Agile Localization

In this episode of The Agile Localization Podcast, host Stefan Huyghe is joined by Szymon Metkowski, the Language and UX Consultant at Metkowski translations, to discuss what UX-aware localization really looks like in practice, including why microcopy can make or break first impressions, how UI constraints collide with grammar and culture, and why bringing linguists into the design phase prevents broken layouts, awkward phrasing, and costly retrofits later.

What You’ll Learn

• How to reframe localization from a post-launch afterthought into a core product strategy
• Why including linguists in the design phase prevents costly UI breakdowns
• The practical framework for AI-assisted localization
• Why microcopy failures represent the highest-impact localization errors and require cultural embedment
• How to measure localization success using native product metrics
  
  

Szymon Metkowski is the Language and UX Consultant at Metkowski translations, bringing over two decades of experience in the language industry. He specializes in UX localization, cultural adaptation, and the integration of AI and language management systems into translation workflows.

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube Podcasts, instructions on how to do this are here.

Agile Localization is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so 

In this episode of The Agile Localization Podcast, host Stefan Huyghe sits down with Martina Russo, founder of The Action Sports Translator, to explore why authentic localization in outdoor sports demands lived experience, cultural fluency, and deep technical understanding.

What You’ll Learn

• Why outdoor and action sports require niche localization expertise
• How lived experience shapes authenticity in translated content
• Where generalist localization breaks down in high-risk, technical industries
• How cultural nuance differs across outdoor markets and sports
• Why inclusive language matters in outdoor brand communication
• How specialized teams and workflows outperform volume-driven models
• Where AI fits into creative and technical localization without replacing humans
• How social media presence builds trust and attracts aligned clients
  
  

Martina Russo is the founder of The Action Sports Translator, a localization agency built for outdoor, running, and cycling brands. With over a decade in localization and a background in SaaS, she created the agency to solve a simple problem: outdoor brands need partners who truly understand their world. Martina leads a global team of translators and writers who are also athletes and adventurers, bringing lived experience into every project. Since 2018, her team has helped global outdoor brands grow across markets with authentic, culturally fluent content that stays true to their voice.

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube Podcasts, instructions on how to do this are here.


Agile Localization is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so 

In this episode of The Agile Localization Podcast, host Stefan Huyghe is joined by Anna Barcons Folguera, Localization Executive at SafetyCulture, to discuss how localization directly supports frontline safety, operational clarity, and global product adoption.

What You’ll Learn

• How localization supports frontline safety and compliance at scale
• Why tone and cultural nuance matter in safety software
• How mobile-first constraints shape localized UX copy
• Where localization data signals market expansion opportunities
• How SafetyCulture balances AI acceleration with human review
• Why localization works best when embedded early in product design
  
  

Anna Barcons Folguera is a localization leader with a foundation in translation and interpreting and experience helping organizations expand into global markets. Before joining SafetyCulture as Localization Executive, she worked across software, apps, games, and website content, bringing linguistic strategy into product experiences that resonate across languages and cultures. At SafetyCulture, Anna leads the localization function with a focus on clarity, UX relevance, and real-world safety outcomes for frontline workers and global teams. Her work bridges language quality with product design and cultural insight to ensure localized experiences support operational safety and global adoption.

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube Podcasts, instructions on how to do this are here.


Agile Localization is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so 

In this special December compilation episode, The Agile Localization Podcast by Crowdin celebrates its one-year anniversary with a curated highlight reel from some of the most insightful conversations of the past 12 months. Throughout the year, localization leaders, developers, product managers, and linguists shared how they’re building scalable, developer-friendly, and future-ready localization programs.

From GitHub-driven workflows and flexible roles to GenAI-powered translation, design-localization collaboration, and exceptional customer support, one theme consistently emerged: localization works best when it’s fast, integrated, and built for real teams.

