English with Dane
- Episodes
- 212
- Released
- weekly
- Latest episode
- Jun 10, 2026
About the podcast
Hey, I'm Dane. I grew up bilingual and after 15 years of teaching and working with English learners, I've realised that true fluency comes from understanding how the language fits into real life. I created English with Dane to give Spanish speakers a calm approach to becoming fluent through practical conversations about language, culture, TV and current events. No stress, just English that makes sense and gets easier to use over time.
Episodes 212
Strange News: The Man Who Used an Eel to Cure Constipation
Strange news is back!In this episode, we’re reading three bizarre news stories from around the world while picking up plenty of useful English vocabulary along the way. A flight from New Jersey to Mallorca gets …
Show notes
Strange news is back!
In this episode, we’re reading three bizarre news stories from around the world while picking up plenty of useful English vocabulary along the way. A flight from New Jersey to Mallorca gets turned around because of a suspicious Bluetooth device name, Uber reveals the strangest items passengers have left behind in their cars, and a man in China attempts a highly questionable cure for constipation involving a live eel.
Along the way, you’ll learn expressions like pull a U-turn, offbeat, roll out, poke fun at, catch a break, and more.
A Guide to Clear Thinking (Read-Along)
Here's an article I came across from that had a good lesson to teach. It's about self-serving bias, and how we protect ourselves and blame others when we feel like the idea we have of ourselves is …
Show notes
Here's an article I came across from that had a good lesson to teach. It's about self-serving bias, and how we protect ourselves and blame others when we feel like the idea we have of ourselves is challenged. As always, we'll mine it for vocabulary, so make sure you write down the words that catch your eye.
Let me know what you think.
Working in the U.S vs Europe (The American Dream)
I really enjoyed putting this episode together. I've lived both in the U.S and Europe, and I've always been intrigued by the cultural differences. I thought it would be interesting to explore some of …
Show notes
I really enjoyed putting this episode together. I've lived both in the U.S and Europe, and I've always been intrigued by the cultural differences. I thought it would be interesting to explore some of these differences, specifically around work. I think there's a fundamental difference in philosophy when it comes to this topic and understanding where it comes from gives us a good idea of how we can navigate it.
+ We'll explore how the idea of "The American Dream" really became so widespread, by understanding how the events of the Second World War shaped the world.
Let me know if you enjoyed it!
Do THIS to Sound More Natural
Your English is fine. But something still feels a bit off, right? In this episode I want to show you something I learned at university that completely changed the way I understand how language works. It's …
Show notes
Your English is fine. But something still feels a bit off, right? In this episode I want to show you something I learned at university that completely changed the way I understand how language works. It's one of those things that once you start paying attention, you'll see it everywhere. This episode is all about something I like to call "pre-loading" and how you can use to really refine what you say and how it is recieved.
Things Native Speakers Actually Say (And Why You Don’t)
Let's talk about the things that make your English sound natural without you having to think about grammar every two seconds. The phrases that carry tone, attitude, and meaning way beyond the literal …
Show notes
Let's talk about the things that make your English sound natural without you having to think about grammar every two seconds. The phrases that carry tone, attitude, and meaning way beyond the literal words. We're going to cover "chunking", "discourse markers", and the hidden layer of communication that controls tone, intention, and flow.
Don't Make This Mistake Anymore + How Innovative Ideas Arise
Episode TranscriptI started teaching again and I noticed a common mistake that people make regardless of level. I think it's because it feels like it's just a minor detail, but minor or not, I …
Show notes
I started teaching again and I noticed a common mistake that people make regardless of level. I think it's because it feels like it's just a minor detail, but minor or not, I don't want you to make this mistake anymore. + We read a short article about an interesting topic that happens to be packed full of useful vocabulary, so get ready to level up.
