Hear You Go

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!
 

Is the Dinner Party Dead? | Ideas in English for Advanced English Listening Practice

Is the dinner party dead, or is it due for a comeback?
I’ve been thinking a lot about hosting meals lately. Maybe it’s the holiday season approaching, maybe it’s a conversation I had with a Brazilian teacher who told me hosting felt too stressful, or maybe it’s hearing chef Samin Nosrat talk about her new book Good Things.
Today, I’m sharing what I’ve learned as I explore whether the dinner party is really “dead”, and why it might be time to bring it back.
Here’s what we'll think about in episode 83:
the rise, fall, and reinvention of hosting people for a meal
how perfectionism (and the pandemic) changed dinner tables
why simple, imperfect, shared meals might be the cure for modern loneliness
what Samin Nosrat teaches us about hospitality, imperfection, and cooking with love
I’m asking YOU to reflect on your own relationship to hosting.
When was the last time you gathered around a table and felt truly present?
As always, I’ll highlight some advanced English language (C1/C2) along the way.
Hear You Go English language listening podcasts aim to give you, the intermediate and advanced English learner, a space to think, learn, and connect in English.
❤️‍🔥 Are you a fan of Hear You Go?
🎧 Have you 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. 
Catherine 🤗
*********************
⏰  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!
 
 

The Profound Impact of an Immersive Language Retreat with Valeria | Advanced English Language Conversations

I’m joined in this episode by a very special guest, my Italian teacher, Valeria, founder of Vita Semplice in Italia, a project that goes beyond language learning to cultural immersion, and small-scale travel in several locations in Italy, but primarily in Valeria’s hometown in Sicily.
In a first for both me and Valeria, our conversation takes place in English, not Italian! We get into what it really means to immerse yourself in another language, and how meaningful, intentional and thoughtful travel can become a part of that process.
Valeria shares her story, a story that begins with her hearing her grandmother switch seamlessly between English, Italian, and Sicilian dialect, to creating intimate language retreats that bring learners into contact with local people, food, and traditions.
Also explored in our chat:
* Why connection and curiosity matter more than perfection (you hear this a lot on Hear You Go, don’t you?)* The value of small-scale, ethical travel, and how to avoid adding to the problem of overtourism* What to look for if you’re hoping to participate in a language retreat experience, OR creating one for your learners
If you’ve ever wondered how travel can deepen your language learning, or how to travel more thoughtfully and connect with local communities, give this episode a listen. I hope it inspires you to slow down, listen, and savour the experience.
“You might come for the language,” Valeria says, “but you leave with connection.”
Valeria on Instagram:
Vita Semplice website
Vita Semplice newsletter on Substack: https://valeriapao.substack.com/
*********************************
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.
⏰ 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!

Do You Speak Emoji? | Ideas in English for Advanced Listening Practice.

Emoji: cute, colourful, easy to use, OR malevolent, dangerous, prone to offend.
I’ve been thinking about emoji a lot lately. I’m confused by them, troubled by them, and eager to learn more about them. But they also entice me, persuading me to add some colour and imagery to my texts.
Today I’m going to share what I’ve learned in my quest to be less ignorant about emoji, and either feel better or worse about using them!
I’ll define them and present their somewhat recent history
I’ll consider if they are a language 
And I’ll look at the potential for miscommunication given our world’s diversity of languages, cultures and therefore, interpretation of meaning
I’m asking YOU too to reflect on your use of emoji, how you think about emoji as a language, and if you too are worried about miscommunicating something when using them. 
Maybe I’m just being silly and overly cautious. Have a listen and share your thoughts.
As always, I’ll note some useful advanced English language (C1/C2 Intermediate & Advanced English) along the way.
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.
********************
⏰ 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!
 

I can’t hear you! | Ideas in English for Advanced English Language Listening Practice

About six months ago, I noticed I couldn’t hear my gym instructors clearly. At first, I chalked it up to the loud music, but then I realized it wasn’t the background noise, it was me.
In this episode, I’ll share:
What hearing loss is, and how it often changes as we age
Why hearing aids feel so different from reading glasses, and why that hit different for me
What we can do to protect our hearing, reduce the risks of dementia, and adapt when hearing loss happens to us as individuals, teachers, or learners
As always, I’ll also point out some advanced English expressions like to chalk it up, the rub, and to chide yourself, among others.
Listen now, and test out your listening skills in this intermediate English and advanced English language podcast episode.
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.
⏰ 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!