Today Martha is joined by Etai, an empowerment and communication coach, disability advocate, and passionate language enthusiast. Together, they dive deep into what it means to truly connect—with ourselves, with language, and with others. Etai shares his lived experience as a multilingual speaker born with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy, his journey from Israel to the U.S., and how language and communication have been central to his life.

Topics We Cover:

Etai’s story and how disability advocacy and language learning shaped his life

Viewing communication as an intuitive, deeply personal process

Why grammar and vocabulary are just tools—not the full picture

Creating a shared language and “consensus reality”

The power of defining terms and slowing down in conversations

How intuitive coaching and deep listening foster authentic connection

Language as play: how joy and curiosity fuel lifelong learning

The importance of emotional resonance in language learning

Understanding your own “bubble” before expecting others to

How most communication is repair—and why that’s okay

Etai’s #1 piece of advice for mental health and language learning

Quotable Moments:

“Communication is all about the repair.”

Connect with Etai:

In this episode of Shhh! I'm Learning, we’re joined (again!) by Bront’e Singleton, also known as The Polyglot Fox. Bront’e shares her refreshing perspective on language learning, blending joy, creativity, and strategies tailored for all language learners, but with a special focus on neurodivergent (or "neurospicy") learners. From her playful experiences with German and Italian to rethinking the guilt many learners feel, Bront’e invites us to transform our approach to languages into one that’s guilt-free, flexible, and fun.

We explore:

Bront’e also shares how language learning intersects with mental health, social connection, and self-compassion, encouraging listeners to embrace their own unique journeys.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Resources Mentioned:

Where to Find Bront’e Singleton:

Connect with the Podcast:

Love This Episode?

Let us know your favorite takeaway from the episode—we’d love to hear from you!

In this episode of Shhh! I’m Learning, we chat with Valeria Paolillo, a passionate language teacher and the founder of Vita Semplice in Italia. Valeria shares her journey to becoming a language teacher, her struggles and triumphs with learning English and Chinese and French, and how she’s embraced mindfulness and slow learning as essential parts of her teaching and personal growth.

Discover how Valeria’s retreats offer participants a unique opportunity to connect with language, culture, and themselves—all at their own pace. Valeria also opens up about the importance of savoring the language learning journey, the value of self-awareness, and how to let go of perfectionism to truly enjoy the process.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Memorable Quotes:

Resources Mentioned:

Connect with Us:

Support the Podcast:

In this episode, host we dive deep into the concept of failure with guest Kris Broholm. Together, we explore how failure can be a powerful tool for learning and growth, especially in language learning and personal development. Martha and Kris share their own experiences with setbacks and discuss practical ways to reframe failure as an essential part of success.

Highlights:

Redefining Failure: Martha and Kris discuss how society's perception of failure can limit growth and how changing that mindset can unlock potential.

Personal Stories: Both share candid experiences of failure and the lessons they’ve drawn from them.

Failure in Language Learning: Practical tips on handling setbacks, plateaus, and mistakes as opportunities for improvement.

Embracing Vulnerability: A conversation on how opening up about failures fosters resilience and confidence.

"Every mistake I’ve made has taught me more than my successes ever could." – Kris Broholm

What has failure taught you? Share your story with us on social media using #FailureToSuccess and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review!

Resources Mentioned in the Episode

In this episode of Shhh! I’m Learning, we explore practical tips and strategies to support autistic language learners. Language learning is a unique journey for everyone, and for autistic individuals, certain approaches can make a big difference. Whether you’re autistic yourself, a teacher, a loved one, or simply curious, this episode is packed with insights to make language learning more inclusive and personalized.

Neurodivergent Content Creators: Learn from amazing autistic creators like Bront’e Singleton, Barbara Czusz, and others who share resources and personal insights on language learning.

We love hearing from our listeners. Did a tip resonate with you? Is there something you’d like to add or suggest? Send your feedback and ideas to help us continue improving and creating a more inclusive space for learning.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. Remember, language learning is personal, and every step forward counts. Be kind to yourself and keep exploring!

