1 Hour (C1 Level) Advanced English Listening Practice || C1 Level English Podcast for Fluency – YouTube Dictation Transcript & Vocabulary

1.[Music] okay so you've made it you've hit that C1 level in English which is a huge accomplishment by the way yeah seriously but now what i mean you're good really good but sometimes it feels like there's this wall between you and sounding like well truly exceptional like a native speaker yeah I get it's a common feeling at this level totally so today we're going to dive deep into some tips and tricks to help you scale that wall to go from very good to you know mind-blowingly good exactly and we're not going to waste your time with the basics yep this deep dive is for the advanced learner you know someone who's ready to really dissect the nuances of English and refine their skills right and the really cool thing is we have this document packed with tips specifically for C1 learners it's called C1 level tips to help improve your English level and that's going to be our guide today it's a fantastic resource really practical and actionable advice exactly so our mission today is to pull out the most transformative stuff the stuff that's really going to help you break through that plateau yeah make that leap and the document covers a lot mastering conversation expanding your vocabulary fine-tuning your fluency grammar reading writing even understanding the cultural context it's a lot it is but we're going to break it down absolutely so I guess the natural place to start is with conversation right i mean you've probably aced all those textbook dialogues by now right you can probably order a coffee in your sleep at this point probably but what about those real life conversations you know the ones that are unpredictable and messy the kind where you can't just pull out a pre-rehearsed phrase exactly and the document really emphasizes the importance of practicing for those situations yes it specifically says "Practice realistic spontaneous conversations." Okay so what does that look like in practice well think about situations where you have to think on your feet like a job interview and suddenly they hit you with a curveball question or maybe you're in a debate you know and you have to formulate your arguments on the spot right or even just those everyday social conversations that jump from topic to topic or negotiating something where like every word matters exactly it's about being able to handle those unexpected twists and turns totally and the document actually gives a great example of this a conversation between these two people Alex and Maria they're discussing an ethical dilemma at work which I think we've all encountered at some point yeah for sure and it's not a clear-cut black and white issue no it's very much a gray area as Maria says in the conversation exactly so Alex is kind of floating this idea of you know maybe bending the truth a little bit for the company's benefit which is you know always a tricky situation always and Maria's response is so interesting she says "That's a tough call i believe in transparency but in competitive markets some might argue it's strategic rather than deceptive it's so nuanced." So nuanced it's like she sees both sides of the argument and can express them thoughtfully and that's really what we're aiming for here that ability to navigate complexity right and it's not just about what they say it's about the language they use absolutely the document highlights some fantastic advanced phrases from their conversation yeah like that's a gray area which immediately signals that there's no easy answer i see where you're coming from shows you understand the other person's perspective without necessarily agreeing and then of course the classic let's agree to disagree a great way to move past an impass diplomatically and then there's that empathetic if I were in your shoes it just takes it to a whole other level yeah showing real consideration and it's not about you know just memorizing these phrases and dropping them in randomly right it's about understanding how they function in conversation how they help you navigate those subtle social dynamics they make you sound less robotic more human exactly more like you're actually thinking and reacting in real time so how do we get better at this like how do we actually start using this kind of language in our own conversations well the document has a really practical suggestion record yourself responding to different prompts think about ethical dilemmas like the one Alex and Maria discussed or current events or even just random social questions and then listen back critically yes critically ask yourself where did I hesitate where could I have expressed myself more clearly or more subtly were there opportunities to use those advanced phrases i love that and there are even tools that can help with this right yeah for sure voice thread and speak pipe are great options it's all about getting that objective feedback on your spontaneous speaking awesome so that's conversation moving on i think vocabulary is another big one at the C1 level it is you probably already have a pretty broad vocabulary at this point yeah you're not struggling with basic words anymore right but now it's about depth depth yeah how well you really understand the nuances of the words you use and how naturally you can integrate them into your speech okay I'm with you and the document is really clear on this learn words in context not just in isolation which means ditching those endless vocabulary lists exactly they can only get you so far what you need is to understand how words behave in the real world right the company they keep so like what words usually go together exactly collocations like strong coffee not powerful coffee or bitter disappointment not sour disappointment you know those little things that native speakers just intuitively know and then there are idioms which are like a whole other beast this colorful expressions that don't make sense literally right like kick the bucket or spill the beans and the document says connotations are also important oh absolutely connotation is the emotional baggage a word carries you know the subtle shades of meaning so cheap and inexpensive technically mean the same thing but but they have very different feelings associated with them totally and so how do we like practically improve our vocabulary in this way the document suggests a really cool strategy thematic vocabulary clusters i like the sound of that it's about grouping words together based on a central theme so instead of having these random words floating around in your head you create these little mental maps they give an example of business and innovation with words like disruptive innovation scalable model market saturation profit margin competitive edge i see yeah it's like building a vocabulary web around a specific topic precisely and the key is to not just list the words but to understand them in action so give me an example okay let's take disruptive innovation the document defines it as an innovation that significantly alters or creates a new market and then gives the example of Uber right uber totally changed the transportation industry it did so now you're not just memorizing a definition you're seeing how the word functions in the real world yeah that makes it way more memorable and they do the same thing with scalable they define it as able to be expanded or increased efficiently and then use the example the app is scalable and can handle millions of users without