TRANSCRIPT
Brian: Hi
everyone, and welcome back to the podcast. I’m your host, Brian.
Brian: Ever
felt like giving up on a dream? Like it’s just too hard or maybe not meant to
be?
Brian: In today’s
episode, we talk about those doubts — and why pushing through them matters. Brian:
You’ll hear a real conversation about failure, purpose, and not quitting
too soon. Let’s jump in.
Brian: But
first, let’s warm up with a few quick questions to get you thinking:
Brian: Maybe
you wanted to move abroad, learn English fluently, start a business, or become
a musician — but it seemed too far away at the time.
Brian: Question
2: What’s something you’ve almost given up on — but didn’t?
Brian: Perhaps it was finishing school, passing an exam, sticking to a
fitness goal, or continuing your English studies after struggling at first.
Brian:
Brian: Question 3: Do you believe failure is a step forward
or a step back?
Brian: Some people see failure as a lesson and part of progress, while
others find it discouraging at first — what do you think?
Brian: Keep
your answers in mind as we dive into today’s story. Let’s get started.
Emily: Yeah…
just been thinking a lot lately. I feel like I’m wasting time chasing something
that might never happen.
Samantha:
You mean your dream of starting a bakery?
Emily: Exactly.
I’ve tried so many times. It’s expensive, risky, and I don’t even know if
people will like my pastries. Sometimes I think maybe I should just give up.
Brian: Whoa,
hold on. Why would you give up on something you love so much?
Emily: Because
I’m tired, Brian. I’ve failed more than once. What if I’m just not good enough?
Maybe it’s just a fantasy.
Samantha:
Emily, failing doesn’t mean you’re not good enough. It
means you’re learning. Everyone fails. That’s how success starts.
Brian: Samantha’s
right. Think about it this way—your dream gives your life direction. Without
it, where would you be?
Emily: Hmm…
probably stuck in a job I don’t like, just for the paycheck. Just going through
the motions.
Samantha:
Exactly. Your dream is more than a goal—it’s part of
who you are. It’s what gets you excited to wake up in the morning.
Brian: And
remember, small steps still count. You don’t have to open a bakery tomorrow.
Keep baking, sell at local events, post your creations online, build your name.
Step by step.
Emily: I
guess… but what if it never works out? What if I waste more time?
Samantha:
That’s a risk we all face. But isn’t it better to try
and fail than to never try at all? Regret stays longer than failure.
Brian: I mean,
look at me. I wanted to be a podcast host for years. I had no idea what I was
doing at first. I recorded my first episode in a closet!
Emily: Seriously?
A closet?
Brian: Yep.
The sound was terrible, I forgot half of what I wanted to say, and nobody
listened. But I kept going. I kept improving. And now I’ve got listeners in
over ten countries. It took time, but it was worth it.
Samantha:
See? Success doesn’t come overnight. It takes time,
effort, belief—and a few embarrassing beginnings!
Emily: You
guys are making a lot of sense… I just needed to hear it, I guess. I’ve been
feeling really alone in all this.
Brian: You’re
not alone, Emily. And you also inspire people. When others see you chasing your
dream, even through the hard times, it gives them courage to follow theirs.
Samantha:
That’s true. I told my little sister about you. She
wants to be a chef now because she saw you never gave up.
Emily: Really?
Wow… I didn’t know I had that kind of impact. I always thought no one was
really paying attention.
Brian: Oh,
people notice. You never know who’s watching and learning from you. Sometimes
the people you inspire the most are the ones you least expect.
Emily: That’s
actually really encouraging. I guess I’ve been too focused on what’s going
wrong instead of what I’ve achieved so far.
Samantha:
That’s normal. We all do it. But you’ve already come a
long way. Remember those cupcakes you brought to the community center? Everyone
loved them!
Emily: (smiles)
Yeah… I still get messages asking when I’ll bring more. I even had one lady
offer to pay me for a dozen.
Brian: There
you go! That’s proof people love what you do. Imagine what could happen if you
kept going.
Emily: Okay,
okay… you’ve convinced me. I’m not giving up. I’m going to give it one more big
push—starting with a weekend pop-up booth downtown next month.
Samantha:
That’s the spirit! You’ve got this.
Brian: And
we’ll be there, cheering you on—and eating everything you make. Just remember,
your dream matters, Emily. It’s not silly. It’s worth every bit of effort.
Emily: Thanks,
guys. I feel a lot better now. You reminded me why I started in the first
place. I was passionate. I loved creating things people enjoy. I kind of forgot
how much that meant to me.
Brian: That’s
what friends—and podcasts—are for. To remind you to keep going, even when it’s
tough.
Samantha:
And hey, just imagine this: one day, you’ll be the
guest on Brian’s podcast, sharing your journey from “almost giving up” to
“successful bakery owner.”
