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American English Podcast: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Shana Thompson
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/
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- 3 days ago30 min
224.2 - Route 66 Turns 100! The Story of the Most Famous Highway in the U.S.
Happy 100th birthday, Route 66! 🎂 On November 11, 1926, Route 66 officially became part of the brand new U.S. highway system! In this episode, you'll hear the story of America's most famous road: how Dust Bowl families hit the road to escape a terrible drought, how the 1950s became the heyday of the classic American road trip, and why so many small towns were bypassed when the interstates came along. You'll also hear five fun facts (it was almost called Route 60!), the weird and wonderful roadside attractions you can find along the way, and the part of Route 66 I would love to drive someday. Along the way, you'll hear useful American English vocabulary like: "to take" a road trip a roadside attraction to bypass to pull over a detour a bucket list Now I want to hear from you! Has Route 66 ever been on your bucket list? Is there a famous road in your country that people love like this one? Tell me on Instagram @americanenglishpodcast. If you're enjoying the show, please follow the American English Podcast and leave a rating or review on your favorite podcast app. It really helps other learners find the show! 🎁 Free 14-Day English Slang and Expression Challenge: https://americanenglishpodcast.com/14-day-slang-challenge/ 📚 Want to go deeper? Inside the AEP Academy, this episode comes with an interactive transcript, vocabulary flashcards, a listening quiz, a Speaking & Writing Challenge, and you'll get to join weekly live speaking sessions. Learn more about the Academy: https://americanenglishpodcast.com/the-academy/ Other Resources - https://samantha-brown.com/route66/ I LOVE HER. I'd watch this after listening to my episode. You'll get to hear native English speakers across the United States, see the attractions, landscapes and more. - https://www.drivingroute66.com This site really useful for maps and finding which attractions you want to visit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
- 1 weeks ago20 min
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 they're leaving right now. In this Expression Episode, you'll learn what "to hit the road" means, where it comes from, and the one way to use it that's actually a little rude (thanks to a very famous Ray Charles song). Then you'll hear it in three real situations: - the busiest travel holiday in the U.S. - a 1919 Army road trip that took 62 days - the very long goodbye Plus other ways to say you're leaving, from polite to very casual: head out, get going, and bounce. Stay until the end to practice sounding natural with "We've gotta hit the road." Coming up next: Route 66 turns 100! Have you driven any of it? Send me your story on Instagram @americanenglishpodcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show and leave a rating wherever you listen. It really helps other English learners find the podcast! 🎁 Free 14-Day English Slang and Expression Challenge: https://americanenglishpodcast.com/14-day-slang-challenge/ 📚 Want to go deeper? Inside the AEP Academy, this episode comes with an interactive transcript, vocabulary flashcards, a listening quiz, a Speaking & Writing Challenge, and you'll get to join weekly live speaking sessions. Learn more about the Academy: https://americanenglishpodcast.com/the-academy/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
- 3 weeks ago25 min
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 backpacking days in Europe: hostels, grocery store picnics, and one very loud night in Amsterdam. Then I tell you about my recent trip to Ireland and Tenerife, where I stepped way out of my comfort zone. Along the way, you’ll learn 10 common American English expressions about travel, including: ✈️ to have itchy feet🐛 to get the travel bug💸 to be on a tight budget🏰 a tourist trap🌍 off the beaten path Plus a bonus expression you’ll hear Americans use all the time: “not my cup of tea.” You’ll also hear some news: I’m going to start showing up more on YouTube, on camera! Follow along here: https://www.youtube.com/@americanenglishpodcast If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show and leave a rating wherever you listen. It really helps other English learners find the podcast! 🎁 Free 14-Day English Slang and Expression Challenge 📚 Want to go deeper? Inside the AEP Academy, this episode comes with an interactive transcript, vocabulary flashcards, a listening quiz, a Speaking & Writing Challenge, and a live speaking session. Learn more about the Academy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
- Oct 15, 202632 min
