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How was the school today, Daniel? You came home a little later than usual. What did you study in your first class this morning? Tell me.

School was normal that in the first class we studied math. The teacher explained some exercises and we wrote them in our notebooks. It was the same as always. Nothing new. Why do you ask?

Oh, really? What kind of exercises did she explain? Did she give you homework? I'm curious because last week you said math was difficult.

Yes, she gave us homework. We solved some equations and she told us to finish them at home. It wasn't very difficult today.

That's good. And where did you sit today? Did you sit next to your usual friend Marcus or did you change seats?

I um I sat next to Marcus like always. We worked together on the exercises. He helped me a little.

Interesting. When did you have your science class? Before or after the break? And what experiment did you do?

We had science after the break. We didn't do an experiment. We just read from the book and answered questions. It was a simple class.

And how was the cafeteria food? What did you eat for lunch today?

I ate rice and chicken. It was okay. Not very good, but not terrible either.

Rice and chicken. That's strange. Yesterday you told me Thursdays were pasta days and today is Thursday. When did they change the menu?

Oh, maybe I confused the days. Maybe it was pasta. I didn't really pay attention.

I see. And who was absent in your class today? You usually tell me when someone doesn't go. So tell me.

Um I think Carlos was absent or maybe it was Anna. I don't remember very well.

You don't remember very well? That's unusual. You normally tell me many details about your day. What time did your last class finish?

It finished at the usual time around 3:00.

Yes, 3:00. Around 3 or exactly 3 because your teacher called me at noon.

What? My teacher? She uh she called you?

Oh, yes, she did. She asked me where you were. She said you weren't in math class. You weren't in science class. You weren't in any class today. So, I'll ask you again. Where were you this morning?

Where? Well, Dad, I can't explain.

Good. Then explain. Where did you go after you left the house? What did you do instead of going to school? Tell me, son.

I didn't go to school. I walked past the bus stop and I decided not to get on the bus. I felt tired and bored and I wanted to do something different. So I went somewhere else. I uh Dad, I can explain.

Where did you go? Who were you with? And how long did you stay there?

I went to the city center. I walked alone at first and then I stayed there for a few hours. I looked at different stores and compared prices.

Compared prices for what? What were you planning to buy?

I wanted to buy a gift. I I wanted to prepare something special in advance.

A gift for who? Whose birthday was coming?

Yours, Dad. Next week is your birthday. I wanted to surprise you. That's why I didn't tell you. I wanted it to be a surprise.

You skipped the school to buy my birthday gift. When did you decide that was a good idea?

I I decided this week. I thought if I waited, I couldn't find something good. I wanted to choose it carefully and make you proud.

What did you buy then? Show me the gift.

I didn't buy it yet. I saw something nice, but I wasn't sure.

Daniel, I was very angry when the teacher called me. I thought you were irresponsible. But now you are telling me you skipped a school to buy a gift for me. That changes how I feel. I am happy, excited.

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Hello friends, welcome back to a brand new session. I'm your host Marco and I am so excited for today's episode.

And I'm Emma. Now Marco, our listeners know we usually use movie clips to teach. Are we doing something a bit different today?

We are. Today we're trying something special. We have a story that I promise will change the way you think about learning. You definitely won't be disappointed.

That's right. We're going to follow a beautiful story chapter by chapter. After each part, we'll stop to break down the most important words and phrases to help you level up your English.

The story is about a boy from a tiny village and his journey to becoming fluent. It's a story about heart, struggle, and inspiration. Let's dive into chapter 1.

In a small, dusty village where the green fields met the horizon lived a boy named Alex. His life was simple. His father was a hard-working farmer and his mother was a dedicated housewife. While other children played with sticks and stones, Alex carried a heavy old English dictionary. Alex was the English king of his school. He got the highest marks on every exam. He knew every grammar rule by heart. However, Alex had a secret fear. He couldn't speak.

One afternoon, Alex approached his best friend, Sam under a large mango tree. "Sam," Alex said nervously, "let us try to converse in the English language today."

Sam laughed so hard he nearly fell. "English? Alex, we live in a village. Only people in movies speak English. It's too hard for us. Just speak our language and be normal."

Alex asked everyone in his class, but they all denied him. He realized he was being a bit naive. He thought that because he had high marks, everyone would want to practice with him.

Wow, poor Alex. He has all the knowledge in his head, but no one to talk to. And did you hear that word at the end? Naive. Let's look at that.

Yes, naive.

Let's practice the sound first. Naive. Marco, what does it actually mean to be naive?

Being naive means you lack experience or wisdom. You believe things are going to be easy or perfect because you don't know the real world yet. You are a bit like a child who thinks every person they meet is a best friend. Alex was naive because he thought that just because he got 100% on his exams, everyone would want to speak English with him in a small farming village. We see this in real life all the time. Think about this. Imagine your friend sees an ad online that says, "Give me $10 and I will give you $1,000 tomorrow." Your friend believes it and sends the money.

Oh no. I would tell that friend, don't be so naive. If it sounds too good to be true, it's probably a scam.

Exactly. Or think about a new worker at a big company. He thinks he can finish a huge project in just 1 hour. His boss might smile and say, "It's a great goal, but you're being a bit naive about how much work this takes."

So being naive isn't stupid. It just means you haven't learned the hard lesson yet.

Alex didn't give up. While his friends were out playing or accepting that English was impossible, Alex was searching for a doorway out of the village. He found it in an unexpected place. A dusty drawer containing an old cracked smartphone left behind by his uncle. In a village where the internet was slow and English speakers were non-existent, that phone became Alex's digital window. He would sit behind the cow shed, the only spot with a decent signal, and watch clips of cartoons and movies over and over again. He wasn't just watching, he was shadowing. Every time a character spoke, Alex would whisper the words back, trying to match the rhythm, the speed, and the vibe.

But his new obsession caused a storm at home. His mother, who had spent her whole life working with her hands, couldn't understand why her son was wasting his time staring at a glowing box. Every morning the same routine began.

"Alex, are you still on that machine?" His mother shouted from the kitchen. "The cows haven't been fed. Your father is already in the field. Why are you so lazy?"

She would follow him from room to room. "I've told you 10 times already. Put that phone down and help us. Go clean the yard. Go check the crops."

His mother was nagging him constantly. To her, he was just a boy avoiding his chores. She didn't realize that in those clips, Alex was discovering a secret world. He was learning that people didn't actually say, "I shall go to the marketplace now." They said, "I'm heading out."

One day his mother caught him talking to the phone. "Who are you talking to? There is no one there."

Alex looked at her and smiled. "I'm talking to my future, mom."

Wow. Alex is really dedicated. He's hiding behind a cow shed just to get a signal. But did you hear how his mother was acting? She was nagging him constantly.

Oh, I felt that. Nagging. Let's practice that together, friends. Nagging. It's a very common word, but it's quite different from just talking or asking, isn't it, Marco?

Exactly. Nagging is when someone asks you to do something over and over and over again in an annoying way. It's like a broken record that won't stop playing.

Right? It's usually about small things like chores, homework, or cleaning. The person nagging usually has good intentions, but the person listening feels like their ears are going to explode. We've all been there. Think about a typical Saturday morning. Your mom or your spouse walks into the room and says, "Clean your room. Why haven't you cleaned your room? I told you yesterday to clean your room."

Exactly. You would say, "Stop nagging me. I'll do it in 5 minutes." It's that feeling of being pressured about the same thing repeatedly. Or imagine you were at work. Your boss emails you every 10 minutes asking, "Is the report done yet? How about now? Is it finished?" You might whisper to your colleague, "The boss is really nagging me about this report today." So nagging is basically repetitive complaining or constantly reminding someone to do something they don't want to do.

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

And I'm Gwen. Leo, I stayed up way too late last night reading.

Let me guess. Romance novel.

Excuse me. No, it was about this basketball player who got cut from his high school team.

Wait, are you talking about Michael Jordan?

Yeah, you know him.

Gwen, that's the legend himself. Coach said he wasn't good enough and boom, six championships, five MVPs, and 10 scoring titles. The man could fly.

Yes. But here's what got me. It wasn't just talent that made him great. He had grit.

Grit? You mean like tough determination?

Exactly. And that's our topic today: grit.

That's right, everyone. In this episode, we'll find out the sneaky reason our brains trick us into quitting, and also how grit really works, and then six easy ways to build more of it.

This episode is B1 Level English, but if you're a strong beginner, you'll be fine. We will keep things clear, explain key words, and do a recap at the end. Ready to stop quitting and start growing some grit, guys? Let's get into it.

What is Grit?Leo. The best way I can describe grit is that it's not just trying hard. Tell me more about it.

Hear me out. Grit is a passion that lasts for years and the perseverance to stick with it. Just like your jeans, the more you wash it, the more comfortable and stronger it gets.

Oh, I'm with you now. Grit is not the "new year, new me" energy that's gone by next week.

Exactly. That's just a spark. Grit is the whole campfire you keep going through the night.

Got it. But what about talent, though? Everyone loves a natural.

Well, talent helps you start fast. It's like getting a head start in a race. It's awesome, right? But grit decides who finishes it. The marathon winner isn't always the fastest starter. It's the one who runs through the "why am I doing this" moments.

