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Hello there, English learners! Today's lesson is not just about language; it's about real life. Have you ever wondered why so many adults seem exhausted all the time? Why parents, your teachers, your neighbors always look like they are carrying the weight of the world?


In today's episode, we'll hear a touching and powerful conversation between a young boy and his father. The boy is curious; he wants to know why adults are always tired. And what happens next might surprise you. While you listen, focus on new vocabulary in context, real-life expressions you can use in your daily conversations, and the emotional flow of spoken English. Let's jump into it.


Liam: Dad, can I ask you something? I don't mean to bother you or anything, but I've been thinking about this a lot lately.
Dad: Sure, Liam. What is it? You can always talk to me.
Liam: Why are you always tired? Like really tired. Every day when you get home, you just look like you're done. You barely talk sometimes, do it quickly, and then just sit quietly or go to sleep early. And it's not only you—Mom looks tired, too. Uncle Steve, my teachers at school, even the people I see on the bus—they all look like they've had enough. Why is that? Why are adults so tired all the time?
Dad: Wow, that's a really good question. Not many people ask that. It's something even adults don't talk about. You're right. We are tired, and not just physically. A lot of adults walk around every day feeling emotionally worn out, even when they've slept enough. It's something that builds slowly, like pressure under the surface.
Liam: But I don't get it. Is it the job? I mean, I know you work hard, but is work that bad?
Dad: Work is part of it, sure, but it's more than that. There are so many responsibilities that come with being an adult. Paying bills, helping family, dealing with unexpected problems, planning for the future. It all adds up. And often we don't even get a break to think or breathe. Some days I feel like I'm just running on fumes. Like I'm going, going, going, but I have no energy left inside.
Liam: So, it's like pretending to have energy when you don't?
Dad: Exactly. You put on a smile. You keep moving. You say you're fine because you have to, but deep inside you feel like you're carrying a heavy load no one else can see. I try to stay positive, but there are days I feel like I'm in survival mode, just trying to make it through the day without falling apart.
Liam: That sounds hard. But is that just what being an adult is always?
Dad: Yes. But it shouldn't be. And it doesn't have to be all the time. But society teaches us to keep working, to stay busy, to always do more. Resting feels like a luxury sometimes. You know, I haven't taken a real vacation in 3 years. Every time we plan something, something else comes up. That's why so many people feel burned out. They are doing too much and getting too little back.
Liam: But don't adults do fun things too, like watch shows, go out, hang with friends?
Dad: Sure, but even those things start to feel like chores when you're tired. And a lot of adults forget what makes them happy. They lose connection to what brings them joy. Sometimes they become disconnected from joy, and that's when life starts to feel empty, even if everything looks okay on the outside.
Liam: So adults are sad?
Dad: Not always. We're not always sad, Liam. Many of us are just overwhelmed. There's this constant mental list in our heads: What needs to be done? What hasn't been finished? What could go wrong? We carry it all day. Even at night, it's exhausting. And the truth is, no one really teaches you how to handle that when you grow up. You just figure it out or try to.
Liam: That doesn't sound like what I thought could be like.
Dad: It's different from what kids imagine. That's true. But there's beauty in it, too. Even in the tiredness, there's love. You wake up early because you love your family. You work hard because you care about your future. And even if you are exhausted, there's something beautiful about being someone others can count on. It's just that sometimes the weight becomes too much. Especially when people don't ask for help, and that's when fatigue turns into frustration.


Liam: So what helps? How do you deal with it?
Dad: Talking like this helps. Being seen, being heard, resting without guilt, doing small things that bring peace. For me, it's our conversations, or watching a movie with your mom, or going for a walk at night. I also write sometimes when I can't sleep, just putting thoughts down and also knowing I'm not alone. I'm not the only one who feels this way.
Liam: I never knew. I just thought grown-ups were like robots.
Dad: No, we're just kids who grew up and now have to pretend we've got it all figured out. But we don't. And that's okay. You know what really helps? When someone understands, when someone like you asks questions instead of just ignoring the signs. That kind of thing gives me a second wind. It reminds me that I'm not just working to survive. I'm living for the people I love.
Liam: You mean me?
Dad: Especially you.
Liam: When I grow up, I want to remember this. I don't want to be tired all the time. I want to find balance.
Dad: I guess then that's already a step ahead of where most of us started. If you know that now, you can build a life where you don't just function, you can thrive, and maybe just maybe be a little less tired.
Liam: Thanks, Dad. I think I understand a little better now.
Dad: Anytime, son. And hey, if you ever see me looking tired, don't be afraid to give me a hug or remind me to rest. Sometimes that's all we really need.

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Hey everyone, welcome back to Podcast and Chill. I'm Gwen, here to help you get better at English.

And I'm Leo. I'm here to make you feel less alone when Gwen talks about smart stuff. But before she jumps into teacher mode, let me show you this clip from Friends.

Oh, I love Friends. Go ahead.

Okay, look, look, look. Uh, if you're going to be moving in with him, I feel that it is my responsibility to tell you the truth about him, okay? He's a terrible roommate. Terrible. He uh forgets to um he always he always uh Oh, my kidney. He's the best roommate ever.

Oh, Joey, that's so hilarious yet so adorable of him. But why did you show us that?

So, yesterday I was watching Friends with my buddy. He replayed that scene like five times with the subtitles off trying to figure out what Joey was saying.

Did he ever figure it out?

Nope.

Let me guess. He's learning English.

Yep. I told him to just turn on the subtitles, but he was stubborn.

You know what? The problem isn't about the subtitles. It's about how native speakers talk.

What do you mean? There are a few hacks native English speakers do when they talk that English learners, especially the beginners, just don't get.

