Since 2014

The Actual Fluency Podcast

Real conversations with polyglots, linguists, and language enthusiasts from around the world about language learning, culture, travel, and identity.

Episode 193

Comprehensible Input and Toki Pona with Joel (jan Telakoman)

Kris is joined by Toki Pona speaker Joel (jan Telakoman) to discuss comprehensible input as one of the strongest approaches to language learning, plus their shared experiences learning Toki Pona.

Runtime 47m

ConlangsMemoryImmersion
Episode 192

Virtual Reality Language Learning with Katie Pascoe

Kris Broholm speaks with Katie Pascoe about virtual reality for language learning. As a co-founder of dynamiclanguages.org, Katie shares insights into how this emerging technology aids language acquisition.

Runtime 1h 17m

GermanJapaneseTeachingGrammarPronunciation
Episode 191

Benny Lewis: Recovery from bad times, Korean Mission, and the Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp

Kris Broholm interviews Benny Lewis about his recovery from personal struggles like divorce and debt. They discuss Benny's current Korean language mission, exploring his methodology and the meaning of achieving fluency in three months.

Runtime 55m

KoreanTravelMotivationCulture
Episode 190

Luca Lampariello: The Impact of Mindset on Language Learning

Kris Broholm welcomes polyglot Luca Lampariello back to the podcast for an update. They explore developing an effective mindset for language learning, including how to take on different identities in each language. The discussion details the crucial elements needed to learn a new language.

Runtime 48m

IdentityMotivation
Episode 189

Emily Harris: Language Learning, Culture, and Perfectionism as a Transracial Adoptee

Kris Broholm hosts Emily Harris to discuss her experiences as a transracial adoptee. They explore how cultural background, identity, and language learning intertwine when cultural ties are fragmented. Emily shares her journey through multiple languages, reflecting on perfectionism in her linguistic pursuits.

Runtime 58m

CultureIdentity
Episode 188

Cara Leopold - Expat Experiences, Listening Skills, and Movie Club

Kris and Cara Leopold discuss expat experiences, including culture shock and integrating into a new country like France. They also cover Cara's work helping English learners improve listening and speaking skills using movies in her specialized club.

Runtime 1h 14m

FrenchCultureTravelTeachingImmersionMotivation
Episode 187

Heidi Lovejoy: Perfectionism and Language Learning

Kris Broholm welcomes guest Heidi Lovejoy to discuss perfectionism in language learning. They explore how striving for perfection can hinder progress and offer strategies for overcoming this challenge. The conversation provides practical advice for language learners struggling with self-criticism.

Runtime 2h 7m

IdentityMotivation
Episode 186

Rosemary Salomone - The Rise of English

Kris and Rosemary Salomone discuss the global rise of English and its political and social implications. They examine the impact of universities teaching solely in English and Salomone's shift from language education to law to advocate for minority language groups.

Runtime 46m

CultureIdentityTeaching
Episode 185

Sadelle Wiltshire - Learning at Different Ages and Minority Languages

Kris and Sadelle Wiltshire discuss her experiences learning languages across different ages, including how language learning keeps minds sharp at 60+. They also explore the specific challenges and rewards of studying minority languages and the importance of community in language acquisition.

Runtime 49m

RussianSpanishTravelMotivationCultureMemoryIdentity
Episode 184

Rick Dearman - Using Forums in Language Learning

Kris Broholm interviews Rick Dearman, founder of language-learners.org, about using online forums for language learning success. They discuss how forums foster community and motivation, alongside Rick's personal language learning journey and experiences at conferences.

Runtime 42m

MotivationTravel
Episode 183

Jennifer Degenhardt: Better School Learning and Creating Inclusive Materials

Kris Broholm welcomes Jennifer Degenhardt to discuss strategies for improving school learning. They explore methods for creating educational materials that are inclusive and benefit all students.

Runtime 1h 8m

ImmersionTeachingCulture
Episode 182

Liz Sharma from Talk The Streets on Portuguese

Kris Broholm welcomes Liz Sharma from Talk The Streets to discuss European Portuguese. They cover Liz's background as a language teacher, tips for learners, and differentiating between European and Brazilian Portuguese. Kris also shares his personal experience learning the European variant while living in Portugal.

Runtime 56m

PortugueseTeachingTravelGrammarPronunciation
Episode 181

Olle Linge: Hacking Chinese and Academic vs Non-Academic Learning

Kris Broholm interviews Hacking Chinese founder Olle Linge. They explore language learning from academic and non-academic perspectives, offering insights applicable to Chinese and other languages.

Runtime 1h 22m

ChineseImmersionPronunciationMotivation
Episode 180

Hēmi Kelly: Māori Language and Culture

Kris Broholm hosts Hēmi Kelly to discuss Māori language and culture. Hēmi introduces Māori as New Zealand's indigenous language, part of the Polynesian family, and explains its current status as the second most spoken language. They examine the historical context and interaction between language groups in New Zealand.

Runtime 41m

CultureIdentity
Episode 179

Kerstin Cable: Women in Language and Teaching Careers in Languages

Kris Broholm interviews Kerstin Cable about the Women in Language conference and how language teachers can earn income online. They also discuss Cable's personal language learning, including Mandarin Chinese, and her new membership group for online teachers.

Runtime 1h 11m

TeachingCultureIdentity
Episode 178

Lina Vasquez: Mindset, Psychology, and Self-development

Kris Broholm and Lina Vasquez delve into the psychology of self-development and the drive for personal improvement. They discuss how language learning serves as a metaphor for achieving goals across all life areas, focusing on underlying motivation and mindset. Lina also shares her early exposure to languages.

Runtime 1h 34m

Motivation
Episode 177

Gloria Spagnoli: Find Your Confidence and Inner Resources

Kris Broholm and guest Gloria Spagnoli discuss the differences between language teaching and learning. They explore how teachers can better motivate students, the impact of teacher quality, and the challenges of freelance versus institutional teaching. The episode also covers how learners can maximize their lessons.

Runtime 49m

ItalianTeachingMotivation
Episode 176

Maria Ortega Garcia: Connecting Deeper with Languages!

Kris Broholm hosts Spanish teacher Maria Ortega Garcia to explore personalizing language learning for greater fluency. They discuss methods for learners and students to connect deeper with a language, making it their own. Maria shares her journey from a difficult start learning English to discovering a passion for cultural connection through immersion.

Runtime 1h 7m

SpanishTeachingCultureMotivationIdentityImmersion
Episode 175

Tetsu Yung: Raising Children in 5 Languages

Kris Broholm interviews Tetsu Yung about raising his children to speak five languages. They discuss Yung's specific method for fostering multilingualism and how the approach has evolved as his children have grown older.

Runtime 1h 2m

JapaneseImmersionTeaching
Episode 174

Peter Strang: From the UK to Russia

Kris Broholm interviews Peter Strang about his move from the UK to rural Russia. Peter shares his experience becoming an English teacher, learning Russian, and assimilating into the local culture, eventually marrying and raising a family there. They discuss the challenges of full integration.

Runtime 1h 12m

RussianImmersionTeachingTravelMotivationCulturePronunciationMemoryIdentity
Episode 173

Anthony Metivier: Mental Well-Being and the Victorious Mind

Kris Broholm and guest Anthony Metivier discuss mental health and well-being. They explore how language learning positively impacts mental balance, provides purpose, and fosters connection. Metivier's new book, "The Victorious Mind," offers insights into holistic mental health.

Runtime 1h 18m

MemoryMotivation
Episode 172

Dick Howeson: From CD-ROM to App learning with uTalk

Kris Broholm interviews Dick Howeson from uTalk, who shares his personal struggles with French language learning in school. Howeson discusses the evolution of language education technology, from early interactive video and CD-ROMs to modern app-based learning, tracing uTalk's history. He also highlights the shortcomings of traditional teaching methods.