So often talent gets you ahead early, but grit gets you to the end. That's a great way to put it. And that means grit is the real key. No matter how much talent you have.

Exactly. What do you think matters more for success? Passion, natural talent, or perseverance? Drop your thoughts in the comments. Honestly, Leo, talking about this reminds me of how many things I've quit. Piano lessons, drawing.

You quit things? I thought it was just me. I have a room full of half-started hobbies.

Why Do We Quit?Weird, right? If grit's the answer, why are we all so good at quitting?

I think it's because we expect results way too fast. We live in an instant world anyway.

Oh yeah. That's the biggest reason ever. And the fact that modern life totally trains us for it. Instant noodles, instant delivery, instant success. We get used to everything being fast. Not to mention, we often mix up interest with commitment, too.

I know this one. Interest is "Oh, fun." Commitment is "I'm doing this even on the bad days."

Yep. Big difference, but easy to mix up.

What makes you think people give up that fast? Mine is definitely when things start to feel uncomfortable.

That can definitely be a reason, too. But mostly, we lose motivation when progress is slow.

Ouch. The "I'm not seeing results, so why bother" part is so real.

Totally. And to make it worse, we often see someone else succeeding and think we'll never get there. Social media definitely messes with our heads. Also, we don't value slow daily progress. We just want the big win and forget how important doing it every day is. Just like the tortoise and rabbit story.

The Science of GritThat. And get this, it's not just a nice story. There's actual science proving the tortoise wins.

For real? What science?

Good morning. I want to talk with you today. But don't worry, this is not a problem. I just want to ask you some questions about the story and also about you. You are an important part of this business.

Good morning, boss. Thank you. I am a little nervous, but I am ready. I always try to do my best at work. So, I hope everything is okay.

Everything is fine. Okay, let's start with the inventory. I want to understand how the store is doing. How much rice did we sell this week?

Uh, we sold a lot of rice. We sold about 20 bags this week. Right now, there's not much left. We have only five bags in the storage room.

Okay, that's good information. How much sugar did we sell?

We sold around 15 kilos of sugar. There is still some sugar left, but not too much. We have about 6 kilos now.

I see. And how many bottles of cooking oil are left?

Let me remember. We started the week with 30 bottles. We sold 22 bottles. So there are only eight bottles left now.

Oh, that's good. How many cartons of milk did we sell?

We sold many cartons of milk. We sold almost all of them. There are only four cartons left on the shelf. I checked that today.

Wow. That means milk is very popular. Very good. Now, how much bread do customers usually buy every day?

Customers buy a lot of bread every day. On average, we sell about 40 pieces of bread daily, sometimes more, sometimes less.

Very good. Now tell me how many customers come to the store in the morning.

Um, let's see. In the morning we usually have many customers. Around 30 to 40 people come before noon.

And how many customers come in the afternoon?

In the afternoon there are fewer customers, not like in the morning. About 20 people come between noon and 6:00.

What about the evenings? How many customers are there?

In the evening, there are many again similar to the morning. I could say around 30 customers, especially people coming back from work. That's more people than in the morning and in the afternoon coming to the store.

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Hello everyone and welcome to English Pod. My name is Marco.My name is Katherine. And we're going shopping today at English Pod.That's right. Today we are going to the store because we want to return a product. So maybe the product that we bought had some problem and we want our money back.That's right. So let's take a listen to today's dialogue and we'll be back in a moment to talk more about what's going on.

Dialogue (First Listen)Customer: Hi, I would like to return this TV.Clerk: Sure. Do you have a receipt?Customer: Yeah, here you go. Actually, I also want to return this keyboard.Clerk: Okay. May I ask what the reason for returning these products is?Customer: The TV flickers a lot when I am watching a movie and at times the image is not very clear.Clerk: I see. And what about the keyboard?Customer: I spilled some coffee on it and now it won't work.Clerk: I'm sorry, ma'am, but we can only exchange or refund defective products. We cannot take responsibility for misuse or damages.Customer: Fine. I don't know why they make these things so delicate. Anyways...

