

American English With Brent
Brent
If you’re looking to improve your English, this podcast is for you. An American who speaks English slowly, so you can understand.
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Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 19, 2025 • 15min
Trump Called Her ‘Beautiful’ — and Everyone Lost Their Minds 😡
✅ Speak Better English With Me https://brentspeak.as.me/ Use code Fall15 for 15% off. Original Link to Newscast: https://youtu.be/8wl3j-ayOJg?si=Vl7camJRGYaZuFeI1. Take My Chances: To try something even if it might not work.: I’ll take my chances and try out for the soccer team.2. You Don’t Mind: You are okay with something; it doesn’t bother you.: I hope you don’t mind if I sit here.3. Incredible: Very good or amazing.: The view from the mountain was incredible!4. Respect: To think someone or something is important and treat them well.: We should respect our teachers and classmates.5. Successful: Doing well; reaching your goals.: She worked hard and became a successful doctor.6. Fantastic: Very good or wonderful.: The food at that new restaurant tastes fantastic.7. Best Seat: The most comfortable or most desired place.: Reporters had the best seat to witness history being made at the trial.8. Roasting: Making jokes about someone in a funny way: My friends were roasting me for being late again. 9. GDP (Gross Domestic Product): The total value of everything a country makes in a year.: The United States has one of the largest GDPs in the world.10. Come Here: To move closer to where the speaker is.: Come here and look at this picture!11. Going Well: Happening in a good or successful way.: My English classes are going well this year.12. 20-Minute Notice: A warning or message given 20 minutes before something happens.: The doctor has to perform emergency surgery with only 20 minutes notice. 13. Complements: something that fits well with something else.: The blue shirt complements your eyes.14. Unique: One of a kind; special or different from others.: The snowflake has a unique shape that no other snowflake has.15. Assembled: Put together or gathered in one place.: The students assembled in the gym for the school meeting.: We assembled all the materials we needed for the science project.

Oct 17, 2025 • 16min
Displaced Gazans Return to Nothing. 25 English Terms
✅ Speak Better English With Me https://brentspeak.as.me/ Use code Fall15 for 15% off. Ceasefire: An agreement to stop fighting for a time.: The two sides agreed to a ceasefire after many days of war.🤝 Brokered: Arranged or helped to make an agreement.: The peace deal was brokered by the United Nations.🪖 Withdrawal: When soldiers or troops leave a place.: The army’s withdrawal from the city began last night.🧍♀️ Displaced: Forced to leave your home because of war or danger.: Thousands of people were displaced after the major rainstorm.🚶 Trek: A long and difficult journey on foot.: Families made a long trek back to their homes in Gaza City.🚪 Pulls Out: Leaves or stops being involved; withdrawal : The country pulls out its soldiers from the region.💬 Address : To speak to a group or nation.: The president will address the people about the new ceasefire.🕯️ Remains: What is left of a dead person’s body.: The remains of the victims were found under the building.⚰️ Deceased: Dead (formal).: The deceased were honored in a special ceremony.🧍♂️ Hostage: A person held by force during a conflict.: The group released the last hostages after the agreement.🏙️ Hostage Square: A public place where people gather to support or remember hostages.: Families waited at Hostage Square for news about their loved ones.💭 Perhaps: Maybe; not for sure.: Perhaps I will study my English today. Perhaps not. 🌙 Coincide: Happen at the same time.: The baseball game coincides with my meeting, so I will not be able to go.👀 Apparently: It seems like something is true.: Apparently, peace is coming to Gaza.👏 Crediting: Saying that someone deserves praise or thanks.: Many are crediting Egypt for helping to stop the fighting.🛡️ Securing: Making something safe or protected.: The guard was securing the building before going home for the night. 💬 Implied: Suggested something without saying it directly.: She didn’t say it directly, but she implied that she was angry.🕊️ Mediators: People who help two sides solve a problem peacefully.: The mediators worked for days to reach a deal.🌊 Coastal: Near the ocean or sea.: The coastal area is famous for its beaches and seafood.🔙 Head Back: To return to a place.: I forgot my phone, so I had to head back home to get it. 🧩 Pieces to the Puzzle: Parts that help explain or complete a situation.: The detective found the last piece to the puzzle and solved the case.🚑 Red Cross: An international organization that helps people in emergencies, such as wars or natural disasters.: The Red Cross is bringing medicine and food to Gaza.⏳ Phase: A stage or part of a process.: The baby is in a phase where she cries a lot before going to bed.🕊️ Resolution: The ending or solution to a problem or story.: The movie had a happy resolution when the families made peace.

