Save 50% on ELSA Premium (#1 pronunciation app): https://bit.ly/ELSA-AI [ends 23:59 on Dec 17th] -- How has a small bird from the jungles of southeast Asia gone on to be the most popular source of protein in the world?   In this episode, we are going to talk about the economics of chicken, and how farmers have managed to drastically reduce its price.   The transformation of chicken from a luxury to a cheap protein source Origin of domesticated chickens in Southeast Asia Historical chicken...

  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...

  He embarked on a perilous journey to explore the Great Lakes of Africa and unravelled the mystery of the Nile's origin.  In the final part of our mini-series, we are going to talk about Henry Morton Stanley and his quest to find the origin of the River Nile.   Introduction to the quest for the source of the Nile Recap on explorers: Burton, Speke, and Livingstone Henry Morton Stanley's life and background Stanley's successful discovery of Dr. Livingstone Stanley's mission to find the Nile's...

⚡️⚡️⚡️  Black Friday Sale ⚡️⚡️⚡️ Secret link: bit.ly/elfcmBlackFriday 💰  Save up to 67% vs. monthly cost⏳  Limited availability⏱  Ends 23:59, Sunday, November 26th *** It's an amazing story of exploration, near-death experiences, and the most almighty feud.   In part one of our mini-series on The Quest To Find The Origin of the River Nile, we'll be telling the story of the first major expedition by British explorers, Sir Richard Burton and John Hanning Speke.   Introduction to the search...

  Mental health – it is a sensitive subject that affects every single one of us, with some of us struggling more than others.   In this episode, we are going to explore how mental health has been perceived throughout history and look at some of the reasons that led a top UN official to declare that we are living in a mental health crisis.   History of mental health treatments Trepanning as an ancient "cure" Transition from religious defect to medical condition Grim conditions in early...

Save 50% on ELSA Premium (#1 pronunciation app): https://bit.ly/ELSA-AI [ends 23:59 on Nov 12th] -- Over the past two decades, this one family has shaped not just American but global culture – but how did they become so influential?   In this episode, we'll be telling the story of the Kardashians and their rise to fame, the influence they have on culture, and whether it is all about to come crumbling down.   The Kardashians' impact on global culture Initial public reception and ratings of...

  It was at one point the most popular job in Britain, surpassing professions such as coal mining and factory work.   In this episode, we'll be talking about the servant class, the hierarchy of different types of servants, and the decline of household service in Britain.   Most popular job in Britain: Household service in 1901 Reasons for high servant numbers: Supply and demand factors Experiences of female servants were generally worse Hierarchy among servants: Butler and housekeeper at...

🚀 Phrasal Verb Challenge: https://bit.ly/LearnPhrasalVerbs ⏳ Registration closes at 23:59 on Sunday, 29th October "Duke", "Earl", "Lord", and "Baron" – what do these titles actually mean?  In part one of our mini-series on British social class, we'll be talking about the origins of the British aristocracy and the roles they have in modern Britain.     Full interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website:...

  It's a story of how one family went from almost literal slavery to being the richest in the world – before losing it all.   In this episode, we'll be talking about the rise and fall of one of the most influential families in American history – the Vanderbilts.   Jan Aertson's Journey to the New World Cornelius Vanderbilt: The Commodore's early career in transportation Vanderbilt's expansion during the California Gold Rush Vanderbilt's transition to the railway industry Vanderbilt's...

It is, by some measures, the toughest fighting force in the world – yet it continues to attract people from across the globe through the promise of a fresh start and adventure.   In this episode, we'll be talking about the origins of the French Foreign Legion, how you join it, and what life is like as a Legionnaire.   French Foreign Legion: Toughest fighting force, attracts diverse recruits worldwide. Origins: Founded in 1831 to manage foreign soldiers in France. Recruitment: Open to all...

  Degrowth and Effective Accelerationism - two outlooks about the direction in which humanity needs to go to stay alive. But they couldn't be any more different.   In this episode, we'll be exploring these two ideas and perhaps, come to some conclusions on how to save the world.   Degrowth vs E/Acc: Exploring opposing visions for humanity's future Historical global economy trends: Growth, challenges, and environmental impact Degrowth concept: Reducing production, consumption for...

  Courageous, resilient, and an incredible leader. Ernest Shackleton was an Antarctic explorer who never gave up in the face of adversity.   In this episode, we'll be talking about the Endurance expedition, the challenges he and his crew faced, and their extraordinary feats of survival in one of the harshest environments on Earth.   Introduction to Ernest Shackleton and his quest to cross Antarctica Background on the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration Competing expeditions to the North...

  An internet pioneer or a criminal mastermind? The answer depends on who you ask.   In this episode, we explore the extraordinary story of Kim Dotcom, the man behind Megaupload.com, and the rise and fall of his empire.   Internet pioneer or criminal? Childhood and early involvement with computers Hacking exploits and self-publicity Kim Dotcom's legal troubles and escape to Thailand Megaupload.com: The birth of a controversial website Megaupload's massive popularity and piracy...

