Plain English
Episodes
Updates: Louvre theft, BTS return, and premium economy boom
27 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: French authorities arrested suspects in the Louvre heist, but there was another high-profile museum robbery. The Air Canada CEO resigne...
Expression: Track down
23 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Learn the English expression, "track down"Get the full story and learning resources: https://plainenglish.com/expressions/track-down--Plain English he...
Should AI be allowed in books?
20 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: Hachette, a major book publisher, pulled a horror novel from bookstore shelves after online critics found the text was full of the tell...
Expression: Add up
16 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Learn the English expression, "Add up"Explore the full lesson & practice using today's expression: https://plainenglish.com/expressions/add-up--Pl...
The growing popularity of mahjong
13 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: Mahjong, a traditional Chinese tile game, is gaining popularity again around the world. Once a major trend in the U.S., it declined for...
Expression: Figure out
09 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Learn how to use the English phrasal verb, "figure out"Get the full story and learning resources: https://plainenglish.com/expressions/figure-out--Pla...
GLP-1 drugs show benefits beyond weight loss
06 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: GLP-1 drugs, originally developed for diabetes and later used for weight loss, are now showing surprising benefits in other areas of he...
Expression: Come up with
02 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Learn the English expression, "come up with"Get the full story and learning resources: https://plainenglish.com/expressions/come-up-with--Plain Englis...
Can New York ever fix Penn Station?
30 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: Pennsylvania Station was once one of the most beautiful train stations in the United States, but the building was demolished in 1963. N...
Expression: Up close
26 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Learn how to use the English expression "up close"Get the full story and learning resources: https://plainenglish.com/expressions/up-close--Plain Engl...
The 'free solo' climb of Taiwan's tallest tower
23 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: Alex Honnold, a 40-year-old American climber famous for his "free solo" climbs without ropes, thrilled millions of viewers by climbing ...
Expression: Show up
19 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Learn the English expression, "show up"Explore the full lesson & practice using today's expression: https://plainenglish.com/expressions/show-up--...
America's religious decline may be on pause
16 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: For decades, the United States followed other wealthy democracies in becoming less religious. The share of Americans identifying as Chr...
Expression: Come to grips
12 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Learn how to use the English expression, "come to grips"Explore the full lesson & practice using today's expression: https://plainenglish.com/expr...
Shocks, comebacks, and firsts at the Milan Olympics
09 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: The 2026 Winter Olympics were kind to some 40-something competitors, but devastating to the skier Lindsay Vonn. Mikhail Shaidorov broug...
Expression: Turn the tables
05 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Learn the expert-level English expression "turn the tables"Get the full story and learning resources: https://plainenglish.com/expressions/turn-the-ta...
‘Heated Rivalry’ is a steamy export from a frigid place
02 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: When a Canadian producer pitched a TV adaptation of a gay hockey romance novel, major U.S. streamers hesitated. It was about a niche sp...
Expression: Run out
26 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Learn the English expression "run out" (and listen until the end to hear what Jeff's first boss said he can *never* run out of...)Explore the full les...
How coffee is prepared around the world
23 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: Coffee is one of the world’s most popular drinks, but not everyone drinks it the same way. The two most popular styles, espresso and ...
Expression: Get around
19 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
There's no getting around it: you need to learn the English expression "get around"Explore the full lesson & practice using today's expression: ht...
What does it mean to be a ‘millionaire’?
16 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: A “millionaire” is someone with a net worth of one million dollars. But the reality of a million dollars today is very different fr...
World Cup tickets: What fans need to know
09 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: The 2026 World Cup will be jointly hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. FIFA says it has received over 500 million ticket requests. ...
Expression: Turn in
05 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Learn the English expression, "turn in."Explore the full lesson & practice using today's expression: https://plainenglish.com/expressions/turn-in-...
Canada’s oldest company closes its doors
02 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: The Hudson’s Bay Company started as a fur trading monopoly in British North America, thanks to a royal charter signed by King Charles...
Expression: Fall for
29 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Learn the English expression "fall for" (hint: it's not something you want to do!)Explore the full lesson & practice using today's expression: htt...
