American English Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Technical and general information from the podcast's RSS feed.

American English Podcast

Shana Thompson

Education

Society & Culture

History

Frequency: 1 episode/10d. Total Eps: 281

The American English Podcast teaches the language and culture of the United States. Through common expressions, pronunciation tips and interesting cultural snippets or stories, I hope to keep this fun, useful and interesting! All bonus material can be accessed at http://americanenglishpodcast.com/

Read moreCollapse

Site

RSS

Apple

Data updated on 23/10/2026

Recent rankings

Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

No recent rankings available

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Links found in episode descriptions and other podcasts that share them.

See all

https://nordvpn.com/americanenglish
4 shares
http://americanenglishpodcast.com/
1 share
https://podcast.americanenglishpodcast.com
1 share

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUZxgiuYQItSCoONrJHJ-tw
1 share
https://youtu.be/pXJOFWZRk6U
1 share
https://www.youtube.com/c/AskJackie
1 share

https://www.instagram.com/americanenglishpodcast
1 share
https://www.instagram.com/askjackiebr
1 share

RSS feed quality and score

Technical evaluation of the podcast's RSS feed quality and structure.

See all

RSS feed quality

To improve

Score global : 68%

Publication history

Monthly episode publishing history over the past years.

Year

Latest published episodes

Recent episodes with titles, durations, and descriptions.

See all

223 - Itchy Feet: 10 Travel Expressions & My First Trip in Years

Season 5 · Episode 223

Thursday, October 22, 2026 • Duration 25:06

After seven years of being glued to my kids, I finally packed a bag and took a trip on my own. In this Chat with Shana episode, I take you back to my backpacking days in Europe: hostels, grocery store picnics, and one very loud night in Amsterdam. Then I tell you about my recent trip to Ireland and Tenerife, where I stepped way out of my comfort zone. Along the way, you’ll learn 10 common American English expressions about travel, including: ✈️ to have itchy feet🐛 to get the travel bug💸 to be on a tight budget🏰 a tourist trap🌍 off the beaten path Plus a bonus expression you’ll hear Americans use all the time: “not my cup of tea.” You’ll also hear some news: I’m going to start showing up more on YouTube, on camera! Follow along here: https://www.youtube.com/@americanenglishpodcast If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show and leave a rating wherever you listen. It really helps other English learners find the podcast! 🎁 Free ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠14-Day English Slang and Expression Challenge 📚 Want to go deeper? Inside the AEP Academy, this episode comes with an interactive transcript, vocabulary flashcards, a listening quiz, a Speaking & Writing Challenge, and a live speaking session. Learn more about the Academy.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Read moreCollapse

222 - "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe (Halloween Special)

Season 5 · Episode 222

Thursday, October 15, 2026 • Duration 32:16

📖 Need help following along? Read the transcript + vocabulary explanations while you listen! In this episode, we're diving into the dark and mysterious world of Edgar Allan Poe, one of the most famous writers in the U.S. First, I'll introduce you to Gothic literature, a genre known for its eerie settings, suspense, and supernatural elements. We'll explore what makes Poe's storytelling unique and why his stories are still widely read in American high schools today. Then, you'll listen to the original, unabridged version of The Tell-Tale Heart, a short story about a narrator who insists he's perfectly sane—even as he describes a horrifying crime. After the story, I'll break down the plot in simpler English and explore its deeper themes, including guilt, paranoia, and the power of the human mind. This episode is especially suited for high-intermediate and advanced English learners who want to challenge their listening comprehension, expand their vocabulary, and experience a classic of American literature. In this episode, you'll: Learn what Gothic literature is and what makes Edgar Allan Poe's writing distinctive. Listen to The Tell-Tale Heart in its original English. Discover useful vocabulary, including acute, in vain, foul play, and dismember. Explore the story's psychological themes and possible interpretations. 🎧 Read the transcript ⭐ Learn more about the Academy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Read moreCollapse

