Crosby’s 9: Recent Episodes

Crosby's 9 - Drew Crosby

English from all angles! An unusual 9-minute podcast to improve your English. Enlarge your vocabulary, practice phrasal verbs and learn expressions as you improve your listening and speaking skills.

View Details

English from all angles! Learning the letters in English is no longer difficult – find out why in this episode. Also, FIX your problem with possessive questions FOREVER. Whose problem is that? It’s not yours anymore! Why has it been so long since Drew’s published a Crosby’s 9 episode? He’s been meaning to (a great expression you’ll learn here) for a long time, but he’s been as busy as a bee. Tune in and he’ll tell you more. Also, bees buzz, cats meow, cows moo and snakes…? Check it out.

View Details

English from all angles! You can invest money and you can invest in yourself.But in both cases, you need to know when to take profit. What does that really mean in everyday English? Tune in to discover new words and expressions, boost your fluency, and sharpen your grammar skills with a practical look at question tags. How well do you really know them? Test yourself! Pause the rat race. In this episode, Drew explores why it’s important to celebrate small victories and recognize the progress you’ve made in English. Are you keeping track of your improvement? Are you on the right track? Keep moving forward, but don’t forget to “take profit” along the way. And by the way…“get out of your comfort zone” is a little overused, isn’t it?

View Details

English from all angles! Short on time? In just 9 minutes, improve your English speaking and listening skills as you learn practical vocabulary, common expressions, and real-life English you can use right away. In this episode, learn why checks bounce, how to balance a checkbook, the balance beam with Nadia Comaneci, and what “that’s the way the ball bounces” and “no spring chicken” really mean.

View Details

English from all angles! Are you a Pacers fan? Are you going to stand under the mistletoe this holiday season? What LP did the Prince song “Kiss” appear on? Why so many questions? Because, there’s so much to learn! Don’t miss it. Can’t find parking downtown? Is the city too noisy for you? Are things too expensive in the city center? Is it too crowded? Well, that’s life in the big city! In this episode, you’ll learn how to use this expression - along with others, like “hustle and bustle” - while you perfect your listening, speaking and pronunciation skills AND learn new vocabulary, phrasal verbs and expressions.

View Details

What frustrates many people? Poor WiFi connection? Telemarketing? Forgetting passwords? Can frustration fuel motivation? What’s Top Fuel Racing? So many questions…Tune in for answers as you practice -and learn- tons of English! English from all angles! They’re selling headphones with cables again. Everything old is new again! Listen to this episode and you’ll learn this useful expression along with a lot more. Improve your listening comprehension, build your vocabulary, perfect your pronunciation…> It’s all here, in 9 minutes.

View Details

English from all angles! Would you ever get married secretly without telling your friends and family beforehand? In other words, would you ever elope? Over the years, many celebrities - including Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart - have tried to escape the media spotlight by eloping. Also in this episode, test your knowledge of some new vocabulary and expressions. Improve your English tremendously in only 9 minutes!

View Details

English from all angles! Quick question: How long does it take for fish (and guests) to stink? Answer: Three days. Do you agree? Tune in for more. Also, local vs. locale. In this episode, Drew discusses the Seattle local Kurt Cobain and the iconic Seattle locale, the Pike Place Market, where he hawked and hucked (and filleted) fish.

View Details

English from all angles! Do you excessively think about things? Do you get stuck in a loop? Do you replay the past over and over? In other words, do you overthink? Tune in and learn while your English gets better. As always, Drew takes you on a 9-minute journey that will improve your English. Along with overthinking, Drew discusses Chicago’s Loop (and the origin of the word), instant replay (is it a good idea in sports?) Instant Karma (John Lennon’s song)…and more!

View Details

English from all angles! Repeat: It sounds silly, but if you imitate me, you’ll improve your English. So true. Give Drew’s advice a shot. This episode looks at things that are undeniably true. Any ideas? Tune in! Is your English improving this summer? If not, you need to buckle down. Buckle down? Yes, it’s one of the useful phrasal verbs you’ll learn here. By the way, do you have the face you deserve? Find out!

