Best Practiceenglish Podcasts (2024)

1
What is retirement like in the United States? (Stay put) 19:22

25m ago19:22

19:22

Today's story: There are over 50 million retirees in the United States, about the equivalent of the entire population of Spain. Every person's retirement is different, but today, you'll learn about what retirement is like for most people in the U.S. Learn this English expression: To 'stay put' is to stay in one place and not move Full lesson: https…

1
Train travel in the U.S. (Up and running) 21:28

10m ago21:28

21:28

Today's story: Train travel is famous in Europe. In the United States, though, it's a little more complicated. But with some planning, you can make train travel part of a U.S. vacation (if you plan ahead and leave plenty of time). Learn this English expression: A system is 'up and running' when it is fully working Full lesson: https://plainenglish.…

1
Fast Version: A quick tour through America's national parks (One of a kind) 16:26

7d ago16:26

16:26

** Enjoy this fast version of Episode #700. Listen to the fast audio of our lessons by signing up for a free trial at PlainEnglish.com Today's story: America's national parks are an important part of the country's natural landscape and they attract millions of visitors per year. Some parks preserve wilderness areas. Others have pristine beaches. Tw…

1
A quick tour through America's national parks (One of a kind) 24:11

4d ago24:11

24:11

Today's story: America's national parks are an important part of the country's natural landscape and they attract millions of visitors per year. Some parks preserve wilderness areas. Others have pristine beaches. Two parks include networks of caves. All are preserved for future generations and open to visitors. Learn this English expression: Someth…

1
Regional varieties of American pizza (Made of) 21:15

12d ago21:15

21:15

Today's story: You fold it in New York. You put caviar on it in California. You make in a pan for car-parts in Detroit. And you eat it with a knife and fork in Chicago. Pizza is a perfect dish for sharing at parties and around a family dinner table. But pizza is not the same everywhere. Here are four regional varieties in the United States. Learn t…

1
School life outside the classroom (Try out) 20:42

16d ago20:42

20:42

Today's story: School is about learning. But for many students, school is about so much more: sports teams, after-school clubs, drama, and free time during the school day. Learn what social and after-school life is like at a typical American school. Learn this English expression: To 'try out' is to compete for a role in a play or on a team Full les…

1
The typical American school day (Spread out) 21:31

21d ago21:31

21:31

Today's story: Math, science, history, reading. Learning these things in school is, now, almost a universal experience. But the specifics of the school day differ from country to country. Here, learn what a typical school day is like in the United States. Learn this English expression: To be 'spread out' is to have a lot of space between each one F…

1
America's west: mountains, plains, and desert (Take cover) 22:05

24d ago22:05

22:05

Today's story: America's west is its most visually stunning region, with Rocky Mountain peaks and the bright lights of Las Vegas. The mountain west has beautiful national parks and forests. The southwest is characterized by bigger (and newer cities) and the desert. Learn this English expression: To 'take cover' is to seek protection from danger (of…

1
America's South is booming (Safety net) 22:08

28d ago22:08

22:08

Today's story: The American South used to be an agricultural region, which lagged behind the rest of the country in education, income, and modernization. But that is no more, as the South is now the destination of choice for families moving within the United States. Learn this English expression: A 'safety net' is all the things that protect you fr…

1
What it's like to live in the Midwest (Fall on hard times) 23:22

29d ago23:22

23:22

Today's story: The Midwest may not have the diversity of the east or the spectacular outdoors of the west coast. But it offers a good quality of life at reasonable cost, with a diversified economy and plenty to do inside and outside. Learn this English expression: To 'fall on hard times' is to experience financial hardship Full lesson: https://plai…

1
A typical American household budget (All in) 19:49

1M ago19:49

19:49

Today's story: Have you ever wondered what a typical American family budget is like? Today, you'll learn about the spending habits of the average household. You'll learn how much typical American families spend on housing, transportation, health care, entertainment, and more. Learn this English expression: 'All in' describes the total cost of an ac…

1
Typical U.S. salaries by profession (Take out) 21:19

1M ago21:19

21:19

Today's story: Have you ever wondered about the typical salary for American workers? If so, this episode is for you. Learn what people in different professions make, from lawyers and doctors to journalists and teachers. Learn this English expression: Use 'take out' to describe obtaining a loan or insurance policy Full lesson: https://plainenglish.c…

1
America's best small museums (Pop culture) 19:12

1M ago19:12

19:12

Today's story: We've all heard of the largest museums. But the United States has many smaller museums, too, often focused on just one subject. From the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh to the National World War II museum in New Orleans, learn about some of the nation's best smaller museums. Learn this English expression: 'Pop culture' is the collec…

1
The best big museums in America (Make a difference) 18:53

1M ago18:53

18:53

Today's story: In this lesson, you'll learn about the nation's great art museums: the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Getty Center. You'll also explore air and space, the history of the automobile, the 9/11 attacks, and the world's biggest children's museum. Learn this English expression: To 'make a difference' is …

1
Is west-coast living really better? (Year-round) 21:33

2M ago21:33

21:33

Today's story: Life on the west coast really is different. The weather is pleasant, people are healthy, and Western states are often at the forefront of cultural change. It's home to Hollywood and high-tech and has some great public universities. But car culture dominates west-coast cities. Learn this English expression: Something happens 'year-rou…

