بهترین پادکست های Plain English (2024)

1
Why Are Conservatives Happier Than Progressives? 55:06

11h ago55:06

55:06

It is a general rule of thumb that richer societies are happier societies. This is true across countries, as GDP and life satisfaction are highly correlated. And it is true across time. Countries get happier as they get richer. But there is a caveat to this general principle. Which is that the United States is not nearly as contented as its gross n…

1
America's South is booming (Safety net) 20:00

1d ago20:00

20:00

Today's story: The American South used to be an agricultural region, which lagged behind the rest of the country in education, income, and modernization. But that is no more, as the South is now the destination of choice for families moving within the United States. Learn this English expression: A 'safety net' is all the things that protect you fr…

1
What it's like to live in the Midwest (Fall on hard times) 21:14

5d ago21:14

21:14

Today's story: The Midwest may not have the diversity of the east or the spectacular outdoors of the west coast. But it offers a good quality of life at reasonable cost, with a diversified economy and plenty to do inside and outside. Learn this English expression: To 'fall on hard times' is to experience financial hardship Full lesson: https://plai…

1
Harsh Truths About 2024 and the Future of the U.S. Economy 52:10

5d ago52:10

52:10

On today's episode: the state of American politics and the future of America's economy. Derek discusses a media myth in the aftermath of the failed Trump assassination attempt and reviews three basic truths about Joe Biden's doomed presidential bid. Then, Chicago Fed president Austan Goolsbee joins the show to answer Derek's blunt question, "Are yo…

1
A typical American household budget (All in) 19:55

9d ago19:55

19:55

Today's story: Have you ever wondered what a typical American family budget is like? Today, you'll learn about the spending habits of the average household. You'll learn how much typical American families spend on housing, transportation, health care, entertainment, and more. Learn this English expression: 'All in' describes the total cost of an ac…

1
Typical U.S. salaries by profession (Take out) 21:26

12d ago21:26

21:26

Today's story: Have you ever wondered about the typical salary for American workers? If so, this episode is for you. Learn what people in different professions make, from lawyers and doctors to journalists and teachers. Learn this English expression: Use 'take out' to describe obtaining a loan or insurance policy Full lesson: https://plainenglish.c…

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"The Weirdest Housing Market in Recent History" 55:26

15d ago55:26

55:26

Skyrocketing rates, shrinking affordability: The U.S. housing market is a mess. It's also a bit of a mystery. Why are prices still sky-high, even though many measures of demand are weak? If the supply of new homes is nearing a historic high, how come the inventory for existing homes is close to a historic low? Today's guests agree that this is one …

1
America's best small museums (Pop culture) 19:18

16d ago19:18

19:18

Today's story: We've all heard of the largest museums. But the United States has many smaller museums, too, often focused on just one subject. From the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh to the National World War II museum in New Orleans, learn about some of the nation's best smaller museums. Learn this English expression: 'Pop culture' is the collec…

1
The best big museums in America (Make a difference) 18:59

19d ago18:59

18:59

Today's story: In this lesson, you'll learn about the nation's great art museums: the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Getty Center. You'll also explore air and space, the history of the automobile, the 9/11 attacks, and the world's biggest children's museum. Learn this English expression: To 'make a difference' is …

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"People Feel Lied To": The White House, the Media, and the Joe Biden Blame Game 58:18

21d ago58:18

58:18

Joe Biden's disastrous debate performance has created a crisis for the Democratic Party and a set of interlocking debates about whether the White House—or the White House media—covered up his cognitive decline. The Atlantic’s Mark Leibovich, who first wrote that Biden should drop out of the race two years ago, joins to discuss Biden campaign strate…

1
Is west-coast living really better? (Year-round) 21:40

23d ago21:40

21:40

Today's story: Life on the west coast really is different. The weather is pleasant, people are healthy, and Western states are often at the forefront of cultural change. It's home to Hollywood and high-tech and has some great public universities. But car culture dominates west-coast cities. Learn this English expression: Something happens 'year-rou…

