At the start of the year, I had a fairly clear idea of what the next twelve months would look like...that didnât happen. In this episode, I talk about how the year actually ended up - the practical changes, the shifts in routine, and how you can end a year in a completely different place without any single dramatic moment causing it. Itâs not a recap, and itâs not a lesson. Just a look at how plans drift, circumstances change, and how that only becomes obvious when the year is already over. đ...
Let's improve your English listening skills while discussing a very relevant topic: why do we just 'click' so much better with some people more than others? In this episode, Oliver and CĂ©sar talk about the strange mechanics of adult friendship: why itâs so hard to make genuine friends through work or hobbies, why life constantly interrupts the friendships we do build, and why occasionally we meet people who feel familiar from the very first conversation. đ Want to improve your English e...
Shameful! But maybe relatable? đ Why do two language teachers - people who literally teach languages for a living - end up quitting their own language learning lessons after just two months? In todayâs episode, we talk honestly about motivation, classrooms, commuting, group dynamics, and why even experienced learners sometimes lose momentum. We discuss the reality of adult language learning, the temptation of digital tools, and the strange nostalgia that made us think traditional classes woul...
Why do so many celebrities follow the same tragic script - early success, impossible pressure, public decline, and a carefully managed collapse? And has anything really changed in the age of influencers, TikTok fame and constant online visibility? In todayâs Advanced level episode of English and Beyond, Oliver and CĂ©sar explore the darker side of fame: the industry built on illusion, the toxic incentives behind talent management, and the strange role we, the audience, play in keeping the syst...
We all do it: promise too much, deliver too late, and thus fail to meet someoneâs expectations. In this Advanced level conversation, Oliver and CĂ©sar explore disappointment, guilt, and the strange pressure to meet other people's standards. From over-promising at work to letting friends down, we reflect on why we care more about strangersâ opinions than our loved onesâ, and what it really means to âlower the bar.â đ Want to improve your English even more? Read the full transcript & voca...
Almost half of UK marriages end in divorce - yet we often still treat it as a shameful or tragic failure. In this episode of English and Beyond, CĂ©sar and I explore why so many relationships end, talk a bit about our own (experiences with) marriage, whether staying married always means happiness, and why divorce might sometimes be an act of honesty rather than defeat. đ Want to improve your English even more? Read the full transcript & vocabulary flashcards â www.morethanalanguage.com ...
After a period where every small problem felt catastrophic, and he was encouraged to be more "mindful", Oliver asks how and why this radical idea about awareness became yet another lifestyle brand. In this conversation, he and CĂ©sar unpack how a practice meant to help us face discomfort ended up being sold as the cure for it. đ Want to improve your English even more? Read the full transcript & vocabulary flashcards â www.morethanalanguage.com Follow us on Instagram â @BritishEnglisha...
What does it really mean to be European? Shared values, a shared history⊠or just a shared habit of thinking our neighbours are doing everything wrong? In this episode, we are joined by Elisa from French Mornings with Elisa (https://www.frenchmornings.com/) to talk about the strange mix of rivalry and affection that unites the continent. We compare British, French and Spanish attitudes to each other, Erasmus memories, Brexit, national clichés, and even which country gets blamed when things go...
Most of us remember a teacher - and not always for positives reasons. Maybe they inspired us. Maybe they embarrassed us. Maybe they simply showed up every day and did their job without ever realising how much it mattered to us. In this episode of English and Beyond, Oliver and CĂ©sar reflect on the people who taught them and left a big impression. They share stories of teachers who left a mark, both good and bad, and explore how those small, unspoken moments in education can shape who we becom...
Are we becoming obsessed with optimisation? From Greek philosophy to Apple Watches, the idea of âthe good lifeâ has shifted from balance and virtue to data, tracking, and biohacking. In this episode of English and Beyond (Advanced), Oliver and CĂ©sar explore the culture of self-optimisation - from sleep divorces to clean eating, from supplements to billionaire blood transfusions. Youâll hear natural British English conversation on: Where âhealthy livingâ becomes obsessive control;Why sleep tra...
