AEE 2350: It's a Mixed Bag! How to Talk About Variety in English

Summary

All Ears English Podcast Summary Episode: AEE 2350: It's a Mixed Bag! How to Talk About Variety in English
Release Date: February 3, 2025
Hosts: Lindsay McMahon and Michelle Kaplan

---

Introduction

In episode 2350 of the All Ears English Podcast, hosts Lindsay McMahon and Michelle Kaplan delve into the versatile English expression "a mixed bag." Aimed at intermediate to advanced ESL learners, this episode explores how to discuss variety and nuance in everyday conversations, enhancing listeners' ability to convey complex feelings and opinions with accuracy.

Understanding the Expression: "A Mixed Bag"

The central theme of the episode revolves around the expression "a mixed bag," which signifies a collection of varied elements, not all of which are uniformly positive or negative.

• Michelle Kaplan (02:18): "Yeah, my friends are kind of a mixed bag, to be honest. Because, you know, you gather friends at different times in your life..."

• Lindsay McMahon (03:03): "I don't really have that. I have more of what you have."

Both hosts agree that having a diverse group of friends from different life stages exemplifies the "mixed bag" concept, highlighting the variety and uniqueness within their social circles.

Practical Applications of "A Mixed Bag"

The hosts provide multiple examples to illustrate how "a mixed bag" can be used in various contexts:

1. Work Environment:

   • Lindsay (05:37): "Do you like your new job?"
   • Michelle (05:39): "It's a mixed bag. Some days are great, but some are just okay."

   This exchange demonstrates how the phrase can express the dual nature of job experiences, acknowledging both the positives and the challenges.

2. Adopting Pets:

   • Michelle (06:13): "Some of the dogs we met were really sweet, but some were definitely a bit too rowdy for us. It was a mixed bag."

   Here, the expression conveys the varied temperaments of dogs in a shelter, assisting listeners in describing their experiences with animal adoption.

3. Home Search:

   • Lindsay (06:28): "Our home search is a mixed bag, but every time we find something we like, it gets snatched up."
   • Michelle (06:36): "What a frustrating feeling."

   This scenario highlights how "a mixed bag" can express the frustration and variability in the housing market.

Expanding Vocabulary: "It Varies" and "It's a Mix"

Beyond "a mixed bag," Lindsay and Michelle introduce additional expressions to convey variety:

• "It varies"

  • Michelle (09:39): "Some of my co-workers are friendly while some don't want to talk to me at all. It really varies."

  This phrase serves as a high-level alternative to "a mixed bag," indicating that experiences or opinions differ based on circumstances.

• "It's a mix"

  • Lindsay (10:26): "She does need to get a lot worked on."
  • Michelle (10:26): "Okay. I love it."

  Using "it's a mix" allows speakers to describe situations where aspects are both positive and require improvement.

Role-Playing Conversations

To demonstrate practical usage, Lindsay and Michelle engage in a role-play scenario:

• Topic: Discussing neighborhood qualities.

  Lindsay (10:53): "How are your neighbors?"

  Michelle (11:01): "I think mostly friendly, but it's a mixed bag. Some seem to want to talk, but others just go about their day and don't really say anything."

  Lindsay (11:12): "How do you like the area?"

  Michelle (11:19): "I like it. I mean, it varies. Certain aspects. I like the coffee shops, but there aren't many good restaurants here."

This interaction showcases how to integrate "a mixed bag" and related expressions naturally within conversation, providing listeners with practical templates for their dialogues.

Cultural Insights: Positivity and Nuance in American Communication

A significant cultural takeaway from the episode is the American tendency to lead conversations with positivity before introducing nuanced or mixed feelings:

• Michelle (13:03): "In American culture, we lead. We tend to want to lead with positivity, optimism, and energy."

This strategy helps build rapport and sets a positive tone, even when the subsequent information contains elements of criticism or mixed emotions.

Listener Poll Results

The episode revisits a poll from episode 2322, focusing on payment methods:

• Top Result: Credit Cards (47%)
• Second Place: Cash (31%)
• Debit Cards: 16%
• Venmo/Zelle: 2%
• Checks: 1%

Michelle (15:04) remarks, "That's not a thing anymore, Michelle. Not a thing," reflecting on the declining use of checks, a nostalgic nod to past payment practices.

