What if your office was an expedition ship in Antarctica, and your colleagues were marine biologists, ornithologists, and geologists? For German conference interpreter Luisa Bach, that's not a fantasy — it's her job.

In this episode, Luisa takes us inside a world that very few interpreters ever experience: working aboard expedition ships in Antarctica and the Arctic, interpreting for scientists and tourists while navigating Drake Passage swells, driving Zodiac boats, protecting penguins from overeager passengers, and watching whales surface right next to her boat.In this episode:How Luisa discovered and landed her dream job on an expedition shipWhat the interpreting booth looks like on a ship — and what happens when the seas get roughWhy only 100 people are allowed ashore in Antarctica at the same time

The difference between the Arctic and Antarctica as working environments

Living and working with the scientists you interpret — 12 hours a day, 40 days straightLearning to drive a Zodiac boat as part of the jobThe wildlife you encounter — penguins, whales, orcas (which are actually dolphins), polar bearsWhy AI is already replacing her subtitling work for German broadcasting

Why this kind of interpreting job is safe from AI — for nowLuisa Bach is a German conference interpreter based in Berlin. She works across simultaneous interpretation, speech-to-text interpreting, and subtitling for German broadcasting. She is a regular expedition interpreter for Hurtigruten Expeditions, working in both Antarctica and the Arctic.

What does the future look like for translators and interpreters in the age of AI? Ben Karl — President-elect of the American Translators Association and ATA-certified French to English translator — joins Alain and Brian to talk about professional associations, certification, the upcoming ATA conference in San Francisco, and what it takes to build a resilient language career today.Whether you're a translator, an interpreter, or a student just starting out, this episode is packed with practical insights on why community matters, what AI cannot replace, and how to level up your expertise in a rapidly changing profession.In this episode:How Ben went from going it alone to becoming ATA President-electWhy professional associations are only as strong as their membersThe value of certification — not just for clients, but for yourselfATA's conference in San Francisco (October 28–31, 2026) and what to expectHow interpreters fit into the ATA — and why the interpreters division is the largest in the organizationATA's strategy to promote human expertise in the age of AIJoachim Lepine's standing-room-only session at the last ATA conferenceLanguage access rights in the United States under a changing political landscapeWhat Ben would tell a 25-year-old starting a language career todayBen Karl, MBA, CT is the President-elect of the American Translators Association (ATA). He is a certified French to English translator, copywriter, and founder of BK Translation LLC. He has been an ATA board member since 2021 and holds an advanced Chinese proficiency certificate.

What does it take to truly master interpretation? In this episode, Laura Burian and Julie Johnson, both professors at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, share the knowledge behind their online courses on consecutive note-taking and mindfulness for interpreters.As the Middlebury Institute faces closure, these two courses will be taken offline on June 30th, 2026. If you've ever wanted to sharpen your note-taking skills or learn how to stay calm under pressure, now is the time.⚠️ Use discount code FOUND2026 to enroll at a reduced price — valid through June 1st, 2026.🎓 Enroll before June 30th, 2026:🔗 Note-Taking for Consecutive Interpretation: https://www.middlebury.edu/institute/academics/degree-programs/translation-interpretation/program-details/note-taking-consecutive-interpretation🔗 Mindfulness for Interpreters: https://www.middlebury.edu/institute/academics/degree-programs/translation-interpretation/program-details/mindfulness-for-interpreters📖 Resources mentioned:🔗 "River Flow" article in La Linterna del Traductor: https://lalinternadeltraductor.org/n30/wellbeing-and-optimal-performance.html🔗 Peak Performance study interviews (HKBU): https://www.youtube.com/@peak-performance-hkbu/videos🔗 Laura's TEDx Talk on interpretation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zTLg-Ax2M4In this episode:Why the Middlebury Institute is closing — and what it means for interpretation education. How consecutive note-taking works and why it's becoming a lost skillThe role of memory, attention, and brain wiring in note-taking. What mindfulness really means for interpreters under pressure. How to manage stress before, during, and after an assignment. Letting go of perfectionism without sacrificing quality. The physiology of stress — and how breathing can reset your nervous system.Why awareness is the foundation of great interpretationLaura Burian is a professor of Chinese/English translation and interpretation at the Middlebury Institute. She is the creator of the Note-Taking for Consecutive Interpretation course and an accomplished violinist.Julie Johnson, EdD is a professor at the Middlebury Institute and creator of the Mindfulness for Interpreters course. She has delivered mindfulness workshops for interpreter associations and courts internationally.Found in Interpretation is hosted by Alain Breton and Brian Bickford.📩 Contact us: [email protected]

