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BBC Radio ยท Education

6 Minute English

Learn and practise useful English with clips from programmes around the BBC. Each week, we talk about an interesting topic and learn helpful words and phrases used in natural spoken English - all in 6 minutes! Practise your listening and hear natural spoken English. Find more at https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us at https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus

Episodes

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How names can tell painful stories

13 Jun 2024
6m
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This podcast episode explores the significance of names and the desire for name changes. It discusses the power of names in relation to our senses, feelings, and identity, and the reasons why some individuals may want to change their names. The episode also explores the origins and meanings of names in different cultur...

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Too old to have a baby?

06 Jun 2024
6m
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This podcast episode explores the societal attitudes towards older mothers and fathers. It discusses how older mothers face social disapproval and discomfort from society, while older fathers are often praised. The section also touches on the choices of young women from Gen Z who reject having children altogether and t...

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E-rickshaws driving away pollution

30 May 2024
6m
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This podcast episode explores the changing dynamics and perceptions surrounding older mothers and fathers. It discusses the trend of women choosing to have babies later in life and the social disapproval towards older mothers. The section also highlights the more accepting attitude towards older fathers and the contras...

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How bubble tea got its bubbles

23 May 2024
6m
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This podcast episode explores the rise in popularity of bubble tea, also known as pearl milk tea, which was invented by a Taiwanese tea shop owner in 1987. The unique combination of tea, milk, crushed ice, and chewy tapioca balls has made bubble tea a global phenomenon. Despite the decline in tea consumption in Britain...

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Can you keep a secret?

16 May 2024
6m
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This podcast episode explores the concept of secrets and their impact on our lives. It discusses the distinction between positive secrets, which are meant to be revealed for a specific purpose, and negative secrets, which are kept hidden. The episode highlights that positive secrets can enhance our well-being and exper...

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Bitter food, better health?

09 May 2024
6m
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This podcast episode discusses the health benefits of bitter foods and their interaction with the gut microbiome. Bitter foods have been found to suppress hunger, control glucose release, and counter chronic inflammation. Despite the perception of bitterness as negative, bitter foods can have significant positive effec...

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Talking at the table

02 May 2024
6m
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This podcast episode explores the importance of the dinner table as a space for connections, rituals, and conversations. It highlights the value of being true to oneself at the dinner table and emphasizes not conforming to the expectations of others. The section also discusses how interactions at the dinner table have ...

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Eating for two

25 Apr 2024
6m
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This podcast episode explores the complexities of nutrition during pregnancy, emphasizing the importance of eating well for the health of both the mother and the baby. It discusses the physical and emotional changes that women experience during pregnancy, including cravings and feelings of guilt. The episode also highl...

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Dancing for the brain

18 Apr 2024
6m
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This podcast episode explores the joy of dancing and the benefits it offers, including improved brain function and stress relief. Dr. Peter Lovett discusses his research on the therapeutic effects of dance, particularly for individuals with conditions like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. The episode also introduces Morris...

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Nudges: The secrets of persuasion

11 Apr 2024
6m
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This podcast episode explores the concept of nudging, a subtle way of altering human behavior. It discusses how nudging can be used for both societal benefit, such as encouraging healthier habits, and for commercial gain. The section also raises ethical concerns about nudging, particularly when it is used to manipulate...

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Why sitting is bad for health

04 Apr 2024
6m
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This podcast episode explores the negative consequences of prolonged sitting on human health. It emphasizes that modern advancements in technology have led to a sedentary lifestyle, causing decreased muscle activity and blood circulation. The episode highlights that sitting for long periods of time can lead to health i...

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Why everyone loves the underdog

28 Mar 2024
6m
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This podcast episode explores the concept of underdogs in sports, highlighting how being the underdog can be an advantage. It discusses examples of underdogs who have defied expectations and succeeded, such as Leicester City winning the Premier League. The episode also delves into the rise of Luton Town FC and the psyc...

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Disability in music and theatre

21 Mar 2024
5m
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This podcast episode explores disability rights in the UK, specifically in the context of music and the arts. It highlights the efforts of the disability rights movement to break down barriers for disabled artists and performers, emphasizing the valuable contributions they make to the arts. The section also discusses t...

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What makes a great library?

14 Mar 2024
6m
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This podcast episode explores the history, significance, and evolution of libraries. From the Great Library of Alexandria, a renowned repository of knowledge in the ancient world, to contemporary libraries with vast collections, the podcast highlights the enduring role of libraries as symbols of knowledge and learning....

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Sewing to fight period poverty

07 Mar 2024
6m
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This podcast episode delves into period poverty, a prevalent issue affecting countless women and girls, and introduces the Pachamama Project, a remarkable initiative founded by Ella Lambert. The project aims to tackle period poverty among women refugees by providing reusable sanitary pads. By breaking down menstruation...

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Plastic waste eaten by enzymes

29 Feb 2024
6m
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This podcast episode explores chemical recycling as a potential solution to the problem of plastic waste. Chemical recycling uses enzymes to break down plastic into its basic building blocks, which can then be used to make new plastic. One of the key challenges in chemical recycling is finding enzymes that can break do...

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Feed your brain

22 Feb 2024
6m
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This podcast episode delves into the relationship between food and brain health, emphasizing the impact of diet on the brain's functioning and emotional well-being. It explores strategies for maintaining a balanced diet on a budget, such as batch cooking nutritious meals in advance. The episode also reveals the mammal ...

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Food for new mums

15 Feb 2024
6m
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This podcast episode highlights the significance of postpartum nutrition for new mothers, especially for breastfeeding mothers, and discusses the cultural traditions and beliefs that have developed around postpartum care. It also emphasizes the importance of having help from family and friends to prevent new mothers fr...

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Fighting loneliness with soup

08 Feb 2024
6m
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This podcast episode delves into the pressing issue of loneliness and its detrimental impact on health, highlighting its prevalence despite living in densely populated areas. Compelling research reveals a strong correlation between loneliness and various health problems, including cognitive decline and cardiovascular c...

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What is the future of work?

01 Feb 2024
6m
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This podcast episode assesses the challenges in predicting the future of work. It examines skeptical views about such predictions and highlights risks like AI's "sequencing risk." Positive results from a shorter working week trial point to the feasibility of adapting to future work trends.

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