Easy English: Learn English with everyday conversations

Mitch and Isi have some exciting news, they will be hosting their first ever meet-up in Brighton this August 9th with Easy German! Get your FREE tickets at - https://www.easygerman.org/meetups They also do a recap of the most recent UK news and then dissect and review each month of the year. Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Transcript Mitch: [0:23] Welcome to episode number... loading, loading... Isi: [0:29] You don't know. Mitch: [0:31] 46. Isi: [0:33] We're 50 soon. Mitch: [0:35] We'll be 50 soon. Isi: [0:36] That's good. Mitch: [0:38] What should we do for our 50th? Isi: [0:39] I don't know. Mitch: [0:41] Maybe listeners have an idea of something we can do that's more special for our 50th episode. Maybe we get a guest? Isi: [0:49] When is our 50th? Is that in... Mitch: [0:51] End of September. Isi: [0:53] Can we not record it in Berlin with some special guests? Mitch: [0:57] True, we'll be in Berlin. Isi: [0:58] In the big Easy German podcast studio. Mitch: [1:01] Oh, fancy sound and a fancy guest. Who could we get? Maybe people who are listening want to vote. Who should we try to get? Manuel, Cari or Janusz? Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

Today, Isi and Mitch explore the animal kingdom in the first of two episodes; discussing animals with bad PR (public relations). We talk about the movies and other media that has influenced our opinions on some of the most fascinating and often friendly animals. Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Transcript Mitch: [0:00] Okay, one, two. Isi: [0:01] One, two. Mitch: [0:02] Buckle my shoe. Isi: [0:03] Three, four. Mitch: [0:04] Knock at the door. Isi: [0:05] Five, six. Mitch: [0:07] Pick up sticks. Isi: [0:09] Seven, eight. Are you just Googling what rhymes on eight? Mitch: [0:14] No, but there's like a song. Isi: [0:16] Don't be late. Mitch: [0:17] It might be. Isi: [0:18] Nine, ten. Mitch: [0:19] Wait, wait, wait. Again. Isi: [0:23] One, two. Mitch: [0:23] Buckle my shoe. Isi: [0:25] Three, four. Mitch: [0:26] Shut the door. Isi: [0:27] Five, six. Mitch: [0:28] Pick up sticks. Isi: [0:29] Seven, eight. Mitch: [0:30] Lay them straight. Isi: [0:32] Nine, ten. Mitch: [0:33] Begin again. Isi: [0:34] Okay, let's begin again. Unknown: [0:35] INTRO Isi: [0:54] Mitch what's our do we only do a mega topic of the week because i love it and we have no time for anything else yeah. Mitch: [1:01] I don't know how we. Isi: [1:02] I know why why we watched something where a cockroach appeared and we discussed why the cockroaches actually have such a bad reputation because they don't do anything really they don't bite you they don't sting you they don't do anything bad to you just living in they just prefer dirty places I think that's why people just eat bin-juice don't they? I don't even know what they eat, but (Bin-juice.) What do you think? Mitch: [1:30] Yeah, we came up with an idea to do an episode about good and bad animal PR. Okay, should we get started? Isi: [1:42] Yeah. Mitch: [1:43] Wait, first of all, we haven't said it, but welcome to the Easy English Podcast. (10 minutes later.) I um have written down some of my own feelings towards animals in the animal kingdom that have bad and good PR. Now just in case you don't know PR do you know what PR stands for? (Public relations.) So in the theory we're sort of making out like each of these animals has a media team which they kind of do for me it's mainly Disney movies that's gonna be the reason why I've given them good or bad PR. So I'm just gonna read out some to you do you want to start with bad PR or good PR? Bad PR would be animals which we perceive to be bad from media, whatever but actually really good Isi: [2:31] All animals are good there's no animal that has bad PR that is not good. Mitch: [2:35] I have I have a good one that I would like for you to tell me that has bad PR and is a bad animal. Isi: [2:41] There is no bad animals. Mitch: [2:42] Are you sure? Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

This week, Mitch and Isi go discuss boob-tubes and milk-juice; the strange slang of Boomers. They also share stories from the progressing stages of EURO 2024... is football coming home? Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Transcript Mitch: [0:23] Hello. Isi: [0:24] Hello. Mitch: [0:25] Welcome to episode 44 of the Easy English Podcast. Isi: [0:31] You sound like a wizard. Mitch: [0:33] A wizard? You're a wizard, Harry. Harry Potter. Harry Potter. Harry Potter. Oh, Harry Potter. Anyway, welcome to the Easy English Podcast. Isi, how are you? Isi: [0:48] Very well, thank you. And you? Mitch: [0:51] Not bad, thank you. We're both lying, I think, doing the very British thing. Isi: [0:56] Why? I'm good. Why are you not good? Mitch: [0:58] Small talk. I have hay fever incoming. I can feel it. Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

With a surprise UK general election on the horizon, Isi and Mitch want to bring you a brief overview of the political goings-on in the UK; how the election works, the past 14 years of conservative rule and what the two main parties have promised the people of the UK for the next four years. afterwards, they answer YOUR questions in their regular segment of Unhelpful Advise where they answer a question from Easy German host, Manuel. Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Transcript Intro Isi: [0:22] So, my friends, let's get going with my best German accent. Mitch: [0:28] See if you can keep up that level of energy the whole way through. Isi: [0:31] Why? You have s*t topics or what? Mitch: [0:34] Um, no. I actually thought Easy English could do this week. It's Guide to the UK General Election. Isi: [0:46] Okay, guide us. Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

This week, to everyone's surprise, including Isi, the duo talk about sports. They recap last weekend's events including back-to-back promotions for Isi's hometown, Münster, the rise of glory hunting Man City fans from Brighton. They details the drama of the Tyson Fury, Olexander Usyk fight in Saudi Arabia and talk about the huge influence Jürgen Klopp had on British culture as he ended his tenure as Liverpool FC manager this weekend after 9 years in charge. Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Show Notes Irish travelers dialect - Bartley Gorman - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvybZLKH7Zk&t=88s Transcript Intro Mitch: [0:22] Hello. Isi: [0:24] Hello. Mitch: [0:25] Uh-oh. Welcome to episode 42 of the Easy English Podcast. Isi, are you okay? Isi: [0:32] Yes, I am okay. Oh, God. Mitch: [0:34] Trying not to cough and splutter? Isi: [0:37] Again, I have a bad voice. Mitch: [0:39] It's very bluesy. Isi: [0:41] Yeah, I could be a good singer now. Mitch: [0:43] Da-da-da-da-da-da. Isi: [0:45] Na-na-na-na-na-na. Mitch: [0:47] No, you're supposed to say, woke up this morning. Isi: [0:51] Woke up this morning. That doesn't work. Mitch: [0:57] Too tired and ill to even contemplate those lyrics. Isi: [1:00] Oh yeah. Mitch: [1:02] Okay, so today we're gonna do an episode which Isi never thought she'd ever do probably. But I'd always dreamed of doing, we're gonna talk about sports. Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

