English Podcast with Tommy

Imagine you’re embarking on a life-changing journey. You can only bring  three  books, films, or series with you. What would you choose? In her  debut episode , Carla—our first guest from  Uruguay —shares her incredible travel story. 🌎 A passionate  language lover and teacher , she set off to explore  South America , only to have her adventure  cut short by the pandemic . But even in uncertainty,...

Mastering a language isn’t about perfection—it’s about  progress . The path to fluency takes time, and the key is to  enjoy the process  instead of fearing mistakes. In her debut episode, Thaís shares a game-changing perspective: Making mistakes isn’t failure—it’s a crucial part of learning. 🔥 She dives into the  biggest mindset shifts  that will help you overcome self-doubt, silence negative tho...

Learning a language is like a two-sided coin: self-study and guided learning. But here’s the challenge—most learners struggle with self-study because they don’t know  how  to start or  what  to focus on. In my 150th episode, Bianka returns to share how you can strike the perfect balance between structured classroom learning and independent practice. 🎙️ She explains why guided learning (like classr...

Podcasts are one of the best tools for improving your listening skills in English. But with thousands of options out there, how do you find the  right  ones? In her debut episode, Marina shares why podcasts have been a game-changer in her language journey. From fiction to non-fiction and beyond, she explores how different genres can shape your understanding, pronunciation, and even confidence in E...

Not everyone finds books easy to get into – but what if the right ones could supercharge your English learning? Biographies and autobiographies offer a powerful way to improve vocabulary, comprehension, and cultural knowledge. In her debut episode, Simara dives into the world of real-life stories, sharing some of the most engaging books and films to help language learners. From  Mandela: Long Walk...

Every language learner has their own story. Some are lucky enough to learn languages where they are spoken daily, while others have to work even harder to reach fluency. This week’s guest, Sara, grew up in Iran, where English is rarely spoken outside the classroom. Despite these challenges, Sara’s English is impeccable. How did she do it? 📺 She started by watching cartoons in English – without su...

Some people  like  books. Others  live  for them. And then, there’s Felicio, a true book lover who couldn’t imagine a world without his favourite reads. In this episode, Felicio faces an impossible challenge: If his house were burning down, which five fictional books would he save? From Zadie Smith’s  NW  to Nicholas Padamsee’s  England is Mine , his list is as unexpected as it is thought-provokin...

Today marks one of the most significant dates in human history – the liberation of Auschwitz, 80 years ago, by the Red Army. This moment brought the world face-to-face with the horrors of the Holocaust and reminded us of the devastating consequences of hatred and prejudice. On this International Holocaust Remembrance Day, we honour the victims and survivors of one of the darkest chapters in human...

Is  Generative AI  the Frankenstein of the 21st century? Maybe. But that doesn’t mean we can’t harness its power to boost our English skills in smart and ethical ways. 🌟 In this episode, Andy Santos returns to guide us through this cutting-edge tool. Discover why relying on AI for homework might stunt your progress but using it for detailed explanations or vocabulary breakdowns can supercharge yo...

In an impromptu and spontaneous episode I look at two words that have become more and more important in recent times: misinformation and disinformation. - These two words have become more and more prevalent in our everyday lives, especially since the Covid pandemic. - But now more so as certain people with a lot of power deliberately try to mislead us by posting disinformation. - My message to you...

Isn’t it easier to learn a language in a classroom with a teacher to guide you? Yet, the real challenge begins when you step out of that comfort zone and try to learn on your own. 🌍 In this episode, debutant Dani breaks down how to make learning English outside the classroom not just effective but also enjoyable. From taking small, manageable steps, like choosing the right series or books, to bui...

Have you ever thought about how one of the world’s most iconic sci-fi shows can help you improve your English? 🚀 Dive into the universe of  Doctor Who  and discover how to turn science fiction into a tool for boosting your language skills. In this episode, I discuss with Laura about Ncuti Gatwa – the first Black Doctor – and how he’s bringing a unique perspective to this legendary series. 🎭 Lear...

