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Podcasts · Education · Society & Culture

American English Podcast

Shana Thompson

281 episodes

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 page 3 of 6

  1. 162 - Discover Illinois with Jackie (from "Ask Jackie")

    · 47 min · S4 E162

    Illinois is situated in the heart of the American Midwest, and it's known as the "Prairie State" because over 60% of it is covered in farmland. Despite the number of natural wonders found in Illinois, what attracts…

  2. 161 - 10 Words a Day: Handy-Dandy Reduplications

    · 28 min · S4 E161

    I know, I know, 99% of you are saying what in the world is that? What in the world is a reduplication? Well I just told you one: Handy-dandy. Handy by itself means useful or practical, in American English you can add…

  3. 160.2 - How Cereal Became The Number One Breakfast Food in the U.S.

    · 32 min · S4 E160

    You've seen it, right? The long cereal aisles in a U.S. supermarket? Crammed from top to bottom with colorful boxes? I bet you have. Cereal arouses a sense of nostalgia in a lot of the Americans that I know; it brings…

  4. 160 - Expression: Gimme Some Sugar!

    · 19 min · S4 E160

    You're sitting on the couch and your significant other is too far from you. Want them to cuddle up next to you? Say: "Gimme some sugar!" "Gimme some sugar" is a common American English expression used to express desire…

  5. 159 - 5-Minute English: Home Renovation

    · 27 min · S4 E159

    Last month, my family and I moved into a new home. In English, it's what we'd call a fixer upper; it's a home that needs updates, it needs renovation, it needs to be remodeled in various ways. We are in the process of…

  6. 158 - Moving Across the U.S. with Lucas

    · 33 min · S4 E158

    Moving across the United States is a significant event that brings with it a mix of excitement and challenges. Just last month, Lucas made the cross-country road trip from California to North Carolina, and today he's…

  7. 157.2 - New Year's Resolution Statistics for the U.S.

    · 32 min · S4 E157

    Every January, as the clock strikes midnight and the New Year unfolds, millions of people around the globe start a familiar ritual: they start their New Year’s Resolution. A resolution is a firm decision or commitment…

  8. 157 - Expression: To Get The Ball Rolling

    · 15 min · S4 E157

    This lesson has two parts. In part one, you'll learn the common English expression "to get the ball rolling" you'll hear a joke and you'll do some pronunciation exercises. In part two (which will be posted shortly),…

  9. 156 - Chats with Shana: My Christmas Memories (+10 Must-Know Oxymorons)

    · 30 min · S4 E156

    Today you’ll learn 10-Must Know Oxymorons to avoid confusion in conversation and the canvas for introducing these words will be a story about my Christmas Memories. An oxymoron is a literary device that has two…

  10. 155 - Decades: The 1980s with Alex

    · 36 min · S4 E155

    Earlier this year, I asked some friends and family members if they could write a short story about their favorite decade. A decade is a ten-year time frame. For example, 1970-1979 is a decade. 1980 -1989 is another…

  11. 154.2 - The Boston Tea Party + U.S. Independence from Britain

    · 37 min · S4 E154

    Boston is situated in present-day Massachusetts, right on the northern Atlantic coastline. It’s picturesque, it’s lively and it’s steeped in stories of how the United States gained its independence from Britain. Today…

  12. 154 - Expression: My Cup of Tea

    · 18 min · S4 E154

    This lesson has two parts. In part one, you'll learn the common English expression "my cup of tea" you'll hear a joke and you'll do some pronunciation exercises. In part two (which will be posted shortly), you'll…

  13. 153 - 5-Minute English: Shopping for Clothes

    · 26 min · S4 E153

    Every year, more and more people buy clothes online, but today, you are heading to the mall with your stylish friend, Katrina. Your mission is to buy a new wardrobe (a whole new set of clothes). Listen and learn the…

  14. 152 - The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (Halloween Special)

    · 26 min · S4 E2

    Sleepy Hollow is a quaint village nestled in the Hudson Valley, in New York. There, many many years ago a peculiar schoolteacher named Ichabod Crane gets wrapped up in the spooky legend of the Headless Horseman. Today…

  15. 151.2 - Moose in the U.S. (Do we live in harmony with our moose?)