Mitch and Isi recap their past weeks as Easy English had their first ever meetup, Mitch got nervous, Isi brought the whole family and Nola became the selfie-queen. They then discuss last weekends Eurovision results as Switzerland cleaned up, the UK felt zero (points) love and Germany finally did quite well. They then also describe their excitement at seeing the Northern Lights for the first time, but at the seaside in Brighton... WTF!? Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Transcript Intro Mitch: [0:22] Okay, welcome to episode 41 of the Easy English Podcast. Isi: [0:28] Do you have a sweet in your mouth during a podcast? That's not cool. Mitch: [0:33] No. Isi: [0:35] People will hate this. Okay, he puts it out. Don't worry. Now it's on your laptop. Mitch: [0:42] Save it for later. We're back in Britain. Isi: [0:46] We're back in Britain. Mitch: [0:47] How are you all? yet again more grinding of building materials . Isi: [0:53] Yeah, do you remember when we told you our building work is coming to an end our building work started again. Mitch: [0:58] They've started again from day one they do it all over again. Isi: [1:03] Wait, we already said they started again didn't we and now they started again again. Mitch: [1:06] Again again they're working backwards. They're gonna take it back to how it was and then do it all over again but a bit better. Isi: [1:12] There's drilling in the background now yay. Mitch: [1:14] Um today we have three topics for you. Let's do topic number one. Isi: [1:21] Topic number one. Mitch: [1:22] Easy English Updates. Unknown: [1:28] Easy English Updates. Mitch: [1:30] When was it? Last week? Yeah, last week. Isi: [1:34] Yeah, it was, it's only a week ago. Well, a week and two days. (We had) our first ever Easy English meetup together with Easy German so we did an Easy German and Easy English meetup to meet viewers listeners maybe some some people of you that are listening now. (Oh yeah, can you write if you were there.) Yeah write us a message. (It was in Münster so it was more German-based,obviously.) In my home-town and we met for like three hours i think it's in the end it was much longer than three hours. Mitch: [2:12] cool venue right called Gasolin. An old gas station or petrol station sorry. Isi: [2:17] A bar that I've known for many many years in my life and we met there it was much fun um... (I was nervous.) yeah? Mitch: [2:28] Yeah, I didn't want to tell you because I don't want to give empathy nerves. I had to drink maybe two beers to feel a bit more like I drank Radler which is like a shandy in English. (Yeah.) Which is a mixture of lemonade and beer and the sugar just made me feel more nervous. Isi: [2:46] Oh yeah it's a bit nerve-wracking isn't it because we are just always behind our microphones behind the camera or in front of the camera but on our own doing our stuff. Mitch: [2:57] Yeah, we're kind of faceless in a way. Isi: [2:59] Yeah, and it's really nice to get direct feedback. But we are lacking this really in like our...job. I know you you give sometimes comments on YouTube or here on the podcast or as a member on Patreon. But it would be great to actually have more of a feedback even so actually now I can directly tell you it would be great if you on your podcast app where you're listening um give us a feedback um on most apps you can give rating or even a comment with it um like on Spotify for example you can give a rating and you can also ask questions or give us comments on specific episodes and we would be really really happy to get that because you know when you're doing something and you don't really know what people think of it so it does help us a lot if you give us a feedback so if you could now now now quickly quickly it takes a second go on I mean you are on the app now but see on the app that you can um whatever app you're using, um that you can review and rate our podcast that would really mean a lot a lot thank you very much so now going on with the meetup. Mitch in the meantime had his sweet again in his mouth and again out of it you're like a kid. But it was it was much um it was much fun to meet people. (Yeah, it was. Everyone was so nice.) Yeah everyone was so nice and we had a lot of fun the weather was in the end really good it was not too hot not too cold sun was shining we could sit outside as well it's a good mix wasn't it we had an outside terrace an indoor room that was really cool. Mitch: [4:37] Yeah, there were there are photos from it as well on uh both our Instagram and Easy German's Instagram if you want to see what a meetup looks like because I would be inclined to do it again. Isi: [4:46] Yeah. Mitch: [4:47] Was quite... was quite nice is the weird thing is is people were there for Easy German mainly. And the thing I felt nervous about was I didn't know who was there for us. Isi: [4:58] Yeah we didn't ask that in the registry process So we didn't really know I think a lot of people know us from both because we both I mean I obviously I'm part of the Easy German team as well um but we also both together produce episodes for Easy German sometimes so even Mitch is in the videos of Easy German so I guess people came maybe for both as well. Mitch: [5:21] Yeah, you should go and watch them because we we sometimes make the videos for the Slow Easy German. Isi: [5:26] Or Super Easy German as well yeah. Mitch: [5:29] Oh, Super Easy German, sorry. Not Slow, Easy German. Isi: [5:31] Hasn't been now for a longer time. I think autumn, last autumn was our last episode. But the script for the next one is ready. So also there. But anyway, you might not learn German, but people actually maybe knew us from Both. Did you just put the sweet back in your mouth? Can you not just leave it outside? Mitch: [5:50] It's made like a weird stain on my laptop. To be honest, actually, people... What was quite nice is Nola was our buffer and people actually... were more interested in meeting Nola from my point of view to be honest. I think Nola had multiple selfies taken with her. Isi: [6:06] For her it was actually quite fun as well wasn't it? It was not too loud she could chill outside we had also my dad, I mean both my parents were there um my mum also is part of the Easy German team. Mitch: [6:22] It was a real family event. Isi: [6:23] My dad came well he is also in some videos of Easy German. So we are basically all part of it. Mitch: [6:30] We've all been dragged in. Isi: [6:31] My dad's major role at the meetup was dog sitting. He just walked around with Nola. Mitch: [6:36] The dog handler. (Yeah.) It was really nice. And actually, I find these things often quite awkward because I hate icebreakers and I hate organised fun. But that people were there for one purpose and were discussing their level, because I'm also learning German. It was quite nice to get inspiration and also find out what people are looking for. I was surprised. A lot of the Germans that were there, their level of English... Isi: [7:03] The German learners, you mean? Mitch: [7:04] There were Germans there who watch Easy German. And they're just like fans of watching it. (Yeah, yeah.) From what I saw. But their level of English surprised me because I always consider that Germans don't need English really. But they were like, it was good to pick up on certain things that I realised that Germans sort of maybe make mistakes on quite commonly. Or, you know, there was a lot of like people saying that their writing skills aren't very good which is something. Isi: [7:27] saying Germans can't speak English? (Oh God.) No think every native speaker of a certain language for if you're a German native speaker does specific mistakes in a specific language that you learn that sounds very complicated what I mean is German native speakers make different mistakes in English than Spanish native speakers for example so I think that is actually actually we began a list about that months ago um with the mistakes that I still do and things that I notice or that you notice on how I speak. So um we definitely want to do a video about this like mistakes that German, native speakers do in English. Mitch: [8:12] Yeah, to be fair... oh actually just remembered Manuel asked... has a question for us. Isi: [8:18] Oh yeah. Mitch: [8:20] That he sent to us at the meetup but we'll do it next next time. Isi: [8:22] Okay, Manuel, next time. Mitch: [8:23] Next time, you'll have to wait. (You'll have to wait.) And to be fair, English speakers also make so many mistakes. And in a fun way, this is what our project is all about because they're not going to change for you, to be honest. So you have to sort of figure out, the common mistakes English people make in order to understand them which is where we come in and if you're not aware we run a membership for Easy English not only for our videos where you can get transcripts and worksheets but also for the podcast, we offer something called an Interactive Transcript and the way it's interactive is; you will press the play button on your phone, on your laptop whether you're at home, or on the train or wherever you are wherever you listen to the podcast and it will follow along with what we're saying on the transcript with this little yellow highlighter box... what are you smiling about? Isi: [9:18] You do a lot of gestures that people can't see you know? Mitch: [9:22] I know but it's helping me actually now I sort of understand why politicians use their hands a lot, and as it's following along with our what we're saying on the trend on the Interactive Transcript you can press a button... oh God. I'm dying slowly... and you can press a button and it will ask you if you'd like to have the transcript translated into, hopefully your native language there's a whole array of languages offered now and so not only are you following along on the Interactive Transcript you're also hav

