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Leonardo English

Are you looking for a more interesting way to learn English? 

English Learning for Curious Minds is a podcast for intermediate-advanced English learners.

Learn weird and wonderful things about the world at the same time as improving your English.

Every episode comes with an interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary and is spoken at a speed you can understand. 

Join listeners from 189 countries and discover a more interesting way of improving your English. 

Find the bonus episodes, interactive transcripts, subtitles, key vocabulary, and more at www.leonardoenglish.com

English Learning for Curious Minds

In part one of a three-part mini-series on the theme of "university", we go on a whirlwind tour of the history of universities, from medieval student guilds in Bologna to the modern day.
 

 • The University of Bologna nears its thousand-year anniversary.

 • Why universities emerged: stability, trade, rediscovered texts, Church needs.

 • Student guilds hired teachers; papal charters granted privileges, recognition.

 • Medieval curriculum and university specialisations in law, theology, medicine.

 • Renaissance humanism broadened studies beyond law and theology.

 • Scientific Revolution made universities producers of new knowledge.

 • Humboldt model united teaching and research in modern universities.

 • Post-war expansion massified higher education around the world.

 • Today: many universities, 250 million students; degrees often required.

 • UK participation reaches 50%; rising costs and student debt.

Full interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/history-of-university

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You might like:

🔓 Unlock bonus episodes, interactive transcripts, subtitles & vocabulary lists

✨ 5 Powerful Tips for Learning English with Podcasts (Faster & Effectively!) [YouTube]

📹 A look inside Leonardo English membership 

📧 Join our FREE weekly newsletter

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Keywords: Learn English, vocabulary, lessons, idioms, aprende inglés, idiomas, aprender inglês, apprendre l'anglais, imparare l’inglese, ingilizce öğren,英語を習う, تعلم الإنجليزية

#577 | A Short History Of Universities

What does happiness really mean, and can it be measured? 

In this episode, we move from Aristotle’s eudaimonia to brain scans, surveys, big data, and what truly lifts our mood. 

It asks why money only helps so much, why social ties matter, and how trust shapes national well-being. 

 • Pleasure versus purpose happiness: Aristotle and flourishing
 • Subjective well-being: life satisfaction, positive and negative emotions
 • Surveys measure happiness; beware the memory and peak-end rule
 • Experience sampling measures happiness in the moment
 • Findings: happiest socialising, exercising, flow; least during commuting, illness
 • Money boosts happiness, then flattens at higher incomes
 • Social connections increase happiness; loneliness harms, especially during Covid
 • Household size and eating alone trends in happiness
 • Trust in others, institutions, and wallet return beliefs
 • Caring for others versus expecting care from others

 Full interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/science-of-happiness

Read the World Happiness Report here: https://www.worldhappiness.report/

---

You might like:

🔓 Unlock bonus episodes, interactive transcripts, subtitles & vocabulary lists

✨ 5 Powerful Tips for Learning English with Podcasts (Faster & Effectively!) [YouTube]

📹 A look inside Leonardo English membership 

📧 Join our FREE weekly newsletter

---

Keywords: Learn English, vocabulary, lessons, idioms, aprende inglés, idiomas, aprender inglês, apprendre l'anglais, imparare l’inglese, ingilizce öğren,英語を習う, تعلم الإنجليزية

#575 | The Science of Happiness: Can It Be Measured?

Today, we have some news in English from our friends over at SEND7 - Simple English News Daily in 7 minutes. 

World News in 7 minutes. Monday 20th October, 2025.

To listen to SEND7 every morning, search in your podcast app for Simple English News Daily, or go to www.send7.org

⚡️ A bonus episode from SEND7: World News in 7 minutes. Monday 20th October, 2025

From The Vault 🔐 — normally a member-only episode, unlocked this month for everyone.

--

The Affair of the Poisons was a scandal involving black magic, murder, and deceit at the court of King Louis XIV of France. 

It all began with the discovery of a red leather trunk, and would go on to expose the desperation and moral decay behind the glitter of Versailles.

