Articles in Real Conversations
All of the posts below are recordings of real conversations with transcripts. Use them to learn English as it is actually spoken, including all the background noises and natural sounds speakers make.An Australian speaks with a Londoner about accents in London, England. They compare an Australian and a London, or Cockney, accent.
A father sits his daughter on his lap and tells her a story. She listens and participates.
Mark talks with an Australian World War II veteran about his experiences in India. “The countryside was very much like Australia.”
Mark talks with a Canadian fellow, named Burke, from Ontario. Burke talks a bit about his life as a young adult there.
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]
Download audio file (areyoujapanese.mp3)
at Edgeworth Johnstone 2
(the sound of a passing vikram)
Mark: Ok so I am just sitting at a cafe in New Delhi and I am sitting next …
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Download audio file (marketting.mp3)
at edmittance
Man: So multi-level marketing…
Woman: That is right.
Man: So what exactly is that?
Woman: Oh just. You can go into the website. There are just thousands. It …
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Download audio file (cockney.mp3)
at haversack
Londoner: Great Dover Street. SE1. You know Great Dover Street? Near the Bricklayer’s Arms.
Ninety-four year old year old Cockney Man: EC1?
Londoner: SE1. SE1.
Ninety-four year old …
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Download audio file (addiction.mp3)
at Tambako
Mark: So John..
John: Yeah.
Mark: You are working on a dissertation for a PhD. That is for an American university?
John: Yeah, that is right. It …
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Download audio file (steve2.mp3)
at Your Guide
Mark: So you were born in Brooklyn and you like did you go to high school there?
Steve: Correct.
Mark: And then you went to university?
Steve: …
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Download audio file (health.mp3)
at clstal
Mark: I am just sitting here at a cafe in the Pahar Ganj area of New Delhi with Michael. Michael, you are not feeling very …
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Download audio file (jersey.mp3)
at davey-boy
Australian: What language do they speak in Jersey?
Scotsman: English.
Australian: But like they don’t speak French?
Scotsman: Jersey patois occasionally.
Australian: What is that?
Scotsman: A cross between French …
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Download audio file (mormon2.mp3)
at kanaka pacifica
Mark: Elder Tiave, that is not a common English name. What is your ethnic heritage?
Elder Tiave: No, I am part Filipino. I am Samoan …
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Download audio file (connecticut.mp3)
at Library of Congress
(the sound of a coffee machine)
Interviewee: I was born in the UK and when I was two we moved to the United States.
Interviewer: …
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Download audio file (I lived in Port Moresby.mp3)
at kabl1992
First Bloke: I was born in Papua New Guinea. I lived there for ten years then I moved to England with …
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Download audio file (medical research.mp3)
at ton3vita
Woman: When I finished school I went to university, Melbourne University, and studied science, a bachelor of science . I then did my honours …
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Download audio file (scrim.mp3)
at ton3vita
An American Guy: One of the critical events (in his life) was when he was looking up in the sky and the sky split …
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Download audio file (swami6.mp3)
at irp
(Swami talks for the first 25 seconds of recording. Then transcript begins.)
Mark: So the creation is sustained by prayer?
Swami: It is sustained by divine will. …
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Download audio file (theholygrail.mp3)
at drp
Axel: What kind of churches were they?
Isabel: There are churches now, but they were not obviously churches then, but they are temples in the shape …
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Download audio file (drilling.mp3)
at Write Pics
The Canadian: It is a land-based rig.
The Aussie: Uh-huh.
The Canadian: And we are drilling mainly for gas.
The Aussie: M-hm.
The Canadian: Natural gas. The wells …
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Download audio file (immortality.mp3)
at CFAGELNYC
Australian Man: Five thousand years ago?
Chinese Man: Maybe two thousand five hundred years ago.
Australian Man: Years ago.
Chinese Man: During the Qin Dynasty.
Australian Man: Uh-huh.
Chinese Man: …
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Download audio file (burke2.mp3)
at Monique Hofland
Mark: So you came to Toronto when you were about two and a half?