VOCAB BOOST: Roomba Hacking, Lodged Bombs & Chinese Malfoy
Three bizarre news stories from around the world that are sure to give us a bunch of new vocabulary. A man who accidentally hacked into 7000 robot vacuums, a man who introduced a WW1 era bomb into his body, and …
Show notes
Three bizarre news stories from around the world that are sure to give us a bunch of new vocabulary. A man who accidentally hacked into 7000 robot vacuums, a man who introduced a WW1 era bomb into his body, and Draco Malfoy goes viral in China. I swear I didn't make any of these up.
Things Native Speakers Say
CLASSES I have a list of stuff that I keep adding to, of words, expressions, phrases, etc that I want to talk about on the show. This episode is me going through this list and telling you all about how to use …
Show notes
I have a list of stuff that I keep adding to, of words, expressions, phrases, etc that I want to talk about on the show. This episode is me going through this list and telling you all about how to use them, the nuances behind each one, and giving you ways in which you can incorporate them into your day-to-day with practical examples.
ARCHIVE: The Crazy World of Sound
GROUP SESSIONSI LOVE THIS EPISODE. It's really strange to hear myself like this. This was one of the first every episodes of English with Dane and you can definitely tell. I was listening to old episodes …
Show notes
I LOVE THIS EPISODE. It's really strange to hear myself like this. This was one of the first every episodes of English with Dane and you can definitely tell. I was listening to old episodes, to see if I noticed much of a difference, and wow. It feels like a totally different person. This episode talks about stuff that we don't really consider in our day-to-day but that I find fascinating. I hope you enjoy it, and if you haven't heard early episodes of the podcast I recommend that you do. It had a different vibe. Not better or worse, just different. Let me know what you think.
Today in History, Strange News & Listener Questions
TRANSCRIPT (follow along while you listen)A fun, varied little mix. We're starting off with the first Human vs Machine chess duel (1996), followed by the story of a family that tried to scam a restaurant …
Show notes
TRANSCRIPT (follow along while you listen)
A fun, varied little mix. We're starting off with the first Human vs Machine chess duel (1996), followed by the story of a family that tried to scam a restaurant in Sydney by putting armpit hair in their food, and then we're finishing off with questions from listeners who are understandably looking for advice. A bunch of great vocabulary and expressions in this one, too.
Bad Bunny's Halftime History Lesson ( Vocab BOOST )
TRANSCRIPTGet ready to learn a bunch of great vocabulary while analysing the importance of Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Halftime show. We're going to read an article that features not only a review, but …
Show notes
Get ready to learn a bunch of great vocabulary while analysing the importance of Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Halftime show. We're going to read an article that features not only a review, but also provides the cultural context necessary to really grasp what we watched.
Help Your Kids Learn English with Video Games (SERIOUSLY)
TRANSCRIPTWhat if there was a tool that could help your kids improve their English in a way they ACTUALLY like, while also allowing you the chance to connect with them? What if this tool also helped their …
Show notes
TRANSCRIPT
What if there was a tool that could help your kids improve their English in a way they ACTUALLY like, while also allowing you the chance to connect with them? What if this tool also helped their critical thinking, problem solving and spatial-motor skills?
What if I told you that this tool was video games?
Before you dismiss this as a gimmick (a flashy or clever trick) let me try to remove the stigma some of us have about video games, and let me make my case for it being a really helpful and underrated tool for language learning, among other things (entre otras cosas).
The U.S is Unraveling (Advanced)
Advanced Listening Practice - EPISODE TRANSCRIPTA New York Times article read-along about the ongoing clashes between ICE agents and the people of Minneapolis. You'll find that this episode is a bit more …
Show notes
Advanced Listening Practice - EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
A New York Times article read-along about the ongoing clashes between ICE agents and the people of Minneapolis. You'll find that this episode is a bit more demanding than others I've put out in the past, in that it features more complex sentence structures and trickier vocabulary. I want this to be a test of your listening and general comprehension skills.
The goal is not to understand every word, but to keep up as best you can and learn to tolerate that uncomfortable feeling of not catching every word. Don't get discouraged if you struggle. In fact, struggling should be your goal. Struggling is what comes right before growth and improvement. You should feel proud for sticking with it and keeping up the improvement, even when it doesn't feel linear. Here's the full article.
