Get the full study guide for this episode on Patreon: the complete transcript to read along, vocabulary practice, comprehension questions and activities, plus bonus episodes every week. https://www.patreon.com/c/englishwitholiver

Sunday evening, and you're dreading going back to work on Monday? Maybe it's time for a change. But is it too late?

In this episode of the Easy English Podcast, Oliver looks at why so many people stay in careers that don't make them happy: money, the "sunk cost fallacy" and the fear of starting again. You'll hear about famous people who changed careers in their 40s and later, why adults never really start from zero, and the "regret test", one simple question to help you decide whether to stay or go. It's clear, natural English for intermediate (B1-B2) learners who want to improve their listening and vocabulary.

5 key words: career, fulfilling, risk, retrain, regret

Vote in the poll: what stops most people changing careers?

Links:

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/englishwitholiver

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Easy-EnglishPodcast

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/easy-english-podcast-learn-english-through-listening/id1520690072

Chapters:

0:00 Is it too late to change your career?

0:55 Word 1: career (and how to say it)

2:50 Word 2: fulfilling - how fulfilling is your work?

5:10 My own career change

6:18 Why we stay - Word 3: risk

8:21 The sunk cost fallacy

10:10 Fear of starting again

10:51 Poll: what stops people changing careers?

11:39 Late starters: Vera Wang, Julia Child, Colonel Sanders

13:38 Word 4: retrain - and transferable skills

16:57 Word 5: regret - and the regret test

19:48 Quick check and goodbye

Get the full study guide for this episode on Patreon: the complete transcript to read along, vocabulary practice, comprehension questions and activities, plus bonus content every week. https://www.patreon.com/c/englishwitholiver

Do you sleep a normal amount but still feel tired all the time? You're not alone.

In this episode of the Easy English Podcast, Oliver looks at why so many people feel exhausted today, even when they sleep seven or eight hours. You'll learn about your "energy bank account", the three types of tiredness, what burnout really is, and four simple habits that can give you more energy, plus one free 10-minute trick that works better than coffee for a lot of people. It's clear, natural English for intermediate (B1-B2) learners who want to improve their listening and vocabulary.

5 key words: exhausted, energy, recharge, burnout, routine

Vote in the poll: what makes you most tired?

Links:

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/englishwitholiver

Chapters:

0:00 Why is everyone so tired?

1:53 A typical tired day

2:58 Word 1: exhausted (and "knackered")

4:22 Sleep isn't the whole story - Word 2: energy

6:59 Your energy bank account

8:35 Word 3: recharge - why scrolling isn't rest

10:05 Three types of tiredness

11:34 Poll: what makes you most tired?

12:21 Word 4: burnout - and why it's so common

16:37 Word 5: routine - four habits for more energy

18:57 The free 10-minute trick

20:08 Quick check, study guide and word review

Get the full PDF workbook for this episode (full transcript, vocabulary practice, comprehension questions and activities) plus weekly bonus content on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/englishwitholiver

You understand the film. You laugh at the jokes. Then someone asks, "What did you do at the weekend?" and your mind goes blank. Sound familiar?

In this episode of The Easy English Podcast, Oliver explains why you can understand English but find it hard to speak. You'll learn about passive and active vocabulary, why retrieving words is harder than recognizing them, and how time pressure and fear make you hesitate. Then you'll get four simple ways to practise speaking on your own. Perfect for intermediate (B1-B2) learners who want to speak more confidently.

Vocabulary in this episode:

• gap — A space between two things

• passive — You receive something, but you don't actively do or make it

• to retrieve — To find something and bring it back

• to hesitate — To stop for a moment before you do or say something, usually because you're not sure or a bit nervous

• automatic — Done without thinking about it