American English Podcast
The American English Podcast teaches the language and culture of the United States. Through common expressions, pronunciation tips and interesting cultural snippets or stories, I hope to keep this fun, useful and interesting! All bonus material can be accessed at http://americanenglishpodcast.com/
Episodes
July 17, 2025 ⢠52 mins
Brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at better help.com/AMERICANENGLISH and get on your way to being your best self.Â
Ever wondered what life is like in the middle of the U.S.? Tune in to this weekâs episode with Bethany Anderson and discover tornado drills, taco pizza, sweet corn, Amish visits, and small towns bursting with culture. Youâll get fun expressions, new vocab, and a fresh view of Iowa you wonât find ...
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July 10, 2025 ⢠26 mins
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/AMERICANENGLISH and get on your way to being your best self.
In this immersive summer episode, you'll escape to the sun-drenched shores of an American beach and soak up advanced vocabulary, phrasal verbs, and collocationsâall beach-themed and delivered in under 10 minutes (ish đ).
You'll need to use your imagination for this one. You'll look bac...
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July 3, 2025 ⢠33 mins
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/AMERICANENGLISH and get on your way to being your best self.
In this casual Chats with Shana episode, Iâm taking you along on our sweaty summer trip to Charleston, South Carolina. đ´
Youâll hear about:
Miloâs first vacation (spoiler: heâs a sand-digging pro)
Dining outside in 95° heat⌠while swatting a swarm of flies
Why Folly Be...
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June 26, 2025 ⢠36 mins
You may be wondering: Whatâs the difference between a buffalo and a bison? That was the first question I had when researching this topic. And the answer isâwell, a lot. Despite being from the same family (Bovidae), bison and buffalo have different hair, different horn shapes, and different temperaments. Bison are known to be a little bit moody!
So, which one lives in the United States? Technically, bison, but most native English s...
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June 19, 2025 ⢠19 mins
In this episode, learn the meaning, origin, and everyday use of the expression âto stand oneâs ground.â
As usual, the lesson will begin with a joke (this one's a pun!). Then we'll dive into the expression. Shana will explain how to use the phrase in real-life situations, and guides you through a quick pronunciation practice.
Stay tuned for next weekâs follow-up episode on bisonâmajestic animals that quite literally stand their ...
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June 13, 2025 ⢠34 mins
It helps you make your oatmeal in 90 seconds and reheat your pizza in 30. Some of you love it; others are skeptical, with concerns it might cause brain damage. What am I talking about? Microwaves, of course!
The story of how the microwave was discovered (or invented!) is weird and very funnyâand it all went down in Massachusetts.
To make this story extra valuable, I've added 20 irregular verbs to it. How many did you catch?
If y...
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June 5, 2025 ⢠32 mins
In this episode, you'll learn how to use the common English expression âthe coast is clear,â which means itâs safe to proceed because no one is watching or in the way. After breaking down the literal and figurative meanings, as well as the origin, you'll hear three vivid examplesâone featuring a mama bird, a cheating girlfriend, and shoplifting teens.
The cultural spotlight of this episode is on Alcatraz, the infamous island pri...
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May 29, 2025 ⢠40 mins
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most popular national park in the entire United States. Every year close to 14 million people go to check out the nature, the wildlife, and to see what life was like back in the 1800s (90 structures have been preserved!).
What's really exciting about the Smokies, at least to me, is that they're the birthplace of Appalachian culture.
In today's episode, we'll begin with some geogra...
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May 21, 2025 ⢠26 mins
Hi everyone! Welcome back. I'm excited for another expression episode. Today we're going to be talking about a common one: "Where there's smoke, there's fire." We'll of course, dive into the meaning, I'll teach you about the origin, and we have multiple examples today so that you can hear how it's used naturally in conversation. At the very end, there will be a little pronunciation exercise just for reinforcement.
In part two of ...
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May 14, 2025 ⢠39 mins
Welcome back to the second part of our chat about cultural curiosities! This episode is jam-packed with our thoughts on tipping, splitting the bill on first dates (a.k.a. âgoing Dutchâ), personal space, how to handle food in someoneâs teeth, and so much more!