performance issues i get it it's about seeing the word in its natural habitat precisely and this kind of contextual understanding is what will allow you to not just understand native speakers when they use these words but also to start using them confidently and naturally yourself awesome so that's vocabulary what about fluency ah fluency that elusive quality that makes someone sound so effortless and natural yeah it's like they're just gliding through the language and the document gives us a brilliant tip for improving fluency imitate native speakers like just copy them well more specifically through a technique called shadowing shadowing yeah basically you listen to audio from a native speaker could be a podcast a news report anything and you try to repeat it aloud at the same time or just a split second behind oh wow i can see how that would be challenging it is but that's the point you're not just repeating words you're trying to mimic their pronunciation their intonation their rhythm even their pauses intonation that's the melody of their voice right exactly and sentence stress which is how they emphasize certain words to convey meaning okay yeah so are there any like specific podcasts or audio sources they recommend oh yeah they have some great suggestions all for the advanced learner light on me well for current events they recommend The Daily from the New York Times okay I've heard of that one it's really high quality and then for like immersive storytelling there's hardcore history i haven't heard of that one it's amazing and then freconomics which is all about like these thoughtprovoking discussions on well basically anything so pretty diverse range of topics there yeah and they're all challenging but really engaging and it's important that they're challenging right oh absolutely you want to be pushing yourself with authentic unsimplified English makes sense and the document also talks about focusing on certain aspects of pronunciation yes connected speech intonation and sentence stress these are often the final hurdles for advanced learners right connected speech is how we often run words together in natural speech the classic example is what do you want to do becoming what I want to do i do that all the time we all do and being able to recognize and reproduce those connected forms will make a huge difference in your understanding and your own fluency okay that makes sense and then intonation adds so much meaning and emotion to what you're saying yeah it's like the music of the language exactly and sentence stress helps you emphasize the most important information so what about resources are there any tools that can help with pronunciation definitely forvo is a great one for hearing words pronounced in different accents oh that's handy and Yug English lets you see and hear words used in context in YouTube videos so you can see how they're actually used exactly and then there are apps like Elsa Speak which provide personalized feedback on your pronunciation wow technology is amazing it really is okay so we've covered conversation vocabulary and fluency what's next grammar oh no not grammar i know I know but don't worry it's not about memorizing endless rules at the C1 level it's about mastering what the document calls subtle structures these are the more complex grammatical forms that allow you to express really nuanced meanings so we're not talking about basic verb tenses anymore no we're way past that okay good so what are some examples of these subtle structures well a document highlights mixed conditionals which are they allow you to talk about hypothetical situations with different time frames like what would be happening now if something different had happened in the past okay I think I get it and then there's inversion for emphasis inversion yeah it's when you change the normal word order to add emphasis to a statement okay and then there are cleft sentences cleft sentences that sounds painful not at all they're a way of focusing attention on a specific part of a sentence okay and finally nominalization wait what was that last one nominalization it's about turning verbs or adjectives into nouns to make your writing sound more more concise and formal often i see so the document gives some great examples of all of these oh good i like examples so for mixed conditionals they have the sentence if I had taken the job I would be living in New York now okay so it's like combining a past unreal condition with a present result exactly and it creates this really nuanced meaning yeah I see that and for inversion they have never have I seen such an incredible performance wow that sounds so dramatic right putting never at the beginning really emphasizes it and for nominalization they give the example the decision to postpone the launch surprised everyone so instead of saying they decided to postpone they use the noun decision which is more efficient and sounds more formal exactly so these subtle structures are all about expanding your expressive range giving you more tools to convey your ideas with precision and style awesome so that's grammar what about reading well I'm sure you're already reading a lot in English hopefully but at the C1 level it's important to diversify what you're reading diverse yeah read different types of materials different styles different registers don't get stuck in a rut okay so the document gives a bunch of examples academic journals opinion editorials fiction biographies even legal or business texts wow that's a lot of variety it is but the point is to expose yourself to different ways of using the language i see and it's not just about what you read but how you read it they have this really helpful advanced reading strategy tell me more so first skim for the main ideas just to get the gist of what you're reading okay then if you need more detail you can scan for specific information right and this is important highlight and define any new words you encounter and make sure to understand them in context exactly and finally try to summarize each paragraph in your own words just to make sure you've really understood it it's active reading not passive exactly you're really engaging with the text yeah and to get you started they recommend some great books and articles likeies well for one Sapiens by Yuvall Noah Harrari i've heard of that it's supposed to be really interesting it is and the language is very sophisticated good to know and they also recommend articles from The Economist which are known for their in-depth analysis of current affairs okay I'll check those out and then essays from the New Yorker which are known for their beautiful writing so basically challenge yourself with highquality reading material exactly okay so moving on to writing writing uh I know it can be tough but the good news is at the C1 level you're past the basics of grammar and structure hopefully so now it's about refining your style making your writing as clear and impactful as possible okay and the document's main advice is to edit ruthlessly ruthlessly yeah don't be afraid to cut rewrite rearrange be your own toughest critic okay I can try so they give a few specific techniques for this i'm all ears first focus on sentence variety don't let your sentences all sound the same right mix it up exactly and be mindful of your tone make sure it's appropriate for your audience and purpose so like knowing when to be formal and when to be informal exactly and each paragraph should start with a strong topic sentence that clearly tells the reader what it's about