Real English Conversations Podcast | English Fluency For Newcomers And International Professionals

What would your life look like 90 days from now if you finally took a risk on yourself? What if the biggest thing standing between you and the career, confidence, or life you want isn't a lack of ability—but the beliefs you've developed about what you can and cannot do? In this episode of the Real English Conversations Podcast, Curtis Davies sits down with Chonsten Jennings, speaker, entrepreneur, and co-founder of The Purpose Engine, for a powerful conversation about confidence, personal growth, purpose, and overcoming the mental barriers that hold us back. After years of coaching basketball players from college to the NBA, Chonsten walked away from a successful career when he realized it no longer fulfilled him. He faced significant personal and professional challenges before beginning a journey of rediscovering his identity, strengthening his faith, and finding a new direction through entrepreneurship, coaching, and helping others. Today, he helps coaches and consultants build businesses that allow them to focus on the work they do best. His message is especially relevant to anyone who feels stuck, questions their abilities, or knows they have more potential than they're currently expressing. For international professionals and English learners, this conversation also explores how confidence, authenticity, and the way we speak to ourselves can influence our communication, professional opportunities, and willingness to step outside our comfort zones. 🎯 In This Episode, You'll Learn: 💪 How to build confidence and overcome limiting beliefs that make you doubt your abilities or hold back from opportunities. 🧠 How to stop letting the fear of judgment control your decisions and focus on what you believe about yourself instead. 🎯 How to recognize your purpose and why it may be closer than you think. 🔄 Why a successful career can still leave you feeling unfulfilled and how to recognize when it's time for a change. 🌱 How difficult experiences can become valuable lessons that help you grow, develop resilience, and help others. 🗣️ How to use positive self-talk to challenge negative thinking and begin changing the way you approach your goals. 🤝 How to connect with people more naturally by finding common ground, being authentic, and focusing on what you share rather than what separates you. 💼 How to build a career or business around your strengths and values instead of pursuing success that doesn't feel meaningful. ⏳ How to approach personal growth over 90 days by breaking old habits, developing new ones, and working toward making those habits second nature. 🌎 How to build confidence in English communication and stop allowing fear of mistakes or other people's opinions to prevent you from speaking up. 🙏 How faith and perspective can help you navigate difficult seasons when you cannot yet see what comes next. 💪 Overcoming Limiting Beliefs and the Fear of Being Judged Have you ever wanted to speak up in a meeting, apply for a better job, share an idea, or start something new—but stopped yourself because you worried about what other people might think? You're not alone. Curtis and Chonsten discuss how easily our own thoughts can become obstacles. We may tell ourselves that we're not good enough, that we'll make mistakes, or that other people will judge us. But what if we challenged those beliefs instead of automatically accepting them as facts? Chonsten encourages listeners to imagine what they could achieve if they stopped making excuses, gave themselves permission to try, and began speaking to themselves in a more constructive way. One of the most powerful reminders from the conversation is that even when you try your best, someone may still have something to say about you. The more important question is: What are you saying about yourself? For English learners and international professionals, this lesson can be especially important. Your accent, mistakes, or fear of saying the wrong thing don't have to define your potential. You can keep developing your skills while also building the confidence to use them. 🎯 Finding Your Purpose: Why It May Be Closer Than You Think Chonsten shares how coaching basketball players—even at the highest levels—eventually stopped feeling fulfilling. Although it was an opportunity many people would dream of, he realized that a prestigious career doesn't automatically mean you're doing the work that's right for you. That realization led him to ask deeper questions about his identity, strengths, values, and what he wanted to contribute to other people. He also explains why difficult experiences can provide valuable insight into what matters to us. The challenges we overcome can help us develop the understanding and abilities that allow us to support others. Purpose isn't necessarily about reaching a particular income, title, or professional milestone. It's also about how you use your strengths to make a meaningful difference in other people's lives. 🗣️ How to Communicate with More Confidence at Work Confidence isn't only important when you're changing careers or starting a business. It also affects how you communicate every day. If you're an international professional, you might understand English well but hesitate to contribute during meetings. You may have the vocabulary to express your ideas but worry that your colleagues will judge your accent or notice your mistakes. Chonsten emphasizes authenticity, common ground, and genuine human connection. Rather than trying to impress everyone or present a perfect version of yourself, focus on connecting with the person in front of you. Curtis and Chonsten explore how communication, confidence, and personal growth can reinforce one another—and why continuing to practice is more valuable than allowing fear to keep you silent. ⏳ The 90-Day Challenge: What Could Change If You Took a Risk on Yourself? One of the standout moments in this episode is Chonsten's challenge to imagine what could happen if you committed to improving something important over the next 90 days. He describes a three-stage approach to building habits: Days 1–30: Work on breaking an old habit. Days 31–60: Begin building a new habit. Days 61–90: Continue practicing until the new behavior starts to feel more natural. The process won't always be comfortable, and progress may not happen exactly as you expect. But trying gives you experience, reveals where you can improve, and helps you build the confidence to continue. Ask yourself: If you committed to improving your communication, confidence, or career over the next 90 days, what might become possible? You don't need to have every answer today. You need to be willing to take the next step. 