English Podcast with Tommy

When you learn a language, you're also learning a whole world of traditions and beliefs. 

Everyone carries a language journey inside them—but some journeys are pure inspiration.

You might think romantic comedies are all fluff and cliché—but what if one could actually supercharge your English? 

Not all learning needs textbooks or flashcards. Sometimes, the best classroom is in your ears—and that's where podcasts come in.In her debut episode, Letícia shares why podcasts are a game-changing tool for language learners. She walks us through two highly practical, engaging shows—starting with the BBC's 6 Minute English. But what's the second podcast she recommends? You'll have to listen to find out!Letícia also reveals how to use podcasts actively, not just passively. From shadowing techniques to vocab extraction hacks, this episode is packed with tips to help you level up your English while doing the dishes or walking the dog. Ready to learn anytime, anywhere? This is your sign.

In this episode, Meshkat dives into Kiss That Frog! by Brian and Christina Tracy — a transformative guide to turning negative thoughts into positive actions and unlocking your true potential. Originally published in 2012, this powerful book explores how to confront your fears, overcome self-doubt, and embrace a mindset that helps you thrive.Whether you're battling inner critics or simply looking for a boost in confidence and clarity, this conversation is for you. Meshkat breaks down the key lessons with insight and warmth, offering real-life reflections to help you kiss your own frogs and move forward stronger than ever.

Burnout isn't just about work or stress. It can quietly sabotage your language learning progress, drain your motivation, and leave you feeling stuck—no matter how passionate you were at the start.In her debut episode, Agnes breaks down exactly what burnout is, why it hits language learners hard, and how to recognize the early signs before it's too late. She shares practical, science-backed strategies to help you reset, refocus, and protect your love for languages—even during life's most overwhelming phases.If you've ever felt mentally exhausted, demotivated, or unsure how to keep going, this episode is the gentle wake-up callyou didn't know you needed.

Learning a language isn't a straight line. It's filled with highs, lows, and moments where your brain just says, “No more!”That's called a mental block—and yes, it's more common than you think.In her debut episode, Ellie dives into the psychology behind mental blocks in language learning. What causes them? How can you break through? And how can you stay motivated even when things feel stuck? From brain-based strategies to practical routines, Ellie shares simple, powerful tools to help you push through those invisible walls.If you've been feeling frustrated, lost, or like your progress has plateaued—this episode is the boost you need to get back on track.

Slang isn't just extra vocabulary—it's the soul of a language. If you want to speak like a native, you can't skip it. But with slang comes power… and a little danger.

Ready to take your English to a frighteningly fantastic level? In this special episode, Inna makes a spine-chilling return to the podcast, bringing with her three legendary animated films by Tim Burton:

Music isn't just entertainment—it's a powerful tool for language learning. It helps with pronunciation, rhythm, and cultural context, making learning fun and engaging. But how can you use it effectively?In her second episode, Luiza takes us on a musical journey through the power of songs in language learning. And what better way to do it than with one of the most legendary British bands of all time—The Beatles?

Imagine you're embarking on a life-changing journey. You can only bring three books, films, or series with you. What would you choose?In her debut episode, Carla—our first guest from Uruguay—shares her incredible travel story.

Mastering a language isn't about perfection—it's about progress. The path to fluency takes time, and the key is to enjoy the process instead of fearing mistakes.In her debut episode, Thaís shares a game-changing perspective: Making mistakes isn't failure—it's a crucial part of learning.

Learning a language is like a two-sided coin: self-study and guided learning. But here's the challenge—most learners struggle with self-study because they don't know how to start or what to focus on.In my 150th episode, Bianka returns to share how you can strike the perfect balance between structured classroom learning and independent practice.

Podcasts are one of the best tools for improving your listening skills in English. But with thousands of options out there, how do you find the right ones?In her debut episode, Marina shares why podcasts have been a game-changer in her language journey. From fiction to non-fiction and beyond, she explores how different genres can shape your understanding, pronunciation, and even confidence in English.

