AEE 2326: What Do Birds and Efficiency Have in Common? AI transcript and summary - episode of podcast All Ears English Podcast

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Episode: AEE 2326: What Do Birds and Efficiency Have in Common?

Author: Lindsay McMahon and Michelle Kaplan
Duration: 00:20:52

Episode Shownotes

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Full Transcript

00:00:00 Speaker_01
This is an All Ears English podcast, episode 2326. What do birds and efficiency have in common?

00:00:10 Speaker_00
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.

00:00:27 Speaker_00
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.

00:00:41 Speaker_00
And to get your transcripts delivered by email every week, go to allearsenglish.com forward slash subscribe. Are you an efficient person? Do you look for ways to accomplish two goals in one single action?

00:00:59 Speaker_00
Today, learn a super common native phrase that Americans use to comment on efficiency in English. Hello, Michelle. How's it going today? How are you?

00:01:11 Speaker_01
I'm good. Everything is a little bit hectic. I was just telling Lindsay about how I'm in the process of moving. So I'm sure our listeners have experienced moving before and it's a little bit hectic, but that's okay. It's exciting too.

00:01:24 Speaker_00
Oh my gosh, I'm sure our listeners know exactly what you're going through, Michelle. But today's topic is a little bit different.

00:01:31 Speaker_01
So, I mean, Lindsay, do you think that we should just kill two birds with one stone and we were going to have a meeting? Do you want to kill two birds with one stone and do the meeting on the same day as our next recording?

00:01:42 Speaker_00
That sounds good, Michelle. I mean, I'm not really a killer of birds, but like. But, you know, sure, that sounds like it would be efficient and efficient way to spend our meeting time.

00:01:53 Speaker_01
Absolutely. Okay, great. Guys, today we are here to answer a really good listener question from YouTube. This is about an extremely useful and fun expression. Guys, this is going to be one of the top most used phrases I think that you will hear.

00:02:11 Speaker_01
I mean, do you hear people say, kill two birds with one stone?

00:02:14 Speaker_00
Sure. And I say it all the time, too. Absolutely. Because we're all about convenience. We're all about getting as much done during a period of time that we can if we can double up and do two things during that period of time.

00:02:25 Speaker_00
We love that in such a production based society. We're such a task list society.

00:02:34 Speaker_01
Yes, exactly. So, Lindsay, would you like to read the question for us?

00:02:38 Speaker_00
Yes, this question comes from Bumi Kavat and this was in YouTube. Again, don't forget guys, we have a whole YouTube channel, which you could go and watch us on video right now, right?

00:02:48 Speaker_00
You could go and hit subscribe over there and get an update every time we publish. So the student says, Hi ma'am, I love your podcast. Could you make a video on the idiom, kill two birds with one stone? Yeah, it's a good question, Michelle.

00:03:02 Speaker_01
Let's do it. Yeah. Oh, it's perfect. Guys, we love these really specific questions about a specific phrase and a specific idiom that you hear. So definitely, you know, you can send your questions to us.

00:03:15 Speaker_01
But YouTube also, if you comment on our YouTube videos, we'll catch them there, too.

00:03:21 Speaker_00
Yes, and before we get into the answer, I want to call out three very special listeners who reviewed us with a five-star review over in the Android app.

00:03:30 Speaker_00
Don't forget, guys, we have an Android iOS app and a special thank you to Edison Isaac, Ray MacSandres, and Jefferson Rivera. Guys, go over and review the podcast.

00:03:41 Speaker_00
It doesn't matter if you are using this podcast in the iOS or Android app or whether it's Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Leave us a review and tell us what you think about the show and we'll try to read your name out loud. Thank you.

00:03:54 Speaker_01
Yeah, these were great. We really appreciated everyone for the reviews. Thank you so much.

00:04:00 Speaker_00
For sure. So Michelle, do you use this term yourself? I told you I do. What about you?

00:04:05 Speaker_01
Yeah, I do. I mean, I think it's just really, really useful to talk about logistics. And like Lindsay said, efficiency and all of these things, planning so many things that it's good for.

00:04:15 Speaker_01
But yeah, I never you never really stop and think about how morbid this expression is. Awful.

00:04:21 Speaker_00
Why would we say this? This is terrible. It probably goes way, way back to the days when people were, I don't know, hunting birds. I have no idea, Michelle, but it's not very pleasant if you actually think about the visual.

00:04:34 Speaker_00
But the fact is, even though it's not very pleasant, we still absolutely use it because we're a very, like I said before, we're a society that's very focused on productivity, getting things done. I think more so than other cultures, Michelle.

00:04:50 Speaker_01
Oh, really? Yeah, I don't know exactly. But yeah, we're definitely like a go, go, go.

