The InFluency Podcast
- Episódios
- 543
- Publicação
- semanal
- Último episódio
- 10 nov 2026
Sobre o podcast
The InFluency podcast is your go-to resource for learning, speaking and teaching English. Hadar Shemesh is a pronunciation expert and fluency coach with thousands of students around the world, though she herself was an intermediate speaker of English once. In this podcast she will share her best strategies for learning English, speaking English with confidence and mastering the American accent. Discover how becoming fluent has everything to do with acquiring the right mindset, setting goals and learning how to overcome challenges. Hadar will also share her teaching philosophy and techniques to support English teachers looking to help their students become fluent.
Episódios 543
543. Can, Could, Would, Should: How to Pronounce Them Naturally
Do you know how words like can, could, would, and should actually sound in natural spoken English? These modal verbs are very common, but their pronunciation often changes when we speak naturally. Sounds get …
Notas do episódio
Do you know how words like can, could, would, and should actually sound in natural spoken English?
These modal verbs are very common, but their pronunciation often changes when we speak naturally. Sounds get reduced, connected, or even seem to disappear.
These are words you use all the time, so learning how they really sound can make a big difference in both your speaking and your listening.
Want more pronunciation practice? Check out my free pronunciation masterclass here: https://bit.ly/4iMHgSf
542. Practice American Intonation with Sex and the City
Improve your English pronunciation by acting out a dramatic scene from Sex and the City with me! In this English shadowing practice, we're taking an iconic scene between Carrie Bradshaw and Mr. Big and turning …
Notas do episódio
Improve your English pronunciation by acting out a dramatic scene from Sex and the City with me!
In this English shadowing practice, we're taking an iconic scene between Carrie Bradshaw and Mr. Big and turning it into a full-on acting and pronunciation exercise.
We'll practice the famous "Enough is Enough" scene, where Carrie finally stands up for herself and tells Big she's DONE.
Want to go deeper into American English pronunciation?
Join my FREE Pronunciation Masterclass, where I'll teach you the 3 key elements of clear, confident, and expressive English: https://bit.ly/4eIhihh
Check out my shadowing playlist with more videos https://bit.ly/shadowing-playlist
541. SHEEP vs. SHIP: English Vowel Pronunciation Practice
Can you hear the difference between SHEEP and SHIP, SEAT and SIT, or LEAVE and LIVE? These two English vowel sounds, /i/ and /ɪ/, can be tricky to pronounce, so that's exactly what this short, quick practice …
Notas do episódio
Can you hear the difference between SHEEP and SHIP, SEAT and SIT, or LEAVE and LIVE?
These two English vowel sounds, /i/ and /ɪ/, can be tricky to pronounce, so that's exactly what this short, quick practice episode will help you do.
Remember, improving your pronunciation isn't just about knowing how to make a sound. It's about hearing the difference, practicing it consistently, and eventually using it naturally when you speak.
Want to take your pronunciation to the next level?
Join my FREE Pronunciation Masterclass, where I'll teach you the 3 elements of clear, confident, and expressive English: https://bit.ly/4jHrxWu
540. The Psychology Behind Your Fear of Speaking English: Conversation with Kara Loewentheil
What if the thing holding you back in English isn't actually your English? In this conversation, I sit down with my friend Kara Loewentheil, bestselling author of Take Back your Brain and host of the UnF*ck …
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What if the thing holding you back in English isn't actually your English?
In this conversation, I sit down with my friend Kara Loewentheil, bestselling author of Take Back your Brain and host of the UnF*ck Your Brain podcast, to talk about the thoughts, fear, perfectionism, and shame that can keep us from speaking up, even when we already have the language to communicate.
Learn more about Kara: 📖 Take Back Your Brain https://www.takebackyourbrainbook.com/ 🎙️ UnF*ck Your Brain https://apple.co/4yRtiVK Instagram: @karaloewentheil
Kara Loewentheil is the founder of The School of New Feminist Thought, the host of the internationally top-ranked podcast UnF*ck Your Brain: Feminist Self-Help for Everyone (55 million downloads and counting), and the author of the instant national bestseller Take Back Your Brain: How A Sexist Society Gets in Your Head – and How to Get It Out, which made six bestseller charts including USA Today and The New York Times and has been translated into multiple languages.
