Bonus Episodes & Full Transcript PDFs, Vocabulary Flipcards Every Week on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/englishwitholiver⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

My Phrasal Verb Book and more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://stan.store/easyenglishpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Make 2026 the year you finally break through to fluency! In this episode, we move beyond boring textbooks to discuss the philosophy of "Systems over Goals." Learn how the compound effect can transform your English through small, daily actions. We explore the role of AI as a thought partner, how to find the nuance needed for C1 fluency, and why consistency is your greatest weapon against stagnation.

Bonus Episodes & Transcript PDFs Every Week on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/englishwitholiver⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

My Phrasal Verb Book and more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://stan.store/easyenglishpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Easy English Merchandise & Donations: ⁠⁠⁠Mugs, Hoodies, & Donate to the Show - Click here.

Happy New Year! In this episode, we explore the "Fresh Start Effect" and why January feels like a psychological reset. We move beyond simple lists to discuss the difference between resolutions and intentions, how to set SMART goals, and the specific grammar you need to talk about your future plans with confidence. Whether you’re making a promise or a fixed arrangement, learn how to express your vision for the year ahead!

• 00:00 Welcome and Introduction
• 01:05 Key Vocabulary for the New Year
• 03:48 Easy English Patreon Updates
• 04:55 The Psychology of a Fresh Start
• 07:00 Discussing Future Plans and Grammar
• 10:48 Setting SMART Goals
• 14:01 Listener Spotlight and Final Thoughts
• 16:54 Conclusion and New Year Wishes

Bonus Episodes & Transcript PDFs Every Week on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/englishwitholiver⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

My Phrasal Verb Book and more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://stan.store/easyenglishpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Easy English Merchandise & Donations: ⁠⁠Mugs, Hoodies, & Donate to the Show - Click here.

Do you struggle to decline requests because you’re afraid of being rude? This lesson teaches you how to set firm boundaries using natural, fluent English. We cover the "No Sandwich" technique for social situations and professional "soft" refusals for the office. Master the vocabulary of capacity and bandwidth to sound confident and assertive.

In this English lesson, you will learn:

• ​The "No Sandwich" method for polite refusals.
• ​Key Vocabulary: Assertive, Boundary, Capacity, Bandwidth.
• ​How to say "no" to your boss without hurting your career.
• ​ The "Soft" Decline for friends and family to protect your well-being.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

01:09 Key Vocabulary for Saying No

06:25 The No Sandwich Strategy

08:05 Professional Boundaries and Saying No at Work

12:50 Listener Spotlight and Special Offers

14:57 Casual Settings: Saying No to Friends and Family

17:33 Recap and Holiday Wishes