World News: Tragedy in Spain
Some tragic news regarding a high-speed train accident in Spain.At around 19:30 on Sunday 18th, a high-speed train derailed and crashed into another oncoming train. At the time of recording, at least 39 people …
Show notes
Some tragic news regarding a high-speed train accident in Spain.
At around 19:30 on Sunday 18th, a high-speed train derailed and crashed into another oncoming train. At the time of recording, at least 39 people have lost their lives, with dozens more in critical condition. On this episode, we read the news story surrounding the events that took place, in order to gain further insight into what happened.
Sports Metaphors for Work
We are OBSESSED with sports metaphors. I think it's because in the U.S sport have become a religion, and the corporate culture that they have exported mirrors this. Anywhere you look you find things like …
Show notes
We are OBSESSED with sports metaphors. I think it's because in the U.S sport have become a religion, and the corporate culture that they have exported mirrors this. Anywhere you look you find things like "the final stretch", "a heavy hitter" "out of left field", but do you know how to use them, or even for where they come from? This episode is a guide on how to use these phrases to blend in with native speakers and sound more natural.
My Biggest Lesson from 2025
I thought it would be cool to share this with you. I've been on a journey the last few years, and this past year (2025) was really the year it all clicked (or made sense). This is a bit of a personal …
Show notes
I thought it would be cool to share this with you. I've been on a journey the last few years, and this past year (2025) was really the year it all clicked (or made sense). This is a bit of a personal episode, but hopefully that wont deter you from listening to it. There's some great vocab in there as always, and a challenge for you at the end of the episode. WARNING: you're going to be intimidated by it, but it's probably exactly what you need.
How We Sabotage Our Lives (Part 2)
Here's part two of this article read along, that features what are probably the two most important ways in which we sabotage ourselves. Thinking of the WHOLE instead of the next part, and also lying to …
Show notes
Here's part two of this article read along, that features what are probably the two most important ways in which we sabotage ourselves. Thinking of the WHOLE instead of the next part, and also lying to ourselves with what it is we actually want. This article has really helped me to reevaluate things in my life and I hope it does the same for you.
How We Sabotage Our Lives (Article Read-Along)
This article I came across had a refreshing perspective on the psychology behind how we stop ourselves from reaching our goals and how we kid ourselves (cómo nos engañamos) when it comes to actually changing …
Show notes
This article I came across had a refreshing perspective on the psychology behind how we stop ourselves from reaching our goals and how we kid ourselves (cómo nos engañamos) when it comes to actually changing things in our lives. With New Year's resolutions around the corner, what better time to reflect on how we're holding ourselves back.
I thought it was a fun article to read together because of the way it's written. It's as if your friend was talking to you, giving you a no-bullsh*t take on things. I really enjoyed it, and there's a bunch of great vocabulary and expressions that we'll talk about along the way. Hope you like it, and if you do, share it with a friend ✌️
Underrated SERIES to Perfect Your English + The Subtitle Debate
Learning English with TV Shows is all good. But not all genres are created equal. This is a guide to the most underrated genres of shows that you might be ignoring. Yes, Friends and How I Met Your Mother are …
Show notes
Learning English with TV Shows is all good. But not all genres are created equal. This is a guide to the most underrated genres of shows that you might be ignoring. Yes, Friends and How I Met Your Mother are fun and stuff, but you might be sleeping on where the learning is actually happening. This episode is a wake up call for those of you whose main exposure to English is related to your TV. + Let's end the subtitle debate. This episode is ALSO a guide for how to use subtitles the right way, as well as strategies you can start using to really challenge yourself and ge to that next level. I really liked this episode. I hope you agree 🫶
We Don’t Speak the Same Around Everyone
Read this article with me.We change the way we speak depending on who we're talking to. I think we can all agree on that. Some do it more than others, and some ethnicities HAVE to do it more than others …
Show notes
Read this article with me.
