Why do we procrastinate? Why do we wait for inspiration instead of starting?

In this intermediate English listening episode, we explore writer’s block, creativity, and productivity through the lives of famous authors like Ernest Hemingway, Agatha Christie, Maya Angelou, and George R. R. Martin. What did they do when inspiration didn’t arrive? Did they wait - or did they build systems to keep working?

You’ll learn how ancient Greek poets asked the Muses for divine help, why modern writers rely on habits instead of motivation, and what this means for your own creativity, studies, and language learning.

This episode will help you:

• Improve your English listening skills
• Learn advanced intermediate vocabulary about creativity and productivity
• Understand natural, reflective spoken English
• Discover practical ideas for overcoming procrastination

Perfect for B1–B2 learners who want real, thoughtful content - not textbook dialogues.

📖 Want to improve your English even more?

Read the full transcript & vocabulary flashcards → www.morethanalanguage.com

• Watch us on Youtube → @englishandbeyondpodcast
• Email your thoughts or questions → [email protected]

🎙 New episodes every week! Subscribe now to practise listening, expand your vocabulary, and learn English in a natural, fun way.

And remember, if this podcast is a little too easy for you, we have "English and Beyond: Advanced English Podcast" too!

In this Intermediate English listening episode, we explore the Prince Andrew scandal and ask a deeper question: are powerful people really ever held to account?

You’ll learn key vocabulary related to law, privilege, media, and public opinion while following a clear explanation of the events surrounding Prince Andrew, Jeffrey Epstein, and the civil case brought by Virginia Giuffre. We examine the difference between criminal and civil law, what it means to be “held to account”, and how wealth and status can influence consequences.

This episode is designed for intermediate English learners who want to improve their listening skills while engaging with complex social and political topics - perfect for learners interested in real-world English, current affairs, and critical thinking!

📖 Want to improve your English even more?

Read the full transcript & vocabulary flashcards → www.morethanalanguage.com

• Watch us on Youtube → @englishandbeyondpodcast
• Email your thoughts or questions → [email protected]

🎙 New episodes every week! Subscribe now to practise listening, expand your vocabulary, and learn English in a natural, fun way.

And remember, if this podcast is a little too easy for you, we have "English and Beyond: Advanced English Podcast" too!

Why did Britain’s 1990s cultural boom fade - and could the same happen to today’s Korean Wave? In this intermediate English listening episode, explore how music, film and national identity shape global trends, from Oasis and the Spice Girls to BTS, K-Pop and Squid Game.

Improve your English through cultural analysis while learning key vocabulary related to media, politics and soft power. Discover how Cool Britannia rose, why it declined, and what South Korea’s global influence might reveal about the future of cultural “coolness”. 

📖 Want to improve your English even more?

Read the full transcript & vocabulary flashcards → www.morethanalanguage.com

• Watch us on Youtube → @englishandbeyondpodcast
• Email your thoughts or questions → [email protected]

🎙 New episodes every week! Subscribe now to practise listening, expand your vocabulary, and learn English in a natural, fun way.

And remember, if this podcast is a little too easy for you, we have "English and Beyond: Advanced English Podcast" too!

Who decides who the heroes are - and who becomes the monster?

In this episode, we revisit the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur, not as a simple adventure, but as a story shaped by power and perspective. What happens when a myth is told to make one city look heroic and another cruel?

This episode explores how propaganda works, how national stories simplify complex realities, and why the version of a story that survives often benefits those who tell it.

Designed for intermediate English learners, with clear narration, rich vocabulary, and ideas worth thinking about. Listen and ask yourself: who really controls the story?

📖 Want to improve your English even more?

Read the full transcript & vocabulary flashcards → www.morethanalanguage.com

• Watch us on Youtube → @englishandbeyondpodcast
• Email your thoughts or questions → [email protected]

🎙 New episodes every week! Subscribe now to practise listening, expand your vocabulary, and learn English in a natural, fun way.

And remember, if this podcast is a little too easy for you, we have "English and Beyond: Advanced English Podcast" too!

A personal story about living in London: what people get wrong about the city, what I came to appreciate, and why I eventually walked away. Clear, natural English for intermediate learners.

📖 Want to improve your English even more?

Read the full transcript & vocabulary flashcards → www.morethanalanguage.com

• Watch us on Youtube → @englishandbeyondpodcast
• Email your thoughts or questions → [email protected]

🎙 New episodes every week! Subscribe now to practise listening, expand your vocabulary, and learn English in a natural, fun way.

