Alle afleveringen
278 afleveringen, van nieuw naar oud
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I Can't Keep Doing This (Intermediate)
5 mei 2026 · 28 min
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Enough is enough. Something has to change. I’m sorry everyone, but I can’t do episodes every fortnight anymore.
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Cant for the full transcript.
New Vocabulary
Binge – to do a lot of one thing in one go, e.g. to binge a TV show
A leap of faith – a big, scary decision in your life – comment and let me know what leap of faith you’ve been putting off in your life!
Watching paint dry – an expression we use to refer to a very boring activity
On the back burner – when you keep putting off an important project because it’s not urgent
‘That sucks’ – a colloquial way of saying something is bad
Fortnight – two weeks, or fourteen days (UK English)
To kick in – to start taking effect, e.g. when a medicine kicks in
Anodyne – boring, uninspired, unoriginal
Anecdote – a small story from everyday life
A preview – when you get to see/hear part of something before it’s released
Video about North Korean pop culture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T-pPPUAppk
00:00 Intro
01:24 New Vocabulary
07:37 How tastes have changed
10:45 Me vs. the other English learning podcasts
14:04 Bored of my own style
16:34 I need more time
18:19 Big plans
19:42 Story preview!
24:27 Vocabulary Recap
25:29 Tell me about your leap of faith!
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Cambodia is Hard to Talk About (Conversation)
7 april 2026 · 30 min
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I discuss my friend visiting me from the UK, and an emotional holiday in Cambodia. I touch on the heartbreaking topic of the genocide, but also something more fun: eating a giant spider!
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Cambodia for the full transcript.
00:00 Intro
01:07 A visitor
03:16 Two big empires
05:59 Visa-free travel
07:01 Force-fed in a teahouse
08:23 My new spirit animal
11:36 My most important job
13:55 Cambodia
18:00 Yummy spider!
20:13 The challenge of talking about this
25:31 Summer plans
27:01 Outro
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Herding Mountains to Make a Forest (Pre-Intermediate)
23 maart 2026 · 26 min
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The Stone Forest in Yunnan is a beautiful karst mountain range. But how did it come to be? Learn all about the Sani people and the magical origins of this Chinese nature site in today's episode.
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Mountains for the full transcript.
Level: Pre-Intermediate.
Genre: Myths & Legends.
Vocabulary: Herd, Bucket, Spirit, Order, Whip, Unfurl, Dam, Rooster, Freeze.
Setting: China.
Word Count: 681.
Author: Chinese Myths.
00:00 Intro
00:52 The Sani people
01:39 My full circle momoent
04:12 Leaving Chinese
06:19 Coming back to Chinese
08:57 Busy busy!
11:14 Stumbling across the origin story
13:30 Vocabulary
17:34 Herding Mountains to Make a Forest
23:31 Outro
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Doing Stand-Up Comedy in Chinese (Conversation)
9 maart 2026 · 25 min
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Comedy is hard enough, but doing it in Chinese? Oh, Ariel, you do love a challenge! Hear all about my performance adventures and upcoming travel in this laughs-packed episode.
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Comedy for the full transcript.
00:00 Intro
01:18 Batching episodes
03:09 Discovering pine cones
05:14 The nightmare of tones
08:33 Trying comedy in Chinese
11:37 This is your host!
13:45 London vs. China
15:48 I've arrived
17:56 Upcoming holidays
19:33 Wicked 2
22:31 Let's gallop!
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The Animals' Peace Party (Pre-Intermediate)
23 februari 2026 · 21 min
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The cows and horses have argued with the pigs for too long. It's time to have a peace party and finally settle things. But one very talkative pig has a different view...
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Peace for the full transcript.
Level: Pre-Intermediate.
Genre: Myths & Legends.
Vocabulary: Hoarse, Filthy, Greedy, Settle a dispute, Master (leader), Amongst, Farmhand, Favour (verb), Wisdom, Squeal.
Setting: China.
Word Count: 1044.
Author: Mary Hayes David, Chow Leung.
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All the Housemates I've Ever Had (Conversation)
9 februari 2026 · 59 min
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Living with people isn't easy, and I've had it really hard. The Illuminati, the silent treatment, and deadly narcissists - I've seen it all. If you live alone, this episode will fill you with relief, and if you have housemates, it'll make you think 'Maybe they aren't so bad after all!'
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Housemates for the full transcript.
Cover art image of dirty dishes by Johan Hansson CC BY 2.0
00:00 Preview
00:39 Intro
03:48 The ethics of this episode
05:50 Living in Bristol
13:46 Moving in with a 'friend'
20:16 Choosing my next housemate
22:36 A brief interlude
23:21 Moving to London
27:27 Down to Eltham
32:20 Finally, up to Walthamstow
38:40 The confrontation
48:58 The actual building
52:11 Would I do it again?
