English and Beyond: Intermediate English Podcast

Епизоди

• Why Do Some People Instantly Annoy Us? (The Anti-Soulmate) | Intermediate English Listening (B1/B2) - Psychology, Travel & Vocabulary 17.03.2026 15мин

  In this intermediate English listening episode (Intermediate B1/B2 level), we explore the idea of the “anti-soulmate” - the person who instantly irritates you for no clear reason. Through a real life holiday story, you’ll learn natural spoken English while discovering psychological concepts like first impressions, personality clashes, insecurity, and projection. Perfect for intermediate English learners who want to improve listening skills, build useful vocabulary in context, and understand a...
• Don’t Wait For Divine Inspiration! | English Listening and Intermediate Vocabulary 03.03.2026 14мин

  Why do we procrastinate? Why do we wait for inspiration instead of starting? In this intermediate English listening episode, we explore writer’s block, creativity, and productivity through the lives of famous authors like Ernest Hemingway, Agatha Christie, Maya Angelou, and George R. R. Martin. What did they do when inspiration didn’t arrive? Did they wait - or did they build systems to keep working? You’ll learn how ancient Greek poets asked the Muses for divine help, why modern writers rely...
• The Prince Andrew Scandal Explained: Consequences for Powerful People? | Intermediate English 19.02.2026 16мин

  In this Intermediate English listening episode, we explore the Prince Andrew scandal and ask a deeper question: are powerful people really ever held to account? You’ll learn key vocabulary related to law, privilege, media, and public opinion while following a clear explanation of the events surrounding Prince Andrew, Jeffrey Epstein, and the civil case brought by Virginia Giuffre. We examine the difference between criminal and civil law, what it means to be “held to account”, and how wealth a...
• The Fall of "Cool Britannia" and the Rising Korean Wave | Intermediate English Listening 11.02.2026 13мин

  Why did Britain’s 1990s cultural boom fade - and could the same happen to today’s Korean Wave? In this intermediate English listening episode, explore how music, film and national identity shape global trends, from Oasis and the Spice Girls to BTS, K-Pop and Squid Game. Improve your English through cultural analysis while learning key vocabulary related to media, politics and soft power. Discover how Cool Britannia rose, why it declined, and what South Korea’s global influence might reveal ab...
• Who Controls the Story? Myths, Heroes and Propaganda | Intermediate English 29.01.2026 14мин

  Who decides who the heroes are - and who becomes the monster? In this episode, we revisit the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur, not as a simple adventure, but as a story shaped by power and perspective. What happens when a myth is told to make one city look heroic and another cruel? This episode explores how propaganda works, how national stories simplify complex realities, and why the version of a story that survives often benefits those who tell it. Designed for intermediate English learner...
• I Loved Living in London - So Why Did I Leave? | Intermediate English Listening Practice 22.01.2026 14мин

  A personal story about living in London: what people get wrong about the city, what I came to appreciate, and why I eventually walked away. Clear, natural English for intermediate learners. 📖 Want to improve your English even more? Read the full transcript & vocabulary flashcards → www.morethanalanguage.com Watch us on Youtube → @englishandbeyondpodcastEmail your thoughts or questions → oliver@morethanalanguage.com🎙 New episodes every week! Subscribe now to practise listening, expand your...
• Love at First Sight - Analysing My Own True Story in Intermediate English 13.01.2026 16мин

  This intermediate English learning episode tells my true story about love at first sight, dating, emotions, and relationships, with clear, natural spoken English for listening practice. Do you believe in Love At First Sight? 📖 Want to improve your English even more? Read the full transcript & vocabulary flashcards → www.morethanalanguage.com Watch us on Youtube → @englishandbeyondpodcastEmail your thoughts or questions → oliver@morethanalanguage.com🎙 New episodes every week! Subscribe now...
• Why Unrealistic Goals Can Work for Language Learning (Intermediate English B1/B2) 06.01.2026 13мин

  Why do so many New Year’s language goals fail by February? In this episode, Oliver reflects on goal-setting, motivation, and why unrealistic ambitions can sometimes work better than sensible ones - especially for language learners. You’ll hear a practical example of a SMART listening goal, alongside a more personal (and slightly contradictory) approach: using big, impossible goals as pressure, while relying on small, repeatable habits to make real progress. If you struggle with consistency, m...
• Moving House (To My Mother-in-law's Apartment) | Intermediate English Listening Practice [B1/B2] 26.11.2025 14мин

  I’m moving house… to my mother-in-law’s apartment. Yes, *really*. In this episode, I talk about why my partner and I are moving in with her while our new flat is being renovated, and why the whole process fills me with a unique kind of fear. From packing and misplaced chargers to angry drivers and mountains of paperwork, moving house always reveals more chaos than you expect. I also look back at my earlier moves - to Germany, Italy, China and finally Spain - and how living out of two suitcase...
• Are We Bad People For Eating Animals? | Intermediate English Listening Practice 19.11.2025 17мин

  It’s a big question, but this episode starts with something very small - an ant I accidentally killed on a train. That tiny moment led me to think about pain, morality, meat-eating, dairy, fish, and the strange logic many of us use when we decide which animals matter and which don’t. We’ll talk about why some creatures make us feel guilty and others don’t, why the modern food system keeps uncomfortable truths out of sight, and why many of us avoid thinking too deeply about what’s on our plate...
• Republic: When the UK Brought Down Its Kings | Intermediate English Listening Practice 11.11.2025 10мин

