AEE 2623: Whatever Happens, You Should Be Using This Vocabulary!

Summary

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All Ears English Podcast: “Whatever Happens, You Should Be Using This Vocabulary!” (AEE 2623)

Date: May 26, 2026
Hosts: Lindsay McMahon and Aubrey Carter
Main Theme:
This episode focuses on how to express reassurance and support in pivotal life moments using the phrase "whatever happens" and its English alternatives. The hosts explore the nuances of these expressions, their cultural context, and how to use them to strengthen human connection in English conversations.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Setting the Scene: Why These Phrases Matter

• Introduction to “Whatever happens…”
  The episode opens with Lindsay sharing:

  “Sometimes in life we feel uncertain about a big step we’re about to take. What can you say to support a friend or family member in these key pivotal moments?” (01:00)

• Motivation for the topic:
  Inspired by a listener, Jennifer, who wondered how to say a reassuring phrase in English, sparking a deep dive into its meaning and usage.

2. The Main Expressions Explored

• “Whatever happens”

  • Expresses support, acceptance of the unknown, and unconditional reassurance.
  • Can be used in contexts from simple weekend plans to major life transitions.

    "Whatever happens, I want to see a movie." (02:11, Lindsay)

  • Expanded to: “Whatever happens, happens,” meaning to accept whatever the future brings.

• “No matter what happens”

  • Implies a stronger, more definite commitment or promise.

    "No matter what happens, we’ll stay friends." (05:28, Aubrey) "It's used to emphasize the true commitment. We're not giving up, no matter what happens." (05:28, Aubrey)

  • Common in emotional goodbyes or supportive conversations.

• “Come what may”

  • More formal, poetic, or dramatic. Less common in informal conversations.

    "You might hear it in a Broadway play or poem or something." (06:16, Lindsay)

  • Used intentionally for emphasis:

    “Absolutely. You’re stuck with me, come what may.” (09:37, Aubrey)

• Comparison with Other Languages

  • Discussed “que sera, sera” and “pase lo que pase” in Spanish.

    “We’ll often use that Latin phrase too, ‘que sera, sera,’ which means the same thing. We’ll hear it in music sometimes.” (05:04, Lindsay)

  • Open question about the origin (Spanish? Latin? Both).

3. Usage in Real-Life Scenarios

• Friendship and Goodbyes

  • These phrases often appear in “moving away” or “leaving for college” moments.

    “What if it doesn’t work out?”
    “Whatever happens, you’re brave for giving it a chance.” (09:26–09:28, Aubrey & Lindsay)
    “No matter what happens, we’ll stay friends.” (09:33, Aubrey)
    "You’re stuck with me, come what may." (09:37, Aubrey)

• Importance for Connection

  • Right words in the right moment help build trust and emotional support.

    “There are a lot of things that you could say that might hurt the connection... This is a great thing to say.” (10:08, Lindsay)

4. Role Play: Bringing It All Together

(08:19–09:45)

• Scenario: Friends say goodbye before one moves out of the country.
• Demonstrates natural integration of all the key phrases.
  • Balances casual and poetic tones to avoid repetition and fit the emotional setting.
  • Memorable moment: Aubrey’s gentle humor – “You’re stuck with me, come what may.” (09:37)

5. Personal Reflections and Further Cultural Context

• Aubrey shares her wedding jitters, using these phrases to express support from her mother.

  “I remember talking to my mom about it the night before my wedding… she probably would have said something like this, like, ‘no matter what happens, you’re gonna be fine.’” (13:13, Aubrey)

• Lindsay recalls when her parents reassured her the night before she moved to Japan.

  “I was going through the crisis of I’m moving to Japan for the next two years. What? Like, what did I even do?... This very conversation you might have had with your mom or your dad, right? Yes, I am excited. But I’m also terrified.” (13:56–14:04, Lindsay)

6. Strategy Tips for Learners

• Vary Your Vocabulary:
  Use different supportive phrases to show nuance, especially in emotionally charged conversations.

