English Learning for Curious Minds

 In the 18th century, a small region of southwest England was the national centre for the illegal importing of goods such as tea and rum.In this episode, we'll discover how smuggling really worked, who was involved, and why it was so successful for such a long period of time.Cornwall todayCornwall's relationship with LondonThe Cornish identityBritain in the 18th centuryThe reason that import taxes were so highWhy Cornwall was such a centre for smugglingHow smuggling worked in practical termsWhy smuggling was so tolerated by the local populationHonest vs. dishonest smugglersThe strange English law about what you could do to goods found on a shipwreckJohn Carter: the "King of Prussia"How big a problem was smuggling in Britain?The end of smuggling in BritainThe legacy of Cornish smugglers todayFull interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/cornish-smugglers ---You might like:🔓 Unlock bonus episodes, interactive transcripts, subtitles & vocabulary lists✨ 5 Powerful Tips for Learning English with Podcasts (Faster & Effectively!) [YouTube]📹 A look inside Leonardo English membership 📧 Join our FREE weekly newsletter---Keywords: Learn English, vocabulary, lessons, idioms, aprende inglés, idiomas, aprender inglês, apprendre l'anglais, imparare l’inglese, ingilizce öğren,英語を習う, تعلم الإنجليزية

 He was the Romantic poet famously described as "mad, bad, and dangerous to know".In this episode, we'll learn about his scandalous life, how he shocked the nation so badly he had to leave, and how England's first "rock star poet" became a national hero in Greece.The early life of Lord ByronHis time at Harrow schoolGoing to Cambridge University, sleeping around, and keeping a bear as a petHis first poetic scandalEmbarking on The Grand Tour and discovering Europe's more relaxed attitudeChilde Harold’s Pilgrimage and returning to England a heroReturning to England and becoming a hero overnightHis affairs and sexual exploits in EnglandHis relationship with Augusta, his half-sisterGetting married and being a father to Ada (Lovelace)Running away to EuropeA dark, moody summer writing Gothic horror with Percy and Mary ShelleyHis exploits in VeniceFinding some order to life with Countess Teresa GuiccioliMoving to Greece and becoming caught up with Greek independenceHis early death aged 36The legacy of Lord ByronFull interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/byron ---You might like:🔓 Unlock bonus episodes, interactive transcripts, subtitles & vocabulary lists✨ 5 Powerful Tips for Learning English with Podcasts (Faster & Effectively!) [YouTube]📹 A look inside Leonardo English membership 📧 Join our FREE weekly newsletter---Keywords: Learn English, vocabulary, lessons, idioms, aprende inglés, idiomas, aprender inglês, apprendre l'anglais, imparare l’inglese, ingilizce öğren,英語を習う, تعلم الإنجليزية

 In September 1939, the British government embarked on the biggest civilian operation in British history when it moved over a million children out of British cities to live with strangers in the countryside.In this episode, we'll learn about this amazing mission and the mark it left on the country.September 1st, 1939 - the start of Operation Pied PiperWhy children were sent away before the first bomb had even fallenWhich cities were affected by evacuation?Dividing the country into three separate zones for evacuationWhy it was called Operation Pied PiperWho was actually evacuated?Sending gold to Canada and paintings to WalesHow the children were chosen to stay with host familiesHow urban children reacted to countryside lifeWhy the children returned after a few months of "the phoney war"Government propaganda: "Don't Do It, Mother. Leave the Children Where They Are"The Blitz starts and the children return to the countrysideThe mixed reaction of the evacuated childrenPsychological effects on evacuated childrenThe mark Operation Pied Piper left on the countryFull interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/operation-pied-piper ---You might like:🔓 Unlock bonus episodes, interactive transcripts, subtitles & vocabulary lists✨ 5 Powerful Tips for Learning English with Podcasts (Faster & Effectively!) [YouTube]📹 A look inside Leonardo English membership 📧 Join our FREE weekly newsletter---Keywords: Learn English, vocabulary, lessons, idioms, aprende inglés, idiomas, aprender inglês, apprendre l'anglais, imparare l’inglese, ingilizce öğren,英語を習う, تعلم الإنجليزية