Isi brings a new section to the podcast, asking Mitch about cultural seaside traditions. All with a slightly cheap but iconic postcard theme they discuss the food, people, entertainment and wildlife of the British coastline. Afterwards, Mitch recommends one of his top five favourite films 'No Country for Old Men'. Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Transcript Intro Mitch: [0:22] Are you ready? Isi: [0:26] I am ready. I have the feeling we only record tired podcasts now. We change from having a cocktail sometimes with our podcast to coffee and tiredness. Mitch: [0:40] Have we begun? (Yes.) Okay. Isi: [0:42] But I'm super motivated because of a great topic. Mitch: [0:45] Oh yeah? Isi: [0:46] Yes. Mitch: [0:46] Okay, firstly, welcome to the Easy English Podcast. Isi: [0:48] Welcome. Mitch: [0:50] We hope you're all well and not as sleepy as us but also as motivated as us. Isi: [0:56] I'm not even sleepy the coffee does help. Okay... Mitch: [1:00] I think it's because the shutter that sort of works for the... on the window that for the room that we're in is broken. I broke that and we seem to be breaking a lot of things at the moment where... you said it last night we're a bad omen, at the moment. Isi: [1:16] I think so. Mitch: [1:17] We also... don't tell your parents broke their fridge Isi: [1:21] We didn't. (Someone did.) Well I think the fridge was broken we were just being the unlucky ones to be there when the last hit. Mitch: [1:33] Here's a good idiom for you. Isi: [1:34] Yes? Mitch: [1:35] We have been the straw that broke the camel's back. Isi: [1:39] I know that one, I don't have to use my buzzer. I know it. Mitch: [1:45] Okay good, what is it that you want to bring to the Easy English Podcast today? Is it a new section? Isi: [1:50] Yes it is. So I know we discuss culture a lot of times and we have the Culture Club where we recommend British things or British series or anything cultural but last time we spoke about Brits on Germans and obviously we want to talk here about um Brits and the British way of life and I thought we could have a new section which is called Very British where we talk about anything that is actually considered to be British which could be like characteristics or like how people behave cultural behaviour but also the way that Brits or people in Britain do things. Mitch: [2:41] Okay, and what's the name of this called? Very British? Isi: [2:43] Very British. Mitch: [2:44] Okay, we... I make a... Isi: [2:45] We can also call it So Very British. Mitch: [2:50] Okay, I make a section which is coming in now! Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

This week, Mitch and Isi discuss Brits' perception of Germans. They discuss typical stereotypes, true or false. The difference between Bavaria and the rest of Germany. Germany's current culture and history. Their obsession with coastal England and of course, Germany's current representative in the UK; Jürgen Klopp. Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Transcript Intro Isi: [0:23] Good morning. Mitch: [0:24] Good morning from... (Morning.) ...overcast Germany. Isi: [0:30] It's actually sunny at the moment. Mitch: [0:31] Is it? Isi: [0:32] Yes. I get neck problems again if I always turn around to you like this now. Mitch: [0:37] Just face... Isi: [0:37] I will not face... Mitch: [0:38] Just don't look at me. Isi: [0:39] I will not look at you. Mitch: [0:40] I can't take the pressure. Isi: [0:42] It's sunny right now. We had a really sunny weekend. I mean, we only arrived Saturday. But we had a really sunny weekend in Germany.Very much summer feeling. And now it's going back to winter. You hear my voice my voice is still bad. Mitch: [0:56] I can't tell if you're speaking to the listeners or me now. Because you're just facing the wall . Isi: [1:01] Do you see my eye always trying to get over to you. Mitch: [1:04] you look like Nola when she thinks we're talking about her. Isi: [1:08] And she's naughty. so yeah we are in Germany. How fitting because I have a little topic for you for today Mitch . Mitch: [1:15] Is it our topic of the week? Isi: [1:17] It is the topic of the week.So what i would like to know, well I have my own experiences with this topic but I would like to know from you growing up in the UK how do British people perceive Germans and German culture and the the German language? Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

This week's episode is a flu-based survival guide, Mitch and Isi cover lemon & ginger tea, spicy soups, fruit salads, vapour inhalation, reality TV, fishing shows, bed rest and tissue-plugs. Mitch also reviews the British, metaphorical horror/thriller movie 'Men' in his new section 'Mitch's Movie Club'. Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Transcript Intro Mitch: [0:24] Hiya, welcome to episode 38 of the Easy English Podcast. Isi, how are you? Isi: [0:30] I'm okay. I am a bit congested, still. Mitch: [0:33] Well, that's good. Not good, but good for the podcast because... Isi: [0:38] Good for the podcast? Mitch: [0:39] Yeah, because I wanted to do an episode about getting over illnesses. Tips and tricks from Mitch and Isi. (What a great episode.) Let's go. Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

