This podcast episode addresses the topic of polite ways to ask for clarification in English conversations. The hosts emphasize the annoyance of using the word "what" as it can sound impatient and suggest using alternative phrases such as "Could you repeat that?" or "I'm sorry, I didn't catch that." They also discuss regional variations in pronunciation and provide a list of six polite phrases that can be used to ask for clarification, including "What was that?" and "Could you repeat that?"
