The InFluency Podcast

Are you ready for another read out loud practice? In today's episode, we're reading The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. This is an excellent way to grow your vocabulary, practice your pronunciation, and improve your flow while reading. 

Download the book excerpt with vocabulary definitions and audio: https://bit.ly/4tzLMYQ 

Liked these? Check out more videos like these:

Read along with Harry Potter: https://bit.ly/401eST4 

Read along with Let Them: https://bit.ly/4tldKHs 

Read alon...

How well do you know primary stress? In today's lesson, we're doing a quiz to test your knowledge of just how much you know. 

For more primary stress practice, check out these videos!

Keep practicing with my FREE Accent Crash Course: https://bit.ly/3BnPC0S

Do you say estrong instead of strong? In today's video, we're talking about consonant clusters. Consonant clusters can happen at the beginning, middle or end of words, and today, we'll practice pronouncing words, phrases and sentences without dropping any sounds!

Want more pronunciation practice? Join my 14-day pronunciation plan! https://bit.ly/3YAWcJ5

Today, we're stepping into the world of just how confusing English spelling can be! In this video, we're going to analyze words that even advanced speakers mispronounce. 

Want to keep practicing your pronunciation? Get the free 14-day pronunciation plan! https://bit.ly/3YAWcJ5

Do you ever feel like you speak monotone in English?

In this episode, Aubrey from the amazing All Ears English podcast is here to talk about how monotone speech can affect your IELTS speaking score (and the other ways it can impact you!)

In this conversation, we talk about:

Are you afraid of making mistakes when you speak English?

In this episode, we're talking about something that silently blocks fluency for so many people: the fear of making mistakes.

In today's episode, you'll learn 5 truths about mistakes in English that will completely change the way you speak, practice, and show up in real conversations. Because the goal is not to speak "perfectly." The goal is to speak clearly, confidently, and consistently, even when things are not 100 percent.

Want more?

Join...

Today, we're learning 10 super common English expressions that will help you start the year with energy, confidence, and momentum.

You might already recognize some of them, but today you'll learn what they really mean, how to say them more naturally, and how to use them in real sentences so they actually stick.

Download the practice PDF (expressions + definitions + example sentences): https://bit.ly/3YMyA4n

As we wrap up 2025 and step into 2026, I want to invite you to leave a few things behind with me: the need to be perfect, the fear of judgment, habits that aren't working for you, comparison, and that old story you keep telling yourself about your English.

Because here's the truth: you don't need "perfect" to be powerful. You just need practice, permission, and a new story.

If you want a little extra support to start 2026 feeling clearer, freer, and more confident, I've got two free ways to do...

Do you ever feel tired after speaking English even when you can speak for hours in your first language with no problem? In this episode, I'll explain why English feels more exhausting and what you can do to feel lighter, clearer, and more effortless when you speak.

You'll learn practical strategies to reduce physical tension, stop overusing your muscles when pronouncing tricky sounds, ease voice strain, and manage the mental load that comes from overthinking and self editing. These small shifts can help you conserve energy, feel more confident, and enjoy speaking without...

Do you ever feel like you are "not a storyteller" or worry that your stories are too long, too messy, or "not interesting enough" in English? Join this conversation with us!

In this episode, I talk with Bree from the podcast "Into the Story" about what storytelling really is and why you do not need perfect English, fancy vocabulary, or a big dramatic life to tell powerful stories that connect. 

We also talk about confidence, perfectionism, and that little feeling of shame when you remember a tiny mistake you m...

One vowel sound, but so many spellings in English! English spelling is not phonetic, which means that just because it has one spelling, doesn't mean it always sounds the same way! In this video, we're going to talk about the 15 (!) different spellings that just ONE sound has in English. Crazy, right?

For more information about this vowel, check out these episodes:

How to pronounce 'water': https://hadarshemesh.com/magazine/water/ 

/ah/ as in father (and coffee, job and office): https://hadarshemesh.com/magazine/aa-as-in-father/ 

...

In this lesson we'll practice together how the same text can sound happy, sad, serious, or excited, only by changing your voice! I'll read two paragraphs in different ways so you can hear how tone, pitch, and rhythm change the meaning. Then we'll shadow together and you can practice your own intonation.

Shadow with me, repeat after me, and train your voice to tell the story you want!

If you want more practice with intonation, pronunciation, and real speaking skills, check out my free 14-day pronunciation plan! https://bit...

Unlock the parts of you that stay quiet in English and finally show up as your full self. In this episode, we talk about the habits and thoughts that limit your expression and how to break them so you can speak with clarity, confidence, and freedom.

You will learn how to:
• Notice the beliefs that hold you back
• Shift from fear to curiosity
• Practice in simple daily ways that build real confidence
• Express yourself with more presence and ease

Want to keep practicing and building your tru...

Struggling with prepositions in English? In this lesson, we'll discover the most common preposition mistakes and practice them together with clear drills so you can use them confidently in real life.