After a question last time round from listener Georgia, Mitch and Isi discuss the influence of modern day influencers; the Royal Family. From backing British made products, influencing the EU referendum and championing mental health and environmental awareness. They also discuss the controversial topics surrounding the armed forces and the love/hate relationship they have with tabloid media. Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Transcript Intro Mitch: [0:23] Hello, welcome to episode... what is it? Oh God. Isi: [0:27] 30... Mitch: [0:29] 30, what would you think? 31? No, don't be silly. Isi: [0:34] Oh God. Mitch: [0:36] Episode 37. (Wow!) Of the Easy English Podcast. Isi: [0:41] Hello. Mitch: [0:41] I planned for us to do an episode about Georgia's question from the last episode, asking; how much the royal family affects our day-to-day life, in the UK. Isi: [0:52] Didn't we talk about the royals before? We did a video episode about the queen's jubilee with Cari from Easy German who's a big 'Crown' 'The Crown' fan and Netflix series. Mitch: [1:04] Yeah I mean that is already one way in which the royal family affects, their part of (The world.) Yeah, they're like... they're back they're back again into common culture. There was a period I think between Diana and now, where they're kind of had a bit of a dip. But now they're kind of like, influencers. They live a life of influencers, in a way, don't they? Isi: [1:26] I guess they're representatives of the monarchy. But in a way, I think they see themselves also as representatives of Britain, of the Commonwealth. Mitch: [1:37] They have some power, in the sense of they don't have any... Isi: [1:41] They're influential. Mitch: [1:42] Yeah, exactly. Isi: [1:42] To a lot of people still. Mitch: [1:44] If they mention a brand or something, then they can have... or talk badly about a brand. Isi: [1:49] But they don't do that, on purpose, they don't they don't want to be political and they are actually they shouldn't be, right? From the legal stand. Mitch: [1:59] They shouldn't be, but obviously like, if you think of Harry and Meghan they had a Spotify and did Kate and William also have a Spotify. (No, I don't think so.) Harry and Meghan had a Spotify podcast right, exclusive. Isi: [2:09] Do they still have that. Mitch: [2:10] No. (I've never listened to it.) It got dropped. (Okay.) Because they're so boring. (Are they?) But Spotify obviously has like... Isi: [2:18] I actually like their Netflix series. I found it quite entertaining. Mitch: [2:22] That was good. (Yeah.) But if you think they have these brands... that they promote, they put their stamp on things that they agree with, principally, things that are British-made. Isi: [2:33] Ah, true, yeah. Like very old, traditional products, like brown sauce. Mitch: [2:39] Twining's tea? Isi: [2:40] I love Twining's tea. Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

Mitch and Isi discuss a topic recommended by Easy English Member, Marketa; childhood. Isi explains how her street was a construction area for skate parks, igloos and prison cells. Whilst Mitch tells of crossbows, conker fights and... offensive language. Did any of it happen, or are these just tall tales, recollected from hear-say and distant memories? They also answer Georgia's question about the Royals, in their regular section of Unhelpful Advice. Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Show Notes Opinions on the Royal Family: What Do English People Think of the Royal Family? (https://youtu.be/6pP-caxrr6Y?si=E5lz8gRfPrNmsk3T) (Easy English 98) Reacting to the Queens Jubilee: The Queen's Platinum Jubilee (https://youtu.be/zpn6SxwLe7M?si=Y3HoWWbrby6-Pf0a) (Easy English 123) Transcript Intro Mitch: [0:23] Welcome to the Easy English Podcast. Today, we are doing, we're sort of catching up with some requests of things that you've sent us in. We wanted to cover a topic, which one of our members of Easy English; Marketa, one of our longest standing, dearest members, requested us to do a topic, comparing our childhoods from the perspective of growing up in the UK to growing up in Germany. Isi: [0:51] That's a good topic. Mitch: [0:51] Which is interesting. And they mentioned school and birthday parties, specifically. Isi: [0:58] Perfect. I mean, obviously, the kindergarten school system is different. I think that should not be part of it, though. That could be an own topic. What is the difference? I would say in general, the upbringing in both our countries are similar. There's definitely countries where we would find bigger differences. Mitch: [1:18] It's hard to compare a little bit, because you grew up in a a 300,000 city and I grew up in a 30,000 town. Isi: [1:24] Yeah you're the village boy Mitch: [1:27] I'm the cauliflower-eared, village boy. Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

This week, Mitch and Isi bring you the podcast from the Easy English-mobile. Mitch is drving whilst Isi navigates the infamous Antwerp bottle-neck into the JFK tunnel. And what better situation than to discuss driving in the UK. The duo discuss, roundabouts, service station, exploding tyres, car fridges, speed limits and drunk French drivers. Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Transcript Intro Mitch & Isi: [0:27] So, welcome to the Easy English Podcast from the streets, just entering Belgium. From the A67 in Belgium. Today is a special episode. - It's a special episode. - Is this even legal, what we're doing? - Why? - Are you allowed to podcast while driving? - We're not watching anything or listening to anything, we're just talking. - I know, but multitasking is hard. - We normally talk in the car. As we were talking about public transport, this is not public transport, I mean for Nola it is, kind of, but it is transport. And we thought, as we, so many times go back and forth between Germany, and England and France also, sometimes, around Europe, that we will do an episode from the car. Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

Today, the duo talk about the strange cultural rhetorical greeting "y'alright?" How to be the giver... and receiver of it, before going into the Topic of the Week, discussing typical British etiquette around queuing for buses, cashier desks and buying rounds of drinks. Long-time member James also asks us a question about teaching English in our regular segment of Unhelpful Advice. If you would also like to ask us a question, go to easyenglish.fm. Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Show Notes British Etiquette video: WHAT is Considered RUDE In the UK? (https://youtu.be/hvBHUZsX9n8) (Easy English 172) Transcript Intro Mitch: [0:22] Good evening. Isi: [0:23] Good evening Mitch, how are you doing? Mitch: [0:27] Very well, thank you. Yeah, how would it be done... I'm thinking of 1930s/40s Britain. Hello welcome to the Easy English Podcast. Isi: [0:35] Alright. (Alright?) Alright (Are you alright?) Are you alright? Mitch: [0:40] And always the answer; yeah you? But never really meaning it. Isi: [0:43] Yeah me to, thanks, thanks, bye. Such a stupid conversation, really. Mitch: [0:52] Yeah you? Welcome to the Easy English Podcast... I said that already. Isi: [0:55] By the way, I always walk on when people ask me that, I always say like; yeah... and then I just go and I make the 'yeah' so long that I don't have to ask 'and you', because then I think in my German manners, that I have to wait for the answer that nobody wants to give me anyway, so always I'm like; oh yeah, yeah, yeah. Thank you, yeah. And then I just make a chewing gum and I'm already around the corner. (Oh really?) I did it yesterday, in the hallway, with one of the builders. Mitch: [1:22] Oh yeah, he said; "hey, yeah, you alright?" Isi: [1:24] Yeah, and I was just like; oh yeah, thank you. Yeah, yeah. And I just went on. Mitch: [1:29] You don't even need to respond. Isi: [1:31] Yeah, you should say; yeah, how are you? But then nothing comes back. And that is for me, a weird end of a conversation, right? Mitch: [1:39] Yeah, I find it weird. It happened also to me we were in the park and two school girls got jumped on by Nola, in a loving way. Isi: [1:46] Well, they provoked her to jump on her. They were running at her like... While running at her they were like; is she friendly? And we were like; yeah. So basically, they jumped on her. Mitch: [1:57] And then I said... because I was actually asking; are they all right? I was like; are you all right? And she went; "yeah you?" And then I realised; oh she thinks I'm asking like; are you alright? Like, how are you? Isi: [2:12] That is really... we had another podcast I think in the very beginning where we talked about this and it's still a big topic for me. I find it weird, because it's also about the intonation. Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

