Longtime Atlantic tech, culture and political writer Derek Thompson cuts through all the noise surrounding the big questions and headlines that matter to you in his new podcast Plain English. Hear Derek and guests engage the news with clear viewpoints and memorable takeaways. New episodes drop every Tuesday and Friday, and if you've got a topic you want discussed, shoot us an email at [email protected]! You can also find us on tiktok at www.tiktok.com/@plainenglish_
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The best podcast for learning English if you like current events and trending topics. Improve your English listening, learn new words, and build your confidence with the #1 English-learning podcast focused on current events and trending topics. Improve your English listening: Plain English episodes go a little slower than native speed so you can understand every word and improve your English listening little by little. Your host is Jeff. He's a native English speaker from the United States a ...
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The Plain English Finance podcast is hosted by Tré Bynoe CFP® CIM®, a financial planner with TCU Wealth Management and Aviso Wealth. While Tré specializes in working with families with more complicated finances, typically involving corporations and trusts, this podcast is for anyone wanting to learn how to make high-quality decisions based on evidence, to give themselves the highest likelihood of financial success. You should always consult with your financial, legal, and tax advisors before ...
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Every day, we explore the world of crypto and blockchain in one minute and in plain English.
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Web3 in Plain English. So much of the tech content explains Web3 with buzz words and overlong articles that make no sense. This podcast will explain practical Web3 use cases that are easy to understand.
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The life of a criminal from early beginnings to life on the right side of the law. We take a deep dive into true crime stories and real prison experiences.
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Learn about copyright law in plain english. Brought to you by the staff of www.ResearchCopyright.com
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Whether you’re a law student, an undergraduate considering law school, or a lifelong learner, join me as we demystify the law — one concept at a time, in 15 minutes or less. We break down complex legal principles into plain English, making the law accessible for everyone.
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UX has a usability problem. Chris and Carla are on hand to help you navigate through the jargon, user flows and mind maps so you can concentrate on designing great things for users. **Disclaimer** The views on this podcast are ours and don’t represent the views of any former or current employers or clients.
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A fresh season for each new election from former government minister and ACT Party Deputy Leader Hon Heather Roy and TorquePoint business partner and former ACT Party candidate and ministerial staffer Dr Simon Ewing-Jarvie. TorquePoint runs the popular LobbyTorque experiential learning programme on effective political lobbying in New Zealand. With much media coverage reduced to soundbites, many are frustrated with the lack of real commentary from people who have worked in Parliament. Season ...
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Why Money Doesn't Buy Happiness in America
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48:38America is rich—richer than ever. Yet Americans are more anxious, lonelier, and less satisfied than people in many poorer nations. The 2025 World Happiness Report ranked the U.S. 24th in life satisfaction, its lowest on record. Maybe, as social scientists say, we’ve traded community for consumption. Today’s guest, Morgan Housel, thinks there’s a de…
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More schools are banning cell phones
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13:43Today's story: A growing number of state and national education systems are banning cell phone use during the school day. Supporters say phones are distracting, addictive, and bad for learning. Not everyone agrees, but teachers—and even some students—say the changes are making a big difference. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/808 F…
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Ep. 19 | How to Leave Money to Your Kids Without Screwing Them Up
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29:45Most wills don’t plan for reality. They ignore messy family dynamics, future kids, or the financial chaos that hits when parents die unexpectedly. In this episode, Tré Bynoe, CFP, CIM, shares how he and his wife structured their own estate plan — trusts, wills, tax strategy, and all — with ruthless clarity and long-term thinking. This is what real …
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Is AI Really About to Solve Human Disease?
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53:41I’ve had the privilege of talking to many brilliant people about artificial intelligence. And when you ask them to imagine the most beneficial consequences of this technology, they almost always give the same answer: medicine. The dream is dazzling. Superintelligent AI will cure stubborn diseases and disorders—cancer, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s. It…
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Newest status symbol? Your water bottle
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13:35Today's story: Reusable water bottles have become a big global industry, driven by health trends, social media, and changing values around sustainability and style. Brands like Stanley turned practical hydration into a fashionable status symbol—but are they environmentally friendly if you collect them and don't use them? Transcript & Exercises: htt…
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How America Became a Nation of "Free Speech Hypocrites"
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52:18The past few weeks have marked a low point for free speech principles in America. The head of the FCC openly threatened ABC for the language of a comedian. The president told a reporter that networks that are "against" him should have their licenses revoked. The vice president went on TV and told Americans to turn in their colleagues if they spoke …
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Alcaraz & Sinner: the new rivalry in men’s tennis
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15:53Today's story: For two decades, the Big Three—Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic—defined men’s tennis. With Federer and Nadal retired and Djokovic aging out of contention, a new rivalry has taken center stage. Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have claimed every major title in the past two years, marking the beginning of a new era. Transcript & Exercises:…
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Ep. 18 | Why RRSPs Are Overrated (Unless You Know What You’re Doing)
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43:07Most Canadians treat RRSPs like a retirement silver bullet, and most are using them wrong. In this episode, Tré explains why Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs) are powerful tools only when used strategically. He breaks down what RRSPs actually are, how they affect your taxes, and why the way most people use them could hurt their retirement…
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What’s the Matter With America’s Food?
