Culips Everyday English Podcast

Andrew and Anna talk about a New York Times article on “hobbyamory,” a new trend where young single people stop using dating apps and fill their lives with hobbies instead. They also ask whether the trend is good news, or a sign that many young people are lonely and struggling with money. Along the way, you’ll learn useful English vocabulary like “to have reservations,” “mutually exclusive,” “cope,” “to not fit the mold,” “underpinnings,” and “to keep afloat.”

The brand-new Culips app is live!

Study this episode with an interactive transcript and vocabulary glossary:

Open this lesson in the Culips app.

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.

Members can access the ad-free version here: Click here.

Join our Discord community to connect with other learners and get more English practice.

Links from this episode:

Read the New York Times article.

Read a free summary of the article.

Keep an ear out for these phrases during the episode:

To have reservations (about something)

Mutually exclusive

Cope

To not fit the mold

Underpinnings

To keep afloat

Do you feel better or worse after a nap? Andrew and Indiana compare their napping habits, and Andrew explains his favorite trick, the coffee nap. They also talk about why it’s so common to see people sleeping on the subway in Korea. Along the way, you’ll learn useful English vocabulary like “to squeeze something in,” “cottonmouth,” “to defeat the purpose,” “for something to hit,” and “to keep something up.”

The brand-new Culips app is live!

Study this episode with an interactive transcript and vocabulary glossary:

Open this lesson in the Culips app.

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.

Members can access the ad-free version here: Click here.

Join our Discord community to connect with other learners and get more English practice.

Keep an ear out for these phrases during the episode:

To squeeze (something) in

Cottonmouth

To defeat the purpose

For (something) to hit

To keep (something) up

Have you ever been so focused on one goal that you forgot to slow down? In this bonus episode, Andrew spends a holiday afternoon trying something new with his family, and it makes him rethink how he spends his free time. Listen along to learn some vocabulary that will help make your English more natural and to improve your listening fluency.

The brand new Culips app is live!

Study this episode with an interactive transcript and vocabulary glossary: Open this lesson in the Culips app.

Study materials for this episode

The interactive transcript and vocabulary glossary are free for everyone. No membership needed.

The comprehension quiz and the PDF study guide download are for Culips members.

Become a Culips member to get study materials for every episode, live speaking classes, ad-free audio, member-only perks, and more.

Join our Discord community to connect with other learners and get more English practice.

Keep an ear out for these expressions during the episode:

To be down

To burn off

Right on the money

Newbie

Prickly

To wander off

Foraging

Nature’s bounty

Wake-up call

Half the battle

Is Halloween a big deal where you live? Andrew and Indiana share their favorite childhood Halloween memories and the costumes they’re most proud of, and Indiana explains how trick-or-treating works for anyone who didn’t grow up with it. Along the way, you’ll learn useful English vocabulary like “to go hard,” “to liven up,” “to be over something,” “a gripe,” “to wane,” and “groundless.”

The brand-new Culips app is live!

Study this episode with an interactive transcript and vocabulary glossary:

Open this lesson in the Culips app.

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.

Members can access the ad-free version here: Click here.

Join our Discord community to connect with other learners and get more English practice.

Links from this episode:

Learn about Stop Making Sense, the concert film behind Indiana’s favorite costume.

Watch David Byrne dance in his big suit.

Keep an ear out for these phrases during the episode:

To go hard

To liven up

To be over something

A gripe

To wane

Groundless

Do you still remember your best friend’s phone number from when you were a kid? Andrew and Indiana share some fun memories from the days when every home had a phone connected to the wall, and talk about the pros and cons of life with a landline. Along the way, you’ll learn useful English vocabulary like “a peek behind the curtain,” “to get through to someone,” “a comedy of errors,” “fishy,” “to come in handy,” and “peak something.”

The brand-new Culips app is live!

Study this episode with an interactive transcript and vocabulary glossary:

Open this lesson in the Culips app.

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.

Members can access the ad-free version here: Click here.

Join our Discord community to connect with other learners and get more English practice.

Link from this episode:

Watch the Curb Your Enthusiasm phone etiquette scene that Indiana talks about.

Keep an ear out for these phrases during the episode:

A peek behind the curtain

To get through to someone

A comedy of errors

Fishy

To come in handy

Peak something