Condensed 9-minute podcasts for improving your English: learn vocabulary, phrasal verbs and expressions as you improve your listening and speaking skills.
Along with discussing tasty, nutritious, well-made and comfort foods, Drew presents the musician known as the founding father of the New Orleans sound. And don't miss the wit of George Bernard Shaw, as well as some Awesome Advice: Remember, all news is biased. What do you think?
What do you own? Why do you own it? Is it worth owning? Drew takes a look at this concept as he teaches you new words and expressions. Also, don't miss this episode's Remarkable Recording, you're going to love it! All in just 9 minutes.
Paying compliments. When was the last time you paid somebody a compliment? How did it make your feel? When did you last tell a joke that bombed? Discover more in this episode! And, don't miss the Cool Quote and Awesome Advice sections.
Is truth stranger than fiction? Is it time to hit the road? Was the LP released to very little fanfare? Did the preacher hit the road? Tune in and find out!
In this episode, Drew bids farewell to 2024 and rings in 2025. You'll learn these expressions along with many more. And how well do know question tags and the conditionals in English? Test yourself in this episode. Happy New Year everyone!!
In this episode, Drew looks at whether or not inauthenticity is a good thing. Faking it to make it may boost your self-esteem, but when it comes to knockoff products or counterfeit money, inauthenticity is damaging. Pretending to be real is typically disingenuous behavior.
Before branching out into telephony, Nokia made paper. Before branching out into consumer electronics, LG made face cream. Before branching out into the energy industry, Shell sold…yep, decorative shells. There's your new phrasal verb: branch out. Tune in for a whole lot more!
In this episode, you'll learn the word “rowdy” and the expression “off your game”. Crowds at sporting events can sometimes be disorderly and disruptive, in other words, rowdy. Rowdy crowds often put athletes off their game. Also, check out the phrasal verbs “phase in” and “phase out”. The euro was phased in as the peseta was phased out. Tons of useful English for you - as usual - so don't miss out.
Is it fate? Is it destiny? Is it karma? Or is it simply luck? Do you believe in luck? What makes you lucky? Do have a lucky charm? What about jinxes? Are you really ready to improve your pronunciation? Well, then here we go….
Why am I asking you to repeat this? Because by doing so you'll improve your grammar, listening comprehension and pronunciation. Give it a shot.
It's time for action, as opposed to lounging around. It's time for action, as opposed to loafing around. It's time for action, as opposed to lazing around. You get the idea: “as opposed to” means “rather than” and we use it a lot in English. So, tune in and take advantage of this podcast, as opposed to missing your opportunity to improve your English.
With fewer complications and less distraction, the 70's were pretty simple, weren't they? Are they coming back? Tune in to find out more while you improve your English.
Spring-cleaning means deep cleaning those areas that you don't clean on a regular basis. Hard-to-reach areas. Under the carpets. Beneath the couch. And now is the time to do it. As usual, in this podcast you'll learn tons…expressions, pronunciation and speaking tips and new concepts and vocabulary. Don't miss it!
It's February, the month of love, and this year it has 29 days, making it a leap year. In this episode, Drew discusses silent letters, steak doneness (yes, “doneness” is a word!) and taking leaps of faith.
When it comes to expressions and new vocabulary, this episode is chock-full. You'll learn “step up to the plate,” “taunting,” “go out on a limb”, “ill will”… And as regular listeners know, the key to speaking English better is by imitating Drew. Give it a shot!
Are you ready to improve your speaking and pronunciation? All you have to do is imitate Drew. Try it and you'll see – it really does work! In this episode, Drew discusses one of his favorite Christmas decorations: popcorn garland.
The economy isn't creating any new jobs because consumers aren't spending any money. Consumers aren't spending any money because the economy isn't creating any new jobs. Ah, the vicious circle. Tune in for more! Also, how easy is it for you to tell time in English? Check it out.
Dough, through, rough, tough…Check your pronunciation of these words and include a new one into your vocabulary arsenal: trough. We also review “would” and “used to” for describing repeated actions in the past. Don't miss it!
Hundreds of thousands of people affected by the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl left their homes in search of a better life, and Route 66 promised to take them to a land of opportunity and prosperity. Learn about the Mother Road that runs from Chicago to LA, as you practice -and improve- your English.
What are the top 10 must-see movies? Well, that's very subjective, but Drew gives you Roger Ebert's version right here. Check it out. Are you a big Breaking Bad fan? What are some of the series' iconic sites in Albuquerque? You'll find out…
Are you ready to put your listening comprehension into high gear? If so, tune in to hear more about Drew's Route 66 adventure. Lafayette Square in St. Louis, the Cherokee Nation in Vinita, coffee beans in Clinton, barbecue in Amarillo, biscuits and gravy in Tucumcari…The story continues.
Stops along Drew's Route 66 trip included: Chicago, St. Louis, Joplin, Clinton, Tucumcari, Albuquerque, Flagstaff, Kingman, Las Vegas and Santa Monica. In this episode, he shares highlights from his road trip from beginning to end. So, get your kicks with this, the first “chapter” of his experiences on what John Steinbeck dubbed the “Mother Road.”
Your English will get much better if you listen to Crosby's 9. Let that sink in. Wait! What does “let that sink in” mean? Tune in and find out. By the way, what is “sync” short for? What is “decaf” short for? And “info”? What does NASA stand for? And GPS? Short for vs. stand for…check it out in this episode.
