English, baby! Daily Podcasts

When someone asks you if you want to head somewhere, they are asking you if you want to go somewhere. It’s kind of a weird thing about our language, one of our idioms. I am so happy that we happened to have this conversation during Head Week because it fits perfectly into our theme! Let’s attack this lesson, head on! -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

“Today, I decided to soak up the sun instead of swimming.” —Ebaby!'s Kat, speaking about relaxing in the sunshine -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

Last weekend was the Fourth of July, and what better way is there to celebrate the birth of the U.S.A. than going on a picnic? Whether it’s at the beach or in the park, Americans love to combine soaking up some sun with eating some grub. Since the weather is usually nice on the Fourth, a lot of families begin their celebrations with an outdoor barbecue, potluck, or picnic. A picnic can be a family affair, with food and games for the kids. Or you can have a classy, romantic picnic with a bottle of wine and tasty treats in a fancy basket. A picnic can also mean hanging out at the park with your friends, tossing a football around and munching on some snacks. Find out what kind of picnics Jeff and Devan like to have. -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

Most people have a slight desire to get rid of all of their possessions and hit the road. Christopher McCandless gave in to that idea. Shortly after graduating from college, he gave everything he had away and traveled for two years. He came to Alaska where he hunted to survive. Eventually, he accidentally ate some poisoned seeds and his adventures came to an end. He was found dead in an abandoned bus. In 1996, Jon Krakauer turned McCandless’ story into a book called Into the Wild. The book was recently made into a movie with a soundtrack by Pearl Jam vocalist Eddie Vedder. Listen to Marni and Amanda talk about it. -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

A relaxing beach vacation may sound perfect to some, but for the more adventurous, it just isn’t exciting enough. Unless getting to the beach meant hiking through the jungle or parachuting out of an airplane. Then it might be OK. Adventure travelers aren’t interested in plain old sightseeing or a typical beach holiday. They prefer to spend their vacations doing active, exciting, and possibly even slightly dangerous activities. They like to go to remote places that most tourists never visit. Find out if Marni and Ella are thrill seekers when it comes to travel. -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

What makes a perfect summer jam? It has to be a catchy, upbeat song. It should have the feeling of a carefree, sun-filled day. It should make you want to dance. And you’ll know it’s the hit of the summer when you can’t help but hear it every time you turn on your radio. So what is this summer’s big hit? Is it “Alejandro” by Lady Gaga? Katy Perry’s “California Gurls”? Hear Jason and Devan’s nominees for this year’s song of the summer. Then add your own. -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

“I really like how my face feels after I do a facial. It's really smooth, and glowy, and just soft.” —Ebaby!'s Dominique, speaking about cleansing her face -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

Hi Friends! Labor Day happens every year on the first Monday in September. It is a holiday dedicated to the American workers who have contributed to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. Many people use the three-day holiday weekend to travel and visit family and friends. It’s also a common weekend for marriages. Beth is planning on attending a Labor Day weekend wedding. Listen in to her conversation with Miguel to hear all about it. -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

Summer is almost here, and that means it’s time to start the agonizing process of shopping for a new bathing suit. Finding the perfect suit that covers up everything you’d rather not reveal while still showing off all the right parts is difficult, especially for the ladies. But girls aren’t the only ones who can be faced with a swimsuit dilemma. When it comes to swimsuits for guys, there are two directions you can follow. One is to go with a long, baggy board short that may get in the way when you’re trying to swim but that you can wear around town without feeling over-exposed. The other is the Speedo, a tight, short bathing suit like the kind professional swimmers wear. In the US, most guys wear board shorts. But Mason thinks they should become more comfortable with their bodies and switch to Speedos. Hear him and Jeff argue over the best kind of swimsuit for dudes. -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

When sailors went on long voyages, they would take citrus fruits like limes or oranges with them. Without them, or specifically, the vitamin C inside them, the sailors would die! These days, sailors have vitamin C pills, but that doesn’t mean that eating a grapefruit isn’t good for your health. Citrus fruits are a tasty way to stay well. One way many people enjoy citrus fruits is in juices. Orange juice is a common breakfast beverage in the US. Find out if Jeff and Sara take theirs with or without pulp in this food English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