good old topic sentences and finally use linking words and phrases to connect your ideas smoothly words like consequently nonetheless in contrast okay I see and to really illustrate this they give a before and after example paragraph oh I love those so the before version is pretty basic many people think social media is bad it makes people feel sad they compare themselves a lot yeah it's kind of choppy and repetitive right and then the after version is so much better social media can negatively impact mental health by encouraging constant comparison which often leads to feelings of inadequacy and anxiety wow it's so much clearer and more concise and it uses more sophisticated vocabulary and grammar that's the power of editing okay so now for the really fun part cultural fluency and idiomatic language ah yes this is where things get tricky even at the C1 level especially at the C1 level because you're trying to sound like a native speaker and that means understanding all those subtle cultural nuances right like idioms jokes sarcasm proverbs exactly these can be really tough to grasp if you haven't been immersed in the culture totally so the document gives a couple of examples of idioms with clear explanations okay lamb on me so the first one is bite the bullet oh I know that one it means to do something unpleasant but necessary right and they give the example "I didn't want to go to the dentist but I had to bite the bullet." Makes sense what's the other one the ball is in your court which means it's your turn to make a decision or take action uh got it and the example they give is "I've made my offer the ball is in your court." So understanding these idioms and knowing when to use them can really make you sound more natural absolutely it's like adding that extra layer of authenticity okay so we've covered a lot of ground here conversation vocabulary fluency grammar reading writing even cultural fluency it's a lot to digest it is but the document does a great job of summarizing it all into a practical daily routine a routine like a schedule exactly it's called the daily C1 English routine tell me more so they recommend doing specific activities every day with suggested time allocations and even tool suggestions okay this sounds really helpful it is so for example they suggest spending 15 minutes reading the news aloud from sources like the BBC or the Guardian that's a good one then 10 minutes working on your vocabulary notebook maybe using Quizlet or Notion i love those tools and then 20 minutes shadowing podcasts using Spotify or Audible okay I'm definitely going to try that and then 15 minutes writing journal entries maybe using Grammarly or Hemingway to help you edit and then of course 15 minutes actually speaking English maybe using a language exchange app like Hello Talk or Tandem it's a great way to put all these skills into practice it's like a little workout routine for your English exactly a little bit every day goes a long way consistency is key right right absolutely okay so we've reached the end of our deep dive and I think the takeaway here is that reaching C1 is just the beginning it's like you've climbed one mountain but now there's a whole mountain range ahead of you exactly the journey now is about constantly refining your skills pushing yourself further paying attention to those tiny details that make a big difference like we talked about seeking out high quality English input challenging yourself with your output really paying attention to how native speakers use the language it's in those nuances that you'll find the path to true mastery totally and the document ends with a really powerful quote fluency isn't about speaking faster it's about speaking better it's so true it's about quality over quantity exactly so as you continue your English language journey think about which of these daily habits you can incorporate into your life even just one small change can make a big difference over time it's about taking those small consistent steps towards becoming the best possible version of yourself in English so keep learning keep practicing and most importantly keep having fun with it that's the most important part it is all right well that's all for this deep dive thanks for joining us and we'll see you next time see you then all right so today we're tackling a question that I think at some point we all kind of wrestle with right that whole entrepreneurship versus like the traditional job working for somebody else thing yeah yeah for sure um and it's a big one it's not just what you do for work it's really about you know what kind of life you want to have how you think your money uh how much freedom you want all that stuff absolutely yeah it's a whole lifestyle choice almost more than just a career choice it really is totally and for this deep dive we've got a really cool source that we're going to dig into it's a guide actually uh for people learning advanced English right but you know what the cool thing is even if you've been speaking English your whole life this stuff is still super relevant oh totally yeah the insights in this guide are valuable for anyone at any stage of their career who's thinking about this question right it's really well done okay so if we're going to break this whole thing down where do we even start what are we really comparing here well I think the first thing is just to get clear on what we mean by these two paths like what is entrepreneurship what is traditional employment okay yeah definitions first right exactly so this guide defines entrepreneurship as basically creating developing and running a business okay and the goal is profit of course but there's also this element of finding new opportunities in the market or seeing a need that nobody else is meeting and filling that gap i like that yeah it's really about problem solving and taking risks and building something from nothing totally yeah the guide gives this great example as an entrepreneur she transformed her passion for baking into a successful online business oh that's awesome yeah it's taking something you love and turning it into a real thing yeah very cool so that's entrepreneurship now on the flip side we have traditional employment and the guy describes this as working for a company right the 9 to5 exactly and you get a salary you have a specific job title and you have a set of responsibilities that your employer lays out for you right pretty straightforward yeah the example they give is he prefers traditional employment because of the stability and benefits it offers yeah that is a big draw for a lot of people right like knowing what to expect for sure that sense of security is a huge factor so you've got building your own thing versus working within an existing structure essentially right okay so we've got these two paths we've got kind of the overall vibe of each one but how do they actually stack up like side by side yeah that's where this guide gets really interesting it actually breaks down these two paths across a bunch of different factors so you can really compare apples to apples love that all right so hit me with it what's the first comparison well the first one and it's a big one is risk oh yeah that's got to be different yeah with entrepreneurship the risk is high especially when you're first starting out you're putting it all on the line right exactly your time your money your energy all for something that might not even work out it's a lot of pressure it is but traditional employment on the other hand it tends to have lower risk