What You’ll Learn

• How to eliminate developer bottlenecks by establishing a single source of truth for translations
• Why GitHub integrations matter for scaling
• How role-based access controls enable distributed teams to work in parallel while maintaining project governance and security
• The practical advantage of viewing translations across languages simultaneously
• Why responsive, knowledgeable support directly impacts adoption speed
• How workflow customization prevents localization from becoming a rigid bottleneck
• Why AI-powered features work best when they're transparent and configurable
  
  

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube Podcasts, instructions on how to do this are here.Agile Localization is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so 

In this episode of The Agile Localization Podcast, host Stefan Huyghe is joined by Jaap van der Meer, Founder and CEO of TAUS, to discuss how EPIC, the company’s new quality estimation and automatic post-editing system, is transforming localization workflows.

What You’ll Learn

• How to achieve 50% immediate efficiency gains
  
  
• Why combining quality estimation with automatic post-editing
  
  
• The distinction between machine-driven quality assessment and human expertise
  
  
• How to build custom QE models
  
  
• Why quality data transforms from cost reporting to business intelligence
  
  

Jaap van der Meer is the Founder and CEO of TAUS, a leading language technology company specializing in translation quality estimation and automatic post-editing solutions. With over two decades of experience in the localization industry since founding TAUS in 2005, he has established the company as one of only two pure-play quality estimation providers globally, as recognized by Gartner's 2024 market analysis.

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube Podcasts, instructions on how to do this are here.

Agile Localization is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so 

In this episode of The Agile Localization Podcast, host Stefan Huyghe sits down with Shashi Bhushan, a Localization Workflow Strategist, to unpack what makes modern workflows efficient, adaptable, and human-friendly, how AI agents can enhance your translation workflows, and the critical role of human-in-the-loop processes in maintaining quality across languages.

What You'll Learn:

• How to map your localization workflow before selecting AI tools
  
  
• Why the AI source text agent should be your first deployment
  
  
• How to involve engineering and product teams from day one
  
  
• Why GDPR and data privacy concerns require on-premises AI models
  
  
• The pilot approach to AI adoption
  
  

Shashi Bhushan is a Localization Workflow Strategist and freelance consultant with vast experience designing AI-enhanced localization processes at enterprise-scale organizations. Originally trained as a journalist in India, Shashi transitioned into localization through work on Marvel Comics content and held key vendor roles at Google and Amazon, where he managed localization across multiple languages and products, including Google Maps, Search, and Payments. His expertise centers on workflow mapping and human-in-the-loop AI integration, specifically designing systems where AI agents handle repetitive quality tasks.

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube Podcasts, instructions on how to do this are here.

Agile Localization is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so 

In this episode of The Agile Localization Podcast, host Stefan Huyghe sits down with Jan Amann, Internationalization Expert and Creator of next-intl, to explore how developers can architect multilingual applications that actually scale. Drawing on five years of open-source work and insights from building an internationalization course, Jan breaks down the misconceptions developers face when tackling i18n and shares practical frameworks for avoiding costly mistakes.

What You'll Learn:

• Why developers fundamentally misunderstand internationalization scope
• How to distinguish between multilingual and multiregional strategy from the start
• The performance optimization strategy that keeps runtime costs flat regardless of language count
• Why pseudo-localization and manual testing with native speakers are non-negotiable
• How to integrate AI and translation management systems into your CI pipeline for agility
  
  

Jan Amann is an independent internationalization expert and freelance developer based in Austria, best known for creating next-intl, an open-source internationalization library for Next.js, and developing a comprehensive online course on internationalization development. With five years of hands-on experience building multilingual applications and consulting with developers across the globe, he brings deep technical expertise in solving real-world localization challenges.

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube Podcasts, instructions on how to do this are here.



Agile Localization is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so 

In this episode of The Agile Localization Podcast, host Stefan Huyghe is joined by Andy Andersen, Growth Product Manager of International Expansion at Brave, to share practical aspects of scaling multilingual experiences in the age of AI. Andy shares Brave's approach to integrating LLMs strategically into localization workflows, from building prompt libraries to choosing the right content streams for automation.