Oct 15, 2025 • 13min
Tears of Joy: Families Reunited in Israel
✅ Speak Better English With Me https://brentspeak.as.me/ Use code Fall15 for 15% off. 🕊️ Vocabulary for B1 Students1. Handed Over – gave something or someone to another person or group.➡️ The soldiers were handed over to the other side after the peace deal.2. Underway – happening now; already started.➡️ Talks between the two countries are underway in the capital city.3. Sabotaging – trying to stop or damage something on purpose.➡️ She kept sabotaging her own success by showing up late to every interview.4. Summit – a meeting between leaders of countries.➡️ World leaders met at a summit to discuss climate change.5. Captives – people kept as prisoners, often during war.➡️ The captives were finally released after many months.6. Delaying – making something happen later than planned.➡️ The storm is delaying our flight, so we have to wait at the airport.7. Jubilation – great joy and happiness.➡️ There was jubilation in the streets after the team won the championship.8. Custody – being kept by the police or another authority.➡️ The suspect is now in police custody.9. Deal – an agreement between two or more sides.➡️ They made a deal to exchange prisoners for peace.10. Anxious – worried or nervous.➡️ She felt anxious before taking her driving test.11. Batch – a group of things or people that are handled together.➡️ A new batch of aid supplies arrived at the border.12. West Bank – a region in the Middle East that is part of the Israel–Palestine conflict.➡️ Many people live in the West Bank under difficult conditions.13. Reunited – brought back together after being apart.➡️ The families were reunited after the hostages were freed.14. Life Sentence – punishment of spending the rest of one’s life in prison.➡️ He received a life sentence for the crime.15. Occupied – controlled by another group or army.➡️ The city has been occupied by foreign troops for years.16. Emotional – full of strong feelings like sadness, happiness, or anger.➡️ The teacher was emotional when her students graduated.17. Swap – exchange one thing for another.➡️ The soccer players swapped jerseys after the game.18. Accused – said to have done something wrong or illegal.➡️ He was accused of stealing money from the company.

Oct 13, 2025 • 10min
16 Americans Die in Bomb Factory Explosion 💥
On October 10, 2025, early in the morning (around 7:48 a.m. CDT) a massive explosion struck a munitions / explosives manufacturing facility operated by Accurate Energetic Systems near Bucksnort / McEwen, Tennessee. The blast destroyed at least one building, scattered debris over a half-mile radius, and was felt several miles away.✅ Speak Better English With Me https://brentspeak.as.me/ Use code Fall15 for 15% off. Link to original newscast: https://youtu.be/NtxbFti4x98?si=K7-Kmkwba_iAqm_p1. Munitions: Weapons and bullets used in war.: The soldiers loaded their munitions before the battle began.2. Community: A group of people who live in the same area or share something in common.: Our community helped clean the park after the storm.3. Rural: Relating to the countryside, not the city.: Many people in rural areas grow their own food.4. Accurate: Correct and without mistakes.: The teacher said my answer was accurate.5. Facility: A building or place made for a special purpose.: The new sports facility has a big swimming pool.6. Manufactured: Made in a factory using machines.: These shoes were manufactured in Vietnam.7. Assumption: Something you think is true without proof.: My assumption was wrong — he wasn’t late, he was early!8. Delicate: Easily broken or damaged; needing careful handling.: Be careful — the glass vase is very delicate.9. Methodical: Done carefully and in an organized way.: He was methodical when checking each student’s homework.10. Leveled: Destroyed or made flat.: The tornado leveled several houses in the small town.11. Charred: Burned and blackened by fire.: We could smell the charred smell of burned leaves in the air.12. Insulation: Material that keeps heat, sound, or electricity inside or outside.: Good insulation keeps your house warm in winter.13. ATF: The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives — a U.S. government agency.: The ATF investigated the fire at the munitions factory.14. Stressed : To say something with extra force or importance.: The teacher stressed the importance of studying for the test.