Hope you enjoy it!
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May 9, 2025 ⢠40 mins
If you've been listening to this podcast for a while, you know Liz. She's one of my college buddies who's been on about 6 or 7 episodes. Every time she comes on, I get messages about how much you guys like her. I, of course, do too. She's smart, she's kind, and very well-spoken, which, of course, makes her a great guest to have.
In today's episode, we'll be discussing awkward cultural questions. We'll cover everything from double...
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April 30, 2025 ⢠36 mins
Have you ever gone to the dentist and thought, âCan I really explain whatâs happening here in English?â Well, if youâve struggled in the past with describing anything related to going to the dentist or dental care, then you're in the right place! In todayâs episode, weâre going to talk all about going to the dentistâand also the orthodontist.
You'll hear a short story that includes useful vocabulary, phrases, and collocations, and...
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April 23, 2025 ⢠31 mins
Big hats, and the most exciting two minutes in sportsâyep, we're headed to Kentucky! đ
In this episode, we take a deep dive into the Kentucky Derby, an iconic horse racing event thatâs been captivating crowds since 1875. From fancy fashion and mint juleps to cigar traditions and million-dollar thoroughbreds, youâll get the full Derby experience.
Weâll explore the history and highlights of the event, learn key vocabulary related ...
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April 17, 2025 ⢠36 mins
Ever freeze mid-sentence? Forget a word you just learned? Or feel like your voice disappears the moment someone asks you a question in English?
Youâre not aloneâand youâre not doomed! đ
In this episode, I share 5 game-changing speaking tips that have helped my students (and myself!) speak with more confidence, clarity, and joy. Weâll dig into real strategies to get English out of your head and into your mouthâwhether you're shy...
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April 9, 2025 ⢠23 mins
What happens when one of the worldâs greatest violinists plays a million-dollar instrument⌠in a subway station? Will anyone stop to listen?
In this episode, we dive into a powerful real-life experiment that challenges how we see art, talent, and everyday beauty. You'll hear the story of Joshua Bellâs anonymous subway performance, the unexpected art stunt pulled by Banksy in Central Park, and even a surprise appearance by Ed Sheer...
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April 3, 2025 ⢠19 mins
In todayâs episode, youâll learn the common English expression âto play it by ear,â which means to improvise or make decisions without having a fixed plan. Weâll look at where the expression comes from, how to use it naturally in conversation, and go over three everyday examples to help you understand it clearly.
Youâll also hear a lighthearted joke involving music and miners, and at the end, weâll practice pronunciation together....
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March 27, 2025 ⢠31 mins
Have you ever believed something so ridiculous, so outrageous, that later you just had to laugh becauseâyepâyou got fooled? Maybe someone told you that swallowing gum would glue your organs together... or that Bigfoot was spotted at your local supermarket. That moment you realized it wasnât true? That was someone pulling your leg! They were tricking you.
In this feature episode, weâre bringing back one of my favorite expressionsâa...
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March 21, 2025 ⢠38 mins
Welcome to todayâs 5-Minute English Lesson! Today, weâre talking about the most common pets in the United Statesâcats and dogs!
Did you know that more than 65 million households in the U.S. have a dog? đ And nearly 46 million have a cat? đ Pets are a huge part of American life! Today weâll talk about a lot of different vocabulary that will be useful when talking about these two very special animals. Youâll learn descriptive adje...
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March 13, 2025 ⢠42 mins
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at
betterhelp.com/AMERICANENGLISH and get on your way to being your best self.
Ever wondered what makes Napa Valley the "Hollywood of Wine" or why Texas is suddenly a wine hotspot? In this episode, weâre taking a virtual road trip through the top wine regions in the U.S., from the rolling vineyards of California to the hidden gems of New York and Virginia.
You'll l...
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March 5, 2025 ⢠25 mins
The idiom "to be three sheets to the wind" means to be very drunk. If you don't like hearing content related to alcohol, or you're underage, skip this episode! :)
Terms you will hear:
to slur
to stumble
to giggle
to black out
to have a hangover
to be as drunk as a skunk
Next week, we'll be talking about Wine Regions in the United States. Stay tuned!
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