English, baby! Daily Podcasts

What is it about baby animals? It’s hard to find anyone who doesn’t like baby animals. Recently, there was a story in the news about a leopard taking care of a baby monkey after killing its mother. There’s something about innocent creatures that seems to make us all act like parents, even if we don’t have babies of our own. Baby animals can’t walk or see very well, they sleep on top of each other, they’re always hungry, and they’re incredibly soft. They bring out the nurturing parts of us. They make us want to pick them up and hold them to our hearts, and they make us smile. What’s not to love? Brian and Gary are talking about baby animals. Who is obsessed? Read on to find out in today’s English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“Normally they come in to give you a little breather, to give you time to rest a bit, and also to give you some advice.” Major League Baseball pitcher Pedro Martinez, talking about the role of coaches -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

How would you describe your best friend? Is she someone exactly the same as you, or is he totally opposite? Both kinds of friends are great to have in your life, but when it comes to kindred spirits, those who are like-minded are generally those who click. Finding an instant connection with someone is incredibly rare. And it almost always happens randomly. But once you find your kindred spirit, it’s important to keep him or her in your life! Having someone who is passionate about what you’re passionate about, who always understands what you’re thinking and feeling, is truly a gift. If you have many differences of opinion with your best friend, it doesn’t mean you’re not compatible. In fact, when it comes to romantic relationships, it’s often true that opposites attract. But when it comes to kindred spirits, the glue that holds friendship together is the quality of two people being the same. Who has a kindred spirit, Marni or Jeff? Find out in today’s English lesson about friendship. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

When people are close, they know a lot about each other. A person will know what her best friend likes to drink at the coffee shop, what music will be playing in her car, and what color she will pick when offered a flower. Some people can even finish each other’s sentences! People who are close friends are comfortable standing close to each other, too. If you see two people standing next to each other, the places where their bodies are likely to touch are the shoulders and the hips. That’s why when two people seem to do everything together we say they are joined at the hip. Friends who are joined at the hip are always together. It’s so common that you never expect to see them apart. Rafael is still new in town, but he and Jeff have been hanging out a lot. Lily jokes that they’re joined at the hip now! Does Jeff like hearing that from her? Read more to find out. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

What if the world was divided by virtue? You could only be with people just like you. Would you be bored? For Tris, the heroine of the new movie Divergent, this world is real. Everyone around her is split into factions. The problem is that’s she different. As she tries to learn who’s good and who’s bad, her character has to undergo many changes. Like many young adult novels that have become movies, Divergent has its own intense moments. Movie-goers have to figure out who they’re rooting for and hope that character will win in the end. Jeff and Gary have very different opinions about Divergent. Who’s excited to see the new film? Find out in this English lesson about books made into movies. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

