A Business English podcast episode set at a high-end London networking event where a new hire, George, freezes under pressure and nearly derails key introductions. Rob recounts early missteps, a surprising breakthrough, and a few painful moments that still sting, showing how repeated attempts build confidence in real time.

The episode dives into a practical survival approach for high-stakes small talk: focusing on curiosity over performance, avoiding confidence-killing habits, handling misunderstandings without apologising, and leaning on simple universal topics and body language to stay connected.

00:00 Networking Nightmare: Frozen at the Buffet
01:36 Inside the Event: Panic, Name Tags & Pressure
03:04 The Cheese Icebreaker That Actually Worked
04:09 Awkward Setbacks: ‘What Do You Do?’ and Idiom Fails
05:10 From Cringe to Confidence: George Finds His Groove
06:37 Networking Survival Kit: The 3 Small-Talk Lifelines
09:11 Mindset & Pro Tips: Curious, Not Impressive
11:12 Wrap-Up Challenge: Use One Brave Sentence

Power Phrases for High-Stakes Meetings: Stall with Strength Without Overpromising

In a tense boardroom strategy meeting, Rob coaches Jay, a newly promoted head of sales, through partner and rival challenges designed to force risky guarantees. The episode explains how one wrong promise can cost leverage, bonuses, or even a job, and shows how Jay defuses pressure by stalling with strength.

00:00 Boardroom Bear Trap
02:39 Friday War Room Setup
04:01 Stall With Strength
05:16 The Rival’s Attack
06:43 Power Phrases Toolkit
10:07 Ultra-Quick Strategy Tips
12:00 Recap + Your Side Quest
13:14 Closing

In this gripping episode, follow the intense story of Felix, a CFO under heavy scrutiny in a high-stakes boardroom showdown, as he navigates a brutal debate with the help of strategic language.

Learn how a few pivotal phrases can shift the energy from confrontation to collaboration, turning potential disaster into success. Rob shares four essential phrases and principles to keep your cool and command respect in critical business situations, transforming fear into confidence and conflict into cooperation. Tune in for actionable insights that can save your next big meeting.

00:00 High-Stakes Boardroom Showdown
01:42 Setting the Scene: Monday Morning Chaos
02:40 Felix Under Fire: The Battle Begins
04:28 Turning the Tide: Felix Finds His Backbone
07:55 Practical Phrases for Boardroom Success
11:12 Key Principles and Pitfalls to Avoid
13:42 Final Thoughts: Equip Yourself for Success