348. What is Universal Basic Income? (English Vocabulary Lesson)

EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ ⁠https://nordvpn.com/think85⁠ Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! 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? Finland UBI Trial - https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/social-sector/our-insights/an-experiment-to-inform-universal-basic-income Kenya UBI Trial - https://www.givedirectly.org/2023-ubi-results/ Stockton UBI Trial - https://www.stocktondemonstration.org/ Conversation Club - https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2025/08/11/348-what-is-universal-basic-income-english-vocabulary-lesson/⁠ ⁠AD Free Episode - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thinking in English Bonus Podcast -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.patreon.com/collection/869866⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube Channel -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@thinkinginenglishpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Borough by Blue Dot Sessions Contact [email protected] to advertise on Thinking in English. Thinking in English is part of the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Airwave Media podcast network.⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/think85 Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! 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! Conversation Club - https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2025/08/04/347-philosophy-for-frustrated-english-learners-english-vocabulary-lesson/⁠ ⁠⁠AD Free Episode - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thinking in English Bonus Podcast -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.patreon.com/collection/869866⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube Channel -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@thinkinginenglishpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Borough by Blue Dot Sessions Contact [email protected] to advertise on Thinking in English. Thinking in English is part of the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Airwave Media podcast network.⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ ⁠https://nordvpn.com/think85⁠ Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! 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 equally fascinating. So, in this episode, we will explore how New York grew from a small settlement into the big city it is today. TRANSCRIPT - ⁠⁠⁠https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2025/07/28/346-history-of-new-york-english-vocabulary-lesson/ AD Free Episode - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thinking in English Bonus Podcast -⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.patreon.com/collection/869866 YouTube Channel -⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@thinkinginenglishpodcast INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Borough by Blue Dot Sessions Contact [email protected] to advertise on Thinking in English. Thinking in English is part of the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Airwave Media podcast network.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 more enjoyable! TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2025/07/21/345-how-to-immerse-yourself-in-english-in-2025/⁠⁠⁠ AD Free Episode - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thinking in English Bonus Podcast -⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.patreon.com/collection/869866⁠⁠⁠ YouTube Channel -⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@thinkinginenglishpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Borough by Blue Dot Sessions Contact [email protected] to advertise on Thinking in English. Thinking in English is part of the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Airwave Media podcast network.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TRY LINGODA TODAY - https://try.lingoda.com/ThinkingJuly⁠ $25 Lingoda Discount when you use the code THINKINGJULY - ⁠https://try.lingoda.com/ThinkingJuly Today, I want to talk about a bias that affects how we think about success. It’s called survivorship bias, and it might be the reason you’re feeling discouraged, unmotivated, or frustrated with your English. We’ll look at what survivorship bias really is, explore some famous examples from history and business, and then dive into how it appears in the world of language learning. Most importantly, I’ll give you practical advice to avoid this trap and keep moving forward with confidence. TRANSCRIPT - ⁠⁠https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2025/07/07/343-what-is-the-worlds-oldest-country-english-vocabulary-lesson/⁠ AD Free Episode - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish⁠⁠⁠ Thinking in English Bonus Podcast -⁠⁠⁠ https://www.patreon.com/collection/869866⁠⁠ YouTube Channel -⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@thinkinginenglishpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Borough by Blue Dot Sessions Contact [email protected] to advertise on Thinking in English. Thinking in English is part of the ⁠⁠⁠Airwave Media podcast network.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TRY LINGODA TODAY - https://try.lingoda.com/ThinkingJuly $25 Lingoda Discount when you use the code THINKINGJULY - https://try.lingoda.com/ThinkingJuly What is the world's oldest country? This question is not as easy to answer as you might think. We need to discuss what a country actually is, the differences between empires, civilisations, and countries, and then find a place that fits this definition. In this episode I want to introduce you all to a country that I think could be considered the oldest in the world. You might disagree with me, but I think it is an interesting story in any case! Along the way, we will learn some useful vocabulary. TRANSCRIPT - ⁠https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2025/07/07/343-what-is-the-worlds-oldest-country-english-vocabulary-lesson/ AD Free Episode - ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish⁠⁠ Thinking in English Bonus Podcast -⁠⁠ https://www.patreon.com/collection/869866⁠ YouTube Channel -⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@thinkinginenglishpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Borough by Blue Dot Sessions Contact [email protected] to advertise on Thinking in English. Thinking in English is part of the ⁠⁠Airwave Media podcast network.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

London is one of the most famous cities in the world. It is the capital of the United Kingdom. It is a financial centre. An entertainment centre. A culture centre. An academic and educational centre. But how much do you know about the city’s history? Today, we are going to go on an historical journey from the Roman invasion of the island of Britain 2000 years ago to the modern day. Hopefully you’ll learn some interesting history and pick up some useful vocabulary along the way! TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2025/06/30/342-history-of-london-english-vocabulary-lesson/ AD Free Episode - ⁠https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish⁠ Thinking in English Bonus Podcast -⁠ https://www.patreon.com/collection/869866 YouTube Channel -⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@thinkinginenglishpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Borough by Blue Dot Sessions Contact [email protected] to advertise on Thinking in English. Thinking in English is part of the ⁠Airwave Media podcast network.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

