English Learning for Curious Minds

 It's the world's favourite sweet snack, and the chocolate industry is worth over $100 billion.Discover the fantastic history of where it comes from, how it became so popular, and learn about some of the economics of chocolate production. The Theobroma Cacao tree: where it all startsAztecs & the early years of drinking chocolateThe arrival of the Spanish Conquistadors & a ‘bitter drink for pigs’Arriving in EuropeHow cacao trees grow (and why it can't in Europe)The invention of the cacao pressThe golden era of chocolateThe industrialisation of the chocolate processChocolate manufacturing & povertyCacao trading & buying futuresChocfinger: the man who cornered the world cacao marketFull interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/chocolate ---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 most famous cryptocurrency in the world, and went up in value by 269% in 2020.In this episode, we take a look at what it actually is, how it works, why some people think it is the future of money and others think it is a giant bubble.How 'traditional' money worksBanks and storing money1971 and leaving the gold standardInflationSatoshi Nakamoto & the Bitcoin whitepaperPrinciples of bitcoinHow bitcoin payments workHow the blockchain worksBitcoin and inflationWhy the bitcoin price goes up and downBuying things with bitcoinThe first pizzas bought with bitcoinWhy people don't like bitcoinThe US Federal Reserve & bitcoinFull interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/bitcoin ---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 iconic Italian scooter that has conquered the world.Learn about how it started, how it got its name, and why it has become such a huge, global success story.“A completely Italian product, such as we have not seen since the Roman chariot”1884 and the founding of PiaggioWorld War I and making aeroplanesWorld War II and being bombed by the AlliesRebuilding the factory and deciding to build a scooterVersion 1: Donald DuckVersion 2: The VespaDesigning a scooter from the ground upSelling 1 million scooters by 1956Vespa and HollywoodVespa as an aspirational symbolVespas in the UK: Mods vs. RockersVespa in Italy todayWeird records in a VespaFull interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/vespa ---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

 You might think that nothing of historical importance ever happens on Christmas Day, but you'd be wrong.Here are 9 weird and wonderful events.The one thing they have in common? They all happened on December 25th.Jesus of Nazareth - born on December 25th?Event #1 - Crowing of Charlemagne as Holy Roman EmperorEvent #2 - Coronation of William the Conqueror as King of EnglandEvent #3 - Discovery of Celcius as a measure of temperatureEvent #4 - Andrew Johnson pardoning Confederate soldiersEvent #5 - The ceasefire of World War IEvent #6 - The Apollo 8 space shuttle leaves Earth's orbitEvent #7 - The execution of Ceaușescu Event #8 - The first live testing of the World Wide WebEvent #9 - The resignation of Mikhael GorbachevFull interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/9-things-happened-christmas-day ---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 creator of utilitarianism, a philosophical framework for how societies should be structured, based on the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people.Learn about the fascinating life of this interesting character, how this theory impacted the law, and how he was true to his beliefs even in death.Bentham's early life as a child prodigyEnlightenment principlesIntroduction to the Principles of Morals and LegislationMeasuring pleasure vs. painThe six different measurements of pleasure and painRejecting existing lawsThe Panopticon and treatment of criminalsWhy should someone be killed for stealing?Problems with utilitarianismDefining the true meaning of happinessApplying utilitarianism to economics, sexuality and animal rightsBentham's wishes for his body when he diedThe theft of Jeremy Bentham's headFull interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/jeremy-bentham ---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 is the father of modern biology, and his 1869 book On the Origin of Species presented a revolutionary new idea about how species evolve.Discover the amazing story of Charles Darwin, and the journey of how he developed this groundbreaking theory.Early life of Charles DarwinBeing sent to medical school aged 16Developing an early interest in the natural worldMoving to Cambridge and starting the journey of becoming a priestWhat happens when you put a beetle in your mouthCreationism & evolutionThe trip of a lifetime5 weeks in the Galapagos IslandsReturning to Britain and working in secretPublishing On the Origin of SpeciesModern theories of evolutionFull interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/charles-darwin ---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

