Real Moms Talking

What does it really mean to grow up bilingual — and how much do the people and society around you shape the way you see your own languages?

In this episode, I talk with my friend Yann, who grew up in France speaking both French and Portuguese. We explore his experience of growing up with two languages, the attitudes he encountered around speaking a language other than French, and how those experiences influenced his relationship with Portuguese over the years.

We also talk about what can make a language feel less important at one point in your life, and what can later make you rediscover its value and meaning.

A conversation about language, identity, family, belonging, and the sometimes unexpected ways our surroundings shape the languages we carry with us.

Links:

Yann’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yannsimyan/

And LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yanndeffays/

In this episode of Real Moms Talking, I sit down with Ute, a multilingual language consultant and intercultural communication trainer at Ute‘s International Lounge, to explore what it was like to grow up between languages and cultures.

Raised with Italian and German, Ute shares how her childhood shaped not only her own identity but also the way she later raised her three multilingual children and now supports other families on their multilingual journey.

Together, we talk about the power of gentle language support—creating space for children to express themselves, respecting their preferences, and nurturing every language without pressure. Ute reflects on the role her parents played in fostering confidence, belonging, and connection through language, and why this approach continues to inspire her work today.

Whether you’re raising multilingual children, navigating different cultures, or simply curious about the lifelong impact of language, this conversation offers thoughtful insights and plenty of encouragement.

In this episode, we dive into Andrea’s language and cultural journey—from growing up with a heritage language that was often seen as “less than” to the complex emotions that shaped her identity. We explore how those early experiences influenced the way she saw herself and her heritage, and how becoming a mother marked the beginning of an unexpected reconnection. It’s an honest conversation about language, belonging, identity, and finding your way back.

Andrea is a Family Language Consultant who supports multilingual families in raising confident multilingual children. You can connect with her on Instagram at @familytongues.

What does it mean to grow up between countries, cultures, and languages? And how does that shape the way we see ourselves, connect with others, and define “home”?

In this episode of Real Moms Talking, I sit down with Gaia Striano from Quiero Un Panino Con Cheese Podcast to explore her experience growing up as a Third Culture Kid. Born in Italy, Gaia spent her childhood moving between Hong Kong, Montreal, New York, and Italy, navigating different cultures, identities, and expectations along the way.

Together, we talk about the joys and challenges of an international upbringing, the search for belonging, and the impact that even seemingly small things—like having your name constantly mispronounced—can have on your sense of self. Gaia shares candidly about what it felt like to grow up between worlds and how those experiences continue to influence her life today.

Now a mother of three multilingual children living in Spain, Gaia offers a unique perspective on raising the next generation of global citizens while reflecting on her own journey.

Whether you’re a Third Culture Kid, a parent raising children across cultures, or simply curious about identity and belonging, this conversation is full of insights, reflections, and moments that will stay with you long after listening.

🎙️ In this episode, we discuss:

• ​ Growing up as a Third Culture Kid
• ​ Identity, belonging, and the meaning of home
• ​ The emotional impact of moving between countries
• ​ Cultural adaptation and fitting in
• ​ Why names matter more than we often realize
• ​ Raising multilingual children as a former TCK
• ​ Lessons from a global childhood

Connect with Gaia:

@querounpaninoconcheese

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U drugoj epizodi treće sezone emisije RealMomsTalking razgovaram sa Jelena o tome kako je zaista izgledalo odrastati višejezično i preseliti se iz Serbia u Australia kao dete. 🌍

Razgovaramo o identitetu, pripadanju, jeziku i emocionalnoj strani prilagođavanja potpuno novoj kulturi tokom odrastanja. Jelena deli kako su je roditelji podržavali kroz te velike promene i kako ta iskustva danas utiču na način na koji i sama odgaja svoju ćerku višejezično.

Ova epizoda je snažan i iskren razgovor o višejezičnom detinjstvu, kulturnom identitetu i trajnom uticaju koji roditelji mogu imati tokom velikih životnih promena.

Ovo je kraća verzija epizode na srpskom, dok kompletnu epizodu možete poslušati na engleskom jeziku.

Povežite se sa Jelenom na Instagramu: @multilingualbeginnings

In episode 2 of season 3 of RealMomsTalking, I sit down with Jelena to talk about what it was really like growing up multilingual and moving from Serbia to Australia as a child. 🌍

We explore identity, belonging, language, and the emotional side of adapting to a completely new culture while growing up. Jelena shares how her parents supported her through those big transitions and how those experiences now shape the way she is raising her own daughter multilingual today.

This episode is a powerful and honest conversation about multilingual childhoods, cultural identity, and the lasting impact parents can have during life-changing moves.

Connect with Jelena on Instagram: @multilingualbeginnings

In this episode of RealMomsTalking, we talk with Michelle from WeCultivate and WeCultivate.Pod about what it felt like to grow up between American and Chinese cultures in the Washington DC metropolitan area. Raised with Mandarin-speaking grandparents and immersed in both cultural worlds from early childhood, she shares her lived experience of navigating languages, identities, and expectations as a child. We explore what felt natural, what felt confusing, and what kind of support she needed from the adults around her while growing up multilingual.

Links:

Michelle’s Substack: https://wecultivate.substack.com/

Michelle’s main podcast page: https://wecultivate.world/podcast

Michelle’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wecultivate.world/

About Michelle: https://wecultivate.world/about-michelle

In this episode of Real Moms Talking Multilingual, I talk with a Lena Poleksic, a Serbian mom married to an English partner, raising their children bilingually in London.

We explore how to balance a dominant language like English while intentionally preserving a heritage language, and what it truly means to respect your partner’s language and culture while preserving yours — without pressure, coercion, or guilt. She shares honest insights into motivating kids naturally, navigating school, and keeping Serbian alive in everyday family life.

She also introduces Mali Bilingual, a school she founded in Serbia for children growing up abroad with Serbian roots, and shares her perspective on literacy and learning multiple scripts—something many multilingual families face.

A thoughtful, reassuring episode for parents raising bilingual kids and trying to do it with balance and heart.

You can find Lena @lenapoleksic on Instagram and find Mali Bilingvali @mali_bilingvali

Surrounded by German, but thinking and speaking mostly in Portuguese.

In this episode, we unpack a real family story where parents from Brazil and Tunisia raise their kids in Germany while speaking English to each other.

What really shaped the children’s dominant language?

This episode explores real family dynamics, language exposure, and unexpected outcomes.

In this episode, I sit down with a linguist and multilingual communication expert Ute Limacher-Riebold who has guided countless families on their language journeys—and raised three multilingual, now-grown polyglots herself. I wanted to find out what she has to say about raising kids with multiple languages. Tune in to hear her insights, tips, and the truths every multilingual family should know.