

English Learning for Curious Minds | A More Interesting Way To Learn English
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 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
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 11, 2021 • 16min
#140: Cockney Rhyming Slang
It's a dialect from a small area of London's that might sound impossible to understand.In this episode, you'll learn what "apple and pears" means, what you should do if a friend asks if you want to go to the "battle", and who your "trouble and strife" might be...Example clip of Cockney Rhyming SlangHow Cockney Rhyming Slang is formedFunny connections between Cockney Rhyming Slang and the meaning of wordsWhy does Cockney Rhyming Slang exist?Theories about how Cockney Rhyming Slang was createdIs Cockney Rhyming Slang useful?Cockney Rhyming Slang in pop-cultureSimilarities with Verlan in FrenchWhy you should learn some Cockney Rhyming Slang (even if it isn't useful at all)Full interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/cockney-rhyming-slang
---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

Mar 4, 2021 • 19min
#138: Disney Part III: The Magic
In the last part of our three-part series on Disney, we take a look at the magic of Disney and ask ourselves what ingredients are in its special, magic sauce.Can you really explain the 'magic' of Disney?The Hero's JourneyThe 5 core themes: narrative, characters, morale, humour, songsTheme #1: NarrativeTheme #2: CharactersTheme #3: MoraleTheme #4: HumourTheme #5: SongsBonus magic factor #1: Beautiful animationBonus magic factor #2: Easy to internationalise Bonus magic factor #3: NostalgiaA missing 'secret' ingredient?Full interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/disney-magicLooking for parts I & II of this mini-series?Part I: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/disney-historyPart II: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/disney-business
---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

Feb 25, 2021 • 20min
#136: Disney Part I: The History
In the first part of our three-part series, we take a look at the fascinating history of Disney.From why Mickey Mouse isn't a rabbit through to what Walt Disney was like as a person, the history of Disney is as interesting as it is magical.Early life of Walt DisneySetting off to CaliforniaThe "Alice Comedies"Setting up Disney Brothers Cartoon StudioOswald the Lucky Rabbit (and why you probably haven't heard of him)Walt Disney's first big lessonThe arrival of Mickey MouseMerchandisingStarting to make longer films (Snow White and The Seven Dwarves)Almost going bankruptStarting to make nature documentariesDreaming of an adventure parkWhat was Walt really like as a man?Post-Walt DisneyFilms you might not know are ultimately DisneyThe Disney spending spreeFull interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/disney-history
---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

Feb 19, 2021 • 20min
#134: A Short History of The English Language
From a small, wet island, English has come to be the world's dominant language.How did this actually happen, where does English actually come from, and how has the language changed over the years?How many people speak EnglishWhy English isn't a 'pure' language (English as a mongrel dog, and as a soup)Anglo-Saxons & "Old" EnglishAnglo-Saxon words in English today (and why you should use them)“Short words are best, and old words when short are best of all.” Invasion by the Vikings (and the impact on the English language)Invasion by the Normans (and their linguistic impact)How French words became 'fancier' versions of the original EnglishThe French linguistic influence on how we talk about food in EnglishWilliam Shakespeare & the 1,700 words he added to English"Borrowing" words from the coloniesHow many countries speak English todayEnglish's incredible ability to change (and why some people still don't like that)Full interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/history-of-english-language
---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

Feb 11, 2021 • 19min
#132: Valentine's Day
It's the day of the year where we celebrate love and desire.But where does it actually come from?The origins of Valentine's Day are mysterious, and not even that closely related to love at all."One of those mysterious historical or antiquarian problems which are doomed never to be solved.”Theory #1: St Valentine of RomeTheory #2: St Valentine of TerniAlternative legends of St ValentineWhy is Valentine's Day on 14th February?The traditions of the Roman feast of LupercaliaThe tradition of romance in the Medieval eraValentine's Day & ShakespeareThe commercialisation of Valentine's DayHow much we spend on Valentine's Day every yearAlternatives to Valentine's DayFull interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/valentines-day
---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

Feb 4, 2021 • 20min
#130: Rose Island
Discover the story of what happened when an Italian engineer decided to build an island off the coast of Italy..and then declare it to be an independent country.Giorgio Rosa - the ambitious engineerThe law about who owns the seaHow he built the islandDeclaring Rose Island to be an independent countryThe political situation in the 1960sWhy people were worried when he declared independenceThe reaction of the Italian governmentDeclaring The Republic of Minerva in The Pacific OceanLibertarianism & declaring new nation-statesWhat will the countries of the future look like?Full interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/rose-island
---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

8 snips
Jan 28, 2021 • 18min
#128: The Art of War
It's the world's most famous book on military strategy.Learn about its fascinating history, about the lessons in the book, and discover how you can apply some ideas from this 2,500-year-old book to your English learning. What we know (and don't know) about the bookSun Tzu: military strategist and generalOther authors & editors of The Art of WarBeing brought by Europe (and used by Napoleon?)#1 Lesson from The Art of War: Avoiding War#2 Lesson from The Art of War: Being Prepared#3 Lesson from The Art of War: Being Adaptable#1 English Learning Lesson from The Art of War: Change your strategies#2 English Learning Lesson from The Art of War: Have both a strategy and tactics#3 English Learning Lesson from The Art of War: Take opportunities when you see themWhy you should ignore all of the advice in the book (when it comes to learning English)Full interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/art-of-war
---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

Jan 21, 2021 • 20min
#126: Chocolate
It's the world's favourite sweet snack, and the chocolate industry is worth over $100 billion.Discover the fantastic history of where it comes from, how it became so popular, and learn about some of the economics of chocolate production. The Theobroma Cacao tree: where it all startsAztecs & the early years of drinking chocolateThe arrival of the Spanish Conquistadors & a ‘bitter drink for pigs’Arriving in EuropeHow cacao trees grow (and why it can't in Europe)The invention of the cacao pressThe golden era of chocolateThe industrialisation of the chocolate processChocolate manufacturing & povertyCacao trading & buying futuresChocfinger: the man who cornered the world cacao marketFull interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/chocolate
---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

Jan 7, 2021 • 22min
#122: Bitcoin
It's the most famous cryptocurrency in the world, and went up in value by 269% in 2020.In this episode, we take a look at what it actually is, how it works, why some people think it is the future of money and others think it is a giant bubble.How 'traditional' money worksBanks and storing money1971 and leaving the gold standardInflationSatoshi Nakamoto & the Bitcoin whitepaperPrinciples of bitcoinHow bitcoin payments workHow the blockchain worksBitcoin and inflationWhy the bitcoin price goes up and downBuying things with bitcoinThe first pizzas bought with bitcoinWhy people don't like bitcoinThe US Federal Reserve & bitcoinFull interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/bitcoin
---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

Dec 31, 2020 • 17min
#120: Vespa
It's the iconic Italian scooter that has conquered the world.Learn about how it started, how it got its name, and why it has become such a huge, global success story.“A completely Italian product, such as we have not seen since the Roman chariot”1884 and the founding of PiaggioWorld War I and making aeroplanesWorld War II and being bombed by the AlliesRebuilding the factory and deciding to build a scooterVersion 1: Donald DuckVersion 2: The VespaDesigning a scooter from the ground upSelling 1 million scooters by 1956Vespa and HollywoodVespa as an aspirational symbolVespas in the UK: Mods vs. RockersVespa in Italy todayWeird records in a VespaFull interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/vespa
---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


