Language & Travel Hacking

7:22

My next big language mission is Irish B2!

Language & Travel Hacking ·

2026/09/16

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 back in Ireland until a week before the test, and I haven't sat a Common European Framework exam in sixteen years.So how do you prepare for an Irish exam in entirely the wrong country? My answer is to

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7:13

Three Months in Italy to Bring My Italian Back

Language & Travel Hacking ·

2026/09/09

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 new regions across eastern Italy, using Italian every day, meeting fellow language enthusiasts, and speaking at the Polyglot Conference in Bologna. My biggest reminder from this journey: it’s never

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8:03

My completely free digital immersion setup

Language & Travel Hacking ·

2026/08/17

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 IPTV and free TV websites and YouTube channels to access news and other content in different languages, with Irish TV as my current example.I also talk about getting free reading and listening

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8:32

I prepared for one career and built another

Language & Travel Hacking ·

2026/08/12

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 university changed its admissions rules and made me ineligible. It felt like four years of effort had gone to waste.But I still had everything I had built along the way. My translation training led to

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7:42

Why More Language Study Isn’t Always the Next Step

Language & Travel Hacking ·

2026/08/04

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 experience reminded me that structured courses are invaluable for building vocabulary, confidence, and speaking skills, but they can only take you so far. While I had plenty of enjoyable conversations

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5:52

Why it's good to be the worst in the room

Language & Travel Hacking ·

2026/07/27

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 choosing discomfort over confidence has always been the fastest way for me to make real progress in a language.In this episode, I encourage you to think about your own next step beyond your comfort

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8:06

Summer language project: Boosting my Irish

Language & Travel Hacking ·

2026/07/14

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 concentrated effort beats feeling guilty about a neglected language every time.I also talk about my upcoming immersion in the Gaeltacht, my plans to keep practising Irish throughout the summer, and how

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8:16

Celebrating 23 years of speaking from day one

Language & Travel Hacking ·

2026/07/09

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 that seemed remotely possible when I was 21. Back then, I spoke only English, struggled through Spanish classes, and convinced myself I simply wasn't someone who could learn languages. Everything

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9:35

The Pros of Being Somewhere Touristy

Language & Travel Hacking ·

2026/06/24

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 languages with people from around the world.I also share how events like the World Cup create unique opportunities for real-life language practice. Despite the higher prices and abundance of English

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10:05

You Don't Need a Good Memory to Learn a Language

Language & Travel Hacking ·

2026/06/15

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 about the two techniques I rely on most: mnemonics and spaced repetition. I share examples of how I create memorable associations for new words, why AI can help with this process, and how tools like

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6:47

Everyone in the Room Thinks They're the Worst

Language & Travel Hacking ·

2026/06/08

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 far more harshly than others do.I discuss why self-doubt, not mistakes, is usually the biggest barrier to speaking a language. Drawing on my own experience of struggling for words at times, I explain

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7:28

The Instant Community a Language Hands You

Language & Travel Hacking ·

2026/06/01

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 also explain why language is about much more than practical travel skills. Even a basic attempt to speak the local language can open doors, create genuine connections, and transform a trip from

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10:16

Mexico or Spain Spanish? You're Asking the Wrong...

Language & Travel Hacking ·

2026/05/25

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 the basics, and actually speaking to people. Drawing on my own experiences with English accents and Spanish dialects, I show how native speakers naturally adapt to different variations without

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11:43

The conversation you're having with ChatGPT doesn't...

Language & Travel Hacking ·

2026/05/19

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 why AI chatbots should not replace real conversations with people. While chatbots make speaking feel easy and pressure-free, they remove the awkwardness, speed, and unpredictability that make

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6:45

I forgot I was speaking Spanish

Language & Travel Hacking ·

2026/05/15

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 that true fluency isn’t about perfection, but about the language becoming an effortless part of you.I also reflect on the difficult stages of language learning, drawing from my recent struggles with

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7:48

The Mexican States project

Language & Travel Hacking ·

2026/04/29

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 goal of exploring places more thoroughly, aiming to visit around 20 Mexican states by travelling from the north downwards.I also reflect on why meaningful, in-depth travel matters, especially when

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8:55

Major cities vs deeper travels

Language & Travel Hacking ·

2026/04/20

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 and opportunities to meet people. By contrast, smaller towns can feel more isolating and require much more effort to connect with others.At the same time, I explain why I increasingly favour

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7:48

Update and my daily routine during my Chinese project

Language & Travel Hacking ·

2026/04/06

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 people, I began having full evenings of conversation in Mandarin and even made new friends through the language, including at Asia Glot. With upcoming travel to Kaohsiung, I now feel much more ready to

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6:53

Are you not ready yet, or is the situation what’s wrong?

Language & Travel Hacking ·

2026/03/23

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 fast-speaking native speaker with a difficult accent and a highly specific conversation about surfing left me completely lost, and I ended up switching tables without getting the Mandarin practice I

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10:29

Why My First Mandarin Project Almost Broke Me (And...

Language & Travel Hacking ·

2026/03/16

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 Taiwan with no Mandarin also left me isolated, because I could neither rely on English-speaking circles nor easily connect with locals. That experience changed how I learn languages today: I treat goals

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