Best Kings Language Academy Podcasts (2025)

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S9 Ep6: Can language convict a criminal? with Tim Grant 33:54

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6d ago33:54

33:54

Professor Tim Grant is one of the world's most experienced forensic linguistic practitioners who specialises in the analysis of abusive and threatening communications. He is an academic practitioner in the field of forensic linguistics - teaching and leading research as a professor at Aston University. As the former director of the Aston Institute …

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S9 Ep5: Evidence for change: rethinking child poverty policy with Alex Beer 27:34

13d ago27:34

27:34

Our guest today, Alex Beer, joins us at a critical time as the UK Government prepares to publish its child poverty strategy this autumn. According to official numbers, there are 4.5 million children living in poverty in the UK and 1.1m children are in families that have used a food bank in the past year. The Nuffield Foundation launched a major new…

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S9 Ep4: Inoculating the mind: protecting against misinformation with Sander van der Linden 34:48

20d ago34:48

34:48

Professor Sander van der Linden explores the impact of misinformation and how to prevent its spread within the general public. His work as Professor of Social Psychology at the University of Cambridge and Director of the Cambridge Social Decision-Making Lab focuses on the origins of "fake news" and its role in societal divisions. In this conversati…

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S9 Ep3: Our Love Affair with Travel with journalist Simon Calder 32:12

27d ago32:12

32:12

Simon Calder is the man with the answers when it comes to any travel related questions. Having started as a travel journalist at the Independent newspaper in 1994, Simon has decades of knowledge and insight when it comes to the travel industry. He joins our host Will Hutton to impart some of his expertise and they tackle topics from the pros and co…

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S9 Ep2: Saving the 86 bus and designing better cities for the old and young with Tine Buffell and Julia King 33:13

1M ago33:13

33:13

By AcSS

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S9 Ep1: Emergency planning is more about tea than being James Bond with Lucy Easthope 33:21

1M ago33:21

33:21

Professor Lucy Easthope is a leading authority on recovering from disaster and she joins our host Will Hutton in the first episode of Season 9 of the We Society. They discusses the long-term implications of the COVID-19 pandemic and other disasters on societal resilience. Drawing from her experiences and insights in emergency planning, she highligh…

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S8 Ep9: The We Society Season 9 Trailer 1:33

2M ago1:33

1:33

Join host Will Hutton for Season 9 of the We Society from next week to hear some of the best ideas to shape the way we live. Launching October 1 with an interview with Lucy Easthope, an international adviser on disaster recovery. In this podcast series, you will hear interviews from social scientists, business leaders and public figures to hear the…

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S8 Ep8: Solving the Productivity Puzzle with Ed Balls, Anna Stansbury and Dan Turner 40:26

4M ago40:26

40:26

In the final episode of Season 8 of the We Society, our host Will Hutton is joined by economist and former Labour politician Ed Balls, Dr. Anna Stansbury, a researcher in labour and macroeconomics from MIT, and Dan Turner, Chief Research Officer for the Office of Gordon and Sarah Brown focused on national and regional inequalities. All three have r…

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S8 Ep7: The Social Life of Pain with Tom Shakespeare 28:14

4M ago28:14

28:14

In the UK alone, around one in four adults are experiencing chronic pain. And nearly a quarter of the population live with some form of disability. Yet despite these numbers, pain and disability are still too often talked about in hushed tones, misunderstood, or entirely overlooked in public life. How do we talk about pain that doesn’t go away? How…

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S8 Ep6: Borders, Brexit, and Fault Lines with Katy Hayward 28:39

5M ago28:39

28:39

Borders contain nations, act as fault lines, but are also meeting points, where different cultures, people, and ideologies come into contact. Nowhere has this been more visible, more painful, and more politically charged than the island of Ireland. In this episode, Will Hutton is joined by Professor Katy Hayward. She’s one of the UK’s leading voice…

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S8 Ep5: Care or Incarceration? How some of the UK’s most vulnerable children are being failed with Lisa Harker 28:31

5M ago28:31

28:31

We speak with Lisa Harker, the Director of the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory, who gives us an insight into the alarming rise in the use of Deprivation of Liberty Orders on children. She explains how vulnerable children, many born into poverty and facing complex needs, are increasingly subjected to severe restrictions on their freedom through …

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S8 Ep4: Taking entrepreneurship beyond business with Eleanor Shaw 29:59

5M ago29:59

29:59

What is the link between social science and entrepreneurship? To give us the answer, Will Hutton speaks to Professor Eleanor Shaw OBE, an academic specialising in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Strathclyde to delve into the social science dimension of entrepreneurship. Eleanor believes that entrepreneurial spirit stems from re…

