Real English Conversations Podcast | Confident English Communication for International Professionals

What does it mean to truly find your voice?
In this powerful and inspiring episode of the Real English Conversations Podcast, Curtis sits down with his longtime high school friend Lance Cardinal, an internationally recognized Indigenous artist, television host, entrepreneur, actor, comedian, cultural ambassador, and member of the Bigstone Cree Nation.
For English learners, language is about much more than grammar and vocabulary. It's about identity, confidence, self-expression, and connecting with the world around you.
Lance shares his remarkable journey from growing up in Calling Lake, Alberta, to becoming one of Canada's most recognized Indigenous artists and cultural educators. Together, Curtis and Lance explore confidence, creativity, language learning, Indigenous culture, reconciliation, storytelling, and the importance of embracing who you are.
Whether you're learning English, building confidence, pursuing a dream, or simply looking for inspiration, this conversation will leave you with a new perspective on finding your voice and sharing it with the world.
In This Episode You'll Learn:
✅ Why confidence comes from embracing who you are
✅ How creativity can help you overcome self-doubt
✅ The connection between language, identity, and culture
✅ Why preserving Indigenous languages matters
✅ What learning Cree taught Lance about communication
✅ The story behind the Edmonton Oilers Indigenous Turtle Island logo
✅ How Indigenous art helps create understanding and reconciliation
✅ The mindset habits that helped Lance overcome adversity
✅ Why celebrating your small wins builds long-term confidence
✅ Practical advice for English learners who are afraid to speak
Memorable Topics From This Conversation
🎨 Creativity Builds Confidence
Lance explains how creativity helped him overcome insecurity and find his place in the world. He shares why confidence isn't something you're born with—it's something you build through action, self-reflection, and celebrating your progress.
🪶 Preserving Indigenous Languages
Lance discusses his journey learning Cree as an adult, why many Indigenous languages are at risk of disappearing, and why preserving language means preserving culture, identity, and history.
🏒 The Edmonton Oilers Indigenous Logo
Learn the fascinating story behind Lance's iconic Turtle Island logo created for the Edmonton Oilers Indigenous Celebration Night and what it represents for Indigenous communities across Canada.
🌎 The Guinness World Record Solar Panel Mural
Lance shares the story behind "The Land We Share," the Guinness World Record-winning solar panel mural in downtown Edmonton that brings together Indigenous and Chinese cultural symbolism through art.
🤝 Reconciliation Through Understanding
Lance offers a thoughtful perspective on reconciliation, cultural understanding, and how Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities can move forward together through learning, healing, and meaningful conversations.
🗣️ A Message for English Learners
One of the most powerful messages in this episode is that your voice matters—even if your English isn't perfect. Communication is about connection, not perfection.
Connect with Lance Cardinal
🌐 Website https://www.soulflamecreativeservices.com
📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lancecardinalofficial
📘 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lance.cardinal.90
🎵 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@lancecardinalofficial
💼 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lance-cardinal-3a66b6109/
📺 Indigenous Art Adventures Available on APTN and online platforms
🎙️Learn with Teacher Curtis & Real English Conversations
💬 Want to improve your English for professional success?
Work directly with Curtis through personalized coaching designed to help you communicate clearly, confidently, and naturally in real-world professional situations.
👉 Book your trial session https://realenglishconversations.com/memberships/member-plans/fluency-programs/trial-lesson/
🔥 Join the 90-Day English Challenge (50% OFF with code: 90DAY50) https://realenglishconversations.com/memberships/our-courses/90-day-next-level-english/
🌐 Website https://realenglishconversations.com
🎧 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/76ihNoEcjms6485Vt1ng5q
🎧 Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-english-conversations-podcast-real-english-for/id977345837
📺 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@realenglishconversations
📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rec.real.english/
📘 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RealEnglishConversationsOnline
💼 LinkedIn — Curtis Davies https://www.linkedin.com/in/curtis-davies-07928646/
💖 Support the podcast on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/RealEnglishConversationsPodcast

Do you ever freeze when speaking English?
Maybe you know exactly what you want to say, but the words won't come out. Maybe you overthink every sentence, worry about making mistakes, or feel nervous speaking in meetings, presentations, or everyday conversations.
In this inspiring episode of the Real English Conversations Podcast, Curtis Davies sits down with Edit B. Kiss—holistic mentor, trauma healing specialist, international speaker, best-selling author, and former petroleum engineer—to explore the deeper reasons why confidence can disappear when we need it most.
