Script:

Hello, everyone. Welcome back. Today's topic is dogs. Life is better with a dog.

Dogs are loyal animals. They love their owners unconditionally and offer devoted companionship and constant entertainment. Spending time with dogs work wonders for our wellbeing. Is it just a feeling, or is it science?

Researches show that people's lives are indeed better with dogs. Dogs make us happier, healthier and help us cope with crisis. They can also improve our social lives.

Here are some of the science-proved benefits.

Dogs offer unconditional love, emotional support and they are good companions. Studies show that dog ownership reduces loneliness.

Dogs are good for our physical health. Dog owners exercise more than non-dog owners. An average dog needs about one hour of walking every day. We become more active after we have dogs.

A recent research suggests that dog owners have lower blood pressure and improved responses to stress, and that the bond between humans and dogs can help us deal better with stress and crisis.

Dogs can improve our social life. When we take our dogs out, we have more opportunities to meet new people in the park. Commenting one’s dog can be a good conversation starter.

For those who are single, it may improve our dating life as well. A dog's presence makes us look more likeable and friendly. Studies also found that on dating sites, people with dogs in their profile pictures have more likes than those who don't.

In a study done by Japanese researchers in 2009, it was found that staring into our dog's eyes raises our level of oxytocin, also called "love hormones", which are natural mood boosters.

Of course, having a dog at home can be a source of stress. They require a lot of attention, exercise, play time and we have more cleaning to do.

But I think the benefits outweigh the disadvantages.

A dog that is about 7 – 9 kg is ideal for our family. However, we ended up buying a larger breed. My dog’s name is Oreo. She is now 9 months old and 25 kg already. It is tough taking her for a walk. But I must say, despite the challenges, our family is happier than before.

Vocabulary

Unconditionally – without any conditions

Devoted – loyal, faithful

Outweigh - exceed

Hello, everyone, welcome back. Today I am going to talk about Lunar New Year, its taboos, superstitions and traditions.

The Lunar New Year, often known as Chinese New Year, is the beginning of the calendar year with months based on the phases of the moon. The Lunar New Year often falls on the same day in different countries, but the way it is celebrated is unique to each place and region. Lunar New Year is not only celebrated in China, but also in Taiwan, South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. It is also celebrated in countries where there are Chinese communities such as in Canada.

Lunar New Year usually falls in late January to mid-February. This year, it falls on Jan 22nd.

Each year corresponds to twelve animals from the Chinese zodiac. They are the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. It is believed that each sign has its own personality traits.

The most interesting things about Lunar New Year are the taboos and superstitions. These taboos and superstitions are probably outdated, and I have never heard of some of them until I did the research for this podcast.

These are the things you shouldn’t do on Lunar New Year's Day.

1. Don't eat porridge because it will bring poverty.

2. Don't wash your hair because it will wash away any good luck.

3. No needle work as it depletes wealth.

4. Don’t say any unlucky words such as "die", because it brings death.

5. Don't break any dishes or glasses as it will bring bad luck.

6. Don't use any scissors for the same reason.

7. No crying. Again, it will bring bad luck.

8. Don't wear black or white clothes. Black colour is associated with funerals. Wear red or bright colours.

9. No hospital visits because it will bring illness.

10. Don't do laundry today, it washes away good fortune.

Most of these rules sound ridiculous to me, but it is entertaining to read or hear about them. However, I do follow some of these rules. I follow number 4 and number 8.

Now, apart from avoiding doing things that will bring bad luck and ill health, people prepare traditional dishes that have symbolic meanings and are symbols of luck and prosperity. Fish is one of the dishes.

How do people prepare for the New Year? Most people clean the house thoroughly. It is believed that sweeping dusts symbolizes sweeping away any misfortune and bad luck. Some people put up red and gold decorations with lucky words.

On Lunar New Year's Day, people visit their parents, grandparents or in-laws. The elders will give red packets with money inside. People gather for dinner and celebrate together.

Holidays last from a few days to two weeks in Asian countries that celebrate Lunar New Year.

Now, let me get back to my housecleaning. I have a robot vacuum cleaner that will suck all the dusts and dog’s hair up, which will hopefully remove my bad luck too. ^_^

Thank you for listening.

Vocabulary

Taboo – something that is forbidden to say because of social or religious custom

Superstition – an excess belief in supernatural things, similar to a myth or old wives’ tale.

Prosperity - wealth

Script:

Hello, everyone, welcome back.

Last time we talked about what holiday blues are, and what cause them. Today I am going to talk about different situations and suggestions on how to cope with holiday blues.

