Improve your English listening comprehension and communication skills with Culips. In this special episode, Andrew interviews Matthew Skidmore. Matthew shares his experiences growing up in Dudley, England, and his opinions about British food and music. He discusses his background in acting and drama school and his decision to move to Korea. He also reflects on his time in Korea and the memories he made there. He then talks about his unique hobbies that include dancing, tabletop gaming, and exerc...
Mar 08, 2024•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this bonus episode, Andrew talks about one of the highlights of his time in Melbourne: a visit to the State Library Victoria. He then tells a funny story about a disagreement with his wife regarding eSIMs. Finally, he shares his opinion regarding travel-style compatibility and why it’s important to consider when going on a trip with other people. Andrew's stories are interesting, easy to understand, and packed with everyday English vocabulary and expressions. Listening is like hanging out wit...
Mar 03, 2024•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast Andrew and Kassy are back with another one of their famous catch-up chats. Kassy talks about how she’s been spending some of her free time doing something she never imagined herself doing. And Andrew shares a story about a new purchase he is very excited about unboxing. Listen to hear all the details and to improve your English communication skills with these real-life stories! Fun facts Catching up with friends or coworkers over coffee dates back to coffee houses in the Middle East in the 15th ...
Mar 01, 2024•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this bonus episode, Andrew talks about his recent trip to Australia. He shares stories from his time in Melbourne and about some wildlife encounters he experienced on Phillip Island. He also talks about returning to a snowstorm back home in Seoul. Andrew’s stories are fun, easy to follow, and full of everyday English words and expressions. Listening to them is like hanging out with an English-speaking friend. It will help you: Hear and understand English as it's really spoken Learn new words ...
Feb 25, 2024•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of Simplified Speech, join Andrew as he warmly welcomes back Suzanne, who has been away from the podcast for some time. Andrew talks with Suzanne about her recent wedding in France and becoming a Canadian citizen. She shares the challenges of planning a wedding from abroad and the process of gaining dual citizenship, including a Zoom citizenship ceremony. By listening to this conversation, you can learn English vocabulary related to weddings, travel, and citizenship. This episode...
Feb 23, 2024•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Andrew takes you on an adventure through Sydney, Australia! Discover the famous Sydney Opera House through Andrew's eyes as he talks about his experience watching a live opera performance. Lace up your running shoes and go with him across Sydney's scenic routes, including the Seven Bridges Run and the popular trails of Centennial Park. Hear about Andrew's visit to the Sydney Fish Market and the funny challenges he faced while eating seafood with curious birds. In addition to the...
Feb 19, 2024•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast Embark on a deeper exploration of Irish culture with Part 2 of our engaging interview series, tailored for English learners on the Culips English Podcast. After our insightful conversation with Alina in Part 1, we're thrilled to introduce David, Alina's husband and our first Irish native speaker guest. This episode is packed with unique insights into Irish history, sports, and music, designed to enrich your English study experience. As you join Andrew and David, you'll not only dive into Ireland...
Feb 15, 2024•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Andrew shares stories from his trip to Sydney, Australia. He talks about his first impressions of the city and how he fell in love with it. Andrew also discusses his swimming adventures, including his wife's swimming lessons and their visits to the hotel pool and various beaches. He highlights their experience at the Bondi Icebergs Pool and the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk. By listening to his stories, you can improve your English communication skills, learn idiomatic expression...
Feb 12, 2024•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast Kassy and Andrew are having company over! No, the companies they work for aren’t coming to their houses—“having company” means having guests such as friends and family come and visit your home. In this episode, Kassy and Andrew talk about how they prepare their homes when they have company over. They discuss cooking, cleaning, sleeping accommodations, and an attempt of Kassy’s to make a homemade air freshener that went horribly wrong. Listen and find out what happened! Fun facts Although the fir...