    · 32 min · S4 E151

    Moose are majestic creatures and an iconic symbol of wilderness in North America. They inhabit many northern states in the U.S.; the state with the biggest population is Alaska. In this episode, you'll learn many…

  16. 151 - Expression: To Steer Clear

    · 16 min · S4 E151

    This lesson has two parts. In part one, you'll learn the common English expression "to steer clear," you'll hear a joke and you'll do some pronunciation exercises. In part two (which will be posted shortly), we'll be…

  17. 150 - Review: Season 3

    · 29 min · S3 E150

    Two years ago, I started Season 3 (Episodes 101 - 150) and it's been a journey. In this episode, you'll hear about the many cultural topics we covered in the past 50 episodes. You'll hear which episodes were the most…

  18. 149 - 5-Minute English: Injuries and Getting Hurt

    · 26 min · S3 E149

    Today you'll hear a short story our recent trip to Brazil, during which I ended up going to the hospital and getting stitches. Throughout this story you'll hear 20+ words related to injuries and getting hurt. Although…

  19. 148 - Language Learning with Ben Whately (Co-founder of Memrise)

    · 42 min · S3 E148

    Today we have a special guest named Ben Whatley. Maybe you know him! He's the Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Memrise, one of the most celebrated language apps there is. Ben received his master's in…

  20. 147.2 - 10 Words a Day: German Words in English (11-20)

    · 31 min · S3 E147

    This is part two of a very special story about my dear friend, Nina, who is from Germany. In the story of our friendship, which I'll wrap up in the this episode, you'll learn 10+ German loanwords in English. A loanword…

  21. 147 - 10 Words a Day: German Words in English (1-10)

    · 30 min · S3 E147

    It's story time! Welcome to a true story about my friend, Nina, who is from Berlin, Germany. In the story of our friendship you'll learn 10+ German loanwords in English. A loanword is a words borrowed from a foreign…

  22. 146.2 - The Incredible Flight of "Lawn Chair" Larry (Larry Walters)

    · 30 min · S3 E146

    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…

  23. 146 - Expression: Up in the Air

    · 17 min · S3 E146

    In today's episode, you'll learn all about the common English expression "up in the air." You'll learn the expression's origin, how to use it in a multitude of situations and you'll do pronunciation exercises with it.…

  24. 145 - Discover Maine with Brent Watson

    · 48 min · S3 E145

    Maine is the easternmost and northernmost state in the contiguous United States, and it’s known for its expansive forests, breathtaking coastlines, and its unique New England culture. Today, we're going to talk to…

  25. 144.2 - The Kentucky Derby

    · 29 min · S3 E144

    At the beginning of May every year, horse racing season begins. In the U.S., it starts off with The Kentucky Derby, a horse race that is often referred to as “the most exciting two minutes of sports.” 🐎 Since 1875,…

  26. 144 - Expression: To Jump the Gun

    · 14 min · S3 E144

    In this episode, you'll learn how to use the common English expression "To Jump the Gun." Be sure to stay tuned until part 2 to learn all about the Kentucky Derby, "the most exciting two minutes of sports." ***** Want…

  27. 143 - 5-Minute English: Grocery Shopping

    · 30 min · S3 E143

    Today you’ll hear about a trip to the grocery store. Imagine yourself as the main character of this story; visualize the interior of the store and that you are walking down the aisles. Picture everything from the…

  28. 142 - Discover Connecticut with Natalie Sawicki

    · 42 min · S3 E142 · Explicit

    In today's episode, we're talking to Natalie Sawicki, a songwriter from Los Angeles, who spent most of her life in Connecticut! She shares so much about this charming small state; you’ll hear about the fall foliage,…

  29. 141 - Chats with Shana: Parties and Poopers

    · 29 min · S3 E141 · Explicit

    In this 3-part episode, you'll hear a casual discussion about one of life's most mundane topics: peeing and pooping. It's taboo to talk about, which is strange given how it's one of the most common things in the world.…

  30. 140.2. - The Story of Dr. Seuss ("The Father of Children's Literature")

    · 40 min · S3 E140

    If you don’t know who Dr. Seuss is, you should! He was a cartoonist and author who brought us The Cat in the Hat, The Grinch, Green Eggs and Ham, and more than 40 other incredible books for children—and adults—around…

  31. 140 - Expression: Cat Got Your Tongue?

    · 20 min · S3 E140

    It's a ridiculous visual, is it not?! If the cat's got your tongue, you can't talk, you're speechless! And that's pretty much how we use it in English conversation. We often ask someone "Cat got your tongue?" in…

  32. 139.2 - Mardi Gras in New Orleans

    · 34 min · S3 E139

    Every year in New Orleans, Louisiana, a million visitors come to experience the biggest Mardi Gras party in the United States. Learn about the history of this event and the traditions and culture surrounding it. If you…

  33. 139 - Expression: (To Be) Up One's Alley

    · 16 min · S3 E139

    Isn't it nice when you learn an English expression that you can use a million times a day, every single day that you speak English? Well, listen to this episode. In today's episode, you'll learn how to use the very…

