A subtle feature of certain accents is the lack of /b, d, g/ sounds, the voiced counterpart to /p, t, k/. In addition, various languages devoice /b, d, g/ sounds as a feature of their accent in English. In this episode we examine what voicing is and how to do it so you can sound more native when speaking English and other languages with these sounds you may lack

In many languages the letter sequences "tr" and "dr" are fairly simple: it's just a /t/ or /d/ sound followed by an /r/ sound. In English? Not so. Instead, these sounds "affricate", changing to a whole other sound. In today's episode, let's learn what affrication is, show you how to do it, and learn about how this is actually natural process in many languages historically and presently.

Is improving your accent a betrayal of your culture—or just a form of adaptation? In this episode, I dive into the complex relationship between language, identity, and mindset. From stories about my Russian language partner, my British ex, and a college confrontation over pronunciation, to my own struggles with Cantonese and shifting accents, we explore what it really means to change the way we speak. Whether you’re trying to sound more native or holding onto the voice that shaped you, this one's for you.