👤 About Chonsten Jennings Chonsten Jennings is a speaker, entrepreneur, and co-founder of The Purpose Engine, which helps coaches and consultants manage their businesses so they can focus on their core work. After coaching basketball players from the college level to the NBA, Chonsten made the difficult decision to leave a career that no longer fulfilled him. His subsequent journey of personal growth, faith, entrepreneurship, and rediscovering purpose now informs the work he does to help others grow. He shares insights on leadership, accountability, personal development, confidence, and finding purpose through life's challenges. He is also working on his book, The Proximity of Purpose: Closer Than You Think. 🔗 Connect with Chonsten Jennings 🌐 The Purpose Engine: https://thepurposeengine.co/ 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/Chonstenjennings/ 🎙️ Learn English with Real English Conversations The Real English Conversations Podcast helps intermediate and advanced English learners, immigrants, and international professionals develop the communication skills they need to succeed in English-speaking countries and international workplaces. Hosted by Curtis Davies, an English teacher, fluency coach, and pronunciation specialist with over 12 years of experience, the podcast focuses on real-world English, listening comprehension, vocabulary, pronunciation, confidence, fluency, and professional communication. 🚀 Ready to Build Your English Confidence? If you're ready to move beyond simply listening to English and want structured, personalized support, explore the 90-Day Next Level English Challenge. Work one-on-one with Curtis to improve your fluency, listening, pronunciation, confidence, and professional communication. The program also incorporates an AI feedback coach designed to support your learning and progress between lessons. 🎁 Podcast listeners can get 50% OFF with code: 90DAY50 👉 Explore the 90-Day Next Level English Challenge: https://realenglishconversations.com/memberships/our-courses/90-day-next-level-english/ 🎯 Book a Trial Lesson: https://realenglishconversations.com/memberships/member-plans/fluency-programs/trial-lesson/ 🎧 Listen & Follow the Podcast ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@realenglishconversations 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/76ihNoEcjms6485Vt1ng5q 🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-english-conversations-podcast-real-english-for/id977345837 🌐 Website: https://realenglishconversations.com/ ⭐ If You Enjoyed This Episode Subscribe to the Real English Conversations Podcast, share this episode with someone who needs a reminder of their potential, and leave a review to help more English learners and international professionals discover the show. Remember: Your current circumstances, your mistakes, and the doubts you have today don't have to determine what you're capable of achieving tomorrow. What would your life look like 90 days from now if you took a risk on yourself?

What if becoming a better communicator isn't about talking more? What if it's about asking better questions, listening more carefully, and creating an environment where people actually want to share? In this episode of the Real English Conversations Podcast, Curtis Davies sits down with Andres Lares, CEO and Managing Partner of Shapiro Negotiations Institute, to explore the communication skills that can change the outcome of a negotiation, job interview, business meeting, presentation, or difficult workplace conversation. Andrés brings a unique perspective to this conversation because English is his second language. Originally from Venezuela, he understands many of the challenges international professionals face when communicating in English — while also having extensive experience in negotiation, influence, deal coaching, and working with organizations across industries and cultures. And one of the biggest lessons from this conversation? You don't necessarily become more influential by talking more. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is ask a great question — and genuinely listen to the answer. 🎯 In This Episode, You'll Learn: 🌎 Why pressure can backfire — and why making someone feel comfortable and in control can lead to better conversations and more information. 🔥 The "Grill vs. Barbecue" approach — Andrés explains why slowing down, building rapport, and developing genuine curiosity can produce better results than trying to get everything immediately. 🪓 Why sharpening the axe matters — how preparation before a conversation can make the actual conversation much more effective. 💬 How to ask better questions at work — including why broad, open-ended questions can encourage people to reveal more useful information. 👂 How to listen without judgment — and why acknowledging what someone says doesn't mean you have to agree with them. 🧠 How to stay composed under pressure — instead of immediately becoming defensive, ask questions such as "Tell me more about that" or "Why is that important to you?" 🎭 How to get beyond rehearsed answers — by asking questions differently and changing the environment or setting. 🕵️ What negotiators and investigators have in common — preparation, questioning, listening, empathy, and emotional intelligence. 💼 How these skills apply to job interviews, negotiations, meetings, and presentations. 🌎 Why these communication principles work across cultures — and which skills are valuable almost anywhere in the world. 💪 How preparation and confidence work together — and why confidence without preparation isn't enough. 👔 What makes a great leader — including trust, integrity, capacity, and the ability to make people believe in you. 🔥 The "Grill vs. Barbecue" Communication Lesson One of the most memorable concepts in this episode is Andrés' "grill vs. barbecue" analogy. When we're trying to get information, negotiate, interview someone, or have an important conversation, our instinct can be to turn up the heat. Ask the question. Get the answer. Move on. But Andrés explains why taking the "barbecue" approach can be much more effective. Instead of immediately turning up the pressure, you take the time to build rapport, develop genuine curiosity, and understand what the other person actually wants. The result? People often become more comfortable, more willing to share, and more open during the conversation. 