Culips Everyday English Podcast

What are some of your favourite life hacks? That’s the topic of discussion for this Chatterbox episode. Join Andrew and Anna as they share some of their favourite shortcuts for optimizing and organizing their lives and work. Chatterbox is the Culips series for intermediate and advanced English learners. Each episode features a natural conversation between native speakers about a fascinating topic. By learning English with Chatterbox, you’ll be able to build your fluency, listening skills, and vocabulary. Fun facts Andrew and Anna both name drop YouTube channels in this episode. Andrew watches The Bliss Bean for productivity tips and Anna likes The Minimalists. Check out these channels if you’re looking to learn some new life hacks! Expressions included in the study guide * To write [someone] off * Sounds like my kind of [something] * To be on the same page * To knock out [something] * A hoarder * On hand Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Music Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free, Step On by Jahzzar Photo Credit: Matthijs Smit (Unsplash.com)

Plant-based meat alternatives have gained in popularity over the past decade. People following vegan and vegetarian diets now enjoy better, tastier fake meats. Today, Andrew and Kassy talk about this new, controversial food trend. This episode is part of Culips’ Simplified Speech series. It features natural, easy‑to‑understand English conversations about interesting topics, like fake meat. Listening to native English speakers having natural conversations will improve your listening skills and increase your vocabulary. Tune in to today’s English audio lesson to learn something new. Fun facts Even though fake meat is plant based, nutritionists say that they are not replacements for vegetables. In fact, plant-based burgers have almost the same nutritional benefits as regular meat. So having a side salad or other vegetable dish with your fake meat is a must! Expressions included in the study guide * That’s [someone’s] deal * See what all the hype is about * On that front * On the horizon * Camp * Lukewarm Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Music Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free, Step On by Jahzzar Photo Credit: Grooveland Designs (Unsplash.com)

Are you a big playlist person? That’s the question that Andrew and Suzanne discuss in this Simplified Speech episode. Join them as they chat about the kinds of playlists they make, how they make them, and when they like to listen to them. Simplified Speech is perfect for intermediate-level English learners who are looking to improve their English fluency. Each episode features clear and natural conversations about an interesting topic. Studying with Simplified Speech will help you to improve your English listening skills, conversation ability, and vocabulary knowledge. Fun facts Although there are many different music streaming apps available in North America, Spotify is the most popular. A total of 32% of people who use music-streaming apps say they listen to music through Spotify. Other popular apps include Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music. Expressions included in the study guide * To tweak [something] * Pump-up jam * To taper off * To lean on * To be spot on * No pun intended Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Music Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free, Step On by Jahzzar Photo Credit: Dee. (Unsplash.com)

Joining a new gym can be intimidating. There are a lot of things you need to think of. You have to ask about their membership fees. You have to ask about the length of their membership contracts. And you also need to see if their environment is a good fit for you. Fortunately, in this Real Talk episode, Andrew and Kassy help you with all those questions and more! Real Talk is a series designed to help you in real-life, everyday situations. Our hosts break down the type of dialogues you encounter in an English-speaking environment. Fun facts The gym industry is big business. In the United States alone, gyms make about $35 billion annually. You would think everyone would be fit, right? But according to the website RunRepeat, about 6.3% of Americans never even use memberships they have already paid for! Expressions included in the study guide * Do you need a hand with anything? * Let me tell you about * 24/7/365 * Month to month * To break a contract * Cancellation fee * A free trial / trial membership * A good fit * Release form Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Music Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free, Step On by Jahzzar Photo Credit: Sam Moqadam (Unsplash.com)

Have you ever heard of kombucha? For some people, it’s an amazing tea full of health benefits. For others, it’s a weird-tasting beverage that only strange people drink! In this Simplified Speech episode, Andrew asks Kassy about her kombucha brewing lifestyle. They talk about the various steps of Kassy’s brewing process. Simplified Speech is a series that features easy and natural conversation designed for listeners of all levels. In this episode, our hosts Andrew and Kassy talk about the fascinating world of kombucha brewing! Fun facts Both through home brewing and commercial sales, kombucha has become a worldwide industry. The international kombucha industry is estimated to be worth $1.7 billion US annually. Expressions included in the study guide * To keep regular * Out of thin air * Under the assumption * Room temperature * To pass out * To grow sick of [something] Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Music Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free, Step On by Jahzzar Photo Credit: Tyler Nix and Klara Avsenik (Unsplash.com)

