It’s finally here – our Third Anniversary Video! Thanks to all of you who posted questions for us to answer on the video. We’re sorry we didn’t have time to answer them all. We had some technical difficulties so it took us a little longer to get the video ready. (Our actual anniversary was July 22nd, so we’re a little behind!)
The complete transcript for the video is below. Thanks to all of you for listening!
~ESL Podcast Team
Jeff: Hello and welcome to ESL Podcast’s third anniversary video podcast. We are now three years old, and as we do every year we are recording a short video podcast for you. This year, we asked you to send us some questions to answer, and in this podcast I and Lucy will be answering some of your questions.So, the first question is: “How did the podcast get started?” Well, back in the spring of 2005, three years ago, I read about podcasting in the newspaper and I decided to investigate it and learn about it. It sounded very interesting, a very good way to reach many people directly, and I wanted to do some more English teaching over the Internet. And on July 22nd, 2005 we had our first ESL Podcast episode, and here we are three years later.The podcast originally was done by me during the first week or two, and then Dr. Lucy Tse came and started writing the scripts and helping produce the podcast, and basically making it more professional, and Lucy and I now work together as a team to do that.We also have other people that help us now with the podcast in different ways. Adriano, our webmaster, is an excellent technical person, and he helps us with all of the website information that we need. We have Jessica, who does a lot of our writing, especially for the Learning Guides, and she also now does some customer service. She helps us with our communications with you, the listener. And we also have Sue, who does what we call postproduction. She does all of the editing and putting the audio together and making sure everything sounds good, and she also does some video editing. So, Sue is an expert in many things. And, we are very lucky to have someone as talented as Adriano, someone as smart and as creative as Jessica, and someone who’s such an expert in all things technical, that being Sue.
Next question is: “How did we think people would receive the podcast? Did we think it would be a success?” And the answer is absolutely not. We were very surprised, shocked when we got 100 listeners, and then 500 listeners, and soon after 1,000 listeners. Now we have thousands and thousands of listeners all over the world, and we are very happy but very surprised, and we have always been surprised by that.
Someone asked: “How long does it take to record and produce the podcast?” Well, if you start from the writing of the script, which Lucy does, and the Learning Guides, and recording, and the editing, and the web work, and all the rest, it’s probably a total time for all of us together of somewhere between 10 and 12 hours per episode – each episode. So, we do three episodes a week plus we do special courses, so it’s – it’s a very big job, but we love doing it. We really enjoy it.
Someone was commenting on my reading of the scripts and wanted to know if I had an acting career – if I was an actor. Well, I live here in Hollywood, in Los Angeles, and actually I was an actor many years ago, more than 20 years ago. I was in a movie, you may have heard of it, called Star Wars with Harrison Ford. Harrison’s a great guy! I was the character called Chewbacca, who was the big gorilla with all the hair all over his body. That was me! And unfortunately, as you can see no more hair, so no more acting jobs for me.
When did Lucy and I first meet? Well, Lucy and I met more than 15 years ago. We met in graduate school. We were both studying here in Southern California and we met at, I think, the first class we had together. We were studying the similar subject. We also worked in the same building, teaching English to international students at the university. So we’ve known each other for a very long time.
Now, some of you have also asked questions of Lucy, and many of you wanted to see what Lucy looks like. So, I’m going to invite Lucy. Lucy, would you like to come and sit down?
Lucy: Sure. Hi Jeff. Hi everybody.
Jeff: Hi Lucy. Thank you for coming.
Lucy: Um…Jeff, you’re the tech expert, but are you sure the camera is on both of us?
Jeff: Yeah, let me see here. Yup, there it is. It’s there, it’s there.
Lucy: Okay. Some of you asked questions of me as well, so I’ll answer a few of those. One of you wanted to know how I came up with the script ideas for the podcast.
To me, the scripts are just a small part of the podcast, really. Jeff does all of the hard work. Coming up with the script ideas isn’t that difficult. I try to think of situations that are common or that may be helpful, and then I write a script around that. Some of the script ideas are sent to us from the listeners, like you, and I want to thank all of you for your suggestions. Those are very, very helpful to me. For me, writing the scripts is one of the best parts of my job; it’s really fun to do.
Another question is: “What is it like working with Jeff?” As Jeff said, we have known each other for many, many years. In the old days, when we were graduate students and then later as professors, we worked with each other quite a lot doing research and doing writing projects. We both have strong opinions, but since Jeff has all the good ideas, and he’s always right, it’s great working with him. There’s a saying: “What you see is what you get.” Jeff, on the podcast, is the way he is in real life. He’s very funny, and he sings just as well as he does on the podcast. I know, because my office is right next to his!
