Những podcast Plain English hay nhất (2025)

1
The ethics of self-driving cars 20:19

1d ago20:19

20:19

Today's story: Self-driving cars don’t just need advanced technology—they also need a moral code. Engineers must program vehicles to make ethical decisions in life-or-death situations, such as choosing between protecting a passenger or a pedestrian. But how can a machine's software make such personal decisions? Transcript & Exercises: https://plain…

1
Plain History: The Gilded Age 1:01:26

1d ago1:01:26

1:01:26

Corruption. Class wars. Technological splendor. The dawn of a new age of business and government. Rockefeller and Carnegie. The Gilded Age in America—roughly the 1870s through the early 1900s—was one of the most fascinating and misunderstood eras in our history. It seems like every week, news organizations claim that the U.S. is in a new Gilded Age…

1
The self-driving future is running late 20:20

5d ago20:20

20:20

Today's story: Self-driving cars were supposed to be here by now—but the road to autonomy has been bumpier than expected. The technology has gotten better, but the sensors and cameras remain imperfect. Meanwhile, uncertainties in the business and legal environment have contributed to the delays. Some companies have scaled back their ambitions, whil…

1
James Bond’s future is now in Amazon’s hands 17:48

8d ago17:48

17:48

Today's story: Amazon has taken full creative control of James Bond, ending six decades of stewardship by the family of film producer Albert Broccoli. Previously, the family carefully managed the creative direction of the Bond franchise, even as big studios produced the movies. Now, Amazon may make more frequent films, expand Bond storylines, and p…

1
ABUNDANCE! With Ezra Klein 1:21:40

8d ago1:21:40

1:21:40

Donald Trump is serving up a scarcity agenda to America. He and the White House say we don’t have an economy that works, so we might just need to accept a period of economic hardship. They say America cannot afford its debt, and therefore we cannot afford health care for the poor. They say America doesn’t have enough manufacturing, so we have to ac…

1
The decline of the stick-shift in North America 15:34

12d ago15:34

15:34

Today's story: Manual transmissions were once a cheaper, more fuel-efficient alternative to automatics. But automatics have gotten better, and consumers overwhelmingly prefer them. Now, only about 1% of new cars in the U.S. and Canada come with a stick shift. Those who prefer to shift their own gears must pay up for a higher trim line or a performa…

1
How Gen Z Sees the World 59:31

13d ago59:31

59:31

Generation Z, which was born between the late 1990s and the early 2010s, has a unique economic, political, and cultural identity. In the 2024 election, Gen Z shifted strongly to the right. They are less likely than any previous generation to expect they’ll achieve the American Dream. Most of Gen Z graduated into a pandemic economy or entered high s…

1
LA battles mudslides after devastating wildfires 14:18

15d ago14:18

14:18

Today's story: Los Angeles is facing the aftermath of both devastating wildfires and destructive mudslides. The fires burned vegetation that helped keep soil in place, leading to landslides when heavy rains arrived. Now, the city is dealing with cleanup while also rethinking building codes, infrastructure, and planning to better withstand future di…

1
Can a Vaccine Cure the World’s Deadliest Cancer? 49:43

18d ago49:43

49:43

Cancer is not a singular disease but a category of hundreds, even thousands, of rare diseases with different molecular signatures and genetic roots. Cancer scientists are looking for a thousand perfect keys to pick a thousand stubborn locks. Today's episode is about the hardest lock of them all: pancreatic cancer. Cancer’s power lives in its camouf…

1
The fires that wiped through Los Angeles 14:09

19d ago14:09

14:09

Today's story: Los Angeles faces wildfire risks every year due to its dry summers, drought-resistant vegetation, and the powerful Santa Ana winds. This year, however, was one of the worst in history. A series of devastating fires destroyed thousands of buildings, forced mass evacuations, and left entire neighborhoods in ashes. Transcript & Exercise…

1
How AI Could Change the Future of Music 59:41

21d ago59:41

59:41

Artificial intelligence tools for musicians are getting eerily good, very fast. Their work can be maddening, funny, ethically dubious, and downright fascinating all at the same time. TV and podcast composer Mark Henry Phillips joins to describe his experience working with them. We talk about the job of modern music composition; why he's worried AI …

