Podcast Episodes
Back to SearchI prepared for one career and built another
Season 2 Episode 71
For four years, I worked toward becoming a conference interpreter. I learned languages, passed exams, took translation training, and even accepted a …
1 day, 8 hours ago
Why More Language Study Isn’t Always the Next Step
Season 2 Episode 70
I’ve just returned from an Irish immersion course that I first attended 20 years ago, and it gave me a fresh perspective on where my Irish stands tod…
1 week, 2 days ago
Why it's good to be the worst in the room
Season 2 Episode 69
I’m heading to one of Ireland’s Gaeltacht regions for an Irish immersion week, and this time I’m deliberately putting myself in the most challenging …
2 weeks, 3 days ago
Summer language project: Boosting my Irish
Season 2 Episode 68
After spending years helping others learn languages, I've decided it's finally time to give my own native language the attention it deserves. In this…
4 weeks, 2 days ago
Celebrating 23 years of speaking from day one
Season 2 Episode 67
This week marks 23 years since I first began speaking from day one, and as I celebrate my 44th birthday, I'm reflecting on just how far that simple i…
1 month ago
The Pros of Being Somewhere Touristy
Season 2 Episode 66
In this episode, I explore the surprising benefits of learning languages in tourist hotspots. While I usually encourage travelers to get off the beat…
1 month, 2 weeks ago
You Don't Need a Good Memory to Learn a Language
Season 2 Episode 65
In this episode, I share why having a terrible memory has never stopped me from learning languages. In fact, I believe it's one of the reasons I've b…
1 month, 4 weeks ago
Everyone in the Room Thinks They're the Worst
Season 2 Episode 64
In this episode, I reflect on conversations at a language exchange event in Guadalajara, where I met learners who were communicating successfully in …
2 months ago
The Instant Community a Language Hands You
Season 2 Episode 63
In this episode, I share how learning a language can instantly connect you with people wherever you travel. While staying in San Luis Potosí, Mexico,…
2 months, 1 week ago
Mexico or Spain Spanish? You're Asking the Wrong Question!
Season 2 Episode 62
In this episode, I explain why worrying about learning the “right” dialect is one of the least important problems for language learners. Whether it’s…
2 months, 2 weeks ago