What's the best way to give money as a gift? In this episode, Andrew tells a story about hosting his wife’s family for Chuseok, the Korean Thanksgiving holiday. You'll hear him talk about preparing a huge meal, fitting eight people into a small space, and turning gift-giving into fun games with cash prizes.
Listen along to supercharge your listening skills. Don't forget to check out the FREE interactive transcript and glossary to learn the idioms and expressions Andrew uses in this episode that will help your English become more natural.
Important links:
Become a Culips member
Study with the interactive transcript
Join the Culips Discord server
Small-group speaking class schedule
RSVP for the Culips Hamburg Meet-up on October 18th
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25:53
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25:53
Simplified Speech #230 – The golden years and how people spend them
In this Simplified Speech episode, Andrew and Indiana talk about retirement. They chat about what it means, how it looks in different countries, and what people dream of doing after they stop working. You’ll hear them share real examples from the United States, Canada, and Korea and discuss ideas like second careers, semi-retirement, and common lifestyles for retirees. They also teach several useful English expressions connected to retirement, such as golden years, twilight years, nest egg, empty nester, and living the good life.
What you’ll learn with this episode:
How to use expressions like golden years and living the good life to describe retirement in a positive way
What nest egg and empty nester mean and how they relate to family and financial life
The difference between golden years and twilight years
How people in the U.S., Canada, and Korea view and prepare for retirement
How to describe retirement dreams, second careers, and semi-retirement naturally in English
This episode is perfect for:
Intermediate English learners who want to expand their vocabulary with real-life topics
Listeners interested in cultural differences between countries
Anyone preparing for discussions about work, lifestyle, or aging in English
The Best Way to Learn with This Episode:
Culips members get an interactive transcript, helpful study guide, and ad-free audio for this episode. Take your English to the next level by becoming a Culips member.
Become a Culips member now: Click here.
Members can access the ad-free version here: Click here.
Join our Discord community to connect with other learners and get more English practice. Click here to join.
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35:45
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35:45
Bonus episode #158 – The rain stole my thunder
Have you ever had a day that started off terribly but somehow became unforgettable? In this episode, Andrew shares the story of a rainy half marathon that began in total chaos and ended with a sweet surprise.
You’ll hear real, everyday English as he talks about staying motivated, finding focus, and turning frustration into pride. You’ll also learn natural expressions that native speakers use, like “gong show,” “clock’s ticking,” “to blow by someone,” and “to steal someone’s thunder.”
Join our friendly community on Discord to share your own story about overcoming setbacks, and check out the free interactive transcript and glossary to get even more from this episode.
Important links:
Become a Culips member
Study with the interactive transcript
Join the Culips Discord server
Small-group speaking class schedule
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37:13
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37:13
Simplified Speech #229 – Things that get on our nerves
In this episode, Andrew and Indiana get honest with each other about everyday things that annoy people. They talk about habits that “get on their nerves,” such as loud chewing, people using their phones while talking, overused clichés, bad driving habits, and even dog owners who don’t follow the rules. Along the way, your hosts explain useful expressions like “gets on my nerves,” and “grinds my gears,” so you can understand and use them the next time you want to complain to a friend!
What you’ll learn with this episode:
How to use natural English expressions for talking about annoying habits and situations
Real-life examples of common, idiomatic ways to complain in English
Vocabulary for describing irritation, such as annoying, irritating, and rude
This episode is perfect for:
Intermediate English learners who want to practice real conversational English
Students who want to expand their vocabulary for everyday situations
Anyone who wants to sound more natural when talking to friends about small problems and annoyances
The Best Way to Learn with This Episode:
Culips members get an interactive transcript, helpful study guide, and ad-free audio for this episode. Take your English to the next level by becoming a Culips member. Become a Culips member now: Click here.
Members can access the ad-free version here: Click here.
Join our Discord community to connect with other learners and get more English practice. Click here to join.
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22:05
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22:05
Culips Community Update – October 2025
In this episode, Andrew and Alina share updates about what's new at Culips! You'll learn about the second European meetup happening in Hamburg, Germany on October 18th. They also introduce the October challenge, which is focused on linking words that will help you create better-connected sentences.
European Meetup #2 - Hamburg, Germany
Date: Saturday, October 18th
Time: 4:00 PM
Location: People's Place Cafe, Hamburg
Cost: Free!
Who can join: Everyone! No Culips membership required
RSVP: Fill out the form here:
Join fellow English learners for a relaxed, friendly chat in a welcoming environment. Perfect for all levels!
October Challenge: Connecting Words
Theme: Linking words and connectors to create longer, more natural sentences
How it works:
New tasks every other day throughout October
Complete skeleton sentences using connecting words like "therefore," "despite," "besides," and "nevertheless"
Practice making your speech flow more naturally and confidently
Finish all the tasks to earn a completion certificate
It's completely free and perfect for learning to express complex ideas while connecting with other learners!
How to Join the Culips Discord Server and Participate in the Challenge
Create a Discord Account:
Sign up for free at
Discord.
Download the App:
Install Discord on your phone or computer for easy access.
Join the Culips Server:
Click this link to join the Culips English Podcast Discord server:
Join Here.
Enable the Monthly Challenge Channel:
From the menu, select Channels and Roles.
Go to the Browse Channels tab.
Under the English Learning category, select Monthly Challenge to add it to your menu.
Access the October Challenge:
Click the pin icon at the top of the Monthly Challenge channel to view the October Challenge (available from October 2nd).
Complete all the tasks to earn a certificate. Join in and start improving your English with the community!
Culips English Podcast: Practical English Learning Made Fun Learn and Explore: Join Culips for an exciting English learning journey. Our podcast focuses on teaching English idioms, slang, and phrasal verbs through fun and engaging conversations. Each episode helps you master English for real-life situations. Unique Learning Experience: Culips stands out by blending language skills with cultural insights. Our diverse hosts make learning relatable, covering a variety of everyday topics. You’ll pick up practical language skills and gain cultural understanding, enhancing your English fluency in an enjoyable way. Your Path to Fluency: As your ideal learning partner, Culips provides easy-to-understand lessons on daily English usage. Learn from native speakers and immerse in different cultures, making your English learning journey rewarding and effective.
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