okay so you're not risking your own capital in the same way no not at all but you know job security can still be affected by the economy or how well the company's doing yeah true it's not like it's completely risk-f free no but the nature of the risk is different right so risk high for entrepreneurs low to moderate for employees okay got it what's next well money is a big one right how much you earn always top of mind for most people totally yeah and this is where the two paths really diverge oh okay how so well with entrepreneurship your income potential is unlimited right the sky's is the limit theoretically exactly but there's also a lot of uncertainty especially early on you might not see any profit for a while right exactly it takes time to build a business and even then income can fluctuate so it's a gamble but with a potential huge payoff yeah that's a good way to put it now with traditional employment you've got a fixed salary so you know what's coming in every month exactly predictable and stable which can be a huge relief for some people right just knowing you can pay your bills totally especially if you're risk averse yeah but then on the other hand you're limited by that salary too right yeah even with raises and promotions there's a ceiling so it's security versus the possibility of really hitting it big the trade-off yeah gotcha okay so risk money what else well how about work hours that's a big one too oh yeah that impacts your whole life for sure and with entrepreneurship you're often working long in irregular hours it's your baby you got to nurture it yeah especially when you're getting started you're putting in whatever it takes nights weekends the whole nine yards exactly now traditional employment it's usually more structured your typical 9 to5 Monday through Friday yeah more or less of course there can be overtime and stuff but generally it's more predictable right so more work life balance potentially yeah that can be a big plus for people for sure okay okay so that kind of bleeds into stability too right absolutely yeah stability with entrepreneurship is totally tied to how well your business is doing right if the business tanks you tank exactly it's very dynamic whereas traditional employment tends to be more stable in the short term at least you've got that steady paycheck that safety net right but again it's not completely immune to economic shifts or company changes right but it's a different kind of stability for sure okay so what about for the creatives out there what about creative freedom oh that's a big one and that's a major advantage of entrepreneurship you're the boss you call the shots exactly you have control over your vision how you do things it's all you very cool now what about with a traditional job well it depends on the job of course but generally you're working within the company's structure so less freedom overall yeah you're usually following guidelines and brand standards and things like that makes sense okay how about responsibility well as an entrepreneur you're responsible for everything the buck stops with you exactly the good and the bad it's all on your shoulders wow that's a lot of pressure it is but it's also empowering for a lot of people yeah I can see that now in a traditional job how does responsibility work well it's usually more shared or delegated within a team you've got your specific area to focus on exactly you're accountable for certain things but you're not carrying the weight of the entire company right okay and last one on this comparison list career path yeah how you move forward and this is another big difference with entrepreneurship your career path is completely self-directed you cave your own way exactly you decide what you want to achieve when you want to pivot it's all up to you sounds very freeing it can be but it also requires a lot of selfm motivation and discipline i bet now at a traditional job how does that work well it's usually more structured you know you have opportunities for promotions maybe you move up the ladder within the company kind of like a predefined path yeah so you have a clearer idea of how you can progress okay so that's a lot to take in already it is yeah but this guide does such a good job of laying it all out yeah it's really helpful okay so we talked about risk income work hours stability creative freedom responsibility and career path the guy dives a little deeper into some of these specifically mindset ownership and learning yeah these are really at the core of what makes each path unique right so what stood out to you about the mindset part well it's really about two different ways of thinking you know entrepreneurs tend to be more visionary they're big picture thinkers they see possibilities where others don't exactly and they're willing to take risks they're not afraid of uncertainty they're comfortable with the unknown yeah they actually thrive on it whereas employees often have a more task oriented mindset they're focused on getting things done efficiently and effectively right they're team players they like structure and predictability so it's like forging a new path versus navigating an existing one that's a great way to put it okay what about ownership that seems huge it's fundamental yeah with entrepreneurship you own the business it's yours your creation exactly you reap the rewards but you also bear the responsibility right full ownership now employees they're working for the business they don't have that same ownership stake and that changes everything doesn't it your motivation your level of risk how you think long term absolutely it's a whole different ballgame okay and how about learning how do you learn and grow in each path well with entrepreneurship it's all about constant self-directed learning you're learning on the fly figuring things out as you go exactly there's always a new challenge a new skill you need to develop so you have to be a selfarter someone who loves to learn for sure now in a traditional job learning is often more structured you might have on the job training mentorship programs things like that right more formal development opportunities so it's like trial by fire versus guided learning that's a good analogy okay the guide also talks about networking and the workplace environment how do those compare well with networking entrepreneurs are really focused on building relationships outside the company clients investors partners exactly it's all about making connections that can help your business grow right it's strategic networking yeah now employees they also network but it's often more within the organization colleagues supervisors people in different departments right building relationships that can help you advance within the company so it's like outward versus inward focused networking that's a good way to think about it and what about the actual workplace well entrepreneurs often have a lot of flexibility they can work from home a coffee shop wherever exactly it's all about finding what works best for them which can be amazing for some people right totally that freedom is a huge perk now traditional employment it's usually tied to a specific location the office the factory the store right you go where the work is so flexibility versus stability yet again yeah it's a recurring theme huh okay we're in the home stretch here just a couple more things from the guide motivation and exit strategies those seem like they would be pretty different too oh yeah there are key differences for sure so let's start with motivation