Runtime 58m

FrenchTeachingTravelMotivationCulture
Episode 171

Matt vs Japan: The Mass Immersion Approach

Kris Broholm hosts Matt vs Japan to discuss his "all Japanese, all the time" mass immersion concept. They explore this extreme immersion method for fast, high-level language acquisition, including its application to other languages. Kris questions the method's efficacy, and Matt addresses his criticisms.

Runtime 1h 17m

JapaneseImmersion
Episode 170

Mark Pentleton: From Teacher to Language Podcaster (Coffee Break Languages)

Kris Broholm interviews Mark Pentleton, founder of Coffee Break Languages. They discuss Mark's transition from a language teacher to a podcaster and how Coffee Break Languages delivers millions of lessons monthly. The conversation also covers Mark's passion for language learning, including his interest in Scandinavian languages.

Runtime 53m

SpanishTeachingMotivationCultureMemoryPronunciation
Episode 169

Sweeps Episode: Events and Plans for 2020

Kris Broholm outlines his plans and upcoming events for 2020. He details polyglot gatherings like the Language Influencer Workshop and his Polyglot Cruise, also announcing OptiLingo as a new podcast sponsor.

Runtime 28m

TravelMotivation
Episode 168

John Fotheringham: Inside the Language Podcaster's Studio (Part 2)

Kris Broholm continues his chat with John Fotheringham, reflecting on their years as language podcasters. They explore language learning as a metaphor for life and success, emphasizing the simple, actionable advice to "just do something.

Runtime 1h 5m

MotivationCultureIdentity
Episode 167

John Fotheringham: Inside the Language Podcaster's Studio (Part 1)

Kris Broholm hosts John Fotheringham to discuss their experiences as language podcasters. They compare notes on language learning theory, distilling effective strategies from expert interviews. The two also explore personal topics like dealing with depression and overcoming challenges.

Runtime 1h 39m

MotivationImmersion
Episode 166

Ekaterina Matveeva: Language Alter Ego and Cultural Intelligence

Kris Broholm interviews Ekaterina Matveeva about her book "Language Alter Ego," exploring how cultural identity influences language learning. They also discuss Ekaterina's personal language journey, her upbringing, and how she became a polyglot.

Runtime 1h 7m

CultureIdentityMemoryImmersion
Episode 165

Lea Tiralarc: 5000+ lessons as an online teacher and the staircase method

Kris Broholm interviews Lea Tiralarc, creator of the Staircase method. Lea discusses her experience as an online teacher, having completed over 5,000 lessons. She also explains the Staircase method, which uses laddering vocabulary to build longer sentences.

Runtime 43m

TeachingRussian
Episode 164

Scott Young: A Year Without English and Ultralearning Languages

Kris Broholm interviews Scott Young about his book, Ultralearning. They discuss his language learning project, "A Year Without English," where he traveled to four countries speaking minimal English. Young also shares insights from his MIT challenge, completing a four-year degree in one year.

Runtime 1h 16m

ImmersionTravelMotivation
Episode 163

Mait Müntel: From discovering the Higgs-Boson to language learning

Kris Broholm interviews Mait Müntel, a physicist who helped discover the Higgs boson at CERN. They discuss his transition from nuclear physics to founding the Linguist language learning app. Mait explains how his scientific background informs his approach to language acquisition and designing a tool for faster learning.

Runtime 53m

TeachingMotivationGrammarMemoryConlangs
Episode 162

Jonty Yamisha: Heritage language learning and practical advice

Kris Broholm interviews Jonty Yamisha about his experience learning Circasian, the language of his ancestors. They discuss the importance of heritage language learning for personal history and family communication. The episode provides practical advice for individuals embarking on this learning path.

Runtime 1h 5m

CultureMotivationIdentity
Episode 161

Jon Mahoney: Around the world in 900+ days and mastering Russian

Kris Broholm interviews Jon Mahoney about his multi-year trip around the world. They discuss Mahoney's experiences mastering Russian and his surprise at how affordable global travel can be. The episode covers both extensive travel and high-level language acquisition.

Runtime 1h 21m

RussianImmersionTravelMotivationCulture
Episode 160

Steve Kaufmann: YouTube, Travelling, and learning languages when retired

Kris Broholm welcomes Steve Kaufmann to discuss his popular YouTube channel, world travels, and passion for language learning. Steve shares his journey from diplomatic and business careers to semi-retirement, where he co-founded LingQ and continued acquiring new languages. The conversation explores strategies for language learning at any stage of life.

Runtime 47m

TravelMotivation
Episode 159

Nelson Dellis: Using Memory techniques for languages

Kris Broholm interviews memory champion Nelson Dellis about his background, memory techniques, and applying these strategies to language learning, including Dellis's project of learning Dutch in one year. Dellis shares his personal journey and motivations for memory training.

Runtime 48m

MemoryMotivationTravel
Episode 158

Ben Worthington: Improve your English and pass the IELTS exam!

Kris Broholm interviews Ben Worthington about improving English and passing the IELTS exam. Ben shares concrete strategies for success on the IELTS test, noting their applicability to general English proficiency. He also details his personal journey and experience specializing in IELTS instruction.

Runtime 1h 10m

Teaching
Episode 157

Pablo Roman: Japanese in 6 months and DreamingSpanish

Kris Broholm interviews guest Pablo Roman about his experience learning Japanese in just six months. They also discuss Pablo's project, Dreaming Spanish, which provides Spanish learning materials.

Runtime 1h 3m

JapaneseSpanishImmersionTeaching
Episode 156

Iker Uriarte: italki past, present, and future

Kris Broholm interviews Iker Uriarte, Italki's Marketing Director. They discuss Italki's mission to connect language learners with teachers, its origins, and Iker's personal language learning experiences. Iker shares his journey learning Basque, English, and French, highlighting the value of practical language use.

Runtime 52m

FrenchTeachingMotivation
Episode 155

Marija Dobrovolska: Confidence in language learning and teaching German

Kris Broholm hosts Marija Dobrovolska from Deutsch mit Maria. They discuss Marija's background as a native Russian speaker in Latvia, including the country's linguistic and political dynamics. The conversation also covers her journey to becoming a full-time German teacher and building her successful online business.

Runtime 59m

RussianGermanImmersionTeachingCultureIdentity
Episode 154

Silver Ilves: Language Startups and Development

Kris Broholm speaks with Silver Ilves, co-founder of Magic Lingua, a voice recognition language learning app. They discuss Silver's language background, the company's development, its Kickstarter launch, and future plans. The conversation also covers applying Lean Startup principles to language learning businesses.

Runtime 59m

SpanishGermanMotivationPronunciation
Episode 153

Tamara Marie: Teaching Spanish through Music (Spanish Con Salsa!)

Kris Broholm welcomes Tamara Marie from Spanish Con Salsa, who teaches Spanish using music. They discuss why music is beneficial for language learning. Kris also shares his experiences applying music to his Russian studies.

Runtime 1h 9m

SpanishMusicTeachingMotivationCultureGrammarPronunciation
Episode 152

Norbert Wierzbicki: Learning, teaching, and travelling!

Kris Broholm welcomes Norbert Wierzbicki, a Polish teacher and linguist, to discuss his journey becoming a language teacher. They cover Norbert's personal language learning background, including his experiences with English and Hungarian, and extensive world travels. The conversation also explores effective and underrated methods and techniques for learning languages.

Runtime 1h 0m

SpanishImmersionTeachingTravelMotivationCulture
Episode 151

Andrew Feinberg: Learning Japanese and Japanese Culture

Kris Broholm welcomes Andrew Feinberg to discuss his experiences learning Japanese. Andrew shares insights from his time teaching English in Japan through the JET Program, contrasting it with his prior Norwegian learning journey. They also offer practical cultural and linguistic tips for those planning to visit Japan.

