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Luke's ENGLISH Podcast - Learn British English with Luke Thompson

Luke Thompson

Luke's English Podcast is an award-winning podcast for learners of English. Listen, learn and have fun while picking up natural British English as it really is spoken. http://teacherluke.co.uk

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Avg 2 hr 1 min
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Wednesday · 3 hr 37 min
Episode 1000! 🎉
Here it is, finally! The long-awaited episode 1000. It has taken me weeks to finish this. If you listen, you will understand why it has taken so long! This is a celebration of this podcast after 17 years and 1000 episodes. It includes a lot of rambling, an interview with my brother, questions from friends and family, and the voices of various guests who have been on this podcast over the last few years. Also, regular interruptions from my daughter and all sorts of other random moments such as the sounds of dogs, woodpeckers, neighbours, and more! Thank you to all the LEPsters around the world and my guests for helping to make this achievement possible! ❤️ Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/08/12/episode-1000/ PDF Transcript 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Episode-1000-Transcript-1.pdf LEP Premium 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/premium Full LEP Episode Archive 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/episodes Get James' latest EP "High Score Table" here 👉 https://jimthompson.bandcamp.com/album/high-score-table Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
July 29 · 3 hr 14 min
Sherlock Holmes & The Adventure of the Man with the Twisted Lip 🕵 [999]
Back by popular demand, here is another Sherlock Holmes mystery for episode 999. How will Watson deal with his mini-mission to an opium den, before joining Holmes on one of his most singular cases so far, attempting to solve the disappearance of a gentleman and the suspicious involvement of the man with the twisted lip? Listen to the story and then keep listening as I break it down paragraph by paragraph. Get the story PDF here 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Sherlock-Holmes-The-Adventure-of-the-Man-with-the-Twisted-Lip-999.pdf Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/07/29/sherlock-holmes-the-adventure-of-the-man-with-the-twisted-lip-🕵/ LEP Premium 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
July 21 · 58 min
Rambling in the Countryside 🏡 (feat. my daughter) [998]
Some podcast housekeeping is necessary in this episode, as I talk about current LEP news, moving into a house in the countryside, sketchy plans for episode 1000, an update on the scary story competition, final thoughts on the World Cup, and more. My daughter joins me with various comments throughout, and at one point a bird even flies into the room. What fun we had. PDF transcript available. Get the PDF transcript 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Rambling-in-the-Countryside-feat.-my-daughter-998.pdf Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/07/21/rambling-in-the-countryside-🏡-feat-my-daughter-998/ LEP Premium 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
July 16 · 2 hr 5 min
WORLD CUP RAMBLE #4 ⚽️ FIFA 2026 England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 vs Argentina 🇦🇷 and more... (with Zdenek) [BONUS]
Recorded the day after Argentina beat England in the semi-final 😭 here is World Cup Ramble #4. Zdenek joins me again as we discuss as many talking points as possible, including what on earth happened yesterday, the intense rivalry between Argentina & England, the historical background to that rivalry, Spain eliminating France, predictions for the final and so many other things, including a passionate conversation about cultural differences and communication style, plus the real heroes and villains of this epic World Cup competition. Normal podcasting will continue next week. Luke on The Footglish Podcast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zc-Wjg_DEXk Episode Page https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/07/16/world-cup-ramble-4-fifa-2026-england-vs-argentina-and-much-more-with-zdenek/ LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
July 13 · 1 hr 48 min
Funny Childhood Memories & Stories ⚡️👦 (with Martin) [997]
Martin returns with a set of questions about childhood, sparking a funny conversation full of stories from school, family holidays, getting into trouble, and formative years of Luke growing up both in urban West London and rural West Midlands. Expect a premium episode dealing with vocabulary in this conversation. Get the PDF transcript 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Funny-Childhood-Memories-Stories-with-Martin-Episode-Transcript.pdf Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/07/13/funny-childhood-memories-stories-with-martin/ LEP Premium 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
July 8 · 1 hr 15 min
WORLD CUP RAMBLE 3 ⚽️ FIFA 2026 with Fred [BONUS]
Here is the third World Cup ramble, covering the events of the last 16, predicting the outcomes of the quarter finals and beyond, and discussing the various issues, talking points and controversies. Is the World Cup rigged? Are the referees biased? What about the scandal involving FIFA and Trump? Who is going to win this massive competition? I'm joined by football fan and returning guest Fred Eyangoh. Leave your comments below and join the discussion! Episode page https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/07/08/world-cup-ramble-3-fifa-2026-with-fred-bonus/ LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