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52:32In the past few weeks, we’ve done several episodes on obesity, GLP-1 drugs, and nutrition science. What we haven’t talked about as much is the politics of food. And today’s guests say: If you really want to understand why Americans are so unhealthy, you have to see that the problem is not just our willpower, and it’s not just our food itself. It’s …
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Canada's sweetest export: maple syrup
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14:40In 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 shortage. This episode tells the story. "A weaker maple syrup harvest this year put Canada in a bit of a sticky situation. As the world leader in maple syrup production, Canada had to tap into its maple sy…
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This Is How the AI Bubble Could Burst
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59:26This year, American tech companies will spend $300 billion to $400 billion on artificial intelligence, which is in nominal dollars more than any group of companies have ever spent to do anything. Notably, these companies are not remotely close to earning $400 billion on artificial intelligence. That's why you’re starting to hear some people wonder …
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⚖️ Emoji in the courtroom
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14:12Enjoy this episode from the Plain English archives. Emoji are everywhere, including some unlikely places...like the courtroom. Court cases often hinge on what words mean. But what happens when a dispute involves an emoji? To decide cases or rule on motions, judges often have to decide what a 👍 or a 💓 means. To make matters worse, there's no emoji d…
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The Jimmy Kimmel Saga and America's Free-Speech Crisis
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40:51Matt Belloni, the host of the Town podcast and the author of Puck’s 'What I’m Hearing' newsletter, joins the show to talk about Jimmy Kimmel's punishment, what happened behind the scenes at ABC and Disney, Bob Iger's legacy, and what this means at a moment when media companies are bending the knee to the Trump administration, which is clearly using…
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Ep. 17 | How to Give More to Charity and Pay Less Tax
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24:59Want to support a cause and cut your tax bill? This episode is for you. Tré explains how to give to charity in a smarter, more tax-efficient way — without spending more out of pocket. Whether you're tithing, giving to local rescues, or donating to major organizations, there’s a better way than cash or cheques. The key? Donating appreciated investme…
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How stolen vehicles move around the world
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15:54Today's story: How do stolen cars move around the world? Easy. They're loaded into standard shipping containers and sent overseas using the same freight network that moves legal goods. Weak customs enforcement and decentralized criminal networks help keep the operation running smoothly. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/805 Full less…
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If GLP-1 Drugs Are Good for Everything, Should We All Be on Them?
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54:22To read more of Derek's reporting on GLP-1 drugs, you can subscribe to his Substack here. GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Zepbound don't just help with Type 2 diabetes and weight loss. They seem to curb alcohol, cocaine, and tobacco use among addicts. In some studies, they prevent strokes, heart attacks, chronic kidney disease, sleep apnea, and Parkin…
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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 tools, then ship them overseas to markets in Africa and the Middle East, where demand is high and oversight is weak. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/804 Full lesson: https://plainenglish.…
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Charlie Kirk's Killing and America's Age of "Salad-Bar Extremism"
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52:15In the past few years, we have witnessed a frightening spiral of political violence. We’ve seen the killing of Charlie Kirk; the killing of Brian Thompson, the health insurance executive; the assassination of a Minnesota House Speaker and her husband; the shooting of a Minnesota state senator and his wife; several attempted assassinations of Donald…
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Ep. 16 | Why Most Canadians Miss Out on Free Money Through RDSPs
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27:28https://www.rdsp.com/calculator/ - Link Most Canadians eligible for the RDSP have never opened one. That’s a costly mistake. In this episode, Tré breaks down why the Registered Disability Savings Plan is one of the most powerful but underused tools available to Canadians with disabilities. If you or someone you care about qualifies for the Disabili…
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Women are making inroads into officiating men’s sports
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15:30Today'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 growing presence of female officials in men’s sports, from soccer to basketball, and the challenges they face breaking into these roles. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/803 Full lesson…
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America in the Age of Diagnosis
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57:07America is sicker than ever. That’s what the data says, anyway. Psychological and psychiatric diagnoses have soared. Between the 1990s and the mid-2000s, bipolar disorder among American youth grew by a factor of 40, while the number of children diagnosed with ADHD increased by a factor of 7. Rates of PTSD, anxiety, and depression have soared, too. …
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Italy envisions a bridge to Sicily
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14:24Today's story: Italy has approved plans for the Messina Bridge, a €13.5 billion suspension bridge linking Sicily to the mainland. If completed by 2033, it would be the world’s longest suspension bridge, but faces engineering, environmental, financial, and political challenges. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/802 Full lesson: https:…
