Learn english | Podcasts

             

#01 Managing Virtual Teams: 

      Before the COVID-19 pandemic, there were many questions about whether people could actually be more productive by working from home. Guess what we found when we virtualized the workplace? Not only are people just as productive when working remotely, but many are more productive. With no travel time, back-to-back meetings, and less time at the water cooler, many people can get more work done from home.

That doesn't mean we never have to worry about remote worker responsibilities. However, measures to ensure accountability must be balanced with systems that allow workers some autonomy and control over their work processes. After the pandemic, many workers are simply reluctant to return to rigid management practices. So we had to find the sweet spot between structure and flexibility. We need to support this balance with the right technologies and systems. 

#02 A look at Elon Musk and what he represents:

              Twitter has put what's known as a poison pill provision into place in order to block Elon Musk's potential takeover of the company. As a reminder, last week Musk offered to buy Twitter for $43 billion, saying he would promote more free speech on the platform. So who is Elon Musk? He's the richest person on the planet, the man behind Tesla, SpaceX and quite a bit of controversy. He's more than a celebrity. He's arguably the author and avatar of a new political economy. That is how Harvard historian Jill Lepore explains his significance in her podcast series, "The Evening Rocket." And she joins me now to talk about the billionaire CEO. Welcome. 

 #03 New report reveals COVID's toll on the mental health of frontline doctors and nurses

               We know the pandemic has taken an immense toll on frontline health care workers. A new report by the Department of Health and Human Services confirms that and reveals the depth of distress throughout the health care system.

#04  Rhetoric: How persuasive are you?

              The art of rhetoric started with the ancient Greek philosophers. Later, during the Roman republic, politicians and statesmen used rhetoric in speeches given to crowds in the public square. Modern politicians may prefer Twitter, but they still use persuasive language. Sam and Neil discuss the topic and teach you related vocabulary.

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