Like what?

Like connected speech, weak forms, and sound reduction.

Sounds interesting. Why don't we talk about them today?

Sure. Listeners, are you ready to get your mind blown by how easy it is to understand real life English?

And don't worry if you hear some new words. We will explain them later.

That's right. Let's get started.

So, Leo, let me ask you something. When you read English, is it clear?

Yep. As clear as day. The words are just right there on the page.

Right. But, you know, written English is actually pretty different from how we speak it.

Yeah. I mean, one's written down, the other's spoken. Isn't that kind of obvious?

I mean, the way it sounds. When native speakers talk, they usually glide through sounds instead of pronouncing every word clearly.

No way. Really?

Check out these clips.

Let me see what you got there.

Okay. Yeah, I got you. I got you. Oh.

Oh, you mean like when we say let me instead of let me gotcha instead of got you. Exactly. Or when we say going to instead of going to or kind of instead of kind of, that's what we call connected speech.

So, it's like we're linking the sounds between words.

Yep. When we talk fast and naturally, we don't pronounce every single sound. We blend them together or sometimes skip a sound completely.

I never even noticed I was doing that.

That's because native speakers pick it up automatically from a young age. But if you're learning English, you have to study it.

And why does this happen? Is my mouth on a strike or what?

I like to think of it as efficient. It cuts down on the work your mouth and tongue have to do, making speaking way easier and smoother for us.

Now that you mention it, I'm realizing connected speech is everywhere. I hear it all the time in movies like these examples.

What you doing?

What you doing?

What you going to do, Cooper?

See, it's super common. But if non-native speakers don't know about this connected speech thing, they will have a really tough time figuring out what people are actually saying.

So, when my buddy was trying to catch every single word perfectly, he was fighting a losing battle. Half the words aren't even there to catch in the first place.

I should totally text him right now to make him feel better. It's not really his fault that he couldn't understand friends.

Well, why don't you hold off on that text until we talk about how weak forms and the flap T also mess with how native speakers sound?

What's the deal with weak forms? Why are they called weak? Did they skip leg day or something?

Not exactly. In speaking, weak forms are just sounds that kind of disappear when we talk.

Like what?

Like two, you four. These words get so squished in fast speech, you barely hear them.

Hm. But why call them weak? What makes them weak?

Because they don't really carry meaning. They're not the star of the sentence.

Wait, if they don't mean anything, why do we even bother with them? Well, they help glue the sentence together. We call them grammatical words. The important ones, the ones with meaning, are called content words.

Gotcha. But why do we leave those grammatical words out?

Well, when they aren't the focus of meaning or emphasis, they tend to be unstressed and their vowel sounds reduced to a schwa.

It's a very short, neutral, and unstressed vowel sound.

So let's say if we remove to we have want to becomes wanna to like in these movies.

You want to drink whiskey?

Does anybody want a drink?

I want a drink.

You don't want to drink with me.

W to O like going to for going to.

You're getting it. And you we almost never say it clearly. How are you becomes how are you? Or even just how are you? And what you don't chalk gotcha right

Yes, and four is another sneaky one. What's it for becomes what's it for?

Oh, we have do you which is do you or did you as well?

Yeah, like in these examples.

Why do you think I left it here?

Can I ask you some questions? Do you mind?

You do.

I have.

This is wild. So these little words, they're like background music.

That's actually a perfect way to put it. They're soft and quiet, but they hold everything together.

So, if my friend is trying to listen for I want to go to the store, he's going to miss it.

For sure. In real life, we'd say, "I want to go to the store." You can't hear what's barely even there.

What blows my mind is, I've been using this stuff all along and never even noticed.

I know, but once a learner picks up on this rhythm of the background music, they'll never be able to unhear it.

Noted. Now, come on, spill the tea.

What tea?

The tea. You know, the flap tea thing you mentioned earlier.

Oh, please pardon my non-existent humor. I didn't prepare for your pun. So, anyway, the flap tea is an American thing.

I thought tea was more of a British thing. That's kind of ironic, right? But Americans own the flap tea.

So, tell me, what is this flap tea? For example, when someone says water, they're not actually saying water.

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Hey, Rodrigo. Do you have a moment? I need to ask you something important.

Sure, Sam. What's up? You don't look good, man. What happened?

I wanted to ask you something. I know it's kind of personal, but... Oh, this is embarrassing. Sorry, but can you lend me some money?

Lend you money? I don't know. What do you need it for?

Well, I really want to buy a new car. My old car is already falling apart. It's noisy, slow, and sometimes it doesn't even start. I need to change it. I've been thinking about this for a long time and I found one that I really like. But there is one big problem. I don't have enough money for that.

Oh, I see. But Sam, this isn't the first time you ask for a loan, right?

Yeah, I know. I hate asking, but you know how it is. I work, I save a little, and then something unexpected happens, and boom, my money disappears.

I understand life is expensive, but maybe instead of borrowing money again, you should think about how to make extra money. Don't you think?

Rodrigo? Don't you think I've tried? I watched videos, read blogs, and everyone says the same thing. Save money, buy and sell things, teach something online, open a business. It sounds easy, but in real life, it's not. I even tried betting once, lost more than I won.

Yeah, I get it. It's true. Online advice sounds so easy, but real life is different. But listen, I'm not going to give you those same tips again. I've actually tried a few things myself and some of my friends have too, and I can tell some ideas really work. You just have to be smart and consistent.

Really? Like what? I'm tired of hearing the same recycled advice.

Okay, let me give you some real examples.

