Extra English Podcast

What is Halloween really like in Canada? 🎃 In this episode of Extra English Podcast, Misha and Larissa talk about one of Canada's most recognizable traditions: Halloween! We share childhood memories, talk about trick-or-treating and creative costumes, and discuss the little traditions that make Halloween special. Why did kids used to be afraid of finding razor blades in their Halloween candy...

Are neighbours in Canada friendly? In this episode, we share funny, awkward, and heartwarming stories about the people who live next door. From a giant dog mistaken for a cow to an ex you try to avoid in your own apartment building, we talk about childhood memories, neighbourhood gossip, unexpected friendships, and the small ways neighbours look out for each other. Plus, there's a little girl...

Why are some everyday things so much harder than they should be? In this episode of the Extra English Podcast, we're talking about the things we're surprisingly bad at. From parking and keeping houseplants alive to estimating quantities, remembering people's names, and somehow getting lost in a mall or on a road we've driven before, we've got a lot to confess. And then the...

Travel doesn't always go according to plan! In this episode of Extra English Podcast, Misha and Larissa share stories about some of their most memorable travel mishaps. Misha tells the story of missing a flight in India after a very late train, getting questioned about her visa, and eventually finding comfort in an unexpected moment of kindness. Larissa remembers waiting for hours for a bus i...

Do you like driving? Or would you rather take the bus, ride a bike, or let someone else drive? In this episode, we talk about learning to drive in Canada, getting a driver's licence, driving tests, driving overseas, and how our feelings about driving have changed over the years. We share stories about learning to drive in small towns, failing a written test, almost failing a road test, watchi...

Fall has arrived in Canada! In this episode of Extra English Podcast, Misha and Larissa talk about one of their favourite seasons: fall. We chat about classic fall things like apple and pumpkin farms, pumpkin pie and pumpkin spice, colourful leaves, and Thanksgiving. We also talk about a few unexpected things like the time Larissa turned orange, which months really count as "Fall", and h...

It’s back-to-school time in Canada! In this episode, Misha and Larissa talk about first-day-of-school memories, nervous students, emotional parents, and what it’s like to start a new school year. We share stories from our own childhoods, talk about the nerves of starting a new semester as teachers, and discuss what it was like when our own children started kindergarten. From planning the perfect f...

What little things make you happy? In this episode of Extra English Podcast, Misha and Larissa talk about the small, everyday joys that can make life feel a little better—from finding a surprise zucchini in the garden to waking up before your alarm, discovering your favourite potato chips, using the “good” fork, finding the perfect pen, and getting an unexpected cool breeze on a hot day. We also t...

25 episodes! 🎉 In this episode, we take a little time to look back at what we've learned since we started Extra English Podcast. We talk about the challenge of making a podcast that sounds like natural conversation without turning it into a lesson (we're English teachers, after all!), the technical things we've had to learn, and some of the surprising things we've discovered a...

What exactly is a potluck, and why are they so popular? In this episode, we talk about one of our favourite Canadian ways to get together; everyone brings a dish, and together you make a meal! We share stories about potlucks with friends, neighbours, family, and even pre-pandemic classroom potlucks!  We discuss potluck etiquette, dietary restrictions, what to bring, how much food is enough, and wh...

What is summer camp like in Canada? In this episode, Misha and Larissa talk about the Canadian tradition of sleepaway camp. They share their own childhood experiences, including homesickness, bunk beds, camp counselors, swimming, campfires, and all the little traditions that make camp feel like its own world. They also talk about how summer camp has changed, why some parents are more hesitant to s...

In this episode of Extra English Podcast, we talk about chores and housework — the jobs we love, the jobs we hate, and the chores that never seem to end! We talk about vacuuming, sweeping, laundry, garbage and recycling, cleaning bathrooms, yard work, and the realities of keeping a house clean with children around. We also get into some interesting Canadian everyday life, including Repair Cafés, s...

