In this episode, there are two parts. In Part 1, you'll hear a joke, practice your pronunciation and learn the expression "To Sugarcoat Something".  In Part 2 of today's lesson (available on Saturday, July 23), we’re going to talk about donuts. You’ll learn the history, the stories behind the most famous brands and all about the most popular donuts in the display case. Afterall, if you’re going to be the one who brings donuts, you gotta do it right!  To amp up the learning experience, I’ve...

The decision to move overseas is a big one and it requires preparation. The first step for non-native English speakers who want to live, study or work in the U.S. is taking an English exam as proof of English ability. The IELTS exam is one of the most popular. Today, I had the pleasure of speaking with Aubrey Carter, who shared three expressions that you can use on the IELTS exam and in daily life. These expressions can be squeezed into almost any conversation! If you'd like to learn all...

Goldilocks and The Three Bears is one of the most popular children's books ever written in English and it is my daughter's favorite. Today, you'll hear a modernISH American English version of the classic tale and I've carefully selected a number of phrasal verbs, expressions and collocations and inserted them seamlessly into the story to amp up (improve, increase) the listening experience. If you're trying to improve your use of more challenging tenses in English, listening to stories is a...

In honor of Juneteenth, we will be talking about "The Mother of the Freedom Movement" - Rosa Parks. Rosa made history when she politely refused to give her seat to a white passenger on a public bus in Alabama when institutionalized racial segregation existed in the South (Jim Crow Laws). Her story is one of courage; she'll make you want to stand up for what's right. Note: Juneteenth is on June 19th, and it's been a federal holiday in the United States since 2021. However, it's been a day...

In this episode, you'll learn how to use the common expression Once in a Blue Moon. In Part 2,  which will be posted shortly, you'll learn all about Rosa Parks and The Freedom Movement. Premium Content This episode is part of Season 3. By purchasing Season 3 transcripts, you'll be able to access the full episodes, the full PDF transcripts for episodes 101 - 150, an Mp3 download  and the premium podcast player to work on your pronunciation. Follow along with the Season 3 audio (episodes...

We've lived in Los Angeles for about 5 months and spend a lot of time exploring. I'm happy to say that the city is growing on us - we LOVE the restaurant scene here and checking out the stunning mansions, beautiful beaches and fun neighborhoods. There are a few stereotypes about Los Angeles that you may have been exposed to if you watch films made in Hollywood. Up until this point, I've been pleasantly surprised to disagree with most of them. What do you think about these stereotypes? Had...

Today you're going to learn so many fun facts about the US, all of which have to do with geography. You'll hear about the topography, so the physical features of the land that make it visually unique. And you'll also learn about the population - so where residents are distributed throughout the country. By the end of this episode, you should have a solid geographical overview of the United States and be able to talk about geography in English. Note: The goal of 5-Minute English episodes is...

The Tale of Peter Rabbit was published in 1902 by the British author and illustrator Beatrix Potter. Today I'll read the story to you. What's the moral of this story? Let us know via Instagram! Premium Content This episode is part of Season 3. By purchasing Season 3 transcripts, you'll be able to access the full episodes, the full PDF transcripts for episodes 101 - 150, an Mp3 download  and the premium podcast player to work on your pronunciation.  Follow along with the Season 3 audio...

Martin ended up falling in love with a redheaded American woman named Elizabeth Smith, and eventually the couple decided to have a family. Never in their wildest dreams could they have imagined what would come next: Four out of their seven children were born with blue skin. In this episode of the American English Podcast, you'll learn about THE BLUE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY. In the first part of the episode, you'll learn how to use the common English expression OUT OF THE BLUE. Premium...

In this episode of the American English Podcast, you'll learn how to use the common English expression OUT OF THE BLUE. In Part 2 (Episode 118.2), you'll hear the story of the BLUE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY. Premium Content This episode is part of Season 3.  By purchasing Season 3 transcripts, you'll be able to access the full episodes, the full PDF transcripts for episodes 101 - 150, an Mp3 download  and the premium podcast player to work on your pronunciation. Follow along with the Season 3...

We all love survival stories, do we not? Watching men and women  find food and water, seeing them build shelters out of sticks, stones and leaves. It’s a common theme on reality television. Occasionally though, in real life, we hear real survival stories. People who were confronted with death and managed to escape it. Today you’ll hear the incredible story of Aron Ralston. You may know his story already if you’ve seen the movie 127 hours. If you haven’t, you’re in for a ride.  Take a deep...

In today's episode you'll learn how to use the common English expression BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE. Premium Content This episode is part of Season 3.  By purchasing Season 3 transcripts, you'll be able to access the full episodes, the full PDF transcripts for episodes 101 - 150, an Mp3 download  and the premium podcast player to work on your pronunciation. Follow along with the Season 3 audio (episodes 101-150) as episodes are released. Season 3.. Other Links! Get ALL PREMIUM...

In this 5-Minute English episode, you'll hear a lot of vocabulary and phrases related to Cold, Flus and Sickness. This episode type is extra challenging, but short. Listen to it multiple times and consider transcribing the audio as a listening exercise. You can also dive deeper into this lesson by purchasing Premium Content. ***** IF YOU WANT TO SUPPORT REFUGEES IN EUROPE - CHECK BACK SOON! I WILL BE POSTING LINKS FOR HOW YOU CAN HELP (IF YOU WANT :)). ***** Premium Content This...