💬 One of the Most Powerful Communication Techniques Andrés gives a remarkably simple strategy for moments when someone says something unexpected during a negotiation or important conversation: Ask another question instead of immediately defending yourself. Rather than reacting, you can say: "Tell me a little bit more about that." or "Why is that important to you?" This gives you more information, creates space for empathy and emotional intelligence, and can prevent you from saying something defensive that you later regret. 🎯 How to Ask Better Questions Andrés recommends starting with broad questions and allowing the other person to decide where they want to take the conversation. For example, instead of asking: "What's more important to you — price or payment timing?" you might simply ask: "What's important to you in this negotiation?" Then listen. If they say "price," don't immediately start negotiating price. Ask: "What else is important to you?" This allows you to discover more of the other person's priorities before you start responding to them. 👂 Acknowledge Without Accepting Another powerful lesson is the difference between acknowledging someone's perspective and agreeing with it. You can say: "I understand what you're saying." "Thank you for sharing that." "That's an interesting perspective." without necessarily saying: "I agree with you." Andrés explains that listening without immediately judging or reacting can keep the "information spigot" open. If people feel that everything they say will immediately be judged, they have less reason to continue sharing. 🎭 Getting Beyond Rehearsed Answers This is especially relevant for job interviews. Andrés explains that candidates are often prepared for predictable questions about their strengths, weaknesses, experience, and motivations. The result can be highly rehearsed answers. One way to get beyond this is to ask the question differently. Another is to change the environment. A formal office interview can create a very different communication dynamic from a more informal conversation over coffee. Changing the context can change the tone — and potentially lead to more authentic answers. 🌎 Communication Across Cultures For international professionals, this conversation contains an especially important message: While communication styles can differ between cultures, Andrés believes that some fundamental skills are valuable almost everywhere: Preparation. Great questions. Genuine curiosity. Listening. Empathy. Emotional intelligence. The cultural differences can then be layered on top of these fundamentals. Whether you're communicating with colleagues in the United States, China, Germany, Brazil, or somewhere else, these core skills can improve your effectiveness. 💪 Confidence, English & Professional Communication Curtis and Andrés also discuss something many international professionals struggle with: The fear of saying the wrong thing in English. Andrés makes an important distinction: confidence matters, but it needs to be supported by preparation and actual skill. For international professionals, your accent or vocabulary doesn't necessarily determine how influential you can be. Preparation, passion, good ideas, and the ability to communicate with the other person in mind can have a much greater impact. 👔 What Makes a Great Leader? Andrés explains that leadership isn't necessarily about having the highest title or being the person who gives everyone orders. People follow leaders because they believe in them. That requires capacity, confidence, and integrity — the sense that the person leading them is capable and also has their best interests in mind. For international professionals looking to advance their careers, this is a powerful reminder: Communication isn't simply about speaking perfect English. It's about demonstrating that you're prepared, capable, thoughtful, trustworthy, and able to engage other people effectively. 👤 About Andres Lares Andres Lares is the CEO and Managing Partner of Shapiro Negotiations Institute, a company focused on negotiation, communication, influence, persuasion, presentations, and professional development. Andrés brings an international perspective to his work and is himself a second-language English speaker, making this conversation particularly relevant for global professionals working across languages and cultures. Shapiro Negotiations Institute has expanded globally and now works across multiple languages and international markets. 🔗 Connect with Andrés & Shapiro Negotiations Institute 🌐 Website: https://www.shapironegotiations.com/ 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shapiro-negotiations-institute/home/ 🎙️ Learn English with Real English Conversations The Real English Conversations Podcast helps intermediate and advanced English learners, immigrants, and international professionals develop the English communication skills they need to succeed in English-speaking countries and international workplaces. Hosted by Curtis Davies, the podcast focuses on real-world English, listening comprehension, vocabulary, pronunciation, confidence, fluency, and professional communication. 🚀 Want Personalized Help With Your English? If you're ready to move beyond simply listening to English and want structured, personalized coaching, check out the 90-Day Next Level English Challenge. You'll work one-on-one with Curtis to improve your fluency, listening, pronunciation, confidence, and professional communication — with the added support of an AI feedback coach designed to help track your progress and provide additional feedback between lessons. 🎁 Podcast listeners can get 50% OFF with code: 90DAY50 👉 Learn more: https://realenglishconversations.com/memberships/our-courses/90-day-next-level-english/ 🎯 Book a Trial Lesson: https://realenglishconversations.com/memberships/member-plans/fluency-programs/trial-lesson/ 🎧 Listen & Follow the Podcast ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@realenglishconversations 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/76ihNoEcjms6485Vt1ng5q 🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-english-conversations-podcast-real-english-for/id977345837 🌐 Website: https://realenglishconversations.com ⭐ If You Enjoyed This Episode Subscribe to Real English Conversations, share this episode with another international professional, and leave a review. And remember: You don't always become a better communicator by talking more. Sometimes you become a better communicator by asking better questions — and genuinely listening to the answers.

