English and Beyond: Advanced English for Fluency & Communication

👩‍🎓 Single-sex schools—progressive choice or charmingly outdated tradition? 🏫 In this episode, César & I take a deep dive into British single-sex education —those schools where boys & girls are kept apart for (supposedly) better focus, higher grades, and fewer distractions. As a former teacher in an all-boys school , I share the surprising behaviours I observed , while César compares it...

🏝️ Stranded on a desert island… but with music, books & one ridiculous luxury item? This week, César & I are taking a lighthearted twist on the classic British radio show Desert Island Discs ! With zero time to overthink , I’m choosing the songs, book & one over-the-top item I’d bring to my imaginary deserted island —all while César reacts in real-time. 🎧 Tune in to hear: 🎶 The song...

💪 Can lifting weights actually change your mindset? 💪 In this episode of English & Beyond , I sit down with my friend Martha , a powerhouse in urban gardening and actual Strongwoman competitions 🏋️‍♀️, to chat about fitness, self-image, and what ‘strength’ really means . 💡 What’s inside: ✔️ My childhood fear of the word ‘muscles’ (seriously!) 😱 ✔️ Why many women quit sports in their teens—...

🎃 Trick or treat?  🎃 In this episode of English & Beyond , César and I dig into Halloween’s surprising origins , exploring how a Celtic festival became a global phenomenon —with a little (or a lot) of help from the USA. 💡 What we chat about in this episode: ✔️ My non-existent childhood Halloween celebrations 🎭 ✔️ Santa, the Tooth Fairy, and why my parents refused to play along ✔️ The Celti...

🎭 Ever walked out of a film because it was THAT disappointing? We did… In this episode, César and I discuss disappointment —from movies that didn’t live up to expectations ( Joker: Folie à Deux, we’re looking at you ) to the frustration of setting the bar too high . 💡 What we chat about in this episode: ✔️ Joker 2 —why we actually walked out of the cinema ✔️ The problem with hyped-up sequels ✔️...

👀 Difficult or delightful? The mother-in-law relationship is rarely simple… In this episode, I dive into one of the most important and potentially awkward relationships you’ll ever have: the one with your mother-in-law ! From first meetings to memorable meals (yes, rabbit and snails included 🐰🐌), I share my experiences of building relationships with three different mothers-in-law over the years...

Please listen to (Episode 18 / Part I) first if you wish to understand Episode 19 fully If you tuned in last time, you know we left off with a cliffhanger… and now it’s time to wrap up the 'career confessions' with me, Oliver, and my guest, César! César is finally back in the interrogation seat after a few weeks' break, to discuss with me the ups and downs of career switching, the s...

🎙️ Ever wondered how someone goes from law to Latin, politics to podcasting? Join me, Oliver, as I share the unexpected twists and turns of my career , from quitting my job as a lawyer to teaching Latin, and now, moving to Spain to focus on teaching English online. 🌍✈️ In this episode, I’ll be rating my previous jobs (including some awful ones!), sharing why I walked away from a legal career, and...

After last week’s episode with my mum , I thought it was only fair to sit down with my dad as well! Unlike my mum, he didn’t take much convincing—probably because he thought that if she could do it, then he absolutely could too! 😆 Our relationship has always been full of debates and disagreements (as many father-son relationships are!), and I spent most of my teenage years arguing with him. But,...

This episode is a very special one for me—because I’ve finally convinced my mum to join me on the podcast! 🎉 My mother hates being photographed and/or recorded and has already warned me that she will never listen back to this episode —so I’m shocked that she agreed to take part! But I couldn’t be happier, because this conversation with her made me smile so much while editing . In this episode, we...

How do you define a lucky life ? Can someone truly say they’ve lived happily—until the very end? In this episode of English & Beyond , I explore the story of Croesus , the ancient king whose arrogance led to his downfall. This cautionary tale has stayed with me for years, and it raises big questions: Is luck permanent? Do we control our fate? And why do so many celebrities who "have it al...

Welcome to English and Beyond, the ultimate podcast for advanced English learners! Join us weekly as we dive into a wide variety of engaging and slightly unconventional topics that go beyond traditional language learning. From quirky cultural insights to intriguing personal stories, this podcast offers a fresh approach to improving your English. Each episode features natural, idiomatic English and...

Feeling unmotivated? You’re not alone! In this episode of English & Beyond , I explore the common struggle of losing motivation —whether in work, hobbies, or language learning. September is usually my mini New Year , but this time, I’ve found myself stuck in ennui (a perfect French word for deep boredom and dissatisfaction). César joins me to discuss how to stay productive when motivation disa...

