The Accent Journey Podcast

Steven D. Nelson
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Do you have an accent when you speak English and aren't happy with it? Then the Accent Journey Podcast is for you! Every week, host and American English accent coach Steven Nelson discuss topics to help non-native speakers improve their communication skills and sound more natural when expressing themselves in English. Join our community and see the transformation within yourself. Brought to you by accentfirst.com.

  1. Mhm, Right, Wow: The Hidden Sounds That Make You Sound More Fluent

    6d ago

    Mhm, Right, Wow: The Hidden Sounds That Make You Sound More Fluent

    In this episode of The Accent Journey, we explore one of the least taught but most important aspects of conversational fluency: backchannels and discourse markers. Native speakers constantly use small listener responses such as mhm, uh-huh, right, I see, really?, and wow to show attention, understanding, interest, and engagement. They also use discourse markers like so, well, anyway, and I mean to organize ideas and guide conversations. You'll learn: What backchannels are and why they matterThe six most common backchannels in American EnglishHow intonation changes the meaning of expressions like uh-huh and reallyWhat discourse markers are and how they help conversations flowHow to sound more engaged and natural during conversationsThe episode includes: Pronunciation practiceIntonation exercisesGuided dialoguesConversation drillsAn extended practice passageSee the post on our blog about this topic for more information on backchannels and discourse markers. Key takeaway: Fluency isn't only about speaking clearly - it's also about showing that you're listening. This week's challenge: Listen to a podcast interview and keep track of every time you hear a backchannel such as mhm, right, wow, or uh-huh. Then start using one or two of these expressions deliberately in your own conversations and observe how interactions become smoother and more natural. Practice Passage: "So, last weekend I visited some friends in another city. We spent the afternoon exploring local restaurants and walking around downtown. At one point, we got completely lost. Well, eventually we found our way back, and everything worked out fine. Anyway, it turned into a really fun day." Follow The Accent Journey, hosted by accent coach Steven Nelson, for weekly episodes designed to help non-native speakers build clearer, more confident American English pronunciation - one sound and pattern at a time. ------------------------------ The Accent Journey Podcast is brought to you by AccentFirst Speech Communication Services. Find us online at accentfirst.com. We'd love to hear your feedback. Visit us and leave a message at accentfirst.com/contact Music: Vendredi - Hypnosis ( Free Download & Free Copyright ) by Vendredi is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

    11 min
  2. /u/ vs /ʊ/: “Pool” vs. “Pull” - A Small Vowel Difference Makes a Big Impact

    Jun 14

    /u/ vs /ʊ/: “Pool” vs. “Pull” - A Small Vowel Difference Makes a Big Impact

    In this episode of The Accent Journey, we explore the important vowel contrast between /u/ as in food, blue, and shoe, and /ʊ/ as in foot, good, and book. These sounds are often confused by English learners because they are both produced with rounded lips. However, they differ in tongue position, muscle tension, and vowel length. Mastering this contrast can improve both pronunciation and listening comprehension. In this episode, you'll learn: How to produce /u/ and /ʊ/The physical differences between the two vowelsHow to hear the contrast more accuratelyStrategies for improving vowel awarenessThe episode includes: Minimal pair practiceListening exercisesSentence drillsDialogue practiceA longer reading passageKey takeaway: /u/ is longer, tenser, and more strongly rounded, while /ʊ/ is shorter, more relaxed, and slightly lower in the mouth. This week's challenge: Practice minimal pairs such as food–foot, Luke–look, pool–pull, and fool–full. Record yourself and compare your pronunciation to native speakers, paying close attention to vowel length and tension. Practice Passage: “Last weekend, Luke visited a small bookstore near his school. He bought a good book about travel and spent the afternoon reading by the pool. The weather was beautiful, the food was excellent, and he enjoyed a quiet day away from his busy schedule.” Follow The Accent Journey, hosted by accent coach Steven Nelson, for weekly episodes designed to help non-native speakers build clearer, more confident American English pronunciation - one sound and pattern at a time. ------------------------------ The Accent Journey Podcast is brought to you by AccentFirst Speech Communication Services. Find us online at accentfirst.com. We'd love to hear your feedback. Visit us and leave a message at accentfirst.com/contact Music: Vendredi - Hypnosis ( Free Download & Free Copyright ) by Vendredi is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