  Learn English through one of the most interesting stories in British history: in 1649, Britain killed its own king. The monarchy was gone. Oliver Cromwell took power - and the country became a Republic. The British Revolution! For eleven (quite dull) years, England lived without a crown: no kings, no queens, just strict rules and fading hope for democracy. Find out how the British Republic began, why it failed, and what it taught the monarchy that followed. Perfect for intermediate English le...
• The Future of Food: Would You Eat Insects? | Intermediate English Listening Practice 04.11.2025 13мин

  What if eating became optional? In this episode of English and Beyond : Intermediate English Podcast, I explore the strange and slightly dystopian future of food: from meal-replacement powders to lab-grown meat and even insect protein. Why are scientists and tech companies trying to reinvent something humans have done well enough for thousands of years? And what happens when efficiency replaces pleasure? 📖 Want to improve your English even more? Read the full transcript & vocabulary flash...
• A Horror Story: Learning a Language as an Adult | Intermediate English Listening Practice 29.10.2025 11мин

  If you’re studying English as an adult, you’ll probably recognise this feeling: sitting in class, forgetting simple words, and wondering if you’re too old to improve. In this episode, I share what happened when I went back to school to learn Arabic from scratch, from the beginning, in my 30s - the embarrassment, the motivation, and the small victories that will add up to real progress. You’ll also hear useful and practical tips to help you stay motivated, study effectively, and keep imp...
• Why Do British People Lie? | Intermediate English Listening Practice [B1/B2] 22.10.2025 11мин

  Have you ever been told your cooking was “interesting” - or that “we must do this again sometime”? In Britain, those aren’t compliments. They’re polite lies. In this episode, Oliver explores the very British habit of hiding the truth behind euphemisms - soft, careful words that sound kind but often mean the opposite. From “He’s between jobs” to “It’s not ideal”, you’ll learn how English uses politeness to disguise criticism, avoid conflict, and keep everyone comfortable… even when that means ...
• Margaret Thatcher: National Hero or National Disgrace? | Intermediate English Listening Practice [B1/B2] 14.10.2025 12мин

  Margaret Thatcher changed Britain forever - but not everyone agrees on how. For some, she was the strong leader who rescued the country from decline. For others, she was the politician who destroyed communities and divided a nation. In this episode, you’ll learn who she was, what she did, and why the “Iron Lady” still provokes such strong opinions decades later. Was she a national hero who transformed Britain for the better, or a national disgrace who left deep scars behind? Listen to find ou...
• I Hope Aliens Don't Exist... (The Wow! Signal) | Intermediate English Listening Practice [B1/B2] 07.10.2025 10мин

  In 1977, astronomers in Ohio picked up a mysterious radio signal from deep space - a signal so unusual that the scientist who saw it simply wrote one word next to the data: Wow! In this episode, I explore the story behind the famous “Wow Signal”, what might have caused it, and what it reveals about our search for extraterrestrial life. Are we really alone in the universe? And - perhaps more importantly - should we want to be found? 📖 Want to improve your English even more? Read the full trans...
• Have You Disappointed Your Parents Too? (Quitting My Job) | Intermediate English Listening Practice [B1/B2] 29.09.2025 13мин

  I quit my job as a lawyer, and I upset my parents in the process. Many parents say they only want their children to be happy. But often “happy” looks very similar to “successful” - top grades, a good job, financial security. In this episode, Oliver reflects on parental expectations, cultural differences, and his own experience of following the “safe” path to Oxford and a legal career… only to find it didn’t bring happiness. Why do parents still push us towards success, and why do we still car...
• Stop Sounding Weak in English - Speak Persuasively Instead | Intermediate English Listening Practice [B1/B2] 22.09.2025 12мин

  Want to sound more confident and convincing in English? In this episode of English and Beyond: Intermediate English Podcast, Oliver breaks down the art of persuasion in simple, practical steps. You’ll learn why English is full of short, punchy words that make arguments powerful, how famous speakers like Barack Obama and Winston Churchill use repetition and rhythm, and how you can adapt the same tricks - even as an intermediate learner. By the end of this episode, you’ll know how to: Avoid wea...
• Why Are People So Rude Online? | Intermediate English Listening Practice [B1/B2] 15.09.2025 12мин

  In everyday life, most of us rarely hear truly cruel comments face to face. Yet online, nastiness seems to be everywhere - from newspaper comment sections to Instagram selfies and Twitter threads. In this episode of English and Beyond, we explore why people behave so differently on the internet. Oliver reflects on his own experience receiving unkind comments and examines psychological explanations: online disinhibition, lack of tone, negativity bias, power imbalance, and the role of a small b...
• Why Do We Love Seeing Rich People Suffer? | Intermediate English Listening Practice [B1/B2] 08.09.2025 12мин

  Why do we find it so satisfying to watch the rich suffer? From Succession and The White Lotus to real-life stories of billionaires in crisis, this episode explores our fascination with the downfall of the wealthy. We’ll look at the psychology of schadenfreude, why wealth makes us feel emotionally distant from people, and how their meltdowns echo ancient tragedies. Is it harmless entertainment - or do we lose something when we stop seeing the rich as human? 📖 Want to improve your English even ...