In this inspiring episode of the Real English Conversations Podcast, Curtis reconnects with longtime friend and leadership strategist Marcus Gurske to explore how international professionals can lead with purpose, mentor with impact, and communicate clearly in English — even under pressure.

With over 20 years of experience in professional communication, leadership development, and mentoring across cultures, Marcus shares practical insights into:

✔️ The key difference between managing and mentoring ✔️ How to coach and support others during high-stress situations ✔️ Strategies to help introverts and remote professionals step into leadership roles ✔️ Building clarity, confidence, and connection when speaking English at work

Whether you're managing a team, stepping into your first leadership role, or mentoring others in English, this episode gives you real-world tools and thoughtful perspectives to level up your communication and presence at work.

🎯 Who Is This Episode For?

• Professionals and team leads who speak English as a second language

• Global employees in leadership or mentoring positions

• Anyone who wants to speak English more clearly, confidently, and authentically in a business context

🧠 This is a must-listen if you're serious about improving your English for real conversations, presentations, interviews, and workplace leadership.

🔁 Listen to Part 1 of This Conversation:

🎧 Spotify: Click to Listen 🎧 Apple Podcasts: Click to Listen

🌐 Connect with Marcus Gurske:

🔗 Website: marcusgurske.com 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marcusgurske

🚀 Ready to Communicate Like a Confident Professional?

We're currently accepting 5 new professionals into our private coaching program with Teacher Curtis, designed specifically for international professionals who want to master real-world communication in English.

👉 Book your trial Lesson with Curtis Here: https://realenglishconversations.com/memberships/member-plans/fluency-programs/trial-lesson/

✅ What You’ll Learn with Curtis:

• Speak with clarity and confidence in meetings, presentations, and calls

• Reduce your accent and be easily understood

• Understand fast-spoken English from native speakers

• Handle tough questions and high-pressure conversations like a pro

• Build confidence to speak naturally in interviews and workplace situations

• Learn real English that you can use every day on the job

🌍 Learn more at realenglishconversations.com

https://realenglishconversations.com/memberships/member-plans/fluency-programs/trial-lesson/

In this episode of the Real English Conversations Podcast, Curtis interviews Shweta Ramkumar, a communication coach and founder of Healthy Dynamics,  who helps healthcare professionals from non-English speaking backgrounds become confident, empathetic communicators in English.

Shweta’s passion for healthcare communication began at home, growing up with a doctor mom. Today, she uses that experience to coach international healthcare workers, blending emotional intelligence, cultural understanding, and real-life clinical scenarios with ESL strategies.

They discuss:

• The biggest English communication mistakes healthcare professionals make (and it’s not grammar)

• Why miscommunication can create emotional stress for both patients and providers

• How empathy, trust, and active listening can improve patient care

• The powerful results her clients see through one-on-one coaching

Whether you’re a doctor, nurse, medical student, or ESL professional in healthcare, this episode will help you understand how clear, compassionate English can truly change lives, starting with your own.

👩‍⚕️ Connect with Shweta & Healthy Dynamics:

• LinkedIn: Shweta Ramkumar

• YouTube: Healthy Dynamics Channel

• Business Page: Healthy Dynamics on LinkedIn

💬 Want to Speak English Clearly & Confidently at Work?

We’re currently accepting 5 new professionals into our private coaching program with Teacher Curtis.

👉 Book your trial session now and start building the communication skills you need to succeed in the workplace.

🚀 What We Help You With:

• Speak clearly and professionally in any situation

• Reduce your accent and be easily understood

• Understand fast-spoken English in meetings and calls

• Give presentations and answer tough questions with confidence

• Prepare for job interviews and real-world work situations

• Navigate sensitive conversations with clarity and emotional control

🌍 Learn more at: realenglishconversations.com

In this episode of the Real English Conversations Podcast, Curtis gets personal with a special guest, his older brother, Kevin Davies.

Kevin is a car-loving, bone-breaking, always-building kind of guy. As an electrician and lifelong project junkie, he brings stories of growing up in Canada surrounded by tools, dirt bikes, and trial-and-error learning, the kind that builds real resilience.

They Talk about:

• How fixing cars and building things teaches confidence and problem-solving

• Hilarious stories of growing up in a Canadian family with very different personalities

• What it means to learn through failure, get back up, and try again, in life and language

Whether you're learning English, building confidence, or just love good stories with heart, this episode brings real-life language, real culture, and real brotherhood.

💬 Want to Build Rock-Solid Confidence in Your English?

We’re currently accepting 5 professionals into our private coaching program with Teacher Curtis.