Conclusion

Episode 2350 of the All Ears English Podcast provides listeners with a deep dive into describing variety and nuance in English through the expression "a mixed bag." By offering practical examples, role-playing exercises, and cultural insights, Lindsay McMahon and Michelle Kaplan equip ESL learners with the tools to express complex feelings and opinions effectively. The episode underscores the importance of embracing variety in language to foster better connections and more authentic conversations.

---

Notable Quotes:

• Michelle Kaplan (02:18): "Yeah, my friends are kind of a mixed bag, to be honest."
• Lindsay McMahon (05:37): "Do you like your new job?"
• Michelle Kaplan (05:39): "It's a mixed bag. Some days are great, but some are just okay."
• Michelle Kaplan (13:03): "In American culture, we lead. We tend to want to lead with positivity, optimism, and energy."
• Michelle Kaplan (15:04): "That's not a thing anymore, Michelle. Not a thing."

Listener Actions:

• Subscribe: Ensure you don't miss future episodes by subscribing to the podcast.
• Take the Quiz: Assess your English level with the two-minute quiz.
• Community Engagement: Join the All Ears English community to practice and enhance your conversational skills.

Transcript

[Lindsay McMahon]

This is an All Ears English podcast, episode 2350. It's a mixed bag. How to talk about variety in English.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Welcome to the All Ears English podcast, downloaded more than 200 million times. Are you feeling stuck with your English? We'll show you how to become fearless and fluent by focusing on connection, not perfection, with your American hosts, Lindsay McMahon, the English adventurer, and Michelle Kaplan, the New York radio girl, coming to you from Colorado and New York City, usa. And to get your transcripts delivered by email every week, go to allearsenglish.com subscribe when someone asks about your life, how can you say that it varies and that it's not all good or all bad? Find out how to add nuance and accuracy to your response in English today.

[State Farm Ad]

This episode is brought to you by State Farm. You might say all kinds of stuff when things go wrong, but these are the words you really need to remember. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. They've got options to fit your unique insurance needs, meaning you can talk to your agent to choose the coverage you need, have coverage options to protect the things you value most, file a claim right on the State Farm mobile app, and even reach a real person when you need to talk to someone. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Hello, Michelle. How are you today?

[Lindsay McMahon]

Ah, I'm good, Lindsay. Lindsay, would you say your friends are all pretty similar or are they kind of a mixed bag?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah, my friends are kind of a mixed bag, to be honest. And it. Because, you know, you gather friends. Tell me if this is true for you, Michelle. You gather your friends at different times in your life, some in high school, some in childhood, some in college, grad school, living in a city. And so they. You're a different person at different times. Right, Right.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Well, do you have, do you have like one bigger group of friends from one period in your life? Or would you say it's like. Yeah. Do you have one larger circle?

[Michelle Kaplan]

No, not really. I have friends, individual friends collected from different eras of my life who I, who I keep in touch with. It's just, it's rare to have that, I think, throughout your into your adult life to maintain a group of. I wish I did, but it's more like individuals or two or three people from each era. Same.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Well, that, that's how it is for me too. I mean, I have my two best friends from when I was little, but besides that, it's not really like one larger group. It's so sprinkled all around. But I think that's kind of neat. And also they Live in all different places. Dan has. I mean, he has friends from other times, too, but he, he has this really big group of friends. They're all amazing. From his hometown. So he has that. But it's interesting because I don't. I don't really have that. I have more of what you have.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah, I think it's more typical what we have. But I love the question you asked me here because it so encapsulates what I. What I said. Right. A mixed bag. You said, are they a mixed bag? Well, that's what we're going to get into today, right, Michelle?

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah, absolutely. So this is a really useful expression. And I was at one party and I had two separate friends use this.

[Michelle Kaplan]

In one day on the same day.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Oh, my God. Just a few minutes apart. And you should, you should see me. It's so funny. I bet you do this too. Then all of a sudden I. And I just take a note on my phone.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Soon you're going to start walking around parties with a little mini notepad.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yes.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Weird person. Yeah.

[Lindsay McMahon]

And sometimes I'll say to them, oh, you just helped me plan an episode of All Ears English.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Thank you so much. Be sure to listen.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Right.

[Michelle Kaplan]

I love. So basically what we're saying here, guys, is you are Getting real English, 100% real English, fresh out of Michelle's social life. I love it. So good.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah. So, okay, again, the expression is it's a mixed bag. Or it could be that's a mixed bag or. Right. In different ways. But, Lindsay, so what, what do you think? Is this something? Does this come up in your conversations?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Definitely. I love this expression. So it's a mixed bag. Meaning we're going to go into the meeting now, but yeah. A lot of different things are thrown into that bag. Right. Everything is not the same. Right. It's not homogeneous. Yeah.

