Speak English with Confidence | More Than Words
Speak English with Confidence | More Than Words is a podcast for people who have studied English but still lack confidence when speaking. Host Richard Marshall, a confidence coach, explores the psychological barriers like fear of mistakes, perfectionism, and imposter syndrome that hold learners back. Through conversations with professionals and coaches, the podcast offers insights and strategies to build real speaking confidence.
Episodes
(6 min) Stop Worrying About How Your English Sounds | Ben Eden on Speaking with Confidence in Meetings
Do you get nervous before you speak English in a meeting, worrying about every word before it leaves your mouth?
Today I’m joined by author, speaker and former HR executive Ben Eden. I ask him how he’d help a senior professional who leads with confidence in their own language but freezes when they have to run a meeting in English. Ben admits he still gets nervous before big talks himself, and shar
(7 min) English Confidence for Executives: You Don’t Need to Prove You’re Clever
Have you ever been the most senior person in the room and the quietest one in English?
In today’s clip, I talk about why so many successful professionals freeze when speaking English at work, even when their English is better than that of the people around them.
Your experience and authority don’t disappear when you switch languages, but it often feels that way. I look at where perfectionism and t
(6 min) Your English Is Better Than You Think | Ángel Gabaldón Ortega on Imposter Syndrome
Have you ever told someone your English isn't very good, in perfectly good English?
Today I'm joined by Ángel Gabaldón Ortega, Relationship Manager for Large Corporates at Bankinter, to talk about imposter syndrome, self-doubt and the fear of making mistakes in English.
Ángel calls his English "pichí pichá", though by any honest measure it's excellent, and he speaks it confidently at work every da
(7 min) Ashamed of Your English Accent? Why Clarity Matters More Than Sounding Native | with Stefy Vaclavikova
Do you wish you could get rid of your accent when you speak English?
Today, I'm joined by Stefy Vaclavikova, an ICF-accredited coach who has helped thousands of teachers build their own businesses, to talk about her non-native English accent and the school director who wouldn't let her appear in promotional videos because of it. Stefy explains how she let go of trying to sound like a native speake
(7 min) Language Identity: "Do You Know How Intelligent I am in My Own Language?" with Daniele Ponzo
Do you ever feel like a smaller version of yourself when you speak English?
In this seven-minute extract from a longer conversation (which you can watch HERE on YouTube), I'm joined by English coach Daniele Ponzo, originally from Italy, to talk about language identity and the thirteen years he spent in Ireland learning to speak English confidently at work. From the fear of making mistakes in Engli
(3 min) Your English Mistakes Sound Worse to You Than to Anyone Else | with Lauren Martin
Have you ever stopped yourself halfway through a sentence in a meeting because you weren't sure the grammar was right?
In this short clip from a longer conversation, I'm joined by Lauren Martin, a language expert and copywriter who runs Simply Copy and helps language teachers, coaches and schools with their marketing, to talk about why so many capable professionals freeze when speaking English at
(6 min) Stop Comparing Your English to Everyone Else's | Verónica Vitale on Speaking English with Confidence
Most people who have studied English for years still measure themselves against the colleague who lived in California, or against native speakers, and come away feeling they will never be good enough. Add the "fluent in six weeks" promises all over social media, and speaking English confidently starts to feel like a race you can't win.
In this short clip, I talk with English teacher Verónica Vital
(7 min) You Know English. So Why Can’t You Speak It Confidently?
You already know English. So why does something stop you the moment it matters?
In this six-minute conversation, I'm joined by master coach Peter Freeth to talk about what's actually happening when you freeze - the inner critic, the fear of embarrassment, the perfectionism that feels like it's protecting you. Because it is. That's the problem.
This is Speak English with Confidence, previously 'Fro
(4 min) Why Years of English Classes Still Leave You Frozen in Meetings | with Nines López
You've studied English for years. You know the grammar. So why does speaking it at work still feel so hard?
In this four-minute conversation, finance manager Nines López talks about what English learning got wrong - too much grammar, not enough real conversation - and what actually helps professionals stop freezing and start speaking with confidence.