And remember, if this podcast is a little too easy for you, we have "English and Beyond: Advanced English Podcast" too!

This intermediate English learning episode tells my true story about love at first sight, dating, emotions, and relationships, with clear, natural spoken English for listening practice. Do you believe in Love At First Sight?

📖 Want to improve your English even more?

Read the full transcript & vocabulary flashcards → www.morethanalanguage.com

• Watch us on Youtube → @englishandbeyondpodcast
• Email your thoughts or questions → [email protected]

🎙 New episodes every week! Subscribe now to practise listening, expand your vocabulary, and learn English in a natural, fun way.

And remember, if this podcast is a little too easy for you, we have "English and Beyond: Advanced English Podcast" too!

Why do so many New Year’s language goals fail by February?

In this episode, Oliver reflects on goal-setting, motivation, and why unrealistic ambitions can sometimes work better than sensible ones - especially for language learners.

You’ll hear a practical example of a SMART listening goal, alongside a more personal (and slightly contradictory) approach: using big, impossible goals as pressure, while relying on small, repeatable habits to make real progress.

If you struggle with consistency, motivation, or the feeling that you’re never quite “there” with your English, this episode offers a different way of thinking about progress - without false positivity.

📖 Want to improve your English even more?

Read the full transcript & vocabulary flashcards → www.morethanalanguage.com

• Watch us on Youtube → @englishandbeyondpodcast
• Email your thoughts or questions → [email protected]

🎙 New episodes every week! Subscribe now to practise listening, expand your vocabulary, and learn English in a natural, fun way.

And remember, if this podcast is a little too easy for you, we have "English and Beyond: Advanced English Podcast" too!

I’m moving house… to my mother-in-law’s apartment. Yes, *really*.

In this episode, I talk about why my partner and I are moving in with her while our new flat is being renovated, and why the whole process fills me with a unique kind of fear. From packing and misplaced chargers to angry drivers and mountains of paperwork, moving house always reveals more chaos than you expect.

I also look back at my earlier moves - to Germany, Italy, China and finally Spain - and how living out of two suitcases shaped my ideas about minimalism. And of course, we get into the emotional side of moving: the strange objects we keep, the ones we can’t explain, and the one box I carry with me from place to place, even though I never open it.

📖 Want to improve your English even more?

Read the full transcript & vocabulary flashcards → www.morethanalanguage.com

• Watch us on Youtube → @englishandbeyondpodcast
• Email your thoughts or questions → [email protected]

🎙 New episodes every week! Subscribe now to practise listening, expand your vocabulary, and learn English in a natural, fun way.

And remember, if this podcast is a little too easy for you, we have "English and Beyond: Advanced English Podcast" too!

It’s a big question, but this episode starts with something very small - an ant I accidentally killed on a train.

That tiny moment led me to think about pain, morality, meat-eating, dairy, fish, and the strange logic many of us use when we decide which animals matter and which don’t.

We’ll talk about why some creatures make us feel guilty and others don’t, why the modern food system keeps uncomfortable truths out of sight, and why many of us avoid thinking too deeply about what’s on our plate.

If you’ve ever felt conflicted about eating meat - or never thought about it at all - this episode offers a clear, accessible way to explore the topic while practising your English.

📖 Want to improve your English even more?

Read the full transcript & vocabulary flashcards → www.morethanalanguage.com

• Watch us on Youtube → @englishandbeyondpodcast
• Email your thoughts or questions → [email protected]

🎙 New episodes every week! Subscribe now to practise listening, expand your vocabulary, and learn English in a natural, fun way.

And remember, if this podcast is a little too easy for you, we have "English and Beyond: Advanced English Podcast" too!

Learn English through one of the most interesting stories in British history: in 1649, Britain killed its own king. The monarchy was gone. Oliver Cromwell took power - and the country became a Republic. The British Revolution!

For eleven (quite dull) years, England lived without a crown: no kings, no queens, just strict rules and fading hope for democracy. Find out how the British Republic began, why it failed, and what it taught the monarchy that followed.

Perfect for intermediate English learners who love British culture, real history, and powerful storytelling.

📖 Want to improve your English even more?

Read the full transcript & vocabulary flashcards → www.morethanalanguage.com

• Watch us on Youtube → @englishandbeyondpodcast
• Email your thoughts or questions → [email protected]

🎙 New episodes every week! Subscribe now to practise listening, expand your vocabulary, and learn English in a natural, fun way.

And remember, if this podcast is a little too easy for you, we have "English and Beyond: Advanced English Podcast" too!