Video Games as Modern Literature | Progressive Word Power
Most people think video games are just for fun. But what if they can also tell powerful stories — just like books or movies? Discover how video games as literature are changing the way we think about storytelling today.
When the World Ran Out of Everything: The Bronze Age Collapse and Global Supply Chains
Over 3,000 years ago, the most sophisticated trade network the ancient world had ever built collapsed in less than 50 years. Sound familiar? Explore what the Bronze Age Collapse tells us about today’s global supply chains — and why the dominos fall faster than we think.
The Fall of Rome: Why the Greatest Empire in History Couldn’t Save Itself | Close Reading
The fall of the Roman Empire is one of history’s greatest puzzles — and its causes are surprisingly relevant today. Political dysfunction, economic collapse, overextension, and cultural fragmentation: sound familiar?
Perpetual: The Strange Comfort of Things That Don’t End
In a world of endings and expirations, there’s something almost defiant about the word perpetual. In this episode, we explore what it means to last — and what we reach for when we want something to go on forever.
How to Talk About True Crime and Mysteries in English: From the Basic Words to the Art of the Theory
Build the English vocabulary, grammar, and conversational skills to discuss true crime, mysteries, and unsolved cases with confidence, from simple basics to advanced, nuanced theorizing.
Leave No Stone Unturned: The Quiet Power of Thoroughness
Most people stop when they find a good answer. But some people keep going until they find the right one. ‘Leave no stone unturned’ is an expression about a particular kind of dedication — the kind that refuses to settle. Let’s explore where that phrase comes from and what it really demands of us.
The Psychology of Foundational Learning | Progressive Word Power
This episode is about how we learn — and why the first things we learn really matter. There are three levels below. Choose the one that feels right for you. If most words in a level are easy, try the next one up. And remember — you can always move to a harder level later. That’s how you grow!
The Loneliness Epidemic: Why You Can Have 500 Friends Online and Still Feel Completely Alone
We are the most digitally connected generation in human history — and also, according to research, among the loneliest. This article investigates the strange paradox at the heart of modern social life: what loneliness actually is, why technology makes it worse even as it promises connection, and what it might take to genuinely address it.
Sedna: The Inuit Goddess of the Sea and the Price of Betrayal | Close Reading
The Inuit myth of Sedna is one of the most haunting origin stories ever told — a tale of betrayal, transformation, and the terrifying power of a woman who became the ruler of all sea creatures.
Devastate: On Being Broken Open by the World
Devastate is a word we use too casually. When you slow it down and feel its full weight, you realize it’s describing something profound — the kind of loss that doesn’t just hurt, but changes the terrain of your life.
