English Learning for Curious Minds

From The Vault 🔐 — normally a member-only episode, unlocked this month for everyone.

--

It's a gripping battle of David vs. Goliath: a cattle farmer and a lawyer against DuPont, a massive chemical company. 

Discover how Rob Bilott uncovered a shocking environmental scandal, battled corporate giants, and revealed the hidden dangers of the "forever chemicals" found in non-stick pans.

• The rise of Teflon and DuPon...

Was Ross Ulbricht a visionary pioneer or a dangerous criminal?

In part one of our series on "Young American Outlaws", we explore the rise and fall of the Silk Road and how Ulbricht's life sentence, followed by a 2025 presidential pardon, sparked fierce debate over freedom, technology, and the role of government.

• Ross Ulbricht's LinkedIn clue
• The concept behind The Silk Road
• Cryptocurrency's role in an...

Ever wondered how the (podcast) sausage is made?

In this slightly "meta" episode, I reveal the step-by-step process to make an episode of English Learning for Curious Minds.

• Choosing podcast topics: interest, timelessness, and neutrality
• Avoiding controversial topics and current affairs
• Researching topics through books, articles, and data
• Writing full scripts for natural conversation flow
• Using...

Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, was shocked to read his own obituary branding him the "merchant of death."

While the story might not be entirely true, it pushed him to reconsider his legacy.

His fortune went on to establish the Nobel Prizes, honouring achievements in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and peace, ensuring his name is remembered for contributions to humanity.

• Overvi...

In part one of a three-part mini-series on the theme of citizenship and identity, we'll ask ourselves, "What makes someone Italian?"

We'll explore the topic of citizenship and identity in Italy, and see what the current laws tell us about what it means to be (or not to be) Italian.

• Definitions of jus soli and jus sanguinis
• Italy's citizenship rules and marriage eligibility
• Referendum on easing Ital...

Hannibal of Carthage, one of history's greatest military strategists, almost brought the Roman Republic to its knees.

As a boy, he swore eternal enmity against Rome, leading him to cross the Alps with his diverse army and elephants, stunning the Romans.

Despite his victories, he never managed to capture Rome, but his legacy of brilliance and determination remains.

• Hannibal's vow to hate Rome for...

Meet Mobutu Sese Seko, the man who rose from a lowly army officer to become the autocratic ruler of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Wearing his signature leopard-skin hat, Mobutu rebranded the country as Zaire and himself as a symbol of African pride.

Despite his charismatic persona and lavish lifestyle, his regime left the country impoverished, highlighting the dangers of unchecked power and corrupt...

In this episode, we'll explore the complex world of minimum wage laws, from their surprising origins in Australia and New Zealand to modern debates around their effectiveness.

Do they protect the lowest-paid workers, or do they do more damage than good?

• History of the minimum wage globally
• Early minimum wage laws in Australia and New Zealand
• Introduction of minimum wage in the UK and the US
• Argu...

In 2011, Egypt erupted in protest, toppling a 30-year regime.

What began as a grassroots movement against an autocratic leader turned into a complex struggle for democracy and power.

In this episode, we'll travel through the events that led from the hopeful dawn of revolution to the military's return to power, and see how social media and global events played pivotal roles in shaping modern Egypt.

• Egypt's conditi...

In this episode, we'll explore the eerie events of the Salem Witch Trials, a chilling tale of suspicion, fear, and injustice in 17th-century Massachusetts.  

Discover how a village turned against itself, leading to the execution of innocent people amidst accusations of witchcraft, and consider the theories behind what really happened. 

• The harsh winter of 1692 in Massachusetts 
• Puritans' fear of the devil and...

In part one of this three-part mini-series, we'll explore the captivating life of T.E. Lawrence, the British archaeologist and army officer known as "Lawrence of Arabia."  

Discover how he fought alongside Arabian tribesmen during World War I in their quest for independence, all while knowing an uncomfortable secret. 

• The early life and interests of T.E. Lawrence 
• Lawrence's work as an archaeologist in the Middle Eas...

In this episode, we'll explore the fascinating history of perfume, tracing its journey from Ancient Mesopotamia to its artistic development in France.

We'll learn how scents have evolved from practical uses to luxury items, and discover the intriguing world of “grands nez,” the master perfumers who dedicate their lives to crafting these aromatic masterpieces.

• Perfume origins: from Mesopotamia to Middl...

In this episode, we'll explore the life of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey.

Discover how he turned a fragmented resistance into a national movement, established a secular republic from imperial ruins, and why he’s still called "The Father of the Turks."

• Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's famous 36-hour speech, Nutuk
• Decline and Fall of the Ottoman Empire
• Reasons for the Ottoman Empire's decli...

In this episode of Thinking in English, host Tom Wilkinson explores the past perfect continuous tense, using the 2008 financial crisis as a case study. 

The episode covers the grammar rules and structures of the past perfect continuous tense, emphasising its usage to describe actions that started in the past, continued for some time, and were ongoing or just finished before another event. 

The lesson includes in-depth exampl...

In this episode, we'll explore the incredible story of Percy Fawcett, a daring British explorer who vanished in the Amazon rainforest while searching for the mythical city he called "Z."

Often compared to a real-life Indiana Jones, Fawcett's life was filled with adventure, mystery, and a relentless quest to prove the Amazon held secrets beyond our imagination.

• Percy Fawcett: Real-life Indiana Jones
• Fa...

A woman has a loving husband and children, and she's great at her job. So why is she sad? One day, she opens the freezer door and sees the way into another world. If she goes, she will lose her husband and children. But could she be happy there?

Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Door for the full transcript.

Level: Beginner.

Genre: Philosophical.

Vocabulary: Freeze, Freezer, Cheek, Pick at, Kid, Nightmare, Gooseberry, Cli...

In this episode, we'll explore the fascinating history of mercenaries, taking you from the era of Italian condottieri to the modern day with groups like Blackwater and Wagner.

You'll learn how these soldiers for hire have evolved, the reasons nations use or avoid them, and their impact on 21st-century warfare.

• What are mercenaries? Definition and historical context.
• Origins and role of freelance knigh...

Leap years help keep our calendars in sync with Earth's orbit, but have you ever wondered why we need them?

In this episode, we explore the history of leap years, covering early human calendars, Julius Caesar's reforms, and the adjustments introduced by Pope Gregory XIII.

• Why do we need leap years?
• Earth's orbit and the solar year explained
• How the first calendars were created
• Egyptian and Roman...

In this episode, we will explore Vladimir Putin's unlikely journey from a rat-catching streetfighter to the modern-day tsar of Russia.

We'll look at his rise to power, some of the accusations about what it took to get there, the key decisions that have defined his 25-year rule, and question how history will remember his legacy.

• Vladimir Putin's early life and rise to power
• Siege of Leningrad during Wo...