Language TakeawayAll right, we're back. So, now let's take a look at some of those key words on Language Takeaway.Language Takeaway. So, we've got a great bunch of words for you here today. The first three are nouns, and then afterwards, we've got a couple of adjectives to describe those nouns. But first up, we have the word "receipt".That's right. So, we want to return the television, and the worker there asks us if we have the receipt.Okay. A receipt is a small piece of paper that you receive from a clerk or a server after you buy something. So, if I buy a TV, I will have this small piece of paper that says that I paid $500 for the TV.That's right. So, usually they will ask you for the receipt to see when you bought the product and if you bought the product at that store.That's right. So, the receipt has all sorts of information: date, time, method of payment, cost, all those things. Right. And it's very important if you ever want to return something. Now, later on in the dialogue, the character explains why he wants to return the TV. Now, Marco, why does he want to do that?Well, he has a problem with the TV when he's watching a movie. Basically, the image is not very clear. So, this is the keyword "image".So, image can mean a couple of different things. You might hear the word image to mean a photograph or a picture like on a computer. But in this case, the image is how well you can see the images on TV, the things on TV.That's right. So on TV, it's like you're seeing many, many images all at once or very rapidly together. So maybe if you can't see clearly, you say that the image is not clear on the TV.All right. And so if it's fuzzy, like there's gray and black, the image is not clear. You can also say that, "You know, I really like my new TV. The image is very clear." That's right. Okay. And not only are we returning a TV, but we're also returning a keyboard.All right. A keyboard. A key is something that you can push. But a keyboard is this thing that you use with your computer to type words.That's right. So many of you who are using the website as we speak are using a keyboard and a mouse. So, these are probably one of the two most well-known objects when you're using a computer.That's right. And keyboards come in many different shapes and sizes. You can buy French keyboards and Russian keyboards.So, keyboard is the general word for this tool.Okay. So, we are returning the keyboard and the clerk explains that we can only return it if it is defective. If the product is defective.All right. So, this is one of those adjectives I talked about a minute ago. Adjectives describe things. So, "my keyboard is defective" or "this TV is defective." That means it doesn't work.That's right. So, we have a defective product. It's not working properly. It has some problem. And well, the guy was complaining that he didn't understand why these things like the keyboard are so delicate.All right. Delicate is something you might see written on the side of a box when you receive a package. Something that is delicate breaks very easily.That's right. So you have to handle with care. So for example, glass is very delicate. It can break easily.All right. Glass is delicate, but stones, a big rock, that's not delicate.That's right. All right. So that's all we have for Language Takeaway. Let's review everything and listen to our dialogue.

Dialogue (Second Listen)Customer: Hi, I would like to return this TV.Clerk: Sure. Do you have a receipt?Customer: Yeah, here you go. Actually, I also want to return this keyboard.Clerk: Okay. May I ask what the reason for returning these products is?Customer: The TV flickers a lot when I'm watching a movie, and at times the image is not very clear.Clerk: I see. And what about the keyboard?Customer: I spilled some coffee on it and now it won't work.Clerk: I'm sorry, ma'am, but we can only exchange or refund defective products. We cannot take responsibility for misuse or damages.Customer: Fine. I don't know why they make these things so delicate. Anyways...

Fluency BuilderAll right, we're back. So, now let's take a look at a couple of phrases we've picked out. Four, to be exact, on Fluency Builder.Fluency Builder. The first verb we have today here in Fluency Builder is the main verb in today's dialogue: "to return". So, "I would like to return this TV."Okay. So when you want to give back a product, you don't say "I want to give back" or anything like this. You say, "I want to return this product."Well, it's not just giving back. It's giving back and getting your money back.That's right. So "to return" means that you bring back the product and the store will give you back your money.That's right. And he wanted to return the TV, as we mentioned, because the image was not very clear. But he also mentioned that the TV flickers a lot. So what is this "to flicker"? "To flicker" is another verb. And flicker is something that things with light do. The light flickers, the TV flickers. It means the light comes on and off, on and off, on and off. A dark light, dark light. It's not very steady. It's not like there's a light or dark. And so this is very annoying when you're watching TV because it goes light, dark, light, dark, and it's hard to see what's happening.Exactly. So it's basically just imagine someone is turning on and off the light all the time. That's the same thing that's happening with the TV. It flickers.Exactly. Or like when a light bulb in your lamp, when a light bulb is dying...It flickers.That's right. All right. So we wanted to actually return these goods and the clerk explained that we can exchange or we can refund defective products.Okay, these are two important verbs. "Exchange" means to trade one thing for another, right? So when I go to a foreign country, I exchange money, right? I can exchange Japanese yen for American dollars. But at a store, like an electronic store, I can exchange my TV that I don't like for maybe a really good MP3 player or something like that.So that's what happens usually if maybe your TV is broken or it had some problem, you exchange it for a new one, right? But maybe you don't want the TV anymore. Maybe you changed your mind. So you want to get a refund.So "refund", you hear this word "fund" that has to do with money. A refund means that the store will give you all your money back. So, if I refund my TV, I give my TV to the store, the store gives me $500 or whatever the money for the TV was, and I can buy anything else anywhere else.That's right. So, this is what happens when you get a refund. Very different from exchanging the goods. And finally, the clerk explained that they cannot take responsibility for misuse or damages.So, remember this as a phrase. This is really important: "to take responsibility". It means that if something goes wrong, you will take responsibility for it. You will handle it.Mhm.All right. So, for example, the store says that it can't take responsibility if something is broken. That means that they won't pay you back money.That's right. So, if you buy a TV and you accidentally get it wet or you get water inside and this is why it gets damaged, then the store cannot take responsibility for this damage. Or you could say the other way around. You could say if you're at the office and you make a mistake on a report, you say, "Listen, boss, I'm really sorry. I take full responsibility for this mistake. You can, you know, punish me or you can make me do it again, but I take responsibility." It means that I say it's my fault.Right. You're guilty. All right, so that's all we have for Fluency Builder. Let's listen to our dialogue one last time and we can review everything we've just learned.

