In this episode you will learn about the history of Memorial Day and how it is observed these days. Memorial Day is a day of remembrance. It is a time to honor American military personnel who died in the line of duty, serving their country. Podcast Lesson Guides are available at www.englishfluencynow.com/products…

In this episode I discuss spring cleaning. Spring is a time when many people deep clean, declutter, and organize their homes. You will learn many useful words and phrases to talk about this topic. To purchase the Lesson Guide, visit www.englishfluencynow.comAf English Fluency Now

In this episode I talk about the different types of massage you can get at various places in the U.S. You will learn useful vocabulary related to massage so you can discuss the differences, know how to book a massage, and know what to expect when you get one. The Lesson Guide is available at www.englishfluencynow.com I hope you enjoy this episode. …

In this episode I discuss hobby farms. Now that more and more people are working from home, people are choosing to move out of cities and live in the country. They are starting hobby farms, raising animals, growing food, and becoming more self-sufficient. Listen to find out more about hobby farms and the many reasons people are moving back to the l…

In this episode I tell you about my recent trip to Joshua Tree National Park and Palm Springs. You will learn a little about this area of Southern California and what types of things you can do if you visit. Named after the unique Joshua Tree, this park encompasses two desert environments, The Mojave and The Colorado. Lesson Guides are available on…

In this episode I explain what American high school students and foreigners need to do to plan for college, and what the four options are in California. California has community colleges, the California State University system, the University of California system, and private colleges. Listen to the podcast to learn about the admissions process, co…

In this episode I am talking about credit cards. What are they? Why do we use them? What are the pros and cons? How do you get one? Find out all about how credit cards work so you can be able to understand and speak about this topic in English. You will learn lots of useful words and phrases related to this topic. To purchase the Lesson Guide, visi…

In this episode you will learn about a variety of diets that have become quite popular in the U.S. in the past few decades. These diets include vegetarian, vegan, low-car, keto, paleo, and carnivore. Each diet has numerous proponents and followers. In this episode you will learn how these diet plans have changed the way Americans eat. This episode …

In the U.S., many teens get their first job between the ages of 14 and 18. Listen to this episode to find out which types of businesses hire teens, how much money they make, and the types of work they do. You will also learn about the minimum wage and what a paycheck will look like after taxes and deductions. To purchase the Lesson Guide, visit www…

Black History Month is celebrated each year during the month of February. It is an opportunity for Americans to learn about the contributions of black Americans in all areas of life: business, leadership, music, art, movies, writing, science, inventions, industry, sports, and philosophy. In this episode, you will learn about important black America…

Have you been invited to Clubhouse? This is a new and exciting way to interact with people around the world, and a great way to improve your English listening and speaking skills. Find out all about Clubhouse in this episode. Learn how to use the app and useful words and phrases related to navigating the app. For $1 you can purchase the Lesson Guid…

The mask debate has divided Americans for nearly a year. Some people believe masks are common sense strategies for fighting the coronavirus. Those who disagree believe they are ineffective and infringe on a citizen's freedom. Listen to the podcast to learn words and phrases related to this topic so you can understand the issue more deeply and compr…

In this episode you will learn about the iconic American highway Route 66. Built in 1926, Route 66 was the first American highway that connected Chicago to Los Angeles, winding its way through states such as Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, and on ending in California. While it is no longer a major highway, you can visit i…

In this episode, I talk about the epic Short Squeeze that happened in the U.S. Stock Market the week ending January 29, 2021. Learn about how the stock market works, what a short squeeze is, and how a group of Reddit investors got their revenge on billionaire hedge funds. This podcast will help you better understand this unprecedented market event.…

In this episode, I talk about Donald Trump and the fact that he is now the presumptive nominee for the Republican Party. He has been winning primary after primary, but he remains a controversial figure. Many Americans are shocked that he has garnered so much support. How has he done it? Why are so many Americans voting for him? What are his plans? …

This year we will elect a new president. Who will it be? On February 1, 2016, the primary elections and party caucuses will begin throughout the 50 States and Territories. In this episode, I explain how this works with regards to the top two parties: Democrats and Republicans. You will learn key vocabulary related to this topic and be able to bette…

In episode 62, I talk about my trip to a dude ranch in Mexico. You will learn about what a dude ranch is, what you can do there and a bit about the history of the dude ranch. This episode is full of great descriptive words that you can use in your own conversations when describing places and destination spots. Listen to the podcast to learn more ab…

