199 - 5 MORE Prepositions Advanced Speakers Get Wrong (with Lucas!)
Ever get confused between “apply to” and “apply for”? Or wonder whether to say “argue about” or “argue over”? In today’s episode, we break down these common English combinations with quick, simple explanations and memorable examples. You’ll also learn the difference between “belong to” and “belong in.” By the end, you’ll feel more confident choosing the right phrase in everyday conversations.
👉 Perfect for English learners who want short, practical grammar tips they can use right away.
to apply to vs. apply for
to argue about vs. argue over
to belong to vs. belong in
to decide ______
to insist ______
Plus a few bonus ones mentioned in conversation (to have a reputation ____, to stick _____, etc.).
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198.2 - Irregular Verbs: The Survival Story of Hugh Glass
What happens when you’re attacked by a grizzly bear, left for dead, and forced to crawl nearly 200 miles to survive? That’s the true story, or perhaps just the legend, of Hugh Glass, a 19th-century frontiersman whose incredible survival story inspired books and Hollywood films like The Revenant.
In this episode, you’ll:
Hear the dramatic survival story of Hugh Glass.
Learn and review 10+ irregular past tense verbs in context (ran, tore, bit, beat, lay, wore, told, dealt, stole, and more).
Discover how legends grow through “embellishment” — when details get added to make a story more dramatic.
Reflect on the moral of the story: true strength isn’t just physical, it’s determination and endurance.
👉 This is the second part of Episode #198 (Against All Odds), so if you haven’t yet, go back and listen to that one first!
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198 - Expression: Against All Odds
Have you ever succeeded when no one thought you could? That’s what it means to do something against all odds. In today’s episode, Shana begins with a bear story from her front yard in Asheville (yes, one even climbed into her car!), then moves into a lighthearted pun about “bare feet.”
From there, you’ll dive deep into the expression against all odds. You’ll learn its meaning, history, and how to use it naturally in daily conversation. Shana shares incredible real-life examples: the Donner Party pioneers who survived a brutal winter, Eminem rising to the top of rap, the “Miracle on Ice” U.S. hockey victory, and more inspiring stories including Walt Disney, Elvis Presley, Diana Nyad, and Aron Ralston.
By the end, you’ll not only understand the phrase against all odds, but you’ll also feel motivated by stories of triumph in the face of impossible challenges. Stick around for the pronunciation practice to make sure the phrase rolls off your tongue like a native speaker’s—and get ready for next week’s tale of Hugh Glass, the legendary frontiersman who inspired The Revenant.
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197 - 5 Prepositions Advanced Speakers Still Get Wrong (with Lucas!)
Think you’ve mastered English prepositions? Think again. In this episode, I sit down with my husband Lucas (an advanced English speaker) to tackle 5 prepositions even fluent speakers still get wrong.
We’ll cover:✅ Invest ____✅ Be interested ____✅ Participate ____ / Take part ____✅ Spend money ____✅ Depend ____ / Rely ____
And a few more that came UP naturally in conversation. Can you find them?
You’ll hear real-life examples, fun U.S. culture facts, and some entertaining stories. This is just the tip of the iceberg, but the goal is to have you stop second-guessing yourself and start sounding more natural when you speak. What do you think?
👉 Don’t forget to subscribe for more lessons on American English, culture, and expressions!
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⭐ Feature: The Incredible Flight of "Lawn Chair" Larry
In today's episode, you’ll hear the incredible story of a man named Larry Walters, or "Lawn Chair" Larry, who bought over 40 weather balloons, attached them to a lawn chair in his backyard and flew 16,000 feet up in the air.
The story is weird and funny, and it gives way to a larger discussion about “Cluster Ballooning.” I’ll explain challenging words and phrases as I go along!*****Premium Content: This episode is part of By purchasing Season 3 transcripts, you'll be able to access the full episodes, the full PDF transcripts for episodes 101 - 150, an Mp3 download and the premium podcast player to work on your pronunciation.
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Season 3
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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/
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