Everybody loves fresh food! And it’s wonderful when you can grow this food in your own garden. However, many of us have limited space, and we can’t do a lot of gardening in our yards. But a popular new idea can help… vertical gardening! Vertical gardens grow on walls or in tall planters with different spaces for many plants. Growing food vertically is a slick way to tend to your own edible plants. Just like a normal garden, a vertical garden needs soil, nutrients, and water. However, you might put the soil into pots that hang on a wall. Or you might put the soil into a special planter that stands up tall instead of laying out wide. These simple changes make it possible for almost anyone to have a garden. Andy is sad because his new apartment isn’t big. But Marni has the perfect idea for him in today’s English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

Even though we often complain about our jobs, nobody wants to get fired. If you have to lose your job, it should at least be for something crazy, like having an affair with the boss’s daughter or setting fire to your cubicle. But often, when businesses start losing money, they have no choice but to lay off a bunch of their employees. Times are tough for a lot of people right now, and Devan is worried that she might lose her job as a waitress. Listen to talk to Marni about what she should do. -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

“So, lately, the wedding planning has been a little stressful. But it’s been super fun! I just really don’t want to be a bridezilla.” —Ebaby!’s Kat, speaking about the stress of wedding planning -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

Put a pre-pubescent girl who wants to win a beauty contest, her angst-ridden teen-aged brother, her loving, mischievous grandfather and her gay uncle who has just tried to commit suicide together in an old VW bus with her well-meaning but stressed out parents and you’ve got the road trip for the movie Little Miss Sunshine, a poignant comedy about the American family.Mason and Kevin loved the movie, which stars Alan Arkin, Steve Carell, Toni Collette and Greg Kinnear. Listen to them chat about it. -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

A free trip sounds like a lot of fun. But working when you’d rather be sightseeing or lounging by the pool doesn’t sound fun at all. Actually, that sounds like a business trip. Many jobs involve traveling. You might need to go to another city, state, or even a different country to attend an important meeting, visit a client, or work on a project. Business trips can be tiring, especially if you have to take a lot of them and are frequently separated from your family because of your job. But every once in a while, taking a trip on the company dollar can be fun, especially if you get to visit an exotic location. Jeff is about to go on his first business trip. Hear him talk to Amy about what to expect. -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

Do you feel differently based on how you arrange your apartment or house? Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese practice based on the idea that where you place your furniture can affect your health, income and relationships. Lots of Americans are getting into feng shui and some, like Amanda’s mother, are even making a business out of it. -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

“Today, I got in the mail two eyeshadow palettes, but I feel like the one right here is right up my alley. And I say it’s right up my alley because it has neutral shades that I can use every day.” —Ebaby!’s Kat, speaking about finding perfect makeup colors -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

Hey There! Welcome back for part two of Nedra’s job interview! I hope that you all had a chance to listen last week to the first part of the meeting between Miguel and Nedra, our friend who is trying to get on board at Miguel’s company. Last week we listened in as Miguel and Nedra met each other and talked about Nedra’s skills and work experience. In part two of the job interview, you can listen to Miguel explain a bit more about the company to Nedra, and hear her response to that information. -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

Hello Friends! This week in Real Life we are talking about jobs! One of the most important steps toward getting a job is to have a successful job interview. This is your chance to impress a future employer; to make it clear that you are the best person for the job! Before Nedra joined our team she met with Miguel, who asked her many questions about her work experience, and about who she is as a person. Listen in to the first part of their conversation below! (The second part will follow next week.) -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

Life is so busy that it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. We have work overload, stress overload, and information overload. Teachers and bosses want us to be productive all the time. We’re all trying to accomplish a million things in one day. Sometimes, we need to take a step back from our busy lives and find new ways to relax. Let’s brainstorm some ideas together. If you have money and time, take a vacation. If you have only money, hire someone to clean your home or teach you something new. If you have only time, go for a long walk or read a good book. If you have no money and no time, put down your phone or even switch it off completely. Then, take a long nap! Can you think of some other ideas? Dominique is feeling overwhelmed. Gary thinks a digital detox is a good idea. Listen to today’s English lesson to find out if Dominique can stop spending so much time online. -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