In episode 61, I talk about my recent trip to New York City and the four Broadway shows that I saw. I talk about how to get to Broadway, how to purchase tickets, and how to access information about the shows on the show's websites. Going to Broadway is an amazing experience and something every visitor to New York should do at least once, but there …

Water Parks are a great place to have fun with your family and friends during the summer. This summer I visited a park called Wild Waves here in Washington and it was really fun. In this episode, you will learn what water parks are like here in the U.S. and you will learn a lot of important words that will help you speak fluently about this topic. …

Small Town Festivals are taking place all across the U.S. right now. Just this past month we celebrated the Rhody Festival in my town. In this episode, you will learn all about the Rhody Festival and what it's like to participate in a small town celebration. You will learn about the types of parades we have, the carnival rides and the cake picnic! …

In this episode I talk about the typical expenses that are included in a household budget: a mortgage, property taxes, utilities and insurance. Beyond these fixed expenses, you will have to spend money on groceries, health insurance, car insurance, entertainment, education, exercise and more. Listen to this episode to learn how to talk about this t…

Reading easy chapter books is a great way to improve your understanding of everyday English and help you learn more about the American culture. In this episode, I introduce you to the international bestselling series from American author Barbara Park - Junie B. Jones. Junie B. is a feisty 5-year-old who will crack you up with her unique perception …

In this episode, I talk about three books that I've read recently related to the idea of neuroplasticity. You will learn lots of new vocabulary words related to the brain, improving intelligence and overcoming learning disabilities. You will also learn about brain games: what they are and why you might want to play them. To get the Lesson Guide for…

Talking about your day is a very common thing you need to be able to do in English. Why? Because people ask you all the time things like: What did you do today? What did you do this weekend? What did you have for dinner last night? When do you go to work? Being able to speak with ease and confidence about your daily routine is a great skill. In thi…

A lot of people think that world-class peformers have special genes, that they are just born with talent, but recent research proves that this isn't true. Certainly some people are born with interests or they develop a passion for something as they grow, such as a passion for music, sports or academics, but in order to become a world-class musician…

In this episode, I tell you about the importance of working with a coach to achieve success. Successful business people, athletes, scientists, authors and actors all use coaches and mentors to help guide them to success. To achieve high levels of fluency in English, it is beneficial to work with an English coach (tutor, mentor or teacher). However,…

In this episode, I tell you about my recent trip from Seattle (SEATAC) to Oakland (OAK) by plane. By listening to my story, you will learn a lot of useful vocabulary related to traveling by plane, plus you will understand the grammar more intuitively (if you pay attention). You will hear how I use a lot of different phrasal verbs while telling the …

In this episode, I talk about "The Rosie Project", the best-selling novel from Australian author Graeme Simsion. I think the book would be a great read for advanced English learners and I highly recommend it. It's the story of Don, a socially awkward, 39-year-old professor of genetics and search for love. He is on a mission to find a wife - the Wif…

A New Year is here and it is a time to make New Year's Resolutions and set some goals for yourself, or is it? Is this a truly effective way to get things done? Is it even necessary? In this episode, I discuss the pros and cons of setting goals. I discuss how goals can help motivate you to get a desired result and discuss Matt Stone's book "Goals Su…

Everybody is always trying to figure out what the best way to do something is, and learning a language is no exception. In this episode, I review 10 suggestions that were given by mulitlingual experts in a recent discussion on language learning, reported on in The Guardian. You will hear what these experienced language learners and teachers have to…

Topic: Renting an Apartment. This podcast is for intermediate and advanced learners of English. Lesson Guides are available at www.englishfluencynow.com If you find this podcast helpful, and you'd like to help more people find it, please take a minute to give me a positive review on iTunes. I'd really appreciate it. You can also donate on the websi…

Topic: Privacy & Edward Snowden. This podcast is for intermediate and advanced learners of English. Lesson Guides are available at www.englishfluencynow.com If you find this podcast helpful, and you'd like to help more people find it, please take a minute to give me a positive review on iTunes. I'd really appreciate it. You can also donate on the w…

Topic: Preparing for a Job Interview. This podcast is for intermediate and advanced learners of English. Lesson Guides are available at www.englishfluencynow.com If you find this podcast helpful, and you'd like to help more people find it, please take a minute to give me a positive review on iTunes. I'd really appreciate it. You can also donate on …