Runtime 1h 23m

JapaneseCultureTeachingTravelGrammarMemoryImmersion
Episode 150

Lindie Botes: Growing up in multiple languages and cultures

Kris Broholm welcomes Lindie Botes to discuss her experiences growing up immersed in various languages and cultures. They explore the unique journey of navigating different linguistic and cultural environments from a young age. The conversation delves into the impact of this upbringing on identity and language acquisition.

Runtime 53m

JapaneseKoreanImmersionCultureIdentity
Episode 149

Gabriel Gelman: How to become a language hero

Kris Broholm and guest Gabriel Gelman discuss Gabriel's personal language learning journey, from his bilingual upbringing to immersion experiences in Australia and France. They cover practical methods and strategies to help listeners achieve faster and better language learning results.

Runtime 54m

FrenchGermanImmersionMotivationTravel
Episode 148

Àdhamh Ó Broin: The Languages of Scotland and Reclaiming Gaelic

Kris Broholm interviews Àdhamh Ó Broin about the languages of Scotland, providing a primer on their history and development. They discuss the role of minority languages like Scottish Gaelic, Àdhamh's personal journey of reclaiming his ancestral tongue, and cultural preservation in the face of globalization.

Runtime 1h 16m

CultureIdentity
Episode 147

Marek Kohn: The benefits of multiple languages in society

Kris Broholm speaks with author Marek Kohn about his book "Four Words For Friend." They discuss the societal benefits of multiple languages, focusing on challenges in the UK regarding foreign language education, integration, and nationalism, using Brexit as a context. Kohn explains his motivation for writing on the importance of language understanding.

Runtime 1h 7m

CultureMotivationIdentityTeaching
Episode 146

Shannon Kennedy: Women in Language

Kris Broholm hosts Shannon Kennedy, who details her work as a polyglot and language expert. They discuss her eurolinguist website, her role coaching the Add One Challenge, and the upcoming Women in Language conference. Shannon also shares insights into her recent language studies.

Runtime 42m

MotivationCultureIdentity
Episode 145

Katie Harris: The Joy of Languages

Kris Broholm chats with Katie Harris about her adult discovery of enjoyable language learning. She shares her shift from struggling in school to finding communication-based methods fun, which led to her "Joy of Languages" blog. They discuss her journey and future plans for the platform.

Runtime 1h 11m

ImmersionMotivationTravel
Episode 144

Sara Maria Hasbun: From Translator to Business Owner with 3000+ freelancers

Kris Broholm talks with Sara Maria Hasbun, founder of Meridian Linguistics. She shares her journey from initially struggling with language learning to building a company that employs over 3,000 freelance translators. The discussion covers her business's growth and strategies for effective language acquisition.

Runtime 59m

TeachingTravelMotivationCultureGrammarMemoryIdentityPronunciation
Episode 143

Aviva Levin: Coincidental French Teacher in British Colombia

Kris Broholm welcomes Aviva Levin, a teacher who unexpectedly started teaching French in British Columbia despite limited prior skills. They discuss her journey into language instruction, methods for engaging students, and the unique dynamics of French learning across Canada, including textbook choices.

Runtime 46m

FrenchTeachingCultureIdentityMotivation
Episode 142

Amarinder Grewal: Pidgins and Creoles

Kris Broholm and guest Amarinder Grewal discuss pidgins and creoles, exploring these fascinating contact languages. Amarinder shares his background growing up in multilingual Detroit, Michigan, and explains how this experience sparked his interest in the topic.

Runtime 1h 4m

FrenchChineseRussianCultureIdentityConlangs
Episode 141

Anja Spilker on using languages and travels as a reboot, and mental health

Kris Broholm and guest Anja Spilker discuss using language learning and travel as a personal reboot from difficult mental states. They explore what it means to feel stuck and share techniques used to move forward in their lives.

Runtime 1h 14m

TravelMotivationIdentityCulture
Episode 140

Kerstin Cable on Goalsetting and New Year's Resolutions

Kris Broholm welcomes Kerstin Cable to discuss effective strategies for setting and tracking language learning goals. They explore the utility of New Year's resolutions, debating whether they are beneficial or should be avoided for sustained progress. The conversation offers practical insights for achieving linguistic aims.

Runtime 1h 19m

Motivation
Episode 139

Lucas Bighetti: The silent method and parrot conversation

Kris Broholm welcomes Lucas Bighetti, who shares his journey from failing languages in school to becoming a passionate learner. Lucas explains how a joke Russian textbook sparked his interest. They discuss his unique "silent method" and the "parrot conversation" technique for language acquisition.

Runtime 1h 13m

RussianImmersionGrammarMemoryMotivation
Episode 138

Elisa Polese: Teaching Multiple Languages at Once

Kris Broholm interviews Elisa Polese about the challenges and benefits of learning and teaching multiple languages simultaneously. They discuss strategies to avoid confusion when acquiring several languages at once, touching on grammar and different learning methods.

Runtime 1h 5m

TeachingGrammar
Episode 137

Michele Frolla: Travelling and Languages the Intrepid Way!

Kris Broholm welcomes Michele Frolla from The Intrepid Guide to discuss enhancing travel experiences with and without languages. They share tips for better trips, highlighting how even a few phrases can provide significant benefits. Michele also recounts how she started her travel blog.

Runtime 57m

Travel
Episode 136

Maureen Millward: 1200+ tutoring lessons later + LingoFringo

Kris Broholm interviews Maureen Millward about her journey learning over nine languages and completing 1300+ online tutoring lessons. Maureen discusses her preference for speaking over books and co-organizing the new LingoFringo event for language learners in Edinburgh.

Runtime 50m

ImmersionTeachingMotivationCulturePronunciation
Episode 135

Season Review & Updates (2/2)

Kris Broholm reviews the second half of the previous podcast season, sharing behind-the-scenes thoughts. He explains his decision to continue the show, highlighting the value of language learning and cultural exploration. Kris also revisits episode 125 with Joey Perugino, organizer of LangFest.

Runtime 33m

MotivationCultureMusicConlangs
Episode 134

Season Review & Updates (1/2)

Kris Broholm, joined by a guest, reviews lessons learned from the podcast's past 18 episodes. He provides behind-the-scenes details, updates on his language learning, and discusses the podcast's future plans.

Runtime 48m

ImmersionMotivation
Episode 133

Miroslav Šedivý: Seize every opportunity to learn languages!

Kris Broholm interviews Miroslav Šedivý, a long-time supporter, about his language learning journey. Miroslav shares his origin story, detailing early exposure to Slovak, Czech, Hungarian, Croatian, and German through family, travel, and television in Bratislava. Kris acknowledges Miroslav's significant contributions to the podcast's success.

Runtime 57m

MotivationCulture
Episode 132

Josh Koehn: Be inspired by your community

Kris and Josh Koehn discuss Josh's early language learning journey. Born in California, Josh was inspired by his diverse community, starting Spanish in fourth grade. He also began learning Chinese from books at a young age, fascinated by the culture.

Runtime 1h 17m

MotivationCulture
Episode 131

Conor Clyne: Eastern European Travels and Experiences

Kris Broholm welcomes Conor Clyne to explore his unique experiences traveling and dating across Eastern Europe. Conor highlights how his language abilities facilitate deeper connections and shares practical tips for navigating the region.

Runtime 1h 5m

TravelCulture
Episode 130

Dave Prine: Polyglot Therapy Part 2/2

Kris Broholm and Dave Prime continue their discussion on polyglotism and existentialism. They explore managing ambitious language goals, the value of dabbling, and overcoming comparison to others. Dave helps Kris address his own language learning mindset.

