American English Podcast

⭐ Take part in our Free ⁠14-Day English Slang and Expression Challenge.⁠ Why do Americans call it soccer instead of football? Why isn't it the most popular sport in the country? And do Americans actually care about the World Cup? In this episode, Shana explores the history of soccer in the United States, from youth leagues and soccer moms to Pelé, the 1994 World Cup, the rise of the U.S. Women's National Team, David Beckham, Lionel Messi, and the growing popularity of the sport today. Along the way, she shares personal stories from growing up playing soccer in California and compares American soccer culture with what she's experiencing in Brazil during the 2026 World Cup. Why Americans say soccer instead of football How soccer grew in popularity in the United States The role of Pelé, Beckham, Messi, and the U.S. Women's National Team What a soccer mom is Why soccer became one of the most popular youth sports in America How soccer culture in the U.S. differs from countries like Brazil, Argentina, and Germany Whether Americans really care about the World Cup Interesting soccer superstitions from Brazil Useful English expressions related to sports and competition ⭐ 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

What if you woke up one day and couldn’t see or hear the world around you? In this episode of the American English Podcast, you’ll discover the incredible true story of Helen Keller — one of the most inspiring figures of the 20th century — and the teacher who changed her life, Anne Sullivan. As you follow Helen’s journey from silence to self-expression, you’ll learn 10 essential irregular verbs in the simple past tense, hear them used naturally in a powerful story, and reinforce them with clear examples. Along the way, we’ll explore how Helen learned to communicate, speak, read, and eventually address audiences around the world. 🎧 Listen closely — and see how many irregular verbs you can catch! ⭐ Sign up to the Academy to Learn More with AEP Cheat sheet: hear - heard - heard sit - sat - sat bend - bent - bent send - sent - sent have - had - had read - read - read write - wrote - written go - went - gone speak - spoke - spoken say - said - said Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You know Starbucks, right? The coffee company? Born in Seattle, Washington and brewed around the world? I bet you do; they have over 40 thousand stores in over 80 countries. In today's episode, we're going to talk about how it came to be. Why is it called Starbucks? Who's that woman on their cups? What's the story? There are a lot of Starbucks haters and a lot of lovers out there, but all of you will find this episode fascinating because 1. it’s an absurdly successful business—how did they do it?! 2. it’s about coffee (who doesn’t love coffee!?) and 3. you’ll learn a bucketload of new vocabulary as we go. Thanks again to my amazing supporters who have contributed to this podcast either by purchasing Premium Content or ⁠buying me coffee⁠! Check out the Academy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Who doesn’t love a good crime story from the 1930s? Add romance, fast cars, and a nation in chaos… and you’ve got Bonnie and Clyde. In this episode, I share a simplified, learner-friendly version of their true story—set during the Great Depression—and pack it with irregular verbs. You’ll hear how newspapers turned two criminals into legends, why the public sympathized with them, and how their story became one of the most famous love-and-crime tales in U.S. history. You’ll Learn: The meaning of infamous Why crime increased during the 1930s How newspapers turned Bonnie and Clyde into legends 10 essential irregular verbs in context (+ TONS of others we already learned in other irregular verb episodes) Focus Verbs: steal (stole) · meet (met) · have (had) · drive (drove) · shoot (shot) ·hurt (hurt) · catch (caught) · give (gave) · hide (hid) · forget (forgot) Mentioned in the Episode Get the full transcript, quizzes, worksheets, and videos inside ⁠The Academy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. 🍋In other words, turn a bad situation into a good one! That’s my new motto, and in this episode you’ll hear how we turned a full hour of tears at the Orlando Airport into one of the most magical experiences of our lives. This is a casual catch-up about what’s been going on since the last episode — and more importantly, a ridiculous story packed with 10 common English expressions used naturally in context. Listen, learn, and please don’t judge me. I love you. 😂 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. Mentioned in the Episode The Academy Lucas on guitar (wait for his entrance — totally worth it!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this Five Minute English feature, we dive into one of America’s most beloved seasons: fall (also known as autumn). From pumpkin spice and cozy sweaters to apple orchards and football games, fall in the U.S. isn’t just a season—it’s a whole feeling. You’ll learn: Which is more common: fall or autumn? The sounds, sights, tastes, and smells that define the season. Cultural traditions like pumpkin patches, apple picking, football games, Halloween, and Thanksgiving. The meaning of fall foliage and why U.S. autumn leaves are so special. Personal stories and memories that capture the cozy, nostalgic spirit of the season. Along the way, you’ll hear rich vocabulary, expressions, and phrasal verbs to boost your English while connecting with American culture. Fall in the U.S. is marked by vivid colors, comfort foods, and family traditions. The season is more than dates on a calendar—it’s tied to the senses: smell, taste, touch, sight, and sound. Shared experiences (like stepping on a crunchy leaf 🍂) remind us of the simple pleasures that unite people. This episode is part of the Five Minute English series, which means it’s packed with advanced vocabulary and collocations. Listen several times, pause, and replay to strengthen your comprehension. If you’d like definitions, transcripts, and a vocabulary guide for this episode, check out the ⭐ 5-Minute English Courses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices