#101 Scott Brills on World Travel & Language Survival Basics

#101 Scott Brills on World Travel & Language Survival Basics

Author: Fluent in 3 Months May 30, 2022 Duration: 44:38

World traveler, tour coordinator, and language learner, Scott Brills, joins Benny Lewis and Shannon Kennedy to chat about “faking” comprehension, deep-diving into cultural experiences, and cross-country adventures around the world.

Scott has an impressive travel résumé having taken part in the Mongol Rally, traversing India in a rickshaw, and building a business that provides travelers with rich cultural immersion experiences. If you’re interested in travel, living abroad, or multicultural entrepreneurship, this is the episode for you.

Mentioned in this Episode

Patreon Extended Episode

Enjoy the podcast? Subscribe to our Patreon to get access to extended episodes and loads more content. Here’s what you’ll hear in the long-form episode:

  • Dealing with the logistics of building work and making a living in other countries
  • Scott’s ideal language learning routine
  • Scott’s 3 Language Survival Resources
  • How to fit in language learning as a busy entrepreneur
  • What the hosts’ favorite languages are
  • What languages the hosts struggled with most
  • Memorable gaffs the hosts made in their languages

Learn more and access this bonus content on Patreon.

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

  • Living abroad at a young age in Japan
  • Combatting loneliness and fear of living alone in another country
  • How to get through the roadblocks along the path to fluency
  • Why you sometimes just need to be thrown into the deep end
  • Running culinary tours in Japan and safaris in Tanzania
  • Taking part in the Mongol Rally, driving through 16 countries for charity and learning to rely on the support of strangers
  • Traveling across India in a rickshaw on three different occasions
  • Learning a language by “faking” comprehension
  • Gaining the confidence to approach complete strangers in another language

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy


There’s a certain magic that happens when you step off a plane and try to order a meal in a language you’re still fumbling through, or when a simple conversation with a stranger on a train opens up an entirely new perspective. Language & Travel Hacking, from the team behind Fluent in 3 Months, lives in those messy, authentic, and profoundly rewarding moments. Host Benny Lewis, a nomadic polyglot and best-selling author, doesn’t just theorize from a studio; he records from the road, sharing raw, real-time experiences and the practical strategies that actually work when you’re navigating a foreign market or building confidence in a new tongue. Each episode feels like a candid chat with a well-traveled friend who’s made all the mistakes so you don’t have to. You’ll hear the sounds of street markets and train stations in the background as Benny breaks down the psychology of language learning, offers actionable tips for picking up phrases quickly, and discusses how travel itself can be the ultimate classroom. This podcast is built on the idea that fluency and cultural connection aren’t distant goals reserved for the gifted, but accessible skills you can hack through smart, intentional practice. It’s for anyone who believes that the deepest way to explore a place is through its language, and that every journey is an opportunity to reshape how you see the world-and yourself. Tune in for honest stories and tangible advice that will change how you approach your next adventure, whether it’s across the globe or right in your own neighborhood.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 271

Language & Travel Hacking
Podcast Episodes
Update and my daily routine during my Chinese project [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:48
In this episode, I give an update on my Mandarin progress after spending a month in Taiwan. I explain how I quickly regained enough confidence to handle everyday conversations, although my first social speaking attempt w…
Are you not ready yet, or is the situation what’s wrong? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:53
I shared how reactivating my Mandarin has put me in an unusual stage of language learning: I am far beyond beginner level, but still rusty enough that real social situations can feel overwhelming. At one language exchang…
Wrapping up Malaysia and Brunei [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:47
In this episode, I look back on the final weeks of my journey through Malaysia and Brunei before starting my new adventure in Taipei. Malaysia turned out to be an incredible experience. Thanks to my background in Indones…
Benny's next language project [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:10
In this episode, I’m announcing a return to one of my core languages: Mandarin. Earlier this year I focused on a short-term project in a brand-new country, but now I’m shifting back to a long-term priority. Mandarin has…
My 50th country! But, what's the right number to visit? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:54
In this episode, I mark my arrival in my 50th country and reflect on what that number really means. After more than two decades of nomadic life, I’ve averaged about two countries per year. Some travellers race through do…
Life challenges that made me a better language learner [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:59
In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking podcast, I share how two childhood challenges, hearing issues and speech difficulties, ultimately gave me an advantage as a language learner. Growing up, I rarely unders…
How ADHD made me a better language learner [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:55
In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, I share how ADHD, something that once made me feel like I was terrible at languages, has actually become one of my greatest strengths as a learner. Although I w…
Kicking off my Malay/Malaysian adventure [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:23
In this episode, I’m checking in from Kuala Lumpur to kick off my first language and travel project of the year: using Malay to enrich my experience as I travel through Malaysia. I talk about how closely related Malay an…
End of year language boost [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:50
In this episode, I share an update on my end of year language boost after a very multilingual December. I talk about how I fully reactivated my Irish through local meetups in my hometown, without needing to travel to a m…