👉 Book your trial session now and start building the speaking confidence you need for real conversations at work and in life.

✅ What You’ll Learn With Us:

• Speak clearly and naturally in any professional or everyday situation

• Reduce your accent to be easily understood

• Understand fast-spoken English in real conversations

• Present your ideas confidently and handle tough questions

• Succeed in interviews, meetings, and workplace communication

• Build emotional control and self-trust while speaking English

🌍 Learn more at realenglishconversations.com

In this high-energy episode of the Real English Conversations Podcast, Curtis interviews Jason R. Levine, better known around the world as Fluency MC, the viral teaching sensation who helps English learners build fluency through rhythm, rap, and real fun.

Jason is the creator of Stick, Stuck, Stuck, a YouTube megahit that’s been used in classrooms across the globe. In this conversation, he shares how his love of music evolved into a powerful teaching method that blends grammar, listening, and memory into something unforgettable.

They talk about:

• How rhythm and rhyme help English learners retain grammar and vocabulary

• The story behind Stick, Stuck, Stuck going viral

• Performing in schools around the world and seeing real transformation

• His latest programs: Rhyme On Time and Speak On Beat

• Why fun, music-based learning can break language anxiety and boost confidence

If you're learning English and want to enjoy the process more — or you're a teacher looking for creative ideas — this episode will leave you motivated and ready to try something new.

🎧 Watch & Connect with Fluency MC:

• 📺 Watch Stick, Stuck, Stuck on YouTube

• 🌐 Website: fluencymc.com

• 📺 YouTube: Fluency MC

• 📸 Instagram: @fluencymc

• 📘 Facebook: Fluency MC Facebook

💬 Want to Speak English Clearly & Confidently?

We’re currently accepting 5 professionals into our private coaching program with Teacher Curtis.

👉 Book your trial session now and start building the real-world communication skills you need to succeed in English.

✅ What We Help You With:

• Speak clearly and confidently in any situation

• Reduce your accent and sound more natural

• Understand fast, real-world English in meetings and conversations

• Deliver presentations and answer tough questions with ease

• Prepare for job interviews and professional opportunities

• Communicate naturally in sensitive or high-stakes situations

🌍 Learn more at realenglishconversations.com

For the first time, Curtis takes the guest seat as he’s interviewed by radio and podcast expert Matt Cundill on the You May Also Like Podcast.

In this candid conversation, Curtis shares how his passion for radio in Edmonton eventually led to launching the Real English Conversations Podcast — and building an online coaching business that helps professionals around the world speak English clearly and confidently at work.

They talk about:

• The story behind Real English Conversations and its global impact

• What makes a podcast grow and connect with international listeners

• How Curtis helps professionals become confident English communicators using real conversations—not grammar drills

If you’ve ever wondered about the story behind the mic, or want to hear what it really takes to build a meaningful business in the ESL space, this episode delivers insights, real talk, and inspiration.

🎧 Listen to the Full Interview with Matt Cundill:

• 🔗 You May Also Like Podcast – Curtis’s Episode

• 🎙️ Explore All Episodes

• 📺 YouTube: Sound Off Media Channel

• 🌐 More from Matt: The Sound Off Podcast

💬 Want to Speak English Confidently at Work?

We’re currently accepting 5 new professionals into our private coaching program with Teacher Curtis.

👉 Book your trial lesson now and start speaking English naturally and clearly in real workplace situations.

✅ What You’ll Learn With Us:

• Communicate your ideas clearly and confidently

• Reduce your accent and be easily understood

• Understand fast-spoken English in meetings and conversations

• Deliver strong presentations and answer tough follow-up questions

• Build real confidence for interviews and career growth

• Navigate difficult or sensitive conversations with professionalism

🌍 Learn more at: realenglishconversations.com

In this episode of the Real English Conversations Podcast, Curtis interviews Nathan Lige, a game designer, writer, and co-creator of the hit storytelling game Mythwind at Open Owl Studios.

Nathan shares how his love of writing and community storytelling led him to leave the tech world and create games that bring people together. His purpose-driven journey is filled with lessons about creativity, risk-taking, and finding work that matters.

They explore:

• How storytelling skills can strengthen your communication and leadership

• What it takes to transition careers with intention and passion

• The role of language, empathy, and collaboration in creative work

• Why following your purpose builds confidence in life, and English

Whether you're learning English, dreaming of a career change, or curious about how creativity fuels connection, this episode will inspire your next step.

🎮 Check Out Nathan’s Work at Open Owl Studios:

• 🌐 openowlstudios.com

• 📘 Open Owl Studios on Facebook

💬 Want to Speak English Confidently in Your Career?

