Culips Community Update – September 2025

In this episode, Andrew and Indiana continue their fun conversation about things that are overrated or underrated. They share their opinions on topics like walking 10,000 steps a day, biohacking, pineapple on pizza, vinyl records, and even the idea of being famous. They compare their different views, tell stories, and explain why some things deserve more love while others are praised too much. 👉 Try iTalki to improve your English speaking skills! Use promo code **CULIPS** to get $15 in lessons for only $10. Click here to book a lesson via the website Click here to book a lesson via the app What you’ll learn with this episode: How to use the words “overrated” and “underrated” to share your opinion Real-life examples of these expressions in conversations about health, music, food, and culture Helpful phrases to agree or disagree politely and naturally Extra vocabulary you can use when discussing popular trends and everyday topics This episode is perfect for: Intermediate English learners who want to improve their speaking and listening skills Anyone interested in learning how to sound more natural when sharing opinions Students looking for fun vocabulary and examples to use in conversations about everyday topics 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: Click here. Members can access the ad-free version here: Click here. Join our Discord community to connect with other learners and get more English practice. Click here to join.

Do bad things really come in threes? In this episode, Andrew tells you four mini stories from his week that will make you wonder about this old superstition. From unexpected moments during his evening run to tech troubles that tested his patience, you'll hear authentic English storytelling that takes you from frustrating lows to feel-good highs. You'll improve your listening skills by hearing how Andrew tells stories in natural, everyday English. You'll learn common expressions that native speakers use, like "holding back," "buying into something," "fiddle around with," and "clear sailing." You'll discover interesting things about English-speaking culture, including superstitions and childhood experiences. You can practice your English on our Discord server by telling other learners about your own week and what happened to you. Make sure to check out the free interactive transcript and vocabulary glossary to get the most out of this episode. Important links: Become a Culips member Study with the interactive transcript Join the Culips Discord server Small-group speaking class schedule

In this episode, Andrew and Indiana talk about Indiana’s recent trip to Colorado. She shares stories about all of the activities she enjoyed during her time there, such as attending a wedding, spotting mountain goats on a hike, and adjusting to the thin air of “the Mile High City.” Indiana also tells Andrew about trying local craft beers and visiting the surreal art installation called Meow Wolf. If you’re an intermediate English learner who wants to improve your listening skills while hearing a natural conversation about travel, culture, and the different landscapes of the United States, then this episode is for you! What you’ll learn with this episode: Vocabulary: Learn everyday words and expressions for travel, landscapes, wildlife, art, and cultural experiences. Listening: Build your listening skills by following a natural conversation between two native speakers about fun topics like traveling and hiking. Speaking: Practice talking about your own trips, weddings, cultural outings, and travel highlights in our Discord community and speaking classes. Culture: Learn more about how North Americans describe places, family friends, and special events like weddings. Fluency: Listening to real conversations will help you feel more confident and natural when sharing your own stories. 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: Click here. Members can access the ad-free version here: Click here. Join our Discord community to connect with other learners and get more English practice. Click here to join.

In this episode, Alina recaps the Culips meetup that happened in July, introduces the next Culips meetup, and tells you all about the September challenge! September Challenge: Let’s talk about work Theme: Work-related English (interviews, dress codes, workplace situations) How it works: New tasks every other day throughout September Answer work-related questions and scenarios Great chance to review skills from previous challenges Finish all the tasks to earn a completion certificate It's completely free and perfect for practicing professional English skills while connecting with other learners! How to Join the Culips Discord Server and Participate in the Challenge Create a Discord Account: Sign up for free at Discord. Download the App: Install Discord on your phone or computer for easy access. Join the Culips Server: Click this link to join the Culips English Podcast Discord server: Join Here. Enable the Monthly Challenge Channel: From the menu, select Channels and Roles. Go to the Browse Channels Under the English Learning category, select Monthly Challenge to add it to your menu. Access the September Challenge: Click the pin icon at the top of the Monthly Challenge channel to view the September Challenge (available from September 2nd). Complete all the tasks to earn a certificate. Join in and start improving your English with the community! The 2025 Culips Meetup in Prague.

In this Catch Word episode, Andrew and Indiana teach you two very useful English idioms: to go off the rails and to get out of hand. These are common expressions that English speakers use to describe situations that become chaotic, unmanageable, or out of control. You’ll hear Andrew and Indiana explain the meaning, give background, and share many everyday examples. They also act out short conversations to show how these expressions are used naturally in real life. What you’ll learn with this episode: How to use “go off the rails” to describe events or people behaving in extreme, chaotic ways When to say “get out of hand” for situations that are becoming difficult to manage The differences in strength and tone between the two expressions Real-life examples of when to use these idioms naturally in conversations This episode is perfect for: Intermediate and advanced English learners who want to expand their vocabulary Anyone looking to describe stressful or messy situations in natural English Students preparing for work, travel, or everyday conversations in English-speaking environments 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: Click here. Members can access the ad-free version here: Click here. Join our Discord community to connect with other learners and get more English practice. Click here to join.