We change the way we speak depending on who we're talking to. I think we can all agree on that. Some do it more than others, and some ethnicities HAVE to do it more than others, in order to try to avoid being stigmatised or stereotyped. I thought this was SUCH an interesting article about the Costs of Code-Switching and how we are impacted by it. This article focuses more on how Code-Switching affects black professionals in the US, and gives a really interesting view into a world that perhaps most of us are completely unaware of.
Handle Meetings like a PRO
A look into some of the most common phrases and verbs you can use at work to sound like you know what you're talking about 😉. To circle back, to touch base, to sync up and more. + Dane's new immersion …
Show notes
A look into some of the most common phrases and verbs you can use at work to sound like you know what you're talking about 😉. To circle back, to touch base, to sync up and more.
+ Dane's new immersion project right here in Madrid.
The Power of Looking Good - Conversation w/ Ruben Ramos
Conversación en inglés para practicar.This conversation features my friend and celebrity hairstylist / make up artist Ruben Ramos @theawakeningofstyleWe talk about the importance of feeling good about yourself …
Show notes
Conversación en inglés para practicar.
This conversation features my friend and celebrity hairstylist / make up artist Ruben Ramos @theawakeningofstyle
We talk about the importance of feeling good about yourself and how that impacts how you act upon the world, if beauty standards are getting away from us a bit, if botox and other procedures are a "slipper slope", and more.
Ruben's English isn't perfect, and throughout our conversation im helping him with small corrections to make sure we don't reinforce any incorrect structures. I hope this conversation illustrates that your English doesn't have to be perfect to be able to get your point across, and it's more about choosing your words with purpose, and speaking at a pace that feels good to you.
Raising Bilingual Kids (Sin tú serlo)
¿Es posible criar hijos bilingües sin aunque tú no lo seas? Pues sí. Y no lo digo yo, lo dice la ciencia. Este episodio responde a muchas preguntas que tenemos como padres sobre la educación de nuestros hijos …
Show notes
¿Es posible criar hijos bilingües sin aunque tú no lo seas? Pues sí. Y no lo digo yo, lo dice la ciencia. Este episodio responde a muchas preguntas que tenemos como padres sobre la educación de nuestros hijos en cuanto a la enseñanza de idiomas. ¿Se van a confundir si les exponemos al inglés desde muy pequeños? ¿Qué podemos hacer desde hoy mismo para que puedan desarrollar esta habilidad? ¿Me tengo que dejar todo el sueldo en clases? ¿En qué deberíamos enfocarnos? etc.
+ Te cuento mi filosofía sobre cómo hacer que disfruten del inglés y que no sea una experiencia estresante, tanto para ellos como para ti.
World News: Trump vs Latinos + Young People in Crisis
Noticias en inglés para practicar. Cómo Trump esta arrinconando a los Latinos y por qué los jóvenes están tan desilusionados con todo. I hope you enjoy this type of episode, because I think it's really …
Show notes
Noticias en inglés para practicar.
Cómo Trump esta arrinconando a los Latinos y por qué los jóvenes están tan desilusionados con todo.
I hope you enjoy this type of episode, because I think it's really
imporant (and interesting) to talk about these kinds of things. This isn't a political podcast, as you know, but sometimes we need to talk about the world to try to make sense of it. Tell me if you like this type of episode and I'll be sure to include them more often.
Thanks for listening, and for all of your support and kind messages . 🫶
Dane
P.S: I made a mistake in the recording, this is actually episode 28 of season 2.