The crackdown on scam compounds
26 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: Southeast Asia has become the global hub of online scams, where scammers in massive compounds target workers around the world. China an...
Expression: Get rid of
22 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Learn how to use the English expression, "get rid of". What things do you need to get rid of?Explore the full lesson & practice using today's expr...
LEDs are making our world cooler and bluer
19 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: LEDs have replaced older light sources in homes, offices, cars, and city streets. They are more efficient, longer-lasting, and more fle...
Expression: To have your work cut out for you
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Learn what it means to have your work cut out for you (hint: it's not about cutting).Explore the full lesson & practice using today's expression: ...
Winemakers are in trouble
12 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: Wine has been part of daily human life for centuries, and today it's produced in 70 countries. But winemakers and vineyards are facing ...
Expression: Keep your options open
08 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Learn how to use the expression “keep your options open,” a phrase people use when they haven’t yet made a decision.Explore the full lesson &...
How Labubus became so popular
05 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: Labubu is a mischievous, rabbit-eared character created by illustrator Kasing Lung. Chinese toymaker Pop Mart has turned Labubu into a ...
Learn the best expressions at PlainEnglish.com
01 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
We're starting the new year right at Plain English, with a new learning path to help you learn the best English expressions.At PlainEnglish.com, we ha...
Cognitive switching is killing your productivity [archive]
29 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Revisit this classic lesson on cognitive switching from the Plain English archives: What is cognitive switching? It’s when you switch your attention...
Who deserves the San Jose's treasure? [archive]
25 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Enjoy this episode from the Plain English archives (with a recent update for 2025): The San José, a Spanish treasure ship carrying gold, silver, and ...
Five timeless Christmas stories
22 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: Classic stories are an important part of Christmas traditions for both kids and adults. They teach values of generosity, family, love, ...
'A Man on the Inside' is a sweet, intergenerational comedy
18 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 sh...
All about live Christmas trees
15 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 spec...
Tracking monarch butterflies as they migrate
11 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: Scientists used to rely on stickers to track monarch butterfly migration—but that only showed where a butterfly started and ended. No...
The world’s biggest butterfly migration
08 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: Monarch butterflies migrate thousands of kilometers from across the U.S. and Canada to just a few mountain forests in central Mexico. T...
America has minted its last penny
04 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: The United States Mint struck its final penny in November 2025, ending a 232-year run of producing the one-cent coin. The decision foll...
The zipper is getting an upgrade
01 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: Zippers are everywhere: on clothes, bags, and accessories. But the basic design of a zipper hasn't changed in a century. Now, though, t...
Is 'premium economy' worth it? [archive]
27 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 th...
💰 Black Friday: Get 2 free months of Plain English
27 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Black Friday is here, and Plain English is ready to support your English learning with a great introductory offer:Join Plain English Plus+ today and g...
The hot new trend is an ice-cold bath [archive]
24 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's episode is one from the archives, originally number 583. Enjoy!--Cold plunges are the new health trend championed by high-fliers and ordinary ...
Parkrun is the world’s free running club
20 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: Parkrun is a free, volunteer-run event that takes place every Saturday morning in parks around the world. Participants run, jog, or wal...
The quest to make snake bites less lethal
17 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: Snake bites kill over 100,000 people each year, but antivenom (the treatment for poisonous snake bites) has hardly changed in a century...
Seniors are the new screen addicts
13 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: Screen time among senior citizens has been growing recently, as more and more retirees use phones and tablets, in addition to time spen...
The rise and fall of Publishers Clearing House
10 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: Publishers Clearing House made its name by offering magazine subscriptions through the mail—along with the chance to win big prizes. ...
Four Seasons hotels win big with ‘White Lotus’
06 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: The White Lotus may be fictional, but the luxury hotels in the show are real—and they’re getting a lot more attention. All three se...
Louvre robbery: How it happened
03 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: On a Sunday morning in October, four thieves disguised as construction workers used a ladder truck and power tools to break into the Lo...
