In today’s episode we’re discussing the Radio 4 Desert Island Discs interview with Dame Sue Campbell, the Director of Women’s Football at the Football Association We discuss some terms often used when talking about sport, such as 'to lag behind' and to 'have a competitive streak'. We also explain the verbs 'to collapse', 'to bombard' and 'to faint'.

Radio English

Episode 36: Dame Sue Campbell

In today’s episode we’re discussing the Radio 4 Desert Island Discs interview with Michael Lewis, a non-fiction writer and journalist. We explain some words related to his career, such as what a ‘trader’ is, what it means if someone writes under a 'pseudonym' and what is meant if something ‘mushrooms’. We’ll also discuss some  of the useful phrasal verbs, such as 'set up', 'tune out' and to be 'torn between' two things.  Links The original Desert island Discs interview The notes on my blog Facebook group Trailer of Moneyball (YouTube)

Episode 35: Michael Lewis

In today’s episode we’re discussing the radio 4 Desert Island Discs interview with Rupert Everett, an actor. We discuss what it means if someone has a ‘flash in the pan’ career and if they experience ‘lean’ periods. We also explain what it means if someone is described as ‘frosty’, ‘foxy’ and as having ‘a short fuse’. Links The original Desert island Discs interview The notes on my blog Facebook group

Episode 34: Rupert Everett

In today’s episode we’re discussing the radio 4 Desert Island Discs interview with Stephen Merchant, a writer, comedian and actor. He co-wrote the famous British sitcom ,‘The Office’, with Ricky Gervais. We discuss what a ‘sitcom’ and ‘mockumentary’ are and some of the phrases that are used in the interview, such as, ‘jack of all trades’ and when you would say that ‘butter wouldn’t melt in someone’s mouth’. We also talk about some vocab that is used to describe The Office like ‘dour’ and what it means when they say it is the comedy of ‘awkwardness’. Links The original Desert island Discs interview The notes on my blog Facebook group

Episode 33: Stephen Merchant

In today’s episode we’re discussing the radio 4 Desert Island Discs interview with Heidi Thomas, a television screenwriter. Amongst many other words, we explain what some words related to the series, such as ‘a midwife’ and ‘umbilical cord’. We also talk about some of the useful phrases that are used like ‘out of the blue’, ‘free rein’ and what it means if something is ‘turned on it’s head’. Links The original Desert island Discs interview The notes on my blog Facebook group  

Episode 32: Heidi Thomas

In today’s episode we’re discussing the Radio 4 Desert Island Discs interview with Russell Foster, Professor of circadian neuroscience. We’ll explain what ‘circadian’ actually means and other science related words like ‘microscope’ and ‘lab’. We’ll also talk about what it means if someone 'takes someone under their wing’ and what a ‘badge of honour’ is. Read through a list of advanced words and phrases from the interview on my blog Watch Russell Foster's Ted Talk, called 'Why do we sleep'. Join the discussion in the Facebook Group If you have enjoyed today's episode and you have found it helpful, can you help me let others know about it too? Just leave a rating and review on itunes (and subscribe if you haven't already). That would be amazing! Thank you so much!

Episode 31: Russell Foster

In today’s episode we’re discussing the radio 4 Desert Island Discs interview with Asif Kapadia, a successful British film maker. Along with many other useful words and phrases, we discuss the words ‘reels’ and ‘footage’ that relate to filmmaking. We explain what it means if someone ‘has an eye for something’ and what their ‘take’ is.  Read through the notes for this episode on my blog Links mentioned The trailer for the film Amy

Episode 30: Asif Kapadia

In today’s episode we’re discussing the radio 4 Desert Island Discs interview with Isabella Tree, a conservationist and writer. We explain words connected with nature, such as ‘scrub’ and ‘biodiversity’. We discuss the  language used in the interview when talking about doubt and unpleasant thoughts. like, ‘losing your nerve’, a ‘niggling feeling’ and a worry that ‘gnaws away’ at someone as well as the joy of having an ‘epiphany’ and what it means if you ‘turn something around’ Read through the notes for this episode on my blog Links mentioned Isabella's website The Knepp estate website  Novel called The Island

Episode 29: Isabella Tree

In today’s episode we’re discussing the radio 4 Desert Island Discs interview with Stephen Graham, a well known British actor that starred in the recent film The Irishman and the TV series The Line of Duty amongst many other roles. We explain terms related to acting, such as  a ‘skit’ is and what it means if something is ‘on set’. We also discuss slang words ‘to blag’ and ‘to go ballistic’ as well as many other useful words and phrases. Read through the notes for this episode on my blog Join the discussion in the Facebook Group Watch the caterpillar video here! If you have enjoyed today's episode and you have found it helpful, can you help me let others know about it too? Just leave a rating and review on itunes (and subscribe if you haven't already). That would be amazing! Thank you so much!

