Why are billionaires building bunkers?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2026/ep-260129

prepper: someone who believes disaster is likely to happen soon, and so prepares for it

kid: joke

mentality: the way someone thinks about things

apocalypse: an event which causes destruction and change

status: respect and importance

compromise: lower the standard of something

Scared of speaking English?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2026/260122

pretty: used as a modifier to mean quiet, a bit

relate to (someone): understand, usually because you’ve experienced something similar

anxiety: feeling nervous or worried about something that’s happening or that might happen in the future

irrational beliefs: beliefs that are based on things that are not true, that are not logical

self-perception: what you think of yourself

internal: inside your mind or body

What English phrases really mean

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2026/ep-260115

mare (short for nightmare): unpleasant or difficult experience

take yourself too seriously: consider yourself and your actions as more important than they really are

no-no: thing or way of behaving that is not socially acceptable

the done thing: what you are expected to do in a particular social situation

miffed: slightly annoyed by someone’s behaviour towards you

barney: loud argument or quarrel

Is social media dead?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2026/ep-260108

oh man!: (informal) spoken exclamation used to show excitement or enthusiasm

shatter an illusion: destroy someone’s false belief or misconception, causing them to realise the unpleasant truth

cultural happening: event that embodies the interests and values of a particular cultural group at a particular time in history

behemoth: extremely large and powerful company or organisation

novelty: something which is new and unusual and therefore exciting

gravitate towards (something or someone): be naturally drawn or attracted to something or someone

Is it OK to disagree?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2026/ep-260101

divided: in disagreement; not together

aroused: feel a strong emotion like anger or disagreement

motivational: something that makes us determined and enthusiastic

heat: an intense feeling, often anger

open-minded: willing to listen to and consider new ideas

silver bullet: a simple solution to a complicated problem