The Beyond Fluency Podcast

About The Beyond Fluency Podcast

Welcome to Beyond Fluency, where we believe in progress, not perfection! Our mission is to empower B2+ non-native English speakers, by simplifying personal development concepts in an engaging, fun, and practical way. Here, you’ll find content designed to boost your language proficiency, communication skills, and leadership confidence. We’re all about creating a positive, supportive community where you can express yourself fully and comfortably in your second language. Whether you’re looking to sharpen your skills for career advancement, build meaningful connections, or just feel more confident in your communication, we’ve got you covered! Join us on a journey of growth, self-expression, and continuous improvement—together. 💡🌟 Remember: Learning isn’t about being perfect—it’s about celebrating every step of progress. Let’s grow and thrive, one step at a time. 🚀 Thanks for listening! Liam & Ramps

Publisher

Liam & Ramps

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

30 Sept 2025

Latest episode

21 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

40 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   21 Oct 2026

   #40 CC13 The Hidden Link Between Voice, Identity, & Public Speaking Fear with Wolfe Lanier

   What if your biggest public speaking problem is not your voice, but the story you think your voice has to tell? Communication and performance coach Wolfe Lanier breaks down why confidence, accent, and stage fright are all tangled up with identity - and why trying harder often makes speaking feel worse. Wolfe shares the research behind his master’s work at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, where he studied vocal congruence - the idea that how you sound and how you see yourself are deeply connected. From a six-session study with seven participants to real-world coaching with leaders and multilingual professionals, he shows how performance anxiety often starts the moment we feel separated from the “tribe” and judged by the room. You’ll discover: - why public speaking can trigger fight, flight, fawn, freeze, and even flop - how to use identity, not just technique, to build confidence - why language rhythm, stress, and pause matter so much in English, Spanish, Italian, and beyond - how to turn vulnerability into curiosity instead of shame - a simple way to narrow your focus when language learning or presenting feels overwhelming Wolfe also shares how his own experience learning Spanish exposed the same emotional patterns he coaches clients through every day - freezing when he felt exposed, then learning to reframe the moment as something to study rather than fear. Along the way, he and Liam compare notes on Italian, English, performance, theatre, and the power of slowing down to actually be heard. If you’ve ever felt like you “go blank” in front of people, hate hearing your own voice, or want to speak a second language with more ease, this conversation will give you a new framework for showing up. Perfect for language learners, leaders, and anyone trying to sound more like themselves when it matters most. Timestamps 00:00 — Introduction 03:18 — How vocal congruence became Wolfe’s coaching focus 07:46 — Shifting from technique-led coaching to identity-led work 11:15 — Why speaking in front of people can trigger threat responses 14:53 — Wolfe’s experience freezing while speaking Spanish in Mexico 18:37 — Liam on the challenge of practicing Italian while living abroad 22:27 — Turning language practice into positive emotional memory 26:56 — Identity, accents, and the pressure to assimilate 30:56 — The power of pauses and speaking with intention 34:55 — Returning to performance and theatre 39:53 — Final takeaway: lean into your story Resources Brené Brown https://youtu.be/iCvmsMzlF7o?si=EajvaO6lms9b_sIr (https://youtu.be/iCvmsMzlF7o?si=EajvaO6lms9b_sIr) Patsy Rodenburg The Second Circle Voice Work - https://youtu.be/Ub27yeXKUTY?si=Skis0kInhg0w9aBB (https://youtu.be/Ub27yeXKUTY?si=Skis0kInhg0w9aBB) Barbara Hausman Podcast Interview - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4YEsSlmGGM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4YEsSlmGGM) Finding Your Voice - https://link.amazon/B09vyiIe5 (https://link.amazon/B09vyiIe5) Adam Grant Has written multiple books that you find here - https://link.amazon/B0g9T0WYP (https://link.amazon/B0g9T0WYP) Knight Thompson Speechwork Interview with Professor Andrea Caban - https://youtu.be/UqF6RzsItFU?si=aTQz35RUpqStyktD (https://youtu.be/UqF6RzsItFU?si=aTQz35RUpqStyktD) Steal Like an Artist - https://link.amazon/B0gccIRgg (https://link.amazon/B0gccIRgg)

2. 