539. English Tenses Made Easy: Practice Grammar AND Pronunciation
Want to use English tenses correctly without stopping to think about the grammar every time you speak? In this lesson, we'll practice common English verbs across the past, present, and future using the simple …
Notas do episódio
Want to use English tenses correctly without stopping to think about the grammar every time you speak?
In this lesson, we'll practice common English verbs across the past, present, and future using the simple, continuous, and perfect aspects.
But we're not just learning the grammar. We're practicing how these structures actually SOUND when you speak English naturally.
We'll practice with three common verbs: → MAKE → GET → TAKE
Want more practice like this? Check out my Grammar Master training here: https://bit.ly/4o1PPdb
538. Read Out Loud with me! Dare to Lead by Brené Brown | Pronunciation & Vocabulary practice
Want to improve your English pronunciation, intonation, vocabulary, and confidence? Read out loud with me! In this episode, we're practicing with an excerpt from Dare to Lead by Brené Brown. We'll practice …
Notas do episódio
Want to improve your English pronunciation, intonation, vocabulary, and confidence? Read out loud with me!
In this episode, we're practicing with an excerpt from Dare to Lead by Brené Brown.
We'll practice together, break down useful vocabulary and expressions, work on pronunciation and rhythm, and shadow different parts of the text so you can practice sounding more natural and expressive in English.
Check out my other read aloud episodes here: https://bit.ly/4cFoiJV
537. Being introverted, sounding robotic, my story, and the Flap T | Answering your questions
You asked, we answered! In this Q&A, Christina and I answer questions from our Beyond community, Instagram, and YouTube audience. We got questions about pronunciation, fluency, confidence, creativity, and …
Notas do episódio
You asked, we answered! In this Q&A, Christina and I answer questions from our Beyond community, Instagram, and YouTube audience. We got questions about pronunciation, fluency, confidence, creativity, and finding your own voice in a second language.
536. The 3 Ways to Pronounce -ED in English
How do you pronounce the -ED ending in English? In this pronunciation lesson, I'll break down the 3 ways to pronounce -ED endings in English and show you how to know which pronunciation to use. We'll practice …
Notas do episódio
How do you pronounce the -ED ending in English?
In this pronunciation lesson, I'll break down the 3 ways to pronounce -ED endings in English and show you how to know which pronunciation to use.
We'll practice words like:
👉 needed, ended, decided, waited 👉 played, enjoyed, called, loved, cleaned 👉 worked, watched, washed, laughed, asked
You'll also learn what happens to these sounds in connected speech, how to pronounce difficult consonant clusters, and why dropping the final sound can sometimes make it sound like you're using the wrong tense
535. Relocation Diaries: 3 Years Later
It's been nearly two years since I last shared a Relocation Diaries episode. In January of 2024, I relocated to Barcelona, Spain with my family. A few months later, my content-marketing director, Christina …
Notas do episódio
It's been nearly two years since I last shared a Relocation Diaries episode. In January of 2024, I relocated to Barcelona, Spain with my family. A few months later, my content-marketing director, Christina, moved to Spain, too!
In this video, we share our experiences about how life has been now that we are more settled in the country, what it feels like to integrate into a new country, the challenges we've overcome, and the challenges we're still facing, and of course…updates about my language journey 😉
Check out more Relocation Diaries episodes here: https://bit.ly/relocation-diaries
534. Tongue twisters to improve your pronunciation: From EASY to HARD
Let's practice tongue twisters! These exercises are aimed at improving your pronunciation and clarity in English. These aren't easy, but hang in there ;) Want more tongue twisters? Check out this episode …
Notas do episódio
Let's practice tongue twisters! These exercises are aimed at improving your pronunciation and clarity in English. These aren't easy, but hang in there ;)
Want more tongue twisters? Check out this episode: https://hadarshemesh.com/podcast/458/
533. 20 Years Later: My Friend From Acting School Wrote the Book I Didn't Know I Needed
This conversation is a very special one for me. Danielle and I met many years ago when we were both studying acting in New York, long before either of us knew where life would take us. We were young, ambitious …
Notas do episódio
This conversation is a very special one for me.
