a rabbit through to what Walt Disney was like as a person, the history of Disney is as interesting as it is magical. Early life of Walt Disney Setting off to California The "Alice Comedies" Setting up Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio Oswald the Lucky Rabbit (and why you probably haven't heard of him) Walt Disney's first big lesson The arrival of Micke...
Disney Part I: The History
February 25, 2021 23:00 - 20 minutes - 18.8 MBIn the first part of our three-part series, we take a look at the fascinating history of Disney. From why Mickey Mouse isn't a rabbit through to what Walt Disney was like as a person, the history of Disney is as interesting as it is magical. Full transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/disney-history
A Short History of The English Language
February 19, 2021 07:34 - 19 minutes - 18.3 MBFrom a small, wet island, English has come to be the world's dominant language. How did this actually happen, where does English actually come from, and how has the language changed over the years? Full transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/history-of-english-language
#134: A Short History of The English Language
February 19, 2021 07:34 - 19 minutes - 18.3 MBFrom a small, wet island, English has come to be the world's dominant language. How did this actually happen, where does English actually come from, and how has the language changed over the years? How many people speak English Why English isn't a 'pure' language (English as a mongrel dog, and as a soup) Anglo-Saxons & "Old" English Anglo-Saxon words in English today (and why you should use them) “Short words are best, and old words when short are best of all.” Invasion b...
#132: Valentine's Day
February 11, 2021 23:00 - 18 minutes - 17.3 MBIt's the day of the year where we celebrate love and desire. But where does it actually come from? The origins of Valentine's Day are mysterious, and not even that closely related to love at all. "One of those mysterious historical or antiquarian problems which are doomed never to be solved.” Theory #1: St Valentine of Rome Theory #2: St Valentine of Terni Alternative legends of St Valentine Why is Valentine's Day on 14th February? The traditions of the Roman feast of Lup...
Valentine's Day
February 11, 2021 23:00 - 18 minutes - 17.3 MBIt's the day of the year where we celebrate love and desire. But where does it actually come from? The origins of Valentine's Day are mysterious, and not even that closely related to love at all. Full transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/valentines-day
Rose Island
February 04, 2021 23:00 - 19 minutes - 18.4 MBDiscover the story of what happened when an Italian engineer decided to build an island off the coast of Italy..and then declare it to be an independent country. Full transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/rose-island
#130: Rose Island
February 04, 2021 23:00 - 19 minutes - 18.4 MBDiscover the story of what happened when an Italian engineer decided to build an island off the coast of Italy..and then declare it to be an independent country. Giorgio Rosa - the ambitious engineer The law about who owns the sea How he built the island Declaring Rose Island to be an independent country The political situation in the 1960s Why people were worried when he declared independence The reaction of the Italian government Declaring The Republic of Minerva in The...
#128: The Art of War
January 28, 2021 23:00 - 17 minutes - 16.4 MBIt's the world's most famous book on military strategy. Learn about its fascinating history, about the lessons in the book, and discover how you can apply some ideas from this 2,500-year-old book to your English learning. What we know (and don't know) about the book Sun Tzu: military strategist and general Other authors & editors of The Art of War Being brought by Europe (and used by Napoleon?) #1 Lesson from The Art of War: Avoiding War #2 Lesson from The Art of War: Bei...
The Art of War
January 28, 2021 23:00 - 17 minutes - 16.4 MBIt's the world's most famous book on military strategy. Learn about its fascinating history, about the lessons in the book, and discover how you can apply some ideas from this 2,500-year-old book to your English learning. Full transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/art-of-war
#126: Chocolate
January 21, 2021 23:00 - 19 minutes - 18.1 MBIt's the world's favourite sweet snack, and the chocolate industry is worth over $100 billion. Discover the fantastic history of where it comes from, how it became so popular, and learn about some of the economics of chocolate production. The Theobroma Cacao tree: where it all starts Aztecs & the early years of drinking chocolate The arrival of the Spanish Conquistadors & a ‘bitter drink for pigs’ Arriving in Europe How cacao trees grow (and why it can't in Europe) The in...
Chocolate
January 21, 2021 23:00 - 19 minutes - 18.1 MBIt's the world's favourite sweet snack, and the chocolate industry is worth over $100 billion. Discover the fantastic history of where it comes from, how it became so popular, and learn about some of the economics of chocolate production. Full transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/chocolate
Oasis vs. Blur
January 14, 2021 23:00 - 17 minutes - 16.4 MBIn August 1995 Britain's two biggest bands battled for the number one position. Discover what happened, how the battle divided the nation, and why the story is about much more than just music. Full transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/oasis-vs-blur
#124: Oasis vs. Blur
January 14, 2021 23:00 - 17 minutes - 16.4 MBIn August 1995 Britain's two biggest bands battled for the number one position. Discover what happened, how the battle divided the nation, and why the story is about much more than just music. Introduction to Oasis Introduction to Blur Britpop as a reaction to American grunge music The process of selling music in the 1990s The cultural and regional differences between Blur and Oasis August 1995 and deciding to release singles on the same day Blur's Country House Oasis's Roll With I...
Bitcoin
January 07, 2021 23:00 - 21 minutes - 20 MBIt's the most famous cryptocurrency in the world, and went up in value by 269% in 2020. In this episode, we take a look at what it actually is, how it works, why some people think it is the future or money and others think it is a giant bubble. Full transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/bitcoin
#122: Bitcoin
January 07, 2021 23:00 - 21 minutes - 20 MBIt's the most famous cryptocurrency in the world, and went up in value by 269% in 2020. In this episode, we take a look at what it actually is, how it works, why some people think it is the future of money and others think it is a giant bubble. How 'traditional' money works Banks and storing money 1971 and leaving the gold standard Inflation Satoshi Nakamoto & the Bitcoin whitepaper Principles of bitcoin How bitcoin payments work How the blockchain works Bitcoin and inf...
Vespa
December 31, 2020 23:00 - 17 minutes - 16 MBIt's the iconic Italian scooter that has conquered the world. Learn about how it started, how it got its name, and why it has become such a huge, global success story. Full transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/vespa
#120: Vespa
December 31, 2020 23:00 - 17 minutes - 16 MBIt's the iconic Italian scooter that has conquered the world. Learn about how it started, how it got its name, and why it has become such a huge, global success story. “A completely Italian product, such as we have not seen since the Roman chariot” 1884 and the founding of Piaggio World War I and making aeroplanes World War II and being bombed by the Allies Rebuilding the factory and deciding to build a scooter Version 1: Donald Duck Version 2: The Vespa Designing a scoo...
9 Things That Happened on Christmas Day
December 24, 2020 23:00 - 17 minutes - 16.4 MBYou might think that nothing of historical importance ever happens on Christmas Day, but you'd be wrong. Here are 9 weird and wonderful events. The one thing they have in common? They all happened on December 25th. Full transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/9-things-happened-christmas-day