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Hello our friends. Welcome to Pod and Chill.

Hi. Hi. I'm Leo. Always ready to make you smile.

And I'm Gwen. I like to share little tips and sometimes keep Leo in check.

Keep me in check. That's your full-time job, Gwen.

All right. All right. But today we're going to talk about something that touches all of us. Time. How we use it, how it passes, and how to feel good while managing it.

Oh yes. Sometimes I feel like the day just runs away without me.

And before we dive in, let's take a moment, sit back, relax, maybe stretch a little, and let's make this time together calm and comfortable. We'll play a small game in a minute to make this episode more fun and share ideas that can help you feel more in control of your day.

Hey, that sounds fun. I love games, especially ones that make you think.

Perfect. Let's get ready. Open your hands and join us. So, here's the game. Look at your hand. Each finger has a meaning. If it feels true for you, put that finger down.

Oh, I like this already. Let's go.

Okay. Put your thumb down if you often open your phone and scroll without knowing what you are looking for.

Um, my thumb is gone already.

Next. Put your index finger down if you start a task but rarely finish it. Put your middle finger down if you say, "I'll do it tomorrow." and keep procrastinating.

Ouch. That's me again.

Now, put your ring finger down if you spend an hour doing something that should take only 15 minutes.

Don't judge me, Gwen. My ring finger is down.

Put your pinky finger down if you always feel busy, but at the end of the day, you don't really achieve anything important.

Oh wow, all my fingers are down.

If all your fingers are down, maybe you're having problem with time management. If only a few are down, you can still learn new ways to handle time better.

So basically we all need this talk.

Exactly. Stay with us and we'll explore together.

You know what, Leo? Those fingers from the game show why we can't control our time. Well,

really? I thought it was just things.

Well, you can see that the thumb is big, easy to see. It shows our biggest problem, being distracted. Phones, social media, random thoughts. They take our mind away from what we really need to do.

Oh, I get it. The first reason is losing focus. I often check my phone when I'm working.

Yes, exactly. Just one quick look can waste 20 minutes. That's why the thumb is the first enemy.

Okay. Then the next finger, the index finger. What does it mean?

The index finger points at many things. It means multitasking.

Multitasking is when you do many jobs at one time, right?

Yes. Many people think doing many jobs at the same time saves hours. But in real life they stop and start again and again. So everything becomes slower.

Yeah. Like cooking while answering emails and also watching TV. In the end, nothing is done well.

Right. Multitasking is not power, it's a trap.

Next is the middle finger. I feel like this one has a strong meaning.

Yes, it's delaying the bad habit of always saying I'll do it later and later never comes until the deadline is tomorrow and then you feel very stressed.

Oh yes, I know that feeling. One small delay grows into a big problem.

Yeah, the middle finger tells us that procrastination hurts our own future self.

Then we have the ring finger. usually about love or promises. How is it related to time?

Good point. The ring finger means jobs without deadlines. When you don't set a clear finish time, the work keeps going on and on, days, weeks, even months. And then you feel heavy like carrying unfinished tasks everywhere.

So a deadline is like a wedding ring. It shows your promise.

I really like that idea. Yes, deadlines help us stay true to our goals.

And last is the little finger. It looks small. Does it mean a small problem?

No, not small at all. The pinky finger means busy but not productive. People can spend the whole day doing many small things. Checking emails, fixing details, saying yes to everything. But in the end, no big result comes out.

Oh, like filling a broken bucket. You work hard, but it never gets full.

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Hey, Alex. Man, I heard the news. Congrats. You're finally buying your house, right?

Yes, finally. I've been saving for years. It wasn't easy, but I managed to put together a 20% down payment. I didn't want to go with only 10% because the interest rate could have been too high. I've done the math many times, and I think it's the right moment for me.

Wow. I mean, I'm happy for you. It's a big step, but honestly, I have to ask, are you sure this is a good idea? I mean, buying a house sounds great on paper, but isn't it just tying yourself down to debt for the next 30 years?

I get it. That's what a lot of people say. But hear me out. I've been paying rent for the last 10 years. Let's say $900 per month. That's over $100,000 gone into someone else's pocket. With a mortgage, at least the money I pay each month is going towards something that will eventually be mine.

Yeah, I hear that a lot, too. But you're also locking yourself into a 30-year mortgage, right? And that's not even including property taxes, home insurance, repairs, and all the stuff that comes with owning a home. Doesn't that stress you out?

Honestly, a little. But I prefer the idea of owning something real. Plus, I bought in a growing area. The real estate market there is going up fast. My coworker Laura bought a place two years ago, and it's already increased in value by $40,000. That's equity, man. It's not just an expense; it's an investment, too.

Maybe. Let me give you another angle. Let's say you put that $40,000 down payment into a diversified investment portfolio instead. Something like ETFs or index funds. Historically, the average return from the stock market is around 7 to 8% annually. With compound interest, that $40,000 could turn into over $300,000 in 25 years. No repairs, no taxes, just growth.

That's true. If everything goes well. But markets go down, too. Look at 2008. Real estate feels more stable to me. People always need houses.