Learn with me in my courses 🤝 https://bit.ly/4oBeZzC

Do you struggle to pronounce words like "girl," "term," "certain," and "earth"? In today's lesson, we're going to talk about how the American English R really sounds in these words! We'll also talk about spelling patterns, and how you can identify the pronunciation easily. 

Download the R practice sheet here: https://bit.ly/3Alq9Eq 

Get my 14-day Pronunciation Plan: https://bit.ly/3YAWcJ5

Do you want to stop translating, and start thinking in English? This episode will show you 5 steps you can do every day to build the connection in your brain in English, and make it yours. 

Here are the resources mentioned in the episode:

Join my membership, Beyond, and get access to HadarAI! https://bit.ly/4nrfM5N 

Practice with daily Sprints: https://bit.ly/4qtZJ8P 

Practice shadowing: https://bit.ly/4fx9j4t 

Want to improve your grammar, but you're not sure how? Chances are, you KNOW the grammar rules, but when it comes time to speak, you overthink which tense to use.

That's why I created this Grammar Sprint, a series of drills I've developed, aimed at building pronunciation confidence in new tenses and common grammar structures. 

The repetition builds muscle memory so it becomes easier to use these tenses and internalize the grammar used. 

Want more Sprints just like this? Join The Grammar Master! https://bit.ly/4o1PPd...

Ready to put your authoritative tone to the test in English? In today's episode, we're shadowing an infamous scene from The Devil Wears Prada. We will focus on clarity, pace, stress, and that cool, contained confidence that makes every line land. 👠💙

Download the PDF to practice along here: https://bit.ly/4nT59Zy

Today we have a video where you'll get a chance to test your English skills with this test! I've collected a list of common mistakes that English speakers make, and your job is to discover what the mistake is, and then we'll practice the correct form together!

Remember, mistakes aren't bad, but they CAN be annoying if we repeat them over and over, even when we know the correct form. So this video will help you discover common mistakes you might be making, and practice so you can retrain your brain to use...

In today's episode, we're going to cover some of the top, must-know idioms that you'll hear in English! These idioms are great to sprinkle into your own conversation, but it will also help your comprehension when you understand other speakers better.

Idioms are those funny little expressions that don't always make sense word-for-word, but they bring your English to life. We'll go over what they mean, how to use them naturally, and practice together so you can start using them right away.

Join me to get inspired by REAL students who have seen REAL results! I'm interviewing some very special New Sound alumni students! In this live, you'll get to hear stories from Yessika, Alejandra, Monico, and Robin about their experience and change in English.🔥

With the right strategy, practice technique and mindset, they made an incredible transformation with their English.

If you want to work with me to level up your English, doors are open to my transformational program, New Sound! Click here to learn more https://bit.ly/46fJ3bS

If you've been studying English for a long time, you may be looking for creative and challenging ways to get to the next level. This episode includes new strategies and techniques that I use with my advanced students to get them to the next level!

If you want to work with me to level up your English, doors are open to my transformational program, New Sound! Click here to learn more https://bit.ly/46fJ3bS

Check out these other episodes for more advanced learning:

"Difficult doesn't mean impossible, and direction is more important than speed." That's a quote from the wonderful interview I'm having today with my dear student, Luciana! Her story will inspire you to keep going, no matter where you are on your English journey.

In this episode, Luciana, a UX designer from Brazil now living in Portugal, shares how she went from avoiding speaking English and feeling awkward in meetings… to hosting conversation groups, creating videos, and speaking confidently every single day.

We talk about:
- How she shifted her mindset from fear to joy

Have you watched the TV show, Severance? In today's episode, we're learning and shadowing common phrases from the show!

In this interview, I have the opportunity to speak with my student, Laura, who shares her remarkable journey of transformation, from feeling shy and introverted with social anxiety, to being an active member of my community, hosting conversation groups, and organizing in-person events.

In this conversation, Laura shares her limiting beliefs she overcame, the social anxiety that once made even simple interactions feel impossible, and the mindset shifts that helped her break free from self-doubt.

I hope you enjoy this interview!

P.S. you can buy Laura's vocabulary planner here! https://laclaulab.com/<...

Are you ready to take your English pronunciation to the next level? We’re offering 10 full scholarships for lifetime access to New Sound, my transformative 12-week pronunciation coaching program. This is your chance to get world-class training and personal support, all completely free!

Apply here: https://hadarshemesh.com/scholarship

What does the scholarship include?

In this episode, we'll explore different linking words that you can add to your English vocabulary. You'll get more ideas to express your thoughts differently, beyond words like "however" or "or"!

You'll learn how to connect your ideas more naturally and fluently, making your speech and writing more dynamic and engaging.

Confidence doesn't magically appear overnight, it's something you build, one step at a time.
The truth is, confidence is a skill, and just like any other skill, you can learn it, practice it, and get better at it.

