Famous talks to shadow

Where to start: three talks each for B1, B2 and C1

The slowest talks of each level first, because a slower talk is easier to repeat. Length and speed come from each talk’s captions. All talks by level are listed below.

Browse by level: beginner · B1 · B2 · advanced. Or by accent: American · British. Or by who you admire: shadow the person you want to sound like.

Level A2

Shia LaBeouf"Just Do It" Motivational Speech

Level B1

Daniel LevitinHow to Stay Calm When You Know You’ll Be Stressed Angela Lee DuckworthGrit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance Josh KaufmanThe First 20 Hours — How to Learn Anything Robert WaldingerWhat Makes a Good Life? Celeste Headlee10 Ways to Have a Better Conversation Cameron RussellLooks Aren’t Everything. Believe Me, I’m a Model. Chris LonsdaleHow to Learn Any Language in Six Months Ivan JosephThe Skill of Self Confidence Matt CuttsTry Something New for 30 Days Derek SiversHow to Start a Movement Carol DweckThe Power of Believing That You Can Improve Graham ShawWhy People Believe They Can’t Draw Sir Ken RobinsonHow to Escape Education’s Death Valley Rita PiersonEvery Kid Needs a Champion Mel RobbinsHow to Stop Screwing Yourself Over Sir Ken RobinsonBring on the Learning Revolution! Bill GatesThe Next Outbreak? We’re Not Ready Bill GatesTeachers Need Real Feedback Denzel WashingtonPenn Commencement Address (2011) Oprah WinfreyStanford Commencement Address (2008)

Level B1–B2

Tim UrbanInside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator Julian TreasureHow to Speak So That People Want to Listen Kelly McGonigalHow to Make Stress Your Friend Derek SiversKeep Your Goals to Yourself Jill Bolte TaylorMy Stroke of Insight Andy PuddicombeAll It Takes Is 10 Mindful Minutes Arthur BenjaminLightning Calculation and Other “Mathemagic” Matt WalkerSleep Is Your Superpower Derek SiversThe “Good Enough” Life Choice Simon SinekWhy Good Leaders Make You Feel Safe Bill GatesInnovating to Zero! Bill GatesWe Can Make COVID-19 the Last Pandemic Malcolm GladwellThe Tipping Point I Got Wrong Oprah WinfreyHarvard Commencement Address (2013) Adam GrantThe Surprising Habits of Original Thinkers Robert WaldingerThe Secret to a Happy Life — Lessons from 8 Decades of Research

Level B2

Steve JobsStanford Commencement Address (2005) Sir Ken RobinsonDo Schools Kill Creativity? Amy CuddyYour Body Language May Shape Who You Are Simon SinekHow Great Leaders Inspire Action Brené BrownThe Power of Vulnerability Elizabeth GilbertYour Elusive Creative Genius Dan PinkThe Puzzle of Motivation Susan CainThe Power of Introverts Terri TrespicioStop Searching for Your Passion Brené BrownListening to Shame J.J. AbramsThe Mystery Box J.K. RowlingHarvard Commencement: The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination William McRavenMake Your Bed — Speech Excerpt Chris BaileyHow to Get Your Brain to Focus Derek SiversWhy You Need to Fail Dan GilbertThe Psychology of Your Future Self Malcolm GladwellChoice, Happiness and Spaghetti Sauce David Foster WallaceThis Is Water Adam GrantAre You a Giver or a Taker? Brené BrownBrené Brown on Empathy

Level B2–C1

Shawn AchorThe Happy Secret to Better Work Elizabeth GilbertSuccess, Failure and the Drive to Keep Creating Derek SiversWeird, or Just Different? Malcolm GladwellThe Unheard Story of David and Goliath Adam GrantHow to Stop Languishing and Start Finding Flow Adam GrantWhat Frogs in Hot Water Can Teach Us About Thinking Again Robert WaldingerWhat Actually Makes a Good Life, According to 85 Years of Data

Level C1

Patrick Winston (MIT)How to Speak Conan O’BrienDartmouth Commencement Address (2011) Dan GilbertWhy We Make Bad Decisions

Browse by accent

For new entries, labels describe the named speaker’s background; guest voices in the recording may differ.