Have you ever wondered why Canada has a beaver on the nickel, a caribou on the quarter, a loon on the loonie, and a polar bear on the toonie? In this episode, we talk about some of Canada's most iconic animals, share funny personal stories, explain where the words loonie and toonie come from, and share plenty of natural English vocabulary along the way. You'll learn why beavers are more...

What was your first job? In this episode, we take a trip back to our teenage years and talk about the first ways we earned money. From delivering newspapers as a child to babysitting at 12, working in libraries, and trying out jobs in the service industry, we share our own stories and memories from our early working lives. You’ll learn about the kinds of jobs teenagers often have in Canada, what t...

Last week, we introduced you to camping in Canada. This week, we're taking you deeper into the wilderness! In Part 2, you'll learn about portagining, which is one of the most unique and challenging parts of canoe camping. Larissa shares stories from her teenage son's recent backcountry adventure, while Misha talks about taking her toddler on his very first camping trip. We also chat...

Whether you're planning your first camping trip or you're just curious about Canadian outdoor culture, this episode is for you! 🏕️ Join us as we talk about the different ways Canadians camp—from rugged backwoods adventures where you carry everything on your back, to relaxing weekends at car campgrounds. We talk about tents, trailers, RVs and the pop-up campers that were everywhere when w...

What does it feel like to leave the place where you grew up and start over somewhere completely different? In this episode, we look back on our first experiences living in big cities after growing up in small towns. We talk about the excitement, the surprises, the challenges, and the lessons we learned along the way. Misha shares the intimidating experiences she had in her first month in Montreal...

What makes a town "small"? We have a very Canadian answer: the number of Tim Hortons. One or none? That's a small town, just like the ones we grew up in. In this episode, we look back at what it was like growing up in small-town Ontario in the 80s and 90s. We share stories about the freedom kids had, the sense of community, and the moments that would probably never happen today. Mis...

Have you ever learned to play a musical instrument? In this episode, Misha and Larissa talk about their musical journeys, from childhood piano lessons and middle-school music classes to guitars, flutes, cellos, and even a Celtic harp. Along the way, they share stories about school bands, learning to read music, borrowing instruments from the library, and the surprising things that stay in your mus...

A children's book can make you laugh, spark your imagination, or even bring you to tears years later. In this episode, we talk about the books we loved growing up, the stories we've read to our own children, and why picture books aren't just for kids. We mention some loved books by Canadian authors, both classic and modern. We also explore how children learn to read and how children...

Which smells instantly take us back in time? In this episode, we explore the world of smells, including the ones we love, the ones we dislike, and the ones that bring back powerful memories. We discuss smells from nature, food smells, nostalgic smells and even weather smells.  We discuss how certain smells are so nostalgic, like scratch-and-sniff stickers and the lotions our mothers used when we w...

Are you a sports fan, or are you like us and almost completely clueless? Either way, you might enjoy these stories of our clueless experiences with professional sports! In this episode, Larissa shares what it was like to attend world-class sporting events in Qatar, including seeing some world-famous players! Misha tells the story of briefly managing a national rugby team and getting a behind-the-s...

In this episode, we talk about our attempts at woodworking, with projects that didn’t always go as planned. Some things worked out really well, and others… not so much. We share a mix of small successes, predictable failures, and the lessons we learned along the way. From Larissa's bent saw blades and Misha's cracked desk top to a bountiful garden box and beautiful maple dresser, this ep...

What strange things are hiding in our junk drawers? And what even is a junk drawer?  In this episode, we explore the contents of our junk drawers, which are a staple in most Canadian kitchens. It's the drawer that collects all the things we don't know where to put. We talk about the random, useful, sentimental, and completely mysterious things we keep there. From bottle openers and too m...

In this episode, we talk about unexpected encounters with creatures of all kinds, from tiny mice to giant snakes. We share stories about a mouse in the house, a bear in the yard, a bat in the kitchen, and the strange mix of fear, fascination, and comedy that comes from surprise meetings with wildlife. Perfect for English learners who enjoy natural conversation, storytelling, and a little chaos. Se...