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Hey hey hey everyone. Welcome back to Pod and Chill. I'm Leo.

And I'm Gwen. It feels nice to sit down and talk with you again today. Some days feel light, some days feel heavy, and both are okay to bring into this space.

Speaking of heavy days, something happened to me yesterday.

What happened, Leo?

Yesterday I met a close friend of mine. Her boyfriend just dumped her, you know. She kept blaming herself again and again.

Oh, that must be really hard for her.

Yeah. She said she wasn't good enough and asked, "What should I change for someone to love me?" But she never paused to ask if she was already enough.

Well, that's today's topic. Learning to love yourself more than anyone else. This episode is for B1 listeners and strong beginners.

There'll be vocabulary and a PDF so you can review later. Now, let's begin.

Before we go deeper, hold one thought with us. Loving yourself is not pushing yourself to be better every day. Yes, it is choosing to stop being unkind to yourself. To do that, we first need to understand what self-love really means. Self-love sounds simple, but it feels heavy. I think many people feel a little confused right away. Like, am I allowed to love myself that much? And if I do, does that make me narcissistic?

Oh, Leo, that's a very normal reaction. Some of us imagine loving yourself means having a big ego, like you always put yourself first and never say sorry. But that's not what real self-love looks like at all. It often shows up in small moments that most people don't even notice.

Yes. And loving yourself actually starts with self-acceptance. When you practice accepting your imperfect parts, you stop building your worth on emotional dependency.

Yes. You accept that some days you feel clear and confident and other days you feel tired, lost or unsure.

Instead of fighting those days, you stay with yourself through them.

That's a big part of respecting yourself.

Well, imagine it this way. Loving yourself is like staying in an old house that you've lived in for many years.

And it has seen every version of us, right?

Yes. Some walls are cracked, some rooms are full of things you don't use anymore. And some corners are a bit dark and forgotten. But you don't destroy the house just because it's not perfect.

Yeah. Instead, you try to clean one small corner at a time, open the windows, let fresh air and light come in, and slowly the house starts to feel different.

That's when you start to notice new things.

Yeah. Like a quiet spot where you feel safe or a window where the morning light feels gentle. Those things were always there, you just didn't slow down enough to see them before.

That's how inner stability is built, by staying, not escaping. So, loving yourself is choosing to stay with who you are. You decide to care for yourself instead of judging yourself.

Before we move on, let's pause for a moment together. Ask yourself softly, am I treating myself with kindness? You don't need to answer it perfectly. Just notice what comes up. And we'll explore why this feels so hard in the next part. So, if loving yourself sounds gentle and simple, why does it still feel so hard sometimes?

I think one big reason starts very early in our lives. When we were children, love often felt like something we had to earn by being useful, being easy to love.

When love comes from outside, it can be taken away. Slowly our value becomes something fragile.

Yes. One failure, one rejection, and everything feels like it collapses. I've seen people who are very kind to others. They listen. They help. They show up when someone is tired.

But when it comes to themselves, they never let themselves rest or admit they're really tired. Right.

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Hey son, are you ready now? It's my weekend with you and I was really looking forward to it. I thought we could go for a walk, maybe get some food or just sit somewhere and talk. We don't have to do anything special. I just want to spend time with you and enjoy the day.

No, I'm not ready. I don't want to go out today. I just want to stay here.

What? You don't want to go out? That's strange. You usually like going out, even if it's just for a short walk. Did something happen? Are you feeling sick or tired or is something bothering you?

I'm not sick. I'm just not in the mood. That's all. And honestly, I don't really want to spend the day pretending everything is okay.

Pretending? What do you mean by that? I'm not asking you to pretend anything. I just want to have a good weekend with my son. That's all.

That's the problem. You always say that, but it never feels real. It feels like you want everything to be fine without talking about what's actually wrong.

I don't understand why you are so upset. If something's wrong, you can tell me. I'm your father. I'm here to listen to you. You can trust me.