what drives people in each path well entrepreneurs are often driven by passion you know they have this idea they believe in this vision they want to bring to life and they're willing to work hard to make it happen exactly they're also motivated by autonomy that desire to be their own boss call their own shots right is very internally driven yeah now for employees motivation can come from a variety of places salary benefits job security right those are all important factors and also the opportunity to advance in their career right so it's more externally driven in a way yeah it's about rewards and recognition from the company okay and what about exit strategies how do people plan to move on from each path well for entrepreneurs it's often about building something they can eventually sell like creating an asset they can cash out on exactly or maybe they merge with another company or scale up to a point where they can step back from the day-to-day so it's about building something that has value beyond their own involvement exactly now employees their exit strategies are usually more traditional retirement resignation maybe a promotion to a different role right it's about moving within the existing system or eventually leaving the workforce altogether okay so two very different mindsets when it comes to the long game for sure now to illustrate all this the guide actually includes a little dialogue between two friends Emma and Liam yeah I thought that was a nice touch it really brings the concepts to life yeah it shows how these choices play out in real people's lives so what were your takeaways from that conversation well Liam he's the entrepreneur and he's all about that creative freedom he wants to be his own boss make his own rules exactly he felt stifled in traditional employment so he took the plunge and started his own digital marketing agency he took that risk yeah he had a vision and he went for it pretty inspiring and what about Emma well she's happy in her traditional job she likes the structure the stability she likes having a manager set hours benefits all that right she values those things and she even says that entrepreneurship isn't for everyone yeah that's important to remember it's not the right path for everybody absolutely and what's funny is that Emma jokes about maybe switching teams someday like maybe she'll be an entrepreneur down the road yeah it shows that these choices aren't always permanent you know people change their priorities change totally it's not like you pick a path and you're stuck there forever right there's always room to evolve okay so we've covered a ton of ground here we have yeah and this guide it really packs a punch even though it's designed for English learners yeah the language focus is great but the insights are universal right there's something in here for everyone totally so speaking of language there's a whole vocabulary section that I thought was really relevant to our discussion oh yeah some great words in there can you highlight a few for our listeners absolutely so one that really jumped out at me was autonomy okay what does that mean it means self-governance or independence ah being your own boss essentially exactly and the example sentence is entrepreneurs value autonomy over schedules which makes total sense right they want to be in control of their own time yeah that freedom is a major motivator okay what's another good one well how about venture okay so a venture is a business project but with risk involved right it's not a sure thing exactly and the example they give is her new venture focuses on green tech very cool so it captures that sense of newness and risk yeah you're venturing into uncharted territory literally i like that okay what else well scalability is a big one especially for entrepreneurs okay what's that all about it means being able to grow without losing quality ah so your product or service can handle getting bigger exactly the example is his app had excellent scalability so he could grow his user base without the app crashing or getting buggy or something right which is essential if you want to reach a wider audience totally that's the dream for a lot of entrepreneurs right it is yeah now on the flip side we have consistency okay so that's got to be more relevant to traditional employment right it is yeah consistency means being steady and reliable so like a steady paycheck predictable work hours exactly the example is traditional jobs often offer more consistency which could be very appealing that sense of security for sure especially if you have a family or other commitments right it makes planning your life a lot easier absolutely okay we've got a couple more what's next how about innovation oh yeah that's got to be key for entrepreneurs it is yeah innovation means creating new ideas coming up with something new something different exactly the example is innovation drives entrepreneurial success right you can't just do what everyone else is doing you got to stand out you got to be creative for sure okay last one last one is job satisfaction oh okay and that's how content you are with your work right exactly how happy you are in your job and the example it says "Many employees value job satisfaction more than pay." Oh interesting yeah it highlights that money isn't always the most important thing people want to feel fulfilled in their work exactly they want to feel like they're making a difference and that's something you can find in both entrepreneurship and traditional employment right absolutely it's just about finding the right fit for you okay great vocabulary and the guide also throws in some business idioms and phrasal verbs oh yeah those are always fun they can be tricky to learn but they make you sound like a native speaker they do and they add a lot of color to your language right so what were some of the ones that stood out to you well take the plunge is a classic meaning to take a risk and do something new like Liam starting his own business you took the plunge exactly it's that leap of faith okay i like that one what else how about think outside the box oh yeah that's a good one what does it mean to think creatively to come up with new and innovative ideas essential for entrepreneurs right totally the example is entrepreneurs must think outside the box to stay competitive if you're doing the same thing as everyone else you're going to get lost in the crowd exactly you got to be different all right what else well wear many hats is one that I think a lot of entrepreneurs can relate to what would that mean to have many different roles or responsibilities like you're the CEO the marketer the accountant all rolled into one exactly the example is in a startup you often wear many hats makes sense you're doing it all in the beginning you got to be resourceful for sure okay any phrasal verbs yeah a couple of good ones set up means to start something like she set up a new accounting firm exactly it's that initial step of establishing your business okay and the other one scale up which means to expand a business to make it bigger and better exactly the example is the company scaled up operations internationally wow so they went global they did yeah it's that ambition to grow and reach more people very cool okay so we've covered a lot of ground here but to kind of bring it all together the guide gives us a nice little summary of the pros and cons of each path yeah it's a good way to see the big picture so let's start with entrepreneurship what are the main advantages well you've