Sure, but houses also crash. Remember the housing bubble? People were buying homes with bad loans and then lost everything. The truth is both are risky, but one is more flexible. If I invest my money, I can cash out if I need it. If I buy a house and suddenly lose my job, I still owe the bank a mortgage every month.

I totally agree about the risk, but I made sure to buy within my budget. My mortgage payment will be around $1,100 per month. And I was paying $900 for rent before. It's not a huge jump, and my income is more stable now. And you know what? I like the idea of having something I can pass on to my future kids.

That part makes sense. Generational wealth. I just feel like our generation is rushing into buying homes because our parents told us it's the right thing to do. But times have changed. Inflation, high interest rates, job insecurity. Maybe renting and investing makes more sense now.

But if you keep renting, aren't you just throwing money away?

Not if you're investing the difference. For example, you said your mortgage is $1,100. Let's say I keep renting for $800 and I invest the $300 monthly difference. With compound interest over 25 years at 7%, I could end up with about $250,000—and I don't have to fix a broken water heater or pay for roof repairs.

That's a good point, but you're assuming you will actually invest that difference. Most people don't. They spend it on other stuff. Buying a house forces you to be disciplined. You have to make that payment every month. So, you're automatically saving.

That's true for a lot of people. But I'm the kind who automates my investments. Every paycheck, I put a fixed amount into my portfolio. It's just as automatic as a mortgage. I just think people need to look at the full picture. A house is not just a price tag. You've got closing costs, inspection fees, maintenance, HOA fees in some places, and don't forget the capital gains tax if you sell it later.

I know. I've done the math. The closing costs alone were about $6,000. I saved for that, too. But in my case, I'm planning to live in the house for at least 10 years, and maybe later I can rent part of it out, make it a source of income. It's not just about living in it.

Now, that sounds more like an investment. If you can generate rental income from your home, that changes the game. But still, wouldn't it be easier to just invest and not worry about repairs or tenants?

It depends on what you value, but for me, owning a home gives me security, pride, and a chance to grow something long-term. For you, maybe flexibility and liquidity are more important. I respect that.

Fair enough. I guess there's no one-size-fits-all answer, but it's important that we think about these things carefully. Too many people rush in or just follow what others are doing without asking, "Is this the best option for me?"

Exactly. That's why I waited. I didn't want to buy until I really felt ready. And if it turns out to be a mistake, well, at least I did it on my terms.

You know, this reminds me of our coworker David. Remember him? He bought a house 5 years ago in the suburbs. But things didn't go as planned. A year later, his company transferred him to another state, and he couldn't sell the house quickly. He ended up paying both a mortgage and rent for 6 months. He said it was the most stressful time of his life.

Yeah, I remember that. That's definitely a risk. But David also didn't do much research. He bought that house just because it looked nice, not because it was in a good area for resale or rental. I learned from that. I chose a location near public transport, schools, and hospitals. Even if I have to move, I could rent it out easily.

That's smart. But you know who did the opposite? Sandra. She's been renting a small apartment for the last 8 years. Instead of buying a house, she put her savings into mutual funds and stocks. Now she's sitting on over $150,000 in her investment account—no mortgage, no repairs. She travels when she wants. She even works part-time now.

True, but Sandra also has no kids and doesn't want to settle down. I want stability. I want a backyard, a place I can personalize, and eventually a home for my family—not just numbers in an account. And besides, she's very disciplined. Most people wouldn't keep investing like she did. They'd spend it on clothes, phones, or vacations.

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Hey everyone, welcome back. Today, we're talking about something that messes with all of us: negative thoughts.

Oh boy, my brain is basically a full-time manager of those, especially at 3 a.m.

Right? Like when you're about to sleep and suddenly your brain's like, "Hey, let's replay every embarrassing thing you've ever done in HD all the time." It's like the bad comment is written in glowing neon letters while the good ones are written with invisible ink.

So true. And here's the thing: none of this is actually our fault.

Wait, what? Not my fault? Good. Who do I blame? My cat?

Not this time. You can blame your ancestors. Our brains evolved with a built-in alarm system that's obsessed with spotting danger.

Danger? Like what? Falling coconuts?

More like tigers in the bushes. Thousands of years ago, if our ancestors missed a threat, it was game over. So, their brains became wired to notice problems first.

Okay, that makes sense. Spot tiger equals live another day.

Exactly. And that system was so crucial, it's hardwired into us. But here's the wild part: when that alarm goes off now, it doesn't just ring a bell in your mind. It floods your whole body with chemicals that make you feel stressed. It's like your brain cries, "Wolf!" and your whole body panics. Okay, so here's a question for you all. Have you ever had someone say one negative thing to you, maybe even years ago, that you still remember perfectly like it was yesterday? Does it happen to you? Let us know in the comments what it was. It's so frustrating because it feels like these thoughts are in control, not you. You try so hard to stop the negative spiral, but your brain just keeps pulling you back.

Now, let's talk about what science says regarding negative thinking in our mind and body, how it actually affects us.

Yeah. And it's pretty shocking. It's not just a bad mood. Science shows that negative thoughts create real physical changes inside of us. For example, when you stress or think negatively, your brain releases a chemical called cortisol.

Cortisol? What's that?