In a world with so many types of vehicles… buses, trains, light rail, airplanes, even bicycles… it’s strange that so many people prefer to travel by car. Cars cost a lot of money to drive, and they use a lot of space on the road. When everyone is trying to get to work, being in a car can be quite stressful. So why are they so popular? Cars are certainly a status symbol in most parts of the world. And this is unfortunate. Buses and trains create less pollution, and they’re much more fuel efficient. Also, if you can sit on a bus and look out the window, your day will be far more relaxing! Rafael and Lily talk about the pros and cons of public transportation in today’s English lesson about getting around. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“You’re there day in and day out. You’re the person that has the closest relationship with all the crew members, with the director, with the producers. And you really feel part of that ensemble that you don’t feel necessarily if you’re, like I have been, more of a supporting actor.” Actor Kit Harington, talking about his lead role in the movie Pompeii (Moviefone) -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Have you ever thought about how technology can be fun? For example, think about escalators. Sure, they help us out when we need to tote an armful of shopping bags up three stories at the mall, or when we have to transport heavy suitcases at the airport. But it’s also pretty entertaining to step on the lowest stair and automatically be carried to another level of a building. All you have to do is stand there and watch the floor get farther and farther away. Sometimes people get carried away with the fun they have on escalators. Teenagers dare each other to run up the down side of the escalator, for example. These kind of antics not only seem like accidents waiting to happen, but they are also not convenient for other people who actually want to use the escalator to go down a level. Lily loves riding escalators, but Rafael definitely doesn’t. Find out why in this English lesson about technology. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Has anyone ever thrown a party for you? Surprise parties are usually fun, for birthdays, babies and weddings, and visitors we weren’t expecting can be a wonderful treat as well. People are often surprised by letters in the mail, or seeing an old friend at the grocery store. There are all kinds of ways that joy unexpectedly comes into our lives. Perhaps even better is a blessing in disguise. Pretend that you are walking in the rain to a bookstore because your favorite author is going to read from her new book. You walk for an hour, and you arrive completely wet. When you walk in the door, you learn that the author is sick and won’t be reading after all. What a disappointment! You walked so far for nothing. But when you look across the room, you see a friend you haven’t talked with in a year. In that moment, you agree to cross the street together to a coffee shop, and you talk for hours. The author’s sickness was unfortunate, but if she hadn’t been sick, you might not have had coffee with your old friend. It was a blessing in disguise. Why was it a blessing in disguise that Jeff wasn’t at the office when Rafael popped by? Find out in today’s English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Picture a large room, dark and quiet before a show. There’s a curtain hanging across the stage. Suddenly, soft music begins to play and gets louder and louder as the curtain is pulled up. Then dancers appear on stage. The musical has begun! Musicals are a much-loved form of entertainment around the world. Before movies were invented, actors were performing on stage, dancing amazing choreography and singing original pieces. Today, musicals are still popular, though many of the lyrics can be quite cheesy. Still, the collaborative work between the musicians and the actors is something you’ll only see on stage. Generally, movies that try to capture a musical on the big screen just don’t succeed. If you’ve seen the magic live, you’ll never be as happy with the movie version. Jessica and Brian are talking about musicals. Learn about their opinions in today’s English lesson about live performances. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“We’re really excited about adult stories out of high school when nobody gives a hoot about you. How does that feel to suddenly be nobody from being the biggest hero?” TV producer Brad Falchuk, talking about the next season of Glee (CNN) -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Everyone has their own sense of fashion. Some people want to wear the latest “thing,” and they read magazines to find out what’s trending. Other people aren’t interested in what’s popular. They might even try to stay away from new styles. Most of us are probably somewhere in the middle. We’re curious about the newest fad, but we don’t save up money to buy everything we hear about. Bandanas have been around for a long time. They’re not exactly trending, but people appreciate that bandanas are multipurpose. You can wear one on your head or around your neck. If it’s hot, you can use it to dry your sweat. If you sneeze, you can use your bandana instead of a tissue. They’re made in hundreds of colors and patterns. Are they fashionable? Maybe not, but they’re definitely useful! Jeff loves to wear bandanas, but Rafael worries about what people will think. Why is that? Read more in today’s English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

When something important is about to happen, we usually stand up. For example, if someone makes a toast at a wedding, or when a meeting is over. People stand up to say goodbye, often with a handshake or a hug. When an important person walks into the room, like a president or even a bride at a wedding, we stand. We rise up. We show respect, or that we’re ready for what happens next. We experience challenges in life all the time. It’s easy to be sad or angry, and it’s natural, too. But eventually every person has to rise to the occasion and keep moving ahead. Not all challenges are bad, of course. A lot of us enjoy a challenge, and even look forward to rising to the occasion and showing our friends and family that we can succeed. Amanda is getting ready to leave, and Marni is going to do her job while she’s gone. Find out more in this English lesson about doing one’s best. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Playing any competitive sport is hard work. You have to practice long hours every day, learn good technique, and then do your best when it’s time to compete. Most athletes just train for one sport. However, that’s not enough for some people. For them, triathlons are a better challenge because they are doing three sports at one time. Triathlons are popular sports events that combine running, biking, and swimming. There are different levels of triathlons, but the most intense triathlon is the ironman event. In the ironman, athletes have to run a marathon (26.2 miles or 42.2 km), bike 112 miles (180.2 km), and swim 2.4 miles (3.8 km)... all without stopping! People who want to do well in a triathlon have to be serious about their training. Any sport takes a lot of dedication and focus. Preparing for a triathlon takes three times as much! Who’s training for a triathlon? Find out in this English lesson about sports. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“There are several women that I really admire. My mom has been there for me, and I really look up to her because of how much she’s been through and how strong she is.” Singer Demi Lovato, talking about women she admires -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com