From rainbow logos during Pride Month to eco-friendly rebrands by oil giants, businesses often try to make themselves look more responsible than they really are. These tactics — known as 'image washing' — can involve sports, social causes, AI, or environmental promises.

In this episode of Down to Business English, Skip Montreux and Dez Morgan explore the world of “image washing.” They define the term and discuss common forms such as sportswashing, pinkwashing, AI washing, and greenwashing. They also talk about well-known cases like BP’s “Beyond Petroleum” campaign and discuss certification programs such as ISO 14001 and B Corp.

Skip and Dez’s conversation will help you better understand business ethics and expand your business English vocabulary.　Key points of their discussion include:

1. What “image washing” means and why companies use it.
3. The many forms of image washing — sportswashing, pinkwashing, AI washing, and greenwashing.
4. Real-world cases, including BP’s “Beyond Petroleum” campaign.
5. How ISO 14001 and B Corp certification programs work.

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Contact Skip, Dez, and Samantha at

downtobusinessenglish@gmail.com

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Stablecoins are suddenly the hottest topic in global finance. From Wall Street giants like Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan, to governments in the U.S., Japan, and even China, everyone is rushing to get a piece of the digital dollar market. But what exactly are stablecoins, and why are they attracting so much attention?

In this episode of Down to Business English, Skip Montreux and Samantha Vega unpack the booming world of stablecoins. They explain what makes stablecoins different from cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, why new U.S. regulations (the GENIUS Act) have given them legitimacy, and how countries in Asia are dealing with them.

Skip and Samantha’s conversation will help you better understand digital finance and strengthen your business English vocabulary. Key points of their discussion include:

1. What stablecoins are, and how they maintain a steady value.
3. Why the U.S. GENIUS Act is a milestone for cryptocurrency regulation.
4. How major banks like Citi, JPMorgan, and Goldman Sachs are using stablecoins.
5. Why Japan, South Korea, and China are launching their own versions.
6. The risks that could come with rapid growth, including transparency issues and systemic risk.

Become a D2B Member today for to access to our -- NEW!!!-- interactive audio scripts, PDF Audio Script Library, Bonus Vocabulary episodes, and D2B Member-only episodes.

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Follow Down to Business English on Apple podcasts, rate the show, and leave a comment.

Contact Skip, Dez, and Samantha at

downtobusinessenglish@gmail.com

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Skip Montreux on Linkedin

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Once limited to gyms and fitness circles, protein-packed products have gone mainstream. From “proffee” at Starbucks to high-protein rice balls at Japanese convenience stores, protein is everywhere — and the market is booming.

In this episode of Down to Business English, Samantha Vega and Skip Montreux explore the rise of the high-protein food market. They discuss why demand for protein is surging, the role of health-conscious consumers and weight-loss medications, and how major brands like Starbucks are repositioning themselves to meet this growing trend.

will help you better understand global food trends and improve your business English vocabulary. Key points of their discussion include:

1. Why the high-protein food market is expected to double in size by 2034.
3. How health trends, plant-based diets, and GLP-1 drugs are driving demand.
4. Why high-protein drinks — especially RTD beverages — are the fastest-growing segment.
5. How companies like Starbucks, Peet’s Coffee, and Panda Express are adapting their menus.
6. What risks and challenges come with excessive protein consumption and supply chain pressure.

Become a D2B Member today for to access to our -- NEW!!!-- interactive audio scripts, PDF Audio Script Library, Bonus Vocabulary episodes, and D2B Member-only episodes.

Visit d2benglish.com/membership for more information.

Follow Down to Business English on Apple podcasts, rate the show, and leave a comment.

Contact Skip, Dez, and Samantha at

downtobusinessenglish@gmail.com

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Skip Montreux on Linkedin

Skip Montreux on Facebook

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A viral Kiss Cam moment at a Coldplay concert exposed an affair between two executives of the data tech company Astronomer, forcing both to resign. But instead of hiding from the scandal, Astronomer turned the incident into a surprising PR win.

In this episode of Down to Business English, Skip Montreux and Samantha Vega unpack the recent PR scandal involving Astronomer’s CEO and head of HR. They review the timeline of events — from the concert mishap to the viral social media storm — and explain how the company’s partnership with Ryan Reynolds’ ad agency transformed the negative attention into a marketing opportunity.

Their conversation is a great learning resource if you want to build your English listening comprehension skills and expand your business vocabulary. Key points of their discussion include:

1. How a personal scandal involving company executives became a global news story.
2. Why Astronomer launched an internal investigation into possible misconduct.
3. How the company managed public perception with a strategic PR campaign.
4. The role Ryan Reynolds’ agency, Maximum Effort, and Gwyneth Paltrow played in reframing the story.
5. Why some experts now view Astronomer’s response as a case study in damage control.

Become a D2B Member today for to access to our -- NEW!!!-- interactive audio scripts, PDF Audio Script Library, Bonus Vocabulary episodes, and D2B Member-only episodes.

Visit d2benglish.com/membership for more information.

Follow Down to Business English on Apple podcasts, rate the show, and leave a comment.