00:04:58 Speaker_00
Yeah, I think other cultures from from my this is what I've observed in my travel. Yeah. I think other cultures are more focused on relationship building.

00:05:05 Speaker_00
I know, of course, there are people that care about relationships in the U.S., but I think if you have to categorize a country into relationship focused or task focused, I think we would fall under task efficiency, getting things done, producing something rather than building relationships.

00:05:22 Speaker_00
Again, super broad generalization, but I think there's some truth to that. Interesting.

00:05:26 Speaker_01
Yeah, we're definitely focused on efficiency. I would agree with that. So, but what I mean, what does this mean? Kill two birds with one stone? Again, guys, we're not actually talking about killing birds.

00:05:37 Speaker_00
Yeah, well, essentially the birds represent the things you need to do, and the stone is the action you take or the effort you put in. So we have to be really clear about the meaning here of exactly what we're saying, right?

00:05:51 Speaker_00
If there's a goal or a thing you need to accomplish, well, we'll get into it, Michelle. We'll get some good examples here.

00:05:58 Speaker_01
Yeah. OK. All right. Let's do some examples. It's interesting. I was trying to come up with examples and it's not that easy to think of the examples. It's more one of those expressions where in the moment, you know, to use it.

00:06:09 Speaker_01
But when you're thinking of examples, it's kind of it's interesting. But I gave it a go. So here we go. OK.

00:06:14 Speaker_01
If we can have this meeting on Friday when I'm in the office anyway for payroll, we can kill two birds with one stone and work from home on Monday.

00:06:22 Speaker_00
Yeah, so just perfect. So this is good. So to be clear, the birds are the fact that you have to be at the office for payroll and you need to be at the office for a meeting anyways, right?

00:06:32 Speaker_01
So instead of so I guess everybody just wants to work from home on Monday. So they figure, all right, let's kill two birds with one stone, then we don't have to come in.

00:06:40 Speaker_00
Yes, love it. Okay, next one is she loved having a dog because she could kill two birds with one stone, get some exercise when the dog needs to go out anyways.

00:06:48 Speaker_00
That's a good feeling in your daily life when you find these efficiencies where you accomplish kind of two things that need to happen with one action, right? You need exercise, the dog needs to go out, you go for the walk, you get both. Right.

00:07:03 Speaker_01
That's two for the price of one. Right. Yeah. Or one more example here is let's kill two birds with one stone and get the couch and the fridge delivered on the same day.

00:07:14 Speaker_01
And I'm thinking about that because I'm moving and I did get the couch and the fridge delivered on the same day.

00:07:20 Speaker_00
Yeah, anytime you can chunk your work. My favorite example here is this middle one that we said with the walking the dog, because that's essentially you're doing one thing, but you're accomplishing two goals, right? That's how I see this phrase.

00:07:34 Speaker_00
One action achieves two goals. preferred outcomes that you're looking for. Two different ones, right? That's the essence there. Yes, exactly.

00:07:43 Speaker_01
So yeah, you definitely know it more in the moment when these things come along that you can use expression. But yeah, these are some useful examples that would help you to understand it. Love it.

00:07:56 Speaker_00
Okay, so what is this about here? Can we get into a little conversation about efficiency, right?

00:08:03 Speaker_01
Right, exactly. This is about being efficient, thinking about smart ways to save time, or like Lindsay said, I mean, if you can just accomplish two goals.

00:08:13 Speaker_01
So getting some exercise, getting some fresh air, and you don't think about it as much because you have to take the dog out anyway. Right, right, right.

00:08:24 Speaker_00
For sure. Or another example, if you walk to get your groceries, you're getting your daily walk-in, you're getting exercise, maybe a little weight lifting. And you're getting your groceries.

00:08:36 Speaker_00
It's like, again, you have two goals and you're accomplishing both goals with one single action. OK, right.

00:08:44 Speaker_01
Exactly. So and like we already mentioned, this is a huge cultural topic. I mean, I wonder if these expressions are if a similar expression is in other languages, other cultures, because I agree with you, Lindsay, is that go, go, go mentality.

00:08:59 Speaker_00
Yeah. And I would imagine for you, Michelle, as a mom, this comes up a lot. I would imagine certain scenarios where you can achieve two things you're trying to do in one action. Yeah. Yes, for sure.

00:09:12 Speaker_01
I mean, always, you know, even something as simple as grabbing the coats, you know, grabbing all the jackets, getting everybody together, making the lunches even. So, guys, this doesn't need to be about some deep introspective thing.

00:09:27 Speaker_01
This can also just be about very simple little tasks that you need to get done. It can be used for small things or larger tasks.