It's often called the stress hormone. It's like your body's alarm system. But when that alarm is constantly going off because of negative thinking, it's like crying wolf over and over. This high level of cortisol can weaken your immune system, making you more likely to get sick.

Really? So if I'm always thinking negatively, I might actually get more colds.

Exactly. It also affects your mind. Studies show that constant negative thinking can shrink the part of your brain responsible for memory and learning and it strengthens the part that creates more fear and anxiety. It's like a dangerous cycle.

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Hi everyone, welcome back to Pod and Chill. This is the place where we slow down and just talk without rushing.

Hi. Hi, I'm Leo. I talk a lot, sometimes too much, but I'll still keep it chill.

And I'm Gwen. We're here to share some calm thoughts and maybe some small guidance.

Yeah, we all need a little guidance sometimes, especially on days when our brain feels like a blank whiteboard. You know, after a night of poor sleep or a busy morning, your brain can feel like a blank whiteboard. You sit there and do nothing even though the day is waiting.

I get that. It can feel really stuck sometimes.

Yeah. Like the world is moving fast and you're frozen somewhere in the middle.

That feeling is normal. Everyone has moments when they just don't know what to do. It could be at work, in your personal life, with relationships, or when facing a big decision.

And when that happens, time slips away, motivation disappears, and stress quietly grows.

So today we're talking about those moments when you just don't know what to do and how to find a gentle way to get unstuck step by step.

Before we start, take a deep breath, my friends. Maybe pour yourself a cup of tea or water and just let yourself settle for a moment.

Now buddies, close your eyes if you can. Picture the last few days. All the little things you had to decide. All the things waiting for your attention.

Yeah. Like the world gave you a map with a million roads, but none of them have names.

That feeling, having too many choices is more normal than you think. A new course, a job offer, starting a personal project, everything looks interesting, but somehow nothing feels clear.

And the brain wants things to be clear. It wants a plan. But when there are too many ways to go, it just stops. You keep standing at the same crossroads again and again.

Exactly. And it's not just too many choices. Sometimes we don't even know where to start. We don't have enough experience or information. The first step feels like walking in the dark.

Oh, I know that one well. Just graduating and suddenly the pressure is on. Everyone else seems to know what to do. And here I am wondering if I even remember how to choose.

Yeah, that pressure to make the perfect choice can stop anyone. Psychologists even call it paralysis by analysis.

Huh? What's that?

That means you think too much about what might happen. So you don't take any action. It's like your brain gets stuck trying to plan everything perfectly and you end up doing nothing.

Oh, so yeah. I spent hours thinking about what could go wrong, what I might regret, and then I did nothing. It felt like my mind was stuck on a loop and I couldn't get out.

And that loop, it's tiring. Not just in your head, but in your heart, too. When your mind and feelings are tired, even small decisions feel big. Choosing what to eat or what to wear can feel hard.

And there's another thing. Sometimes I want everything at once. Different jobs, different experiences, different goals, but they can't all fit together.

That feeling in your mind makes everything messy. Your heart wants one thing, your mind wants another. The more you fight it, the harder it feels.

So, it's not laziness or weakness. It's just too much. Too much going on inside and around me.

That's right. And here's something important. Everyone goes through this. No one has all the answers all the time. Feeling lost is part of being human.

So what do we do? Just wait.

Not exactly waiting. More like letting it be. Let the I don't know feeling stay for a while without judging it. Don't try to force an answer right away. Give yourself a little space to breathe.

That actually feels good. Like some weight is lifted.

Because it is. The brain needs that break. Accepting not knowing isn't giving up. It's letting your mind slowly find its way.

And I guess the answers come little by little, not all at once.

Exactly. Even small moments of rest. Even a few quiet breaths start helping you see clearly. Each small pause helps your mind sort things out. Friends, it's like slowly sorting a messy bunch of threads. You can't pull hard. You need to be gentle. Take small moves.

And every time you accept not knowing, you practice patience. You tell yourself it's okay to be in the pause. And somehow, even with all the uncertainty, life feels a bit lighter, like I can breathe again.

That's the base. You're not failing. You're not behind. You're just human going through a normal part of life, the part where paths are unclear and choices feel heavy.

So maybe the first step isn't finding the answer. It's letting yourself be okay with not knowing. To rest, think, and untangle without pressure.

Yes. Because step by step, one small choice at a time, the fog clears. And often answers come when your mind is calm, not when it's rushing.

That actually makes me feel hopeful.

And that's the key, friends. Slow, gentle steps. Hey, my friends who are listening to this episode, sometimes I bet some of you listening feel the same way I do, like you just don't know what to do next, right?

Oh, I'm sure of it. I mean, who hasn't stared at a list of things and thought, "Okay, which one first or none at all?"

Exactly. And it's funny. You look at other people and think, "Wow, they must always know what's next." But honestly, probably half the time they're just guessing, too.

Totally. Even really successful people get stuck sometimes. I have a friend, a designer, who's won awards for his work. About a month ago, he spent 6 hours staring at a blank page, unsure how to start a project.

Whoa, six hours? That's a long time. And the day before he had the same problem with a different design.

Seriously, even award-winning designers get stuck like that.