Skill SwappingFirst one, skill swapping. One of my friends is great at fixing phones. I helped him set up a small Instagram page. He started offering phone repair for cheap. But here's the smart part. He started offering to swap services, too. For example, he fixed a designer's phone and the designer made him a cool logo and flyers. He didn't use money, just traded skills. In a few months, he was getting paying customers.

Hm. That's interesting. So, no big investment. That's cool.

Exactly. It was low risk. Now, he fixes five to six phones a week after work. Not millions, but it helps a lot.

Renting Things You Don't UseAnother idea, renting things you don't use. I had a camera I never used. Instead of selling it, I started renting it to people. People who wanted to make videos or take photos. Just $10 a day. Sounds small, but it adds up. In one month, I made $200 just with that camera.

Wait, people really rent that stuff? Wow, that's impressive. I didn't know that.

Absolutely. Especially now with content creators everywhere. You can rent cameras, tripods, lighting, even costumes, whatever you have. Oh, another friend rents out party decorations from her garage. People don't want to buy stuff for just one event. They want to borrow.

Man, I never thought about that. I have some old tools at home. Maybe I could rent those to neighbors. I think that is an interesting idea.

That's the spirit.

Use Your Job to Find OpportunitiesNow, here's another. Use your job to find opportunities. I don't mean anything illegal or weird. I mean observe the problems people have at our office. Remember how the computers were super slow last year?

Yes, it was a nightmare. Happily, they are better now.

So, I took a free course online about cleaning and upgrading computers. Then, I offered to help some co-workers for $20 each. I cleaned their systems, removed junk files, installed antivirus. I made $180 in one week.

That's genius. You're not just working, you're watching, learning, and using what you see. That's very smart. Well done.

Exactly.

Combine Small ThingsAnother tip, combine small things. For example, do a small service online while you watch TV, or use cashback apps for things you already buy, or sell digital notes from online courses you already finished. It's not big money. But when you combine these things, it adds up.

Yeah. You know, I always ignore services because they pay so little.

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Hey everybody! It's Ariannita la Gringa, and welcome back to my YouTube channel. In today's video, we are going to learn about makeup vocabulary. If you're a man, you can still learn a lot of English vocabulary, especially if you have a wife, a girlfriend, or a daughter, because women love makeup. In this video, I will teach all of you makeup vocabulary at Sephora.

What is Sephora?

Sephora is one of the most common stores where you can buy and find a lot of makeup products. Do you guys have a Sephora in your city or country? Let me know down below.

What is Makeup?

Makeup is used to enhance or alter our appearance, so that just basically means it makes us feel and look beautiful.

The Steps of Makeup Application

Now, what are the steps?

1. Primer

The first step is primer. Let's go ahead and find some primer.

So what is primer? This is primer, and it acts as the base of your makeup application. Think of primer like this: Imagine you were painting a wall. Well, you need a primer or a base coat so the paint primer or the base coat will help the paint last longer. This is kind of what makeup primer does. It will prime the face and it'll allow my makeup to last a lot longer.

The great thing about this store is you can actually put on makeup or apply makeup. So I can squirt out some primer on my hand and test it out and see if I like it before I buy it. Primer is very hydrating. So now look at the difference between both hands. This hand is a lot more hydrated than this one.

After applying primer on your skin, you have your base coat ready, and now you're ready for the next step... Foundation!

2. Foundation

So this is foundation. What is foundation? Foundation is a liquid that is the same color as your skin. You'll apply foundation to your face and to your neck because remember, some parts of our face and our neck may be a different color. You might have some spots on your skin, so when you apply foundation, foundation will cover these spots on your face or your neck and it'll make it look like one color.

How much do you think a liquid foundation costs? This costs $42, and this would probably last me around 3 to 4 months if I used it every day. Also, foundation is used for your skin, and everyone has a different color of skin, so that is why they have a wide range of colors. Now, I'm going to find my skin color since I'm very pale, and try to match it to my face and my neck. I think I'm a shade 2N because that is the second lightest color. Let me see it on my hand. And since there is a mirror, I can apply it to my face.

I'm applying foundation to my face. And I have a beauty sponge, and right now I am blending it. I think this is my color because it blends evenly with my face and my neck.

3. Concealer

Now, let's go to the third step! After applying primer and foundation, the third step is concealer.

This is concealer, and it's used to conceal or hide your imperfections. For example, you can apply concealer under your eyes to cover your dark circles, or you can apply concealer on your chin if you have dark spots or acne. And if you have any redness on your face, you can use concealer. Like foundation, these concealers have a wide range of colors because remember, everyone's skin is different. And I normally like to have a lighter concealer under my eyes, and that will brighten my eyes.

When you apply concealer, you apply it directly on your face or on the spots you want to cover. And once you apply concealer, you can rub it in with your fingertips or you can rub it in with a brush. So this is a concealer brush, and it'll just rub everything in and make your face look better.

4. Powder

The next word is powder. This is powder, and I like to apply powder to my face to make it less oily. For example, I apply powder to my T-Zone, so to my forehead, my nose, and my chin. That is called the T-Zone because those are the areas of the face where you have the most oil glands. When I apply powder, I apply it to those areas. So you normally use powder to make your face less oily and less shiny. To apply it, you need a brush, and then you'll just tap it in the powder, and then you'll apply it on your face.

5. Blush

And the next vocab word is this... What is this called? You use this to apply it to your cheeks, and it makes your cheeks pink and red. This is called blush. So this is a liquid blush, and over here this is a cream and powder blush. Why do you use blush? Well, I use blush to make my cheeks a pink or red color. I personally like to apply blush right above my cheekbones right here.

