Travel update: 4 new US states

Travel update: 4 new US states

Author: Fluent in 3 Months August 12, 2025 Duration: 5:57

Over the past month, I reached my 44th state, Colorado, which I’d been looking forward to visiting for a long time. I gave myself a whole month there to truly experience it—running races, hiking in the mountains, exploring towns like Boulder and Denver, and meeting many wonderful people, including opportunities to practice my American Sign Language. Now, I’m ready for the next stage of my US states project. I’ll fly to Chicago, not a new state for me since I lived there years ago while learning Klingon for a Star Trek convention, but it’s the perfect hub to start this leg of the trip. From there, I’ll drive to Iowa, my 45th state, to explore Des Moines and the bridges of Madison County, then head to Minnesota (state 46) to spend a week in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul.

After that, I’ll continue to Wisconsin, my 47th state, where I’ll spend over a month. I’ll start in Milwaukee, then settle into Madison, a city I’ve heard is walkable and perfect for my European-style preferences. By the time I finish Wisconsin, I’ll only have one state left in the contiguous US Michigan which I’ll visit before returning my rental car to Chicago in October. Along the way, I’m prioritizing meeting people, practicing languages, and especially improving my ASL by connecting with deaf communities. This next month will be all about deep experiences in these four new states before the big finale of my 48-state journey.

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: @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: English Episodes: 271

Language & Travel Hacking
Podcast Episodes
#74 Stephen Krashen on the Comprehensible Input Method [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:54
Linguist and professional researcher joins Benny Lewis and Shannon Kennedy to discuss comprehensible input, compelling input, and language acquisition.Stephen Krashen is a professor emeritus who is well-known for his wor…
#72 Jeremy Bardo on Going Viral in Another Language [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:13
Benny Lewis and Shannon Kennedy chat with musician and translator Jeremy Bardo about his experience going viral with a Spanish language music video. We also discuss the myth of the language gene and finding joy in embarr…
#71 Brittany Williams’ 90 Day Japanese Challenge [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:12
This episode features Brittany, who learned conversational Japanese in just 90 days with the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge.We actually guarantee that anyone who completes the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge will have a 15-mi…
Ask Benny: How Can I Speak Zero English in a Language Lesson? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:25
As a beginner, the idea of having a lesson where you only speak your target language can seem impossible. Benny shares some great ideas and resources that you can use to avoid your native language and start as you mean t…
#70 Herr Professor on How Engineers Approach Language Learning [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:48
In this episode of the Language Hacking Podcast, Benny Lewis and Shannon Kennedy talk to Manuel of “Herr Professor” about growing up multilingual, teaching German, and how engineers approach language learning.Featured Re…
#69 Sara Maria Hasbun on the Psychology of Language Learning [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:02
Sara Maria Hasbun, founder of Meridian Linguistics, shares about psycholinguistics, working in the language industry, and “extreme” language learning.Featured ResourcesMeridian LanguagesGlossikaMentioned in this EpisodeM…
Ask Benny: How Can I Start Reading in My Target Language? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:44
Reading in your new language can be a daunting task, but Benny has some great advice this week for taking it one step at a time. By starting small and building up gradually, you'll make steady progress. There are so many…
#68 Anthony Metivier on Building a Magnetic Memory [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:55
“Warrior of the mind” Anthony Metivier chats with Shannon Kennedy and Benny Lewis about his Brain Exercise Bootcamp and memory strategies for language learners.Featured ResourcesBrain Exercise BootcampMentioned in this E…