1. Learn to say “no”. You are invited to, or are hosting family gatherings, or gatherings with friends and colleagues. You feel overwhelmed. You may not even want to attend these gatherings. If that is the case, learn to say “no”.  Overscheduling and not making time for yourself can lead to emotional breakdowns. Stay firm on your decisions.

How about taking a trip with your family and skipping all the gatherings?

2. If you are alone because you have lost a loved one, or have broken up with your spouse, girlfriend, boyfriend, do not stay at home alone, even though you really want to be away from everyone. Spend time with your friends and family and follow a routine. If you normally go to the gym twice a week, or go for walks and jogs regularly, don't skip. Getting out of your house and meeting people will make you feel better.

3. If you are feeling down, don’t watch Christmas movies where everyone is enjoying their lives. Often Christmas movies are over romanticized. Stay away from your friends’ posts on social media as well.

The following suggestions are for regardless of whether you are stressed or depressed.

4. Limit your alcohol use. It can have a negative effect on your mood and sleep.

5. Don't indulge on food. You will regret it when you gain a couple of pounds. Eat healthy.

6. Get enough sleep.

7. Buy yourself a small gift. This works the best for me when I am feeling down.

It is important to recognize how you are feeling. If you notice yourself feeling down, irritable, tearful, exhausted, or having difficulties with your sleep and appetite, it is time to ask for help.

Too often, we act on how we feel, rather than what we should be doing or what is best for us. We let our negative feelings take over, thoughts like, "I don't feel like seeing a friend", "I don't want to go out". When we are feeling down, we don't feel like doing anything, which makes us more down. So in order to get better, you should do something.

I have had holiday blues for the past couple of years, and I am not even sure why. Being surrounded by my family should be a happy situation, and yet I was sitting at home sulking. This year, we had a small family dinner on Christmas Eve. And I spent Christmas Day and Boxing Day sulking at home doing absolutely nothing. Suddenly I realized I had to do something to get out of the blues.  I decided to reach out to one of my girlfriends.  I asked her if she had any plans on New Year’s Day. She said she had got no plans and would love to meet. So we went out for Chinese food. A change of routine was good for her and me. Over dinner, I told her about my holiday blues and she told me she was having that too. She said she thought she was the only person that was feeling down during the holidays and had never told anyone, not even her husband. She felt relieved after opening up to me. I was happy we met that night.

Starting January 2, my mood was back to normal. The holiday blues disappeared all of a sudden.

Thank you for listening.

Grammar

Eat healthy or eat healthily

Grammatically, it should be ‘eat healthily’, however, ‘eat healthy’ has been widely used in books and media. So it is okay to say “eat healthy”.

Vocabulary

Sulk (verb) – be silent because you are in a bad mood or bad-tempered, annoyed; similar to ‘mope’.

Script:

Hello, everyone, welcome back.

Christmas and New Year is supposed to be a joyful time, so why are some people depressed during the holidays, or even started to feel depressed before the holidays? Today we are going to talk about Christmas Blues, or Holiday Blues. “Blues” means feelings of sadness.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness in the United States, 64% of people report being affected by holiday depression, and it is most often triggered by financial, emotional, and physical stress of the season.

So, why is it that the holidays make feeling okay so hard?

Here are some of the reasons.

1. Far too much comparison. Christmas and New Year holidays have been overly commercialized and romanticized. Most people ‘s impression of Christmas and New Year is that the holidays are filled with joy and laughter, and the table is filled with delicious food. The Christmas tree is decorated with shiny ornaments with presents underneath. You can see the snow falling outside. Party after party, food, wine and beautiful clothes. Maybe a two day trip to a ski resort.

Then we compare the reality with our imagination and expectation, and we compare this holiday with the previous happier ones, when our grandparents, parents were still around. We compare our holidays with our friends’ holidays, who post their stories and videos on Facebook and Instagram. Their lives seem perfect; perfect spouses, perfect children, perfect job, even their dog is perfect.

2. Stress is high. Now that most people are pretending that the pandemic is over, parties are resumed. More get-togethers, more gifts to buy, more meals to prepare. It is a stress to your wallet as well.

3. End of year self-reflection leads to negative thinking. You criticize yourself for what you did, or didn’t do this year.

4. Loneliness is a common trigger. Maybe this year, you are alone. Maybe you are single this year, just broke up with your partner. Or maybe you are away from your family because of school or work. Some people, just feel lonely even though they are surrounded by family and loved ones.