Topic: What is a MOOC?. This podcast is for intermediate and advanced learners of English. Lesson Guides are available at www.englishfluencynow.com If you find this podcast helpful, and you'd like to help more people find it, please take a minute to give me a positive review on iTunes. I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!…

Topic: Cultural Differences. This podcast is for intermediate and advanced learners of English. Lesson Guides are available at www.englishfluencynow.com If you find this podcast helpful, and you'd like to help more people find it, please take a minute to give me a positive review on iTunes. I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!…

Topic: Deepwater Horizon BP Oil Spill. This podcast is for intermediate and advanced learners of English. Lesson Guides are available at www.englishfluencynow.com If you find this podcast helpful, and you'd like to help more people find it, please take a minute to give me a positive review on iTunes. I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!…

Topic: U-Pick Farms. This podcast is for intermediate and advanced learners of English. Lesson Guides are available at www.englishfluencynow.com If you find this podcast helpful, and you'd like to help more people find it, please take a minute to give me a positive review on iTunes. I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!…

Topic: World Domination Summit. This podcast is for intermediate and advanced learners of English. Lesson Guides are available at www.englishfluencynow.com If you find this podcast helpful, and you'd like to help more people find it, please take a minute to give me a positive review on iTunes. I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!…

Topic: World Cup 2014. This podcast is for intermediate and advanced learners of English. Lesson Guides are available at www.englishfluencynow.com If you find this podcast helpful, and you'd like to help more people find it, please take a minute to give me a positive review on iTunes. I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!…

Topic: Entrepreneurs. This podcast is for intermediate and advanced learners of English. Lesson Guides are available at www.englishfluencynow.com If you find this podcast helpful, and you'd like to help more people find it, please take a minute to give me a positive review on iTunes. I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!…

Topic: Entrepreneurship. This podcast is for intermediate and advanced learners of English. Lesson Guides are available at www.englishfluencynow.com If you find this podcast helpful, and you'd like to help more people find it, please take a minute to give me a positive review on iTunes. I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!…

Topic: Toastmasters. This podcast is for intermediate and advanced learners of English. Lesson Guides are available at www.englishfluencynow.com If you find this podcast helpful, and you'd like to help more people find it, please take a minute to give me a positive review on iTunes. I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!…

Topic: Weddings. This podcast is for intermediate and advanced learners of English. Lesson Guides are available at www.englishfluencynow.com If you find this podcast helpful, and you'd like to help more people find it, please take a minute to give me a positive review on iTunes. I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!…

Topic: Going to the Bank. This podcast is for intermediate and advanced learners of English. Lesson Guides are available at www.englishfluencynow.com If you find this podcast helpful, and you'd like to help more people find it, please take a minute to give me a positive review on iTunes. I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!…

Topic: In-App Purchases. This podcast is for intermediate and advanced learners of English. Lesson Guides are available at www.englishfluencynow.com If you find this podcast helpful, and you'd like to help more people find it, please take a minute to give me a positive review on iTunes. I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!…

Topic: Golden Globe Awards. This podcast is for intermediate and advanced learners of English. Lesson Guides are available at www.englishfluencynow.com If you find this podcast helpful, and you'd like to help more people find it, please take a minute to give me a positive review on iTunes. I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!…

Topic: U.S. School System. This podcast is for intermediate and advanced learners of English. Lesson Guides are available at www.englishfluencynow.com If you find this podcast helpful, and you'd like to help more people find it, please take a minute to give me a positive review on iTunes. I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!…

Topic: Summer Camps and Activities. This podcast is for intermediate and advanced learners of English. Lesson Guides are available at www.englishfluencynow.com If you find this podcast helpful, and you'd like to help more people find it, please take a minute to give me a positive review on iTunes. I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!…

Topic: Fourth of July. This podcast is for intermediate and advanced learners of English. Lesson Guides are available at www.englishfluencynow.com If you find this podcast helpful, and you'd like to help more people find it, please take a minute to give me a positive review on iTunes. I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!…

Topic: Graduation. This podcast is for intermediate and advanced learners of English. Lesson Guides are available at www.englishfluencynow.com If you find this podcast helpful, and you'd like to help more people find it, please take a minute to give me a positive review on iTunes. I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!…