Abe Lawson, Ben Tracy, Rich Kessell

Free Bird English: Teacher Talk

Learn English with Fun and Natural Conversations! We are English teachers from the U.S. and Canada, with years of experience teaching in Japan. In this podcast, we have natural, unscripted conversations and speak slowly to help you follow along. We also explain difficult words and expressions. Perfect for ESL learners from basic to advanced levels! Our original Australian co-host still joins us sometimes. Expect laughs, real-life stories, and talk about Japan, the U.S., Canada, and Australia. Enjoy learning English with us!笑って学べる!楽しく自然な英会話でリスニング力を大幅にアップし、笑いな...

Author

Abe Lawson, Ben Tracy, Rich Kessell

Category

Education

Podcast website

55freebird.com

Latest episode

Jul 2, 2026

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Episodes

301. Episode 300! (Part Two) 02.07.2026

We made it to 300! ...Part Two! Thank you for your support! All three teachers are together again! I think we (Ben) broke the record for the most real farts in one episode... Another wild ride from start to finish. X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@FBEteachertalk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

300. Episode 300! (Three Amigos) 22.06.2026

We made it to 300! Thank you for your support! All three teachers get together, and things are crazy right from the beginning of this episode all the way until the end. We talk about Ben embarrassing himself in front of his neighbor, shower s#x, Japanese onomatopoeia, ding dongs, and a gazillion bazillion other things! X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

299. Playing the "Gaijin Card" 15.06.2026

Today we mainly talk about something foreigners do in Japan sometimes - pretend not to understand Japanese. It is kind of a cheat code to avoid uncomfortable situations or even get out of trouble. Sometimes, it is actually the correct thing to do in order to avoid misunderstandings that could lead to huge problems. Other times it is just a way to get away with breaking rules. 0:00 Life without kid...

298. Weird Toilet Stories (Why are Japanese toilets so much better??) 04.06.2026

When someone visits Japan they often really miss something when they return back to their country. Is it the sushi? The trains that are on time? Clean and safe public areas? Nope. People miss the toilets! Why are Japanese toilets so much better??? Surely we should be able to have these toilets in other countries... So where are they? Why are Japanese toilets not exported to other countries? 0:00 C...

297. Bicycle Cowboys & More Japanese Expressions in English 26.05.2026

We talk about... 0:00 Bicycle Cowboys - Bicycle laws in Japan have changed, and some people are confused. 9:02 Are the new bicycle laws fair / necessary? - What do you think? (comment on Spotify or SNS!) 13:50 Japanese Expressions explained in English Part 2 Free Bird English: Teacher Talk (SNS) X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@FBEteachertalk⁠...

296. Japanese expressions explained in English 18.05.2026

We talk about 0:00 Peptides that repair your skin! 8:00 Rich's toe & The Gem expert 12:00 Japanese expressions in English Free Bird English: Teacher Talk (SNS) X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@FBEteachertalk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

295. Relaxing vs. Active: How do you like to travel? 07.05.2026

We talk about 0:00 "laugh attacks" 1:37 The Mysterious Tall Couple 5:01 Birthday Present "Hijacked"? 9:26 Using "you don't want to..." (you shouldn't) 11:19 Romance scams on English apps 13:54 An awkward text conversation 16:57 Do you prefer relaxing or being active when you travel? 21:28 UPDATE: Ding Dong Poll Results Free Bird English: Teacher Talk (SNS) X:...

294. The Truth 28.04.2026

We talk about Rich learning to use new technology for his new job, and Rich asks Abe about "learning" to use A.I. We also get in touch with an old friend to answer a listener's question about how to find the truth in a world filled with lies and A.I. illusions. 0:00 Rich using new technology 4:30 "Learning" to use A.I. 12:49 What is the truth Free Bird English: Teacher Talk...

293. Living Life Backwards 20.04.2026

We talk about Abe's trouble with his new steel water bottle, health check results and how much "bad" cholesterol really matters, randomly meeting each other on the street, the craziest coincidences we have experienced, and then we answer a listener question about life planning and goals. 0:00 New water bottle trouble 2:41 Does cholesterol really matter that much? 5:29 Abe steals Rich...

292. Starting a New Job|Disney Cruise 14.04.2026

We talk about Big Rich's first day at his new job, then we compare a Disney Cruise in Singapore to regular American cruises. Towards the end of the episode we share our concerns about "microplastics" - tiny pieces of plastic that get in our bodies and cause all kinds of health problems. How to avoid them, and how to get rid of them. 0:00 - First day of Big Rich's new job 7:43 - D...

