PODCAST · education
Language & Travel Hacking
by Fluent in 3 Months
International best-selling author and nomadic polyglot Benny Lewis shares his real experiences and advice while on-the-road about travel and language learning. Learn more at: https://www.fluentin3months.com/podcast/
Episodes
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3 months or 3 years?
In this episode, I explore the difference between three-month language-learning projects and longer journeys that take three years or more. I share how losing 35 kilograms over four years while recovering from clinical depression taught me that progress doesn't have to be fast to be meaningful.…
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My next big language mission is Irish B2!
I've been saying for years that I wish Irish was among my fluent languages, and I've finally stopped delaying. In this episode I announce my next big project: sitting the official TEG B2 Irish exam in December. There's just one small problem. I'm in Italy for the next three months and won't be…
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Three Months in Italy to Bring My Italian Back
In this episode, I share my plans for spending the next three months in Italy and my mission to reactivate my Italian. After years away from the country, I’m rusty—but recent conversations in Dublin have reminded me that you can start bringing a language back wherever you are. I’ll be exploring…
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My completely free digital immersion setup
In this episode, I share how I’ve built a completely free digital immersion setup for Irish without adding another paid subscription. My goal isn’t to find one perfect resource, but to make my target language easier to encounter throughout my everyday life, wherever I am. I walk through how I use...
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I prepared for one career and built another
For four years, I worked toward becoming a conference interpreter. I learned languages, passed exams, took translation training, and even accepted a difficult, poorly paid job to strengthen my application. Then, just before I could apply for the master's degree I had been working toward, the...
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Why More Language Study Isn’t Always the Next Step
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 today. I was surprised to find myself in the highest-level class, not as the weakest student as I had expected, but comfortably in the middle. The...
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Why it's good to be the worst in the room
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 class available. Even though I know I’ll probably be the weakest speaker in the room, and despite having almost no time to prepare, I explain why...
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Summer language project: Boosting my Irish
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 episode, I share why Irish has become my main focus this summer, how I'm using intensive study bursts to make real progress, and why I believe...
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Celebrating 23 years of speaking from day one
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 idea has taken me. Today I can communicate confidently in eight languages, have explored many more, and have travelled to 51 countries, but none of...
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The Pros of Being Somewhere Touristy
In this episode, I explore the surprising benefits of learning languages in tourist hotspots. While I usually encourage travelers to get off the beaten track, I explain why busy destinations can be great places to find language exchanges, meet fellow language enthusiasts, and practice multiple...
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You Don't Need a Good Memory to Learn a Language
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 become successful at it. I explain why natural memory isn't the key to fluency and how building the right systems can make all the difference. I talk...
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Everyone in the Room Thinks They're the Worst
In this episode, I reflect on conversations at a language exchange event in Guadalajara, where I met learners who were communicating successfully in their target languages but still apologised for their mistakes. One German learner in particular reminded me how often we judge our own abilities…
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The Instant Community a Language Hands You
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, a simple breakfast at a small local café turned into meaningful friendships and conversations that would never have happened without Spanish. I…
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Mexico or Spain Spanish? You're Asking the Wrong Question!
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 Mexican Spanish, Castilian Spanish, or another regional variation, I argue that beginners should focus far more on building confidence, learning…
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The conversation you're having with ChatGPT doesn't count!
In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, I share a discussion from my language Bootcamp about using AI for language learning while travelling through Mexico. I praise creative uses of AI, such as generating personalised listening exercises and practising vocabulary, but explain...
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I forgot I was speaking Spanish
In this episode, I share a moment I had during a dinner in Monterrey where I suddenly realised I’d stopped consciously thinking about speaking Spanish. Instead of translating or checking my words, I was simply part of the conversation, joking, listening, and reacting naturally. It reminded me…
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The Mexican States project
In this episode, I talk about my next big travel project as I prepare to head to Mexico for over two months. After recent language missions in Malaysia and Taiwan, I am now focusing on deep travel using Spanish, one of my strongest languages. Rather than chasing new countries, I am continuing my...
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Major cities vs deeper travels
In this episode, I explore whether it is better to stay in major cities or travel more deeply into lesser-visited places. From my recent time in Taiwan, I reflect on how cities like Taipei make life easier, especially when I do not speak the language fluently, and offer plenty of social events…
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Update and my daily routine during my Chinese project
In this episode, I give an update on my Mandarin progress after spending a month in Taiwan. I explain how I quickly regained enough confidence to handle everyday conversations, although my first social speaking attempt was difficult. After adjusting the situation and speaking with the right…
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Are you not ready yet, or is the situation what’s wrong?
