In this episode, we explore Ellis Island—the entry point for millions of immigrants to the United States. Learn about its role in shaping American identity, how immigration laws changed over time, and the challenges newcomers faced. We’ll also look at how the immigrant experience in the U.S. compares to other English-speaking countries.

Website:

www.sharing-english.com

Sources:
https://www.britannica.com/place/Ellis-Island

https://www.nps.gov/elis/index.htm

Music:Music: "Cherish" by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/498-cherishLicense: https://ende.app/en/standard-license

Do you drink coffee like an American or tea like the British? Discover how different English-speaking countries enjoy their hot drinks; and what these habits say about their culture and history, including colonial roots. From flat whites in Australia to chai in India, this episode brews up global English learning.

Music: "Cherish" by Sascha Ende

Link: https://ende.app/en/song/498-cherish 

License: https://ende.app/en/standard-license 

From pancakes to orange juice, explore why sweet breakfasts are such a big part of American culture. Learn how breakfast habits in the U.S. reflect history, lifestyle, and even marketing. A fun and tasty way to build your English and cultural knowledge. Warning: do not listen on an empty stomach ;)

Sources:

https://www.creativereview.co.uk/snap-crackle-pop/

https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/learning-hub/topics/1-full-english-breakfast

Music: "Cherish" by Sascha Ende

Link: https://ende.app/en/song/498-cherish 

License: https://ende.app/en/standard-license 

Meet your host, Freya, an English teacher from Michigan now living in Denmark, and learn why this podcast is different from typical English lessons. Discover what to expect in future episodes about culture, history, language, sports, and everyday life in English-speaking countries. Perfect for curious English language learners who want real, interesting topics in English.

Music: "Cherish" by Sascha Ende

Link: https://ende.app/en/song/498-cherish 

License: https://ende.app/en/standard-license 

Why do Americans celebrate the 4th of July with fireworks, flags, and cookouts? In this episode, we explore the history behind U.S. Independence Day, how Americans celebrate today, and how people abroad—from Denmark to Japan—also mark the occasion. It’s a perfect mix of history, culture, and worldwide connections.Website: https://www.sharing-english.com/podcast

Music: "Cherish" by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/498-cherishLicense: https://ende.app/en/standard-license

Why is Wimbledon such a special event in the English-speaking world? In this episode, we explore the history of the world’s oldest tennis tournament, its famous traditions like strawberries and cream, and how it reflects British culture. Whether you're a sports fan or just curious about global customs, this episode serves up something for everyone.

Website: www.sharing-english.com

Music: "Cherish" by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/498-cherishLicense: https://ende.app/en/standard-license

Hollywood is known around the world as the center of the movie industry. How did that happen? In this episode, we explore the history of Hollywood, how immigrants helped shape it, and its lasting impact on the global film market and the spread of the English language. We’ll also take a look at other major English-speaking movie industries, from the UK and Canada to Australia—and even how Bollywood is growing its English-language films.

Website: https://www.sharing-english.com/podcast

Music: "Cherish" by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/498-cherishLicense: https://ende.app/en/standard-license

Nelson Mandela is one of the most influential voices in modern history. In this episode, we learn about his life, his fight against apartheid in South Africa, and how he became a global symbol of peace, equality, and justice. Along the way, we explore how Mandela’s legacy still inspires people across the English-speaking world and beyond.

Website: https://www.sharing-english.com/podcast

Sources:Nelson Mandela Foundation: https://www.nelsonmandela.org/
United Nations Mandela Day: https://www.un.org/en/events/mandeladay/
Britannica.com: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nelson-Mandela

Music: "Cherish" by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/498-cherishLicense: https://ende.app/en/standard-license

The right to vote is something many of us take for granted today, but it was won through decades of struggle, persistence, and courage. In this episode of The Sharing English Podcast, we explore the history of the women’s suffrage movement in the United States:

• how it grew out of abolition and temperance efforts;

• the voices of leaders like Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Sojourner Truth, and Ida B. Wells;

• and the long fight that led to the 19th Amendment in 1920.

We’ll also look at how the U.S. story fits into a bigger picture, by comparing it to women’s suffrage movements in other English-speaking countries, including the UK, where women won the vote earlier. Along the way, we’ll reflect on how language, speeches, and storytelling helped build a movement that changed democracy forever.