What is your favourite way to say, “I have to leave now, and fast”? In this episode, Andrew and Kassy explain two common English expression that mean to leave quickly: duck out and hightail it out of there. The Culips Catch Word series explains idioms, phrasal verbs, and expressions used in everyday life. Today’s audio lesson is designed to help you improve your English listening and speaking skills while also giving you new, fun ways to say that you’re leaving. Fun facts In 2003, archeologists in Australia’s Mungo National Park discovered footprint fossils left behind by an Aboriginal hunter over 20,000 years ago. The archeologists estimate that these ancient hunters were running at or over 37 kilometres per hour. That’s faster than the current Olympic sprinters! Expressions included in the study guide * Duck out * Hightail it out of there * Do [one’s] business * Bolt * Worst nightmare * Make [one’s] heart race Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Music Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free, Step On by Jahzzar Photo Credit: Mitchell Orr (Unsplash.com)

Did you know that every country has their own special wedding traditions? Recently, Suzanne travelled to France to start planning her wedding. In this episode, Suzanne tells Andrew about the wedding traditions she discovered there. In our Simplified Speech series, native English speakers have natural conversations about common topics. These episodes are designed to boost your English listening skills and increase your vocabulary. On occasion, our hosts share their personal stories, making it easy to listen to these English audio lessons. Fun facts White-ribbon cutting is an old wedding tradition in France. It isn’t used much anymore, except in small villages. The wedding party travels from the bride’s home to the church. Along the way, children block their path with white ribbons, forcing the bride to cut the ribbons to pass through. The tradition symbolizes the bride overcoming obstacles that married life might bring. Expressions included in the study guide * Camp out * Partner * Culture clash * Juxtaposition * Finger food * Stand [one’s] ground Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Music Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free, Step On by Jahzzar Photo Credit: Norbu Gyachung (Unsplash.com)

In many countries, there is a cult of overworking and people are expected to work long hours. In fact, working long hours can be seen as a sign of good moral ethics. However, overworking is also a big problem for workers, as it puts a lot of stress on them. In this Chatterbox episode, Andrew and Anna discuss the cult of overworking and their experiences with this phenomenon. Chatterbox is a series designed for intermediate and advanced English language learners. This series features conversations between two native English speakers on a variety of interesting topics. Fun facts According to a 2017 study, Cambodia was the country that had the longest working hours, with employees putting in an average of 2455.55 hours annually. The lowest out of the 66 countries studied? Germany! They clocked in with an average of 1353.89 hours per employee. Expressions included in the study guide * Near and dear to [one’s] heart * Dependent * To battle with [something] * At the whim of [someone] * Hamster wheel Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Music Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free, Step On by Jahzzar Photo Credit: Tim Gouw (Unsplash.com)

Have you heard about the newest trend that combines a daily walk or jog with picking up litter? If not, you’re not alone. It’s called plogging, and in this Chatterbox episode Andrew and Anna explain it, how it came to be called plogging, and why it’s becoming a popular activity for many people around the world. The Chatterbox series is designed for intermediate and advanced English learners. Podcasts and audio lessons are a great way to improve your English listening skills. Culips’ Chatterbox episodes feature natural, unedited conversations between native speakers, so you can build your English vocabulary and learn about the new ways people are cleaning up their neighbourhoods. Fun facts Since first appearing in Sweden in 2016, plogging has spread around the world. In 2019, it was estimated that 2 million people plogged daily in over 100 countries. Expressions included in the study guide * Fair play * The [something] circuit * Fair game * Free box * One man’s trash is another man’s treasure * To clean up [one’s] act Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Music Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free, Step On by Jahzzar Photo Credit: Edoardo Frezet (Unsplash.com)