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S8 Ep3: Population, Data & Destiny with Andy Tatem 30:51

5M ago30:51

30:51

Professor Andy Tatem talks to us about WorldPop, the research programme he heads that is based in the School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton. The team at WorldPop uses satellite imagery and mobile phone data to map population distributions in areas of the Global South and this data is used by governments for resour…

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S8 Ep2: Morality in UK prisons with Alison Liebling 28:59

6M ago28:59

28:59

We probe the UK prison system with Professor Alison Liebling, a Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Cambridge and the Director of the Institute of Criminology’s Prisons Research Centre. In this episode, she discusses the complexities surrounding prison officers, their often-underappreciated skills, and the critical ro…

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S8 Ep1: How to get work working for everyone with Gavin Kelly 33:29

6M ago33:29

33:29

Gavin Kelly is the Chief Executive of the Nuffield Foundation and has spent the past 30 years of his career putting Britain’s economic inactivity problem under a microscope. For Gavin, one of the main problems is the nearly 1 million young people who are not in education, employment or training. They are the ones being left behind and their numbers…

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IELTS Reading: Plant thermometers 🌡️ 30:14

6M ago30:14

30:14

How Plants Sense Temperature – IELTS Reading Made Easy This episode breaks down a challenging IELTS Reading Passage about how plants use light and temperature to grow. I’ll guide you through the key ideas, explain tricky vocabulary, and help you answer the questions with confidence. Perfect for Band 6–8 students who want to improve comprehension, b…

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S7 Ep7: Keep Calm and Chill with Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala 35:05

9M ago35:05

35:05

As US President Donald Trump threatens trade tariffs, the We Society invited the Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to share her thoughts during this period of uncertainty. The first woman and the first African to serve as Director General of the WTO, Dr Okonjo-Iweala also gives her perspectives on women …

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S7 Ep6: Improving social mobility through education and language with Lee Elliot Major 31:06

9M ago31:06

31:06

Professor Lee Elliot Major, who is Britain's first professor of Social Mobility based at the University of Exeter, is our guest in this penultimate episode of Season 7. In his latest book, Equity in Education, he argues for a new approach and language to improve upward mobility. In his book, children are not disadvantaged instead they are under res…

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IELTS Reading: Music and the emotions 27:16

9M ago27:16

27:16

In this lesson, you'll learn how to use the words you DON'T KNOW to get the right answers! It's a difficult Academic Reading Part 3, which contains several scientific terms that might cause confusion. But I will show you how IELTS uses these words for gapfills, and you'll learn the 6 'triggers' that indicate the answer. Get the full video lesson in…

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S7 Ep5: Tracking and stopping domestic abuse with Jane Monckton Smith 28:29

9M ago28:29

28:29

Around one in four women have experienced domestic abuse, according to the Crime Survey of England and Wales. But abuse is not usually a one off event, it’s part of a protracted pattern, and by studying the timeline, perhaps this shocking statistic and may change. Prof Jane Monckton-Smith has dedicated the majority of her career to studying this pa…

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S7 Ep4: Should the 9 to 5 be a thing of the past? with Clare Kelliher and Brendan Burchell 29:20

9M ago29:20

29:20

'Eight hours labor, eight hours recreation, eight hours rest' was the rallying cry of Robert Owen, a Welsh textile manufacturer turned labour reformer in the early 19th century. For those toiling in factories, Owen’s slogan was a socialist dream that only became commonplace in the early 20th century. But, the 9 to 5 is still standard while technolo…

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S7 Ep3: Making a responsible budget with Sir Robert Chote 33:42

10M ago33:42

33:42

The Institute for Fiscal Studies - or IFS - has become the nation’s go to institution for judgements about tax, spending and borrowing. And the Office for Budget Responsibility – the OBR – is the independent official watchdog that assess the viability and sustainability of the government’s economic plans. Our guest today, Sir Robert Chote has run b…

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S7 Ep2: Anxiety, Artificial Intelligence and work with Anthony Elliott 28:43

10M ago28:43

28:43

Pick, Pack, Post, Repeat….warehouses around the world are now using Artificial Intelligence to fulfil customer orders. So, are workers on their way out? As the speed of innovation when it comes to artificial intelligence accelerates, power sits firmly in the hands of Silicon Valley and big tech companies. Governments and the public are on the side-…

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IELTS Reading: Maternity Allowance (Money Vocabulary Topic) 23:31

10M ago23:31

23:31

This month, we've been exploring the huge topic of MONEY in the Members Academy. It comes up in ALL parts of the test, so in this lesson, we examine two very similar General Training Texts in order to learn more about the topic of government benefit systems and the allowances that you might be entitled to. Each country's benefit system is different…

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S7 Ep1: The future of liberal democracy with Anand Menon 27:43