Do you believe in luck, fate, or the supernatural? In this episode of English & Beyond , I explore superstitions, omens, and the role of rituals in shaping our lives. From black cats and Friday the 13th to cultural traditions like Scotland’s First-Footing and Spain’s 12 grapes at New Year, I discuss why—even as a sceptic—I still find myself following these rituals. Joining me is my friend Char...

🎃 Why Do We Love Being Scared? A Deep Dive into Horror Films Fear is universal, but today we’re diving into cinematic terror – a genre I’ve loved (and sometimes regretted loving!) for years. César and I explore: 💀 My first horror experiences – and the film that traumatised my childhood friend! 📽 Why do we want to feel scared? 👻 Do horror films lose their effect over time? Or is the genre just g...

🇮🇹 Italy: Expectations vs. Reality – My Experience in Milan This week, I’m joined by Federica , one of the most impressive non-native English speakers I’ve ever met, to unpack my complicated experience living in Milan. 💡 In this episode, we discuss: 🍕 My dream of living ‘La Dolce Vita’ vs. the harsh reality 👨‍💼 Toxic office culture & bizarre work expectations in Italy 🤝 Why making friends...

🎓 Oxford: Reality vs. Myth – My Honest Experience For the first time ever , I’m going solo on the podcast! While César enjoys his holiday, I’m following his strict instructions to discuss the reality of the (in)famous University of Oxford . 💡 What’s in this episode? 🎭 The myths & realities of Oxford life 🏛 How hard is it really to get in? 📚 Why the tutorial system is so intense 🎓 Why so m...

😨 Why Am I So Afraid of Being ‘Cancelled’? This week, César and I dive into one of my biggest fears— Cancel Culture . I explain in more detail why I (still) don’t use my face to promote this podcast and share my (hopefully) irrational anxiety about becoming the next person to be publicly shamed for an opinion I didn’t even realise was controversial. In this episode, we discuss: ❌ What cancel cul...

If something bad happens to you, how should you react? Should you fully express your emotions or try to stay detached ? Is grief always bad ? Is happiness always good ? In this episode, César and I take a deep dive into Stoicism , the ancient philosophy that teaches us how to navigate life’s highs and lows with balance and resilience. We discuss: 🛡️ What Stoicism is and where it comes from 🧠 How...

Does your foreign accent make you feel insecure when speaking English? You're not alone! In this episode, I’m joined by my good friend Franziska , who has lived in the UK for nine years and still struggles with her German accent . Together, we dive into the realities of accents in language learning : 🔹 Why accents matter so much to language learners 🔹 How perceptions of accents impact confi...

What happens when you spend years learning a language… and then forget it? 🤯 In this episode, I’m joined by my dear friend Laura , and together, we take a trip down memory lane to our language-learning adventures in Beijing . We talk about: How we met while studying Mandarin in China 🇨🇳 The joys and pitfalls of language learning – and why it disappears so quickly! Whether speaking a different lan...

What makes a relationship work? In this special episode , César and I take an honest, unscripted look at our eight-year relationship , from our first meeting to navigating cultural differences and conflicts. With César feeling under the weather and my voice barely holding up, it’s the perfect storm for some genuine British awkwardness ! 💡 What We Cover: ✔️ How we met (and why I never left Spain!)...

We’ve all had terrible bosses , but how do they shape our work lives? In this episode, César and I discuss our personal experiences with bad managers, workplace culture, and toxic leadership. We explore: ✔️ Why so many bosses are bad at their jobs ✔️ How different workplace cultures affect management styles ✔️ The impact of micromanagement, power struggles, and bad leadership ✔️ How the pandemic h...

Is Instagram making us more narcissistic ? Or is self-obsession just part of human nature? In this episode of English and Beyond , César and I explore how social media fuels vanity, self-image issues, and the need for validation —and what we can learn from the ancient Greek myth of Narcissus . We discuss: ✅ How selfies and filters create unrealistic beauty standards ✅ The psychology of Instagram...

Jealousy: Why Do We Feel It & Can It Be a Good Thing? Jealousy is a powerful emotion—sometimes it drives us to succeed, and sometimes it makes us miserable. In this episode of English and Beyond , César and I dive into personal experiences with envy, comparison, and self-improvement . 💭 Key Topics: Why we get jealous & how it shapes our behaviour When jealousy motivates us vs. when it bec...