55:07 Outro
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How the Moon Became Beautiful (Beginner)
26 januari 2026 · 18 min
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The moon is beautiful, but it wasn't always that way. True love was needed, as well as breaking a mother's heart...
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Moon for the full transcript.
Level: Beginner.
Genre: Myths & Legends.
Vocabulary: Astronomy, Poem, Pick (flower), Sharp, Gentle, Ridiculous.
Setting: China.
Word Count: 843.
Author: Ariel Goodbody.
00:00 Intro
01:11 Vocabulary
04:53 How the Moon Became Beautiful
12:58 Transcription problems
16:10 Outro
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Christmas in Japan (Conversation)
12 januari 2026 · 1 uur 8 min
Hear all about my time in the bars of Osaka and Fukuoka at EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Support. Your support is appreciated! Lees meer
Christmas in Japan isn't like Christmas in the UK. For one thing, it includes humiliation. It also includes very strange food. And don't forget the hot springs!
Vocabulary: Elephant in the room, Onsen, Thatched house, Bullet train, Purikura, Chazuke
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Japan for the full transcript.
00:00 Preview
00:31 Intro
01:34 The elephant in the room
03:23 New Year's resolutions
07:03 A spicy train journey
12:25 The hotel tricked me!
14:19 A smooth flight
15:57 The little things
18:32 Public behaviour
20:38 The wonderful resort
23:26 My first onsen experience
27:41 Let's go to the murder village!
34:13 The panda has left the building
36:14 Meeting the locals
39:15 Pew pew trains
40:51 Bright lights, big city
42:25 Ariel, you tease!
43:58 Welcome to the New World
46:54 The magical disappearing hangover
49:09 Onwards to Fukuoka!
50:51 Embarrassing ourselves at the Pretty Club
52:54 Crooning like robots
53:59 Exploring Fukuoka
57:23 But what about Christmas?
59:34 Culture shock-ish
01:02:35 Outro
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Hansel and Gretel (Pre-Intermediate)
30 december 2025 · 36 min
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What if the witch in Hansel and Gretel was Chinese? Well, then things would be very different. In this twisted version of the classic fairy tale, the two young children run away from the house of sweets and end up somewhere far more exotic...
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Hansel for the full transcript.
Level: Pre-intermediate.
Genre: Horror.
Vocabulary: Woodcutter, Sweet tooth, Twig, Abandon, Breadcrumbs, Quitter, Betrayal, Witch, Belly, Prison bars.
Setting: Fairytale.
Word Count: 2357.
Author: Ariel Goodbody.
00:00 Intro
10:55 Hansel and Gretel
29:52 Outro
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It's My Podcast and I'll Ramble If I Want To (Conversation)
15 december 2025 · 38 min
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Have you ever eaten bone marrow? You know, the fat inside of animal bones? Have you ever wondered whether ancient humans sucked out the marrow like a tube of yoghurt? Yeah, that's the kind of stuff I've been doing recently. Have a listen.
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Ramble for the full transcript.
00:00 Intro
00:48 Friday dreams vs Saturday realities
02:57 Dreaming of any colour Christmas
05:06 Whammageddon
06:42 Yummy bones
09:56 Style change!
12:22 Japan for Christmas
17:06 Osaka is Daban, apparently
23:52 No more faffing about with thumbnails!
30:34 Me, Myself and AI
34:03 Outro
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The Three Goats (Rerun)
1 december 2025 · 22 min
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Three goats live happily in a field eating grass. But one day, there's no more grass. They decide to cross a bridge to another field. But when they try to cross, a monster jumps out, and he wants to eat them!
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/ThreeGoats for the full transcript.
Level: Beginner.
Genre: Children's.
Vocabulary: Goat, Eldest, Middle child, Greedy, Flow, Silly, Drown, Narrow, One by one, Troll, Annoying.
Setting: Fairytale.
Word Count: 1232.
Author: Fairy Tales.
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Hangzhou and the Joy of Cycling (Conversation)
17 november 2025 · 44 min
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This episode has come out very late because of my appendicectomy. Apologies! I have recovered now and we should be back to our regular schedule soon enough.
'Above there is heaven, and below there is Hangzhou.' So it must be a pretty great city, right? I sure thought so! In today's episode, I tell you all about my visit to this ancient Chinese city, with its lovely lake, temples and food.
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Hangzhou for the full transcript.