  “You don’t want to repeat vocabulary. You need multiple ways to express something sometimes.” (11:57, Aubrey)

• Connection, Not Perfection:
  Choose phrases that build closeness and reassurance—key for memorable, supportive exchanges.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• On emotional support:

  “Whatever happens, you’re brave for giving it a chance. Not everyone would be up for it.” (09:26, Aubrey)

• On lasting friendship:

  “No matter what happens, we’ll stay friends.” (09:33, Aubrey)

• On poetic flair:

  “Absolutely. You’re stuck with me, come what may.” (09:37, Aubrey)

• On memories of big life changes:

  “You need someone who’s counteracting your anxiety in a way.” (13:08, Aubrey) "These are connection moments because we do remember them 20 years later." (13:30, Lindsay)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Intro to Topic & Listener Message: 01:00–03:20
• Breakdown of “Whatever happens” and Other Phrases: 04:15–06:55
• Role Play (Friendship Goodbye): 08:12–09:45
• Analysis of Role Play, Connection Tips: 09:55–12:19
• Personal Stories: Big Life Changes: 12:19–14:33
• Closing Guidance & Episode Recap: 14:33–15:01

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Takeaways for Listeners

• Master these supportive phrases (“whatever happens,” “no matter what happens,” “come what may”) to meaningfully reassure others in English.
• Use this vocabulary to foster emotional connection—not just to sound fluent, but to genuinely support friends, colleagues, or family during uncertain times.
• Remember: The right words in a pivotal moment can create memories and connections that last for years.

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Transcript

[Lindsey McMahon]

This is an All Ears English podcast. Episode 2623 Whatever happens, you should be using this vocabulary.

[Aubrey Carter]

Welcome to the All Ears English Podcast,

[Lindsey McMahon]

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 host, Aubrey Carter, the IELTS whiz and Lindsey McMahon, the English adventurer, coming to you from Arizona and Colorado, usa. To get real time transcripts right on your phone and create your personalized vocabulary list, try the Allears English app for iOS and Android. Start your seven day free trial at allearsenglish.com forward/app.

Sometimes in life we feel uncertain about a big step we're about to take. What can you say to support a friend or family member in these key pivotal moments? Find out Today,

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[Lindsey McMahon]

What are you doing this weekend?

I haven't been to the movies in ages, so whatever happens, I want to see a movie.

Oh, I just went to the movies on Friday.

Oh, what'd you see?

I saw that movie Send Help.

Oh, I haven't even heard of it.

It was, it was interesting. It was a little crazy.

Would not recommend zero stars.

I feel like there are not a ton of great movies out right now. I, I, you know there's a new

one but you know by the time this comes out it'll be old anyway. But yeah, yeah, it's true. We're having a bit of a drought on like amazing movies that are worth going to the theater for. It's like, but I just wait for streaming.

But I love going to the theater so I'll go to an average movie just to go to the theater, you know, I agree.

Well, this episode today, you'll notice I said, whatever happens, I want to see a movie. We're talking about that phrase and some other ways to say that. And this was inspired by something one of our students, Jennifer, posted in Allers English community. She said, you are safe. Happen to happen. And then she said in Spanish, it's lo pase. She said, how do you say this in English? I'm like, that's going to be a great episode.

Yep, Yep. I'm so excited to get into this and kind of what it means, what it means for connection. But first, we have to take a minute to recognize and call out those that went and left us a review or a rating. Wherever you listen. Today we're looking at our Spotify listeners, right? So first of all, Tony Sousa said, hi, Lindsay, Michelle. My name is Tony Sousa. I'm from Angola. Without a doubt, discovering your podcast has been one of the best things that's ever, ever happened to me. I've learned so much from you both. That is amazing.

That is amazing. Thank you, Tony, and everyone else who has left these amazing comments in Spotify. We read them. They make our day. We really appreciate it.

Yeah. A huge thank you to Saddam Mode, Satomi Par Parisan, Vlad Armstrong and Oren Row were some of the reviewers and commenters just recently in Spotify. So thanks, guys. If you want to have your name announced out loud on the show, leave us a rating and a review wherever you listen. Okay.

Yes. Awesome. So we are going to dive into these phrases. There are a few ways we say this in English, in Spanish. It's the most common one is just whatever happens is what this means. Like, regardless of anything that might happen in the future.

Yes, exactly. Whatever happens.

Right.

Or whatever happens happens, I guess, too, don't we sometimes add.

You could just say that by itself, like, whatever happens happens. But we'll also use that in a phrase. Like, for example, whatever happens tomorrow. I'm proud of you for trying. Yeah.

Or we'll stay friends. Whatever happens.