View Details

English from all angles! What types of foods put you in a good mood? Tune in and find out while you put your English to the test and – as usual – learn tons! Along with discussing tasty, nutritious, well-made and comfort foods, Drew presents the musician known as the founding father of the New Orleans sound. And don’t miss the wit of George Bernard Shaw, as well as some Awesome Advice: Remember, all news is biased. What do think?

View Details

English from all angles! What?! Do you still forget to pronounce the “s” in the third person singular? Well, as of today you’ll no longer make that mistake. When you follow along with Drew, your English improves right away. Try it, you’ll see! What do you own? Why do you own it? Is it worth owning? Drew takes a look at this concept as he teaches you new words and expressions. Also, don’t miss this episode’s Remarkable Recording, you’re going to love it! All in just 9 minutes.

View Details

English from all angles! Please ignore this summary. Wait, never mind! Tune in and listen to Drew discuss the LP Nevermind by Nirvana, which led to the rock and rock shake-up of ’91 resulting in Grunge. Also, check out “never mind” the expression as you practice your English and learn even more. Paying compliments. When was the last time you paid somebody a compliment? How did it make your feel? When did you last tell a joke that bombed? Discover more in this episode! And, don’t miss the Cool Quote and Awesome Advice sections.

View Details

English from all angles! In this episode you’ll discover tons of new vocabulary and expressions, music by Willie Nelson and how to cook chili. It won’t be a letdown (another new word for you!). Is truth stranger than fiction? Is it time to hit the road? Was the LP released to very little fanfare? Did the preacher hit the road? Tune in and find out!

View Details

English from all angles! Remember, Crosby’s 9 is your one-stop English language shop for learning phrasal verbs, expressions and vocabulary as you improve your grammar, speaking and listening comprehension skills. All in 9 minutes! In this episode, Drew bids farewell to 2024 and rings in 2025. You’ll learn these expressions along with many more. And how well do know question tags and the conditionals in English? Test yourself in this episode. Happy New Year everyone!!

View Details

English from all angles! Are you struggling with your self-confidence? Do you lack the skills needed to achieve your goals? Well, simply act as if you had them until you actually obtain them. In other words, fake it until you make it. In this episode, Drew looks at whether or not inauthenticity is a good thing. Faking it to make it may boost your self-esteem, but when it comes to knockoff products or counterfeit money, inauthenticity is damaging. Pretending to be real is typically disingenuous behavior.

View Details

English from all angles! In order for your plan to become a reality, certain events need to happen. In other words, things need to fall into place. In this episode, you’ll continue to build your English vocabulary, hone your listening comprehension and fine-tune your pronunciation and speaking skills. Before branching out into telephony, Nokia made paper. Before branching out into consumer electronics, LG made face cream. Before branching out into the energy industry, Shell sold…yep, decorative shells. There’s your new phrasal verb: branch out. Tune in for a whole lot more!

View Details

English from all angles! Quick! > What does “faze” mean? Is there anything that fazes you? Remember, “faze” and “phase” are pronounced the same way. Are you going through a phase? Drew boosts your confidence when it comes to speaking English and helps you quickly improve your listening comprehension. Give it a shot! In this episode, you’ll learn the word “rowdy” and the expression “off your game”. Crowds at sporting events can sometimes be disorderly and disruptive, in other words, rowdy. Rowdy crowds often put athletes off their game. Also, check out the phrasal verbs “phase in” and “phase out”. The euro was phased in as the peseta was phased out. Tons of useful English for you - as usual - so don’t miss out.

View Details

English from all angles! Are you having difficulty finding a great way to improve your English? Then lucky you! You’ve just found the solution. Tune in to Crosby’s 9 to perfect your listening comprehension while Drew offers you tips that’ll make your English great. Also, in this episode there are expressions galore. Don’t miss it! Is it fate? Is it destiny? Is it karma? Or is it simply luck? Do you believe in luck? What makes you lucky? Do have a lucky charm? What about jinxes? Are you really ready to improve your pronunciation? Well, then here we go….

