Hear You Go

You've Got Mail, Snail Mail! | Ideas in English for Advanced Listening Practice

🎙️ Episode 93: You’ve got mail, snail mail! is another episode in which I champion an analogue activity I think should make a comeback: letter writing.
I'm not the only one. A bestselling novel from 2025 is a novel written in epistolary form, that is, in the form of letters and emails. 
Browse social media, and you're bound to find accounts that encourage the exchange of hand-written notecards. 
In this episode, I'll share:
My own relationship to letter writing, and the life it tells
A short summary of the novel The Correspondent and why I think it’s a fabulous book for English language learners
A few ideas about how YOU can help revive the lost art of writing letters.
Do you have a bin of letters stored somewhere?
Do you write letters? Would you like to?
Have a listen, review and explore the additional links, and let me know what YOU think.
As always, I’ll highlight advanced English language (C1/C2) along the way. Hear You Go gives intermediate and advanced English learners a space to think, learn, and connect in English.
Links to go further:
Audio book review:
The influence of the sleeper hit novel 'The Correspondent' : NPR
Interview with the author:
'The Correspondent' Author Virginia Evans On Her Breakout Year
On Letter writing:
The Lost Art of Letter Writing | Peyton Christenson | TEDxGrandCanyonUniversity
From me, with love: the lost art of letter writing | Life and style | The Guardian
Why Writing by Hand Is Better for Memory and Learning | Scientific American
What is The Lovely Letter Exchange | Martha Brook Blog
Global Penfriends
French podcast Passerelles and new letter writing project:
On Apple:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/passerelles-a-french-podcast-for-intermediate-learners/id1546977913?i=1000757945555
On Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5FBVFCIH6u4TpSPa7R2ZFK?si=Dkm_K076TMqZEIwZI-f3dA
 
Get in touch:
⏰  To work with me 1:1 (currently sold out until September), but you can add your name to the waitlist.
📥 Do you get my newsletter? It’s really the best way to hear from me.
You can also follow me on Instagram.
🎶 Amos the Transparent provides my theme song. They're an awesome group of talented musicians. Give them some love and check out their music. 
Please share the podcast and spread the knowledge!

Win or Lose: The Case for Competition | Ideas in English for Advanced Listening Practice

I came to sports late in life, but I’m a convert.
Where once I was fearful of competition, now I look for opportunities to compete as often as possible. My thirst to win a championship curling game one day is unquenchable. Wait for it, even if I have to play as a senior citizen, I’ll get that prize one day :).
 
In this new episode of Hear You Go (E92), I’ll share: 
how athletic competition forces our brains to think fast and quickly to strategize about how to overcome both fixed and dynamic obstacles
how winning and losing at sports builds grit and forces us to persevere
that sports are social, and playing a team sport encourages beneficial social interaction, on and off the playing field (or ice!)
Do you compete? What sport(s) do you play and do you see your experiences reflected in what I’ve shared today? 
Have a listen, review and explore the additional links, and let me know what YOU think.
As always, I’ll highlight advanced English language (C1/C2) along the way. Hear You Go gives intermediate and advanced English learners a space to think, learn, and connect in English.
 
Links to go further:
Plain English podcast, “How Metrics Make Us Miserable”: 
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/SIsft4NSZLU?si=nVAYdwIikRoZ0Rtc
How playing sports benefits your body ... and your brain - Leah Lagos and Jaspal Ricky Singh
 
Get in touch:
⏰  To work with me 1:1, add your name to the waitlist.
📥 Do you get my newsletter? It’s really the best way to hear from me.
You can also follow me on Instagram.

Ah, the wondrous powers of nature! | Ideas in English for Advanced Listening Practice

Inspired by research presented on the Hidden Brain podcast, specifically the work of psychologist Marc Berman, this episode takes a look at how time spent in nature can reduce our mental fatigue, improve our memory, and shift our attention in restorative ways, not burn us out even more.
I share what I’ve learned about something called attention restoration theory, the role of our senses, and why natural environments full of soft edges, fractals, and gentle stimuli calm the brain.
What if you don’t live near nature? Can indoor plants, soundscapes, or even your imagination offer similar benefits? You bet they can! I’ll offer a few practical ways to bring the benefits of nature into your daily life, no matter how far away nature is from your front door.
Have a listen today, maybe while you take a walk outdoors! 
 