- King Louis XIV and life at the French court
- The role of mistresses in Louis XIV's court
- Marie de Brinvilliers and the hospital poisonings
- The death of Godin de Sainte-Croix reveals a scandal
- La Voisin's role in Parisian witchcraft and poisonings
- The investigation led by Gabriel Nicolas de La Reynie
- The Chambre Ardente tribunal's secretive findings
- Madame de Montespan allegedly plots against the King
- How the scandalous affair was quietly covered up
- The enduring legacy of 17th-century France's dark secrets

👉 Follow along with the interactive transcript, subtitles, and study pack — free, no registration required: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/affair-of-poisons

--

🔓 And if you’d like to unlock our entire catalogue (550+ episodes), along with interactive transcripts, instant translations, and study packs, check out membership at https://bit.ly/FromTheVault2025

[From The Vault 🔐] The Affair of the Poisons

In part one of our three-part series on "Tyrants of the Roman Empire," we'll meet Caligula, the notorious Roman emperor known for his cruelty and excess. 

Once hailed as a promising leader, Caligula's reign quickly devolved into a nightmare, filled with public executions and humiliations. 

 • Caligula's chilling dinner party threat
 • Caligula's background and rise to power
 • Tiberius's influence on young Caligula
 • Public approval and the initial Golden Age
 • Caligula's mysterious illness and recovery
 • Shift to cruelty and public humiliations
 • Caligula's obsession with divinity
 • Extravagant projects and bizarre military orders
 • Assassination by his own guard
 • Legacy of despotism and unchecked power

 Full interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/caligula

---

You might like:

🔓 Unlock bonus episodes, interactive transcripts, subtitles & vocabulary lists

✨ 5 Powerful Tips for Learning English with Podcasts (Faster & Effectively!) [YouTube]

📹 A look inside Leonardo English membership 

📧 Join our FREE weekly newsletter

---

Keywords: Learn English, vocabulary, lessons, idioms, aprende inglés, idiomas, aprender inglês, apprendre l'anglais, imparare l’inglese, ingilizce öğren,英語を習う, تعلم الإنجليزية

#572 | Caligula | Psychopath, Sadist, Emperor

Today it's a bonus episode from Thinking in English, with Tom Wilkinson.

You can find out more about Thinking in English at https://linktr.ee/thinkinginenglishpod

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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!

Thinking in English - https://linktr.ee/thinkinginenglishpod 

YouTube Channel -⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@thinkinginenglishpodcast

---

You might like:

🔓 Unlock bonus episodes, interactive transcripts, subtitles & vocabulary lists

✨ 5 Powerful Tips for Learning English with Podcasts (Faster & Effectively!) [YouTube]

📹 A look inside Leonardo English membership 

📧 Join our FREE weekly newsletter

---

Keywords: Learn English, vocabulary, lessons, idioms, aprende inglés, idiomas, aprender inglês, apprendre l'anglais, imparare l’inglese, ingilizce öğren,英語を習う, تعلم الإنجليزية

[Bonus] Stoicism, Existentialism, and More: Philosophy for English Learners!

The Department of Governmental Efficiency, otherwise known as DOGE, was a radical plan to cut government waste and reduce spending. 
 

Where did the idea come from? How did it work? And crucially, did it do what it set out to do?
 

 • Background to DOGE: Department of Governmental Efficiency

 • Controversial email to federal employees

 • Elon Musk's influence and Twitter comparison

 • Restructuring of USDS into DOGE

 • DOGE's cost-saving objectives and claims

 • Layoffs and budget cuts in various departments

 • Criticism over foreign aid cuts and their impact

 • Accounting errors and inflated savings claims

 • Public protests and Musk's departure

 • Future of DOGE and its divisive legacy

Full interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/doge-elon-musk

---

You might like:

🔓 Unlock bonus episodes, interactive transcripts, subtitles & vocabulary lists

✨ 5 Powerful Tips for Learning English with Podcasts (Faster & Effectively!) [YouTube]

📹 A look inside Leonardo English membership 

📧 Join our FREE weekly newsletter

---

Keywords: Learn English, vocabulary, lessons, idioms, aprende inglés, idiomas, aprender inglês, apprendre l'anglais, imparare l’inglese, ingilizce öğren,英語を習う, تعلم الإنجليزية

#570 | DOGE | Elon Musk's Quest to Shrink the US Government

Was Ross Ulbricht a visionary pioneer or a dangerous criminal? 
 

In part one of our series on "Young American Outlaws", we explore the rise and fall of the Silk Road and how Ulbricht's life sentence, followed by a 2025 presidential pardon, sparked fierce debate over freedom, technology, and the role of government.
 