Oct 12, 2025 • 18min
23+ Must-Know English Words About WET Things – Are You Using Them Right?
✅ Speak Better English With Me https://brentspeak.as.me/ Use Code SUMMER10 for 10% off your conversation💙 OVER 100 BONUS ENGLISH LESSONS? Become a channel member. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCakDTg9dhhAsr3WmHyJDa-g/join🌧 Wet Things VocabularyRain – Water that falls from the sky. It started to rain, so I opened my umbrella.Puddle – A small pool of water on the ground. The child jumped into the puddle with her boots.Pond – A small lake. Ducks were swimming in the pond.Lake – A large area of water surrounded by land. We went fishing at the lake.Ocean – The biggest body of salt water. Waves crashed loudly in the ocean.River – A long stream of water that flows to the sea. The river runs through the city.Stream – A small, narrow river. We crossed the stream by stepping on stones.Shower – Light or short rain. A quick shower wet the streets.Drizzle – Very light rain. It was only a drizzle, so I didn’t need my umbrella.Storm – Strong weather with heavy rain and wind. The storm knocked down some trees.Flood – Too much water covering the land. The flood filled the streets with water.Dew – Small drops of water on grass in the morning. The grass was wet with dew.Mist – Very light fog made of water. Mist covered the hills in the morning.Fog – Thick mist that makes it hard to see. The car drove slowly because of the fog.Ice – Frozen water. The pond was covered with ice in winter.Snow – Frozen water that falls as white flakes. The children built a snowman with the snow.Hail – Small balls of ice that fall from the sky. Hail hit the roof during the storm.Waterfall – Water falling down from a high place. We took a picture in front of the waterfall.Wave – Water moving up and down in the sea. The big wave splashed onto the beach.Spray – Water that is sent out in small drops. The garden hose made a spray of water.Splash – Water that flies when something hits it. He jumped into the pool with a big splash.Steam – Hot mist from boiling water. Steam rose from the pot of soup.Drop – A very small amount of water. A drop of rain fell on my hand.Tear – Water that comes from your eye when you cry. A tear rolled down her cheek.

Oct 9, 2025 • 20min
IELTS and TOEFL Help - Shutdown Chaos: Why Americans Are Fed Up
✅ Speak Better English With Me https://brentspeak.as.me/ Use code Fall15 for 15% off. 💙 OVER 100 BONUS ENGLISH LESSONS? Become a channel member. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCakDTg9dhhAsr3WmHyJDa-g/joinLink to original newscast: https://youtu.be/H-o-ysnnypc?si=960Pdy6QHeyr0aHt🏛️ Government Shutdown VocabularyBring In – to include or introduce someone or something The teacher decided to bring in a guest speaker to the class to talk about their nursing career.Bring Onboard – to welcome someone into a group or team The company brought her onboard to help with the new project.Standoff – when two sides refuse to agree There was a standoff between the two teams about the rules.Optimistic – hopeful; believing things will turn out well He stayed optimistic even though the exam was hard.Doubt – not being sure about something She had doubts about whether she could finish the race on time.Dug In – refusing to change your opinion Both sides of the government dug in and wouldn’t compromise.Moderate – not extreme; in the middle He has moderate political views — not too strong on either side.Leader Thune – a U.S. senator and Republican leader (John Thune) Leader Thune said both parties need to work together.Shutdown – when the government or a business stops working for a time The park was closed during the government shutdown.Get Over – to recover from something It took him weeks to get over his illness.Chuck Schumer – a U.S. senator and Democratic leader Chuck Schumer spoke about helping workers during the shutdown.Potentially – possibly; maybe It could potentially snow tomorrow, so we might not have school.Disrupted – stopped from working normally Classes were disrupted when the internet went down.Resolved – ended or solved Their marriage problems were resolved after they met with a counselor.Vulnerable – weak or easily hurt Elderly people can be vulnerable during a heat wave.Elderly – old people The elderly need extra care during the winter.Paycheck – the money someone earns for work He waited for his paycheck to buy groceries.Interruption – a break or stop in something There was an interruption in the movie when the power went out.Non-Essential – not necessary or not the most important During a snowstorm, non-essential travel is not allowed.Wasted – used in a way that gives no good result All the food went bad and was wasted.WIC Benefits – government help for women, infants, and children to buy food Low-income families use WIC benefits to buy milk and baby food.SNAP Benefits – food money from the government for families in need Many people rely on SNAP benefits to buy groceries.Run Out – to use all of something We ran out of milk, so we went to the store.Obamacare – a U.S. law that helps people get health insurance Through Obamacare, more Americans can see a doctor.

