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American English Podcast

American English Podcast

Written by: Shana Thompson
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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/© 2024 American English Podcast Foreign Language Audiobooks Social Sciences Travel Writing & Commentary World
Episodes
  • 218 - Expression: To Keep Someone On Their Toes

    218 - Expression: To Keep Someone On Their Toes
    Aug 13 2026
    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 potential! Swing -> Swung, Broadcast -> Broadcast, Sleep -> Slept. Somehow the clump of words I selected led me to one of the most bizarre stories I’ve ever heard about U.S. culture and history: Dance Marathons of the 1930s and 1940s. Imagine people dancing for days on end, even sleeping while dancing, for the chance to win some cash. It’s a crazy story, and from the discovery of this event, this two-part episode was born. Don’t miss part 2! It’s coming next week. In part one, you’ll learn how to use the common expression “to keep someone on their toes,” you’ll hear a joke, and you’ll work on your American English pronunciation! Enjoy. :) ⭐ Start improving your English today! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn more about the Academy.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⭐ Take part in our Free ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠14-Day English Slang and Expression Challenge.⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    21 mins
  • 217 - What Bugs You? Insects and Annoyances with Lucas

    217 - What Bugs You? Insects and Annoyances with Lucas
    Jul 30 2026
    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 got me thinking, why do we say something "bugs" us? In this episode, Lucas joins me to talk about the everyday things that annoy us. You’ll learn natural ways to say that something bothers you, including to bug someone, get on someone’s nerves, and drive someone crazy. We’ll also cover the names of common insects in English, explore the difference between bite and sting, and hear the epic tale of how Lucas ended up with 14 stings. ⭐ Start improving your English today! ⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn more about the Academy.⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⭐ Take part in our Free ⁠⁠⁠⁠14-Day English Slang and Expression Challenge.⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    36 mins
  • ⭐ Feature: The Truth About Shark Attacks in U.S. Waters

    ⭐ Feature: The Truth About Shark Attacks in U.S. Waters
    Jul 16 2026
    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 my university, Lucas Ransom, was surfing off the California coast when a great white shark attacked him. I didn't know him personally, but we went to the same school, and some of my closest friends were in his classes. I still remember walking into class the next morning and hearing the story from one of my professors. You just don't forget something like that. And maybe that's why sharks have always felt so real to me, and not just like mysterious creatures from a documentary. Is it safe to swim off the Pacific and Atlantic coast? Let's talk about it. After all, the timing is right! It's summer, and Shark Week kicks off on July 26 in the U.S. — Discovery Channel's 38th annual deep-dive into all things sharks. For one week, it feels like the whole country is talking about these creatures: their behavior, their migration patterns, and the (very small) odds of ever encountering one. :) Ready to keep building your English? ⭐ Try our Free 14-Day English Slang and Expression Challenge.⭐ Or dive deeper — learn more about the Academy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    23 mins
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