Feb 08, 2024•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Andrew tells you all about his latest trip. He’s in a country that has great weather, a relaxed vibe, and a high cost of living. Can you guess where he is? Listen in to find out the answer and improve your English fluency. Study with the interactive transcript: click here Join the Culips Discord server: click here Listen to bonus episode 38: click here Become a Culips member: click here
Feb 05, 2024•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast In your opinion, which player is the cream of the crop on your favourite sports team? Who would you say is the poster child of success in the business world? If you’re not quite sure how to answer, Andrew and Kassy will help you understand the meanings and usages of these idioms in this Catch Word episode. They explain the origins of these helpful expressions and provide many example scenarios and synonyms. Fun facts One synonym for “cream of the crop” is “crème de la crème,” a saying that has b...
Jan 31, 2024•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Andrew talks about his heartwarming and occasionally challenging adventures in dog sitting Gabby Girl, a dog he and his wife unexpectedly agreed to care for. Tune in to hear about their unique experiences and grow your English fluency along the way! Study with the interactive transcript: click here Join the Culips Discord server: click here Listen to bonus episode 81: click here Become a Culips member: click here
Jan 29, 2024•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, you’ll be introduced to Culips Discord moderator and study guide writer Alina Morozova! She shares the story of how she became fluent in English, how she met her husband and moved to Ireland, and her personal tips and recommendations for learning English. Fun facts Alina’s hometown, Komsomolsk-on-Amur, used to be a part of China during its last imperial dynasty (the Qing dynasty). It was ceded to Russia in 1858. Expressions included in the study guide To throw shade To click (wi...
Jan 25, 2024•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Andrew shares a story about his podcasting and personal lives colliding. He describes a lunch meeting that highlights the smallness of our world. Listen, learn, and improve your English fluency with this real-life story. Study with the interactive transcript: click here Join the Culips Discord server: click here
Jan 22, 2024•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Were you a good student in school, or a badly behaved one? In this episode, Andrew and Kassy discuss ways to discipline and punish school students. They share stories from their own school days and their time as teachers. They also discuss how punishment in schools has changed over time. Listen to learn more and improve your English fluency. Fun facts Interestingly, in the past, one form of punishment involved students memorizing and repeating lengthy texts and lists containing irrelevant and im...
Jan 19, 2024•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Andrew shares a story about a physical challenge he completed with his friend Jimmy to start off the new year. He shares all the details, including how a planning mistake made the challenge more difficult than expected. Listen, learn, and improve your English fluency with this real-life story. Study with the interactive transcript: click here Join the Culips Discord server: click here
Jan 14, 2024•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast Andrew and Anna discuss trend predictions for 2024 in South Korea.They share their thoughts and talk about if these trends might apply to other parts of the world as well. Join in to practice your listening skills, improve your vocabulary, and learn something new along the way! Fun facts Have you ever heard about fads? Unlike a trend, a fad is something that’s very fashionable and popular, but only for a short period of time. For example, fidget spinners: they were so big about 10 years ago, but...
Jan 12, 2024•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Andrew talks about how a surprise change in his plans led him to a wonderful discovery. He explains how sometimes, when things don't go as expected, it can turn out to be a good thing. Join Andrew to improve your English fluency with this real-life story. Study with the interactive transcript: click here Join the Culips Discord server: click here
Jan 07, 2024•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of Catch Word, hosts Andrew and Kassy explore the idioms "to cave" and "to fold." In short, “to cave” means to give in to pressure and “to fold” means to give up when you feel defeated. They sound pretty alike, right? Using several example scenarios and dialogues, Andrew and Kassy explain the differences between these two similar verbs, so you don’t mix them up! Fun facts The verb “to fold” originates from the popular card game poker. There are actually a lot of other expressions...
Jan 05, 2024•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Andrew talks about his New Year's experiences. He shares stories about the holidays, a big snowfall, and fun moments with his wife. Andrew also describes their New Year's Eve celebration at home with music and dancing. Listen to this episode to enjoy a holiday story and improve your English fluency! Study with the interactive transcript: click here Join the Culips Discord server: click here
Jan 03, 2024•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this special episode of Simplified Speech, Andrew and Kassy reflect on the highlights of 2023 and share their exciting plans for 2024. Plus, they talk about some of the exciting new things happening at Culips in the new year. Join them for a heartfelt and forward-looking conversation as they say goodbye to 2023 and look ahead to a promising 2024. Happy new year, everyone! Fun facts Did you know that New Year's resolutions date back over 4,000 years to ancient Babylon? The Babylonians would ma...