View Details

English from all angles! Follow the simple advice that Drew gives you and speak English fluently. Why am I asking you to repeat this? Because by doing so you’ll improve your grammar, listening comprehension and pronunciation. Give it a shot.

View Details

English from all angles! Let’s get the ball rolling! Let’s get into gear! In this episode, you’ll learn expressions that have to do with taking action. Don’t miss it! It’s time for action, as opposed to lounging around. It’s time for action, as opposed to loafing around. It’s time for action, as opposed to lazing around. You get the idea: “as opposed to” means “rather than” and we use it a lot in English. So, tune in and take advantage of this podcast, as opposed to missing your opportunity to improve your English.

View Details

English from all angles! It’s true that the 70’s had a little bit of everything: eclectic music, energy shortages, political scandals, armed conflicts, emerging technology and unforgettable fashion trends. However, it all seemed to take place amid a backdrop of relative simplicity. With fewer complications and less distraction, the 70’s were pretty simple, weren’t they? Are they coming back? Tune in to find out more while you improve your English.

View Details

English from all angles! It’s that time of the year again: time to clean everything…out! (“Clean out” is a super useful phrasal verb you’ll learn in this podcast). Yes, it’s spring-cleaning time. Time to clean out the garage, the attic, the kitchen cabinets…Phew! I’m tired just thinking about it. Spring-cleaning means deep cleaning those areas that you don’t clean on a regular basis. Hard-to-reach areas. Under the carpets. Beneath the couch. And now is the time to do it. As usual, in this podcast you’ll learn tons…expressions, pronunciation and speaking tips and new concepts and vocabulary. Don’t miss it!

View Details

English from all angles! Do yourselves a favor and take nine minutes out of your hectic schedule to learn -and practice- English. This podcast will fine tune your listening comprehension, improve your speaking (remember, by imitating Drew), enlarge your vocabulary and teach you new expressions. It’s February, the month of love, and this year it has 29 days, making it a leap year. In this episode, Drew discusses silent letters, steak doneness (yes, “doneness” is a word!) and taking leaps of faith.

View Details

English from all angles! Have you ever had difficulty starting a large project because it seemed too intimidating; too daunting? Well, the key is to simply take the first step. Tune in to learn more and improve your English - to boot!When it comes to expressions and new vocabulary, this episode is chock-full. You’ll learn “step up to the plate,” “taunting,” “go out on a limb”, “ill will”… And as regular listeners know, the key to speaking English better is by imitating Drew. Give it a shot!

View Details

English from all angles! Christmas decorations: When do you typically put them up? Are they still up? Well, it’s that moment of the year again: time to take them down. Are you ready to improve your speaking and pronunciation? All you have to do is imitate Drew. Try it and you’ll see – it really does work! In this episode, Drew discusses one of his favorite Christmas decorations: popcorn garland.

View Details

English from all angles! The verb “to be” is the foundation of the English language. Learning how to use it properly and with agility is key. Test your ability in this podcast. The economy isn’t creating any new jobs because consumers aren’t spending any money. Consumers aren’t spending any money because the economy isn’t creating any new jobs. Ah, the vicious circle. Tune in for more! Also, how easy is it for you to tell time in English? Check it out.

View Details

English from all angles! If you film the MAKING OF a movie or a documentary, the concept is called the “making of” and not the “making off”. Many people mistakenly use “making off” when they should use “making of”. Tune in for the clarification. Dough, through, rough, tough…Check your pronunciation of these words and include a new one into your vocabulary arsenal: trough. We also review “would” and “used to” for describing repeated actions in the past. Don’t miss it!

View Details

English from all angles! Travelling along Route 66 allows you to escape the cookie-cutter franchises that populate the American landscape. Not sure what “cookie-cutter” means? Tune in and find out as Drew takes you down Route 66 for the last time in this, the last of four episodes about his summer road trip. Hundreds of thousands of people affected by the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl left their homes in search of a better life, and Route 66 promised to take them to a land of opportunity and prosperity. Learn about the Mother Road that runs from Chicago to LA, as you practice -and improve- your English.