10M ago27:43

27:43

It's now 80 years since the end of the Second World War and the creation of the liberal world order: free trade, globally managed finance, and a commitment to liberal democracy. But these ideas seems to be in retreat with the re-election of Donald Trump, and the accompanying dramatic increase of right-wing populist nationalism almost everywhere, in…

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S7 Ep1: The We Society Season 7 Trailer 1:53

10M ago1:53

1:53

Join host Will Hutton for Season 7 of the We Society from next week to hear some of the best ideas to shape the way we live. Launching January 15th with an interview with Anand Menon, the Director of the UK in a Changing Europe. In this podcast series, you will hear interviews from social scientists, business leaders and public figures to hear thei…

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IELTS Reading: Forced Rhubarb 23:57

11M ago23:57

23:57

This is a lovely reading about forced rhubarb: its history and how it is grown and harvested. There are 3 question sets: Matching Headings Multiple Choice Gapfill In this lesson you'll learn more about the general topic of FOOD and how this topic is tested in all parts of the IELTS test. Get the full lesson in the Bronze Academy on my website. http…

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IELTS Pie Charts - how to avoid making this common mistake 12:52

11M ago12:52

12:52

Always check the title of a pie chart to make sure you're providing an accurate summary of the data.Pie charts show percentage and proportion, not numbers. Here's an example of a mistake that is very easy to make when you're under pressure.So practise plenty of pie charts before the test and get ready to use the language related to pie charts - lis…

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David Serero on Eli and Mike Podcast in Los Angeles - Full Interview (2024) 1:06:17

11M ago1:06:17

1:06:17

David Serero on Eli and Mike Podcast in Los Angeles - Full Interview (2024)By David Serero

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How to learn prepositions from IELTS Reading (The impact of climate change on butterflies) 30:00

12M ago30:00

30:00

In this lesson, we'll analyse a Part 1 Reading text with the purpose of improving our understanding and use of prepositions. First, we go through the True, False and Not Given questions, followed by the Gapfill questions and then we go back to the first paragraph to analyse the prepositions. This is something that I recommend you do regularly - spe…

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"THE ONE" theater play about Muhammad Ali by David Serero - SIRIUS XM with Randy Gordon 21:55

1y ago21:55

21:55

"THE ONE" theater play about Muhammad Ali by David Serero - SIRIUS XM with Randy Gordon and Gerry Cooney.Fight Nation InterviewBy David Serero

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IELTS Grammar snack: A shocking 97% 9:43

1y ago9:43

9:43

Did you know that uou can use "a/an + adjective" before a statistic to express your reaction to the number? This technique adds emphasis and helps the listener or reader understand your perspective on the data. Examples: A staggering 95% of teenagers spend over 4 hours daily on social media. An alarming 62% of young adults report experiencing signi…

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IELTS Listening: A Science Experiment 26:21

1y ago26:21

26:21

In this lesson you'll learn 5 IELTS Listening Tips that (I'm guessing) nobody told you about. Get the full lesson with bonus materials in the Bronze Academy on my website. https://ieltsetc.com/2024/10/5-ielts-listening-tips-nobody-told-you-about/

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Can I use personal pronouns in IELTS Writing? 18:37

1y ago18:37

18:37

Get the free lesson on my blog: How to use personal pronouns in IELTS Writing. In this lesson, we look at ways of USING and AVOIDING personal pronouns in Writing Task 2 essays. You'll learn when to use "I", "we" and "you", and you'll get examples of how to avoid personal pronouns by using plurals, the passive voice, and more general language. https…

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IELTS Grammar: Quantifiers few, a few, little, a little 18:51

1y ago18:51

18:51

If you really want to make a difference to your test score, stop practising grammar with useless examples that you'll never use in the IELTS test! In this grammar review we look at how to use few, a few, little and a little SPECIFICALLY FOR the IELTS test. You'll learn useful expressions that you can use in the Writing and Speaking Tests, and you'l…

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IELTS Reading: How animals keep fit 28:55

1y ago28:55

28:55

In this lesson, you'll practise 3 reading question types while learning essential IELTS animal-related vocabulary items such as 'hibernation' and 'migration'. I also discuss differences between two summaries, which will help you use more formal language in the writing test e.g. to maintain fitness vs to stay fit. For example: (Advanced Summary) The…

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IELTS GT letter of request to a singer 16:03

1y ago16:03

16:03

In this lesson we look at direct and indirect ways of asking for help. You will learn fixed expressions that you can use in any letter of request letter, and you'll also learn how to demonstrate flexibility with a variety of tenses when you 'give details of your musical activities'. Find the full lesson with models and interactive practice on my we…

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IELTS maps and plans (describing future changes) 24:15