This week, we answer Arthur's question on improving one's English when nervous to speak. But the main topic is about Britain's transport network, notably it's iconic buses. We talk double-deckers, Megabuses, thanking the driver, tapping on, cashless buses, USB buses, plus dog, bikes, prams drinking on buses. Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Transcript Intro Mitch: 0:23 (Hey!) Hello Easy English peeps, welcome to the Easy English Podcast, how are you doing? Isi [0:30] That sounds so radio show-ish. Are you not into our podcast Mitch? My voice is a bit weird today isn't it? Mitch: [0:37] It's the second coffee podcast we've ever done. It's always a bit of a weird feeling. Uh, before we start with today's topic, I want to do a quick Unhelpful Advice / Your Messages section. Sound good? (Go for it.) Unhelpful Advice Mitch: [0:59] We have, yeah this isn't a question, it's just a statement; "Easy English Podcast". There you go. (That was it?) Yeah that was it. Isi [1:09] Oh hello, then. That was hello wasn't it? Mitch: [1:12] Yeah. Isi [1:12] That was a greeting, maybe. Mitch: [1:14] Thank you for calling in. Uh yeah, that's us, that's our name, don't wear it out. Thank you for calling in. Our next one is um actually a question from uh someone who left us an audio message, who goes by the name of Arthur? I'd say Arthur, but i don't... that's very um... it's a very British sort of pronunciation. Isi [1:40] Think it's a name that is used in a lot of different languages. But maybe in a different way. Arthur, Arthur. Mitch: [1:46] Did you have a cartoon show called Arthur. And it's called yeah 'Hey Arthur'? (Yeah, yeah, yeah.) Did you? (I think I know that yeah, is that Nickelodeon?) Yeah! (Yeah, I know it yeah.) What a wonderful time to play, hey! And he had a sister called DW. (That is weird.) and his Neighbors were rhinoceroses and he was like a weird... Isi [2:06] His name was rhinoceros Mitch: [2:07] The neighbours were rhinoceroses and he had a crush on an elephant and he... but he was like a weasel or something. (Cute.) With glasses on. This isn't from a weasel with glasses on. This is from a normal person called Arthur. Here we go; "Hi, everyone. I am Arthur. I want to learn English, because I think, when I try to talk, to speak, it's very basic, because my vocabulary is minimal than the others. When I try to talk, with other person, maybe the other person might understand me, but I think so, that I need to speak very well, to have more vocabulary, I try to express it, maybe it sometimes it's very difficult to me, but I never... I think so that I'm nervous about speaking English. Thank you very much". Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

Mitch and Isi start their first episode in a series about dogs. They want to give you their experience... and lack of when it comes to being a dog-parent. In this episode, Mitch and Isi talk adoption; finding your new furry friend, how to prepare, the practical and emotional elements you'll need to survive and the nerves and excitement you'll go through when adding a four-legged friend into your family. Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Transcript Intro Mitch: [0:19] Three, two, one, happy new year. Isi: [0:23] Three, two, one, happy new year. Mitch: [0:28] Oh God. Isi: [0:32] Okay, chin, chin, ting, ting. Mitch: [0:35] How fitting that the dog is trying to get into the room, as we're today, going to speak about dogs. Isi: [0:42] Dogs. Mitch: [0:43] Dogs in the UK. Isi: [0:45] Dogs. Mitch: [0:45] But first, so today as we're speaking is the 2nd of January, which for those who don't know is the start of our 30 Day Challenge. (Will we always do this now?) It's like we're rehearsed. (Yeah.) Three, two, one, 30 Day Challenge. Like a game show; you've won the star prize! (Or a morning radio show.) Yeah. A speedboat, but you live in Birmingham, so you're never going to to get to use it. Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

