What have you been up to lately? In this Simplified Speech catch-up episode, Andrew and Kassy share stories from the past month. Kassy talks about a family visit to Jeju Island, where rainy weather didn’t stop them from hiking Hallasan, the tallest mountain in South Korea, and seeing some of the island’s stranger attractions. Andrew shares what happened during his birthday and fifth wedding anniversary, which fell in the same week and involved more cake than one person should eat in seven days.

The Best Way to Learn with This Episode:

• Culips members get an interactive transcript, a helpful study guide, and ad-free audio for this episode. Take your English to the next level by becoming a Culips member. Become a Culips member now: Click here
• Members can access the ad-free version: Click here.
• Join our Discord community to connect with other learners and get more English practice. Click here to join.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Jeju Island
• Hallasan

Keep an ear out for these phrases during the episode:

• to put words in (someone’s) mouth
• niche
• to call for (rain)
• (one’s) legs are like jelly
• to get away with (something)
• to go ham

What’s one thing you wish you had known sooner? In this Chatterbox episode, Andrew sits down with Michael Lavers from the Level Up English Podcast for an honest conversation about regrets, missed chances, and the things we wish we had figured out earlier. They share stories about money mistakes, bad clothing buys, language learning, and the surprising lessons that come with getting older.

The Best Way to Learn with This Episode:

• Culips members get an interactive transcript, a helpful study guide, and ad-free audio for this episode. Take your English to the next level by becoming a Culips member. Become a Culips member now: Click here
• Members can access the ad-free version: Click here.
• Join our Discord community to connect with other learners and get more English practice. Click here to join.

Check Out Michael’s Work:

• Level Up English website:
• The Level Up English Podcast:
• Level Up English on YouTube:

Keep an ear out for these phrases during the episode:

• Tongue-in-cheek
• No shade
• Lackadaisical
• To take the words right out of someone’s mouth
• Building a house on sand
• A losing battle

Why do we dream? In this Simplified Speech episode, Andrew and Indiana share their own theories about what dreams are for, the strangest recurring nightmares they’ve had, and a uniquely Korean kind of dream that’s said to predict pregnancy. They also get into sleepwalking, snoring, and the small habits that can quietly ruin your sleep.

The Best Way to Learn with This Episode:

Culips members get an interactive transcript, a helpful study guide, and ad-free audio for this episode. Take your English to the next level by becoming a Culips member. Become a Culips member now: Click here:

Members can access the ad-free version here:

Join our Discord community to connect with other learners and get more English practice. Click here to join.

References:

Wikipedia, Conception dreams — Read here:

Keep an ear out for these phrases during the episode:

• Fresh off the dome
• To ring true
• Every now and then
• To build up to
• The OG
• Story of my life

In this bonus episode, Andrew shares a story about a weekend trip he took to visit two old friends in another city. They met up to hang out, do a challenging activity, and then enjoy some good times together. Listen along to learn some vocabulary that will help make your English more natural and to improve your listening fluency.

The Study Materials for This Episode Are Free:

* The interactive transcript and vocabulary glossary for this episode are free for everyone. No membership needed. Get them here:

* Become a Culips member to get study materials for every episode, live speaking classes, ad-free audio, member-only perks, and more. Click here to join.

* Join our Discord community to connect with other learners and get more English practice. Click here

GLOSSARY EXPRESSIONS

• Get your act together
• In for a world of pain
• Talk your ear off
• Crash out
• Kaput
• Rip-off
• Putter around
• Lightheaded
• Toughen up
• Bounce back

Why does paying with cash feel different from tapping your phone? In this Chatterbox episode, Andrew and Anna talk about the psychology of spending money. They share what they happily pay extra for, what they refuse to spend on, and the small tricks companies use to get more money out of our wallets. Along the way, they look at why we sometimes feel like we got a great deal even when we just spent five times what we intended.
Listening to many natural responses is one of the best ways to build your everyday listening skills in English.

The Best Way to Learn with This Episode:

• Culips members get an interactive transcript, helpful study guide, and ad-free audio for this episode. Take your English to the next level by becoming a Culips member. Become a Culips member now: Click here:
• Members can access the ad-free version here: Click here.
• Join our Discord community to connect with other learners and get more English practice. Click here to join.

References:

Dan Ariely TED Talk, Are we in control of our own decisions? — Watch here:
American Psychological Association, The psychology of spending* — Read here:

Keep an ear out for these phrases during the episode:

• To recoil
• Hit or miss
• To break a bill
• Couldn’t give a toss
• To be averse to
• To game

How do you answer the question, “How are you?” It sounds simple, but native English speakers actually use a wide variety of answers. In this Real Talk episode, Andrew and Kassy share more than 30 common replies, including standard answers, sarcastic ones, and phrases people use on a busy or tough day. They explain what each phrase really means and the situations where you’ll hear it.

Listening to many natural responses is one of the best ways to build your everyday listening skills in English.

The best way to learn with this episode:

Culips members get an interactive transcript, a helpful study guide, and ad-free audio for this episode. Take your English to the next level by becoming a Culips member.

Become a Culips member now

Members can access the ad-free version here

Join our Discord community to connect with other learners and get more English practice:
https://discord.gg/Bpxa85CFuc

Keep an ear out for these phrases during the episode:

• To put someone through the wringer
• A scholar and a gentleman
• Murky
• Not one’s cup of tea
• To be foiled
• To chuck something

Have you ever felt the fear of missing out on something exciting? In this bonus episode, Andrew talks about FOMO, finding yourself in a funk, exercising your green thumb, and growing your own food. Listen along to learn some vocabulary that will help make your English more natural and to improve your listening fluency.

The Study Materials for This Episode Are Free:

• The interactive transcript, study guide, and quiz for this episode are free for everyone. No membership needed. Get them here
• Become a Culips member to get study materials for every episode, live speaking classes, ad-free audio, member-only perks, and more. http://culips.co to join.
• Join our Discord community to connect with other learners and get more English practice. https://discord.gg/Bpxa85CFuc

English Expressions featured in this episode

• FOMO
• On the ball
• To full send (it)
• To throw your hat into the ring
• To keep your eyes peeled
• To mull (something) over
• To hit (someone) like a ton of bricks
• To snap (yourself) out of (something)
• In a funk
• Green thumb

Would you leave England to start a new life in Bangkok? Would you plan a cycling trip across an entire country?

In this episode, Andrew interviews Michael Lavers from the Level Up English Podcast, a British podcaster who is doing exactly that. They chat about growing up in Cornwall, moving to Thailand, cycling adventures, and the challenges of learning Thai. Andrew ends the conversation with some quick questions about British pop culture that surprise even Michael!

Listening to long conversations like this one is a fantastic way to improve your listening skills and pick up natural English expressions in context.

The interactive transcript, study guide, and quizzes for this episode are 100% free for everyone. No membership is needed!

• Become a Culips Member: Get study materials for every episode, plus live speaking classes, ad-free audio, member-only perks, and more.

• Join Our Discord Community: Connect with other learners and get real-time English practice.

• Check out Michael’s podcast: Level Up English Podcast

Keep an ear out for these phrases during the episode:

• To put someone through the wringer

• A scholar and a gentleman

• Murky

• Not one’s cup of tea

• To be foiled

• To chuck something