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Ep. 15 | How Tré Invests — And What Most Investors Get Wrong
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1:00:58Most Canadians think investing is about picking the right stock, timing the markets, or chasing returns. It’s not. In this episode, Tré breaks down exactly how he manages his own investment portfolio, and why simplicity, tax-efficiency, and a clear philosophy matter far more than hot tips or flashy products. If you're a DIY investor, a skeptical pr…
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Trumponomics Explained, Part 2: The Enshittification of American Power
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52:08In the second of our two-episode series on Donald Trump, economics, and power, we talk to Henry Farrell, a professor of political science at Johns Hopkins. Farrell has written extensively on how the United States has in the last few years weaponized its economic power to force other countries to do its bidding, through sanctions or the freezing of …
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The era of slim clothing is over
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14:05Today'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, greater body inclusivity, and a wave of 1990s nostalgia. Designers and retailers alike are embracing relaxed cuts for all genders. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/801 Full lesson: htt…
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What Is Trumponomics? Part 1: How Donald Trump Is Breaking American Capitalism
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49:33Today is the first of two interviews this week trying to answer this question: What is Trumponomics? From the 1980s to the 2010s, it was generally assumed that Republicans and Democrats had settled differences in economic policy. Republicans wanted lower taxes and less spending on welfare. Democrats wanted higher taxes and more social spending. Rea…
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‘Coldplay couple’ in a viral nightmare
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14:56Today's story: A playful concert tradition took a serious turn when Coldplay’s “Jumbotron Song” captured an embrace between a tech CEO and his HR director. The viral video ignited a nationwide scandal, raising questions about workplace relationships and the risks of being caught on camera. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/800 Full l…
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Ep. 14 | Budgeting on $400K+: Why High Income Doesn’t Equal Wealth
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41:18Earning over $400,000 a year puts you in a privileged position, but it also comes with bigger decisions, bigger risks, and bigger tax bills. In this episode, Tré breaks down how high earners can avoid the most common financial pitfalls and finally shift from focusing on income to building lasting wealth. This episode is for professionals, business …
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How prescription drugs get their names [archive episode]
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19:22Xoloft, Ibrance, Zocor, Mounjaro: How do drug companies come up with these names? That's exactly what we explored in this classic episode of Plain English. When a pharmaceutical company develops a new treatment, the company creates both the generic (scientific) name and the brand name. They sound weird, but there's a method behind the madness of na…
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The Healthiest "Super-Agers" Have One Thing in Common, According to a 25-Year Study
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41:48Memory is the glue of life. Without it, our focus softens, our experience of the world blurs, and our identities melt away. But as people age, their memory declines. Many billions of dollars have been spent to understand the biological basis of dementia and to devise a cure. In most cases, they have failed spectacularly. But what if, rather than st…
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What it’s like to stare at a painting for a full hour [archive episode]
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10:57It 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 during the class. They have to go to a museum and look at a painting for three hours. We didn't do that...but we came close, in this classic episode of Plain English. Here's what it's like to look at…
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Ep. 13 | How to Set Up a Cashflow System That Actually Works
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41:02Most people “budget” by looking backward at what they’ve spent. That's reactive. In this episode, Tré walks through the exact system he and his family use to manage their money proactively — with multiple accounts, a clear spending structure, and zero guilt. Whether you’re a couple or managing solo, this framework gives you total control without ob…
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Egypt’s long-awaited mega-museum nears completion
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13:42Today's story: After years of delays, Cairo’s Grand Egypt Museum is finally nearing completion. The massive museum will house over 100,000 artifacts from Ancient Egypt, including more than 5,000 items from King Tut’s tomb. Although the King Tut galleries are still closed, most of the museum is open to the public — and visitors say it’s stunning. Tr…
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Plain History: How the Transcontinental Railroads Built the Modern World
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55:49Today’s pod is about the economic story of the moment. It’s about new technology that supporters claim will transform the U.S. economy, an infrastructure build-out unlike anything in living memory that demands enormous natural resources, fears that corporate giants are overbuilding something that can never return its investment, an uncomfortable cl…
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The poison mushroom and Australia’s sensational murder trial
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14:53Today's story: Erin Patterson invited her estranged husband’s family to lunch and served them beef wellington. But her guests soon got sick, and doctors discovered the recipe had been made with poisonous death cap mushrooms. Patterson claimed it was all a tragic mistake, but inconsistencies in her story led police to suspect murder. A jury found he…
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