In this episode, you'll learn how to use the common English expression “the coast is clear,” which means it’s safe to proceed because no one is watching or in the way. After breaking down the literal and figurative meanings, as well as the origin, you'll hear three vivid examples—one featuring a mama bird, a cheating girlfriend, and shoplifting teens.
The ... 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
Feb 2023
The Escape from Alcatraz Prison
Locked cells, surrounded by an impenetrable concrete fortress, surrounded by high barbed wire fences, surrounded by water, on an island in San Francisco Bay. Alcatraz was considered the most 'inescapable' prison in the world. The worst of the worst were sent there. So how, in 196 ... Show More
52m 14s
May 2022
The Impossible Escape From America’s Most Secure Prison | Escape From Alcatraz
It was known as the world’s most secure prison: The Rock. Sitting in the San Francisco Bay, surrounded by the freezing currents of the Pacific Ocean, it was a fortress from which there was no escape. But on June 12, 1962, three men hatched a plan to do just that. Today, we explor ... Show More
1h 18m