Edit shares her incredible journey from working as a petroleum engineer around the world to becoming a successful holistic therapist and mindset coach in London, helping hundreds of people overcome anxiety, panic attacks, trauma, and self-limiting beliefs.
Together, they discuss the surprising connection between confidence, communication, unresolved emotional experiences, and language learning.
Whether you're learning English, building your career, or simply trying to express yourself more confidently, this episode will give you powerful insights and practical strategies you can start using immediately.
🔑 In This Episode You'll Learn:
✅ Why confidence is often an emotional issue—not a language issue
✅ The hidden reasons people freeze during conversations and presentations
✅ How childhood experiences can affect communication skills later in life
✅ Why practice alone isn't always enough to build speaking confidence
✅ How Edit overcame her fear of public speaking and improvisation
✅ The importance of discovering your "why" when learning English
✅ Why immersion and real-world communication accelerate fluency
✅ How to stop overthinking and start speaking more naturally
✅ Practical confidence-building techniques for English learners
📚 Connect With Edit B. Kiss Here
🌐 Edit B. Kiss
Website:
https://editbkiss.com
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@MagicalKarmaPriestess
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/editbkiss
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/editbkiss/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/bkissedit
📖 Books by Edit B. Kiss
Stop Panic Now
https://a.co/d/05jxw4RH
The Healer's Journey
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Healers-Journey-Coaching-Book-Seekers
The Gap Filler Success Book
https://a.co/d/bkJWUTL
🎙️Learn with Teacher Curtis & Real English Conversations Here
💬 Want to improve your English for professional success?
Work directly with Curtis through personalized coaching designed to help you communicate clearly, confidently, and naturally in real-world professional situations.
👉 Book your trial session
https://realenglishconversations.com/memberships/member-plans/fluency-programs/trial-lesson/
🔥 Join the 90-Day English Challenge
(50% OFF with code: 90DAY50)
https://realenglishconversations.com/memberships/our-courses/90-day-next-level-english/
🌐 Website
https://realenglishconversations.com
🎧 Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/show/76ihNoEcjms6485Vt1ng5q
🎧 Apple Podcasts
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-english-conversations-podcast-real-english-for/id977345837
📺 YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@realenglishconversations
📸 Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/rec.real.english/
📘 Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/RealEnglishConversationsOnline
💼 LinkedIn — Curtis Davies
https://www.linkedin.com/in/curtis-davies-07928646/
💖 Support the podcast on Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/c/RealEnglishConversationsPodcast

Do confident professionals communicate differently?
The answer is yes — and the good news is that confidence isn't something you're born with. It's something you build.
In this episode of the Real English Conversations Podcast, Curtis sits down with communication expert, voice actor, broadcaster, speaker, and author David Tyler, creator of the book Connect: A Field Guide for Master Communicators.
With more than 40 years of experience helping people communicate effectively, David shares the 10 communication habits of confident communicators and explains how anyone can develop them — including English learners, business professionals, managers, entrepreneurs, and leaders.
If you've ever struggled with speaking confidently in meetings, presentations, interviews, networking events, or everyday conversations, this episode will give you practical tools you can start using immediately.
You'll also learn why connection is more important than perfection, how to make people feel heard and valued, and why the world's best communicators focus on serving their audience instead of impressing them.
In This Episode You'll Learn:
✅ The 10 communication habits confident communicators use every day
✅ Why listening is often more powerful than speaking
✅ How asking better questions creates stronger connections
✅ Why silence is one of the most underrated communication tools
✅ How to overcome the fear of making mistakes
✅ Why confidence is built through practice, not talent
✅ The importance of making others feel seen, heard, and understood
✅ David's "Seven Colors of the Voice" framework for becoming a more engaging speaker
✅ How communication skills can improve your career, relationships, and personal growth
Key Takeaway
"Most people think confidence is something you are born with or find. In reality, confidence is something you create — one conversation at a time." — David Tyler
Whether you're learning English, building your career, leading a team, or simply wanting to communicate more effectively, these habits can help you become a more confident and impactful communicator.
Connect With & Follow David Tyler Here
📖 Connect: A Field Guide for Master Communicators
https://www.amazon.com/Connect-Field-Guide-Master-Communicators/dp/B0DNRSP2BV
The Master Communicator Podcast
https://open.spotify.com/show/41GUGOiYuYSbJXRWfrv5t4?si=06e30bdd567243bb
🌐 David Tyler Website
https://davidtyler.com
🎙️ David Tyler Coaching & Speaking
https://davidtylerspeaks.com
📄 The Speaker's Playbook (47 Communication Tips)
https://buymeacoffee.com/davidtyler
🐦 X (Twitter)
https://x.com/DavidTylerVO
🎙️ Connect with Teacher Curtis & Real English Conversations
💬 Want to improve your English for professional success?
