English Learning for Curious Minds

Explore the most unusual New Year's Eve traditions from around the world, including wearing red underwear in Italy, first footing in Scotland, dangerous furniture throwing in Johannesburg, eating grapes in Spain, ringing temple bells in Japan, and plate smashing in Denmark.

Exploring Effective Altruism and its core principles, this podcast discusses thought experiments, addresses funding disparities, and explores animal welfare. It highlights the journey of Sam Bankman-Fried, an effective altruist, and examines criticisms of the moral philosophy behind effective altruism.

Explore the effectiveness of sanctions in achieving their intended goals, with a focus on different types of sanctions throughout history. Discuss the case of US sanctions on Cuba and the success of sanctions on South Africa. Examine contemporary examples like sanctions on Russia and the challenges in assessing their efficacy. Highlight the human impact through Siavash's wife's personal story, emphasizing the need to consider the human aspect in international relations.

Explore the concept of soft power and its unusual displays in the 21st century. Discover the rise of K-Pop and its impact on South Korea's soft power. Learn how Volodymyr Zelensky uses soft power amid conflict in Ukraine. Uncover the role of cricket as a soft power tool for India and its influence in India-Pakistan relations.

Explore the multifaceted historical significance of salt in this podcast. From its role in preserving food to its impact on trade, language, and culture, salt has shaped history in surprising ways. Discover how salt fueled revolutions, caused regional disparities, and influenced trade routes. Learn about the origins of words and expressions related to salt in English. Finally, dive into the meaning of the expression 'take it with a pinch of salt' and reflect on the enduring significance of salt throughout history.

Disgraced American financier Jeffrey Epstein's rise in finance, arrest and charges related to sexual abuse, controversial plea deal, second arrest on sex trafficking charges, allegations of involvement with powerful people, death in jail and conspiracy theories, and impact on society.

This podcast explores the economics of chicken, from its transformation from a luxury to a cheap protein source, to the evolution of chickens as a food source, and the engineered growth and economics behind intensive farming. It also discusses the low price of rotisserie chicken and ethical concerns related to chicken consumption.

 It is the most amazing story of success, failure against the odds, and a race to get to the bottom of the world.  In this episode, we will be talking about explorers Roald Amundsen and Robert Falcon Scott, and their intense Race to the South Pole.  Antarctic expedition in 1911 Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen British explorer Robert Falcon Scott Different approaches: dogs vs. ponies Harsh conditions, frostbite, and scurvy Tragic sacrifices: Oates and Scott's last diary entries Norwegian victory and Amundsen's legacy Lessons learned from the race Impact of Norwegian explorers on Arctic and Antarctic exploration Full interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/race-to-south-pole ---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

Henry Morton Stanley, the explorer who successfully discovered Dr. Livingstone, embarked on a perilous journey to find the origin of the River Nile. Stanley faced challenges, such as navigating around Lake Victoria and Tanganyika, and identified the Lualaba River as a key clue. His final journey confirmed Lake Victoria as the Nile's source. The podcast also explores Stanley's life, motivations, and the possibility of the Rwenzori Mountains as the true source.

British explorers Sir Richard Burton and John Hanning Speke embark on a daring mission to find the origin of the River Nile. They explore challenges of Nile exploration and argue whether Lake Tanganyika or Lake Victoria is the source. The intense rivalry between Burton and Speke leads to a tragic turn of events with Speke's death, leaving the mystery of the Nile's true origin unsolved.