In this episode, I'll share the most common things that get in the way of your confidence when speaking English, so you can finally recognize and overcome them. You'll discover practical tips, mindset shifts, and real-life strategies that will help you stop second-guessing yourself and start speaking with clarity, ease, and impact.

PLUS, I'm inviting you...

Have you ever used music to boost your English pronunciation? 🎶
In this week's video, I'm introducing you to Olivia Rodrigo's song Traitor to practice the different T sounds in American English… especially the Flap T!

I'll break down lines from the song, show you how to pronounce them, and I'm certain you won't be able to resist singing along with me 😉

Want to keep practicing prosody? Check out this playlist: https://bit.ly/4fx9j4t

Here are the lyrics of the part we did together:

Brown guilty eyes and little w...

Pronouns in English: I, you, he, she, we, they: It's one of the first things we learn when starting to study English, but do you know how they are REALLY pronounced?

The answer might surprise you.

In this episode, we'll uncover the real pronunciation of English pronouns in everyday speech, and spoiler alert! It's probably NOT the way you learned them in English class.

Download the free PDF (+ audio) to practice pronouns in English! https://bit.ly/4nOhXkf

Now with the rise of AI, everything has become FAST. We look for short videos, quick wins, and AI tools that do everything for us. And while that's amazing in so many ways, it can also make us believe that fluency should be something that's easy, instant, or effortless.

But here's the truth: some things still take time, intention, and consistency. And English is one of them!

In this episode, I talk about the five must-have qualities you need to truly master English. Not tools. Not grammar rules. Not hacks. Qualities. The kind that no...

In this interview, I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with Katya, one of my amazing students who started learning English from scratch seven years ago. What's even more incredible is that she did it all without ever living in an English-speaking country!!

Katya takes us through her journey, from feeling stuck and frustrated to finding the breakthrough that led her to become a leader in our communities. We dive deep into how pronunciation work, especially prosody, not only helped her speak with confidence but also transformed her mindset and life.

In this conversation, Katya...

Improve your vocabulary, pronunciation and pace while reading a book out loud with me!
We're reading the 'Let Them' book by Mel Robbins. Not only is it an excellent practice, it's also a great way for us to understand how WE can adopt this theory in our lives.

Download the PDF here to follow along and improve your vocabulary [Free!] https://bit.ly/4likIrM

More 'read out loud' videos: https://bit.ly/4fx9j4t

Shadowing is a great way to practice your pronunciation, prosody, grammar and so much more, but the key is knowing what to focus on. Today, we're going to focus on a few key sounds, and connected speech from the hit show, The Last of Us.

I also prepared for you a free PDF with the shadowing analysis and notes so you can practice this speech on your own.

Download my shadowing analysis from the hit show The Last of Us: https://bit.ly/4kGPz1k

In this episode, we're tackling some of the trickiest words in English pronunciation, like 'queue', 'colonel', 'subtle' and more!

These words are especially tricky because of their confusing spelling. But today, we'll practice them out loud together to build your pronunciation confidence and be able to say these words with ease.

Want more practice?

Get my FREE 14-day pronunciation plan to keep practicing! https://bit.ly/3YAWcJ5

There are 50 states in the US. Do you know how to pronounce all of them?

In this episode, I'm teaching you how to pronounce each one…and some might just surprise you!

A quick side note, there can be many different regional pronunciations of each state, so in this episode, I've covered the most common!

Check out a list of all the states with IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription on my website: https://bit.ly/3YR2zc1

Get ready to read Atomic Habits 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!)

Get a 30-day Audible free trial using my referral code and get Atomic Habits for FREE: https://adbl.co/2ESq3ro

Read Atomic Habits: https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits

Practice with my Sprints: https://bit.ly/419T61z<...

My course New Sound is OPEN! 🔥🔥🔥and I’m so excited to invite you in.

If you’re ready to work on your English in a way that actually gets results, this is your time!

New Sound is my 12-week step-by-step program that helps you master your pronunciation and speak with confidence, no matter where you're starting from.

If you're tired of feeling stuck or working on things that don’t really move the needle in your English, and you’re ready to reach a real, meaningful breakthrough, New Sound is for YOU!

Click here...

Have you ever tried to practice rhythm in English before? In this episode, we're diving into the rhythm of English, an essential part of speaking with fluency and confidence. English is a syllable-timed language, meaning that the rhythm is based on the time between syllables, not on individual words. 

Let's practice together today with a metronome to help you develop rhythm in English in several different exercises!

More episodes on rhythm: 

Rhythm of English words: https://hadarshemesh.com/podcast/116/ 

Practice rhythm in a speech: https://hadarshemesh.com/podcast/47/

Struggling to show up with authority in English? In this episode, you'll learn how to build authority and confidence as a nonnative speaker: without trying to sound perfect. Discover practical tips to own your voice, speak with impact, and get the respect you deserve in any conversation.

Learn more about my audio course, My English Mindset here: https://bit.ly/47wXuYD

Get started with my free 14-day pronunciation plan: https://bit.ly/3YAWcJ5