Emily: (laughs)
I’d love that. But first, I’ve got some planning—and baking—to do.
Brian: One
step at a time. And we’re right here with you.
Emily: Thanks,
both of you. Seriously.
Brian: Don’t
worry — it’s all based on what you just heard. Take a moment to go through the
questions, then listen again and see if you catch anything you missed the first
time.
A) It shows you’re not good enough
B) It means you’re learning
C) It’s a sign to quit
2. What
small step does Brian suggest Emily take toward her dream?
A) Open a bakery immediately
B) Keep baking and sell at local events
C) Stop baking and find a new job
3. What
impact does Emily’s journey have on others, according to Samantha?
A) It makes them give up too
B) It inspires others to follow their dreams
C) It has no effect
Brian: Key Point Summary:
1. Dreams
give life direction and motivate us to keep moving forward even during hard
times.
- Failure is part of
the learning process, not a sign of not being good enough.
- Taking small,
steady steps helps build progress toward your goals.
- Effort and
persistence matter more than instant success.
- Your journey can
inspire others more than you realize.
- It’s better to try
and fail than never to try and live with regret.
- Support from
friends and sharing your dreams can boost your motivation.
Brian: Thanks
for joining us today on English on the Go. We hope Emily’s story
encouraged you to keep chasing your dreams, no matter the setbacks.
Brian: Now,
let’s check your answers to the quiz:
Correct answer is B) It means you’re learning
Brian: Question
2. What small step does Brian suggest Emily take toward her dream?
Correct answer: B) Keep baking and sell at local events
Brian: Question
3. What impact does Emily’s journey have on others, according to Samantha?
Correct answer: B) It inspires others to follow their dreams
Brian: Don’t forget, you can grab today’s vocabulary list as
a free PDF to help you review all the new words and phrases. And remember — the
more you listen, the better your confidence will grow when speaking English in
real life.
Brian: If you
enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share it with friends, and join us
again for more practical English learning.
Brian: Until
next time, keep practicing everywhere and speaking everywhere. See you soon!
VOCABULARY
SUMMARY
|
Expression |
Pronunciation |
Meaning |
Example
Sentence |
|
Give
up |
/ɡɪv
ʌp/ |
To
stop trying or quit |
Emily
felt like giving up on her bakery dream. |
|
Step
by step |
/stɛp
baɪ stɛp/ |
Slowly
and carefully, little by little |
She’s
improving her skills step by step. |
|
Fantasy |
/ˈfæntəsi/ |
An
idea or hope that may not be realistic |
Sometimes
her dream felt like just a fantasy. |
|
Inspire |
/ɪnˈspaɪər/ |
To
motivate or encourage someone |
Her
determination inspired others to follow their dreams. |
|
Passionate |
/ˈpæʃənət/ |
Having
strong feelings or enthusiasm |
Emily
is passionate about baking. |
|
Hold
on |
/hoʊld
ɒn/ |
Wait
or don’t give up |
Brian
said, “Hold on, why give up now?” |
|
Keep going |
/kiːp
ˈɡoʊɪŋ/ |
Continue
trying |
Even
when it’s hard, keep going. |
|
Give
it a push |
/ɡɪv
ɪt ə pʊʃ/ |
Make
an extra effort |
Emily
decided to give her bakery one more big push. |
|
Come
a long way |
/kʌm ə
lɔːŋ weɪ/ |
Made
a lot of progress |
You’ve
come a long way since you started baking. |
EXERCISES
EXERCISE
1: Fill in the Blanks
Instruction:
Listen to the conversation and fill in the blanks with the appropriate word
Emily: Yeah…
just been _____(3). I feel like I’m _____(4) chasing something that _____(5).
Samantha:
You mean your _____(6) a bakery?
Emily: Exactly.
I’ve _____(7). It’s expensive, risky, and I don’t even know if people will
_____(8). Sometimes I think maybe I _____(9).
Brian: Whoa,
_____(10). Why would you _____(11) something you _____(12)?
Emily: Because
I’m _____(13), Brian. I’ve _____(14). What if I’m _____(15)? Maybe it’s
_____(16).
Samantha:
Emily, failing _____(17) you’re not good enough. It
means you’re learning. Everyone fails. That’s _____(18).
Brian: Samantha’s
right. Think about it _____(19)—your dream _____(20) direction. Without it,
_____(21)?
Emily: Hmm…
probably _____(22) a job I don’t like, just for the paycheck. Just _____(23).
Samantha:
Exactly. Your dream _____(24) a goal—it’s _____(25)
you are. It’s what _____(26) to wake up in the morning.
Brian: And
remember, _____(27). You don’t have to _____(28) tomorrow. Keep baking, sell at
local events, post your creations online, _____(29). _____(30).