Work directly with Curtis through personalized coaching designed to help you communicate clearly, confidently, and naturally in real-world professional situations.
👉 Book your trial session
https://realenglishconversations.com/memberships/member-plans/fluency-programs/trial-lesson/
🔥 Join the 90-Day English Challenge
(50% OFF with code: 90DAY50)
https://realenglishconversations.com/memberships/our-courses/90-day-next-level-english/
🌐 Website
https://realenglishconversations.com
🎧 Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/show/76ihNoEcjms6485Vt1ng5q
🎧 Apple Podcasts
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-english-conversations-podcast-real-english-for/id977345837
📺 YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@realenglishconversations
📸 Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/rec.real.english/
📘 Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/RealEnglishConversationsOnline
💼 LinkedIn — Curtis Davies
https://www.linkedin.com/in/curtis-davies-07928646/
💖 Support the Podcast on Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/c/RealEnglishConversationsPodcast

Do you ever feel like you're capable of more, but something is holding you back?
Many English learners struggle with confidence. They know more English than they think they do, but fear, self-doubt, overthinking, and the fear of making mistakes stop them from speaking naturally and expressing themselves fully.
In this inspiring episode of the Real English Conversations Podcast, Curtis sits down with educator, TEDx speaker, author, professional speaker, engineer, and corporate executive John Kundly to discuss confidence, communication, personal growth, purpose, and how to move forward even when you don't feel ready.
John shares his remarkable journey from a small town in Ohio to becoming a successful corporate executive, TEDx speaker, and author—including a period when he was homeless and living in his car after moving to Los Angeles.
Together, Curtis and John explore why confidence isn't something you wait for—it's something you build through action.
If you've ever struggled with speaking English confidently, experienced imposter syndrome, felt stuck in your career, or wondered how to create better opportunities for yourself, this conversation is packed with practical insights and inspiration.
In This Episode You'll Learn:
✅ Why action comes before confidence
✅ How English learners can overcome fear when speaking
✅ Why confidence and fluency are not the same thing
✅ The "Evidence & Exposure" formula for building confidence
✅ How to overcome self-doubt and imposter syndrome
✅ Why successful people still struggle with confidence
✅ How setbacks and detours can become life-changing opportunities
✅ The difference between goals and purpose
✅ Communication skills that separate average professionals from exceptional professionals
✅ How to build a strong professional network and find mentors
✅ Why comparison destroys confidence and what to focus on instead
✅ Practical advice for English learners who want to create better opportunities in life and work
💡 Memorable Quote From John
"Don't wait until you feel ready to use your voice. Use your voice to get ready."
🎙️ Connect with John Kundly
🌐 Website https://reachwithjohn.com
📖 Book: Within Reach https://withinreachbook.net
🎤 TEDx Talk: The Internal GPS (IGPS) https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=John+Kundly+TEDx
📸 Instagram @ReachWithJohn
🎵 TikTok @ReachWithJohn
💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnkundly/

🎙️ Connect with Teacher Curtis & Real English Conversations
💬 Want to improve your English for professional success?
Work directly with Curtis through personalized coaching designed to help you communicate clearly, confidently, and naturally in real-world professional situations.
👉 Book your Trial Session https://realenglishconversations.com/memberships/member-plans/fluency-programs/trial-lesson/
🔥 Join the 90-Day English Challenge (50% OFF with code: 90DAY50) https://realenglishconversations.com/memberships/our-courses/90-day-next-level-english/
🌐 Website https://realenglishconversations.com
🎧 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/76ihNoEcjms6485Vt1ng5q
🎧 Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-english-conversations-podcast-real-english-for/id977345837
📺 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@realenglishconversations
📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rec.real.english/
📘 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RealEnglishConversationsOnline
💼 LinkedIn — Curtis Davies https://www.linkedin.com/in/curtis-davies-07928646/
💖 Support the Podcast on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/RealEnglishConversationsPodcast

What happens when three completely different life journeys collide around the same global challenge?
In the final episode of our 6-part Plot Pattern series, Curtis Davies is joined once again by co-host Matt Gardner (Mod Hob Matt) — along with special guest Maryam Shoja, co-founder of the Mod Hob Cooperative — to explore one of the most advanced storytelling frameworks yet: the Parallel Plot Pattern.
