Language & Travel Hacking
Episodes
The Mexican States project
29 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 Malaysi...
Major cities vs deeper travels
20 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 Taiwa...
Update and my daily routine during my Chinese project
06 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 hand...
Are you not ready yet, or is the situation what’s wrong?
23 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Why My First Mandarin Project Almost Broke Me (And How I Fixed My Approach)
16 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Wrapping up Malaysia and Brunei
09 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Benny's next language project
02 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 c...
My 50th country! But, what's the right number to visit?
23 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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’v...
Life challenges that made me a better language learner
17 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking podcast, I share how two childhood challenges, hearing issues and speech difficulties, ultimately g...
How ADHD made me a better language learner
11 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 a...
Kicking off my Malay/Malaysian adventure
23 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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...
End of year language boost
19 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Benny's next travel/language project is...
03 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 o...
How I’m immersing myself in Irish… in Texas!
06 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
My story with the Irish language
22 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Life in the US and visiting all 48 contiguous states
14 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 journ...
Language updates: ASL and... Irish!
06 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 projec...
Converting between units quickly
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 “...
The logarithmic advantage of beginners
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Which Operating System is best for language learners?
19 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Travel update: 4 new US states
12 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ther...
Comparison is your enemy in a big project
31 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 learni...
Finding meet-ups and friends while travelling solo
24 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Benny’s last big US road trip
14 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Why you should learn a sign language
07 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking podcast, I share why I believe everyone should consider learning their country’s sign language. W...
Juggling and maintaining multiple languages
30 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 l...
Thoughts after 4 months of deep travels through Indonesia
23 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, I wrap up my incredible four-month journey through Indonesia, recording from Medan in Nort...
The disadvantage of intensive language learning projects
18 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 I...
Is travelling alone... lonely?
12 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
The Day I Made a Friend Entirely Through Indonesian
26 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 h...
Time to ditch Duolingo
05 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
The language talent myth
21 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 my...
The confidence plateau
14 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 lang...
Month 2 Language Project update
17 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 e...
Your language learning space: A simple but effective hack!
10 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I share a simple but effective language learning tip that has helped me stay focused throughout my travels: creating a dedicated stud...
The benefits of AI for language learners
04 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Language and Travel Hacking, I share how AI has supercharged my language learning. While it won’t replace real practice, it’s a...
Solving the listening comprehension problem
24 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I share my biggest challenge in learning Indonesian—listening comprehension. While I can read well and converse with teachers, real...
Month 1 update on my 2025 intensive language learning project
17 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I’m sharing my one-month update on my intensive Indonesian learning project. My goal has been to reach at least a B1 level before starting four mont...
How I became an alien of extraordinary ability: US visas
10 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Benny shares his fascinating journey through the complex world of US visas, from his early days on a J-1 visa working summer jobs in ...
Future of travel: Go to popular places ASAP!
03 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hello and welcome to The Language and Travel Hacking Podcast! In this episode, I’m tackling a big question: How can you make the most of iconic trav...
Future of travel: Avoiding the "hotspot problem"
29 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are you tired of crowded hotspots and skyrocketing travel costs? On this episode of The Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, I’m diving into the fut...
Picking the right teacher for a language project
22 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As part of my Indonesian project ahead of travelling through the country, I’ve been testing out different tutors to find one who truly suits my lear...
Kicking off my 2025 language learning project
17 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I’m kicking off 2025 with a new language project: learning Bahasa Indonesia. I’ll be studying intensively in Bali for two months before exploring ...
Saving money with the world's easiest language
16 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Benny shares his frugal travel plans for the upcoming New Year, featuring the Junulara Esperanto RenkontiÄťo (Youth Esperanto Week) i...
Announcing my big 2025 language and travel project!
10 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Benny Lewis shares his ambitious plans for 2025, which revolve around learning Indonesian and traveling across Indonesia. Following his 2024 adventure...
What is it like to visit every state of Brazil?
03 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Benny Lewis shares his journey of completing a long-time travel goal: visiting all 26 states of Brazil plus the federal district. Ove...
Moving abroad: What to think about (part 2)
18 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, host Benny Lewis dives into part two of his guide to preparing for a potential move abroad...
Moving abroad: What to think about (part 1)
11 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking podcast, Benny Lewis dives into the essentials of planning a move abroad. Inspired by recent conver...
Improving language skills through learning other new things
04 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Benny shares a unique approach to language learning while traveling: enrolling in local classes for non-language subjects. Benny expl...
Several tools to share your travel itinerary
28 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, Benny dives into tools for sharing travel itineraries, inspired by his friend Derek Sivers...
