All Ears English Podcast – Episode 2526: Time Change Got You Down? How to Talk About It in English

Hosts: Lindsay McMahon & Michelle Kaplan
Date: December 8, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the topic of Daylight Saving Time (DST) and how it impacts daily life and conversation in America. Lindsay and Michelle explore not only the cultural and emotional effects of the time change but also provide practical English phrases and tips for ESL learners to discuss this topic with native speakers. The episode emphasizes natural, connection-driven English to help learners converse about small talk topics like the seasons and time changes—common ground for building relationships.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Emotional Impact of Daylight Saving Time

• Hosts' Reactions:

  • Michelle shares feeling suddenly "gloomy" as days get shorter after the clocks change.

    "I always just, I remember I had this moment… after the clocks change and it gets dark earlier. There's always this moment, like a day or two after, where I'm like, why do I kind of feel a little emotional?" – Michelle (03:32)

  • Lindsay notes the body’s internal clock and emotional response:

    "We don’t realize our bodies are very much tuned into the...the clock of...our bodies have a clock. We know when it’s supposed to be dark… and the body does respond to that, even emotionally. It’s really interesting." – Lindsay (03:58)

• Regional Differences:

  • East Coast sunsets are much earlier (as early as 4:30 pm).
  • Colorado (where Lindsay lives) experiences later sunsets.

2. Cultural and Practical Aspects of DST

• Reasons for Daylight Saving Time:
  • Originally implemented for farmers, though this is now largely outdated.
  • Not all US states observe DST (e.g., Arizona), which causes confusion with scheduling and time zones.

    "The area [Aubrey] is in is doing it differently from the rest of the country, and that creates massive problems for her when it comes to calendars and syncing up with time zones." – Lindsay (06:13)
    "I would vote against [ending DST] 10 out of 10 times because I don't want to end up in a place that's not running in sync with the rest of the country." – Lindsay (06:33)

3. Mixed Feelings and Seasonal Culture

• Upsides to Early Darkness:
  • Michelle is starting to appreciate "cozy" family time when it gets dark earlier, such as playing games indoors.
  • Lindsay values the variation of seasons and the contrast between summer and winter evenings.

  • "Personally, I need change throughout the year. I need to feel like summer nights… or winter nights… I need to feel that variation in my year." – Lindsay (07:54)

4. English Conversation Skills—Talking About DST

• The Hosts Identify DST as a "Connection Topic":
  • Useful for naturally engaging in small talk, just like weather.
  • They share that this is a yearly recurring conversation for Americans, making it valuable for ESL practice.

  • "This is a conversation that happens every year, especially around the times of the change in the spring and the fall, with friends, colleagues, constantly." – Lindsay (05:38)

Essential Phrases and Questions (08:35-10:43)

• “I can’t believe it’s so dark already. It’s only [X time].”

• “I feel like it’s 10pm but it’s only 7.”

• “I hate when it gets dark early.”

• “Do you get bummed out when it gets dark earlier?”

• “Do you use anything to keep your mood happy during this time of year?” (e.g., lamps, exercise)

• “Does the time change get to you, or are you all right?”

  • “Get to you” means: does it bother/affect/annoy you?

• Talking about ‘SAD’ (Seasonal Affective Disorder):

  • Brief mention of therapy lamps as a solution.

5. Role Play Demonstration (15:00-15:53)

Michelle and Lindsay act out a conversation between two parents waiting to pick up their kids, modeling how to use the DST topic for small talk:

• Michelle: “Wow, it’s cold.”
• Lindsay: “I can’t believe it’s so dark out. It’s only 5.”
• Michelle: “Seriously. I feel like it’s 10pm but it’s definitely not.”
• Lindsay: “Yeah, it’s wild.”
• Michelle: “I hate when it gets so dark so early.”
• Lindsay: “Me too. Do you get bummed out?”
• Michelle: “Oh, a ton.”
• [Continues with discussion about lamps, mood, exchanging information.]

6. Latest Vocabulary & Natural Phrases

• “It’s wild” – Currently a trendy expression meaning “it’s crazy/unbelievable.” (16:24-16:47)
• “Get to you” – To bother or affect emotionally.
• “Bummed out” or “Get down” – Feeling sad, down, or affected negatively.
• “I’ll send you the link” – Common modern phrase when recommending products online.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "[DST] is a huge connection topic... we could just talk about this the whole time and not teach anything... because it's such a good connection topic." – Michelle (08:14)
• "I need to feel that variation in my year." – Lindsay (07:54)
• "Me too. Do you get bummed out?" – Lindsay (15:29)
• "It's wild." (explained as a trendy way to say 'it's crazy or unbelievable') – Lindsay & Michelle (16:27)
• On support strategies: "Do you use anything to keep your mood happy this time of year? ... I hear those [SAD] lamps are good." – Lindsay & Michelle (09:55, 15:33)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:31 | Main conversation begins | | 03:32 | Hosts discuss immediate emotional impact of DST | | 05:34 | Explaining why DST exists; the US perspective | | 06:09 | Issues with regions (like Arizona) not observing DST | | 08:35 | Introduction of conversation starter phrases about DST | | 09:51 | Discussing “SAD” and lamps as a coping mechanism | | 10:32 | Explaining “get to you” as a phrase | | 12:24 | Recap and role play introduction | | 15:00 | Role play demonstrating DST small talk | | 16:24 | Vocabulary highlight: “It’s wild” and other trendy phrases explained | | 18:28 | Takeaways: Why this is a perfect connection topic |

Summary & Takeaways

• Why this topic matters for English learners: DST and the weather are classic, natural conversation starters among Americans—knowing how to discuss them helps make real, relatable connections.
• Emotional and cultural impacts: DST affects mood and routines across regions; people enjoy commiserating, venting, or even finding the positives in seasonal changes.
• Practical English: The episode provides core vocabulary, relevant idioms, and teaches learners how to keep such discussions lively and relationship-focused.
• Pro tip: Go back to episode 1116 ("Spring Forward, Fall Back") for a more detailed breakdown of DST vocabulary and concepts.

If you’re looking to build authentic, “connection not perfection”-style English and want to confidently chat about everyday American topics, this episode gives you relatable, ready-to-use tools to talk about the time change like a native.