6 Minute English

INTERMEDIATE LEVEL
Are trees intelligent?
EPISODE 201217 / 17 DEC 2020

 Why do we choose to text instead of talk?

 Loneliness
 Is punctuality important?

Introduction
According to Suzanne Simard, one of the world’s leading tree researchers, trees should be
seen as intelligent. Neil and Georgina talk about trees and how they can communicate and
help each other as well as recognise family members.

This week's question 

What is the world’s largest currently living tree? Is it...

a) a baobab tree?

b) a giant redwood tree?

c) a sequoia tree?

Listen to the programme to find out the answer. 

Vocabulary
family tree
drawing that shows the relationships between the different members of a family

seedlings
very young plants that have grown from seeds

offspring
someone’s children, or the young of an animal or plant

kin
family and relatives (old-fashioned)

agency
ability to act and affect your environment

destiny
everything that happens to someone during their life, including what will happen in the
future

Transcript
Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript
Neil
Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I’m Neil.

Georgina
And I’m Georgina.

Neil
How did you spend your free time during the weeks of lockdown, Georgina? Repainting
the living room? Or doing exercise classes in the kitchen?

Georgina
Actually, Neil, I’ve been doing some online research into my family history. I’m
investigating my family tree – you know, a drawing showing all the relationships between
the different members of my family.

Neil
Ah, how interesting! And how appropriate - because trees are the subject of this
programme – not family trees but real, living-in-the-forest trees.

Georgina
Well, Neil, this might surprise you but according to some people, trees also have families.
There are mother trees who support and help feed child trees.

Neil
That’s right. According to Suzanne Simard, one of the world’s leading tree researchers,
trees should be seen as intelligent. They communicate with each other. They help each
other. And as you mentioned, Georgina, they can even tell their family members.

Georgina
So a tree can have its own family tree – amazing! Tell me more.

Neil
OK, Georgina, but first let me ask you my quiz question. The largest trees in a wood or
forest are called ‘mother trees’. As they’re the biggest, mother trees usually have the
longest, most connected roots. So my question is this – what is the world’s largest
currently living tree? Is it:

a) a baobab tree?,
b) a giant redwood tree?, or,
c) a sequoia tree?

Georgina
Hmmm… I’ve seen photos of redwood trees in California and they’re huge, so I’ll say b) a
giant redwood.

Neil
OK Georgina, I’m sure you only chose that cause it’s the easiest one to pronounce but
we’ll find out the answer at the end of the programme. Now let’s get back to that tree
researcher, Suzanne Simard.

Georgina
Her big idea was the ‘wood wide web’ – a way of describing the network of underground
roots linking trees to other trees of the same family.
Neil
Here’s Suzanne explaining more about tree families to BBC World Service programme,
The Big Idea:

Suzanne Simard
We found that the parent trees would favour those seedlings that were of their
own kin versus the strangers.

David Edmonds
That’s extraordinary – and when you say they favour their own family members, you mean
they’ll send more nutrients to their offspring than they would to, as it were, a stranger
tree?

Suzanne Simard
That’s right.

Georgina
Mother trees send food and nutrients to their own seedlings – young plants that have
been grown from a seed.

Neil
In this way, parent trees help their offspring – another word for their children, or young.
Mother trees can recognise and feed other trees of their own kin – an old fashioned word
meaning family.

Georgina
With the extra nutrients and carbon they receive, the offspring can extend their own root
network and suck up even more nutrients…

Neil
…which in turn increases their own growth, turning some of them into the giants we see
growing in California and other parts of the world.

Georgina
Amazing! With trees behaving in clever ways like this it’s no wonder Suzanne thinks they
have intelligence.

Neil
And that’s not all. Listen again as Suzanne discusses the question of whether trees are
‘alive’ with BBC World Service’s, The Big Idea. See if you can hear her opinion.

Suzanne Simard
Alive in the sense of having agency in their destinies, instead of being you know… I think
a lot of people think of trees as just sort of like these sticks that grow out of the ground,
they’re kind of these inert things that don’t have agency in their destiny, that they don’t
change behaviours and make decisions but what we’re finding is that they do all that. And
you know what step back and think trees have evolved over a long long long time, way
longer than human beings and they have evolved in communities and they have to grow
and survive.

Georgina
I think Suzanne believes trees are alive and intelligent, because she says they
have agency – a concept meaning having the ability to act and effect your environment.
Neil
Dying trees even seem to know the future – before they die, they warn their offspring to
start making new root connections.

Georgina
Showing that trees have some understanding of their destiny – everything that happens in
someone’s life and what will happen in the future.

Neil
So it seems that trees are much more intelligent than we thought, Georgina.

Georgina
It’s certainly going to change how I feel about going for a walk in the woods, surrounded by
all those intelligent trees chatting to each other. I wonder if they have family arguments.

Neil
Ha. Well, I wouldn’t argue with one of those really gigantic tree, such as… well, Georgina,
you tell me.

Georgina
Ah, you mean your quiz question - about the largest living tree?

Neil
Exactly. What did you say?

Georgina
I said the largest currently living tree was, b) a giant redwood. Was I correct, Neil?

Neil
Well, you got the ‘giant’ part right, Georgina, but in fact the answer was c) a giant sequoia
named General Sherman. He lives in California’s Giant Forest, he’s a whopping 83 metres
tall and measures a massive 33 metres around the trunk!

Georgina
Wow! And I bet he has a huge family tree!

Neil
Ha-ha. Right then, Georgina, let’s recap the vocabulary we’ve used discussing intelligent
trees, starting with family tree – a diagram showing the relationships between family
members.

Georgina
Trees are intelligent enough to communicate with their children, or offspring. These
young plants which have grown from seeds are also known as seedlings.

Neil
Another word we learned is kin – an old-fashioned way of saying family.

Georgina
According to tree expert Suzanne Simard, trees have agency – a term describing the
ability to act and influence your surroundings.

Neil
And the fact that trees make all kinds of decisions about their lives suggests they
 understand their destiny - everything that happens to someone during their life, including
in the future.

Georgina
Thank you for joining our walk through the woods of English vocabulary. Remember you
can find more topical discussion on our website…

Neil
…as well as a whole forest of English language resources at bblearningenglish.com.
Goodbye for now.

Georgina
Bye!
Latest 6 Minute English

For the love of foreign languages

EPISODE 210114 / 14 JAN 2021
Is learning languages good for head, heart and soul?

Comfort Food
 EPISODE 210107 / 07 JAN 2021
Hear about comfort food and why we eat it

What is fat-shaming?
EPISODE 201231 / 31 DEC 2020
Hear about why fat-shaming is on the rise

Coronavirus vs other pandemics

EPISODE 201224 / 24 DEC 2020
Hear about coronavirus and how it isn’t that bad compared to historical pandemics

Are trees intelligent?