Join me for this inspiring journey into a turning point in history—and the powerful voices that demanded to be heard.

Further Reading:

• "Declaration of Sentiments" https://www.nps.gov/wori/learn/historyculture/declaration-of-sentiments.htm
• "Ain't I a Woman?" https://www.nps.gov/articles/sojourner-truth.htm

Sources:

• https://www.womenshistory.org/
• https://www.loc.gov/collections/national-american-woman-suffrage-association/about-this-collection/

Website: https://www.sharing-english.com/podcast

Music: "Cherish" by Sascha Ende

https://ende.app/en/song/498-cherish

License: https://ende.app/en/standard-license

Ever wonder what American high school is really like? In this episode, we take you inside the U.S. high school system — from grade levels and school districts to public, private, charter, and boarding schools. We’ll cover academic requirements, extracurricular activities like sports, clubs, and marching band, and give you a glimpse of social life, after-school jobs, and even the driving age. Whether you’re curious about everyday student life or comparing schools around the world, this episode is your guide to understanding U.S. high schools.

Website: https://www.sharing-english.com/podcast

Music: "Cherish" by Sascha Ende

https://ende.app/en/song/498-cherish

License: https://ende.app/en/standard-license

Why is English spoken in so many different countries? This episode explores how the British Empire spread the English language across the globe, and how former colonies reshaped it to fit their own cultures. We also look at the Commonwealth, local versions of English, and why understanding this history helps us better understand the modern English-speaking world.

Website: https://www.sharing-english.com/podcast

Sources: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/how-the-commonwealth-of-nations-arose-from-a-crumbling-british-empire
https://www.britannica.com/place/British-Empire
https://thecommonwealth.org/

Music: "Cherish" by Sascha Ende https://ende.app/en/song/498-cherishhttps://ende.app/en/standard-license

How did a boy from New Orleans become one of the most important musicians in the world? In this episode, we explore the life of Louis Armstrong, how he helped shape jazz music, and why his legacy still matters today. You’ll also learn how jazz influenced later musical styles and became a global symbol of creativity and freedom.

Website: https://www.sharing-english.com/podcast

Sources: https://music.si.edu/story/louis-armstrong

https://www.louisarmstronghouse.org/biography/

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Louis-Armstrong Music: “Cherish” by Sascha Ende

Link: https://ende.app/en/song/498-cherish

License: https://ende.app/en/standard-license

Miles instead of kilometers. Gallons instead of liters. Fahrenheit instead of Celsius. If you’ve ever visited the United States—or lived here—you’ve probably noticed that Americans still use the standard (imperial) measurement system, even though most of the world has adopted metric. But why?

In this episode of The Sharing English Podcast, I explore the reasons behind the U.S.’s continued use of standard measurements. From British imperial history and cultural habits to cost and resistance to change, we’ll uncover why metric never fully caught on. I’ll also explain how the scientific community in the U.S. uses metric, and how American students do learn it in school—even if they don’t use it in daily life.

We’ll also dive into the colorful world of unusual units like the stone, hand, acre, and league—and discover the origins and meanings behind these quirky measures.

Whether you're an English learner or just curious about American culture, this episode will help you make sense of a system that can feel like it belongs in a different century.

Website: https://www.sharing-english.com/podcast

Music: “Cherish” by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/498-cherishLicense: https://ende.app/en/standard-license

Many of the place names we use every day—like Michigan, Dakota, and Chicago—come from Native American languages. In this episode, we explore the rich history and cultural meanings behind U.S. states, cities, and landmarks named by Indigenous peoples. You'll also hear how Native stories and legends helped shape the American landscape and the English we use to describe it.

Website: https://www.sharing-english.com/podcast

Sources:
National Park Service on Sleeping Bear Dunes & Anishinaabek culture & treaties: https://www.nps.gov/slbe/learn/historyculture/anishinaabek-culture.htm

Ojibwe & Mackinac Island etymology: https://www.michigan.org/article/trip-idea/how-did-michigan-cities-get-their-names https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mackinac_Island,_Michigan 

Legends and meanings (Sleeping Bear, Mackinac):  www.mythfolks.com/michigan-folklore

Music: "Cherish" by Sascha EndeLink: https://ende.app/en/song/498-cherishLicense: https://ende.app/en/standard-license