Oct 7, 2025 • 18min
Trump Sends Troops to American War Zones (English With the News)
✅ Speak Better English With Me https://brentspeak.as.me/ Use code Fall15 for 15% off. 💙 OVER 100 BONUS ENGLISH LESSONS? Become a channel member. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCakDTg9dhhAsr3WmHyJDa-g/joinLink to original newscast: https://youtu.be/ZwDVLqMx19M?si=ji2IllpDD-e3Y8wo 1. National Guard: A part of the U.S. military that helps during emergencies in the country.: The National Guard helped rebuild the school after it collapsed.2. Deems: To think or decide something in a certain way.: The teacher deems the test too difficult for the class.: He deems himself lucky to have such supportive friends.3. Riots: Violent protests where people fight or damage property.: The police tried to stop the riots in the city center.4. Unlawful: Not allowed by law; illegal.: It is unlawful to drive without a license.5. Minor : Not very big or important.: She made a minor mistake on her homework.6. Minor : A person who is younger than 18 years old.: Because he is a minor, his parents must sign the form.7. Procedural: Related to the way something is done, usually by rules or steps.: The officer followed all the procedural steps before making the arrest.8. A Workaround: A different way to fix a problem when the normal way doesn’t work.: The students found a workaround to print their papers after the printer broke.9. Authorized: Given official permission or approval.: Only authorized people can enter the building.10. Call Up: To officially ask people to serve, usually in the military.: The government may call up more soldiers to Chicago.11. Tense: Nervous, worried, or unable to relax.: Everyone felt tense when they heard the loud explosion.12. Tear Gas: A gas used by police to make people’s eyes burn and water.: Police used tear gas to move the bear out of the populated neighborhood.13. Ramming: Hitting something hard with force.: The driver was arrested for ramming his car into the gate.: The goat kept ramming the wooden fence with its horns.14. ICE: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a government agency that handles immigration and border laws.: ICE officers checked the documents of people entering the country.15. Promoting: Trying to help or support something so it becomes more known or successful.: She is promoting a new program to help immigrants learn English.16. Complex : A group of buildings that belong together.: The apartment complex has a pool and a gym.17. Complex : Hard to understand; not simple.: The math homework was too complex for me to finish on my own.18. Undocumented: Without legal papers to stay or work in a country.: The man was undocumented and afraid of being deported.19. Governor: The elected leader of a U.S. state.: The governor spoke to the public about the emergency.20. Raid: A sudden attack or visit by police or soldiers.: The police planned a raid to catch the criminals.21. Panic: Sudden, strong fear that makes people act without thinking.: She panicked when she couldn’t find her phone.22. Emblematic: A symbol or example that represents something.: The broken window was emblematic of the town’s problems.23. Mayhem: Great confusion, chaos, or violence.: A broken traffic light created mayhem at the intersection.: During the sale, the store turned into total mayhem.