EPISODE 201217 / 17 DEC 2020
Hear about how trees can communicate with each other


 Can jellyfish help us solve our problems?
EPISODE 201210 / 10 DEC 2020
Could jellyfish could reduce plastic pollution?

Why do we choose to text instead of talk?

EPISODE 201203 / 03 DEC 2020
Hear how texting has become more popular than talking

Loneliness
EPISODE 201126 / 26 NOV 2020
Hear about how loneliness can affect everyone

Is punctuality important?
EPISODE 201119 / 19 NOV 2020
Hear about different people's attitude to being on time


 Could you be a victim of online fraud?
EPISODE 201112 / 12 NOV 2020
Hear about online fraud and how it is becoming more common

Melting ice sheet: Is it too late?

EPISODE 201105 / 05 NOV 2020
Scientists worry about this year's global heating and melting polar ice

Walkman: the music player revolution

EPISODE 201029 / 29 OCT 2020
About 40 years ago, portable music players became a craze with the launch of the Sony
Walkman.

Could humans live in underwater cities?

EPISODE 201022 / 22 OCT 2020
Hear about projects to create liveable underwater habitats


Hacking help for US elections

EPISODE 201015 / 15 OCT 2020
Volunteer hackers are invited to prevent election cyber-attacks

Do chimps have the same emotions as us?

EPISODE 201008 / 08 OCT 2020
Hear the iconic environmentalist Jane Goodall talk about the deep connections between
humans and the great apes

How can we make the web a better place?

EPISODE 201001 / 01 OCT 2020
Learn about Web Science, a new academic subject about the internet

Coronavirus: Dealing with mass unemployment

EPISODE 200924 / 24 SEP 2020
 What will the jobs market look like after the coronavirus pandemic ends?

Grandma therapy in Zimbabwe

EPISODE 200917 / 17 SEP 2020
Local project trains grandmothers to help Zimbabweans mental health

Is there a future without bees?

EPISODE 200910 / 10 SEP 2020
The number of bees is declining at an alarming rate, with serious consequences for
humans.

How to talk about conspiracy theories

EPISODE 200903 / 03 SEP 2020
Conspiracy theories: Don't be fooled!


 What’s the point of blood types?
EPISODE 200827 / 27 AUG 2020
What does your blood type say about you?

Will Covid-19 change cities?

EPISODE 200820 / 20 AUG 2020
The future of cities after the Covid-19 crisis

Is this the era of distrust?

EPISODE 200813 / 13 AUG 2020
What is trust? And who should we place our trust in?

No more bosses
EPISODE 200806 / 06 AUG 2020
Can companies operate better without managers?


 The medicine of coronavirus
EPISODE 200730 / 17 JUL 2020
Neil and Georgina talk about the origins of Covid-19 and teach you related vocabulary.

Food made in space

EPISODE 200723 / 23 JUL 2020
Could plant growth studies in the ISS help feed people on Earth in the future?

Sport against poverty

EPISODE 200716 / 16 JUL 2020
Surf in South Africa, skateboarding in Afghanistan – are making poor children more
assertive.

Covid-19: The office after lockdown

EPISODE 200709 / 09 JUL 2020
Lots of companies are rushing to install technology to make offices and workplaces safer.


Should we wear a face mask?

EPISODE 200702 / 02 JUL 2020
Is wearing a face mask necessary?

Millennials and business

EPISODE 200625 / 25 JUN 2020
Why are millennials so attracted to starting their own businesses?

Is being thrifty a virtue?

EPISODE 200618 / 18 JUN 2020
We talk about being a saver in a consumer culture and discuss the meaning of 'thrift'
through history.

The food delivery revolution

EPISODE 200611 / 11 JUN 2020
 New apps are transforming the way people order food from home

What difference has #MeToo made?

EPISODE 200604 / 04 JUN 2020
Listen to civil rights activist, Tarana Burke, who coined the phrase

Is the recycling system broken?

EPISODE 200528 / 28 MAY 2020
Is recycling a guilt-free way of encouraging us to use more plastic?

The soothing power of books

EPISODE 200521 / 21 MAY 2020
How can books help us relax and feel more alive during troubled times?

Shocking facts about electricity

 EPISODE 200514 / 14 MAY 2020
How do electric systems differ across the world?

The importance of handwashing

EPISODE 200507 / 07 MAY 2020

Tips for parents coping with kids at home

EPISODE 200430 / 30 APR 2020

The power of crying

EPISODE 200423 / 23 APR 2020
Does crying make you feel better?

Are bucket lists always a good thing?

EPISODE 200416 / 16 APR 2020
 Bucket list dilemma

Is the pasty really Cornish?

EPISODE 200409 / 09 APR 2020
Where does a pasty come from?

Touring bands and climate change

EPISODE 200402 / 02 APR 2020
Music with a smaller carbon footprint

Training artificial intelligence

EPISODE 200326 / 26 MAR 2020
How smart is artificial intelligence?

Meditation and the brain

 EPISODE 200319 / 19 MAR 2020
Free your mind

Will humans become extinct?

EPISODE 200312 / 12 MAR 2020
How long will we survive for?

The circular economy

EPISODE 200305 / 05 MAR 2020
Who's responsible for recycling?

Eating pond scum

EPISODE 200227 / 27 FEB 2020
Pond scum - the new superfood which could benefit your health and the planet


 Could you give up fast fashion?
EPISODE 200220 / 20 FEB 2020
Cheap production of clothes is being blamed for contributing to global warming.

How resilient are you?

EPISODE 200213 / 13 FEB 2020
Are we born with the ability to cope well with difficult situations? Can we learn it?

Is it good to disagree?
EPISODE 200206 / 06 FEB 2020
Can a battle of ideas be a constructive exercise?

The benefits of low emission zones

EPISODE 200130 / 30 JAN 2020
What are low emission zones and why are more cities adopting these cleaner-air
initiatives? Clean up your English by listening to this discussion


Women in politics
EPISODE 200123 / 23 JAN 2020
What's inspiring women to get involved in politics?

Could you give up booze for a month?

EPISODE 200116 / 10 JAN 2020
Giving up beer, wine and spirits is a challenge many people include in their New Year's
resolutions.

The decline of the apostrophe

EPISODE 200109 / 09 JAN 2020
Apostrophe misuse

Why does seeing someone yawn make you yawn?

EPISODE 200102 / 02 JAN 2020
 Why is yawning contagious?

Fake or real: What’s the best tree to have at Christmas?