And the last question we’re going to be answering is for both of us. A listener wanted to know if we get tired of doing the podcast. What about you, Jeff?
Jeff: No, I don’t get tired of doing the podcast. I love doing the podcast. I love doing the recording and all of the other things. So no, I have not and do not get tired of the podcast.
Lucy: Me, neither. I like the creative part of it, thinking of new ideas, the writing part of it, and I love hearing from our listeners. So, I can imagine doing this for the next…oh…20 years. Right Jeff?
Jeff: 20? 20 years?
Lucy: 20 years.
Jeff: Um…sure, yeah! 20 years, absolutely.
Lucy: Yeah.
Jeff: Mmhmm.
Lucy: I think we’re out of time. Like Jeff, I want to thank all of our fabulous listeners for their support, especially our members and our donors who make it possible for us to continue our work and allow us to continue producing these podcasts. So, Jeff, would you like to do a little singing for us before we leave?
Jeff: Well…uh…I would. Thank you, Lucy, for asking me. And I want to thank Lucy Tse, here, for coming on, and especially for being on camera like this, and so people can see you. I think that’s really important.
Lucy: Now that everyone sees what I look like, there’s no mystery anymore.
Jeff: Right. You’ll be recognized everywhere now. So…um…now I would like to sing, but my [clears throat] my voice is a little sore today. So, I promise I will do more singing, though, on the regular podcast.
So, from Los Angeles, California, I’m Jeff McQuillan…
Lucy: And I’m Lucy Tse.
Jeff: And we thank you for watching.
Dear Lucy and Jeff,
Thank you for the cool video podcast! We so love you!
It’s so pleasant to see you again 🙂
Are you kidding me?
Now I’m very curious about how Dr. Lucy looks like.
Congratulations for the anniversary and keep doing this great job!
Thank you!
Many, many thanks for your work.
Oh. And I was sure, Jeff sings in real life as well as he does on the podcasts. But anyway we want him singing.
Hi,
We see Dr. Jeff but unfortunately we could not see Dr. Lucy
Hi! I had subscribed to this podcast just a couple of weeks ago, listened to some archive items and new ones… and I think you’re doing great! Thanks for your awesome job!
PS: We all want to see Lucy!!!
–Artyom, Ukraine
Congratulations! I’m a Spanish listener and I love your podcasts. 12 hours for each podcast is very much! Thank you for producing high quality podcasts.
Hello, what happened? we couldn’t see Dr. Lucy. Bad recording?
Hi dear Dr.s’ Jeff and Lucy,
Congratulations. You are doing a great job. As you mentioned, now you have thousands and thousands of listeners from all over the word in different countries with different cultural background, that all are your friends and wish you the best. To me, your podcasts were (and are) the best way to improve my english skills more and more . I really appreciate you. In our culture (persian culture in Iran) we have been taught that whoever teach you even one word, he/she makes you his/her slave. Now, I have learned not only one word but also a lot of words, sentences, chapters, … from you. So, now, I feel as a small student in your great school wich is as big as the whole world. like others, I wish you the best, and also wish, as you mentioned in your video, you can work together many many years more.
In the end, I wanted to say happy birthday to Jeff for 16th anniversary of his 29th birthday!! and also wanted to say that unfortunately it is not possible to dowload this video from your website, which I don’t know why. I think there are some technical problems. Hope you can solve it.
have fun
Hello. Jeff and Lucy.
Thanks for all of your work. Im enjoying your podcast everyday while commuting to my work on the train.
This video just encouraged me to try learning English harder.
You know, although your podcast have lots of fun, but there is a time that I feel brushing up my English just add to my burden
and I feel like giving it up…
But especially this video gave me bravery and energy to keep doing it.
I hope you will make some video podcast like this a few times a year again!!
And aslo hope that Dr. Lucy will appear in front of us through the camera someday..
Yosh, Japan
Dear Dr. Jeff and Lucy,
I’m glad to listen and watch the third anniversary video.
Even though the economy is going down, I’m enjoying the preminum membership on your ESLPOD.COM.
Keep Going!
Sean, Taiwan
Fantastic Video, Lucy looks so well that I am really very impressed. She is just as I have imagined her so many times.
And Jeff you are absolutely genial as she is speaking, so quiet, so nice way of looking to her, I think there is a big friendship between her and you.
Great, it’s one of your best videos. I like it very very much.
Thank you both of you and Adriano, Jessica and Sue.
CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO ALL YOU, you make the best work of the world’s web.