00:00 Intro
00:53 A rite of passage
02:54 A new view
06:03 Hali Bote
09:57 Hang Joe! Do it!
11:36 Bustling with history
13:30 A mouldy hotel
14:24 That West Lake vibe
16:59 Soaking up the temples
19:22 Amazing noodles
21:37 Back on the bike!
25:44 An unfortunate incident
28:07 New frames
29:18 Where's this cafe??
31:13 The results of my Japanese exam
34:07 Random China things
37:49 The best tissues in the world
40:22 Stay in the light?
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The Demon Cats (Beginner)
30 oktober 2025 · 22 min
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Would you go fishing on Halloween night? That's when demons walk the Earth, and nobody is truly safe... But Murdo McTaggart doesn't believe in superstitions like that, and he heads out to catch fish while the other villagers go to church. He'll come to regret that mistake as the Devil - Auld Clootie himself - comes to him in the form of 13 tone-deaf cats.
Have a spooky time with today's Scottish folk tale! Apologies for the changes to the usual schedule - I'm recovering from an appendicectomy (having my appendix removed) so I've had to move things around a bit.
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/DemonCats for the full transcript.
Level: Beginner
Genre: Horror.
Vocabulary: Demon, Fisherman, Superstition, Fur, Disappear, Bone, Stab, Scratch, Bite, Priest, Holy water.
Setting: Scotland.
Word Count: 1423.
Author: Ariel Goodbody.
00:00 Intro
01:09 Pumpkin Day?
02:28 Vocabulary descriptions
02:32 Demon
03:12 Fisherman
03:30 Superstition
04:10 Fur
04:24 Disappear
04:47 Bone
05:09 Stab
05:35 Scratch and bite
06:01 Priest
06:16 Holy water
06:52 The Demon Cats
08:02 Murdo ignores the warnings
09:14 Something dark is coming...
10:13 The cats sing a cumha
11:48 The first gift
12:32 Another 'song'
13:20 Another offering
13:54 More singing?!
14:57 A clever trick
16:11 A fight to the death?
17:07 A cry for help
18:01 Just in time!
19:32 Outro
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Doggo and Kitty Bake a Cake (Pre-Intermediate)
14 oktober 2025 · 30 min
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It's Kitty's birthday! And how better to celebrate than by baking a cake? Just one problem: how do you do it? Well, if you add five delicious things, it will be five times as delicious, and if you add a hundred delicious things...
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/CakeL2 for the full transcript.
Level: Pre-Intermediate.
Genre: Children's.
Vocabulary: Sandpit, Nuts, Eggshell, Divine, Pretend, Wag, Naughty, Stomach rumbles, Mud.
Setting: Fairytale.
Word Count: 1947.
Author: Ariel Goodbody.
0:00 Intro
0:52 You can see me!
2:31 Relevelling
6:26 Vocabulary
11:03 Doggo and Kitty Bake a Cake
26:10 Outro
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How Slow Can I Go? (Conversation)
7 oktober 2025 · 36 min
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Listen to me articulate and enunciate every word as I discuss unusual beverages, insane apps, doing Pilates in Chinese, and how I'm feeding you all worms.
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Slow for the full transcript.
Vocabulary: Latte, Beetroot, Pistachio, Red envelope, Massage, Pilates, Monologue, Worm, Nest
0:00 Intro
01:41 How slow can I go?
05:33 A mysterious drink
08:10 Crazy Chinese apps
13:00 Inappropriate videos
17:20 Pilates à la Chinoise
19:15 Levelling up abroad
20:59 Autumn, anyone?
22:00 Where to find my funky food pics
24:20 My upcoming travels
27:08 Let's speed things up a bit
32:23 Mother has arrived
33:19 Outro
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The Juniper Tree (Advanced)
30 september 2025 · 51 min
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Skin as white as snow and eyes as red as blood. Some would call it beautiful, but to Nicholas's parents, he is a demon child. But when Nicholas discovers that his 'mother' is not his real mother, his whole world starts to change.
Today's story has themes of child abuse, cannibalism and violence. It is not appropriate for children.
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Juniper for the full transcript.
Level: Advanced.
Genre: Horror
Vocabulary: Juniper berry, Torment, Console, Demon, Witch, Chest (box), Padlock, Millstone.
Setting: Fairytale.
Word Count: 4623.
Author: Ariel Goodbody.
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My Morning Routine (Conversation)
16 september 2025 · 43 min
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What I do every morning, in excruciating detail. When do I floss, how do I know when to put on deodorant, and what do I eat for breakfast? All these fascinating questions, and more, answered for you.
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Routine for the full transcript.