Not everyone finds books easy to get into – but what if the right ones could supercharge your English learning? Biographies and autobiographies offer a powerful way to improve vocabulary, comprehension, and cultural knowledge.In her debut episode, Simara dives into the world of real-life stories, sharing some of the most engaging books and films to help language learners. From Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom to The Talented Mr. Ripley, we explore why biographies and autobiographies make learning more immersive and personal.Whether you love reading or struggle to find the right books, this episode will give you fresh insights into how real-life narratives can transform the way you learn English.

Every language learner has their own story. Some are lucky enough to learn languages where they are spoken daily, while others have to work even harder to reach fluency.This week's guest, Sara, grew up in Iran, where English is rarely spoken outside the classroom. Despite these challenges, Sara's English is impeccable. How did she do it?

Some people like books. Others live for them. And then, there's Felicio, a true book lover who couldn't imagine a world without his favourite reads. In this episode, Felicio faces an impossible challenge: If his house were burning down, which five fictional books would he save? From Zadie Smith's NW to Nicholas Padamsee's England is Mine, his list is as unexpected as it is thought-provoking. But how do books shape our identity, our values, and the way we see the world? And most importantly how do these books help us to improve our English. Join us for a passionate discussion about the books that leave a mark on our souls, and maybe even rethink your own literary must-haves.

Today marks one of the most significant dates in human history – the liberation of Auschwitz, 80 years ago, by the Red Army. This moment brought the world face-to-face with the horrors of the Holocaust and reminded us of the devastating consequences of hatred and prejudice. On this International Holocaust Remembrance Day, we honour the victims and survivors of one of the darkest chapters in human history. But are we truly honouring their memory if such atrocities continue to occur in parts of the world today? Have we learned nothing? This episode is an invitation to reflect, to educate ourselves, and to take action. Together, let's explore how we can work toward a future where the phrase “Never Again” becomes a reality, not just a promise.

Is Generative AI the Frankenstein of the 21st century? Maybe. But that doesn't mean we can't harness its power to boost our English skills in smart and ethical ways.

In an impromptu and spontaneous episode I look at two words that have become more and more important in recent times: misinformation and disinformation. - These two words have become more and more prevalent in our everyday lives, especially since the Covid pandemic. - But now more so as certain people with a lot of power deliberately try to mislead us by posting disinformation. - My message to you in this episode is to think about how we can stop this, by calling it out, or by using trusted sources for our information. - Misinformation is the term to describe getting facts wrong. - Disinformation is false information deliberately intended to mislead people.

Isn't it easier to learn a language in a classroom with a teacher to guide you? Yet, the real challenge begins when you step out of that comfort zone and try to learn on your own.

Have you ever thought about how one of the world's most iconic sci-fi shows can help you improve your English?

Migration shapes millions of lives – bringing challenges, growth, and powerful stories. Whether for economic opportunities or political reasons, moving to a new country means adapting to new languages, cultures, and ways of life. In her debut episode, Cintia opens up about her journey from Argentina to Portugal. She shares:

Music isn't just background noise – it's a powerful force that shapes our memories and emotions. From the songs that define your favorite holiday to the soundtrack of your wedding day, music has a unique meaning for everyone. But did you know it can also supercharge your language skills? In this episode, Yara shares how her deep connection with music helped her learn languages faster and more enjoyably. Get ready to:

Dopamine – that tiny molecule affects more than you think. It's the key to your motivation, focus, and learning success. But what happens after the high? Why does learning often feel so hard after a big win? In this episode, we sit down with Ruzanna, an English teacher and neuroscience enthusiast from Poland, to uncover how dopamine drives your learning process – and, more importantly, how to harness it. Here's what you'll discover:

Some of us like to learn with music, others with books, and some others prefer films and series. - In her solo debut Thami from @thamiresfontinelle brings to us a wide range of different resources that will help you take your English to the next level. - From Justin Bieber for younger learners to Pixar films, Thami explains to us why we should dive into different sorts of media to improve your language. - When we talk, for example, about Pixar films, they are attractive to learners because of the family-friendly language and the easy-to-understand phrases and accents. - So, come and listen to this episode and find out what other things Thami recommends for you to improve your English.