Anna Kerod started her career as a biologist in St. Petersburg. Thirty years later, she's one of the UK's leading legal interpreters — specializing in commercial arbitration and litigation involving multi-billion dollar disputes. In between: 17 years on a massive oil and gas project in Kazakhstan, drilling rigs, minus-42 winters, and more acronyms than you can shake a stick at.In this episode, Alain and Brian talk with Anna about what it really takes to build a specialized interpretation career, what happens when a court case turns on the meaning of a single word, and why she believes the era of the generalist interpreter is over.In this episode:- How Anna went from biology to oil and gas interpretation in the 1990s- What it's like to interpret on a drilling rig in Kazakhstan — in full PPE- The transition from in-house to freelance and into commercial litigation- Being called as a witness for language-related matters in court- Why specialization is her top advice for interpreters facing AI- ISO certification, AIIC, ITI — what actually matters to clients- Common law vs. civil law and what that means for interpreters- How legal interpreters get paid — contracts, reading-in time, and cancellationsAnna Kerod is a simultaneous interpreter (Russian A, English B) with 20 years of experience. She is Vice Chair of the Institute of Translators and Interpreters (ITI) and a member of AIIC. She is based in Brighton, UK.Found in Interpretation is hosted by Alain Breton and Brian Bickford.📩 Contact us: [email protected]

What really happened inside the booths at the Nuremberg Trials?

In this episode, we sit down with Elke Limberger-Katsumi, creator and curator of the exhibition "One Trial, Four Languages," to explore the pioneering interpreters who made simultaneous interpretation possible at Nuremberg in 1945 — and why their story still matters today.We discuss how interpreters were recruited and screened, the birth of simultaneous interpretation, the role of IBM, the yellow and red light system, and the emotional toll on interpreters working through some of history's darkest testimony.🔗 One Trial, Four Languages exhibition: www.1trial-4languages.org🔗 Association managing the project: www.profession-of-interpreting.org🔗 AIIC (International Association of Conference Interpreters): www.aiic.org🔗 AIIC on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aiic🔗 World of Interpreting (Conference Interpreting - Past, Present, Future): https://www.linkedin.com/company/world-of-interpreting🎙️ Found in Interpretation PodcastHosted by Alain Breton & Brian Bickford

What if the most powerful AI you have access to… is your own brain?In this episode of Found in Interpretation, we sit down for a third time with Joachim Lepine — interpreter trainer, author, and founder of Lion Academy — to talk about his upcoming book YouGPT Before ChatGPT, releasing in late March.Joachim makes a compelling case for something we've all stopped doing: thinking for ourselves before turning to a machine. In a world where ChatGPT has become the default first stop for ideas, writing, decisions and even business strategy, he argues that we've got the order completely backwards.We dig into:- Why going to ChatGPT first leads to cognitive atrophy- How Joachim wrote his book using AI without letting AI write it. - The difference between what machines do well and what only humans can do.- Why French speakers get a worse deal from AI (and why that won't change soon)- The environmental cost of AI that nobody talks about- Confidentiality risks you're probably not aware of

In this episode of the Found in Interpretation podcast, hosts Alain Breton and Brian Bickford engage with Mohammed Moussa, a pioneer in interpretation technology. They discuss his journey from an entrepreneur to the founder of Global Audio Visual and the innovations he has introduced, including the WebSwitcher platform and modular soundproof booths. The conversation explores the challenges and adaptations in remote and hybrid interpretation, the role of AI in the field, and the importance of maintaining high sound quality for interpreters. The episode concludes with insights into the future of interpretation technology and the ongoing need for human involvement in the process.

EPISODE IN FRENCH : Dans cet épisode, Sylvie Lemieux, traductrice et chercheuse, discute des défis auxquels font face les traducteurs et interprètes dans un monde en évolution rapide, notamment à cause de l'intelligence artificielle. Elle aborde la question de l'estime de soi des traducteurs, la nécessité de formation continue, et les changements dans la perception de leur métier. Les impacts de la COVID-19 sur la profession et l'importance de s'adapter aux nouvelles technologies sont également des thèmes centraux de la conversation. Cette conversation explore les thèmes des valeurs personnelles et professionnelles, l'impact de la COVID sur le travail, ainsi que les défis liés à la traduction et à l'interprétation. Les intervenants discutent de l'importance de la priorisation des valeurs, de la charge mentale en post-édition, et des effets du bilinguisme sur la fatigue mentale. Ils abordent également les implications des neurosciences dans le domaine de l'interprétation et l'impact de l'intelligence artificielle sur le travail des traducteurs et interprètes.

In this episode of the Found In Interpretation podcast, hosts Alain Breton and Brian Bickford engage with Paul Appleyard, a seasoned professional in translation and interpretation. The conversation explores Paul's extensive career journey, from his early days in translation to managing multilingual software releases and transitioning into interpretation. They discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the industry, cultural shifts in conference content, and the role of AI in translation and interpretation. Paul shares insights on the future of the profession, emphasizing the importance of human connection in an increasingly digital world.

In this episode of the Found in Interpretation podcast, hosts Alain Breton and Brian Bickford welcome back Corinne McKay to discuss her new book, 'Getting Started as a Freelance Interpreter.' The conversation covers various aspects of the interpretation industry, including insights from the American Translators Association conference, the importance of specialization, and the impact of AI on the profession. Corinne shares her experiences and offers valuable advice for aspiring interpreters, emphasizing the significance of professionalism, communication, and continuous learning in the freelance market.