  34. 138 - 5-Minute English: How to Order a Cocktail in English

    · 39 min · S3 E138

    You walk into a restaurant and head towards the bar. Behind it, a lighted mosaic of colorful liquors spread from the ceiling to the floor. It's fancy on another level. Some people may describe it as resplendent; it…

  35. 137 - 10 Words a Day: French Words in English

    · 30 min · S3 E137

    It's story time! Welcome to a French coffee shop and fancy restaurant where you'll be introduced to a number of common French loanwords in English. A loanword is a words borrowed from a foreign language. American…

  36. 136 - Discover Michigan with Camille Hanson

    · 29 min · S3 E136

    In today's episode, we're talking to Camille Hanson, an ESL teacher and social media influencer who grew up in the U.P. - the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Buckle up! You're about to be immersed in an adventure; one…

  37. 135.2 - The Story of "Jingle Bells"

    · 35 min · S3 E135

    In today’s lesson, you’re going to hear the story of the creator of Jingle Bells, his hear about questionable character. We’ll also go through the lyrics of the song so if you want to sing it in English, you can. Want…

  38. 135 - Expression: Bells and Whistles

    · 18 min · S3 E135

    The holiday season is here and I bet some of you are skimming the internet for new gadgets. Do you like gadgets with a bunch of bells and whistles (fancy features), or do you prefer simplicity? In this episode, you'll…

  39. 134.2 - The Story of Starbucks Coffee

    · 35 min · S3 E134

    You know Starbucks, right? The coffee company? Born in Seattle, Washington and brewed around the world? I bet you do; they have over 33 thousand stores in over 80 countries. In today's episode, we're going to talk…

  40. 134 - Expression: To Blow Off Steam

    · 16 min · S3 E134

    The expression To Blow Off Steam is a common one in the United States. In today's episode, you'll learn how to use it in everyday contexts, you'll hear a joke and also practice your pronunciation! :) Thanks again to my…

  41. 133.2 - Common Similes with Liz (16 - 30)

    · 41 min · S3 E133

    A simile, according to Oxford Languages is “a figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing, used to make a description more emphatic or vivid.” A similes comparison that the words like or…

  42. 133 - Common Similes with Liz (1-15)

    · 38 min · S3 E133

    A simile, according to Oxford Languages is “a figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing, used to make a description more emphatic or vivid.” In today’s lesson, Liz and I will be going…

  43. 132 - Discover Colorado with Lindsay McMahon

    · 44 min · S3 E132

    In today's episode, Lindsay, host of the All Ears English Podcast, will take us on a journey to Colorado, one of the most stunning mountainous states in the western United States. On our 3-day trip to Colorado, via…

  44. 131 - 13 Common Superstitions in the U.S. and their Origins

    · 38 min · S3 E131

    We live in a day and age that is driven by science and technology, yet people are still superstitious. According to a study I read by YouGov, 9% of Americans claim to be superstitious, while another 35% admit to not…

  45. 130 - Music: "Sunday Toasted" by Zinn

    · 32 min · S3 E130 · Explicit

    "Sunday Toasted" is a song that was recently released by a new artist named Zinn, and it's jam-packed with American slang and vocabulary which we'll go through in this episode. This song is also full of cultural…

  46. 129.2 - The Monster Study

    · 36 min · S3 E129

    The Monster Study (aka Tudor Study) is an unethical psychology experiment that was conducted in 1939 on 22 orphans in Davenport, Iowa. The goal was to a test the theory that by deeply worrying about starting to…

  47. 129 - Expression: Off the Record

    · 17 min · S3 E129

    In this episode, there are two parts. In Part 1, you'll hear a joke, practice your pronunciation and learn the expression "Off the Record". In Part 2 of today's lesson, we’re going to talk about The Monster Study, a…

  48. 128 - 5-Minute English: Birthday Parties

    · 28 min · S3 E128

    In today’s episode, you’ll learn vocabulary, phrasal verbs, and expressions related to birthday parties. From planning the celebration to describing the cake, decorations, and fun moments with friends and family, this…

  49. 127 - Discover Washington with Philip Clem

    · 30 min · S3 E127

    Philip Clem s a talented singer and songwriter from Seattle, Washington who has lived in San Francisco, Spain and now Los Angeles, California. Today, Philip is going to tell us about what it's like to be a local from…

  50. 126 - 5-Minute English: A Day At The Beach

    · 18 min · S3 E126

    In today’s 5-Minute English episode, you’ll learn the vocabulary, phrasal verbs, and collocations you need to talk about a day at the beach. From describing the weather and the waves to explaining what people do by the…

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