got creative control you're your own boss high income potential yeah you could really hit it big flexible schedule you work when you want right you're not tied to a 9 to5 and you get to innovate bring your own ideas to life yeah that's a huge draw for a lot of people okay sounds pretty awesome but what about the downsides well there's financial uncertainty you might not make any money for a while right and you could even lose money yeah there's that risk long hours irregular hours lots of stress yeah it's not for the faint of heart and you need a lot of different skills you got to be a jack of all trades for sure okay now what about traditional employment what are the pros there well you've got that steady paycheck you know what's coming in every month benefits health insurance retirement plan yeah all that good stuff clear career path you know how you can move up in the company and fewer responsibilities outside your specific role you can clock out at the end of the day and leave work behind right more work life balance okay but what about the cons well you might have limited freedom less creative control your income potential is capped yeah you're limited by the salary range for your position and you might have to deal with office politics or a company culture that doesn't vibe with you yeah that can be a drag and there's always the risk of layoffs right that's true no job is completely secure so both paths have their pluses and minuses it's all about finding the right fit for your personality and your goals exactly and to help with that the guide ends with some really thoughtprovoking questions oh yeah i love those they're great for anyone who's trying to figure out their career path absolutely so let's throw a few out to our listeners shall we let's do Okay first one how do you define success that's a big one right it is is it about money is it about freedom is it about making a difference everyone has their own definition exactly and there's no right or wrong answer okay next question which work style suits you better structured or flexible do you thrive in a more traditional environment with clear rules and expectations or do you need more freedom and autonomy that's a key question to ask yourself and last but not least if money were no object which lifestyle would you choose ooh that's a good one it really gets to the heart of what you truly value would you be an entrepreneur building your own dream or would you be happy in a traditional job knowing you have that security and stability it's a tough choice but it can reveal a lot about yourself totally and I think even if you're not actively thinking about switching careers right now just understanding the nuances of both paths can be really valuable oh absolutely it can help you appreciate what you have or maybe it'll spark a new idea you never know exactly so to wrap things up I want to leave you with one final thought okay we talked about those two mindsets the visionary risktaker and the task oriented team player right which one resonates more with you h good question and how does that mindset shape not just your work life but your life in general food for thought it is all right that's our deep dive for today thanks for listening we'll see you next time welcome to the deep dive today we're uh tackling a pretty big topic how modern relationships have really fundamentally changed in the 21st century i mean think about it just everything from how we meet someone to you know what we expect social media changing gender roles different cultural values it feels like they've really shaken things up oh absolutely it's a landscape that looks well radically different than it did even say 20 or 30 years ago right so in this deep dive we're going to try and dissect exactly what defines these modern connections will look the contrast with um more traditional views yeah the old ways exactly and the huge influence of technology of course plus the new language the sort of labels we use the evolution and gender dynamics and also this rise in relationships that cross cultures cross borders okay and the goal really is to pull out the key insights so you can really grasp these shifts and importantly the vocabulary that's kind of spring up around them okay so let's start there when we talk about a modern relationship what are we actually talking about what are the the sort of defining characteristics it feels like we know it when we see it but what's underneath yeah good question i think what's really striking is the emphasis on fluidity flexibility flexibility okay so unlike older models roles in a modern partnership aren't really fixed you know based on gender what society expects they're much more likely to be um negotiated worked out between the individuals involved right makes sense and then there's the absolutely critical role of communication open honest communication and particularly what we often call emotional intelligence emotional intelligence being able to understand and like respond to emotions yours and your partners precisely understanding that emotional landscape it's less about following some kind of pre-written script yeah and more about really getting each other's needs like you said right down to that emotional level and another crucial piece I think is the value placed on individual autonomy you know within the partnership so not just merging into one person exactly it's about keeping your sense of self while still being you know deeply connected and finally there's just this much wider acceptance now and visibility of diverse relationship types and structures that's a huge shift from a time when things felt much more monolithic one sizefits-all kind of yeah pretty much so that brings us neatly to contrasting with the past when we think about traditional perspectives what really stands out compared to today because yeah when you hear stories from like grandparents' generations it sounds like a different world it really does i mean traditionally if you look at the wider context marriage was often seen as well a social and economic necessity almost why practical very practical and gender roles were usually super clearly defined you know husband as provider wife as homemaker that kind of thing the classic setup the classic setup and divorce huge taboo often really difficult legally too and even courtship how people got together followed pretty rigid rules often very public very community involved like formal introductions maybe needing family approval that sort of thing specific steps you had to follow exactly that now contrast that with today the main driver seems to have shifted much more towards um emotional compatibility personal fulfillment what feels right for the individuals right and we see just a much broader range of family structures you know blended families single parents by choice couples just living together cohabiting cohabiting is huge and delaying marriage or deciding not to marry at all that's far more common and you know pretty socially accepted now doesn't raise eyebrows the way it used to not really and crucially modern relationships are much more inclusive thinking about diverse sexual orientations gender identities that's a massive change it feels like even how we think about finding the one has changed i remember growing up with this like almost Disney idea of a soulmate you know your perfect match is out there destined has that shifted that's a really sharp point yeah the whole soulmate concept it's definitely evolved how so it seems less about this um mystical pre-ordained