5. Winter depression, or seasonal affective disorder. It has to do with shorter daylight hours in the winter.

In next week’s episode, I will talk about how to cope with and pull through the holiday blues, and I will share my own story.

Vocabulary

1. Romanticize – idealize, make something seem better than it is.

2. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that's related to changes in seasons — SAD begins and ends at about the same times every year. Symptoms start in the fall and continue into the winter months, sapping your energy and making you feel moody. These symptoms often resolve during the spring and summer months.

Script:

Hello everyone, welcome back. Happy Holidays!

Every year, around the end of December, millions of people make New Year's resolutions, hoping to spark positive changes. The recurring themes each year include fitness and health, improved finances, and personal and professional development. The most common resolutions are:

1. Exercise more

2. Eat better

3. Lose weight

4. Reduce stress

5. Quit smoking

6. Reduce drinking

7. Learn a new skill, hobby or language

8. Make more money, or save more money (spend less money)

9. spend more time with family and friends.

10. Spend less time on social media

Despite the best of intentions, once the excitement of the New Year wears off, many people struggle to follow through on their plans.

Here are some tips that may help you achieve your goals.

1. Mentally prepare for changes. In order to achieve your goals, you need to make changes. Ask yourself if you are ready to make those changes now. Try not to make big and quick changes, any changes should be gradual.

2. Set a goal that motivates you. Your resolution should be for yourself only, not for your spouse or your boss. If you are coerced into setting these goals in order to please another person, you will not be truly motivated, and you might even feel a bit resentful.

3. Limit resolutions to a manageable amount. A common mistake in making resolutions is that you are having too many. Five is already too many. I would suggest keeping the number to no more than three.

4. Be specific. For example, "I want to lose weight" is too general. "I want to lose 10 lbs by May". That's specific and measurable.

5. Break up bigger goals into smaller goals. Let's use the example in #4. I want to lose ten pounds by May. That's the big goal. The small goal will be like, I want to lose three pounds in January, and about two pounds in each month. For those of you who have tried to lose weight, you know you will lose the initial couple of pounds pretty quickly in the first couple of weeks, and then the rate of weight loss slows down.

6. Write down your goals, and review them from to time. If you make a progress, pat yourself on the back, and if you fall off track, don't be too hard on yourself. Get back on track.

Vocabulary

1. recurring - happen again periodically; repeatedly

2. coerced - to coerce somebody means to persuade an unwilling person to do something;

To be coerced means to be pressured by somebody.

3. Pat yourself on the back – to congratulate yourself.

Script:

Hello everyone, welcome to my podcast. Today I am going to talk about Christmas traditions and customs in Canada.

Christmas in Canada is celebrated in much the same as it is in other Western countries. December 25 is the official holiday in Canada, but many Canadians also take time off on the afternoon of Christmas Eve as well as Boxing Day. This year, Christmas Day falls on a Sunday, and some people feel they are being 'ripped off'. That means they feel tricked.

Canada is a multicultural country, so many other holiday traditions are observed. Hanukkah celebrations are widespread in Toronto and Montreal as there is a large Jewish population.

Pretty much all the shops will be closed on Christmas Day except pharmacies. The shopping malls are always packed on December 24 with people doing their last minute Christmas shopping.

Canadian traditions include decorating a Christmas tree and exchanging gifts. On Christmas Day, a special meal is served, consisting of a roast turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, and vegetables. Traditional Christmas desserts like Christmas cake and plum pudding are served. Christmas cakes are made with dried fruits like figs, currants, dried cranberries and prunes. The texture is dense and chewy. Most people are not fans of Christmas cake.  I have tried it a few times and it was, well, not that great.

For people with children, Christmas is a big celebration. Parents buy lots of presents and put them under the Christmas tree or inside the Christmas stockings. Young children leave cookies and milk for Santa Claus to come. Young children ask their parents how Santa Claus can come into their house if they do not have a chimney. Does Santa come in through the window? What if Santa cannot find a way into the house?

There is a website where you can track down where Santa is. There are also games for young children on this site. The link is posted in the script.

https://santatracker.google.com/

Many online students asked me what my holiday plan is. My family is going to have a Christmas Eve buffet in a hotel nearby. That’s our family tradition. However, due to pandemic, we haven’t gone for the last two years, so I am pretty excited about it. We are all looking forward to it. Thank you for listening.

Happy Holidays!

Vocabulary

Rip off – cheat, deceive, trick

Gravy - a sauce made from cooked meat juices and other ingredients.

