All Ears English Podcast

Episode 2541: Real, Raw English for Connection

Hosts: Lindsay McMahon & Michelle Kaplan
Date: January 1, 2026

Episode Overview

In this engaging episode, Lindsay and Michelle explore the many uses of the word "raw" in American English, prompted by a question from listener Sophia. The conversation dives into how "raw" extends far beyond uncooked food, touching on human emotions, physical sensations, and more. The hosts share personal stories and relevant examples to help listeners understand and use "raw" naturally in real conversations. The tone throughout is warm, playful, and relatable, making this episode especially suitable for intermediate to advanced English learners aiming to connect more deeply—in English and in life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. "Raw" in the Context of Emotions

(Start: 01:40, Deep dive at 06:13)

• Michelle shares how watching the new movie "Wicked" left her emotions "really raw" and led to unexpected tears with her son.
• The hosts link "raw" emotions to moments of vulnerability—those times when feelings are so exposed they defy rational explanation.
  • Example from Michelle:
    “My emotions were like really raw and I cried at the end and wow.” (01:46)
  • Example sentence:
    “Sometimes it’s just so raw that you can’t talk about it.”
• Discusses how raw emotions can make timing tough when reaching out to someone, especially after difficult experiences like loss or conflict.
  • Lindsay:
    “Are you good at that, Michelle, having a sense of timing? Like, when you should actually talk to someone who might have ... like if someone’s just passed away, let’s say that’s the hardest example.” (06:59)

Notable Quote:

“Your emotions can get super raw when watching a movie. Very raw. And … you could watch a movie one day and be fine, and another day just be a disaster. Just, you know, like ugly crying.”
— Lindsay (03:24-03:39)

2. "Raw" for Food: The Literal Sense

(Start: 07:52)

• "Raw" as uncooked food, especially meat and fish.
  • Michelle:
    “I cook mostly vegetarian at home because I don’t like handling raw meat. And that's actually true for me.” (07:54)
  • Expresses their personal discomfort with handling raw meat and the food safety concerns that come up.
• Discussing family preferences for sushi, especially regarding raw fish.
  • Example sentence:
    “My dad won’t eat raw fish, so order him something else.” (08:43)

Notable Dialogue:

Michelle: “No, this is actually true about my dad. ... They never really crossed over into sushi fan.” (08:56-09:11)
Lindsay: “I worry about the chicken with the salmonella ... you have to be really organized.” (08:32-08:34)

3. "Raw" as Unchanged, Natural, or Unfiltered

(Start: 11:10)

• Using "raw" to describe something in its original, unprocessed state—like materials, data, or footage.
  • Example:
    “She sent me the raw footage from the wedding. So now we have to go through and do our edits.” (11:26)
  • Lindsay’s workflow example:
    “When I film a video and import it, I’ll label it ‘raw’ ... so I know it hasn’t been edited yet.” (11:29)
  • Common in phrases like "raw data," referring to information that hasn't been analyzed or formatted.

4. "Raw" in a Physical or Bodily Sense

(Start: 12:36)

• Used to describe skin or body parts that are sore, abraded, or sensitive, often due to friction or harsh conditions.
  • Example:
    “Do you have chapstick? My lips are completely raw.” (12:57) “I got a burn on my thumb from the oven yesterday and it’s still raw.” (13:01)
  • Discussion expands to marathon runners using creams to prevent skin from becoming raw due to friction.
  • The hosts discuss how dry, cold weather can make lips and skin feel raw—especially notable for Lindsay in Denver.

Notable Exchange:

Lindsay: “Does your skin get very dry in the winter in Denver?”
Michelle: “Oh, Michelle, it’s terrible. It’s so dry here. You would never survive.” (13:43-13:48)

5. Putting "Raw" Into Context: Roleplay Demonstration

(Start: 14:09)

• The hosts create a mini-dialogue using “raw” in its different senses:
  • Cooking: “Careful with that chicken. I think it’s still a little raw.” (14:16)
  • Emotions: “Did you talk to Ruth?” “No, not yet. I think the whole situation is still a little raw.” (14:18-14:20)
  • Unedited: “I saw the raw email you sent me of what happened. Yikes.” (14:26)
  • Physical: “Hold on, I need some chapstick. My lips are so raw this time of year.” (14:32)
• Note: Using “raw” several times in one conversation is just for learning purposes—it’s not typical in natural speech.

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On Unexpected Emotional Responses:
  “Sometimes I feel embarrassed because depending on who I’m watching with, you know, and I just sort of wish I was alone at times.”
  — Lindsay (02:44)

• On Emotional Timing and Support:
  “I think so. I tend to have a pretty good sense about that. Although it’s never easy to know what to say when someone has a close person pass away.”
  — Michelle (07:18)

• Language Insight:
  “It’s still so fresh would be like another word [for raw].”
  — Michelle (15:34)

• On Learning and Authentic Use:
  “Yeah, of course we use it [‘raw’] in a lot of different ways. And you should start using it, too, in all these different ways as much as possible.”
  — Lindsay (16:32)

Practical Tips for Learners

• Listen for context when you hear “raw”—it can mean emotional vulnerability, uncooked food, unprocessed material, or physical discomfort.
• Don’t be afraid to experiment with using “raw” in conversation. Start with one or two meanings before trying all at once.
• Observe how emotions and literal physical states are often closely linked in English metaphors and expressions.

Important Timestamps

• [01:40] – Personal story: crying during "Wicked" and the meaning of "raw" emotions
• [06:13] – “Raw” in emotions: discussion and examples
• [07:52] – “Raw” in food: handling and eating uncooked food
• [11:10] – “Raw” as natural/unchanged: footage, data, materials
• [12:36] – “Raw” in physical description: skin, lips, and bodily sensations
• [14:09] – Roleplay: using “raw” in various contexts

Takeaway & Closing Thoughts

• "Raw" is an incredibly flexible word in English, commonly used in a range of contexts from emotions to food to data and even physical sensations.
• Being aware of and practicing these uses will help you sound more authentic and “connected” in English conversations.

Final Encouragement:

“Listen out for the context. Try one or two at a time and ... you got it.”
— Michelle (16:55)

For deepening your vocabulary after each episode, Lindsay and Michelle recommend using the All Ears English app.

Episode summary by All Ears English Podcast Summarizer, 2026