We ALL speak with an accent, and at times it's easy to believe that we must 'lose' our accent to be accepted. Today, Mark and Darren have a frank conversation with speech and accent expert Dr. Leslie Gordon, as she gives advice on using your accent as an asset.

SNIPPETS:

• Honor the skill of owning more than one sound

• Treat the world as a playground for your eyes and ears

• The way we speak creates a picture of who we are

• Your accent is a tool in your toolkit

• Your accent can create a connection

• Your accent is a layer of your story

• We all have more than one accent

• Focus on being understood and prioritize clarity

• Language can be a social and political tool, causing some to feel 'othered'

• Move away from self-judgment

• Code-Switching requires great skill and is governed by rules

• Don't think 'accent reduction;' think 'accent acquisition'

• Your accent can feel like home