Burke: M-hm. Yep.
Mark: And your parents, were they Canadian or?
Burke: Yeah …
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Download audio file (sf1.mp3)
at flaxxx
Australian Guy: So in 1979…
American Guy: Seventy-nine I moved to San Francisco. And at that time… it was the height of the punk season. …
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Download audio file (cuba1.mp3)
at WHS images
First English Bloke: Have you been to Cuba?
Australian Guy: No, I would like to go. I really like Castro.
First English Bloke: It …
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Download audio file (japanesekorean.mp3)
at John W
Mark: Ok so. You. So. Misun. You were born in Japan. Is that right?
Misun: Mm. (Yes)
Mark: Where were you born?
Misun: I …
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Download audio file (lahore.mp3)
at jzakariya
Mark: You were born in Lahore?
Indian Lady: Lahore. It is now Pakistan.
Mark: At that time it was India.
Indian Lady: It was India.
…
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Download audio file (gibralter.mp3)
at design ministry
Luis: So It is like you see it and it is like on a stage. Something is not working here. I mean an English …
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Download audio file (chineserevolution.mp3)
at zoomar
Australian Guy: So Mao’s wife was married to Chiang Kai Shek’s wife?
American Guy: No.
Australian Guy: Mao’s wife and Chiang Kai-Shek’s wife were sisters.
…
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Download audio file (documentary.mp3)
at irp
Mark: So you are making a documentary?
French Guy: Yes.
Bjorn: Yeah right.
Mark: Yes? Where are you from?
Bjorn: The basic crew is from …
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Download audio file (football1.mp3)
at wonker
Yorkshireman: What it is… It is just like it is something that everyone can relate to. It is like someone; you know like when you …
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Download audio file (indianlanguages.mp3)
at luis mauricio
On the sandy bank of the Ganges near Rishikesh, Mark ran into a man who lived in the nearby ashram. They stood on the …
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Download audio file (tee1.mp3)
at Andrew Coulter Enright
Australian Fellow: When you make a cup of tea, like, do you, like, put the milk in first or put the sugar in …
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Download audio file (swami5.mp3)
at irp
Mark: Poetry is the Rigveda?
Swami: Poetry is the Rigveda because it has a specific number of characters with a form and a syntax and …
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Download audio file (londonaccent.mp3)
at egg
London Bloke: Personally to myself, Class A drugs are drugs that…Ok I will put it this way…
Australian Bloke: Speed. Co…?
London Bloke: I will …
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Download audio file (hannan.mp3)
at fooey
Mark: What was your name again?
Hannan: My name is Hannan Benetan.
Mark: One more time.
Mark and Hannan: Hannan.
Mark: Hannan. How do spell …
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Download audio file (virginiaaccent.mp3)
at scandblue
The Guy from Virginia: No. Marriage is a family-oriented….family institution. If you want to have a family…
The Other Guy: The family is sacred.
…
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Download audio file (mush.mp3)
at Parksey1964
(Can you tell a person from Southampton by the way they talk; by their accent?)
First English Guy: Oh yeah.
Englishwoman: That’s Southampton. It is about as …
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Download audio file (Himalayan Hike1.mp3)
at irp
Mark and Axel from Australia teamed up with Luis from Spain and Alex from France to hike to Malana in Himachal Pradesh. Gilles helped …
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Download audio file (argentine.mp3)
at lu6fpj
Australian Guy: How is the Argentinian economy now, like there was a crash a few years ago wasn’t there?
Argentine Guy: The crash was in …
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Download audio file (marseilles.mp3)
at serena sundai
Mark: So Eric, you are from France?
Eric: Yes.
Mark: Which part?
Eric: Which park?
Mark: Which part?!
Eric: My part is Marseilles. My …
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Download audio file (liverpoolaccent.mp3)
at drinksmachine
Australian Guy: I am hungry.
English Guy: I am hungry.
Australian Guy: I am very hungry.
English Guy: I am starving.