Oct 5, 2025 • 16min
English in the Bag! 10 Idioms You Need to Know
✅ Speak Better English With Me https://brentspeak.as.me/ Use code Fall15 for 15% off. 🔹 Phrasal Verbs with BagBag Up – to put things into a bag. : We need to bag up the groceries before we leave.: He said to his wife, “Let’s bag up the trash before it starts to smell.”🔹 Idioms and Expressions with BagBag of Bones – a very thin person. : After being sick, he looked like a bag of bones.Bag of Tricks – a set of methods or ideas. : The doctor reached into her bag of tricks to make sure the surgery was a success.: The teacher reached into his bag of tricks to calm the student.Let the Cat Out of the Bag – reveal a secret. : She let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party.In the Bag – certain to be won or achieved. : With two minutes left, the game was in the bag.Emotional Baggage – negative feelings or experiences from the past that affect someone today.He couldn’t start a new relationship because he was still carrying a lot of emotional baggage from his divorce.Grab Bag – a mix of different things. : The teacher’s quiz was a grab bag of questions.: The store owner put old items in a grab bag and sold them at a discount. Goodie Bag – a small bag of treats or gifts. : The kids got goodie bags at the birthday party.8. Doggie Bag – a bag for leftover food from a restaurant to take home.She asked the waiter for a doggie bag to bring her leftover pasta home.He didn’t want to waste the steak, so he took it in a doggie bag.🥪 Sandwich Bag: A small plastic bag used to carry a sandwich or snacks. : He packed his daughter’s lunch before she left for school.🛌 Sleeping Bag: A soft, warm bag you sleep in when camping. : We slept in sleeping bags under the stars at the campsite.🥊 Punching Bag: A heavy bag used for boxing or exercise. : The boxer hit the punching bag to practice his punches.🎶 Bagpipes: A musical instrument with air bags and pipes, often played in Scotland. : The man played the bagpipes at the parade.🎒 Sling Bag: A small bag with one strap, worn across the body. : She carried her phone and wallet in a sling bag.

Oct 3, 2025 • 2h 37min
Over 2 HOURS of Advanced English Learning 100s of New IELTS and TOEFL Terms
Here is another gigantic English lesson at over two hours long. We have a little bit of everything here. English lessons with the news. English lesson quizzes, and even English lessons in other countries like India. ✅ Speak Better English With Me https://brentspeak.as.me/💙 OVER 100 BONUS ENGLISH LESSONS? Become a channel member. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCakDTg9dhhAsr3WmHyJDa-g/join

Oct 2, 2025 • 19min
Zelensky’s $90 Billion Deal: Advanced English Vocabulary from the News
✅ Speak Better English With Me https://brentspeak.as.me/1. Allegedly: People say something happened, but it is not proven.: He allegedly took the last cookie, but no one saw him.2. Sergey Lavrov: A Russian politician and diplomat.: Sergey Lavrov spoke at the meeting on TV.3. Assembly: A group of people gathered together.: We had a school assembly in the gym this morning to watch the juggler.4. Moment: A very short time.: Please wait a moment while I finish my dinner and then I’ll take a walk with you.5. Wrapped Up: Finished something.: She wrapped up her studying before dinner out to dinner with friends.6. Dive In: Start doing something quickly and with energy.: After school, he dove in and started playing his video game.7. Took Aim: Pointed at a target (can be real or spoken).: She took aim at the basket and scored two points.8. Root Causes: The main reasons for something.: The doctor tried to find the root causes of her patient’s illness.9. Vital: Very important.: She told her son that it is vital to eat breakfast before school.10. Violating: Breaking a rule or law.: He was violating the rule by using his phone in class.11. Debunked: Shown to be false.: The story about aliens at school was debunked.12. Provocations: Actions that make someone angry.: His little brother’s provocations made him shout.13. Decisive: Able to make choices quickly and with confidence.: She was decisive and chose the red shirt right away.14. A Shift: A small change.: There was a shift in the weather, and it started to rain.15. Occupied: Busy with something.: He was too occupied with the video game to answer the call from his parents.16. Prolonging: Making something last longer.: She kept prolonging bedtime by asking for more stories.: I would say the war with Ukraine and Russia has been prolonged. 17. Whatsoever: Not at all (for emphasis).: He had no interest in soccer whatsoever.18. Back and Forth: Moving between two places or sides many times.: The kids ran back and forth across the playground.19. Neutralized: Stopped something from being harmful.: The strong cleaner neutralized the bad smell in the kitchen.20. Disclosed: Shared information that was private or secret.: She disclosed her favorite snack to her best friend.: Her doctor disclosed to her that she would need surgery.


