At the beginning of May every year, horse racing season begins. In the U.S., it starts off with The Kentucky Derby, a horse race that is often referred to as “the most exciting two minutes of sports.” 🐎
Since 1875, eager spectators have been pouring into Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky to watch the ca. 20 racers make their way to the finish line. ... Show More
Yesterday
219 - The Art of Small Talk in the U.S.
Small talk in the U.S. isn't always about exchanging real information. Sometimes, it's simply a small exchange that can make your day a little better—and over time, those interactions can help build real rapport. In this episode, you'll learn how Americans use small talk, how to ... Show More
32m 59s
Aug 27
⭐ Feature: Funny Chat with My Dad (+Superlatives!)
➡️ Start improving your English today! Learn more about the Academy. Every month, I like to bring back one of my favorite episodes from the past, and this one is an oldie but a goodie. ❤️ Some longtime listeners might remember my dad, Joe. He first appeared on the pod ... Show More
31m 50s
Aug 21
218.2 - English Story: Irregular Verbs with Dance Marathons
The other day, I was staring at my list of common Irregular Verbs, trying to think of a lesson I could create with 10 of them. Immediately, I saw some potential! Swing -> Swung, Fling -> Flung , Slide -> Slid. Somehow the clump of words I selected led me to one of the most bizarr ... Show More
29m 16s
Sep 2025
How the Kentucky Derby Became a Thing
We’ve all been there, right? You wake up one day, and you say: “You know what? Forget work! It’s so nice outside. I want to put on a fancy hat, watch a bunch of horses run around in a circle, and gamble. Like they do in Europe.” In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max learn how the ... Show More
37m 49s
Apr 2018
These Stories Of Horse Racing Gamblers Will Get You Psyched For The Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is coming up in early May, and it's time to get excited. On this week's Odd Lots podcast, we talk to Bloomberg editor David Papadopoulos, who in addition to his day job has been betting on horses for a long time. In our discussion, he talked about great gamblin ... Show More
22m 51s
Dec 2023
Upper-intermediate | A Day at the Races
<p>If horse racing is the Sport of Kings, gambling on horses must be the Sport of Emperors! Whether you come for the geldings, or just for the gin and cigars, there's nothing like a day at the races. Today's Chinese podcast will teach you all about playing the ponies in M ... Show More
16m 6s
Jun 2023
Kentucky: An American English Listening Lesson
<p>Kentucky is a special state in the southeastern part of the United States. It has beautiful hills, big horse farms, and fun cities. People call it the "Bluegrass State" because of the pretty bluegrass that covers its fields. Kentucky is famous for horse racing, espec ... Show More
49m 35s
<p>How does Kentucky keep itself atop the thoroughbred industry? Is a champion stallion really worth $200,000 per date? And how many hands can one jockey have? (Part two of a series, “<a href="https://freakonomics.com/the-horse-is-us/">The Horse Is Us.</a>”)</p><p> </p><ul><li><s ... Show More