6. Highlighter

The next word is highlighter. These are two different types of highlighter. This is a pink shimmery color, and this is a gold shimmery color. What is highlighter? Well, you can apply it to the highlights of your face like your nose, your eyebrow. You can also apply highlighter above your lip, and above your cheekbone, and that'll make your face stand out and glow.

7. Bronzer

Now, what is this called? This is bronzer. It'll give you a sun-kissed glow. It'll basically make you look like you have a suntan. She looks like she has a suntan because she uses bronzer above her cheekbones and right around the edges of her forehead.

8. Eyeshadow

Now, what is this called? This whole thing is an eyeshadow palette, and this is eyeshadow. So you apply eyeshadow to your eyelids. This is my eyelid, and it'll bring color to my eyelids, so I can apply it with an eyeshadow brush. I am applying eyeshadow to my eyelids. There are multiple eyeshadow colors. I personally like a neutral color, so I'll go with like a white, and a tan, and a brown.

9. Eyeliner

And the next vocab word is eyeliner. This is eyeliner, and you'll line your eyes (your upper eyelash line or your lower lash line), and this will define your eyes. So come over here and we can try it out. I'm going to apply eyeliner (this is a pencil) to my upper lash line, so basically you just make a line. Can you tell the difference between both eyes? This eye has eyeliner, and this eye doesn't have eyeliner. I basically just defined this eye. Now, I will apply eyeliner to this eye so they both look normal.

10. Mascara

Now, can you guys tell me what this is called... This is mascara, and you apply it to your eyelashes. I already have mascara on my eyelashes, but mascara will lengthen, darken, and thicken your eyelashes. Mascara will make your eyes look bigger because your eyelashes are longer.

Inside this store, you can apply makeup to your face. Well, I'm not going to use this mascara wand because I don't want to get an eye infection, so I'm going to apply mascara with a clean wand. I am applying mascara to my eyelashes.

11. Lipstick

Now I bet you guys know what this is called. You normally apply it to your lips. It gives your lips a bit of color. This is a red color, so it'll brighten my lips. This is the last product I will apply to my makeup look. This is lipstick, and this is a red lipstick, so it'll make my lips bright red. Over here, they have different colors. This is a pink color, this is a coral, and this is a bright red. Lipstick will define your lips and will make them look bigger and fuller.

12. Lip Gloss

And right next to these lipsticks, what is this? Well, you can open it up and you can apply it on top of your lipstick. This is lip gloss. Lip gloss is a liquid that you will apply to your lips to make them look shiny or glossy. And it is glossy and sticky, so if I were to put it on my lips, it would make my lips really sticky. And over here they have even more lip glosses, but behind these lip glosses, they have brand new lip glosses in this package, so I obviously wouldn't buy this because other people can use it in the store.

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Gwen, have you ever woken up totally confused about what day it is and then accidentally spent an hour doomscrolling TikTok in bed?

Leo, that sounds like the most chaotic way to start Monday.

Wait, Monday? I thought today was Sunday. This morning I watched a guy cook ramen with Coca-Cola.

Let me guess, you opened just one video, then another, and another, and suddenly, boom, an hour's gone.

Exactly. By the time I looked at the clock, it was 9:00 a.m. I hadn't even brushed my teeth, but I did know how to make a seven-layer matcha pancake.

That's why daily routines are so important. Without them, it's so easy to lose time doing things that feel fun, but leave us feeling kind of empty later.

But hold on. Are you saying I have to wake up at 5:00 a.m., run 3 km, and drink celery juice to be healthy? Such perfect routines are not for me.

Not at all. There's no one-size-fits-all. The best routine is the one that works for you. What matters is that it works for you and helps you feel like you're choosing your day, not letting your phone choose it for you.

Wow, that sounds kind of deep. So, today we're talking about our daily routines: the good, the bad, and the messy.

Yeah. And what it's really like to follow those habits. You'll hear some ideal habits and some very honest, very human ones.

Some might even call them Leo-style routines.

Not perfect, but definitely entertaining.

That's the spirit. And we'll go through each part of the day: morning, work time, afternoon, evening, and bedtime.

Let's jump into it.

So, let's start with the morning. My morning routine is, well, a little detailed. I wake up at 6:00 a.m., no snoozing. I do 10 minutes of meditation, write in my journal, and then I have a healthy breakfast, usually oatmeal with fruits or a smoothie.

That sounds like a self-help book. Meanwhile, I hit the snooze button like three times. Then I finally open my eyes, grab my phone, and scroll. Instagram reels, food videos, funny fails, and those oddly satisfying cleaning videos.

The internet is dangerous in the morning. But seriously, your morning affects your entire day. There's science behind this. When you start your day with calm and focus, your brain works better. You're more productive and less stressed.

I've heard that before, and I want to be that kind of person. But honestly, those videos are the first thing my sleepy brain wants. I tell myself just one video, but suddenly it's 40 minutes later and I haven't even gotten out of bed.

That's super common. One simple tip: put your phone far from your bed. That way, you have to physically get up to turn off your alarm.

Hm. So, I'm tricking my lazy self. I like that.

Another idea is giving yourself something small but nice to do in the morning, like playing music you love while brushing your teeth, or opening the window to feel the air. Something real, not digital.

I could try that. Maybe play my favorite playlist while pretending I'm not 30 minutes late.

It's not about being perfect. It's about starting better. Even one small change can shift your whole day.

All right, one small change. Maybe tomorrow I'll scroll after brushing my teeth instead of before. Baby steps, right?

Exactly. Baby steps are still steps forward. Okay, now let's talk about work. For me, I like using time blocks. I plan what I'll do in the morning, afternoon, and evening. I also use a system to decide what's important and what's just noise.