 The personality industry is worth billions, and promises to help us better understand ourselves.But how did it start? How does it actually work?And most importantly, does it actually work?What are personality tests?Historical ideas of personality & character: The four humoursSigmund Freud & Carl JungKatharine Cook Briggs & Isabel Briggs-Myers: the mother and daughter pair from MichiganThe Myers-Briggs Personality IndicatorPersonality within a family environmentHow The Myers-Briggs Personality Indicator worksCorporate America & personality testsPersonality testing: a billion dollar industryProblems with the personality test industryThe Forer effectWhy The Myers-Briggs Personality Indicator has remained so popularFull interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/personality-tests ---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 biggest shopping day of the year. How did it start, what actually happens, and how much do people really spend?Plus, learn about the history of discounting, and how companies trick you into buying things you don't need.How much people spend on Black FridayHow Black Friday has developed over the yearsThe history of Black Friday (it doesn't come from 'going into the black')Coca-Cola and the first mass discountThe business of discountingTricks companies use to get you to buy stuff you don't needTrick #1 - The Rule of 100 Trick #2 - Using prices with fewer syllablesTrick #3 - Phased discountingThe Black Friday alternative: Buy Nothing DayWhat Leonardo English is (or isn't) doing for Black FridayFull interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/black-friday-history-of-discounting ---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

 Starting in the 17th century, Britain sent hundreds of thousands of people to America and Australia for crimes as small as stealing a loaf of bread.Learn about why this happened, how it worked, and the legacy it has left on the countries where these prisoners were sent to.Sending criminals away as a punishment - as old as timeThe Bloody Code & being killed for stealing a rabbitImpact of the Agricultural and Industrial Revolutions on societyPrison boatsSending criminals to AmericaWhat life was like in America as a prisonerThe American Revolution & finding a new place for prisonersThe discovery of AustraliaThe convicts' journey to Australia1 in 5 Australians is a descendant of a convictPenal colonies in other countriesThe cultural impact of sending prisoners to the coloniesFull interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/penal-coloniesJoin the conversation:instagram.com/leonardoenglishappfb.me/leonardoenglishappJoin the Leonardo English community: community.leonardoenglish.com** More about Leonardo English and the English for Curious Minds podcast **Learning English shouldn't be boring. It should open your mind.English Learning for Curious Minds is a podcast aimed at intermediate level English speakers and above, where listeners learn fascinating things about the world while learning English.There's no small-talk, no boring grammar exercises or vocabulary drills.You'll learn English by listening, by hearing real conversations and real English, spoken by native speakers, and at a speed you can understand.You can become a member of Leonardo English and get access to every podcast, transcripts, key vocabulary, an exclusive community, and be able to participate in members-only live sessions.Discover a more interesting way to improve your English at leonardoenglish.com/subscribe ---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 black cats to Friday the 13th, superstitions exist in cultures all over the world.Where do they come from? Why do so many people believe them? And is there any evidence to suggest that they are actually true?Definition of 'superstition'Superstitions in Ancient RomeSuperstitions + religionThe Catholic Church + superstitionsWhy are so many superstitions about 'bad' luck?Superstition Story 1: Why you shouldn't open an umbrella insideSuperstition Story 2: Salt over your shoulderSuperstition Story 3: Knocking on woodSuperstition Story 4: Saying 'bless you' after sneezingSuperstition Story 5: Friday 13th Full interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/superstitionsJoin the conversation:instagram.com/leonardoenglishappfb.me/leonardoenglishappJoin the Leonardo English community: community.leonardoenglish.com** More about Leonardo English and the English for Curious Minds podcast **Learning English shouldn't be boring. It should open your mind.English Learning for Curious Minds is a podcast aimed at intermediate level English speakers and above, where listeners learn fascinating things about the world while learning English.There's no small-talk, no boring grammar exercises or vocabulary drills.You'll learn English by listening, by hearing real conversations and real English, spoken by native speakers, and at a speed you can understand.You can become a member of Leonardo English and get access to every podcast, transcripts, key vocabulary, an exclusive community, and be able to participate in members-only live sessions.Discover a more interesting way to improve your English at leonardoenglish.com/subscribe ---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