Runtime 51m

MotivationIdentityConlangs
Episode 129

Dave Prine: Polyglot Therapy Part 1/2

Kris Broholm hosts Dave Prine for a "Polyglot Therapy" discussion. Dave offers Kris advice on language learning, helping him navigate personal challenges and reconsider his "ten languages in ten years" goal. Kris gains clarity, deciding to shift focus towards a reporting role in the language community.

Runtime 52m

RussianMotivationIdentity
Episode 128

Mike Campbell - Glossika and Repetition Learning

Kris Broholm and guest Mike Campbell discuss effective language learning strategies. They explore the importance of repetition and context, along with the dynamics of input versus output in language acquisition. Campbell shares his academic insights on why specific learning methods are effective.

Runtime 1h 10m

GrammarMemory
Episode 127

Susanna Zaraysky: Music and endangered languages

Kris Broholm interviews polyglot pioneer Susanna Zaraysky about her work with music and endangered languages. They discuss her books and a feature film focusing on Ladino, an endangered language. Susanna also shares insights from her personal language learning experiences.

Runtime 1h 9m

MotivationCultureMemoryIdentityMusic
Episode 126

Azren the Language Nerd

Kris Broholm interviews Azren, The Language Nerd, about his language journey and the languages he speaks. They discuss common psychological traps the brain sets in language learning and practical ways to overcome these difficulties.

Runtime 58m

ImmersionMotivation
Episode 125

Joey Perugino: Billingual Upbring and LangFest

Kris Broholm hosts Joey Perugino, an organizer of LangFest, to discuss his personal bilingual upbringing. They explore the upcoming LangFest event in Montreal, with Kris encouraging listeners to experience language conferences.

Runtime 1h 21m

FrenchImmersionCultureTravelMotivationIdentity
Episode 124

Alexander Mynzak: Start your own language school

Kris Broholm interviews Alexander Mynzak, a polyglot with a PhD in linguistics, about his journey opening a language school. They discuss transforming language learning passion and skills into a full-time career, offering an alternative to traditional certification paths. Mynzak shares his experience teaching English and translation studies.

Runtime 1h 0m

TeachingMotivationIdentity
Episode 123

Daniel Welsch on Spain, Spanish & Teaching English

Kris Broholm and Daniel Welsch discuss Daniel's move from America to Madrid, Spain. They explore how he achieved a high level of Spanish fluency, assimilated locally, and offers practical tips for living abroad. Daniel also shares advice on starting an English teaching business in Spain.

Runtime 49m

SpanishImmersionTeachingTravelCultureMotivation
Episode 122

Artem Nazarov on learning similar languages

Kris Broholm welcomes Artem Nazarov, who shares insights on learning multiple similar languages in quick succession. Nazarov also recounts his experience being tested on a Russian TV program alongside fellow polyglot Amir Udibayav.

Runtime 1h 6m

RussianMotivationGrammarMemoryCulture
Episode 121

Lukas van Vyve on learning languages

Kris Broholm interviews Belgian polyglot Lukas Van Vyve. They discuss practical methods and "non-obvious wisdom" for learning languages, often contrasting with traditional school teachings, drawing from Lukas's experience with 12-week challenges.

Runtime 1h 8m

TravelMotivationCultureIdentityPronunciation
Episode 120

How language learning can improve mental health!

Kris Broholm and his guest explore how learning new languages positively influences mental health. They discuss specific benefits, such as increased cognitive resilience and social connection, and share how language acquisition can support overall well-being.

Runtime 31m

MotivationCultureIdentity
Episode 119

Quinn Taber: The power of Immersion

Kris Broholm interviews Quinn Taber about his immersive experience learning Arabic in the Middle East. They discuss practical tips for incorporating immersion from anywhere, evaluating its effectiveness, and whether other methods are necessary. Quinn also shares insights from his immersion-focused language learning startup.

Runtime 49m

ArabicImmersionMotivationGrammarCultureTravel
Episode 118

Mihalis Eleftheriou: Language Transfer

Kris Broholm interviews Mihalis Eleftheriou, creator of the Language Transfer method. They discuss the unique approach of his free language courses and how they differ from other teaching techniques. Kris also highlights the importance of supporting the Language Transfer project.

Runtime 56m

TeachingGrammarMotivationIdentityCulture
Episode 117

Robin MacPherson: How To Maintain Languages

Kris Broholm welcomes Robin MacPherson to discuss practical strategies for maintaining language skills. They explore effective methods for keeping learned languages active and preventing fluency loss over time.

Runtime 1h 20m

MotivationTravel
Episode 116

Gabriel Wyner: Raising 500K on Kickstarter

Kris Broholm interviews Gabriel Wyner, author of Fluent Forever, about his recent successful Kickstarter campaign. Wyner shares details on raising over $500,000 for his new Fluent Forever language learning app. They also discuss insights gained from his previous Kickstarter for pronunciation trainers.

Runtime 58m

PronunciationMemoryMotivation
Episode 115

Alex Voloza: Mindfulness and language learning

Kris Broholm welcomes Alex Voloza, who shares his two-decade language learning journey. Alex discusses how his personal history and a transformative tutor shaped his path as a polyglot. They explore the connection between mindfulness practices and effective language acquisition.

Runtime 1h 14m

GermanMotivationTeaching
Episode 114

Kalle Wångstedt: Discovering Language Learning

Kris Broholm interviews Kalle Wångstedt about his unique journey into language learning as an adult. They discuss Kalle's progression and experiences, touching upon how he first became interested in languages and his current status.

Runtime 1h 37m

GermanMotivationCultureGrammarMemoryIdentityMusicConlangs
Episode 113

Learning Languages with a Full-Time Job

Kris Broholm discusses the differences between learning languages as a freelancer versus holding a full-time job. He shares his experience navigating a new multilingual work environment and details his progress in Russian and Spanish, leveraging daily interactions with colleagues for practice.

Runtime 34m

RussianSpanishImmersionMotivationGrammarMemoryPronunciation
Episode 112

Sarah Barrett: Introducing Foreign Languages to Children

Kris Broholm welcomes Sarah Barrett of Lingotastic to discuss introducing foreign languages to very young children. They explore practical methods for teaching languages to babies and toddlers.

Runtime 1h 16m

ImmersionTeachingCulture
Episode 111

Michael Mischkot: How an engineer learns languages

Kris Broholm interviews Michael Mischkot, an Austrian polyglot who applies an engineering perspective to language learning. Mischkot shares his personal techniques and insights for improving language learning efficiency. He also discusses his book, Smile, Talk, Cheesecake, detailing his findings.

Runtime 1h 5m

ChineseMotivation
Episode 110

Chenelle Hancock: Visually impaired learning

Kris Broholm interviews Chenelle Hancock about her unique journey as a visually impaired language learner. Chenelle details her specific visual impairment, explaining how it necessitates adapting her learning methods to focus on audio and alternative resources instead of traditional print. They discuss the challenges and strategies for successful language acquisition with limited sight.

Runtime 1h 20m

MotivationIdentity
Episode 109

Birthday Q&A with Kris

Kris answers listener questions covering various topics for his birthday. He discusses learning a language as a couple, why some Danes live abroad despite Denmark's high happiness ranking, combining gaming with travel, and his choice for a single language to speak.

Runtime 1h 8m

TravelCultureMotivation
Episode 108

Richard DeLong: 14+ years in Eastern Europe

Kris Broholm welcomes Richard DeLong, an American living in Eastern Europe for 17 years. They discuss Richard's methods for rapid language acquisition, common mistakes in vocabulary learning, and the importance of actively using languages over mere studying.

Runtime 1h 23m

TravelCultureIdentity
Episode 106

Moshe Sherizen on Yiddish

Kris Broholm welcomes Moshe Sherizen, author of the Easy-Measy Guide to Yiddish. Moshe recounts his early language learning journey, detailing his childhood struggles with Hebrew in religious school and his rebellious path. He explains how these formative experiences led him to his work with Yiddish.

