Lately, I’ve been bombarded with ads for shows on NBC’s new streaming service, Peacock TV. Top among their new shows, it seems, is Brave New World , a fresh take on the classic dystopian novel. I hate to ever leave a bad review about anything, but I suspect students might stumble upon it after being assigned the book, so let me just say… This show is shockingly inappropriate for something kids might accidentally tune into. Seriously, I’m pretty sure I’ve seen cleaner episodes of Game of Thrones ...
Aug 27, 2020•5 min•Transcript available on Metacast Isn’t it a shame that shows only seem to become cult classics once they’re over? That’s what seems to be happening with Schitt’s Creek , a Canadian comedy that recently aired its final season. For Vocabbett readers, though, this show offers more than just some laughs… You might also learn a word or two from the show’s inimitable matriarch, Moira Rose! I’ll be honest. When I first saw the show, I was a little confused by her character. I couldn’t figure out what her accent was supposed to be, amo...
Aug 25, 2020•5 min•Transcript available on Metacast Let's be honest: music is no good for reinforcing proper grammar habits, even if we all love it. However, I think for most songs, we kind of know when they're abusing grammatical conventions to fit the rhyme. There are times, though — times like these — when the errors are so subtle (and so commonly-used!) that we might not even realize they're happening. As a result, we get LOTS of erroneous impressions, and when the opportunity arises to use the right version, it just doesn't sound "right." In...
Aug 20, 2020•4 min•Transcript available on Metacast Love, jealousy, betrayal, friends turning each other into animals...all hiding in one tiny SAT word! In episode 43 of the Vocabbett podcast, we dive into the story (stories, really!) behind the word "cynosure." You'll never believe the path it's taken, starting on the humble backside of a dog and ending as a word befitting the queen. Listen now to hear the story!
Aug 18, 2020•8 min•Transcript available on Metacast We're all looking for a certain something to make our lot in life better. I can't promise that this episode will bring it forth, but it will give you an elevated vocabulary to describe what you're looking for! In episode 42 of the Vocabbett podcast, we dive into the word "ameliorate" and what to do when you don't have an interesting etymological backstory. - Don't want to become a full-fledged Vocabbett member , but still want to support the podcast? Pledge a few bucks a month on Ko-Fi! www.ko-f...
Aug 13, 2020•6 min•Transcript available on Metacast Well, hello! I've got a ridiculous little vocabulary-boosting story for you today. I wrote it back in Italy when our English professor asked us to write about something unexpected about our new life abroad ( I think - truthfully I don't remember the exact prompt! ). This is what I came up with! 😂 You can get the text of this story, and so much more, as a Vocabbett member! Sign up today at www.vocabbett.com . - Don't want to become a full-fledged Vocabbett member , but still want to support the ...
Aug 11, 2020•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s not often that someone’s name transforms into an insult, but when it does, it’s usually pretty memorable! We’ve recently witnessed the transformation of “Karen” from a pretty innocuous name to one with a whole host of negative connotations, but this isn’t the first time such a transformation has occurred. Throughout history, there’s a strong pattern of names being used as insults, particularly for traitors . If someone’s a Benedict Arnold, you probably know that means they’re a traitor. But...
Aug 04, 2020•5 min•Transcript available on Metacast Never thought you’d read that title, eh? No, The College Board has not implemented some kind of Hunger Games -style exit questionnaire, but the story is equally shocking! The book of Judges , in the Old Testament of the Bible, tells the story of a battle between the Ephraimites and the Gileadites. Having won the battle, the Gileadites decided they didn’t want any survivors to make it home, so they set up checkpoints along the Jordan River. Anyone who wanted to pass was asked two questions: Are y...
Jul 30, 2020•5 min•Transcript available on Metacast Wow, that’s really manly of you, to be such a good person!” – Ancient Romans As we continue diving into the study of etymology, it may amuse (annoy? probably not surprise…) you to find sneaky double meanings in many English words, many of which are rather sexist. For instance, since the Latin root “vir” meant “man,” many of our “vir” words have an element of “manliness” built into them. Are you virtuous? If you’re a man, it means you’re a good man. And if you’re a woman? You’re good…like a man, ...
Jul 28, 2020•6 min•Transcript available on Metacast Would you believe me if I told you that the word "money," something so valued and coveted, actually traces its roots back to a flock of geese? In episode 36 of the Vocabbett podcast, we dive into the "mon" root and some of its derivatives, words like "premonition" and "monetize." You won't believe the route this root has taken! : ) To take your study of etymology to the next level, sign up for a Vocabbett membership at www.vocabbett.com . - Don't want to become a full-fledged Vocabbett member, b...