Danielle and I met many years ago when we were both studying acting in New York, long before either of us knew where life would take us. We were young, ambitious, certain about some things, completely lost about others, and both trying to figure out who we were going to become.
And now, all these years later, I got to sit down with her and talk about her first adult novel, a story she has been carrying with her, in one form or another, for about 16 years.
Danielle also shares a beautiful exercise for getting started with writing.
This is a conversation about books, yes. But really, it's about friendship, identity, dreams, reinvention, and all the unexpected ways our lives unfold.
Get the book "This Changes Everything" here: https://www.amazon.com/This-Changes-Everything-Danielle-McKechnie/dp/0063519399
532. 5-minute TH Practice | Do this every day for 2 weeks!
Want a quick, effective TH practice? Do this every day for 2 weeks and I promise, you'll feel the difference! Practice words, phrases, sentences and minimal pairs.
531. How to sound powerful in English (shadowing Jennifer Aniston)
Want to sound less monotone, more powerful and more expressive when you speak English? Then come shadow this scene! In this week's episode, we're practicing with a scene from The Morning Show, featuring …
Notas do episódio
Want to sound less monotone, more powerful and more expressive when you speak English?
Then come shadow this scene!
In this week's episode, we're practicing with a scene from The Morning Show, featuring Jennifer Aniston as Alex Levy.
We'll break it down together and play with prosody, reductions and focus on how to use your voice to sound more powerful and expressive
I'll walk you through it line by line, and then we'll shadow the scene together.
Close the door, press play and have some fun with your voice! Get out of your comfort zone!
By the end, you might not only sound more powerful in English. You might actually FEEL more powerful, too.
Download the script to follow along with me: https://bit.ly/4wKi6Zl
Check out my other shadowing videos here: https://bit.ly/4fx9j4t
530. The 3 things I regret not starting sooner (this is one of them!)
How many things have you NOT done because you felt like your English wasn't ready yet? Applied for that job. Started creating content. Spoke up more. Started a business. There were three big things I postponed …
Notas do episódio
How many things have you NOT done because you felt like your English wasn't ready yet?
Applied for that job. Started creating content. Spoke up more. Started a business.
There were three big things I postponed because I kept telling myself I wasn't ready: teaching in English, starting my YouTube channel, and starting my podcast.
And looking back, I wish I hadn't waited.
Because waiting didn't make me more ready, taking action did.
In this episode, I'm sharing these three stories and what they taught me about confidence, fear, perfectionism, and the idea of being "ready."
If there's something you've been waiting to do because of your English, I hope this episode gives you the push to start before you feel ready! ♥️
529. Pronounce Irregular Verbs the Easy Way (Grouped by Sound)
In this episode, let's practice common irregular verbs according to sounds! When you organize irregular verbs by how they sound instead of how they're spelled, everything starts to click. And saying them out …
Notas do episódio
In this episode, let's practice common irregular verbs according to sounds!
When you organize irregular verbs by how they sound instead of how they're spelled, everything starts to click. And saying them out loud, in groups, in sentences is how pronunciation actually sticks.
This episode is the intersection between pronunciation and grammar, and I hope you enjoy it!
Want to keep going? My free Pronunciation Masterclass will show you exactly which sounds to focus on and how to use rhythm, stress, and intonation to sound clear and expressive in English 👇
Other resources mentioned:
Watch the full video on how to pronounce the T before N: https://hadarshemesh.com/magazine/t-sound-in-kitten-button-manhattan/
Practice irregular verbs with the rap from Fluency MC: https://hadarshemesh.com/magazine/interview-with-jason-levine/
528. How to get fluent when you're on your own | Gilbert's story
What does it take to become fluent in English when there is no one around you who speaks English? Meet my student, Gilbert. He's from Guinea, living in Morocco, studying engineering in French, and one of my New …
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What does it take to become fluent in English when there is no one around you who speaks English?