(English description below the Portuguese)

No episódio de hoje, conversamos com Rob, professor (incrível) de português, sobre como lidar com o estresse ao aprender idiomas, o impacto da introversão no aprendizado e os maiores mitos sobre o ensino de línguas.

Entre os tópicos discutidos estão:

Rob compartilha dicas valiosas para tornar o aprendizado mais leve e produtivo, desmistificando crenças prejudiciais e destacando como cada pessoa pode encontrar seu próprio ritmo.

Destaques:

Onde encontrar Rob:

🎧 Aperte o play e descubra como transformar estresse em estímulo e deixar o aprendizado mais tranquilo!

Recursos:

________________________________________________________________________________________

Topics include:

Rob offers insightful advice on making learning more enjoyable and productive, busting harmful myths, and finding your own pace.

Highlights:

Where to Find Rob:

🎧 Hit play now to learn how to turn stress into motivation and make language learning more enjoyable!

Resources:

Welcome to another episode of Shhh! I'm Learning! In this episode, our good friend Barbara Czusz helps us explore how neurodivergence shapes the experience of learning languages. Whether you're neurodivergent yourself or want to better understand how these unique traits impact language acquisition, this episode is packed with valuable insights.

Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who might benefit. Let us know your favorite takeaway from the episode on social media using #ShhhImLearning.

Welcome back to Shhh! I’m Learning! In this episode, I am joined by the inspiring Mollie Guidera, a trailblazer in Irish language education. Mollie’s approach intertwines storytelling, etymology, and creative teaching methods to connect learners with their heritage and identity. Through her engaging workshops and courses, she breaks down barriers to learning and brings the soulful, healing nature of the Irish language to life.

Mollie’s Passion for Irish: Discover why Mollie is captivated by the Irish language, recognized as “definitely endangered” by UNESCO.

Emotional Aspects of Learning: Explore how learning a language influences our emotions and the unique ways Irish helps us express and understand them.

Making Learning Relevant: Tips and insights on how to make a new language relevant to your life.

Irish Language Quirks: Dive into the charming and unusual characteristics of the Irish language.

Healing Through Language: Understand the therapeutic effects of learning a language, especially one connected to personal and cultural identity.

Language Worth and Loss: Mollie shares a fresh perspective on the value of language and the impact of language loss.

Find Mollie on Instagram and her podcast under Irish with Mollie for more content, updates, and engaging resources. Don’t miss her upcoming Black Friday sale on her courses—sign up for the waiting list via the link in her Instagram bio. For those on a tighter budget, Mollie’s daily content and occasional free Irish taster classes are perfect opportunities to start learning.

Enjoy Mollie’s contagious enthusiasm for the Irish language and learn how to embrace it in your own life. 

Resources:

Welcome to Season 4 of Shhh, I’m Learning! I’m back after a longer-than-expected break, dealing with burnout, a whirlwind of festivals, Hurricane Helene, and extensive election research. Although this season might be the last, I’m excited to share this journey with you all.

This season, we’ll explore the social aspects of language learning, mental health, and the role of neurodiversity. As a neurodivergent language learner, I’m excited to dive into topics often overlooked, like the unique ways autistic and ADHD folks engage with languages. This season, I’ll encourage you to slow down, make language learning enjoyable, and take breaks when needed.

Episodes:

• Episode 2: Interview with Mollie Guidera – Reviving the Irish language; mental health support through language.

Please bear with some audio quirks in most of the interviews—I forgot to switch the input device on Zoom!

Also, in case you missed it, catch last night's Instagram live with psychologist Johanna Ramírez for an open conversation about social anxiety in language learning.

Thank you for being here, and enjoy Season 4! 🌻

We are at the end of season 3! Thank you for your invaluable support during these 30 episodes.

Today we recap season 3 and I let you in on a few secrets regarding the future of this podcast.

As always, reach out to me on Instagram @shhh_imlearning to let me know what you thought about the show, and consider buying me a coffee if you want to see me continuously improve my content and better serve YOU. A little goes a long way. :)