What does it really take to become a trusted and valuable professional on a global team? In today's workplace, having strong technical skills isn't always enough. If you work remotely for an international company, especially a U.S.-based organization, your ability to communicate proactively, take ownership, solve problems, build trust, and adapt to AI can have a major impact on your professional success. In this episode of the Real English Conversations Podcast, Curtis talks with Marc Snegg, founder and CEO of Ground Game, about what it really takes to succeed as an international professional on a high-performing global team. Marc has more than 25 years of experience building businesses and organizations and has participated in more than $200 million in commercial real estate transactions. His work with Ground Game focuses on helping U.S. companies build high-performing global teams across sales, revenue operations, marketing, operations, HR, IT, and customer success. But Marc's approach isn't simply about outsourcing work to people in other countries. He believes companies can build fully integrated global teams by combining exceptional talent with strong management, clear systems, shared culture, and meaningful opportunities for professional growth. In this conversation, Marc shares practical advice about communication across cultures, building trust with managers, being proactive at work, using AI to become more valuable, developing a service mindset, and finding ways to improve the organization around you. And for international professionals who sometimes hesitate to speak up in meetings or worry about making mistakes, Marc gives a very practical set of actions you can begin using tomorrow. This is an especially valuable episode for anyone who wants to improve their Business English, workplace communication, confidence, leadership skills, and career opportunities in an international environment. 🌎 What Does It Take to Succeed on a Global Team? Many international professionals have excellent technical skills, but working successfully with an international company requires more than simply completing your assigned tasks. Marc explains that communication, ownership, and responsibility are what begin to separate a good employee from someone who becomes highly valuable to an organization. That includes communicating proactively, asking questions when you're stuck, raising problems early, offering thoughtful recommendations, and trying to understand the bigger context of the organization. Trust is also built through small, repeated actions: doing what you say you're going to do, consistently showing up and keeping your commitments. 💬 The Communication Mistakes International Professionals Can Make One of the most valuable sections of this episode focuses on cross-cultural communication. Marc explains that some professionals may come from cultures where communication with managers is more hierarchical or where people are more reserved about raising problems or asking questions. In a U.S. workplace, however, Marc says proactive communication can be highly valued. Instead of waiting until the last minute to tell your manager there's a problem, he recommends communicating early and explaining: What happened → What you've tried → What the problem is → What you recommend → What you need This demonstrates that you've already thought about the problem rather than simply handing it to your manager to solve. 💡 An important Business English lesson: Instead of saying: "I don't know how to do this. What should I do?" You can communicate more professionally by saying something like: "I've been working on this, and I've run into a problem. Here's what I've tried, here's what I think we could do next, and here's what I need to move forward." That difference can dramatically change how your communication is perceived. 🤝 How Do You Become a Trusted Professional? Marc explains that trust isn't usually created through one huge achievement. It's built through small, repetitive actions. Do what you say you'll do. Show up. Communicate. Raise problems early. Ask for feedback. Be coachable. And don't wait for someone else to tell you how you can improve. Marc encourages professionals to proactively ask: "Tell me something I can improve." That willingness to receive feedback and put it into practice can help build stronger relationships with managers, colleagues, and the organization. 🤖 How AI Can Make You More Valuable at Work AI is one of the most important themes in this conversation. Marc's advice isn't simply to be afraid of AI replacing your job. Instead, he encourages professionals to learn how to work with AI and build with it. He describes tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini as potential thought partners and intelligent tutors that can help professionals think through problems, learn new information, explore solutions, and improve the way they work. But Marc takes this one step further. He believes professionals should not only learn how to use AI — they should learn how to build with AI. For example, if you're repeatedly doing a manual task at work, you can use AI to explore whether a tool or workflow could automate or simplify part of that process. The more capable you become at interacting with and building with AI, Marc argues, the more value you can potentially bring to your organization. 🧠 AI + Human Coaching Ground Game is already using AI as part of its coaching and development systems. Marc describes a sales coaching system that listens to calls and provides feedback on what someone did well and what they could improve. That feedback can then become a starting point for live coaching conversations. Marc explains that combining AI feedback with human coaching has helped people develop their skills more quickly. This creates an interesting model for the future of professional development: AI can provide information, analysis, and feedback — while humans provide context, judgment, relationships, and coaching. 💎 The Four Ground Game Core Values Marc also explains the four principles that guide Ground Game: Dignity Every person has inherent value regardless of their country, position or title. For Marc, dignity means treating people with respect while also being honest and willing to provide direct feedback when something needs to improve. Service Leadership is about serving others. Marc describes service as looking for ways to solve problems, share information, document what you learn, take on new challenges, and make the organization stronger. Creativity Don't simply accept: "That's the way we've always done it." Creativity means looking for better ways to solve problems, testing new ideas, experimenting with new tools and empowering the people closest to the work to improve it. Client Focus The purpose of a business is to solve problems for its clients. That means listening carefully, understanding the client's needs, communicating clearly, and taking responsibility when something goes wrong. For Marc, it's not simply about being busy or completing activities — it's about delivering results and creating value. 