1
The remote-work battle rages on 16:27

22d ago16:27

16:27

Today's story: Five years after the pandemic began, the fight over remote work still isn’t settled. Some companies are demanding full-time office attendance, using badge swipes and tracking software to enforce it. Others are trying to lure workers back with perks. Meanwhile, employees are pushing for more flexibility. Transcript & Exercises: https:…

1
The End of Reading 1:01:57

25d ago1:01:57

1:01:57

Something alarming is happening with reading in America. Leisure reading by some accounts has declined by about 50 percent this century. Literacy scores are declining for fourth and eighth graders at alarming rates. And even college students today are complaining to teachers that they can’t read entire books. The book itself, that ancient piece of …

1
These contractions break the rules 13:19

26d ago13:19

13:19

Today's story: Most contractions in English are simple combinations of two words, like “you’re” for “you are.” But some contractions don’t follow the usual pattern. In this lesson, we explore three unusual contractions—“ma’am,” “o’clock,” and “ain’t”—their origins, meanings, and when (or if) you should use them. Transcript & Exercises: https://plai…

1
'How Progressives Froze the American Dream' (Live) 56:39

28d ago56:39

56:39

If you had to describe the U.S. economy at the moment, I think you could do worse than the word stuck. The labor market is stuck. The low unemployment rate disguises how surprisingly hard it is to find a job today. The hiring rate has declined consistently since 2022, and it's now closer to its lowest level of the 21st century than the highest. We’…

1
The secret to a perfectly boiled egg 13:02

29d ago13:02

13:02

Today's story: Scientists have discovered the ideal way to boil an egg, ensuring a perfectly firm white and a soft, nutrient-rich yolk. The secret? Alternating the egg between boiling and warm water for 32 minutes. This method preserves nutrients and improves texture—but it requires patience and precision. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainengli…

1
Plain History: The Astonishingly Successful Presidency of James K. Polk 1:05:02

1M ago1:05:02

1:05:02

Who is the most successful president in American history? George Washington secured American independence. Abraham Lincoln preserved the union and ended slavery. Franklin D. Roosevelt ended the Depression, remade government, and won World War II. But if we define "success" as the ability to articulate your goals and achieve every single one of them…

1
How to survive extreme cold temperatures 14:46

1M ago14:46

14:46

Today's story: Whether you live in cold weather, plan to visit, or are just curious, it's important to know how to protect yourself from extreme cold. Learn how to layer properly, choose the right gear, and protect yourself from frostbite and hypothermia. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/751 Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/751…

1
The Trump-Musk Doctrine: F-ck Around and Find Out 1:03:49

1M ago1:03:49

1:03:49

For the past month, chaos and confusion have gripped Washington and the federal government. Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, have served as an iron fist of the Trump administration—ransacking government agencies, lighting fires in various departments, and generally firing as many people as they can get away with. Much…

1
English words borrowed from French 16:27

1M ago16:27

16:27

Today's story: Many English words come from French, but some, like fiancé, façade, and résumé, keep their original spellings, accents, and even gendered forms. To make things even more confusing, some of these words don't mean the same thing in French and English. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/750 -- Upgrade all your skills in En…

1
Is There a Scientific Case for Believing in God? 1:08:51

1M ago1:08:51

1:08:51

This is a conversation I've wanted to have for a long time. It's about the decline of religion in America, the value of faith, the case for belief, and the rational reasons to believe in God. My guest is the New York Times columnist Ross Douthat. He is a Catholic conservative. From an identity checkbox standpoint, we are very different people. But …

1
Notre Dame reopens after six years of restoration 13:25

1M ago13:25

13:25

Today's story: Paris's Notre Dame Cathedral was nearly destroyed in a devastating fire in 2019. In the years since, thousands of artisans and specialists worked to restore the 850-year-old cathedral. The roof was rebuilt using oak from French forests. The massive pipe organ was disassembled, cleaned, and reassembled. The limestone exterior was pres…

1
Fraud, Scandal, and Failure in the Fight Against Alzheimer's Disease 57:00

1M ago57:00

57:00

Why is it so hard to find a cure for Alzheimer’s? A simple answer is that the brain and its disorders are complicated. But as today’s guest, Charles Piller, writes, there’s another, more sinister factor at play. His new book, 'Doctored,' traces an incredible, true story of fraud, arrogance, and tragedy in the quest to cure Alzheimer’s. In the last …

