TOL | The Invisible Walls We Build: Finding Dignity in the Cold
It is easier to be charitable than it is to be kind. Charity requires a coin; kindness requires a piece of ourselves. In this episode of Thinking Out Loud, we take a deep, philosophical dive into four stories of winter connection. We look at a bakery window in Paris, a metro station in Prague, a frozen mountain border, and a riverside bench in Seoul. We ask the difficult questions: Why do we prefer to give leftovers rather than offer a seat at the table? Why is grief forbidden during the holidays? And how do we learn to see the "indigo" history of the people we rush past every day? Join me as we dismantle the invisible walls we build to keep the cold—and each other—out.
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When the Bells Stop Ringing 4 | The Indigo Scarf
Seoul is a city of neon miracles and heated benches, but for Min-ji, a seventy-year-old cardboard collector, it is a place of relentless cold. She moves through the Christmas Eve crowds like a ghost, her spine curved by the weight of her cart, invisible to the young couples passing by. When a student stops not to offer pity, but to listen, he uncovers a history buried under layers of dust—a memory of silk, indigo, and a woman who was once a queen in her own life. This is a story about the dignity we carry, even when the world refuses to see it.
Welcome to a new episode of the English Plus Podcast.
If these moments of quiet connection and hope resonated with you, we’re thrilled to tell you that the full collection, When the Bells Don't Ring by Danny Ballan, is now available on Amazon and everywhere books are sold.
Get Danny's book When the Bells Stop Ringing for yourself or as a gift for your loved ones this Christmas.
Buy the paperback from Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G34NWXDV
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When the Bells Stop Ringing 3 | The Mountain Pass
High in the Caucasus Mountains, the wind screams across a frozen ridge known as No Man’s Land. Levan, a soldier on guard duty, stares through his scope at the enemy line, waiting for movement. It is Christmas Eve, but war does not respect the calendar. When a figure finally breaks the white silence of the neutral zone, Levan’s finger hovers over the trigger. But he isn't looking at a soldier; he is looking at a desperate woman and a trapped animal. Today, we witness a moment on the border where duty collides with humanity.
If these moments of quiet connection and hope resonated with you, we’re thrilled to tell you that the full collection, When the Bells Don't Ring by Danny Ballan, is now available on Amazon and everywhere books are sold.
Get Danny's book When the Bells Stop Ringing for yourself or as a gift for your loved ones this Christmas. Buy the paperback from Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G34NWXDV
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When the Bells Stop Ringing 2 | Strings in the Metro
In the depths of the Prague metro station, amidst the screech of brakes and the rush of commuters desperate to get home, an old man named Karel plays his violin. To the thousands passing by, he is nothing more than background noise—architecture with a bow. But tonight, the crowd is gone, leaving only one man standing in the shadows, paralyzed by a grief that the holidays cannot fix. In this episode, we explore the power of music when the words fail us, and how a sad song might just be the only comfort that rings true.
Welcome to a new episode from English Plus Podcast. A new short story from When the Bells Stop Ringing, A Christmas short story collection by Danny Ballan.
If these moments of quiet connection and hope resonated with you, we’re thrilled to tell you that the full collection, When the Bells Don't Ring by Danny Ballan, is now available on Amazon and everywhere books are sold.
Get Danny's book When the Bells Stop Ringing for yourself or as a gift for your loved ones this Christmas. Buy the paperback from Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G34NWXDV
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When the Bells Stop Ringing 1 | The Pâtisserie Window
Today is the first of our final series for this year, When the Bells Stop Ringing to celebrate the season of light together. Our first story is The Pâtisserie Window.
Paris in winter is often painted as a romantic wonderland, but for ten-year-old Chloé, the City of Lights offers no warmth—only the biting wind and the rules of the street: don’t loiter, don’t touch, don’t look like a problem. Tonight, on Christmas Eve, she stands outside the golden glow of Maison Lefèvre, separated from the warmth by a pane of glass and a world of difference. But what happens when the door opens, not to shoo her away, but to invite her in? This is a story about the invisible walls we build, and the simple, terrifying bravery required to cross the threshold.
Get my book When the Bells Stop Ringing for yourself or as a gift for your loved ones this Christmas. Buy the paperback from Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G34NWXDV
Welcome to English Plus with Danny — your one-stop podcast for lifelong learning.Whether you’re here to improve your English or explore a wide range of fascinating topics — from language and life skills to original stories by Danny — this podcast is your gateway to learning and creativity.Never stop learning… or creating.🎧 Unlock full access on Apple Podcasts or Patreon.🌐 Visit englishpluspodcast.com for articles, deep dives, and exclusive content.
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