View Details

English from all angles! Practice -and improve- your English while Drew continues to tell you the story about his Route 66 road trip. Be sure to tune in where we left off, which was in Tucumcari, New Mexico. From there, he passes through Bluewater, Church Rock, Gallup, Winslow...What are the top 10 must-see movies? Well, that’s very subjective, but Drew gives you Roger Ebert’s version right here. Check it out. Are you a big Breaking Bad fan? What are some of the series’ iconic sites in Albuquerque? You’ll find out…

View Details

English from all angles! Let’s pick up where we left off. Do you know that English expression? (If not, you will after this episode). Well, that’s exactly what Drew does in this, the second episode about his road trip down America’s Route 66. Are you ready to put your listening comprehension into high gear? If so, tune in to hear more about Drew’s Route 66 adventure. Lafayette Square in St. Louis, the Cherokee Nation in Vinita, coffee beans in Clinton, barbecue in Amarillo, biscuits and gravy in Tucumcari…The story continues.

View Details

English from all angles! Drew’s back after summer break, having taken a road trip down America’s legendary Route 66. Restart your English routine with more expressions, vocabulary, phrasal verbs and speaking tips as you improve your listening comprehension. And where, as usual, you’ll learn something interesting along the way. Stops along Drew’s Route 66 trip included: Chicago, St. Louis, Joplin, Clinton, Tucumcari, Albuquerque, Flagstaff, Kingman, Las Vegas and Santa Monica. In this episode, he shares highlights from his road trip from beginning to end. So, get your kicks with this, the first “chapter” of his experiences on what John Steinbeck dubbed the “Mother Road.”

View Details

English from all angles! Are two heads better than one? What about hearts? Tune in to improve your listening comprehension, gain fluency, learn new expressions, fine-tune your pronunciation and get your usual dose of Drew’s take on pop culture. Your English will get much better if you listen to Crosby’s 9. Let that sink in. Wait! What does “let that sink in” mean? Tune in and find out. By the way, what is “sync” short for? What is “decaf” short for? And “info”? What does NASA stand for? And GPS? Short for vs. stand for…check it out in this episode.

View Details

English from all angles! Here’s some food for thought: what if you learned a new word in English every day? You’d enlarge your vocabulary, that’s for sure. Well, that’s what you’ll do when you listen to this podcast, along with improving your listening and speaking – as usual. Don’t miss it! Here’s a phrasal verb you need to start using: to cut out. Question: What would happen if you cut out sugar? What would the consequences be? Tune in and find out! Drew also explains the expression, “no shirt, no shoes, no service,” among others.

View Details

English from all angles! Have you recently gained an advantage over someone? If so, then tables have turned. Has your team finally beaten its long-time rival? If so, then the tables have turned. Was the mainstream political party defeated at the polls? If so, then the tables have turned. Now that you know this useful expression, tune in to the podcast to learn -and improve- even more! By now, you’re surely good at recognizing all the “difficult” letters in English. Listen to this podcast and test yourself. Also, tune in for a simple tip on how to sound more like a native English speaker by using the interrogative structure for emphasis and there’s practice on the conditional.

View Details

English from all angles! Do you have peace of mind? Have you have ever given anyone a piece of your mind? In this episode, Drew takes a look at these expressions and helps you gain fluency and bilingualism through repetition. How well can you master the most important verb in the English language, to be? Drew offers a quick reminder and exercise. He also takes you through a quick review of the conditionals and teaches several useful expressions that you can start using…right now!

View Details

English from all angles! Don’t talk with your mouth full, cover your mouth when you sneeze, wipe your feet…Do you remember the rules you had at home as a kid? Drew looks back on his. Tune in and listen to what they were while you practice -and improve- your English. Quick question: what’s a “pet peeve”? Do you have any? Drew mentions a couple of his in this episode. Also, how familiar are you with the structure “there + to be” in English? Drew reminds you how important it is so…don’t forget to practice it!