You say you listen, but when I talk, you get defensive or you get angry or you change the subject. So, what's the point?

All right, I hear you. Maybe I didn't listen well before, but right now I'm asking you, please tell me what's going on inside your head.

I don't know where to start. There are so many things that I keep inside. And every time I see you, they come back. It's not easy for me to talk about them.

We don't have to rush. We are not going anywhere today. Take your time.

Okay, let's see if that's true. Then I'll ask you something. Something I've wanted to ask you for a long time, but I was scared to do it. Why did you and mom really divorce? I don't want a short answer. I want the truth.

That's a difficult question. Your mother and I had many problems and things were not working anymore. She was unhappy, always complaining. And no matter what I did, it was never enough for her.

So, you're saying it was her fault, that she was the problem.

I'm saying that she changed. She became distant, cold, and angry. I tried to keep the family together, but she pushed me away.

That's not how I remember it. I remember both of you arguing. I remember silence at dinner. I remember you coming home late and not talking to anyone.

I was there too, you know. Yes, I know you were there, son. But you were just a kid. You didn't understand everything that was happening between adults.

Maybe I didn't understand everything. But I saw enough. I saw mom crying in the kitchen when she thought no one was looking. I saw you ignoring her when she tried to talk to you.

That wasn't only her fault.

Son. I was tired. I was stressed. I was working all the time to provide for this family. Nobody ever talks about that.

I know. I know you worked hard. I'm not saying you didn't. But working hard doesn't mean you can disappear emotionally. Mom needed you and I needed you, too.

That's the truth. I didn't know how to show it. I thought bringing money home was enough. That's how I was raised. My father never talked about feelings either.

I understand. But mom told you many times that she felt alone. She asked you to go to therapy. She asked you to talk more. You didn't want to listen. You never wanted to listen.

Son... I thought therapy was a waste of time. I thought we could fix things by ourselves.

You always said mom was exaggerating, that she was dramatic. But from my side, it looked like she was desperate.

I was wrong about that. But son, I didn't want to. I just— Your mom always—

Stop blaming my mom. You were also part of that problem. Dad, I think it's time you take responsibility for your actions, right?

Well, I suppose yeah, you're right. I see that now. At that time, I was too proud. I didn't want to admit that I was part of the problem. It was easier to blame her than to look at myself.

You also shouted a lot. You think I don't remember, but I do. Even when you didn't shout at me, I felt scared. You must know that.

I know. I know that. And that's something I regret deeply. I was angry—very angry at life, at work, at myself. And I took it out on the people I loved the most. That was unfair.

After the divorce, you always told me that mom broke the family, that she destroyed everything. But I felt like I was losing both of you, not just her.

I was hard and I was bitter. I wanted someone to blame. I didn't realize that I was hurting you by saying those things.

I felt like I had to choose sides. When I was with mom, I felt guilty for loving you. I mean, when I was with you, I felt guilty for loving her. That's not something a child should feel. Am I right?

Yes, son. You are right. I failed you there. I should have protected you from our problems instead of pulling you into them.

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Hello everyone and welcome to English Pod. My name is Marco.

My name is Katherine and we're talking about the stars today.

That's right. Today we're going to talk about a very popular uh subject. Many people believe in the horoscope.

So horoscope is basically a system, very old system of determining your future and describing your personality. And so it all depends on when you were born and where you were born. So, what stars were in the sky when you were born?

That's right. So, basically, as many of you may know, there are 12 signs and we're going to talk about a couple of them and a little bit more about horoscopes and this uh I don't know. I guess it's kind of like a branch of science or pseudoscience.

Pseudo science. Yeah, I don't think there's much testing that's going on, but it's definitely something that a lot of people believe in. So, let's take a listen to today's dialogue and we'll be back in a moment to talk more about it.

Hey Lydia, what are you reading?

I'm looking at my horoscope for this month. My outlook is very positive. It says that I should take a vacation to someplace exotic and that I will have a passionate summer fling.

What are you talking about? Let me see that. What are horoscopes?

It's a prediction of your month based on your zodiac sign. You have a different sign for the month and date you were born in. I was born on April 15th, so I'm an Aries. When were you born?

January 5th.

Let's see. You're a Capricorn. It says that you'll be feeling stress at work, but you could see new exciting developments in your love life. Looks like we'll both have interesting summers.

That's bogus. I don't feel any stress at work, and my love life is practically non-existent. This zodiac stuff is all a bunch of nonsense.

No, it's not. Your astrology sign can tell you a lot about your personality. See, it says that an Aries is energetic and loves to socialize.

Well, you certainly match those criteria, but they're so broad they could apply to anyone. What does it say about me?