⭐ Feature: 13 Common Superstitions and Their Origins

Wednesday, October 7, 2026 • Duration 37:16

We live in a day and age that is driven by science and technology, yet people are still superstitious. According to a study I read by YouGov, 9% of Americans claim to be superstitious, while another 35% admit to not being very superstitious, but somewhat. That makes over 40% of individuals in the United States somewhat superstitious. So what does it mean to be superstitious? According to Cambridge Dictionary, it is to have beliefs that are not based on human reason or scientific knowledge, but are connected with old ideas about magic. Many times, superstitious people believe in irrational, unproven signs of good and bad luck. In today’s episode, we’re going to go through 13 common superstitions in the United States and their origins. By the end of this audio lesson, you’ll walk away with more knowledge about American culture and some new vocabulary and phrases. I’ll teach those as we go along. Find a penny, pick it up, all day long you'll have good luck! 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 (formerly “The Classroom”). ⭐ ⁠⁠Buy Me a Coffee⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Read moreCollapse

221 - Firsts with Elise

Season 5 · Episode 221

Thursday, September 24, 2026 • Duration 38:23

Have you ever noticed how many of your best stories begin with, “The first time I…”? In today’s episode, I’m joined by my friend Elise to talk all about firsts—first jobs, first driving experiences, first adventures, and those moments when you try something completely new and have no idea what to expect. Elise has had a particularly interesting path. She went to culinary school in France, worked in restaurants, moved to Hawaii to work on a coffee farm, and picked up plenty of funny and memorable stories along the way. We’ll talk about everything from her first paycheck and failing her first driving test to swimming in the Pacific Ocean and the moment she first realized, “Oh… this is what it feels like to be an adult.” This episode is also a great opportunity to practice talking about your own first experiences in English, and to naturally use the past perfect to describe what you had or hadn’t done before those moments. I hope you enjoy getting to know Elise and thinking back on some of your own memorable firsts! ⭐ Check out Elise's business: The French Needle ⭐ 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

Read moreCollapse

220 - What’s on Your Bucket List? With My Mom

Season 5 · Episode 220

Thursday, September 17, 2026 • Duration 30:52

➡️ Start improving your English today! Learn more about the Academy. What’s on your bucket list? ✨ In this episode, I sit down with my mom, Mara, to talk about some of the things she’d still love to do, see, and experience in her lifetime. We talk about her dream of spending a month somewhere in Europe, living in a fisherman’s shack in Cornwall, building tiny houses near a lake, visiting the places her ancestors came from, taking another big family vacation, and even writing a children’s book someday. Along the way, we also talk about something I think is really important: our dreams can change. This conversation is full of useful everyday English, including expressions like: go with the flowto wing somethingfrom scratchhave something under your beltbe on board It’s also a great episode for practicing conditionals and talking about dreams and hypothetical situations. For example: Where would you go if you could live anywhere for a month? What would you do if money were no object? What would you put on your bucket list? As you listen, think about your own answers. What are three things you genuinely hope to do someday? And more importantly, what would it take to make them happen? Want to take your learning further? ⭐ Join us inside the American English Academy, where we’ll be talking about our own dreams, goals, and bucket lists this month. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Read moreCollapse

219 - The Art of Small Talk in the U.S.

Season 5 · Episode 219

Thursday, September 10, 2026 • Duration 32:59

🎯 Learn languages 1-on-1 with native teachers on italki. Use code SHANA9 to get $5 off your first lesson 💻 Web: ⁠⁠⁠https://go.italki.com/shana2609⁠⁠⁠ 📱App: ⁠⁠⁠https://go.italki.com/shana2609app⁠ Small talk in the U.S. isn't always about exchanging real information. Sometimes, it's simply a small exchange that can make your day a little better—and over time, those interactions can help build real rapport. In this episode, you'll learn how Americans use small talk, how to start and keep a conversation going, and how to tell whether someone actually wants to keep talking. You'll also learn simple strategies to speak naturally, build confidence, and communicate in real life. #englishlearning #italki Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Read moreCollapse

⭐ Feature: Funny Chat with My Dad (+Superlatives!)