View Details

English from all angles! The SVB bank failure, Meta’s layoffs, increasing inflation…Are you waiting for other shoe to drop? Learn how to use this expression –and a whole lot more – in this episode. Is increased crime driving away local investment? Are higher taxes driving away local residents? Learn how to use this key phrasal verb in this episode. And for the umpteenth time, Drew reminds you: imitate him and you’ll improve your speaking!

View Details

English from all angles! This episode is packed with what you all love: spelling, speaking, phrasal verbs, vocabulary, the conditional, expressions…it’s your one-stop English shop – all in 9 minutes. In this episode you’ll continue to improve your listening comprehension by listening to Drew speak naturally spoken English. And there’s another million-dollar question as well. Will you get it right?

View Details

English from all angles! Is it just me, or is February the month when you miss people the most? Do you miss your friends? What types of friends? Do we have different “types” of friends? Do you miss hanging out with them? Hanging out…Are you familiar with this phrasal verb? You will be after this episode. Don’t miss it! Do you share strong ties with every friend you have? Do you have friendships based on weak ties? Do any spring to mind? Do you make small talk with them? Tune in and learn more! (Yes, you’ll learn the expression, “spring to mind”…).

View Details

English from all angles! What do you think? Do you need to see something in order to believe it? Do you first need to witness it? Is believing something without first seeing it considered to be blind faith? What’s blind faith? And what’s Blind Faith? All of this -and a lot more- in this episode. Are you ready to take your English to the next level? BTW, how do you pronounce the contraction, “I will?" There are more pronunciation tips here, so don’t miss out! Like “ghosts.” Hmmm, that sounds scary…

View Details

English from all angles! Do you prefer to go shopping or do you prefer to do the shopping? What’s the difference? Tune in and find out. Drew also discusses the expression “to shop around.” In this episode, you’ll review your knowledge of question tags while you window shop. And there’s a quick test on the most famous verb of all: to be. Give it a shot!

View Details

English from all angles! In this episode, Drew takes a look at Peanuts and peanuts - and their associated characters, expressions, vocabulary and phrasal verbs. Do you work for peanuts? Did you shell out on Christmas presents? Michael Jordan was a basketball player par excellence. Do you understand these questions? If not, you will after you listen to this episode. And remember, imitate and improve!

View Details

English from all angles! Did you watch the World Cup Final? Did Argentina win fair and square? Why is there an uproar? Are you familiar with the expression, “fair and square”? What about the word, “uproar”? Tune in and learn more! Your English will quickly and easily get better by simply listening to Crosby’s 9. In this episode, Drew discusses the words “hat trick”, (Mbappé scored one), “manage”, (France managed to tie the match) and “penalty shootout” (After overtime, the match went into a penalty shootout). Imitate and improve.

View Details

English from all angles! A partridge in a pear tree, five golden rings, nine ladies dancing…Drew takes a look at the unusual gifts sent to him by his true love. Are you familiar with them? He also teaches the expressions, “that’s my prerogative” and “don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.” How do you pronounce “Christmas”? Are you pronouncing it properly? Tune in to find out. And as usual, you’ll improve your English speaking and pronunciation by simply imitating Drew. For example: Perhaps partridges prefer to perch on pair trees. Got it?

View Details

English from all angles! What are you grateful for? Drew takes a look at the concept of being grateful -and its benefits- as he helps you along with your English. You’ll learn tons of expressions in this episode, such as “after all,” “wishful thinking,” “how about,” and a lot more. If you tune in and actively listen, you’ll be surprised by how easily your English improves.

View Details

English from all angles! Many companies in the energy industry are earning windfall profits. Not sure what that means? You will after this podcast. Don’t miss it! As always, you’ll repeat, imitate and put into practice what you learn in the podcast. It’s a super easy way to improve your English. Give it a shot!

View Details

English from all angles! Despite feeling nervous or afraid or embarrassed when you speak English in public, just remember one thing: you have nothing to lose…and everything to gain. In this episode, Drew reminds you of the advantages of speaking English in public and reviews the 4 conditionals. Also, you’ll work on your listening comprehension -particularly using letters- and you’ll learn two super useful expressions: “it’s all in your head” and “I’ll let it slide.” Don’t miss it!

