American English Podcast

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

207.2 - The Great Molasses Flood of 1919

March 4, 2026 • 26 mins
In this episode, we explore the Great Molasses Flood of 1919, one of the strangest and most tragic disasters in U.S. history. On a cold January afternoon in Boston’s North End, a massive steel tank holding 2.3 million gallons of molasses burst, sending a deadly wave of syrup through the streets. You’ll learn what molasses was being used for, why shipments kept arriving after World War I, and how Prohibition played a surprising rol...
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207 - Expression: In a Sticky Situation

February 25, 2026 • 19 mins
In this engaging (and slightly sticky) episode, we explore the common American English idiom “to be in a sticky situation.” After a real-life kitchen disaster involving spilled honey, we break down what the expression means, where it comes from (it dates back over 200 years!), and how Americans actually use it in everyday conversation. You’ll hear relatable examples—from accidentally hitting “Reply All” at work to public mix-ups a...
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⭐ Feature: Hangry, Bromance & Spam: Everyday Portmanteaus with Liz!

February 18, 2026 • 26 mins
In this playful and spontaneous episode, Liz and I play a fast-paced guessing game using common English portmanteaus—words created by blending two others together. From hangry and bromance to Spam and chillax, we break down their meanings, origins, and how Americans actually use them in conversation. Along the way, you’ll hear natural dialogue, cultural references, and plenty of examples to help these words stick. If you want to so...
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206 - Let's Talk about Hair! (with Julia)

February 11, 2026 • 22 mins
In this cozy winter episode, Shana is snowed in with her daughters on the East Coast after a big snowstorm. While it looks like a magical winter wonderland outside, things feel a little chaotic inside the house. Then Julia, who's seven, decides she wants to be a guest on the podcast. Julia chooses a fun and unexpected topic: hair and hairstyles. Together, they talk about different types of hair, popular hairstyles, and even facial...
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205 - Preposition Party with Lucas 🎉 Love, Caring, Passions & Worries

February 4, 2026 • 33 mins
In this episode, Shana is joined by her husband Lucas for another fun Preposition Party. Together, they play a guessing game with common English prepositions while sharing personal stories about food, fears, parenting, moving, and unexpected passions. You’ll hear natural, real-life examples of expressions like look forward to, get used to, care about, to fall in love with and more. It’s a relaxed, conversational episode designed ...
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204.2 - Irregular Verbs with Helen Keller

January 28, 2026 • 27 mins
What if you woke up one day and couldn’t see or hear the world around you? In this episode of the American English Podcast, you’ll discover the incredible true story of Helen Keller — one of the most inspiring figures of the 20th century — and the teacher who changed her life, Anne Sullivan. As you follow Helen’s journey from silence to self-expression, you’ll learn 10 essential irregular verbs in the simple past tense, hear them...
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204: Expression: To See Eye to Eye

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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⭐ Feature: The Story of Starbucks

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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203 - Preposition Party with Lucas 🎉 Everyday Verb + Preposition Pairs

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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202.2. Irregular Verbs with Bonnie and Clyde

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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202 - Expression: A Shot in the Dark

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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201 - When Life Gives You Lemons...🍋 (+10 Expressions)

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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200 - Review of Season 4

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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⭐ 5-Minute English: Fall in the United States

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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199 - 5 MORE Prepositions Advanced Speakers Get Wrong (with Lucas!)

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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198.2 - Irregular Verbs: The Survival Story of Hugh Glass

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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198 - Expression: Against All Odds

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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197 - 5 Prepositions Advanced Speakers Still Get Wrong (with Lucas!)

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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⭐ Feature: The Incredible Flight of "Lawn Chair" Larry

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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196.2 - Invasion of Burmese Pythons in South Florida

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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