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East-coast living: the pros and cons (Focus on) 20:10

26d ago20:10

20:10

Today's story: The east coast of the U.S., between Washington, D.C., and Boston, is home to about 50 million people. It has rich history, great cultural treasures, top-notch universities, and four distinct seasons. But the winters are harsh, costs can be high, and the pace of life is fast. Learn this English expression: To focus on something is to …

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Whatever Happened to Serial Killers? 44:43

29d ago44:43

44:43

In the first five decades of the 20th century, the number of serial killers in the U.S. remained at a very low level. But between the 1950s and 1960s, the number of serial killers tripled. Between the 1960s and 1970s, they tripled again. In the 1980s and 1990s, they kept rising. And then, just as suddenly as the serial killer emerged as an American…

1
Dollar stores dominate rural America (Fall out of fashion) 20:45

30d ago20:45

20:45

Today's story: Dollar stores started as a novelty, a place where consumers could hunt for amusing bargains. But now, they're a big business. Customers can buy cleaning supplies, hardware, clothes, and some food there, all for rock-bottom prices. But not everyone loves dollar stores. Learn this English expression: If something 'falls out of fashion,…

1
Bad harvests are pushing up orange juice prices (Worthwhile) 21:35

1M ago21:35

21:35

Today's story: Orange juice is the world's favorite fruit juice. But a series of bad harvests in Brazil and Florida is threatening the global supply. Now, producers are wondering whether to use lower-quality juice blends or add other citrus fruits to their orange juice. And farmers are asking whether it's worthwhile to plant new trees. Learn this E…

1
The Radical Cultural Shift Behind America's Declining Birth Rate 53:40

1M ago53:40

53:40

We've done several podcasts on America's declining fertility rate, and why South Korea has the lowest birthrate in the world. But we've never done an episode on the subject quite like this one. Today we go deep on the psychology of having children and not having children, and the cultural revolution behind the decline in birthrates in America and t…

1
Lost luggage: What happens to it? (Track down) 20:21

1M ago20:21

20:21

Today's story: Have you ever wondered what airlines do with all the lost luggage? If they can't find owners after three months, they go to auction. Here's what happens to all the lost clothes, jewelry, and electronics (and how you might get in on the action). Learn this English expression: To track something down is to find it after a long search F…

1
Flying cars: are they finally here? (Creep closer) 20:23

1M ago20:23

20:23

Today's story: Almost since the invention of the car, people have fantasized about flying cars. But it has always been a dream. Now, though, new startups are ready to start transporting passengers in drone-like flying vehicles. The biggest hurdle now is not the technology, but permission from the government. Learn this English expression: A date ca…

1
Breathing Is Easy. But We’re Doing It Wrong. 54:52

1M ago54:52

54:52

Today’s episode is about the science of breathing—from the evolution of our sinuses and palate, to the downsides of mouth breathing and the upsides of nasal breathing, to specific breath techniques that you can use to reduce stress and fall asleep fast. Our guest is James Nestor, the author of the bestselling book 'Breath: The New Science of a Lost…

1
Beethoven's hair provides clues to his hearing loss (Suffer from) 18:54

1M ago18:54

18:54

Today's story: A new analysis of Beethoven's hair has found elevated levels of lead, mercury, and arsenic. And while these don't explain the famous composer's death, they may explain some of his many ailments, including gastrointestinal issues, kidney disease, and, yes, hearing loss. Learn this English expression: Use 'suffer from' when someone exp…

1
Heat pumps: the green way to heat a home (Heat up) 20:05

2M ago20:05

20:05

Today's story: Most homes in cold-weather places have furnaces or boilers to provide heat indoors. These are effective and are relatively cheap to install, but they run on fossil fuels. A greener option is heat pumps. But like electric cars, heat pumps face barriers to wider adoption. In this lesson, learn how a heat pump works and why it might be …