1y ago24:15

24:15

In this lesson, we look at how you can use Listening Test maps to improve the way you describe maps and plans in the Writing Test. In this lesson we'll cover How to talk about FUTURE changes How to avoid over-using 'going to' How to use the passive tense How to use the vocabulary of change related to maps We also review map prepositions, and we loo…

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S6 Ep7: Stopping hate crime with Matthew Williams and Neil Chakraborti 38:23

1y ago38:23

38:23

The recent riots in Britain, which emerged following the Southport stabbings, demonstrate how hate is bubbling just under the surface of our society, ready to erupt at any moment. Behind the violence and destruction are statistics. Between 2012 and 2023, hate crimes in England and Wales rose by 252%, according to research undertaken by the Home Off…

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S6 Ep6: Why the war on drugs has failed with Alex Stevens 30:25

1y ago30:25

30:25

No war has been more of a failure than the war on drugs. Despite all the crackdowns, prison sentences and moral posturing, drug use in Britain is on an epic scale. Yet, drug debate and policy are full of moral declarations, with evidence often being made to take a backseat. Why is this? Alex Stevens is a professor of Criminology at the University o…

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IELTS Reading: The Fosbury Flop 29:54

1y ago29:54

29:54

This is a talk-through of a General Training Reading Passage 3. The text tells the story of the 'Fosbury Flop', which is a high-jump technique developed by a 21 year-old university student from the USA called Dick Fosbury in the late 1960s. In this lesson, you'll practise Matching Information, Multiple Choice and gapfill questions. Get all my lesso…

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S6 Ep5: Improving adult education with Anna Vignoles 28:10

1+ y ago28:10

28:10

One in six people are said to have ‘very poor literacy skills’ according to the National Literacy Trust. As a country, we value Literature, high quality research skills and further education, yet our values are not reaching all sections of our society. Looking to challenge this is Professor Anna Vignoles, her past research focused on issues of equi…

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IELTS Listening Section 2: Tips for runners 🏃‍♀️ 20:01

1+ y ago20:01

20:01

In this Listening Section 2 about tips for runners, you'll learn how to spot distractors in different question types such as matching people and multiple choice. Get the full lesson with 180+ more lessons in the Bronze Academy https://ieltsetc.com/2024/07/ielts-listening-matching-people-distractors/ Get the list of phrasal verbs to talk about hobbi…

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S6 Ep4: The hidden army of young carers with Saul Becker 28:36

1+ y ago28:36

28:36

Professor Saul Becker has studied the hidden world of young carers for 30 years. Nearly 1 million children in the UK find themselves – some as young as five - having to look after sick or elderly family members. Saul Becker is the pro vice chancellor for the Faculty of Health and Education at Manchester Metropolitan University and is regarded as th…

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S6 Ep3: How to make housing fair with Vicky Spratt and Auriol Miller 35:22

1+ y ago35:22

35:22

Housing is one of the most pressing problems this new Government must fix. Will Hutton is joined by Vicky Spratt, the inewspaper's housing correspondent, and Auriol Miller, the CEO of Cynon Taf Community Housing Group, a major not-for-profit organisation providing affordable homes in Wales. Housing is an issue that has thwarted a long line of Gover…

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S6 Ep2: Separating emotion from Brexit with Professor Sarah Hall 26:14

1+ y ago26:14

26:14

Professor Sarah Hall’s job is to approach the emotive topic of Brexit with a cool head and focus only on the evidence. She is the 1931 Chair in Geography, a Fellow of St John’s College at the University of Cambridge, and a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. Professor Hall is an economic geographer who specialises in going out in the field to…

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IELTS Reading: How tennis rackets have changed 🎾 22:29

1+ y ago22:29

22:29

This is a talk-through of a Passage 1 Academic Reading text about tennis rackets (Book 19 Test 1). It covers 2 sets of questions (True, False, Not Given and Gapfill Summary). Full lesson notes and video available on my website and Members Academy.

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IELTS Writing: 9 tips for a Band 9 essay 30:24

1+ y ago30:24

30:24

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S6 Ep1: Election 24 special with Will Hutton 21:23

1+ y ago21:23

21:23

Host Will Hutton hears from four leading social scientists on how the new UK government should tackle the country's most pressing challenges. In this special episode marking the end of the general election and the start of Season 6, we apply a social science lens to issues concerning the stagnating economy, the climate crisis, adult social care, an…

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IELTS GT Part 1: Passport Applications and Airport Services 🛂🛄 20:25

1+ y ago20:25

20:25

A quick look at TFNG and a less common type of Matching Headings. Get the full text here https://www.ieltsetc.com/2019/03/ielts-gt-reading-passports-and-airports/