Vocabulary: Night owl, Equator, Dental floss, Mouthwash, Yoga block, Yoga strap, Cork, Bar soap, Shower gel, Deodorant, “He could talk for England”, Grind, Muesli
00:00 Intro
00:50 Throwback to French class
02:59 Are you a morning person or a night owl?
06:22 Brushing and flossing
10:41 Adventures in Listerine
11:55 Yoga time!
16:11 Getting clean
18:27 Deodorant tactics
22:40 Talking for England
23:32 A coffee fiend
26:40 What's for breakfast?
31:21 Eating isn't enough!
35:03 Dumping rubbish
37:43 Easy like Sunday morning
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Before the Light Dies (Beginner)
9 september 2025 · 30 min
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The king asks a clockmaker to repair an old magical clock. But when the clockmaker tries to repair the clock, nothing works... until he discovers a secret that will change his life.
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Clockmaker for the full transcript.
Level: Beginner.
Genre: Romance.
Vocabulary: Clockmaker, Ancestor, Repair, Ban, Apprentice, Gear, Rush, Symbol, Diary, Honesty, Secret.
Setting: Fairytale.
Word Count: 1753.
Author: Ariel Goodbody.
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Hello from China! (Conversation)
2 september 2025 · 44 min
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Spicy bullfrog, fights with policemen and getting locked out... my first two weeks in China have certainly been eventful! Find out all about my move to Ningbo in today's episode.
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/China2 for the full transcript.
Vocabulary: Bureaucracy, Ultrasound, Bedside manner, SIM card, Apartment complex, Congee, Adzuki bean, Bullfrog, Red bayberry, 'Mad dogs and Englishmen', Sweat, Cicada, Pale, 'A fish out of water', Scavenger hunt
00:00 Intro
01:56 The flight
05:07 The fastest train in the world
06:33 Assaulting a policeman
07:48 Making friends with the locals
10:00 The joys of bureaucracy
15:46 My home away from home
17:46 Finally, I'm rich!
19:32 Get your chopsticks out
25:49 It's too darn hot!
27:50 Comfortable and livable
29:15 Security
32:10 Locked out of the system
34:06 My new job
37:23 The hardest thing you can do
40:35 Outro
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Running (Pre-Intermediate)
19 augustus 2025 · 25 min
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Her mind runs, so she runs. She runs to stop her mind running. But one day, she sees an owl in the park, and reality stops running smoothly.
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Running for the full transcript.
Level: Pre-Intermediate.
Genre: Philosophical.
Vocabulary: Squirrel, Leash, Freedom, Owl, Mad, Hunt, Bin, Otter, Footprint, Pawprint, Hoofprint.
Setting: Modern.
Word Count: 1448
Author: Ariel Goodbody.
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I Ate Colin's Face (Conversation)
12 augustus 2025 · 31 min
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In the last week before moving to China, I recount awkward goodbyes, the British tradition of caterpillar-shaped cakes, my sneaky strategy to avoid jet lag, and my super secret language study hacks. Keep listening to learn English!
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Colin for the full transcript.
Vocabulary: Bubbly (drink), Caterpillar, Irish goodbye, Fly long-haul, Maglev, Jet lag
00:00 Intro
01:36 Audio chat
04:42 A week of lasts
05:46 A British icon
10:54 My travel itinerary
13:05 Avoiding jet lag
16:18 Dodging earthquakes
17:39 How I'm studying Chinese
21:51 Finding love at the worst time
24:13 Bathed in love
27:20 Outro
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The Cave of the Danishman (Beginner)
5 augustus 2025 · 50 min
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A horrible pirate called the Denschman terrorises a small Scottish island. But when a storm leaves the Denschman trapped in a cave, will the people of the island be cruel enough to leave him to die?
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Danish for the full transcript.
Level: Beginner.
Genre: Myths & Legends.
Vocabulary: Raid, Eagle, Hide, Sink, Pray, Crash, Sword, Gift, Kind-hearted.
Setting: Scotland.
Word Count: 1992.
Author: Tom Muir.
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Freezing to Death in Scotland (Conversation)
22 juli 2025 · 38 min
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So I recently went to my cousin’s wedding in Edinburgh, which turned out to be much colder than expected, ESPECIALLY since I was camping! Fortunately, the beauty of the Quaker wedding ceremony more than made up for it.
I couldn't stick around for long, though, as I had to whiz back to London on the train to take the highest level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test. Sounds boring, but in fact it allowed me to process old failures, reconnect with academia, and set me up on a good mental path for my move to China. Learn all this more in this episode of Easy Stories in English!
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Freezing for the full transcript.