Thursday, August 27, 2026 • Duration 31:50

➡️ Start improving your English today! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn more about the Academy.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Every month, I like to bring back one of my favorite episodes from the past, and this one is an oldie but a goodie. ❤️ Some longtime listeners might remember my dad, Joe. He first appeared on the podcast in Episode 43, when he talked about his experience living and working in Alaska, and again in Episode 44 to talk about driving in the U.S. After those episodes came out, so many of you told me how much you enjoyed listening to him, so naturally, I had to bring him back! In this conversation, my dad and I talk about some of the best, worst, biggest, smallest, and most memorable things in his life. It’s lighthearted, funny, and without us even trying, full of English idioms. That’s simply the way my dad talks! Since he speaks clearly and uses lots of everyday expressions, this is also a great episode for practicing how to understand idiomatic English from context. The main grammar focus is superlatives. What is a superlative? We use the superlative form to talk about the highest or lowest degree of something within a group. For example: Our tree in the front yard is the tallest in the neighborhood. There is no tree in the neighborhood taller than ours. Ours is the tallest. As you listen, pay attention to superlatives like the best, the worst, the biggest, the most beautiful, and the most difficult, and enjoy getting to know my dad a little better along the way. Want to take your learning further? ⭐ Take part in our Free ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠14-Day English Slang and Expression Challenge.⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Read moreCollapse

218.2 - English Story: Irregular Verbs with Dance Marathons

Season 5 · Episode 218

Friday, August 21, 2026 • Duration 29:16

The other day, I was staring at my list of common Irregular Verbs, trying to think of a lesson I could create with 10 of them. Immediately, I saw some potential! Swing -> Swung, Fling -> Flung , Slide -> Slid. Somehow the clump of words I selected led me to one of the most bizarre stories I’ve ever heard about U.S. culture and history: Dance Marathons of the 1930s. Imagine people dancing for days on end, even sleeping while dancing, for the chance to win some cash. It’s a crazy story, and I hope you enjoy it! In part one, you’ll learn how to use the common expression “to keep someone on their toes,” you’ll hear a joke, and you’ll work on your American English pronunciation! Check it out. ⭐ 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

Read moreCollapse

218 - Expression: To Keep Someone On Their Toes

Season 5 · Episode 218

Thursday, August 13, 2026 • Duration 21:02

The other day, I was staring at my list of common Irregular Verbs, trying to think of a lesson I could create with 10 of them. Immediately, I saw some potential! Swing -> Swung, Broadcast -> Broadcast, Sleep -> Slept. Somehow the clump of words I selected led me to one of the most bizarre stories I’ve ever heard about U.S. culture and history: Dance Marathons of the 1930s and 1940s. Imagine people dancing for days on end, even sleeping while dancing, for the chance to win some cash. It’s a crazy story, and from the discovery of this event, this two-part episode was born. Don’t miss part 2! It’s coming next week. In part one, you’ll learn how to use the common expression “to keep someone on their toes,” you’ll hear a joke, and you’ll work on your American English pronunciation! Enjoy. :) ⭐ 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

Read moreCollapse

217 - What Bugs You? Insects and Annoyances with Lucas

Thursday, July 30, 2026 • Duration 35:56

Well, well, well. I never thought I’d make an entire episode about bugs and annoying things until Lucas was attacked by a swarm of yellow jackets this week! It got me thinking, why do we say something "bugs" us? In this episode, Lucas joins me to talk about the everyday things that annoy us. You’ll learn natural ways to say that something bothers you, including to bug someone, get on someone’s nerves, and drive someone crazy. We’ll also cover the names of common insects in English, explore the difference between bite and sting, and hear the epic tale of how Lucas ended up with 14 stings. ⭐ 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

Read moreCollapse

American English Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

American English Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Other15

YouTube6

Instagram2

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Other15

YouTube6

Instagram2

Apple Podcasts

Spotify