📈 The Power of Definiteness of Purpose Ground Game's leadership and mindset curriculum is inspired by the 13 principles from Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich. Marc focuses particularly on the idea of having a definite purpose. He explains that rather than having a vague desire for something, you can become much more focused by defining exactly what you want, when you want it, what you're willing to give in exchange for it, and what your plan of action will be. He also describes the practice of repeatedly reading your goal and visualizing what achieving it would look and feel like. For Marc, this isn't simply a historical business philosophy — it's something he incorporates into Ground Game's culture and revisits with his team. 🚀 Marc's 3 Practical Actions for International Professionals Near the end of the conversation, Marc gives listeners a very practical challenge. If you're an international professional who has strong skills and good English but still hesitates in meetings or doesn't feel completely confident on a global team, Marc recommends several simple actions. 1️⃣ Turn Your Camera On When you're working remotely, make your presence visible. Marc believes keeping your camera on demonstrates engagement and helps recreate some of the connection that naturally happens when people work together in person. 2️⃣ Speak at Least Once in Every Meeting You don't need to dominate the meeting. Ask a thoughtful question. Offer an observation. Summarize something you've heard. Volunteer for a next step. Or simply share an idea. The important thing is to participate. 3️⃣ Send Proactive Updates & Bring One Improvement Idea Keep your manager informed about: What you've completed What you're working on What's blocking you What you recommend doing next And then look for one small thing you can improve. Maybe the team is losing time, repeating manual work, or making the same mistake. Use AI to explore a possible solution and bring the idea forward. You don't need to reinvent the entire company. Just demonstrate that you're engaged, proactive, and thinking about how to make things better. 🎯 What You'll Learn in This Episode By listening to this conversation, you'll learn: ✅ What separates a task-completing employee from a highly trusted global professional ✅ Why proactive communication is so important when working remotely ✅ How to communicate problems to your manager without simply handing them the problem ✅ How cultural differences can influence workplace communication ✅ Why honesty and transparency can build professional trust ✅ How to become more coachable and actively seek feedback ✅ How to use ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini as workplace thought partners ✅ Why learning to build with AI could increase your professional value ✅ How human coaching and AI feedback can work together ✅ What Dignity, Service, Creativity and Client Focus look like in practice ✅ How a service mindset can improve leadership and career development ✅ How to apply the principle of definiteness of purpose to your professional goals ✅ Three practical actions you can start using immediately to become more engaged on a global team 💬 Memorable Communication Lesson One of the clearest lessons from Marc's conversation is: Don't disappear when there's a problem. Communicate early. If you don't know something, be honest. If you're stuck, explain what you've tried. If you need help, ask. If you have an idea, share it. If you make a mistake, take responsibility. And if you see something that could be improved, raise your hand. These behaviors don't require perfect English. They require clarity, courage, preparation, and proactive communication. 👤 About Marc Snegg Marc Snegg is the founder and CEO of Ground Game, where he helps U.S. companies build high-performing global teams across sales, revenue operations, marketing, operations, HR, IT, and customer success. Marc is a serial entrepreneur and organization builder with more than 25 years of experience and has participated in more than $200 million in commercial real estate transactions. His work combines global talent, management systems, culture, professional development, and increasingly AI-powered workflows. Marc's approach is centered on creating integrated teams where talented international professionals can contribute meaningfully, develop their skills, and create measurable value. 🔗 Connect with Marc Snegg 🌐 Ground Game: https://www.groundgamesales.com/ 🌎 Ground Game Global: https://www.groundgameglobal.com/ 💼 Marc Snegg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcsnegg/ Marc also mentioned the Ground Game Global Playbook and additional resources for professionals interested in global teams and sales development. 🎙️ Learn with Teacher Curtis & Real English Conversations Are you working for an international company or living in an English-speaking country? Do you understand English but still hesitate in meetings, struggle to express your ideas or wish you could communicate more naturally and confidently? That's exactly what I help professionals work on. ⭐ Book a Trial English Lesson https://realenglishconversations.com/memberships/member-plans/fluency-programs/trial-lesson/ 🚀 90-Day Next Level English Challenge — 50% OFF Podcast listeners can get 50% OFF the 90-Day Next Level English Challenge. Use coupon code: 90DAY50 https://realenglishconversations.com/memberships/our-courses/90-day-next-level-english/ This program is designed to help you speak more clearly, confidently, and naturally, reduce hesitation, improve pronunciation and speaking flow, and develop stronger communication habits for professional situations. 📚 Explore My English Courses https://realenglishconversations.com/memberships/our-courses/ 🎧 Podcast + Phrasal Verb Audio Course Bundle https://courses.realenglishconversations.com/rec-course-bundle 🌐 Real English Conversations https://realenglishconversations.com 🎧 Listen & Follow the Podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/76ihNoEcjms6485Vt1ng5q Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-english-conversations-podcast-real-english-for/id977345837 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@realenglishconversations Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rec.real.english/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RealEnglishConversationsOnline LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/curtis-davies-07928646/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/RealEnglishConversationsPodcast ⭐ If You Enjoyed This Episode... Don't just listen to this episode — practice what you learned. The next time you're in an English meeting, try speaking at least once. The next time you're stuck on a problem, communicate it early instead of waiting. The next time you complete a task, ask yourself: "How could I improve this?" And the next time you use AI, don't just ask it for an answer. Try using it as a thought partner, tutor or builder. If you enjoyed this conversation with Marc Snegg, follow the Real English Conversations Podcast, leave a review and share this episode with another international professional or English learner who could benefit from it. Thanks for listening!

