American English Podcast

While watching soccer matches in Brazil, I quickly realized I had no idea how to comment on a game in Portuguese. There were so many moments when I wanted to yell at the TV along with everyone else, but I needed an entire Portuguese lesson just to keep up! I figured the same thing might be happening to you guys in English. In Episode 216, you’ll learn how to comment on soccer matches in English us...

How do you say the names of countries and nationalities in American English? Is it Swiss or Switzerlanders? Spaniard or Spanish? Dutch or Netherlanders? In this episode, we'll practice the pronunciation of 48 World Cup countries that qualified this year, and along the way, you'll discover fun facts about each one. After every country, you'll be tested: What are the people who live there called? If...

⭐ Take part in our Free ⁠14-Day English Slang and Expression Challenge.⁠ Why do Americans call it soccer instead of football? Why isn't it the most popular sport in the country? And do Americans actually care about the World Cup? In this episode, Shana explores the history of soccer in the United States, from youth leagues and soccer moms to Pelé, the 1994 World Cup, the rise of the U.S. Women's...

⭐ Want to start sounding more natural in English? Sign up to ⁠⁠the Academy⁠⁠ to learn more with each lesson. About this episode Why do doughnuts have holes? Who invented them? And how did they become one of America's most beloved treats? In this episode, we'll explore the fascinating history of the American doughnut, from its roots in ancient fried pastries and Dutch "olykoeks" to the rise of ico...

What comes to mind when you think of South Carolina? Maybe it's Charleston's cobblestone streets, beautiful beaches, or Spanish moss hanging from ancient oak trees. But South Carolina has much more to offer than its coastline. In this episode, I sit down with Lora from The Mom's Guide to Hiking, an outdoor enthusiast and mom who loves exploring South Carolina's mountains, waterfalls, forests, and...

In this episode, I’m taking you back to the 1990s and sharing what family movie nights were like growing up in suburban California. From browsing the aisles at Blockbuster with my family to ordering DVDs through Netflix for the very first time, we’ll explore how entertainment changed almost overnight and how Netflix completely transformed the movie industry. Along the way, you’ll learn lots of nat...

What does it really mean to think outside the box? In this episode, you’ll learn one of the most common expressions in American English, used to describe creativity, innovation, and doing things differently. We’ll break down the meaning, explore where the phrase comes from, and connect it to real-life situations. Then, we’ll dive into three fascinating stories of people who thought differently and...

Lucas and I are back for another Preposition Party! Today our conversation is going to based on common English collocations like famous for, similar to, suffer from, believe in, proud of, and recover from. Along the way, you'll hear many personal stories, and many cultural fun facts about the U.S., like how Roswell became a hub for alien enthusiasts, and why so many people suffer from seasonal all...

Join my 14-Day Slang and Expression Challenge. It's free! In this 5-Minute English episode, we’re diving into springtime in the United States. From blooming flowers and unpredictable April weather to outdoor activities, seasonal foods, and cultural traditions, this episode is packed with useful language. You’ll hear a high concentration of vocabulary, expressions, and collocations related to: Weat...

Do you like this episode format? I've been thinking about doing a series of these "quick fixes" for word confusion, pronunciation, and grammar. That is, if you like the format. So please be honest! In the meantime, check out the Academy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, we explore the fascinating world of ghost towns in the United States—places where thousands of people once lived, worked, and searched for fortune… and then suddenly left behind. We begin in Coloma, California, where gold was discovered in 1848, sparking the famous Gold Rush. You’ll learn how towns like this quickly grew into busy communities filled with miners, shops, and saloons...

In this episode, we go back to the fundamentals of language learning:listening, reading, speaking, and writing. But here’s the key idea: You’ll learn faster when these skills overlap. Instead of practicing each skill separately, you’ll discover how to combine them so new vocabulary moves from something you recognize… to something you can actually use. Personalized 1-on-1 language lessons with nati...

In this 5-Minute English episode, you'll learn useful vocabulary, phrasal verbs, and collocations related to cleaning your home. Through a short story, we follow someone tackling a messy apartment—from dirty dishes and clutter to sparkling floors. Along the way, you'll hear natural English used to describe common chores and household tasks. Want to take your learning further?  ⭐ Visit the website...

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 P...

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 “Repl...

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 t...

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, p...

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,...

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...

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 ac...

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...

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 f...

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 stor...

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 al...

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 c...