In this episode, Andrew talks about his recent trip to Sapporo, Japan. He tells you about exploring the Susukino district, visiting the coastal town of Otaru, and discovering beer and sake festivals throughout the city. You'll also hear about many of his other adventures including witnessing a car accident and navigating the city without Google Maps for an extra challenge! This episode is perfect for intermediate English learners who are ready to take it to the next level with their English fluency. Andrew's storytelling is clear, understandable, and designed to help you build your vocabulary, comprehension, cultural knowledge, and communicative fluency. Make sure to check out the free interactive transcript and vocabulary glossary to get the most out of this episode. Important links: Become a Culips member Study with the interactive transcript Join the Culips Discord server Small-group speaking class schedule

Why do some people do foolish things even though they’re smart? And why do some things that are obvious to you seem difficult for others to understand? In this episode, Andrew and Anna explore the idea of “common sense.” They discuss what it means, where it comes from, and why people sometimes seem to lack it. As they chat, Andrew and Anna share funny real-life stories from their lives and compare “common sense” with “book smarts.” This episode is best for upper-intermediate English learners who want to speak more fluently about common sense, decision-making, and how people think in everyday life. What you’ll learn with this episode: How to explain the meaning of common sense in clear English Natural ways to use everyday expressions like clueless, ditzy, all over the place, and book smarts How to talk about practical knowledge, life experience, and problem-solving skills in everyday English How culture, age, and personal experience can affect what we think is “obvious” The Best Way to Learn with This Episode: Get the study guide, which comes with an interactive transcript, vocabulary explanations with examples, a quiz, and practice questions. Join Culips to get full access. Already a member? Get the ad free version and study materials here. Want to connect with other listeners and practice what you learned? Join our Culips Discord community today Click here to join the community!

In this episode, Andrew tells the story of his quick one-day visit to Osaka. You'll hear about his record shopping plans, an unexpected tsunami alert, and how he had to make some tough decisions about his travel plans. This is perfect for English learners because you'll hear natural storytelling with everyday vocabulary and expressions. Andrew speaks clearly and shares real experiences, which helps you understand how native speakers actually talk. This episode is highly recommended for intermediate learners who are looking to hit the next level with their English fluency. Important links: Become a Culips member Study with the interactive transcript Join the Culips Discord server Small-group speaking class schedule

In this Simplified Speech episode, Andrew and Indiana explore a topic everyone can relate to – the things we’re bad at. They share funny and honest stories about their struggles with tasks like assembling IKEA furniture, drawing, handling insects, recalling movie details, parking while chatting, and even stretching. Through your hosts’ lighthearted conversation, you’ll hear how these challenges show up in daily life and how they react to each other’s skills (or lack of them). This episode is perfect for intermediate English learners who want to build everyday vocabulary, improve listening skills, and gain confidence talking about personal experiences in a natural way. What you’ll learn with this episode: Vocabulary: Learn everyday English words and expressions for talking about skills, weaknesses, and funny life situations. Listening: Build your listening skills by following an easy-to-understand conversation between two native speakers. Speaking: Practice sharing your own stories and experiences about things you’re not very good at. Culture: Discover how Canadians and Americans talk about their strengths and weaknesses in a casual and humorous way. Fluency: Listening to real conversations will help you respond more quickly and naturally in English. 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: Click here. Members can access the ad-free version here: Click here. Join our Discord community to connect with other learners and get more English practice. Click here to join.

Do you ever get a feeling that something is right or wrong, even if you can’t explain why? In this Chatterbox episode, Andrew and Anna explore the idea of the sixth sense, also known as intuition. They talk about what it means, how it works, and when they’ve relied on it in real life. You’ll hear personal stories, learn common expressions, and improve your listening skills while enjoying a fun, natural conversation between native speakers. This episode is great for upper intermediate to advanced English learners who want to talk more confidently about thoughts, gut feelings, and intuitive decision-making in English. In this lesson, you’ll learn: What the sixth sense is and how to describe it in English Natural phrases like gut feeling, bad vibe, and ulterior motives About Andrew and Anna’s experiences using their sixth sense The difference between using logic and feelings when making choices The Best Way to Learn with This Episode: Get the study guide, which comes with an interactive transcript, vocabulary explanations with examples, a quiz, and practice questions. Join Culips to get full access. Already a member? Get the ad free version and study materials here. Want to connect with other listeners and practice what you learned? Join our Culips Discord community today Click here to join the community!