I searched for interesting English channels for quite a long time but found almost nothing, so I decided to create my own. Yes, with blackjack and everything. Nobody can censor me here, and I won’t censor anyone else either. If someone finds the channel interesting, that’s great; if not, at least I’ll get to practise my English.

I’m a Russian engineer living in New Zealand. I prefer a rational approach to life (which is why I’m in NZ). I plan to write about the similarities and differences between Russia and New Zealand, often using numbers, and share my opinions on various topics, even those not related to these countries.

(Russian version)

How to pick the best country?

Russia is the country of my birth. Neither the worst nor the best place to be born. New Zealand is the country of my choice, which I selected thoughtfully by comparing all available countries based on a set of my personal preferences. Below, I will explain how I made my choice.

I began by identifying countries where English is the primary language, as studying a third language would be too burdensome. Additionally, English-speaking countries are usually more prosperous and freer than others. As a result, I shortlisted the following countries: Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.

I had to exclude the USA because...

(Continued in comments)

RU vs EN

In Russia, there’s a stereotype that Russian is the greatest language. Turgenev, a classic writer, called it “great and mighty”, and most Russians have that phrase stuck in their minds.

I don’t think that’s correct. Russian is flexible and can completely change meanings by rearranging and transforming words. Its strength lies in this complexity and variability.

But at the same time, Russian lacks vocabulary. It’s so limited that you often end up using more words or whole sentences to describe something. Russian tends to be 1.5 to 2 times wordier than English.

English has three times more words, with many synonyms for any single Russian word. It allows nearly everything to be named with one word. You can be concise and convey layers of meaning in short sentences.

To support this, here’s a quote from a list of dictionaries:
- 5th place, English: 780k words.
- 30th+ place, Russian: 220k words.

PS: Of course, I’m far from conveying layers of meaning in English, but I'm working on it.

(Russian)

Embassy of Russia

In the picture, you can see the roof of the Russian Embassy in New Zealand (Wellington), the Russian flag on the left, and a breathtaking New Zealand landscape on the horizon.

The embassy staff likely have a few windows offering this stunning view. Perhaps that’s why everyone I met at the embassy were the friendliest, most polite, and most helpful Russian government workers I’ve ever encountered.

New Zealand changes people.

(Russian)

L.A.B. - In The Air

A well-known NZ band, popular overseas too. Music like this is popular here - reggae or light rock/pop just fits the local vibe perfectly.

A significant part of my playlist used to consist of darker and heavier music: trip-hop, experimental jazz, psychedelic stoner rock, doom metal, hardcore rap, techno, and drum’n’bass. But these genres here feel wrong. It’s like trying to shoot a horror movie on a sunny tropical island - quite challenging.

So, I'm adapting. Lighter music like this is sneaking into my playlist.

Immigration isn’t all fun. There are sacrifices too!

(Russian)

NZ is not a tropical country

Many people don’t know that New Zealand’s climate isn’t tropical. In Auckland, summers are 15-25°C (Dec-Feb) and winters are 10-15°C (Jun-Aug). Not too hot and not too cold - a hoodie works most of the year, with a T-shirt in peak summer and a jacket in winter.

This mild climate means cooler water temperatures, making the seas less ideal for swimming. Even in summer, the water feels more like Moscow’s rivers or lakes - not very inviting. Activity-focused people, like surfers, work around this by wearing wetsuits in winter and sometimes in summer. They enjoy countless beaches, varied wave types, and low crowds.

As a result, Auckland is great for living, hiking, and outdoor sports, but only decent for swimming. In hotter climates, it’s the opposite: great for swimming, but uncomfortably hot on land.

I spend most of my time on land, so I prefer New Zealand’s climate. There are also no annoying insects or dangerous animals - those prefer warmer places like Australia.

(Russian)

Why people leave NZ?

When choosing the best country, I specifically focused on the reasoning of people who decided to leave NZ. In my opinion, this is the most important information – positive reports are usually too emotional (excluding mine, of course), while negative ones are detailed, concrete, and well thought-out.

I watched all such reports on YouTube in English and Russian and analysed if their reasons for leaving apply to me.

You can apply them to you as well. Here is a shortlist of the reasons why people leave NZ: ...

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What I like about NZ

Usually, after about two years, immigrants start noticing the downsides of their new country - the honeymoon ends, and real life begins. I’m not quite there yet - it’s only been 1.5 years since I arrived. So, it feels like the perfect time to rant about why I like New Zealand and what makes it unique. Before it’s too late.

In my opinion, New Zealand has a combination of qualities that no other country can offer: ...

(Continued in comments)

YouTube channels and podcasts

Since 2011, as I planned to leave Russia, I’ve gradually replaced Russian media with English-speaking content. Here’s my current selection of the best YouTube channels and podcasts I’ve gathered.