We all have hobbies that we're proud of for example I like to play my guitar when I have the chance. - But for many language learners, talking about hobbies in a foreign language is not as easy as it sounds. - In her debut episode Andy from @ateacherandy talks to us about her wonderful hobby of going to the gym or crocheting. - Andy also talks to us that many English learners don't realise that, for example, gym equipment or even exercises we do, have English names like 'leg press'. - So how can we use hobbies to improve our English? - Some ways are by using online forums to talk about things you like and do. Another obvious method would be to actively to talk to people face-to-face about them. - So next time when you think to yourself that you don't know how to connect your hobbies with English learning, come and listen to Andy!

Willpower, the ability to control your own thoughts and the way in which you behave, is something that we all have. Some people have more, others less. - But in this episode with Djukica @english.exams.with.djukica, she explains to us why this doesn't always. - Talking about the bestseller book Willpower Doesn't Work, Djukica tells us how this book explains that willpower is not enough to change things. - In actual fact, according to the book, environment that we live and work in has a big effect on lots of things. - And now to the question about why this will help your English? - To put it bluntly, it's because we may try all we can to reach our goals of improving our language with willpower, but we need more. - So listen in to this episode about the award-winning book and find out hidden keys to success!

Mindset is something that is very important when we talk about learning. - So why do we need to talk about mindset when we are learning? - In her return to the podcast, Sabina from @damn_it_english talks to us about this very important topic of mindset. - Mindset is something that effects the way we do things, whether we are fully motivated or not motivated at all at doing something. - When it comes to learning and studying a language, we need to have a positive mindset, in other words, we need to accept that there will be ups and downs and we also need to accept that this is part of the process. - So what can we do to improve with our mindset to improve our language skills. - Simply put, it's a matter of realising that we will have those ups and downs while we're learning but at the same time, we need to embrace the downs and use them to push ourselves to the next level. - It's time to change your mindset and come and listen to this great episode. It's a matter of the mind!

It's sometimes hard to live in another country. It might be even harder when you live in a country where they don't speak your native language. - In the first of this kind on this podcast, Thami from @thamiresfontinelle and Aline from @alinee.estevam talk to us about their experiences of being au pairs in the USA. - They talk to us about the process of finding the right agency all the way to living with the family. They also tell us about the experiences they had from not having a family to live with all the way to celebrating special times with their host families. - Thami and Aline also tell you how to become au pairs if you would like from finding the right agency all the way to how you become accustomed to the different language and culture. - Come and join these wonderful guests and find out more about this job that so many people all over the world do.

Today I have a double whammy for you: a book and film. - And the book and the film are about a book thief. - In her return to the podcast, Yessica from @ourconversationclub talks to us about this fictional book and the film that came from it. - The book is based in Germany, in a fictional town, during World War 2. - Narrated by Death, the story follows young Liesel Meminger, who lives with her foster parents in Nazi Germany. - After the death of her brother, Liesel decides to steal her first book, hence becoming the Book Thief. Hans, her foster father develops a close relationship with Liesel and helps her to read. - So what can I get out of the book and film? Both the book and film bring out a lot of emotions, mainly sadness and fear, due to the time they are set in, therefore you'll find some very beautiful language to describe the harrowing situations. - Come and join us and find out more about the award-winning book and this fantastic film!

I have gruesomely haunting TV series for you today! - Raisareva from @raisareva_eng talks to us about the Vampire Diaries. - This supernatural series takes place in Mystic Falls, VA, USA, where a lot of supernatural happenings have taken place in the past. - We meet the teenage Elena Gilbert, who falls in love Stefan Salvatore, a boy she thinks is normal (but really isn't)! - Over the course of the series you will encounter the power struggle Stefan and his older brother, who both want to be with Elena. - So what does this haunting series give me as a learner? - Well, as it is a supernatural series, expect there to be a lot of supernatural-based vocabulary and phrases. - But not just this. You will also get lots of normal, everyday conversations between the characters (despite their supernatural backgrounds). - Don't be scared! Come and listen to this supernatural episode and find out more about why TVD (The Vampire Diaries) is not just a gruesome series but also great to improve your English!