Using travel to get in shape
21 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Benny shares his inspiring journey of losing 20kg (44lbs) through travel. After reaching 120kg (265lbs) and feeling stuck in unhealth...
How I became a polyglot
15 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, Benny revisits the story of how he became a polyglot. He shares his early struggles with m...
Travel Health Hacks: Avoiding and Managing Illness on the Road
09 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, host Benny Lewis dives into the challenges of staying healthy while traveling. Drawing fro...
Escaping Depression? Why Travel Isn't the Answer
02 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Benny Lewis shares a personal story about the misconception that travel can cure depression. Reflecting on his own struggles with div...
Getting detained by the Federal Police: Travel mishap story
27 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Benny shares two stories of his experiences trying to extend his stay in Brazil, one in 2006 and the other more recently. The first t...
Area codes around the world to help with your travels
20 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Benny explores how knowing area codes can enhance travel experiences and even improve social interactions. When traveling, recognizin...
21 years a nomad: What's changed since 2003?
12 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Benny dives into how travel has changed over his 21 years as a digital nomad. Reflecting on his early travels in the 2000s, Benny shares how meeting p...
Benny Travel Update: 3 Months in the Amazon
07 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Language Hacking Podcast, Benny shares updates from his latest travel adventures. After completing a bus journey across South A...
Benny's travel update: 3 huge South American travel projects for 2024
11 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Language Hacking Podcast, host Benny shares his travel plans and projects for the year, all centered around South America. He d...
Benny shares his optimism and enthusiasm about his favourite AI language tool
04 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Language Hacking Podcast, Benny explores the game-changing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into language learning. ...
Ask Benny: Benny Shares His Skepticism About AI's Role in Language Learning
26 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Language Hacking Podcast, Benny discusses the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in language learning. He acknowledge...
Ask Benny: Other ways to avoid being an obvious foreigner
05 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Benny Lewis discusses strategies to avoid standing out as an obvious foreigner when speaking a new language, drawing from his experiences in Brazil. A...
Ask Benny: The interesting trick; teaching people other info so they´ll put up with my bad language skills
29 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Benny shares his insights on how to engage in conversations as a beginner or intermediate language learner. He emphasizes the importance of having int...
Ask Benny: How to be the 1st ever
22 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Benny Lewis expresses his enthusiasm for the unique opportunity of being the first foreigner many Brazilians will ever meet during his travels off the...
Ask Benny: Mental health struggles and being a language learner
15 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Benny Lewis shares his experience with a recent intensive Korean language project after a 10-year gap. He reflects on personal challenges, emphasizing...
How to dive deep into dialects (Benny's 2024 language plan)
08 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this podcast episode, Benny shares his language learning plans for the year, focusing on Portuguese and exploring the diverse dialects in Brazil. H...
Ask Benny: How to learn a language in 2024: Taking a resolution and turning it into a true project
01 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the first Language Hacking Podcast episode of 2024, Benny discusses effective language learning strategies for New Year's resolutions.Instead of va...
Ask Benny: Geoguessr, Geography, country studies (How Benny relaxes)
25 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this festive episode of the Language Hacking Podcast, Benny Lewis brings a unique twist, stepping away from traditional language learning to share ...
Ask Benny: When should I move on to the next language, if I want to be a polyglot?
18 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Language Hacking podcast, Benny Lewis tackles a question that language enthusiasts often ponder: When is the right time to move...
Ask Benny: What are the resident logistics of a nomad? Benny's Travel update and long-term travel plan
11 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this podcast episode, Benny Lewis offers a practical glimpse into the workings of his nomadic lifestyle. Navigating the realms of an Irish passport...
Ask Benny: Melting ice: Constant work to push through a plateau
04 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Benny Lewis opens this episode of the Language Hacking Podcast with a brief but impactful message for language learners who might be feeling stuck in ...
Ask Benny: Travel update: downsizing
27 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Join Benny in this laid-back podcast episode as he discusses the pragmatic transition from physical to digital language resources. Discover the conven...
Ask Benny: Dialects: when should you learn them?
13 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Join Benny in this episode as he explores a fascinating topic that he often gets asked: “Should I care about dialects?” He reveals why dialect dif...
Ask Benny: Dance lessons and online tutorials in your target language
06 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How would you like to learn new things and boost your target language in one go? In this episode of the Language Hacking Podcast, Benny shows you how ...
Ask Benny: Why November 1st is the most important date in my language learning story
30 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Benny Lewis celebrates a milestone in his language learning journey: the 20th anniversary of his first successful language project. H...
Ask Benny: Virtual immersion: Do what you normally do in the target language!