As always, I’ll highlight advanced English language (C1/C2) along the way. Hear You Go gives intermediate and advanced English learners a space to think, learn, and connect in English.
 
Get in touch:
⏰  To work with me 1:1, add your name to the waitlist.
📥 Do you get my newsletter? It’s really the best way to hear from me.
You can also follow me on Instagram.
🎶 Amos the Transparent provides my theme song. They're an awesome group of talented musicians. Give them some love and check out their music. 
Please subscribe to and share the podcast, and spread the knowledge!

Is Weak Language Powerful for Women? | Ideas in English for Advanced Listening Practice

🎙️ Is Weak Language Powerful for Women” (E90)?
This episode has been brewing for quite some time. It's a vast topic, full of nuance, and in the end, I offer a summary of the subject with the help of two resources, attached in the show notes.
You'll hear:
Examples of weak language 
The difference between aggressive and assertive language tones
Why women generally benefit from the use of tentative language
How we might move forward in the workplace by being both assertive and warm
There’s a lot to unpack, so have a listen, review and explore the additional links, and let me know what YOU think.
As always, I’ll highlight advanced English language (C1/C2) along the way. Hear You Go gives intermediate and advanced English learners a space to think, learn, and connect in English.
 
Links to go further:
Adam Grant article (behind a paywall): 
Opinion | How Women’s ‘Weak Language’ Is a Source of Strength - The New York Times
Women at Work podcast: To Get What You Want, Be Both Assertive and Warm
Book Review of Likable Badass by Alison Fragale: The Art and Science of Becoming A ‘Likeable Badass’
 
Get in touch:
⏰  To work with me 1:1, add your name to the waitlist.
📥 Do you get my newsletter? It’s really the best way to hear from me.
You can also follow me on Instagram.
🎶 Amos the Transparent provides my theme song. They're an awesome group of talented musicians. Give them some love and check out their music. 
Please share the podcast and spread the knowledge!

Your Brain on Art: How Creativity Makes Us Better Learners | Ideas in English for Advanced English Listening Practice

Art: it does the body and brain good! 
In this Book Talk episode, I offer a summary of some mindblowing science I learned in a book titled: “Your Brain on Art”. I explore and try to explain how creativity shapes and reshapes the brain, and why art isn’t just enrichment, but essential for learning. 
The episode addresses brain plasticity, saliency, attention, emotional regulation, and myriad art forms, and what all of this means for language learning. Curiosity, creative engagement, and embodied learning help ideas stick, deepen empathy, and build stronger communication skills, and so much more.
Art is not just some extracurricular activity: we all benefit when we support the arts and add the arts into our lives. Does art light up your heart and brain too? What artform ignites your passions?
As always, I’ll highlight advanced English language (C1/C2) along the way. Hear You Go gives intermediate and advanced English learners a space to think, learn, and connect in English.
 
Links to go further:
Book and website: Your Brain on Art: How Art Transforms Us.
SnowWorld melts away pain for burn patients, using virtual reality snowballs – GeekWire
Snow World
Playful Learning Landscapes
Susan and Ivy in conversation with Adam Grant on Re:Thinking podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rethinking/id1554567118?i=1000638235601
 
Get in touch:
⏰  To work with me 1:1, add your name to the waitlist.
📥 Do you get my newsletter? It’s really the best way to hear from me.
You can also follow me on Instagram.
🎶 Amos the Transparent provides my theme song. They're an awesome group of talented musicians. Give them some love and check out their music. 
Please share the podcast and spread the knowledge!