 From a young age, he believed he was destined for greatness, and he became the UK's prime minister at the age of 55.Discover how Boris Johnson's rise to power was unusual and full of contradictions, and how his fall was entirely predictable.Similarities between Donald Trump & Boris JohnsonThe early life of Boris JohnsonA clever-but-lazy studentHis early career as a journalistGetting sacked for inventing quotesBreaking into politicsMaking lots of money (but never enough)His romantic life (what we know of it)Presenting TV programmes and being in the public eyeBecoming Mayor of LondonBoris Johnson's attention to detailThe decision to support BrexitFinally becoming Prime Minister of the UKWhy Boris Johnson was so popularBoris Johnson's government during COVID"Partygate" and the ongoing fall of Boris Johnson“Nothing matters very much and most things don’t matter at all” The character of Boris JohnsonFull interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/rise-and-fall-boris-johnson ---You might like:🔓 Unlock bonus episodes, interactive transcripts, subtitles & vocabulary lists✨ 5 Powerful Tips for Learning English with Podcasts (Faster & Effectively!) [YouTube]📹 A look inside Leonardo English membership 📧 Join our FREE weekly newsletter---Keywords: Learn English, vocabulary, lessons, idioms, aprende inglés, idiomas, aprender inglês, apprendre l'anglais, imparare l’inglese, ingilizce öğren,英語を習う, تعلم الإنجليزية

 It's the second most popular drink in the world after water, with 3.7 billion cups drunk every single day.In this episode, we explore tea's fascinating history, how it changed global politics, caused countries to go to war with each other, and literally changed the world.How much tea do we really drink every year?Myths about the discovery of teaEarly tea consumption in East AsiaTea first being brought to Northern EuropeCatherine of Braganza: the woman who brought tea to BritainTea and The East India CompanyThe Brits adding sugar to teaBritain struggling to find a product to exchange with China for teaFlooding China with opiumThe Opium WarsSending spies deep into China to discover how tea was madeTea cultivation in British coloniesCurious tea fact #1: The three different word groups for "tea" (and what they tell us)Curious tea fact #2: The invention of the teabag Curious tea fact #3: How to make the perfect cup of tea (advice from an expert)Full interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/history-of-tea ---You might like:🔓 Unlock bonus episodes, interactive transcripts, subtitles & vocabulary lists✨ 5 Powerful Tips for Learning English with Podcasts (Faster & Effectively!) [YouTube]📹 A look inside Leonardo English membership 📧 Join our FREE weekly newsletter---Keywords: Learn English, vocabulary, lessons, idioms, aprende inglés, idiomas, aprender inglês, apprendre l'anglais, imparare l’inglese, ingilizce öğren,英語を習う, تعلم الإنجليزية

 Learn how to actually use podcasts to improve your English listening, vocabulary, speaking, and even writing.This is a special episode packed full of tips & tricks to help you use podcasts in a more effective way.What most people do when listening to podcasts to learn a languageListening tip #1: How to become a more attentive listenerListening tip #2: Listening out for word/phrase useListening tip #3: Listening out for sounds of EnglishPodcast superpowers: how to use them as a learning exerciseVocabulary tip #1: How to go from passive to active vocabularySpeaking tip #1: Recording yourself, techniques to do so (and why this works)Speaking tip #2: Shadowing (and why this works)(Bonus) Speaking tip #3: Simultaneous translation (warning: advanced)Writing tip #1: Summaries & reflectionsThe importance of writing in English as a way to clarify thoughtsFull interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/how-to-use-podcasts-improve-english ---You might like:🔓 Unlock bonus episodes, interactive transcripts, subtitles & vocabulary lists✨ 5 Powerful Tips for Learning English with Podcasts (Faster & Effectively!) [YouTube]📹 A look inside Leonardo English membership 📧 Join our FREE weekly newsletter---Keywords: Learn English, vocabulary, lessons, idioms, aprende inglés, idiomas, aprender inglês, apprendre l'anglais, imparare l’inglese, ingilizce öğren,英語を習う, تعلم الإنجليزية

 On February 6th, the 95-year-old Queen Elizabeth will celebrate her 70th anniversary of being the queen of the United Kingdom.In this episode, we’ll ask ourselves what happens next, how will the next king be different, and what the future holds for the British Royal Family.The British royal family as a family businessPractical question: who will the next monarch be?The popularity of Queen Elizabeth IIThe problems ahead for Prince CharlesThe public perception of Prince CharlesWhy the British royal family will reduce in sizeThe Prince Andrew scandalHow might Prince ("King") Charles deal with Prince William?Prince William & Princess Kate: the future of the British monarchy?Allowing more access to the British royal familyRelationship between the British monarchy and the British parliamentThe successes of Queen Elizabeth IICharles I vs. Charles II vs. Charles IIIFull interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/future-british-monarchy ---You might like:🔓 Unlock bonus episodes, interactive transcripts, subtitles & vocabulary lists✨ 5 Powerful Tips for Learning English with Podcasts (Faster & Effectively!) [YouTube]📹 A look inside Leonardo English membership 📧 Join our FREE weekly newsletter---Keywords: Learn English, vocabulary, lessons, idioms, aprende inglés, idiomas, aprender inglês, apprendre l'anglais, imparare l’inglese, ingilizce öğren,英語を習う, تعلم الإنجليزية