You mean you actually sit down and plan your work?

Yep. It helps me stop feeling overwhelmed. And I take breaks on purpose. Short ones, not accidental 1-hour snack breaks.

Oh, so that's where I went wrong. My 5-minute break usually turns into a scroll through three social apps, two memes, and a video of someone organizing their fridge.

That sounds oddly specific.

It's always the fridge videos. Why is it so satisfying to watch strangers clean their shelves? I don't even clean my own fridge.

Your brain loves that quick dopamine hit, but after too much, it actually gets tired and harder to focus again. That's why I set a timer. I work for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break.

I've heard of that, the Pomodoro thing, right? I tried it once. It worked, but then I forgot to keep doing it.

That happens. Want another tip? Make your workspace feel like a focus zone. Clean desk, comfy chair, maybe a plant. Keep your phone far, or use apps that block distractions.

So, you're saying no TikTok breaks, no fridge videos.

Exactly. Even a tiny change, like putting your phone out of reach, can help you stay in the zone.

It seems that you're right. The few times I actually did all that – no phone, clear desk, timer on – I was like a machine, a productive, happy, snack-powered machine.

That's the goal. We don't have to be perfect every day. But when we do follow our system, it really makes a difference.

My only problem is remembering to follow the system.

Then let's make it simple. Just choose one work tip to try tomorrow and write it on a sticky note, then stick it on your laptop.

Great idea. Tomorrow's sticky note: no fridge videos before 3:00 p.m.

Progress, Leo. Proud of you. All right, let's move on to the afternoon. Ever feel like your brain just powers down around 2 or 3 p.m.?

Oh, yes. That's when my brain goes into nap mode, even if I'm still sitting at my desk.

That's totally normal. It's called the circadian dip.

What's that?

Our body naturally loses energy in the afternoon, especially after lunch.

Ah, that explains it. I always thought it was the universe telling me to take a break or that big bowl of noodles I had for lunch.

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ello, Tom. Nice to meet you. Please have a seat. I read your email. You said you've saved a bit of money and want to know how to invest it, right?

Yes, Edward. Thank you for your time. I've been working in the same company for over 10 years. It's not a high-paying job, but it's stable. Every month I save about 10% of my salary. It was hard, believe me. But I managed to save around $5,000.

That's amazing, Tom. Many people don't even save $500. The fact that you saved $5,000 shows you're serious about your future and responsible.

Thanks. But now I'm stuck. That money is just sitting in my bank account. I don't want to waste it, but I don't want to take big risks either. That's why I came to you. I want to learn. I want to learn how to invest my money. Of course. Let's talk about your options. First, I'll explain something simple.

Every investment has a level of risk. There are **low-risk**, **medium-risk**, and **high-risk investments**. The higher the risk, the higher the possible return, but also the higher the chance to lose money. So, we need to find the right balance for you.

That makes sense. I prefer something safe, but I'm also curious to hear all the options.

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In today's video, I will ask people around Cincinnati, Ohio what they do for a living and how much they make each year. Let's go!

Hi, what's your name?

My name's Austin.

Hi Austin, what do you do for a living?

I work downtown at Division's Maintenance Group and I manage a book of business for various different clients and I help them with their facility maintenance.

When Americans ask "What do you do for a living?" they want to find out your job and what you do for work.

What's your favorite part about your job?

Probably my favorite part is just seeing my client's reaction when I solve a problem for them.

And then what kind of projects do you work on?

Well, right now I won't say the name, but I work for a donut company and I help them out with making sure their donut line's running.

How many hours do you work each week?

I'm pushing like 70 hours per week right now. Just a lot of after-hours.

Sounds like you work a lot and then how much do you earn each year?Right now I'm tracking towards $115,000.

Hi, what's your name?

Mitch Keiser.

Hi Mitch, what do you do for a living?

I work for Pro Football Focus. I'm a college football analyst for PFF here in Cincinnati.

What's your favorite part about your job?

Getting to watch every college football game and then write about it later on. I write articles covering college football.

And what's your favorite article you've written?

I wrote an article last fall about why Michael Penix should have won the Heisman. I was pretty happy about it and then he played really well so that's probably my favorite article.

How many hours a week do you work?

Sometimes more in the season. Summertimes you get probably less than 40 'cuz it's off-season and then when fall rolls around probably like 60 hours some weeks.

In the U.S. a standard work week is 40 hours, usually 8 hours a day 5 days a week. If you work more than 40 hours that's overtime and you get paid extra. For example, if you make $10 an hour, overtime is time and a half so for every hour worked over 40 you'd make $15.

How much do you earn each year?

Not enough. Not enough. I'm going to say that.

What's the minimum you could earn if you just started out?Probably like 30k would be the minimum (like the lowest). I make a little more than that, but not great you know.

Hi, what's your name?

Hi, my name's Katie.

Hi Katie, what do you do for a living?

I am a server.

And what's your favorite part about your job?

I meet so many cool people. Especially being downtown, I feel like it's such a wide variety of people that I get and it's just really cool to to meet so many different kinds of people.

What do you do every day for your job?

I go around, I get tables, and I basically just take their food and drink order, chat it up with them, and have a good time, do anything they need, fill up their waters, keep them happy.

And then what's your least favorite part about your job?

Sometimes it gets really overwhelming. I love to multitask, but sometimes it's like I'm not an octopus. It's hard to do 20 million things at once, but that's not always all the time that's just really busy days.

It can be overwhelming for sure. How many hours each week do you work?

Right now, I'm doing about 40. During the school year I do like 25-30 [hours] so a few days a week.

Okay, so you're a student as well?

Yeah.

What do you study?