He's amazing at his job. But getting stuck doesn't mean he's failing. It happens to everyone.

Phew. That actually makes me feel better. Maybe being stuck isn't the end of the world.

Not at all. The first trick is staying calm. Don't push yourself to find an answer right away. Just breathe. Notice the I don't know feeling and let it be for a while.

Huh? Easy to say, harder to do. I always want to fix everything immediately.

I get it, but think about it like cooking. You don't dump all ingredients into the pan at once. You add them slowly, step by step. Same with decisions.

Okay. Slow cooking for my brain. Got it?

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This mistake made me lose a lot of money. It happened many years ago.

Hello and welcome to another episode of Tangerine Academy, the channel where you learn English for real life. Today we'll be asking a very interesting question. What is the biggest mistake you have made in your life? Let's go find out what people in the street say. But remember, speak in English. This is your chance to be honest. Let's do it. Hello. Excuse me. I hope you're having a great day. I have a question for you. What is the biggest mistake you have made in your life? Be honest, please.

Hello. Um, the biggest mistake I am not sure but I will think about it. The truth is that I made a lot of mistakes in my life. I am remembering them right now. But I think one that I will never be able to forget is not having learned English when I was younger. I mean, I speak English now, but I am in my 50s. I wish I could speak English when I was 20 or 30 because it would have helped me with an important opportunity at work.

Really? Can you tell me what opportunity was that?

I'm a computer engineer. I work for an international company. Many years ago, there was a call for staff to attend a conference in Dubai. The program was held in a five-star hotel. All expenses paid. You had to be a qualified engineer specialized in modern systems and have advanced English. I met all the requirements but my English was very basic so I couldn't go. After that I became very discouraged and began to hate English. I didn't want to know anything about English. I hated it so much. Seriously. So I didn't learn it. I decided my chance had passed, so there was no point in studying English. And what do you think? Four years later, they launched a new call for applications and the requirements were the same. This time the trip was to a five-star hotel in Paris. I wanted to kill myself. I said to myself, why didn't I learn English? That was my biggest mistake. Not so much not having learned English sooner, but having struggled with English and hated it. You never know when a good opportunity will present itself in your life. So, you have to be prepared for it. Now, of course, I speak English. And after 5 years, they called me again for a trip to Rome. And this time, I went. I liked it. But I always think it would have been great to go to Dubai and Paris. But anyway, that's the biggest mistake I've ever made.

Wow, that was very interesting to hear. But now you speak English and that's the important thing. Thank you. Oh, hello. One question. What is the biggest mistake you have made in your life?

Hi. Um, the biggest mistake? Well, I think the biggest mistake I've made in my life was not marrying the love of my life.

Oh, I'm sorry. What happened? Tell me more.

Well, she and I were together for many years. We dated in college. Then we decided to move in together and everything was going great. She loved me and I loved her. After 8 years, she told me we needed to talk about it. Marriage. She told me we'd been together for a long time and that she needed to know what direction her life was going to take. I I said to her, "What do you mean? We're two professionals who have good jobs and enjoy life." But that's not what she meant. She wanted to get married and have children. In fact, she'd already told me that when we were in college, but you know, anyway, I didn't want to get married. I mean, why get married if we were fine like this? We were already a solid couple, and that was enough for me. The idea of marriage did not interest me. So, I told her I couldn't get married because I didn't like it, that we were fine as it was. At first, she understood and told me, "Okay." But little by little, she seemed sadder. And I didn't know why. I hadn't realized that. Little by little, she was becoming more uncomfortable with the situation until one day she told me that if we didn't get married, we'd have to break up. I told her no. That I wasn't interested in marriage. that it meant nothing to me, that it was just a signed piece of paper, a simple formality. After that, a few days later, when I came home from work, her things were gone, she was gone. I was really upset because she had broken up with me over something stupid. But it wasn't just a trivial matter to her. It was something important to her. I asked her to come back with me, but she didn't want to. I got really mad at her and we didn't speak again. Well, the years passed and I realized I still loved her. So 5 years later, I decided to go find her and propose marriage so I could be with her forever. When I arrived, she was married and pregnant with her first child. And I well here I am missing her every day of my life. So that was the worst mistake I ever made. But you learned from that, I guess.

Wow, that's a touching story. I hope you find a person to love and be happy. Let's continue. Hello. What is the biggest mistake you have made in your life?

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Hello, it's Arianita. Are you tired of speaking slow in English? Well, in today's video, I'm going to teach you how to speak really fast. Native speakers speak fast without even thinking about it, especially in casual everyday conversations.

Today, we'll learn about reductions, and we want to use them most with friends and family. In more formal situations, like a job interview or a presentation, you'll probably use them less. But keep in mind, some reductions are so common that you'll hear them in professional settings, too.

How to Shorten Question Words

When we ask questions in everyday American English, we often push words together to make them faster and easier to say. Learning these short forms is super important for understanding native speakers when they talk fast. Let's look at some common examples.

What are you often sounds like what are you or whaddya.

What are you doing?becomesWhaddya doing?

What do you think of my new watch?becomesWhaddya think of my new watch?

What are you looking at over there?becomesWhaddya looking at over there?