Winter Will Kill You | Ideas in English for Advanced Listening Practice

This episode is another unplanned, lightly researched, and deeply Canadian reflection…because it’s winter and in some parts of the world, winter can, quite literally, kill you.
Here come some reflections on extreme cold and:
how houses are built to survive it (plus loads of vocabulary related to home renovation and construction)
winter driving (black ice, whiteouts, snow tires, skidding, and snow plows)
the hidden dangers of snow shovelling
Along the way, I share thoughts on homelessness in winter, gratitude for community workers, my sincerest wishes for the Ukrainian people to survive another winter under the brutal attacks of Russian warfare, and the privilege of warmth and shelter.
I don’t leave you hanging, thinking winter is ONLY a deadly killer. I remain unapologetically a lover of winter: the good, the bad, and the deadly.
Storytelling, anecdotes, descriptive language: this episode has it all. 
🎧 Also pay attention for:
🗣️ Idioms, anecdotes, and a flippant tone of voice
💪 Reflections on resilience, risk, and climate
Get cozy. Whether it’s summer or winter where you live, I hope you enjoy this listening practice.
 
As always, I’ll highlight advanced English language (C1/C2) along the way. Hear You Go gives intermediate and advanced English learners a space to think, learn, and connect in English.
⏰  To work with me 1:1, add your name to the waitlist.
📥 Do you get my newsletter? It’s really the best way to hear from me, and it’s where you can find a link to episode transcripts.
You can also follow me on Instagram.
🎶 Amos the Transparent provides my theme song. They're an awesome group of talented musicians. Give them some love and check out their music. 
Please share the podcast and spread the knowledge!
 

E87 - Clowning around with Lisa Jane Grant: Storytelling adds value to our teaching practices | Advanced English Conversation Listening Practice

In this new advanced English conversational episode of Hear You Go, I speak with storyteller and English teacher Lisa Jane Grant about why stories matter in language learning. 
From bilingual identity to classroom vulnerability, Lisa Jane shares how storytelling, poetry, and performance can transform confidence, connection, and communication. A must-listen for teachers and curious learners alike.
 
Links to go further:
David Weller book: Storytelling for Language Teachers: Story frameworks, activities, and techniques : Weller, David: Amazon.ca: Books
Lisa Jane’s contact information:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/english_with_lisajane/
Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/ljstories/p/the-heebie-jeebies?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
YouTube: Lisa Jane - YouTube
Hear You Go with Leticia: Raising Bilingual Kids: https://www.englishwithcatherine.com/podcast/plwsb9jxj3p9mmj-f9cl7-fahxl-c47fk-wycg8-rjjsh-w9s9d-6g9mx-6jwdx-tk2h8-48lxr-rrymg-bsgf9-rpr6f-m8pnt-mkzf2-4j5pn
 
⏰  To work with me 1:1, add your name to the waitlist. NO NEW CLIENTS UNTIL MAY 2026.
📥 Do you get my newsletter? It’s really the best way to hear from me, and it’s where you can find a link to episode transcripts.
You can also follow me on Instagram but I HATE Meta and post there less and less.
🎶 Amos the Transparent provides my theme song. They're an awesome group of talented musicians. Give them some love and check out their music. 
 

Heated Rivalry is the Romance We're Craving | Ideas in English for Advanced English Listening Practice

Welcome back to Hear You Go. We’re kicking off the second half of the 4th season with my spontaneous and energetic take on an obsession I can’t shake off. 
I’ve been sucked into the cultural vortex that is Heated Rivalry, a Canadian TV series everyone is talking about. It’s struck a deep, deep chord with a wide audience, especially with women and LGBTQ+.
This episode highlights how pop culture can become a turning point, reshaping what we expect from romance, consent, representation, and desire. 
You’ll hear about:
Queer love stories in hypermasculine sports (in this case, Canada’s sport, hockey) ✅
The rise of romantasy ✅
What respectful intimacy looks like on screen and the importance of intimacy coordinators ✅ 
Accents and active listening, and how to support non-native speakers  ✅
I simply had to start the year on a good note and share my reflections on why this show feels so very necessary right now. Do watch the series: once you get to episode 3, there will be no turning back. The arc of the story is magnificent, culminating in BIG emotions in episode 5 and 6.❣️
As always, I’ll highlight advanced English language (C1/C2) along the way. Hear You Go gives intermediate and advanced English learners a space to think, learn, and connect in English.
 
