The British English Podcast

A supposedly true ghost story unfolds inside a glamorous seventeenth-century Paris apartment. Strange touches, mysterious bedclothes, physical evidence and terrifying encounters make Joan question what is haunting her home. When a new tenant reports the same disturbing phenomena, the mystery deepens. Decide for yourself whether the apartment is truly haunted, while picking up natural British English phrases along the way.

Take a nostalgic trip through 1990s London, from rushing home for Neighbours to playground games, childhood crushes and Gladiators. Tom shares how siblings and friends shaped his taste in films and music, from Nirvana and punk to an infamous Titanic soundtrack purchase. Along the way, discover plenty of natural British phrases and memories.

Learn how to turn everyday anecdotes into memorable stories through sharper detail, better pacing, and stronger dialogue. A kickboxing story reveals why too much background can drain the excitement, while a revised version demonstrates how to spotlight the moment that matters. Plus, practical advice on recording, editing, and retelling your own stories to build confidence in English.

A hilarious British pub story follows Charles as he insists he is perfectly fine while swaying, miscounting drinks, and attempting a very questionable walk to the bar. Explore colourful expressions for different levels of drunkenness, from “squiffy” to “trollied” and “in bits,” plus how context and social register shape their use.

How do British families care for ageing parents? This lively discussion compares multigenerational households in Thailand with residential care in Britain, explores the realities of care-home quality, and considers alternatives such as live-in carers and even cruise-ship living. It also looks at why Cyprus, Portugal, and Spain attract British retirees.

Anna, English teacher and creator of English Like a Native, joins a lively This Is Your Life-style conversation. She shares her teetotal lifestyle, biohacking routines, childhood memories, family chores, teaching children about money, books that moved her, acting, a serious playground injury, and her teenage Leonardo DiCaprio obsession.

A heartfelt personal update about impending fatherhood, from the surprise pregnancy reveal to feeling the baby move and discovering they are expecting a daughter. Explore British pregnancy customs, baby names, gender stereotypes, secondhand equipment, nursery planning, sleep deprivation, and the tricky question of sharing a child’s life online.

Why do familiar phrasal verbs vanish when you start speaking? This lively discussion explores why traditional lists and overly complex explanations can leave learners overwhelmed and hesitant. Discover a fresh approach to making everyday English feel more manageable, natural, and confidence-building, plus details about a new course designed to simplify phrasal verbs.

Stephen Devonchensky, creator of Simple English News Daily, explores why bad news gets attention while global progress goes unnoticed. They discuss Count Binface’s political satire, tabloid headlines, falling hunger and road deaths, rising education, India’s electric tuk-tuks, heat-wave survival, and even why people tend to walk anti-clockwise. A lively tour of surprising positive trends.

What if improving your English had less to do with intense study and more to do with tiny, consistent habits? Explore how five minutes a day, one-percent improvements, and powerful routines can build momentum. Discover the surprising connections between British cycling, vocabulary growth, and the frustrating plateau before a breakthrough.