A visit to Dublin [archive]
30 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode from the Plain English archives, you'll learn about Dublin, the capital of the Republic of Ireland. It's a great place to explore the ...
What sound should a quiet car make?
27 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode from the Plain English archives: Electric vehicles promised to improve safety and reduce harmful CO2 emissions, but they’re also eer...
Update episode: BTS, Birkin, NYC trash, Seine swimming & more
23 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: Get ready for some updates to previous Plain English stories: New York begins rolling out containerized trash collection; Paris opens t...
Sagrada Familia nears completion after 140 years
20 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: Construction on the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain, is approaching a major milestone after more than 140 years. The basilica’s c...
Keep calm and carry on: the backstory
16 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: A British wartime propaganda poster created in 1939 featured the slogan, ‘Keep calm and carry on.’ The poster was never used and th...
Why your AI always thinks you're brilliant
13 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: Large language models like ChatGPT are increasingly sycophantic—flattering users, validating flawed reasoning, and agreeing too easil...
New discoveries from ancient Pompeii
09 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: Archaeologists are excavating a never-before-studied part of Pompeii, the ancient Roman city buried by a volcanic eruption. They’ve u...
More schools are banning cell phones
06 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: A growing number of state and national education systems are banning cell phone use during the school day. Supporters say phones are di...
Newest status symbol? Your water bottle
02 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: Reusable water bottles have become a big global industry, driven by health trends, social media, and changing values around sustainabil...
Alcaraz & Sinner: the new rivalry in men’s tennis
29 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: For two decades, the Big Three—Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic—defined men’s tennis. With Federer and Nadal retired and Djokovic agi...
Canada's sweetest export: maple syrup
25 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this lesson from the Plain English archives, you'll learn about one of Canada's sweetest exports: maple syrup. In 2021, there were fears of a short...
⚖️ Emoji in the courtroom
22 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Enjoy this episode from the Plain English archives. Emoji are everywhere, including some unlikely places...like the courtroom.Court cases often hinge ...
How stolen vehicles move around the world
18 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: How do stolen cars move around the world? Easy. They're loaded into standard shipping containers and sent overseas using the same freig...
Car theft goes global
15 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: Car theft is on the rise, and it's high tech and global. Thieves in rich countries steal luxury SUVs using relay devices and other tool...
Women are making inroads into officiating men’s sports
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: Umpire Jen Pawol made history as the first woman to officiate a Major League Baseball game in 150 years. Her milestone highlights the g...
Italy envisions a bridge to Sicily
08 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: Italy has approved plans for the Messina Bridge, a €13.5 billion suspension bridge linking Sicily to the mainland. If completed by 20...
The era of slim clothing is over
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: Skinny jeans and tight-fitting clothes are out, and loose, oversized fashion is in. The shift is driven by comfort after the pandemic, ...
‘Coldplay couple’ in a viral nightmare
01 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: A playful concert tradition took a serious turn when Coldplay’s “Jumbotron Song” captured an embrace between a tech CEO and his H...
How prescription drugs get their names [archive episode]
28 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Xoloft, Ibrance, Zocor, Mounjaro: How do drug companies come up with these names? That's exactly what we explored in this classic episode of Plain Eng...
What it’s like to stare at a painting for a full hour [archive episode]
25 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It can be hard to focus on one thing for an extended period of time. An art class at Harvard takes this to the extreme. All students get an assignment...
Egypt’s long-awaited mega-museum nears completion
21 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: After years of delays, Cairo’s Grand Egypt Museum is finally nearing completion. The massive museum will house over 100,000 artifacts...
The poison mushroom and Australia’s sensational murder trial
18 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: Erin Patterson invited her estranged husband’s family to lunch and served them beef wellington. But her guests soon got sick, and doc...
Cities are getting that sinking feeling
14 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: Cities around the world are sinking due to a combination of groundwater extraction, rapid urbanization, and the weight of large buildin...
Microsoft’s ‘Blue Screen of Death’ is going away
11 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: For decades, white text on a full blue background has meant one thing to Windows users: the computer has crashed and needs to be restar...
