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/englishwitholiver
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Easy-EnglishPodcast
Apple 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 day
4:21 Word 1: convenient - and the trade-off
6:19 Word 2: rely on
8:51 Word 3: outsource - the Google effect
11:24 The MIT ChatGPT study
12:44 What this means for English learners
13:36 Poll: how often do you use AI?
14:41 The 2,000-year-old warning
16:38 Word 4: shortcut - the cable car question
18:17 Quick check
19:34 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/englishwitholiver
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Easy-EnglishPodcast
Apple 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 reunion
4:07 Word 1: envy (and envy vs jealousy)
5:28 Word 2: insecure
7:51 The highlight reel
9:56 Word 3: achievement
11:41 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-esteem
17:12 Silver or bronze: who's happier?
18:49 Four ways to compare less - Word 5: grateful
22:02 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/englishwitholiver
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Easy-EnglishPodcast
Apple 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 change
6:18 Why we stay - Word 3: risk
8:21 The sunk cost fallacy
10:10 Fear of starting again
10:51 Poll: what stops people changing careers?
11:39 Late starters: Vera Wang, Julia Child, Colonel Sanders
13:38 Word 4: retrain - and transferable skills
16:57 Word 5: regret - and the regret test
19:48 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/englishwitholiver

Chapters:
0:00 Why is everyone so tired?
1:53 A typical tired day
2:58 Word 1: exhausted (and "knackered")
4:22 Sleep isn't the whole story - Word 2: energy
6:59 Your energy bank account
8:35 Word 3: recharge - why scrolling isn't rest
10:05 Three types of tiredness
11:34 Poll: what makes you most tired?
12:21 Word 4: burnout - and why it's so common
16:37 Word 5: routine - four habits for more energy
18:57 The free 10-minute trick
20:08 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