A Capricorn is serious-minded and practical. She likes to do things in conventional ways. That sounds just like you.

All right, we're back. So, a very interesting dialogue between these two girls talking about one of them believing in the horoscope and the other one doesn't. But, uh, they mentioned a lot of interesting things. So, we're going to have two language takeaways today. Let's start with language takeaway part one.

Language Takeaway

All right. So, one of the most common things you'll hear when we talk about the horoscope in English is an outlook. And an outlook can be positive or negative. So what exactly is an outlook?

Well, if you notice, Lydia said, "My outlook is very positive." So basically, she's talking about her future, right? So the way that she sees the future or the way that the horoscope talks about the future is a positive one.

So you could say, "Uh, you know those eight-balls? They're black and they have like a message and you shake it and it gives you a message. You ask a question. It says outlook positive."

That's right. Outlook negative. So that means in your near future things will either be positive or negative.

Mhm. So I guess you can apply it for example to a company. You say that a company has a positive outlook or even a person, you know, he's a very positive person. So he has a positive outlook. He thinks good things are going to happen.

Okay. Very good. So talking about horoscopes obviously we must mention the 12 zodiac signs.

Okay. So each month has its own sign and they're not exactly the months. They're a little bit different, but um each sign is a kind of an animal or a symbol.

That's right. So, for example, a lot of August is part of the Leo sign in English. So, that's the lion. And so, the lion is the animal, the zodiac.

Mhm. So, the zodiac sign is one of these signs like Leo is one of the zodiac signs. And I guess the all 12 signs are considered the zodiac or the horoscope.

Exactly. And you can actually talk about the zodiac in terms of other cultures. There is a Chinese zodiac. So we could say it's the year of the horse, but that's a little bit different from what we're talking about here with the western horoscope.

Okay, very good. So all of this actually comes down to the as we say the pseudoscience or the branch called astrology.

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Hello everybody. Welcome back to Podcast and Chill. I'm Leo.

And I'm Gwen. Leo, you look really tired today. You okay?

Uh, yesterday I stayed super late helping a coworker with his project, then woke up this morning to a text from my cousin asking for a ride to school.

Don't you guys live in different areas?

Yeah, completely out of my way to work, but she asked. So—

So why didn't you just say no?

I don't know. I just worry they'll be upset with me.

But saying yes to everything only makes you more tired and unhappy.

I know. I just give in. Now I feel bad about myself like I'm being used.

Then today we will talk about the art of saying no.

Yep. We'll learn how to set clear boundaries, share useful tips for work and personal life.

Also, how to spot and handle emotional bullying. This episode is B1 level English, but strong beginners can follow along. We'll explain key words and do a full recap at the end.

The Work Trap: Why We Say YesLeo, picture this. You're packing up to leave work. Laptops closed. Bag is zipped.

Ah, the best moment of the day.

Then our boss walks up behind you. "Hey, Leo. Do you have a minute? You're really good at this. So, can you help me with this document?" What do you do?

Honestly, I'd probably just say yes, even though I'm already thinking about dinner.

Why though?

Because I'm afraid saying no could hurt my chances of a promotion.

So, it's the fear. Fear of being seen as difficult or that it might hurt your chances.

Yep. And that fear is why I'm sitting here looking like I haven't slept in 3 days.

That's the trap, Leo. When you live to please others, you put their needs first every time. Your mouth says, "Yes, sure," but your brain is screaming, "No way."

And what's the real cost of that?

Everything. Your bandwidth.

Hold on. What's bandwidth? It sounds like a sandwich.

No, it's not. It means how much time and energy you have. If you don't take care of yourself first, you'll get tired and grumpy. You might even start hating the people you're trying to help.

Wait, so boundaries aren't about being selfish?

Not at all. They're about self-respect and building your self-esteem. When you respect yourself and your own needs, others start to respect you, too.

Strategies for the WorkplaceInstead of saying no right away, take a breath. Build in a pause to stop the "yes" and buy yourself time to think.

Oh, like a simple list? "Just so you know, I'm finishing the Johnson report for Friday. So—"

Perfect. Keep it simple and true. If they say, "I understand, but I really need this," ask for their help to decide what comes first: "I can do this, but which of my tasks should I move or delay?"

Whoa. Making them choose what's less important. Sneaky.

It's just smart. You're showing personal agency by protecting your time. Most bosses respect that. Ask questions to understand the real ask. When is it really due?

Or I can give them a new plan: "I can start this first thing on Monday with a fresh mind, or I can do part A if someone else takes care of part B."

Exactly. Stay cool, polite, and resolute. No shaky voice, no fake sick grandma excuses.

