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English Plus with Danny
Take your English and knowledge to the next level with our English Plus with Danny podcast. Explore fascinating topics from science, business, history, myths, literature, and beyond. Join our journey of learning and discovery, where we improve our language and broaden our knowledge and understanding of the world around us.
A History of Sex as a Business 07 | The 20th Century: Wars, Migration, and the Criminalization Wave
The twentieth century saw two world wars that massively expanded military commercial sex economies, massive migration patterns that created new trafficking vulnerabilities, and a wave of criminalization campaigns that often made things worse for the people they claimed to help. This episode traces how the modern policy landscape was created.
A History of Sex as a Business 06 | Victorian Shadows: The Underground Economy of the Empire
Victorian Britain preached sexual purity while building one of the most extensive commercial sex economies in European history. This episode examines the extraordinary contradiction between Victorian public morality and private practice, the Contagious Diseases Acts, the underground networks of London’s streets, and the investigative journalism that exposed child exploitation and changed the law.
A History of Sex as a Business 05 | The Colonial Export: Race, Empire, and the Global Trade
European colonialism didn’t just extract gold, spices, and land from colonized peoples — it also created and exploited systems of sexual commerce that were explicitly organized around race. This episode examines how empire built racialized sex economies across Asia, Africa, and the Americas.
A History of Sex as a Business 04 | Courtesans, Kings, and the Politics of Pleasure
In Renaissance Europe and the Ottoman Empire, certain women leveraged beauty, intelligence, and proximity to power into remarkable — if precarious — social positions. This episode explores the cortigiana onesta, the imperial harem, and the Japanese geisha as case studies in how women navigated systems that simultaneously celebrated and constrained them.
A History of Sex as a Business 03 | The Middle Ages: God, Sin, and Regulation
The medieval Church condemned commercial sex as mortal sin — and then many of the same institutions that preached that message either tolerated or directly profited from licensed brothels. This episode explores the extraordinary contradiction at the heart of medieval sexuality and the economic logic that drove it.
And Much More...
The Universe Is Mostly Invisible: A Field Guide to Black Holes, Dark Matter, and How Stars Live and Die
Most of the universe is missing, the stars are dying to make the atoms in your body, and the scariest objects in physics might be erasing information forever. Here’s a guided tour of black holes, dark matter, and the lifecycle of stars, written for curious humans, not physicists.
Video Games as Modern Literature: Why the Best Stories of Our Age Have a Controller
Forget the tired “screen time” debate. The most ambitious narratives of our era are interactive, and they build empathy and critical thinking in ways no other medium can. Here’s why the canon already has a controller in its hands.
The Burden of Tomorrow: Is It a Sin to Just Want to Be Happy?
Are we obligated to sacrifice our present happiness for future generations? The Editor-in-Chief of English Plus explores the tension between just wanting a good life and the crushing weight of tomorrow.
Succession Planning Isn’t About Your Replacement — It’s About Whether Your Work Outlives You
Most organizations treat succession planning as a panic button pressed when someone quits. It’s actually the quiet discipline that decides whether everything you built survives the day you leave. Here’s how to do it right — and why almost everyone gets it wrong.
Why Nuance Matters: Choosing Truth Over Viral Outrage
In an internet ecosystem fueled by outrage, polarization, and clickbait, why bother creating thoughtful content about the complex grey areas of life? Join the Editor-in-Chief of English Plus as we explore why nuance, critical thinking, and empathy are the ultimate acts of modern rebellion.
Why Do Onions Make You Cry? The Chemistry of Your Kitchen’s Most Hostile Vegetable | Close Reading
Why do onion fumes make us cry? The answer involves volatile sulfur compounds, an enzyme, your eyes’ natural defense system, and a chemical called syn-propanethial-S-oxide — and it is more interesting than you’d expect.
Editor-in-Chief
Danny Ballan
Are you ready to embark on a thrilling journey of language and inspiration? Look no further than English Plus with Danny, where your host, Danny, awaits to guide you through an enchanting fusion of education and entertainment.
As a podcaster, writer, and musician, Danny brings a diverse range of talents to his listeners and students worldwide. With his magnetic presence and passion for teaching, he transforms the process of learning English into a delightful and engaging experience.
But Danny's expertise extends beyond the podcast realm. Through his online courses, books, music, and more, he seamlessly combines education and entertainment, ensuring that you never cease to learn while having a fantastic time.
Discover the magic of English Plus Podcast today and connect with Danny at danny@englishpluspodcast.com. Embark on a journey to master English with a touch of style and substance, where learning becomes a joyous pursuit that never ceases to amaze. Don't wait any longer - let the adventure begin!