00:09:35 Speaker_00
Yes, exactly. And there are other ways because we're a culture that's so obsessed with efficiency and productivity and getting it done. There are other ways that we say this because we can't just always say the same thing.

00:09:48 Speaker_00
So, for example, Michelle, all in one go basically means the same thing. Right?

00:09:53 Speaker_01
Right. Exactly. It's not necessarily though two things. I mean, it could just be, you know, it could be multiple things. Many things. Yeah.

00:10:02 Speaker_00
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Right. Usually two birds with one stone is really just remarking that there are two goals with one action getting achieved. But all in one go means you're doing it all at the same time, all together or things in a row.

00:10:13 Speaker_00
For example, should we get the kids and the dog all in one go or take two trips? Yeah.

00:10:18 Speaker_00
I mean, when I come back from, you know, vacations, I love the idea if I'm driving into town, get my groceries on the way home, get my dog on the way home with the dog, doggy daycare, and then not have to go back out. Right, right.

00:10:32 Speaker_00
My partner prefers to come home and then go back out. So I just want it all in one go. I want to just get it all done and then be able to stay, be home and relax. I can understand that. Yeah, I can understand that for sure.

00:10:45 Speaker_01
Or another thing you could say is tackle two things at once. So to tackle, right, as sometimes it's not just about tackling in football. Tackling can be getting something done.

00:10:57 Speaker_00
Right. And that's another interesting reflection on our culture that we use these sports idioms to talk about productivity. I wonder if our listeners' countries and languages do that, too. That's really interesting.

00:11:09 Speaker_00
So, for example, let's tackle two things at once, pick up the food and call the handyman on the way. Michelle, are you getting ready for a thing? Because we're recording this a few days before Thanksgiving.

00:11:20 Speaker_00
I wonder if you're killing two birds with one stone in any sense with your preparations. Are you cooking the meal? Are you and Dan preparing the meal? Are you going somewhere? What's your plan?

00:11:30 Speaker_01
We're going to Maryland to be with my family. Okay.

00:11:33 Speaker_00
So no major tasks to accomplish then in that case, just the packing, just the packing.

00:11:38 Speaker_01
And it's, you know, I just trying to get my, you know, my moving in order and unpack some things. And then, okay, now it's time to pack to leave again. So now I just feel Oh,

00:11:51 Speaker_01
I wish I had maybe another week just to get things organized before Thanksgiving, but that's alright.

00:11:55 Speaker_00
That's how it goes. We just came back from Slovenia and the day we came back from Slovenia or the next day, we're getting our bathrooms renovated. It's just like one thing after the other. It never falls perfectly with perfect breaks. Exactly.

00:12:11 Speaker_01
And then the last one is just be efficient, right? This isn't necessarily about a certain number of tasks and it can just be used more generally. But it's this idea of, you know, Lindsay, we talk about working smarter, not harder, right? Yes.

00:12:26 Speaker_01
Just getting things done, thinking about what things can be chunked together. So let's be efficient and pick up all the supplies in one trip.

00:12:37 Speaker_00
Yeah, like if you're going to the other side of your neighborhood, maybe there's a grocery store and maybe there's a hair salon in the same area. You want to try to do both at the same time, that kind of thing.

00:12:46 Speaker_01
Yes, exactly.

00:12:48 Speaker_00
Exactly.

00:12:49 Speaker_01
So I think these are super useful expressions for talking about logistics, about planning, all of these things. Lindsay, would you like to try a role play?

00:12:57 Speaker_00
Let's do it, Michelle. So here we are sisters and we're getting ready to leave on a big vacation. Ooh, I wonder where we're going. I wonder too, yes. Okay, so I can call the Uber.

00:13:07 Speaker_01
Okay, and if you can do that and get the bags all in one go, that would be great. Oh yes, I'll be efficient. OK, and I'm trying to tackle two things at once by making sure we are checked in for our flight and confirming the hotel. Thank you. Of course.

00:13:22 Speaker_01
You think we could kill two birds with one stone and grab some food for the plane while calling mom to ask her about the plans once we get there? Good idea.

00:13:30 Speaker_00
Michelle, I think we've said on prior episodes that you and I would never have a very we would if we traveled together, there would be no planning getting done and we would just show up in the country like, what should we do?

00:13:43 Speaker_01
But that's the way I like to do things, right? Yeah. Whenever we travel, it's always Dan doing all this research beforehand.

00:13:50 Speaker_00
Yeah, I know.

00:13:51 Speaker_01
And I do benefit from it, but yeah.

00:13:54 Speaker_00
Yeah, I've realized over the years, my partner also is the one that does the research, tons of research and does a great job planning. And I've realized because now we take shorter trips, like 10-day trips.

