Language & Travel Hacking

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 “rule of five” system to convert between Celsius and Fahrenheit. It’s based on five key Celsius points—0, 10, 20, 30, and 40—and their easy-to-remember Fahrenheit equivalents, all tied to the number five. This shortcut isn’t perfect, but it’s simple e...

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...

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 Android, and Android wins hands down because it supports far more languages, including underrepresented ones like Irish and Esperanto. Simply changing your phone’s interface gives you daily exposure in a very natural way, and that small but constant im...

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 state...

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 t...

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. Ov...

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 c...

In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking podcast, I share why I believe everyone should consider learning their country’s sign language. When I first picked up American Sign Language (ASL), I didn’t expect how deeply it would connect me to the deaf community in the US. It gave me access to a rich, often overlooked culture, and offered a completely new way to communicate and make friends....

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 losing your mind—or your fluency? I share how, over the last 22 years, I’ve followed a cycle of learning one language intensively for a short burst—usually around three months—and then spending the rest of the year maintaining my other languages. It’...

In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, I wrap up my incredible four-month journey through Indonesia, recording from Medan in North Sumatra before heading back to Bali for my final weeks. I reflect on just how vast this country is—highlighted by the fact that a flight back to Bali takes me four hours and still doesn’t even cover the full length of the nation. From Java to Sulaw...

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 Indonesian, I can already feel some of it slipping. This isn’t new — I’ve seen it happen with Hungarian, Arabic, and Japanese. Without regular use, a lot fades within weeks or months. That’s the “half-life” of language learning in action. Still, I ful...

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 that, I compare two contrasting experiences—my current quiet week in Sulawesi, Indonesia, and a past trip to Ibiza during the off-season. In Sulawesi, I’ve barely interacted with anyone, yet I feel completely content because I chose this solitude af...

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 here in Indonesia — surrounded by orangutans, dense rainforest, and the kind of real-life language immersion I’ve been aiming for since the start of this journey. After nearly five months exploring the country, including a two-month trek across Java and a...

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 with 100% AI-generated content, I can no longer recommend it—not even as a “better than nothing” option. The app was already more about dopamine than meaningful learning, and now with zero human input, the quality has dropped even further. Instead, I sh...

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 myself to others—especially those polished videos on YouTube or TikTok where someone speaks flawlessly and makes it all look effortless. But the truth is, you're only seeing a tiny, edited snapshot of their journey. I don’t consider myself naturally talented...

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 language fairly well, I often catch myself switching to English because of self-doubt. It’s not that I don’t understand—it’s that I tell myself I don’t, and that hesitation stops me from properly engaging in the conversation. Most of my interactions are really...

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 episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast . I’ve reached a solid B1 level, able to hold conversations with patient speakers using formal Indonesian. Skipping Bali’s beaches and parties to focus entirely on learning has paid off, and I’m now ready t...

In this episode, I share a simple but effective language learning tip that has helped me stay focused throughout my travels: creating a dedicated study space. Whether it’s a specific table at home, a quiet café, or a co-working space, having a designated environment for language learning helps eliminate distractions and puts my brain in "study mode." I make a point to stay away from my laptop, as...

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 game-changer for mnemonics. Before AI, coming up with memory aids was slow—now I drop words into ChatGPT or Gemini and get instant, creative mnemonics across multiple languages. One gem? The Indonesian pemerintah (government) sounds like “pay my rent”—...

In this episode, I share my biggest challenge in learning Indonesian—listening comprehension. While I can read well and converse with teachers, real-life conversations at natural speed remain a struggle. With my upcoming travels in Java, improving my listening skills has become my top priority. A common mistake is jumping straight into native content like TV or radio, which can be overwhelming. In...

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 months of full immersion in Indonesia, and I’m happy to say that I’m well on track. Right now, I’m at a strong A2 (upper beginner) level, making very fast progress. Over the past month, I’ve been following a dedicated study routine, which includes 1–2 hour...

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 New York to securing the infamous O-1 visa – better known as the ‘Alien of Extraordinary Ability’ visa. He reflects on how his blogging success and language-learning mission helped him qualify for this unique status, as well as the challenges of main...

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 travel destinations before they become impossible to enjoy? While I’ve talked about exploring off-the-beaten-track gems in the past, this time I’m focusing on the classics—Rome, Paris, Bali—those famous spots everyone dreams of visiting. But here’s the ca...

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 future of travel and tackling the “hotspot problem.” Recorded from bustling Bali, I’ll share my firsthand experience of how even off-peak seasons feel like peak season—and why this trend is happening globally. But here’s the good news: the world is full...

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 learning style. From filtering by dialect, availability, and budget on platforms like italki to booking trial lessons with multiple tutors in one week, I’ve refined a method that ensures I get the best fit for my needs. I’ll walk you through the steps, sha...