Um. Speech Pathology. I just graduated, yeah.

Oh congrats!

And then how much do you earn each year?

Each year I think if I was working full-time it would be a lot more, but I think this year it was like $25,000, $22,000-$25,000 um and that's with full-time in the summer and then part-time during the school year.

If you work full-time that means you work around 30 to 40 hours a week and you often get benefits like health insurance and paid time off. Katie works part-time so she works fewer hours, usually 20 hours or less a week.

Hi, what's your name?

Hi, my name is Cameron.

Hi Cameron, what do you do for a living?

Currently, I work here at Starbucks at 580.

What do you do for your job?

I'm a barista. I make coffees, do food here, bring out customers, and make sure everybody's met with what they need.

What's your favorite part about your job?

With the customers for sure, getting to know people as they come in, and just being able to make those connections with everybody.

And then what's the least favorite part about your job?

I'm gonna hit it with a little comedic joke I would say dishes.

Dishes?

Yeah.

How many hours do you work each week?

I work about 30 to 35 hours a week.

How much do you earn?Right now I'm currently making $16.75 an hour.

"How much do you earn?" is just a way of asking someone how much money they make. Also, Cameron gets paid by the hour so he earns more if he works more hours. Another way to get paid is with a salary where you get paid the same amount every pay period no matter how many hours you work.

Hi, what's your name?

Orlando Smith.

Hi Orlando, what do you do for a living?

Cincinnati law enforcement.

And then what's your favorite part about your job?

Favorite part... Lunchtime.

Lunchtime is good because we do so much. You never know when you're going to get a lunch break.Exactly.

So you could be on a run for several hours and you're standing there thinking... Cheeseburger's going to be great when it's time to eat.

What's your least favorite part about your job?

Oh man... I think seeing so many victims. I think we see so many victims of crimes it can kind of put you in a no a good space in your head.

And then how many hours do you work each week?

I do 10 hour-days. We do 10-hour shifts.

A shift is a set period of time that you work at your job. For example, if you work day shift you might work from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and if you work night shift you might work from 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.

We work four on four off for 3 weeks and we work five on three off for 3 weeks. If you don't mind me asking, how much do you earn every year?

I make around a lil' six figures.

Six figures means someone makes more than $100,000 a year. It's a way of saying they make a lot of money.

And then if someone was just starting out how much would they make as a police officer?I think top out's maybe $80,000 with the city of Cincinnati.

Well, thank you so much, Orlando. Nice to meet you.

It's a pleasure.

Hi, what's your name?

I'm Jacob.

Hi Jacob, what do you do for a living?

I am a bartender and I work private dining events.

What's your favorite part about my job?

My favorite part about my job is the flexible scheduling that it comes with.

How many hours do you work each week?

Anywhere between 25 and 35.

What is the least favorite part about your job?

Late nights and the occasional rude customer.

How much do you earn each year?

On paper around 65k.

Hi, what's your name?

Hi, my name's Emilio.

What do you do for a living?

Currently, I'm just employed at Planet Fitness as a front desk employee. The things that I love about working at Planet Fitness is that it gives me a free membership. I've always wanted to be more into like the active lifestyle and things like that.

How many hours do you work each week?

I think the typical work week about 40 hours I think.

How much do you earn each year?

I actually don't know 'cuz I just started this job about like three months-ish ago, three to four months ago so I haven't done the calculations, but it is about minimum wage.

Minimum wage is the lowest amount of money an employer is legally allowed to pay their workers per hour.

How much is the minimum wage right now?

It's about like $10 something an hour.

Hi, what's your name?

Brandy.

Hi Brandy, what do you do for a living?

I'm a venue manager and event planner.

What's your favorite part about your job?

There are a lot, but getting able to plan people's special day, their wedding, their events, birthday parties, that's probably my favorite thing.

What's your favorite thing to plan?

I would say weddings.

And then what's your least favorite part about your job?

I'm on call all the time so I never have a day off really. I'm always answering emails, phone calls, text messages, dealing with brides.

A day off is a day when you do not have to work. It's a day you can spend doing whatever you want.

How much do you make each year?

It fluctuates 'cuz I have a base salary and commission, but I live comfortably.

If someone was just starting out with event planning how much would they normally make?Probably $50,000 a year yeah.

Hi, what's your name?

I'm Ava.

Hi Ava, what do you do for a living?

So I just am about to move to Guatemala in June and I'm going to be working for a medical clinic through University of Cincinnati.

What will be your favorite part about the job?

I'm really excited to get to work with underprivileged communities in like a medical setting and I hope to go to medical school.

That's amazing! And do you speak Spanish?

Yes I do.

And then how many hours will you work each week in Guatemala?It depends so when the doctors and med students are going down there it'll be like more of a full-time job working in the clinic.

How much will you earn each week?

It's pretty much a volunteer job. I make very little money. It's pretty much volunteer, but I have some good stipends for food and I'll stay with the host family.

Ava is going to get a stipend. A stipend is like a little bit of extra money. It will help cover costs if you're studying or working on a project. A stipend might cover basic needs like rent, food, and utilities.

That's amazing, well thank you so much!

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What's up, guys? Welcome back to Podcast and Chill. I'm Leo.

And I'm Gwen. Today, I'm here to ask you all one very real question.

Ooh, we're doing a dramatic opening today.

Yes. Are you truly living your life or just surviving the same day on repeat?

A little bit sensitive, don't you think?

Let's not sugarcoat it, Leo. Seriously, how many of you feel like your days are stuck on repeat? Wake up, scroll, work, scroll, sleep. Where does the time go?

I feel personally attacked by how accurate that is.

