Happy English Podcast

Happy English Podcast

Learn American English with your host Michael DiGiacomo from Happy English in New York City. Michael has been teaching English since 1994. This is an English as a Second Language (ESL) and English as a Foreign Language (EFL) podcast that brings you fun, practical, and useful English lessons which are ideal for intermediate and advanced level English learners everywhere. This podcast is perfect for university students, business professionals, homemakers, retirees and anyone who is interested in learning and improving their English skills. Every week, you are going to learn American English idioms, conversational expressions and phrasal verbs. As your American English teacher, I will help you learn real and natural American English pronunciation and conversational style. You will get the chance to improve your vocabulary and have a clear understanding of practical English grammar. I also help you have a deeper understanding of American Culture through language learning. Join my podcast learner's study group to practice these lessons with me each week on zoom. Get Happy, Get English. Happy English!

Episodes

November 2, 2025 2 mins
One of the biggest secrets to sounding natural in English is something called the schwa sound. It’s the most common sound in American English, and it’s a huge reason why native speakers sound so smooth and relaxed when they talk.

The schwa sounds like uh - not strong or clear, just soft and lazy: uh. We use it in many unstressed syllables and small words: Like the vowel sounds in umbrella, the a in what [whut], the i in anima [AN-uh...
Mark as Played
In today’s Saturday Short, Michael talks about one of the newest slang expressions to hit the English language — “6-7.”
You’ll learn where this Gen Z phrase came from, how people use it online, and why it’s more about vibe than grammar.
It’s short, fun, and a perfect look at how English keeps evolving.
So, what does “6-7” really mean? Let’s find out together!

Visit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyengl...
Mark as Played
October 31, 2025 1 min
Hey there! It’s Michael here - and welcome back to another Happy English, Phrasal Verb Friday. I’m here every Friday with a quick, one-point English lesson to help you learn a new phrasal verb and sound more natural when you speak.

Today’s phrasal verb is zone out.  When you zone out, it means your mind starts to wander and you stop paying attention - especially when you’re tired, bored, or distracted. Basically, your body’s there, ...
Mark as Played
Boo! Did I scare you? I hope not. Halloween is literally right around the corner, and depending on where you live that may or may not have any particular meaning for you. But in the USA? Well, let’s go trick or treating...

Thanks for tuning in. And hey, Happy Halloween! 🎃👻 If you’re listening to this on October 31st - or even a day or two later - I hope you’re feeling the spooky season vibes. Two weeks ago, we kicked off our Hallo...
Mark as Played
“Are we there yet?” That’s a question you’ve probably heard - or maybe even asked - especially if you’ve ever taken a road trip with kids:  “Are we there yet?” “Not just yet!” 

Yet is just a three-letter word, but it’s packed with meaning. It helps you talk about time, expectations, contrast, and even emphasis. And once you learn how to use yet naturally, your English is going to sound a whole lot more fluent. So today, let’s look a...
Mark as Played
Let me ask you something - have you ever noticed how often people say get in English?  I mean seriously - we get tired, we get pizza, we get better, we get going, we get caught in the rain, and we get used to the cold. Well, some of us.  Get is one of the most flexible and common verbs in English - and native speakers use it all the time in conversation. So today, let’s get into it… and take a look at five of the most useful ways w...
Mark as Played
Hey there! It’s Michael here — and welcome back to another Happy English Sunday Speak. I’m here every Sunday with a quick one-point tip to help you speak English more naturally. 

Now, In spoken American English, we often connect words together, and when we do, the sounds change. That’s called connected speech. You’ll hear it all the time in words and phrases like ya, didja, and whaddaya.
  • So instead of saying “Do you”, Americans u...
Mark as Played
Hey there! It’s Michael here, and welcome back to another Happy English Saturday Short, your quick tip for speaking English better.

Today, let’s look at two really common and super natural phrases you’ll hear in everyday English: “You know what?” and “Guess what?” We use both of these when we want to grab someone’s attention - usually before we share some news, an idea, or an opinion. They make your speech sound lively and conversat...
Mark as Played
October 24, 2025 1 min
Hey there! It’s Michael here — and welcome back to another Happy English, Phrasal Verb Friday.  I’m here every Friday with a quick, one-point English lesson to help you learn a new phrasal verb and sound more natural when you speak.

Today’s phrasal verb is buckle down. When you buckle down, it means you start working seriously and with focus — especially after being a bit lazy or distracted. You stop wasting time and get things done...
Mark as Played
I suggest you listen carefully to this podcast. And if you’re with a friend right now, I suggest he listen carefully as well. Or she listen carefully. I mean, if I were you, I’d definitely stick around for this one.