   14 Oct 2026

   #39 CC12 Reinvention, Vulnerability & Ikigai with TEDx Speaker Dr Lauren Fine

   Dr. Lauren Fine is a board certified physician turned life and wellness coach, speaker, and TEDx presenter who shares how burnout, reinvention, and communication shaped her work. In this conversation, Liam and Lauren explore how to separate facts from stories, build trust in doctor-patient conversations, and use coaching as a practical tool for better thinking and better relationships. Key topics Lauren shares her path from science-focused student to physician, including medical school, residency, fellowship, and academic medicine. She explains how working with patients from around the world helped her become fluent in medical Spanish through true immersion. In this episode, Lauren breaks down how patients can ask better questions in medical settings, especially when they feel rushed, confused, or intimidated. She discusses trust in doctor-patient relationships and why vulnerability often opens the door to better communication. Liam and Lauren talk about how tone, nonverbal cues, and text-based communication can create misunderstandings, especially in a more online world. Lauren shares how coaching techniques already existed in her medical and teaching work before she formalized them. She explains her reinvention from full-time physician to medical educator and how that pivot expanded her purpose. We discuss Socratic teaching, why it supports critical thinking, and how it overlaps with coaching. Lauren introduces Ikigai as an evolving sense of purpose, not a fixed destination, and connects it to her own career shifts. She explains the difference between facts and stories, using everyday examples like delayed texts and emotional assumptions. The conversation closes with practical advice on vulnerability and relationship-building. Dr Lauren Fine Connections Website: https://laurenfine.com/ (https://laurenfine.com/) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-fine-md/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-fine-md/) Substack: https://permissiontochange.substack.com/ (https://permissiontochange.substack.com/) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/permission_to_change?igsh=OTdweDY2bGhranF6&utm_source=qr (https://www.instagram.com/permission_to_change?igsh=OTdweDY2bGhranF6&utm_source=qr) Timestamps 00:00 Opening and introduction to Dr. Lauren Fine 01:08 Lauren’s background in science, medicine, and all-or-nothing drive 05:16 Learning medical Spanish through immersion in a Miami clinic 08:59 How to ask doctors better questions and avoid avoiding the conversation 13:00 Building trust in the patient-doctor relationship through vulnerability 23:31 Reinvention as a pivot, not a reset 28:25 Using AI as a coach, not a replacement for thinking 31:56 Ikigai and how purpose evolves over time 36:33 Fact versus story and why we misread situations so easily 44:03 Books and documentaries that connect to purpose and longevity 47:23 Final thoughts on vulnerability and stronger relationships Mentioned resources The Ikigai Journey: A Practical Guide to Finding Happiness and Purpose, the Japanese Way: https://amzn.to/4dElrCe (https://amzn.to/4dElrCe) The Blue Zone documentary: https://youtu.be/it-8MIm29bI?si=7PJhmejWV7Zawd2v (https://youtu.be/it-8MIm29bI?si=7PJhmejWV7Zawd2v)

3. 

   7 Oct 2026

   #38 CC11 How Accents can Still Humble the HIGHEST Level Execs with Jay Poulton

   ReClose The Authority Gap: How Accent Coaching Builds Executive Presence Accent can shape how your expertise is heard. In this episode, Jay Alexander Poulton, executive leadership coach and founder of The Accent Coach, explains how communication, pronunciation, and confidence influence leadership presence. Jay works with the Highest level execs at global companies, helping professionals become clearer, more confident, and more authoritative without erasing their identity. As an accent coach, he focuses on breath, articulation, resonance, rhythm, and the subtle sounds that can change how a message is perceived. The conversation explores the authority gap—the distance between what a leader is capable of and what the room actually hears. Jay explains how the authority gap can affect senior leaders, doctors, executives, and international professionals, even when their English is already strong. Jay shares practical examples from his work as an accent coach with professionals from around the world, including the Highest level execs at companies such as Apple, Amazon, and FedEx. He also explains why the goal is not to sound like someone else, but to amplify your own identity and communicate with greater ease. If you have ever wondered whether your accent is limiting your influence, this episode offers a useful new perspective. The authority gap is not a fixed part of your identity. With practice, awareness, and the right guidance, you can choose how you communicate and how your ideas are heard. Whether you are a global professional, a second-language English speaker, a leader, or one of the Highest level execs preparing for important conversations, this episode will help you understand the connection between voice, confidence, and authority. Resources Vituperative Meaning https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/vituperative?q=vituperative (https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/vituperative?q=vituperative) Island Larder - Scottish Baker https://www.tiktok.com/@UC2VNK-APBiBHTzSMKuonpEw (https://www.tiktok.com/@UC2VNK-APBiBHTzSMKuonpEw) Barack Obama's Greatest Speech https://youtu.be/NaaSpRMBHjg?si=M3zUEFcBGkwEiOvv (https://youtu.be/NaaSpRMBHjg?si=M3zUEFcBGkwEiOvv) Michelle Obama Motivational Speech https://youtu.be/8bEEfY-KFeg?si=-a7_UA8N-IOBZSuV (https://youtu.be/8bEEfY-KFeg?si=-a7_UA8N-IOBZSuV) Steve Jobs Insult Response https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeqPrUmVz-o (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeqPrUmVz-o) Christopher Hitchens Responds to Overconfident Audience Member https://youtu.be/MJ2LehsA1dk?si=i4Lr_tT7hpKHIgAt (https://youtu.be/MJ2LehsA1dk?si=i4Lr_tT7hpKHIgAt) Jay Poulton - The Accent Coach https://theaccentcoach.com/ (https://theaccentcoach.com/) Socials YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@TheAccentCoach-hz7er/videos (https://www.youtube.com/@TheAccentCoach-hz7er/videos) Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jaytheaccentcoach/reels/ (https://www.instagram.com/jaytheaccentcoach/reels/) LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-poulton-956b8633b/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-poulton-956b8633b/)

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