Dec 28, 2023•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast Do you like ballet? In this episode, Andrew and Suzanne talk about this unique style of dancing. They discuss its origins and characteristics, and explain some specific vocabulary along the way. Suzanne, a former professional dancer, shares her own story and what ballet means to her. Study with the interactive transcript: click here Become a Culips member: click here Join the Culips Discord server: click here Fun facts In this episode, Suzanne mentions breaking new ballet shoes. The process can ...
Dec 25, 2023•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Christmas is coming! In this festive episode, Andrew and Kassy discuss Christmas preparations and traditions. Join our hosts as they share their childhood memories, discuss gifts, and explore how Christmas is celebrated in different countries. Get into the Christmas spirit and take your English fluency to the next level! Fun facts In this episode, Andrew and Kassy talk about Christmas lights. Interesting fact: the world record for the most lights on a house was set on November 28, 2014. This hap...
Dec 21, 2023•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Andrew tells a story about receiving a sudden and mysterious DM on Instagram, which led to him and his wife agreeing to watch a dog named Gabby for five days. Listen in to hear all the details while improving your English fluency in a fun and effective way! Study with the interactive transcript: click here Become a Culips member: click here Join the Culips Discord server: click here December live stream: click here
Dec 17, 2023•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Have you ever had to ask for a recommendation letter? In this episode, Andrew and Kassy teach you many useful expressions that are helpful not only in that situation but also in many other everyday scenarios. This episode is designed to improve your vocabulary and boost your confidence in English. You don’t want to miss it! Fun facts Did you know that recommendation letters have been around for a long time? In ancient Rome, people used recommendation letters to obtain jobs or positions of influe...
Dec 13, 2023•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast Join Andrew as he talks about unseasonably warm weather, the challenge of running down stairs, overheating, a chaotic Christmas market, Glühwein, and a winning hockey team! Improve your English fluency with these entertaining stories. Study with the interactive transcript: click here Become a Culips member: click here Join the Culips Discord server: click here Bonus 31 - A sweet mystery: click here
Dec 10, 2023•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast Have you ever heard the term “gaslighting”? The verb “to gaslight” has become a very popular word over the past several years. Gaslighting is a manipulation tactic where someone makes another person doubt their own experiences and memories. In this episode, Andrew and Anna have a thought-provoking discussion about this concept. They introduce the definition of the term, its history, and their personal thoughts and experiences with gaslighting in their own lives. It’s a great episode for Culips l...
Dec 07, 2023•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this bonus episode, Andrew tells two stories about coincidences. He talks about buying a Nintendo, meeting one of his favorite podcast hosts, cold winds, closed stores, Hongdae cults, and meeting a Culips listener. Listen for fun and surprising tales! Study with the interactive transcript: click here Become a Culips member: click here Join the Culips Discord server: click here Chatterbox 251 - Interview with Jonson Lee: click here Simplified Speech 185 - Nintendo power: click here...
Dec 03, 2023•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today, we're sharing a special episode from our Fluency Files series, which is usually for Culips members only. In this one, Andrew talks about the 5 ways he boosts his mood to feel better when he’s tired or stressed. Culips members get a study guide for this episode which includes an interactive transcript, vocabulary glossary, detailed vocabulary explanations with example sentences, listening comprehension questions, and prompts for speaking and writing practice. Click here to sign up and beco...
Dec 02, 2023•8 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this bonus episode, Andrew shares his experience of spending a week alone at home while his wife was away in Japan. He also discusses their reunion and the amazing gifts she brought back for him. Tune in to hear all the details! Study with the interactive transcript: click here Become a Culips member: click here Join the Culips Discord server: click here
Nov 26, 2023•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
