✨ The Learn English with AI Challenge
📆 Starts Monday, 2nd March
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House prices have soared across the world, rising far faster than wages and locking many people out of home ownership.

This episode looks at why cheap credit, global investors, short-term rentals, and slow building have pushed prices ever higher.

It also asks whether governments can really fix the problem, or if expensive housing is the new normal.

• How house prices have outpaced wages since late 1990s.
• Cheap credit and low interest rates drove prices higher.
• 2008 crisis; policies kept prices from falling much.
• Homes treated as a global safe asset for investors.
• Demand outstrips supply: planning, NIMBY, limited land.
• Rising costs, labour shortages, and developers holding land constrained building.
• Population changes, migration, and smaller households increased demand.
• Higher interest rates raised mortgages; prices stayed high from lock-in.
• Local factors: Airbnb and visa schemes pushed prices up.
• Housing wealth passed down; family help now often essential.
• Are there any solutions?

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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

For decades, Saudi Arabia was ruled by ageing princes, until one young royal began changing the system from within.

This episode tells the story of Mohammed bin Salman, and how he rose rapidly to become Saudi Arabia’s most powerful figure.

• Saudi royal family is huge; succession once moved between brothers.
• Pressure grew to pass power to a younger generation.
• Mohammed bin Salman’s early life, connections, and growing ambition.
• His father becomes king; MBS controls money and army.
• MBS replaces Mohammed bin Nayef as Crown Prince, 2017.
• Ritz-Carlton purge targets princes, businessmen; power and assets seized.
• Vision 2030: modernise society, move economy beyond oil.
• Global investments and NEOM aim to change Saudi image.
• Opponents targeted; Khashoggi murder shocks the world.
• Women driving, cinemas reopen; activists jailed, Yemen war continues.

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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

British politics can feel confusing, with a king, a Prime Minister, and noisy debates in an old building.

This episode explains how the system works, from Parliament and voting to why two parties have ruled for so long.

• Magna Carta and early Parliament shaped British politics.
• Westminster: Parliament's home with Commons and Lords.
• Parliament: Commons of elected MPs, Lords of appointed members.
• Monarch's role: ceremonial, appoints PM, opens Parliament.
• Voting system: constituencies and First Past the Post.
• Two-party dominance challenged by rising Reform party.
• Forming governments, general elections, choosing the Prime Minister.
• MPs' duties, constituency work, and Prime Minister’s Questions.
• Leadership contests and votes of no confidence.
• Devolution: Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland; West Lothian Question.

---

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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

He was a mathematical genius who vanished into the wilderness... and became one of America’s most notorious terrorists.

In this episode, we'll explore the life of the Unabomber, the manifesto that finally exposed him, and the manhunt that lasted 17 years.

• 1995 newspapers publish manifesto; FBI hopes someone recognises author.
• Manifesto argues technology enslaves and crushes freedom.
• David Kaczynski recognises his brother’s writing style.
• Ted’s childhood genius, social isolation, and a Harvard study.
• Leaves academia; Montana cabin life fuels anti-technology radicalisation.
• Bombings kill three, injure twenty-three; targets linked to technology.
• Long, expensive manhunt; few clues for years.
• Language analysis helps arrest; cabin raid finds crucial evidence.
• Trial, plea deal, life sentences, death in 2023.
• Anti-technology message spreads online, despite his original intentions.

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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

What do “truthiness”, “selfie”, and “goblin mode” have in common?

In this episode, we'll see how Words of the Year are chosen, look at some of the most pertinent from history, and explore the winners of this year's prize.

• What "Word of the Year" means
• How dictionaries choose: data and expert judgement
• Sometimes a public vote decides the winner
• Common themes: politics, culture, technology, internet language
• 2005 "truthiness": feels true, not actually true
• 2013 "selfie": rise of phone photos of yourself
• 2016 "post-truth": emotions beat facts in politics
• 2022 "goblin mode": lazy, messy, not sorry attitude
• 2025 "6 7": young people's meme with unclear meaning
• Collins winner "vibe coding": using AI to write code

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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

Is AI really a disaster for the environment, or are the fears exaggerated?

In this episode, we'll discuss the environmental cost of Artificial Intelligence.

From a water controversy in Scotland to the heat of Arizona, we look at how much energy AI really needs, and whether we should be worried.

• BBC report on AI water use in Scotland.
• Scotland's data centres use 0.005% of water supply.
• What data centres are; cooling also uses energy.
• AI requests create answers, needing powerful chips and energy.
• Each query uses tiny energy, CO2, and water.
• Headlines exaggerate AI's impact; context shows minimal effect.
• Data centres use 1.5% of global electricity.
• One burger's water equals millions of AI queries.
• Energy source matters; location and water scarcity change impact.
• AI use growing fast, but efficiency improving a lot.

---

You might like:

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

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

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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