Join Andrew and Indiana for a conversation about their love for J-Pop. In this episode, the hosts discuss how they originally found this genre and why it has become so famous globally. They talk about the "City Pop" trend, the unexpected ways they stumbled upon their favorite bands, and why listening to 90s Japanese music makes them feel nostalgic. Finally, they share a list of albums and songs to help you start listening, too. Press play to practice your English and find some great new music!

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Here are the listening recommendations made by Andrew and Indiana:

Spacy - Tatsuro Yamashita: Click here

Wet Land - Hiroshi Yoshimura: Click here

Sugar Babe - Songs: Click here

Happy End - Kazamachi Roman: Click here

Haruomi Hosono - Hosono House: Click here

PONPONPON - Kyary Pamyu Pamyu: Click here

Fun Fact

Andrew mentions that listening to Japanese electronic music makes him nostalgic for old video games. This is no coincidence! Haruomi Hosono (recommended by both hosts in this episode) was a founder of Yellow Magic Orchestra, a band that pioneered using arcade sounds in pop music. Their 1978 hit "Computer Game" actually sampled sounds from Space Invaders!

In this Catch Word episode, you will learn two useful English idioms that describe financial failure. Andrew and Indiana explain what it means “to lose your shirt” and “to go belly up.” These expressions are common in news stories, business conversations, and everyday talk about money problems. Your hosts share clear examples from investing, gambling, restaurants, and regular life so you can understand how native speakers use these idioms naturally.

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What you’ll learn with this episode:

How to use “lose your shirt” when someone loses a large amount of money

How to use “go belly up” to talk about a business or project that fails

Helpful example dialogues that show tone, emotion, and real-life context

This episode is perfect for you if:

You want to build everyday vocabulary for talking about money and risk

You want to understand English used in news reports, business shows, and casual conversations

You need practical listening practice with clear examples and friendly explanations

You want to feel more confident using idioms that native speakers use when discussing financial problems

Fun Fact

Did you know that “lose your shirt” comes from old gambling slang in the 1800s, when people sometimes bet so much money that they literally walked home without their clothes? The image was so shocking and memorable that people began using “lose your shirt” to describe losing all your money, even when no clothing was actually involved.

How do you usually react when your plans suddenly fall apart? In this bonus episode, Andrew tells a story about his recent trip to Canada where a few small errors led to some big inconveniences. He describes how he coped with a lack of entertainment and how he navigated a socially awkward moment with a group of strangers. Tune into the story to boost your fluency and pick up some useful expressions for describing everyday challenges and how to overcome them.

The brand-new Culips app is live!

Study this episode with an interactive transcript and vocabulary glossary:

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Important links:

Become a Culips member

RSVP for the Tokyo Meetup on February 10th, 2026

More details on Discord

Study with the interactive transcript

Join the Culips Discord server

Small-group speaking class schedule

In this episode, you get to hang out with Andrew and Kassy as they look back on Kassy’s huge cross-country trip in the United States. You’ll follow Kassy’s trip from Oregon to Arizona, then on to Pennsylvania, and finally down to the beach in North Carolina. Along the way, you’ll hear what it’s like to travel with a baby, catch up with family and old friends, and deal with a little culture shock in cities where you need to use a car in order to go anywhere. This light and adventurous story takes a shocking turn when a lightning strike causes a total disaster at Kassy’s parents’ house. Give this episode a listen and find out what happened!

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What are the things you miss most when you are away from home? In this episode, Andrew shares his excitement about his upcoming solo trip back to Canada. He talks about the challenges of traveling in the winter and a specific outdoor adventure he hopes the weather will allow him to do.

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Andrew also shares his "must-visit" list, including the nostalgic shops and delicious local treats he can't find in Korea. Join Andrew for this everyday English chat to hear about his travel plans and learn useful vocabulary for describing hometowns and hobbies.

Important links:

Become a Culips member

RSVP for the Tokyo Meetup on February 10th, 2026

More details on Discord

Study with the interactive transcript

Join the Culips Discord server

Small-group speaking class schedule

In this episode, Andrew and Indiana talk about tattoos. They share personal stories, why some people choose tattoos, why others do not, and how tattoo culture looks in Korea, Japan, Canada, and the USA. You will hear clear examples of common tattoo words like sleeve, stick and poke, hand poked, lettering, script, blackout, and tribal. Andrew and Indiana also chat about cost, pain, trends, and rules about tattoos at workplaces and onsen in Japan. If you have opinions about tattoos and are interested in hearing more, this episode is perfect for listening practice and vocabulary-building!

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Study this episode with an interactive transcript and vocabulary glossary:

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What you’ll learn with this episode:

Useful tattoo vocabulary you can use in real life

How to give opinions and reasons politely: how to agree, disagree, and soften your viewpoint

Words for trends and style changes over time

How to compare cultures and places

How to share personal stories in a simple, clear way

This episode is perfect for you if:

You want listening practice with clear, natural speech and real life topics

You want to learn English vocabulary you can use with friends, classmates, or coworkers

You like culture, travel, music, and body art, and want words to talk about them in English

You are an intermediate ESL learner who wants to sound more natural and confident

Do you find travel planning stressful? In this bonus episode, Andrew talks about his upcoming trip to Canada. He shares the ups and downs of booking flights, including a mistake that forced him to change his plans. He also shares exciting news about a Culips meetup in Tokyo. As you listen, you will hear clear, natural English and learn useful vocabulary for talking about travel, money, and solving problems.

The brand-new Culips app is live!

Study this episode with an interactive transcript and vocabulary glossary:

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Important links:

Study with the interactive transcript

Join the Culips Discord server

Small-group speaking class schedule

In this episode of Catch Word, you will learn two common English idioms used to talk about speed and fast results. Andrew and Indiana explain what it means “to make short work of something” and to do something “in short order”, showing you how native speakers use these expressions in workplace and service industry situations. Your hosts will share clear examples from jobs, chores, food, hotels, and office settings so you can understand how these phrases are used naturally.

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What you’ll learn with this episode:

How to use the expression “make short work of something” to talk about finishing tasks very quickly

How to use “in short order” to sound polite and professional when talking about quick results

How these expressions sound in real conversations at work and in service situations

This episode is perfect for you if:

You’re trying to build practical vocabulary for everyday and professional English

You want to learn alternative options to common expressions like “quickly” or “right away”

You’re looking for realistic example dialogues that will help you remember and use new vocabulary

When was the last time something unexpected happened to you? In this episode, Andrew shares a story about a normal bike ride that turned into a surprise encounter with a YouTuber. He also talks about a tough week at home after his wife caught the flu and he had to take care of the house. As you listen, you will hear clear, natural English and pick up useful vocabulary for telling stories about daily life and health.

Don't forget to check out the free interactive transcript and glossary to learn the idioms, phrasal verbs, and vocabulary Andrew uses in this episode that will help you sound more natural and confident when speaking English.

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Happy New Year! For our first Simplified Speech episode of 2026, Andrew and Indiana answer some rapid-fire questions about their plans for this year. From home renovations to fashion predictions, you’ll hear them discuss exactly what they hope to achieve in the new year.

By listening to this conversation, you will learn natural vocabulary and idioms for talking about your own future goals, changing your daily habits, and making predictions.

The brand-new Culips app is live!

Study this episode with an interactive transcript and vocabulary glossary:

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