Easy English Podcast: Learn English Through Listening

Get the full study guide for this episode on Patreon: the complete transcript, vocabulary practice and comprehension questions, plus bonus episodes every week. https://www.patreon.com/c/englishwitholiver When did you last write an email completely by yourself? No AI, no help - just you and your brain? In this episode of the Easy English Podcast, Oliver tells the story of Mark, who uses AI for everything until he can't explain his own report in a meeting. You'll learn about the hidden cost of convenience, the "Google effect", what a 2025 MIT study found about ChatGPT and our brains, and a famous philosopher who warned about a new technology more than 2,000 years ago. It's clear, natural English for intermediate (B1-B2) learners who want to improve their listening and vocabulary. 5 key words: convenient, trade-off, rely on, outsource, shortcut Vote in the poll: how often do you use AI tools? Enjoying the show? Please rate it 5 stars on Spotify or Apple Podcasts - it really helps new learners find us. Links:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/englishwitholiverYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Easy-EnglishPodcastApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/easy-english-podcast-learn-english-through-listening/id1520690072 Chapters:0:00 Are we forgetting how to think?1:22 Mark's AI day4:21 Word 1: convenient - and the trade-off6:19 Word 2: rely on8:51 Word 3: outsource - the Google effect11:24 The MIT ChatGPT study12:44 What this means for English learners13:36 Poll: how often do you use AI?14:41 The 2,000-year-old warning16:38 Word 4: shortcut - the cable car question18:17 Quick check19:34 Patreon, word review and goodbye

Birthday sale: my book "Phrasal Verbs Are Easy!" is just $9.99 until 8 November. https://www.patreon.com/englishwitholiver/posts/phrasal-verbs-50-137806749 Get the full study guide for this episode on Patreon: the complete transcript, vocabulary practice and comprehension questions, plus bonus episodes every week. https://www.patreon.com/c/englishwitholiver Ever scrolled late at night and felt worse about your own life? You're not alone. In this episode of the Easy English Podcast, Oliver tells the story of Anna's school reunion and explains why we compare ourselves with people like us, why social media is only a "highlight reel", and why Olympic bronze medallists often look happier than silver medallists. You'll also learn the difference between envy and jealousy, and four simple ways to compare yourself less. It's clear, natural English for intermediate (B1-B2) learners who want to improve their listening and vocabulary. 5 key words: envy, insecure, achievement, self-esteem, grateful Vote in the poll: where do you compare yourself most? Links:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/englishwitholiverYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Easy-EnglishPodcastApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/easy-english-podcast-learn-english-through-listening/id1520690072 Chapters:0:00 Why do we compare ourselves to others?1:09 Anna's school reunion4:07 Word 1: envy (and envy vs jealousy)5:28 Word 2: insecure7:51 The highlight reel9:56 Word 3: achievement11:41 Poll: where do you compare yourself most?12:48 My book: Phrasal Verbs Are Easy! ($9.99 until 8 Nov)14:47 Social comparison theory - Word 4: self-esteem17:12 Silver or bronze: who's happier?18:49 Four ways to compare less - Word 5: grateful22:02 Quick check and word review

Get the full study guide for this episode on Patreon: the complete transcript to read along, vocabulary practice, comprehension questions and activities, plus bonus episodes every week. https://www.patreon.com/c/englishwitholiver Sunday evening, and you're dreading going back to work on Monday? Maybe it's time for a change. But is it too late? In this episode of the Easy English Podcast, Oliver looks at why so many people stay in careers that don't make them happy: money, the "sunk cost fallacy" and the fear of starting again. You'll hear about famous people who changed careers in their 40s and later, why adults never really start from zero, and the "regret test", one simple question to help you decide whether to stay or go. It's clear, natural English for intermediate (B1-B2) learners who want to improve their listening and vocabulary. 5 key words: career, fulfilling, risk, retrain, regret Vote in the poll: what stops most people changing careers? Links:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/englishwitholiverYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Easy-EnglishPodcastApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/easy-english-podcast-learn-english-through-listening/id1520690072 Chapters:0:00 Is it too late to change your career?0:55 Word 1: career (and how to say it)2:50 Word 2: fulfilling - how fulfilling is your work?5:10 My own career change6:18 Why we stay - Word 3: risk8:21 The sunk cost fallacy10:10 Fear of starting again10:51 Poll: what stops people changing careers?11:39 Late starters: Vera Wang, Julia Child, Colonel Sanders13:38 Word 4: retrain - and transferable skills16:57 Word 5: regret - and the regret test19:48 Quick check and goodbye

Get the full study guide for this episode on Patreon: the complete transcript to read along, vocabulary practice, comprehension questions and activities, plus bonus content every week. https://www.patreon.com/c/englishwitholiver Do you sleep a normal amount but still feel tired all the time? You're not alone. In this episode of the Easy English Podcast, Oliver looks at why so many people feel exhausted today, even when they sleep seven or eight hours. You'll learn about your "energy bank account", the three types of tiredness, what burnout really is, and four simple habits that can give you more energy, plus one free 10-minute trick that works better than coffee for a lot of people. It's clear, natural English for intermediate (B1-B2) learners who want to improve their listening and vocabulary. 5 key words: exhausted, energy, recharge, burnout, routine Vote in the poll: what makes you most tired? Links:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/englishwitholiverChapters:0:00 Why is everyone so tired?1:53 A typical tired day2:58 Word 1: exhausted (and "knackered")4:22 Sleep isn't the whole story - Word 2: energy6:59 Your energy bank account8:35 Word 3: recharge - why scrolling isn't rest10:05 Three types of tiredness11:34 Poll: what makes you most tired?12:21 Word 4: burnout - and why it's so common16:37 Word 5: routine - four habits for more energy18:57 The free 10-minute trick20:08 Quick check, study guide and word review

