Ever heard someone say, “Don’t have a hissy fit”? In this episode, we break down this funny, very Southern expression that describes a dramatic overreaction (think tantrum, or an overreaction). You’ll hear real-life examples—from picky eaters at restaurants to Wi‑Fi meltdowns—and find out how “hissy fit” made its way into American English.

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Yesterday at the library with my girls, a lightbulb went off in my head 💡—fables aren’t just great for kids... they’re perfect for English learners too!

This week on the podcast, we’re diving into one of Aesop’s most famous tales: The Goose & The Golden Egg (or The Goose That Laid the Golden Eggs). 🪿✨ It’s short, memorable, and it teaches a timeless lesson about greed—a perfect jumping-off point to learn advanced adjectives like:

- Greedy

- Selfish

- Inconsiderate

- Ungrateful

- Spoiled

- Entitled

- Gluttonous

- Materialistic

- Impatient

- Insatiable

Whether you want to describe people more accurately, express opinions more clearly, or just sound more natural when speaking English, this episode is packed with real-life vocabulary and pop culture examples (yes, Veruca Salt and Augustus Gloop make an appearance).

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Brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at better help.com/AMERICANENGLISH and get on your way to being your best self. 

Ever wondered what life is like in the middle of the U.S.? Tune in to this week’s episode with Bethany Anderson and discover tornado drills, taco pizza, sweet corn, Amish visits, and small towns bursting with culture. You’ll get fun expressions, new vocab, and a fresh view of Iowa you won’t find on any map! 🌟

About Our Guest

Bethany Anderson grew up in Iowa and she currently lives in the town of West Liberty. She owns Anderson Language Center where she teaches English to Spanish speakers living in the U.S. You can contact her through her website, andersonlanguage.com or follow her on Facebook or Instagram.

Improve your English with the AE Podcast

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This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/AMERICANENGLISH and get on your way to being your best self.

In this immersive summer episode, you'll escape to the sun-drenched shores of an American beach and soak up advanced vocabulary, phrasal verbs, and collocations—all beach-themed and delivered in under 10 minutes (ish 😉).

You'll need to use your imagination for this one. You'll look back on your childhood memories and teenage beach days, from building sandcastles and kite flying to sunbathing and snorkeling. Along the way, you'll learn natural U.S. beach expressions and many beach rules in the U.S.! At the end, I'll give a hot tip on where to go if you're between the ages of 18-24 and want to meet lots of locals!

👙 Vocabulary highlights: bathing suit vs. swimsuit, board shorts, Speedo, skimpy
🔥 Cultural insights: U.S. beach rules, bonfires, beach snacks, and more.
🎧 Perfect for: High Intermediate and Advanced English learners.

👉 For full vocabulary support, exercises, quizzes, and pronunciation practice, check out the Premium Content: All Premium Content Seasons 1-3⁠ (+ discount on Season 4).

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This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/AMERICANENGLISH and get on your way to being your best self.

In this casual Chats with Shana episode, I’m taking you along on our sweaty summer trip to Charleston, South Carolina. 🌴

You’ll hear about:

Milo’s first vacation (spoiler: he’s a sand-digging pro)

Dining outside in 95° heat… while swatting a swarm of flies

Why Folly Beach is a top spot for shark attacks—and why we still went

A surprise encounter with a horseshoe crab under the pier

The iconic rowboat scene from The Notebook—yep, we went!

Tasting frog legs and learning about frog gigging

The Southern tradition of painting porch ceilings "haint blue" to keep away spirits

Plus, fun facts about pineapples, sweet tea, ghost tours, and more!

You'll also learn natural expressions like “sweating bullets,” “the cherry on top,” “food for thought,” and “to keep something at bay,” all explained as we go.

So grab an iced tea (sweet, of course) and join me for a fun and language-packed adventure through the Palmetto State. 🐊🦈🍍

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You may be wondering: What’s the difference between a buffalo and a bison? That was the first question I had when researching this topic. And the answer is—well, a lot. Despite being from the same family (Bovidae), bison and buffalo have different hair, different horn shapes, and different temperaments. Bison are known to be a little bit moody!

So, which one lives in the United States? Technically, bison, but most native English speakers from the U.S. call the bison that roam here “buffalo.”

In today’s episode, you’ll learn about these incredible creatures, the mass slaughter of them on behalf of the U.S. government, and their comeback after being nearly extinct.

I learned so much while making this episode. I hope you do too!

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In this episode, learn the meaning, origin, and everyday use of the expression “to stand one’s ground.”

As usual, the lesson will begin with a joke (this one's a pun!). Then we'll dive into the expression. Shana will explain how to use the phrase in real-life situations, and guides you through a quick pronunciation practice.

Stay tuned for next week’s follow-up episode on bison—majestic animals that quite literally stand their ground.

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It helps you make your oatmeal in 90 seconds and reheat your pizza in 30. Some of you love it; others are skeptical, with concerns it might cause brain damage. What am I talking about? Microwaves, of course!

The story of how the microwave was discovered (or invented!) is weird and very funny—and it all went down in Massachusetts.

To make this story extra valuable, I've added 20 irregular verbs to it. How many did you catch?

If you'd like the full list, the supplementary video, and all of the bonus material to master the irregular verbs you heard in Season 4, sign up for Premium Content!

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In this episode, you'll learn how to use the common English expression “the coast is clear,” which means it’s safe to proceed because no one is watching or in the way. After breaking down the literal and figurative meanings, as well as the origin, you'll hear three vivid examples—one featuring a mama bird, a cheating girlfriend, and shoplifting teens.

The cultural spotlight of this episode is on Alcatraz, the infamous island prison off the coast of San Francisco. Once home to criminals like Al Capone, Alcatraz was considered escape-proof—until 1962, when Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers vanished in a daring and ingenious escape involving handmade dummies, a raft made of raincoats, and months of careful planning. Despite debris being found and decades of investigation, the trio was never seen again, making it the longest-running manhunt in U.S. history. In this episode, you'll learn about the prison, and how these three men got out!

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The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most popular national park in the entire United States. Every year close to 14 million people go to check out the nature, the wildlife, and to see what life was like back in the 1800s (90 structures have been preserved!).

What's really exciting about the Smokies, at least to me, is that they're the birthplace of Appalachian culture.

In today's episode, we'll begin with some geography, a little bit of history, and then we'll do a deep dive into folklore, bluegrass, and moonshine (homemade corn whisky), which is very much the reason why NASCAR exists today. It's truly mind-blowing.

At the very end of the episode I'll share tips on visiting! Hope you enjoy it! :)

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