Vocabulary: Camper van, RV, Quaker, Ceilidh, Pass rate, Emotional breakdown, Close the loop, Peter Pan syndrome, Puer aeternus, Heart rate variability, 'It hits different', Shibboleth
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I Got Kicked Out! (Conversation)
15 juli 2025 · 43 min
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Yes, that's right, I was kicked out of a public building... Not only that, I went to a wild party in Cambridge, and I'm setting the house on fire with incense. Sort of.
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Kicked for the full transcript.
Vocabulary: Hay fever, Incense, Ball (party), Checkmate, Gen Z, Shisha, Bumper cars, Helter skelter, Middle of the road, Joie de vivre
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The Monkey's Heart (Intermediate)
8 juli 2025 · 21 min
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A monkey shares his figs with a shark, and for a while they are friends, but when the shark invites the monkey to his home under the sea, the monkey suspects that something may be wrong...
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Monkey for the full transcript.
Level: Intermediate.
Genre: Philosophical.
Vocabulary: Fig, Nimble, Toss, X and Y don't mix, Halfway, Graceful, Indifferent, Ordeal, Nap, Send someone your wishes.
Setting: Fairytale.
Word Count: 1686.
Author: Fairy Tales.
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Who is Middle Class? (Conversation)
24 juni 2025 · 38 min
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British people are obsessed with class, but what does it mean to be middle class? From accents to animatronic tigers, come with me for a whirlwind tour of class markers in British society.
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/MiddleClass for the full transcript.
Vocabulary: Social bubble, Parvenu, Nouveau riche, Processed food, Received Pronunciation, Posh, Chav
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Just Say Yes (Pre-Intermediate)
17 juni 2025 · 1 uur 4 min
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Tony cannot say no. So he eats food he doesn't like, does a job he hates, and goes on holidays where he almost dies. But when his friend asks him to marry her, will he still say yes?
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Yes for the full transcript.
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Level: Pre-Intermediate.
Genre: Comedy.
Vocabulary: Salmon, Give a speech, Allergy, Spot (body), Squeamish, Faint (verb), Bowling, Health condition, Terrible, Horse-riding, Unable.
Setting: Modern.
Word Count: 2308.
Author: Ariel Goodbody.
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Have You Met Elaine? (Intermediate)
27 mei 2025 · 50 min
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Have you met Elaine? Elaine is very giving, but not very nice. Oh, she loves everyone, but she shows her love through action, not smiles. And Elaine has a secret, which only I know about...
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Elaine for the full transcript.
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Level: Intermediate.
Genre: Horror.
Vocabulary: Cuppa, Hoarder, Ragamuffin, Vandalise, Parish council, Egging, Spot (skin), Fertiliser, Infer, Defrost, Intermittent fasting, Six pack.
Setting: Modern.
Word Count: 1728.
Author: Ariel Goodbody.
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Return to the Sea (Intermediate)
13 mei 2025 · 50 min
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An old fisherman sits by the sea, waiting for fish to come. He has seen the world change hugely through his life. But today, something different is waiting in the water: something monstrous.
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Return for the full transcript.
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Level: Intermediate.
Genre: Philosophical.
Vocabulary: Moustache, Frown, Broom, Fishing rod, Excretion, Barnacle, Wrath, Kelp, Froth.
Setting: Modern.
Word Count: 1220.
Author: Ariel Goodbody.
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Saint George and the Dragon (Rerun)
29 april 2025 · 41 min
Today's episode is a rerun of an older story. Before we get into the story, I talk about my religious experiences during Easter. Lees meer
St George is a famous mythical figure throughout Europe. Most versions of his story involve him fighting and killing a dragon who is causing problems in a city. But in my version, things are bit... smellier.
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/George for the full transcript.
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Level: Pre-Intermediate.
Genre: Myths & Legends.
Vocabulary: Saint, Dragon, Dew, Kingdom, Desert, Tame, Well (water), Pass out, Knight, Scratch, Collar.
Setting: Fairytale.
Word Count: 1662.
Author: Ariel Goodbody.
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Grandmother March (Beginner)
15 april 2025 · 35 min
Why is the weather in March so changeable? Well, it's all to do with wine and a very angry lady from Bulgaria... Lees meer
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/March for the full transcript.
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Level: Beginner.
Genre: Myths & Legends.
Vocabulary: Vineyard, Barrel, Frost, Gentle, Cellar, Temper, Stork, Rage.
Setting: Fairytale.
Word Count: 573.
Author: Ariel Goodbody.
