Plain English

Discover the intriguing saga of the San José, a Spanish treasure ship that sank in 1708, loaded with gold, silver, and jewels intended to finance a war. Learn about the fierce battles that led to its sinking and the treasure's stunning underwater preservation. The podcast dives into the complex legal battles over its ownership, with Colombia, Spain, and indigenous claims in the mix. Plus, ponder the treasure's estimated $20 billion value and hear the latest on recovery efforts, including the remarkable salvage of historical artifacts.

Today's story: Classic stories are an important part of Christmas traditions for both kids and adults. They teach values of generosity, family, love, wonder, and belief. Here are five that stand the test of time: <em>The Snowman</em>, <em>The Polar Express</em>, <em>The Legend of the Poinsettia</em>, <em>A Christmas Carol</em>, and <em>How the Grinch Stole Christmas!</em>Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/826Get the full story and learning resources: https://plainenglish.com/826 --Plain English helps you improve your English:Learn about the world and improve your EnglishClear, natural English at a speed you can understandNew stories every weekLearn even more at PlainEnglish.comMentioned in this episode:Hard words? No problemNever be confused by difficult words in Plain English again! See translations of the hardest words and phrases from English to your language. Each episode transcript includes built-in translations into Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, German, French, Italian, Japanese, Polish, and Turkish. Sign up for a free 14-day trial at PlainEnglish.com

Today's story: Ted Danson stars in *Man on the Inside*, a warm, thoughtful comedy about a retired professor who becomes a private investigator. The show gently explores themes of aging, intergenerational relationships, and finding purpose later in life, all wrapped in a light mystery and comedic tone.Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/825Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/825 --Plain English helps you improve your English:Learn about the world and improve your EnglishClear, natural English at a speed you can understandNew stories every weekLearn even more at PlainEnglish.com-- Mentioned in this episode:Hard words? No problemNever be confused by difficult words in Plain English again! See translations of the hardest words and phrases from English to your language. Each episode transcript includes built-in translations into Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, German, French, Italian, Japanese, Polish, and Turkish. Sign up for a free 14-day trial at PlainEnglish.com

Today's story: Though most Christmas trees are plastic, millions of families like to get live Christmas trees every year. Real trees are grown at special Christmas tree farms and they take many years (and twice-a-year trimming) to mature into the picture-perfect trees you see in family photos.Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/824Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/824 --Plain English helps you improve your English:Learn about the world and improve your EnglishClear, natural English at a speed you can understandNew stories every weekLearn even more at PlainEnglish.com-- Mentioned in this episode:Hard words? No problemNever be confused by difficult words in Plain English again! See translations of the hardest words and phrases from English to your language. Each episode transcript includes built-in translations into Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, German, French, Italian, Japanese, Polish, and Turkish. Sign up for a free 14-day trial at PlainEnglish.com

Today's story: Scientists used to rely on stickers to track monarch butterfly migration—but that only showed where a butterfly started and ended. Now, a solar-powered device called the BluMorpho is helping researchers track each step of the journey, offering new insight into one of nature’s most complex migrations.Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/823Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/823 --Plain English helps you improve your English:Learn about the world and improve your EnglishClear, natural English at a speed you can understandNew stories every weekLearn even more at PlainEnglish.com-- Mentioned in this episode:Hard words? No problemNever be confused by difficult words in Plain English again! See translations of the hardest words and phrases from English to your language. Each episode transcript includes built-in translations into Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, German, French, Italian, Japanese, Polish, and Turkish. Sign up for a free 14-day trial at PlainEnglish.com

Discover the incredible journey of monarch butterflies as they migrate thousands of kilometers from North America to central Mexico. Learn how these beautiful insects navigate using the sun and Earth's magnetic field. Explore their unique life cycle, including a fascinating multi-generational migration where no single butterfly makes the round trip. Delve into the dangers they face due to climate change and habitat loss, and understand their essential role in the ecosystem as pollinators.

The U.S. Mint minted its last penny on November 12, 2025, ending a 232-year tradition. Rising production costs and declining demand made pennies costly to produce. Despite this, they will remain legal tender. The final penny struck was commemorated, with some kept for historical purposes. Banks and retailers will need to adapt to the penny's exit from circulation, leading to rounded transactions, similar to practices in Canada and Australia. The podcast also explores the penny's rich history and cultural significance.

Zippers are ubiquitous, but their design has remained unchanged for a century. The world's largest zipper manufacturer, YKK, is now introducing a revolutionary design that eliminates the tape next to the teeth. This innovation makes zippers lighter, more flexible, and visually appealing. It enhances the overall aesthetic of garments while offering environmental benefits. Tune in to hear a humorous personal mishap with zippers and discover where you might spot these upgraded designs in stores.

We're opening up the archives to repeat episode 223 from January 2020, just before COVID-19 halted air travel. Enjoy!--In between economy class (in the back) and business class (in the front), airlines have created a new class of service called "premium economy." This is aimed at travelers who will pay a little more for some extra space, but can't pay the sky-high prices of a full business class seat. In this episode, Jeff reviews his experience in premium economy: he finds that it's more "economy" than "premium."Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/lessons/airlines-try-to-split-the-difference-with-premium-economy --Plain English helps you improve your English:Learn about the world and improve your EnglishClear, natural English at a speed you can understandNew stories every weekLearn even more at PlainEnglish.com-- Mentioned in this episode:Ready to improve your listening?Ready to listen fast? Improve your listening with the fast version of this and every episode. The full-speed version is a fresh recording and it sounds just like someone speaking to a native speaker (with no AI or computer manipulation!) You can even listen on a podcast app Sign up for a free 14-day trial at PlainEnglish.com

Cold plunges are all the rage, sought after by both high-flyers and everyday folks. Immerse yourself in water at 15 degrees Celsius or colder to relieve muscle soreness and reduce stress. The mental toughness gained from enduring the cold is just as intriguing—can it help you manage daily pressures? Beyond the chill, there are claims about mood improvements and immune boosts. Jeff offers practical tips for starting safely, from gradual entry to ideal durations, while cautioning against extreme practices. Explore the growing trend and consider the benefits!