Runtime 1h 10m

CultureIdentity
Episode 105

Lydia Machova: Interpreting for Tony Robbins and Brian Tracy

Time for another Actual Fluency Podcast! This week I talk to Lydia Machova about her experiences learning languages, interpreting, and her concept of language mentoring.

Runtime 1h 3m

TeachingTravelMotivationCulture
Episode 104

Alex Strick van Linschoten: Learning Pashto in Afghanistan

Kris Broholm interviews Alex Strick van Linschoten, who shares his experiences learning Pashto and Dari in Afghanistan. Alex discusses his background where language learning was expected and emphasizes the role of confidence. He details how he applied practical methods for his work and research in South Asia.

Runtime 59m

SpanishFrenchArabicImmersionTravelCulture
Episode 103

Gareth Popkins from howtogetfluent.com

Kris Broholm returns to the Actual Fluency Podcast, sharing his recent move to Denmark and plans for the show's consistency. He then welcomes Gareth Popkins from howtogetfluent.com to discuss achieving new language goals and adventures.

Runtime 1h 19m

Motivation
Episode 102

Dimitrios Polychronopoulos: Inspired by travelling

Kris Broholm interviews Dimitrios Polychronopoulos about his extensive language learning journey. They discuss Dimitrios's experiences, effective tips for progressing from beginner to advanced stages, and strategies for improving writing in a foreign language, all inspired by his travels to over 100 countries.

Runtime 47m

TravelMotivation
Episode 101

Agnieszka Murdoch: Back to Basics

Kris Broholm welcomes Agnieszka Murdoch of Five-Minute Language to discuss fundamental language learning strategies. They explore general tips and tricks for new learners and those seeking to reinforce core principles. Agnieszka also shares her personal journey into language acquisition, beginning with her native Polish.

Runtime 1h 15m

Teaching
Episode 100

Tim Keeley: Around the World in 40 Languages

Kris Broholm interviews Tim Keeley, who recounts his global language learning journey. Tim shares his origins in Spanish before studying French, German, and Portuguese in Colombia. He describes extensive travels across South America, Europe, and Asia, explaining how he immersed himself in languages like Slavic dialects, Polish, Russian, Norwegian, Japanese, and Chinese.

Runtime 1h 22m

TravelMotivationCulture
Episode 99

Fiel Sahir: Indonesia and Indonesian

Kris Broholm interviews Fiel Sahir about Indonesia and the Indonesian language. Fiel, drawing on his dual Indonesian and American background, shares insights into the country's culture, reasons for visiting, and his personal language learning journey, explaining why the language is gaining popularity.

Runtime 1h 1m

Culture
Episode 98

Andrew Feinberg: Duolingo and Norwegian

Kris Broholm interviews Andrew Feinberg, a contributor to Duolingo's Norwegian course. They discuss Norwegian culture, various language learning strategies, living abroad experiences, and different food topics.

Runtime 1h 52m

TeachingConlangs
Episode 97

David James: Creator of the Gold List Method

Kris Broholm interviews David James, creator of the Gold List Method, live from the Polyglot Gathering in Berlin. They discuss David's language learning journey and how he developed his unique Gold List technique. The conversation also explores his early inspirations.

Runtime 1h 59m

Teaching
Episode 96

Marcus Furness: Identity and Culture

Kris Broholm hosts Marcus Furness to discuss his language learning journey. Marcus shares how studying ancient Greek and Latin shaped his view on language and how he later shifted to modern languages for cultural connection and identity formation. They explore the cultural implications of language acquisition.

Runtime 1h 23m

CultureIdentity
Episode 95

Eleanor Wroblewski: US Language Learning

Kris Broholm welcomes Eleanor Wroblewski to discuss language learning in the United States. They explore challenges and opportunities for learners within the US education system and broader culture. Eleanor shares her experiences as a student and observations on American approaches to multilingualism.

Runtime 1h 38m

TravelMotivationCulture
Episode 94

Noah Oskow: English teacher in Japan

Kris Broholm welcomes Noah Oskow, an English teacher on the JET program in rural Japan. Noah shares his language journey, beginning with Hebrew in elementary school, which fostered a lifelong interest in languages, particularly Japanese, leading to a career as a translator and teacher.

Runtime 1h 11m

JapaneseTeachingTravelCulture
Episode 93

Shannon Kennedy: Introvert language learning

Kris Broholm and guest Shannon Kennedy discuss introverted language learning. They address challenges introverts face with common advice like "just speak" from day one. Shannon, an introvert, also created a new guide on the topic.

Runtime 1h 7m

MusicMotivationIdentity
Episode 92

Irina Pravet: Identity, finding home and learning Finnish

Kris Broholm welcomes Irina Pravet, who discusses her journey from Romania to Canada and ultimately to Finland. They explore themes of identity, finding home in a new country, and Irina's process of learning Finnish after meeting her partner.

Runtime 1h 8m

CultureIdentity
Episode 91

Fight depression by learning languages

In this solo episode, Kris Broholm explores how language learning can be a powerful tool against depression. He shares personal experiences and provides actionable tips on using language study to combat feelings of low energy and sadness.

Runtime 43m

MotivationIdentity
Episode 90

André Liss: A journey through music

Kris Broholm interviews Canadian hyperpolyglot André Liss about his journey into language learning. André discusses how music became a pivotal learning tool and shares specific songs that have shaped his life story. Kris integrates these mentioned songs directly into the episode audio.

Runtime 1h 15m

MusicIdentityCulture
Episode 89

Amir Ordabayev: Why being lazy is great

It's time for more learner profiles! In this episode we get into Amir Ordabayev's backstory and find out how he learns languages and the most important criteria for success.

Runtime 1h 19m

Motivation
Episode 88

Wouter Corduwener: Learning from Tourists

Kris Broholm interviews Wouter Corduwener about his unique approach to language learning. Wouter, an artist, shares how he practices 18 languages by conversing with tourists. They discuss developing speaking confidence and the importance of active language use.

Runtime 52m

Episode 87

Tetsu Yung: Raising Multilingual Children

Kris Broholm welcomes Tetsu Yung to discuss raising multilingual children. Tetsu shares his personal story, detailing how he grew up speaking multiple languages due to his family's origins and various moves. They also touch upon the prevalence of multilingualism in Taiwan.

Runtime 57m

Identity
Episode 86

Lindsay Williams: From tutoring to language business

Kris Broholm speaks with Lindsay Williams about the evolution of her language business. Williams details her journey from offering local, private language tuition in English, French, and Spanish to establishing an online platform and blog. She explains this shift was strategic for marketing her online tutoring and ensuring business portability.

Runtime 1h 10m

Teaching
Episode 85

Keith Swayne: Teaching Languages over Coffee

Kris Broholm interviews Keith Swayne, a Canadian polyglot and language teacher. They discuss Swayne's unique method of teaching groups of students in coffee shops, aiming for rapid intermediate fluency. The conversation also covers Swayne's personal language learning journey and technical teaching methods for those interested in language education businesses.

Runtime 1h 5m

TeachingMotivation
Episode 84

Alex Rawlings: Where to live and expat problems

I catch up with legendary Alex Rawlings to talk about where to live in the world, the expat problem and his latest a-ha moments in language learning.

Runtime 1h 7m

TravelCultureIdentity
Episode 82

Richard Benton: Community impact of learning pt. 2

Richard Benton is back for part 2! In this episode we continue to talk about using language learning as a force of good and also the Polyglot Conference(s).

Runtime 1h 13m

MotivationCulture
Episode 81

Richard Benton: Community impact of learning pt. 1

Kris Broholm interviews Richard Benton about the community impact of language learning. They discuss how residents can learn languages spoken by immigrant populations, promoting local diversity. Benton advocates for communities embracing languages beyond the dominant one.

