Shows / American English Podcast
American English Podcast
The American English Podcast teaches the language and culture of the United States. Through common expressions, pronunciation tips and interesting cultural snippets or stories, I hope to keep this fun, useful and interesting! All bonus material can be accessed at http://americanenglishpodcast.com/
Episodes
- American English Podcast
224 - Expression: To Hit the Road
"Well, it's getting late. We should probably hit the road." You'll hear Americans say this at the end of almost every dinner party, but it doesn't always mean…
- American English Podcast
223 - Itchy Feet: 10 Travel Expressions & My First Trip in Years
After seven years of being glued to my kids, I finally packed a bag and took a trip on my own. In this Chat with Shana episode, I take you back to my…
- American English Podcast
222 - "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe (Halloween Special)
📖 Need help following along? Read the transcript + vocabulary explanations while you listen! In this episode, we're diving into the dark and mysterious world…
- American English Podcast
⭐ Feature: 13 Common Superstitions and Their Origins
We live in a day and age that is driven by science and technology, yet people are still superstitious. According to a study I read by YouGov, 9% of Americans…
- American English Podcast
221 - Firsts with Elise
Have you ever noticed how many of your best stories begin with, “The first time I…”? In today’s episode, I’m joined by my friend Elise to talk all about…
- American English Podcast
220 - What’s on Your Bucket List? With My Mom
➡️ Start improving your English today! Learn more about the Academy. What’s on your bucket list? ✨ In this episode, I sit down with my mom, Mara, to talk about…
- American English Podcast
219 - The Art of Small Talk in the U.S.
🎯 Learn languages 1-on-1 with native teachers on italki. Use code SHANA9 to get $5 off your first lesson 💻 Web: https://go.italki.com/shana2609 📱App…
- American English Podcast
⭐ Feature: Funny Chat with My Dad (+Superlatives!)
➡️ Start improving your English today! Learn more about the Academy. Every month, I like to bring back one of my favorite episodes from the past…
- American English Podcast
218.2 - English Story: Irregular Verbs with Dance Marathons
The other day, I was staring at my list of common Irregular Verbs, trying to think of a lesson I could create with 10 of them. Immediately, I saw some…
- American English Podcast
218 - Expression: To Keep Someone On Their Toes
The other day, I was staring at my list of common Irregular Verbs, trying to think of a lesson I could create with 10 of them. Immediately, I saw some…
- American English Podcast
217 - What Bugs You? Insects and Annoyances with Lucas
Well, well, well. I never thought I’d make an entire episode about bugs and annoying things until Lucas was attacked by a swarm of yellow jackets this week! It…
- American English Podcast
⭐ Feature: The Truth About Shark Attacks in U.S. Waters
Every year when I go to the beach, I have the same thought: Are there sharks out there in that dark water? It's not an irrational fear. Years ago, a student at…
- American English Podcast
216 - Soccer Vocabulary and the Miracle Match
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…
- American English Podcast
215 - Countries and Nationalities (Pronunciation and Quiz!)
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…
- American English Podcast
214 - Soccer in the United States (History, Stories, and More!)
⭐ 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…
- American English Podcast
⭐ Feature: The Sweet History of the American Doughnut (or Donut)
⭐ 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?…
- American English Podcast
213 - Discover South Carolina with Lora
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…
- American English Podcast
212.2 - The Birth of Netflix and the Fall of Blockbuster
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…
- American English Podcast
212 - Expression: To Think Outside the Box
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…
- American English Podcast
211 - Preposition Party 🎉 : 7 Everyday Word Pairs with Lucas
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…
- American English Podcast
⭐ Feature: 5-Minute English: Springtime in the U.S.
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…
- American English Podcast
210 - Quick Fix: Further vs. Farther
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…
- American English Podcast
209 - Ghost Towns in the American West with Aubrey Carter
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…
- American English Podcast
208 - How to Improve the Four Skills in English: Listening, Reading, Speaking & Writing
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…
- American English Podcast
⭐ Feature: 5-Minute English: Cleaning
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…
- American English Podcast
207.2 - The Great Molasses Flood of 1919
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…
- American English Podcast
207 - Expression: In a Sticky Situation
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…
- American English Podcast
⭐ Feature: Hangry, Bromance & Spam: Everyday Portmanteaus with Liz!
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…
- American English Podcast
206 - Let's Talk about Hair! (with Julia)
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…
- American English Podcast
205 - Preposition Party with Lucas 🎉 Love, Caring, Passions & Worries
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…
- American English Podcast
204.2 - Irregular Verbs with Helen Keller
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…
- American English Podcast
204: Expression: To See Eye to Eye
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…
- American English Podcast
⭐ Feature: The Story of Starbucks
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…
- American English Podcast
203 - Preposition Party with Lucas 🎉 Everyday Verb + Preposition Pairs
In this episode, I’m joined by my husband, Lucas, for another Preposition Party—a casual, conversation-based way to learn common verb + preposition…
- American English Podcast
202.2. Irregular Verbs with Bonnie and Clyde
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…
- American English Podcast
202 - Expression: A Shot in the Dark
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…
- American English Podcast
201 - When Life Gives You Lemons...🍋 (+10 Expressions)
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…
- American English Podcast
200 - Review of Season 4
Can you believe it? We’ve made it to Episode 200! 🥳 In this milestone episode, I look back on everything we’ve done together in Season 4 (Episodes 151–200)…
- American English Podcast
⭐ 5-Minute English: Fall in the United States
In this Five Minute English feature, we dive into one of America’s most beloved seasons: fall (also known as autumn). From pumpkin spice and cozy sweaters to…
- American English Podcast
199 - 5 MORE Prepositions Advanced Speakers Get Wrong (with Lucas!)