EPISODE 191226 / 26 DEC 2019
What's the carbon footprint of your Christmas tree?

The calming power of nature

EPISODE 191219 / 19 DEC 2019
Can ecotherapy heal our urban woes?

Chatting to new people

EPISODE 191212 / 12 DEC 2019
Anxious about talking to people you don't know? Listen to what a social psychologist has
to say about it.


 Why take a gap year?
EPISODE 191205 / 05 DEC 2019
Does delaying university to travel help you get a job in the future?

The joy of free diving

EPISODE 191128 / 28 NOV 2019
Diving without air

Can robots care for us?

EPISODE 191121 / 21 NOV 2019
Robots with a heart?

Mental health in the workplace

EPISODE 191114 / 14 NOV 2019
How small changes can make a big difference to people with mental health issues at work.


 Why do people like sad music?
EPISODE 191107 / 01 NOV 2019
What goes on in the brain and the body when we listen to Adele?

Why's it called 'mother tongue'?

EPISODE 191031 / 31 OCT 2019
Do we only learn language from our mother?

Is it a good idea to have a tattoo?

EPISODE 191024 / 24 OCT 2019
Are you prepared to be the canvas for a painting that might last forever?

Working for free

EPISODE 191017 / 17 OCT 2019
Internships: exploitation or valuable work experience?


 Can you tell when someone is lying?
EPISODE 191010 / 10 OCT 2019
How lying helps society

Are you good at complaining?

EPISODE 191003 / 30 SEP 2019
Consumers are less keen to keep quiet when they are not happy with the service.

Does your name start with the wrong letter?

EPISODE 190926 / 26 SEP 2019
Learn about alphabet disadvantage!

Faking it: Computers that spot a real smile

EPISODE 190919 / 19 SEP 2019
Something to smile about


 Is tourism harmful?
EPISODE 190912 / 12 SEP 2019
Everyone loves a holiday, but what damage can tourists do? Sam and Rob find out.

The future of food

EPISODE 190905 / 05 SEP 2019
How are we going to feed ourselves?

How can I help the environment?

EPISODE 190829 / 29 AUG 2019
Being more environmentally friendly

Does your age affect your political views?

EPISODE 190822 / 22 AUG 2019
Age and political views


 Cryptocurrencies
EPISODE 190815 / 15 AUG 2019
Libra, Bitcoin... would you invest in digital money?

The art of tipping

EPISODE 190808 / 08 AUG 2019
How much should you tip?

Coffee cups: Do you use your own?

EPISODE 190801 / 01 AUG 2019
Does recycling coffee cups make a difference?

Are you at risk from online fraud?

EPISODE 190725 / 25 JUL 2019
Falling for fraud


 Is shame always bad?
EPISODE 190718 / 18 JUL 2019
Why is 'shame' the emotion of now?

Do you care if you're poor when you're old?

EPISODE 190711 / 11 JUL 2019
Are you planning for a comfortable retirement?

Women’s football
EPISODE 190704 / 04 JUL 2019
FIFA Women's World Cup 2019

The business of eSports

EPISODE 190627 / 27 JUN 2019
Game on for eSports!


 Can death metal bring you joy?
EPISODE 190620 / 20 JUN 2019
Does fast, loud, aggressive, guitar-based music inspire violence or happiness?

Is talking on the phone embarrassing?

EPISODE 190613 / 13 JUN 2019
Is talking on the telephone embarrassing?

Women and motorbikes

EPISODE 190606 / 06 JUN 2019
Why do we associate motorcycles with men?

Vampire shoppers
EPISODE 190530 / 30 MAY 2019
Shopping online in the middle of the night is becoming popular but, is it always a good
idea?


What to do when you can't sleep

EPISODE 190523 / 23 MAY 2019
Is there anything more frustrating?

Being slim: Is it in our genes?

EPISODE 190516 / 16 MAY 2019
Studies have shown that about 40% of the variation in a person's weight is influenced by
genes.

Can we trust a smart speaker?

EPISODE 190509 / 09 MAY 2019
Do smart speakers make life easier or spy on you?

Evolution and anxiety

EPISODE 190502 / 02 MAY 2019
 Has anxiety been good for humans?

The rise in popularity of the comfy shoe

EPISODE 190425 / 25 APR 2019
Everyone's wearing them!

Rabbits: cuddly friends or cunning tricksters?

EPISODE 190418 / 18 APR 2019
Neil and Rob talk about the animal symbol of Easter in literature and in the real world.

The decluttering trend

EPISODE 190411 / 11 APR 2019
Is it time you decluttered?

Why do we feel awkward?

 EPISODE 190404 / 04 APR 2019
Do you know that cringey feeling?

Side hustles
EPISODE 190328 / 28 MAR 2019
Do you have a second job?

How your eyes predict your personality

EPISODE 190321 / 21 MAR 2019
Be careful where you look!

Debating veganism: How to change someone's opinion

EPISODE 190314 / 14 MAR 2019
Debating veganism


 What's on your to-do list?
EPISODE 190307 / 07 MAR 2019
How much do you enjoy doing housework and paying bills?

Unicorns
EPISODE 190228 / 28 FEB 2019
Why are these magical creatures back in fashion?

Are food allergies more common now?

EPISODE 190221 / 21 FEB 2019
Are you allergic to anything?

Dating apps
EPISODE 190214 / 14 FEB 2019
How effective are dating apps when you're looking for a romantic partner?


 High heels
EPISODE 190207 / 07 FEB 2019
What's so special about these uncomfortable shoes?

Improving your memory

EPISODE 190131 / 31 JAN 2019
How good is your memory?

Concepts of happiness
EPISODE 190124 / 24 JAN 2019
What makes you happy?

Is music getting faster?

EPISODE 190117 / 17 JAN 2019
New technology might be putting an end to instrumental introductions to pop songs


 The benefits of schadenfreude
EPISODE 190110 / 10 JAN 2019
What's the positive side of feeling good when bad things happen to people you envy?

Could you be flexitarian?

EPISODE 190103 / 03 JAN 2019
Would you all but give up eating meat to save the environment?

Michelle Obama on empowerment

EPISODE 181227 / 27 DEC 2018
The former US First Lady and her mission to inspire women

Why we push buttons

EPISODE 181220 / 20 DEC 2018
Are you a button presser?


 The teenage brain
EPISODE 181213 / 13 DEC 2018
Inside a teenager's head

Why does 'x' mean 'kiss'?

EPISODE 181206 / 06 DEC 2018
What does 'x' really mean?

Photo-friendly food
EPISODE 181129 / 29 NOV 2018
Making good-looking food

The smell of coffee

EPISODE 181122 / 22 NOV 2018
How important is the smell of coffee?


