Blend Inn

从商业内幕、体育秘辛到儿童故事，跟大家分享我真正会听的英文 Podcast！不知道大家还记不记得，不久之前的 Ep188，我做了一集关于“到底要怎么练英文听力”的节目。�那一集里我一直强调：如果你真的想把英文 Podcast 听下去，不要一开始就找“最适合学英文的 Podcast”，而应该选择自己真正感兴趣、并且已经具备一些背景知识的领域。所以这一集不讲大道理，直接跟大家分享——我自己平常到底都听什么英文 Podcast？本期 Podcast 推荐Business｜商业故事Foundering：深入讲述一家公司或创业者背后的故事，推荐 WeWork、Amazon 和 Sam Altman 等系列。Business Wars：通过场景和对话，重新演绎 Nike vs. Adidas、Coke vs. Pepsi、Netflix vs. Blockbuster 等经典商业战争。Acquired：用三四个小时深度拆解一家公司的历史、商业模式、战略和竞争优势。Sports｜体育故事30 for 30：由 ESPN 制作，从体育出发，讲述金钱、种族、犯罪、家庭、政治、名人和权力背后的故事。节目中也包括大谷翔平身边的赌博风波，以及职业球星破产等主题。Kids & Stories｜儿童与故事《听故事学英文》：适合需要中文辅助的听众。Forever Ago：选择小朋友也会感兴趣的题目讲历史。Smash Boom Best：让两个事物展开趣味对战。Circle RoundStory PiratesStorynory本期英文学习知识卡片1｜Background knowledge：背景知识选择自己熟悉的领域练习英文听力。当你已经了解相关的人物、公司、球队或比赛，就能利用已有知识推测节目内容。2｜Context：语境与上下文听英文不需要逐字翻译。熟悉一个领域的 context 和常用词汇，可以帮助你通过上下文理解没有听清楚的部分。3｜从熟悉的内容开始听 Acquired 这类三四个小时的全英文节目时，可以先选择自己非常熟悉、也非常感兴趣的公司。如果普通英文 Podcast 太难，则可以从发音清楚、句子结构简单的儿童节目开始。4｜What happens next?不要一直纠结自己听懂了 70%、80% 还是 90%。找到一个真正让你想知道“What happens next?”的节目，才会愿意持续听下去。不要先问自己，哪一个 Podcast 最适合学英文。先问自己：什么东西是你真的想听的？这才是把英文真正带进生活里的好方法。也欢迎搜索微信号「xy-gungun」添加小助手，备注【Blend Inn】，加入听友群一起交流互动~

从 Juggle 到 Cascade：12 个从日常动作演变而来的高级商务动词一周前，我带小孩去了 Canberra，也就是澳大利亚的首都，去看一年一度的花卉节 Floriade。我们走到一个市集的时候，刚好看到一个街头艺人在表演 juggling。Juggling 就是我们中文讲的“杂耍”，可能同时把三颗球、四颗球，甚至更多东西往空中丢，然后一个一个接回来。小朋友看得超级开心，一直跟我说：“Daddy, juggling is so cool!”我在旁边看着看着，突然想到，其实 juggle 这个词，我在工作里也超级常用。明明眼前这个人在丢球，跟我们坐在 office 里工作看起来完全没有关系，可是 juggle 今天已经是一个非常自然，甚至非常好用的 workplace verb。其实英文里这种词超级多。很多我们今天觉得很 professional、很 business 的动词，一开始根本不是 business words。它们可能来自开车、航海、运动、农业，甚至打铁。只是因为那个 physical action 本身有一个非常强烈的画面，后来人们就把这个画面借过来，形容职场中比较 abstract 的事情。所以今天这一集，我想带大家学习 12 组从日常生活一路演变成 workplace English 的高级动词。而且我不只想告诉大家它们现在是什么意思，我们还要从最原本的画面开始——因为当你理解那个画面之后，通常就不太需要死记硬背了。� 本期的知识卡片我们整理在下面啦：� English Learning Card｜Workplace Verbs You Can Picture1. One-minute summary｜一分钟英文概述Many English verbs that sound professional today originally described physical actions from everyday life. In this episode, David explores 12 groups of workplace verbs through the pictures behind them. To juggle projects is like keeping several balls in the air, while driving change creates momentum and steering a team provides direction. We tackle problems when we take direct action, but wrestle with decisions when there is no simple answer. We hammer out details through repeated discussion, cultivate trust over time, and shoulder responsibilities that feel heavy. A company may weather a crisis, while a team can flesh out an early idea or cascade a strategy through different levels of an organization. These visual metaphors make subtle differences easier to understand and remember. Instead of memorizing translations, connect each verb to its original physical image. This will help you use workplace English more naturally and precisely in meetings, presentations, résumés, and interviews.2. Key vocabulary & expressions｜核心词汇与表达3. Useful sentence patterns｜实用句型If I say …, it means …; but if I say …, it suggests …：用于比较两个相近表达之间的细微差别。