291. Big Man, Big Words 07.04.2026

We are a little drunk in this episode, but we manage to answer a question about Big Rich's personality, and the big words that he tends to use. Free Bird English: Teacher Talk (SNS) X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@FBEteachertalk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

290. Jealousy! 01.04.2026

We talk about Jealousy in relationships, and the various levels of envy and jealousy, and how to communicate "light" jealousy in a friendly way. Then we answer some listener questions about how to choose a cruise, and Americans paying tax even when they live and work overseas. Free Bird English: Teacher Talk (SNS) X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

289. A Very Bad Cat! & "Ripping on each other" 19.03.2026

Rich thinks that Abe is going crazy because he sings to his cats in an Indian accent (new song♪). We also answer a question about something we said in a previous episode, and we talk about how male friends tend to make fun of each other in ways that can be shocking for people from other cultures (especially women). Free Bird English: Teacher Talk (SNS) X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

288. False Confidence (How Abe learned Japanese) 09.03.2026

We talk about RIch's goals for this year - where he is succeeding, and where he is falling short. Rich asks Abe how he learned Japanese, and we talk about how many foreigners live in an "English Bubble" in Japan. Then we talk about a comment from Spotify, and answer a question listener question about how life passes so quickly, and how to slow it down and appreciate the moments. Free...

287. Back to the Future 26.02.2026

Abe tells Rich about how frustrating using A.I. can be sometimes... And even leads to fights and break ups (in Abe's case). Then we talk some behind the scenes stuff leading up to the big event for Abe and Yoshi's 10 year podcasting anniversary. Finally Rich tells us about how cruise ship holidays work in North America, and why some older couples love going on cruises so much. Free Bird En...

286. What do you say? (Whadaya say?) 17.02.2026

This was a fun episode! We talk about the Olympic "ding-dong" scandal (please answer the poll below if you are listening on Spotify). Then we rank some Olympic sports, and answer a question about using "what do you say?" in conversation. Big Rich and Ben are coming to the even in Sendai this Saturday! Please register to join us! 10-year podcast anniversary event in Sendai: ⁠⁠⁠⁠...

285. Big Rich has Big News! 09.02.2026

We talk about the big change in Rich's life, and we do some "blind ranking". Abe's 10-year podcast anniversary goods! ⁠⁠⁠https://www.55freebird.com/shop⁠⁠⁠ 10-year podcast anniversary (GoGoエイブ会話) event in Sendai ⁠⁠https://www.55freebird.com/events ⁠⁠ Free Bird English: Teacher Talk (Socials) X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@FBEteachertalk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

284. Ben Goes to Korea 03.02.2026

Ben tells us about his recent trip to Korea, and we struggle to answer a listener question about what Japanese food we could eat for lunch everyday. We enjoy some delicious snacks from Taiwan and Japanese craft beer thanks to some very generous listeners!❤️❤️ Abe's 10-year podcast anniversary goods! ⁠⁠https://www.55freebird.com/shop⁠⁠ 10-year podcast anniversary (GoGoエイブ会話) event in Senda...

283. Welcome to Tuesday! 26.01.2026

This is another wild one. Ben joins us and the conversation quickly goes from fish sex, to Abe's big event in Sendai, to a Japanese tradition called "Setsu-Bun". We enjoy some delicious snacks from Taiwan and Japanese craft beer thanks to some very generous listeners!❤️❤️ Abe's 10-year podcast anniversary goods! ⁠https://www.55freebird.com/shop⁠ 10-year podcast anniversary (GoGo...

282. Three Sexy Teachers♪ 19.01.2026

We talk about Ben's new song that he thought was "too gay" for the podcast. Then we talk about a stupid mistake Abe made, and some New Year's resolutions. Abe's 10-year podcast anniversary goods! https://www.55freebird.com/shop Free Bird English: Teacher Talk (Socials) X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@FBEteachertalk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

281. Arms go POP! Chest goes BOOM! 08.01.2026

Happy New Year! We talk about Rich's biggest accomplishment of 2025, and Abe has a special surprise to celebrate his achievment! We also talk about something very strange that he did "just for fun"... Free Bird English: Teacher Talk (Socials) X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@FBEteachertalk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠...

280. Do Most Americans Hate Seafood? 29.12.2025

We talk about the holidays, a difficult situation that came up at Abe's wedding job, the bravest man in the world, a weird situation at a public ice skating rink, and we answer a question about general food preferences of North Americans. Free Bird English: Teacher Talk (Socials) X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@FBEteachertalk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

279. Happy Birthday Big Rich! 18.12.2025

We talk about RIch's interesting birthday celebrations and gifts, Ben's slimy goop monster, and we answer a very strange question... Free Bird English: Teacher Talk (Socials) X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@FBEteachertalk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instag...

278. The Three Amigos: Things get a little crazy... 08.12.2025

Ben joins us today to enjoy some interesting craft beers and snacks from Taiwan. We talk about where Ben's musical inspiration comes from, the best Doritos in the world, tomato juice, and we get Ben's answers for the "would you rather" question that we did in an episode a few weeks ago. The boys get a little drunk and silly in this episode! Free Bird English: Teacher Talk (Social...

277. The Three Amigos: "My Lovely Ben" 01.12.2025

Ben joins us today to enjoy some interesting craft beers from Taiwan. We talk about eating fast, the time Ben peed on a dog (accidentally), college sports in America, "farm teams", and we answer a listener question about Major League Baseball. Free Bird English: Teacher Talk (Socials) X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@FBEteachertalk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

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