July 6 · 2 hr 31 min
Debating Skills in English 🗣️ (with Ray Addam) [996]
Win any argument in English with these incredible debating skills. Ray Addam joins me for a discussion about the art of debating, including various strategies you can use to help you win arguments, disagreements and debates. With plenty of examples given and techniques explained, this is surely a useful episode for developing your speaking skills in English. Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/07/06/debating-skills-in-english-with-ray/ Get the PDF transcript 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Debating-Skills-in-English-with-Ray-Addam-996-.pdf LEP Premium 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium Links for Ray Addam His Preply profile, to book one-to-one English tuition with Ray 👉 https://preply.in/RAY6EN200844011?ts=17815602 Ray's school website, to access my courses and join live group sessions to practise English together, plus soft skills such as debating and public speaking 👉 https://www.skool.com/elevate-english-6228/about?ref=77d17e9d6acf4bf1ae51158796ecaa0f Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
June 30 · 2 hr 10 min
WORLD CUP RAMBLE #2 ⚽️ FIFA 2026 with Zdenek [BONUS]
Here is the next bonus football rambling episode on LEP. The group stage of FIFA World Cup 2026 is over and teams are now being eliminated in the round of 32. In this episode, which is roughly the same length as the average game at WC2026, I am joined by Zdenek from The Footglish Podcast. Expect discussion of styles of play in modern football, the changes introduced this year and their effects on the game - including VAR updates, time wasting measures, plus an overview of England today (30 June) and Czechia, who is the true GOAT - Messi? Who will get to 1000 first? Luke or Christiano Ronaldo? Plus various meme-worthy moments of weirdness and hilarity. The Footglish Podcast 👉https://pod.link/1751816033 Contact Zdenek through his website https://teacherzdenek.com/ Episode page https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/07/01/world-cup-ramble-2-fifa-2026-with-zdenek-bonus/ LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
June 26 · 1 hr 47 min
How to talk about HEATWAVES like a (sweaty) British man 🥵 [995]
There has been an awful heatwave in Europe recently, with really high temperatures and a humid, sticky atmosphere. In this episode I ramble about the conditions, explore vocabulary with the words "hot" and "heat" and show the typical things British people say when the weather is boiling. Expect various funny tangents, anecdotes and improvisations, including a David Attenborough BBC nature documentary about Luke trying to buy lunch on a red-hot Paris boulevard, and plenty more. PDF notes available. Get the PDF with notes and full transcript 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/How-to-talk-about-HEATWAVES-like-a-sweaty-British-man-995-PDF-Transcript.pdf Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/06/29/how-to-talk-about-heatwaves-like-a-sweaty-british-man-995/ LEP Premium (new episodes coming) 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
June 22 · 1 hr 31 min
London Accents & Study Tips with Patricio Languages 🗣️🇬🇧 [994]
What are the different English accents you can hear if you visit London? In this episode I am talking to Patricio from the YouTube channel Patricio Languages, who makes videos about diverse English accents from around the world. We talk about 4 specific accents that are native to his home town of London, namely Received Pronunciation, Cockney, Estuary English and Multicultural London English. We also chat about Patricio's study routines for learning Spanish and Portuguese. So, plenty of insights about British English pronunciation, how to understand native English speakers, and some tips for language learning. Perfect topics for another episode of LEP, right? Full transcript available, and listen all the way to the end to hear me turn into a proper cockney geezer. Check out Patricio's YouTube channel 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@PatricioLanguages Get the episode transcript 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/London-Accents-Study-Tips-with-Patricio-Languages-994TRANSCRIPT.pdf Episode page on my website 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/06/22/london-accents-study-tips-with-patricio-languages-994/ Sign up to LEP Premium for more episodes on vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
June 15 · 2 hr 3 min
Music, Marketing & Memories with Jez Booker 🥁 [993]
In this episode I am reconnecting with an old friend after over 25 years of not seeing each other. Jez Booker is from Solihull in the West Midlands and I first met him at 6th form college, where we became friends and later we got into a band together and had many adventures. Jez later went on to work in marketing and has recently started up his own YouTube channel all about getting out and enjoying the British countryside. Expect a chat full of natural English expressions and slang, and a journey into the past as Jez and I reminisce and also jog each other's memories of things that we did together years ago. Check out Jez's channel "Get Out" @getoutfilms Get the PDF transcript 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Music-Marketing-Memories-with-Jez-Booker-993-Episode-Transcript.pdf Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/06/15/music-marketing-memories-with-jez-booker-993/ LEP Premium 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/premium Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