 What chickens can teach us about hierarchies
EPISODE 181115 / 09 NOV 2018
What can chickens teach us about organisation?

Loneliness
EPISODE 181108 / 08 NOV 2018
Can people feel lonely in a crowded place?

Objectification
EPISODE 181101 / 01 NOV 2018
Neil and Sam discuss objectification. What is it and is there really a 'perfect body'?

How creative should we be?

EPISODE 181025 / 25 OCT 2018
Rob and Neil discuss the must-have skill of the future


 What is scumbro?
EPISODE 181018 / 18 OCT 2018
Paying a lot to look a mess!

Curbing our plastic addiction

EPISODE 181011 / 11 OCT 2018
Could we live without plastic? We discuss the issues and the progress that's being made.

Describing Generation Z
EPISODE 181004 / 04 OCT 2018
Have you grown up with social media?

High-vis fashion
EPISODE 180927 / 27 SEP 2018
A bright new fashion trend


 Snowflakes and taking offence
EPISODE 180920 / 20 SEP 2018
The word snowflake has taken on a new meaning. We discuss this new term without
causing offence!

Dating apps: How our brains react

EPISODE 180913 / 13 SEP 2018
What does our brain tell us to do when faced with a dating app?

Beating a sedentary lifestyle

EPISODE 180906 / 06 SEP 2018
Do you lead a sedentary lifestyle? Learn what made people more active in Finland.

Street food: Why is it becoming so popular?

EPISODE 180830 / 30 AUG 2018
Why is street food becoming more popular in the UK?


Are smartphones killing cameras?

EPISODE 180823 / 10 AUG 2018
Do people still buy cameras when everybody is keen on selfies?

Fathers
EPISODE 180816 / 16 AUG 2018
Why do men want to be fathers?

A tall story
EPISODE 180809 / 09 AUG 2018
Does being taller mean you earn more at work?

How intelligent is the octopus?

EPISODE 180802 / 02 AUG 2018
Learn more about this fascinating animal


Not going out

EPISODE 180726 / 26 JUL 2018
Why are countryside walks no longer so popular?

Is technology always the solution?

EPISODE 180719 / 19 JUL 2018
Why technology doesn't always know best

Smartphone addiction
EPISODE 180712 / 12 JUL 2018
Smartphone addiction

Surf and turf

EPISODE 180705 / 05 JUL 2018
Surf and turf shopping


Broken hearts
EPISODE 180628 / 28 JUN 2018
A healthy heart

Is gaming a sport?
EPISODE 180621 / 21 JUN 2018
The Fortnite phenomenon

Are you excited about the World Cup?

EPISODE 180614 / 14 JUN 2018
Are you a football fan?

Talking to machines
EPISODE 180607 / 07 JUN 2018
Our new virtual assistants


Taking risks
EPISODE 180531 / 31 MAY 2018
Risky language

Women in space
EPISODE 180524 / 24 MAY 2018
Gender equality

Football songs: Why are crowds so quiet these days?

EPISODE 180517 / 17 MAY 2018
Why are football fans so quiet nowdays?

Hangry: are you angry when you're hungry?

EPISODE 180510 / 10 MAY 2018
hungry + angry = hangry


Perfume: what your smell says about you

EPISODE 180503 / 03 MAY 2018
What does your smell say about you?

Is the internet good or bad?

EPISODE 180426 / 26 APR 2018
Is the internet a positive thing?

Lying to children
EPISODE 180419 / 19 APR 2018
Is it good to lie?

Are you a foodie?

EPISODE 180412 / 12 APR 2018
How much do you know about the food you eat?


The future of marriage

EPISODE 180405 / 05 APR 2018
Marriage decline

Who needs a manbag?

EPISODE 180329 / 29 MAR 2018
A bag for a man

Microadventures!
EPISODE 180322 / 22 MAR 2018
A mini-adventure

How do you learn to speak a language?

EPISODE 180315 / 15 MAR 2018
Words to learn


Robot therapist
EPISODE 180308 / 08 MAR 2018
Would you tell a robot your deepest secrets?

Hello, hello
EPISODE 180301 / 01 MAR 2018
The history of the humble ‘hello’

Swimming like a mermaid

EPISODE 180222 / 22 FEB 2018
A new approach to swimming

The rise of drones

EPISODE 180215 / 15 FEB 2018
Are drones taking off?


Transport of the future

EPISODE 180208 / 08 FEB 2018
Future travel

What’s in a name?
EPISODE 180201 / 01 FEB 2018
A new wedding trend?

Rise of the machines

EPISODE 180125 / 25 JAN 2018
Are robots and artificial intelligence taking over from humans? Dan and Neil discuss the
rise of the machines

A dry January?
EPISODE 180118 / 18 JAN 2018
 Are you trying to give up drinking this month? Catherine and Rob discuss abstaining and
the benefits of a dry January

Ethical coffee
EPISODE 180111 / 11 JAN 2018
Would you pay more for coffee if you knew it was doing some good? Dan and Catherine
discuss the pros and cons of ethically produced coffee.

Bitcoin: digital crypto-currency

EPISODE 180104 / 04 JAN 2018
Bitcoin is here and it's generating interest. Is that a good or bad thing? Dan and Neil
discuss the pros and cons of this digital currency.

Is 'man flu' real?

EPISODE 171228 / 28 DEC 2017
Can science prove the existence of 'man flu' or are men just big babies? Dan and Neil
discuss all this and give you six useful items of vocabulary.


The perfect Santa

EPISODE 171221 / 21 DEC 2017
A popular job at this time of year is playing the part of Santa. But what does it take to be
the perfect Father Christmas? Neil and Dan discuss whether it's a role that would suit Dan.

Should schoolchildren have jobs?

EPISODE 171214 / 14 DEC 2017
The number of schoolchildren doing part-time jobs in the UK has fallen. Is that a good
thing? Neil and Dan discuss the pros and cons of working while you're still at school.

What do you buy when you're sad?

EPISODE 171207 / 07 DEC 2017
Have you ever bought something when you're sad and then regretted it later?

Do you need to upgrade your phone?

 EPISODE 171130 / 30 NOV 2017
How old is your smartphone?

Why more of us are getting fitter together

EPISODE 171123 / 23 NOV 2017
More people are going to the gym to get fitter but why?

How do you like your coffee?

EPISODE 171116 / 16 NOV 2017
Does a cafe's free wi-fi encourage you to go in and buy a coffee?

Pedestrianisation - is it good for cities and towns?

EPISODE 171102 / 02 NOV 2017
There’s a fresh interest in keeping cars out of cities. Is it a good idea?