Congratulation and very BIG thank you for all 567+1 (Third Anniversary Video) episodes in total, witch is more then one week of non-stop learning english!!!
COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL
Hi dr jeff hi dr lusy say i love you both and respct you verey much and i notice that dr lusy say has imotional voice thats make me whached the video to see how she looks like i couldnt see her full face but she look brety and nice for you dr jeff thank you verey much for your podcasts you make me travel with your voice inside U.S.A cities and life i realy colcted many good information about amireca and amirean peple and history many good things you realy educated me good about amirea and too you added many new english words too so thank you verey much dr jeff and your team spcialy lucy say who has noble and sad voice that i sometimes want to cry with tears i have feeling that she is verey sinsitve person wish for her habbyness for ever and that she never be sad it was surprise for me that you act in star wars movie as chopaka the gorrila aand again dr giff i want to say that i feel deep respct for your you are a great profesor i wish you have noble prize from sweden you and dr lusy say thank you again and i love you all verey mutch
Hello Lucy, Hello Jeff,
Thanks for your amazing work. I listen to you as often as possible with a great pleasure !
Congratulation and thanks for your work
Roberto, Italy
Congratulations! Thank you for your work. I love you guys.
Renat, Russia
Congratulations and long life to your Project, I hope you will the most famous website in the world in my part I reffer it to all people I know…
So thanks a loooooooooooooooooot to all of you from Montreal..
All the episodes and ESL cafes which I mainly listen now, were BIG help to improve listening skill to many people. Keep up with it – we can only hope that other work related duties won’t stop you.
Thanks to all the members of your team.
Bohus, Slovakia
Glad to hear that you’ll continue podcasting for 20 more years:)
Eddie, Jakarta
Dr. Lucy and Jeff,
Congratulation for your outstand job.
You are helping a lot of people to learn English around the world.
And Jeff, Happy Birthday tomorrow!
The video is great, but I am a little fustrated because I couldn’t see Dr. Lucy.
I hope that next video we will see Dr.Lucy and the other members of the ESLPOD staff.
Luiz, Brazil.
hi…Jeff and Lucy, heard about you spent so much time for doing one article. We feel so appreciating to all of you. you so great people and kind. and thanks very much for letting us know so much about beautiful LA.and you all guys.
Thanx a lot for you great work here. As a student I still can’t afford subscribing, however this website has provided me with such a great amount of great quality material. Thanks a lot. Also, I am preparing a workshop on how to work with podcast to be presented soon in my college and, obviously eslpod.com is my main helper!!!
Thanks for helping us. It was really great;)
Marina
Dr. Lucy and Dr. Jeff,
Thanks for helping me to improve my English throughout these years. I had lots of fun hearing the podcasts. Such a creative and innovative job. You all must be very proud of your good work. I’d like to thank everybody that is involved in the production of the podcasts. Keep up with the good work! Maybe in twenty years from now I’ll still be hearing the podcasts, because their topics are very interesting. I’m very curious to see Dr. Lucy. Please Lucy, let’s see you in the next video!
Leandro,Brazil.
Hello, Jeff and Lucy!
I’m a newbie here (just a couple of weeks or so), just want to say thanks for your amasing work! I recommended your podcast to all my friends.
Regards from snowy Siberia, Russia.
Hi, Jeff and Lucy!
My congratulations with your anniversary!
Thank you for all you’re doing for us. And thank you for your humor – I love your jokes 🙂 Chewbacca and the camera’s position in the video podcast – they made my day 🙂
Congratulations and thank you for your great shows.
Sorasak, Bangkok.
Thank you very much. It was very funny and I was happy that I really understood almost everything.
First I was pretty surprised of your bald head because in my dream you looked different. But you still let us ( I mean listeners ) some space for imagination.
Thank you again.
Zuzana
Thank your very much for your work.
Thank you for your great job! These podcasts really help me to improve my English!
Jessie, China
Dr. Jeff and Lucy,
That was amazing!
In fact you were bombarded with requests to show up Lucy, and it was brilliant of you to find such a great way out 🙂 Your bright ideas, your creativity and your outstanding sense of humor are just wonderful! Keep up the great work and fun!
Thank for the video. I liked very much but I could not see to Lucy. Jeff is very joke because You knew that Lucy didn’t see in the video. Thank you and I hope continue the podcasts for long time, it help to learn English. Noemi from Seville Spain
Dear Dr. Jeff and Dr. Lucy
You are doing an awesome job, thank you a lot!
But, Dr. Lucy actually wasn’t on camera…was it on purpose or…..?
