American English Podcast

38:23

221 - Firsts with Elise

American English Podcast ·

2026/09/24

Have you ever noticed how many of your best stories begin with, “The first time I…”?In today’s episode, I’m joined by my friend Elise to talk all aboutfirsts—first jobs, first driving experiences, first adventures, and those moments when you try something completely new and have no idea what to expect. Elise has had a particularly interesting path. She went to culinary school in France, worked in restaurants, moved to Hawaii to work on a coffee farm, and picked up plenty of funny and memorable

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30:52

220 - What’s on Your Bucket List? With My Mom

American English Podcast ·

2026/09/17

➡️ Start improving your English today!Learn more about the Academy.What’s on your bucket list? ✨ In this episode, I sit down with my mom, Mara, to talk about some of the things she’d still love to do, see, and experience in her lifetime. We talk about her dream of spending a month somewhere in Europe, living in a fisherman’s shack in Cornwall, building tiny houses near a lake, visiting the places her ancestors came from, taking another big family vacation, and even writing a children’s book

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32:59

219 - The Art of Small Talk in the U.S.

American English Podcast ·

2026/09/10

Small talk in the U.S. isn't always about exchanging real information. Sometimes, it's simply a small exchange that can make your day a little better—and over time, those interactions can help build realrapport.In this episode, you'll learn how Americans use small talk, how to start and keep a conversation going, and how to tell whether someone actually wants to keep talking. You'll also learn simple strategies tospeak naturally,build confidence, andcommunicate in real life. 🎯 Learn languages

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31:50

Feature: Funny Chat with My Dad (+Superlatives!)

American English Podcast ·

2026/08/27

⭐ Start improving your English today! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn more about the Academy.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Every month, I like to bring back one of my favorite episodes from the past, and this one is an oldie but a goodie. ❤️ Some longtime listeners might remember my dad, Joe. He first appeared on the podcast in Episode 43, when he talked about his experience living and working in Alaska, and again in Episode 44 to talk about driving in the U.S. After those episodes came out, so many of you told me how much you enjoyed

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29:16

218.2 - English Story: Irregular Verbs with Dance...

American English Podcast ·

2026/08/21

The other day, I was staring at my list of common Irregular Verbs, trying to think of a lesson I could create with 10 of them. Immediately, I saw some potential! Swing -> Swung, Fling -> Flung , Slide -> Slid.Somehow the clump of words I selected led me to one of the most bizarre stories I’ve ever heard about U.S. culture and history: Dance Marathons of the 1930s. Imagine people dancing for days on end, even sleeping while dancing, for the chance to win some cash. It’s a crazy story, and I hope

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21:02

218 - Expression: To Keep Someone On Their Toes

American English Podcast ·

2026/08/13

The other day, I was staring at my list of common Irregular Verbs, trying to think of a lesson I could create with 10 of them. Immediately, I saw some potential! Swing -> Swung, Broadcast -> Broadcast, Sleep -> Slept.Somehow the clump of words I selected led me to one of the most bizarre stories I’ve ever heard about U.S. culture and history: Dance Marathons of the 1930s and 1940s. Imagine people dancing for days on end, even sleeping while dancing, for the chance to win some cash. It’s a crazy

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35:56

217 - What Bugs You? Insects and Annoyances with Lucas

American English Podcast ·

2026/07/30

Well, well, well. I never thought I’d make an entire episode about bugs and annoying things until Lucas was attacked by a swarm of yellow jackets this week! It got me thinking, why do we say something "bugs" us?In this episode, Lucas joins me to talk about the everyday things that annoy us. You’ll learn natural ways to say that something bothers you, includingto bug someone,get on someone’s nerves, anddrive someone crazy. We’ll also cover the names of common insects in English, explore the

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22:59

⭐ Feature: The Truth About Shark Attacks in U.S. Waters

American English Podcast ·

2026/07/16

Every year when I go to the beach, I have the same thought: Are there sharks out there in that dark water?It's not an irrational fear. Years ago, a student at my university, Lucas Ransom, was surfing off the California coast when a great white shark attacked him. I didn't know him personally, but we went to the same school, and some of my closest friends were in his classes. I still remember walking into class the next morning and hearing the story from one of my professors. You just don't

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27:37

216 - Soccer Vocabulary and the Miracle Match

American English Podcast ·

2026/07/06

While watching soccer matches in Brazil, I quickly realized I had no idea how to comment on a game in Portuguese. There were so many moments when I wanted to yell at the TV along with everyone else, but I needed an entire Portuguese lesson just to keep up! I figured the same thing might be happening to you guys in English. In Episode 216, you’ll learn how to comment on soccer matches in English using natural vocabulary, expressions, and phrases. You’ll also hear about one of the biggest and best

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27:57

215 - Countries and Nationalities (Pronunciation and...

American English Podcast ·

2026/06/30

How do you say the names of countries and nationalities in American English? Is itSwissorSwitzerlanders?Spaniard orSpanish?DutchorNetherlanders? In this episode, we'll practice the pronunciation of 48 World Cup countries that qualified this year, and along the way, you'll discover fun facts about each one. After every country, you'll be tested:What are the people who live there called? If you have an interesting fun fact about your country, tell me about it! :) I'd love to hear from you. ⭐

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31:35

214 - Soccer in the United States: From Niche Sport...