“It is really early right now, and I am ready for my day. This is great because the early bird catches the worm.” —Ebaby!’s Dominique, speaking about waking up early -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

Acupuncture is an important part of traditional Chinese medicine. It has been used for thousands of years to treat illness and pain, using thin needles throughout the body. To be a great practitioner of acupuncture takes years of study and practice. People who like acupuncture see their practitioner regularly for treatments to help with their medical problems. While some people are skeptical of its benefits, many are convinced that acupuncture is relaxing. Even if a person does not have a medical problem, she might want treatments when she’s feeling stressed. Other people believe that acupuncture is important for one’s good health. It is a practice that is used around the world by millions of people. Jessica and Brian are talking about the benefits of acupuncture. Can you guess who’s tried it and who hasn’t? Learn more in today’s English lesson about alternative medicine. -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

Sore throat. Aches. Sudden fever. Most of us have experienced the symptoms of this well-known disease: the flu. For many healthy people, having the flu may be nothing more than a temporary inconvenience. But for others, including children, the elderly, and those with health problems, getting the flu is no laughing matter. For people at risk, the flu can be deadly. Because getting the flu can be so serious, health officials urge people to get vaccinated for the flu. These officials hope to prevent flu epidemics and pandemics. But not everybody feels comfortable getting vaccinated. Some people are afraid of how the vaccine might affect their health. Listen to Sara and Lily share their thoughts about the flu and the flu vaccine in this health English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

Do you like running? How about going for long walks? Or maybe you are more into lifting weights. No matter what you do, working out is an important part of staying healthy. There are many different ways to work out. Some people want to get really big muscles, so they go to the gym and pump iron. Other people are more casual and just want to get a little definition. These people usually just want to get fit, so they do things like go for a hike. It’s always good to get up and move instead of just sit and watch TV. Jessica asks Romeo for some advice about working out. Find out what he says in today’s English lesson about being active. -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

“The new year is coming up, and I’ve been thinking a lot about what resolution I’d like to do.” —Ebaby!’s Sheila, speaking about making a change in the new year -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

“I’m about to study because I just came back into the school year, and I will be hitting the ground running.” —Ebaby!’s Kat, speaking about starting her homework right away -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

As they celebrate the new year, many people think of it as a chance to have a fresh start. It’s a time to think back about what they have and haven’t done, and to look into 2015. What will the new year bring? When the calendar turns to January 1st, people set goals for the year to come. They choose to do things differently for the next 365 days because they believe it will make them happier. For example, some people aim to eat healthier and exercise more. Others may make bigger life decisions like trying to find a better job. Brian shares his New Year’s resolution with Gary, and they talk about different ways of being successful. Learn more in today’s English lesson about improving one’s life. -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

Everyone knows the true story of Christmas. It’s the story of a boy wanted a BB gun…What’s that? That’s just A Christmas Story, not the Christmas story? Oh. Well in that case it’s the story of Will Ferrell except he was raised by elves and…Wait. That’s not it either? Huh? It’s about the birth of Jesus Christ? Really? When did that movie come out? Who’s in it? There a lot of Christmas movies out there. Listen to Marni and Devan talk about a few of their favorites. -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

“What’s up, everybody? Andy here, and I’m feeling all lit up.” —Ebaby!’s Andy, speaking about being excited -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

Around the world, people celebrate so many different holidays. But if you hear someone talking about the holidays in the US, they are probably talking about end-of-the-year celebrations, such as Hanukkah, Christmas, Yule, or New Year’s. For many people, giving holiday gifts is a happy tradition. However, gift giving can be maddening, too. Sometimes, people worry too much about getting the latest action figure or buying gifts before they sell out. They forget to take a breath and enjoy their friends and family. Instead of spending time with their brothers and sisters, they might be worrying that they are only halfway done with their holiday shopping. Dominique is really worried about her holiday gifts. Listen as Andy tells her to keep it simple in today’s English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