View Details

English from all angles! Here, Drew discusses the expression “ticky-tacky,” which refers to cheap, low-quality construction and/or building materials often used in mass-production. A ticky-tacky house is a house built with inferior materials and/or workmanship and many were built after World War II in the United States. Does shoddy workmanship bother you? Some people really can’t stand it. What about you? (Clue: shoddy = inferior). Drew delves into this topic in this episode, so tune in and not only practice your English, but IMPROVE your English! You’ll also review the very useful modal verb “might.”

View Details

English from all angles! With this, the 136th episode, Drew is back to the grindstone. Are you familiar with the expression, “back to the grindstone?” Drew explains it here. Remember, you’ll continue to improve your pronunciation and speaking by imitating Drew. Question: Do you need to grind ground coffee? Not sure? Tune in! And regarding letters, don’t confuse the “g” with the “j.” Also, Drew reminds you how to improve your pronunciation of the letter “s.”

View Details

English from all angles! Remember, your wide-ranging vocabulary, your impeccable grammar and your flawless pronunciation is rendered useless if you can’t understand what people are saying. Use this podcast as a tool to improve your listening comprehension so that your other skills can really shine! Once again, Drew gives you the key to becoming a better English speaker: imitate him. Here, he discusses the business concepts of creative destruction and disruption through the use of two common expressions: making waves and rocking the boat.

View Details

English from all angles! You can plan for something or you can wing it. Which do you prefer? Which “strategy” leads to the best results? What are the pros and cons of each one? Tune in and discover what “winging it” means while you practice your English. Some people believe that achieving success through hard work is for losers. Intuition, they argue - or winging it - is the key to success. Have we reached the point where success through hard work is looked down upon? Also, get ready to REALLY improve your speaking and pronunciation because this podcast is all about repeat, repeat, repeat. Don’t miss it!

View Details

English from all angles! The more social media you use, the less sociable you are. Do you agree? Hear Drew’s take on being sociable and its relationship with social media. Learn new words, expressions and phrasal verbs while improving your fluency in English. Downloading, uploading, checking, scanning, swiping…Isn’t social media a big waste of time? Probably not, as long as you don’t go overboard. Are you familiar with the term “to go overboard?” You will be after this podcast!

View Details

English from all angles! Can you really enjoy something that you don’t like doing? Can you really enjoy something that’s irritating, bothersome or uncomfortable? Drew thinks so. Tune in and find out while you practice your English, to boot! (to boot? – Drew discussed this in EP 114). Drew reminds you of two key tips in order to easily and correctly pronounce words in English. Also, how well can you form question tags? Test yourselves in this episode.

View Details

English from all angles! When you’re “in the zone,” does time fly or does it stand still? Have you ever worked, performed or played while being “in the zone?” What’s it really like to be “in the zone”? Listen in and find out! How do you pronounce the “z” in English? Here’s a refresher. In fact, you’re really going to practice your letters in this podcast. You’ll also learn the (slightly rude) expression, “zip it,” and -as usual- there are lots of new words to add to your vocabulary “arsenal.”

View Details

English from all angles! Are you ready to improve your speaking and pronunciation in English? Imitate, imitate, imitate…you know the drill! In this episode, Drew teaches you the expressions, “true to form” and “all the rage.” Quick! Which one is the synonym for “accustomed to?” “Use to” or “used to?” You’ll get the lowdown here. (Lowdown? You’ll have to look that one up!) Also, test your knowledge of the conditionals and learn whether or not it’s a good idea to show the boss up.

View Details

English from all angles! In this episode, Drew discusses the expression “the plot thickens”, which includes everything from the TV series “Dallas” to chicken broth. Quite a hodgepodge of content, indeed! (Hodgepodge? You’ll have to look that one up :) Drew will also have you on the edge of your seat -yes; you’ll learn this expression- as he offers you his regular dose of tips for pronunciation and speaking, along with useful vocabulary and expressions for your everyday English. Don’t miss it!