June 8 · 3 hr 7 min
Vietnam Travelling Diary 🇻🇳 [992]
In 2009 I did a solo travelling experience around Vietnam, and I wrote a diary while I was there. In this episode, over 16 years later, I read out the diary, follow my descriptions of each part of my trip, explore how I was feeling at that time of my life, go off on some comedy and English teaching tangents, and take a journey into the past, across a very different country. Get the episode transcript PDF 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Vietnam-Travelling-Diary-992-Transcript.pdf Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/06/08/vietnam-travelling-diary-992/ LEP Premium 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
June 4 · 1 hr 50 min
[BONUS] FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 PREVIEW MEGARAMBLE ⚽
A bonus mid-week episode previewing the FIFA World Cup 2026 in North America. I'll be talking about all the teams, the favourites, the underdogs, the wild cards, the dark horse teams, England's chances, plus various issues and controversies both on and off the pitch. Comments are welcome! This is a bonus episode, and you will get another normal episode (no football) on Monday. Get the episode PDF https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/BONUS-FIFA-WORLD-CUP-2026-PREVIEW-MEGARAMBLE.pdf Episode page https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/06/04/bonus-fifa-world-cup-2026-preview-megaramble/ LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
June 1 · 1 hr 41 min
Coffee, Cats & Conversation ☕️ Kate Billington’s 900-Day Streak in Taiwan [991]
[991] A conversation with English teacher / comedian / cake maker Kate Billington, talking about her academic qualifications, cutting edge subtitling technology for theatres, questions of teaching English including teaching in Taiwan vs in France, Kate's tips for language learning, a cat-village in Taiwan, traffic madness, earthquakes, signage in train stations, using flashcard apps to learn English, testing Kate's Chinese by making her translate jokes, and drinking coffee in Taipei! Just that! Check out P81 a premium episode with vocabulary review for this conversation. Get the PDF transcript 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Coffee-Cats-Conversation_-900-Days-in-Taiwan-with-Kate-Billington-991.pdf Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/06/01/coffee-cats-conversation-kate-billingtons-900-day-streak-in-taiwan-991/ LEP Premium (with a vocabulary review for this episode) 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium 👩‍🦰 Kate Billington on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cakey_comedy/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 25 · 3 hr 41 min
RAMBLEMAN: Into the Ramble-zone 🌀 [990]
An epic rambling episode packed with British humour, listener emails, anecdotes, English teaching, thoughts about AI, parenting, podcasting, language learning, YouTube comments, animals listening to LEP, British communication styles, and much more. Get the episode PDF 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/RAMBLEMAN_-Into-the-Ramble-zone-990_compressed.pdf Episode page on my website 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/05/25/rambleman-into-the-ramble-zone-990/ Sign up to LEP Premium 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium This is a long-form English listening experience designed to help you improve your English naturally through extensive listening. I explain vocabulary, break down expressions, tell stories & jokes, react to listener comments, and reflect on recent episodes featuring Amber, Paul, James, Charlie Baxter, my parents, my daughter, and more. In this episode: Why some people complain about Luke’s long intros The truth about “rambling” and learning English through listening British expressions like “shoot the breeze”, “chew the fat” and “talk the hind legs off a donkey” Funny listener stories and emails British indirectness and politeness AI, YouTube algorithms and the future of content Parenting, children asking “why?”, and a Louis CK routine Wild boar in Fontainebleau 🐗 Funny dad jokes and Comedy Corner Luke’s thoughts on recent episodes and the future of the podcast Vocabulary explanations including “bothered” vs “disturbed” Why long podcasts can help your English This episode is ideal for: Intermediate to advanced English learners Fans of British English and British humour Learners looking for long English listening practice Anyone who enjoys relaxing podcasts, storytelling and rambling discussions Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 17 · 1 hr 3 min
Crazy Questions with my daughter 👧✨ [989]