Why are some professionals able to communicate an idea and immediately make people listen, connect, and remember it—while others struggle to get their message across? In this powerful episode of the Real English Conversations Podcast, Curtis Davies sits down with Emmy-nominated filmmaker, author, keynote speaker, story strategy consultant, and Chief Storytelling Officer Rain Bennett to explore one of the most important skills for today's global professionals: storytelling. Rain has conducted more than 1,000 interviews and spent more than 20 years working with stories, filmmaking, communication, and human connection. Through those experiences, he has discovered a powerful truth: stories have incredible power to connect and influence people—but only when we understand how to deliver the right story to the right audience. This is especially important for international professionals communicating in English. Whether you're giving a presentation, participating in a business meeting, interviewing for a job, networking, leading a team, selling an idea, or simply trying to communicate more naturally in English, storytelling can help you move beyond simply "speaking English" and start creating genuine connections with the people you're communicating with. Rain explains why effective communication isn't just about what YOU want to say. It's about understanding the person receiving your message, finding common ground, and creating alignment. You'll also discover how storytelling goes far beyond marketing. Rain explains his concept of a "narrative operating system" and how organizations can create a consistent story that influences everything from hiring and sales to leadership, partnerships, products, and company culture. 🎯 In This Episode You'll Learn: ✅ Why storytelling is one of the most powerful communication skills for professionals ✅ How storytelling can help international professionals communicate more naturally in English ✅ Why knowing what to say isn't enough—you also need to know how to deliver it ✅ How to find powerful stories hidden inside your everyday experiences ✅ The simple practice that can help you build a personal "bank" of stories ✅ Why the best stories focus on transformation rather than simply describing what happened ✅ How to find "connective tissue" with people who have completely different experiences from you ✅ Why curiosity is one of the most important skills in communication ✅ How storytelling can help you stand out during job interviews and professional conversations ✅ Why businesses need a consistent narrative across departments and communication channels ✅ How storytelling builds trust with employees, customers, partners, and other stakeholders ✅ Why trying to say too much can actually make your communication less effective 💡 A Powerful Communication Lesson One of Rain's key messages throughout the conversation is that effective communication begins with the listener. Instead of simply telling people how great you, your company, your product, or your skills are, look for the point of connection. What matters to the person you're speaking with? What experiences, interests, goals, or challenges can create alignment? This approach can completely change the way you communicate in English—especially in professional situations such as interviews, networking, presentations, and meetings. 📖 About Rain Bennett Rain Bennett is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker, author, keynote speaker, story strategy consultant, and Chief Storytelling Officer at Elemmir. He hosts The Storytelling Lab, a weekly podcast featuring tips, insights, and success stories from some of the world's top storytellers. After conducting more than 1,000 interviews and spending more than two decades working with stories, Rain has developed a deep understanding of how stories influence human connection and communication. His latest book, The Chief Storytelling Officer, explores how organizations can build a narrative operating system that weaves storytelling throughout every department of a business—not just marketing and communications. As Rain explains, every interaction inside and outside an organization contributes to the overall story a company is telling. 📚 Get Rain's New Book The Chief Storytelling Officer Learn how storytelling can become an essential part of your organization's culture, communication, leadership, and business strategy. 🌐 Rain Bennett https://www.rainbennett.com 🎙️ The Storytelling Lab Podcast https://thestorytellinglabpodcast.com 💼 LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/feed/in/rainbennett 📸 Instagram https://instagram.com/rainbennett 🎥 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@chiefstorytellingofficer 🎙️ Learn with Teacher Curtis & Real English Conversations 💬 Want to improve your English for professional success? Work directly with Curtis through personalized coaching designed to help you communicate clearly, confidently, and naturally in real-world professional situations. 👉 Book your trial session https://realenglishconversations.com/memberships/member-plans/fluency-programs/trial-lesson/ 🔥 Join the 90-Day English Challenge (50% OFF with code: 90DAY50) https://realenglishconversations.com/memberships/our-courses/90-day-next-level-english/ 🎧 PODCAST + PHRASAL VERB AUDIO COURSE BUNDLE https://courses.realenglishconversations.com/rec-course-bundle 📚 Explore All English Courses https://realenglishconversations.com/memberships/our-courses/ 🌐 Real English Conversations Website https://realenglishconversations.com 🎧 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/76ihNoEcjms6485Vt1ng5q 🎧 Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-english-conversations-podcast-real-english-for/id977345837 📺 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@realenglishconversations 📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rec.real.english/ 📘 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RealEnglishConversationsOnline 💼 LinkedIn — Curtis Davies https://www.linkedin.com/in/curtis-davies-07928646/ 💖 Support the Podcast on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/RealEnglishConversationsPodcast ⭐ If You Enjoyed This Episode... Follow the Real English Conversations Podcast on your favorite podcast platform. Leave a review—it helps more international professionals and English learners discover the show. And share this episode with someone who wants to become a more confident, natural, and effective communicator in English. Remember: You don't just need better English. You need a better way to connect.