I shared how reactivating my Mandarin has put me in an unusual stage of language learning: I am far beyond beginner level, but still rusty enough that real social situations can feel overwhelming. At one language exchange in Taiwan, I quickly realized the setting itself was working against me. A...
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Why My First Mandarin Project Almost Broke Me (And How I Fixed My Approach)
In this episode, I look back at my first Mandarin project in 2012, which became the most stressful language challenge I had ever faced. I set a public goal of reaching fluency in three months, but the growing attention brought heavy criticism, pressure, and emotional exhaustion. Arriving in…
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Wrapping up Malaysia and Brunei
In this episode, I look back on the final weeks of my journey through Malaysia and Brunei before starting my new adventure in Taipei. Malaysia turned out to be an incredible experience. Thanks to my background in Indonesian, I could quickly adapt to Malay and chat with locals almost everywhere I...
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Benny's next language project
In this episode, I’m announcing a return to one of my core languages: Mandarin. Earlier this year I focused on a short-term project in a brand-new country, but now I’m shifting back to a long-term priority. Mandarin has been on my core list for years, yet it’s the one I’ve neglected most. I first...
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My 50th country! But, what's the right number to visit?
In this episode, I mark my arrival in my 50th country and reflect on what that number really means. After more than two decades of nomadic life, I’ve averaged about two countries per year. Some travellers race through dozens in a short time, while others, like me, move more slowly. I consider...
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Life challenges that made me a better language learner
In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking podcast, I share how two childhood challenges, hearing issues and speech difficulties, ultimately gave me an advantage as a language learner. Growing up, I rarely understood 100 percent of what I heard, which forced me to get used to guessing,...
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How ADHD made me a better language learner
In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, I share how ADHD, something that once made me feel like I was terrible at languages, has actually become one of my greatest strengths as a learner. Although I was only diagnosed as an adult, looking back I can clearly see how...
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Kicking off my Malay/Malaysian adventure
In this episode, I’m checking in from Kuala Lumpur to kick off my first language and travel project of the year: using Malay to enrich my experience as I travel through Malaysia. I talk about how closely related Malay and Indonesian are, more like regional varieties than entirely separate...
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End of year language boost
In this episode, I share an update on my end of year language boost after a very multilingual December. I talk about how I fully reactivated my Irish through local meetups in my hometown, without needing to travel to a major city, and how focused time plus the right books helped refresh the...
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Benny's next travel/language project is...
I’m kicking off this episode by checking in from Ireland, where I’ve been doubling down on my Irish through meet-ups, tech immersion, and plenty of telly. This is the first stage of a longer journey that will involve several trips back and forth, all with the aim of finally becoming truly fluent…
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How I’m immersing myself in Irish… in Texas!
In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, I share how I’m immersing myself in the Irish language even while living in Texas. Since I’ll be heading back to Ireland for a month and a half, I want to rebuild momentum with my Irish studies, and that means using what I call “virtual...
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My story with the Irish language
In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, I share my story with the Irish language, from struggling through boring school lessons to finally reconnecting with it as an adult. In the 90s, Irish was taught in a very academic and grammar-heavy way, so despite ten years of…
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Life in the US and visiting all 48 contiguous states
In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, I share a deeply personal and reflective look at my life in the United States and my journey to visiting all 48 contiguous states. I talk about how my fascination with America began through films and TV shows, and how, as a young Irish...
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Language updates: ASL and... Irish!
In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, I share an update on my current language projects. After wrapping up a major travel project in the U.S., I’ve been refreshing my American Sign Language (ASL). I’ve attended events and meetups across several states, and for the next six...
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Converting between units quickly
In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, I share my quick hacks for unit conversions while traveling. For temperatures, I use my “rule of five” system to convert between Celsius and Fahrenheit. It’s based on five key Celsius points—0, 10, 20, 30, and 40—and their…
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The logarithmic advantage of beginners
In this episode of the Travel and Language Hacking podcast, I talk about the unique advantage that beginners have when learning a new language. Unlike exponential growth, where progress starts slowly and then speeds up over time, language learning often follows a logarithmic curve. This means…
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Which Operating System is best for language learners?
