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’s not just about adding new ones indefinitely. Instead, I’ve found ways to rotate focus, whether that’s dedicating a day per language or devoting longer blocks of time to immersion—like my recent deep dive into Spanish and Portuguese during travels across South America.

But I also get real about the challenges, especially with my weaker long-term languages—the ones I’ve invested in but haven’t brought to fluency. Those languages have slipped over time, and I’m now shifting my strategy for 2025: no new languages, no focus on the fluent ones. I’m giving my full attention to getting at least one of my weaker languages to a solid B2 level. That means dedicating two-month stretches to each, combining both virtual study and real-world use during my upcoming travels. I’ll be sharing more details on the specific languages and destinations soon, so stay tuned—and as always, I hope these insights help you build your own multilingual life. Let me know if you'd like a quick

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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 Sulawesi, from Borneo to Sumatra, I’ve had the privilege of immersing myself in the warmth and curiosity of Indonesians, many of whom had never spoken to a foreigner before. Their friendliness, patience with my Indonesian, and openness made this a truly special experience. Travelling off the beaten path gave me unique insights into local life, far removed from the tourist-saturated corners of Bali.

I also share a realistic view of the challenges, including my vegetarian food limitations, some stomach trouble, and the unexpectedly high cost of domestic flights—especially with airlines like Lion Air, which often brought frustrations. But despite the occasional hiccup, everything else was stunningly affordable and hassle-free. My lower-intermediate Indonesian, mostly built up during a focused study phase in Bali, helped me navigate daily life, rent motorbikes, handle logistics, and even have full conversations with locals who spoke no English. For those willing to learn just a little of the language and explore beyond the usual stops, Indonesia offers a rich, rewarding adventure without the hefty price tag—especially if you travel overland and focus on fewer islands more deeply.

See all my past travels on bennylewis.com

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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 fully stand by this approach. It’s ideal for nomads and travelers who want to go deep, fast. And if you’re not hopping between languages, you can absolutely build on that foundation long term. I also share how I’ve managed to keep some languages like Portuguese alive — and why I’ve made peace with forgetting and refreshing as part of the journey.

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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 after a socially intense week in Borneo. Meanwhile, in Ibiza, I wanted to meet people but couldn’t, and that made it truly lonely. The key difference? Whether connection is accessible when you want it.

I’ve found that speaking the local language makes a massive difference in avoiding loneliness—it opens doors to meaningful interactions that many solo travellers miss. These days, I don’t need constant socialising like I did in my early twenties; I’m happy in my own company, but I also know how to make friends quickly when I want to. It’s all about balance, self-awareness, and staying open. I’ll explore the deeper philosophy of loneliness another time, but for now, I hope this episode gives a more practical answer to a question I hear so often.

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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 recent stay in Batam with $30 ocean views (just across the water from pricey Singapore), I’m finally seeing major progress in my Indonesian: I’ve begun having full, meaningful conversations and even making new friends entirely in the language — no English safety net.

Of course, the road hasn’t been smooth the entire way. I share some honest moments of confusion, including why I still struggle to catch parking fees (yes, even numbers trip me up sometimes!) and how dialect differences can make even the basics a challenge. But I’m feeling more confident than ever, just in time for the next leg of the trip — from East to West Borneo, then on to Sulawesi and Sumatra, where I’ll rarely come across other foreigners. If you’re starting your own language learning journey and want personalised advice, you can book a consultation with me here. I’d love to help you through any hurdles you’re facing — and for a limited time, I’m offering these sessions at half the usual rate.

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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 share better alternatives that actually help you make progress—like using Anki for tailored vocab, joining a community for accountability, or even switching your games into your target language. AI can still be useful to augment your learning, but it shouldn’t replace real, human input. If you’re serious about languages, it’s time to move on.

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!

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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 at languages. I come from an engineering background, and every language I’ve learnt has taken hours of daily practice, trial and error, and plenty of setbacks. I still have an accent in all my languages—and that’s perfectly fine. Languages are tools for connection, not trophies for perfection.

The only comparison that matters is you versus yesterday’s you. Improvement is about showing up consistently, not being flawless. So stop worrying about whether someone else is more “gifted”—what counts is the effort you put in today.

If you’d like more encouragement and honesty from fellow learners, check out my coaching programme here, where we share both the wins and the struggles.

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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 brief, which makes it harder to build the momentum I need to feel confident.

To break through this, I’ve decided to get back into regular speaking lessons—at least two a week—so I can rebuild that flow and trust in myself. I compare it to trying to start a car on a hill: getting going takes effort, but once you’re moving, it becomes much easier. If you're also stuck at this stage, just know it’s completely normal. With structure and consistent practice, we can push through. And if you’d like a bit of support with that, check out the Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp.

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 Benny on all Social Media channels:
Instagram: @irishpolyglot
Thread: @irishpolyglot
TikTok: @irishpolyglot