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Giving Up Sugar for Lent (Conversation)
1 april 2025 · 29 min
Lent is the 40 days leading up to Easter. Traditionally, during Lent, Christians fast or give something up. In today's episode, I talk about giving up sugar, plus give some tips on how best to use flashcards to learn vocabulary. Lees meer
Vocabulary: Give something up, Lent, Ramadan, Abstain, Hold someone accountable, Hojicha, Taste buds, Crave, Vain, Spring (verb), Daylight savings, Flashcards
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Lent for the full transcript.
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Banksy | The World's Most Famous Anonymous Artist (English Learning for Curious Minds)
25 maart 2025 · 25 min
Hello, my Lovely Learners! Today we have an episode from English Learning for Curious Minds with Alastair Budge. You might remember last year we did an episode together where we wrote a story, A Visitor from Chilly Bottom, which you can listen to here: https://easystoriesinenglish.com/Chilly/ Lees meer
Banksy is one of the most famous modern British artists known for his anonymous identity and provocative street art.
In this episode, we'll explore Banksy's history, his rise to prominence, and the powerful messages behind his works.
Banksy's anonymous identity fascinates the public
Starting in Bristol's graffiti scene
"Girl with a Balloon" shreds after auction
Banksy's use of stencils for quick artworks
Political and satirical themes in Banksy's art
Mystery of who Banksy really is
Art on public walls, not in galleries
Criticism of the art establishment
Dismaland as a critique of consumer culture
Banksy's impact on street art's legitimacy
Full interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available at: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/banksy
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Adrian's Dream
18 maart 2025 · 56 min
Adrian wants to write, but he can never concentrate. He tries waking up early before work, but he always just goes back to bed. Finally, he decides to start napping, but the results aren't what he expects... Lees meer
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Dream for the full transcript.
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Level: Advanced.
Genre: Philosophical.
Vocabulary: Circadian rhythm, Weaker self, Dent, Blaring, Nap, Diagnostic framework, Buoy, Querying agents, Hook line sinker, Bespectacled, Autopilot, Pond, Thrum, Fête.
Setting: Modern.
Word Count: 1118.
Author: Ariel Goodbody.
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Life, Love and Learning Japanese (Conversation)
4 maart 2025 · 39 min
I catch you all up on what I've been up to recently. There's a bit of philosophy, some dating, and some very manic studying for Japanese. Plus a bit of history! Ever wanted to know about Britain's most infamous king? Now you can! All that and more in today's free-wheeling conversational episode.
Content warning: this episode has some mild swearing in it
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Yappa for the full transcript.
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The Dragon of Kraków (Pre-Intermediate)
18 februari 2025 · 33 min
A dragon is terrorising the city of Kraków, but one man has a way to defeat it. It won't take strength, though, but wisdom.
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Krakow for the full transcript.
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Level: Pre-intermediate.
Genre: Myths & Legends.
Vocabulary: Prove yourself, Terrorise, Flame, Flesh, Wisdom, Strength, Wander, Cobbler, Device, Sulphur, Powder.
Setting: Fairytale.
Word Count: 1901.
Author: Ariel Goodbody.
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The Shape of Art (Beginner)
4 februari 2025 · 25 min
Felicity is a successful lawyer, but she wants a change. She tries painting and loves it. But there's a problem: everyone hates her paintings. Can she find the true shape of her art?
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Shape for the full transcript.
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Level: Beginner.
Genre: Philosophical.
Vocabulary: Shape, Sculpture, Law, Wrong (feeling), Art supplies, Landscape (painting), Portrait, Abstract, Bin.
Setting: Modern.
Word Count: 1397.
Author: Ariel Goodbody.
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Three Balls of Wool (Pre-Intermediate)
21 januari 2025 · 40 min
One day, Leila finds a strange butterfly with three dots and fine lines on its wings. When she tries to touch the butterfly, it turns into a witch and drags her to her castle! For seven years Leila works for the witch, trying to find a way to escape. Then, one day, the witch says she is going travelling...
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Wool for the full transcript.
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Level: Pre-Intermediate.
Genre: Children's.
Vocabulary: Rotten, Fig, Witch, Wart, Scar, Scratch, Itch, Dot, Her curiosity got the better of her, Gaze, Reflection.
Setting: Fairytale.
Word Count: 3099.
Author: A. M. Jalili.
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Think Fast! (Beginner)
7 januari 2025 · 22 min
Eugene is a big nerd, and he's afraid of everything. But one day, a man attacks him in the street, and Eugene discovers that he isn't so weak after all.
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Fast for the full transcript.
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Level: Beginner.
Genre: Comedy.
Vocabulary: Nerd, Solve a formula, Strategy, Attack, Avoid, Power cut, Swing, Punch, Dodge, Lamppost.