In this episode, I want to share a tip you might not have considered for language learning: your operating system. On phones, I’ve gone from iOS to Android, and Android wins hands down because it supports far more languages, including underrepresented ones like Irish and Esperanto. Simply…
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Travel update: 4 new US states
Over the past month, I reached my 44th state, Colorado, which I’d been looking forward to visiting for a long time. I gave myself a whole month there to truly experience it—running races, hiking in the mountains, exploring towns like Boulder and Denver, and meeting many wonderful people…
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Comparison is your enemy in a big project
In this episode, I talk about something that keeps coming up in my own projects: the trap of comparing yourself to others. When I first started learning Spanish, I’d constantly compare myself to other learners and beat myself up over not being as good. That kind of mindset really messed with my...
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Finding meet-ups and friends while travelling solo
In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, I share how I find meetups and make meaningful friendships while traveling solo. Back when I started my nomadic journey over 22 years ago, it was surprisingly easy—I relied on just a few websites like Couchsurfing and Meetup, and that…
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Benny’s last big US road trip
In this episode, I'm coming to you from beautiful Colorado — my 45th U.S. state! I dive into what might be my final big American road trip as I push to complete a long-time goal: visiting all 48 contiguous U.S. states. I talk about how this journey ties into my current language mission with...
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Why you should learn a sign language
In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking podcast, I share why I believe everyone should consider learning their country’s sign language. When I first picked up American Sign Language (ASL), I didn’t expect how deeply it would connect me to the deaf community in the US. It gave me access...
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Juggling and maintaining multiple languages
In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, I dive into the age-old polyglot problem: how do you maintain multiple languages without losing your mind—or your fluency? I share how, over the last 22 years, I’ve followed a cycle of learning one language intensively for a short...
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Thoughts after 4 months of deep travels through Indonesia
In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, I wrap up my incredible four-month journey through Indonesia, recording from Medan in North Sumatra before heading back to Bali for my final weeks. I reflect on just how vast this country is—highlighted by the fact that a flight back to...
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The disadvantage of intensive language learning projects
In this episode, I open up about the biggest downside of my three-month language missions: how quickly I forget the language afterward. As I wrap up Indonesian, I can already feel some of it slipping. This isn’t new — I’ve seen it happen with Hungarian, Arabic, and Japanese. Without regular use…
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Is travelling alone... lonely?
In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, I dive into one of the questions I get asked most often: is solo travel lonely? To answer that, I compare two contrasting experiences—my current quiet week in Sulawesi, Indonesia, and a past trip to Ibiza during the off-season. In...
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The Day I Made a Friend Entirely Through Indonesian
In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, I’m checking in from deep in the jungles of Borneo — or Kalimantan, as it’s called here in Indonesia — surrounded by orangutans, dense rainforest, and the kind of real-life language immersion I’ve been aiming for since the start of this...
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Time to ditch Duolingo
In this episode, I finally say what I’ve tiptoed around for years: it’s time to delete Duolingo. With their recent decision to replace 148 courses with 100% AI-generated content, I can no longer recommend it—not even as a “better than nothing” option. The app was already more about dopamine than...
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The language talent myth
In this episode, I dive into the myth of “language talent” and why believing in it can seriously hold you back. I’ve struggled with comparing myself to others—especially those polished videos on YouTube or TikTok where someone speaks flawlessly and makes it all look effortless. But the truth is,...
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The confidence plateau
In this episode, I talk about the “confidence plateau” I’ve hit while learning Indonesian during my travels in Java. Even though I know the language fairly well, I often catch myself switching to English because of self-doubt. It’s not that I don’t understand—it’s that I tell myself I don’t, and...
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Month 2 Language Project update
After two intense months of studying Indonesian—dedicating up to eight hours a day, seven days a week—I’m excited to share my progress in this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast. I’ve reached a solid B1 level, able to hold conversations with patient speakers using formal…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
International best-selling author and nomadic polyglot Benny Lewis shares his real experiences and advice while on-the-road about travel and language learning. Learn more at: https://www.fluentin3months.com/podcast/
HOSTED BY
Fluent in 3 Months
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Language & Travel Hacking have?
Language & Travel Hacking currently has 289 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Language & Travel Hacking about?
International best-selling author and nomadic polyglot Benny Lewis shares his real experiences and advice while on-the-road about travel and language learning. Learn more at: https://www.fluentin3months.com/podcast/
How often does Language & Travel Hacking release new episodes?
Language & Travel Hacking publishes regularly with 289 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
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You can listen to Language & Travel Hacking on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Language & Travel Hacking?
Language & Travel Hacking is created and hosted by Fluent in 3 Months.
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