Posts

#44 How (not) to swear

First things first: It is never wrong not to swear. When we are little, we learn that swearwords are “bad”. We discover that swearwords provoke strong reactions in… First things first: It is never wrong not to swear. When we are little, we learn that swearwords are “bad”. We discover that swearwords provoke strong reactions in…

July 8, 2026 July 8, 2026 Contains audio

#43 A change of heart

When did you last change your mind about something? Like what you want to order in a restaurant, or whether you like the colour orange, or hot weather, or whether you… When did you last change your mind about something? Like what you want to order in a restaurant, or whether you like the colour orange, or hot weather, or whether you…

July 1, 2026 July 1, 2026 Contains audio

#42 When lightning (doesn’t) strike

When was the last time you learned a new word in German? I would guess that it is not very long ago. We pick up new words all the time, even in our own language. In this… When was the last time you learned a new word in German? I would guess that it is not very long ago. We pick up new words all the time, even in our own language. In this…

June 24, 2026 June 24, 2026 Contains audio

#41 Red threads?

How do you talk about „der rote Faden“ in English? You can already guess it: It’s not as simple as a „red thread“. No matter whether your English never loses its train… How do you talk about „der rote Faden“ in English? You can already guess it: It’s not as simple as a „red thread“. No matter whether your English never loses its train…

June 17, 2026 June 17, 2026 Contains audio

#40 Chasing Squirrels

I love cryptic crosswords. You might enjoy Sudoku puzzles. Or baking. Or knitting. Maybe you enjoy building model airplanes. Or you draw. Maybe you love repairing bikes.… I love cryptic crosswords. You might enjoy Sudoku puzzles. Or baking. Or knitting. Maybe you enjoy building model airplanes. Or you draw. Maybe you love repairing bikes.…

June 10, 2026 June 10, 2026 Contains audio

#39 Not knowing means not knowing

Not knowing how to clean out a gutter is … okay? Not knowing how to change a wound dressing is … fine? Not knowing how to pronounce “cleanliness” in English is … not a… Not knowing how to clean out a gutter is … okay? Not knowing how to change a wound dressing is … fine? Not knowing how to pronounce “cleanliness” in English is … not a…

June 3, 2026 June 3, 2026 Contains audio

#38 Free Time for Banks?

In the UK, there are two bank holidays in May. Yay! But hang on, what are bank holidays? And why are they always on a Monday? Don’t they move – like the public holidays… In the UK, there are two bank holidays in May. Yay! But hang on, what are bank holidays? And why are they always on a Monday? Don’t they move – like the public holidays…

May 27, 2026 May 27, 2026 Contains audio

#37 Your T-shirt is ugly!

“Your T-shirt is ugly!” The person at the table next to you points at your chest and laughs. You look down at your chest. Oh no. You are wearing THAT T-shirt. How could… “Your T-shirt is ugly!” The person at the table next to you points at your chest and laughs. You look down at your chest. Oh no. You are wearing THAT T-shirt. How could…

May 20, 2026 May 20, 2026 Contains audio

#36 What are you braying?

We are all mind readers. That person is angry. That person is sad. That person is arrogant. We also do this with animals: This donkey is greedy. That donkey is… We are all mind readers. That person is angry. That person is sad. That person is arrogant. We also do this with animals: This donkey is greedy. That donkey is…

May 13, 2026 May 13, 2026 Contains audio

#35 “Computer says no”

“Computer says no.” This line from the British comedy series Little Britain describes an experience that we all know: We want to do something, and a computer system… “Computer says no.” This line from the British comedy series Little Britain describes an experience that we all know: We want to do something, and a computer system…

May 6, 2026 May 6, 2026 Contains audio

#34 Asparagus season

It's that time of the year: Spargelzeit! Time for asparagus! Which raises two questions: Do you like asparagus or not? And do you prefer white or green asparagus? This… It's that time of the year: Spargelzeit! Time for asparagus! Which raises two questions: Do you like asparagus or not? And do you prefer white or green asparagus? This…

April 29, 2026 April 29, 2026 Contains audio

#33 Intolerance(s)

“Any allergies or intolerances?” Entering a restaurant when you have a food intolerance is a bit like joining a conversation in a foreign language. How will people… “Any allergies or intolerances?” Entering a restaurant when you have a food intolerance is a bit like joining a conversation in a foreign language. How will people…

April 22, 2026 April 22, 2026 Contains audio

#32 Flotsam and jetsam

On my desk, I have a small pebble that I picked up on a beach. It is white, slightly rough, and it fits easily into the palm of my hand. It's not too heavy and not too… On my desk, I have a small pebble that I picked up on a beach. It is white, slightly rough, and it fits easily into the palm of my hand. It's not too heavy and not too…

April 15, 2026 April 15, 2026 Contains audio

#31 A great little gadget

Do you need a strawberry huller? Maybe you do. Maybe you don’t. If you make a lot of jam, you might love a little gadget that helps you to remove the green tops of your… Do you need a strawberry huller? Maybe you do. Maybe you don’t. If you make a lot of jam, you might love a little gadget that helps you to remove the green tops of your…

April 8, 2026 April 8, 2026 Contains audio

#30 Spring into spring

It is spring, and I want to go and look at lambs. For me, lambs are an essential part of “what spring looks like”. Spring also looks like blue skies, green fields, and… It is spring, and I want to go and look at lambs. For me, lambs are an essential part of “what spring looks like”. Spring also looks like blue skies, green fields, and…

April 1, 2026 April 1, 2026 Contains audio

#29 Friction

Friction is bad. We spend a lot of energy removing it — from our workflows, our kitchens, our daily routines. The smoother, the better. Right? But what if friction is… Friction is bad. We spend a lot of energy removing it — from our workflows, our kitchens, our daily routines. The smoother, the better. Right? But what if friction is…

March 25, 2026 March 25, 2026 Contains audio

#28 Let’s go birding!