23 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Language Hacking Podcast, Benny Lewis reveals how he turns his daily routine into a virtual immersion experience in his target ...
Ask Benny: Benny's late-2023 language learning update
16 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Join Benny Lewis in this episode of the Language Hacking Podcast as he talks about his amazing experience of learning Korean in Korea for five months ...
Ask Benny: Deep thought: Does age make us worse learners or is it something else?
09 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Benny has been pondering a deep question lately, and he shares his thoughts on it in this episode. This is a somewhat deep question that he often gets...
Ask Benny: Different types of language exchange events: Stand-up and sit-down
02 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Join Benny in this episode as he explores the world of language exchange events. He explains the differences between two common styles of these events...
#141 Dan Mirea on TikTok, Psychology & Linguistics
17 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever had a conversation with someone who is head over heels about languages? In this interview, psychology researcher Dan Mirea discusses th...
Ask Benny: What Was Your Biggest Mistake During Your Korean Mission?
26 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Benny explains how he got overwhelmed with his use of Anki in the second month of his Korean mission, and what solutions he found to ...
Ask Benny: What Are Your Favourite Korean-Learning Resources?
09 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Benny lists the most helpful resources that have helped him throughout his Korean mission. He goes into details about what makes thos...
#140 Peggy on “Little Victories”
05 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Do old-school language learning methods still work in our technology-focused and app-driven world? Fluent in 3 Months student Peggy tackled this ques...
#139 Will Scott on Learning French Daily
22 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“Before the Challenge I would have laughed if you told me I was going to study [French] every day for a week.” This is what Fluent in 3 Months Cha...
Ask Benny: How Did the Korean Mission Go?
15 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Benny goes over his Korean mission and lists some of the best decisions he’s taken and the setbacks he’s encountered.He analyses ...
#138 Anika on How to Learn Telugu
01 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do you learn to speak another language when there are little to no resources available for learners?Fluent in 3 Months student Anika took head-on ...
Ask Benny: Can I Learn a Language With My Partner?
24 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Benny gives his opinion on learning a language with the help of your partner and why it can cause difficulties both to the language learning and the r...
#137 Victoria Galmarini on Mundo Lingo and Language Exchange Events
17 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What’s it like attending an in-person language exchange event?Victoria Galmarini, Lead Manager for MundoLingo, an in-person language exchange organi...
Ask Benny: Why 3 Months?
10 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Benny answers the big questions that a lot of skeptics asking him: Why 3 months?Listen to this episode to hear the founder of world-famous Fluent in 3...
#136 “Grammar Girl” Mignon Fogarty on How to Make Grammar Less Boring
03 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How can you make grammar “less boring” to learn?Mignon Fogarty, founder of the platform Quick and Dirty Tips and of the beloved Grammar Girl podca...
#135 Azren on Going from Window Cleaner to Language Teacher
27 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How can you find good resources to learn uncommon or less popular languages?Azren grew up multilingual and made a career out of his passion for langua...
Ask Benny: How Do You Start Speaking From Day 1?
20 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Join Benny as he explains how he has started his Korean mission from absolute scratch—and how you can do the same! The steps are simple:Avoiding Eng...
#134 Pierre on Beating Fear & Shyness
13 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Can introverts and shy learners also benefit from joining learner communities?Fluent in 3 Months Challenge (now Bootcamp) participant and Norwegian le...
#133 Zac on the Power of Music for Language Learners
06 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Can music help you learn languages?Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp participant and Spanish learner, Zac, discusses:How his learning approach changed in th...
Ask Benny: What Language Is Benny Learning Now?
27 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Did you hear about Benny’s new project? He’s learning a new language, and to keep in style, he will treat his new mission as a full-time job! Havi...
#132 Emanuel on “Stage Fright” in Language Learning
20 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How can tutors help their students avoid anxiety and the feeling of “stage fright” when speaking a new language?Emanuel Vasconcelos is one of the ...
#131 Deanna on Avoiding Language FOMO
13 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What does it feel like to learn the language you have always wanted to learn?Fluent in 3 Months student and Italian learner, Deanna, talks about the p...
Ask Benny: How Do You Prepare For a 3 Month Mission?
06 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Benny pulls back the curtain to reveal behind the scenes when he prepares for a new 3 months challenge, and how this helps him get th...
Benny's Fluent in 3 Months Projects History (+ a Big Announcement)
30 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Benny is ready for a new Fluent in 3 Months project, during which he will focus for 90 days on becoming conversational in a new language! In this epis...
#130 TY on Finding the Fun in French
23 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Is it easier to learn a language when it’s fun?Fluent in 3 Months student and French learner, TY, discusses taking part in Fluent in 3 Months progra...