What do love, death and robots all have in common? At first glance, you wouldn't expect them to have anything in common. But you'd be wrong! - In her return to the podcast, Inna from @inna_mill_esl brings to us another one of Tim Miller's productions: Love, Death and Robots. - Inna explains to us that all of these episodes are very short and easy to get into. 'You can't get bored by them' is how Inna explains why this TV series is good for learners. - So why is this series so good for you learners? - Apart from the short episodes, this TV series will give you great vocabulary to do with love, death and robots, along with dialogues, which can help you improve your English. - So come and listen to this dystopian episode and find out more about Inna's favourite three episodes!

Reading is one of the key skills that we need to improve our language skills. - And today's episode with Jelena from @how.to.engleski brings to us not one, but a handful of books that are wonderful to improve our English. - Jelena talks to us about the award-winning book by Kazuo Ishiguro - Never Let Me Go, which was later made into a film featuring Andrew Garfield, Carey Mulligan and Keira Knightley. - This book, which starts at a normal-looking boarding school, follows three main characters Kathy, Tommy and Ruth through their childhood and adolescent years. Unbeknown to the three characters, they have been set up for a dystopian future. - The Harry Potter books, on the other hand are more from the magical side! They follow Harry Potter and his friends Hermione Grainger and Ron Weasley as they weave their way through the school of magic called Hogwarts. - But what can these books, which have sold millions of copies, give to me to improve my English. - As you all know, books can enhance our vocabulary and grammar skills, while also actively improving our comprehension skills. - These particular books, however, are more aimed at intermediate or higher-level learners. - Come and join us on this magically dystopian episode and find out more about what lies behind these wonderful pieces of literature!

We all like to read, watch TV series and films in our free time. - We both believe in offering the microphone to lots of different voices so you, our listeners, get the chance to hear interesting stories told in a variety of Englishes. - In part two of 5 favourites, Catherine from @catherineangus_hearyougo joins me to tell you all about her top 5 recommendations to boost your English. From a a British cooking TV series to a modernised sitcom, all the way through to contemporary literature from Canada and not forgetting an age-old fantasy adventure comedy film, Catherine's choices will give you somethings to explore.I hope you enjoy this fun and funny episode. Listen out especially for Catherine's secret crush ;).Don't forget! To hear MY TOP 5, subscribe to Hear You Go podcast with the magnificently spoken Catherine Angus.Thanks for tuning in. Tell us: what's on your top 5 list? Tommy & Catherine

Many of us nowadays are multilingualists, people who can speak more than one language. - Did you know that there are a lot of perks to being multilingual? - Dana from @sana_die_bunte tells us, in her debut episode that there are many perks to knowing more than one language. - So what are they? - Languages, in general, will open many doors whether that for business, culturally or personally. - It will help you to be able to understand people better from the country or countries that speak that language. Remember, multilingualism is not just speaking the language to a lower level but also understanding the language and speaking it at a high level. - Nevertheless, it is also important to remember that multilingualism does have negative aspects such as we can get confused by the different languages we might speak, should they have similar routes for example the Latin languages of French, Spanish, Italian and to some extent, also Romanian. - But don't be perturbed by this at all! Come and listen to Sana talk to you about multilingualism and why we should embrace it so much!

One of the most important things that a lot of language students struggle with is motivation. - Chio from @the.language.circle talks to us about motivation and why we, as language learners struggle with motivation. - But first, what is motivation? Chio explains it as being the force that moves us towards doing things, to work hard towards doing things. - Next: why do we struggle? We struggle with motivation because it very clearly comes and goes. It comes with waves and therefore it is not something that we can always control. - So what can we do as language learners to stay motivated? That is the million dollar question! But Chio, quite correctly states there are three things we need to keep in mind: - 1. Why? Why are we learning the language? 2. Connecting dots. We need to connect the why, the reason, to things that bring you joy in your life, whether that be watching cooking shows for example. 3. Your tribe / support group / support network to keep you motivated. - So jump on the motivation train and listen to this episode and find out more about how to stay motivated!

We have perhaps all been in a situation where we have lived in a different country, where our mother tongue is not spoken, and struggled to acclimatise. - In her return to the podcast Eleanor from @english.with.eleanor talks about the topics of culture shock and homesickness, two very relevant topics when we're living in a country of our target language. - Eleanor talks to us about, how when we live in the country of our target language, we might encounter culture shock and homesickness. - But what are these two words? Culture shock describes the effect of living in a country which has a different culture to home country, for example the way people interact with each other. Homesickness is what happens to us when we feel we would like to go home because you miss your home. - Why are these two words important when learning a language? Well, they are very important we will, at one point or another encounter these two words. - What can we do? Sometimes it's important to ride out the symptoms of culture shock and homesickness, but more importantly, we should try and assimilate ourselves. - So instead of sitting in your home and suffering of homesickness and culture shock, come and listen to Eleanor and her tips.