American English Podcast ·

2026/06/18

⭐ Take part in our Free ⁠14-Day English Slang and Expression Challenge.⁠Why do Americans call it soccer instead of football? Why isn't it the most popular sport in the country? And do Americans actually care about the World Cup? In this episode, Shana explores the history of soccer in the United States, from youth leagues and soccer moms to Pelé, the 1994 World Cup, the rise of the U.S. Women's National Team, David Beckham, Lionel Messi, and the growing popularity of the sport today. Along the

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29:53

⭐ Feature: The Sweet History of the American Doughnut...

American English Podcast ·

2026/06/04

⭐ Want to start sounding more natural in English? Sign up to ⁠⁠the Academy⁠⁠ to learn more with each lesson. About this episode Why do doughnuts have holes? Who invented them? And how did they become one of America's most beloved treats? In this episode, we'll explore the fascinating history of the American doughnut, from its roots in ancient fried pastries and Dutch "olykoeks" to the rise of iconic brands like Krispy Kreme and Dunkin'. You'll also expand your vocabulary with descriptive

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46:36

213 - Discover South Carolina with Lora

American English Podcast ·

2026/05/29

What comes to mind when you think of South Carolina?Maybe it's Charleston's cobblestone streets, beautiful beaches, or Spanish moss hanging from ancient oak trees. But South Carolina has much more to offer than its coastline. In this episode, I sit down with Lora from The Mom's Guide to Hiking, an outdoor enthusiast and mom who loves exploring South Carolina's mountains, waterfalls, forests, and state parks with her family. Together, we talk about hiking with kids, staying safe on the trails,

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27:32

212.2 - The Birth of Netflix and the Fall of Blockbuster

American English Podcast ·

2026/05/14

In this episode, I’m taking you back to the 1990s and sharing what family movie nights were like growing up in suburban California. From browsing the aisles at Blockbuster with my family to ordering DVDs through Netflix for the very first time, we’ll explore how entertainment changed almost overnight and how Netflix completely transformed the movie industry.Along the way, you’ll learn lots of natural American English related to: - Movie nights and entertainment - Film and television vocabulary -

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27:03

212 - Expression: To Think Outside the Box

American English Podcast ·

2026/05/07

What does it really mean to think outside the box?In this episode, you’ll learn one of the most common expressions in American English, used to describe creativity, innovation, and doing things differently. We’ll break down the meaning, explore where the phrase comes from, and connect it to real-life situations. Then, we’ll dive into three fascinating stories of people who thought differently and changed the world: A coach who used a waffle iron to design a revolutionary running shoe A

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30:30

211 - Preposition Party 🎉 : 7 Everyday Word Pairs...

American English Podcast ·

2026/04/23

Lucas and I are back for another Preposition Party! Today our conversation is going to based on common English collocations like famous for, similar to, suffer from, believe in, proud of, and recover from. Along the way, you'll hear many personal stories, and many cultural fun facts about the U.S., like how Roswell became a hub for alien enthusiasts, and why so many people suffer from seasonal allergies in the U.S. ⭐ Get the full transcript, and all bonus material by signing up to Premium

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14:01

210 - Quick Fix: Further vs. Farther

American English Podcast ·

2026/04/03

Do you like this episode format? I've been thinking about doing a series of these "quick fixes" for word confusion, pronunciation, and grammar. That is, if you like the format. So please be honest! In the meantime, check out the Academy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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21:11

⭐ Feature: 5-Minute English: Cleaning

American English Podcast ·

2026/03/11

In this 5-Minute English episode, you'll learn useful vocabulary, phrasal verbs, and collocations related to cleaning your home.Through a short story, we follow someone tackling a messy apartment—from dirty dishes and clutter to sparkling floors. Along the way, you'll hear natural English used to describe common chores and household tasks. Want to take your learning further? ⭐ Visit the website for more learning materials. You’ll also find the Academy there, where you can access bonus content

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33:22

205 - Preposition Party with Lucas 🎉 Love, Caring,...

American English Podcast ·

2026/02/04

In this episode, Shana is joined by her husband Lucas for another fun Preposition Party. Together, they play a guessing game with common English prepositions while sharing personal stories about food, fears, parenting, moving, and unexpected passions. You’ll hear natural, real-life examples of expressions like look forward to, get used to, care about, to fall in love with and more. It’s a relaxed, conversational episode designed to help you build confidence and sound more natural in American

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27:59

204.2 - Irregular Verbs with Helen Keller

American English Podcast ·

2026/01/28

What if you woke up one day and couldn’t see or hear the world around you?In this episode of the American English Podcast, you’ll discover the incredible true story of Helen Keller — one of the most inspiring figures of the 20th century — and the teacher who changed her life, Anne Sullivan. As you follow Helen’s journey from silence to self-expression, you’ll learn 10 essential irregular verbs in the simple past tense, hear them used naturally in a powerful story, and reinforce them with clear

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