They say you never forget your first love. And maybe thatâs true - not because it was perfect, but because it carried an intensity that later relationships rarely match. Years later, a song, a name, or a face in a crowd can bring the memory back, fresh and overwhelming. In this episode, we talk about first crushes, awkward kisses, and secret teenage romances. Some stories are sweet, others bittersweet, but all of them remind us how powerful those early feelings can be - and how they stay with...
When AI can podcast, teach and even translate in real time, whatâs left for us humans? In this episode of English and Beyond: Advanced English Podcast, Oliver and CĂ©sar discuss the promises and threats of Artificial Intelligence. From Appleâs new live-translation AirPods to AI-generated podcasts on YouTube, they ask hard and sometimes depressing questions about the future of education, creativity, and work! Will teachers and podcasters (and lawyers) become redundant? Could AI replace not only...
Why are humans so devoted to pets? We spend billions on them, treat them like family, and grieve their loss as deeply as we would a relative. But theyâre not human. They donât share our language or our culture, and their lives are heartbreakingly short. So why do we choose to invite animals into our homes - knowing from the beginning that the story will end in loss? In this episode of English and Beyond, Oliver and CĂ©sar explore the paradox of pet ownership. We look at the history of pets, cu...
Why do compliments so often make us cringe? In this advanced English podcast episode, we explore the psychology of praise and the language of compliments: why a simple âyou look nice todayâ can trigger self-doubt, suspicion, or even discomfort. Youâll discover how cultural differences shape the way compliments are given and received in English, why flattery can sometimes feel manipulative, and how a âbackhanded complimentâ works. Weâll also look at natural phrases and advanced vocabulary you ...
Improve your English listening with this advanced-level story. Oliver shares the real experience of studying a language abroad - the good, the bad, and the sweaty. What happens when you go abroad to learn a language? Does immersion really work? In this episode, I talk about my time in Montpellier: the grammar lessons, the teachers, the pros and cons⊠and what I actually took away from the whole experience. đ Want to improve your English even more? Read the full transcript & vocabulary ...
In this episode, we explore a subtle, often unspoken kind of rivalry - the sort that happens not in sports or business, but in close relationships. What does it mean to compete with someone you care about? Can it help you grow, or does it just create tension? Oliver and CĂ©sar share the story of their two-year French-learning journey, but things quickly turned into a challenge. Who would reach B2 first? Who was more consistent? And who would end up paying for dinner? đ Want to improve your Eng...
In this special 50th episode of English and Beyond, Oliver and CĂ©sar reflect on one year of podcasting, what anniversaries really mean, and why they could often forget their own. From the challenges of staying consistent to the little victories along the way, we talk about how far weâve come - and whether anniversaries are worth celebrating at all. Expect language tips, personal stories, some light teasing, and a spilled coffee or two. Whether youâve been here since episode one or just joined...
In this sweaty, slightly chaotic episode, CĂ©sar and Oliver question whether moving to Valencia was such a great idea... in the middle of an early summer heatwave. Join us as we talk about the oppressive Spanish humidity, sweaty public transport, unexpected cockroach encounters, and whether torrid weather leads to torrid affairs. Youâll learn expressions like sweating like a pig, dog days of summer, break a sweat, and pungent, all in the context of a fun, natural conversation. Itâs English for...
Is Tuscany really as perfect as Instagram makes it look? In this episode of English and Beyond: Advanced English Podcast, Oliver and CĂ©sar sit down to share the unfiltered truth about their recent holiday in Italy - and itâs not all rolling hills and Chianti. From postcard-perfect views and delicious dinners to mosquito bites, awkward group dynamics, and way too much sun, this is a real conversation about travel expectations vs. reality. Whether youâve had a disappointing holiday yourself or ...
In this episode of English and Beyond: Advanced Edition, Oliver and CĂ©sar explore a question we all secretly ask ourselves: âDo I actually like this⊠or do I just think Iâm supposed to?â From five-star restaurants and summer holidays to podcasts and museums, they take a light-hearted but honest look at things that might be a little overrated, a bit overhyped, or just not all theyâre cracked up to be. Along the way, they revisit The Emperorâs New Clothes as a perfect metaphor for modern trends...
me
This episode was so sweet.đ„°