1
'SNL' celebrates 50 years of late-night comedy 14:26

1M ago14:26

14:26

Today's story: Saturday Night Live, or SNL, is a late-night comedy show that mixes short sketches, parodies, and music. The sketches poke fun at everyday situations, celebrities, products, and current events. What makes it special is that it's written quickly each week and performed live before a studio audience. This year, it celebrates its fiftie…

1
The Energy Story of the Moment: The Unstoppable Rise of Solar Vs. the Unmovable Demand for Global Fossil Fuels 1:12:27

2M ago1:12:27

1:12:27

Fans of green energy like me face some inconvenient truths about the global energy picture. First, coal sounds like a dirty technology that the rich world is moving on from. But nearly 9 billion tons of coal were burned last year—an all-time high. Second, "peak oil" is a prediction that many analysts have thrown around in the past few years, but oi…

1
Latin phrases that are part of English 18:14

2M ago18:14

18:14

Today's story: English isn’t descended from Latin, but some Latin phrases have made their way into everyday use. This lesson explores eight Latin phrases, such as ""circa,"" ""quid pro quo,"" and ""status quo,"" that are still used in English today, plus some fun facts about Latin's influence on other fields. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainen…

1
The 5 Types of Wealth 1:03:19

2M ago1:03:19

1:03:19

Wealth isn’t just about financial security, according to today’s guest, Sahil Bloom. It’s about time wealth (the freedom to control our own schedules), social wealth (deep relationships with family and friends), mental wealth (the space to think clearly about the most important questions in life), and physical wealth (health and vitality). Bloom’s …

1
The slow decline of neon signs 15:02

2M ago15:02

15:02

Today's story: Neon signs have lit up city streets for about a century. But building owners are increasingly swapping hand-blown neon tubes for sleek LED bulbs. The new bulbs are cheaper, easier to maintain, and more energy-efficient. But the old neon signs are a nostalgic part of urban history. What will cities be like without them? Transcript & E…

1
Are GLP-1 Drugs "the Greatest Medical Breakthrough of the 21st Century"? 1:04:13

2M ago1:04:13

1:04:13

In the past few years, we've learned that GLP-1 drugs don’t just help with diabetes or increase people’s feelings of fullness to help them lose weight. They have broad effects on substance abuse and behavior. They even seem to help with otherwise incurable illnesses, like Alzheimer's and schizophrenia. This month, a team of scientists studying 2 mi…

1
Britain debates: Should assisted dying be legal? 16:39

2M ago16:39

16:39

Today's story: The British Parliament recently voted to advance a bill that would legalize medically-assisted dying in England and Wales. Supporters argue that those with terminal illnesses should have the right to avoid suffering at the very end of their lives. Opponents are concerned about social pressure, a slippery slope, and the role of doctor…

1
Why all-night parties are fading worldwide 12:47

2M ago12:47

12:47

"Today's story: Nightclubs around the world are closing their doors earlier than ever before, and some of the world's biggest party hotspots are hosting fewer all-night parties. Club owners and party organizers face tighter regulations and higher costs. But the real culprit is simply that this generation of young people is less interested in club c…

1
Tech Talk: AI Supremacy, TikTok’s Fate, and Crypto Decadence 1:04:17

2M ago1:04:17

1:04:17

Today, tech talk with an old friend of the pod, Kevin Roose of The New York Times, who is also host of the 'Hard Fork' podcast. This is a show about everything. And it’s going to remain a show about everything because I’m a little bit interested in everything. But one cost of that purposeful lack of narrow focus is that sometimes you fail to commun…

1
The tradition of Girl Scout cookies in the U.S. 12:13

2M ago12:13

12:13

Today's story: Every winter, Girl Scouts and their parents fan out across schools, offices, and community events, soliciting orders for cookies. Customers have just one chance per year to satisfy their cravings for Thin Mints, Do-Si-Dos, and Samoas. But it’s not just the customers who benefit—the girls learn skills like sales, planning, and custome…

Podcast đáng để nghe

Podcast Plain English

Podcast đáng để nghe

Hướng dẫn sử dụng nhanh