Mitch and Isi discuss the differences between a German and a British Christmas in their festive cabin. What do you eat? Who delivers your presents... and on what day? They discuss Mrs Claus, raclette, Zulu, zuzhing and of course... booze, booze, booze. Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Transcript Mitch: [0:00] For those who are listening and have children in earsight, we may approach subject of Santa, Weihnachtsmann, of the Christkind. So there might be some spoiler alerts for little ears. Christmas song? Bing bong, bing bong, bing bong, bing bong. Isi: [0:23] Oh, my singing is fantastic. No one has Christmasy mood now. Intro Mitch: [0:58] Okay no, let's have a relaxing one. Okay. Let's imagine we're in a little log cabin. Isi: [1:03] Ooh. Mitch: [1:04] It's snowing outside. Isi: [1:06] Mm-hmm. Mitch: [1:07] We've just opened a bottle of whiskey or red wine. What would you like? Isi: [1:11] Red wine. Bottle of whiskey! Mitch: [1:14] Or Prosecco. Isi: [1:16] Prosecco. Mitch: [1:17] Okay. And the fire's on. I'm just going to open up and throw a log on the fire. All the sparks go up in the fire and it's Christmas day for our listeners. Isi: [1:29] And we're alone in a cabin in the woods or what? (Yeah, this isn't another survival episode.( And we are live, let's be authentic here it's the 20th, not far away from the 25th. So we are recording this five days before for Christmas day. (But for you guys.) For you guys, it's a Christmas day today, if you listen on Christmas but it's the 25st of December and this podcast will be a short one, a short hello for Christmas because we didn't want to go on a break. We wanted to produce a little something, something podcast. (A snippet.) A snippet um... to talk about Christmas and say hello and wish you a merry Christmas obviously only if you celebrate and otherwise a good end of the year a good start out into 2024 because it will be our last podcast of the year. Mitch: [2:21] Isi, what does Christmas Day look like for you as a German? And then we can compare notes. (Yeah.) Isi: [2:28] So in Germany, we start celebrating Christmas on the 24th, on Christmas Eve. That is like the big day. Mitch: [2:36] We do 25th in England. Isi: [2:37] Yep. We celebrate in the night. Mitch: [2:41] Day. Isi: [2:42] And that's, yeah, Christmas Day is like morning through the whole day, isn't it? Mitch: [2:46] In England, the whole day is dedicated to... Isi: [2:49] In Germany, we have the 24th, 25th and 26th for Christmas. Mitch: [2:53] Hmm. We just have 25th. Isi: [2:55] No, you don't. Mitch: [2:56] Yeah. Isi: [2:57] Boxing Day. Mitch: [2:57] Oh, 25th and 26th. (Yeah.) Yeah, yeah. Sorry. But 24th, I even worked one day on the 24th. Isi: [3:04] Hmm. Mitch: [3:04] And I was driving home for Christmas. Isi: [3:09] What else? We do have gifts. (But are you open on the 24th?) On the 24th. I mean, not everybody does the same,we do it we we do gifts first and gifts and drinks and then dinner. (Gifts, drinks, dinner. And in England we go; drink, drink drinks, drinks, gifts, drinks, drinks, drinks, drinks, little sleep, then dinner, then another little sleep whilst watching the film Zulu, or the great escape and then...) What is Zulu? Mitch: [3:40] It's like an old Michael Caine movie. (Okay.) And then After Eight / Bailey's session and then pass out on the sofa again. Isi: [3:48] Okay. On the 25th, we usually in our family rest. Because our Christmases usually, are very long into the night. Mitch: [4:00] Hibernating like some grizzly bears. Isi: [4:03] And we also have like some good food or so. but it's like, it's a day of not doing much. We also have a small family so um there was no one else to visit on that day so we just chilled, long walks, good food. But um... (Is that normally the day you do a visit the old and wrinkly people?) Hey! (Sorry.) No, other families go either yeah, grandparents, aunts, uncles somewhere or you go visit your friends or so. But it's the day where you change places to celebrate with someone else. And then, Boxing Day for us, is not called Boxing Day, obviously. Mitch: [4:39] I don't know why it's called Boxing Day. I'd have to look that up. Isi: [4:42] Then people meet again. My parents always meet friends on that day. Have a little Christmas. We always, my sister and I, have been meeting friends for the past, nearly 20 years. And do like a Friendsmas, or however you call that. Friends Christmas. And in some countryside regions, people go to pubs and they keep a stone with them and if you forget a stone you have to buy a round or so, I never understood it, I don't know. (And who is Santa Claus for you? He has many names he goes by, like the devil.) we don't have Santa... well, it depends if you... if you celebrate Christmas, in the religious way, then it's the Christkind coming on the 24th, bringing the gifts, which is basically, I don't really know. It has the looks of an angel. Mitch: [5:31] The Christ child in English, I guess. Isi: [5:34] It's the Christ child. So basically it's Jesus. But it looks like an angel and it comes, I think, with a sledge as well. It's a bit, yeah, that's how I know the pictures. It sits in a sledge. Mitch: [5:47] Like a cherub? You know cherubs that fire little love arrows? Isi: [5:50] Yeah, it's like the typical angel thing. But yeah, I don't really know. It has like a white dress on. Mitch: [5:56] Floaty dress. And they bring the presents? Isi: [6:01] They bring the presents. Um... and then there's also Nicolaus who looks a bit like Santa Claus, but more religious. (Yeah.) And he comes on the 6th of December and brings gifts then already. (Ah, you have Nicolaus Day or something, no?) Well it really depends what you teach your children, really. So you can also obviously just have Christmas for the traditional way and not for the religious way and then you would maybe also say Santa Claus comes. But I don't know. Oh yeah, the Weihnachtsmann. Mitch: [6:35] Do you think? Isi: [6:36] Oh yeah, we actually do have Santa Claus. Mitch: [6:38] Okay. When he comes on the 5th. Isi: [6:40] The Weihnachtsmann. Christmas Man Mitch: [6:41] Christmas Man. (Weihnachtsmann.) Isi: [6:43] He comes also on the 24th. Mitch: [6:47] After or before the lady Jesus? Isi: [6:48] Either Christkind or Weihnachtsmann. Or baby. Baby? Did I say baby? Mitch: [6:52] The baby? Isi: [6:53] You said baby. Mitch: [6:54] I didn't. Isi: [6:55] Maybe Jesus, you said. Mitch: [6:56] I said after or before the lady Jesus. Isi: [6:57] Lady Jesus. I don't know if it's a lady. Let's say it's a baby. Mitch: [7:02] Baby Jesus. Who delivers the gifts? Weihnachtsmann or Baby Jesus lady? Isi: [7:07] I think they can both deliver the gifts. I'm not well prepared for this. Mitch: [7:10] Should we make a disclaimer at the beginning of this, warning parents that your children may lose all faith? Isi: [7:16] So, yeah, one of those come. Or maybe... maybe for some they come together. I guess it's like how you define your own Christmas story. Mitch: [7:25] It's very confusing. We just have one man and he comes through the chimney, through keyholes. He has a magic key. He has magic reindeers, that can fly. He has a sleigh and in that sleigh, holds enough presents for... how many people are there in the world? 6 billion people? Isi: [7:44] A lot more. Mitch: [7:45] But he has enough presents for everyone around the world. He has a naughty list. He has a wife. He lives in the North Pole. (He has a wife?) Mrs. Claus. She looks after the elves, who they make the presents. They make the fur... Isi: [7:57] She looks after them? What does that mean? She cooks for them? She gives them the salary? She does the accounting? Mitch: [8:03] I don't know the details. Yeah, maybe. Isi: [8:04] Company management? Is she an HR? Mitch: [8:07] HMRC should make sure she's, you know... the elves make the skateboards, the rollerblades, PlayStation 4s. They make all that stuff, that goes on the back of the sleigh. He comes, when he comes on the 24th night, you're supposed to be in bed and not see him. He has big black boots and you're supposed to leave out a mince pie for him to eat; a glass of sherry or whiskey depending on what he... your grandad likes to drink. And a carrot for his reindeer. One of the reindeers has a red nose called Rudolph. There's a weird song in British culture of a kid coming downstairs to see his mum making out with Santa Claus, yeah. I saw Mummy kissing Santa Claus, underneath the mistletoe that night. (But it's not a real Christmas song, right?) And it's sung by Michael Jackson, so the morals are all over the place. Isi: [9:00] Let's stop it right here. Kids sing that? Mitch: [9:03] Yeah. Isi: [9:06] Isn't Christmas so confusing anyway? Such a confusing thing. And the elves, they make all the gifts. Mitch: [9:13] In the North Pole. Isi: [9:14] Whatever you want? They know how to do it all Mitch: [9:16] And he and you... sometimes... (If i want a new laptop, are they building it?) Yeah exactly, they make... they work with Apple to build laptops they work with Sony to make Playstations they work with Hitachi to make TVs. (We need to put a disclaimer in here as well, laptops you can also get by other companies.) Yeah, yeah, laptops available outside of the north pole. Isi: [9:42] So, what is the dinner? I think we've talked about this before on the podcast. So, what will you consume, eat, drink over the day? Give us a quick round up here. Mitch: [9:51] It's a roast dinner, but zhuzhed. Isi: [9:53] What? Mitch: [9:54] Zhuzh, is a really good kind of, phrase of the week to go into, but let's not do the theme tune. You can zhuzh something up. So, let's say… Isi: [10:04] Where does it come from, zhuzh? Mitch: [10:07] Zhuzh. It could be like a... it sounds Yiddish doesn't it? Let's say, you have a Christmas tree, just a Christmas tree, like a pine tree on its own. You would zhuzh it up by addin