    10 min
  3. Thought Groups: The Secret to Natural English Rhythm

    Jun 7

    Thought Groups: The Secret to Natural English Rhythm

    In this episode of The Accent Journey, we move beyond individual sounds and explore one of the most important features of natural spoken English: thought groups. Native speakers don't speak one word at a time. Instead, they organize their speech into meaningful chunks of information called thought groups. Learning how to group words together can help you sound more natural, improve your fluency, and make your speech easier for listeners to follow. In this episode, you'll learn: What thought groups are and why they matterHow native speakers organize speech into ideas rather than individual wordsCommon places where thought groups occur, including clauses, additional information, and listsHow pauses and thought groups work together to improve clarityWhy the final word in a thought group often receives the most stressThe episode includes guided practice with: Thought-group listening exercisesRepetition drillsSentence practiceShort dialoguesA longer reading passage designed to build awareness of natural rhythm and chunkingKey takeaway: Native speakers organize speech into ideas, not individual words. Natural pauses occur between thought groups, not between every word. This week's challenge: Listen to a podcast, interview, or conversation and notice where speakers pause. Then take a short article or news story, mark the thought groups, and practice reading it aloud using natural chunks of meaning. Practice Passage: "Last Friday, our team finished an important project just before the deadline. After work, we went out for dinner and celebrated together. Everyone was tired but happy with the results. It was a long week, but it ended on a positive note." Follow The Accent Journey, hosted by accent coach Steven Nelson, for weekly episodes designed to help non-native speakers build clearer, more confident American English pronunciation—one sound and pattern at a time. ------------------------------ The Accent Journey Podcast is brought to you by AccentFirst Speech Communication Services. Find us online at accentfirst.com. We'd love to hear your feedback. Visit us and leave a message at accentfirst.com/contact Music: Vendredi - Hypnosis ( Free Download & Free Copyright ) by Vendredi is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

    10 min
  4. "You Need to Pay Attention to How You Speak!" - How Marceli Marcinkowski Acquired an American Accent

    May 31

    "You Need to Pay Attention to How You Speak!" - How Marceli Marcinkowski Acquired an American Accent

    Today accent coach Steve is joined by English instructor Marceli Marcinkowski, known as "Pan Angielski" in his native Poland, on a wide-ranging conversation about language acquisition and accent modification. In this conversation, Marceli shares with us: how he got obsesssed with English and has devoted his life to teaching it to othershis methods and techniques on how to teach English to childrenwhy the Polish education system does not succeed at teaching real-world Englishhow his children learned to speak English despite never having had a formal lessonwhat he did to attain a natural-sounding American English accenthis advice to others on changing their own accentsAt the end of the episode, Marceli turns the tables on Steve and evaluates his accent and pronunciation in Polish! Make sure you don't miss a second of this fun and informational episode with a successful language learner. Connect with Marceli at his website: https://panangielski.com/ And make sure to subscribe to his YouTube and TikTok channels! ------------------------------ Follow The Accent Journey, hosted by accent coach Steven Nelson, for weekly episodes designed to help non-native speakers build clearer, more confident American English pronunciation—one sound and pattern at a time. The Accent Journey Podcast is brought to you by AccentFirst Speech Communication Services. Find us online at accentfirst.com. We'd love to hear your feedback. Visit us and leave a message at accentfirst.com/contact Music: Vendredi - Hypnosis ( Free Download & Free Copyright ) by Vendredi is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

    28 min
  5. Linking Part 3: Consonant + Consonant Linking in Natural Speech

    May 24

    Linking Part 3: Consonant + Consonant Linking in Natural Speech

    In this episode of The Accent Journey, we continue our series on connected speech by exploring how consonants link to other consonants in natural American English. The episode focuses on two major patterns: Stop consonants before consonants (such as big problem or hot coffee), where the final consonant sound is usually unreleasedNon-stop consonants before consonants (such as green park or real story), where sounds flow smoothly into one anotherYou’ll learn: How consonant-to-consonant linking works in connected speechHow airflow changes between stop and non-stop consonantsPractical strategies to create smoother, more natural pronunciationThe episode includes extensive guided practice with phrases, sentences, dialogues, and a longer passage to help listeners improve both fluency and listening comprehension. Key takeaway: Natural English speech connects sounds smoothly instead of pronouncing every word separately. Practice challenge: Practice linking phrases like big problem, good boy, help me, and green park, focusing on smoother transitions and reduced pauses between words. Practice passage: “Last week, our team faced a big problem during an important project meeting. After a short discussion, everyone worked together to solve it quickly. Later, we drank hot coffee, talked about the next steps, and took the train back to the office before sunset.” Follow The Accent Journey, hosted by accent coach Steven Nelson, for weekly episodes designed to help non-native speakers build clearer, more confident American English pronunciation—one sound and pattern at a time. ------------------------------ The Accent Journey Podcast is brought to you by AccentFirst Speech Communication Services. Find us online at accentfirst.com. We'd love to hear your feedback. Visit us and leave a message at accentfirst.com/contact Music: Vendredi - Hypnosis ( Free Download & Free Copyright ) by Vendredi is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

    9 min
  6. /eɪ/ vs /ɛ/: “late” vs “let” – One Sound or Two?

    May 17

    /eɪ/ vs /ɛ/: “late” vs “let” – One Sound or Two?