What are you going to do for your birthday?becomesWhaddya gonna do for your birthday?

Where did you often sounds like where did you.

Where did you go?becomesWhere'd you go?

Where did you put the other chair?becomesWhere'd you put the other chair?

Where did you park the car? I can't remember.becomesWhere'd you park the car? I can't remember.

Where did you eat?becomesWhere'd you eat?

Where is it often sounds like where is it.

Somebody said there's public parking. Where is it?

I'm looking for my comb. Where is it?

I've got to find a restroom. Where is it?

What is your often sounds like what's your.

What is your name?becomesWhat's your name?

What's your favorite spot in Cincinnati?

What's your favorite mural you've seen so far?

What's your plan for today?

Did you often sounds like did you.

Did you eat yet?becomesDid you eat yet?

Did you know the Robling Bridge was a model for the Brooklyn Bridge?

Did you ever rent a scooter?

Did you wash your hands?

Why did you often sounds like why did you.

Why did you lie?becomesWhy'd you lie?

Why did you leave my phone on the ground? Look what happened.

Why'd you decide to go to the park instead of the movies?

Why'd you pick this place? It's too far away.

Do you ever sounds like D'you ever or Jever.

Do you ever play cornhole?becomesJever play cornhole?

Do you ever go to a dog park?

Do you ever play pickleball?

These shortened sounds happen all the time when people are talking naturally. Don't worry about getting them perfect right away.

How to Shorten Pronouns and Verbs

Here's how we often shorten pronouns and verbs when we talk. In everyday American English, we love to push pronouns likeI,he,her, and verbs together until they sound like one smooth word. You will hear these all the time. Let's check out these common examples.

I'm going to becomes I'm gonna.

I'm going to the store.becomesI'm gonna go to the store.

I'm gonna watch the game.

I'm going to sit down and take a quick break.becomesI'm gonna sit down and take a quick break.

I'm going to check out the new menu.becomesI'm gonna check out the new menu.

Let us go can sound like let's go.

All right, let's go.

This stop is too crowded. Let's go to the next one.

I'm getting hungry. Let's go find a place for dinner.

I want to get some ice cream. Let's go inside.

Give him a sounds like give him a.

Give him a hand.

He got a new job. Give him a high five.

I told you he's nice. Give him a chance.

Your friend looks sad. Give him a hug.

Give her a sounds like give her a.

Give her a chance.

I'm going to give her a hand with that chair.

Why don't you give her a call and find out?

You should call your mom. Give her a call.

I'll ask her sounds like I'll ask her.

I don't know. I'll ask her.

My friend knows how to make pizza. I'll ask her.

She looks like a local. I'll ask her for directions.

I think my friend has a membership here. I'll ask her about it.

See how that makes everything flow together? In a normal conversation, native speakers almost never say each word separately. This isn't lazy or even bad English. This is just the natural rhythm of the language in casual conversations. This is actually how people expect you to talk.

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Hi guys, welcome back to Podcast and Chill. I'm Leo

And I'm Gwen.

I just want to say that I'm glad you're here with us today. You don't need to do anything right now. Just be here with us.

Yeah. In this moment, just let the world slow down for a little while.

Have you been feeling that kind of tired lately? The kind where your body feels heavy, but your mind just refuses to stop moving?

You lie down, hoping sleep will take over, but your thoughts keep running one after another like a train you can't step off. You try to relax, but instead you find yourself keeping asking the same questions. Did I do enough? Did I say something wrong? What if?

And before you know it, your heart feels heavy even when nothing is really happening.

It's okay. You are not alone in this.

So for today, you don't have to fix everything. There's no to-do list, no shoulds, just you here exactly as you are.

Let's sit here together for a while, just softly talk about overthinking and how we might make a little more space in our minds.

As we sit here breathing together, we can start by figuring out what overthinking really is.

Do you want to try to say in one sentence what overthinking is? Hm. I would say overthinking is when your mind keeps thinking far more than you want and you can't seem to stop.

Yeah. It's like you're standing still, but your thoughts keep walking around inside your head. No matter how small the worry is, it grows bigger each time it comes around. Suddenly, tiny things feel heavy. Getting out of bed or answering a text. Even deciding what to eat becomes a hard decision. You just stare at them for a long time. Frozen.

And in your head, the same questions keep showing up. What if I fail? What if they don't like me?

It's like, you know, a song on repeat, that one terrible line. You try to stop it, but it just keeps playing. You even try to distract yourself. Open your phone, scroll through something, but the song's still there, playing under everything.

And your body feels it, too. Not just for a moment, but all day. Your chest tightens. Shoulders feel like you've been carrying a heavy bag for hours.

It's not just about feeling tired. You even lose interest in the things that used to make you happy. After a while, it's like the world slows down around you. You want to join in, but something inside keeps pulling you back. You turn down plans, disappear from conversations.

I remember one morning I just stared at my phone for 20 minutes. There was one message, just a simple, "Sorry, I can't make it from a friend." For most people, it might have been nothing, but in that moment, my mind wasn't calm. I read it three times, and each time I imagined a hundred different reasons behind it. I couldn't type a single line back. My heart was racing. I felt silly, like, why can't I just do it? And the worst part is that I blame myself. What's wrong with me? Just reply. But then I think more and I blame more. Oh, Leo, it's okay. We all get trapped like that sometimes. I feel you. Those thoughts, they become a loop inside your head like a hamster running in its wheel.