We’re currently accepting 5 professionals into our private coaching program with Teacher Curtis.

👉 Book your trial lesson now and start building the skills you need to speak confidently and naturally at work.

✅ Our Coaching Focus Includes:

• Clear, professional communication

• Accent reduction for global clarity

• Understanding fast, native English in real conversations

• Presenting and answering questions with confidence

• Interview preparation and workplace fluency

• Handling tough conversations with calm and control

🌍 Learn more at realenglishconversations.com

We’re back, and kicking things off with a very special guest: Edmonton radio legend Terry Evans.

Terry has been a longtime morning show host on K-97 and is the voice behind the Reluctantly... podcast. In this episode of the Real English Conversations Podcast, Curtis sits down with Terry for an open, honest conversation about confidence, mistakes, communication, and staying true to yourself under pressure.

You’ll hear:

• How Terry got started in radio and found his voice on-air

• The awkward, funny, and sometimes intense realities of live broadcasting

• How to speak up when you’re nervous or unsure

• What confidence looks like, even when you feel shaky inside

• How to deal with hard conversations in a professional setting

Whether you're learning English, trying to build real confidence at work, or just love a behind-the-scenes look at broadcasting and communication, this episode is packed with insight, laughter, and practical wisdom.

🎧 Where to Hear More from Terry Evans:

• 📺 YouTube: @reluctantlypodcast

• 🎙️ K-97 Radio: The Terry Evans Show

• 🌐 Website: reluctantlypodcast.com

💬 Want to Speak English Clearly & Confidently at Work?

We’re currently accepting 5 new professionals into our private coaching program with Teacher Curtis.

👉 Book your trial session now and start building the skills you need to communicate effectively and naturally in English.

✅ Our Coaching Helps You:

• Communicate ideas clearly and confidently in any situation

• Reduce your accent to be easily understood

• Understand fast, real-world English in meetings and conversations

• Present your ideas with impact and handle tough follow-up questions

• Navigate interviews, promotions, and difficult conversations with confidence

• Speak up when it matters — without fear of making mistakes

🌍 Learn more at realenglishconversations.com

In this episode, we’ll break down common myths about English immersion and share a smarter, more realistic approach that helps you integrate English into your workplace interactions without feeling nervous or overwhelmed. Discover how to create an immersive environment that accelerates your learning and builds long-term confidence in your professional communication skills.

Do you want our help to accelerate your results? We currently have space for 5 professionals to join Teacher Curtis for 1-to-1 coaching. Find a lesson time and book your trial session now! Click this link to book your trial 

We specialize in helping professionals become confident English communicators in the workplace with lessons focused on:

• Communicating your ideas clearly and effectively
• Reducing your accent to be easily understood
• Understanding fast-spoken English in meetings and calls
• Delivering strong presentations & handling follow-up questions
• Building rock-solid confidence to speak in ANY professional situation
• Preparing for job interviews
• Navigating difficult or sensitive workplace conversations

Learn more at realenglishconversations.com

In this episode, you will learn a powerful 2-step process to help you pinpoint the most important skills to focus on for faster and more effective results. Discover how to prioritize your efforts and create a simple action plan that delivers noticeable progress in just 2 weeks. 

Do you want our help to accelerate your results? We currently have space for 5 students to join us for 1-to-1 classes. Find a lesson time and book your trial lesson now!

We specialize in helping professionals to become confident English communicators in the workplace with lessons focused on: 

• Communicating your ideas clearly
• Reducing your accent to be easily understood
• Understanding fast-spoken English meetings and calls
• Presentations & Handling Follow-up Questions
• Building rock-solid confidence to speak in ANY situation
• Preparing for Job interviews
• Handling difficult or sensitive conversations

Learn more at realenglishconversations.com

In this episode of the Real English Conversations Podcast, Curtis and Amy talk about how to take breaks from studying without losing your progress. They share real-life tips to help you figure out the best ways to recharge and get back into learning with fresh motivation. If you found their advice helpful or enjoyed the episode, share it with friends who might need a boost too!

 

Do you want our help to accelerate your results? We currently have space for 5 students to join us for 1-to-1 classes. Find a lesson time and book your trial lesson now!

We specialize in helping professionals to become confident English communicators in the workplace with lessons focused on: 

• Communicating your ideas clearly
• Reducing your accent to be easily understood
• Understanding fast-spoken English meetings and calls
• Presentations & Handling Follow-up Questions
• Building rock-solid confidence to speak in ANY situation
• Preparing for Job interviews
• Handling difficult or sensitive conversations

Learn more at realenglishconversations.com