The links below lead to selected videos that, in my opinion, best showcase each channel:

MKBHD (USA, tech reviews) – The best tech review channel. Perfect language (ideal for those who struggle with understanding verbal English), well-written, informative, entertaining, and filmed to a highest standard.

Auto Focus (USA, electric and hybrid car reviews) – another channel by the same creator. I watch it simply because I enjoy his style, and it’s useful to stay informed about the ongoing replacement of legacy petrol cars with electric ones.

Joe Rogan Experience (USA, long-form interviews) – A legend and the man who popularised podcasts. One of the few who didn’t censor his content during the COVID hysteria and Trump hysteria - a true beacon of free speech. I listen to him in podcast format.

Lex Fridman (USA, long-form interviews) – A friend of Joe’s and another excellent interviewer, he usually chooses more tech- and science-oriented guests. His focus is on knowledge and education. I listen to him in podcast form.

Triggernometry (UK, political discussions) – Two English hosts lead debates and conversations, sometimes featuring Russian guests. Topics are usually covered from multiple perspectives – a very neutral and well-balanced channel. I listen to them in podcast format.

Roman NFKRZ (USA, Russian news in a humorous way) – A Russian guy reviewing Russian political and media news in English. No deep analysis, just funny content spiced with memes. Some believe his English is the best that a Russian can achieve.

Tucker Carlson (USA, political interviews) – Another freedom of speech apologist. He has strange opinions on many topics, including Russia, but it doesn’t matter. He is not afraid to go against the mainstream. He is honest and open. And these simple qualities are enough to make him one of the best political journalists in the USA. I listen to him in podcast format.

In Moscow Shadows (UK, Russian politics analysis) – If you're into Russian politics, you'll be impressed by the author’s deep knowledge. He is a historian who’s dedicated his life to studying Russia, written many books about Russia, consults western politicians. I highly recommend him to anyone interested in the subject. His YouTube channel has only a few videos, one of which I've linked as a teaser. For the full scope of content, check his podcast.

Living Big In A Tiny House (NZ, tiny house reviews) – One of the most popular NZ channels. There is a small movement in NZ of fans building portable and movable houses, installing them in beautiful locations, and living there alone, surrounded by stunning nature. This channel reviews these houses in short and beautiful videos. All kinds of NZ accents are included.

How To Dad (NZ, funny short videos) – Another popular NZ channel. Just funny videos about family, raising a baby, household, accents, and whatever else, all with a NZ accent.

The Aotearoa History Show (NZ history) For those truly interested in NZ, not just as tourists. the channel offers a series of short animated videos explaining the country’s history in a simple and interesting way, with fully authentic NZ accents.

The Working Group (NZ, political news) – Only for those deeply interested in NZ. It’s the best political discussion in the country, full of humour, offering various perspectives with a range of guests, including prime ministers. I listen to it in podcast format.

Dr. Layne Norton (USA, nutrition and fitness) – Many channels claim to cover this topic, but in fact, 90% of them are non-science-based rubbish. This one is not only science-based, with in-depth analysis of research, but also short-formed, interesting, and full of irony. Science can be entertaining.

If you know any good English channels worth watching, feel free to recommend them.

(Russian)

I couldn’t believe my ears when I first heard it (exact timestamp added). This is how journalists address the Prime Minister of New Zealand (de facto the top official in the country, in power at the time) in person during an interview:

- "Chippy", a nickname based on his initials, CH (Chris Hipkins)
- "recreational high-ranking Jedi"
- "blonde Harry Potter"

Of course, it’s just humour, and there’s nothing humiliating about it. There are also debates and more formal interviews where everything is serious. But just look at how at ease they are, joking together. I don’t even need to explain why I was surprised when I first heard it and how it differs from what I've gotten used to. You understand me.

(Russian)

An old cemetery from 1840 that was transformed into a park in Wellington. In NZ cemeteries, citizens typically stroll around freely, like in parks, and there are no fences – probably because locals don’t see the need for them.

Obviously, they are naive people – it’s a well-known fact that without these fences, the city will be doomed to a bloodbath during a zombie apocalypse.

(Russian)

Legal immigrants

New Zealand’s population has doubled since 1960 (see chart above), mainly due to immigration. A lot of immigrants come from Western countries similar to NZ, but there is also a large inflow of people from different cultures like India, China, Brazil, South Africa, Japan, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Fiji, Samoa, the Philippines, and others, including Arab countries and Israel.

With all these people mixed together, there are no national conflicts or nation-based crime. No districts where only immigrants live. No dangerously-looking groups speaking their own languages on the streets. Meetings for Israel and Palestine took place many times one after another every weekend, with no conflicts.

And I have an idea why there are no conflicts. It’s because ...

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