Culips Everyday English Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Culips Community Update – September 2025 Aug 31, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Alina recaps the Culips meetup that happened in July, introduces the next Culips meetup, and tells you all about the September challenge! September Challenge: Let’s talk about work Theme: Work-related English (interviews, dress codes, workplace situations) How it works: New tasks every other day throughout September Answer work-related questions and scenarios Great chance to review skills from previous challenges Finish all the tasks to earn a completion certificate It's completely free and perfect for practicing professional English skills while connecting with other learners! How to Join the Culips Discord Server and Participate in the Challenge Create a Discord Account: Sign up for free at Discord. Download the App: Install Discord on your phone or computer for easy access. Join the Culips Server: Click this link to join the Culips English Podcast Discord server: Join Here. Enable the Monthly Challenge Channel: From the menu, select Channels and Roles. Go to the Browse Channels Under the English Learning category, select Monthly Challenge to add it to your menu. Access the September Challenge: Click the pin icon at the top of the Monthly Challenge channel to view the September Challenge (available from September 2nd). Complete all the tasks to earn a certificate. Join in and start improving your English with the community! The 2025 Culips Meetup in Prague.

Catch Word #287 – Off the rails Aug 28, 2025

Show notes

In this Catch Word episode, Andrew and Indiana teach you two very useful English idioms: to go off the rails and to get out of hand. These are common expressions that English speakers use to describe situations that become chaotic, unmanageable, or out of control. You’ll hear Andrew and Indiana explain the meaning, give background, and share many everyday examples. They also act out short conversations to show how these expressions are used naturally in real life. The brand-new Culips app is live! Study this episode with an interactive transcript and vocabulary glossary: Open this lesson in the Culips app. What you’ll learn with this episode: How to use “go off the rails” to describe events or people behaving in extreme, chaotic ways When to say “get out of hand” for situations that are becoming difficult to manage The differences in strength and tone between the two expressions Real-life examples of when to use these idioms naturally in conversations

Bonus episode #155 – Visiting Sapporo Aug 17, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Andrew talks about his recent trip to Sapporo, Japan. He tells you about exploring the Susukino district, visiting the coastal town of Otaru, and discovering beer and sake festivals throughout the city. You'll also hear about many of his other adventures including witnessing a car accident and navigating the city without Google Maps for an extra challenge! This episode is perfect for intermediate English learners who are ready to take it to the next level with their English fluency. Andrew's storytelling is clear, understandable, and designed to help you build your vocabulary, comprehension, cultural knowledge, and communicative fluency. Make sure to check out the free interactive transcript and vocabulary glossary to get the most out of this episode. The brand-new Culips app is live! Study this episode with an interactive transcript and vocabulary glossary: Open this lesson in the Culips app.

Chatterbox #338 – Common sense Aug 15, 2025

Show notes

Why do some people do foolish things even though they’re smart? And why do some things that are obvious to you seem difficult for others to understand? In this episode, Andrew and Anna explore the idea of “common sense.” They discuss what it means, where it comes from, and why people sometimes seem to lack it. As they chat, Andrew and Anna share funny real-life stories from their lives and compare “common sense” with “book smarts.” This episode is best for upper-intermediate English learners who want to speak more fluently about common sense, decision-making, and how people think in everyday life. The brand-new Culips app is live! Study this episode with an interactive transcript and vocabulary glossary: Open this lesson in the Culips app. What you’ll learn with this episode: How to explain the meaning of common sense in clear English Natural ways to use everyday expressions like clueless, ditzy, all over the place, and book smarts How to talk about practical knowledge, life experience, and problem-solving skills in everyday English How culture, age, and personal experience can affect what we think is “obvious”

Bonus episode #154 – Back in Osaka Aug 10, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Andrew tells the story of his quick one-day visit to Osaka. You'll hear about his record shopping plans, an unexpected tsunami alert, and how he had to make some tough decisions about his travel plans. This is perfect for English learners because you'll hear natural storytelling with everyday vocabulary and expressions. Andrew speaks clearly and shares real experiences, which helps you understand how native speakers actually talk. This episode is highly recommended for intermediate learners who are looking to hit the next level with their English fluency. The brand-new Culips app is live! Study this episode with an interactive transcript and vocabulary glossary: Open this lesson in the Culips app.

Simplified Speech #226 – What we’re bad at Aug 08, 2025

Show notes

In this Simplified Speech episode, Andrew and Indiana explore a topic everyone can relate to – the things we’re bad at. They share funny and honest stories about their struggles with tasks like assembling IKEA furniture, drawing, handling insects, recalling movie details, parking while chatting, and even stretching. Through your hosts’ lighthearted conversation, you’ll hear how these challenges show up in daily life and how they react to each other’s skills (or lack of them). The brand-new Culips app is live! Study this episode with an interactive transcript and vocabulary glossary: Open this lesson in the Culips app. This episode is perfect for intermediate English learners who want to build everyday vocabulary, improve listening skills, and gain confidence talking about personal experiences in a natural way. What you’ll learn with this episode: Vocabulary: Learn everyday English words and expressions for talking about skills, weaknesses, and funny life situations. Listening: Build your listening skills by following an easy-to-understand conversation between two native speakers. Speaking: Practice sharing your own stories and experiences about things you’re not very good at. Culture: Discover how Canadians and Americans talk about their strengths and weaknesses in a casual and humorous way. Fluency: Listening to real conversations will help you respond more quickly and naturally in English.

