🎙️ New Year, Fresh Goals | English and Beyond

Happy 2025! In this episode, I struggle though a bad cold as I reflect on the magic of fresh starts and New Year's traditions, from my family's Hogmanay celebrations in Scotland to the quiet introspection that winter invites. I share my ambitious (and not-so-ambitious) resolutions for the year, including continuing to learn French, reading for pleasure, and finally getting that long-awaited tattoo.

César joins the conversation to discuss his more laid-back approach to resolutions, the challenges of building new routines after their move to Spain, and why sometimes just "being human" can be a valid goal. There’s also plenty of banter about morning grumpiness, journaling attempts, and... health conditions?

Whether you're someone who meticulously plans your resolutions or just wings it, this episode is packed with relatable moments and some light-hearted inspiration. And, of course, we would love to hear from you:

💬 What are your 2025 resolutions?
Share them via email at [email protected], or leave a comment on Spotify, YouTube, or our new Instagram account @BritishEnglishandBeyond!

📖 Want to improve your English even more?

• Read the full transcript & vocabulary flashcards → www.morethanalanguage.com
• Follow us on Instagram → @BritishEnglishandBeyond
• Watch us on Youtube → @englishandbeyondpodcast
• Email your thoughts or questions → [email protected]

🎙 New episodes every week! Subscribe now to practise listening, expand your vocabulary, and learn English in a natural, fun way.

And remember, if this podcast is a little too tough for you, we have "English and Beyond: Intermediate English Podcast" too!

As the year draws to a close, I’m excited to share the final episode of English and Beyond for 2024. This festive episode is all about Christmas! It’s a nostalgic dive into personal traditions, some ancient history, and the quirks of celebrating the season across different cultures.

🎙 What’s Inside?

• My reflections on chaotic childhood Christmases (spoiler: black bin bags instead of wrapping paper!)
• The fascinating Roman origins of modern Christmas traditions.
• How César and I navigate the cultural differences of Christmas in Spain versus the UK.
• A heartfelt look at why the imperfections make the holidays so special.

🎁 A Small Christmas Request
If you’ve enjoyed English and Beyond this year, I’d love it if you could share this episode or the podcast with a friend learning English. Word of mouth is the best gift for growing this community!

Let me know about your own Christmas traditions! Do you embrace the chaos or prefer the polished? I’d love to hear from you—email me at [email protected] or leave a comment on the website.

Thank you for being part of this journey in 2024. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a fantastic New Year. See you in 2025! 🎉

📖 Want to improve your English even more?

• Read the full transcript & vocabulary flashcards → www.morethanalanguage.com
• Follow us on Instagram → @BritishEnglishandBeyond
• Watch us on Youtube → @englishandbeyondpodcast
• Email your thoughts or questions → [email protected]

🎙 New episodes every week! Subscribe now to practise listening, expand your vocabulary, and learn English in a natural, fun way.

And remember, if this podcast is a little too tough for you, we have "English and Beyond: Intermediate English Podcast" too!

👭 What’s the role of a sister in your life? From childhood hero worship to sibling rivalries, our relationships with our sisters shape us in ways we don’t always realise.

This week on English and Beyond, I reflect on the unique bond between siblings, with a special focus on my own older sister—affectionately named Jeanne for this episode. Joined by regular co-host César, we explore the complexities of sibling relationships:

🎧 Inside the episode:
💡 Why are sibling relationships so powerful and long-lasting?
👀 How does having an older sister influence your personality?
🏆 Sibling rivalry: is it all bad, or can it push us to succeed?
🤝 The fine line between being a sibling and a role model
🎭 How do sibling bonds compare to friendships or parent-child relationships?

With heartfelt anecdotes, humour, and honest reflections, this episode is a love letter to the people who have known us for a lifetime.

🎙️ Learn new English expressions like:
🔹 "Your reputation precedes you"
🔹 "Sounding board"
🔹 "Get on with it"

📖 Want to improve your English even more?

• Read the full transcript & vocabulary flashcards → www.morethanalanguage.com
• Follow us on Instagram → @BritishEnglishandBeyond
• Watch us on Youtube → @englishandbeyondpodcast
• Email your thoughts or questions → [email protected]

🎙 New episodes every week! Subscribe now to practise listening, expand your vocabulary, and learn English in a natural, fun way.

And remember, if this podcast is a little too tough for you, we have "English and Beyond: Intermediate English Podcast" too!

🤝 What makes someone a best friend? Is it time, shared experiences, or just luck?

