Shhh, I’m Learning!

🎙 Final Episode: A Heartfelt Goodbye and New Beginnings In this unedited and deeply personal final episode, I reflect on the journey of the podcast—from its beginnings as a space for introverted language learners to its evolution into conversations on neurodivergence, mental health, and linguistic identity. I share the challenges that led to this hiatus, including burnout and an autism diagnosis,...

Today Martha is joined by Etai, an empowerment and communication coach, disability advocate, and passionate language enthusiast. Together, they dive deep into what it means to truly connect—with ourselves, with language, and with others. Etai shares his lived experience as a multilingual speaker born with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy, his journey from Israel to the U.S., and how language an...

In this episode of Shhh! I'm Learning, we’re joined (again!) by Bront’e Singleton, also known as The Polyglot Fox. Bront’e shares her refreshing perspective on language learning, blending joy, creativity, and strategies tailored for all language learners, but with a special focus on neurodivergent (or "neurospicy") learners. From her playful experiences with German and Italian to rethinking the gu...

In this episode of Shhh! I’m Learning, we chat with Valeria Paolillo, a passionate language teacher and the founder of Vita Semplice in Italia. Valeria shares her journey to becoming a language teacher, her struggles and triumphs with learning English and Chinese and French, and how she’s embraced mindfulness and slow learning as essential parts of her teaching and personal growth. Discover how Va...

In this episode, host we dive deep into the concept of failure with guest Kris Broholm. Together, we explore how failure can be a powerful tool for learning and growth, especially in language learning and personal development. Martha and Kris share their own experiences with setbacks and discuss practical ways to reframe failure as an essential part of success.   Highlights: Redefining Failure: Ma...

In this episode of Shhh! I’m Learning, we explore practical tips and strategies to support autistic language learners. Language learning is a unique journey for everyone, and for autistic individuals, certain approaches can make a big difference. Whether you’re autistic yourself, a teacher, a loved one, or simply curious, this episode is packed with insights to make language learning more inclusiv...

(English description below the Portuguese) No episódio de hoje, conversamos com Rob, professor (incrível) de português, sobre como lidar com o estresse ao aprender idiomas, o impacto da introversão no aprendizado e os maiores mitos sobre o ensino de línguas. Entre os tópicos discutidos estão: Estresse positivo vs. estresse negativo no aprendizado de idiomas. Estratégias para introvertidos se senti...

Welcome to another episode of Shhh! I'm Learning! In this episode, our good friend Barbara Czusz helps us explore how neurodivergence shapes the experience of learning languages. Whether you're neurodivergent yourself or want to better understand how these unique traits impact language acquisition, this episode is packed with valuable insights. What We Discuss in This Episode The Strengths of Neur...

Welcome back to Shhh! I’m Learning! In this episode, I am joined by the inspiring Mollie Guidera, a trailblazer in Irish language education. Mollie’s approach intertwines storytelling, etymology, and creative teaching methods to connect learners with their heritage and identity. Through her engaging workshops and courses, she breaks down barriers to learning and brings the soulful, healing nature...

Welcome to Season 4 of Shhh, I’m Learning! I’m back after a longer-than-expected break, dealing with burnout, a whirlwind of festivals, Hurricane Helene, and extensive election research. Although this season might be the last, I’m excited to share this journey with you all. This season, we’ll explore the social aspects of language learning, mental health, and the role of neurodiversity. As a neuro...

We are at the end of season 3! Thank you for your invaluable support during these 30 episodes. Today we recap season 3 and I let you in on a few secrets regarding the future of this podcast. As always, reach out to me on Instagram @shhh_imlearning to let me know what you thought about the show, and consider buying me a coffee if you want to see me continuously improve my content and better serve Y...

Welcome back to the penultimate episode for season 3 of Shhh, I’m Learning! Today’s guest is Renée Arinzé, a language teacher and coach who empowers language learners to be consistent, resilient and motivated using a holistic approach based on neuroscience and psychology. Renee has been learning languages since 2008 and can communicate in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and French at varying...