But why does it happen? Why can't we just stop?

That's the thing. Overthinking never comes alone. It always brings a friend. And that friend's name is sadness. Wait, so when I'm stuck in that loop, your brain is actually trying to fix the sadness. It wants to find the problem and make it go away. So it thinks and thinks and thinks.

And what if there's no problem to fix, no answer to find?

Maybe. Sometimes you don't need an answer. You're not really looking for the truth. You're just trying to avoid the pain. What's wrong with it, though? Nobody wants to be hurt.

There's nothing wrong with it. It's just the way your mind tries to keep you safe like a guard dog barking at shadows.

Then why why does it have to feel like it's too much?

Because your mind is working over time. Imagine walking through a dark forest with a flashlight in your hand. At first, the light helps you see, but when your brain starts moving it over every leaf, every crack in the ground, shouting, "Look, danger!" It stops showing you the way. You can't see the ground right in front of you or the signs that you're okay. You only see what could go wrong.

No wonder I feel exhausted because I'm always on alert. The truth is the forest is just life. The flashlight is your positive thoughts. It can help you see in the dark. But when the mind panics, it swings the light everywhere, turning shadows into danger. And you, you're still safe, even in the dark.

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I didn't know you knew how to cook a chicken stew. Wait, we haven't finished yet.

Now, hey, Dad, what are you doing?

Nothing. Well, I am sending an email. I need to deliver this report today.

Oh, all right. Aren't you hungry? It's lunchtime already.

Wow. I thought it was early. Now that I'm working from home, I don't realize how fast time goes by.

What do you want to eat?

Um, I don't know. Something delicious.

Okay. Why don't we order a pizza? I will call the restaurant. What kind of pizza do you want?

Pizza? No, I don't want pizza, Dad.

All right, then. Let's eat fried chicken. I know a great restaurant near here.

Hey, what happened? Don't you like fried chicken? Come on, it's delicious.

Yeah, I like fried chicken and pizza, but I want something homemade. Mom usually cooks something delicious for lunch.

Oh, I see. But mom is not here. Remember, she had to travel to see her father because he's sick. We're going there tomorrow.

Yes, I know. Okay, then fried chicken will be. It's just that I thought you knew how to cook something. But I guess you don't, Dad. Don't worry. We'll have something nice to eat when mom gets back. Let's go.

Hey, don't try to manipulate me like that. You know it won't work.

I'm not trying anything. I already told you we can go out for pizza. It's okay that you don't know how to cook. Not everyone knows how to make delicious meals like my mom.

Are you kidding? Of course, I can cook and I cook very well. I cook very delicious food. Let's go to the kitchen right now.

Perfect. Let's go, Dad.

Okay. I will teach you how your dad prepares something delicious. We will make a delicious stew. Chicken stew. This is a secret recipe I stole from your grandmother.

Oh, first the ingredients. One whole chicken cut into medium pieces or about 1 and 12 kg. 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil or olive oil. One large onion chopped. Three cloves of garlic, minced. Three medium carrots sliced into rounds. Two medium potatoes peeled and diced. One red bell pepper, chopped. Two ripe tomatoes chopped or one cup canned tomatoes. Four cups of chicken broth or water with a chicken bullion cube. One bay leaf. One teaspoon of paprika. Salt and pepper to taste. Fresh parsley chopped for garnish.

Wow, that's a lot of things that. And how do we make this delicious stew?

All right, here's how we do it the step by step. First, heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat until it gets very hot. Right. No, no, not too hot. We don't want to burn anything. Now place the chicken pieces in and brown them on all sides. That's where the flavor starts. Do you smell that?

Yeah. It smells like fried chicken because it is fried chicken.

But it is just the beginning. Now take the chicken out for a moment. And in that same pot, add the onion, garlic, carrots, and bell pepper.

Onion, garlic, carrots, and bell pepper. Got it. What else?

and stir them gently until the onion turns soft and the smell starts to make you smile.

Makes me smile. Okay, I am smiling now.

Okay, now add the tomatoes and paprika. Stir again and let everything cook for a couple of minutes until the tomatoes start breaking down. Do you see that?

Yeah, that it smells really good. I didn't know you knew how to cook a chicken stew.

Wait, we haven't finished yet. Now, put the chicken back into the pot. Pour in the broth and the bay leaf and season with salt and pepper. Bring it to a gentle boil. Then reduce the heat to low. Cover it and let it simmer for about 30 minutes.

So we have to wait for 30 minutes. Now I am hungry.

Relax. Delicious food always makes you wait. Meanwhile, I will tell you a little story. When I was your age, I used to cook for my brothers and sisters.

Really? I don't believe you. You cooked when you were just 10 years old.

Of course. And I did it very well. I had to learn how to cook because my parents worked all day. Your grandparents had a little store in our house and sometimes your grandma started cooking but never finished. So I learned how to cook to help them and I also did it because I liked to cook. I think it was something I knew how to do it well. Then when I started college, I didn't have time to cook. So I forgot some things. But hey, now I see that I didn't forget everything. I still love cooking.