If I say “I manage three projects,” it means I’m responsible for them; but if I say “I’m juggling three projects,” it suggests they all need my attention at the same time.如果我说“我管理三个项目”，表示我对它们负责；但如果我说“我正在同时兼顾三个项目”，则表示它们都需要我同时投入精力。It’s not just about …; it’s about …：强调真正重要的重点。It’s not just about participating in change; it’s about driving it forward.重点不只是参与改变，而是真正推动改变向前发展。A is about …, while B is about …：对比两个概念的核心区别。Drive is about momentum, while steer is about direction.Drive 强调推动力，而 steer 强调方向。We need to …, not just …：提出更深入或更有效的行动建议。We need to tackle the root cause, not just treat the symptoms.我们需要解决根本原因，而不只是处理表面问题。主语 + manage to + 动词原形：表示经过努力，最终成功完成某事。The company managed to weather the crisis without cutting jobs.公司成功渡过了危机，而且没有裁员。4. Speaking practice｜口语输出尝试用英文回答，每题说 3—5 句：What responsibilities are you currently juggling at work or in your personal life?Have you ever had to wrestle with a difficult decision? What made it difficult?What qualities does someone need to spearhead an important project?How can a company cultivate trust among its employees?What kind of crisis has your team or company had to weather?5. Quick review｜快速自测用本卡片中的词组填空：We need to ________ the details before signing the agreement.She was asked to ________ the company’s new AI initiative.Our strategy should be ________ in real customer needs.Small businesses are struggling to ________ the rise in operating costs.The basic idea is promising, but we still need to ________ the business model.也欢迎搜索微信号「xy-gungun」添加小助手，备注【Blend Inn】，加入听友群一起交流互动~

一场战争，如何改写美国与墨西哥的命运今天这集想跟大家讲讲有趣的历史故事。今天美国将近 30% 的 GDP，来自几个不到 200 年前都曾经属于墨西哥的州。包括全美经济最大的 California，第二大的 Texas，还有 Arizona、New Mexico、Nevada、Utah。光是 California 跟 Texas，今天加起来就占了美国 GDP 超过 23%。所以换个角度想：今天美国差不多每四块钱的经济产出，就有超过一块来自这两个以前曾经属于墨西哥的地方。但如果我们把时间倒回不到 200 年前——这些地方根本都不是美国。这场战争只打了不到两年，从 1846 到 1848。但打完之后，墨西哥失去了超过一半的国土，而美国的版图则一路延伸到 Pacific Ocean。How did Mexico lose half of its country? How did that change the fate of both countries?� 本期的知识卡片我们整理在下面啦：� English Learning Card｜How the Mexican-American War Reshaped North America1. One-minute summary｜一分钟英文概述After gaining independence from Spain in 1821, Mexico controlled a vast territory that included much of today’s American Southwest. Many American settlers moved into Texas, but conflicts over culture, political autonomy, and slavery eventually fueled the Texas Revolution. Texas became an independent republic in 1836 and joined the United States in 1845. A border dispute and President James K. Polk’s expansionist agenda helped trigger the Mexican-American War in 1846. After Mexico’s defeat, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo transferred a huge amount of land to the United States. The war reshaped both countries, intensified the debate over slavery, and left a lasting Mexican influence on the culture of the American Southwest.2. Key vocabulary & expressions｜核心词汇与表达3. Useful sentence patterns｜实用句型used to + 动词原形：表示“过去曾经……，现在已经不是”。