 • Ross Ulbricht's LinkedIn clue

 • The concept behind The Silk Road

 • Cryptocurrency's role in anonymity

 • The structure of The Silk Road 

 • Unexpected listings and control issues

 • Federal agents' Silk Road investigation

 • The arrest of Ross Ulbricht

 • Charges and the trial

 • Sentencing and pardoning

 • The wider debate on personal freedom

Full interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/silk-road

---

You might like:

🔓 Unlock bonus episodes, interactive transcripts, subtitles & vocabulary lists

✨ 5 Powerful Tips for Learning English with Podcasts (Faster & Effectively!) [YouTube]

📹 A look inside Leonardo English membership 

📧 Join our FREE weekly newsletter

---

Keywords: Learn English, vocabulary, lessons, idioms, aprende inglés, idiomas, aprender inglês, apprendre l'anglais, imparare l’inglese, ingilizce öğren,英語を習う, تعلم الإنجليزية

#567 | Ross Ulbricht & The Silk Road | Drugs, Bitcoin & Digital Outlaws

Ever wondered how the (podcast) sausage is made?
 

In this slightly "meta" episode, I reveal the step-by-step process to make an episode of English Learning for Curious Minds.
 

 • Choosing podcast topics: interest, timelessness, and neutrality 

 • Avoiding controversial topics and current affairs 

 • Researching topics through books, articles, and data 

 • Writing full scripts for natural conversation flow 

 • Using a variety of vocabulary for diverse learners 

 • Rewriting scripts after initial recordings 

 • Aiming for 20-minute episodes, 2,500-3,000-word scripts 

 • Incorporating AI tools for brainstorming and editing 

 • Results from our 2025 listener survey

 • Thank you!

Full interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/how-i-make-podcast-episodes

---

You might like:

🔓 Unlock bonus episodes, interactive transcripts, subtitles & vocabulary lists

✨ 5 Powerful Tips for Learning English with Podcasts (Faster & Effectively!) [YouTube]

📹 A look inside Leonardo English membership 

📧 Join our FREE weekly newsletter

---

Keywords: Learn English, vocabulary, lessons, idioms, aprende inglés, idiomas, aprender inglês, apprendre l'anglais, imparare l’inglese, ingilizce öğren,英語を習う, تعلم الإنجليزية

#565 | How I Make Podcast Episodes

Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, was shocked to read his own obituary branding him the "merchant of death." 
 

While the story might not be entirely true, it pushed him to reconsider his legacy. 
 

His fortune went on to establish the Nobel Prizes, honouring achievements in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and peace, ensuring his name is remembered for contributions to humanity.
 

 • Overview of the Nobel Prize

 • Alfred Nobel's mistaken obituary

 • Nobel's early life and education

 • Invention of dynamite and its impacts

 • Nobel's relationship with Bertha von Suttner 

 • Creation of the Nobel Prize in his will

 • Outcomes and controversies of the Nobel Prize

 • Notable Nobel laureates

 • Controversial Nobel Peace Prize awards

 • Legacy of Alfred Nobel

Full interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/nobel-prize

---

You might like:

🔓 Unlock bonus episodes, interactive transcripts, subtitles & vocabulary lists

✨ 5 Powerful Tips for Learning English with Podcasts (Faster & Effectively!) [YouTube]

📹 A look inside Leonardo English membership 

📧 Join our FREE weekly newsletter

---

Keywords: Learn English, vocabulary, lessons, idioms, aprende inglés, idiomas, aprender inglês, apprendre l'anglais, imparare l’inglese, ingilizce öğren,英語を習う, تعلم الإنجليزية

#563 | The Curious Origins of The Nobel Prize

Discover the amazing story of how a young woman from France befriended the royal family, escaped the guillotine, made death masks of revolutionaries, and then created the world's most successful waxworks museum. 

The story of Madame Tussauds has a lot more to it than meets the eye.

In today's episode we cover:

 • What is wax-working?
 • Going to Paris to seek fortune
 • Teaching art to King Louis XVI’s sister
 • The arrival of the revolution
 • Death masks
 • The trip to London
 • The UK tour
 • Why Brits loved it
 • Madame Tussauds in modern times

Full transcript and key vocabulary available on the website www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/madame-tussauds

---

You might like:

🔓 Unlock bonus episodes, interactive transcripts, subtitles & vocabulary lists

✨ 5 Powerful Tips for Learning English with Podcasts (Faster & Effectively!) [YouTube]

📹 A look inside Leonardo English membership 

📧 Join our FREE weekly newsletter

---

Keywords: Learn English, vocabulary, lessons, idioms, aprende inglés, idiomas, aprender inglês, apprendre l'anglais, imparare l’inglese, ingilizce öğren,英語を習う, تعلم الإنجليزية

#66: The Weird History of Madame Tussauds

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