Well, you haven't finished the chicken stew yet. We have to try it first.

Trust your dad. You will love it. Believe me. Cooking at home is important. Street food isn't very healthy. Besides, it's more delicious to eat homemade food. What do you think if we see how this stew is?

All right, let's go because I'm really hungry and it smells really good.

Let's see. Um, it looks very well. After that, add the potatoes, stir them in, and cook for another 20 minutes or until the potatoes and chicken are tender.

Another 20 minutes? No, please. I am very hungry.

Come on, it's just 20 minutes. Let's take advantage of the time and tell me how is the school going.

The school, it's fine. Nothing new.

Are you sure? What about your friends?

My friends? They are fine. We are fine. Marcus and Jonah are still my friends. And we usually play soccer after school. Oh, the exams were difficult, but I think I will get good grades. And I think that's all.

Really. And what about Johanna?

Johanna, how do you know about her? Who told you that?

I just saw your notebook yesterday. Her name is all over your notebook. She must be very beautiful, right?

Easy English系列

油管百万订阅亿次播放的easy english系列音频限时回归 本期带来《Learn English with a Real Story and Exercises》

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The story of Walter Carr

This is getting ridiculous.

What's getting ridiculous?

I've applied for so many jobs now. I applied to anything I see that I think I could do, but I've heard nothing back from any. I'm willing to do almost anything. It'd be nice if they could just call and say no, but I guess they have so many job applicants they just can't. I'm just so desperate for a job.

What have you applied for?

Well, I've never studied or trained in anything, so I've applied for laboring jobs and jobs working with the public, that kind of thing.

Ah okay, I know how hard it can be to get your foot in the door. Fingers crossed for you, man.

Thanks, and if you hear of any jobs going, put in a good word for me, yeah?

I will do that. Thanks, man.

Oh wait, my phone is ringing one sec. Hello? Yes, this is Walter Carr. Oh, that's such great news, thank you so much. Yes, I'd love to work at Bellhops. A trial? Yes, I'd love to come in. Tomorrow? What time? Yes, 9am is perfect. That's no problem at all, that's great. Thank you very much, bye.

Yes, I can't believe it, I've got a job!

That's amazing, I'm so happy for you. Where's the job?

It's at Bellhops, a moving company.

What will you be doing there?

I'll work as a mover. I'm going to help people move out of their home. I'll start tomorrow. I have to help a family move from Pelham to the Meadowbrook area.

That's great. Can you make good money as a mover?

Yes, I'll be able to make up to twenty dollars an hour. It's come just in time. I should be okay to pay rent on my apartment now. If not, I'd be so close to losing it and having nowhere to stay, then it would be a downward spiral.

My door is always open, but this is definitely a better outcome. Good luck.

Thanks, I'd better get home and get my bag ready.

Oh man, don't believe this, the engine won't start. Just my luck. How am I supposed to get to work tomorrow? I don't even have money to have it repaired. Looks like I'll be walking to work. There's no way I can miss my first day. I'm going to get this job by all means. Let me check Google Maps. By foot, it'll take eight hours. Oh man, I'll have to wake up at midnight and get going. But I don't have a choice. I have to keep this job.

Oh my legs are killing me. I'd better rest for a few minutes.

Hi there, young man, what's your name?

Hi there, officer, it's Walter, sir.

Walter, can I ask what you're doing walking along this dangerous stretch of road at this time of night?

I know this must look bizarre. It's a long story, but cut short, it's this. I've applied for so many jobs, yesterday I had a call back and they want me to start tomorrow, well today now. But then my car broke down. I have to keep this job otherwise I'll lose my apartment, so I decided to walk. It'll take me eight hours in total and I've done six, so really I'm almost there.

Wow, kid, that's some dedication, I'm impressed.

Thanks, sir.

Where are you heading? Where is your new job?

It's at Bellhops, Pelham. I'll be a mover.

Good on you. Hop in, we'll take you the rest of the way.

Are you serious? Thank you so much.

Have you had breakfast?

No, I spent all my money on my apartment and won't have more until I start this job.

You must be starving, we are too. I'll stop at the next drive through.

But I don't have any money to give you. I just paid my rent. I have no cash on me at all.

Not a problem, for your dedication, this one is on us. Buckle up and enjoy the ride.

Thank you so much.

Thank you. Hi, officer, what can I do for you?

Hi there, I have a special delivery of one Mr. Walter Carr. He is part of the Bellhops team.

Hi.

Hi, Walter, can I ask why he has arrived accompanied by two police officers?

Well, Mrs. Lamy, this young man, Walter Carr, had a few problems last night. His car broke down, but instead of phoning to cancel his first day, he decided to walk the eight hours to get here. We found him six hours in and brought him the rest of the way.

Goodness, Walter, I am impressed with your commitment, but if you had called, we would have understood.

Thank you, Mrs. Lamy, I really needed this job though and didn't want to do anything that could jeopardize it.

Well, he's had breakfast but might not show you his best this morning after being awake all night. But I'll leave this with you now, Mrs. Lamy. Good luck, Walter, it was great to meet you.