Jul 23, 2020•8 min•Transcript available on Metacast I started this episode of the Vocabbett podcast with a quick apology...The last episode wasn't up to my usual standards, and without making excuses, I wanted to share why! : ) After that, we returned to our regular vocabulary-boosting content! There are two sides to the coin when it comes to using stories to improve your vocabulary. If you’re a seasoned Vocabbett listener, you’re probably familiar with the first: I write stories and weave “big” words into them. Like immersion for learning a fore...
Jul 21, 2020•8 min•Transcript available on Metacast We're all watching more TV than normal these days, but if you want to keep your edge and come out of quarantine smarter than ever , it's time to become more intentional about your TV choices. There's nothing inherently wrong with watching Friends re-runs for the 400th time, but it's probably not going to teach you much either! In this podcast, I share more about how to look at TV during this time. And over at Vocabbett, I've compiled a list of my top 5 shows that are (in my opinion!) just as ent...
Jul 16, 2020•4 min•Transcript available on Metacast Let me ask you a question: If you could take a pill and emerge from quarantine smarter, richer, and healthier than ever before — with zero side effects — would you take it? To be honest, I think most of us would! The crazy part? You might be able to get all that from the simple act of reading. Yep! Reading has statistically been shown to improve standardized test scores, both mental and physical health, and even been linked to increased earning power. In episode 33 of the Vocabbett podcast, I sh...
Jul 14, 2020•5 min•Transcript available on Metacast In episode 31 of the Vocabbett podcast, I asked how YOU are feeling about back-to-school plans, creating a survey and asking people to reach out. For this episode, I thought you might be interested to hear the results! Now, let’s be clear: this is a survey of the Vocabbett audience. It’s a pretty small sample size, and should not be construed as the thoughts of the entire country! However, I was very surprised by some of what I learned! Tune in to episode 32 of the podcast to hear it all! - Don'...
Jul 09, 2020•4 min•Transcript available on Metacast Well, hello! After a week off for the 4th of July, I returned to find that my local school district announced some big changes for the fall. People are being asked to decide whether they want 100% in-person or 100% virtual schooling. To be honest, I don’t know if I’d be comfortable with either of these options. Has your school made any announcements yet? What are your thoughts? Are you happy with your current situation? In episode 31 of the Vocabbett podcast, I discuss how I fear our education s...
Jul 07, 2020•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Welcome to episode 30 of the Vocabbett podcast! I wrote this story when I was studying abroad in Cairo, and while it draws on true experiences, it is definitely a work of fiction! **Note: there is a curse word in it, so if you don't want to hear it, maybe skip this episode!** To read along to this story, and get the definitions of SAT vocabulary words at the bottom of each page, become a Vocabbett member at www.vocabbett.com! - Don't want to become a full-fledged Vocabbett member, but still want...
Jun 25, 2020•6 min•Transcript available on Metacast There’s an old quote that the world is a book, and those who don’t travel read only one page. I quite agree, but I have my own little spin on it — that those who don’t read live only one life. I can’t imagine how much less rich my life would be if I’d only lived in this time and space. Because of books, I feel like I’ve gotten to live in Henry VIII’s court, been chased by lions in the Colosseum, the list goes on...! I recently read an excellent summer reading book called Salt to Sea by Ruta Sepe...
Jun 23, 2020•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode of the Vocabbett podcast, we're taking a little break from the vocabulary-boosting stories to share some more details about our "500 Words in 50 Days" summer SAT challenge! Among the details we discuss: 1) How I'm going to help you learn/master 500 words 2) The fact that the top three winners will earn cash prizes 3) How long the challenge will take to complete (spoiler alert: you probably won't need the full 50 days!) Sign up today at vocabbett.com/500words!...
Jun 18, 2020•6 min•Transcript available on Metacast Could you learn 500 words in 50 days? With Vocabbett, my guess is "yes"! I'm so excited about this episode because I'm launching an amazing summer challenge that, honestly, *every* high school student should be signing up for! A roadmap to get the most out of Vocabbett in the shortest amount of time — plus challenges, prizes, and more — you are going to LOVE it! And, yes, I said prizes. The challenges will have points, and the person with the most points by the end of the challenge will receive ...
Jun 16, 2020•10 min•Transcript available on Metacast Welcome to episode 26 of the Vocabbett podcast! This is a special episode for me because it closes the loop on a story I first started writing more than TEN years ago. Filled with obscure history, love, and heartache, it's a tad more serious than the stories I normally write, but hopefully you still like it! In order to read along, simply become a Vocabbett member www.vocabbett.com . -- Mentioned in This Episode: Elizabeth Gilbert's Big Magic (affiliate link, which means I may earn a small commi...