In this special episode of English and Beyond, I sit down with my old university friend Chris, who joins from the USA, to explore the complex world of friendship. From childhood best friends to party buddies, we reflect on how friendships evolve and why some last while others fade.

🎧 Inside the episode:
🔍 Why do some friendships last a lifetime while others stay at the acquaintance level?
🤝 How does friendship compare to romantic relationships or sibling bonds?
🍻 Are “going-out” friends real friends, or just party acquaintances?
🇬🇧 Why do Brits make weekend “best friends” after a few drinks—only to never speak again?
💡 Do only children value friendships more than those with siblings?

This is a warm, reflective, and honest discussion about what friendship truly means. Whether you’re a social butterfly or an introverted deep-connection type, this episode will get you thinking about the people in your life in a whole new way.

📖 Want to improve your English even more?

• Read the full transcript & vocabulary flashcards → www.morethanalanguage.com
• Follow us on Instagram → @BritishEnglishandBeyond
• Watch us on Youtube → @englishandbeyondpodcast
• Email your thoughts or questions → [email protected]

🎙 New episodes every week! Subscribe now to practise listening, expand your vocabulary, and learn English in a natural, fun way.

And remember, if this podcast is a little too tough for you, we have "English and Beyond: Intermediate English Podcast" too!

☕ "Sorry!" "Thank you!" "Oh, sorry again!" The British are famous for their politeness—but is it all genuine, or just world-class passive-aggressive fakery?

In this episode of English and Beyond, César & I unpack the quirks of British social etiquette, from excessive apologies to queuing obsessions and the mysterious art of ordering a pint the right way. 🍺

🎧 Inside the episode:
🔍 Why do Brits say "sorry" when THEY get bumped into?
🚇 The fine-tuned etiquette of public transport & queuing
🥂 Ordering drinks in a British pub—why "I want a beer" is NOT okay
🏖️ The bizarre contrast between polite Brits at home and rowdy Brits abroad
🇪🇸 How does Spanish directness clash with British subtlety?

💡 Are the British genuinely polite, or is it all just social survival? Let us know your thoughts!

📖 Want to improve your English even more?

• Read the full transcript & vocabulary flashcards → www.morethanalanguage.com
• Follow us on Instagram → @BritishEnglishandBeyond
• Watch us on Youtube → @englishandbeyondpodcast
• Email your thoughts or questions → [email protected]

🎙 New episodes every week! Subscribe now to practise listening, expand your vocabulary, and learn English in a natural, fun way.

And remember, if this podcast is a little too tough for you, we have "English and Beyond: Intermediate English Podcast" too!

👩‍🎓 Single-sex schools—progressive choice or charmingly outdated tradition? 🏫

In this episode, César & I take a deep dive into British single-sex education—those schools where boys & girls are kept apart for (supposedly) better focus, higher grades, and fewer distractions.

As a former teacher in an all-boys school, I share the surprising behaviours I observed, while César compares it to his own experience in co-educational Spanish schools. Together, we explore:

🔍 Do single-sex schools actually lead to better academic results?
🎭 The impact on social skills, confidence & gender dynamics
📚 Are these schools preparing kids for real life—or shielding them from it?
👨‍🏫 My personal experience with misogyny in all-boys education

💡 Join the debate! Do you think boys & girls should be educated separately?

📖 Want to improve your English even more?

• Read the full transcript & vocabulary flashcards → www.morethanalanguage.com
• Follow us on Instagram → @BritishEnglishandBeyond
• Watch us on Youtube → @englishandbeyondpodcast
• Email your thoughts or questions → [email protected]

🎙 New episodes every week! Subscribe now to practise listening, expand your vocabulary, and learn English in a natural, fun way.

And remember, if this podcast is a little too tough for you, we have "English and Beyond: Intermediate English Podcast" too!

🏝️ Stranded on a desert island… but with music, books & one ridiculous luxury item?

This week, César & I are taking a lighthearted twist on the classic British radio show Desert Island Discs! With zero time to overthink, I’m choosing the songs, book & one over-the-top item I’d bring to my imaginary deserted island—all while César reacts in real-time.

🎧 Tune in to hear:
🎶 The song that instantly transports me to childhood
🎵 The track that reminds me of César (spoiler: it’s from a musical)
📖 The book that had a huge impact on César’s life (hint: it’s deep)
🎹 My luxury pick—because obviously, a fully equipped gym or piano is essential on a desert island

💡 Expect personal stories, music nostalgia & a lot of laughs. It’s casual, unscripted, and hopefully just chaotic enough to keep you entertained.