Chatterbox #337 – Our sixth sense Aug 01, 2025

Show notes

Do you ever get a feeling that something is right or wrong, even if you can’t explain why? In this Chatterbox episode, Andrew and Anna explore the idea of the sixth sense, also known as intuition. They talk about what it means, how it works, and when they’ve relied on it in real life. You’ll hear personal stories, learn common expressions, and improve your listening skills while enjoying a fun, natural conversation between native speakers. The brand-new Culips app is live! Study this episode with an interactive transcript and vocabulary glossary: Open this lesson in the Culips app. This episode is great for upper intermediate to advanced English learners who want to talk more confidently about thoughts, gut feelings, and intuitive decision-making in English. In this lesson, you’ll learn: What the sixth sense is and how to describe it in English Natural phrases like gut feeling, bad vibe, and ulterior motives About Andrew and Anna’s experiences using their sixth sense The difference between using logic and feelings when making choices

Culips Community Update – August 2025 Jul 27, 2025

Show notes

August Challenge – Vocabulary Boost! In this episode, Andrew and Alina introduce the August Challenge, happening on our Discord server. This month, you'll focus on expanding your vocabulary by learning and using 15 advanced adjectives that have been featured in Culips episodes. It's a great way to make your English sound more colorful, expressive, and natural like a native speaker. The challenge runs every second day throughout August, giving you time to really understand each adjective and practice using it in your own stories, example sentences, or voice messages. These include words like “remiss,” “palpable,” “low-key,” and “fancy schmancy” – words that native speakers use regularly but English learners often skip over when listening. Andrew and Alina also chat about Alina's new hobby: chess! She recently learned to play at age 31 and has been winning games at her local expat board game meetup in Ireland. How to Join the Culips Discord Server and Participate in the Challenge Create a Discord Account: Sign up for free at Discord. Download the App: Install Discord on your phone or computer for easy access. Join the Culips Server: Click this link to join the Culips English Podcast Discord server: Join Here. Enable the Monthly Challenge Channel: From the menu, select Channels and Roles. Go to the Browse Channels tab. Under the English Learning category, select Monthly Challenge to add it to your menu. Access the August Challenge: Click the pin icon at the top of the Monthly Challenge channel to view the August Challenge (available from August 2nd). Complete all the tasks to earn a certificate. Join in and start improving your English with the community!

Simplified Speech #225 – Musical education Jul 24, 2025

Show notes

This episode is all about musical education! Andrew and Indiana share stories about learning instruments as kids, their music classes at school, and how they feel about playing musical instruments today. You'll hear Andrew talk about jamming on his drum set in his basement, Indiana's experiences in school chorus, and whether they think parents should push their kids to take music lessons. This episode is perfect for intermediate English learners who want to pick up natural vocabulary and expressions about music, school, and hobbies while listening to a real conversation between native speakers. The brand-new Culips app is live! Study this episode with an interactive transcript and vocabulary glossary: Open this lesson in the Culips app. In this lesson, you’ll work on: Vocabulary: Learn natural English words and phrases about music, school, and hobbies. Listening: Build your listening with this clear and easy-to-understand conversation between two native speakers. Speaking: Improve your speaking skills by chatting about your own experiences with music education during one of our weekly conversation classes or by talking with other Culips listeners on our Discord server. Culture: Discover what music education is like in Canada and the U.S., and why it’s important in schools. Fluency: Listening to real conversations and stories helps you think in English and speak more confidently.

Bonus episode #153 – The mushroom murder verdict Jul 21, 2025

Show notes

How can a homemade lunch end in tragedy, mystery, and a murder trial that shocks the world? Join Andrew as he revisits the infamous mushroom murder case in Australia and guides you through the dramatic courtroom outcome. In this episode, you’ll read along with a real news article and learn important vocabulary that helps you understand the story. You’ll learn legal words like “jury” and “plead”, and more advanced terms like “deception” and "estranged.” Andrew explains everything clearly so you can follow the story and improve your English at the same time. The brand-new Culips app is live! Study this episode with an interactive transcript and vocabulary glossary: Open this lesson in the Culips app. What you’ll learn: Useful legal vocabulary and how it’s used in real news stories Natural expressions for describing crime, trials, and serious events How native speakers explain complex topics in simple, conversational ways Perfect for intermediate learners who: Want to build vocabulary for understanding news and serious topics Enjoy true stories that are dramatic, mysterious, and real Like learning English through current events and real conversations Important links: Become a Culips member Study with the interactive transcript Watch the YouTube version of this episode Join the Culips Discord server Small-group speaking class schedule Listen to the original mushroom mystery episode Read the original article from CBC news

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