Speak English Now – Mini-Stories with Georgiana

Speak English Now – Mini-Stories with Georgiana

Hi, I’m Georgiana — creator of the Speak English Now podcast and founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. With over 40 million downloads worldwide, this podcast has helped English learners around the globe speak confidently and fluently. Since 2011, I’ve been teaching English using proven techniques like mini-stories and point-of-view lessons — methods that help you speak naturally, without memorizing grammar rules or relying on textbooks. I speak clearly and at a slow, natural pace, making it easy for you to understand every word and improve your fluency step by step. What makes this podcast different? 🗣️ You’ll practice speaking, not just listening. 🔊 My voice is clear, slow, and easy to follow — perfect for learners at all levels. 📚 No grammar rules. No textbooks. No stress. 🌍 You'll learn both the language and the culture behind it. ✅ Lessons are based on repetition, storytelling, and real-world vocabulary. BONUS: You can read the full transcript of every episode at 👉 SpeakEnglishPodcast.com

Episodes

October 8, 2025 14 mins

Welcome back, travelers! One last time, pack your bags — we’re heading west.

Today, we’ll visit the Southwest and the West.

In the Southwest, we have: Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.
And in the West, we have: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

That’s fifteen states in total! Today, we’ll take a closer look at Texas, Arizona, Colorado, California, Oregon, an...

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This is the third episode of our state names series. This time, we’re traveling to the Midwest.

Let’s quickly list all the states in the Midwest:
They are: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

That’s twelve states in total! I’ll just focus on a few of the most representative ones: Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.

Get the text he...

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September 26, 2025 16 mins

Hi! This is part two of our series about US state names.
Today, we’ll explore the Northeast: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

That’s eleven states in total! And today I’ll focus on: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. You’ll hear stories of English kings, Dutch settlers, and Native American words that...

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September 18, 2025 13 mins

Are you ready for a trip through the United States?
Pack your bags — because today we’re starting a special journey!

In this first episode, we’ll travel to the Southeast: Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama.
Next time, we’ll continue our trip to the Northeast, then to the Midwest, and finally we’ll finish in the West and Southwest.

Get the transcript here: https://speakenglishpodcast.com/the-weird-wonderful-origins-of-us-stat...

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September 11, 2025 12 mins

Let me ask you something: what’s the easiest way to start a conversation in English?
If you said the weather, you’re absolutely right!

It doesn’t matter where you are—London, New York, or Paris—at some point, people will always talk about the weather. And it makes sense, right? The weather touches everyone’s life. If it’s sunny, people feel cheerful. If it rains, people complain. If it snows, kids celebrate while adults worry about...

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It’s the end of August, and in many countries in the Northern Hemisphere — like the U.S., Canada,France, Spain, or Japan — that means one thing: summer is ending. The days are still hot, but soon the air will cool down, the leaves will change color, and fall will begin.

Get the transcript on my website: https://speakenglishpodcast.com/353-summer-or-winter-it-depends-where-you-live/

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I’ll be honest with you—I don’t really enjoy going to the dentist. I think most people feel the same way. It can be a little scary, right? Now imagine you’re not speaking your native language. If you already feel nervous about the dentist, trying to explain everything in English can make the experience even more stressful.

So today, let’s go step by step and learn some useful phrases you can use before, during, and after your visit...

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Last time, we talked about false friends—words that look similar in English and your native language, but mean something very different.

Get the text on my website: https://speakenglishpodcast.com/351-false-friends

Example 1: Actual

This one’s a classic false friend.

In Spanish, “actual” or in Portuguese “atual” means “current” or “present.”

But in English, “actual” means real or true — not “current.”

So if you say:
👉 “My actual j...

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Hi! I want to talk about something that can really help you understand English vocabulary better — especially if you speak a Romance language like Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, or Romanian.

These languages all come from Latin — you know, the language spoken by the Romans a long time ago. That’s why we call them Romance languages.

Get the transcript on my website: https://speakenglishpodcast.com/350-false-friends

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Some students like to read while they listen. Others prefer to read afterward. It’s totally up to you.
You might find it helps connect the sounds and the spelling—or just gives you more confidence.
And one last thing before we jump in:

Even if it feels like you’re learning slowly… you’re not.
Small steps really do add up.

Read the full text on my website: https://speakenglishpodcast.com/349-learn-english-with-small-daily-habits/

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Today, I want to tell you about a book that I really love—Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott.

To be honest, it’s one of my all-time favorite stories.
It’s warm, emotional, and full of life. I’ve listened to the audiobook version, and what makes it extra special is that it’s a full-cast recording. That means each character has a different voice. It’s not just one person reading the book—it sounds more like a movie. And it really bri...

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Today, I want to talk to you about something really simple—but very important.
Be patient with yourself.

This episode has three short parts:

  1. Why learning takes time
  2. How to stop being too hard on yourself
  3. A small mindset shift that can help you feel better

Before we get started, don’t forget to get the transcript at SpeakEnglishPodcast.com/podcast.

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July 10, 2025 13 mins

In today’s episode, we’re going to talk about something very real—but often hidden: 👉 Why speaking English feels stressful…
👉 And how you can feel calmer, more focused, and more confident when you speak.

Before we start, you can get the transcript at SpeakEnglishPodcast.com/podcast

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Today’s episode is about something many English learners do too often:
Saying “sorry” all the time—even when they don’t need to.

Let me give you some examples:

  • “Sorry, can I ask a question?”
  • “Sorry, my English is bad.”
  • “Sorry for bothering you.”
  • “Sorry for my pronunciation.”

Maybe you’ve said these before...

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In today’s episode, I want to talk about a very helpful idea for your English and your life. How to be more aware when Speaking English?

Being aware means that you notice what is happening—inside of you and around you.

You stop and ask:

  • “How do I feel right now?”
  • “What is my body doing?”
  • “Am I breathing fast or slow?”
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Today, we are continuing our Assertiveness Series, and we’ll focus on something very important: how to say "no" in English without feeling guilty.

Hi! I’m Georgiana, and I’m back with a new episode of the Speak English Now podcast—the podcast that helps you speak English fluently, with no grammar and no textbooks.

Before we start, get the transcript at SpeakEnglishPodcast....

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Today, we’re continuing the Assertiveness Series, and we’ll talk about The Power of Eye Contact and Tone of Voice when speaking English. 

These two things—eye contact and how you sound—are just as important as the words you say.

Get the transcript here: Speakenglishpodcast.com/342-assertiveness-the-power-of-eye-contact/

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The word "gaslighting" comes from a play called "Gas Light." written in 1938 by Patrick Hamilton.

In this play, a husband tries to make his wife think she is losing her mind. He does some tricky things, like secretly making the lights from gas lamps in their house dimmer, and then he tells her that she's just imagining these changes. This play later became a movie. 

Nowadays, when we say "g...

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Today, we are continuing our Assertiveness Series.
We’re going to talk about something very important:
Standing Your Ground – Saying What You Mean Clearly.

Get the transcript here: https://speakenglishpodcast.com/340-stand-your-ground-being-assertive-in-english/

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Today, we are starting a brand-new series on Assertiveness. Assertiveness is very important when you speak English because it helps you express your thoughts clearly and confidently.
You don’t feel shy, and you don’t feel afraid.

Get the transcript here: Speakenglishpodcast.com/339-learn-to-be-assertive-in-engli...

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