pairing destiny finding you right and more about finding someone you have deep compatibility with shared values maybe a mutual commitment to actually build something together so it's more active less passive waiting exactly it's a shift from waiting for destiny to show up to actively choosing and creating a partnership it's work in a good way okay so let's bring technology into this because you can't talk about modern relationships without talking about online dating apps all of that it's had a huge impact hasn't it for better and maybe sometimes for worse oh undeniably i mean what's truly transformative is just how online platforms have broadened the sheer possibility of connection like exponentially it's much wider they've basically dismantled geographical limits so people with shared niche interests or specific values who might literally never have crossed paths otherwise now they can find each other it's created these like micro communities within the dating world that just couldn't exist before it's like this giant filterable network but okay this digital world it comes with its own its own language its own phenomena let's unpack some key terms what's the deal with swipe culture we hear that a lot right swipe culture it mostly comes from apps like Tinder Bumble you know the one swipe left swipe right exactly it's that practice of really quickly evaluating potential partners based on honestly very little information a few photos maybe a short bio very fast judgments super fast left swipe for no right swipe for yes right and look one of the big questions it raises is about the impact on commitment maybe yeah or depth of connection yeah like are we getting conditioned to just make snap judgments and move on really fast if someone isn't instantly perfect based on something superficial that's the concern isn't it are we losing the nuance the patience maybe involved in really getting to know someone in that kind of rapid fire process makes you wonder okay and then there's ghosting which sounds unpleasant what is that exactly unfortunately yeah ghosting has become pretty common it's basically when someone you've been dating or maybe even someone you're in a more established connection with just vanishes vanishes stops all communication abruptly no explanation no call no text nothing just silence poof wow that sounds incredibly confusing and hurtful probably leaves you wondering what happened it can be really unsettling yeah leaves the ghosted person feeling dismissed confused all sorts of things okay and then there's catfishing that sounds even more deceptive it is it's quite extreme actually catfishing is when someone creates a completely fake online identity totally fake yeah like using someone else's photos making up a life story a job everything to deceive someone online often it's for emotional manipulation sometimes even financial gain it's building an entire false persona yikes that's a pretty stark reminder that you know while technology helps us connect it also opens doors for some pretty nasty behavior mhm it kind of highlights that point you mentioned from the sources just because connection is easier it doesn't mean it's always uh quality or authentic precisely the sheer volume of choice online can sometimes create this sense of disposability maybe like everyone's replaceable yeah potentially individuals might feel less invested in nurturing one connection when there are seemingly endless other options just a swipe away it changes the dynamics okay let's shift gears slightly to how we even talk about relationships yeah feels like there's this whole new vocabulary emerging new labels for different kinds of connections people have that's absolutely right as norms shift and people explore relationships beyond the traditional married not married binary we need new words language has to adapt to capture these nuances right take for instance the term situationship seems increasingly common situationship okay I've definitely heard that one what's the working definition there is there one huh well it's often described as this kind of ambiguous middle ground it's usually more involved than just being friends or purely casual sex maybe but it hasn't quite reached the stage of a clearly defined committed partnership you know with the labels and explicit expectations so there might be romantic feelings intimacy but no boyfriend girlfriend talk exactly or maybe just not yet it's this undefined space which look it can work for some people maybe exploring a connection without pressure or maybe there's just a reluctance to commit fully but it can also be a major source of anxiety right or even heartbreak if the two people involved secretly have very different ideas about where it's going yeah I can see that unspoken expectations okay what about open relationships so open relationship as the name suggests implies well openness beyond just the two people in the core relationship meaning it's a relationship ship where both partners have explicitly agreed that it's okay to have other sensual or sometimes romantic relationship okay so the key is the agreement the consent absolutely crucial mutual consent and usually really clearly defined boundaries and those boundaries can look very different from couple to couple it's a conscious choice to step outside traditional monogamy right and then there's polyamory how does that differ from an open relationship i understand it's broader yes generally polyamory goes a bit further it encompasses the idea and the practice of having multiple loving intimate relationships simultaneously multiple loving relationship yes with the full knowledge and consent of everyone involved it's not solely about sexual freedom though that can be part of it it's more about the potential for multiple deep emotional connections multiple committed relationships existing at the same time wow okay it's really fascinating how language is stretching to fit all these different ways people connect now isn't it it suggests maybe a greater willingness to question the old rules and to kind of design relationships that actually fit individual needs and desires better i think that's a fair assessment yeah a move towards more intentional relationship design now another area that's seen massive change is uh gender roles within relationships oh definitely we're seeing a really significant shift away from those you know rigid historically defined gender roles as we talked about earlier exactly towards more egalitarian dynamics traditional models were often quite patriarchal right characterized by male dominance clear power imbalances sometimes men often held the primary authority in decision-m in societal roles right the distinct man's role and woman's role in the house and outside it pretty much dictated by gender yes but in modern relationships particularly those striving to be egalitarian egalitarian meaning equal based on equality yeah the emphasis is on equality among all partners so roles responsibilities they're increasingly negotiated based on individual skills or preferences or just who has time not automatically assigned by gender right not you do this because you're the man or you do that because you're the woman you see couples sharing chores finances big life decisions much more equitably so it's really moving towards a true partnership based on like shared effort and mutual respect that's the ideal yes and it reflects a pretty fundamental shift I think moving away from a hierarchy based on gender towards a structure based on mutual respect for what