Welcome back to my podcast! I am very excited to share today’s episode with you. Today’s guest is Jessica Tefenkgi Ruelle, the founder of Bubbles of French, where she blends French language learning with self-exploration, mindfulness and authentic expression. She was raised in Brussels in an adoptive family from Italy, she learned several languages from a young age and has always been on a quest t...

Welcome back (finally)! Today's episode is with Diego Ojeda, a passionate Spanish teacher, a comprehensible poetry author, a blogger and an accomplished world language teacher trainer and presenter. He has been recognized and awarded for his outstanding teaching style that he brings to the class and enjoys sharing this style and what he's learned from it with his colleagues. A native of Bogotá, Co...

Hello and welcome back! Today’s episode is with Jacqueline Sadberry. Jacqueline is a Texas native and author with a passion for languages, faith, K-Pop, and turtles. She currently works to provide a space for those looking for consistent speaking practice in English, Spanish, and Japanese, or who have a desire to become conversational. You can find her on YouTube, Facebook, and Pinterest as Jacque...

It's time to talk about more books! Today I recommend four books to you. I also go into not waiting too long to read in other languages, the benefits of a Spotify Premium account (15 hours of audiobook listening time per month!), and rethinking how books come into our lives. Three Notes/Corrections: 1) The name of Terrance Lee's podcast changed from "Quiet Voice Fearless Mind" to "The Introvert Ex...

In today’s episode, we have a special guest: Dr. Devina Krishna, Assistant Professor at the Department of English, Patna Women's College, India, and a reputed scholar in linguistics. In this riveting conversation, Dr. Krishna provides us with deep insights into the realm of language preservation and the criticality of communicating effectively. As an introvert, she provides her unique perspective...

Welcome back! In today's episode, we introduce you to Urmi Hossain, a polyglot mentor with a rich cultural heritage, vibrant professional paths, and a deep-seated passion for language learning. Urmi opens up about her unique life experiences and how she evolved into an adept language mentor, tuning her teaching strategies to suit her students' individual needs and goals. Sharing her perspective on...

In this impactful episode of "I'm Learning", I dialogue with Marty Green, a renowned education maven. Our esteemed guest throws light on her inspiring endeavor of breaking language barriers, embracing diverse cultures and transforming experiences into coaching tools for global learners. Discover how a positive mindset, resilience, and self-assuredness are quintessential in learning a new language....

Welcome to season three of “I'm Learning,” a space for introverts, multilingual individuals, and language enthusiasts around the world. As a reminder, this podcast is a haven for those struggling to express their naturally socially selective selves in the languages they speak. Season three kicks off with a recap of my winter rest period and the introduction of my monthly newsletter (sign up for it...

Woof, what a year it's been! Today we're wrapping up season 2, so I decided it's time to reflect on what's happened this year as well as give you an idea of what's to come in 2024 (specifically with season 3). As always, reach out to me on Instagram @shhh_imlearning to let me know what you thought about the show, and consider buying me a coffee if you want to see me continuously improve my content...

My guest today is Alexandria Robinson, the host and creator of the Insecurities about Language podcast. Alexandria’s podcast talks about her journey with the European Portuguese language and is a space for talking about language insecurities and people’s relationship to languages that form a part of their identity but they don’t speak them for one reason or another. Alexandria has a passion to lea...

Hello, and welcome back to Shhh! I’m Learning. My guest today is Kelli Connell. Kelli has been working with languages in various professional capacities for the past decade. From translator to project manager, her passion for all things languages and etymology is indisputable. She’s also what one might consider an outspoken introvert (soo…ambivert? She's not 100% sure at the moment, and that's oka...

Today's interview is with Barbara Czusz of @babs.speaks . Barbara is a language lover whose biggest love is the Finnish language. She created her studygram (previously @yoffelanguages) to meet others who share her passion. Besides that, she is a language coach who helps learners create structure and a good plan for their studies. She believes that everyone can learn a language and there is no such...

Today's interview is with Emily Harris, creator of the Mindful Multilinguals Collective and Language Travel Adoptee YouTube channel . As you'll hear today, Emily is passionate about language advice and habits that are good not just for your brain but also for your heart and your soul. Language learning isn't just about memorizing words and grammatical structures for Emily; it's about seeing yourse...