1
East-coast living: the pros and cons (Focus on) 20:04

2M ago20:04

20:04

Today's story: The east coast of the U.S., between Washington, D.C., and Boston, is home to about 50 million people. It has rich history, great cultural treasures, top-notch universities, and four distinct seasons. But the winters are harsh, costs can be high, and the pace of life is fast. Learn this English expression: To focus on something is to …

1
Dollar stores dominate rural America (Fall out of fashion) 20:39

2M ago20:39

20:39

Today's story: Dollar stores started as a novelty, a place where consumers could hunt for amusing bargains. But now, they're a big business. Customers can buy cleaning supplies, hardware, clothes, and some food there, all for rock-bottom prices. But not everyone loves dollar stores. Learn this English expression: If something 'falls out of fashion,…

1
Bad harvests are pushing up orange juice prices (Worthwhile) 21:29

2M ago21:29

21:29

Today's story: Orange juice is the world's favorite fruit juice. But a series of bad harvests in Brazil and Florida is threatening the global supply. Now, producers are wondering whether to use lower-quality juice blends or add other citrus fruits to their orange juice. And farmers are asking whether it's worthwhile to plant new trees. Learn this E…

1
Lost luggage: What happens to it? (Track down) 21:22

2M ago21:22

21:22

Today's story: Have you ever wondered what airlines do with all the lost luggage? If they can't find owners after three months, they go to auction. Here's what happens to all the lost clothes, jewelry, and electronics (and how you might get in on the action). Learn this English expression: To track something down is to find it after a long search F…

1
Flying cars: are they finally here? (Creep closer) 20:17

2M ago20:17

20:17

Today's story: Almost since the invention of the car, people have fantasized about flying cars. But it has always been a dream. Now, though, new startups are ready to start transporting passengers in drone-like flying vehicles. The biggest hurdle now is not the technology, but permission from the government. Learn this English expression: A date ca…

1
Beethoven's hair provides clues to his hearing loss (Suffer from) 18:47

2M ago18:47

18:47

Today's story: A new analysis of Beethoven's hair has found elevated levels of lead, mercury, and arsenic. And while these don't explain the famous composer's death, they may explain some of his many ailments, including gastrointestinal issues, kidney disease, and, yes, hearing loss. Learn this English expression: Use 'suffer from' when someone exp…

1
Heat pumps: the green way to heat a home (Heat up) 19:58

2M ago19:58

19:58

Today's story: Most homes in cold-weather places have furnaces or boilers to provide heat indoors. These are effective and are relatively cheap to install, but they run on fossil fuels. A greener option is heat pumps. But like electric cars, heat pumps face barriers to wider adoption. In this lesson, learn how a heat pump works and why it might be …

1
Mona Lisa background: mystery solved? (Stand up to scrutiny) 20:21

3M ago20:21

20:21

Today's story: The Mona Lisa is the most famous portrait in the world, but much is not known about it. The background shows a lake, rock formations, and a stone arch bridge, but the location has never been known definitively. Now, a geologist and art historian says she has identified the background: Lecco, near Lake Colmo in Italy. Learn this Engli…

1
Surge of dengue in Latin America (Buy up) 19:33

3M ago19:33

19:33

Today's story: Dengue fever is a tropical disease spread by mosquitoes. Though it's not deadly in the vast majority of cases, about five percent of patients require hospitalization. And cases are surging in Latin America. There have been more dengue cases in four months of 2024 than in all of 2023. Governments are trying to stop the spread, but the…

1
Impressionism turns 150 (Fall into) 21:58

3M ago21:58

21:58

Today's story: Impressionism, the art movement that celebrates bright colors, thick brushstrokes, and outdoor settings, turns 150 years old this month. Though Monet, Degas, Renoir, and others are celebrated in museums and art schools around the world, their work was initially rejected by the art establishment. Learn this English expression: Use 'fa…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Practiceenglish Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

1
Plain English

Plain English

1
What is retirement like in the United States? (Stay put) 19:22

1
Train travel in the U.S. (Up and running) 21:28

1
Fast Version: A quick tour through America's national parks (One of a kind) 16:26

1
A quick tour through America's national parks (One of a kind) 24:11

1
Regional varieties of American pizza (Made of) 21:15

1
School life outside the classroom (Try out) 20:42

1
The typical American school day (Spread out) 21:31

1
America's west: mountains, plains, and desert (Take cover) 22:05

1
America's South is booming (Safety net) 22:08

1
What it's like to live in the Midwest (Fall on hard times) 23:22

1
A typical American household budget (All in) 19:49

1
Typical U.S. salaries by profession (Take out) 21:19

1
America's best small museums (Pop culture) 19:12

1
The best big museums in America (Make a difference) 18:53

1
Is west-coast living really better? (Year-round) 21:33

1
East-coast living: the pros and cons (Focus on) 20:04

1
Dollar stores dominate rural America (Fall out of fashion) 20:39

1
Bad harvests are pushing up orange juice prices (Worthwhile) 21:29

1
Lost luggage: What happens to it? (Track down) 21:22

1
Flying cars: are they finally here? (Creep closer) 20:17

1
Beethoven's hair provides clues to his hearing loss (Suffer from) 18:47

1
Heat pumps: the green way to heat a home (Heat up) 19:58

1
Mona Lisa background: mystery solved? (Stand up to scrutiny) 20:21

1
Surge of dengue in Latin America (Buy up) 19:33

1
Impressionism turns 150 (Fall into) 21:58

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