Episode 28: Stephen Graham

In today’s episode we’re discussing the radio 4 Desert Island Discs interview with Kimberley Motley, who is an American lawyer who works in Afghanistan. We explain what it means if something is ‘tainted’ and ‘tangible’ and the pharsal verbs ‘go off’ and ‘rock up’ amongst many other useful words and phrases. Read through the notes for this episode on my blog Join the discussion in the Facebook Group If you have enjoyed today's episode and you have found it helpful, can you help me let others know about it too? Just leave a rating and review on itunes (and subscribe if you haven't already). That would be amazing! Thank you so much!

Episode 27: Kimberley Motley

In today’s episode we’re discussing the radio 4 Desert Island Discs interview with Russell T Davies, who is one of the UK’s most successful television writers. He describes himself as a gay writer and we explain the words ‘queer’, ‘straight’ closetness’ and ‘out’ that are used in the interview. We also discuss some of the useful phrasal verbs that are used      to potter about, to churn out and to sail through. Read through the notes for this episode on my blog Join the discussion in the Facebook Group If you have enjoyed today's episode and you have found it helpful, can you help me let others know about it too? Just leave a rating and review on itunes (and subscribe if you haven't already). That would be amazing! Thank you so much!

Episode 26: Russell T Davies

In today’s episode we’re discussing the radio 4 Desert Island Discs interview with Wendell Pierce, who is a famous American actor. We discuss the terrible racism he suffered as a child with words such as, ‘segregated’ and ‘sub par’. We also explain some of the words used when he and Lauren Lavern talk about his career, like ‘longevity’, ‘aspiring to something’ and ‘adding a string to his bow’. Read through the notes for this episode on my blog Join the discussion in the Facebook Group If you have enjoyed today's episode and you have found it helpful, can you help me let others know about it too? Just leave a rating and review on itunes (and subscribe if you haven't already). That would be amazing! Thank you so much!

Episode 25: Wendell Pierce

In today’s episode we’re discussing the radio 4 Desert Island Discs interview with Dame Glenys Stacey, former Chief Inspector of Probation. She also worked as a solicitor and a regulator for many years. We’ll explain what it means to ‘hold someone to account’  and what is meant by having 'skeletons in your cupboard'. We also discuss the words 'hindsight', 'clear sight' and 'foresight' as well as many other useful words and phrases. Read through the notes for this episode on my blog Join the discussion in the Facebook Group If you have enjoyed today's episode and you have found it helpful, can you help me let others know about it too? Just leave a rating and review on itunes (and subscribe if you haven't already). That would be amazing! Thank you so much!

Episode 24: Dame Glenys Stacey

In today’s episode we’re discussing the radio 4 Desert Island Discs interview with Baroness Arminka Helic. She is a politician who campaigns to prevent sexual violence in conflict zones. On a positive note, Aggie explains what ‘a sprinkling of stardust is’ and on a more serious note, we explain what ‘rape’ means and give the defiition of ‘shell shock’. We also talk about what it means to be ‘spotted, ‘smuggled’ and ‘humiliated’. Read through the notes for this episode on my blog Join the discussion in the Facebook Group If you have enjoyed today's episode and you have found it helpful, can you help me let others know about it too? Just leave a rating and review on itunes (and subscribe if you haven't already). That would be amazing! Thank you so much!

Episode 23: Baroness Arminka Helic.

In today’s episode we’re discussing the radio 4 Desert Island Discs interview with Lin Manuel Miranda, a composer and lyricist who is very well known for creating the musical Hamilton. Along with many other great words, we talk about what ‘a smash’ is and what it means if something is ‘thrilling’ and at it’s ‘peak’. We also explain the phrasal verbs ‘live up to’, set yourself up’ and ‘mess up’. Read through the notes for this episode on my blog Join the discussion in the Facebook Group If you have enjoyed today's episode and you have found it helpful, can you help me let others know about it too? Just leave a rating and review on itunes (and subscribe if you haven't already). That would be amazing! Thank you so much!

Episode 22: Lin Manuel Miranda

Radio English is a podcast for advanced learners of English. Every week Jessica Shattock and co-host Aggie Martin explain vocabulary from a BBC radio 4 programme called Desert Island Discs. Through listening to this podcast you will learn an incredible amount of words and phrases and become a much more fluent and confident English speaker. Jessica Shattock founded Sky Blue English in 2012 and Aggie Martin joined as an English teacher in 2017.

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Radio English

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