[Lindsay McMahon]

What do you think of it's a mixed bag of. What do you think in. In this. In your mind?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Well, it just depends on what you're asking about. Right. Because you asked me about my friends. Yeah, go ahead.

[Lindsay McMahon]

But like, but like, is there an image you get in your mind of it's a mixed bag or something that.

[Michelle Kaplan]

That's funny. Maybe a grab bag. Do you know the idea of the grab bag when we were kids, sometimes you go to a party and like, someone's mom would go around with a bag full of candy or toys and you get to pick from the grab bag. That's kind of what I think of. Just a mix of things. Yeah.

[Lindsay McMahon]

I think of a mixed bag. Of nuts.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Okay. Mixed nuts. Yes. My friends are a bag of mixed nuts.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah. Sometimes I just get an image in my head, goes along with an idiom. I don't know.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Very healthy. Very healthy. I love it.

[Lindsay McMahon]

It's a very interesting thing. Okay. So, yeah. It means not everything is the same. Right. There's not just one way. And it can be used to describe many things. Right. Some for how you feel about something, to people, to opinions, to me. Tell me if you agree with this. I think most of the time I hear this when somebody is talking about their opinion or feeling about something. So, like, for example, a job. I mean, I have a little role play here. So let's do it. Let's do it. All right. Do. Do you like your new job?

[Michelle Kaplan]

It's a mixed bag. Some days are great, but some are just okay. Yeah, Yeah. I think that's probably true about every job. Right. I mean, it can't always be amazing. Right. There are some things we do at our jobs that we don't love, for sure. Yeah. Right.

[Lindsay McMahon]

So, exactly. Some good, some bad. In this context. Or let's. Lindsay, maybe you can read this one. May you identify with this.

[Michelle Kaplan]

All right. I'm the dog lady on the show.

[Lindsay McMahon]

I love the dog lady.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Some of the dogs we met were really sweet, but some were definitely a bit too rowdy for us. It was a mixed bag.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah.

[Michelle Kaplan]

And when you go to adopt a dog in a shelter, I think a lot of our listeners have done this. You know, you have a lot of different options. Right. You have. You could have some golden retrievers, pit bulls, all sorts of different breeds. So it's always a mixed bag. What's out there, what's available.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Right, Exactly. Or here's another one. Our home search is a mixed bag, but every time we find something we like, it gets snatched up.

[Michelle Kaplan]

What a frustrating feeling. So when you say our home search is a mixed bag, what exactly are you saying, Michelle?

[Lindsay McMahon]

It means you're finding some houses you like, but also a lot of houses you don't like. And so, yeah, you're expressing this frustration. It's like maybe you find a lot of houses, but the ones you actually like don't. Don't come through.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Or even the ones you don't like end up getting sold. Right. Sometimes that can happen, too. Oh, my gosh. Yes. All right, we're going to take a quick break, and then we'll come back and go into more depth about other ways to say this. You just realized that your business needed to hire someone yesterday. How can you Find amazing candidates fast. Easy. Just use Indeed. When it comes to hiring, Indeed is all you need. Stop struggling to get your job post seen on other sites. Indeed Sponsored Jobs helps you stand out and hire fast. With Sponsored Jobs, your post jumps to the top of the page for your relevant candidates so you can reach the people you want faster and it makes a huge difference. According to Indeed data, Sponsored Jobs posted directly on indeed have 45% more applications than non sponsored jobs. When I post jobs for my business, I need access to dozens of high quality candidates to choose from within just a few days. Speed matters. When it comes to building your team, there's no need to wait any longer. Speed up your hiring right now with Indeed and listeners of this show will get a $75 sponsor job credit to get your jobs more [e-mail] a e just go to indeed.com aee right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. One more time, go to indeed.com a e e Terms and conditions apply. Hiring Indeed is all you need. All right, Michelle, we are back. So do we have any other examples here?

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yes. So here's one more is their food is mostly good, but it can be kind of a mixed bag depending on the chef class that day.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah. And that's not really a great review for a restaurant, right, Michelle, you want.

[Lindsay McMahon]

They should be consistent?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah, for sure. For sure.

