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The Fluent Edge Podcast

The Fluent Edge Podcast

By: Sean Watson and Dr Howie Jacobson
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🎙️ THE FLUENT EDGE Level up your English. Amplify your impact. The Fluent Edge is your weekly power-up for professional English, clear communication, and executive presence. Hosted by Sean Watson and Dr. Howie Jacobson, we help globally-minded professionals master the language and mindset to lead with confidence. Real business English, leadership tools, and personal growth—all in 15-minute episodes.Copyright 2025 Sean Watson and Dr Howie Jacobson Career Success Economics Language Learning
Episodes
  • Time Is Not What You Think
    Sep 23 2025

    🎙️ The Fluent Edge

    What if time wasn’t your enemy but your ally?

    In this episode of The Fluent Edge, Sean Watson and Dr. Howie Jacobson explore how cultures, language, and leadership shape the way we think about time—and how to manage it more effectively.

    🎯 Perfect for advanced English learners, global professionals, and leaders who want to use time with purpose.


    👇 Chapters, coaching links, tools, and timestamps below!


    👉 ⏰📄 Download the Free Expressions & Phrasal Verbs About Time Pack

    Web link with audio: https://tinyurl.com/mr3k49yx


    This free guide includes:

    Common idioms, phrasal verbs, and expressions about time

    Clear definitions and examples

    Short audio dialogues for real-world practice


    🧠 What You’ll Learn

    How cultures see time differently—and why it matters for communication

    Why “beating the clock” and “crunch time” increase stress

    The surprising origins of the word “deadline”

    Productivity tools like Pomodoro and Time Blocking—and when to use them

    Why “I don’t have time” is often about priorities, not minutes

    How language shapes urgency, patience, and presence


    🛠️ Techniques & Tools

    Pomodoro Technique (25-minute focus sprints)

    Time Blocking (treat yourself like your most important client)

    Digital Sabbaths (resetting to a human pace)

    Reframing “no time” into “not a priority”

    Cultural views of time: linear, cyclical, and spatial


    💬 Vocabulary & Power Phrases

    Beat the clock • Crunch time • In the nick of time • Time is of the essence • Push the deadline • Circle back • Lifeline • Time flies • Spend time wisely


    ⏱️ Timestamps

    00:00 – The problem with how we think about time

    01:00 – Cultures, punctuality, and hidden beliefs

    03:00 – English idioms about time pressure

    06:00 – Pomodoro vs creative flow

    07:00 – Time blocking for leaders and learners

    09:00 – “I don’t have time” vs “It’s not a priority”

    11:00 – Presence, book clubs, and making time for what matters

    13:00 – Technology, instant responses, and digital Sabbaths

    14:00 – Slow is fast: lessons from music and learning

    16:00 – Key expressions: time is of the essence, circle back, push the deadline

    17:00 – How Spanish and English use different words for “time”

    18:00 – Why our memory of...

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    17 mins
  • Calm the Mind, Conquer the Fear - Part 2 | The Fluent Edge Ep. 10
    Aug 20 2025

    👉 What if your breath could help you speak English more clearly?

    In this episode of The Fluent Edge, Sean Watson and Dr. Howie Jacobson dive into the science of breathwork, mindfulness, and imposter syndrome—and how these tools help you stay calm, focused, and fluent under pressure.

    🎯 Ideal for advanced English learners, professionals, and presenters.

    👇 Chapters, coaching links, tools, timestamps, and more below!

    ⬇️ Free Download

    Mindful Speaking Routine: A 5-Minute Pre-Speaking Ritual - https://tinyurl.com/53d442cj

    🧠 What You’ll Learn

    Why imposter syndrome affects even fluent speakers

    How the 4-7-8 breathing method resets your nervous system

    What heart rate variability reveals about stress and fluency

    How mindfulness expands focus and improves recall

    Why getting stuck on a word isn’t failure—it’s part of learning

    How to speak up, show up, and step into your power

    🛠️ Techniques & Tools Mentioned

    4-7-8 Breathing (relax in under 60 seconds)

    "Step into your power" mental reframe

    Parasympathetic nervous system & calm

    Heart rate variability (HRV) and stress resilience

    Body scan (to ground yourself before speaking)

    Language learning styles and memory tips

    Reframing imposter syndrome at work and in life

    💬 Vocabulary & Power Phrases

    Step into your power

    Ride the wave of nerves

    Heart rate variability

    Parasympathetic nervous system

    Language anxiety

    Mindful awareness

    Cognitive reset

    Show up fully

    Speak up


    ⏱️ Timestamps


    00:00 – How breath controls anxiety and focus

    01:00 – Why long exhales help you relax

    02:00 – Heart rate variability and calm under pressure

    03:00 – 4-7-8 breathing: how and why it works

    04:00 – Imposter syndrome and language learners

    05:00 – Reframing your thoughts with mindfulness

    06:00 – Tools for staying grounded at work

    07:00 – What leaders, learners, and performers have in common

    08:00 – Language memory, forgetting, and recall

    09:00 – Real talk: learning styles and sentence creation

    10:00 – Power phrases to reframe negative thinking

    11:00 – Mindfulness, presence, and practical fluency


    🎙️ Want to Speak English with Calm, Clarity & Confidence?