In this 5-Minute English episode, you'll hear a lot of vocabulary and phrases related to winter and the cold. You'll also learn about the typical experience at a Colorado ski resort. This episode type is extra challenging, but short. Listen to it multiple times and consider transcribing the audio as a listening exercise. You can also dive deeper into this lesson by purchasing Premium Content. ***** Premium Content This episode is part of Season 3.  By purchasing Season 3 transcripts,...

After my last conversation with Pete about his "Dream House" in Australia (Ep. 109), I decided to ask my friends and family members about their dream home. My mom was the first to respond and this episode is her response. My mom's dream house would be in Napa Valley in California, which is wine country here. As you can tell, she loves this topic - she uses all of the right terminology for stuff, some of it might be challenging to understand and that's ok. She's got a degree in Interior...

We're moving to Los Angeles, L.A. - the City of Angels. This is a Chats with Shana episode, what I'm thinking comes out of my mouth. Hear about the big adventure we're about to embark on. I'm going to take you on this journey with us, WISH US LUCK! Premium Content This episode is part of Season 3.  By purchasing Season 3 transcripts, you'll be able to access the full episodes, the full PDF transcripts for episodes 101 - 150, an Mp3 download  and the premium podcast player to work on your...

In this episode, Charlie and I discuss all things embarrassing. This is your chance to hear some funny embarrassing stories, practice listening to British and American English and learn some amazing vocabulary (hear how we compare terms like " your fly is down," "to let one slide" and "to eat shit"!) Charlie also teaches us how to act appropriately if the Queen rips one (farts) at a fancy feast. Has there been a more amusing episode? I'm not sure. If you don't laugh out loud at least once,...

The preposition in and on can be a nightmare, but in this short recording I hope to clarify some of the confusion when it comes to speaking about islands. Yes, there will be a few exceptions to the rules here, but honestly this topic can get so convoluted, simplifying it the way I have will enable you to speak correctly about islands 99% of the time. The one exception probably worth mentioning is Rhode Island - Rhode Island is a state and when I visit, I'm IN Rhode Island. Premium...

Want to go on a vacation to Hawaii? In this episode, I speak about our recent trip to Oahu - the most visited and populous island in the archipelago. Hawaii was the 50th state to join the union and in this episode I give you a general overview of the islands and what you can do as a tourist there. Why do people from other states go there so often? Find out why. ***** Premium Content This episode is part of Season 3.  By purchasing Season 3 transcripts, you'll be able to access the full...

In this 5-Minute English episode, you'll hear a lot of vocabulary and phrases related to skincare and makeup. This episode type is extra challenging, but short. Listen to it multiple times and consider transcribing the audio as a listening exercise. You can also dive deeper into this lesson by purchasing Premium Content. ***** Premium Content This episode is part of Season 3.  By purchasing Season 3 transcripts, you'll be able to access the full episodes, the full PDF transcripts for...

I've always loved talking about Dream Houses. It's sort of a magical topic that everyone can relate to and yet for every person the response is going to be different. How we answer / describe our space largely depends on our life experience to date and perception of places we've been and have not been to. In this conversation I talk to Pete  (my Australian friend and host of the Aussie English Podcast)  about his dream home and we compare our previous living environments to where we'd like to...

In today's episode, you'll learn about Sharks and Shark Attacks in U.S. waters and how to avoid a shark if you're visiting the U.S. coast! Premium Content This episode is part of Season 3.  By purchasing Season 3 transcripts, you'll be able to access the full episodes, the full PDF transcripts for episodes 101 - 150, an Mp3 download  and the premium podcast player to work on your pronunciation. Follow along with the Season 3 audio (episodes 101-150) as episodes are released. Season...

In today's episode, you'll learn how to use the common expression: To Rock the Boat. You'll get to practice pronunciation and hear a joke as well.  Premium Content This episode is part of Season 3.  By purchasing Season 3 transcripts, you'll be able to access the full episodes, the full PDF transcripts for episodes 101 - 150, an Mp3 download  and the premium podcast player to work on your pronunciation. Follow along with the Season 3 audio (episodes 101-150) as episodes are released. Season...

In today's episode, you'll learn how to use the common expression: The Coast Is Clear. You'll get to practice pronunciation and hear a joke as well. The fun fact in this episode is all about Alcatraz, an island or prison, I should say - former prison - off the coast of San Francisco, which housed some of the United States's most infamous criminals from 1934 until 1963. One former resident you may know of is Al Capone, the American gangster / mobster, you can say, also known by the nicknames...

Charlie, our good friend from The British English Podcast, came up with an incredibly entertaining podcast format: "Off the Beaten Track." In short, it's all about asking someone detailed questions about their ideal itinerary for a DREAM vacation. I emphasize DREAM because this episode is packed with HYPOTHETICALS! You've hit the hypothetical jackpot... and it's real!  In today's episode, we heard all about his crazy trip up to space and then to the Maldives; he would go skydiving and...