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

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

Author: Fluent in 3 Months December 3, 2025 Duration: 6:52

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: @irishpolyglot
Thread: @irishpolyglot
TikTok: @irishpolyglot


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: en-us Episodes: 100

Language & Travel Hacking
Podcast Episodes
Moving abroad: What to think about (part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:30
In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, host Benny Lewis dives into part two of his guide to preparing for a potential move abroad. Building on the previous episode's core tips, Benny emphasizes the i…
Moving abroad: What to think about (part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:29
In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking podcast, Benny Lewis dives into the essentials of planning a move abroad. Inspired by recent conversations with listeners and current events, Benny shares his insights o…
Improving language skills through learning other new things [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:45
In this episode, Benny shares a unique approach to language learning while traveling: enrolling in local classes for non-language subjects. Benny explains that by taking lessons in activities like dancing, cooking, or ev…
Several tools to share your travel itinerary [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:39
In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, Benny dives into tools for sharing travel itineraries, inspired by his friend Derek Sivers. Benny discusses why sharing travel plans can be useful for friends a…
Using travel to get in shape [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:37
In this episode, Benny shares his inspiring journey of losing 20kg (44lbs) through travel. After reaching 120kg (265lbs) and feeling stuck in unhealthy habits, Benny chose to reset his routine by traveling to the remote…
How I became a polyglot [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:14
In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, Benny revisits the story of how he became a polyglot. He shares his early struggles with maintaining multiple languages, especially during his time learning Spa…
Travel Health Hacks: Avoiding and Managing Illness on the Road [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:55
In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, host Benny Lewis dives into the challenges of staying healthy while traveling. Drawing from 21 years of travel experience, Benny shares his personal stories of…
Escaping Depression? Why Travel Isn't the Answer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:33
In this episode, Benny Lewis shares a personal story about the misconception that travel can cure depression. Reflecting on his own struggles with divorce, clinical depression, and burnout in 2019, Benny explains how he…
Getting detained by the Federal Police: Travel mishap story [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:07
In this episode, Benny shares two stories of his experiences trying to extend his stay in Brazil, one in 2006 and the other more recently. The first time, things didn’t go so well. Benny, still new to traveling, didn’t d…
Area codes around the world to help with your travels [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:42
In this episode, Benny explores how knowing area codes can enhance travel experiences and even improve social interactions. When traveling, recognizing phone numbers based on area codes, particularly on apps like WhatsAp…