each person brings to the table regardless of those old expectations and this must link back to that emotional intelligence thing we mentioned earlier too right absolutely being able to actually see and value your partner's perspective their needs their skills separate from any old ideas about gender roles precisely it's about seeing each other as whole individuals recognizing unique skills unique perspectives rather than just sticking to outdated scripts about how men and women should act in a relationship okay now our world feels smaller more connected all the time globalization that must be influencing relationships too let's talk about cross-cultural relationships they seem more common now yeah this is a really interesting aspect of modern love with travel being easier relatively speaking and online communication it's just way more common for people to form serious romantic relationships across national borders right meeting people from different countries different backgrounds exactly and while these relationships can be incredibly enriching you know broaden your horizons immensely they also come with their own unique set of challenges okay like what kind of challenges are we talking about well the most obvious one sometimes is language yeah even if both partners speak a common language like English subtle nuances cultural context jokes they can get lost in translation misunderstandings can happen easily sure words meaning slightly different things exactly and beyond just language you can have deeper cultural differences different values different norms different expectations around family socializing even just daily routines things that need careful navigation and then the practical stuff oh yeah the logistics can be huge navigating different visa systems immigration processes managing long distance for potentially long periods deciding where you're actually going to build a life together these are major hurdles wow oh that sounds like it takes a lot of understanding and compromise how do couples manage all that well it often requires a really high degree of what experts call intercultural communication competence okay what's that it's basically the skill of communicating effectively and respectfully with someone from a different cultural background being aware of their communication style their cultural viewpoints being adaptable being sensitive to the differences yes and you also have the potential for cultural clash clash like conflict yeah where fundamental differences in values or norms actually lead to conflict that needs resolving and sometimes one partner might go through a process of assimilation assimilation like blending in sort of adapting to the customs the way of life of their partner's culture which can be a really big adjustment personally and psychologically it really highlights how much our own cultural background shapes how we see intimacy family everything doesn't it absolutely it's deeply ingrained okay we've covered a ton of ground here and introduce quite a few newish terms maybe we should just quickly recap some of that key vocabulary related to modern relationships we hit some already but maybe a few others sure good idea cohabitation is a big one we mentioned living together unmarried exactly increasingly common either before marriage or just as an alternative to it then there's emotional intimacy that deep connection feeling yeah that sense of closeness connection built on mutual trust openness and vulnerability and that vulnerability being willing to be open emotionally honest that seems key to building that intimacy right absolutely fundamental you can't really have deep intimacy without vulnerability okay now on the flip side I sometimes hear the term codependent thrown around how does that fit in or rather how is it different right codependency that describes a pattern that's generally seen as unhealthy it's where one person becomes excessively emotionally reliant on their partner too reliant yeah often prioritizing the partner's needs and feelings way above their own sometimes to their own detriment it's often described as a pattern of needing to be needed it blurs healthy boundaries can really hinder individual growth okay so definitely not the goal doesn't sound balanced or sustainable generally not no and finally let's just circle back quickly to compatibility we touched on it with soulmates mhm what's the modern take on compatibility in this context compatibility is really about the degree to which two people can well coexist harmoniously build a fulfilling life together so shared values shared enough core values yeah similar enough life goals maybe interests enough common ground to navigate the inevitable challenges and support each other's growth it's not about being clones of each other but about being able to understand respect the differences and find constructive ways to move forward together that kind of fit this has been wow a really thorough look at how things have changed and you know it was helpful that the source material had those little real life conversation snippets ah yes the example yeah like Emily and Liam talking about dating apps the good and the bad and Sarah and Mark figuring out more equal roles and uh Nadia and Jake on their cross-cultural relationship challenges and joys it helped make these ideas feel more real exactly those little glimpses show how these trends this vocabulary actually plays out in everyday life how people are really navigating modern relationships so as we wrap up this deep dive what's the main takeaway the core message about relationships today i think the biggest thing is just how dynamic they are fluid constantly changing not static definitely not static they're continually being shaped and reshaped by everything we've talked about societal shifts cultural norms evolving and especially the huge influence of technology it's an ongoing evolution and understanding these changes and the language around them it's not just like an academic thing is it it has real world value not at all i think it really enhances our ability to understand the incredibly diverse ways people connect now it fosters empathy maybe builds cultural intelligence and it also gives us insights into you know the fundamental human needs we're all trying to meet through relationships and maybe how to communicate those needs better in this new landscape this has been super illuminating thanks and it brings us to this really interesting final thought from our source material this quote "Relationships are less about finding the right person and more about becoming the right person." Ah yes that one it really flicks the script doesn't it from the old searching for the one idea it absolutely does it shifts the whole focus away from this kind of passive search for some ideal maybe non-existent partner and onto the active process of our own personal growth our self-awareness within the context of our relationships it puts the onus on us in a way so for everyone listening as you think about everything we've explored today you know the flexibility the communication the tech impact the new labels cross-cultural stuff really mull over that idea what does it mean for you to become the right person in this modern relationship world given everything we know now what qualities what understanding do you want to cultivate to build meaningful fulfilling connections in this uh dynamic landscape definitely something to chew on thanks for taking this deep dive with us [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music]