Thinking in English

In today’s episode, I am going to talk about a very interesting political topic: gerrymandering.

Gerrymandering is when politicians create voting districts in a way that gives one political party an advantage over the others.

This topic is incredibly relevant right now, and constantly in the news in the USA. This year, Texas and some other US states have decided to redraw their congressional maps.

This is, of course, causing a lot of political tension and debate across the country.

In this episode, I will explain what gerrymandering is, why it happens, whether it should be allowed, and then I will also look at some other unusual English political words and phrases!

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Today, we’re diving into the fascinating life of Marie

Well… maybe!

She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, the only

In this episode, we’ll explore her life, achievements,

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In recent weeks the United Nations Security Council has met to discuss Israel’s planned military expansion in Gaza, to reject the creation of a rival government in Sudan, and hear reports of conflicts in Yemen, Syria, and at the Thailand/Cambodia border.

The Security Council is a powerful, yet controversial, organisation at the centre of the United Nations. They have an immense amount of power, but this power is concentrated in the hands of just 5 countries.

Today I want to think about 2 questions. What exactly is the UN Security Council, and why does it have so much influence over international peace and security?

In today’s episode of Thinking in English, we’re going to look at the history of the Security Council, how it works, and the difference between permanent and temporary members.

We’ll talk about its goals and powers, examine some of the criticisms it faces, and think about what the future might hold for one of the most powerful organisations in the world.

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Which city has been the capital of three different empires? Which city is located on two continents at the same time? And which city has been known throughout history by three very different names, including Byzantium and Constantinople?

The answer, of course, is Istanbul.

Today, we’re going to explore the fascinating history of this city. For over 2,500 years, Istanbul has stood at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Christianity and Islam, East and West. It has been a centre of politics, culture, religion, and trade.

So many of you requested this episode, and I hope you enjoy learning some history while improving your English comprehension and vocabulary!

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What makes something the same object over time, even if all of its parts are replaced?

This might sound like a strange question, but it’s one of the oldest and most interesting puzzles in philosophy. And we still ask similar questions all the time: about identity, technology, artificial intelligence, and ourselves.

If you change over time, your personality, your body, your memories… are you still the same you?

In today’s episode of Thinking in English, we’re going to explore this fascinating idea through one of history’s most famous thought experiments: the Ship of Theseus.

As always, this episode is designed to help you improve your English. I’ll introduce you to useful vocabulary, explain ideas clearly, and make you think more deeply in English.

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What does it really take to become an expert English speaker?

How do some people reach such a high level of fluency, while others seem to struggle for years without much progress? Is it talent? Luck? Or something else?

Recently, I rewatched a fascinating video from one of my favourite YouTube channels, Veritasium, titled “The Four Things It Takes to Be an Expert.” The video looks at the science behind how people become truly skilled at something, whether it's music, sports, or academic subjects.

As I watched, I realised that the ideas in the video are incredibly relevant to English learners.

So, in this episode of Thinking in English, I want to take the four key principles from that Veritasium video and apply them directly to learning English. These principles can help guide your study, improve your skills, and ultimately help you become an expert speaker of the language.

This episode was originally recorded as a Bonus Episode for my Patreon community a year ago... subscribe to Patreon for more great episodes.

Let’s get started!

Veritasium's Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eW6Eagr9XA

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Today we are going to look at an interesting and often controversial idea: Universal Basic Income, or UBI for short.

Let me ask you a question: What if the government gave everyone free money, no strings attached?

No matter who you are, where you work, or how much you earn; just regular payments, every month, guaranteed.

Does this sound too good to be true? Or maybe it sounds like a smart solution to poverty, inequality, and the future of work?

In this episode, we’ll explore the concept of Universal Basic Income, discuss its goals and purpose, look at real-life experiments and trials from around the world, and examine the debate: Is UBI a brilliant idea… or a dangerous one?

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You’re studying every day… but you feel stuck. You forget vocabulary. You hesitate to speak. And you start to wonder…

“Why am I even doing this?”

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Many English learners experience frustration, boredom, or burnout at some point on their journey.

But what if I told you that philosophy could help?

In this episode of Thinking in English, we’re going to explore practical, powerful lessons from some of history’s greatest thinkers: Stoics, Existentialists, Buddhists, and more. These ideas have helped people cope with life’s biggest challenges… so why not apply them to the challenge of learning English?

Whether you’re feeling unmotivated, overwhelmed, or just tired of forgetting everything you study, this episode is for you!

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Today, we are going to talk about the history of New York city. New York is one of the most famous cities in the world. Its history is interesting and important, and I think also relevant for people learning English.

Why? Because by learning about New York’s history, you can understand more about American culture and language.

You might remember my episode about the history of London. Like London, New York has a long and exciting past. But while London’s history goes back thousands of years, New York’s story is a little more recent, but is

So, in this episode, we will explore how New York grew from a small settlement into the big city it is today.

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Have you ever heard the word immersion?

In language learning, immersion means surrounding yourself with English in your daily life. Instead of only studying from textbooks, you try to listen, read, speak, and think in English as much as possible. It’s a popular and powerful method to improve quickly and naturally.

I first talked about language immersion on this podcast a few years ago. But since then, a lot has changed. Today, in 2025, there are many new tools like ChatGPT and other AI technologies that can help you create an immersive English environment, even from your home.

That’s why I want to revisit this topic. In this episode, I’ll explain what immersion means today, share some updated tips, and show you how to use modern tools and techniques to make your English learning faster and

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