Many ESL speakers are highly educated. Successful in their careers.  Excellent at what they do. And yet when they speak English — especially in important moments — they still hesitate.

They second-guess themselves. They overthink. They feel self-conscious. They worry about how they sound. They wonder if they came across the way they intended to. And sometimes that experience can feel really confusing. Because on the inside, they know: They’re actually a very capable person.

But when speaking doesn’t reflect that…it can feel frustrating, discouraging, and honestly, sometimes even a little painful. If you’ve ever felt that disconnect, this episode is for you.

Host Katherine Arthur examines why this happens, why it’s actually much more common than people realize, and most importantly — what you can do to start building more confidence when you speak American English.