Spices are an integral part of almost every cuisine in the world and are something that most of us now take for granted. Yet spices used to be an incredibly valuable commodity and were the preserve of only the very richest in some societies. Learn more about how they went from being the preserve of the very richest in society to something that we sprinkle on our dishes without worrying about the cost.

In this episode, we discuss two (often-not-talked-about) ideas surrounding language learning. Going beyond grammar & vocabulary!

In this episode, we explore why it is important to understand and embrace your motivation for learning a new language. (Hint: It's different for everyone!)

It's the world's most famous book on military strategy. Learn about its fascinating history, about the lessons in the book, and discover how you can apply some ideas from this 2,500-year-old book to your English learning.

It's the world's favourite sweet snack, and the chocolate industry is worth over $100 billion. Discover the fantastic history of where it comes from, how it became so popular, and learn about some of the economics of chocolate production.

From a small, wet island, English has come to be the world's dominant language. How did this actually happen, where does English actually come from, and how has the language changed over the years? Alastair Budge is the creator of English Learning for Curious Minds, a podcast for intermediate to advanced English learners who want to learn weird and wonderful things about the world at the same time as improving their English.