Runtime 51m

CultureMotivation
Episode 80

Ed Cooke: Memrise and the Membus project

Kris Broholm interviews Ed Cooke from Memrise about the Memrise project and their new Membus initiative. They discuss the multilingual road trip to record native speakers across Europe. The episode also covers effective learning techniques and methods to improve memory for language acquisition.

Runtime 53m

ConlangsMemoryTeaching
Episode 79

Michael Levi-Harris: The Hyperglot Movie (2/2)

Kris Broholm and Michael Levi-Harris continue their discussion about being a hyperglot. Michael shares his personal definition of "speaking" a language and his challenges with discipline and focus, despite his innate abilities. He also elaborates on the number of languages he is able to converse in.

Runtime 54m

Conlangs
Episode 78

Michael Levi-Harris: The Hyperglot Movie (1/2)

Kris Broholm interviews Michael Levi-Harris, writer and star of "The Hyperglot Movie." They discuss the film's inspiration, creation, and its connection to Michael's personality as a language learner. The conversation also explores similarities between Michael and the movie's main character, along with broader language learning topics.

Runtime 50m

Motivation
Episode 77

EvilDea (Richard Delamore): Esperanto

Kris Broholm welcomes Richard Delamore, also known as Evil Dea, to discuss his deep involvement with Esperanto. Delamore shares his discovery of the language through Wikipedia and his journey to becoming a prominent content creator for the Esperanto community, including Esperanto TV and his daily YouTube videos.

Runtime 40m

Conlangs
Episode 76

Connor Grooms: Spanish in a month and Baselang

Kris Broholm interviews Conor Grooms about his documentary, "Spanish in One Month," which details rapid language acquisition. They discuss strategies for learning a language quickly and delve into Baselang, a platform for language learning.

Runtime 48m

SpanishTravelMotivation
Episode 75

Steve Ridout: Bootstrapped language learning startup

Kris Broholm interviews Steve Ridout, creator of the Readlang website. They discuss Steve's experiences as a freelance developer, language learner, and aspiring polyglot, including his life based in Spain.

Runtime 51m

Conlangs
Episode 74

Idahosa Ness: Pronunciation Mastery

Kris Broholm hosts Idahosa Ness, who recounts his journey learning Spanish and Mandarin. Ness explains how prioritizing native-like pronunciation and tones accelerated his language acquisition. He details developing a philosophy centered on mastering sound for faster learning.

Runtime 46m

Pronunciation
Episode 73

Haikaa Yamamoto: Honour Yourself, others and the planet

Kris Broholm welcomes Haikaa Yamamoto for a conversation about honoring oneself, others, and the planet. Kris details the podcast's new video format on YouTube, including unedited episodes and behind-the-scenes content. He also invites listeners to submit questions for video responses.

Runtime 1h 14m

JapaneseMusicCultureIdentityMotivation
Episode 72

Daniel Krasa: Language Vagabonding

Kris Broholm welcomes hyperpolyglot Daniel Krasa to discuss his language learning journey. They cover effective study methods, practical tips, and how Daniel developed a career involving languages.

Runtime 1h 4m

TravelMotivationIdentity
Episode 71

Dr. Taghreed Al-Saraj: Language Anxiety Part 2

Kris Broholm and Dr. Taghreed Al-Saraj revisit their discussion on language anxiety. Dr. Al-Saraj shares her personal journey into researching the topic, detailing how her observations of unmotivated English students in Saudi Arabia led her to explore its roots. She also discusses her book, "The Anxious Language Learner.

Runtime 56m

Motivation
Episode 70

Kerstin Cable: German Pronunciation

Kris Broholm welcomes Kerstin Cable to discuss German pronunciation. They explore the importance of clear pronunciation in speaking a language. Kerstin shares details about her online course, "Speak German Like a Native," which focuses exclusively on this specific aspect of German learning.

Runtime 51m

GermanPronunciation
Episode 69

Dr. Taghreed Al-Saraj: Language Anxiety

Kris Broholm and guest Dr. Taghreed Al-Saraj discuss strategies for teachers and students to reduce language anxiety. They explore classroom teaching improvements that foster language learning development. The conversation also critiques traditional rote learning methods.

Runtime 27m

Arabic
Episode 67

Roberto Salazar: More Latin and Ancient Greek

Kris Broholm hosts Roberto Salazar to delve into Latin and Ancient Greek. Roberto shares his lifelong fascination with these classical languages, detailing his journey from childhood dreams to intensive study. They discuss the enduring benefits and reasons to learn Latin or Ancient Greek.

Runtime 46m

CultureMotivationGrammarMemory
Episode 66

Sam Horrocks: Teaching languages abroad

Kris Broholm interviews Sam Horrox about teaching languages abroad. They discuss using language education to fund travel, earn money, and build a career while residing in a foreign country.

Runtime 39m

TeachingTravel
Episode 65

Vladimir Skultety: 15+ Language Polyglot

In this third episode in the Learner Profile series I'm joined by extremely talented polyglot: Vladimir Skultety. Vladimir speaks around 15 languages and 9 of them at a high level. This a great epi...

Runtime 1h 12m

Motivation
Episode 62

Roberto Salazar: Latin and Ancient Greek

Kris Broholm interviews Roberto Salazar as part of the Learner Profile series. They discuss Roberto's personal experiences and specific methods for learning Latin and Ancient Greek. The episode explores his unique journey and approach to mastering these classical languages.

Runtime 53m

Spanish
Episode 61

Michał Grześkowiak: Find and maintain motivation

Kris Broholm and guest Michał Grześkowiak discuss strategies to find and maintain motivation in language learning and everyday life. They cover overcoming procrastination, building consistency, and the importance of understanding personal purpose. Michał shares his journey from law to coaching, focusing on mindset and self-knowledge.

Runtime 47m

Motivation
Episode 60

Fabrício Carraro: Learning Russian in Brazil!

Kris Broholm and guest Fabrício Carraro discuss the unique experience of learning Russian in Brazil. They explore Fabrício's journey into foreign cultures, his personal story of meeting his Russian wife, and the intersection of language learning, cultural immersion, and love.

Runtime 48m

RussianPortugueseMotivationCulture
Episode 59

Carole Westerkamp: Language Learning and NLP

Kris Broholm interviews Carole Westerkamp, focusing on the intersection of language acquisition and Neuro-Linguistic Programming. They discuss practical applications of NLP techniques to enhance language learning strategies and overcome common challenges.

Runtime 49m

TeachingMotivationIdentity
Episode 57

John Fotheringham: Language Mastery

Kris Broholm welcomes John Fotheringham from languagemastery.com. John details his background in linguistics and experiences living in Japan and Taiwan. He explains starting his blog to share observations on efficient language learning, contrasting common inefficient methods.

Runtime 56m

Motivation
Episode 56

Lauren Lewis: Fi3M and Learning Russian

Kris Broholm speaks with Lauren Lewis about her work on Fluency in 3 Months. They discuss Lauren's new video series where she learns Russian using a "speak from day one" approach and attending tutoring lessons.

Runtime 54m

RussianTeachingMotivation
Episode 55

Jimmy Mello: Language Teaching

Jimmy Mello comes on the show to talk about teaching languages for more than 20 years and how his own personal method: The Mello Method came to be.

Runtime 49m

TeachingPortuguese
Episode 54

Claudio Santori: Startups and viral learning

Kris Broholm and Claudio Santori discuss Blue Blue, Santori's language learning tool designed to find level-appropriate real content. Santori shares his journey learning Finnish and Lithuanian, which inspired Blue Blue's development. He explains how the software customizes content like jokes, music, and news based on a learner's known vocabulary.

