English Learning for Curious Minds

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

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The Affair of the Poisons was a scandal involving black magic, murder, and deceit at the court of King Louis XIV of France.

It all began with the discovery of a red leather trunk, and would go on to expose the desperation and moral decay behind the glitter of Versailles.

- King Louis XIV and life at the French court
- The role ...

In part one of our three-part series on "Tyrants of the Roman Empire," we'll meet Caligula, the notorious Roman emperor known for his cruelty and excess.  

Once hailed as a promising leader, Caligula's reign quickly devolved into a nightmare, filled with public executions and humiliations. 

• Caligula's chilling dinner party threat
• Caligula's background and rise to power
• Tiberius's influence on young Caligula
• Public appr...

Today it's a bonus episode from Thinking in English, with Tom Wilkinson.

You can find out more about Thinking in English at https://linktr.ee/thinkinginenglishpod

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You’re studying every day… but you feel stuck.

You forget vocabulary. You hesitate to speak. And you start to wonder… “Why am I even doing this?”

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Many English learners experience frustration, boredom, or burnout at ...

The Department of Governmental Efficiency, otherwise known as DOGE, was a radical plan to cut government waste and reduce spending.

Where did the idea come from? How did it work? And crucially, did it do what it set out to do?

• Background to DOGE: Department of Governmental Efficiency
• Controversial email to federal employees
• Elon Musk's influence and Twitter comparison
• Restructuring of USDS into DOGE
• D...

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...