Note: this episode is conducted in Spanish.
Thi
(7 min) Why Fluency Beats Perfection - A Language Coach on Fear, Blocking, and Speaking with Confidence | with Nacho Fernández
You understand more than you speak. You freeze in meetings. You know the grammar but can't get the words out in the moment.
In this seven-minute conversation, language coach Nacho Fernández - who works with CEOs and senior professionals on exactly this - talks about what actually unlocks speaking confidence. The shift from grammar to communication. The fear of judgement. Why correction and critici
(8 min) Exam English vs Real English: Why Certificates Don’t Make You a Confident Speaker
Many Spanish professionals have the certificates — B1, B2, even C1 — but still struggle to speak English confidently in real conversations. Why? Because the system teaches you to pass exams, not to communicate.
In this episode of Speak English with Confidence, previously 'From Lost to the River', English teacher Alba Guerrero González returns to unpack the difference between Exam English and Real
(2 min) It’s Not Your English: Why People Don’t Understand You (Even When You Speak Well)
Many people speak English well, yet still panic when someone says, “Sorry, could you repeat that?” In this short episode of Speak English with Confidence, previously 'From Lost to the River', I explain why these moments often have nothing to do with your English level.
You’ll learn the hidden variables in communication that affect understanding: background noise, distractions in the listener’s min
(7 min) What Happens to Your Confidence When Someone Looks Confused | with Daniele Ponzo
You're mid-sentence and someone's face changes. Suddenly everything you know disappears.
In this seven-minute conversation, language coach, author and podcast host Daniele Ponzo talks about exactly that moment -- and what it taught him about confidence, imperfection, and what communication is actually for. His story of being sent to fix a client problem in Barcelona, in his third language, is wort
(3 min) Why Perfectionism is Killing Your English Confidence | with Daniele Ponzo
Most people who freeze when speaking English have already done everything they were supposed to do. The classes, the grammar, the certification. And it still wasn't enough.
In this three-minute clip, language coach and author Daniele Ponzo talks about the moment he realised perfectionism was the problem, not the solution - and what actually shifted when he stopped trying to sound perfect and start
(49 min) The Psychology Behind Real English Confidence with Daniele Ponzo
Why does the professional who runs meetings brilliantly in their own language go quiet the moment the conversation switches to English?
In this conversation, I'm joined by Daniele Ponzo, Italian language coach, author of Easy English for IT and host of The Non-Native Leader Podcast, who spent 13 years in Ireland building a career in a language he'd only ever studied at school. We talk about the re
(30 min) De “Me da Vergüenza Hablar” a Expresarte con Confianza
What happens when the coach who spends his days telling people to speak without fear has to do it himself, in his second language?
In this conversation, recorded entirely in Spanish, I'm joined by Nacho Fernández, a Spanish language coach, to talk about the mental blocks that hold learners back, from fear of getting it wrong to the perfectionism that keeps you silent. We look at how coaching, pass
(4 min) Learning a Language | One Mistake at a Time
Have you ever made a mistake in another language so awkward you wanted the ground to swallow you up?
In this four-minute episode, I tell the story of the day, fresh in Spain and still finding my feet in Spanish, an Amazon delivery driver asked me "¿Quieres ver mi carne?" and I thought he was offering to show me his meat 😮 That mix-up taught me something I now build my whole approach around: the mi
(3 min) The Chicken Story
Is there a word in your second language you still avoid saying, just in case it comes out wrong?
In this episode, I take you back to my early days in Spain and a trip to the butcher's, where one slightly mispronounced word for chicken turned an ordinary order into something very different, and very memorable. I talk about why the mix-ups that make us cringe at the time often teach us more than any
(6 min) How to Speak English with Confidence | with Alba Guerrero
Most Spanish professionals already know English. Speaking it confidently is another story. Perfectionism, fear of mistakes, and the pressure to "sound correct" can make even simple conversations feel stressful.
In this six-minute conversation, I talk with English teacher Alba Guerrero González about why fluency matters more than perfection and how to overcome the fear of speaking English. We explo
(10 min) My Story | Fear, Frustration & Finding My Purpose
Visit my website for more info: procoachenglish.com. In this deeply personal ‘off-camera’ conversation with Sarah Smit, I share how the pandemic forced me to rethink my path. How my frustrations with Spain brought out a darker, more negative side of my personality. And how transforming this negativity has shaped me, allowing me to ultimately find my purpose: helping others break free from their fe
(8 min) Deja de Buscar la Perfección | Una Charla en Inglés
Visit my website for more info: procoachenglish.com. Here’s an extract from my conversation with Sarah Smit, a polyglot and language expert who knows firsthand what it takes to go from zero to fluent, because she did just that while living in the Netherlands for over a decade. We discuss the mindset shifts that truly build confidence in a second language and how my empathy for my clients’ experien
(20 min) Una Charla en español | The Spanish Mindset
Visit my website for more info: procoachenglish.com. Today, I’m speaking with my client, Miguel Ángel Carrasco Delgado, COO of PRG (Toys R Us & Prenatal), who has nearly 40 years of experience working with top brands like Sephora. He shares how he overcame the fear of making mistakes and built confidence in using English for business. We explore the key mindset shifts that boosted his confiden
(14 min) Fluency Over Perfection | The Key to Speaking English
Visit my website for more info: procoachenglish.com. Struggling with your accent? You’re not alone. In this episode, we break down why perfection is overrated and how real communication is the main objective. Hear insights from Alberto Rodríguez on the Spanish-English pronunciation clash and why confidence matters more than flawless speech. Follow me on Linkedin for more English confidence tips!
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(2.5 min) ¿Eres Una Persona Perfeccionista?
Visit my website for more info: procoachenglish.com. In this episode, I talk about how perfectionism can stop us from improving in a new language. I’ll share my personal journey of accepting my accent and occasional mistakes in Spanish, and how this mindset shift can help you embrace your unique voice in English.
When you accept your English as it is today, you’ll feel more confident, speak up mor
(4 min) F.E.A.R: False Evidence Appearing Real | Why You Think Your English Is Worse Than It Is
Many people speak English far better than they think, yet still feel a wave of fear the moment someone doesn’t understand them. In this short episode of More Than Words ‘From Lost To The River’, I explore how fear creates stories in our mind that feel true even when they’re not.
You’ll hear the acronym F.E.A.R — False Evidence Appearing Real — and how it shapes the way we interpret other people’s
(4 min) "Tú Puedes" Your English Is Better Than You Think
Visit my website for more info: procoachenglish.com. En este extracto del primer capítulo, abordo la lucha de sentir que "no eres lo suficientemente bueno" ("not good enough") al hablar inglés y por qué es hora de cambiar esa mentalidad. A continuación, algunos puntos claves que aprenderás:
Tu nivel de inglés es mejor de lo que piensas.
La comunicación es más importante que la perfección.
El impa
(21 min) La Comunicación
Visit my website for more info: procoachenglish.com. Listen to why others’ reactions affect our confidence when speaking English and how many communication factors are beyond our control. Learn why mutual effort matters, why fears about mistakes are often false, and how to reset your perspective. Plus, language expert Lauren Martin shares insights on smoother communication. Enjoy practical tips an
(21 min) La Perfeccíon
Visit my website for more info: procoachenglish.com. In this episode of From Lost to the River, I talk about why perfectionism can block your progress and how embracing your accent and your mistakes can actually help you connect with confidence. You'll hear a Spanish speaker’s perspective on letting go of shame when speaking English. Follow me on LinkedIn for daily confidence tips.
Watch 'From Lo
(17 min) Why I Started a Podcast About English Confidence | Richard Marshall
This is where it started. The first episode, recorded with man flu, no script, and no interest in following anyone's template for how a podcast should sound.
In this seventeen-minute introduction, confidence coach Richard Marshall explains why so many people who already speak English well still freeze when it matters, why the traditional grammar-heavy approach to language learning creates shame ra
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