Runtime 1h 0m

TravelMotivationCultureIdentityMemory
Episode 53

Anthony Metivier: Memory Palaces

Kris Broholm interviews Dr. Anthony Metivier about memory palaces. They discuss what memory palaces are and how they function, with Kris asking fundamental questions for listeners. Metivier shares his expertise on applying memory techniques to various subjects, including language learning.

Runtime 58m

MemoryMotivation
Episode 52

Anthony Lauder: Being an Expat

Kris Broholm and Anthony Lauder discuss the meaning of "expat" and common relocation challenges. Anthony shares practical tips and debunks myths for those moving abroad, drawing from his experience living in multiple countries, including a decade in the Czech Republic. They also cover making new friends in a foreign land.

Runtime 57m

TravelCultureIdentity
Episode 51

Chuck Smith: Duolingo and The Polyglot Gathering

Kris Broholm interviews guest Chuck Smith in this season two premiere. They discuss Duolingo and "The Polyglot Gathering".

Runtime 55m

TeachingCultureConlangs
Episode 50

Benny Lewis: Language Encouragement

Kris Broholm welcomes Benny Lewis to the Actual Fluency Podcast season finale. They discuss Benny's inspiration for Kris's language learning journey and the motivation provided by Benny's "Fluent in Three Months" blog. The episode focuses on Benny's encouragement for language learners.

Runtime 53m

Motivation
Episode 48

Mike Campbell: Sentence-based learning and Glossika

Kris Broholm and Glossika founder Mike Campbell discuss sentence-based learning, its advantages, and the Glossika method. They also explore traditional classroom learning, along with dialects and normalization in language acquisition.

Runtime 1h 0m

TeachingMemory
Episode 47

Dealing with burnouts in language learning

Kris and his guest discuss how to identify and avoid burnout in language learning. They explore common reasons burnouts occur and share practical techniques for overcoming them.

Runtime 40m

Motivation
Episode 46

Gabriel Wyner: Perfect pronunciation and flashcards

Kris Broholm interviews Gabriel Wyner, author of "Fluent Forever." They discuss achieving perfect pronunciation and the effective use of flashcards for language learning. The conversation explores strategies from Wyner's acclaimed book.

Runtime 57m

PronunciationMemory
Episode 45

Robin MacPherson: Developing the method

Kris Broholm welcomes Robin MacPherson to discuss the evolution of his language learning method. Robin details the specific changes he made, which led to significant improvements in his French speaking ability. They share practical pointers and personal experiences for developing effective language learning strategies.

Runtime 56m

MotivationTeaching
Episode 44

Vladimir Georgiev: Denmark and Learning Danish

Today I'm talking to Vladimir Georgiev, a Bulgarian national who ventured on to Learn Danish and even live in Denmark for an extended period of time.

Runtime 42m

TravelCultureMotivationImmersion
Episode 43

Benson Hoi: Programming and language learning

Kris Broholm interviews Benson Hoy, a polyglot web developer, about the intersection of programming and language learning. They discuss programming as a location-independent career for language learners, with Benson sharing practical tips for getting started.

Runtime 37m

MotivationMemory
Episode 42

Goals and Goal-Setting

Kris Broholm shares his unpublished blog post, focusing on the importance of clear and specific goals for language learning. He discusses wisdom gained from his studies and influences like Michael Hyatt. This episode introduces a new podcast format where Kris reads his popular blog posts.

Runtime 28m

Motivation
Episode 41

Christopher Huff: Toki Pona and Polyglot Gatherings

Kris Broholm welcomes Christopher Huff, a long-time polyglot community member. They discuss the artificial language Toki Pona and Christopher's experiences at polyglot gatherings. The conversation also covers Christopher's move to China as a teacher and his journey learning Chinese.

Runtime 52m

ConlangsCulture
Episode 40

10 Language learning lessons learned so far

Kris Broholm hosts a solo episode of the Actual Fluency Podcast, sharing ten language learning lessons he has learned. He discusses insights gained from 39 interviews, including the importance of getting tutoring and committing to practice. Kris aims to help listeners learn languages more efficiently based on his own journey.

Runtime 40m

Motivation
Episode 39

André Müller: Studying linguistics and learning scripts

Kris Broholm welcomes guest André Müller to discuss his experiences. They explore André's journey studying linguistics and the practical aspects of learning various writing systems and scripts. The conversation provides insights into language acquisition from a linguistic perspective.

Runtime 47m

Conlangs
Episode 37

Ladan Jiracek: Travel wisdom from 80 countries

Kris Broholm welcomes Ladan Jiracek, a guest who has explored over 80 countries. They delve into practical travel wisdom, sharing tips for making trips cheaper and finding accommodation. Ladan also reveals his most surprising favorite global destination.

Runtime 39m

Travel
Episode 36

Alex Rawlings: Most multilingual student of Britain

Kris Broholm interviews Alex Rawlings, "Most multilingual student of Britain," who speaks over ten languages. They discuss Alex's language learning journey and his approach to Russian. Alex also shares his current challenges learning Hungarian after moving to Budapest.

Runtime 42m

MotivationCulture
Episode 35

Conor Clyne: From monoglot to hyperpolyglot round 2

Kris Broholm and Conor Clyne continue their discussion on language learning. They explore practical applications for using a language, focusing on effective speaking techniques. The conversation also delves into specifics about learning Russian.

Runtime 29m

RussianMotivation
Episode 34

Conor Clyne: From monoglot to hyperpolyglot

Kris Broholm interviews Conor Clyne, who transformed from speaking only English to over ten languages. They discuss Conor's language learning journey, including his preferred methods, techniques, and experiences acquired while traveling. This episode is the first of a two-part conversation.

Runtime 35m

MotivationIdentity
Episode 33

Alberto Arrighini: Self-development and motivation

Kris Broholm and guest Alberto Arrighini discuss personal development and motivation. They explore overcoming motivation struggles in language learning and daily life. The episode offers practical self-improvement tips applicable to various life areas beyond languages.

Runtime 40m

Motivation
Episode 32

Kerstin Hammes: How to become a (better) teacher

Kris Broholm welcomes Kerstin Hammes to discuss how to become a better language teacher. They explore Kerstin's successful online teaching business model, sharing concrete strategies for improving teaching practice and increasing revenue. The episode offers valuable tips for both aspiring and current language educators.

Runtime 53m

TeachingMotivation
Episode 31

Leszek Trybała: The young polyglot revolution

Kris Broholm interviews Leszek Trybała, a 17-year-old polyglot from Poland living in Sweden. They discuss the "young polyglot revolution" and the sources of Leszek's high motivation for learning multiple languages, particularly his extensive flashcarding on Memorized.

Runtime 53m

MotivationMemory
Episode 30

Luca Lampariello: The Polyglot Dream

Kris Broholm and guest Luca Lampariello discuss time management strategies for language learning. They explore the spiritual advantages gained from language acquisition and delve into Luca's personal definition of "the polyglot dream.

Runtime 40m

ItalianMotivationCultureIdentity
Episode 29

Judith Meyer: Learning Chinese and developing LearnYu.com

Kris Broholm welcomes Judith Meyer to discuss learning Chinese. They explore strategies for character acquisition and initial learning steps. The conversation also covers Meyer's development of LearnYu.com, an automated Chinese learning service.

Runtime 35m

ChineseTeachingMotivationCultureGrammarMemoryPronunciation
Episode 28

Victor Berrjod: Asian languages and gold listing!

Kris Broholm welcomes Victor Berrjod to discuss his approach to learning Asian languages. Victor shares insights into mastering Japanese, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Korean. The episode also features a conversation about the Goldlist method for vocabulary acquisition.

