Inside English Podcast

Shopping, in my opinion, is supposed to be fun, but there are times when things go wrong that sucks all the fun out of shopping. That was my experience on Prime Day this year. I ordered toiletries and got an email saying my package was delivered to a front desk at the wrong address. In this episode, I will share what happened and how the situation was resolved. You will learn new vocabulary, Engli...

In this episode, I share a humorous and personal story about living near a woodland visited by deer that repeatedly eat my beloved hosta plants. I describe the damage, my frustration, and attempts to defend the garden, including using a strong-smelling deer spray. You will learn new vocabulary, English phrases, idioms, and, of course, improve your listening comprehension. Enjoy!

Recently, I returned to Jamaica, and it was truly one of my best trips back, especially because my favorite fruit — the mango — was in season. I ate mangoes like there was no tomorrow. I even got worried about putting on weight, but then I thought, 'What's a little mango weight when I'm enjoying my favorite fruit?" In this episode, you will learn new vocabulary, English phrases, idioms, and, of co...

Telling the truth can be difficult sometimes. In this episode, I share my dilemma: wanting to tell the truth while hiding it at the same time. You will learn new vocabulary, English phrases, idioms, and, of course, improve your listening comprehension. Enjoy!

In this episode, I share my experience of being judged intellectually. It happened during my first semester of graduate school. A classmate assumed I wasn't smart enough and offered to write the entire research paper we were assigned to work on together. You will learn new vocabulary, English phrases, idioms, and, of course, improve your listening comprehension. Enjoy!

In this episode, I share the story of a woman who refused to accept a prediabetes diagnosis—saying, "I'm not claiming diabetes"—and later developed full-blown diabetes.  My message to everyone is: just because you deny that something exists doesn't mean it doesn't. Denial doesn't change the facts. You will learn new vocabulary, English phrases, idioms, and, of course, improve your listening compre...

In this episode, I share a funny and embarrassing texting mix-up where I misinterpret a double exclamation mark "!!" and apologize unnecessarily, only to later discover it meant strong agreement. 😳🤦‍♀️😂 You will learn new vocabulary, English phrases, idioms, and, of course, improve your listening comprehension. Enjoy!

Are you a hostage to fear? If so, you are not alone! In this episode, I share a personal story about my father, who delayed a colonoscopy out of fear and was later diagnosed with colon cancer. I reflect on how fear can paralyze people, lead them to avoid necessary care, and ultimately cause more harm than the risks they feared. You will learn new vocabulary, English phrases, idioms, and, of course...

Do you have any complainers around you? You know, people who complain about what they don't have instead of showing gratitude for what they do have. This episode reflects on Hurricane Melissa’s devastation and shares personal stories that contrast complaining with gratitude, urging you to appreciate life’s blessings. You will learn new vocabulary, English phrases and idioms, and of course, improve...

I quit a stressful job after five years, and months later, was diagnosed with a pleural effusion that required surgery. Because I had health insurance coverage, I could focus on treatment and recovery without financial panic. This episode is a lesson: life is unpredictable, and health insurance can be the difference between stress and security when illness strikes. You will learn new vocabulary, E...

In this episode, "Lemons and Life," I explore the idiom "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade" through the inspiring story of Miss V, who, after losing her legs, continues to serve her community, bake wedding cakes, and turn hardship into purpose. Now the question is! Have you ever turned your lemons into Lemonade? I hope you have! Through this inspiring story, you will learn new vocabulary,...

If you know anything about milk, you know that it spoils easily, but that’s not the case anymore. Nowadays, milk takes forever to spoil. In this episode, I get to the bottom of why the milk we drink today has such a long shelf life. You will learn new vocabulary, English phrases, idioms, and, of course, improve your listening comprehension. Thanks for listening. Enjoy!

Has anyone ever said or done something that made your day? By the way, to make someone's day is to make them happy. In this episode, I share how my goddaughter gave me a huge compliment that made my day. You will learn the difference between the words compliment and complement, several English idioms and phrases, and, of course, improve your listening comprehension. Thank you for listening! Enjoy!...

This episode begins with a nostalgic reflection on the excitement of snow and the joy of snow days in childhood, then shifts to a practical grammar lesson in which I explain embedded questions: what they are, why they sound more polite than direct questions, and how to use them with examples and tips on "reading the room." Enjoy!

In this episode, I talk about one of my top pet peeves. What are pet peeves? They are things that especially annoy you. You will learn new vocabulary, idioms, English phrases and expressions, and, of course, improve your listening comprehension. Enjoy! 

Are you always aware of what is happening around you? My answer is a resounding, no!  In this episode, I talk about how I'm always out of the loop and how my friend keeps me updated on what is happening around me. You will learn new vocabulary, idioms, English phrases, and, of course, improve your listening comprehension. Enjoy!

In this episode, I discuss how your name and the way you speak can contribute to stereotyping and unequal access to job opportunities. You will learn new vocabulary, idioms, English phrases, and, of course, improve your listening comprehension. Enjoy!

Have you ever been scammed? I have. In this episode, I share that incident, discuss the lessons I've learned, and offer tips from the Federal Trade Commission on how to spot a scammer. You will learn new vocabulary, English phrases, idioms, and, of course, improve your listening comprehension. 

Change is inevitable, but sometimes we are forced to say goodbye unexpectedly or before we are ready. This is something I recently had to do, but thankfully, while saying goodbye, I was fortunate enough to be able to say hello to the start of something new.  In this episode, you will learn new vocabulary and English expressions, and, of course, improve your listening comprehension. The episode tra...

Can you recall one of the most terrifying experiences you have ever had? I can. In this episode, I share that experience with you. This experience made me question what the world is coming to, and why I don't have the right to complain when someone wrongs me. You will learn new vocabulary and English expressions, and, of course, improve your listening comprehension. The episode transcript is avail...

When you first move into a new neighborhood, no one gives you a list of dos and don’ts; however, you’re still expected to follow the neighborhood norms. In this episode, I talk about my neighbors and the trouble I have with them not observing neighborhood etiquette. You will learn new vocabulary and English expressions, and, of course, improve your listening comprehension. The episode transcript i...

Have you ever had an experience that should have never happened? I have. I crashed into an already disabled car. I will share that story with you in this episode. You will also learn new vocabulary and English expressions, and, of course, improve your listening comprehension. The episode transcript is available on Apple Podcasts, so please follow along.

In this episode, I share one of my many experiences behind the wheel. You will learn new vocabulary and English expressions, and, of course, improve your listening comprehension. The episode transcript is available on Apple Podcasts, so please follow along.

Good manners are essential, but in today's world, they are becoming increasingly rare. In this episode, I share how my parents instilled good manners in me and how we should always treat people with kindness and respect. You will learn new vocabulary and English expressions, and, of course, improve your listening comprehension. The episode transcript is available on Apple Podcasts, so please follo...

Laundry day can be a hassle, but when I run out of clean clothes, the laundry has to be done. In this episode, I discuss my laundry day routine, which includes sorting, soaking, washing, drying, and folding. You will learn new vocabulary and English expressions, and, of course, improve your listening comprehension. The episode transcript is available, so please follow along.