View Details

English from all angles! Uh-oh! We’re in trouble. Our main competitor has just released a new breakthrough technology. They’ve raised the bar! Now we have to…try harder, improve our performance, achieve better results…In this episode, Drew explains what it means to “raise the bar.” How do you pronounce “hire?” Is it a noun? Tune in and you’ll be surprised. Also, we review the phrasal verb “to dress up.” Of course we dress up for Halloween, but is it normal to dress up for work? Lastly, fix your pronunciation of the word “athlete” forever.

View Details

English from all angles! Are you mentally tough? Are you impervious to criticism? If so, you’re probably thick-skinned. Tune in and learn more about this useful expression, along with other words and expressions related to the word “skin.” Quick! How many syllables does the word “criticism” have? Four. Did you get it right? Remember, the suffix “ism” has two syllables. Listen to this episode for some good practice. Drew also discusses the meaning of “poetic license.” Don’t miss it!

View Details

English from all angles! Money makes the world go round, doesn’t it? What do you think? Does money have an impact on our happiness? Drew discusses a few expressions related to money. Are you still struggling with recognizing certain letters in English? Tune in for a trick that’ll help you out. Question: Is it C-y-n-d-i or C-i-n-d-y? You’ll “see…”

View Details

English from all angles! This episode looks at some vocabulary and expressions related to the words “hat” and “cap.” How does a hat differ from a cap? C – a – p – p – e – d…how do you pronounce this word? What does it mean? DO YOU WRITE IN ALL CAPS? Nobody likes drinking flat Coca-Cola, right? So cap the bottle!

View Details

English from all angles! In this episode, Drew discusses the concept of the underdog. Do you typically root for the underdog? Also, you’ll learn the expression “pardon the pun.” Question: how to you pronounce the word “upset” in the following sentences? (Hint: the verb is pronounced differently from the noun). The 49ers upset the Packers and the Bengals upset the Titans. Two incredible upsets took place in the NFL yesterday. Tune in and find out!

View Details

English from all angles! Would you like to practice and learn English in a natural way? Naturally, you’ve come to the right place. Here, you’ll practice (and improve) your listening comprehension and speaking as you gain fluency and build your vocabulary with new words, expressions and phrasal verbs.

View Details

English from all angles! Have you made any New Year’s resolutions? Have you resolved to get in shape? Have you resolved to quit smoking? In this episode you’ll learn about resolutions: making them, keeping them -sticking to them- and, hopefully, not giving up on them! How familiar are you with the conditionals in English? How about a quick review? Tune in and test your knowledge. Also, repeat what Drew says and watch your speaking skills skyrocket.

View Details

English from all angles! ‘Tis the season, and therefore Drew takes a look at some of his favorite holiday symbols and activities. Tune in, practice and improve your English! Hear about snow, sledding, ornaments, luminarias, caroling, reindeer…(flying reindeer) and learn the phrasal verbs “hand down” and “die out.” What do you think? Is Christmas caroling dying out?

View Details

English from all angles! Drew explains a super useful expression that uses (arguably) the two most important verbs in the English language: to be and to have. Also, the keys to pronouncing, “blood,” “hood” and “food.” So, tune in to stay on top of your listening skills and learn some new words and expressions. My desk doubles as a table. The chairman currently doubles as the CEO. Are you familiar with the verb “to double as”? Which legendary guitarist was killed in a tragic accident that occurred at a ski resort that doubles as a music venue? Tune in and find out.

View Details

English from all angles! Are you ready for more expressions and phrasal verbs? How about improving your speaking in English? Simply tune in. You know the drill. Let’s go! Is there any bad blood between you and someone else? If so, why? What happened? Not sure? Tune in and find out. Also, when is it a good time to take a chill pill?

View Details

English from all angles! Tune in to learn all about style. What’s yours? Also, do want to improve your pronunciation Stress the “s”. Style is used in writing, fashion, decoration, music and design -as in mid-century design- which Drew discusses here.

