Afleveringen
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Ever feel like your conversations stay frustratingly shallow? Like youâre stuck in small-talk limbo, never quite breaking through to something meaningful? Youâre not alone. The truth is, most people are missing a few key skills that make the difference between surface-level chatter and real, engaging conversation.
In this episode, weâre breaking down how to go deeper in conversationsâhow to make people light up, open up, and actually enjoy talking to you. Inspired by Better Small Talk by Patrick King, this episode is packed with practical strategies you can start using today.
Hereâs what youâll learn:
đš How to give compliments that actually matter (hint: itâs not about eye color)
đš The #1 listening mistake that makes conversations fall flatâand how to fix it
đš Why understanding conversation styles can instantly make you a better communicator
đš How black-and-white thinking shuts down discussions (and what to do instead)
đš How to keep small talk from stalling and create motion in conversationWhether youâre someone who dreads small talk or you love deep conversations and want to get even better at them, this episode is for you.
PLUS: Iâll be announcing an upcoming workshop on how rhythm and melody shape great conversationsâso stay tuned for that!
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In this 9th episode of Beyond the Accent, I dive into the world of intonationâthe hidden musical quality in our speech that does so much more than just add flavor. I explore how mastering these subtle pitch changes can transform our everyday communication, helping us express meaning, structure our conversations, and build better connections with our listeners.
I focus on David Brazilâs Discourse Intonation modelâa practical, real-world approach that breaks speech into natural âtone unitsâ and reveals how every rise and fall in our voice carries purpose. Drawing on fascinating research (like the study where correct primary stress boosted comprehension and favorability), I explain why emphasizing prosody isnât just an academic exercise but a critical tool for clear, effective communication. Join me as I unlock the secret language of intonation and share why paying attention to these âmusical signalsâ can make all the difference in both teaching and everyday interactions.
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Your voice is more than just soundâitâs a reflection of who you are. It carries your emotions, your confidence (or lack of it), and even the way you see yourself in the world.
Ever felt like your voice sounds different in certain situations? Maybe it tightens when you're nervous, softens when youâre uncertain, or even disappears when you feel unheard. Thatâs not randomâitâs a pattern.
In this episode, we explore:
đš How your voice is shaped by your emotions, past experiences, and confidence
đš Why the digital world is making it harder than ever to feel at home in your own voice
đš A simple but powerful exercise (inspired by Kristin Linklater) to help you reconnect with your voice and let it take up spaceIf youâve ever struggled with tension in your throat, disliked the sound of your own voice, or wanted to speak with more ease and authorityâthis oneâs for you.
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Youâve been lied to.
Okay, maybe not lied to, but definitely misled. If youâve ever worried about sounding correct, if youâve ever hesitated before saying âwhoâ or âwhomâ (and still felt unsure), if youâve ever felt like âbad grammarâ equals bad Englishâthis episode is for you.
Because hereâs the truth: English doesnât actually have fixed rules. It has trends. Whatâs âwrongâ today was perfectly fine a century ago. Whatâs âproperâ now might be outdated in 50 years. And the people making the rules? Well, theyâre mostly just⌠people.
In this episode, weâre diving into the battle between prescriptivists (the rule enforcers) and descriptivists (the rule observers). Weâll talk about:
đĽ Why some grammar ârulesâ are actually just old-fashioned opinions
đĽ The words and pronunciations that were once considered âincorrectâ but won anyway
đĽ Why you donât have to sound like a textbook to sound credible, intelligent, or fluentSo if youâve ever felt anxious about getting it rightâtake a deep breath. Letâs rethink what âcorrectâ even means.
đ§ Press play and letâs talk about it.
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What if sound isnât just something you hearâbut something that shapes you? In this episode, inspired by Julian Treasureâs How to Be Heard, we explore how sound affects your body, mind, emotions, and even behavior. From the physiological effects of music to the circular dance of speaking and listening, discover why sound is never neutralâand how becoming conscious of it can transform your relationships, focus, and well-being. Whether youâre tuning in with headphones or background noise, this episode will change the way you listenâfor good.
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đŁď¸ Ever notice how your voice changes depending on who youâre talking to? Whether itâs slipping into your âwork voiceâ or switching to your native language with family, code-switching is something we all doâoften without even realizing it.
In this episode, weâre diving deep into the what, why, and how of code-switching. đ§ Why do we naturally adapt our speech? What does it reveal about our identity, culture, and sense of belonging? And is it a superpower or a survival skill?
Weâll break down the science behind it (spoiler: your brain is working overtime), explore personal anecdotes, and discuss how code-switching can be both empowering and exhausting.
Tune in to discover:
â The psychology behind code-switching
â How cultural influences shape the way we speak
â Why switching between accents or languages is totally normal
â What your speech says about you
Whether you're balancing multiple languages or just navigating different social circles, this episode is for you!
đ§ Listen now and embrace the way you naturally adapt to the world around you.
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Have you been sold the idea that perfect English equals perfect communication? Letâs break that lie wide open. In this episode, I share how chasing perfection in your speech can steal your confidence and joyâand what to focus on instead. Weâll talk about why missteps and quirks make you a more relatable speaker, and how embracing your imperfections can unlock authentic connections. Itâs not about sounding like a textbook; itâs about honoring the voice that only you can bring to the table.
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đ Your Voice, Your Accent: How Your Idiolect Tells Your Story
Have you ever thought about how unique your voice truly is? Itâs more than just an accentâitâs a mosaic of influences, experiences, and personal quirks that make your voice one of a kind. This episode dives into the concept of idiolectâthe linguistic fingerprint that tells your story.
Discover why no two voices are the same and how your accent is just one piece of a larger puzzle. Weâll explore the layers that shape the way you speak, from rhythm and melody to cultural nuances and personal expressions.
Whether you're learning to embrace your accent or simply curious about what makes your voice yours, this episode offers an insightful and empowering perspective.
đ§ Tune in now and uncover the story your voice is telling!
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Does small talk feel awkward, forced, or downright unpleasant at times?
Youâre not aloneâbut what if you could see it in a new light? In this episode, we explore why small talk is more than just filler conversation and how it can open doors to deeper connections and cultural understanding.
Weâll unpack the awkwardness, reframe it, and share practical ways to approach small talk with easeâeven when it feels hard..
Tune in to discover new sides to small talk and unlock the confidence to turn those tricky little chats into meaningful moments.
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In the debut episode of my podcast, we dive into the beautifully layered intersections of love, language, and identity. Inspired by Lauren Collinsâ New Yorker article, Learning to Love in French, this episode explores what happens when relationships cross linguistic borders.
Weâll talk about:
How learning your partnerâs language can deepen intimacyâand complicate identity.
The so-called âsoulmate-methodâ of language learning and why itâs not always as romantic as it sounds.
The cultural contrasts between French and English communication styles and how they shape relationships.
How language can reveal a âparallel lifeâ or even an alter ego within ourselves.
Everyday misunderstandings in multilingual love that are âfunny, frustrating, but always illuminating.â
Whether youâre a language nerd, a cross-cultural romantic, or someone fascinated by how communication shapes human connection, this episode will inspire you to think about love and language in a whole new way.
đď¸ Listen now to reflect on your own âlost in translationâ moments and discover how love is always worth translating.