Did you know that you can improve your English with the Bible? It might sound peculiar, bit it really isn't. - In her debut episode, Jenn from @jenn.is.living talks to us about how the Bible can take your English to the next level. - You might be thinking that it is only a religious book, but there is more to it than meets the eye. - Jenn tells us that this book, despite being a religious book, actually has a lot of different things it can bring to us for example different literary genres and different types of writers for example doctors. - And, let's not forget that there are many idioms and phrases that derive directly from this wonderful book. - Come and listen to this episode and find out more about this holy book can take your English further!

Making mistakes while learning a language is something that none of us like and we're all scared about it. - But, says Vito from @speakenglish.likeaboss in his return to the podcast, mistakes are not something that we have to be scared of at all. - In fact mistakes are something that we can and should learn from. Every mistake we make should enhance and improve our language journey, whether that be a simple grammatical mistake or a mistake we make while talking to someone in our target language. - Our message to you: embrace your mistakes and learn from them as this is one of the best ways for you to improve your language experience!

Instagram is a very popular platform for people to communicate on. - Nevertheless, not many people realise that we can actually it to improve English skills. - Bianka from @englishbianka in her debut episode talks about the main reasons why she teaches English on IG, for example keeping in touch with her students and then to reach out to a wider audience. - But what can I do on IG to improve my English? - Well, Bianka explains that first thing you can do is actively watch and read the content teachers post. By doing this you can actively your different language skills. - Secondly you can interact with different people, whether that be teachers or learners in English. - Today, as your next aim, you should actively use Instagram and other social media platforms to go and improve your English!

Who ever knew that literature could be so beautiful?! - From similes to metaphors, to vivid descriptions, it is truly spectacular! - In his debut episode Ben from @benbeuretlearnenglishnow presents different strands of literature which you as learners can pick up and use to improve your English. - Ben brings to us different books for example 'Dig Yourself' where we can pick some everyday phrasal verbs and verbs. Yes, you may think that these are 'beautiful' but the way the author describes very mundane situations, makes the words stand out. - Let's dive in and discover the beauty of literature and how it can take our English to the next level!

Performing in front of people is not something all of us like or want to do, is it? - But, did you know that it actually has a great impact on improving your English language skills. - In her debut episode, Rosy from @weird.things_people.say talks to us about performing arts and how we can get into it and why it would help us improve our language skills. - Rosy tells us how, at a young age, she was influenced by performing arts. At school, she started acting on an amateur basis. - With this experience and knowledge, Rosy has started using the performing arts with her students for example performing the fairytale of Goldilocks with her young students. - So what is there in it for you as an English learner? - You don't have to be a great actor to get into the performing arts. For English learners you will broaden your vocabulary, become more confident speakers of the English and, the most important part of it: you'll have a lot of fun! - Dive in! Come and listen to Rosy and become inspired to act a little!

Game shows are something we all like to watch and enjoy! - But the problem is that we don't always understand what we're watching and therefore we don't feel like watching them at all. - Amy from @pinkflamingoenglish talks to us about the game show Catchphrase that she has watched since she was a child. - In this gameshow, Catchphrase, contestants are asked to find out a phrase, whether that be from a popular TV shows or slogans from popular companies. Should one of the contestant get the answer wrong, their opponent will be asked to find the correct answer. - What can English learners get from this type of TV show? - The main thing is that you'll be able to broaden your vocabulary and improve your listening. - Come and listen to this episode and find out more about this gameshow and why Amy likes it so much!

