The Fluent Edge Podcast

Struggling to speak confidently in meetings or presentations — even though your English is advanced?

This episode unpacks the real reasons professionals freeze in English…and what to do instead.

Join Sean Watson, business English coach and former opera singer, and Dr. Howie Jacobson, executive performance coach, for a bold, honest, and practical conversation on:

🧠 Speaking under pressure

🎯 Executive presence for non-native speakers

🧩 Phrasal verbs and collocations (finally explained clearly)

🤖 How AI can hyper-personalize your English learning

💬 Why “small talk” is the hidden killer of confidence

Meet the Hosts:

🔹 Sean Watson – Business English Fluency Coach helping professionals thrive in high-stakes conversations.

🔹 Dr. Howie Jacobson – Executive Coach and Performance Strategist focused on clear communication, presence, and personal growth.

🛠 Tools & Topics Mentioned:

• Using AI (like ChatGPT) for coaching + course design
• Public speaking pacing & anchor words
• Workplace idioms & cultural fluency
• Breathing techniques from opera and theater
• Language anxiety & the nervous system
• Productivity tools and personal knowledge management

📌 Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro & Who This Podcast is For

01:00 – Meet Sean – Business English Coach

02:00 – Meet Howie – Executive Coach & Language Learner

03:00 – Real Pain Points: Daniella in Finance

04:00 – What Is Executive Presence?

05:00 – Alex the Developer – Monotone & Misunderstood

06:00 – Small Talk Anxiety & Cultural Gaps

07:00 – Howie on Fear vs Anxiety

08:00 – How Slowing Down Boosts Speaking Confidence

09:00 – Opera, Public Speaking & Anchor Words

10:00 – Performance, Pacing & Presence

11:00 – Why Pausing Builds Authority

12:00 – Opera Skills for Communication

13:00 – Sounding Fluent in Other Languages

14:00 – The Truth About Colocations

15:00 – Business English: Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

16:00 – Make vs Do & Common Mistakes

17:00 – AI Tools That Save Time & Personalize Learning

18:00 – Hyper-Personalized Coaching with AI

19:00 – Cross-Cultural Communication Pitfalls

20:00 – Making Mistakes Gracefully Across Cultures

21:00 – Coaching Native Speakers on Leadership

22:00 – The Peter Principle & Team Growth

23:00 – Helping Clients Lead Instead of Do

24:00 – Hitting the Ceiling & Bottlenecks

25:00 – Creating a New Kind of Podcast

26:00 – Feedback Invitation & Closing Remarks

27:00 – Final Reflections & Call to Action

📬 Let’s Connect:

🎙️ Coaching with Sean: https://tinyurl.com/5669kjnm

🎯 Coaching with Howie: https://tinyurl.com/yty9n5np

📩 Feedback & guest ideas: [email protected]

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