Alberta flirts with separation from Canada
07 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: The western province of Alberta is moving toward a vote of independence from Canada. Polls show that only about 30 percent of residents...
What citizenship do you get at birth?
04 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: 'Birthright citizenship' is the legal concept that grants citizenship to children born within a country's borders, no matter the nation...
The last Blockbuster [archive episode]
31 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We recently did an episode about how movie titles are translated from their original to other languages. That made us nostalgic for the days of movie ...
How to apologize [archive episode]
28 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's sometimes said that the two hardest words to say in the English language are, "I'm sorry." Today, we're republishing a classic Plain English epis...
Country music is growing its mainstream appeal
24 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: Country music has long existed in its own space, with a dedicated fanbase and distinct sound. But recent years have seen major pop star...
'Freestyle' chess scrambles the board
21 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: A new global chess tour is trying to make the ancient game more exciting—for both players and viewers. Spearheaded by Magnus Carlsen,...
Wave of needle stabbings reported in France
17 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: Almost 150 people in France reported being stabbed with a needle during a summer music festival in 2025. It's just the latest in severa...
Drone video shows orcas using kelp as a tool
14 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: Orcas are the largest type of dolphin, and they're known for their intelligence. A recent study proves they are more clever than previo...
How to keep a high passenger rating
10 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: You thought only the passengers rated the drivers? Think again: drivers rate passengers, too. And a low passenger rating might cost you...
Three words to say exactly where you are
07 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: A company called what3words has divided the world into 57 trillion squares, each three meters by three meters, and labeled each square ...
Which way is home? It’s complicated
03 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: In many parts of the world, buildings don't have formal, complete addresses that can be identified on a map. Locals often use landmarks...
The five-star rating system isn’t working [Archive episode]
30 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Leaving a five-star review has become customary for any experience that is excellent, good, average, or even acceptable, and anything below five-stars...
The resurgence of the mullet haircut [Archive episode]
26 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Archive episode: Today, we're opening up the Plain English archives to revisit the only episode we've ever done about...a haircut.The mullet hairstyle...
Gut feeling: the microbiome and our health
23 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: The gut microbiome is home to trillions of bacteria and microorganisms that help us digest food, regulate our immune systems, and even ...
Nate Bargatze’s clean brand of comedy
19 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: Nate Bargatze rose to fame by rejecting edgy or controversial comedy in favor of clean, relatable humor. His everyman style and family-...
Breakfast: should you or shouldn’t you?
16 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: The classic advice that breakfast is the "most important meal of the day" may be overstated. But eating a morning meal can bring import...
Teaching in the age of ChatGPT
12 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: As students use ChatGPT to write essays, solve problems, and complete assignments, teachers are left with difficult choices. Should the...
ChatGPT has upended education
09 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: In just a few short years, ChatGPT has transformed what it means to be in school. Students can use AI to for help in their homework, or...
The protein craze hits grocery shelves
05 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: High-protein foods and supplements have gone mainstream, moving beyond gyms and into everyday grocery carts. From cottage cheese to hig...
How books and movies get their local titles
02 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: Book and movie titles often change dramatically in translation, and the reasons go beyond simple language differences. Local publishers...
Did an extinct wolf really come back?
29 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: A biotech company in Texas has created three wolf pups using DNA from extinct dire wolves and modern gray wolves. While the company cla...
Why airports have chapels
26 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: Many major airports around the world have chapels or prayer rooms—some interfaith, some religion-specific—offering travelers and em...
How makers of 'Adolescence' made their one-take episodes
22 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: The four-part Netflix series “Adolescence” tells the story of a teenage boy accused of murder. The story is gripping and powerful. ...
Expression: Figure out
21 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Great news -- the expressions are back!"Essential English Expressions" is a brand-new podcast from Plain English. All 14 episodes from Season 1 are av...
Legendary investor Warren Buffett to retire
19 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's story: Warren Buffett, one of the most successful investors in history, announced his retirement at age 94 during his company's 2025 annual me...