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Each episode introduces new words, followed by a captivating short story that reinforces their meaning and helps them stick in your mind. Subscribe and start building your vocabulary!

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Current word list

Lacking in originality, freshness, or novelty; trite; commonplace. Something that is banal is boring and unoriginal.
Showing a lack of thought or care; carefree; cheerful. Can also mean happy or joyous.
Plural of inanity. Something that is silly, empty, or meaningless. Foolish remarks or actions.
A low protective wall along the edge of a roof, balcony, or bridge.
banal blithe inanities parapet

Story

The seaside town, usually a vibrant hub, felt suffocatingly banal in the off-season. The same seagulls squawked from the same rusty lamp posts, the waves crashed against the same grey breakwater, and the wind carried the same salty tang. Arthur, however, seemed immune to the pervasive monotony. He strolled along the promenade with a blithe air, a half-eaten ice cream cone dripping onto his hand. He hummed tunelessly, oblivious to the damp chill that seeped into everyone else's bones.

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He reached the end of the promenade where a low parapet overlooked the churning sea. Below, the waves crashed against the rocks, sending up plumes of white spray. Arthur leaned against the cold stone, his gaze fixed on the horizon. He thought of nothing in particular, his mind a blank slate. He paid no mind to the elderly couple nearby, engaged in a tedious conversation filled with the inanities of daily life – complaints about the price of fish, the unreliable bus service, the persistent dampness that plagued their joints.

Arthur found their chatter oddly soothing, a background hum to his own blissful emptiness. The banal surroundings, the blithe disregard for the cold, the mindless inanities of the old couple's talk – it all coalesced into a strange sort of peace. He finished his ice cream, tossed the wrapper into a nearby bin, and with a final glance at the grey expanse of the sea from the parapet, turned and headed back into the town, his blithe spirit untouched by the pervasive dreariness.

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About this podcast

I've always wanted to expand my vocabulary, and for years I relied on spaced repetition flashcards like Anki to learn new words. However, I encountered two challenges. First, I'd use them consistently for a while, then lose the habit and have to restart. Second, while I could recall the words while studying, I never truly incorporated them into my everyday speech… [Continue Reading]