Exactly. Yeah. So the direct translation of that is just whatever happens, happens. We. We'll often use this Latin phrase too, qua. Which means the same thing. We'll hear it in music. Sometimes means the exact same thing.

Yeah, for sure. But you're saying we use it in English. We. We take the Spanish and we use it in English sometimes.

Right.

Is what you mean?

Well, is. Oh, I guess that's Spanish. I was thinking it was Latin, but I think it is Spanish to say que sara Sarah Might be because I. But then it's passe lo que passe. They. Maybe it's just two ways of saying that listeners write in. Tell us, is that Latin or Spanish or both? Maybe it's the same in Latin and Spanish.

Maybe it's the same but in English. There are other things you could say like no matter what happens, this basically has the same meaning. It's a little bit stronger, more definite than whatever happens. It's used to emphasize the true commitment. Know you are committed to this person, this scenario, whatever it is. We're not giving up no matter what happens. I'm imagining like a survival situation, right?

Exactly. Yes.

Yeah.

Right. And I'm realizing, I'm like that. Is that French? Because it would be. Means will be so. But with that accent, the way we say que sera is not very French. So interesting. I'm curious now. But yeah. So our second way, very similar. No matter what happens, you could say we're not giving up no matter what happens. Or no matter what happens with the job interview. Let's celebrate tonight.

Yes. Love it. And then come what may. Now this one's a little more rare. I think it's more formal, more poetic, more dramatic. You might hear it in a Broadway play or poem or something. Song maybe.

Exactly. It's less common. I did. It's interesting. I was able to use it in the role play and I think it makes sense. I think sometimes we do use it in casual conversations, but it is more rare and we sort of intentionally definitely use it to be more dramatic or a little more poetic with our speech.

Yeah. For example, we'll move to the city and start fresh, Come what may.

Or she decided to speak her truth. Come what may.

Yes. Love it.

[Aubrey Carter]

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[Lindsey McMahon]

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[Lindsey McMahon]

All right, so let's see how these all fit into a nice, tidy role play. Aubrey. So here, what's the scenario?

All right. You and I are friends, and it's the night before you move out of the country. So you've got a big life change happening. And I'm probably sad that my friend is leaving the country.

So these kind of conversations also remind me of leaving for college. Conversations, Right. Yes. Did you have a lot of these when you're, you know, like you're 18 and everyone's going to different colleges? At least for me, we all went to different colleges and. Oh, what. Whatever happens, we're gonna stay best friends and.

Absolutely. Right. We're all saying that no matter what happens, we'll stay in touch. We'll stay friends. And usually, unfortunately, that's not the case. At least for me.

Some of them. Some of them, yes.

But I lost touch with a lot of. A lot of people from high school, even from college. I'm terrible at staying in touch with people. Me, too.

I'm so bad at it. I have to be very person, has to be very intentional. Otherwise it's probably not going to happen.

Right? That's so true. Unfortunately, yeah.

All right. I can't believe I'm actually leaving tomorrow. I'm excited about this new job, but I'm also terrified.

That's completely normal. It's a huge change.

What if it doesn't work out?

Whatever happens, you're brave for giving it a chance. Not everyone would be up for it.

I'm worried I'm gonna lose touch with friends.

Well, no matter what happens, we'll stay friends.

You promise?

Absolutely. You're stuck with me, come what may.

You got a little poetic in the end there, right?

Yeah, I was kind of. I'm. I'm intentionally getting emotional. We're saying goodbye. We might not see each other for a long time. I'm. I could see myself using this phrase in this way to be like, you know. Yeah, a little poetic.

A little poetic, exactly. So, again, yeah, this is a very familiar connection moment. Saying goodbye to someone that you care about. Right. So I said, what if it doesn't work out? I'm nervous about my situation. And you said.

I said, whatever happens, you're brave for giving it a chance. And this. I really Love this phrase as a connection skill. Because if someone is expressing doubt about a decision, they've made a big change that they're making. There are a lot of things that you could say that might hurt the connection. Expressing, you know, doubt that they made the right choice, saying anything that makes them even more nervous. Like, there's so many things you could say that could be a problem. This is a great thing to say.

That's a good. That's a good point. Yeah. It's an important connection moment where the right choice of words really matters.