Culture is something we don't usually associate immediately with language learning. - Nevertheless Leon from @englishteacherleon talks to us about its importance. - We start by looking at cultural nuances within different states in the USA for example calling someone 'friend' means one thing on the East Coast of the USA compared to the West Coast. - Going deeper into this topic we pick up cultural nuances when it comes to him living in Brazil. How the meaning of one letter can have a completely different meaning in Brazil compared to the USA. - We also look taboos when it comes to asking things on first dates or meetings with people, and how these questions can have a big impact on a friendship or relationship someone might have. - Next time you have a conversation, remember that culture has a BIG impact on language!

James Bond! The man with the licence to kill! The quintessential British spy! - Love him or loathe him, this man has something different about him. He's a man who has survived over 60 years and numerous changes in personality from Sean Connery, the very first Bond to Roger Moore, and more recently Pierce Brosnan, the only Irish James Bond to Daniel Craig, the only Bond to have died. - So what can English learners get from this wonderfully vibrant character? Well, the brutally obvious starting point is we can improve our listening skills, with either the title song or the films itself. - Then we can pick up vocabulary based on spying and warfare, as James Bond is involved paying (for MI6). - Come and get the licence to learn with this quintessential British spy and take your English to the next level!

Queen, Pink Floyd, The Police, Thin Lizzy! These bands are legends of a particular genre of music called Classic Rock. - And this genre has become ever more popular in recent years and will continue to become more and more popular. - But the problem is a lot of learners have no idea how to use these legends to improve their English skills. - Kathy from @inglesathomekathy_ gives us some great tracks that you can start getting your teeth into from Creedence Clearwater Revival's 'Have You Ever Seen The Rain' to The Police's hit 'Every Breath You Make'. While doing this, we are told how best to dissect the songs and use them to improve our English. - From example, start by just listening to the songs without the lyrics to get into them. Then read the lyrics while listening a second time. And while you're doing this, don't forget to write down that vocabulary you don't know, ;). - So let yourself enjoy these Classic Rock legends and remember to also enjoy the English learning journey along the way!

We all worry a lot in our daily lives and we all want to stop worrying and need find a way to do it. - But how can we even do that?! Noreen, from @englishwithnoreen, in her second episode talks to us about this multimillion-selling book 'How To Stop Worrying and Start Living' by Dale Carnegie. - The books talks about 'normal problems' that we might have, for example at work or at home, and how we can overcome these problems. - What can this book do to my English? - Well, as with any book, you're able to pick up language related to different topics, such as problem solving. - Come and get a healthy dose of self-help with this book award-winning book and help yourself to improve your English.

It's good to be good, isn't it? - But it's not always easy to be good, though. - In her return to the podcast, Juliana from @englishflavorchat talk to us about the series Good Girls. - Good Girls is a series that follows three different women from American society who all want to be 'good girls', but as with everyone, have problems making ends meet. - Why is this series so good for English learners? Generally speaking this series brings a lot of different vocabulary. For example there is vocabulary about finance and some vocabulary about the struggles you may have if you go through a divorce. - Let's dive into this episode and come and learn something new today!

Murder! Intrigue! Backstabbing! - All these have something in common in today's episode! - Rafaela from @english.rafaela brings us the hit TV series How To Get Away With Murder! - Generally speaking TV series will help you improve your English because of the specific vocabulary available - whether that be crime series, reality Tv or anything. - Rafaela told us that she is a big fan of crime series and this one is one of her favourites. - So what is it about? It follows law students who are hired at Annelise Keating's (played by Viola Davis) law firm. All the students, from different backgrounds, help Keating defend different people. - Nevertheless, the characters are not as 'normal' as they all seem. - So let's jump to it! Let's listen to this episode and also watch this TV series and improve your English.

The performing arts and English are not something, at first glance, you would expect to associate with each other. - Even less so, musicals and English! Nevertheless, Rebekah from @englishparati explains to us how we can use the magic of musicals to improve your English. - Rebekah tells us that her first experience of musicals was when she was a young girl when she watched Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. And from that day onwards, Rebekah became a big fan of this performing art. Rebekah loves the music, the costumes, the actors, and the lights from all musicals. - Does Rebekah have a favourite musical? Well, some of her favourite musicals include The Phantom Of The Opera and Miss Saigon. - So how do we get to learn and improve our English with musicals? There are lot of ways including improving your listening skills, your acting skills (if you are more of an actor), or your vocabulary skills. - Come and join us and let's take your English to the next level with the magic of musicals!