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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.

The Bittersweet Science of Nostalgia | Word Power
Why do we yearn for the past? In this Word Power episode, we explore the psychology of nostalgia while mastering advanced vocabulary like wistful, evocative, and rose-colored glasses.

The Dance, The Drift, and The Handle: How We survive the Morning After
As 2025 comes to a close, we look at the transition from holiday magic to ordinary reality. Through stories set in a nursing home in Buenos Aires, a dark river in the Amazon, and a drought-stricken well in Turkana, we ask: How do we keep the music playing when the orchestra stops?

When the Bells Stop Ringing | A Prayer for the Day After
And finally, we look to the day after. The bells have stopped ringing, the guests have gone, and the wax has hardened on the table. We often treat the holiday spirit like a decoration—something to be packed away in a box until next year. But what if the kindness, the open doors, and the shared bread were not a seasonal performance, but a blueprint for how to live? In this final reflection, we ask what it means to carry the light of the feast into the famine of the ordinary days ahead.

When the Bells Stop Ringing 15 | The Water at The Well
In the drought-stricken lands of Turkana County, the sun is a hammer and water is more precious than gold. Zola, a young woman from the Turkana tribe, walks miles to the only working well, knowing it sits on the dangerous borderlands of the enemy Pokot tribe. When she arrives, she is not alone. A woman from the opposing tribe is already there. With no men and no guns—just two women and a rusted, heavy pump handle—they face a choice: hold onto the history of war, or work together to survive the day.

When the Bells Stop Ringing 14 | The River of Stars
The Amazon River at night is a cacophony of jungle sounds and pitch-black water. Thiago, a boat pilot, knows the dangers of the current, but when his engine dies on Christmas Eve, he finds himself drifting helplessly in the dark. Alone, with the rain pouring down and the river spinning him toward the unknown, he spots a faint spark in the distance. It isn’t a city or a harbor, but a flickering light on a rotting dock. This is a story about the terror of being adrift, and the humble lights that guide us home.
And Much More...
The Mechanics of Muscle Growth | Progressive Word Power
Everyone wants stronger muscles, but most people have the wrong idea about how muscle growth actually works. Discover the simple truth behind building muscle — and stop believing the myths that are holding you back.
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?
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.
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!