Join Mitch and Isi as they explain how to use the word 'grim' whilst trying to survive a ChatGPT ispired survival challege, armed with only their wits and useless YouTuber gear. But before that, there is an exciting update for all Easy English members at the start of the new year, in the form of the 30 Day Challenge. Become a member now to take part and improve your English in 2024! Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Transcript Intro Mitch: [0:19] Welcome to the Easy English Podcast, episode number... wait. Isi: [0:23] Are we on 30? Mitch: [0:24] Wait. Isi: [0:25] Are we 30? Mitch: [0:26] Wait, don't get so excited yet. (30!) Episode number 30. Isi: [0:32] I mean, it does sound like nothing. Mitch: [0:34] The big three zero. Isi: [0:36] When will we be on 100? Mitch: [0:37] Dirty 30. Isi: [0:39] Wait. Mitch: [0:40] What? Isi: [0:40] We do, every two weeks a podcast? Mitch: [0:42] Yeah. Yeah. 15 months, podcast, we missed our year anniversary. Isi: [0:50] I know, I know, we started on October, okay, I accept it. Mitch: [0:53] Okay, 30th birthday. Isi: [0:54] So 100 will still take. Mitch: [0:57] Yeah. Isi: [0:58] Three years. Mitch: [0:59] And when will we? Isi: [1:00] Well, who knows? Maybe one day we'll do, every week, a podcast. Mitch: [1:03] Yeah, and at what podcast number will we become professional and not speak over each other? Isi: [1:08] Hey, we don't. Mitch: [1:09] What? Isi: [1:10] You interrupt me. (What?) I don't, (What?) I don't, (What?) I don't. Okay, we have to start this episode with an Easy English update because we have a really good one. Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

It's the end of November which can only mean one thing... Christmas is coming! Mitch and Isi have a gift for you in the form of the first episode from their new series 'Slow Easy English'; a way for beginners to intermediates to improve their everyday English. Later on, Mitch and Isi bring three films each to the table to decide which is the best Christmas film of all time! Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Show Notes Slow Easy English Episode One! : RESTAURANT CONVERSATION in SLOW ENGLISH (https://youtu.be/LLLJwE6vr2k) (Super Easy English 24) Transcript Mitch: [0:01] Bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah, Intro Mitch: [0:50] We're there. We're trying to get in there before everyone else. Isi: [0:54] We are in Christmas mood! Mitch: [0:56] We are in Christmas mood. (Wait.) Isi: [0:59] This is Amarula on ice, which is very much, probably only for us, I don't know if other people also do that for Christmas. It's a Christmassy drink for us. I think other people, for that, choose Baileys, but Baileys for me is too creamy. Mitch: [1:16] What is Amarula? Isi: [1:18] Amarula is a liquor made out of the marula fruit. I know it from Namibia, but I think it's originally from South Africa and it's a fruit that elephants eat from the trees. That's why there's a big elephant on it. Did you know it before me? Mitch: [1:34] I'd always seen it. I'd always seen it. I always thought, oh, that looks a bit like Baileys. But whereas Baileys... Baileys is kind of... it's almost a dessert rather than a liqueur. Isi: [1:46] Amarula is also creamy. Mitch: [1:48] Yeah, it looks almost identical to Baileys, right? What is the alcohol? Because Baileys is whiskey. Isi: [1:53] Ah, good... I don't know. Maybe it's just the fruit, maybe it's like fermented fruit or something. Mitch: [2:01] Oh maybe, Amarula alcohol. Isi: [2:04] It's a bit more boozy than Bailey's. Mitch: [2:07] Ah, yeah it is actually the marula fruit, which has started to ferment. (Ha!) So it's almost like a vodka of... where is marula fruit like native to? Isi: [2:19] Well, definitely the southern part of the African continent. Mitch: [2:26] South Africa and also in parts of West Africa. Isi: [2:30] Yeah. Mitch: [2:31] It's nice though, and it is Christmasy, which is... the theme of this week's podcast, hate us or not, you're going to have to listen. Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