Meet my student, Gilbert. He's from Guinea, living in Morocco, studying engineering in French, and one of my New Sound Scholarship winners.
In this conversation, Gilbert shares how he went from silent, afraid and unable to open his mouth to someone who speaks English with confidence, teaches others, and is now building a public speaking club in his own community.
I hope you enjoy this interview!
527. 3 Things Musicians Know About Pronunciation Practice That English Learners Don't
You can spend hours practicing pronunciation and still feel like you're not making progress. And sometimes, it's not because you're not practicing enough. It's because of how you're practicing. There are things …
Notas do episódio
You can spend hours practicing pronunciation and still feel like you're not making progress. And sometimes, it's not because you're not practicing enough. It's because of how you're practicing.
There are things musicians know about practice that most English learners have never been taught, but they still apply to language learning just the same!
In this episode, I'm sharing 3 of them with you.
🎹 Get it in your body (repetition is not optional) 🐢 Go slower to go faster (yes, really) 🧠 Manage your brain when people are actually listening
Want to keep going? My free Pronunciation Masterclass will teach you everything you're not getting in conventional English classes, such as rhythm, stress, intonation and more. 👉 https://bit.ly/4cJVbGf I'll see you there.
526. How to say big numbers in English | 10-min Pronunciation Sprint
Do you find it hard to pronounce BIG NUMBERS in English? You're not alone! I'm not talking about our basic 1-100! As soon as we get to hundreds, thousands, or millions - things get a little messy. In this …
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Do you find it hard to pronounce BIG NUMBERS in English? You're not alone!
I'm not talking about our basic 1-100! As soon as we get to hundreds, thousands, or millions - things get a little messy.
In this Sprint, we're drilling big numbers together out loud, in real sentences, so they actually stick.
We'll practice:
✔️ Three-digit numbers (like 304 and 989)
✔️ Four-digit numbers the natural way (2,462 → "twenty-four sixty-two")
✔️ Numbers with zeros in tricky spots (2,052)
✔️ Five, six, and seven-digit numbers, including millions
✔️ Real sentences you'll actually use such as prices, stats, dates, and more
🔁 Want more sprints like this one? Check out this playlist! https://bit.ly/sprints-playlist
🎯 Want daily Sprints delivered inside my practice community? Join my community Beyond and get a new Sprint each day. https://bit.ly/4nrfM5N
525. The "ping pong" trick that makes English small talk feel natural
Sometimes the best conversations are like a ping-pong match. 🏓 No awkward silences, no gaps, just fast flowing conversations. Today, we're taking a scene from the TV show, First Dates to practice exactly that …
Notas do episódio
Sometimes the best conversations are like a ping-pong match. 🏓 No awkward silences, no gaps, just fast flowing conversations. Today, we're taking a scene from the TV show, First Dates to practice exactly that.
We'll go sentence by sentence: you listen and test your comprehension, then we'll break it down, and shadow it together, paying attention to intonation, rhythm, stress, and pronunciation the whole way through.
This is a great exercise for shadowing, but also, if you wanna practice your flirty side in English ;)
Watch the full clip here: https://youtu.be/2i5l33TxIpI
Join my pronunciation masterclass to learn more: https://bit.ly/3SXWZop
524. Do you need to reduce your accent? What that really means
In this episode, I'm breaking down the real difference between three things people often confuse: 1: Reducing an accent 2: Acquiring a new accent 3: Speaking with clear, predictable pronunciation. I'll share my …
Notas do episódio
In this episode, I'm breaking down the real difference between three things people often confuse:
1: Reducing an accent
2: Acquiring a new accent
3: Speaking with clear, predictable pronunciation.
I'll share my story, why "accent reduction" is actually a myth, and what really matters, depending on your personal goals.
