You've seen it, right? The long cereal aisles in a U.S. supermarket? Crammed from top to bottom with colorful boxes? I bet you have. Cereal arouses a sense of nostalgia in a lot of the Americans that I know; it brings about memories of childhood, simpler times, family breakfasts. It's a wonderful topic of conversation that you can have with native speakers. ... Show More
Oct 22
223 - Itchy Feet: 10 Travel Expressions & My First Trip in Years
After seven years of being glued to my kids, I finally packed a bag and took a trip on my own. In this Chat with Shana episode, I take you back to my backpacking days in Europe: hostels, grocery store picnics, and one very loud night in Amsterdam. Then I tell you about my recent ... Show More
25m 6s
Oct 15
222 - "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe (Halloween Special)
📖 Need help following along? Read the transcript + vocabulary explanations while you listen! In this episode, we're diving into the dark and mysterious world of Edgar Allan Poe, one of the most famous writers in the U.S. First, I'll introduce you to Gothic literature, a genre kn ... Show More
32m 16s
Oct 7
⭐ Feature: 13 Common Superstitions and Their Origins
We live in a day and age that is driven by science and technology, yet people are still superstitious. According to a study I read by YouGov, 9% of Americans claim to be superstitious, while another 35% admit to not being very superstitious, but somewhat. That makes over 40% of i ... Show More
37m 16s
Jan 2023
“It’s Edible!” The Origin of Breakfast Cereal, Part One
Cereal is everywhere nowadays, but how did it become a thing? For most of us, this stuff is the ultimate convenient breakfast, and even the most sugary varieties claim to offer nutritional benefits and a balanced start to your day -- even if those claims may be a bit... misleadin ... Show More
37m 56s
Jan 2023
“It’s Edible!” The Origin of Breakfast Cereal, Part Two
Cereal is everywhere these days. While diet trends come and go, those ubiquitous boxes and mascots seem here to stay -- and, in some cases, it seems people are buying an idea as much as buying a foodstuff. In part two of this two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max trace the brilliant ... Show More
54m 5s
Sep 2025
182: The Cult of Kellogg: Cornflakes, Celibacy, and Colonics??
Hi friends, happy Wednesday!The other day I was craving a big fat bowl of Honey Smacks cereal with whole milk. When I was a kid, that was luxury to me. But I hadn’t had them in forever so I didn’t even know if they were still around. You know me - I googled “HONEY SMACKS… DISCONT ... Show More
49m 40s