Thinking in English

Dive into the eerie origins of vampire lore, from ancient myths to medieval fears. Discover how figures like Vlad the Impaler shaped our nightmares. Explore the shift of vampires in literature from terrifying to romanticized icons. Uncover the societal fears these creatures embody, evolving through time. Gain insight into the term 'vampire' and its linguistic journey into English. Finally, learn the psychological reasons behind our fascination with blood-drinking monsters, reflecting our deepest fears and desires.

Explore the legendary founding of Rome through the myth of Romulus and Remus. Discover how the city transitioned from a monarchy to a republic and the significant events leading to its transformation into a powerful empire under Augustus. Learn about impressive Roman engineering, law, and its cultural legacy. Delve into the Renaissance's revival and Baroque enhancements that shaped modern Rome. Finally, reflect on why Rome is deemed the Eternal City, balancing its rich history with contemporary challenges.

Explore the catastrophic Great Fire of London in 1666, where over 13,000 houses were destroyed and the city had to be rebuilt. Delve into the conditions of 17th-century London that set the stage for disaster. Discover how the passive voice is used to describe historical events, highlighting who did what became less important than what happened. Learn about the fire's devastating four-day reign, ineffective firefighting efforts, and the aftermath that transformed London's architecture and regulations forever.

What exactly defines a podcast? The discussion dives into the evolving meaning of the term, examining its roots in 'iPod' and 'broadcast.' You'll learn about RSS feeds that enabled distribution and how Apple Podcasts transformed podcast discoverability. The rise of niche content allows listeners to enjoy diverse themes at their convenience. Plus, the emergence of video podcasts brings a visual twist to the audio format. Finally, the podcast ponders future trends, including commercialization and audience discovery in the age of social media.

Imagine learning to drive… joining classes, talking to driving instructors, and taking theory exams in a foreign language. That’s exactly what I just did. Two weeks ago, I passed my Japanese driving test! It wasn’t easy. I went from knowing almost nothing about Japanese road signs, traffic rules, or driving terminology to passing both my provisional and main license written tests on the first try. I also completed over 60 hours of lessons, both online and in a car, all entirely in Japanese. In this episode, I want to share what this experience taught me about language learning: how you can absorb hundreds of new words, understand complex grammar, and actually use all of it in real life… much faster than I ever thought possible. Conversation Club - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2025/09/29/355-my-greatest-language-challenge-learning-to-drive-in-another-language-english-vocabulary-lesson/ AD Free Episode - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thinking in English Bonus Podcast -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/collection/869866⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube Channel -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@thinkinginenglishpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Borough by Blue Dot Sessions Contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠advertising@airwavemedia.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to advertise on Thinking in English. Thinking in English is part of the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Airwave Media podcast network.⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The podcast discusses the water crisis and highlights MrBeast's initiative to build 100 wells in Africa, providing clean water to half a million people. It explores why influencer-led projects emerge amid government inaction, uncovering issues like geography, funding, and mismanagement. Critiques arise over performative charity and the risks of dependency versus self-sufficiency. The importance of local expertise in maintaining infrastructure is emphasized, along with the costs and responsibilities involved in ensuring global access to clean water.

Explore the intriguing concept of gerrymandering, where political parties manipulate voting district boundaries for advantage. Discover how recent redistricting in states like Texas fuels political tension. Delve into the history and techniques behind gerrymandering, including definitions of crucial terms like packing and cracking. The discussion also highlights international perspectives and legal implications, making this a must-listen for anyone curious about the intersection of politics and language.

Explore the groundbreaking life of the remarkable Marie Skłodowska Curie, the first woman to win a Nobel Prize. Discover her historic achievements in radioactivity and her unique distinction of winning Nobel Prizes in two different scientific fields. Delve into her challenges and the lasting impact she had on both science and medicine, paving the way for future generations, especially women in science. Was she the greatest scientist of all time? You’ll want to tune in to find out!

Dive into the complexities of the United Nations Security Council, a powerful entity with a controversial grip on global peace. Discover its structure, including the dominance of five permanent members, and the significant decisions impacting regions like Gaza and Sudan. Explore criticisms surrounding its effectiveness and ponder potential reforms to meet today’s challenges. The discussion also encourages listeners to think about alternative methods for maintaining international harmony. It's a thought-provoking look at one of the world’s key organizations!

Discover the incredible journey of Istanbul, a city that has served as the capital for three empires. Learn about its transformation from Byzantium to Constantinople and its strategic importance in history. Explore the rich cultural and culinary landscape that makes Istanbul unique, while reflecting on its modern challenges like overpopulation. This podcast delves into the crossroad of continents and cultures, offering historical insights alongside vocabulary lessons that enhance your understanding of this fascinating city.