California used to belong to Mexico.加利福尼亚过去曾属于墨西哥。not only … but also …：表示“不仅……而且……”。The war not only changed the border but also intensified the debate over slavery.这场战争不仅改变了边界，也加剧了有关奴隶制的争论。It was not until … that …：强调“直到……才……”。It was not until 1845 that Texas joined the United States.直到1845年，得克萨斯才加入美国。If + had done, … might/would have done：用第三条件句讨论与历史事实相反的假设。If Mexico had kept California, North American history might have unfolded differently.如果墨西哥保住了加利福尼亚，北美历史可能会以不同的方式发展。What makes … fascinating is that …：表达“……最吸引人的地方在于……”。What makes this war fascinating is that its effects can still be seen today.这场战争最吸引人的地方在于，它的影响至今仍然随处可见。4. Speaking practice｜口语输出尝试用英文回答，每题说3—5句：Why did Texas want to join the United States?How did the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo reshape North America?How can geography change a country’s possibilities?What Mexican influences can still be seen in the American Southwest today?5. Quick review｜快速自测用本卡片中的词组填空：The war ________ in 1846.Mexico ________ a large area ________ the United States.Many Texans were ________ joining the United States.Many cultural traditions in the Southwest can ________ Spanish and Mexican roots.Texas later became an economic ________.也欢迎搜索微信号「xy-gungun」添加小助手，备注【Blend Inn】，加入听友群一起交流互动~

欢迎收听我们“无界故事 (Stories Without Borders)”的第四期节目！Simone 的人生，很难用一条直线来概括。她大学学的是编剧和电影，毕业后却先后进入英语教育、财富管理、资产管理，后来又在三十多岁搬到纽约，在 NYU Stern 攻读 MBA，并转向科技与战略领域。但在纽约生活期间，她又经历了一次完全没有准备过的人生转折：确诊患癌。这一期「无界故事」，David 和 Simone 从这段经历聊起。她分享了自己从发现身体异常、确诊，到化疗、两次手术和放疗的过程，也谈到在最困难的时候，真正支撑她的并不是什么宏大的勇气，而只是“去做下一件必须做的事”。癌症改变了她，但她并不希望自己的人生被“癌症幸存者”这个标签定义。对她来说，一段艰难的经历可以成为人生的一部分，却不必成为全部。我们也聊到了 Simone 一次次重新开始的经历：为什么从电影转向金融并不意味着“浪费了过去”；一个内向的人如何面对 MBA 里的 networking 和求职；为什么 FOMO 最后变成了 JOMO；以及一个三十三岁才搬到美国的人，是如何把英语练到可以用它工作、表达和创作的。这也是一期关于“重新开始”的对话。有些改变是我们自己选择的：换工作、换行业、搬去另一个国家。有些改变，则是生活替我们做出的决定。而 Simone 在节目里说的一句话，也许正好概括了这一期：“A difficult experience can become part of your story without becoming your whole identity.”一段艰难的经历，可以成为你故事的一部分，却不必成为你的全部身份。更多信息：� 嘉宾 Simone｜小红书 @阿西也叫Sim� 主播 David｜小红书 @David Blends Inn� 扫描下方二维码，关注公众号【Blend Inn】，获取节目文字版知识卡片 / 全英文故事双语文稿，加入听友群，随时互动哦~

从热浪、酷暑，到中暑、防晒，一次学会今年夏天最常听到的英文。大家最近有没有发现，感觉今年全世界都在比谁比较热。不管你打开 BBC、CNN，还是滑 Instagram、X，几乎每天都会看到各种新闻。欧洲热浪。日本高温。美国很多地方打破历史纪录。中国很多城市甚至超过四十度。有些地方因为太热，铁轨开始变形，森林野火不断延烧，甚至连飞机都会因为高温影响起飞效率。但是今天，我们不是要聊全球暖化。而是呢，我想聊聊如果今天真的热到快疯掉，英文到底怎么说？因为我发现，很多人讲英文的时候，只要讲到天气，很容易永远只有一句：It’s so hot.这句话有没有错？完全没有。但是，如果你真的在美国、加拿大、澳洲生活一段时间，你会发现，大家其实很少一直重复 hot。今天，我就想跟大家分享一些我平常最常听到、新闻最常看到，而且今年夏天一定用得到的英文。� 本期的知识卡片我们整理在下面啦：01｜新闻里常见的“高温”表达heatwave /ˈhiːtweɪv/ ：热浪例句：Europe is experiencing another heatwave. 欧洲正在经历另一波热浪。例句：A severe heatwave has hit Japan. 日本遭遇了一波严重热浪。sweltering /ˈsweltərɪŋ/ ：热得让人受不了的，闷热的常见搭配：sweltering heat / sweltering temperatures例句：We’ve been dealing with sweltering heat all week. 我们这一整周都在忍受酷热天气。scorching /ˈskɔːrtʃɪŋ/ ：酷热的，灼热的常见搭配：scorching heat / scorching temperatures例句：Scorching temperatures continue across southern Europe. 欧洲南部持续出现酷热天气。02｜日常聊天：热到快融化了I’m melting. 我快融化了。I’m roasting. 我快被烤熟了。