If that sounds like you, don't worry. You're not alone. But it is time to stop wasting life.

Are you saying I should probably stop using research as an excuse to watch cat videos? What gave it away?

The three-hour documentary about every lion subspecies.

That was educational.

Sure. This episode is all about recognizing how we waste time, why we do it, and how to change that with real simple actions. So, let's start facing the truth together. No shame, just chill conversation and a chance to reset.

All right. All right. I'm putting my phone away. Let's do this.

So, Gwen, why are we all wasting our lives?

Let's start with the big one. Procrastination.

Especially when you're young, you think you have so much time.

The youth delusion is strong with this one.

Exactly. That little voice that says, "I'll do it tomorrow. I'll do it next week. I have time." Days turn into weeks. Weeks turn into months. And suddenly you've been thinking about starting something for 2 years. And the scariest part, most of the time you don't even notice time slipping away. Every 'I'll do it tomorrow' is a day you'll never get back.

Time only moves in one direction. No rewind button. Shocking.

Yeah. And when every day feels the same, it's like life is stuck on repeat. I like to call it the Groundhog Day effect. Like how I've had "learn guitar" on my to-do list since 2018.

Yep. Things like that. You think about doing something new but never actually start. So every day ends up feeling the same. When nothing changes, your brain stops noticing time passing. Scientists even have a name for it. The time perception paradox.

Ooh, science words. Do continue, Professor Gwen.

The time perception paradox is when a lack of new experiences makes time feel like it's vanishing. The more repetitive your days are, the faster they seem to go. Your brain doesn't record the days clearly because nothing new is happening. It all blur together.

That's why June feels like it was just last week.

Uh-huh. Without new experiences, your memory doesn't mark the day. Time flies and you feel like you've done nothing.

That's actually terrifying. My Instagram scrolling is making my life feel shorter.

Your scrolling addiction isn't just killing time. It's erasing your life experience. Which brings us to the someday mindset.

Is that someday I'll travel or someday I'll start my business kind of dream?

That's not a dream, Leo. That's just putting life on hold. Someday isn't a real date on any calendar.

To be fair, it feels so safe, comforting even.

For now, it gives you the illusion of a plan, but it's fake comfort and does nothing for your future. If you don't take action today, someday never comes.

Wow, I hate when you're right.

I have a test for you.

Oh god, please don't.

No, no, no. Just try it. I call it the deathbed test.

That name. You really know how to lighten the mood, huh?

Imagine you're 90 years old. You're lying in bed looking back at your life. What do you regret?

Oh, man.

Do you regret not trying that big idea? Not spending time with your family? Not taking care of yourself or maybe just living the way others wanted you to.

Holy moly. Slow down, wizard. This is getting scary.

Yeah, imagine it. Will you regret the risks you didn't take? The dreams you postponed?

I suddenly want to call my mom and book that flight to Spain.

Good awareness. That's your wakeup call. There's no fast forward to the dream life. You have to build it day by day.

Can we get to the happy part before I have a full existential crisis?

We will. But first, breathe. You look like you're about to pass out.

Please tell me there's a secret shortcut to fixing all this.

Even better, a smarter way. Ready, Leo? I've got seven things you can start doing today.

I will take whatever you give me.

All right. Number one, the rule of three. Choose three important things each day. I warn you, don't try to do everything. Pick three important things to do each day. Not 10, not 20, just three things that actually matter.

Call my mom, work on my resume, go outside. Sounds good enough.

Perfect. If you do those three, well, that's a good day.

I always try to do like 30 things on my to-do list. I never finish and feel awful.

Well, time to break that habit.

Got it.

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Hey bro, did you study for the university exam tomorrow? I heard it's going to be super hard. We needed to study a lot for that exam.

Um, to be honest, no, I didn't study not even one page.

Wait, what? Why not? Are you okay? Did something happen?

Well, yes, something happened, but it's not serious. It's just I feel embarrassed to say it, that's all.

Embarrassed? Come on, man. We've been friends for years. You can tell me anything.

Okay. I didn't study because I was on my phone the whole time. I kept telling myself, "In a few minutes, uh, I'll start studying." But that moment never came. Every time I looked at the time, it was later and later and I was still watching my phone that happened.

Oh man, I've been there too, but like the whole day.

Yes, literally the whole day. I sat with my books in front of me and my phone next to me. Then I saw a video that looked funny, so I watched it. After that another one started automatically. Then I saw some posts from my friends: parties, food, gym selfies, all that stuff. Then I saw news about a famous singer and started reading comments. Then I remembered a game I was playing and I said, "Let me pass this level real quick." And even when I opened a video about psychology, our university major, I told myself, "Well, at least it's related to my career." But still I didn't study. I don't know what happened to me.

Wow. That's exactly how technology addiction works. You feel like you're doing something useful, but in the end you're just losing time.

Yes, that's what I hate. I wasn't even doing anything bad. I wasn't partying or going out. I was just sitting in my room looking at my screen for hours. And now I feel tired, lazy, and even a little angry with myself.

Bro, I totally understand. It happened to me last semester. I had the same problem. I was always on my phone. I couldn't stop scrolling social media, videos, news, games, random websites. I was busy all day, but I wasn't doing anything important. I didn't feel happy. I just felt empty.

Yes. Uh-huh. That's the word, empty.

Yes. It's like you don't even know why you're looking at the phone. You just keep doing it.

Exactly. It's a kind of addiction. People don't talk about it much, but it's real. Your brain gets used to fast information. Every video, every like, every new comment gives your brain a small reward. A little shot of dopamine.

Dopamine? I don't understand. Like a bad thing?