Birdsong. Right now, it’s everywhere. And unless you are an avid birder or a keen twitcher, you probably only recognise a handful of species when you hear them. I don’t… Birdsong. Right now, it’s everywhere. And unless you are an avid birder or a keen twitcher, you probably only recognise a handful of species when you hear them. I don’t…

March 18, 2026 March 18, 2026 Contains audio

#27 Maybe. Maybe not.

Maybe is a great word. It can mean yes or no, or “I don’t know”. You can use it to sound critical, supportive, evasive or unsure. Maybe is also a great “thinking tool”.… Maybe is a great word. It can mean yes or no, or “I don’t know”. You can use it to sound critical, supportive, evasive or unsure. Maybe is also a great “thinking tool”.…

March 11, 2026 March 11, 2026 Contains audio

#26 Do as I say - not as I do

What is the best piece of advice anyone has ever shared with you? Do you follow it? Consistently? Occasionally? Reluctantly, maybe? And do you ever give advice that you… What is the best piece of advice anyone has ever shared with you? Do you follow it? Consistently? Occasionally? Reluctantly, maybe? And do you ever give advice that you…

March 4, 2026 March 4, 2026 Contains audio

#25 Drawn that way

Do you know the film “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”? In this film, cartoon characters – the “Toons” – co-exist with real-life human characters. And one of the Toons, the… Do you know the film “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”? In this film, cartoon characters – the “Toons” – co-exist with real-life human characters. And one of the Toons, the…

February 25, 2026 February 25, 2026 Contains audio

#24 Did you dress up?

Do you celebrate Carnival? I am not a massive fan, but when I lived in the UK, I realised very quickly just how deeply this season is ingrained in my sense of how the… Do you celebrate Carnival? I am not a massive fan, but when I lived in the UK, I realised very quickly just how deeply this season is ingrained in my sense of how the…

February 18, 2026 February 18, 2026 Contains audio

#23 What a lovely compliment!

Imagine you are at a party. You are introduced to the friend of a friend. She greets you with a friendly “hi”, followed by “I love your jacket!” How do you react?… Imagine you are at a party. You are introduced to the friend of a friend. She greets you with a friendly “hi”, followed by “I love your jacket!” How do you react?…

February 11, 2026 February 11, 2026 Contains audio

#22 Only other people are impressive

“It never feels impressive when you do it yourself, right?” The things we do often feel ordinary. Our skills, our achievements, our activities – most of the time, we… “It never feels impressive when you do it yourself, right?” The things we do often feel ordinary. Our skills, our achievements, our activities – most of the time, we…

February 4, 2026 February 4, 2026 Contains audio

#21 Deceptively simple

A print on a wall. It’s a simple drawing, or so it seems. A few lines on paper, nothing more. It’s an animal. A cow. No, a bull. When people see Picasso’s line drawings… A print on a wall. It’s a simple drawing, or so it seems. A few lines on paper, nothing more. It’s an animal. A cow. No, a bull. When people see Picasso’s line drawings…

January 28, 2026 January 28, 2026 Contains audio

#20 Slow is smooth

The cars go at 200 mph. A tyre change takes 2 seconds. In F1, things happen quickly. But, as we all know, when we do things too quickly, we make mistakes. In F1, messing… The cars go at 200 mph. A tyre change takes 2 seconds. In F1, things happen quickly. But, as we all know, when we do things too quickly, we make mistakes. In F1, messing…

January 21, 2026 January 21, 2026 Contains audio

#19 Treadmill problems

For the past few years, I've been trying to get into a running routine. I actually enjoy running, but I don’t run as often as I would like to. I like running, but I… For the past few years, I've been trying to get into a running routine. I actually enjoy running, but I don’t run as often as I would like to. I like running, but I…

January 14, 2026 January 14, 2026 Contains audio

#18 Re-fighting the last election

“I don’t think you can win the next election by re-fighting the last one.” I heard that sentence in an interview with the journalist Ezra Klein, and it struck me as a… “I don’t think you can win the next election by re-fighting the last one.” I heard that sentence in an interview with the journalist Ezra Klein, and it struck me as a…

January 7, 2026 January 7, 2026 Contains audio

#17 Crossing Bridges

Do you know the expression “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it”? It means: We will deal with this problem when - and if - it happens. We are not standing in… Do you know the expression “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it”? It means: We will deal with this problem when - and if - it happens. We are not standing in…

December 31, 2025 December 31, 2025 Contains audio

#16 Christmas Quiz with Sania & Phil

Awww - Christmas. You might love it. You might hate it. You might have mixed feelings about it. Either way, there’s nothing like a Christmas Quiz to learn more about the… Awww - Christmas. You might love it. You might hate it. You might have mixed feelings about it. Either way, there’s nothing like a Christmas Quiz to learn more about the…

December 23, 2025 December 23, 2025 Contains audio

#15 The sum of your experience

How is your language intuition doing? You know that feeling when a native speaker tells you something "just sounds right", but they can't explain why? That's a form of… How is your language intuition doing? You know that feeling when a native speaker tells you something "just sounds right", but they can't explain why? That's a form of…

December 17, 2025 December 17, 2025 Contains audio