Handling Coworkers and FriendsFor coworkers, my favorite move is the checkback. Say: "I'm busy until after lunch. Can you check back with me at 2:00 if it's still urgent?"

Oh, I see. If it's really urgent, they'll come back. If not, they'll solve it themselves.

Another great move is the better fit. Say: "This isn't really my area. David would be better at this. Need me to call him?"

So I'm not saying I won't; I'm saying here's who can.

Now, about friends. I once skipped a concert because I was tired. My friend Emma was a little hurt at first, but I stayed friendly and warm. Saying no early is the best way to protect a friendship from bad feelings.

But what if they keep pushing? "Come on, just for one drink."

A good friend will stop. If they make you feel bad on purpose, that's emotional bullying. A calm response is: "Hey, I care about you, but when I say no, I need you to respect that."

The Final Boss: Family and PartnersWhat about family? The "but we're family" excuse is tough.

Set a clear rule. If a cousin wants to borrow money: "Sorry, I have a rule that I never let family borrow money. It keeps things simple."

Just like that? A personal rule.

Yes. And for the "tech support" uncle, set a time limit: "I can help you on Saturday, but I only have from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. free." Also, don't reply too fast to texts. A pause teaches them you aren't always available.

And partners?

If they want you to go hiking at 4:00 a.m., say: "I know you love hiking, but waking up that early isn't for me. Why don't you go with the group and I'll have lunch ready when you get back?" It supports them without losing yourself.

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Son, I want to talk to you about something important, please. Well, I don't know the best way to start this conversation, since today has been a very strange and heavy day for me, full of thoughts and worries. I really need to share them with you calmly because you are growing up. And I believe you deserve honesty, even when the truth is not easy to say.

Of course, Dad, I can talk with you. And I am actually very excited today because I was thinking about many things I want to do this month, and many plans I have for school, for my hobbies, and for my future. And I also wanted to tell you how proud I am of you, Dad. Really? Because I always tell my friends that my father has a great job, a good salary, and that he works very hard to give our family a better life.

Hearing that makes my heart feel warm and heavy at the same time. Because I love that you feel proud of me and I love that you have dreams, plans, and big hopes for your future. But today, something unexpected happened at work. Something I did not plan, something I did not want. And since the moment I left the office, I had been thinking again and again about how to explain it to you without hurting your feelings or breaking your excitement.

Don't worry, Dad. You can tell me anything because I trust you, and I know you always try your best for our family. So, next month I want to join a sports club, buy new shoes, pay for extra classes at school, and maybe even save some money for a small trip with my classmates. And I was very happy because I thought everything could be easy with your job.

I love that you want to study more, play sports, and enjoy your youth. But this is exactly why this conversation is so difficult for me. Today my manager called me into his office, looked at me with a serious face, and told me that the company is having financial problems, that they need to reduce the staff, and that my position is no longer available.

I am a little confused because you always said your company was strong and growing. I never imagined something like this could happen. You are very good at your job. So I don't understand why they would let you go.

Sometimes losing a job is not about being good or bad, strong or weak, but about decisions, about numbers, budgets, and plans that we cannot control. And even though I worked hard, arrived early, left late, and gave my best every day, today they told me that my contract ends this week.

I see now. I start to understand why you look so tired and quiet today. I was counting on that money. Now I don't know what our situation is.

This is the hardest part, and this is what has been breaking my heart since the afternoon because I know you need support, you need stability, and you need opportunities to grow. But for some time, I will not be able to give you everything you want or everything you planned, and I may not be able to give you extra money for clubs, trips, or new things. At least until I find a new job or rebuild our financial situation step by step.

I feel a little sad hearing this because I was dreaming about many things. And now I realize that life can change very fast without warning. But I also see that you are very honest with me and that you are trying to protect me. I don't know how to feel. I wanted to do many things. I know it's not your fault.

I understand, son. I know you feel upset. But I will find a better job. I promise. I will get a job soon. It doesn't matter if I have to work on something I don't like. I'm going to do my best to get the money to pay for all your things.

No, that's not necessary. I still believe in you and I still feel proud of you. Not because of your job or your salary, but because you are a good father, a hard worker, and an honest man. And maybe we cannot buy everything now, or travel, or pay for all my plans, but we can still study and work together. Better days will come because I know you will not give up. You just take it easy. We will be fine. Just find a job you enjoy.

Are you sure about that? But you need a lot of things... and that everything will be fine...

Just promise me that you will find a job you like. Are you really sure about that?

Wow. I am surprised that I'm sure everything will be fine. I promise. We'll be fine. Thank you, son. Your words give me more strength than any salary or promotion. Let us face this together, because family life is not only about money, comfort, and plans, but about love, support, and staying united when times are hard.