Boxcar English

Boxcar English

Boxcar English is a podcast for English learners. It's one of the best and most pleasant ways to learn English. A warm voice with a limited vocabulary range speaks slowly enough for you to understand. The series are designed for different levels of English learners. The podcast focuses on stories that are interesting, funny, sometimes beautiful, sometimes strange, so the listener engages with the meaning, rather than the surface level of the language. The "For beginners" podcast focus on basic phrases and vocabulary. The philosophy of the podcast is to provide the good, positive energy needed for learning a new language, with much of the content for free or low cost, and for all of it to be made by a human, and not impersonal AI-based creation. It's based on the language-learning theory of "Comprehensible and Compelling input," which says that you should listen and read to a lot of materials that are 1) Easy to understand (you know 95% of the vocabulary), and 2) Interesting to listen to. Boxcar English is designed to be fun, welcoming, & refreshing to different levels of learners. At Boxcar English, there's always room for you!

Episodes

December 25, 2025 8 mins
I spent Christmas alone this year… I was lonely, so I walked to a restaurant that is always open: the Waffle House. This is my story of Christmas at the Waffle House.
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The last part of this everyday, yet strange, story… Spoiler: I survived! Otherwise, the whole series would be over, wouldn’t it? boxcarenglish.com patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast
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December 16, 2025 8 mins
Part 3 of the Lake House story… The strange shape turns out to be… Visit boxcarenglish.com and patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast
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December 11, 2025 8 mins
Here’s part 2 of this story! We take a ride on a boat on the lake… and I learn some history — there are entire towns under the water… I have to try to see them! If you’re new to Boxcar English, this podcast is easy to understand, if you’re learning English and have about a B1/B2 level. I speak clearly and slowly, and I use simple words, but the phrasing is authentic, American English. Th...
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December 11, 2025 13 mins
I went to a lake house over the weekend and it was very good, but also very, very bad… So much happened on the trip that I divided the story into four parts. If you’re new to Boxcar English, this podcast is easy to understand, if you’re learning English and have about a B1/B2 level. I speak clearly and slowly, and I use simple words, but the phrasing is authentic, American English. This ...
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December 4, 2025 6 mins
I was feeling tired, so I slept longer than usual. I had a strange dream. Then I had to pee. Then I realized that I was sick… When I’m sick, I really miss being healthy. When I’m healthy, I don’t appreciate it enough. Please support the podcast at patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast Check out our website at boxcarenglish.com Karl also makes music. Check out bigkitty.bandcamp.com… ...
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November 27, 2025 11 mins
Here is the story of my Thanksgiving — for you. This year, I spent Thanksgiving with my grandmother at her retirement home. It was a funny, sweet, everyday type of moment. It was so beautiful. Please support the podcast at patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast. You can ask me, Karl, all the questions you want there, in the chat. And you get all the transcripts — and in the spirit of Thanksgiv...
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November 20, 2025 9 mins
On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, school ends at 12 noon, and that gives an interesting feeling to the day. On this day, I felt like I did when I was a kid, and as I was cleaning up, I found a green magic marker. It made me really want to draw with markers like that… I’ll let you find out the rest by listening along… If it helps you to read along to the words, you can do that. I make...
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November 14, 2025 7 mins
Have you ever gotten a surprise call? I got one when I was at work telling me my Grandmother was in the hospital. I had to ask my boss to leave work to see her. She understood, and let me go. This is the story of what happened that day. It was almost like a dream, but there I was, in reality. Please visit boxcarenglish.com for more podcasts and lessons, and support the podcast at patreon...
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November 7, 2025 4 mins
There’s an election, and the voting happened at the school where I work. This is about how I went to vote and what happened that day and the day after. Please check out our page at patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast And do leave us a review on the podcasting service you use. Send me an email at karl@boxcarenglish.com
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September 30, 2025 6 mins
I found some sunglasses on a sunny day… and they made me think. Go to Patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast to support us. And Boxcarenglish.com for more!
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September 19, 2025 1 min
The final installment of grandpa’s visit to Haytown. An ending, but a new beginning as well. Thanks for listening! Let me know how your English is coming. Check out the website for more: boxcarenglish.com Join our Patreon to chat with me and get transcripts: patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast
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The weekend is here! I take my Grandpa to a Chinese restaurant to celebrate. Visit boxcarenglish.com for more podcasts and lessons Support the podcast at patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast
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August 15, 2025 6 mins
This story is about my Grandpa visiting my house. My grandpa has a lot of dogs and cats, and he brought them all to my house — including a tiny kitten! Sometimes English learners get confused by the words “fun” and “funny.” This episode can help you out. Read this: “I noticed that Shelby was acting funny. That’s my dog. Shelby is her name. She was acting funny. I mean, she wasn’t acting ...
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August 8, 2025 7 mins
A drive in the country. Let’s take a look at three of the natural, American-style phrasings used in this episode: 1–“It sounded like they hadn’t had a chance to speak in a long time” You can say “it sounds like” in the same way as “it looks like” or “it appears”! “to have a chance” – to have an opportunity “to speak” in this case means the birds haven’t had a chance to speak to each othe...
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August 1, 2025 5 mins
I could not find my username. I could not find my password. And, I admit it, I cried. Support the podcast at patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast and get some bonus stuff! Find more and take lessons with me at boxcarenglish.com
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This episode is about how our lives are full of magic. I saw a star in the hole in the clouds, and it seemed to want to say: “Hey Karl, don’t forget that your life is full of magic.” I want to hear from you: what’s an experience you’ve had of the magic of life? Join me at Patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast, and help build a community of people who want to improve their English in a human, ...
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July 18, 2025 7 mins
I had a dream about eating some very delicious blue fruit. It was so inspiring. I felt good all day. And I took my dog on a walk in the woods. We saw a dead deer. That’s the type of story you get on Boxcar English, ones that show thinking and feeling in the English language. No AI is used in the creation of this podcast — it’s a human production! Visit boxcarenglish.com to learn how to t...
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July 11, 2025 8 mins
Karl talks to a friend about prisons. And something unexpected happens. Who is responsible? No one knows. This episode includes some adult themes, so be aware of that if you feel any sensitivity to those things. Take lessons with me at boxcarenglish.com. And support the podcast at patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast. Thanks for listening!
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July 8, 2025 7 mins
It’s no fun to have car problems. Karl wants to leave work, but his car won’t start. It’s cold outside, and there’s nobody around to help. Then, a possum comes through the parking lot… Go to boxcarenglish.com for more episodes and lessons. Support the podcast at patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast
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