Meet Mobutu Sese Seko, the man who rose from a lowly army officer to become the autocratic ruler of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Wearing his signature leopard-skin hat, Mobutu rebranded the country as Zaire and himself as a symbol of African pride.

Despite his charismatic persona and lavish lifestyle, his regime left the country impoverished, highlighting the dangers of unchecked power and corruption.

• Mobutu Sese Seko's rise to power in Congo
• Congo's harsh colonial history under Belgian rule
• Mobutu's involvement in Patrice Lumumba's downfall
• Mobutu's 1965 coup and 32-year rule
• Renaming Congo to Zaire and introducing the Authenticité movement
• Mobutu's repressive regime and personality cult
• Corruption and Mobutu's embezzlement of state funds
• Economic decline and dependency on foreign aid
• Mobutu's fall from power and death in exile
• Mobutu's enduring legacy in modern-day DRC

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In this episode, we'll explore the complex world of minimum wage laws, from their surprising origins in Australia and New Zealand to modern debates around their effectiveness.

Do they protect the lowest-paid workers, or do they do more damage than good?

• History of the minimum wage globally
• Early minimum wage laws in Australia and New Zealand
• Introduction of minimum wage in the UK and the US
• Arguments for and against minimum wage
• Impact of the minimum wage on businesses
• Regional variations in minimum wage
• Alternatives to the minimum wage
• Minimum wage and wage growth in the UK
• Comparison of minimum wage with skilled jobs
• Political perspectives on the minimum wage

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Keywords: Learn English, vocabulary, lessons, idioms, aprende inglés, idiomas, aprender inglês, apprendre l'anglais, imparare l’inglese, ingilizce öğren,英語を習う, تعلم الإنجليزية

In 2011, Egypt erupted in protest, toppling a 30-year regime.

What began as a grassroots movement against an autocratic leader turned into a complex struggle for democracy and power.

In this episode, we'll travel through the events that led from the hopeful dawn of revolution to the military's return to power, and see how social media and global events played pivotal roles in shaping modern Egypt.

• Egypt's conditions ripe for revolution in 2011
• Hosni Mubarak's rule and use of emergency laws
• Impact of Tunisian Revolution on Egypt
• Rise of protests on Egyptian Police Day 2011
• Role of social media in Egyptian protests
• Mubarak's resignation and military's interim government
• Muslim Brotherhood's rise and Morsi's presidency
• Morsi's overreach and public dissatisfaction
• Army's intervention and Sisi's rise to power
• Repression and return to authoritarian rule under Sisi

Full interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/egyptian-revolution

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Keywords: Learn English, vocabulary, lessons, idioms, aprende inglés, idiomas, aprender inglês, apprendre l'anglais, imparare l’inglese, ingilizce öğren,英語を習う, تعلم الإنجليزية

In this episode, we'll explore the eerie events of the Salem Witch Trials, a chilling tale of suspicion, fear, and injustice in 17th-century Massachusetts.

Discover how a village turned against itself, leading to the execution of innocent people amidst accusations of witchcraft, and consider the theories behind what really happened.

• The harsh winter of 1692 in Massachusetts
• Puritans' fear of the devil and witchcraft
• Witch accusations in Salem Village
• Tituba's confession and impact
• Spectral evidence in Salem court trials
• Tragic outcomes of the witch trials
• Ergot fungus and mass hysteria theories
• Social tensions and personal vendettas in Salem
• Aftermath and attempts to right wrongs
• Exoneration of Elizabeth Johnson Jr. in 2022

Full interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/salem-witch-trials

Episode about The History of Witches: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/witches
"Weird history" episodes: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcast-tags/weird-history
"Horror" episodes: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcast-tags/horror

W

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In part one of this three-part mini-series, we'll explore the captivating life of T.E. Lawrence, the British archaeologist and army officer known as "Lawrence of Arabia."

Discover how he fought alongside Arabian tribesmen during World War I in their quest for independence, all while knowing an uncomfortable secret.

• The early life and interests of T.E. Lawrence
• Lawrence's work as an archaeologist in the Middle East
• The Ottoman Empire and World War I context
• Lawrence's role with Arab forces against Ottomans
• The strategy of guerrilla warfare and victory at Aqaba
• Lawrence's experience and trauma in Deraa
• The broken promises of the Sykes-Picot Agreement
• Lawrence's return to Britain and later life
• The lasting impact of Lawrence on the Middle East
• Varied perceptions of T.E. Lawrence's legacy

Full interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/lawrence-arabia

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Keywords: Learn English, vocabulary, lessons, idioms, aprende inglés, idiomas, aprender inglês, apprendre l'anglais, imparare l’inglese, ingilizce öğren,英語を習う, تعلم الإنجليزية

In this episode, we'll explore the fascinating history of perfume, tracing its journey from Ancient Mesopotamia to its artistic development in France.

We'll learn how scents have evolved from practical uses to luxury items, and discover the intriguing world of “grands nez,” the master perfumers who dedicate their lives to crafting these aromatic masterpieces.

• Perfume origins: from Mesopotamia to Middle Eastern innovation
• Ancient perfume use: religious rituals and practical odour cover
• Egypt: Perfume as a status symbol in hot climates
• Cleopatra and the power of scent
• Roman perfume indulgence and imported fragrances
• French perfume evolution: From leather gloves to luxury
• Grasse: The perfume capital of the world
• Why perfume is expensive: ingredients and branding
• Becoming a "grand nez": the perfumer's journey
• Perfume's artistic and historical significance across cultures

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Keywords: Learn English, vocabulary, lessons, idioms, aprende inglés, idiomas, aprender inglês, apprendre l'anglais, imparare l’inglese, ingilizce öğren,英語を習う, تعلم الإنجليزية

In this episode, we'll explore the life of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey.

Discover how he turned a fragmented resistance into a national movement, established a secular republic from imperial ruins, and why he’s still called "The Father of the Turks."

• Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's famous 36-hour speech, Nutuk
• Decline and Fall of the Ottoman Empire
• Reasons for the Ottoman Empire's decline
• The Ottoman Empire's defeat in World War I
• Mustafa Kemal's rise as a military leader
• Turkish War of Independence overview
• Establishment of the Republic of Turkey
• Atatürk's radical reforms and modernisation
• Introduction of secularism and language reform
• Legacy of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

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Keywords: Learn English, vocabulary, lessons, idioms, aprende inglés, idiomas, aprender inglês, apprendre l'anglais, imparare l’inglese, ingilizce öğren,英語を習う, تعلم الإنجليزية

In this episode of Thinking in English, host Tom Wilkinson explores the past perfect continuous tense, using the 2008 financial crisis as a case study.

The episode covers the grammar rules and structures of the past perfect continuous tense, emphasising its usage to describe actions that started in the past, continued for some time, and were ongoing or just finished before another event.

The lesson includes in-depth examples and concludes with a discussion on Michael Burry, who had been predicting the financial collapse for years.

Links

Website - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/

Study Pack - https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish/shop/study-packs-past-present-and-future-807289

TiE Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/c/thinkinginenglish

Find Out More - https://linktr.ee/thinkinginenglishpod

00:00 Introduction

01:39 Grammar Lesson

04:42 Financial Crisis and Past Perfect Continuous

10:56 Final Thought