Australian Guy: I am really very …
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Download audio file (swami4.mp3)
at Irp
Swami: So you have the five senses.
Mark: Mm. Mm.What is the relationship between Atman and Brahman?
Swami: Brahman and Atman are the same thing.
…
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Download audio file (potatoes.mp3)
at Lynnintokyo
Wayne, from northern Kentucky, explains to Aaron the difference between mashed, smashed, and whipped potatoes.
Aaron: What’s the difference between mashed potatoes, smashed potatoes, and whipped …
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Download audio file (christiania.mp3)
at Only Alice
Three guys are sitting by the lake in Phnom Penh talking about Christiania and the death of hippie culture in Copenhagen.
Mark: Christiana. What year …
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Download audio file (tamilminority.mp3)
at noaman
Reporter: Uh-huh.
Tamil Man: Open this one. (the digital recorder; “turn it on”)
Reporter: Yeah.
Tamil Man: Very important.
Reporter: Good.
Tamil Man: The Sri Lankan Government; what they …
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Download audio file (luisdogon.mp3)
at el rabbit
A group of friends start to talk about Dogon villages in Africa and end up talking about nationalism.
Mark: What is the Dogon village like?
…
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Download audio file (burmesenepali.mp3)
at pingnews.com
Australian Fellow: How many Nepali people are there in Burma and how did they come to be there?
Nepalese Chap: We are half a million …
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Download audio file (outsideoslo.mp3)
at catmer
Mark met a Norwegian woman at a cafe.
Mark: What part of Norway do you come from?
The Norwegian Woman: Just outside Oslo.
Mark: Oh Yeah. …
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Download audio file (kirsten.mp3)
at Jonathon Ah Kit
Mark: So Kirsten what part of Tasmania do you come from?
Kirsten: I come from a place called Launceston in the north of the …
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Download audio file (swami3.mp3)
at Irp
Mark: What are the five elements?
Swami: The first is earth.
Mark: Earth.
Swami: The most solid. Rough is the earth.
Mark: Matter.
Swami: Matter. …
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Download audio file (mormon1.mp3)
at lee benjamin
Mark: I am in Phnom Penh and I am talking to Elder Swenson. You are from Utah?
Elder Swenson: I am actually from …
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Download audio file (travelagent.mp3)
at Myyogaonline
Mark ran into a Japanese guy at a travel agent in Rishikesh.
The Japanese Guy: Do you think I ought to take a local bus all …
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Download audio file (pahlinterview.mp3)
at walt jabsco
Mark: So Pahl what part of Cambodia do you come from?
Pahl: I come from Kompong Cham Province.
Mark: Kompong Cham. And you were …
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Download audio file (israelieran.mp3)
at Tmuna Fish
Mark: So Eran what part of Israel do you come from?
Eran: I am from Rishon. Rishon le Zion.
Mark: From where?
Eran: Rishon …
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Download audio file (ishtar.mp3)
at grabthar
Syrian Guy: There. What happened there? You know?
Mark: You were talking about Ishtar. The old Assyrian goddess.
Syrian Guy: Ishtarte. Ishtarte.
Mark: Ishtarte. Yeah.
Syrian …
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Download audio file (isabel1.mp3)
at pingnews.com
Mark: What part of South Africa were you born in?
Isabel: In those days it was called the western Transvaal.
Mark: Right.
Isabel: These days …
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Download audio file (dahi.mp3)
at davidgraymaclean
Mark: So… so Dahi, what part of Ireland do you come from?
Dahi: I am from Cork. It is in the very south.
Mark: …
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Download audio file (kathsurrey.mp3)
at Patryck
Mark: Sorry what did you say your name was again?
Kath: My name is Kath. Short for Katherine.
Mark: Katherine. Katherine. Mark
Kath: Hello. (laughs)
…
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Download audio file (OPEC.mp3)
at elkrusty
A guy from Indiana talked to Mark about the war in Iraq.
Mark: Which oil cartel?
Guy: OPEC.
