Language & Travel Hacking

• Benny's next travel/language project is...

  I’m kicking off this episode by checking in from Ireland, where I’ve been doubling down on my Irish through meet-ups, tech immersion, and plenty of telly. This is the first stage of a longer journey that will involve several trips back and forth, all with the aim of finally becoming truly fluent in the language. After Christmas I’ll make my usual pilgrimage to the Esperanto Youth Week in Germany, brushing up my German just enough to avoid sounding too rusty outside the event. But the real excitement begins straight after that, when I launch into my next major travel and language project for 2026: exploring Malaysia. Since Malay is almost entirely mutually intelligible with Indonesian, which I reached a solid conversational level in earlier this year, I’ll be able to hit the ground running with a huge head start.My plan is to spend about two months travelling throughout both Western and Eastern Malaysia, revisiting Borneo from a different angle and hopefully making a short stop in Brunei as well. I know I won’t need much Malay in Kuala Lumpur, but the moment I hit the road, the language will unlock all those deeper cultural experiences I value so much. If I make it to Brunei, it will even mark my fiftieth country in more than two decades of nomadic living. I’m excited to return to Asia in mid-January, spend a week or two in Indonesia to warm up, and then dive headfirst into this new adventure. As always, I’ll share tips for anyone planning a fresh language project in the new year, along with plenty of updates from the road. If you need one-on-one language guidance, schedule a consultation session with me at languagehacking.com/chat.And don’t forget to check out the Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp here!Or you can follow me on all Social Media channels:Instagram: @irishpolyglotThread: @irishpolyglotTikTok: @irishpolyglot

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• How I’m immersing myself in Irish… in Texas!

  In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, I share how I’m immersing myself in the Irish language even while living in Texas. Since I’ll be heading back to Ireland for a month and a half, I want to rebuild momentum with my Irish studies, and that means using what I call “virtual immersion.” I fill my daily life with Irish as much as possible, no matter where I am. I listen to Irish podcasts every day, study with my Anki flashcards, and spend time reviewing Irish grammar through books. I also watch plenty of Irish TV on TG4, choosing Irish subtitles to strengthen the connection between spoken and written words. On top of that, I’ve created separate TikTok and Instagram accounts for Irish-only content, training the algorithms to show me nothing but Irish posts and even posting my own content in the language.Beyond listening and studying, I’ve changed my entire digital environment to Irish. My computer and phone interfaces are completely in Irish, and even my smartwatch gives me stats in the language while I jog. I also join online Irish-speaking meetups and use apps that connect me with other speakers nearby, giving me real conversation opportunities from anywhere. All of this helps me live and think in Irish throughout the day, and I’m already feeling close to where I was when I last lived in an Irish-speaking region. Virtual immersion has helped me get back into the rhythm of the language, and I believe anyone can do the same. If I can fully immerse myself in Irish while in Texas, you can absolutely do it with your target language too.Mentioned in this episode:My Main InstagramIlteangach – My Irish Language InstagramGaeilge Bhríste – Irish Content on TikTokGaelGoer – App for Finding Irish SpeakersTG4 – Irish-Language TV ChannelIf you need one-on-one language guidance, schedule a consultation session with me at languagehacking.com/chat.And don’t forget to check out the Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp here!Or you can follow me on all Social Media channels:Instagram: @irishpolyglotThread: @irishpolyglotTikTok: @irishpolyglot

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• My story with the Irish language

  In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, I share my story with the Irish language, from struggling through boring school lessons to finally reconnecting with it as an adult. In the 90s, Irish was taught in a very academic and grammar-heavy way, so despite ten years of “learning,” I could barely say a few phrases after school. Years later, after learning Spanish, Italian, and French, a French friend asked me, “Do you speak your own country’s language?” That question made me realize how disconnected I was from my roots and inspired me to give Irish another chance.I joined an adult immersion program called Oideas Gael, where I spent six weeks learning through morning lessons, Irish dancing, singing, and hill walking. That experience completely changed my relationship with the language and helped me reach a conversational B1 level. Since then, I’ve spoken Irish in Dublin, Galway, and even at events around the world, proudly using it wherever I can. Now, after 15 years based in the US, I’m preparing to move back to Ireland, reactivate my skills, and finally work toward fluency. Stay tuned for updates, and as always, happy language learning and happy travels!Mentioned in this episode:- Oideas GaelIf 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 me on all Social Media channels:Instagram: @irishpolyglotThread: @irishpolyglotTikTok: @irishpolyglot

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• Life in the US and visiting all 48 contiguous states

  In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, I share a deeply personal and reflective look at my life in the United States and my journey to visiting all 48 contiguous states. I talk about how my fascination with America began through films and TV shows, and how, as a young Irish student, I first arrived in the States on a J-1 visa to work in upstate New York. Over the years, I returned multiple times, living, working, falling in love, and even getting married and divorced in the country. I discuss the cultural differences I noticed between Europe and the U.S., from tipping culture to entrepreneurship, and how, despite my early criticisms, I ended up calling America home for many years. It has been a place of both incredible opportunity and intense challenges, where I built my business, explored countless landscapes, and gained an intimate understanding of life across the country.As I reflect on my decision to visit every U.S. state (excluding Hawaii and Alaska for now), I talk about what it really means to experience a place, not just pass through it. I stayed in each state long enough to form connections and truly understand local life, from the deserts of Texas to the forests of Oregon. I share my awe at America’s vast natural beauty, the kindness of people I’ve met, and the contrasts that define the country, from its breathtaking freedom to its daunting costs. With rising prices and health care concerns, I explain why I plan to move my base back to Europe soon, but I remain grateful beyond words for my time in the U.S. It has shaped who I am today and given me a lifetime’s worth of stories, friendships, and insights. I wrap up by thanking all the Americans who have made me feel welcome on this journey and by looking ahead to new travels and language adventures in the years to come.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 me on all Social Media channels:Instagram: @irishpolyglotThread: @irishpolyglotTikTok: @irishpolyglot

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• Language updates: ASL and... Irish!

  In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, I share an update on my current language projects. After wrapping up a major travel project in the U.S., I’ve been refreshing my American Sign Language (ASL). I’ve attended events and meetups across several states, and for the next six weeks, I’ll be in Austin, Texas—home to the Texas School for the Deaf—where I’ll have plenty of chances to practice and use what I’ve been studying online.With ASL shifting into a practice phase, I’m turning my active learning focus back to Irish. After my stay in the U.S., I’ll return to Ireland for about a month and a half to strengthen my conversational skills and prepare for future fluency. Until then, I’ll be studying and taking online lessons so I’m ready to practice in person once I’m back. I’ll keep you posted on both projects, and in the next episode, I’ll talk about wrapping up my big travel adventure.If you need one-on-one language guidance, schedule a consultation session with me at languagehacking.com/chat.And don’t forget to check out the Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp here!Or you can follow me on all Social Media channels:Instagram: @irishpolyglotThread: @irishpolyglotTikTok: @irishpolyglot

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