    Book coaching with Sean (Fluency, Pronunciation, Public Speaking, Business English)


    👉 tinyurl.com/5669kjnm

    Work with Howie (Leadership, Mindset)

    👉 tinyurl.com/yty9n5np

    Subscribe to Howie’s Substack

    👉 tinyurl.com/askhowie

    Subscribe to Sean's Substack

    👉 tinyurl.com/rdxyeses

    🌐 Visit us: www.thefluentedge.com

    📬 Contact: fluentedgeinfo@gmail.com


    👍 Like this Episode?

    ✔️ Subscribe for weekly coaching insights

    🔗 Share with someone who gets nervous speaking English


    💬 Leave a comment or voice message—we’d love to hear from you!

    Tags:

    #EnglishSpeaking #Mindfulness #LanguageAnxiety #FluentEdge #BusinessEnglish #Breathwork #AccentTraining #SpeakWithConfidence #PronunciationTips #PublicSpeakingTips


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    11 mins
  • Calm the Mind, Conquer the Fear - Part 1 | The Fluent Edge Ep. 9
    Jul 28 2025
    🎧 Episode 009 - Part 1 – Calm the Mind, Conquer the Fear

    Podcast: The Fluent Edge

    Hosts: Sean Watson & Dr. Howie Jacobson

    Ever felt your heart race before a meeting—or gone blank on a word you definitely knew?

    You’re not alone. Over 60% of advanced English learners experience language anxiety. The good news? A simple, science-backed technique can help: mindfulness.

    In this episode, Sean and Howie dive into how mindfulness and breathwork can dramatically improve your English fluency, focus, and confidence—especially under pressure. From classical singing and opera stages to Zoom meetings and job interviews, learn how your breath impacts your brain, your voice, and your presence.

    🧠 What You’ll Learn
    • Why anxiety causes fluent speakers to freeze
    • The science behind breathwork and staying calm
    • What prosody means—and how it improves your speech
    • How mindfulness sharpens recall and reduces fear
    • Why controlled breathing leads to better pronunciation
    • Inspiring stories from opera, jazz, and public speaking

    🛠️ Techniques & Tools Mentioned
    • 4-7-8 Breathing (reset your stress in under 1 minute)
    • “Ride the wave of nerves” mindset shift
    • Parasympathetic nervous system explained
    • Strategic pacing for vocal control
    • Mindfulness for mental focus and language fluency
    • Ella Fitzgerald’s on-stage recovery
    • Pavarotti’s pre-show nerves (and how he handled them)

    ⬇️ Free Download

    Mindful Speaking Routine: A 5-Minute Pre-Speaking Ritual - https://tinyurl.com/53d442cj

    💬 Vocabulary & Power Phrases
    • Prosody (rhythm and melody in speech)
    • Strategic pacing
    • Language anxiety
    • Mindful awareness
    • Parasympathetic nervous system
    • Ride the wave of nerves
    • Cognitive reset

    ⏱️ Timestamps

    00:00 – Why we freeze in English, even when fluent

    01:00 – What mindfulness actually means

    02:00 – Breathing changes your brain: the science

    03:00 – Breath: your most flexible communication tool

    04:00 – Voice support, pronunciation, and pacing

    05:00 – Prosody: how speech becomes music

    06:00 – Safety, creativity, and mindful speaking

    07:00 – Real-world examples from the stage

    08:00 – Mistakes as moments of connection

    09:00 – Study: mindfulness improves English performance

    10:00 – Distraction, anxiety, and the digital world

    11:00 – Why mindfulness is mental hygiene

    13:00 – 4-7-8 breathing demo + episode wrap-up

    🎙️ Want to Speak English with Calm, Clarity & Confidence?
    • Book coaching with Sean (Fluency, Pronunciation, Business English)
    • 👉 tinyurl.com/5669kjnm


    • Work with Howie (Leadership, Public Speaking, Mindset)
    • 👉 tinyurl.com/yty9n5np


    • Subscribe to Howie’s Substack
    • 👉 tinyurl.com/askhowie


    • Subscribe to Sean's Substack
    • 👉 https://tinyurl.com/rdxyeses


    🌐 Visit us: www.thefluentedge.com

    📬 Contact: fluentedgeinfo@gmail.com


    📌 Stay Tuned for Part 2

    We’ll walk you through practical, step-by-step techniques to calm your nerves, improve breath control, and speak with more presence and power.

    👍 Like this Episode?

    ✔️...

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    14 mins
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