1
The News Media’s Dangerous Addiction to ‘Fake Facts’ 47:54

2M ago47:54

47:54

What do most people not understand about the news media? I would say two things. First: The most important bias in news media is not left or right. It’s a bias toward negativity and catastrophe. Second: That while it would be convenient to blame the news media exclusively for this bad-news bias, the truth is that the audience is just about equally …

1
Mona Lisa background: mystery solved? (Stand up to scrutiny) 20:27

2M ago20:27

20:27

Today's story: The Mona Lisa is the most famous portrait in the world, but much is not known about it. The background shows a lake, rock formations, and a stone arch bridge, but the location has never been known definitively. Now, a geologist and art historian says she has identified the background: Lecco, near Lake Colmo in Italy. Learn this Engli…

1
Surge of dengue in Latin America (Buy up) 19:39

2M ago19:39

19:39

Today's story: Dengue fever is a tropical disease spread by mosquitoes. Though it's not deadly in the vast majority of cases, about five percent of patients require hospitalization. And cases are surging in Latin America. There have been more dengue cases in four months of 2024 than in all of 2023. Governments are trying to stop the spread, but the…

1
Microplastics Are Everywhere. How Dangerous Are They? 46:27

2M ago46:27

46:27

Plastic is a life-saving technology. Plastic medical equipment like disposable syringes and IV bags reduce deaths in hospitals. Plastic packaging keeps food fresh longer. Plastic parts in cars make cars lighter, which could make them less deadly in accidents. My bike helmet is plastic. My smoke detector is plastic. Safety gates for babies: plastic.…

1
Impressionism turns 150 (Fall into) 22:04

2M ago22:04

22:04

Today's story: Impressionism, the art movement that celebrates bright colors, thick brushstrokes, and outdoor settings, turns 150 years old this month. Though Monet, Degas, Renoir, and others are celebrated in museums and art schools around the world, their work was initially rejected by the art establishment. Learn this English expression: Use 'fa…

1
Why the New NBA Deal Is So Weird. Plus, How Sports Rights Actually Work. 48:33

2M ago48:33

48:33

In an age of cults, sports are the last gasp of the monoculture—the last remnant of the 20th century mainstream still standing. Even so, the new NBA media rights deal is astonishing. At a time when basketball ratings are in steady decline, the NBA is on the verge of signing a $70-plus billion sports rights deal that would grow its annual media righ…

1
Three big ideas from behavioral science (Stick with (someone)) 25:55

2M ago25:55

25:55

Today's story: "Behavioral science" is the field of studying how humans behave in the real world. Today, take a look at three groundbreaking findings from the career of Daniel Kahneman. First, we feel pain more intensely than we feel pleasure. Second, we make decisions using two different systems. And finally, our judgment is often far worse than w…

1
What America’s Bold New Economic Experiment Is Missing 59:29

2M ago59:29

59:29

The news media is very good at focusing on points of disagreement in our politics. Wherever Democrats and Republicans are butting heads, that's where we reliably find news coverage. When right and left disagree about trans rights, or the immigration border bill, or abortion, or January 6, or the indictments over January 6, you can bet that news cov…

1
Daniel Kahneman and behavioral economics (Pass away) 21:26

2M ago21:26

21:26

Today's story: Daniel Kahneman was a trained psychologist who became the ""grandfather of behavioral economics"" with his experiments on human behavior and decision-making. Though he never took an economics class as a student, he won the 2002 Nobel Prize for Economic Sciences for his work on how humans make decisions. He died in March at age 90. Le…

1
The Five Superstars Who Invented the Modern NBA 49:23

2M ago49:23

49:23

The game of basketball has changed dramatically in the last 40 years. In the early 1990s, Michael Jordan said that 3-point shooting was "something I don’t want to excel at," because he thought it might make him a less effective scorer. 20 years later, 3-point shots have taken over basketball. The NBA has even changed dramatically in the last decade…

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