In the United States, many people decorate their houses for the Christmas holiday. They get a Christmas tree, and put ornaments on the tree. They might put a wreath on the door, or put up some lights outside. The decorations reflect the festive feeling of the holiday season. When a couple comes from two different religions, it can be hard to come up with a solution for holiday decorating. Hear how Mason and Greta have dealt with this issue in this holiday English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

Your first Christmas together is an important time to size up your relationship. If you haven’t been together all that long and it’s not all that serious, a nice card or small gift will do. If it’s been a little longer, you have to make sure your gift represents how much the relationship means to you. It also has to show how well you know your partner. That sounds like a lot of pressure. Mason and Amanda have been together for six months. What do you think they ought to get each other for Christmas? Watch their gift exchange in today’s soap opera episode. -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

In late December, airline prices in the US and Europe go up. Why would everyone want to be traveling in the middle of winter? Well, some people are escaping the winter to the southern hemisphere where it’s summer. Most are going somewhere else that’s cold, but where their family is so they can celebrate the holidays together. The only problem is that sometimes winter weather causes roads to close or flights to be canceled. When the flights are already sold out and there’s already lots of traffic, things can go from bad to worse really fast. But once you get where you’re going, and are having fun with your family, it all seems worth it. Listen to Beren and Marni get ready for some holiday travel. -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

“Um, where do I even begin? I just want to say, honestly, thank you. Thank you. Like, from the bottom of my heart.” —Actor Zac Efron, speaking about winning three Teen Choice Awards (E! News) -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

Did you notice your heating bill to be surprisingly low this month, or that your got exceptionally good mileage? Perhaps you experienced a small recreation of the miracle of Hanukkah. When the Jews reclaimed the Temple of Jerusalem from the Syrians in the second century, they had enough oil to light the menorah, which was supposed to burn all night, every night, to keep it lit for one day. Yet, somehow, it burned for eight nights, which was how long it took to get more oil. A miracle! The Jews celebrate this miracle with an eight-day holiday every winter during which one candle is lit on a menorah for each day of the celebration. In the 20th Century, North American Jews started exchanging presents to make Hanukkah a Jewish alternative to the Christmas gift-giving. Listen to Mason tell Devan about his Hanukkah. -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

Family. Presents. Food. Decorations. Presents. Oh, and did we mention presents? For all these reasons and more, Christmas is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year. But not everyone feels merry during the holidays. In fact, many people get depressed or feel blue at this time. Some people feel sad at Christmas because they can’t afford to buy their friends and family members all the gifts they want. Or they feel let down when the holidays don’t live up to their hopes and expectations. Others feel extra lonely over the holidays if they don’t have anyone to share them with. And some people get depressed by how commercial the holidays have become. Listen to Marni try to cheer up Devan before the holidays are finished. -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

A couple of weeks ago, director Martin Scorsese won an Oscar for his awesome film The Departed. This film is based on the 2002 Hong Kong crime thriller Infernal Affairs. Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Mark Wahlberg and Jack Nicholson all play parts in this complicated Boston story about the Irish mob and the Massachusetts State Police.Despite the violence in the film, there is a lot of unexpected humor. Mark Wahlberg and Alec Baldwin are really funny, and Jack Nicholson is so perfectly evil he’s hilarious. This film definitely deserved the recognition it got at the Academy Awards. Listen to Mason and Amanda chat about it. -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

“The smartest thing I did was to stop going online. I’m the sort of person who will just look for the negative… and with my bipolar thing, that’s poison. So I just stopped. Cold turkey. And it’s so liberating.”Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones talking about her addiction to reading internet gossip about herself (BrainyQuote) -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

This is the week that a lot of Americans have been waiting for. This week, we celebrate Thanksgiving. Some people call it ‘turkey day’ because we all eat turkey on that day. Check out a conversation Sara and Steph had last week about the big day. -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