Emily: I
guess… but what if it _____(31)? What if I _____(32)?
Samantha:
That’s a _____(33). But isn’t it _____(34) than to
never try at all? Regret _____(35).
Brian: I mean,
_____(36). I wanted to be a _____(37) for years. I had _____(38) at first. I
_____(39) in a closet!
Emily: Seriously?
_____(40)?
Brian: Yep.
The sound _____(41), I forgot _____(42) to say, and nobody listened. But I
_____(43). I _____(44). And now I’ve got _____(45) ten countries. It took time,
but it _____(46).
Samantha:
See? Success _____(47). It takes time, effort,
belief—and _____(48)!
Emily: You
guys are _____(49)… I just _____(50), I guess. I’ve been _____(51) alone in all
this.
Brian: You’re
_____(52), Emily. And you also _____(53). When others _____(54), even through
the hard times, it _____(55) to follow theirs.
Samantha:
That’s true. I _____(56) about you. She wants to be a
_____(57) she saw you _____(58).
Emily: Really?
Wow… I didn’t _____(59). I always thought _____(60).
Brian: Oh,
_____(61). You never _____(62) and learning from you. Sometimes the people you
_____(63) are the ones you _____(64).
Emily: That’s
actually _____(65). I guess I’ve been _____(66) on what’s going wrong instead
of _____(67).
Samantha:
That’s normal. We _____(68). But you’ve _____(69).
Remember those _____(70) to the community center? Everyone _____(71)!
Emily: (smiles)
Yeah… I still _____(72) when I’ll bring more. I even had _____(73) to pay me
for a dozen.
Brian: There
you go! That’s _____(74) what you do. Imagine what _____(75) if you _____(76).
Emily: Okay,
okay… you’ve _____(77). I’m _____(78). I’m going to _____(79)—starting with a
_____(80) downtown next month.
Samantha:
That’s _____(81)! You’ve _____(82).
Brian: And
we’ll be there, _____(83)—and eating _____(84). Just remember, your _____(85),
Emily. It’s _____(86). It’s _____(87).
Emily: Thanks,
guys. I _____(88) now. You _____(89) I started in the first place. I was
passionate. I loved _____(90). I kind of _____(91) that meant to me.
Brian: That’s
what _____(92)—are for. To remind you to _____(93), even _____(94).
Samantha:
And hey, just _____(95): one day, you’ll be the
_____(96) Brian’s podcast, sharing your _____(97) to “successful bakery owner.”
Emily: (laughs)
I’d _____(98). But first, I’ve got _____(99)—and baking—to do.
Brian: One
_____(100). And we’re _____(101).
Emily: Thanks,
_____(102). Seriously.
Answer Key
1. seemed a bit down
2. Everything okay
3. thinking a lot lately
4. wasting time
5. might never happen
6. dream of starting
7. tried so many times
8. like my pastries
9. should just give up
10. hold on
11. give up on
12. love so much
13. tired
14. failed more than once
15. just not good enough
16. just a fantasy
17. doesn’t mean
18. how success starts
19. this way
20. gives your life
21. where would you be
22. stuck in
23. going through the motions
24. is more than
25. part of who
26. gets you excited
27. small steps still count
28. open a bakery
29. build your name
30. Step by step
31. never works out
32. waste more time
33. risk we all face
34. better to try and fail
35. stays longer than failure
36. look at me
37. podcast host
38. no idea what I was doing
39. recorded my first episode
40. A closet
41. was terrible
42. half of what I wanted
43. kept going
44. kept improving
45. listeners in over
46. was worth it
47. doesn’t come overnight
48. a few embarrassing beginnings
49. making a lot of sense
50. needed to hear it
51. feeling really
52. not alone
53. inspire people
54. see you chasing your dream
55. gives them courage
56. told my little sister
57. chef now because
58. never gave up
59. know I had that kind of impact
60. no one was really paying attention
61. people notice
62. know who’s watching
63. inspire the most
64. least expect
65. really encouraging
66. too focused
67. what I’ve achieved so far
68. all do it
69. already come a long way
70. cupcakes you brought
71. loved them
72. get messages asking
73. one lady offer
74. proof people love
75. could happen
76. kept going
77. convinced me
78. not giving up
79. give it one more big push
80. weekend pop-up booth
81. the spirit
82. got this
83. cheering you on
84. everything you make
85. dream matters
86. not silly
87. worth every bit of effort
88. feel a lot better
89. reminded me why
90. creating things people enjoy
91. forgot how much
92. friends—and podcasts
93. keep going
94. when it’s tough
95. imagine this
96. guest on
97. journey from “almost giving up”
98. love that
99. some planning
100. step at a time
101. right here with you
102. both of you