If you want to work on your pronunciation with me, join my FREE Pronunciation Masterclass, where I teach you the elements they don't cover in conventional English studies. The ones that actually make your speech clear, expressive, and confident: https://bit.ly/4gBnjg5
523. She could barely speak English. Now she runs her own business
Who am I? That was the question Glenda kept asking herself when she first moved from Costa Rica to the US. She was not able to communicate and felt terrified to even answer the phone or turn on her camera in a …
Notas do episódio
Who am I? That was the question Glenda kept asking herself when she first moved from Costa Rica to the US. She was not able to communicate and felt terrified to even answer the phone or turn on her camera in a video call.
In this conversation, my student Glenda shares her journey from feeling powerless and dependent on her husband for everything, to building her own dog training business, hosting conversation groups and book clubs, and now raising her daughter… all in English :)
I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did ♥️
👉 Join our Beyond community for English learners (Glenda is there too!): https://bit.ly/4nrfM5N
522. Daily 10-minute pronunciation exercise (Sprint)
These Sprints are designed to set yourself up for success using daily articulation and speech exercises to make your pronunciation effortless and to be more clear in English! Do this 10-minute pronunciation …
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These Sprints are designed to set yourself up for success using daily articulation and speech exercises to make your pronunciation effortless and to be more clear in English!
Do this 10-minute pronunciation practice every morning before you start your day, or before an important meeting, and you'll feel the difference.
And if you want 30 daily Sprints just like this, get full access in my course, Sprint Master: https://bit.ly/419T61z
521. Read out loud with me! Atomic Habits PART 2 – Vocabulary, pronunciation and intonation
Get ready to read Atomic Habits Chapter 2 by James Clear out loud with me! Follow along and improve your vocabulary and pronunciation with an excerpt from Atomic Habits! Personally, I love this book. It's such …
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Get ready to read Atomic Habits Chapter 2 by James Clear out loud with me!
Follow along and improve your vocabulary and pronunciation with an excerpt from Atomic Habits!
Personally, I love this book. It's such a great book all about building habits that last (and these tips are great for language learning too!)
Check out Chapter 1 here: https://hadarshemesh.com/podcast/464/
Get a 30-day Audible free trial using my referral code and get Atomic Habits for FREE: https://adbl.co/2ESq3ro
520. The 5 R vowels of English
The R is one of the hardest sounds in English…but it doesn't have to be after this episode ;) In American English, there are two R sounds: the strong R (red, around, crazy) and the soft R, or R vowels. That's …
Notas do episódio
The R is one of the hardest sounds in English…but it doesn't have to be after this episode ;)
In American English, there are two R sounds: the strong R (red, around, crazy) and the soft R, or R vowels. That's when the R appears AFTER a vowel (car, here, first).
In this focused practice session, we're working through the 5 key R vowel sounds together.
For each sound, I'll give you words and example sentences to follow along with.
By the end, these tricky words like world, work, word, girl and first won't feel so scary anymore.
Want to go deeper into pronunciation?
Join my FREE Pronunciation Masterclass! A full hour of everything I know about sounds, prosody, intonation, rhythm, and stress, so you can stop putting so much effort into speaking English. It's completely free, and it's going to be fun. → https://bit.ly/4xZGyqv
Check out these other R videos to keep practicing: https://bit.ly/4vMcltM
519. Rediscovering your identity in English: Interview with my student, Valentina
If you've ever felt funny, smart, and expressive in your first language, but timid, or smaller the moment you switch to English, this conversation is for you! In this interview, I spoke with Valentina, a …
Notas do episódio
If you've ever felt funny, smart, and expressive in your first language, but timid, or smaller the moment you switch to English, this conversation is for you!
In this interview, I spoke with Valentina, a longtime student of mine, to talk about something almost every English learner feels but rarely has the words for: the gap between who you are and how you show up in English.
We get into the difference between the language gap (knowing more than you can say) and the identity gap (not feeling like yourself), why your English behaves differently depending on the room you're in, and how letting go of who you "should" be is the thing that finally sets your voice free.