Have you ever wondered what your English teacher did before becoming a teacher? In this special re-released episode from the Real English Conversations Podcast archives, Curtis Davies and former co-host Amy share the story of their entrepreneurial journey long before they began helping English learners around the world. Before teaching English full-time, they owned and operated their own delivery business in Canada. Running a small business taught them valuable lessons in communication, customer service, problem-solving, leadership, and calculated risk-taking, skills that continue to shape how they teach English today. Whether you're an entrepreneur, business professional, immigrant, or someone considering a career change, you'll discover that many of the communication skills needed for business success are the same as those needed to communicate confidently in English. Although this episode originally aired in 2021, the lessons are just as relevant today. 🎯 In This Episode You'll Learn: ✅ How Curtis and Amy became entrepreneurs before becoming English teachers ✅ The realities of owning and operating a delivery business in Canada ✅ Why entrepreneurship teaches communication better than many classrooms ✅ Customer service lessons that improve your English communication ✅ How to place a delivery order over the phone like a Native speaker ✅ Why career changes can open unexpected opportunities ✅ The importance of adaptability and resilience ✅ Practical communication habits every professional can develop 💬 Memorable Quote "Every career teaches you something valuable—and the skills you develop today may become the foundation for your next opportunity." 👤 About Curtis Davies Curtis Davies is the founder of Real English Conversations and has helped English learners from more than 100 countries communicate naturally and confidently for over 12 years. His podcast has surpassed 15 million downloads worldwide, helping immigrants, international professionals, and business English learners improve their fluency through authentic conversations with world-class guests and practical communication strategies. 🎙️ Learn with Teacher Curtis & Real English Conversations 💬 Want to improve your English for professional success? Work directly with Curtis through personalized coaching designed to help you communicate clearly, confidently, and naturally in real-world professional situations. 👉 Book your trial session https://realenglishconversations.com/memberships/member-plans/fluency-programs/trial-lesson/ 🔥 Join the 90-Day English Challenge (50% OFF with code: 90DAY50) https://realenglishconversations.com/memberships/our-courses/90-day-next-level-english/ 🎧 Podcast + Phrasal Verb Audio Course Bundle https://courses.realenglishconversations.com/rec-course-bundle 📚 All Courses https://realenglishconversations.com/memberships/our-courses/ 🌐 Website https://realenglishconversations.com 🎧 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/76ihNoEcjms6485Vt1ng5q 🎧 Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-english-conversations-podcast-real-english-for/id977345837 📺 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@realenglishconversations 📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rec.real.english/ 📘 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RealEnglishConversationsOnline 💼 LinkedIn — Curtis Davies https://www.linkedin.com/in/curtis-davies-07928646/ 💖 Support the podcast on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/RealEnglishConversationsPodcast ⭐ If you enjoyed this episode... ⭐ Follow the podcast on your favorite platform. ⭐ Leave a review—it helps more English learners discover the show. ⭐ Share this episode with someone who's thinking about changing careers, starting a business, or improving their professional English communication.

Why do so many intelligent professionals still struggle with confidence—even when their English is already good? In this inspiring episode of the Real English Conversations Podcast, Curtis Davies sits down with TEDx speaker, comedian, communication coach, and entrepreneur Sam Ghanem to explore one of the biggest challenges facing international professionals today: believing in yourself when it matters most. Sam shares her powerful journey from chasing external validation to discovering authentic confidence, explaining why confidence isn't about perfection—it's about presence, self-awareness, and showing up as your true self. Whether you're preparing for job interviews, giving presentations, leading meetings, networking, or simply trying to express yourself more naturally in English, this conversation will help you develop the mindset and communication habits of truly confident professionals. You'll also discover why your voice matters, how to overcome imposter syndrome, and why "the room gets better when you're in it." 🎯 In This Episode You'll Learn: ✅ Why high-achieving professionals still experience self-doubt ✅ The difference between confidence and authenticity ✅ How to overcome imposter syndrome and negative self-talk ✅ Why perfection is hurting your communication ✅ How to become a more natural public speaker ✅ The mindset shift that transforms networking ✅ Practical strategies to improve confidence in English conversations ✅ Why your presence matters more than perfect English 💬 Memorable Quote "The room gets better when you're in it. Your only job is to show up and take up space." — Sam Ghanem 👤 About Sam Ghanem Sam Ghanem is a TEDx speaker, comedian, communication coach, entrepreneur, and keynote speaker who helps professionals communicate with authenticity, confidence, and impact. Combining years of experience in public speaking, business leadership, comedy, and personal development, Sam teaches people how to overcome self-doubt, become better communicators, and build genuine confidence that lasts. 🔗 Connect with Sam Ghanem Watch Sam Ghanem's TEDx Talk: It's Contagious | The Way You Treat Yourself Spreads Here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVSfKUcWFe8 Follow Sam Ghanem Online 🌐 Website https://iamsamghanem.com 🎥 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@iamsamghanem 💼 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/samghanemmiba 📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/iamsamghanem 🎙️Learn with Teacher Curtis & Real English Conversations 💬 Want to improve your English for professional success? Work directly with Curtis through personalized coaching designed to help you communicate clearly, confidently, and naturally in real-world professional situations. 👉 Book your trial session https://realenglishconversations.com/memberships/member-plans/fluency-programs/trial-lesson/ 🔥 Join the 90-Day English Challenge (50% OFF with code: 90DAY50) https://realenglishconversations.com/memberships/our-courses/90-day-next-level-english/ PODCAST AND PHRASAL VERB AUDIO COURSE BUNDLE https://courses.realenglishconversations.com/rec-course-bundle https://realenglishconversations.com/memberships/our-courses/ 🌐 Website https://realenglishconversations.com 🎧 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/76ihNoEcjms6485Vt1ng5q 🎧 Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-english-conversations-podcast-real-english-for/id977345837 📺 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@realenglishconversations 📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rec.real.english/ 📘 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RealEnglishConversationsOnline 💼 LinkedIn — Curtis Davies https://www.linkedin.com/in/curtis-davies-07928646/ 💖 Support the podcast on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/RealEnglishConversationsPodcast If you enjoyed this episode... ⭐ Follow the podcast on your favorite platform. ⭐ Leave a review—it helps more English learners discover the show. ⭐ Share this episode with someone who needs a little more confidence today.

