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Thinking in English

Thomas Wilkinson

Thinking in English is a podcast for intermediate and advanced English learners who want to do more than just study grammar and vocabulary.

I believe that thinking is one of the most important steps on the road to fluency. That’s why each episode explores fascinating topics, from politics, economics, and history to philosophy, science, and culture.

Instead of simply learning English, this podcast helps you learn in English. You’ll expand your knowledge, discover new ideas, and improve your language skills, all at the same time.


Bonus episodes and ad-free episodes, exclusive for Patreon subscribers: https://www.patreon.com/collection/869866
Join our Conversation Clubs and support the podcast: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish⁠
Visit the website: ⁠https://thinkinginenglish.blog/⁠


Thinking in English is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Contact advertising@airwavemedia.com to advertise on Thinking in English.

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  • 483 episodes
  • Updated Monday

Episodes483

Newest first
  • July 27 · 33 min

    398. Why Does Canada Speak French and English? (English Vocabulary Lesson)

    In today's episode, we're going to explore how Canada was formed, why English and French coexist, how Canada developed its unique relationship with Britain, and the biggest challenges shaping Canada's future. And we will do all of this while practicing your English listening comprehension and learning some new vocabulary.

  • July 20 · 31 min

    397. Who Will Be the Next Prime Minister of the UK? (English Vocabulary Lesson)

    Why has Keir Starmer resigned after such a convincing election victory? Who is Andy Burnham, the politician many people expect to replace him? What kind of prime minister might he become? And why has British politics become so unstable over the past decade? Let's find out, and at the same time learn some new English vocabulary and practice your English listening comprehension.

  • July 13 · 28 min

    396. 10 Years Language Learning: Lessons I'd Give My Younger Self (English Vocabulary Lesson)

    in today's episode of Thinking in English, I thought it would be interesting to discuss my past 10 years of language learning experiences: how I went from zero knowledge of Japanese to being able to live in Japanese daily if I need to. Hopefully by listening to this episode, you guys will receive some motivation and some advice about your own language learning journeys.

  • July 6 · 28 min

    395. What Was the USA Like in 1776? (English Vocabulary Lesson)

    I thought it would be interesting to spend this episode considering what the US was like two hundred and fifty years ago. Back when it was thirteen separate colonies, that were not united at all, and before there was a concept of being an “American” or being a citizen of the USA. I’m going to talk about the original colonies, the declaration of independence, the revolutionary war, and how the USA developed. At the same time, we will be practicing our English listening comprehension and learnin

  • June 22 · 32 min

    393. History of Football! (English Vocabulary Lesson)

    In this episode, we are going to explore the development of football. I want to talk about medieval folk football, the British schools that helped create modern rules, and cities like Sheffield that played their own versions of the game. We’ll also look at why football and rugby developed separately, where the word “soccer” actually comes from, and how industrialisation transformed football into a global professional sport watched by billions of people.

  • June 15 · 27 min

    392. History of Warsaw (English Vocabulary Lesson)

    In this episode, I am going to explore the fascinating history of Warsaw. We’ll look at its rise as Poland’s capital, periods of foreign occupation and division, the devastation of World War II, communist rebuilding, and the modern city we see today. And we will learn some new vocabulary and practice our English listening comprehension at the same time!

  • May 25 · 28 min

    389. What Was the First Book Ever Written? (English Vocabulary Lesson)

    Today, I want to explore the history of books, from ancient clay tablets in Mesopotamia to modern audiobooks and e-books on smartphones. We’ll look at the origins of writing, the oldest surviving texts, the first true “books,”  the world’s first novels, the printing revolution, the bestselling books in history, and finally… the future of reading itself. And we will do all of this while learning some new vocabulary and practicing your English listening comprehension.

  • May 18 · 26 min

    388. Is the American Dream Dead? (English Vocabulary Lesson)

    If you work hard, can you build yourself a better life? For a long time, millions of people believed the answer in the USA was yes. The “American Dream” is the idea that anyone, no matter where they start in life, can achieve success through hard work and determination. You could own a home, have a stable job, raise a family, and earn more than your parents. But today, many people in the US are questioning whether that dream still exists. Housing prices are rising. Student debt is growing. Many

  • May 11 · 24 min

    387. Why Are Some People Always Late? The Cultural Meaning of Time (English Vocabulary Lesson)

    You are invited to a party. The invitation says the party starts at 20:00. What time will you arrive? Your answer to this question has a lot to do with your culture. Some of you will have said 20:00 exactly, because that is when the part stats. Others will have said 19:45, because it is polite to be early. Others will have said 20:30… or 21:00… or later because it is awkward to arrive too early. Your answer to my question is connected to how your culture understands time: the direction of time; the use time; punctuality; and more. So today I want to look at the cultural meanings of time, highlight some common cultural misunderstandings that will be relevant for any of you living/studying/or working internationally, and do all of this while introducing new English vocabulary and practicing your English listening comprehension. Conversation Club - ⁠https://thinkinginenglish.blog/patreon/conversation-clubs/⁠⁠ TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2026/05/11/387-why-are-some-people-always-late-the-cultural-meaning-of-time-english-vocabulary-lesson/ AD Free Episode - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Patreon - ⁠https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube Channel -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@thinkinginenglishpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ INSTAGRAM - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) $10 Free Credits on iTalki (Affiliate Link) - https://www.italki.com/affshare?ref=af17506448 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ My Editing Software (50 % Discount Affiliate Link) - https://descript.cello.so/BgOK9XOfQdD Borough by Blue Dot Sessions Contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠advertising@airwavemedia.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to advertise on Thinking in English. Thinking in English is part of the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Airwave Media podcast network.⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • May 4 · 20 min

    386. Who Was Leonardo Da Vinci? (English Vocabulary Lesson)

    In today’s episode, we’re going to explore the life of Leonardo da Vinci. Who exactly was he? What were his greatest achievements? Can we really call him a scientist? And does his legacy still matter today, more than 500 years after his death? And we’ll do this while practicing our English listening comprehension and learning some new vocabulary!

  • April 20 · 29 min

    384. The Scramble for Africa (English Vocabulary Lesson)

    In the 1870s, about ten percent of Africa had been colonised by European countries. But over the next few decades, over ninety percent of the continent was taken, occupied, divided, and partitioned by governments far away in places like London, Berlin, and Paris. We call this period in history the “Scramble for Africa.” In a remarkably short period of time, countries like Britain, France, Germany, and Belgium claimed vast territories for themselves without any input from African people. By 1914,

  • April 13 · 21 min

    383. What Is Talent? And Do You Need It to Learn English? (English Vocabulary Lesson)

    In today’s episode, we’re going to explore these questions. We’ll look at what talent really means, how it is different from ability, advantage, and skill, and what science and neuroscience say about why some people seem to learn languages faster than others. Then we’ll apply these ideas directly to English learning and hopefully give you all some motivation!

  • March 23 · 24 min

    380. What is Poverty? (English Vocabulary Lesson)

    In this Thinking in English episode, we’ll explore what poverty really is, how it’s measured, why people fall into poverty and struggle to escape it, whether it’s actually possible to reduce or even end poverty, and finally, how the language we use to talk about poverty changes the way we understand it.