Well, it's a chemical in your brain that makes you feel good. For example, the phone gives you small hits of dopamine all the time. That's why it feels good to check it, but after a while, your brain wants more and more of it. So what do you do? Well, you keep checking and checking and your brain becomes addicted just like with sugar or junk food or even drugs.

Wow, I didn't know that. That sounds really scary.

It is. And the worst part is that we don't even notice. We think we are just relaxing or learning something. But in reality, we are training our brain to lose focus. That's why it's so hard to read a book now or to study, or even to have a long conversation, our attention becomes very short.

Yes, that's happening to me. When I open a book, I feel bored after two pages. I want to check my phone again. It's like my brain is saying, "Where is the fun stuff?"

Exactly. And if we don't stop it now, it gets worse. It can affect your memory, your concentration, your sleep, even your mood. Believe me, some people start to feel sad or depressed because they compare their life to others online or they feel they are wasting time but they can't stop.

I feel all of that. I feel sleepy all day. Even if I sleep eight hours, I feel like my brain is tired. And sometimes I feel like I'm not good enough because I see people doing amazing things online, but I know it's not real life.

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Hello my friends. Welcome back to this wonderful, fresh new episode. I'm your host, Felipe.

And I'm your host, Alisa.

So Felipe, what are we going to talk about today?

Well, Alisa, as you know, we don't just teach English through our podcast conversations. We always try to bring some valuable life lessons, too.

Absolutely. We love sharing meaningful topics, like last time we discussed social media addiction.

Exactly. And today's topic is all about how to stop negative thoughts. What do you think about that?

That sounds amazing. I'm personally really excited because I've struggled with negative thinking myself. I can't even begin to tell you how much it affects daily life.

I totally understand your pain, Alisa. Controlling negative thoughts is incredibly tough. It's like fighting an invisible battle inside your mind.

Right. And the hardest part is we often feel like we can't share this with anyone. People might judge us because they don't understand what we're going through.

That is exactly why we chose this topic. Today, we'll dive deep into how to recognize and stop negative thoughts. And of course, whenever we come across new words, we'll learn them together.

Let's start with a question. Do you know how many thoughts an average person has in a single day?

Hm, that's interesting. I've heard people say it's around 60,000 thoughts a day, but is that actually true?

Well, it turns out that number is often repeated online, but recent research gives us a more accurate estimate. According to a 2020 study by neuroscientists at Queens University in Canada, the average person has about 6,000 distinct thoughts a day.

Wow, that's still a huge number. Just imagine 6,000 different thoughts running through your mind every day. No wonder our brains feel overloaded sometimes.

Exactly. And unfortunately, a large portion of those thoughts are negative things like self-doubt, worry, regret, and fear. That's why today's topic is so important.

Yes, learning how to stop or manage negative thoughts can really improve your mental health and overall quality of life. And as always, we'll highlight useful English phrases and expressions along the way.

Perfect. So, let's start with the first step: awareness. You can't change your thinking unless you first notice what's happening in your mind.

That's a great point. One helpful technique is to simply pause and ask yourself, "What am I thinking right now?" Just naming the thought gives you a bit of distance from it.

Yes. And once you're aware of a negative thought, the next step is to challenge it. Ask yourself, "Is this really true, or am I exaggerating?" Often negative thoughts are based on assumptions, not facts.

Let me ask a question to our viewers and friends. Do you think that negative thinking becomes a cycle or a sort of habit? What are your opinions?

So, how can you quickly stop any negative thinking that pops up?

That's a great question. One effective way is to practice mindfulness. When you notice negative thoughts, just take a moment to breathe and acknowledge them without judgment.

That sounds helpful. But what if it keeps coming back?

Good point. Another technique is to challenge those thoughts. Ask yourself if they're really true or if there's another perspective you can consider. Shifting your focus to something positive can really help, too, like recalling a happy memory or listing things you're grateful for.

I like the idea of gratitude. Are there any quick exercises we can do?

Absolutely. One exercise is to write down three things you appreciate every day. Alternatively, you could also try the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding technique. It helps you focus on your surroundings by identifying five things you can see, four you can touch, three you can hear, two you can smell, and one you can taste.

Felipe, let me ask you something. Does mindfulness really work when it comes to controlling negative thoughts?

Great question, Alisa. Yes, mindfulness is actually one of the most effective techniques for managing negative thinking. When you practice mindfulness, you're training your brain to stay in the present moment instead of getting stuck in regrets from the past or fears about the future.

You know, I don't think people realize how much our thoughts can affect both our body and mind. Like constant negative thinking isn't just in your head; it actually takes a toll on your health.

Totally. People say it's just a thought, but it's more than that. Our brain and body are connected. When you're constantly stressed or thinking negatively, your body reacts.

Right? Your brain starts releasing stress hormones like cortisol. And if that keeps happening over time, it can mess with your sleep, raise your blood pressure, and even weaken your immune system.

Exactly. But the good news is it works the other way, too. When you think positively or feel grateful, your brain releases chemicals like serotonin and endorphins, which help you feel calmer and healthier. Not only that, positive thinking can actually help you solve problems more effectively. When your mind isn't cluttered with stress, you're more creative, more open to ideas. It's like your brain opens new doors you didn't even notice before.

Yeah, I've definitely felt that. Like when I'm in a better headspace, I can handle things so much more smoothly. Even tough stuff doesn't feel as overwhelming.

Exactly. It's not about pretending everything's perfect. It's more about creating the mental space to deal with life in a healthier way.

Well said. It's like giving your brain room to breathe. And when you do that, it starts working with you, not against you.

Now, let's talk about how positive thinking can actually change someone's life. I know that sounds kind of dramatic, but it's true.