Contact Skip, Dez, and Samantha at

downtobusinessenglish@gmail.com

Follow Skip & Dez

Skip Montreux on Linkedin

Skip Montreux on Facebook

Dez Morgan on Twitter

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Smart glasses are making a comeback, with big tech companies hoping these AI-powered wearables will soon become part of everyday life. But will smart glasses finally become popular, or will they fail again like before?

In this episode of Down to Business English, Skip Montreux and Dez Morgan talk about the return of smart glasses. They discuss why Google’s first smart glasses did not succeed, and how companies like Meta, Amazon, Snap Inc., and Google are trying again with new features and better technology.

Their conversation is a great learning resource if you want to build your English listening comprehension skills and expand your business vocabulary. Key points of their discussion include:

1. The reasons why smart glasses failed in the past.
2. How AI is making smart glasses more useful.
3. What Meta, Amazon, Snap Inc., and Google are doing in the smart glasses market.
4. Why tech companies believe smart glasses could be the next big thing.

Become a D2B Member today for to access to our -- NEW!!!-- interactive audio scripts, PDF Audio Script Library, Bonus Vocabulary episodes, and D2B Member-only episodes.

Visit d2benglish.com/membership for more information.

Follow Down to Business English on Apple podcasts, rate the show, and leave a comment.

Contact Skip, Dez, and Samantha at

downtobusinessenglish@gmail.com

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Skip Montreux on Linkedin

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Blue-collar jobs are making a comeback around the world. As white-collar office work loses some of its shine, skilled trades are attracting more people than ever before—with higher pay, job security, and newfound respect. But what’s driving this shift, and what challenges still face blue-collar workers today?

Skip Montreux and Samantha Vega dive into the rising popularity of blue-collar careers. They explore why young people are increasingly choosing trade roles over office jobs, how wages are changing, and what it all means for the global workforce.

Their conversation is a great learning resource if you want to build your English listening comprehension skills and expand your business vocabulary. Key points of their discussion include:

1. The definition and origins of ‘blue-collar’ jobs.
2. How attitudes toward skilled trades are changing.
3. Why blue-collar jobs are attracting more workers.
4. Factors behind the skilled trades shortage.

Become a D2B Member today for to access to our -- NEW!!!-- interactive audio scripts, PDF Audio Script Library, Bonus Vocabulary episodes, and D2B Member-only episodes.

Visit d2benglish.com/membership for more information.

Follow Down to Business English on Apple podcasts, rate the show, and leave a comment.

Contact Skip, Dez, and Samantha at

downtobusinessenglish@gmail.com

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Skip Montreux on Linkedin

Skip Montreux on Facebook

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Scarcity can make people want something more — even if they didn’t want it in the first place. Whether it’s the new Nintendo Switch 2 or a rare collectible toy, businesses are using clever marketing strategies to create hype and boost sales. But what exactly is scarcity marketing, and why does it work so well?

Skip Montreux and Dez Morgan explore the world of scarcity marketing — a strategy used by companies to drive demand by limiting the availability of their products. From global tech brands to niche toy companies, Skip and Dez break down how businesses use psychology and clever tactics to make their products more desirable.

Their conversation is a great learning resource if you want to build your English listening comprehension skills and expand your business vocabulary. Key points of their discussion include:

1. What scarcity marketing is and how it works.
2. Why companies limit the availability of their products.
3. What ‘loss aversion’, ‘social proof’, and ‘winner’s privilege’ mean in marketing.
4. How Pop Mart created global demand for their Labubu collectible toys.

Become a D2B Member today for to access to our -- NEW!!!-- interactive audio scripts, PDF Audio Script Library, Bonus Vocabulary episodes, and D2B Member-only episodes.

Visit d2benglish.com/membership for more information.

Follow Down to Business English on Apple podcasts, rate the show, and leave a comment.

Contact Skip, Dez, and Samantha at

downtobusinessenglish@gmail.com

Follow Skip & Dez

Skip Montreux on Linkedin

Skip Montreux on Facebook

Dez Morgan on Twitter

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Artificial Intelligence is no longer something from the future — it is already here. From helping people work faster to causing job losses, AI is changing how we live and work. But are we ready for these big changes?

Skip Montreux and Dez Morgan talk about how AI is changing the modern workplace. They explain what generative AI is, how companies are using it to improve productivity, and the problems it is causing — especially for young people starting their careers.

Their conversation is a great learning resource if you want to build your English listening comprehension skills and expand your business vocabulary. Key points of their discussion include:

1. What generative AI is and how it works.
2. How companies use AI in different business areas.
3. What kinds of jobs are most at risk from AI.
4. Why learning how to use AI is important for your future.

Become a D2B Member today for to access to our -- NEW!!!-- interactive audio scripts, PDF Audio Script Library, Bonus Vocabulary episodes, and D2B Member-only episodes.

Visit d2benglish.com/membership for more information.

Follow Down to Business English on Apple podcasts, rate the show, and leave a comment.

Contact Skip, Dez, and Samantha at

downtobusinessenglish@gmail.com

Follow Skip & Dez

Skip Montreux on Linkedin

Skip Montreux on Facebook

Dez Morgan on Twitter

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