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 of Edgar Allan Poe, one of the most famous writers in the U.S. First, I'll introduce you to Gothic literature, a genre known for its eerie settings, suspense, and supernatural elements. We'll explore what makes Poe's storytelling unique and why his stories are still widely read in American high schools today. Then, you'll listen to the original, unabridged version of The Tell-Tale Heart, a short story about a narrator who insists he's perfectly sane—even as he describes a horrifying crime. After the story, I'll break down the plot in simpler English and explore its deeper themes, including guilt, paranoia, and the power of the human mind. This episode is especially suited for high-intermediate and advanced English learners who want to challenge their listening comprehension, expand their vocabulary, and experience a classic of American literature. In this episode, you'll: Learn what Gothic literature is and what makes Edgar Allan Poe's writing distinctive. Listen to The Tell-Tale Heart in its original English. Discover useful vocabulary, including acute, in vain, foul play, and dismember. Explore the story's psychological themes and possible interpretations. 🎧 Read the transcript ⭐ Learn more about the Academy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
- Oct 7, 202637 min
⭐ 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 claim to be superstitious, while another 35% admit to not being very superstitious, but somewhat. That makes over 40% of individuals in the United States somewhat superstitious. So what does it mean to be superstitious? According to Cambridge Dictionary, it is to have beliefs that are not based on human reason or scientific knowledge, but are connected with old ideas about magic. Many times, superstitious people believe in irrational, unproven signs of good and bad luck. In today’s episode, we’re going to go through 13 common superstitions in the United States and their origins. By the end of this audio lesson, you’ll walk away with more knowledge about American culture and some new vocabulary and phrases. I’ll teach those as we go along. Find a penny, pick it up, all day long you'll have good luck! Want to take your learning further? ⭐ Visit the website for more learning materials. You’ll also find the Academy there, where you can access bonus content for this episode (formerly “The Classroom”). ⭐ Buy Me a Coffee Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
- Sep 24, 202638 min
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 firsts—first jobs, first driving experiences, first adventures, and those moments when you try something completely new and have no idea what to expect. Elise has had a particularly interesting path. She went to culinary school in France, worked in restaurants, moved to Hawaii to work on a coffee farm, and picked up plenty of funny and memorable stories along the way. We’ll talk about everything from her first paycheck and failing her first driving test to swimming in the Pacific Ocean and the moment she first realized, “Oh… this is what it feels like to be an adult.” This episode is also a great opportunity to practice talking about your own first experiences in English, and to naturally use the past perfect to describe what you had or hadn’t done before those moments. I hope you enjoy getting to know Elise and thinking back on some of your own memorable firsts! ⭐ Check out Elise's business: The French Needle ⭐ 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
- Sep 17, 202630 min
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 some of the things she’d still love to do, see, and experience in her lifetime. We talk about her dream of spending a month somewhere in Europe, living in a fisherman’s shack in Cornwall, building tiny houses near a lake, visiting the places her ancestors came from, taking another big family vacation, and even writing a children’s book someday. Along the way, we also talk about something I think is really important: our dreams can change. This conversation is full of useful everyday English, including expressions like: go with the flowto wing somethingfrom scratchhave something under your beltbe on board It’s also a great episode for practicing conditionals and talking about dreams and hypothetical situations. For example: Where would you go if you could live anywhere for a month? What would you do if money were no object? What would you put on your bucket list? As you listen, think about your own answers. What are three things you genuinely hope to do someday? And more importantly, what would it take to make them happen? Want to take your learning further? ⭐ Join us inside the American English Academy, where we’ll be talking about our own dreams, goals, and bucket lists this month. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
- Sep 10, 202632 min
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: https://go.italki.com/shana2609app Small talk in the U.S. isn't always about exchanging real information. Sometimes, it's simply a small exchange that can make your day a little better—and over time, those interactions can help build real rapport. In this episode, you'll learn how Americans use small talk, how to start and keep a conversation going, and how to tell whether someone actually wants to keep talking. You'll also learn simple strategies to speak naturally, build confidence, and communicate in real life. #englishlearning #italki Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
About 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/
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