 In the 17th century, Britain decided to kill its king and experiment with life without a monarch.In this episode we'll learn about the English Civil War, the 11 years the country spent without a monarch, why the monarchy was eventually restored, and the impact this had on the country.The background to the English Civil WarsThe Divine Right of KingsThe errors of judgment of Charles IDissolving Parliament in 1629Religious divisions in Great BritainTrust breaking down between the King and ParliamentCivil War breaks outThe nature of The First English Civil WarThe rise of Oliver CromwellThe trial and execution of King Charles IThe second and third English Civil WarsThe InterregnumThe death of Oliver Cromwell and the return of Charles II to the throneWhat was life like when Britain didn't have a kingThe influence of "life without a king" on the countryThe legacy of Oliver CromwellHow to punish a man who had already diedFull interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/britain-killed-its-king ---You might like:🔓 Unlock bonus episodes, interactive transcripts, subtitles & vocabulary lists✨ 5 Powerful Tips for Learning English with Podcasts (Faster & Effectively!) [YouTube]📹 A look inside Leonardo English membership 📧 Join our FREE weekly newsletter---Keywords: Learn English, vocabulary, lessons, idioms, aprende inglés, idiomas, aprender inglês, apprendre l'anglais, imparare l’inglese, ingilizce öğren,英語を習う, تعلم الإنجليزية

 Over the past twenty years, over half a million Americans have died of opioid overdoses.In this episode, we'll explore how this happened, who is responsible, and ask ourselves whether the USA will ever be able to kick its addiction to prescription opioids. Origin of "opioid"Opioid overdoses in the US vs Western EuropeWhat caused the boom in opioid use in the United States?Morphine & heroin during the American Civil WarThe arrival of OxyContinPurdue Pharma sales representatives' tactics to sell the drug to doctorsIncreasing the doses for patientsThe "less than 1% of patients become addicted" claimPeople start abusing the drugSenior executives are aware but do nothingThe cycle of addiction that doctors sawMoving onto heroin & fentanylWhy fentanyl is so powerful and dangerousWho has been held responsible for the opioid crisis?The Sackler Family (and its quest for immunity)Opioid prescriptions are down, but overdoses are upIs a solution for the opioid crisis possible?Full interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/opioid-crisis ---You might like:🔓 Unlock bonus episodes, interactive transcripts, subtitles & vocabulary lists✨ 5 Powerful Tips for Learning English with Podcasts (Faster & Effectively!) [YouTube]📹 A look inside Leonardo English membership 📧 Join our FREE weekly newsletter---Keywords: Learn English, vocabulary, lessons, idioms, aprende inglés, idiomas, aprender inglês, apprendre l'anglais, imparare l’inglese, ingilizce öğren,英語を習う, تعلم الإنجليزية

 He was told by countless people that he would never make it as a star, yet by his mid-20s he was the most successful musician in the world.In this episode, we'll learn about how Elvis Presley defied all his critics, became the biggest star of the 1960s, created the category of rock and roll but then lost the battle with his personal demons.The USA that Elvis Presley was born intoBeing given his third choice of birthday present: a guitarComing fifth place in a singing competitionMoving to Memphis and developing his own styleRecording his first song at the studio of Sun RecordsFailing to achieve success and being told to continue driving a truckHis first hit: "That's All Right"The musical style of Elvis PresleyHis first tour in 1954, aged only 19Thrusting his hips and causing controversyLetter to the FBI: "Presley is a definite danger to the security of the United States"Meeting Colonel Tom Parker, his exploitative managerGoing on the Ed Sullivan showHow much of his own music did Elvis actually write?Trying to make it as a Hollywood starJoining the armyMeeting the 14-year old Priscilla BeaulieuDiscovering prescription drugsReturning to music after a 7-year breakThe Elvis comebackThe Las Vegas years & a changed imageHis marriage breaking upHis two addictions: prescription drugs & fast foodHis love for "Fool's Gold"How he died, and how it was covered up by his familyThe rise of the Elvis impersonatorThe legacy of Elvis PresleyFull interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/elvis-presley ---You might like:🔓 Unlock bonus episodes, interactive transcripts, subtitles & vocabulary lists✨ 5 Powerful Tips for Learning English with Podcasts (Faster & Effectively!) [YouTube]📹 A look inside Leonardo English membership 📧 Join our FREE weekly newsletter---Keywords: Learn English, vocabulary, lessons, idioms, aprende inglés, idiomas, aprender inglês, apprendre l'anglais, imparare l’inglese, ingilizce öğren,英語を習う, تعلم الإنجليزية