[Lindsay McMahon]

This goes back to. Sorry, the, the how we talked about in the beginning about our friends being a mixed bag. So sometimes it can mean, oh, some good, some bag, but some. Some not so great. Right. In this mixed bag. But sometimes it can just mean kind of a variety. Right, Lindsay?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Right, exactly. So when we say that our friends are a mixed bag, we're not saying some are good, some are bad, right? No, Right. In that case, we're saying they're just different. They're all very unique people. They don't fit the same mold, they don't look the same at all. I mean, for me, that became very obvious at my wedding when it was just my wedding party. Very random, you know, friends that are all very different but so dear to me. Right?

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yes, yes, yes, exactly. All right, so let's talk about some other. A couple other ways to say this. What's that first one, Lindsay?

[Michelle Kaplan]

All right, so you could say it varies. And again, this feels pretty high level to me. So it varies. So some of my co workers are friendly while some don't want to talk to me at all. It really varies. Yeah.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah. So you could say it varies. It really varies. So usually when you say it varies, I would say it's, it's a. It's like a side point. Right. You're kind of saying something and then you're saying it varies. Right, right.

[Michelle Kaplan]

So you're saying it's just different. It just depends on the day, Depends on the person that you're talking to.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yes, exactly. And then also in a similar vein to our main expression today, you could also say it's a mix. Her house is beautiful, but it's a mix. She does need to get a lot worked on.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Okay. I love it. And by the way, you just gave me another episode idea, Michelle. Guys, hit the follow button right now in a similar vein. Done that one yet? That is so high level. Are we talking about veins in our body? Are we. What are we talking about here? We're going to come back to it. So everyone's listening today. Hit that follow button right now to make sure you don't miss that episode. That's a good one. All right.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Absolutely. All right. Should we do a role play?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah, let's do it. So here you are visiting my new home. Here we are.

[Lindsay McMahon]

This is gorgeous. So how are your neighbors?

[Michelle Kaplan]

I think mostly friendly, but it's a mixed bag. Some seem to want to talk, but others just go about their day and don't really say anything.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Oh, okay. Well, how do you like the area?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Well, I like it. I mean, it varies. Certain aspect. I like certain aspects. I like the coffee shops, but there aren't many good restaurants here.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Oh, okay. So it's a mix. Yes.

[Michelle Kaplan]

That kind of sounds like my neighborhood. Currently. There's some coffee shops. There's not really that much good food in my neighborhood itself.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Oh, interesting.

[Michelle Kaplan]

What about you? Are you better on coffee shops, restaurants? Which one is stronger in your area?

[Lindsay McMahon]

I would say I, I actually would say right now, the restaurants. I. I'm kind of opposite to you. We. We could use a few more. There's a lot of Starbucks around here. There's some. There's some smaller shops as well, but not like that. We could use more.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah, I mean, Starbucks has its place for sure, but there's nothing better than the local community coffee shop where you walk in and you feel like people are there gathering groups, talking to each other. It's amazing.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Exactly. And guys, just as a bonus, you could also say, you could say you have mixed feelings or mixed emotions on something.

[Michelle Kaplan]

That's. That could be a whole episode in itself for sure. But that's a good one. I have mixed feelings about X. All right. Cool. So, Michelle, let's go through our role play and see what we said.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yes. Okay. So I said, how are your neighbors? And you said, I think mostly friendly, but it's a mixed bag. And then you elaborate, and some of them don't even want to talk to you. Yeah.

[Michelle Kaplan]

So you're saying this positively. They're mostly friendly, but it's a mixed bag. So some are friendly, some are not friendly. Some you don't. You don't really know yet. Right, sure. It's just a mixed bag. And then I said, I like it. I mean, it varies. I. I feel like I'm being very positive at first, and then I'm pulling back and I'm mitigating what I've said a little bit.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yes, yes, exactly.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Strategy.

[Lindsay McMahon]

The way. And the way that you use your rhythm and intonation was really on point there. Lindsay, you said, I like it. I mean, it varies.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Right.

[Lindsay McMahon]

You have to kind of make this pause. Right. So those good times.

[Michelle Kaplan]

And there's something there for sure. Because in American culture, we lead. We tend to want to lead with positivity, optimism, and energy. The good news. Right. You're not gonna.

[Lindsay McMahon]

How are you?

[Michelle Kaplan]

You're not gonna say, I'm terrible. Right. But then we might tend to add a little more nuance. So for our listeners who are interacting with American people in business, for example, listen for that, you know, just because they respond, you know, with a huge positive punch at first, there might be a little bit of additional details where you get the truth. Right.

