

Open Draft - with Fabio Cerpelloni
Fabio Cerpelloni (www.fabiocerpelloni.com)
I have this channel to help writers improve their craft. You'll find interviews with authors, from small indie ones to big names like Seth Godin, Derek Sivers, Kerri Sackville, Matthew Dicks, Barbara Serra, and others. You'll also find unscripted rambles, unedited reflections, book reviews, writing tips, stories, rants -- anything to help you become a better writer and creative thinker. You're welcome to join me! I ask more questions than I answer.
The show is also on YouTube @fabiocerpelloni
The show is also on YouTube @fabiocerpelloni
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 19, 2023 • 11min
Why Don't We Read Enough?
Some unprepared reflections about why most people don't read enough.
My Reading Community

Jun 15, 2023 • 11min
Most Advice Is Obvious. But Can You Apply It?
"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger," "Don't worry about failing," "Focus on the process, not the results."
Nothing new, obvious, clichè even. But can you actually apply this? Here's my ramble.
Episode Links
The Obstacle Is The Way by Ryan Holiday -- https://www.amazon.com/Obstacle-Way-Timeless-Turning-Triumph/dp/1591846358
My nonfiction reading community -- https://fabiocerpelloni.com/community/
My private email list -- https://fabiocerpelloni.com/private/

4 snips
Jun 14, 2023 • 15min
I don't see reading as a hobby (new reading community announcement)
Watch this episode on YouTube -- http://youtu.be/OW5HCEylHPU?hd=1
***
Do you see reading as a hobby? I don’t. I see reading as an essential activity for personal and language development.
Reading books made me become a better speaker and writer but it also changed my actions, my mind, and my life.
A book about storytelling made me start a podcast and connect with the world through my stories. A book about digital minimalism made me quit Instagram and reclaim my focus. A book about business and another one about life philosophies made me write my own book. Most of what I know about second language acquisition doesn’t come from the teaching training courses I took. It comes from books.
Everybody wants to have a great life, be a great person and have great English. But not everybody is willing to read to get that. I believe this is a missed opportunity for growth.
So I’d like to offer you this opportunity through my nonfiction book clubs. If you’re a C1 / C2 speaker wanting to perfect your English, connect with others, read, learn, and apply the knowledge from the best nonfiction books, you’re welcome to join me.
I don’t know if we’ll become great, but I guarantee we’ll grow — together.
Episode Links
Join my nonfiction reading community -- https://fabiocerpelloni.com/community/

Jun 9, 2023 • 48min
Work on Your Mindset First, Not Grammar:With Marty Green from Marty Education
In this episode, I'm talking with Marty Green, an English teacher, and mentor who guides non-native English speakers to find their English personalities and become their confident selves.
Marty had to learn English when, at a very young age, her family moved from Poland to Australia. It wasn't easy but she was determined and motivated to become a proficient speaker of the language. Marty has helped hundreds of learners do just that.
Here's the content of our conversation:
Meeting Marty
Why does Marty have an American accent?
Is grammar the real issue?
Marty's III Pillars
Becoming an "advanced" learner
Marty's students
What we BOTH dislike about the language industry
The language exercises we like
Psychology!
Read THIS book
Part 2?
My bookclubs
How we read books
Where you can find Marty
Episode links
Get in touch with Marty -- https://marty.education/bio/
My private email list -- https://fabiocerpelloni.com/private/
Watch this episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/GoFH2n-7I1w

Jun 7, 2023 • 34min
Teaching Doctors and Nurses With Rachel from Fluent Medical English
In this episode, you'll hear a conversation with Rachel Williams from Fluent Medical English.
Rachel was a nurse working on the hospital wards and in the theatres (operating rooms) in England. She worked alongside nurses from the Philippines, India and Poland, doctors from Iraq, Germany and Spain. She saw the challenges they faced, communicating in a second, or third language in stressful situations. She then changed careers at 40 to train as an English language teacher and went back to university in 2018 to do her Master’s in Applied Linguistics.
A true life-long learner.
You'll hear her talk about:
- how she helps her clients
- grammar mistakes that can affect safety
- the value of self-correction
- a nonfiction book she would recommend to anyone
If you're a doctor or a nurse who needs help with English, I can't think of a better teacher for you than Rachel.
Episode Links
Rachel's website - https://fluentmedicalenglish.com/
Rachel on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelwilliams-professionalenglish/
The Checklist Manifesto - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6667514-the-checklist-manifesto
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius - https://www.amazon.com/Meditations-New-Translation-Marcus-Aurelius/dp/0812968255
My private email list - https://fabiocerpelloni.com/private/