View Details

English from all angles! Listening, grammar, spelling, phrasal verbs, expressions and…speaking. Take just 9 minutes to freshen up -and practice- your English. In this episode you’ll learn the word “thyme” along with the differences between “to endorse” and “to sponsor.” Also, check out the expression “to make a stink over something” and find out who has replaced Charlie Watts.

View Details

English from all angles! In this episode, Drew talks about growing up in Chicagoland and the concept of suburbia. Also, learn the expression, “a rolling stone gathers no moss”. What defines a hometown? Are you from the city or the suburbs? C’mon, tell the truth…Tune in and learn more…English! “She was born in Indianapolis, Indiana.” Repeat it and improve your speaking and pronunciation.

View Details

English from all angles! It’s time for another Crosby’s 9, so you know the drill. Know the drill? If you don’t know the expression “know the drill” you certainly will know it after listening to this episode. Get ready to learn a ton of new phrasal verbs in this episode. And remember, if you imitate…simply imitate Drew, your speaking will improve. Magic!

View Details

English from all angles! Do you want to improve your speaking and pronunciation in English? How about adding some new expressions and phrasal verbs to your arsenal, to boot? Yes…”to boot,” which is something you’ll learn here, so simply tune in. The song Shake, Rattle and Roll forms part of the roots of rock and roll; when rock and roll was looked down upon. Learn the idiom “look down upon” -and many more- in this episode.

View Details

English from all angles! Is there a sucker born every minute? Did the advent of movies signal the decline of the circus? Tune in and find out. You’ll learn tons of new vocabulary and gain useful tips on how to improve your speaking. In this episode you’ll learn a lot of English when looking at the history of the circus. Expressions include “glory days,” “to have a blast” and “wheeler dealer.”

View Details

English from all angles! What’s the secret to leading a team to success? Just ask the Zen Master, aka, Phil Jackson. He was the glue that bound the Chicago Bulls together and led them to 6 NBA championships. Learn more (English!) here and how he did it. Across the board = at every level. Listen to Crosby’s 9 podcasts and you’ll notice a considerable improvement in your English language skills across the board.

View Details

English from all angles. Are you able to overcome difficult situations? Can get up after getting knocked down? If so, most likely you have resilience. Having resilience is a good thing. Even people who were born with a silver spoon in their mouths need resilience. Not sure about “silver spoon"? Listen to this podcast and you’ll see. In this episode, not only will you learn about resilience (while you improve your English), you’ll also learn about grit and about being born on easy street. Vein, vane and vain. What’s the difference? Tune in and find out.

View Details

What would you like to do after the COVID-19 pandemic? Singer and songwriter Luke Combs tells us what he’d do in his song Six Feet Apart. Tune in and learn English while you discover great music. Crosby’s 9 podcasts help you increase your agility in learning English. How well do you know the conditionals? Test your knowledge in this podcast.

View Details

Vocabulary, expressions, pronunciation, grammar, spelling, listening comprehension, speaking…It’s all here. Welcome to your one-stop shop for learning and practicing your English: Crosby’s 9. Power plays in sports and business, flower power, power to the people…Drew provides you with a solid set of expressions and new vocabulary to complement your English. Check it out!

View Details

English from all angles! Are you picky? Choosy? Fussy? Not sure…? Listen in and find out. In this episode you’ll learn the expressions, “beggars can’t be choosers,” “I beg your pardon” and “pick up where you left off” – and as always, a lot more!

View Details

English from all angles! With fewer COVID-19 lockdowns and more vaccinations, don’t you feel like we’re sort of starting over? Tune in and discover what it’s like to start over. Also...Knock, knock…Who’s there? Opportunity. In this episode, you’ll learn the expression “opportunity knocks.” And, as usual, a whole lot more!

View Details

English from all angles! Are we on the verge of experiencing a period of prosperity and optimism like the one that took place in the 1920’s? Tune in to learn a bit about the Roaring 20’s while you practice your English. In the Roaring 20’s, people flocked to the bars and restaurants (and to the stock market too). And of course everybody was out kicking up their heels. Tune in to learn this expression (kick up your heels) and a lot more!