Native To Me

What happens when the way you sound in a language starts to define how people see you — and how do you decide whether to change it, keep it, or stop caring?In this episode, we explore accent not as a technical problem to fix, but as a marker of identity that carries weight, judgment, and belonging. We examine who gets to sound "neutral," why some accents are celebrated while others are stigmatized, and what it means to reclaim your voice in a language that keeps telling you to sound like someone

Why does being "almost fluent" sometimes feel harder than being a beginner? In this episode, we explore the invisible labor of advanced language learning — the exhaustion of always performing competence, the loneliness of the in-between, and what it means to make peace with the effort instead of chasing effortlessness.This isn't about tips for getting fluent faster. It's about honoring the work you're already doing — and redefining what fluency actually feels like when you're living it every day.If

In a world where machines can translate anything, what remains human about language? This reflection explores empathy, tone, and intention — the parts of fluency technology can’t replicate.We live in an age where algorithms can speak every language, but struggle to listen. LJ reflects on how the rise of AI has made human conversation more sacred than ever. From digital translation to endangered languages, from empathy to emotion, this episode reminds us that the truest fluency isn’t mechanical —

To live in a language is to inhabit its rhythm, emotion, and worldview. This episode explores the hidden architecture of culture — how grammar carries values, how words shape thought, and how every tongue teaches us a new way to notice life.Fluency isn’t just speech — it’s culture in motion. LJ explores how languages teach us to feel, to pause, to interpret silence. From the patience of Japanese to the warmth of Arabic and the rhythm of Portuguese, we discover that every language we live in expands

A quiet renaissance is unfolding in how we understand language. This episode invites you into The Immersion Studio — a space where fluency is not performance, but presence. We explore how modern culture is reshaping language from something mastered to something lived — a reflection of identity, empathy, and connection.Across the world, people are redefining what fluency means. In The Studio Reimagined, LJ reflects on how cultures are mixing, identities are evolving, and language is becoming less

Have you ever said something in another language and thought: That didn’t sound like me?This episode is for every language learner who’s felt like their personality disappears when they switch languages. Whether you freeze up, feel dull, or find that your humor, confidence, or expressiveness just doesn’t come through like it normally does — this one’s for you.We’re talking about the invisible identity shift that happens when you learn a new language — and how to reclaim your voice without waiting

We’ve been sold a narrow, rigid definition of fluency: sound like a native speaker, speak without hesitation, never make mistakes. But here’s the truth—it’s time to unlearn that.In this episode, we challenge the myths that keep language learners stuck. We talk about the silent pressure to be perfect, the shame of “not being there yet,” and why so many people feel voiceless even after years of study. This is where we begin reframing fluency as something more sustainable, more human, and more yours.💡

Welcome to Native To Me. In this opening episode, we step into the heart of what this podcast is all about: reclaiming voice, redefining fluency, and choosing language as something personal, not perfect. We explore the three podcast series within Native To Me and invite you to reimagine what language learning can feel like.Takeaways:The purpose and structure of the podcastWhat it means to make a language "native to you"An invitation to choose a path that fits you