Migration shapes millions of lives – bringing challenges, growth, and powerful stories. Whether for economic opportunities or political reasons, moving to a new country means adapting to new languages, cultures, and ways of life. In her debut episode, Cintia opens up about her journey from Argentina to Portugal. She shares: 🔹 The emotional rollercoaster of leaving her home behind. 🔹 How she embr...

Music isn’t just background noise – it’s a powerful force that shapes our memories and emotions. From the songs that define your favorite holiday to the soundtrack of your wedding day, music has a unique meaning for everyone. But did you know it can also supercharge your language skills? In this episode, Yara shares how her deep connection with music helped her learn languages faster and more enjo...

Dopamine – that tiny molecule affects more than you think. It’s the key to your motivation, focus, and learning success. But what happens after the high? Why does learning often feel so hard after a big win? In this episode, we sit down with Ruzanna, an English teacher and neuroscience enthusiast from Poland, to uncover how dopamine drives your learning process – and, more importantly, how to harn...

Some of us like to learn with music, others with books, and some others prefer films and series. - In her solo debut Thami from @thamiresfontinelle brings to us a wide range of different resources that will help you take your English to the next level. - From Justin Bieber for younger learners to Pixar films, Thami explains to us why we should dive into different sorts of media to improve your lan...

We all have hobbies that we're proud of for example I like to play my guitar when I have the chance. - But for many language learners, talking about hobbies in a foreign language is not as easy as it sounds. - In her debut episode Andy from @ateacherandy talks to us about her wonderful hobby of going to the gym or crocheting. - Andy also talks to us that many English learners don't realise that, f...

Willpower, the ability to control your own thoughts and the way in which you behave, is something that we all have. Some people have more, others less. - But in this episode with Djukica @english.exams.with.djukica, she explains to us why this doesn't always. - Talking about the bestseller book Willpower Doesn't Work, Djukica tells us how this book explains that willpower is not enough to change t...

Mindset is something that is very important when we talk about learning. - So why do we need to talk about mindset when we are learning? - In her return to the podcast, Sabina from @damn_it_english talks to us about this very important topic of mindset. - Mindset is something that effects the way we do things, whether we are fully motivated or not motivated at all at doing something. - When it com...

It's sometimes hard to live in another country. It might be even harder when you live in a country where they don't speak your native language. - In the first of this kind on this podcast, Thami from @thamiresfontinelle and Aline from @alinee.estevam talk to us about their experiences of being au pairs in the USA. - They talk to us about the process of finding the right agency all the way to livin...

Today I have a double whammy for you: a book and film. - And the book and the film are about a book thief. - In her return to the podcast, Yessica from @ourconversationclub talks to us about this fictional book and the film that came from it. - The book is based in Germany, in a fictional town, during World War 2. - Narrated by Death, the story follows young Liesel Meminger, who lives with her fos...

I have gruesomely haunting TV series for you today! - Raisareva from @raisareva_eng talks to us about the Vampire Diaries. - This supernatural series takes place in Mystic Falls, VA, USA, where a lot of supernatural happenings have taken place in the past. - We meet the teenage Elena Gilbert, who falls in love Stefan Salvatore, a boy she thinks is normal (but really isn't)! - Over the course of th...

What do love, death and robots all have in common? At first glance, you wouldn't expect them to have anything in common. But you'd be wrong! - In her return to the podcast, Inna from @inna_mill_esl brings to us another one of Tim Miller's productions: Love, Death and Robots. - Inna explains to us that all of these episodes are very short and easy to get into. 'You can't get bored by them' is how I...

Reading is one of the key skills that we need to improve our language skills. - And today's episode with Jelena from @how.to.engleski brings to us not one, but a handful of books that are wonderful to improve our English. - Jelena talks to us about the award-winning book by Kazuo Ishiguro - Never Let Me Go, which was later made into a film featuring Andrew Garfield, Carey Mulligan and Keira Knight...

We all like to read, watch TV series and films in our free time. - We both believe in offering the microphone to lots of different voices so you, our listeners, get the chance to hear interesting stories told in a variety of Englishes. - In part two of 5 favourites, Catherine from @catherineangus_hearyougo joins me to tell you all about her top 5 recommendations to boost your English. From a a Bri...