I’m boiling.我快被煮熟了。It’s brutal today.今天的天气太折磨人了。It’s like an oven. 外面简直像烤箱一样。It’s hot as hell. 热得跟地狱一样。（语气较强）It’s hot as heck.热得要命。（相对委婉）This heatwave is insane. 这波热浪太夸张了。03｜热到爆汗怎么说？最自然的基本表达是：I’m sweating. 我在流汗。想强调“汗流浃背”，可以说：I’m sweating buckets. 我汗如雨下。I’m sweating like crazy. 我疯狂出汗。I’m sweating like a pig. 我汗流浃背。04｜干热、湿热和闷热humidity：湿度humid：潮湿的humid heat：湿热dry heat：干热muggy：又热、又闷、又湿，空气仿佛黏在身上一样例句：It’s really muggy today.今天又湿又闷。例句：The humidity is killing me.这湿度快把我折磨死了。05｜Heat exhaustion 和 heatstroke 有什么区别？heat exhaustion：热衰竭常见表现包括头晕、大量出汗、乏力等。这是身体发出的高温警告。heatstroke：中暑、热射病情况比 heat exhaustion 更严重，通常需要尽快就医。例句：Several people were hospitalized for heatstroke.有好几个人因为中暑被送往医院。记忆顺序：heat exhaustion（热衰竭）→ 情况继续恶化 → heatstroke（中暑／热射病）06｜夏季防暑必备表达Stay hydrated. 记得补充水分。Stay in the shade. 待在阴凉处。Find some shade. 找个阴凉的地方。Let’s cool off. 我们去凉快一下吧。cool off 不一定指游泳。走进便利店吹空调、去咖啡馆喝冰饮，或去商场避暑，都可以说 cool off。07｜Shade 和 shades 别搞混shade：阴凉处、阴影例句：Let’s find some shade.我们找个阴凉处吧。shades口语中可以表示“太阳镜”。例句：Don’t forget your shades.别忘了带太阳镜。例句：Nice shades!你的墨镜真好看！正式一点可以说 sunglasses。另外，shades 也可以指百叶窗或遮阳帘：Pull down the shades.把遮阳帘拉下来。08｜一组可以直接套用的夏日对话A: It’s brutal today.今天真的热爆了。B: I know. I’m sweating buckets.就是啊，我都汗流浃背了。A: The humidity is killing me.这湿度快把我折磨死了。B: Let’s find some shade and cool off.我们找个阴凉处凉快一下吧。A: Good idea. We should stay hydrated, too.好主意。我们也要记得补充水分。09｜今日重点速记新闻高频词：heatwave、sweltering、scorching热到受不了：I’m melting. / I’m roasting. / It’s brutal. / It’s like an oven.汗流浃背：I’m sweating buckets. / I’m sweating like crazy.又湿又闷：It’s muggy. / The humidity is killing me.高温健康提醒：heat exhaustion、heatstroke防暑表达：Stay hydrated. / Find some shade. / Let’s cool off.� 扫描下方二维码，关注公众号【Blend Inn】，获取节目文字版知识卡片 / 全英文故事双语文稿，加入听友群，随时互动哦~

欢迎收听我们全新系列“无界故事 (Stories Without Borders)”的第二期节目！15 岁拿新加坡教育部 SM1 奖学金离开吉林，莱佛士女中、Vassar 全奖、LSE 交换、华尔街花旗、哥大 MBA、Amazon 产品经理——Manning 的人生放在纸面上，几乎是标准答案。但在纽约街头被随机采访时，她说的是："I don't like it. It's just a job." 这条视频后来爆了。这期我们请她把标准答案拆开来讲：为什么努力是成年人世界里最不重要的东西；为什么她到今天仍然认为成功就是钱，并且认为自己没有成功；200 多次约会之后她只看"不会变的东西"；以及即将成为一个男孩的母亲时，她诚实到有点刺人的那些顾虑。一场关于成功、约会与自我诚实的对谈。她几乎没有给出任何漂亮的答案。本期嘉宾：ManningManning 是一位现居美国西雅图的科技行业从业者，任职于 Amazon，担任产品经理。她同时活跃于 MBA 咨询领域，与本期主播 David 一同辅导过大量申请者。她形容自己外向、真诚、坦率，喜欢听别人的故事——也愿意毫无修饰地讲自己的。录制本期节目时，她即将在两个月后成为一位母亲。关于 Manning 的经历：跨国求学路径： Manning 出生于中国东北吉林省，15 岁通过新加坡教育部 SM1 奖学金项目赴新，就读于莱佛士女子中学与莱佛士初级学院。四年后她拿到 NUS、NTU 的全额奖学金与新加坡绿卡，却选择将新加坡作为跳板——以全额奖学金入读美国 Vassar College，并在大三整年前往伦敦政治经济学院（LSE）交换，奖学金一并转往伦敦。从华尔街到西雅图： 文理学院没有结构化校招，她联系了 100 多位校友，最终经一位花旗董事总经理引荐，于 2014 年进入华尔街，任职花旗集团项目融资部。此后跳槽至一家法国银行，因厌倦而陷入停滞，遂申请 MBA，以半奖入读哥伦比亚大学商学院。毕业后转身离开金融业，拿到 Amazon 的 offer，移居西雅图。一条意外爆火的街头采访： 在纽约街头被随机采访问及工作时，她没有给出体面的标准答案，而是直言"I don't like it. It's just a job."。这条视频随后在网络上广泛传播——也正是这句话，促成了本期对谈。200 多次约会之后： 从大学时代的 Tinder，到纽约的 Hinge、Coffee Meets Bagel，Manning 在结婚前约会过 200 多次。她把找工作和找伴侣视为同一件事——"It's a numbers game"，并最终在 Coffee Meets Bagel 上遇到了现在的丈夫。更多信息：� 嘉宾 Manning｜小红书 @Zuzu Rabbit� 主播 David｜小红书 @David Blends Inn⏱️ 时间轴：02:28 15 岁去新加坡：不是为了更好，是为了逃离内卷07:51 联系 100 多位校友：It's a numbers game12:38 那条爆火的纽约街采："It's just a job."14:56 努力是成年人世界里最不重要的东西18:59 "我不觉得自己成功"——一段坦白21:38 200 多次约会：女生的巅峰只有 23–27 岁？34:26 蝴蝶感其实是焦虑35:41 别找会变的东西，找不会变的41:31 即将当妈：我比想象中更控制欲强44:23 给十五年后的儿子：可以骗所有人，别骗自己� 扫描下方二维码，关注公众号【Blend Inn】，获取节目文字版知识卡片 / 全英文故事双语文稿，加入听友群，随时互动哦~