Damn! I can’t wait to listen to the new Culips episode. This is just one of the many ways you can use the word damn. You may have heard people say this word in films, TV, and music, but never truly understood all of the many meanings of the word. Listen to this Catch Word episode to learn some of the different definitions and how you can use the word like a native English speaker. The Culips Catch Word series teaches you how to use everyday expressions, idioms, and slang to improve your speaking and listening skills. Sit back and listen to Kassy and Andrew explain four different ways to use damn in natural conversation. Fun facts The word damn originates from the Bible and it means to condemn someone. Therefore, in a religious context, saying this word means that you should be condemned by God to suffer eternal punishment in hell! Of course, we don’t use it to mean the same thing in our everyday conversations. Expressions included in the study guide * Damn * I’ll be damned * [I] Don’t give a damn * Damn [adjective] * To shy away from [something] * In the slightest Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Music Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free, Step On by Jahzzar Photo Credit: Icons8 (Unsplash.com)

Trolls. No, we’re not talking about mean mythical creatures who live under bridges. We’re talking about online trolls. They are very real and very mean people who like to anger others by posting nasty and cruel comments online. This has become a big problem associated with social media. In this Simplified Speech episode, hosts Andrew and Kassy discuss the various ways online trolls operate, and how you can deal with them in your own way Fun facts The troll character comes from Scandinavian mythology and has been around for centuries. Online trolls, however, date back to the early beginnings of the internet. Expressions included in the study guide * To scratch [one’s] head * To brush [something] off * To get a kick out of [something] * To spew * Tainted * To solve [something] overnight Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Music Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free, Step On by Jahzzar Photo Credit: Headway (Unsplash.com)

Board games are a fun way to spend an evening with friends. In this episode, Kassy talks with Andrew about her board game club and shares how it helps her meet new people, despite the pandemic. Simplified Speech episodes feature two native English speakers having clear, natural and easy to understand English conversations about interesting topics, like board games with friends. By listening to Andrew and Kassy chat and following along with the transcript and study guide, you can improve your English listening skills and increase your vocabulary Fun facts In 2008, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Scrabble, two skydivers in Florida played a short game…13,000 feet in the air! They built a special wooden board with adhesive pieces that stayed on the board while they were in the air. Expressions included in the study guide * That’s the right idea * To dwindle * Revolving door * Beast of a [something] * A renaissance * To branch out Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Music Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free, Step On by Jahzzar Photo Credit: Collie Coburn (Unsplash.com)

Happy 2022!! BONUS EPISODE Episode description Happy 2022! In this short episode, Andrew and the Culips team pass on the greetings and wishes for the new year.

For some, 2021 was a lot better than 2020. However, that is not the case for everyone. We’re all still dealing with the COVID pandemic. In this episode, the Culips team looks back at some of the highs and lows of the last year. Simplified Speech is a series meant for intermediate English language learners. This series is designed to help you improve your English skills with interesting and easy to listen to episodes. Fun facts The COVID pandemic has disrupted the entire world. Future generations might not fully understand what we went through. On the lighter side, years from now, they might be asking us why the Tokyo 2020 Olympics took place in 2021! Expressions included in the study guide * To recentre * To babble * A fairy-tale [something] * Daunting * A win * Trouper Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Music Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free, Step On by Jahzzar Photo Credit: Clay Banks (Unsplash.com) Links Andrew mentions in this episode: Culips December Live Stream Anna with 2Ns

Making a dental appointment, finding the time to go, and paying for dental insurance can all be quite the hassle. But of course, the main part of the whole experience is talking with your dentist about dental health. In this Real Talk episode, hosts Andrew and Kassy help you with the English you can expect to hear in the dentist chair. In this episode, our hosts go over how to respond to the doctor’s polite requests. They also help you with some dental vocabulary, such as molar, canine, incisor, and gum tenderness. We hope you don’t have to use these expressions too regularly, but it’s always good to be prepared before your visit! Fun facts Do you have dental insurance? In the United States, only about 50% of adults aged 18 to 64 have coverage. That number goes up to around 65% in Canada. Expressions included in the study guide * Why don’t you * Tenderness * I’ll just get you to * If you could just * Molar, canine, incisor * To fill a cavity * To be covered by insurance * To go a long way * To brighten [one’s] smile * Two-way street Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Music Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free, Step On by Jahzzar Photo Credit: Atikah Akhtar(Unsplash.com)