 Too much sugar
EPISODE 171026 / 26 OCT 2017
Are you aware of how much of the sweet stuff you eat?

What’s wetiquette?
EPISODE 171019 / 19 OCT 2017
When you have to be polite and courteous ... even when you swim!

Why pay for bottled water?

EPISODE 171012 / 12 OCT 2017
Can you tell the difference between the taste of bottled water and tap water?

Do adults exercise enough?

EPISODE 171005 / 05 OCT 2017
Neil and Rob talk about vigorous exercise – and whether adults take enough of it!


 What can't computers do?
EPISODE 170928 / 28 SEP 2017
Are you afraid of machines that copy human intelligent behaviour?

The wonders of hair

EPISODE 170921 / 21 SEP 2017
Did you know that when the entire body is aging hair can grow stronger?

Having a row or asking for directions?

EPISODE 170914 / 14 SEP 2017
Tim and Neil talk about interactions that can be misunderstood by people of different
backgrounds

Uniforms
EPISODE 170907 / 07 SEP 2017
A policeman, a pilot, a chef - what's our fascination with uniforms?


Laughing could kill you

EPISODE 170831 / 31 AUG 2017
Tim and Neil laugh their head off as they teach you useful vocabulary

Would the world stop without clocks?

EPISODE 170824 / 24 AUG 2017
Rob and Neil are in a hurry to discuss our concept of time and teach you new words

What makes a video go viral?

EPISODE 170817 / 17 AUG 2017
Rob and Neil discuss what makes people want to share a video

Fancy dress funerals

EPISODE 170810 / 10 AUG 2017
Have you ever thought about what sort of funeral you would like to have?


It's good to talk

EPISODE 170803 / 03 AUG 2017
The treatments that help people stay mentally healthy

How honest are we?

EPISODE 170727 / 27 JUL 2017
Have you ever cheated an honesty box? Is honesty really the best policy?

You think you're invisible?

EPISODE 170720 / 20 JUL 2017
Do you not want to be seen?

How do pets navigate?

EPISODE 170713 / 13 JUL 2017
How do lost cats and dogs find their way home?


Self-help
EPISODE 170706 / 06 JUL 2017
Want to improve your life?

Faces and first impressions

EPISODE 170629 / 29 JUN 2017
Can we trust our first impressions?

Built to fail?
EPISODE 170622 / 22 JUN 2017
Why do we throw away so much technology?

Mindfulness
EPISODE 170615 / 15 JUN 2017
 Relax, slow down and breathe. Neil and Catherine explore mindfulness - what it is and
what benefits it offers

Is happiness genetic?
EPISODE 170608 / 08 JUN 2017
Is happiness in the DNA?

Water Burial
EPISODE 170601 / 01 JUN 2017
A new way to rest in peace

Could you go vegan?

EPISODE 170525 / 25 MAY 2017
Could you give up meat and animal products?


 Goldfish, brains and phones
EPISODE 170518 / 18 MAY 2017
Do people now have shorter attention spans than goldfish?

How much food do you waste?

EPISODE 170511 / 11 MAY 2017
Food waste is a major problem

The super rich

EPISODE 170504 / 04 MAY 2017
The rich are getting richer

Miraculous survival
EPISODE 170427 / 27 APR 2017
How did a man fall from a 47 storey skyscraper and survive?


 Sighing
EPISODE 170420 / 20 APR 2017
Why do we sigh?

Multiple Careers
EPISODE 170413 / 13 APR 2017
What's behind the trend for having more than one career?

Food and mood

EPISODE 170406 / 06 APR 2017
How does your food affect your mood?

Dog detectors
EPISODE 170330 / 30 MAR 2017
Can dogs be used to detect cancer?


 The rise of the emoji
EPISODE 170323 / 23 MAR 2017
Are you an emoji person? We explore how simple smiley faces have become powerful
communication tools.

What your lunch says about you

EPISODE 170316 / 16 MAR 2017
What do you eat for lunch? Sandwiches are the most popular lunchtime meal in the UK,
but why?

Mermaids – Fact or fiction?

EPISODE 170309 / 09 MAR 2017
Are mermaids real?

Life expectancy
EPISODE 170302 / 02 MAR 2017
Can humanity really breach the 90 year limit?


Gun control without guns

EPISODE 170223 / 23 FEB 2017
Gun control with no guns? How is that possible? Join Dan and Neil to find out.

How romance ruined love

EPISODE 170216 / 16 FEB 2017
Neil and Dan discuss romanticism

Can you trust your own eyes?

EPISODE 170209 / 09 FEB 2017
Catherine and Neil discuss why the police and the legal system are concerned about
eyewitness testimony

Why do cities make us rude?

EPISODE 170202 / 02 FEB 2017
 Catherine and Neil discuss how the pressures of modern living are making us hostile to
each other

Family history
EPISODE 170126 / 26 JAN 2017
Why are so many people obsessed with learning about their family history? Neil and
Catherine talk about genealogy

Life on the edge

EPISODE 170119 / 19 JAN 2017
The increased study of extremophile microbes has revealed a lot about what is and is not
needed to sustain life on Earth

What's your superpower?

EPISODE 170112 / 12 JAN 2017
Why are we so fascinated with the superheroes that populate our cinema screens and
comic books?


Driving
EPISODE 170105 / 05 JAN 2017
Alice and Neil discuss whether we would miss driving as driverless cars are tested in cities
around the world

Introvert... and proud!

EPISODE 161229 / 29 DEC 2016
What’s your personality type? If you are an introvert you’re in good company; Barack
Obama, JK Rowling are introverts...

Why do crazes take off?

EPISODE 161222 / 22 DEC 2016
Why is it that some games, hobbies and activities become crazes while others don’t? Alice
and Neil talk about their preferences


 When do you feel sleepy?
EPISODE 161215 / 15 DEC 2016
Alice and Neil discuss circadian rhythms – the so-called body clock that influences an
organism's daily cycle of changes

Cleopatra
EPISODE 161208 / 08 DEC 2016
Sophie and Neil discuss why the last pharaoh of Egypt still fascinates people today

Animal phobias
EPISODE 161201 / 01 DEC 2016
Why do we fear animals that pose no threat to us? Sophie and Neil discuss the reason
why fear of spiders is so common

Women's right to vote

EPISODE 161124 / 24 NOV 2016
Neil and Alice talk about the defiant women who fought for their right to choose their
representatives


Why we love trainers

EPISODE 161117 / 17 NOV 2016
Call them what you want – trainers, sneakers, tennis shoes – but why does everybody love
them so much?