For many people in the U.S., Thanksgiving is one of the most important family holidays of the year. Because Thanksgiving is on Thursday, it’s common for employees to have Friday off from work, giving four days for travel and family reunion. Beth has some exciting plans for this year’s Thanksgiving celebration. Listen in to her conversation with Miguel to hear what she’s going to do. -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

No matter what race, religion, or ethnicity, on the third Thursday in November, most people in the US sit down to a Thanksgiving meal. For some, it’s a traditional dinner, with turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. Others might serve all vegetarian food. Still others might include foods that reflect their cultural heritage, like turkey with kimchi or tamales instead of stuffing. Whatever food might be on the table, Thanksgiving is about ritual. It’s about getting together with loved ones. And it’s about giving thanks and being grateful for what you have. Hear Marni and Greta’s thoughts about Thanksgiving in this English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

In the US, many people write thank you notes when they receive a gift. It is considered the minimum courtesy toward the gift-giver to acknowledge the thoughtfulness and usefulness of the gift.However, many Americans never write thank you notes, the younger generations especially. It seems that we may be losing this custom.If you are in the States and someone gives you a gift to honor your arrival, your birthday, a holiday or any other occasion, it is best to write them a card thanking them for the gift. It is also nice to thank people who let you stay in their home or cook a meal for you.A thank you note can be very brief. Here is an example:Dear Mrs. Robinson,Thank you so much for the bracelet you gave me for my birthday. It will always remind me of you and of my visit to your city. I appreciate your thinking of me.Warm regards,KayaAfter you write it, make sure you have the correct address, put a stamp on it and drop it in the mail.Listen to Amanda and Kevin talk about thank you notes. -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

“As you can tell from my voice, it seems like I came down with something.” —Ebaby!’s Kat, speaking about feeling sick -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

“Today, I really need some chill time.” —Ebaby!’s Sheila, speaking about needing to relax -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

“Do you get bad allergies?” —Ebaby!’s Sheila, speaking about having an allergic reaction -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

“I wanted to encourage you guys to hang in there when it comes to speaking English because English is a hard language.” —Ebaby!’s Kat, speaking about being patient -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

Many students can agree that one of the times that they look forward to the most is the summer! The sun is out, the weather is great, there’s no homework, and you can do whatever you want! Unless, of course, you have summer school or a summer job. But some students like having a summer job. It’s a great opportunity to earn their own money and gain valuable work experience. Brian and Marni talk about taking on seasonal work. Find out more in today’s English lesson about how some students spend their summer vacations. -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

“Are you a bibliophile? I definitely am.” —Ebaby!’s Sheila, speaking about her love of books -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

Different things can annoy one person but not bother another person. It can be something little like watching someone chew their food with their mouth open. Or it may be something that bothers a lot of people like drivers who don’t obey traffic laws. Everyone has pet peeves. Since we can’t control the way people behave, we are sure to find people who act in a way that we don’t like. Even if you try to ignore a pet peeve, sometimes it’s so annoying that it’s all you can think about. Marni complains to Kellie about the kinds of people who annoy her. Find out more in today’s English lesson about pet peeves. -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

Living with your parents can be nice. They pay for rent, food, and many other things. But there comes a time for all of us when we need to leave the nest. If you want to become independent, you have to move out at some point. Moving out can be hard. It is sometimes difficult to pay all the bills. And you have to cook for yourself. But many people like living alone, because it means having their own space. Brian is going to help his brother move out this weekend. Listen to Sara’s advice in today’s English lesson about leaving the nest. -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/

Have you ever volunteered to help your neighborhood? Some people believe that it is very important to give back to their communities. It can make you feel good and also help change your community for the better. There are many different things that people can do that they enjoy for community service. It can be anything from helping to serve lunch at a homeless shelter to picking up trash in local parks. There will always be a need for people who are willing to give their time to help. Marni tells Gary about her recent community service. Find out more in today’s English lesson about volunteering one’s time. -- View this and other great English lessons at English, baby! https://www.englishbaby.com/