GRAMMAR STUDY PACK - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish/shop⁠ Peter's Grammar Workshop (⁠⁠Use code FIRST-GRAMMAR for a free class⁠) - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://peter-english.com/grammar-workshop⁠⁠⁠ What happens when you stop studying English? I’m sure many of you have thought about this before.  Will your English get worse? Will you still be able to have conversations? And what can you do to prevent this from happening? Today I want to look in more depth at language attrition (the opposite of language learning), and at the same time demonstrate some incredibly useful English conjunctions.  This episode will focus on subordinating conjunctions (I also have two other episodes on coordinating conjunctions and paired conjunctions). Subordinating conjunctions allow us to connect sentence clauses together. Let’s practice using these conjunctions and discuss English learning in today’s episode of Thinking in English Grammar! TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2025/06/23/what-happens-when-you-stop-studying-english-subordinating-conjunction-english-grammar-lesson/ My Links AD Free Main Episodes - ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6gSPOxNCijMq2hTJW8tyx4?si=e7e195bbfae84b6b⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon -⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thinking in English Bonus Podcast -⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/collection/10513⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ NEW YOUTUBE Channel!!! -⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@thinkinginenglishpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Blog - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thinkinginenglish.blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ Borough by Blue Dot Sessions Contact ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ to advertise on Thinking in English. Thinking in English is part of the ⁠⁠Airwave Media⁠⁠ podcast network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Download ELSA for free + get 7 days premium membership for free: ⁠⁠https://bit.ly/ELSAxTHINKINGINENGLISH⁠⁠ Get exclusive ELSA discounts: ⁠⁠https://elsaspeak.com/inf/promo-code-thinking-in-english/?promocode=THINK85⁠ YouTube is now 20 years old! It was officially launched back in 2005, and over the past two decades it has completely transformed the way we use the internet. Today, over 2.5 billion people use YouTube every single month. Every minute, over 500 hours of video are uploaded. From funny cat videos to political debates, from educational content to viral dance trends… YouTube has become one of the most powerful platforms in the world. But what was the internet like before YouTube? How did it grow so fast? What impact has it had on culture, education, and even the way we learn English? And what might happen next? In today’s episode of Thinking in English, we’ll explore the history and influence of YouTube over the past 20 years. I’ll talk about life before YouTube, the story behind its creation, how it’s changed the world, and its potential future. And of course, I’ll share some tips and advice for English learners, because YouTube can be one of the best tools to help you improve your language skills… if you know how to use it properly! TRANSCRIPT - ⁠https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2025/06/16/341-history-of-youtube-english-vocabulary-lesson/ AD Free Episode - ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish⁠⁠ Thinking in English Bonus Podcast -⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/collection/10513⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube Channel -⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@thinkinginenglishpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Borough by Blue Dot Sessions Contact [email protected] to advertise on Thinking in English. Thinking in English is part of the ⁠⁠Airwave Media podcast network.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Download ELSA for free + get 7 days premium membership for free: ⁠https://bit.ly/ELSAxTHINKINGINENGLISH⁠ Get exclusive ELSA discounts: ⁠https://elsaspeak.com/inf/promo-code-thinking-in-english/?promocode=THINK85 Have you ever heard the phrase, “History is written by the victors?” It suggests that the people who win wars and lead countries often control how we remember the past. And perhaps no historical figure better represents this idea than Winston Churchill. To many people, especially in the UK and the West, Churchill is a national hero. He is the man who led Britain through its darkest hour in World War Two. His speeches are iconic, his image is legendary, and his name is often linked to courage, resilience, and freedom. But not everyone sees him this way. To others, Churchill was a symbol of empire, colonialism, and racism. A man whose decisions caused suffering for millions. He is a hero to some, a villain to others. In today’s episode of Thinking in English, we’re going to ask a difficult question: Was Winston Churchill a hero… or a villain? We’ll look at his achievements, examine the darker parts of his legacy, and explore why his reputation remains so controversial today. And as always, I’ll encourage you to think critically and form your own opinion, while learning some new vocabulary! AD Free Episode - ⁠https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish⁠ TRANSCRIPT - ⁠https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2025/05/26/339-pluto-what-is-a-planet-english-vocabulary-lesson/⁠ Patreon -⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thinking in English Bonus Podcast -⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/collection/10513⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YOUTUBE Channel -⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@thinkinginenglishpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Borough by Blue Dot Sessions Contact [email protected] to advertise on Thinking in English. Thinking in English is part of the ⁠Airwave Media podcast network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices