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
January 20, 2026 • 18 mins
In this episode of the American English Podcast, we explore the meaning and usage of the common English expression to see eye to eye. Along the way, you’ll learn vocabulary related to sight, wordplay, disagreement, and perspective—plus hear a classic (and slightly corny) dad joke.
A quick heads up about the next episode on Helen Keller
A dad joke featuring eyeballs, puns, and eye-rolling
Common actions eyes...
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January 13, 2026 • 36 mins
You know Starbucks, right? The coffee company? Born in Seattle, Washington and brewed around the world? I bet you do; they have over 40 thousand stores in over 80 countries.
In today's episode, we're going to talk about how it came to be.
Why is it called Starbucks?
Who's that woman on their cups?
What's the story?
There are a lot of Starbucks haters and a lot of lovers out there, but all of you will find this episod...
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December 30, 2025 • 31 mins
In this episode, I’m joined by my husband, Lucas, for another Preposition Party—a casual, conversation-based way to learn common verb + preposition combinations in American English.
You’ll hear natural examples of everyday phrases like look forward to, be good at, prefer … over, listen to, and get rid of, along with gentle corrections and explanations that help these patterns stick.
This episode focuses on how Americans actually ...
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December 18, 2025 • 31 mins
Who doesn’t love a good crime story from the 1930s?
Add romance, fast cars, and a nation in chaos… and you’ve got Bonnie and Clyde.
In this episode, I share a simplified, learner-friendly version of their true story—set during the Great Depression—and pack it with irregular verbs.
You’ll hear how newspapers turned two criminals into legends, why the public sympathized with them, and how their story became one of the most famou...
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December 11, 2025 • 21 mins
In today’s episode, we break down the common English expression “a shot in the dark,” which describes taking a guess or making an attempt with little to no information. You’ll hear where the idiom comes from, how people from the U.S. use it, and three real-life examples—from kids guessing ages, to ordering pintxos in Spain, to recreating Banana Kahlúa French toast (with no instructions!).
We’ll also go over the joke of the day (“W...
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December 4, 2025 • 32 mins
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. 🍋In other words, turn a bad situation into a good one!
That’s my new motto, and in this episode you’ll hear how we turned a full hour of tears at the Orlando Airport into one of the most magical experiences of our lives.
This is a casual catch-up about what’s been going on since the last episode — and more importantly, a ridiculous story packed with 10 common English expressions used na...
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September 26, 2025 • 36 mins
Can you believe it? We’ve made it to Episode 200! 🥳
In this milestone episode, I look back on everything we’ve done together in Season 4 (Episodes 151–200). From expressions that made you laugh to cultural stories that made you think, this season has been packed with lessons designed to improve your English and your connection to American culture.
Tune in to hear the your favorite episodes this season, stats and what's coming ne...
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September 18, 2025 • 30 mins
In this Five Minute English feature, we dive into one of America’s most beloved seasons: fall (also known as autumn). From pumpkin spice and cozy sweaters to apple orchards and football games, fall in the U.S. isn’t just a season—it’s a whole feeling.
You’ll learn:
Which is more common: fall or autumn?
The sounds, sights, tastes, and smells that define the season.
Cultural traditions like pumpkin patches, apple pic...
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September 11, 2025 • 31 mins
Ever get confused between “apply to” and “apply for”? Or wonder whether to say “argue about” or “argue over”? In today’s episode, we break down these common English combinations with quick, simple explanations and memorable examples. You’ll also learn the difference between “belong to” and “belong in.” By the end, you’ll feel more confident choosing the right phrase in everyday conversations.
👉 Perfect for English learners who wa...
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September 4, 2025 • 35 mins
What happens when you’re attacked by a grizzly bear, left for dead, and forced to crawl nearly 200 miles to survive? That’s the true story, or perhaps just the legend, of Hugh Glass, a 19th-century frontiersman whose incredible survival story inspired books and Hollywood films like The Revenant.
In this episode, you’ll:
Hear the dramatic survival story of Hugh Glass.
Learn and review 10+ irregular past tense verbs in co...
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August 28, 2025 • 28 mins
Have you ever succeeded when no one thought you could? That’s what it means to do something against all odds. In today’s episode, Shana begins with a bear story from her front yard in Asheville (yes, one even climbed into her car!), then moves into a lighthearted pun about “bare feet.”
From there, you’ll dive deep into the expression against all odds. You’ll learn its meaning, history, and how to use it naturally in daily conversa...
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August 21, 2025 • 25 mins
Think you’ve mastered English prepositions? Think again. In this episode, I sit down with my husband Lucas (an advanced English speaker) to tackle 5 prepositions even fluent speakers still get wrong.
We’ll cover:✅ Invest ____✅ Be interested ____✅ Participate ____ / Take part ____✅ Spend money ____✅ Depend ____ / Rely ____
And a few more that came UP naturally in conversation. Can you find them?
You’ll hear real-life examples, fu...
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August 14, 2025 • 30 mins
In today's episode, you’ll hear the incredible story of a man named Larry Walters, or "Lawn Chair" Larry, who bought over 40 weather balloons, attached them to a lawn chair in his backyard and flew 16,000 feet up in the air.
The story is weird and funny, and it gives way to a larger discussion about “Cluster Ballooning.” I’ll explain challenging words and phrases as I go along!*****Premium Content: This episode is part of By pu...
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August 7, 2025 • 39 mins
In this wild episode, we dive deep into the Burmese python invasion in Florida’s Everglades, which is one of the most unexpected and dramatic ecological crises in U.S. history.
It all started with exotic pet owners, relaxed laws in the '80s and '90s, and one catastrophic storm: Hurricane Andrew. From there, things spiraled. Thousands of snakes were released, some intentionally, others by accident, and they found paradise in the Ev...
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July 31, 2025 • 21 mins
Ever heard someone say, “Don’t have a hissy fit”? In this episode, we break down this funny, very Southern expression that describes a dramatic overreaction (think tantrum, or an overreaction). You’ll hear real-life examples—from picky eaters at restaurants to Wi‑Fi meltdowns—and find out how “hissy fit” made its way into American English.
Mentioned in this Episode
Season 4 Premium Content
All Premium Content Seasons ...
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July 24, 2025 • 33 mins
Yesterday at the library with my girls, a lightbulb went off in my head 💡—fables aren’t just great for kids... they’re perfect for English learners too!
This week on the podcast, we’re diving into one of Aesop’s most famous tales: The Goose & The Golden Egg (or The Goose That Laid the Golden Eggs). 🪿✨ It’s short, memorable, and it teaches a timeless lesson about greed—a perfect jumping-off point to learn advanced adjectives like...
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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.
Ever wondered what life is like in the middle of the U.S.? Tune in to this week’s episode with Bethany Anderson and discover tornado drills, taco pizza, sweet corn, Amish visits, and small towns bursting with culture. You’ll get fun expressions, new vocab, and a fresh view of Iowa you won’t 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 collocations—all beach-themed and delivered in under 10 minutes (ish 😉).
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, I’m taking you along on our sweaty summer trip to Charleston, South Carolina. 🌴
You’ll hear about:
Milo’s first vacation (spoiler: he’s 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: What’s the difference between a buffalo and a bison? That was the first question I had when researching this topic. And the answer is—well, 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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