Los mejores podcasts de Plain English (2025)

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Are GLP-1 Drugs "the Greatest Medical Breakthrough of the 21st Century"? 1:04:13

12h ago1:04:13

1:04:13

In the past few years, we've learned that GLP-1 drugs don’t just help with diabetes or increase people’s feelings of fullness to help them lose weight. They have broad effects on substance abuse and behavior. They even seem to help with otherwise incurable illnesses, like Alzheimer's and schizophrenia. This month, a team of scientists studying 2 mi…

1
Britain debates: Should assisted dying be legal? 17:33

1d ago17:33

17:33

Today's story: The British Parliament recently voted to advance a bill that would legalize medically-assisted dying in England and Wales. Supporters argue that those with terminal illnesses should have the right to avoid suffering at the very end of their lives. Opponents are concerned about social pressure, a slippery slope, and the role of doctor…

1
Who Is the Reasonable Person? A Dive into Legal Logic. 8:46

22d ago8:46

8:46

Send us a text In this episode of Law School in Plain English: Torts, we dive into the world of the “Reasonable Person”—the unsung hero of legal liability. But what happens when this paragon of predictably meets their chaotic counterpart, the Unreasonable Person? Join us for an engaging, humorous exploration of fairness, responsibility, and what it…

1
Why all-night parties are fading worldwide 13:41

4d ago13:41

13:41

"Today's story: Nightclubs around the world are closing their doors earlier than ever before, and some of the world's biggest party hotspots are hosting fewer all-night parties. Club owners and party organizers face tighter regulations and higher costs. But the real culprit is simply that this generation of young people is less interested in club c…

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Tech Talk: AI Supremacy, TikTok’s Fate, and Crypto Decadence 1:04:17

13h ago1:04:17

1:04:17

Today, tech talk with an old friend of the pod, Kevin Roose of The New York Times, who is also host of the 'Hard Fork' podcast. This is a show about everything. And it’s going to remain a show about everything because I’m a little bit interested in everything. But one cost of that purposeful lack of narrow focus is that sometimes you fail to commun…

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The tradition of Girl Scout cookies in the U.S. 13:07

8d ago13:07

13:07

Today's story: Every winter, Girl Scouts and their parents fan out across schools, offices, and community events, soliciting orders for cookies. Customers have just one chance per year to satisfy their cravings for Thin Mints, Do-Si-Dos, and Samoas. But it’s not just the customers who benefit—the girls learn skills like sales, planning, and custome…

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Plain History Volume 1: Who Killed President James Garfield? 1:00:15

11d ago1:00:15

1:00:15

This is the first episode of a little experiment we’re trying this year, a podcast within a podcast on history that we’re calling, simply enough, 'Plain History.' There are, I am well aware, a great number of history podcasts out there. But one thing I want to do with this show is to pay special attention to how the past worked. In this episode, fo…

1
Jimmy Carter was America's best ex-president 15:01

11d ago15:01

15:01

Today's story: Jimmy Carter, who died at the end of 2024, was America's 39th president. His term in office was marked by challenges, and he suffered a lopsided loss in the 1980 election. But after he left office, he founded one of the most influential global nonprofits. The Carter Center has had an extraordinary positive impact on humanity in areas…

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What's the Truth About Alcohol, Cancer, and Your Health? 41:27

15d ago41:27

41:27

Today's episode has been a long time coming. For years, more scientists and health influencers have claimed that even moderate drinking does serious damage to one's health. As someone who likes being healthy and also loves a glass of wine (or scotch), Derek really wanted to understand this issue more deeply. This week, he published a long article i…

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Big questions on Australia's new social media law 17:09

15d ago17:09

17:09

Today's story: Australia’s new law bans children under 16 from social media, but two key questions remain: how will platforms verify user ages, and what exactly counts as a social media platform? So much of the online world has at least some social component: will teen book nerds be kicked off Goodreads? Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish…

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The L.A. Fires: How They Happened, Climate Change’s Role, and What the City Must Do Now 1:06:36

18d ago1:06:36

1:06:36

With so many confusing narratives unfolding around a fire that is still raging out of control, I wanted to talk to somebody I knew and trusted to get stories like this right. Robinson Meyer is the founder and editor of Heatmap News and a former staff writer at The Atlantic, where he covered climate news and related disasters. We talk about why this…

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New Australia law: no kids under 16 on social media 14:12