📖 Want to improve your English even more?

• Read the full transcript & vocabulary flashcards → www.morethanalanguage.com
• Follow us on Instagram → @BritishEnglishandBeyond
• Watch us on Youtube → @englishandbeyondpodcast
• Email your thoughts or questions → [email protected]

🎙 New episodes every week! Subscribe now to practise listening, expand your vocabulary, and learn English in a natural, fun way.

And remember, if this podcast is a little too tough for you, we have "English and Beyond: Intermediate English Podcast" too!

💪 Can lifting weights actually change your mindset? 💪

In this episode of English & Beyond, I sit down with my friend Martha, a powerhouse in urban gardening and actualStrongwoman competitions 🏋️‍♀️, to chat about fitness, self-image, and what ‘strength’ really means.

💡 What’s inside:
✔️ My childhood fear of the word ‘muscles’ (seriously!) 😱
✔️ Why many women quit sports in their teens—and how that’s changing
✔️ Gym culture & masculinity—how it shapes men and women differently
✔️ Martha’s inclusive Strongwoman competition (feat. a drag queen compère!) 🌈
✔️ The psychology of fitness—why patience, progress & self-discipline matter in both lifting weights & learning languages!

📖 Want to improve your English even more?

• Read the full transcript & vocabulary flashcards → www.morethanalanguage.com
• Follow us on Instagram → @BritishEnglishandBeyond
• Watch us on Youtube → @englishandbeyondpodcast
• Email your thoughts or questions → [email protected]

🎙 New episodes every week! Subscribe now to practise listening, expand your vocabulary, and learn English in a natural, fun way.

And remember, if this podcast is a little too tough for you, we have "English and Beyond: Intermediate English Podcast" too!

🎃 Trick or treat? 🎃

In this episode of English & Beyond, César and I dig into Halloween’s surprising origins, exploring how a Celtic festival became a global phenomenon—with a little (or a lot) of help from the USA.

💡 What we chat about in this episode:
✔️ My non-existent childhood Halloween celebrations 🎭
✔️ Santa, the Tooth Fairy, and why my parents refused to play along
✔️ The Celtic roots of Halloween & why the UK never embraced it (until now)
✔️ How Spain celebrates All Saints' Day—cemeteries, marzipan, and family traditions
✔️ How Halloween became an American mega-industry (and why Starbucks thanks you for your Pumpkin Spice Latte addiction)
✔️ Is Halloween actually about death? Or just another excuse to dress up & party? 🕷️

🎤 PLUS: César shares his tragic first Halloween experience in London...where he was the ONLY one in costume.

📖 Want to improve your English even more?

• Read the full transcript & vocabulary flashcards → www.morethanalanguage.com
• Follow us on Instagram → @BritishEnglishandBeyond
• Watch us on Youtube → @englishandbeyondpodcast
• Email your thoughts or questions → [email protected]

🎙 New episodes every week! Subscribe now to practise listening, expand your vocabulary, and learn English in a natural, fun way.

And remember, if this podcast is a little too tough for you, we have "English and Beyond: Intermediate English Podcast" too!

🎭 Ever walked out of a film because it was THAT disappointing? We did…

In this episode, César and I discuss disappointment—from movies that didn’t live up to expectations (Joker: Folie à Deux, we’re looking at you) to the frustration of setting the bar too high.

💡 What we chat about in this episode:
✔️ Joker 2—why we actually walked out of the cinema
✔️ The problem with hyped-up sequels
✔️ Musicals we loved… and ones that weren’t worth the popcorn 🍿
✔️ Our own creative disappointments—when things don’t turn out how we imagined
✔️ Turning English-learning frustrations into wins using our free eBooks

🎤 PLUS: We share a practical language learning tip at the end—don’t miss it!

🚀 Want to boost your English listening skills? Listen with the free transcript at www.morethanalanguage.com.

🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Rate, subscribe, and share it with a friend who needs a laugh!

📖 Want to improve your English even more?

• Read the full transcript & vocabulary flashcards → www.morethanalanguage.com
• Follow us on Instagram → @BritishEnglishandBeyond
• Watch us on Youtube → @englishandbeyondpodcast
• Email your thoughts or questions → [email protected]

🎙 New episodes every week! Subscribe now to practise listening, expand your vocabulary, and learn English in a natural, fun way.

And remember, if this podcast is a little too tough for you, we have "English and Beyond: Intermediate English Podcast" too!