[Lindsay McMahon]

And I think, actually that you just gave me an episode idea. I mean, because this. These transitions, like using. I mean. Right. And. And other ways that you can kind of transition to the truth. Transition to the truth. I mean, because it wouldn't have worked out as quite as well if you just said, I like it. It varies.

[Michelle Kaplan]

No, that would make any sense.

[Lindsay McMahon]

You needed a little bridge, actually.

[Michelle Kaplan]

It would completely change the meaning if I said that.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Right.

[Michelle Kaplan]

I would say I like the fact that it varies, and that's not what I'm saying.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Right.

[Michelle Kaplan]

I'm saying I. I mean, it varies. I'm really changing my mind a little bit or adding the truth. So. Yeah, we'll come back to that in another episode.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah, that's a. That's a fun one. Yeah. Because there are other ways that you can do that and other than. I mean.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah, good one. Good one.

[Lindsay McMahon]

So then I said, oh. So I'm understanding what you're saying, and I'm kind of just mirroring it. And I said, oh, okay. So It's a mix, but it's good.

[Michelle Kaplan]

What you're doing here. You're reflecting back and, but you're staying positive in your tone of voice and you know, you're open to learning more.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Right.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Because you're going to come over and hang out for sure. Love it.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah.

[Michelle Kaplan]

All right. All right, Michelle, so we do have results of an important poll that our listeners participated in. From what episode was this poll?

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah, so this was from episode 2322. That was do you doom spend connect over this topic in English? So, guys, if you haven't listened to that one already, definitely head on over there. That was a good one. And the poll question was how do you usually pay for things? And the options were cash, credit card, debit card, check or Venmo or a Zelle. Lindsay, you want to read the results?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah. Well, the top spot went to credit cards, which is not surprising. 47 second spot went to cash, which is interesting because we know, I mean, for me, I haven't been using cash for a while, but I think around the world it's still pretty common. Obviously it is for our listeners. 31 and then debit card 16 and Venmo Zelle 2% and check 1%. Remember the days when you'd go to the grocery store and you would watch your mom write a check for groceries? Yeah, I do.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yes. Oh, I remember that. Yeah, for sure.

[Michelle Kaplan]

That's not a thing anymore, Michelle. Not a thing. So credit card is king here. Love it.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yes.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yes.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Guys, that's a, that's a play what Lindsay just said because you normally the expression is cash is kings.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yes.

[Lindsay McMahon]

So she was making a joke and switching it.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yes. We could do an episode on that skill too, Michelle. That'd be a good one, too. Oh, my gosh. So many ideas. Michelle, where should we leave our listeners other than having them hit the follow button so they don't miss these ideas, These new episode ideas.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Exactly. So, guys, I mean, this expression, it's a mixed bag. Something is a mixed bag. It's a really good way. I mean, life is a mixed bag, right? It reminds me of Forrest Gump. Life is like a box of chocolate, guys, if you don't know that reference. So you can look it up or watch the mov movie Forrest Gump. But anyway, you know, not everything is going to be the same all the time. And this is a way to really describe it and kind of be truthful in your opinions or your feelings about something. So very, very useful.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah, I think, I think that's it, Michelle. That's the key point. Nothing. Life is not perfect. Not everything is amazing and perfect all the time. There's variety. There's different people in your life from different eras of your life. So we need this way to add nuance and, and shades of gray to what we're saying. And this is one of the ways to do it. I love it. For better connection.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Absolutely. Yep. All right, well, thanks so much for chatting about this with me today and we'll talk to you next time, guys.

[Michelle Kaplan]

All right, take care, Michelle. Bye. Thanks for listening. To all ears. English Would you like to know your English level? Take our two minute quiz. Go to allearsenglish.com forward/fluency score. And if you believe in connection, not perfection, then hit subscribe now to make sure you don't miss anything. See you next time.

[TurboTax Ad]

NowTaxes is 100% free when you file in the TurboTax app. If you didn't file with us last year. Oh yeah, yeah. Just do your own taxes in the app by 2:18.

[Lindsay McMahon]

What if I have lots of forms?

[TurboTax Ad]

All good. All 100% free.

[Lindsay McMahon]

What if I had three jobs?

[TurboTax Ad]

Still 100% free.

[Lindsay McMahon]

What if I once saw Bigfoot?

[TurboTax Ad]

That has nothing to do with taxes. So still 100% free.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Now that's what I'm talking about.

[TurboTax Ad]

Now this is taxes. See if you qualify in the TurboTax app excludes TurboTax Live must start and file an app by 2:18.