Why do smart professionals struggle to explain their experience clearly in English… even when they know exactly what they want to say? In this episode of the Real English Conversations Podcast, the show that helps global professionals speak clearly and confidently at work, host Curtis Davies is joined once again by co-host Matt Gardner (Mod Hob Matt) to break down PlotWeaver plot pattern #2 of a 6 part series using a powerful storytelling strategy: The Frame Tale Plot Pattern. If you've ever felt stuck in a job interview, unsure how to structure your answer, or struggled to make your ideas land in a presentation… this episode is for you. Together, Curtis and Matt explore why many English learners overthink their communication — and how using a simple structure can help you speak with clarity, confidence, and purpose. Building on the previous episode (The Inverted Plot Pattern / Bottom Line Up Front), you'll learn how to combine storytelling with structure to create stronger, more engaging communication in both your professional and personal life. At the core of this episode is a simple 3-part storytelling framework that helps you organize your thoughts and communicate like a confident professional — even under pressure. ✨ In This Episode, You'll Learn 🎯 The 3-part Frame Tale structure (Context → Story → Lesson) 🧠 Why structure — not vocabulary — is the real key to confident communication 💬 How to answer interview questions using real examples and case studies 📝 Why you should avoid memorizing scripts (and what to do instead) 📊 How to make your presentations more engaging and memorable 🌍 Why storytelling is universal across cultures and communication styles 🔥 How to stop freezing and start speaking naturally in English 💡 Key Insight from This Episode "Don't make the story lead to nothing — always bring it back to why it matters." — Mod Hob Matt Gardner This episode is practical, easy to apply, and designed to help you improve your communication immediately — especially if you're preparing for job interviews, presentations, or high-stakes conversations in English. 📌 Resources Mentioned 🌐 PlotWeaver Demo (Storytelling Practice Tool) https://www.plotweavergame.com/ 🌐 Mod Hob Cooperative https://www.modhob.ca/ Substack - https://plotweaver.substack.com/p/d40d9265-2e0a-4dac-a46b-e4cde3f73fda 🎙️ Connect with Mod Hob Matt 🌐 Website https://www.modhob.ca/ 🌐 PlotWeaver Game https://www.plotweavergame.com/ 🎙️ Connect with Teacher Curtis & Real English Conversations 💬 Want to improve your English for professional success? We currently have space for new students to work directly with Teacher Curtis through personalized coaching designed to help you speak clearly, confidently, and effectively at work. 👉 Book your trial session https://realenglishconversations.com/memberships/member-plans/fluency-programs/trial-lesson/ 🔥 Join the 90-Day English Challenge Now 50% OFF with coupon code 90DAY50 https://realenglishconversations.com/memberships/our-courses/90-day-next-level-english/ PODCAST AND PHRASAL VERB AUDIO COURSE BUNDLE https://courses.realenglishconversations.com/rec-course-bundle https://realenglishconversations.com/memberships/our-courses/ 🌐 Website https://realenglishconversations.com 🎧 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/76ihNoEcjms6485Vt1ng5q 🎧 Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-english-conversations-podcast-real-english-for/id977345837 📺 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@realenglishconversations 📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rec.real.english/ 📘 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RealEnglishConversationsOnline 💼 LinkedIn — Curtis Davies https://www.linkedin.com/in/curtis-davies-07928646/ 💖 Support the podcast on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/RealEnglishConversationsPodcast 🎧 Follow the Series This episode is part of a 6-part Plot Patterns series designed to help you speak English more naturally, confidently, and effectively in real-life situations. Make sure to listen to the previous episode and follow along as we build these skills step-by-step 🎧 Follow the Series Listen to Episode #1 HERE: SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/episode/32ZUr4A3gjJao5B9fYwtY7?si=0957172425a4457e APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-episode-how-to-master-business-english-presentations/id977345837?i=1000758633315