Setting: Modern.
Word Count: 1098.
Author: Ariel Goodbody.
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How I Celebrate Christmas (Conversation)
24 december 2024 · 40 min
Chocolate oranges, burning puddings and white carrots: British Christmas is quite unique. Find out all about how it's celebrated in today's episode.
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Christmas for the full transcript.
My video on making mince pies: https://youtu.be/i7VcVKYQRKI
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Word count: 5099
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How the Platypus Came to Be (Pre-Intermediate)
10 december 2024 · 24 min
The nose of a duck, the fur of an otter and the tail of a beaver: platypuses are one of the strangest animals in the world! So where did they come from? Find out in this hilarious story...
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Platypus for the full transcript.
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Level: Pre-Intermediate.
Genre: Myths & Legends.
Vocabulary: Platypus, Beak, Came to be, Can’t be bothered, Pester, Beaver, Tail, Dam, Otter.
Setting: Modern.
Word Count: 1040.
Author: Ariel Goodbody.
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New? Start here! (Conversation)
26 november 2024 · 50 min
New to the podcast, or want to know how best to learn English, and more about me, Ariel Goodbody? You're in the right place. In today's episode I reintroduce myself, answer some frequently asked questions and recommend you my favourite episodes.
Transcript: https://www.easystoriesinenglish.com/start
Get episodes without advertisements! EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Support
Word count: 6463
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The Curse of the Pig (Beginner)
12 november 2024 · 46 min
A princess finds a book that tells her future. When she grows up, she will have to marry a pig. The girl doesn't want to believe it, but one day a pig comes knocking on her door. But things are not as they seem. This is a curse, and there has to be a way to break it...
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Curse for the full transcript.
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Level: Beginner.
Genre: Children's.
Vocabulary: Curse, Forbid, Dragon, Tell the future, Mud, Pork, Pass by in a blur, Transform, String, Tie around, Wear out, Iron, Bone, Catch wind, Ladder.
Setting: Fairytale.
Word Count: 4280.
Author: Ariel Goodbody.
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Three Kisses (Pre-Intermediate)
29 oktober 2024 · 30 min
Answer my survey and get the free beginner story, The City Mouse and the Country Mouse: https://www.easystoriesinenglish.com/ask
Leah's mother dies, and her brother leaves home, and Leah is so sad that she cannot speak. Her father plants a rose garden on her balcony, and every day she gives a white rose to a seagull and kisses it three times, sending it to her brother. But dark magic is also travelling across the sea, and soon Leah will find that every rose is not so sweet...
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Kiss for the full transcript.
Mit dem Code easystories erhältst du das 12-Monatsabo von Babbel zumPreis von nur 6 Monaten. Das Angebot gilt bis zum 31. Oktober 2024. Einfach auf https://www.babbel.com/audio einlösen und loslegen.
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Level: Pre-Intermediate.
Genre: Children's.
Vocabulary: Ruby, Grief, Servant, Dragon, Witch, Seagull, Courage, Slave, Smash, Bathtub.
Setting: Fairytale.
Word Count: 2405.
Author: Gordon Urquhart.
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I have a confession to make...
18 oktober 2024 · 12 min
Answer my survey and get the beginner story, The City Mouse and the Country Mouse: EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Ask
Today, I have a confession to make. I thought I knew what you all wanted, but I was wrong. In this episode, I ask for your help.
Get the transcript: https://easystoriesinenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TRANSCRIPT-I-have-a-confession-to-make.pdf
Level up your English with Story Builders, an eight-week online course https://www.easystoriesinenglish.com/build
Mit dem Code easystories erhältst du das 12-Monatsabo von Babbel zumPreis von nur 6 Monaten. Das Angebot gilt bis zum 31. Oktober 2024. Einfach auf https://www.babbel.com/audio einlösen und loslegen.
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The Freezer Door (Beginner)
15 oktober 2024 · 28 min
Level up your English with Story Builders, an eight-week online course https://www.easystoriesinenglish.com/build
A woman has a loving husband and children, and she's great at her job. So why is she sad? One day, she opens the freezer door and sees the way into another world. If she goes, she will lose her husband and children. But could she be happy there?
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Door for the full transcript.
Level: Beginner.
Genre: Philosophical.
Vocabulary: Freeze, Freezer, Cheek, Pick at, Kid, Nightmare, Gooseberry, Cliff, Sober, Weigh something up, Parallel universe.
Setting: Modern.
Word Count: 1517.
Author: Ariel Goodbody.