⏰  To work with me 1:1, add your name to the waitlist.
To join the next edition of WILDE (in 2026), my conversation course based on podcasts, add your name here.
📥 Do you get my newsletter? It’s really the best way to hear from me, and it’s where you can find a link to episode transcripts.
You can also follow me on Instagram.
🎶 Amos the Transparent provides my theme song. They're an awesome group of talented musicians. Give them some love and check out their music. 
Please share the podcast and spread the knowledge!
 

Sober Curious and the Rise of the Mocktail | Ideas in English for Advance English Listening Practice

Episode 85 concludes 2025 with a bang! 
Before you tune it, would you consider an end of the year "thank you" tip in my tip jar? Hear You Go podcast is a free resource, and your support goes a long way to keeping more episodes in production.  Thank you! 
And now, on with the show:
Are we living in a new era where alcohol is taboo? Is the Mocktail really a trend? Why?
 
With the holiday season fast approaching, I’ve been thinking about the outsized role alcohol plays in our lives: how we talk about it, why we drink it, and why younger generations are seemingly opting to drink less of it. 
 
Have you heard of  "wine o’clock" or "wine Moms”? There's a buzz these days about the creative and colourful world of mocktails - have you read about them? Are you a fan of mocktails?
This episode all explores all this, plus what it means to be sober curious and why this trend is on the up and up.
I’m asking YOU to reflect on your relationship to alcohol, without judgment, just curiosity.
As always, I’ll highlight advanced English language (C1/C2) along the way.
Hear You Go gives intermediate and advanced English learners a space to think, learn, and connect in English.
⏰ To work with me 1:1 add your name to the waitlist.
📥 Do you get my newsletter? It’s really the best way to hear from me.
You can also follow me on Instagram.
🎶 Amos the Transparent provides my theme song. They're an awesome group of talented musicians. Give them some love and check out their music. 
Please share the podcast and spread the knowledge!
 

Why you feel stuck, and what it REALLY takes to advance in English, with Livia Borba | Advanced English Conversation Listening Practice

Curiosity. Motivation. Accepting that it’s a long process.
This episode takes you deep into the real journey from B2 to C1.
Have you ever wondered why so many learners feel stuck at the intermediate plateau? Do YOU wonder why you’re not progressing anymore?
Why is moving from “I can communicate” to “I can express myself precisely and confidently” such a slog?!
In today’s advanced English conversation, episode 84, I speak with English language teacher Lívia Borba, whose winning combo of linguistic insights, teaching experiences, and her personal learning journey makes her the perfect guide to help us decipher this problem and offer solutions.
We discuss:
why progress feels fast at the beginning but seems to slow to a crawl
the subtle differences between B2 and C1
why vocabulary range and noticing skills matter so much
how to deal with frustration and keep going
The Spice Girls! (ya didn’t expect that, did you?)
If you’ve ever felt stuck, or if you teach learners who feel stuck, this episode will help you see the path forward more clearly and help get your mojo back.
🔗 Links to contact Livia
Livia on: Instagram
Livia’s website
**************************
Hear You Go English language listening podcasts aim to give you, the intermediate English language learner and advanced English language learner, a space to practice your English listening so that you can think, learn, and connect in English.
************
In this final month of 2025, would you consider a year-end tip to help support Hear You Go podcast? 
If you're a fan of Hear You Go, and if you've 
listened to the podcast and found it valuable for your listening practice, you can say thank you by leaving a tip in my tip jar.
Your support is deeply appreciated. 
************
⏰ To work with me 1:1 add your name to the waitlist.
📥 Do you get my newsletter? It’s really the best way to hear from me.
You can also follow me on Instagram.
🎶 Amos the Transparent provides my theme song. They're an awesome group of talented musicians. Give them some love and check out their music. 
Please share the podcast and spread the knowledge!