Ever get confused between “apply to” and “apply for”? Or wonder whether to say “argue about” or “argue over”? In today’s episode, we break down these common…
- American English Podcast
198.2 - Irregular Verbs: The Survival Story of Hugh Glass
What happens when you’re attacked by a grizzly bear, left for dead, and forced to crawl nearly 200 miles to survive? That’s the true story, or perhaps just the…
- American English Podcast
198 - Expression: Against All Odds
Have you ever succeeded when no one thought you could? That’s what it means to do something against all odds. In today’s episode, Shana begins with a bear…
- American English Podcast
197 - 5 Prepositions Advanced Speakers Still Get Wrong (with Lucas!)
Think you’ve mastered English prepositions? Think again. In this episode, I sit down with my husband Lucas (an advanced English speaker) to tackle 5…
- American English Podcast
⭐ Feature: The Incredible Flight of "Lawn Chair" Larry
In today's episode, you’ll hear the incredible story of a man named Larry Walters, or "Lawn Chair" Larry, who bought over 40 weather balloons, attached them to…
- American English Podcast
196.2 - Invasion of Burmese Pythons in South Florida
In this wild episode, we dive deep into the Burmese python invasion in Florida’s Everglades, which is one of the most unexpected and dramatic ecological crises…
- American English Podcast
196 - Expression: To Have a Hissy Fit
Ever heard someone say, “Don’t have a hissy fit”? In this episode, we break down this funny, very Southern expression that describes a dramatic overreaction…
- American English Podcast
195 - The Goose & The Golden Egg (+10 Advanced Adjectives)
Yesterday at the library with my girls, a lightbulb went off in my head 💡—fables aren’t just great for kids... they’re perfect for English learners too! This…
- American English Podcast
194 - Discover Iowa with Bethany
Ever wondered what life is like in the middle of the U.S.? Tune in to this week’s episode with Bethany Anderson and discover tornado drills, taco pizza, sweet…
- American English Podcast
⭐ Feature: 5-Minute English: A Day at the Beach
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/AMERICANENGLISH and get on your way to being your best self. In this…
- American English Podcast
193 - Sharks, Swamps, and Sweet Tea: Our Wild Trip to South Carolina
In this casual Chats with Shana episode, I’m taking you along on our sweaty summer trip to Charleston, South Carolina. 🌴 You’ll hear about: Milo’s first…
- American English Podcast
192.2 - American Bison (or Buffalo!)
You may be wondering: What’s the difference between a buffalo and a bison? That was the first question I had when researching this topic. And the answer…
- American English Podcast
192 - Expression: To Stand One's Ground
In this episode, learn the meaning, origin, and everyday use of the expression “to stand one’s ground.” As usual, the lesson will begin with a joke (this one's…
- American English Podcast
191 - Irregular Verb Story: The (Funny) Invention of the Microwave
It helps you make your oatmeal in 90 seconds and reheat your pizza in 30. Some of you love it; others are skeptical, with concerns it might cause brain damage…
- American English Podcast
⭐ Feature: The Coast is Clear and The Great Escape from Alcatraz
In this episode, you'll learn how to use the common English expression “the coast is clear,” which means it’s safe to proceed because no one is watching or in…
- American English Podcast
190.2 - The Great Smoky Mountains and Appalachian Culture
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most popular national park in the entire United States. Every year close to 14 million people go to check out…
- American English Podcast
190 - Expression: Where There's Smoke, There's Fire
Hi everyone! Welcome back. I'm excited for another expression episode. Today we're going to be talking about a common one: "Where there's smoke, there's fire."…
- American English Podcast
189.2 - To Tip or Not to Tip? Cultural Curiosities with Liz
Welcome back to the second part of our chat about cultural curiosities! This episode is jam-packed with our thoughts on tipping, splitting the bill on first…
- American English Podcast
189 - Do You Double Dip? Cultural Curiosities with Liz
If you've been listening to this podcast for a while, you know Liz. She's one of my college buddies who's been on about 6 or 7 episodes. Every time she comes…
- American English Podcast
188 - 5-Minute English: Going to the Dentist (+ Orthodontist)
Have you ever gone to the dentist and thought, “Can I really explain what’s happening here in English?” Well, if you’ve struggled in the past with describing…
- American English Podcast
⭐ Feature: The Kentucky Derby
Big hats, and the most exciting two minutes in sports—yep, we're headed to Kentucky! 🏇 In this episode, we take a deep dive into the Kentucky Derby, an iconic…