18d ago14:12

14:12

Today's story: Australia has passed a law that will prohibit children under 16 from accessing social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. The law aims to protect kids from cyberbullying and mental health issues, but critics say it's an unfair restriction on kids' freedom to connect online. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/740 …

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‘The Anti-Social Century’: America’s Epidemic of Solitude—and How to Fix It 1:12:47

22d ago1:12:47

1:12:47

My new feature for The Atlantic magazine is called "The Anti-Social Century." It's a long article that revolves around a simple point: Americans are now spending more time alone than ever. This surging solitude is changing our personalities, our politics, our culture, and our relationships. On this episode, University of Chicago psychologist Nick E…

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Why, exactly, is processed food bad for you? 17:07

22d ago17:07

17:07

Today's story: Processed foods are widely considered unhealthy and are associated with obesity and cardiovascular disease. But what, exactly, is unhealthy about them? New research attempts to tease out which processed foods are most associated with bad health. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/739 Full lesson: https://plainenglish.co…

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The Big 2025 Economy Forecast: AI and Big Tech, Nuclear’s Renaissance, Trump vs. China, and What’s Eating Europe? 1:12:50

25d ago1:12:50

1:12:50

Happy new year! And what better way to celebrate the freshly torn calendar page than by welcoming one of Derek's favorite writers to the show to tell us what's in store for the 2025 economy. Michael Cembalest is the chairman of market and investment strategy for JPMorgan Asset Management, and the author of the truly spectacular newsletter, 'Eye on …

1
Three big stories to watch in 2025 15:43

25d ago15:43

15:43

Today's story: Here are three major stories to follow in 2025: Donald Trump’s return and its impact on global trade, the potential endgame for the Ukraine-Russia war, and the evolving role of artificial intelligence in business and society. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/738 Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/738 -- Upgrade all…

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New film starring Tom Hanks commemorates 'Mr. Rogers' 21:13

29d ago21:13

21:13

Over the course of 31 years and over 900 half-hour episodes, Fred Rogers was a friendly television neighbor and mentor to generations of American children, who knew him as simply "Mr. Rogers." A new movie, starring Tom Hanks as Mr. Rogers, explores the impact he had on children. He wasn't afraid to confront topics big and small and always spoke to …

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The Year's Biggest Breakthroughs in Science and Tech (Feat.: OK, But Seriously, What Is Quantum Computing?) 1:18:12

1M ago1:18:12

1:18:12

Our final episode of the year is also my favorite annual tradition: conversations with scientists about the most important and, often, just plain mind-blowing breakthroughs of the previous 12 months. Today we’re talking about "organ clocks" (we'll explain) and other key biotech advances of 2024 with Eric Topol, an American cardiologist and author w…

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The five-star rating system isn’t working (Rave about) 28:45

1M ago28:45

28:45

Leaving a five-star review has become customary for any experience that is excellent, good, average, or even acceptable, and anything below five-stars means terrible in the world of online reviews. As consumers, this system isn’t helpful in identifying the true high performers, and it makes it difficult for people or businesses to stand out from th…

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A Mysterious Health Wave Is Breaking Out Across the U.S. 1:09:44

1M ago1:09:44

1:09:44

Why do Americans die younger than citizens of other rich countries? The most important reason is that life in America is inexcusably dangerous. The U.S. has more fatalities from gun violence, drug overdoses, and auto accidents than just about any other similarly rich nation, and its obesity rate is about 50 percent higher than the European average.…

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Behind the wheel of a Tesla test drive (Check the boxes) 26:47

1M ago26:47

26:47

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to take a Tesla out for a spin? It has all the ordinary features of a luxury car, plus all of the benefits – and thrills – of an electric car, like instant acceleration. Plus, Teslas have a feature that might make you less stressed in traffic, and you’ll learn “check the boxes.” On Monday, the lesson will focus…

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4 classic Christmas movies (Fend off) 15:48

1M ago15:48

15:48

Christmas-themed movies are almost as old as the movies themselves. In today's lesson, you'll hear about four classic Christmas movies from four different decades (and two movies that don't count!). Plus, learn the English expression "fend off." Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/532 -- Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the be…

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Recapture of Chattels - Getting Back What’s Rightfully Yours. 10:00

1M ago10:00

10:00

Send us a text What happens when someone wrongfully takes your property, and you decide to take matters into your own hands? In this episode, we break down the tort defense of Recapture of Chattels. Using relatable examples and a dash of humor, we’ll explore the legal boundaries of reclaiming stolen or misappropriated property. Can you grab your st…