Let me ask you a question.How many times do you think you need to see an English word before you finally remember it?Five times? Ten times? Twenty times?I think almost every English learner has wondered about this at some point.Because we’ve all had the same experience.You’re reading an article, watching Netflix, or listening to a podcast. You come across a word you don’t know, so you look it up. You read the definition, maybe check a couple of example sentences, and think, “Alright, I’ve got it.”Then two days later… you see exactly the same word again.And somehow… you’ve forgotten it.So you look it up again.A week later, it shows up one more time.And at that point you’re thinking, “Seriously? I’ve looked up this word three times already. Why won’t it stay in my brain?”� 扫描下方二维码，关注公众号【Blend Inn】，获取节目文字版知识卡片 / 全英文故事双语文稿，加入听友群，随时互动哦~

Why Do You Sound More Boring in English?Let me ask you a question. And this might sound a little bit mean, but… are you more boring when you speak English?Seriously. Think about the person you are when you speak Chinese. Maybe you’re funny. Maybe you’re sarcastic. Maybe you’re dramatic. Maybe you’re the person at the dinner table who always has a story to tell. Someone says something ridiculous, and immediately you have a reaction.「真的假的？」「太扯了吧。」「你有事吗？」「我就知道。」「拜托，他最好是。」You don’t need to think. You don’t need to prepare. The words just come out. You know exactly when to interrupt. You know how to make a joke. You know how to exaggerate a story just enough to make it funny.And then someone starts speaking English to you.“Really?”“Oh.”“That’s good.”“I think so.”“Maybe.”“Very interesting.”What happened? Where did that funny, interesting person go?Same person. Same brain. Same personality. But somehow, completely different energy.And I know this feeling very, very well. When I first moved to the U.S., I remember feeling like I was a less interesting version of myself. In Chinese, I could joke around. I could tease people. I could tell stories. I could be sarcastic.But in English, sometimes I would have a joke in my head. I knew exactly what I wanted to say. Then I had to figure out how to say it in English. And by the time I finally found the words, the conversation had already moved on.Everyone was laughing about something else, and I was still mentally translating my brilliant joke from thirty seconds ago.Too late. The moment was gone.So today, I want to talk about something that I don’t think we talk about enough in language learning. Why do so many smart, funny, interesting people become kind of boring when they speak a second language?And more importantly, how do you get your personality back?� 扫描下方二维码，关注公众号【Blend Inn】，获取节目文字版知识卡片 / 全英文故事双语文稿，加入听友群，随时互动哦~