American

• Shia LaBeouf — "Just Do It" Motivational Speech (A2)
• Angela Lee Duckworth — Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance (B1)
• Josh Kaufman — The First 20 Hours — How to Learn Anything (B1)
• Robert Waldinger — What Makes a Good Life? (B1)
• Celeste Headlee — 10 Ways to Have a Better Conversation (B1)
• Cameron Russell — Looks Aren’t Everything. Believe Me, I’m a Model. (B1)
• Matt Cutts — Try Something New for 30 Days (B1)
• Derek Sivers — How to Start a Movement (B1)
• Carol Dweck — The Power of Believing That You Can Improve (B1)
• Rita Pierson — Every Kid Needs a Champion (B1)
• Mel Robbins — How to Stop Screwing Yourself Over (B1)
• Bill Gates — The Next Outbreak? We’re Not Ready (B1)
• Bill Gates — Teachers Need Real Feedback (B1)
• Denzel Washington — Penn Commencement Address (2011) (B1)
• Oprah Winfrey — Stanford Commencement Address (2008) (B1)
• Tim Urban — Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator (B1–B2)
• Kelly McGonigal — How to Make Stress Your Friend (B1–B2)
• Derek Sivers — Keep Your Goals to Yourself (B1–B2)
• Jill Bolte Taylor — My Stroke of Insight (B1–B2)
• Arthur Benjamin — Lightning Calculation and Other “Mathemagic” (B1–B2)
• Derek Sivers — The “Good Enough” Life Choice (B1–B2)
• Bill Gates — Innovating to Zero! (B1–B2)
• Bill Gates — We Can Make COVID-19 the Last Pandemic (B1–B2)
• Oprah Winfrey — Harvard Commencement Address (2013) (B1–B2)
• Adam Grant — The Surprising Habits of Original Thinkers (B1–B2)
• Robert Waldinger — The Secret to a Happy Life — Lessons from 8 Decades of Research (B1–B2)
• Steve Jobs — Stanford Commencement Address (2005) (B2)
• Amy Cuddy — Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are (B2)
• Elizabeth Gilbert — Your Elusive Creative Genius (B2)
• Dan Pink — The Puzzle of Motivation (B2)
• Susan Cain — The Power of Introverts (B2)
• Terri Trespicio — Stop Searching for Your Passion (B2)
• Brené Brown — Listening to Shame (B2)
• J.J. Abrams — The Mystery Box (B2)
• William McRaven — Make Your Bed — Speech Excerpt (B2)
• Derek Sivers — Why You Need to Fail (B2)
• Dan Gilbert — The Psychology of Your Future Self (B2)
• David Foster Wallace — This Is Water (B2)
• Adam Grant — Are You a Giver or a Taker? (B2)
• Brené Brown — Brené Brown on Empathy (B2)
• Shawn Achor — The Happy Secret to Better Work (B2–C1)
• Elizabeth Gilbert — Success, Failure and the Drive to Keep Creating (B2–C1)
• Derek Sivers — Weird, or Just Different? (B2–C1)
• Adam Grant — How to Stop Languishing and Start Finding Flow (B2–C1)
• Adam Grant — What Frogs in Hot Water Can Teach Us About Thinking Again (B2–C1)
• Robert Waldinger — What Actually Makes a Good Life, According to 85 Years of Data (B2–C1)
• Patrick Winston (MIT) — How to Speak (C1)
• Conan O’Brien — Dartmouth Commencement Address (2011) (C1)
• Dan Gilbert — Why We Make Bad Decisions (C1)

North American

• Daniel Levitin — How to Stay Calm When You Know You’ll Be Stressed (B1)
• Malcolm Gladwell — The Tipping Point I Got Wrong (B1–B2)
• Malcolm Gladwell — Choice, Happiness and Spaghetti Sauce (B2)
• Malcolm Gladwell — The Unheard Story of David and Goliath (B2–C1)

New Zealand

• Chris Lonsdale — How to Learn Any Language in Six Months (B1)

Canadian

• Ivan Joseph — The Skill of Self Confidence (B1)
• Chris Bailey — How to Get Your Brain to Focus (B2)

British

• Graham Shaw — Why People Believe They Can’t Draw (B1)
• Sir Ken Robinson — How to Escape Education’s Death Valley (B1)
• Sir Ken Robinson — Bring on the Learning Revolution! (B1)
• Julian Treasure — How to Speak So That People Want to Listen (B1–B2)
• Andy Puddicombe — All It Takes Is 10 Mindful Minutes (B1–B2)
• Matt Walker — Sleep Is Your Superpower (B1–B2)
• Sir Ken Robinson — Do Schools Kill Creativity? (B2)
• J.K. Rowling — Harvard Commencement: The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination (B2)

British/American

• Simon Sinek — Why Good Leaders Make You Feel Safe (B1–B2)
• Simon Sinek — How Great Leaders Inspire Action (B2)

American (Texan)

• Brené Brown — The Power of Vulnerability (B2)