Mark: OPEC. Right. And they were gonna like …
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Download audio file (swami2.mp3)
at Irp
Swami: If you are meditating anyway there is a lot of heat.
Mark: Mm.
Swami: I have a lot of heat so that is why …
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Download audio file (nickmanchester.mp3)
at Neil101
Mark ran into Nick from Manchester in the village of Malana in Himachal Pradesh.
Mark: So Nick you are from Manchester?
Nick: Yeah.
Mark: How long …
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Download audio file (swami1.mp3)
at Gayatri
Swami: Where are the cricket grounds in Australia … where test cricket is held?
Mark: Every city.
Swami: Every city?
Mark: I am from Brisbane.
Swami: Ah-ha Brisbane! Queensland.
Mark: …
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Download audio file (adrian.mp3)
at Motographer
Mark: So Adrian, what part of Germany do you come from?
Adrian: I’m coming from the southwest of Germany.
Mark: What’s the name of the area?
Adrian: It’s …
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Download audio file (aili1.mp3)
at roxeteer
Aaron: Hey Aili, what movie did you watch tonight?
Aili: Totoro.
Aaron: Totoro? Did you like it?
Aili: Yes. Makkuro Kurosuke.
Aaron: There …
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Download audio file (annette.mp3)
at *heloise*
Mark: What’s your name?
Annette: Annette.
Mark: Annette. And where are you from, Annette?
Annette: I’m from Denmark.
Mark: Oh really? What part …
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Download audio file (aaron1.mp3)
at Kevin Sall
Mark: You were born in..What state were you born in, Aaron?
Aaron: I was born in Tennesee.
Mark: What part of Tennesee?
Aaron: Memphis, Tennesee.
Mark: Memphis, Tennesee. …
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Download audio file (burke1.mp3)
at Monique Hofland
Mark: Did you say…? Burke! Did you say you were…? Did you say you grew up on the road?
Burke: Ahm. Well. Actually I …
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Download audio file (meditation.mp3)
at premasagar
Mark: So what is meditation?
Alec: Hmm..good question. Well meditation is a huge variety of techniques that are used to move people into the moment…or to …
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Download audio file (workinginbangkok.mp3)
at Hartfried Schmid
Mark talked to Tim at his office in Bangkok.
Mark : Hello everybody. I am just sitting here in Bangkok at a UNESCO office with …
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Download audio file (studyinginindia.mp3)
at dashingyankee
Mark: So I am just sitting in an Indian restaurant with my friend, Arthur. Arthur, you have been to India, haven’t you?
Arthur: Yes.
Mark: Tell us …
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Download audio file (workingasanengineer.mp3)
at pianoforte
Mark talks to Tony about a job in Kuwait
Mark: What kind of job in Kuwait?
Tony: Oh it would be ahh…well…it could be a number of …
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Download audio file (vietnamwar.mp3)
at *hendrik
Mark asks Tony about his experiences in Bangkok during the Vietnam War.
Tony: I didn’t go to Vietnam. I was in the air force.
Mark: Right.
Tony: They …
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Download audio file (eyre.mp3)
at SideShowMom
Mark: There is this big lake in the middle of Australia: Lake Eyre…and it is below sea level..
Craig: Right…
Mark: And normally the rivers in Australia…they …
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Download audio file (onhorseback.mp3)
at stephanie-sas
Craig and Mark and some friends talk about a horseback journey from Canada to South America.
Craig: One night Mark and I came up with an …
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Download audio file (scales.mp3)
at Dey
Mark and Pedro and Be and Kenni are comparing Indian music and western music.
Mark: Hello everybody. I am just sitting here with Kenni and Pedro …
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Download audio file (miria2.mp3)
at leonie_x
Mark: Ok, so, a minute ago you were talking about your uncle and you said that he was one of the pioneers in Davao.
Miriam: Yes. …
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Download audio file (laveen.mp3)
at Caretakr
Aaron: Where are you from?
Derek: I’m from Laveen, Arizona.
