Speaking Tongues Podcast: Celebrating Voices, Stories, and Flavors From Around the Globe

Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we are excited to welcome Janine Lutchman-Nkouetang, a passionate foreign language educator and writer whose work  intersects culture, identity, and heritage. As a co-editor and contributing author of the book series "Unearthing Traditions: Stories of Language and Culture," Janine shares her insights on the importance of storyte...

Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we are thrilled to welcome Elizabeth Ellis, a pioneering figure in the revival of the Cornish language. As the second ever paid officer dedicated to promoting Cornish following its official recognition by the UK government in 2002, Elizabeth has played a crucial role in standardizing the language and fostering its use across various cultu...

Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we are joined by Nick Panzarella, an Italian American language activist dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the Sicilian language. Based in Houston, Texas, Nick serves as the president of the American branch of Cademia Siciliana and is actively raising his son in Sicilian. Together with his wife, he is set to publish a bilingua...

Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we are speaking with Dani James, a native New Yorker with a rich multilingual background, having grown up in Belgium speaking French, Flemish, and various other languages. Dani is the translator of the award-winning memoir "Return to the Place I Never Left" by Tobias Schiff, a powerful narrative that recounts the experiences of...

Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we are talking with Iliana Franco Alvarenga, a passionate Guaraní translator and linguistic activist. Iliana shares her journey of growing up in Paraguay, embracing her heritage language Guaraní, and the complexities of translating it in a world often dominated by hegemonic languages. We’re exploring the linguistic features of Guaraní, it...

Hello Language Lovers!  In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we are speaking about the power of multilingualism in the global tourism industry with Ambra Attus, a seasoned tourism professional with over 25 years of experience. Originally from Italy and now based in the Dominican Republic, Ambra is a passionate advocate for sustainable tourism practices that foster positive change for both traveler...

Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we are thrilled to welcome Mikhl Yashinsky, a Yiddish playwright, performer, translator, and teacher currently based in New York City. Born in Detroit, Mikhl's connection to the Yiddish language runs deep, rooted in the heritage passed down from his grandparents. Mikhl shares his experiences as a Yiddishist and how this shaped his pas...

Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we sit down with Massimiliano Canzanella, a passionate advocate for the Neapolitan language and its speakers. Since 2001, he has been at the forefront of initiatives aimed at the desegregation of Neapolitan and the recognition of its cultural significance within Italy. From proposing a bill for minority language inclusion to publishing li...

Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we are joined by Grace Brown, a passionate Maori wahine and 2025 Winston Churchill Fellow, who is dedicated to bridging cultures through innovation and media. Currently situated in Aotearoa, Grace explores how New Zealand Sign Language, emerging technologies, and cultural insights can enhance communication and accessibility in her homelan...

Hello Language Lovers! On this episode of Speaking Tongues, I’m thrilled to chat with Saeng Douangdara, a passionate content creator and personal chef dedicated to sharing the rich flavors and stories of Lao cuisine through his platform, Saeng's Kitchen. As a first-generation Lao American, Sang’s culinary journey is deeply intertwined with his cultural heritage, and he aims to inspire others t...

Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we have the pleasure of speaking with Tochi Precious, a dedicated program manager and language advocate with a wealth of experience in the Wikimedia movement. She is the co-founder of the Igbo Wikimedians User Group and currently serves as a Wikimedian in Residence at Wikitongues, where she works at the intersection of open knowledge, ind...

Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we are excited to welcome Katerina Manoff, founder and CEO of ENGin, a global nonprofit dedicated to connecting Ukrainian English learners with volunteers for meaningful conversation and cultural exchange. Katerina shares her inspiring journey from her early life in Kyiv, where she grew up speaking both Russian and Ukrainian, to her curre...

Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, I’m thrilled to welcome Katrin, the creator behind Slow Swedish, the #1 Swedish language account on Instagram. As the host of the Learn Swedish and Slow Swedish with Katrin podcasts, she bridges the gap between traditional language learning apps and authentic spoken Swedish. Katrin shares her language journey from growing up in Sweden wit...

Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues we're having a joyous and heartfelt conversation with Ryan Samn, the writer, creator, and educator behind the Instagram account All Things Cambodian.  Ryan talks with us about his multicultural background,he reflects on the complexities of language and culture,and we discuss his experiences learning Khmer and the emotional connections...

Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we are so thrilled to welcome Cleyvis Natera, the acclaimed author of "Neruda on the Park"  to talk about Dominican Spanish language and her latest novel "The Grand Paloma Resort" which is out August 12!  Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in New York City, Cleyvis shares her journey as a writer and the cultural nuances of both pla...

Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, I’m so excited to welcome Dr. Erin McNulty, a researcher specializing in the sociolinguistics of minoritized languages at the University of Glasgow.  I’m so excited that we’re finally getting a chance to talk about Manx and I hope you are too because this is a very linguistics & language revitalization focused episode.  Our conversati...

Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, I am so very honored to talk with Ra Jikotea Niaku'no, a Taino Boricua artist and educator, about Taino language, culture, and heritage. Ra shares her journey, rooted in the islands of Borikén (which you also may know as Puerto Rico), as she navigates the complexities of identity and language in a post-colonial context. Throughout our...

Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we are thrilled to welcome Paul, a Syrian-American author and musician based in Philadelphia. In this episode, we’re talking about his fascinating journey navigating his cultural identity through language, music, and food. Paul shares his experiences growing up in Texas’s linguistic landscape, the challenges of maintaining his Arabic, and...

Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we are thrilled to welcome back the endlessly talented and effortlessly cool Desta Haile, founder and director of Languages Through Music. With a rich background in music and multicultural experiences, Desta shares how her journey through various languages has shaped her identity and teaching philosophy. This is our second chat with Desta...

Hello Language Lovers!  In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we’re so excited to be talking with Kambai about the Tyap language. Kambai hails from the Middle Belt (central) of Nigeria. He is a minoritized language advocate and speaks the Tyap language.  Between 2007 and 2020, he developed a writing system called the Akai script for the Nenzit languages. In June 2014, he started the Tyap Language I...

Hello Language Lovers!  In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we’re so excited to welcome language enthusiast, teacher, freelancer and card game extraordinaire Tiara to talk about her language journey through Latin, Ancient Greek & Korean. For this conversation, Tiara joined us all the way from Daegu in South Korea.  Tiara discusses the challenges and joys of learning multiple languages, includ...

Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we are SO thrilled to welcome French singer-songwriter Mike Ibrahim, a multifaceted artist whose work intertwines the intimate and the political. With a poetic lens, Mike discusses his upcoming LP, La Ballade de Salvatore Lupo, which explores themes of memory, belonging, and the coexistence of life and death through his unique experiences...

Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we dive into the intricate world of bilingualism and translation with Melanie Marquez Adams and Emily Hunsberger, author and translator respectively of Wonderland, a collection of crónicas, essays, and experimental texts. Melanie Márquez Adams is an Ecuadorian American writer. She is the author of two collections of short stories and two...

Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we’re discussing the linguistic and cultural heritage of Galicia with Dani, a passionate Galician language teacher and content creator. Dani shares his journey of embracing his bilingual identity and the challenges faced while navigating the complexities of Galician and Spanish in a rapidly changing linguistic landscape. In this episode w...

In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we embark on a fascinating journey through the linguistic and cultural tapestry of Nigeria with Raphael, a multilingual storyteller and podcaster. Raphael shares his unique experiences growing up in Jos, Nigeria, navigating the complexities of language and identity amidst a rich backdrop of diverse cultures. In this episode we discuss: 🇳🇬 Raphael's first la...