This episode goes far beyond storytelling.
Together, Curtis, Matt, and Maryam trace their individual experiences from the turn of the millennium (Y2K) through the evolution of technology, communication, media, education, and AI — showing how seemingly separate lives can converge around shared challenges and common purpose.
From encyclopedias and VHS tapes… to smartphones, social media, and artificial intelligence… this conversation explores how technology has transformed the way we learn, teach, connect, and think.
But the deeper question remains:
👉 As AI makes everything faster and easier… are we losing the friction that helps us truly learn?
✨ In This Episode, You'll Learn
🎭 What the Parallel Plot Pattern is — and why it's one of the most powerful storytelling structures
🌍 How three different life journeys across Canada, Iran, Malaysia, and Mexico intersect through shared global change
📱 The evolution from analog to digital culture — from flip phones and VHS to AI and smartphones
🧠 Why "friction" and discomfort are essential for deep learning and memory retention
🤖 The opportunities and dangers of AI in education and communication
💬 Why human connection still matters in language learning
📚 How technology changed the way we study, teach, consume media, and build relationships
⚖️ The importance of balancing digital tools with real-world human interaction
🔄 How systems thinking helps us understand how everything is connected
💡 Key Insight from This Episode
"If learning becomes too easy, we risk losing the depth, challenge, and reflection that create real growth."
— Real English Conversations Podcast
🌍 Why This Episode Matters
The Parallel Plot Pattern helps us understand that no one exists in isolation.
Every person experiences the world differently…
but our stories still intersect through shared systems, technologies, conflicts, and cultural shifts.
This framework teaches us to:
• See multiple perspectives at once
• Understand how systems influence people
• Think critically about technology and communication
• Recognize the value of human connection in a digital world
As AI and automation continue to reshape society, this episode reminds us that meaningful learning still requires:
✨ curiosity
✨ challenge
✨ reflection
✨ human connection
📌 Connect With Mod Hob Matt & Maryam Shoja & The Mod Hob Cooperative
🌐 PlotWeaver Substack (Articles + Story Examples) https://plotweaver.substack.com
🎲 PlotWeaver Cards of Creation & Demo https://www.plotweavergame.com/
🏢 Mod Hob Cooperative https://www.modhob.ca/
🎙️ Connect with Teacher Curtis & Real English Conversations
💬 Want to improve your English for professional success?
Work directly with Curtis through personalized coaching designed to help you communicate clearly, confidently, and naturally in real-world professional situations.
👉 Book your trial session https://realenglishconversations.com/memberships/member-plans/fluency-programs/trial-lesson/
🔥 Join the 90-Day English Challenge (50% OFF with code: 90DAY50) https://realenglishconversations.com/memberships/our-courses/90-day-next-level-english/
🌐 Website https://realenglishconversations.com
🎧 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/76ihNoEcjms6485Vt1ng5q
🎧 Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-english-conversations-podcast-real-english-for/id977345837
📺 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@realenglishconversations
📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rec.real.english/
📘 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RealEnglishConversationsOnline
💼 LinkedIn — Curtis Davies https://www.linkedin.com/in/curtis-davies-07928646/
💖 Support the podcast on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/RealEnglishConversationsPodcast
🎧 Follow the Series
This episode is part #5 of a 6-part Plot Patterns series designed to help you speak English more naturally, confidently, and effectively in real-life situations.
Make sure to listen to the previous episodes here :
Pt. #1 On Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/32ZUr4A3gjJao5B9fYwtY7?si=c6d80914e72b4e12
Pt. #1 On Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pt-1-of-6-how-to-master-the-plotweaver-inverted/id977345837?i=1000758633315
Pt. #2 On Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/6Wr0JvE86Z0es46GNhHI3t?si=44418cfa4d1c4328
Pt. #2 On Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-episode-pt-2-of-6-how-to-master-the-plotweaver/id977345837?i=1000761512525
Pt. #3 On Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/3ISJwN6i7mWGS3omRxnrkq?si=daf286c066814c24
Pt. #3 On Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pt-3-of-6-how-to-master-the-plotweaver-non-linear/id977345837?i=1000763047501
Pt. #4 On Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/35BJrefXZYAwVxIThD1hGY?si=c212395822574664
Pt. #4 On Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-episode-pt-4-of-6-how-to-master-the/id977345837?i=1000766428137
Pt. #5 On Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/6VxWCvn7PTJhKbpOD86yW2?si=b944bd28a7404f9e
Pt # 5 On Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-episode-pt-5-of-6-how-to-master-the/id977345837?i=1000767564190