It was great to meet you too. Thank you for helping me out. I can't express just how grateful I am.

No problem, it's been a pleasure to help you.

Yes, thank you so much, officer. Goodbye.

Well, Walter, would you like a nap before you start work?

Oh no, Mrs. Lamy, please, I'd rather get started.

Please call me Jenny. Are you sure?

No, honestly, I'd just like to get started.

No problem. Here are the other two movers from Bellhops too.

Hi, I'm Walter and I'm your new teammate.

Oh hi, Walter, our boss told us about you. I'm John and this is Matthew. Welcome to the team.

Thanks. I'm going to show you the ropes. Let's get started.

What a kid, I've got to post this on Facebook. I've never known anything like it.

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Hey everyone, welcome back to Podcast and Chill. I'm Gwen, your walking encyclopedia.

And I'm Leo.

Dude, seriously, we literally just started.

My bad. My bad. I'm a bit sleepy right now. I had a hard time falling asleep last night.

Oh, what kept you up?

You know, it was one of those nights where your brain just wouldn't shut up.

What was it yapping about?

Every single thing, but more like negative. It felt like I had a rerun of all those embarrassing moments in my life in one sitting.

Oh, yeah. I know what you mean. Been there, done that.

And the weird thing is inside my head it felt like chaos, though my room was completely peaceful.

Well, maybe that's because it's not really about your room, but about what's happening up in your head.

What do you mean?

I mean, usually it's what's going on inside our heads that controls how we feel and act, not what's happening around us.

So, you're saying a peaceful place doesn't matter if my mind is messy.

Or flip that around. If your mind is at peace, you could likely relax even in the middle of a wild Black Friday crowd at Walmart.

That's actually pretty wild. So, in other words, we become what we think about.

That's right. And that's exactly what we're talking about today.

Sweet. I'm pumped. Let's get started.

But before we dig into it, guys, don't forget we'll break down some cool and useful vocab later. We also have this awesome PDF with all the words and practice exercises. You definitely don't want to miss that.

All right, let's jump in.

So, I guess this whole mental chaos thing is actually pretty common, huh? Like, even someone put together like you has to deal with it sometimes.

Oh, absolutely. It's super common. A friend of mine described it perfectly.

What did she say? She said it's like her brain turns into this non-stop Spotify playlist that you just can't turn off.

Honestly, that doesn't sound that bad.

Yeah, except it's the free version with ads.

Oh, then no thanks. That's brutal.

And it gets worse.

What?

It's always playing the absolute worst tracks.

What kinds of songs are we talking about? like it just keeps replaying the sounds of your mistakes and your fears.

Mine would definitely be stuck on you're not good enough. Probably the deluxe extended version.

And I bet for a lot of our listeners, their most played song is your English needs a lot of work.

Tell me about it. I have this friend who's been learning English for years.

You mean Thomas?

Yes. He's always like, "I'm just not a language person."

Really?

Yeah. Especially when she sees her classmates picking it up way faster than her.

The comparison trap gets us every time.

And now he's totally convinced she'll never be fluent.

How awful.

His brain just keeps playing that same depressing story over and over.

That's such a classic pattern. It's like a million thoughts just explode in our heads all at once and we get completely overwhelmed. For me, it's like having 50 browser tabs open in my head at the same time.

Yes. And one of them is always the unread messages tab, making you feel guilty for not replying to people.

Then there's the cringe memories tab, replaying that one stupid thing you said in high school. Don't forget the "Am I good enough?" tab. Constantly whispering that you're not smart enough, not talented enough, not whatever enough.

Why does our brain love holding on to all that crap? It's like a highlight reel of every embarrassing moment I've ever had.

What's even crazier is that playlist keeps running no matter where you are, whether everything around you is total chaos or dead silent.

If this mental chaos were an Olympic sport, I'd definitely win gold.

It's so exhausting. You can be having this amazing day, but then one tiny thing goes wrong and suddenly all those tabs start blasting at once

and there goes my perfect day. But the thing is, while many people think that what happens to them controls how they feel, that's not actually true.

So what does?

It's our thoughts that drive our emotions and our actions. Really, our whole life.

So you're saying it's not what happens to us, but how we think about what happens.

Take Thomas for example. It's not that he's actually bad at it. It's the thoughts he keeps repeating that make him act like he's bad at it.

That makes sense. He hasn't been practicing English much lately. I think that mindset is definitely part of the problem,

right? And then not practicing makes him worse, which just confirms all those negative thoughts he already had.

Yikes. I thought my cooking skills were depressing, but that cycle sounds even worse. Well, I might not be able to help with the cooking, but I do have an idea for breaking that mental loop.

Oh, yeah. Lay it on me.

There's this quote from Marcus Aurelius that I love.

Marcus who? Sorry, my education clearly has some gaps.

Marcus Aurelius. He was a Roman emperor and a philosopher. A pretty badass combo, right?

Okay, new knowledge unlocked. So what did this Roman emperor philosopher guy say?

He said, and I quote, "You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this and you will find strength."

So basically, he's telling us to focus on controlling our minds instead of trying to control everything around us.

Exactly.