On your bike
EPISODE 161110 / 10 NOV 2016
Sophie and Neil discuss the bike's mass appeal, from helping to widen the gene pool to
blazing a trail for the women’s movement

Hi, meet my online persona!

EPISODE 161103 / 03 NOV 2016
Sophie and Neil discuss social networks and why we often use different identities for
different social media


 How do you read your news?
EPISODE 161027 / 27 OCT 2016
Free, digital news is threatening traditional newspapers. Sophie and Neil discuss the pros
and cons of news in print

Do opposites attract?
EPISODE 161020 / 20 OCT 2016
Why are we attracted to some people and not to others? Sophie and Neil discuss love at
first sight

Is loneliness in our genes?

EPISODE 161013 / 13 OCT 2016
What is loneliness and why do we feel it? Sophie and Neil discuss how feeling lonely can
help us to survive

Who do you think you are?

EPISODE 161006 / 06 OCT 2016
How do you see yourself and how do others see you? Alice and Neil discuss identity and
how appearances can be deceptive


Does punctuation matter?

EPISODE 160929 / 29 SEP 2016
Why is punctuation important? Neil and Alice discuss rhetoric, commas and full stops.

Penicillin: breaking the mould

EPISODE 160922 / 22 SEP 2016
Alice and Neil discuss penicillin, the so-called wonder drug discovered in 1928 by
Alexander Fleming

Global warming
EPISODE 160915 / 15 SEP 2016
What might the world look like if temperatures keep rising? Neil and Alice discuss the need
to adapt to the changes ahead

Old tech
 EPISODE 160908 / 08 SEP 2016
Did you ever own a Walkman or a record player? Alice and Neil discuss old tech and why
the US Pentagon still uses floppy disks

Slang
EPISODE 160901 / 01 SEP 2016
Neil and Alice discuss the differences between slang, jargon, and swearing, while teaching
you some Cockney Rhyming Slang

Domestic chores
EPISODE 160825 / 25 AUG 2016
Do women clean the house more often than men? Alice and Neil discuss the topic and
teach you a tidy amount of vocabulary

Have you walked off your pizza?

EPISODE 160818 / 18 AUG 2016
Is food labelling clear enough to help us make healthy choices? Alice and Neil discuss
chocolate chip muffins along with some other tasty vocabulary


How to cure writer's block

EPISODE 160811 / 11 AUG 2016
Who were the Muses and how did they help the creative process? Neil and Alice discuss
how to be more creative

Is English changing?
EPISODE 160804 / 04 AUG 2016
Will we still be speaking in an English we recognise in a thousand years' time? Alice and
Neil make some educated guesses!

Heritage sites
EPISODE 160728 / 28 JUL 2016
Neil and Alice discuss the threat to The Great Barrier Reef, the Grand Canyon, and the
Inca city of Machu Picchu in Peru


 Are we there yet?
EPISODE 160721 / 21 JUL 2016
Why do some weeks just fly by but sometimes minutes can seem like hours? Neil and
Alice discuss our perception of time

Cities of the future

EPISODE 160714 / 14 JUL 2016
What will the cities of the future look like, and will we enjoy living in them? Alice and Neil
discuss Neil's attempt at town planning

Diabetes
EPISODE 160707 / 07 JUL 2016
Why is the disease diabetes on the rise? Alice and Neil talk about the role that diet has to
play in this global health problem

Get on with it!

EPISODE 160630 / 30 JUN 2016
Why do we procrastinate? Rob and Alice discuss why it can be difficult to get on with tasks


Who would you imitate?

EPISODE 160623 / 23 JUN 2016
Why do we like to impersonate people? Neil tries out his best impression of Elvis while
teaching you some related vocabulary

How to prepare for an exam

EPISODE 160616 / 16 JUN 2016
Alice and Rob consider which study techniques are good and which aren't. Does sleeping
with a book under your pillow help?

Young and in business

EPISODE 160609 / 09 JUN 2016
Young entrepreneurs are appearing everywhere. Alice and Rob discuss whether grey hair
is best


 Do as I say, not as I do
EPISODE 160602 / 02 JUN 2016
Why do people often say one thing and do another? Alice and Rob ask how far hypocrisy
is actually part of who we are

Could you be an astronaut?

EPISODE 160526 / 26 MAY 2016
Do you have what it takes to go to space? Alice and Rob discuss the challenges of a job
thousands of people are keen on

Conspiracy theories
EPISODE 160519 / 19 MAY 2016
Do you believe men walked on the Moon? Alice and Rob discuss why some people are
suspicious about everything

Have you got too much stuff?

EPISODE 160512 / 12 MAY 2016
You've decluttered and tidied but could you live life free of stuff? Alice and Rob discuss
why we give objects emotional value


How bad is booze?

EPISODE 160505 / 05 MAY 2016
Are you a teetotaler or a drinker? Rob and Alice discuss what risk to your health regular
drinking may have

Is chivalry dead?
EPISODE 160428 / 28 APR 2016
What does it take to impress the ladies in the 21st century? Neil and Alice discuss knights
in shining armour

Never too old

EPISODE 160421 / 21 APR 2016
Is retirement the end of everything or just a door for new opportunities? Alice and Rob talk
about aging


 Do you think for yourself?
EPISODE 160414 / 14 APR 2016
Do you always agree with what most people in your group say? Neil and Sophie discuss
staff meetings.

Brain training
EPISODE 160407 / 07 APR 2016
Neil and Sophie discuss the health benefits of being able to speak two languages fluently.
And Neil... speaks Japanese!

Is social media a distraction?

EPISODE 160331 / 31 MAR 2016
How often do you check your phone? Neil and Sophie discuss how social media is
changing the way we interact.

Gardening
EPISODE 160324 / 24 MAR 2016
Sophie and Neil discover that soil has some surprising qualities and discuss how growing
food can be therapeutic too


What's in a fairy tale?

EPISODE 160317 / 17 MAR 2016
Sophie and Neil talk about traditional fairy tales for the adult market and teach you some
magical vocabulary

Corporate team building

EPISODE 160310 / 10 MAR 2016
Neil and Sophie discuss the growing industry of team building – from zombie bootcamps to
horse training for executives.

Life on Mars
EPISODE 160303 / 03 MAR 2016
Neil and Sophie discuss Mars, the fourth rock from the Sun

It's all in the genes

 EPISODE 160225 / 25 FEB 2016
Neil and Sophie talk about gene editing, designer babies and how many errors Neil might
have in his genetic code.

Giving away your fortune

EPISODE 160218 / 18 FEB 2016
How generous are you? Neil and Sophie discuss Mark Zuckerberg and what it takes to be
a modern-day philanthropist.

How would you like to pay?