Jun 11, 2020•12 min•Transcript available on Metacast We're back this week with another vocabulary-boosting short story! A parody poking fun at an archetype in society today, "Karen and the Weed" is a lighthearted tale about a woman frustrated by her neighbor's (lack of) lawn maintenance. Featuring nearly 30 high-frequency SAT words, it's both educational and entertaining! - Loving Vocabbett? Refer a friend and earn up to $40. Apply for the Vocabbett Ambassador program at www.vocabbett.com/ambassadors . - Don't want to become a full-fledged Vocabbe...
Jun 09, 2020•8 min•Transcript available on Metacast In the last episode of the Vocabbett podcast, I suggested that a more autonomous trend might emerge in education in a post-COVID-19 world. That episode largely spoke to parents and students. In this *bonus* episode, I wanted to speak to educators about how they can make changes to the existing framework to better respect and nurture the students in their care. Are you an educator who doesn't want to walk away from the existing system, but knows changes need to be made? Hit play for one way you c...
Jun 07, 2020•10 min•Transcript available on Metacast With summer finally upon us, it's only natural that people have begun to ask what school will look like when (if?) we return in the fall. Though a number of recurring themes have emerged (outdoor learning, family-style dining, more virtual learning), I have to admit...I've been disappointed not to see more innovative paths forward being proposed. On episode 23 of the Vocabbett podcast, I share an idea for a new model that might gain traction in a post-COVID world — a model which could benefit st...
Jun 04, 2020•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast How do we prevent something like this from ever happening again? That's the question I've been asking myself in the wake of George Floyd's horrific death in Minnesota. I don't have all the answers, but here's what I know: Oppression, by definition, can only exist when there's an imbalance of power. Education is one of the best tools we have to level the playing field and correct those imbalances. The more educated (and hard-working) you are, the better the job you will likely get (or create). Th...
Jun 02, 2020•6 min•Transcript available on Metacast Much has been made of the University of California's recent decision to remove the SAT/ACT from its admissions requirements. It's caused many people to draw the (eminently logical) conclusion that they no longer need to prepare for the SAT. "No SAT means no SAT prep, right? I can just stop learning all this stuff?" WRONG! Listen to episode 21 of the Vocabbett podcast to find out why, in my opinion, announcements like this can cause extraordinary unintended consequences...and how you should be in...
May 28, 2020•6 min•Transcript available on Metacast Hello! Many of you are finishing up a unique school year (to put it lightly!), and are finally heading into summer. Congratulations! Rest assured that even though school is out, the Vocabbett podcast isn't going anywhere. Let me know if you listen to it somewhere cool! A hike? The beach? Anyway, I hope you enjoy today's vocabulary-boosting short story! -- Loving Vocabbett? Refer a friend and earn up to $40. Apply for the Vocabbett Ambassador program at www.vocabbett.com/ambassadors . - Don't wan...
May 26, 2020•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast I am SO excited about this podcast because I’ve got a good, old vocabulary-boosting story for you guys. I got the idea for this one after the last "Pitch Perfect" movie came out, and I think you're really going to enjoy it! Featuring 15 SAT words and a comical storyline, the story imagines the "pitch" perfect crime. I hope you like it! -- Loving Vocabbett? Refer a friend and earn up to $40. Apply for the Vocabbett Ambassador program at www.vocabbett.com/ambassadors . - Don't want to become a ful...
May 21, 2020•8 min•Transcript available on Metacast We made it! Episode 18 of the Vocabbett podcast contains the final installment of our "5 Ways to Instantly Sound Smarter" mini-series. And, seeing as it's the last episode, I thought it might be time to change things up a bit! Rather than cover a grammar rule you should probably follow, this episode covers a "rule" you might want to break! Any guesses as to what it is? Listen now to find out! - Loving Vocabbett? Refer a friend and earn up to $40. Apply for the Vocabbett Ambassador program at www...
May 19, 2020•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast As I was writing this episode, I realized that there is an inherent risk in talking so much about grammar: it makes you sound a tad judgmental. But that's not where I'm coming from at all! In today's episode, we dive into why grammar matters (and it's probably not what you think!), as well as the fourth way to instantly sound smarter! - Loving Vocabbett? Refer a friend and earn up to $40. Apply for the Vocabbett Ambassador program at www.vocabbett.com/ambassadors . - Don't want to become a full-...
May 14, 2020•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast This episode packs a double-whammy in its usefulness, bringing you the third way to instantly sound smarter and introducing a new summer opportunity for students: the Vocabbett Ambassador program ! Get all the details in today's podcast, and head to www.vocabbett.com/ambassadors to apply. - Don't want to become a full-fledged Vocabbett member, but still want to support the podcast? Pledge a few bucks a month on Ko-Fi! www.ko-fi.com/vocabbett...
May 12, 2020•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