Get the full PDF workbook for this episode (full transcript, vocabulary practice, comprehension questions and activities) plus weekly bonus content on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/englishwitholiver You understand the film. You laugh at the jokes. Then someone asks, "What did you do at the weekend?" and your mind goes blank. Sound familiar? In this episode of The Easy English Podcast, Oliver explains why you can understand English but find it hard to speak. You'll learn about passive and active vocabulary, why retrieving words is harder than recognizing them, and how time pressure and fear make you hesitate. Then you'll get four simple ways to practise speaking on your own. Perfect for intermediate (B1-B2) learners who want to speak more confidently. Vocabulary in this episode:• gap — A space between two things• passive — You receive something, but you don't actively do or make it• to retrieve — To find something and bring it back• to hesitate — To stop for a moment before you do or say something, usually because you're not sure or a bit nervous• automatic — Done without thinking about it

Bonus Episodes & Full Transcript PDFs, Vocabulary Flipcards Every Week on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/englishwitholiver⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Making friends used to take one sentence: "Do you want to play?" So why does it feel like one of the hardest things to do as an adult? In this episode of Easy English, we look at what actually changed, why it has nothing to do with being less likeable, and a couple of small shifts that genuinely make it easier.This episode is for intermediate (B1-B2) English learners who want practical vocabulary for talking about relationships, effort, and everyday social life, useful for real conversations, not just textbook small talk.Five words to listen for: effort, initiate, vulnerable, maintain, awkward.New episodes every week, real English, one everyday topic at a time.Watch the video episode on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0zdSWbiJYKbWfhHrizj5wA00:00 Why Adult Friendship Feels Hard00:56 Poll and Listener Question01:22 Key Vocabulary for Today03:15 Bonus Content and Patreon04:04 Proximity vs Adult Effort06:10 The Power of Repetition08:44 Why It Feels Vulnerable10:06 Initiate Then Maintain11:16 Practical Tips That Work13:40 Comprehension Questions and Wrap-Up

Get the full transcript, downloadable vocabulary workbook, and this week's Patreon Deep Dive on native idiom upgrades: https://www.patreon.com/c/englishwitholiverEver notice how you say "sorry" for things that clearly aren't your fault? In this episode of Easy English, we unpack the strange habit of over-apologizing: why it happens, what "sorry" is actually doing when it's not about guilt, and how understanding this one small word will make your spoken English sound noticeably more natural.This episode is for intermediate (B1-B2) English learners who want to sound less like a textbook and more like a real English speaker, especially in meetings, presentations, and everyday conversation.Five words to listen for: reflex, instinctively, sincere, overuse, guilt.New episodes every week — real English, one everyday topic at a time.Watch the video episode on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0zdSWbiJYKbWfhHrizj5wA00:00 Why We Say Sorry00:49 Poll And Vocabulary03:32 Support The Podcast04:16 Sorry As A Reflex06:38 Four Meanings Of Sorry09:21 Keeping The Peace11:03 Fluency Beyond Grammar12:09 When Sorry Loses Power14:35 Confidence And Balance16:31 Regional Differences18:25 Key Takeaways And Goodbye

🎓 Get the full transcript, downloadable vocabulary workbook, and this week's Patreon Deep Dive: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/englishwitholiver⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Two minutes into the task and suddenly the kitchen is spotless. In this episode of Easy English, we look at why we procrastinate, what's actually happening in your head when you avoid a task, and the very creative excuses English speakers use to explain it, plus two simple techniques that genuinely help.This episode is for intermediate (B1-B2) English learners who want practical vocabulary for talking about habits, feelings, and everyday psychology, useful whether you're chatting with friends or explaining a missed deadline at work.Five words to listen for: avoid, task, guilt, mood, deadline.🎧 New episodes every week, real English, one everyday topic at a time.CHAPTERS0:00 Intro: Why You Keep Procrastinating1:16 Today's Poll: How Do You Procrastinate?2:08 Vocabulary Toolkit: 5 Key Words5:31 Procrastination Isn't Laziness8:31 The Real Reason: It's a Mood Problem10:59 English Phrases for Procrastination13:10 Why Guilt Makes It Worse14:53 Why "Try Harder" Doesn't Work16:02 How to Actually Stop Procrastinating19:33 Comprehension Check21:03 Recap & Outro

Bonus Episodes & Full Transcript PDFs, Vocabulary Flipcards Every Week on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/englishwitholiver⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"I'm just not a morning person." You've probably said it, or heard someone else say it like a fact. In this episode of Easy English, we look at where that idea actually comes from, what sleep science really says about it, and why treating it as a fixed identity might be exactly what's keeping it true.This episode is for intermediate (B1-B2) English learners who want practical vocabulary for talking about habits, identity, and everyday psychology, useful whether you're chatting with friends or explaining yourself at work.Five words to listen for: myth, identity, assume, flexible, habit.New episodes every Monday, real English, one everyday topic at a time.

Bonus Episodes & Full Transcript PDFs, Vocabulary Flipcards Every Week on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/englishwitholiver⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Have you ever bought something on impulse and regretted it an hour later? In this episode of the Easy English Podcast, we explore the science of retail marketing, dopamine, and consumer psychology. Learn how stores manipulate your emotions and discover 3 simple habits to resist temptation and avoid buyer's regret!