Was Ross Ulbricht a visionary pioneer or a dangerous criminal?

In part one of our series on "Young American Outlaws", we explore the rise and fall of the Silk Road and how Ulbricht's life sentence, followed by a 2025 presidential pardon, sparked fierce debate over freedom, technology, and the role of government.

• Ross Ulbricht's LinkedIn clue
• The concept behind The Silk Road
• Cryptocurrency's role in anonymity
• The structure of The Silk Road
• Unexpected listings and control issues
• Federal agents' Silk Road investigation
• The arrest of Ross Ulbricht
• Charges and the trial
• Sentencing and pardoning
• The wider debate on personal freedom

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Keywords: Learn English, vocabulary, lessons, idioms, aprende inglés, idiomas, aprender inglês, apprendre l'anglais, imparare l’inglese, ingilizce öğren,英語を習う, تعلم الإنجليزية

Ever wondered how the (podcast) sausage is made?

In this slightly "meta" episode, I reveal the step-by-step process to make an episode of English Learning for Curious Minds.

• Choosing podcast topics: interest, timelessness, and neutrality
• Avoiding controversial topics and current affairs
• Researching topics through books, articles, and data
• Writing full scripts for natural conversation flow
• Using a variety of vocabulary for diverse learners
• Rewriting scripts after initial recordings
• Aiming for 20-minute episodes, 2,500-3,000-word scripts
• Incorporating AI tools for brainstorming and editing
• Results from our 2025 listener survey
• Thank you!

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Keywords: Learn English, vocabulary, lessons, idioms, aprende inglés, idiomas, aprender inglês, apprendre l'anglais, imparare l’inglese, ingilizce öğren,英語を習う, تعلم الإنجليزية

Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, was shocked to read his own obituary branding him the "merchant of death."

While the story might not be entirely true, it pushed him to reconsider his legacy.

His fortune went on to establish the Nobel Prizes, honouring achievements in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and peace, ensuring his name is remembered for contributions to humanity.

• Overview of the Nobel Prize
• Alfred Nobel's mistaken obituary
• Nobel's early life and education
• Invention of dynamite and its impacts
• Nobel's relationship with Bertha von Suttner
• Creation of the Nobel Prize in his will
• Outcomes and controversies of the Nobel Prize
• Notable Nobel laureates
• Controversial Nobel Peace Prize awards
• Legacy of Alfred Nobel

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Keywords: Learn English, vocabulary, lessons, idioms, aprende inglés, idiomas, aprender inglês, apprendre l'anglais, imparare l’inglese, ingilizce öğren,英語を習う, تعلم الإنجليزية

In part one of a three-part mini-series on the theme of citizenship and identity, we'll ask ourselves, "What makes someone Italian?"

We'll explore the topic of citizenship and identity in Italy, and see what the current laws tell us about what it means to be (or not to be) Italian.

• Definitions of jus soli and jus sanguinis
• Italy's citizenship rules and marriage eligibility
• Referendum on easing Italy's citizenship rules
• Italy's low birth rate and demographic challenges
• Immigration's influence on Italy's citizenship debates
• Opposition arguments against easing citizenship rules
• Result of Italy’s citizenship referendum
• Comparison with Germany and France's citizenship laws
• Discussion on Italian citizenship by ancestry
• Debate on the meaning of citizenship in Italy

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Keywords: Learn English, vocabulary, lessons, idioms, aprende inglés, idiomas, aprender inglês, apprendre l'anglais, imparare l’inglese, ingilizce öğren,英語を習う, تعلم الإنجليزية

Hannibal of Carthage, one of history's greatest military strategists, almost brought the Roman Republic to its knees.

As a boy, he swore eternal enmity against Rome, leading him to cross the Alps with his diverse army and elephants, stunning the Romans.

Despite his victories, he never managed to capture Rome, but his legacy of brilliance and determination remains.

• Hannibal's vow to hate Rome forever
• Hannibal's upbringing and education in military tactics
• The First Punic War and Carthage's defeat
• Hannibal's march across the Alps into Italy
• Hannibal's diverse and strategic army composition
• Key victories at the Trebia, Lake Trasimene, and Cannae
• Rome's Fabian Strategy to counter Hannibal
• Hannibal's defeat at the Battle of Zama
• Hannibal's later life and exile
• Hannibal's enduring legacy and impact on military strategy

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Keywords: Learn English, vocabulary, lessons, idioms, aprende inglés, idiomas, aprender inglês, apprendre l'anglais, imparare l’inglese, ingilizce öğren,英語を習う, تعلم الإنجليزية

Meet Mobutu Sese Seko, the man who rose from a lowly army officer to become the autocratic ruler of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Wearing his signature leopard-skin hat, Mobutu rebranded the country as Zaire and himself as a symbol of African pride.

Despite his charismatic persona and lavish lifestyle, his regime left the country impoverished, highlighting the dangers of unchecked power and corruption.

• Mobutu Sese Seko's rise to power in Congo
• Congo's harsh colonial history under Belgian rule
• Mobutu's involvement in Patrice Lumumba's downfall
• Mobutu's 1965 coup and 32-year rule
• Renaming Congo to Zaire and introducing the Authenticité movement
• Mobutu's repressive regime and personality cult
• Corruption and Mobutu's embezzlement of state funds
• Economic decline and dependency on foreign aid
• Mobutu's fall from power and death in exile
• Mobutu's enduring legacy in modern-day DRC

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Keywords: Learn English, vocabulary, lessons, idioms, aprende inglés, idiomas, aprender inglês, apprendre l'anglais, imparare l’inglese, ingilizce öğren,英語を習う, تعلم الإنجليزية

In this episode, we'll explore the complex world of minimum wage laws, from their surprising origins in Australia and New Zealand to modern debates around their effectiveness.

Do they protect the lowest-paid workers, or do they do more damage than good?

• History of the minimum wage globally
• Early minimum wage laws in Australia and New Zealand
• Introduction of minimum wage in the UK and the US
• Arguments for and against minimum wage
• Impact of the minimum wage on businesses
• Regional variations in minimum wage
• Alternatives to the minimum wage
• Minimum wage and wage growth in the UK
• Comparison of minimum wage with skilled jobs
• Political perspectives on the minimum wage

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Keywords: Learn English, vocabulary, lessons, idioms, aprende inglés, idiomas, aprender inglês, apprendre l'anglais, imparare l’inglese, ingilizce öğren,英語を習う, تعلم الإنجليزية

In 2011, Egypt erupted in protest, toppling a 30-year regime.

What began as a grassroots movement against an autocratic leader turned into a complex struggle for democracy and power.

In this episode, we'll travel through the events that led from the hopeful dawn of revolution to the military's return to power, and see how social media and global events played pivotal roles in shaping modern Egypt.

• Egypt's conditions ripe for revolution in 2011
• Hosni Mubarak's rule and use of emergency laws
• Impact of Tunisian Revolution on Egypt
• Rise of protests on Egyptian Police Day 2011
• Role of social media in Egyptian protests
• Mubarak's resignation and military's interim government
• Muslim Brotherhood's rise and Morsi's presidency
• Morsi's overreach and public dissatisfaction
• Army's intervention and Sisi's rise to power
• Repression and return to authoritarian rule under Sisi

Full interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/egyptian-revolution

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Keywords: Learn English, vocabulary, lessons, idioms, aprende inglés, idiomas, aprender inglês, apprendre l'anglais, imparare l’inglese, ingilizce öğren,英語を習う, تعلم الإنجليزية