5 snips
May 30, 2023 • 24min
Learn Grammar With The English Grammar Detective: Paul Duke (Part 2)
The second half of the conversation with Paul Duke, The English Grammar Detective. (Listen to the previous episode for Part 1)
Paul helps English teachers and learners understand the complexities and nuances of grammar. He’s an English Instructor, online tutor, and content creator based in Vancouver, Canada.
Paul was a private investigator and executive security specialist. In that profession, he learned a lot about asking questions and acquiring information and he has found a clever way to adapt these techniques into an inductive method of teaching grammar. In this 2-part conversation, you’ll hear us talk about:
The connection between crime scenes and learning grammar
Teaching grammar
Grammar rules
Why grammar is essential
How to learn grammar
Avoiding learning grammar
Grammar in writing
Knowing what you want to learn a language for
English Weirdness (Paul’s grammar investigation series on YouTube)
Episode Links
The Grammar Detective on YouTube -- https://www.youtube.com/@TheGrammarDetective
Paul's website -- https://hardboiledenglish.com/
Me on Paul's podcast - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmQBYhmAlbU&list=PLicIpoe8_-n_86D0GKaWCeHB7NIKcFaBP&index=2
My private email list -- https://fabiocerpelloni.com/private/

May 26, 2023 • 29min
Learn Grammar With The English Grammar Detective: Paul Duke (Part 1)
In this episode, I'm talking with Paul Duke, The English Grammar Detective.
Paul helps English teachers and learners understand the complexities and nuances of grammar. He's an English Instructor, online tutor, and content creator based in Vancouver, Canada.
Paul was a private investigator and executive security specialist. In that profession, he learned a lot about asking questions and acquiring information and he has found a clever way to adapt these techniques into an inductive method of teaching grammar.
In this 2-part conversation, you'll hear us talk about:
The connection between crime scenes and learning grammar
Teaching grammar
Grammar rules
Why grammar is essential
How to learn grammar
Avoiding learning grammar
Grammar in writing
Knowing what you want to learn a language for
English Weirdness (Paul's grammar investigation series on YouTube)
Episode Links
The Grammar Detective on YouTube -- https://www.youtube.com/@TheGrammarDetective
Paul's website -- https://hardboiledenglish.com/
Me on Paul's podcast - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmQBYhmAlbU&list=PLicIpoe8_-n_86D0GKaWCeHB7NIKcFaBP&index=2
My private email list -- https://fabiocerpelloni.com/private/

May 23, 2023 • 10min
A reflection on writing and on the book I wrote
Watch this on YouTube -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2w92akqLlk
Feel free to email me your thoughts on this.
All my contact info is on my website -- https://fabiocerpelloni.com/contact/
I reply to all.
My private email list -- https://fabiocerpelloni.com/private/

May 18, 2023 • 33min
Changing Your Thoughts To Avoid Anxiety: With Samantha Lantagne (Part 2)
Part 2 of the interesting conversation about anxiety and fears with Samantha Lantagne, an English language coach, and facilitator from Canada who has a background in psychology and mental health.
Samantha delivers workshops and presentations on psychology and mental health topics for workplaces and she's a polyglot herself. She speaks English, French, Italian, and Spanish.
It was a long conversation so I split the episode into 2 parts.
In Part 1 you'll hear us talk about:
Samatha's background
Samatha's personal story about anxiety
How anxiety works against the body and causes physical pain
In Part 2 you'll hear us talk about:
How Samantha helps learners deal with anxiety through recordings.
A simple technique for dealing with anxiety.
Advice on how to overcome a fear of flying.
Changing your thoughts to avoid anxiety and fear.
My fear of not being able to sleep.
Episode Links
Samatha's website - https://consciouscounsellingtherapy.com/about/samantha-lantagne/
Samatha on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/samlantagne/
Read "Ego Is The Enemy" by Ryan Holiday - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju8WoRcR4Qo
The book that kept me awake for 1 month ("Why We Sleep" by Matthew Walker)
My reading community starting on 22 May - https://fabiocerpelloni.com/community/

May 16, 2023 • 29min
Changing Your Thoughts To Avoid Anxiety: With Samantha Lantagne, a Language Trainer With a Background in Psychology and Mental Health (Part 1)
An interesting conversation about anxiety and fears with Samantha Lantagne, an English language coach, and facilitator from Canada who has a background in psychology and mental health.
Samantha delivers workshops and presentations on psychology and mental health topics for workplaces and she's a polyglot herself. She speaks English, French, Italian, and Spanish.
It was a long conversation so I split the episode into 2 parts.
In Part 1 you'll hear us talk about:
Samatha's background
Samatha's personal story about anxiety
How anxiety works against the body and causes physical pain
In Part 2 you'll hear us talk about:
How Samantha helps learners deal with anxiety through recordings.
A simple technique for dealing with anxiety.
Advice on how to overcome a fear of flying.
Changing your thoughts to avoid anxiety and fear.
My fear of not being able to sleep.
Episode Links
Samatha's website - https://consciouscounsellingtherapy.com/about/samantha-lantagne/
Samatha on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/samlantagne/
My reading community starting on 22 May - https://www.linkedin.com/in/samlantagne/