EPISODE 160211 / 11 FEB 2016
Are the days of paying by cash for a latte or a newspaper nearly gone? Alice and Neil
discuss Neil's fondness for loose change...

How do you like your tea?

EPISODE 160204 / 04 FEB 2016
Tea comes in different forms – milky, sweet or spicy. Alice and Neil discuss how this Asian
leaf conquered the world.


The commute
EPISODE 160128 / 28 JAN 2016
Train, car, bicycle ... Hundreds of millions of us make the same journey day in day out.
Take a hike with Alice and Neil and learn new vocabulary.

Are we afraid of food?

EPISODE 160121 / 21 JAN 2016
Are food allergies on the increase and if so, why? Neil and Alice talk about the growing
fear of food and teach new words.

Is modern life making us tired?

EPISODE 160114 / 14 JAN 2016
Are artificial lights and late night TV ruining our sleep? Neil and Alice discuss the issue and
teach you related vocabulary.


 Asking the right questions
EPISODE 160107 / 07 JAN 2016
What does it take to be a good interviewer? Neil and Alice discuss TV chat show hosts
and teach you some related vocabulary.

The way we look

EPISODE 151231 / 31 DEC 2015
How much does appearance really matter? Neil and Alice discuss fitness and New Year's
resolutions

Christmas kindness
EPISODE 151224 / 24 DEC 2015
Some families struggle to buy even food and can’t afford presents. Neil and Alice discuss
how some charities are helping those in need.

Why do we take risks?

EPISODE 151217 / 17 DEC 2015
Alice and Finn talk about the passion some people have for danger and the unseen threats
we face every day


Is student life all good?

EPISODE 151210 / 10 DEC 2015
Alice and Neil discuss the psychological pressures of going to university. They also teach
some related vocabulary.

Robin Hood
EPISODE 151203 / 03 DEC 2015
Neil and Alice discuss the long-lasting appeal of this man with a bow and how he has
changed over the centuries

How much is your spouse worth?

EPISODE 151126 / 26 NOV 2015
Do you know how much your partner earns? Is he or she in debt? Would this make you
love them less?


 100 Women
EPISODE 151119 / 19 NOV 2015
The BBC broadcasts a season of programmes discussing women's issues around the
world

What makes us laugh?

EPISODE 151112 / 12 NOV 2015
Are you good at telling jokes? What makes a good comedian?

The impact of plastic

EPISODE 151105 / 05 NOV 2015
Should we all pay for supermarket plastic bags? Neil and Alice take a look at the
environmental impact of plastic and teach you some related words.

Shakespeare in plain English

EPISODE 151029 / 29 OCT 2015
Should the difficult language of Shakespeare be 'translated' into plain English?


New transport on two wheels

EPISODE 151022 / 22 OCT 2015
The bicycle is the most popular form of two-wheeled transport in the world, but could we all
soon be using hoverboards? Listen to Neil and Finn's conversation and learn some new
words.

Will robots take our jobs?

EPISODE 151015 / 15 OCT 2015
If you are sitting at a desk or answering the phone, stop for a moment and ask: could a
robot or machine do this job better? Neil and Finn discuss the future of our jobs.

Do we read to show off?

EPISODE 151008 / 08 OCT 2015
Neil and Alice discuss what kind of book people like to be seen reading. Do you like to
impress people with a classic book in your hands?


 Summer-born kids
EPISODE 151001 / 01 OCT 2015
Does being born in the summer reduce your chance of going to university?

The Earth's core

EPISODE 150924 / 24 SEP 2015
Take a trip with Rob and Alice to find out about the Earth’s core. They’ll discuss how hot it
is – and whether there are any dinosaurs living there!

The meaning of clothes

EPISODE 150917 / 17 SEP 2015
Do you dress formally or casually? Do you choose trendy items or old comfortable ones?
Rob and Will talk about the meaning of clothes.

The Proms
EPISODE 150910 / 10 SEP 2015
It's been described as the world's largest and most democratic classical music festival.
Neil and Finn guide you through the BBC Proms


Is knuckle cracking good for you?

EPISODE 150903 / 03 SEP 2015
What an awful sound - cracking your knuckles! Listen in to Rob and Neil to find out if it's a
useful skill or just an annoying habit

Evolution before Darwin

EPISODE 150827 / 27 AUG 2015
Was Charles Darwin the only man with ideas about evolution? Rob and Neil talk about
someone else who discovered it first.

Lifts
EPISODE 150820 / 20 AUG 2015
What are the modern day dilemmas in using a lift? Rob and Neil discuss the awkwardness
and irritation of being in one


 Compulsory voting
EPISODE 150813 / 13 AUG 2015
Should young people be made to vote in elections or should we choose? We discuss the
ideas behind compulsory voting

Chins
EPISODE 150806 / 08 AUG 2015
What do we need our chins for? Rob and Neil discuss how we got them and what our
chins say about us

Why do gibbons sing duets?

EPISODE 150730 / 30 JUL 2015
Why do gibbons sing duets and what has this got to do with the evolution of the human
language?

Are models too skinny?

EPISODE 150723 / 23 JUL 2015
Skinny models: What does the law say about walking the catwalk?


Is a game just a game?

EPISODE 150716 / 16 JUL 2015
The dangers of computer games. How good are they for our health?

The wonder of blood

EPISODE 150709 / 09 JUL 2015
It's amazing! What part of our body have scientists discovered can heal and help us?

Why did Singapore ban gum?

EPISODE 150702 / 02 JUL 2015
Do you chew gum and what do you do with it when you've finished? Listen to Rob and
Finn discussing the history and chemical properties of gum and why it's messing up our
streets whilst explaining some related vocabulary

Food banks
 EPISODE 150625 / 25 JUN 2015
Food banks provide food to people in the UK who can't afford to buy their own. Rob and
Finn discuss this how they work and how they help many of the country's poorest

The teenage brain

EPISODE 150618 / 18 JUN 2015
Listen to Neil and Rob discussing mood swings, risk taking, and why people make fun of
teenagers, while they also explore some related vocabulary.

The Outernet
EPISODE 150611 / 11 JUN 2015
How can remote parts of the world get access to the internet? Neil and Catherine discuss
a new idea for spreading knowledge

Is aggression useful?
EPISODE 150604 / 04 JUN 2015
What makes us angry and why is aggression useful? Neil and Catherine discuss human
behaviour.


Are beards back to stay?

EPISODE 150528 / 28 MAY 2015
Big bushy beards have become so fashionable that there's now an art exhibition dedicated
to them

Is a door just a door?