Talk to an expert: https://crowdin.com/demo-request?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show-notes&utm_campaign=the-agile-localization-podcast-ep21

Try Crowdin: https://l.crowdin.com/bqh2qNj?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show-notes&utm_campaign=the-agile-localization-podcast-ep21

What You’ll Learn

• How to strategically implement AI in localization workflows by focusing on specific content types and building proper guardrails
• The framework for scaling localization teams through Language Growth Managers
• Why AI should enhance rather than replace human expertise in localization
• How to structure and manage global teams across 50+ languages while maintaining quality and efficiency
• The Hyper-Localization approach to making products feel truly native in each market
• How to optimize app store presence across multiple languages while balancing ASO potential and translation complexity
  
  

Andy Andersen is the Growth Product Manager of International Expansion at Brave, where he leads localization strategies across more than 50 languages for a user base exceeding 100 million. With over a decade of experience in the localization industry, including significant roles at Tinder and Speechify, Andy specializes in building sustainable international growth programs and scaling localization workflows. He has pioneered innovative approaches to team management, including the development of the Language Growth Manager role, which transforms traditional linguistic positions into strategic growth-focused roles.

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube Podcasts, instructions on how to do this are here.
Agile Localization is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so 

In this episode of The Agile Localization Podcast, host Stefan Huyghe is joined by Kim Tran, Director of Digital Experience at Riskified, to share insights about the massive multilingual website project that took her team from zero localized content to 396 pages in under two years.

Talk to an expert: https://crowdin.com/demo-request

Try Crowdin: https://l.crowdin.com/bqh2qNj 

What You’ll Learn

• How to select a localization vendor based on key criteria
• How to secure executive buy-in through data-driven presentations and demonstrable ROI metrics
• Why Japanese markets require special attention in localization strategy and direct human translation
• The proven process for managing technical challenges in multilingual website deployment
• How to balance AI translation with human review for optimal content quality
• The essential steps for scaling localization efforts across multiple languages while maintaining quality
• Why proper technical integration and setup are crucial before starting translation work
  
  

Kim Tran is the Director of Digital Experience at Riskified, bringing over 15 years of expertise in web management and development across SaaS and insurance companies. As the project lead for Riskified's multilingual website initiative, she successfully orchestrated a complex localization effort involving multiple departments, external vendors, and regional teams. Her strategic approach to implementing Crowdin as their translation management system, while managing a strict budget and timeline, has resulted in significant growth in international markets, particularly in Japan.

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube Podcasts, instructions on how to do this are here.Agile Localization is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so 

In this episode of The Agile Localization Podcast, host Stefan Huyghe is joined by Brett Domeny, a Senior Group Product Manager at Webflow, to discuss how no-code platforms are transforming web development, localization, and international market expansion.

Check the Crowdin x Webflow connector: https://l.crowdin.com/jv8Y2RK

Talk to an expert: https://crowdin.com/demo-request

Try Crowdin: https://l.crowdin.com/bqh2qNj 

What You’ll Learn

• How no-code platforms like Webflow enable comprehensive website localization without sacrificing customization or scalability
• Why the end-to-end localization approach goes beyond simple translation
• How to balance developer resources in a no-code environment while maximizing their strategic value
• The framework for deciding when to build internal solutions versus integrating third-party tools
• Why visual development tools and AI are reshaping how teams create and manage multilingual web experiences
  
  

Brett Domeny is a Senior Group Product Manager at Webflow, where he has spent five years helping build innovative no-code solutions for web development. With vast experience in product management and platform development, he leads strategic initiatives focused on making development capabilities accessible to everyone. Brett specializes in enterprise-level no-code solutions, internationalization, and localization strategies, having helped shape Webflow's end-to-end localization approach.

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube Podcasts, instructions on how to do this are here.Agile Localization is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so