    In this episode of The Accent Journey, we explore the important vowel contrast between /eɪ/ as in late and /ɛ/ as in let. Although these sounds may seem similar, they are fundamentally different. The /eɪ/ sound is a diphthong, meaning the mouth moves during the vowel, while /ɛ/ is a short, stable vowel with little movement. Confusing these sounds can easily change the meaning of words and reduce clarity. You’ll learn: How to physically produce /eɪ/ and /ɛ/Why /eɪ/ is considered a moving vowelThe key difference between gliding and stable vowel soundsHow to hear and produce the contrast more accuratelyThe episode includes extensive minimal pair practice, as well as sentences, dialogues, and a longer practice passage designed to improve both pronunciation and listening comprehension. Key takeaway: /eɪ/ includes movement and glide, while /ɛ/ stays short and stable. Practice challenge: Practice minimal pairs like late–let, pain–pen, and wait–wet, focusing on adding clear movement to /eɪ/ while keeping /ɛ/ short and steady. Recording yourself can help you hear the difference more clearly. Practice passage: “Late yesterday evening, heavy rain fell across the city. Many people waited inside cafés and watched the weather change. A man at the next table said the train might be delayed again. Everyone stayed relaxed and hoped the rain would end before midnight.” Follow The Accent Journey, hosted by accent coach Steven Nelson, for weekly episodes designed to help non-native speakers build clearer, more confident American English pronunciation—one sound and pattern at a time. ------------------------------ The Accent Journey Podcast is brought to you by AccentFirst Speech Communication Services. Find us online at accentfirst.com. We'd love to hear your feedback. Visit us and leave a message at accentfirst.com/contact Music: Vendredi - Hypnosis ( Free Download & Free Copyright ) by Vendredi is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

    9 min
  7. The Flap T: Why “Water” Sounds Like “Wader”

    May 10

    The Flap T: Why “Water” Sounds Like “Wader”

    In this episode of The Accent Journey, we explore one of the most recognizable features of American English pronunciation: the flap T. In many common words, the /t/ sound is not pronounced as a strong “t.” Instead, when /t/ appears between vowel sounds, American speakers often use a quick tongue tap that sounds similar to a soft /d/. This is why words like water, city, and better can sound different from what learners expect. You’ll learn: What the flap T is and why it happensWhen American English uses a flap THow the flap T differs from a regular /t/ or /d/How to produce the sound naturally and smoothlyThe episode includes extensive guided practice with words, sentences, dialogues, and a longer practice passage, helping you develop more natural rhythm and connected speech. Key takeaway: The flap T is a quick, light tongue tap that helps American English sound smoother and more fluid. Practice challenge: Practice common words like water, better, city, and meeting, focusing on making the /t/ a quick tap instead of a strong stop. Listen for flap Ts in movies, podcasts, and everyday conversations. Practice passage: “After the meeting, we walked through the city and stopped to get water. The weather was better than expected, and everyone seemed relaxed. Later, we visited a little café and talked about future projects while waiting for the train to arrive.” Follow The Accent Journey, hosted by accent coach Steven Nelson, for weekly episodes designed to help non-native speakers build clearer, more confident American English pronunciation—one sound and pattern at a time. ------------------------------ The Accent Journey Podcast is brought to you by AccentFirst Speech Communication Services. Find us online at accentfirst.com. We'd love to hear your feedback. Visit us and leave a message at accentfirst.com/contact Music: Vendredi - Hypnosis ( Free Download & Free Copyright ) by Vendredi is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

    9 min
  8. The /t/ Sound: Why You Don’t Always Hear It (Held T)

    May 3

    The /t/ Sound: Why You Don’t Always Hear It (Held T)

    In this episode of The Accent Journey, we explore an important feature of natural spoken English: the unreleased, or held /t/. Many learners pronounce the /t/ sound very clearly in all positions, but in American English, /t/ is often not fully "released," especially when it comes before another consonant. Instead of a strong “t” sound, speakers make a quick stop with the tongue and move directly to the next sound. You’ll learn: What a held /t/ is and how it soundsWhen it typically occurs (before consonant sounds)How to physically produce the “stop without release”Common mistakes learners make—and how to avoid themThe episode includes extensive guided practice with phrases, sentences, dialogues, and a longer passage, helping you develop more natural rhythm and smoother transitions between sounds. Key takeaway: When /t/ comes before another consonant, don’t release it—stop the sound and move on. Practice challenge: Practice phrases like get back, sit down, and not bad, focusing on stopping the /t/ without releasing it. Record yourself and compare your speech to natural models. Practice passage: “Last week, I went to a great place with a friend. We sat down, talked for a long time, and had a good time. After that, we got back on the train and went home. It wasn’t perfect, but it was not bad at all.” Follow The Accent Journey for weekly episodes designed to help non-native speakers build clearer, more confident American English pronunciation—one sound and pattern at a time. ------------------------------ The Accent Journey Podcast is brought to you by AccentFirst Speech Communication Services. Find us online at accentfirst.com. We'd love to hear your feedback. Visit us and leave a message at accentfirst.com/contact Music: Vendredi - Hypnosis ( Free Download & Free Copyright ) by Vendredi is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

    9 min
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Do you have an accent when you speak English and aren't happy with it? Then the Accent Journey Podcast is for you! Every week, host and American English accent coach Steven Nelson discuss topics to help non-native speakers improve their communication skills and sound more natural when expressing themselves in English. Join our community and see the transformation within yourself. Brought to you by accentfirst.com.

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