Mit dem Code easystories erhältst du das 12-Monatsabo von Babbel zumPreis von nur 6 Monaten. Das Angebot gilt bis zum 31. Oktober 2024. Einfach auf https://www.babbel.com/audio einlösen und loslegen.
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The Superpower of Story with Bree Aesie
1 oktober 2024 · 1 uur 1 min
Get 25% off my Story Builders course by signing up by the end of today! https://easystoriesinenglish.com/build
Today I talk to Bree Aesie from the Into the Story podcast about how to use stories in your everyday life, what makes a great communicator and some interesting memory techniques.
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Bree for the full transcript.
Check out my appearance on Bree's podcast, Into the Story: https://intothestorypodcast.com/stories/63-having-the-courage-to-stand-up/
Mit dem Code easystories erhältst du das 12-Monatsabo von Babbel zumPreis von nur 6 Monaten. Das Angebot gilt bis zum 31. Oktober 2024. Einfach auf https://www.babbel.com/audio einlösen und loslegen.
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Hamburg, City of Water (Conversation)
24 september 2024 · 1 uur 10 min
Get 25% off my Story Builders course by signing up before 1st October! https://easystoriesinenglish.com/build
In today's episode, learn all about the second-largest city in Germany with the world's largest model railway, how I'm conquering my fears with a piece of paper, the controversial new smoking bans in the UK and my fabulous new course Story Builders!
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Hamburg for the full transcript.
Mit dem Code easystories erhältst du das 12-Monatsabo von Babbel zumPreis von nur 6 Monaten. Das Angebot gilt bis zum 31. Oktober 2024. Einfach auf https://www.babbel.com/audio einlösen und loslegen.
Get episodes without adverts + bonus episodes at EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Support. Your support is appreciated!
Vocabulary: ‘How did you find…?’, Streak (record), Leafy, Suburb, Model railway, Nerd, Cityscape, VR, Overwhelmed, Demolish, Bulge out, Privilege, Cobbled, Mortar, Rest on your laurels, CV, Bubbly, Rejection, Trial shift, Bucket list, Resilient, Ban, Phased ban, Nanny state, Vaping, Second-hand smoke
HealthyGamerGG’s video ‘Why Your Identity Dooms You To Failure’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmJmvaMIjIY
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The Pumpkin Jug (Beginner)
10 september 2024 · 45 min
A king meets a woman who grows pumpkins. She gives him water in a dirty old jug, and then she breaks it. The king thinks this is strange, but he likes the woman. So he gives her a challenge: if she can put a big pumpkin in a small jug, he will marry her. But she cannot break the jug or the pumpkin. Can she do it?
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Jug for the full transcript.
Join my email newsletter and find out as soon as my Story Builders course is open: EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Email
Interested in one-to-one classes with me? Find out more and book a free chat with me: EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Classes
Mit dem Code easystories erhältst du das 12-Monatsabo von Babbel zumPreis von nur 6 Monaten. Das Angebot gilt bis zum 31. Oktober 2024. Einfach auf https://www.babbel.com/audio einlösen und loslegen.
Get episodes without adverts + bonus episodes at EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Support. Your support is appreciated!
Level: Beginner.
Genre: Romance.
Vocabulary: Pumpkin, Jug, Pick (flowers), Poppy, Thirsty, Bow (verb), Hole, Fit, Rule (noun), Impossible, Landslide victory, A good match, Come into season.
Setting: Fairytale.
Word Count: 1348.
Author: Ariel Goodbody.
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Misty the Snake (Rerun)
3 september 2024 · 32 min
Misty the Snake loves eating other people's pets. This does not make the people of the United Kingdom happy. So her owner takes her to Brazil, but really she wants to go home to Ghana...
This episode is a rerun, BUT I add some new commentary and talk about my exciting new project, Story Builders. Story Builders will be an eight-week online language course where we will work together to create a story based on all our experiences that will then appear on the podcast. To hear as soon as sign-ups for Story Builders are open, join my email newsletter at EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Email.
Go to EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/MistyRerun for the full transcript.
Mit dem Code easystories erhältst du das 12-Monatsabo von Babbel zumPreis von nur 6 Monaten. Das Angebot gilt bis zum 31. Oktober 2024. Einfach auf https://www.babbel.com/audio einlösen und loslegen.
Get episodes without adverts + bonus episodes at EasyStoriesInEnglish.com/Support. Your support is appreciated!
Level: Beginner.
Genre: Comedy
Vocabulary: Sneak, Parcel, Queue, Bubble wrap, Marmite, Lick, Ex, Prison bars, Put a bounty on someone’s head, Owner, Tongue, Yeast.
Setting: Modern.
Word Count: 1457.
Author: Ariel Goodbody.
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