Language & Travel Hacking

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 Java, Sumatra, Borneo, and beyond. Indonesian’s simplicity—no conjugations or noun genders—makes it one of the easiest languages I’ve started, but my focus isn’t on mastery. My goal is to reach a B1 conversational level, enabling independent travel and m...

In this episode, Benny shares his frugal travel plans for the upcoming New Year, featuring the Junulara Esperanto Renkontiĝo (Youth Esperanto Week) in Belgium. He explains how Esperanto events provide a unique mix of cultural immersion, affordable travel, and socializing with open-minded, language-loving individuals. From low-cost accommodation to vegan-friendly meals, Benny highlights the financi...

Benny Lewis shares his ambitious plans for 2025, which revolve around learning Indonesian and traveling across Indonesia. Following his 2024 adventure exploring every state in Brazil, Benny plans to spend the first two months of the new year in Bali. While Bali is a tourist hub, he intends to use it as a comfortable base for intensive language study, focusing on achieving a B1 conversational level...

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. Over the course of nine months, Benny explored the country deeply, opting for buses and boats whenever possible to immerse himself in authentic local experiences. He recounts highlights such as the breathtaking Lençóis Maranhenses, socializing with loca...

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. Building on the previous episode's core tips, Benny emphasizes the importance of considering how to financially sustain oneself while living in a new country. He discusses the challenges of finding local employment due to high competition and langu...

In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking podcast, Benny Lewis dives into the essentials of planning a move abroad. Inspired by recent conversations with listeners and current events, Benny shares his insights on creating a solid foundation before relocating. He emphasizes the importance of careful planning, listing pros and cons of potential destinations, and considering personal connect...

In this episode, Benny shares a unique approach to language learning while traveling: enrolling in local classes for non-language subjects. Benny explains that by taking lessons in activities like dancing, cooking, or even martial arts, he gets valuable language exposure in real-world settings. He has experienced this firsthand, having learned salsa in Colombia, tango in Argentina, and hip-hop in...

In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, Benny dives into tools for sharing travel itineraries, inspired by his friend Derek Sivers. Benny discusses why sharing travel plans can be useful for friends and followers who want to stay updated on your whereabouts. He highlights simple tools like Google Docs for basic details and more advanced platforms, such as Nomads for city lists,...

In this episode, Benny shares his inspiring journey of losing 20kg (44lbs) through travel. After reaching 120kg (265lbs) and feeling stuck in unhealthy habits, Benny chose to reset his routine by traveling to the remote beach town of Jericoacoara in Brazil. There, he found himself walking daily, avoiding food delivery apps, and engaging in physical activities like windsurfing. Benny discusses how...

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 maintaining multiple languages, especially during his time learning Spanish, Italian, and French. Benny explains how his breakthrough came in 2006, during his stay in Florianópolis, Brazil, where the international environment allowed him to practice s...

In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast , host Benny Lewis dives into the challenges of staying healthy while traveling. Drawing from 21 years of travel experience, Benny shares his personal stories of getting sick on the road, from a severe illness in Egypt to dealing with the smoke from burning rainforests in Brazil. He emphasizes the importance of being prepared for health is...

In this episode, Benny Lewis shares a personal story about the misconception that travel can cure depression. Reflecting on his own struggles with divorce, clinical depression, and burnout in 2019, Benny explains how he attempted to heal by traveling, only to find that it made things worse. He emphasizes that travel is not a solution for depression and stresses the importance of seeking therapy an...

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 time, things didn’t go so well. Benny, still new to traveling, didn’t do his research and approached the process with a lot of impatience and arrogance. After waiting in line for hours without eating, he ended up being rude to the federal officer hand...

In this episode, Benny explores how knowing area codes can enhance travel experiences and even improve social interactions. When traveling, recognizing phone numbers based on area codes, particularly on apps like WhatsApp, helps you identify where people are from, making conversations flow more naturally. Benny also shares a personal hack for avoiding spam calls in the U.S. by getting a phone numb...

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 people and finding affordable accommodation used to be easier, with tools like Orkut and Couchsurfing at their prime, and the days of finding hidden gems through newspaper ads. Today, platforms like Airbnb have driven up prices, and connecting with ot...

In this episode of the Language Hacking Podcast, Benny shares updates from his latest travel adventures. After completing a bus journey across South America, he's now traveling down the Amazon River and visiting all 26 Brazilian states, with only six left to go. Benny talks about his experience on the Amazon, from navigating the triple border of Peru, Colombia, and Brazil, to spending three days o...

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 discusses three major travel projects: visiting all Brazilian states, traveling from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean entirely by bus, and navigating the entire Amazon River by boat. Benny explains his motivations for these journeys, emphasizin...

In this episode of the Language Hacking Podcast, Benny explores the game-changing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into language learning. Breaking away from his previous skepticism, Benny unveils a cutting-edge tool where users can engage with an AI teacher for unlimited language practice at a fraction of the cost of traditional lessons. Highlighting benefits such as affordability and...

In this episode of the Language Hacking Podcast, Benny discusses the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in language learning. He acknowledges the potential of AI to revolutionize language education, including the possibility of replacing human teachers with AI-powered systems. However, Benny expresses skepticism about the current effectiveness of such systems, citing limitations in conve...

Benny Lewis discusses strategies to avoid standing out as an obvious foreigner when speaking a new language, drawing from his experiences in Brazil. Academic choices of written words, like or simply saying things that are just illogical, can make you stand out more. Follow Benny on our YouTube channel , and don’t forget to check out the Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp . To ask Benny a question, leave...

Benny shares his insights on how to engage in conversations as a beginner or intermediate language learner. He emphasizes the importance of having interesting things to say, such as sharing personal skills, stories, or tricks, to keep the other person engaged and patient. Follow Benny on our YouTube channel , and don’t forget to check out the Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp . To ask Benny a question,...

Benny Lewis expresses his enthusiasm for the unique opportunity of being the first foreigner many Brazilians will ever meet during his travels off the beaten path. He encourages language learners to explore less touristy areas, underlining the special privilege of representing the world to those he encounters. Benny highlights the crucial role of language skills, specifically speaking the local la...

Benny Lewis shares his experience with a recent intensive Korean language project after a 10-year gap. He reflects on personal challenges, emphasizing the importance of considering mental health during language learning. Benny encourages listeners to go easy on themselves, focus on progress, and find a balance between ambition and self-care. Watch the full uncut video of Benny speaking Korean afte...

In this podcast episode, Benny shares his language learning plans for the year, focusing on Portuguese and exploring the diverse dialects in Brazil. He offers practical advice, suggesting starting with the standard version of the language before delving into specific dialects. Benny shares tips on finding resources, emphasizing the importance of searching in the language itself for better results....

In the first Language Hacking Podcast episode of 2024, Benny discusses effective language learning strategies for New Year's resolutions. Instead of vague goals, Benny advocates for SMART goals—Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. Drawing from his Fluent in 3 Months philosophy, Benny emphasizes public accountability, community involvement, and aligning methods with language...