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The Productivity Paradox: Why Less Is More With Oliver Burkeman 1:03:35

1M ago1:03:35

1:03:35

So, here’s a scenario: It’s Monday. And you open up whatever calendar or planner or to-do list you use to organize the essential activities of the upcoming week. There’s a large project due Thursday. And an important meeting Wednesday. Your nine-to-five is chockablock with meetings, and your kid has a school function Tuesday, and there are holiday …

1
What is the purpose of giving gifts? 22:38

1M ago22:38

22:38

Today's story: Giving gifts is a waste of money. That's the conclusion of economic studies that show the ""deadweight loss"" that occurs when givers buy gifts the receivers don't want very much. But even with this loss, a good gift can still be worth it...if done right. Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/737 -- Upgrade all your skills in English…

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What's the most popular type of book? (Hint: 😘) 25:02

2M ago25:02

25:02

Today's story: Romance novels are the bestselling genre in publishing, outselling thrillers, mysteries, and self-help books. This story explores what makes a book a romance, the genre’s rich history, its subgenres, and how e-readers and self-publishing have fueled its success. Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/736 -- Upgrade all your skills in …

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When Accidents Tell a Story: A Special Res Ipsa Episode. 42:05

2M ago42:05

42:05

Send us a text In this special extended episode, we take a deep dive into the doctrine of Res Ipsa Loquitur—the legal principle that lets the facts ‘speak for themselves.’ Explore its origins in the famous falling-barrel case, Byrne v. Boadle, and its evolution through landmark decisions involving exploding soda bottles, surgical mishaps, and more.…

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Necessity - Breaking the Rules for the Greater Good. 12:34

2M ago12:34

12:34

Send us a text In this episode, we explore the defense of Necessity — when breaking the rules is legally justified to prevent greater harm. From stormy backyard emergencies to real-world cases like docked ships, we break down the difference between Public and Private Necessity and how they apply in the law. Tune in to learn how far you can go in an…

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Why American Health Care Is a "Broken System" 1:23:37

2M ago1:23:37

1:23:37

Last week, UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot to death outside a hotel in Manhattan by a young man motivated by rage at the insurance industry. His rage is clearly felt widely. In the aftermath of the killing, many people seemed to delight in the man’s assassination. Their reaction was a grotesque illustration of something real: There is …

1
‘Long Island’ is a worthy sequel to ‘Brooklyn’ 21:08

2M ago21:08

21:08

Today's story: Colm Tóibín's novel ""Brooklyn"" introduced readers to Eilis Lacey, a young woman from Ireland who emigrated to America in the 1950's. The story won wide praise and found commercial success; it was adapted into a movie in 2015. Now, the Irish author is back with a sequel, titled ""Long Island"" and set in the 1970s. Transcript & Exer…

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Consent - When “Yes” Isn’t Forever. 11:51

2M ago11:51

11:51

Send us a text In this episode, we dive into the defense of Consent - what it means to give permission, when it can be revoked, and how long it lasts. From backyard dodgeball to medical procedures, we break down the legal boundaries of Consent in playful and real-world scenarios. By the end, you’ll understand how the law balances permission and acc…

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Defense of Property-Protecting What’s Yours. 10:31

2M ago10:31

10:31

Send us a text In this episode of Law School in Plain English, we explore the limits of defending your property. What actions can you take when someone damages or intrudes on what’s yours? We break down the legal boundaries of reasonable force, when deadly force is never an option, and how this defense applies in real-world and playful sibling scen…

1
Should donors get paid for plasma? 26:58

2M ago26:58

26:58

Today's story: Plasma is a light-yellow liquid that makes up about half the volume of our blood. It plays an important role carrying substances from one part of the body to another. It's also a critical ingredient in life-saving treatments. It's easy and safe to donate plasma, but the world still faces a shortage. Is it time for more countries to a…

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The People v . O.J. Simpson: Preliminary Hearings. 11:14

2M ago11:14

11:14

Send us a text What happens after an arrest? In this episode of Law School in Plain English, we dive into preliminary hearings-how they test the evidence, shape the case, and set the stage for trial. Using the O.J. Simpson case, we explore how both sides used this critical step to build their arguments. Tune in for an inside look at this pivotal ph…

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