Aaron: Where is Laveen?
Derek: Laveen is Southwest of Phoenix.
Aaron: Southwest of Phoenix.
Derek: Phoenix is the capital of …
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Download audio file (steve1.mp3)
at Joe_B
Mark: So, Steve, you are from Brooklyn?
Steve: Yes.
Mark: That is one of the boroughs of New York City?
Steve: Correct.
Mark: How many boroughs are there, do …
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Download audio file (chakras.mp3)
at omnos
In this conversation, Pedro, Kenni, Mark and Be talk about energy centers in the body (chakras) and then start to sing. In their conversation they …
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Download audio file (miria1.mp3)
at Aktiv Phil
Mark: Where are you from Miriam?
Miriam: I am from the Philippines. I was born in Manila, actually.
Mark: Right.
Miriam: … in 1961
Mark: Your parents …
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Download audio file (chile.mp3)
at emeeelea a.k.a mela
Kenni and Pedro talk with Mark and Be about South America.
Mark: So, Kenni, are you from Santiago as well?
Kenni: Yes, I am from …
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Download audio file (bhagavad-gita.mp3)
at novanglus3
Mark and Pedro and Kenni and Be are talking about the Bhagavad-Gita after dinner.
Mark: Hello everybody. I am just sitting here with Pedro. We have …
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Download audio file (buck.mp3)
at the_life_and_times_of_the_
Mark talks to Eric about an incredible animal experience. Note that the word ‘buck’ means ‘dollar‘ and also ‘male deer’.
Eric: So I was in…I think …
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Download audio file (japaneseanimals.mp3)
at eesti
Mark and Eric talk about wild animals in Japan.
Mark: When you go on these motorcycle trips, do you see much wildlife?
Eric: Well often I ride …
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Download audio file (plutonium.mp3)
at maidrin_rua
Mark and Aaron talked to an eighty-six year-old Japanese poet and political activist who had lived in India and China.
Mark: Ok so you came back …
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Download audio file (borninvirginia.mp3)
at vidalia
Mark met Tony in Bangkok. They talked and ate together.
Tony: Can I eat while I am talking?
Mark: Yeah, yeah yeah yeah..
Tony: You ever heard a …
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Download audio file (motorcycle.mp3)
at novon
Mark asks Eric about motorcycling in Japan.
Mark: Hey, Eric! You’ve got a motorcycle, haven’t you?
Eric: Ahh, yes, I have two.
Mark: What kind?
Eric: I have a …
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Download audio file (overseas.mp3)
at glenelg48
Mark talks to Seiko about her time in San Francisco, Beijing and Amsterdam and they wander on to the topic of languages and being bilingual …
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Download audio file (trailoftears.mp3)
at babasteve
In this interview Mark talks to his friend, Eric from Oklahoma about the cowboy culture in that part of the United States.
Mark : Hello everybody. …
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Download audio file (lerato.africa.mp3)
at Farl
In this conversation, Mark asks Lerato about where she has been in Africa and they get talking about ideas of color and the mutilation of …
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Download audio file (lerato.mp3)
at carlosoliveirareis
In this recording Mark interviews Lerato, who comes from South Africa.
M: Ok so…Hello everybody I am sitting here with Lerato from South Africa. What part …
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Download audio file (steve.mp3)
at teaspout
Mark interviews Steve Yenik, a friend and co-worker of his, who lives in Kyoto, Japan. In it, Steve talks a little bit about the Midwest …
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Download audio file (danishmigrants.mp3)
Tom and Klaus are two senior Danish immigrants who came to Australia as young men in their twenties. They are talking with Mark and Lyndell about …
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Download audio file (matt.mp3)
In this podcast, Mark White interviews Matt, a U.S. marine who is now stationed in Japan and who fought in the Battle of Baghdad.
Mark: Ok, Matt. …
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Download audio file (archie.mp3)
In this podcast, Mark White interviews Archie, a sheep man from the town of Emmaville in New South Wales, Australia. Archie talks about the …