In this episode of Luke’s English Podcast, I chat with my 8-year-old daughter as we answer a series of absurd questions, including funny Would You Rather...? questions, imaginative What if...?questions, food questions, science questions, superpowers, animals, fairy tales and more. This is a natural, funny and heart-warming English conversation full of real spoken English, perfect for English learners who want to improve their listening skills, vocabulary, pronunciation and fluency. 📄 Get the PDF transcript for this episode Use the transcript to check words, follow the conversation and study vocabulary from the episode. 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Crazy-Questions-with-my-daughter-989-Questions-Episode-Transcript.pdf 🌐 Website page https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/05/18/crazy-questions-with-my-daughter-989/ ⭐ LEP Premium: https://teacherluke.co.uk/premium Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 10 · 1 hr 46 min
Is the AI Bubble Bursting? 🤖🫧 (Technology & Discussion) with James [988]
[988] In this episode of Luke’s English Podcast, Luke and James discuss artificial intelligence, ChatGPT, the AI bubble, generative AI, AGI, automation, job displacement, tech startups, Silicon Valley culture, deep fakes, AI hallucinations, cryptocurrency, Blade Runner, and the future of work. This is a long-form British English conversation designed to help learners improve listening comprehension, vocabulary and fluency while exploring the hype, risks and promises surrounding AI technology. Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/05/11/is-the-ai-bubble-bursting-technology-discussion-with-james-988/ PDF transcript and vocabulary glossary 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Is-the-AI-Bubble-Bursting_-Technology-Discussion-with-James-988-Transcript.pdf LEP Premium 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium Are the massive predictions about AI and the future real, or just hype? Why does the tech industry push frightening narratives about AI and its effects on society? Will tech companies ever make a profit from the huge $$$ investments they have made in AI? How are ordinary people reacting to AI at the moment? How useful is it for Luke in his job? Do people really like or want what is produced by AI? Will AI ever reach super-intelligence? Is Harrison Ford actually a robot in the film Blade Runner? What disgusting thing did James eat for breakfast today? All these questions answered and discussed in rambling style by The Low Tech Bros - James and Luke. PDF transcript available with vocabulary glossary. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 4 · 2 hr 11 min
Insane Facts 🤯 True or False? with Amber & Paul [987]
[987] British English listening practice at a natural speed with surprising facts and lots of humour. Pod-pals Amber & Paul join me for an outlandish and outrageous "true or false" quiz 📝. Can Amber and Paul decide if these facts are true, or just total bulls#*t (or maybe that should be b*llocks?) The episode is long, the English is fast, but the jokes come regularly and I promise that you will learn something new. ⚠️Warning: some topics are a bit disgusting, graphic or explicit and not for the kids👧🙅. Includes talk of satanic cats 🐈‍⬛, animal accents 🐐, unsexy corn flakes 🥣, wolverine toads 🐸, blood-shooting lizards🦎🩸, suicide sex-bees 🐝, British tank tea 🫖, astro pee 🛰️, urine mouthwash 😬, ancient dogs 🐕, 23-hour dinosaurs 🦕 and a lot more. Listen all the way to the end as things get incredible in the 2nd half. Transcript available. Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/05/04/insane-facts-true-or-false-with-amber-paul-987/ Get the episode PDF 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Insane-Facts_-True-or-False_-with-Amber-Paul-987-TRANSCRIPT.pdf LEP Premium 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
April 27 · 1 hr 4 min
The Bad Room 👞 (Learn English with a Short Story) [986]
Another short story on LEP to entertain you and help you learn some more English words and expressions. This one is a creepy tale about a room in a house with a strange, fatal attraction. People can't stop themselves going through the door, but then what happens to them? Follow along with me and try to understand the final, crucial line at the end. I will explain everything, analyse the vocabulary line by line and teach you plenty of useful English phrases. PDF available as usual! Get the episode PDF 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/The-Bad-Room-Learn-English-with-a-Short-Story-986.pdf Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/04/27/the-bad-room-learn-english-with-a-short-story-986/ Sign up to LEP Premium for more vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation episodes from me 👉 www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
April 20 · 1 hr 33 min
10 Questions about Food 🍲 with Martin [985]
A funny British English conversation about food, cooking & eating habits, with my friend Martin. Why is British food a bit of a joke? Do French people have the right to criticise British cuisine? What is marmite, and why don't Brits just throw it away? What did Luke eat for lunch every single day during secondary school? And, who would be Luke's dream dinner party guests? All that and more, in a conversation full of tangents, recipes, rants and apologies, and a nice range of vocabulary expressions to spot. Enjoy! PDF Transcript available. Sign up to LEP Premium to hear the vocabulary review for this episode with my wife 👉 www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium Get the episode PDF 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/10-Questions-about-Food-with-Martin-985-TRANSCRIPT.pdf Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/04/20/10-questions-about-food-with-martin-985/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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