Hello, everyone, today is Thursday Dec 15. I am not sure if you can hear the howling sound of the wind.  It is really windy today. I live on the top floor and I feel that the wind is going to blow the roof off this building.

Okay, today, we are going to talk about informal contractions.

Informal contractions are short forms of words that people use when speaking casually. They are not exactly slangs. We do not use them in formal writing. However, you can use them when you are texting with your friends. These informal contractions are more common in American English. When we write them, we do not usually use apostrophes. Below are some examples:

1. Ain’t  – You have to use apostrophe for this one. It is a contraction for am not, are not, has not and have not.

Examples: I ain’t sure – means I am not sure.

You ain’t my boss means you are not my boss.

I ain’t finished my homework means I have not finished my homework.

Note that ‘hasn’t’ and ‘haven’t’ are more widely used.

2. Gimme  – means give me

Example: Gimme your money.

3. Gonna  – means going to

Examples: I ain’t gonna tell you.

What are you gonna do now?

4. Gotta  – have got a or have got to

Examples: Have you gotta car? It means have you got a car?

I’ve gotta go now means I have got to go now.

5. Kinda  – kind of

Example: This is kinda expensive.

6. Lemme  – let me

Example: Lemme go!

7. Wanna - means want to, or want a

Examples: I wanna go home means I want to go home.

I wanna coffee means I want a coffee.

8. Whatcha -  means what are you, or what have you

Examples: Whatcha gonna do? Means what are you going to do?

Whatcha got there? Means you have you got there?

9. Ya – you

Example: Who saw ya?

Out of these nine contractions, I mostly use “gimme”, and “kinda”.. There is no specific reason why I don’t use the others, it is just a habit.

Thank you for listening.

Episode 8 – How to improve in small talk

Script:

To most of us, making small talk doesn’t come naturally. It is a skill that requires practice.

We have all been there. You are at a party, or conference, and you try to start a conversation with somebody you just met, or even more challenging, you are trying to join a conversation with a bunch of people that you don’t know.

Here are 7 tips.

1. Introduce yourself. The best way to break the ice is to introduce yourself. “To break the ice” is to do or say something to make people feel more relaxed in a social situation.  Here is an example of how to start a conversation at a wedding.

“Hi, my name is Audrey. I am the bride’s best friend. How do you know the couple?”

2. Have some topics in your mind – for example, current events that are not related to politics. Don’t talk about politics with people you don’t know. How about talking about a new movie? Your last trip? Sports game? If you are attending a work event, make sure you are up-to-date on the latest industry news.

3. Ask open ended questions. Asking a “yes or no” question is one of the fastest ways to kill a conversation because it doesn’t give you anything to build on. (Note: Open ended questions are what, when, how, where, why.)

Instead of saying “Did you like the movie?”

Say “What did you think about the way the movie ended?”

Instead of saying “Are you a friend of the bride?”

Say “How did you meet the couple?”

Instead of saying “Are you a business major, too?”

Say “Which classes are you taking right now?

4. Agree, then add something.

If you’re at an event and someone makes an observation about your surroundings, the host, or even something totally unrelated, go with it. Their statement can be a good opportunity to add your own observations, establish a connection, and move forward into a conversation. First, agree with what they have said, then add your own take, and follow it up with an open-ended question that leaves room to move to a new topic. Here’s how it might look in action:

Someone says: “This cocktail is pretty good, huh?”

5. Be complimentary. Complimentary means praising, flattering.

If you want to seem friendly and approachable, find nice things to say about others.

6. Let them teach you something.

No one is an expert on every topic.  If somebody mentions something you don't know about, don't let the conversation die there. Use it as an opportunity for conversation.  People love to talk about themselves and things they are passionate about, so express your curiosity and allow them to share more knowledge with you. Here are some ideas for how to do this:

· “I’ve never been fly-fishing before. What is it like?”

· “I’m not familiar with that program yet. Is it difficult to learn?”

7. Have an exit strategy.

Sometimes you just need to get away. That’s okay. Making a smooth exit is also a part of being skilled at small talk. You could excuse yourself to the restroom or the buffet, but the easiest way to get out of a conversation is to be polite and direct. Let them know you enjoyed speaking with them and that you’re going to direct your attention to something else now. Here are some examples:

· “It was lovely meeting you. I’m going to refresh my drink and check in with the host.”

· “Excuse me, but I just saw someone I need to speak with. It was nice chatting with you.”

· “I’m so glad we met. I hope to run into you again later on.”

Episode 8 – How to improve in small talk

Script:

To most of us, making small talk doesn’t come naturally. It is a skill that requires practice.