Secrets of a Michelin Star Chef (con Coco Montes)
Hoy hablo con mi amigo Coco Montes (@coco.montes), uno de los chefs más talentosos de España y creador de PABÚ, un restaurante que hace poco recibió su primera estrella Michelin 🌟Hablamos sobre el proceso …
Show notes
Hoy hablo con mi amigo Coco Montes (@coco.montes), uno de los chefs más talentosos de España y creador de PABÚ, un restaurante que hace poco recibió su primera estrella Michelin 🌟Hablamos sobre el proceso secreto de evaluación de la guía Michelin y si realmente es como lo pintan en las pelis o en los programas de cocina. También sobre por qué ser chef puede ser una experiencia tan solitaria, qué es lo que de verdad separa a un chef con estrella Michelin de una persona normal, y la filosofía de Coco sobre la alta cocina, la hospitalidad y si la industria está fallando a la gente común.Coco isn’t just a great chef — he’s also a perfect example of how having a non-native accent but speaking English at a high level can sound incredible. His comfort with the language and his natural communication style allow him to express his ideas clearly and be himself — which is the whole point. He doesn’t stress about pronunciation or trying to sound “more native.” He speaks calmly, chooses his words carefully, and gets his message across beautifully. I think there’s really something to that.Let me know what you think about this type of episode, and if there’s anything I can do to make it an even richer experience.As always, thanks for watching (or listening) 🙌
Prepositions Explained (Stop Making these Mistakes)
Se podría decir que las preposiciones son una de las frustraciones más grandes para la gente. Te han enseñado mil reglas (con mil excepciones), pero pararte a pensar qué regla tienes que usar mientras vas …
Show notes
Se podría decir que las preposiciones son una de las frustraciones más grandes para la gente. Te han enseñado mil reglas (con mil excepciones), pero pararte a pensar qué regla tienes que usar mientras vas hablando es inviable. Este episodio de English with Dane propone una manera más manejable y eficiente para lidiar con las preposiciones para que te cueste menos navegarlas .
Why Do We Believe Conspiracy Theories?
This episode is NOT about debunking (proving wrong) any particular theories. It's about understanding why some of us are susceptible to adopting these theories. Is it something inside us? Is it mostly to …
Show notes
This episode is NOT about debunking (proving wrong) any particular theories. It's about understanding why some of us are susceptible to adopting these theories. Is it something inside us? Is it mostly to do (tiene que ver) with external factors? Is it about the current state of the world? This article read-along is about trying to find answers to these questions and shed light on (clarify) why we are so quick to believe things that already fit our vision of the world. Let me know what you think.
Your Brain is Tricking You (And How to Fight Back)
After listening to this episode you'll think smarter. Guaranteed.The human brain isn't perfect. In fact, it’s lying to you every single day. In this episode, we’ll break down 5 of the most common …
Show notes
After listening to this episode you'll think smarter. Guaranteed.
The human brain isn't perfect. In fact, it’s lying to you every single day. In this episode, we’ll break down 5 of the most common biases (the sneaky mental shortcuts that mess with your decisions) and 3 everyday fallacies (the bad arguments we fall for without realizing). From thinking everyone is staring at you, to finishing a terrible TV show/series because you’ve “already watched half,” these little traps are everywhere. Let’s expose them, and fight back.
Vocabulary Boost 2 (Strange News)
¡PRIMER EPISODIO EN VIDEO! 😲Three news stories, and a bunch of new words/phrases for you to start using. An influencer on a plane doing something really unhygienic, rumours about White House staff, and a man …
Show notes
¡PRIMER EPISODIO EN VIDEO! 😲
Three news stories, and a bunch of new words/phrases for you to start using. An influencer on a plane doing something really unhygienic, rumours about White House staff, and a man with an unconventional bond to his alligator.
@englishwithdane on socials
The Fastest Way to Sounding Natural
What does it mean to sound natural? Is it something we can practice? (YES). This episode is a guide on how to make your English flow, and help you achieve the ultimate goal: to sound more like you. It turns out …
Show notes
What does it mean to sound natural? Is it something we can practice? (YES). This episode is a guide on how to make your English flow, and help you achieve the ultimate goal: to sound more like you. It turns out (resulta que) there's something you can start doing today that will give you the fastest results. This episode is about exactly that.
These are the latest 40 of 212 episodes. You’ll find older episodes in the podcast’s feed.
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