This one is tender, honest, and full of permission. I loved every minute of it. 💛
To join our community, check it out here! Beyond Community → https://bit.ly/4nrfM5N
518. 10 things I LOVE about being a non-native speaker
Today's episode is a bit different. That's because today, I am going to talk to you about the 10 reasons why I ABSOLUTELY LOVE being a non-native speaker. From having multiple personalities and voices in …
Notas do episódio
Today's episode is a bit different. That's because today, I am going to talk to you about the 10 reasons why I ABSOLUTELY LOVE being a non-native speaker.
From having multiple personalities and voices in different languages, to the personal development journey that language learning truly is…this episode is not about pronunciation or grammar. Just the truth about what it means to speak more than one language.
If you've ever felt embarrassed about your accent, guilty about making mistakes, or like you're "not enough" compared to native speakers, this episode is for you.
517. How to Sound More Confident in English: 4 Speech Patterns to Notice
Want to sound more confident in English? In this video, I'm sharing 4 speech patterns and speaking habits that may be making you sound less confident, less clear, or less certain without you even realizing it …
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Want to sound more confident in English? In this video, I'm sharing 4 speech patterns and speaking habits that may be making you sound less confident, less clear, or less certain without you even realizing it.
If English is your second language, these patterns may come from your first language or from habits you've built over time. The good news is that once you become aware of them, you can start changing them and sound more clear, natural, and confident in English.
In this episode, we'll talk about:
- how rising intonation can make you sound uncertain
- why dropping your volume at the end of a sentence affects clarity
- how separating every word can hurt your flow
- why speaking too fast can make you sound less confident
If you want to go deeper, save your seat to my free Pronunciation Masterclass! https://bit.ly/4hVBsa8
516. 15-minute shadowing practice for English pronunciation | Breaking Bad
Shadowing is a great way to practice your pronunciation, prosody, grammar and so much more, but the key is knowing what to focus on. In this video, we'll practice pitch and rhythm using a scene from Breaking …
Notas do episódio
Shadowing is a great way to practice your pronunciation, prosody, grammar and so much more, but the key is knowing what to focus on. In this video, we'll practice pitch and rhythm using a scene from Breaking Bad.
Download the script to follow along with: https://bit.ly/4v8pa1d
Check out my other shadowing videos here: https://bit.ly/4fx9j4t
Join my pronunciation masterclass: https://bit.ly/3UUR9Vj
515. American English Pronunciation: The T Sound in Kitten, Button, and Manhattan
Do you hear people say words like kitten, Manhattan, forgotten, or written in a way that sounds different from what you learned? In this video, I'll teach you how the T is really pronounced in American English …
Notas do episódio
Do you hear people say words like kitten, Manhattan, forgotten, or written in a way that sounds different from what you learned?
In this video, I'll teach you how the T is really pronounced in American English when it appears before a reduced vowel (schwa) and N, like in the words kitten, button, certain, written, and forgotten.
Disclosure: This sound is a nuance of American English! It's not necessary for clear pronunciation. This lesson is here to help you notice the pattern, improve your listening, and practice the details of American English pronunciation if that's something you want to work on.
If you want to go deeper into pronunciation and learn how it can improve your fluency, clarity, and confidence, join my free Pronunciation Masterclass here: https://bit.ly/4wQnuKi
514. LISTENING and SHADOWING practice with The Devil Wears Prada 2 | FAST ENGLISH
Let's get ready to test your listening skills with a fast, fun clip from The Devil Wears Prada 2! First, you'll listen to the full clip and answer a few comprehension questions. Then, we'll break it down …
Notas do episódio
Let's get ready to test your listening skills with a fast, fun clip from The Devil Wears Prada 2!
First, you'll listen to the full clip and answer a few comprehension questions. Then, we'll break it down together, fill in the missing words, then uncover the connected speech, rhythm, stress, and intonation, and finally shadow the scene line by line.
This episode will help you: - Understand fast English in context - Identify reduced and connected words - Notice pitch, rhythm, and tone of voice - Shadow naturally full of expression
Liked this? check out my shadowing episode with The Devil Wears Prada 1: https://hadarshemesh.com/podcast/482/
Want to improve your pronunciation and understand fast English with more confidence? Join my free pronunciation masterclass here: https://bit.ly/4wPgHk8
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