EPISODE 150521 / 21 MAY 2015
A London apartment block has front and back entrances for private and social housing - or
so-called rich and poor doors. Does it make sense to you? Listen to a discussion whilst
learning some housing-related vocabulary

The first space walk

EPISODE 150514 / 14 MAY 2015
Fifty years ago, on 18 March 1965, Soviet astronaut Alexei Leonov took the first space
walk. Listen to Rob and Neil describing the struggles of that ground-breaking space
mission whilst explaining some related vocabulary.


Wireless furniture for phones

EPISODE 150507 / 07 MAY 2015
Furniture with built-in wireless charging technology - like a coffee table is now being sold.
'Built-in' means the technology is included as part of the table. So you just pop your phone
on the table, and technology does the rest!

Saving China's elephants

EPISODE 150430 / 30 APR 2015
Many animals face extinction. But people are realising that they must act now to stop
further losses. A scheme to save the Asian elephant in China could provide an answer.

Life without music

EPISODE 150423 / 23 APR 2015
How does music make you feel? Research shows that it actually influences us more than
we realise - whether we're at the movies, the supermarket, or down the pub


 The story behind coffee
EPISODE 150416 / 16 APR 2015
Coffee is now the most popular drink in the world. But what about the economics and
politics of coffee production? It's as complicated as getting the right flavour in your cup

The sun
EPISODE 150409 / 09 APR 2015
Rob and Neil put on their sunglasses to find out more about this special star and teach
some related vocabulary. We promise you won’t be blinded with science!

The three-parent baby

EPISODE 150402 / 02 APR 2015
The UK has become the first country to approve legislation allowing the creation of babies
with genetic material from three people. Listen to Neil and Harry’s conversation and learn
some related vocabulary.

A threat to London's artwork?

EPISODE 150326 / 26 MAR 2015
What are some art galleries banning to protect their paintings? Find out with Neil and
Harry


Human microchips
EPISODE 150319 / 19 MAR 2015
An electronic device under your skin?! Workers in Sweden take part in experiment which
allows them to get in and out of their office without a key, ID or password. Listen to Neil
and Harry’s chat and learn some related vocabulary.

The two sides of Churchill

EPISODE 150312 / 12 MAR 2015
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Winston Churchill’s death. He is known
throughout the world for his role in defeating Nazi Germany but he also made mistakes.
Listen to Neil and Mike’s discussion, and learn new vocabulary.

Poverty in a rich world

EPISODE 150305 / 05 MAR 2015
We live in a richer world. But the gap between rich and poor is still very wide in individual
countries. How to change this? Listen to Rob and Harry’s discussion, and learn some
related vocabulary.


The cost of life-saving vaccines

EPISODE 150226 / 26 FEB 2015
The price of vaccines has escalated and some poor countries are struggling to prevent
children from catching certain life-threatening diseases, says Medecins Sans Frontieres.
Listen to Rob and Neil’s discussion, and learn some related vocabulary.

Do you fear Artificial Intelligence?

EPISODE 150219 / 19 FEB 2015
Will thinking computers be the end of humans? Listen to Rob and Neil’s chat and learn
some related vocabulary.

Should tourists go to Antarctica?

EPISODE 150212 / 12 FEB 2015
About 37,000 tourists are expected to visit Antarctica this season. But should they be
going to a region with such a sensitive environment? Listen to Rob and Neil’s conversation
and learn some new vocabulary.


Does your CV shine?

EPISODE 150205 / 05 FEB 2015
At a time when more people compete for fewer jobs, are you sure you present your skills
and abilities well to a potential employer? Listen to Rob and Neil's conversation and learn
some related vocabulary.

Are you big on small talk?

EPISODE 150129 / 29 JAN 2015
Going to a party where you don't know anyone? Listen to Rob and Neil's advice and learn
some related vocabulary

Are computers making us dumb?

EPISODE 150122 / 22 JAN 2015
We use computers for everything nowadays. Are we forgetting our own abilities - and
losing our talent? Listen to Rob and Neil's discussion, and learn some related vocabulary


 Smokers to face one more ban
EPISODE 150115 / 15 JAN 2015
Smoking in cars with children might be banned in England. Listen to Neil and Rob's chat
and learn some related vocabulary

Bullying or normal competition?

EPISODE 150108 / 08 JAN 2015
Is bullying just an attempt to give a bad name to what is part of human nature? Listen to
Rob and Neil’s chat and learn some related vocabulary.

Time capsules
EPISODE 150101 / 01 JAN 2015
What would you put in your time capsule? Listen to Rob and Neil’s chat and learn new
vocabulary

The Christmas Truce

EPISODE 141225 / 25 DEC 2014
When enemy soldiers sang together in WW1. Listen to Rob and Finn’s chat and learn
some related vocabulary.


42 languages
EPISODE 141218 / 18 DEC 2014
The London school where students speak 42 different languages

Laughter is bad for you

EPISODE 141211 / 11 DEC 2014
Laughter isn't always the best medicine, says research

Cloud of suspicion
EPISODE 141204 / 04 DEC 2014
Are your pictures, documents and videos safe online? Listen to Rob and Finn's chat and
learn new vocabulary

Sharing economy
EPISODE 141127 / 27 NOV 2014
 Nowhere to park? How the sharing economy is changing the way we use our space

Can science fiction save the world?

EPISODE 141120 / 20 NOV 2014
How can science fiction help the world? Rob and Finn discuss a project which aims to
inspire through stories of a bright future

Is eating meat killing our planet?

EPISODE 141113 / 13 NOV 2014
Why is eating meat bad news?

What makes a superhero?

EPISODE 141106 / 06 NOV 2014
Do real-life superheroes exist or are they just cartoon characters?


 Cigarettes v e-cigarettes
EPISODE 141030 / 30 OCT 2014
Rob and Finn discuss the World Health Organisation's recommendations on e-cigarettes

The bitter taste of sugar

EPISODE 141023 / 23 OCT 2014
Should we eat less sugar? Listen to Rob and Neil and learn new vocabulary

How quickly can you learn English?

EPISODE 141016 / 16 OCT 2014
Is learning English getting easier? Find out what's new

Food waste
EPISODE 141009 / 09 OCT 2014
Why do we buy so much food and not eat it all? Learn more about food waste


 Sleeping on the job
EPISODE 141002 / 02 OCT 2014
Is it right to sleep at work? Rob and Finn discuss the benefits of sleeping on the job.

The fame game

EPISODE 140929 / 29 SEP 2014
Is the way we see famous people a new thing? Learn about the first 'modern celebrity'.

Dealing with boredom

EPISODE 140821 / 21 AUG 2014
Bored? You're not alone. Rob and Finn discuss how to deal with boredom and teach some
related vocabulary. We promise you won't be bored!