00:14:04 Speaker_00
I used to travel for months at a time, like backpacking for a year, and I could just show up in that town. Maybe take a nap at my hostel and then roll up and say, what do I want to do? But now I don't really have the time to do that. Yeah, it's true.

00:14:18 Speaker_00
Oh, something is lost, but something is gained, I suppose.

00:14:22 Speaker_01
I love it. I love it. All right. So, sister, let's go through this role.

00:14:27 Speaker_00
OK, sister. Here we go. So you said, OK, and if you can do that and get the bags all in one go. So you're saying you're asking me to call the Uber and get the bags all at the same time?

00:14:38 Speaker_01
Yeah, basically, like, you know, you'd be holding your phone and then grabbing the bags. And you know how that is when everybody's trying to get out the door with all the bags.

00:14:47 Speaker_00
Oh, yeah. It's always very awkward. Yes. And then I said, yes, I'll be efficient. OK, good. All right. This trip is starting off right, I think.

00:14:55 Speaker_01
And then I said, I'm trying to tackle two things at once by making sure we are checked in for our flight and confirming the hotel. So maybe I don't know. Maybe you're looking at me like, why are you sitting there staring at your phone?

00:15:07 Speaker_01
So I'm explaining what I'm getting done.

00:15:09 Speaker_00
Exactly. And then you said, of course, you think we could kill two birds with one stone and grab some food for the plane while calling mom.

00:15:17 Speaker_00
So you're going to just basically go to the convenience store and shop for food and then also call your mom at the same time.

00:15:23 Speaker_00
That's a useful thing, the fact that we have handheld mobile phones, of course, now, and we can walk somewhere or achieve something else while we're talking.

00:15:33 Speaker_01
The only time that I really talk on the phone is when I'm in transit. How often do you talk on the phone, Lindsay, where you're not doing something else at the same time?

00:15:49 Speaker_00
Um, I guess when I have friend dates, friend phone dates, I do actually kind of just like stay home and sit down and talk with them. But I know what you're saying. I mean, it's a good use of time as well.

00:16:00 Speaker_00
Got to be careful when you're driving, of course, as long as you have like a hand, no, no handheld device, right? Focus on the road. We're not endorsing this. It can be dangerous.

00:16:09 Speaker_00
But yeah, if you on the train, if you're on an above ground train or something, you're walking to work really good use of time.

00:16:16 Speaker_01
Yeah. Or even I'll call my mom while I'm making lunch, you know, because I might not have enough. So I'm making my lunch. Maybe I'm sitting eating my lunch, but I might not have time to sit down. I try and kill two birds with one stone.

00:16:29 Speaker_01
Not that calling my mom is killing a bird. I love to talk to my mom.

00:16:33 Speaker_00
But I think it's good though because it probably means you end up connecting with people you love more often because you don't say, I have to have the perfect set space of two hours where you would never connect, right?

00:16:45 Speaker_00
So you probably end up calling people more often, which is fantastic.

00:16:48 Speaker_01
Yeah, that's the thing, you know, I with the phone is my like, my best friend, she just had a baby a few months ago. And we've been playing phone tag, just just trying to talk for the first time. And I mean, for so long, we're playing phone tag.

00:17:03 Speaker_01
And I always think I have to sit down and have the two hour time, you know, I want to have the perfect conversation. But the other day, I just said enough already, I called her at 10 minutes, I said, I have 10 minutes, but I want to hear your voice.

00:17:15 Speaker_00
That's good. Sometimes that's it. That's what you have to do, right? When people's lives get busy. A hundred percent. Yeah. I love that. That's a good note to end on today.

00:17:23 Speaker_00
I mean, there is another episode though that our listeners could check out if they're getting on this All Ears English, you know, vibe and they're loving it. They want to keep listening. Where can they go?

00:17:32 Speaker_01
All right, guys, head on over. We did a Saturday episode. It was Are You on a Wild Goose Chase for Better English? Listen today.

00:17:39 Speaker_00
Excellent. Any final thoughts on efficiency or connecting or getting things done? Yeah.

00:17:47 Speaker_01
I think this is a huge cultural topic, as Lindsay mentioned, and that's a big piece. So I'm definitely curious to hear from our listeners what it's like.

00:17:59 Speaker_01
Do you have any expressions like this that are similar with a similar idea to talk about productivity?

00:18:05 Speaker_00
Yeah. Send us an email or leave us a comment on YouTube or on any of our social channels and let us know the answer to that. Super interesting. All right. Okay. Good stuff, Michelle. Well, thank you for being on the episode today. Thanks.

00:18:18 Speaker_00
And thanks to our listener for this great question. All right. Talk soon. 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 slash fluency score.

00:18:38 Speaker_00
And if you believe in connection, not perfection, then hit subscribe now to make sure you don't miss anything. See you next time.