Hi Lucy and Jeff,
I want also congratulate to whole team for your work. Really it is a Work helpful and fun for all us, who we are learning or improving the English language.
I saw the video, and I understand you keeping in secret of Lucy’s face. The TV series also do the same, so we’ll have to wait at next “episode” to be able to see the lovely Dr. Lucy Tse.
I would ask both two things, one for each:
Firstly, I ask Lucy to show us her beauty as soon as possible.
Secondly, I ask Jeff he doesn’t sing anymore, because is not true that he sings well. To be honest, when I heard how he sang the national anthem at the English Cafe 153, I think that sang Chewbacca, the big gorilla, the character he played in the movie called Star Wars.
Although this, I love you, Jeff, (as a friend, of course).
Greetings from Spain.
Guys, happy birthday.
You do a great job, always.
Thanks. Love you very much…
Ohhhhhhh Lucy, you look absolutly great.
I always thank you gyus.wonderful job.But there is a one thing.Where does come from dr.Lucy’s another name Tse.and I have to tell you that you made my interest much more to see dr. Lucy tse.You know that 😉
Congratulations again on your third anniversary Jeff,Lucy and to the rest of the people who made possible ESLpodcast.
And if I can, I’d like to say something to all of the ESLpod fans who post comments about Lucy:well guys, I really don’t know how to say this,but the thing is…um,the thing is that this Lucy story is getting on my nerves.I mean,Lucy doesn’t want to appear on the video and that’s a fact.But why?(you may be asking) Well,have you ever heard of shy people?Maybe she is a shy person and therefore she prefers not to appear on the video,have you ever thought of that?(I’m also a shy guy…sometimes)So please,respect her decision the same way you would like other people respected yours.(that’s just my opinion)
thank you for your podcast.
oh! Lucy. you looks like a hair 🙂
Happy anniversary! great job!
why Dr. Lucy didn’t come to video?
It’s one of the funniest videos I’ve ever seen)) Especially when Jeff told that there’s no mystery anymore)).
I see, Lucy is a ghost but with a very nice voice. When we can see a video with both of you?
Anyway, congratulation for your good job and I enjoy to listen to your friendly voices.
This video would be totally lost for me if not for the great program Miro (www.getmiro.com) that allowed me to download and watch it. Many thanks to Jeff and Lucy and also to Paticipatory Culture Foundation (sorry, don’t know the names).
congratulation here from Saudi Arabia you are doing great work guys keep on your great work
HI JEFF AND LUCY!!!!!! KISSES. YOU ARE VERY NICE. SORRY ME MY ENGLISH OK!! BUT I WANT TO TRY TO WRITE TO YOU,BECAUSE I NEED TO TELL . YOU ARE WONDERFULL,I LIKE LISTENING YOU. WHEN MY FRIEND SAID ME ABOUT YOU,I THOUGHT NOW I CAN BETTER MY ENGLISH BECAUSE I HAVE DIFFICULT TO LISTEN. YOU DO A GREAT JOB. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I HOPE YOU CONTINUE THE PODCAST A LONG TIME. YOU PROMISE!!!!! NOW A WORD IN PORTUGUESE FOR YOU. YOU ARE MARAVILHOSOS TÁ!!!!!!!!
Congratulations! It has been two months since I started listening to your podcast, and I really enjoy it. I tried many ways to improve my English, and this is surely one of the best ways. I already recommended your podcast to some of my friends. Thank you for your hard work, and I hope all of you will do well until the next anniversary.
I appreciate a lot your podcasts. This video podcast is especially interesting because I can see you articulating words, the position of your lips and mouth, so it makes easier for me imitate the English sounds. So, consider in the future recording more video podcasts. Just only a remark, the quality of the sound is not a good as is usual in your regular podcasts.
Thanks a lot!
From Spain with luv.
Hi Lucy and Jeff,
I just saw your third anniversary video and… IT’S FANTASTIC!!!
As many of us I always wanted to see Dr. Lucy Tse and now I finally had the chance. Please, continue to do your wonderful job. It’s helping thousands of people all around the world not only to learn English while having fun but also -and maybe more important- to really understand and appreciate American culture a little more.
I always listen to your podcasts while driving to work and back home and it make my trips a great fun.
Great job and… hear from you in few minutes!
Riccardo.
P.S. I’m going to hear your next podcast in few minutes while driving my car back home as usual 🙂
Hi, thanks and congratulations for your job! But I’ve a question: why do you hide your faces? Not Jeff now (at the begining of the podcast you did do), but Lucy.
Hi, I’m very interesting in your website. Unfornately, I didn’t see dr. lucy’s face in this video then might be in next anniversary? Wish you best.