  For some people, hell is a place of eternal punishment. For others, it's merely a stepping stone on the way to redemption.   In this episode, we'll be exploring the idea of hell, its different interpretations, and what happens in each one.   Defining hell and its interpretations in different religions Ancient Egyptian beliefs: judgment in the afterlife, weighing of the heart Ancient Greek beliefs: the Underworld and Tartarus Jewish beliefs: Sheol and Gehinnom as places of the dead and...

  As time goes by, language continues to evolve.   In this episode, we explore the question of evolving English, and the specific question of how we refer to people without a permanent and stable place to live, as this example highlights the politicisation of language.   Language's purpose: communicate information between people Language changes over time, often for political reasons Referring to people without a permanent home Difference between "house" and "home" "Homeless" as the most...

Register for "The Mules": https://bit.ly/BuyTheMules Registration closes 23:59 03/09/2023 || Launch Price €99 only (€30 off) -- He was King of Britain, but only for 325 days before dramatically quitting the job to be with the woman he loved.   But was it the ultimate love story, or was it an act of treason and selfishness?   Edward VIII: King of Britain for 325 days Love story or treason and selfishness? The message that shocked the British public Early life and rise to the...

  It was a fierce football rivalry fought not on the pitch but on social media and at the High Courts of Justice in London.   In this episode, we'll delve into the fierce rivalry between football wives Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy, the libel case that followed, and the rise of WAG culture in Britain.   The cult of the “wag” Who were Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy? Coleen Rooney’s revelation  The feud between Coleen Rooney & Rebekah Vardy Rebekah Vardy takes Coleen Rooney to...

  From cramped cubicles to collaborative open-plan setups, a lot has changed since the creation of the modern office – but it doesn't stop there.  In this episode, we'll be exploring the question of why and how the modern office was created and look at some of the developments that led us to this place.   The concept of the modern office and its prevalence worldwide The historical absence of dedicated indoor workspaces The emergence of the first large offices in the late 17th and early...

⚡️ Listen to Pioneers Of The Continuum: https://link.chtbl.com/elfcm  --- He is a figure who, 200 years after his death, is still held as an example of the glories of France. In this episode, we'll talk about the rise and fall of Napoleon, the establishment of the French empire, and Napoleon's complex legacy.  Early life and Corsican heritage Rise to power during the French Revolutionary Wars Military successes and establishment of the French Empire Napoleon as a strategic genius The...

  When Adolf Hitler's half-niece was found dead in a pool of her own blood, the Nazi party rushed to cover up the scene.   But who killed Geli Raubal, why, and did she take some very dark secrets with her to the grave?   The discovery of Geli's body Who was Geli Raubal What was the nature of Hitler and Geli's relationship? What happened to Geli Raubal? Why did Geli Raubal kill herself? Did Hitler kill his niece? Hitler's reaction to the death Full interactive transcript, subtitles and...

  He was a secretive billionaire who would earn the nickname of "The King of Oil".   In this episode, we'll be talking about the early life of Marc Rich, how he made his fortune, how he got on the wrong side of the US authorities, and the controversial presidential pardon.   The Clinton pardon The early life of Marc Rich The work of a commodities trader The global rise of mercury The Trans-Israel pipeline Creating Marc Rich + Co Selling Iranian oil Being charged with tax fraud Full...

Wondering what The "English Learning for Curious Minds podcast" is all about?  Here's an update on how things have been going, almost 400 episodes and 5 million downloads after we started...  Introduction to the host of English Learning for Curious Minds Deciding to start the podcast My language-learning journey Publishing the first episode English Learning for Curious Minds today Going “full-time” Why starting a podcast is more complicated than pressing record How the sausage is made Where...

  What do some of the biggest porn websites in the industry have in common? They are all owned by a media and technology company named MindGeek.   In this episode, we'll be taking a look at the history of the porn business, the role of MindGeek in the evolution of porn and money, and the current state of the adult industry.   Introduction to the topic of porn and the porn industry MindGeek's acquisition of major adult entertainment properties The evolution of the porn industry and the...

⚡️ Pre-order “The Mules” and save 60%: https://bit.ly/TheMules [ends July 9th 23:59] ⚡️ --- Dubbed "The King of the Sting" or "The Fake Sheikh", Mazher Mahmood was a journalist who posed as a Middle-Eastern prince and exposed the rich and famous.   But it turned out that his methods and fact-checking weren't always as honest as he claimed...  The Sarah Ferguson Sting Who was Mazher Mahmood? CAUGHT! Match-fixer pockets £150k as he rigs the England Test at Lord’s The story to kidnap Victoria...

Milk–this widely common, seemingly unproblematic drink–has become the subject of recent controversy. In this episode, we’ll look into the war on milk, why people stopped drinking it, and the future of the dairy industry.  Full transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/war-on-milk