We have all been there. You are at a party, or conference, and you try to start a conversation with somebody you just met, or even more challenging, you are trying to join a conversation with a bunch of people that you don’t know.

Here are 7 tips.

1. Introduce yourself. The best way to break the ice is to introduce yourself. “To break the ice” is to do or say something to make people feel more relaxed in a social situation.  Here is an example of how to start a conversation at a wedding.

“Hi, my name is Audrey. I am the bride’s best friend. How do you know the couple?”

2. Have some topics in your mind – for example, current events that are not related to politics. Don’t talk about politics with people you don’t know. How about talking about a new movie? Your last trip? Sports game? If you are attending a work event, make sure you are up-to-date on the latest industry news.

3. Ask open ended questions. Asking a “yes or no” question is one of the fastest ways to kill a conversation because it doesn’t give you anything to build on. (Note: Open ended questions are what, when, how, where, why.)

Instead of saying “Did you like the movie?”

Say “What did you think about the way the movie ended?”

Instead of saying “Are you a friend of the bride?”

Say “How did you meet the couple?”

Instead of saying “Are you a business major, too?”

Say “Which classes are you taking right now?

4. Agree, then add something.

If you’re at an event and someone makes an observation about your surroundings, the host, or even something totally unrelated, go with it. Their statement can be a good opportunity to add your own observations, establish a connection, and move forward into a conversation. First, agree with what they have said, then add your own take, and follow it up with an open-ended question that leaves room to move to a new topic. Here’s how it might look in action:

Someone says: “This cocktail is pretty good, huh?” You say: “It is. It really complements (meaning: go with) the appetizers. Have you tried them yet?”

5. Be complimentary. Complimentary means praising, flattering.

If you want to seem friendly and approachable, find nice things to say about others.

6. Let them teach you something.

No one is an expert on every topic.  If somebody mentions something you don't know about, don't let the conversation die there. Use it as an opportunity for conversation.  People love to talk about themselves and things they are passionate about, so express your curiosity and allow them to share more knowledge with you. Here are some ideas for how to do this:

· “I’ve never been fly-fishing before. What is it like?”

· “I’m not familiar with that program yet. Is it difficult to learn?”

7. Have an exit strategy.

Sometimes you just need to get away. That’s okay. Making a smooth exit is also a part of being skilled at small talk. You could excuse yourself to the restroom or the buffet, but the easiest way to get out of a conversation is to be polite and direct. Let them know you enjoyed speaking with them and that you’re going to direct your attention to something else now. Here are some examples:

· “It was lovely meeting you. I’m going to refresh my drink and check in with the host.”

· “Excuse me, but I just saw someone I need to speak with. It was nice chatting with you.”

· “I’m so glad we met. I hope to run into you again later on.”

Script:  Quiet quitting

Hi everyone, how are you?

Today I am going to talk about quiet quitting. It is a new term that I just learnt last weekend when I was looking up for new topics for my work.

Quiet quitting refers to doing the minimum requirements of one’s job and putting in no more time, effort, or enthusiasm than absolutely necessary. That means no working overtime or attending non-mandatory meetings, and not checking work emails or answering work-related phone calls in their own time. “Mandatory” means required, something you have to do. It is not clear who invented the term "quiet quitting," but it has become a popular topic on the social media site TikTok.

To me, quiet quitting is not the same as slacking off. Slacking off is when a worker is working less hard or less than what is required.  Slacking off is not good, but quiet quitting doesn’t sound like a bad trend. The worker is trying to find a balance between work and life. Work is not your life, and it shouldn’t be. Only doing what you need to do at work is normal, only the term itself is new.

The reaction of managers to the phenomenon has been mixed. A phenomenon is a fact or situation that sometimes nobody knows how it begins. Some managers have been tolerant, in part because the tight labour market makes hiring difficult, so it is hard to replace these quiet quitters, at least for the time being. Others have responded to quiet quitting by quietly, or loudly, firing employees whom they see as slacking off. In fact, “quiet firing” has become a buzz phrase. A buzz phrase is a word or phrase, that is fashionable at a particular time or in a particular context. Quiet firing is making a job so unrewarding that the employee will feel compelled to resign.

This term, “quiet quitting”, has expanded from meaning doing the minimum work in the office, to meaning doing the minimum work in a romantic relationship. “Quiet quitting” or “quiet dumping” is when your partner chooses to only do the bare minimum required to date you without you breaking up with them. They're no longer going above and beyond for you, they've lost interest but they don't want to be the one to break it off.