Yeah. You say whatever happens, you're brave for giving it a chance. And you're also saying because there is a chance that you would move there, hate it, or be, like, too lonely, and immediately move back. That certainly has happened. And I am already giving you the out to say, like, even worst case scenario, even if that happens, I'm proud of you for being brave and taking this chance. Right. What a great way to connect, to let people know, whatever happens, however this turns out, I'm proud of you.

Yes. I love that. And then I expressed another worry. I'm worried I'm gonna lose touch with my friends. Right. Including this person in front of me.

Including me. Right.

Yeah.

I said, no matter what happens, we'll stay friends.

Yeah. Very common. I think I feel like no matter what happens is the most common here.

I agree. That's what I say the most. It feels the most casual, conversational, even. You know, whatever happens. Use that chunk like you mentioned, Lindsay, whatever happens happens. We'll say that just to mean the same as this Spanish phrase. Right. Like, there's no way to control the future. Like, whatever is going to happen is. Is going to happen.

Yeah. And so you're the stable friend here. And so you got a little poetic at the end. Right. So you said, you pro. I said, you promise, and you said, absolutely. You're stuck with me, come what may. So that's nice.

Yeah, that's nice. And it's also interesting because I sort of needed a few different ways to say this throughout this conversation. So it's nice that I had all three. Right. You don't want to repeat vocabulary. You need multiple ways to express something sometimes. So that's another reason you might say come what may. If you've already said whatever happens or no matter what happens, then you can say, come what may.

Yeah. 100. We have a couple minutes. So, Aubry, when is the time in your life when you felt most like this? Like you're on the precipice of a Big change. And you just were like, oh, what am I doing? Doing?

You know, probably when I got married, I. I think I've shared this before in the podcast or with you, Lindsay, that I did not know my husband very long. When we got married, we had only been dating and engaged for a few months.

Yeah.

We hadn't lived together yet. That wasn't common in my culture. And so we got married, and I remember, like, the night before and, like, my wedding day sort of having these feelings of, like, am I ready for this? It felt really big and, like, this huge change. And so, yeah, it definitely fel it. But luckily it all worked out.

So maybe you remember someone that talked you through it. So we remember these moments.

Right.

And. And. And usually that person is quite stable and like, well, you need someone who's counteracting your anxiety in a way.

Yeah. I remember talking to my mom about it the night before my wedding, and I wasn't. It's not that I was having cold feet, but I was like, wow, this is a big change, you know, and she probably would have said something like this, like, no matter what happens, you're gonna be fine. It's all gonna work out.

Yeah, I love that. I love that. So these are connection moments because we do remember them 20 years later.

Right.

I mean, I. For me, I think when I moved to Japan, I just think it was such a big change. And I remember. I think my parents, like, took me out for dinner. I think I had a flight out of New York. They took me out for dinner the night before, and I was going through the crisis of I'm moving to Japan for the next two years. What? Like, what did I even do? You know, what am I thinking?

Right? This very conversation you might have had with your mom or your dad. Right? Yes, I am exc. But I'm also terrified.

But in a way, it's really good because the more of these big chances we take in life, kind of the richer our life does ultimately end up being.

Imagine if you went back, if you had never taken that chance, how much you changed and grew as a person. You wouldn't change that for anything.

Absolutely. 100. So today's episode really matters for that connection, for thinking back to the people that mattered that were there for you. Right. And so each of our listeners, you guys can think about those moments for you too, and how you might have this conversation in English.

Absolutely. Yes. I'm excited for you. Use this vocabulary, to connect, to give this advice. Right. Whatever happens, you're brave for trying it. It's going to work out, right? To be able to support people in that way. Yeah.

Guys, go check out 2616 if you love our style. Our style is a special focus on human connection. When you learn English, that's what we do here. So if you agree with that, if you love that, go check out 2616. That's on me. Admitting mistakes without making it awkward.

Okay, what a connection topic because you can make it really awkward when you admit a mistake. So you need the phrases to avoid that for sure.

Aubrey, we'll see you back here on the show very soon. Have a good day.

Me too. See you next time. Bye 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

[Aubrey Carter]

sure you don't miss anything. See you next time.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Spring just slid into your DMs. Grab that boho. Look for that rooftop dinner. Those sandals that can keep up with you. And hang some string lights to give your patio a glow up. Spring's calling, Ross. Work your magic.

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