Language & Travel Hacking

Fluent in 3 Months

International best-selling author and nomadic polyglot Benny Lewis shares his real experiences and advice while on-the-road about travel and language learning. Learn more at: https://www.fluentin3months.com/podcast/

  1. 8월 26일

    The logarithmic advantage of beginners

    In this episode of the Travel and Language Hacking podcast, I talk about the unique advantage that beginners have when learning a new language. Unlike exponential growth, where progress starts slowly and then speeds up over time, language learning often follows a logarithmic curve. This means that at the very beginning, improvements happen quickly and dramatically, but they gradually level off as you advance. I share how this applies not only to languages but also to other skills, like my current half-marathon training, where early improvements are huge compared to the tiny gains professionals work years to achieve. I also reflect on my own experiences as both a beginner and an advanced learner. While it takes tremendous effort for me to make even small progress in a language like Spanish at my current level, starting a new language allows me to see explosive growth. That’s why I encourage learners to appreciate and enjoy being beginners. The difference between what you know now and what you could achieve in just a few months can be massive. So, embrace the beginner stage, take advantage of that rapid growth, and remember that your logarithmic curve is your superpower in language learning. If you need one-on-one language guidance, schedule a consultation session with Benny at languagehacking.com/chat. And don’t forget to check out the Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp here! Or you can follow me on all Social Media channels:Instagram: @irishpolyglotThread: @irishpolyglotTikTok: @irishpolyglot

    5분
  2. 8월 12일

    Travel update: 4 new US states

    Over the past month, I reached my 44th state, Colorado, which I’d been looking forward to visiting for a long time. I gave myself a whole month there to truly experience it—running races, hiking in the mountains, exploring towns like Boulder and Denver, and meeting many wonderful people, including opportunities to practice my American Sign Language. Now, I’m ready for the next stage of my US states project. I’ll fly to Chicago, not a new state for me since I lived there years ago while learning Klingon for a Star Trek convention, but it’s the perfect hub to start this leg of the trip. From there, I’ll drive to Iowa, my 45th state, to explore Des Moines and the bridges of Madison County, then head to Minnesota (state 46) to spend a week in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. After that, I’ll continue to Wisconsin, my 47th state, where I’ll spend over a month. I’ll start in Milwaukee, then settle into Madison, a city I’ve heard is walkable and perfect for my European-style preferences. By the time I finish Wisconsin, I’ll only have one state left in the contiguous US Michigan which I’ll visit before returning my rental car to Chicago in October. Along the way, I’m prioritizing meeting people, practicing languages, and especially improving my ASL by connecting with deaf communities. This next month will be all about deep experiences in these four new states before the big finale of my 48-state journey. If you need one-on-one language guidance, schedule a consultation session with Benny at languagehacking.com/chat. And don’t forget to check out the Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp here! Or you can follow me on all Social Media channels:Instagram: @irishpolyglotThread: @irishpolyglotTikTok: @irishpolyglot

    6분
  3. 7월 31일

    Comparison is your enemy in a big project

    In this episode, I talk about something that keeps coming up in my own projects: the trap of comparing yourself to others. When I first started learning Spanish, I’d constantly compare myself to other learners and beat myself up over not being as good. That kind of mindset really messed with my confidence. And now, even after all these years of language learning, I’ve found myself doing the same thing—but this time with running. I’ve been training for a bunch of half marathons, and every time I open up Strava, I see people running faster, longer, and more consistently. It’s easy to start feeling like a failure all over again. But what I’ve learned—both with languages and now with running—is that comparison is a losing game. Everyone has a different starting point, different challenges, and different goals. You can’t compare apples to oranges. Instead, I’ve found it way more productive to focus on my own progress. Whether I’m improving my pace with running or reaching the next level in a language, the goal is just to be a little better than I was yesterday. I share how I’ve learned to let go of perfectionism and stop chasing the impossible standard of being the “best.” The truth is, no matter how far you go, there will always be someone ahead of you. But that doesn’t mean you’re not doing great. If you stay consistent, you will see improvement—and that’s what really counts. So whatever project you’re working on, whether it’s language learning or something totally different, I hope this episode gives you a bit of encouragement to focus on your own journey and feel proud of how far you’ve come. If you need one-on-one language guidance, schedule a consultation session with Benny at languagehacking.com/chat. And don’t forget to check out the Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp here! Or you can follow me on all Social Media channels:Instagram: @irishpolyglotThread: @irishpolyglotTikTok: @irishpolyglot

    12분
  4. 7월 24일

    Finding meet-ups and friends while travelling solo

    In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, I share how I find meetups and make meaningful friendships while traveling solo. Back when I started my nomadic journey over 22 years ago, it was surprisingly easy—I relied on just a few websites like Couchsurfing and Meetup, and that was enough to connect with interesting people wherever I went. Nowadays, things are more complicated. Oversaturation and generic events make it harder to find truly like-minded people. I still go to general meetups, but I focus on connecting with a few individuals and asking them about local resources—like WhatsApp groups, niche websites, or interest-based communities that aren’t easily found online. My current strategy involves using meetups as a gateway to discover more private or targeted groups. For example, in Bali I found a great language exchange through a platform called Nomio—something I wouldn’t have discovered without asking around. I also lean on tools like AI for deeper research when Google and Facebook Events don’t cut it. Recently in Denver, AI helped me find an ASL meetup I’d never have found otherwise. There’s no one-size-fits-all tool anymore, but if you show up, ask questions, and stay open, you’ll uncover great communities and build genuine friendships wherever you are. If you need one-on-one language guidance, schedule a consultation session with Benny at languagehacking.com/chat. And don’t forget to check out the Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp here! Or you can follow me on all Social Media channels:Instagram: @irishpolyglotThread: @irishpolyglotTikTok: @irishpolyglot

    13분
  5. 7월 14일

    Benny’s last big US road trip

    In this episode, I'm coming to you from beautiful Colorado — my 45th U.S. state! I dive into what might be my final big American road trip as I push to complete a long-time goal: visiting all 48 contiguous U.S. states. I talk about how this journey ties into my current language mission with American Sign Language (ASL), and how I've used everything from book tours to long-term stays and my green card to explore the country over the years. I'm lucky to have this chance, especially as a non-American, to see so many vastly different parts of the U.S., from geography to local culture. I also share my upcoming stops — Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin (where I’ll stay a whole month), and Michigan — before wrapping up in Texas. I also open up about why this might be my last big U.S. road trip: the rising cost of living and other factors are making it less practical to stay long-term, even though I’m a green card holder. I’ve been taking advantage of special travel permits to live abroad for stretches of time, and I might ultimately give up my residency in a few years. So now’s the moment to make this travel dream a reality. Alongside all the exploring and ASL immersion, I’m keeping my health in check by running every day and signing up for races. I’m excited to share this phase of my journey with you — one that blends language learning, travel goals, and some honest reflection about where I might be headed next. If you need one-on-one language guidance, schedule a consultation session with Benny at languagehacking.com/chat. And don’t forget to check out the Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp here! Or you can follow me on all Social Media channels:Instagram: @irishpolyglotThread: @irishpolyglotTikTok: @irishpolyglot

    8분
4.8
최고 5점
72개의 평가

소개

International best-selling author and nomadic polyglot Benny Lewis shares his real experiences and advice while on-the-road about travel and language learning. Learn more at: https://www.fluentin3months.com/podcast/

좋아할 만한 다른 항목