Isi and Mitch recount their trip up north to The Peak District National Park. They talk about the friendliness of the people, precarious drone flying, mountains, caves and ginger shots. Easy English member James leaves us a belated Halloween tale of terror and we answer YOUR questions in our Unhelpful Advice section. Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Show Notes The Peak District video: UK Travel VLOG (https://youtu.be/ADxTBfGq_r8) (Easy English 170) Transcript Intro Mitch: [0:23] Good morning, Isi! Isi: [0:25] Good morning! So here we are. Mitch: [0:27] We're back. Isi: [0:28] A bit tired. Mitch: [0:30] What did you pick up, from our trip from the north? Have you brought anything back? Isi: [0:35] It rains a lot. Mitch: [0:36] No, I meant have you brought back any characteristics or personality traits from the north? Isi: [0:43] They're very friendly. Mitch: [0:44] And you've adopted that now? You've become more friendly yourself? Isi: [0:47] I hope I was already. They call you love even more than down here. Mitch: [0:53] Tell me the times you were called love and who called you love. Isi: [0:57] How many times I was called love? I don't know, not so many times. Mitch: [1:01] Supermarket? Isi: [1:01] Yeah, mostly in supermarkets, little stores, little pubs, and from different people, all older than me, but not much older, some. But in a very loving, caring way, not in a weird way. Mitch: [1:17] So for people who don't know what's happened. We recently made a week-long trip, which ended up in us visiting the Peak District, which is an area, between Manchester and Sheffield. And it's a national park. If you're interested in seeing what the Peak District looks like, it's a really beautiful area, it's crazy dramatic; rocks and cliffs and fields and heaths and caves. We didn't go in any caves but we made a road trip video getting there and driving around some of like the best things to see in the Peak District. We didn't cover it all, but if you wanted to see a video where you can join someone on a road trip, getting there and speaking absolute nonsense for a while. But there's also some really beautiful things that you captured on your phone. Isi: [2:09] Yeah, I think it was like, well, first, I think the best thing about this is the drone footage. If you enjoy big pictures of great nature, then that's for you. But also, we did observe and comment on everything, I guess. And that, yeah, it's like you're with us in the car, basically, seeing the difference between the South and the North. Or, as someone wrote in our comments, it's not the North yet. Mitch: [2:38] But we were in Derbyshire, and Derbyshire is a Midlands county, but the peaks are so big, they span across into... Isi: [2:46] We were directly next to Manchester. So I would say we were in the North. Mitch: [2:51] Yeah, we're not going to be too specific about it. We are coming from Brighton, which is the absolute South. Isi: [2:59] Yeah, more South, you fall in the sea. Mitch: [3:03] We definitely... going back to the whole lovely people thing, we definitely witnessed some Northern character traits, right? Isi: [3:13] Yeah, the general thing was really just that people just approached me and I didn't even have a talk with them. That was really nice. So there was a lady that just basically just said hello to me, just because we met at the bananas and then the fruit section. And she was like smiling at me, like she knew me. So it was a bit like, I was like, that's nice. So I said, hello. We said, hello. But that was it. Mitch: [3:40] Wow. She'd have hated me if she saw the banana choice I would have gone for, they're so green! What are you doing? Isi: [3:47] Yeah. It was really nice. I asked someone for, like someone working there for something and they were so determined to help me. It was really nice. Are people in the North friendlier and then in the South? I think down here in Brighton, but Brighton might be a little bubble itself. People are super friendly, but that person was really determined to help me. I think she was really happy that I approached her actually. I asked actually, for ginger shots, because at home we, every day, prepare turmeric ginger shots for ourselves, for health, which it's not alcohol. It's a shot of a lot of healthy things. And because we couldn't do that on tour, I asked, because in supermarkets sometimes they sell those super overpriced, little shots. But as I was getting ill, I was like, we need those. I think for a long time while she was discussing it with me where to find it, she thought it's alcohol. I think she presumed, because I asked for it that it's something really cool that you have to have. Like everybody knows it, because I so normally ask for it. And so she was like, yeah, yeah, ginger shots. Mm, where could we have them? Yeah, and then she was like, oh, you know what? I don't think we have them. And then, wait, she then said, do you mean? She said a random alcohol, like completely something weird, like rum or so. I mean, ginger, rum works. And then I was like, oh no, it's not alcohol. She was like, oh, you said shot. That was really nice. So nice encounters, yeah. Mitch: [5:21] Oh, cute. Isi: [5:22] She heard my German accent and was like, of course they want their schnapps, their shots. Mitch: [5:27] Oh, yeah. The German is here. I was trying to think if I had an encounter, but... Isi: [5:32] You didn't talk to people, did you? Mitch: [5:34] I didn't, I avoided people, there was actually one time when we bumped into this woman and we basically just asked her where the dog park is. And she... she did that thing that people do who forget that Google Maps exists, so was like; right what you do, right, is you go straight up this road and you look for the left, you come to a roundabout There's five exits, take the third one, third exit past the church on your right and when you come to an old dustbin, make sure you go before the dustbin, not after. Isi: [6:01] She even, already told us everything we could see which would be the wrong way. It's like, you cannot even remember that. If you see the field with the five horses... she actually said something, this is no joke, on the right, then you did, you did take the wrong turn and then it's wrong. (If you see an old willow tree, you're f**ked.) Then she said... she asked, if we are from there, is that a compliment? Mitch: [6:26] Are you local? Isi: [6:27] Why would we then ask? Anyway, then she asked how long we stay. It's a lot of questions. And we had it also another time, we asked for, one morning, no coffee was open in that village. And she was like, yeah, Monday, Tuesday, everything is closed. And we're like, okay. But then she told us about all the cafes in the villages nearby. So, long talk about that as well. But it's actually, is that an English thing though? You had a very funny call at the weekend, trying to get our internet back. And the person on the phone, you were just telling your problem and she was searching for something and she was like; so any plans for the weekend? And you were so confused, I heard you from the other room. And you were like, what do you mean, you want to know my plans for the weekend? And she was like, yes. And you were like, fixing my internet. Very German, by the way. Mitch: [7:21] That's never happened before. She was, as I was trying to again fix the internet, while she's sort of waiting to find a result, yeah, she was like, so what are you up to this weekend, any nice plans? I was like, what?! I didn't know you, who are you?! Fixing my internet, it was quite a dry response. And then what was your favourite thing you saw from the Peak District? What was the best sight? What was your favourite thing that we did? Isi: [7:49] Snake Pass, for sure. Mitch: [7:51] Yeah. Isi: [7:52] Yeah. Although Winnat's Pass is also really impressive, but it's such a small area. Snake Pass, being up there, on that road, that takes quite some time. And it's just, I love those... I love nature that is a bit like a moon area. There's like no tree, no bushes, no nothing, just like vast land. It was high. Mitch: [8:15] Yeah, your ears are popping and the clouds are... Isi: [8:17] You're basically in the clouds. We had bad weather when we were filming up there, but it was in the end, I think, really good, because it was so atmospheric, so melancholic, really, really nice. For the drone, I mean, it wasn't easy to operate the drone, I guess? Because it was, I mean, you did it, but it was really, really windy and rain, but the pictures are gorgeous. Mitch: [8:39] Yeah, the drone was... I kept getting a message saying the wind is too high, and you could see the drone was struggling to... Isi: [8:49] Don't worry, there was no one, so it's not... Mitch: [8:52] Yeah, no sheep were harmed in the filming. Isi: [8:54] No, but it was not in that sense and we didn't go over streets or so, so in that sense it was not dangerous for anyone, it was just dangerous for our drone, to not come back, ever. Mitch: [9:05] You have to remember before you fly the drone you can set a 'home point' and I always forget to do it I would say automatically assigns one. (Oh god.) And so, every so often I'd lose connection to the drone, 'cos it was so windy and then the drone automatically goes to a homing point And a lot of the one of them was in the lake. (No.) yeah, that's when I started running away. I didn't want to say Isi: [9:31] Can I drone swim? (Can our drone swim?) Yeah. (It can only do breaststroke.) Can it get a little like swimming... Mitch: [9:38] Imagine, little flippers. Isi: [9:41] Flippers. Like, oh, now I'm swimming. Mitch: [9:43] That'd be cool actually, if it'd go underwater. Isi: [9:45] What was your favourite? Mitch: [9:47] To be honest, mine is a bit of a cheat, but kind of not, because I actually like Winnat's Pass. Winnat's Pass is this... you have

Easy English has started a Discord channel for you to chat with the duo and all other Easy English members to help improve YOUR English. Mitch and Isi then talk about the upcoming Easy English tour up t'north! The two then move to spooky season and discuss how the Brits and US citizens celebrate Halloween. Isi becomes a trick'or'treat hostess while Mitch becomes a Jedi. He then brings you a spooky tale of a haunted piano in a Basement, ft. Sir Elton John. Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Show Notes South vs North: What SOUTHERNERS Think of NORTHERNERS 🇬🇧 (https://youtu.be/AnNuM2C0HXY) (Easy English 169) Transcript Intro Isi: [0:46] Oh! IS there's a typical sentence a English witch would say? Mitch: [0:51] Fly, my pretties! Isi: [0:56] It's actually not yet Halloween. When this comes out, it's Halloween tomorrow. But maybe you listen to it on Halloween. Mitch: [1:02] Maybe. And you're having a spooky day. (Okay, enough of that.) Isi: [1:11] So here we are. Mitch: [1:12] Welcome. We do actually have a Halloween themed episode today, but... Isi: [1:18] But, we have an Easy English update before. Easy English Updates Mitch: [1:27] Easy English is going on tour! Yeah? (Yeah.) Ah yeah. Easy English has a Discord channel! Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership