Speak English with Confidence | More Than Words

Richard Marshall
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Speak English with Confidence | More Than Words (previously 'From Lost to the River') is a podcast for people whose English is fine but who still don't feel confident using it. You've spent years studying, practicing, maybe even living in English, and yet something closes down when it matters. Meetings. Calls. Conversations with people you don't know. You overthink what you're about to say, you freeze, and you come away frustrated, wondering why you can't just speak. The problem isn't your English. It's your relationship with it. Confidence coach and author Richard Marshall talks with professionals, teachers, coaches, and language learners about what actually gets in the way: fear of making mistakes, perfectionism, imposter syndrome, the pressure to be perfect rather than just communicate. Honest conversations with people who've been exactly where you are, showing what it looks and sounds like when things finally change. More conversations, coaching options, and the book More Than Words: Essays on Language, Identity, and the Courage to Speak at procoachenglish.com.

  1. 1d ago

    (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 English to a funeral where he had no idea what to say, he's been exactly where you are. And nobody was judging him. They were just glad he tried. This is Speak English with Confidence, previously 'From Lost to the River', a weekly show about language, identity, and what it really takes to speak with confidence. More conversations, coaching options, and my new book More Than Words: Essays on Language, Identity, and the Courage to Speak at procoachenglish.com. About Daniele Ponzo After 13 years working in IT in Ireland, Daniele now helps IT professionals worldwide build their language confidence and English communication skills with his HACK system, featured in his book Easy English for IT. Find his daily tips on LinkedIn and his podcast, The Non-Native Leader, on YouTube. Find Daniele: LinkedIn: Daniele Ponzo | LinkedIn Website: https://danieleponzo.com Book: Easy English Fot IT Connect with me on Substack: https://substack.com/@thecouragetospeak

  2. 3d ago

    (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 work. We talk about how grammar-heavy schooling leaves people so worried about getting every sentence perfect that they won't open up at all, and how quieting the inner critic and accepting that mistakes are fine is what actually helps you overcome English anxiety. Lauren also makes a point I loved, that people want confidence for what it unlocks, getting on at work and connecting with people, and the fear of making mistakes in English is what's standing in the way. And those little slips you're so worried about? They're far louder in your head than in the mind of the person listening. This is Speak English with Confidence, previously 'From Lost to the River', a weekly show about language, identity, and what it really takes to speak with confidence. More conversations, coaching options, and my new book 'More Than Words: Essays on Language, Identity, and the Courage to Speak' at procoachenglish.com. Find Lauren: Instagram: @simplycopy_co LinkedIn: Lauren Martin Website: https://simplycopyco.com/ Connect with me on Substack: https://substack.com/@thecouragetospeak

  3. 5d ago

    (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 Vitale, founder of Vital English, about why comparing yourself to others is never a fair comparison and how to build English confidence at your own pace. Veronica shares her perspective on the pressure created by unrealistic fluency timelines, why real learning happens long after the lesson ends, and how podcasts, films and content you already enjoy help your English click over time. This extract is taken from a longer conversation, where we switch between Spanish and English. Click HERE to watch it on YouTube with subtitles.  This is Speak English with Confidence, previously 'From Lost to the River', a weekly show about language, identity, and what it really takes to speak with confidence. More conversations, coaching options, and my new book 'More Than Words: Essays on Language, Identity, and the Courage to Speak' at procoachenglish.com. Find Verónica: Instagram: @vitalenglishorg TikTok: @veronicavitale01 YouTube: Verónica Vitale Connect with me on Substack: https://substack.com/@thecouragetospeak

  4. Jan 9

    (6 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 'From Lost to the River', a weekly show about language, identity, and what it really takes to speak with confidence. More conversations, coaching options, and my new book More Than Words: Essays on Language, Identity, and the Courage to Speak at procoachenglish.com.

  5. 12/19/2025

    (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. This is Speak English with Confidence, previously 'From Lost to the River', a weekly show about language, identity, and what it really takes to speak with confidence. More conversations, coaching options, and my new book More Than Words: Essays on Language, Identity, and the Courage to Speak at procoachenglish.com.

  6. 12/10/2025

    (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 criticism are completely different things. And what happens when you finally drop the block. Note: this episode is conducted in Spanish. This is Speak English with Confidence, previously 'From Lost to the River', a weekly show about language, identity, and what it really takes to speak with confidence. More conversations, coaching options, and my new book More Than Words: Essays on Language, Identity, and the Courage to Speak at procoachenglish.com.

  7. 12/05/2025

    (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 English. We explore how 'titulitis', external pressure, and exam‑oriented learning create a generation of learners who feel confident on paper but insecure when speaking. Alba explains why major exams like selectividad still ignore speaking, and how that shapes your confidence years later in meetings, interviews, and high‑stakes situations. If you’ve ever wondered why you overthink when speaking English, apologise too much, or hesitate even with a strong level, this conversation reveals the emotional roots of that insecurity — and how to rebuild confidence through a connection‑over‑perfection mindset. This episode gives you one clear benefit: a practical way to start speaking more naturally without waiting to feel “ready.” Follow Alba on Instagram and TikTok for daily English tips and speaking strategies. If this episode resonates, you’ll find more conversations, coaching options, and my new book More Than Words: Essays on Language, Identity, and the Courage to Speak at procoachenglish.com. Connect with me on Substack.

  8. 11/19/2025

    (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 mind, technical issues on video calls, and the simple fact that people are often in their own head. When someone doesn’t understand you, it’s usually because they weren’t fully present, not because your English was wrong. This episode will help you stop overthinking, stop blaming yourself, and speak with more confidence in meetings, presentations, and real‑time conversations. If this resonates, you’ll find more conversations, coaching options, and my new book More Than Words: Essays on Language, Identity, and the Courage to Speak at procoachenglish.com. Connect with me on Substack.

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Speak English with Confidence | More Than Words (previously 'From Lost to the River') is a podcast for people whose English is fine but who still don't feel confident using it. You've spent years studying, practicing, maybe even living in English, and yet something closes down when it matters. Meetings. Calls. Conversations with people you don't know. You overthink what you're about to say, you freeze, and you come away frustrated, wondering why you can't just speak. The problem isn't your English. It's your relationship with it. Confidence coach and author Richard Marshall talks with professionals, teachers, coaches, and language learners about what actually gets in the way: fear of making mistakes, perfectionism, imposter syndrome, the pressure to be perfect rather than just communicate. Honest conversations with people who've been exactly where you are, showing what it looks and sounds like when things finally change. More conversations, coaching options, and the book More Than Words: Essays on Language, Identity, and the Courage to Speak at procoachenglish.com.

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