Runtime 53m

JapaneseGrammarMemory
Episode 27

Anthony Lauder: From polynot to polyglot

Kris Broholm and guest Anthony Lauder explore Anthony's transformation from "polynot" to "polyglot." Anthony shares his distilled wisdom from learning Czech and other languages, drawing on insights from his Fluent Czech channel and Polyglot Budapest presentation.

Runtime 52m

MotivationConlangs
Episode 26

Andrew Williams: A language a year for life

Kris Broholm interviews Andrew Williams, who discusses his father's suggestion to learn a language a year for life. They explore Andrew's perspective on maintaining many languages, treating them as tools, and emphasize usage for proficiency. The conversation also covers common language learning challenges and solutions.

Runtime 53m

MotivationIdentity
Episode 25

Robert Bigler: Translation and Interpretation

Kris Broholm welcomes Robert Bigler, an Austrian polyglot, to discuss his 18 years of experience as a translator and interpreter. They explore career opportunities in translation and interpretation for polyglots, along with Bigler's personal language learning strategies.

Runtime 46m

Teaching
Episode 24

Simon Ager: Omniglot and Learning minority languages

Kris Broholm interviews Simon Ager, founder of Omniglot. They discuss learning languages, specifically focusing on strategies for mastering minority or obscure languages. The conversation provides practical tips for language learners.

Runtime 35m

Conlangs
Episode 23

Jan van der Aa: Travel the world and learn languages

Kris Broholm interviews Jan van der Aa, who has spent five years traveling the world and learning multiple languages. They discuss how Jan combines location-independent work, travel, and language acquisition, exploring his journey and tips for this lifestyle.

Runtime 37m

TravelMotivationCultureIdentity
Episode 22

Chuck Smith: Polyglot Berlin and Esperanto

Kris Broholm interviews Chuck Smith, an organizer of Polyglott Berlin. They discuss the Polyglott Berlin gathering, the constructed language Esperanto, and various aspects of general language learning.

Runtime 42m

CultureTravelConlangs
Episode 21

Richard Simcott: 20th Episode Special!

Kris Broholm recounts his personal language learning journey, explaining how it provided purpose during a difficult period including depression and family hardships. He also reflects on the language community's positive impact before interviewing special guest Richard Simcott about language learning.

Runtime 42m

TravelCultureMotivation
Episode 20

Sonja Lang: Toki Pona, Conlanging and the meaning of life

Kris Broholm welcomes Sonja Lang, creator of Toki Pona, to the podcast. They discuss the process of creating a conlang like Toki Pona. The episode also explores broader philosophical themes, including the meaning of life.

Runtime 46m

ConlangsIdentity
Episode 19

Brian Kwong: Add1Challenge and tips for success

Kris Broholm welcomes Brian Kwong to discuss the Add1Challenge. They explore how the challenge helps people add new languages and offer practical tips for succeeding in language challenges. The conversation highlights the benefits of learning languages collaboratively.

Runtime 36m

Motivation
Episode 18

Niels Iversen: A unique approach to language learning

Kris Broholm interviews Nils Iversen, who shares his unique low-tech approach to language learning. Nils details his method of using pen, paper, and dictionaries for vocabulary acquisition, achieving impressive results. Kris explores this alternative to digital tools, even adopting the Goldlist method for his own Russian studies.

Runtime 57m

Conlangs
Episode 17

Lauren Cutlip and Benny Lewis: Lauren’s Esperanto

Kris Broholm hosts Lauren Cutlip and Benny Lewis to discuss Lauren's recent Esperanto challenge. They explore her struggles as a new foreign language learner and how Benny coached her. The conversation also covers dynamics for couples learning languages.

Runtime 38m

GermanConlangs
Episode 16

Gavan Fantom: Native Esperanto speaker

Kris Broholm interviews Gavan Fantom, a native Esperanto speaker. They explore Gavan's unique upbringing, speaking Esperanto as his first language. The discussion also covers the language itself and the Esperanto community.

Runtime 52m

ConlangsIdentityImmersion
Episode 15

Ben Whately: Memrise, memory and learning

Ben Whately, COO of Memrise comes by the podcast to talk about Memrise, including the science behind and future initiatives such as premium memberships!

Runtime 27m

MemoryTeaching
Episode 12

Bill Price: Language Learning Blogger

Kris Broholm interviews Bill Price of howtolanguages.com about his insights as a language learning blogger. Kris also shares details about the Actual Fluency June giveaway and his plans for the Polyglot Conference in Berlin.

Runtime 57m

Motivation
Episode 11

Olly Richards from IWillTeachYouALanguage.com

Kris Broholm welcomes Olly Richards from IWillTeachYouALanguage.com. They discuss language learning strategies, focusing specifically on Chinese and Japanese. Olly shares practical advice for listeners interested in learning new languages.

Runtime 53m

JapaneseChinese
Episode 10

Robin MacPherson: How I Learn Languages (2/2)

Kris Broholm and guest Robin MacPherson conclude their discussion on language learning. Robin shares his specific methods for acquiring new languages, including how he integrates daily audio courses for incremental progress. He outlines routines for starting a new language from scratch without disrupting focus.

Runtime 37m

ImmersionMotivationCultureMemory
Episode 9

Robin MacPherson: Finding Home and Isolation Abroad 1/2

Kris Broholm welcomes Robin MacPherson to discuss the emotional and psychological journey of living abroad and learning languages. They explore the deeper aspects of finding home, happiness, and loneliness, including the often-overlooked negative experiences of expatriate life. This episode focuses on the human side of living in a foreign country.

Runtime 48m

ImmersionCultureTravelIdentity
Episode 8

Lindsay Dow: Language lover, blogger and TEFL-certified tutor

Kris Broholm and Lindsay Dow discuss language learning, motivation, and optimizing tutoring experiences. They also explore TEFL certification, Lindsay's experience teaching English in Costa Rica, and how to pronounce Italki.

Runtime 41m

Teaching
Episode 7

Dani Maizner: Austrian polyglot and blogger

Kris Broholm interviews Austrian polyglot and blogger Dani Maizner. They discuss lessons Dani learned over 15 years of studying nine languages, including her "aha moments" in language acquisition. Kris also outlines his new format featuring experienced but lesser-known language learners.

Runtime 47m

TravelMotivationCultureIdentity
Episode 6

The Basics of Independent Language Learning

Kris Broholm shares his "language trifecta" for independent language learning. He outlines three essential components: an introduction to the language, a method for vocabulary acquisition, and opportunities for speaking and writing practice. Kris also provides specific resources and tools for each aspect.

Runtime 39m

MotivationGrammarMemoryPronunciation
Episode 5

Steve Kaufmann: Canadian superpolyglot and entreprenur

Kris Broholm interviews Steve Kaufmann, a Canadian superpolyglot and entrepreneur. Steve shares his language learning journey, offers best tips, and discusses his 90-day Korean challenge. They also explore the LingQ language learning platform.

Runtime 36m

Motivation
Episode 4

Seán Young: How to Teach Languages the Best Way

Kris Broholm interviews Seán Young, an experienced language teacher, to discuss effective language teaching methods. They explore what defines a great teacher, critique traditional school instruction, and share Seán's personal strategies for language learning.

Runtime 51m

TeachingMemoryMotivationCulture
Episode 3

Judith Meyer: An Incredible Language Learning Journey

Kris Broholm hosts Judith Meyer, who shares her inspiring language learning journey and general tips. They discuss motivation, goal setting, and Meyer's experience learning Indonesian. Meyer also reveals a special secret for attendees of the Polyglot Berlin conference.

Runtime 54m

ConlangsMotivation
Episode 2

Ellen Jovin: Language Learning for Pure Enjoyment

Kris Broholm hosts Ellen Jovin, who has studied over 17 languages. They discuss her unique philosophy of language learning for pure enjoyment, focusing on motivations and methods for diverse linguistic acquisition.

Runtime 50m

Motivation