If you're someone who's ever cringed at the sound of your own voice, felt judged for using "like" or "um," or wondered why certain accents feel more credible than others - this conversation will help you understand the hidden forces shaping how we communicate and how to use your voice with confidence instead of shame.

Valerie Fridland is a professor of linguistics at the University of Nevada, Reno, and author of Like, Literally, Dude: Arguing for the Good in Bad English. With decades of research into how language actually works in the real world, she's dedicated to dismantling the myths and judgments we carry about speech patterns. Through accessible science and cultural analysis, Valerie helps people understand that the vocal habits they've been told to eliminate are often markers of connection, adaptability, and social intelligence.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why vocal fry, uptalk, and filler words like "um" and "like" serve powerful communication functions - and what they actually signal to listeners

How accent bias and language policing create hierarchies that have nothing to do with clarity or intelligence

The psychological reasons we hate hearing our own voices on recordings - and what this reveals about self-perception

Why younger generations adopt certain speech patterns as markers of identity, empathy, and in-group belonging

How to reframe your relationship with your voice by understanding the difference between linguistic evolution and actual communication problems

Practical ways to speak with authority and confidence without erasing the natural patterns that make you relatable

This conversation includes real examples of how speech patterns shift across generations, regions, and social contexts - helping you see your voice as a tool for connection rather than a source of insecurity.

#linguistics #professor #accents

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Fully Timestamped Chapter List

00:00:00 Valerie Fridland: Changing Accents, Authenticity, Hiring Bias, Chris Williamson & Comprehension

00:12:20 New Book on Accents & Why ‘Moist’ Sounds Unpleasant

00:21:08 Backchannels, Podcaster Tics & Self-Monitoring

00:28:07 The Many Meanings of ‘Like’

00:33:11 Status & Prestige, Vocabulary, Audiobooks vs Reading

00:44:44 Improving Speech: Analyse Your Habits, Not ‘Diction’

00:49:28 Favourite Words: ‘Cellar Door’, Sonority & the Many ‘R’s

00:54:09 Proto-languages, Jaws, Muffled Speech & Prenatal Hearing

01:00:44 Closing Thoughts

If you liked this episode, you might like these too:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMebuClQRf0_uXZRSNrXYQ9Wgp-Zk-0yk

***LINKS***

https://www.valeriefridland.com/

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