Here's a phrasal verb you need to start using: to cut out. Question: What would happen if you cut out sugar? What would the consequences be? Tune in and find out! Drew also explains the expression, “no shirt, no shoes, no service,” among others.
By now, you're surely good at recognizing all the “difficult” letters in English. Listen to this podcast and test yourself. Also, tune in for a simple tip on how to sound more like a native English speaker by using the interrogative structure for emphasis. And there's practice on the conditional.
How well can you master the most important verb in the English language, to be? Drew offers a quick reminder and exercise. He also takes you through a quick review of the conditionals and teaches several useful expressions that you can start using…right now!
Quick question: what's a “pet peeve”? Do you have any? Drew mentions a couple of his in this episode. Also, how familiar are you with the structure “there + to be” in English? Drew reminds you how important it is so…don't forget to practice it!
Is increased crime driving away local investment? Are higher taxes driving away local residents? Learn how to use this key phrasal verb in this episode. And for the umpteenth time, Drew reminds you: imitate him and you'll improve your speaking!
In this episode you'll continue to improve your listening comprehension by listening to Drew speak naturally spoken English. And there's another million-dollar question as well. Will you get it right?
Do you share strong ties with every friend you have? Do you have friendships based on weak ties? Do any spring to mind? Do you make small talk with them? Tune in and learn more! (Yes, you'll learn the expression, “spring to mind”…).
Are you ready to take your English to the next level? BTW, how do you pronounce the contraction, “I will”? There are more pronunciation tips here, so don't miss out! Like “ghosts.” Hmmm, that sounds scary…
In this episode, you'll review your knowledge of question tags while you window shop. And there's a quick test on the most famous verb of all: to be. Give it a shot!
Do you work for peanuts? Did you shell out on Christmas presents? Michael Jordan was a basketball player par excellence. Do you understand these questions? If not, you will after you listen to this episode. And remember, imitate and improve!
Your English will quickly and easily get better by simply listening to Crosby's 9. In this episode, Drew discusses the words “hat trick”, (Mbappé scored one), “manage”, (France managed to tie the match) and “penalty shootout” (After overtime, the match went into a penalty shootout). Imitate and improve.
How do you pronounce “Christmas”? Are you pronouncing it properly? Tune in to find out. And as usual, you'll improve your English speaking and pronunciation by simply imitating Drew. For example: Perhaps partridges prefer to perch on pair trees. Got it?
You'll learn tons of expressions in the episode, such as “after all,” “wishful thinking,” “how about,” and a lot more. If you tune in and actively listen, you'll be surprised by how easily your English improves.
As always, you'll repeat, imitate and put into practice what you learn in the podcast. It's a super easy way to improve your English. Give it a shot!
Also, you'll work on your listening comprehension -particularly using letters- and you'll learn two super useful expressions: “it's all in your head” and “I'll let it slide.” Don't miss it!
Does shoddy workmanship bother you? Some people really can't stand it. What about you? (Clue: shoddy = inferior). Drew delves into this topic in this episode, so tune in and not only practice your English, but IMPROVE your English! You'll also review the very useful modal verb “might.”
Question: Do you need to grind ground coffee? Not sure? Tune in! And regarding letters, don't confuse the “g” with the “j.” Also, Drew reminds you how to improve your pronunciation of the letter “s.”
Once again, Drew gives you the key to becoming a better English speaker: imitate him. Here, he discusses the business concepts of creative destruction and disruption through the use of two common expressions: making waves and rocking the boat.
Some people believe that achieving success through hard work is for losers. Intuition, they argue - or winging it - is the key to success. Have we reached the point where success through hard work is looked down upon? Also, get ready to REALLY improve your speaking and pronunciation because this podcast is all about repeat, repeat, repeat. Don't miss it!
Downloading, uploading, checking, scanning, swiping…Isn't social media a big waste of time? Probably not, as long as you don't go overboard. Are you familiar with the term “to go overboard?” You will be after this podcast!
Drew reminds you of two key tips in order to easily and correctly pronounce words in English. Also, how well can you form question tags? Test yourselves in this episode.
How do you pronounce the “z” in English? Here's a refresher. In fact, you're really going to practice your letters in this podcast. You'll also learn the (slightly rude) expression, “zip it,” and -as usual- there are lots of new words to add to your vocabulary “arsenal.”
Quick! Which one is the synonym for “accustomed to?” “Use to” or “used to?” You'll get the lowdown here. (Lowdown? You'll have to look that one up!) Also, test your knowledge of the conditionals and learn whether or not it's a good idea to show the boss up.
Drew will also have you on the edge of your seat -yes; you'll learn this expression- as he offers you his regular dose of tips for pronunciation and speaking, along with useful vocabulary and expressions for your everyday English. Don't miss it!
How do you pronounce “hire?” Is it a noun? Tune in and you'll be surprised. Also, we review the phrasal verb “to dress up.” Of course we dress up for Halloween, but is it normal to dress up for work? Lastly, fix your pronunciation of the word “athlete” forever.
Quick! How many syllables does the word “criticism” have? Four. Did you get it right? Remember, the suffix “ism” has two syllables. Listen to this episode for some good practice. Drew also discusses the meaning of “poetic license.” Don't miss it!
Are you still struggling with recognizing certain letters in English? Tune in for a trick that'll help you out. Question: Is it C-y-n-d-i or C-i-n-d-y? You'll “see…”
C – a – p – p – e – d…how do you pronounce this word? What does it mean? DO YOU WRITE IN ALL CAPS? Nobody likes drinking flat Coca-Cola, right? So cap the bottle!