Today we’re diving into a part of English grammar that doesn’t follow the usual rules - but native speakers use it all the time without thinking twice. Especially in American English. It’s called the subjunctive mood - a...
Mark as Played
Hey, let me ask you a question - have you ever made a decision… and then later thought, “Oh man, I shouldn’t have done that”? Or maybe you’ve thought, “If only I had done it differently.” Yeah. That, my friend, is regret - and we all feel it sometimes. Regret is one of those universal emotions - something everyone experiences. And in English, we’ve got a few really natural and emotional ways to talk about it. So today, I’ll show yo...
Mark as Played
Hey there! It’s Michael here - and welcome back to another Happy English Sunday Speak. I’m here every Sunday with a quick one-point tip to help you speak English more naturally.

Now, in American English, there’s a special sound we make with the letter T. It’s called the flap T, and it sounds kind of like a soft D sound. You’ll hear it in words like better, water, and pretty. So instead of saying “BET-ter,” “WAH-ter,” and “PRIT-ty,” ...
Mark as Played
Hey there! It’s Michael here  -  and welcome back to another Happy English Saturday Short, your quick tip for speaking English better.

Today, let’s look at a super common phrase you’ll hear in everyday English: “You know what I mean?” We use you know what I mean? to seek agreement or to check if the other person understands us. It’s kind of like soft tag questions, like isn’t it? that keeps the conversation friendly and connected.

Li...
Mark as Played
Hey there! It’s Michael here - and welcome back to another Happy English, Phrasal Verb Friday.  I’m here every Friday with a quick, one-poi nt English lesson to help you learn a new phrasal verb and sound more natural when you speak.

Today’s phrasal verb is flake out.  When you flake out, it means you agree to do something - like meet up, help out, or join an event - but then you don’t show up or don’t follow through. Basically, you...
Mark as Played
Welcome - and by the way - thanks for stopping by today! I’ve been thinking… by is one of those little words that shows up everywhere in English.  It’s just two letters, but it does a lot of work. 

Today we’re gonna take a close look at by - and I think you’ll be surprised at how many different ways we use it. You’ve probably seen BY in phrases like “by the time I got there,” or “a book by Hemingway,” or even “I’ll finish it by Frid...
Mark as Played
With Halloween right around the corner, I thought it’d be fun to do a little Halloween-themed English. So for the next three weeks, we’re going to dive into some spooky vocabulary, creepy idioms, and even take a look at how Halloween is celebrated in the U.S. Let’s kick it off today with something super useful - Halloween vocabulary!  Now, you might be thinking, “Michael, I’m not a fan of horror movies.” That’s totally fine!  But y...
Mark as Played
Did you know? Eating healthy foods can make you healthy, but I heard that drinking certain wines with cheeses can make you happy. Foods? Wines? Cheeses?

You know, English is a strange language sometimes. Like, words that are usually uncountable suddenly show up with an “s” on the end. Like…foods, cheeses, and wines? Wait a minute — aren’t those uncountable nouns? Well… yes! But also… no. Let me show you how it works — and why it act...
Mark as Played
Hey there! It’s Michael here — and welcome back to another Happy English Sunday Speak. I’m here every Sunday with a quick one-point tip to help you speak English more naturally.

Now, one of the most common phrases in English is “I don’t know.” But in everyday conversation, most native speakers don’t pronounce each word clearly like that. Instead, we usually say “I dunno.” (“EYE-duh-NO”) That’s right — I don’t know becomes I dunno. I...
Mark as Played
Hey there! It’s Michael here and welcome back to another Happy English Saturday Short, your quick tip for speaking English better.

Today, let’s look at a really common and powerful phrase: “Let me tell you something.” We use let me tell you something when we want to share our feelings, give an opinion, or emphasize what we’re about to say. It helps grab the listener’s attention and makes your speech sound more natural — and more emo...
Mark as Played
Hey there! It’s Michael here — and welcome back to another Happy English, Phrasal Verb Friday.
I’m here every Friday with a quick, one-point English lesson to help you learn a new phrasal verb and sound more natural when you speak.

Today’s phrasal verb is crank out. When you crank something out, it means you produce it quickly, often in large amounts. This phrase is often used for things like writing, work, or manufacturing — anythin...
Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

    Health Stuff

    On Health Stuff, hosts Dr. Priyanka Wali and comedian Hari Kondabolu tackle all the health questions that keep you up at night with hilarity and humanity. Together they demystify the flashy trends, and keep you informed on the latest research. You can rely on Health Stuff to bring you real, uninhibited, and thoughtful health talk of the highest caliber, and a healthy dose of humor.

    The Breakfast Club

    The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.