We interpret in many areas where we don’t agree with the speaker, and we think nothing of it. We recognize the specialty, build the resources, and train to become fluent in the details. Why, then, do we not do the same for spiritual care? Join Tatiana Cestari and Anne Connor in this episode of ATA’s Inside Specialization series for a discussion of this overlooked specialty. You’ll learn how medicine’s renewed interest in the mind-body-spirit connection is leading to the development of training for this aspect of health care interpreting, how to handle requests when you aren’t prepared, and where to locate the resources you’ll need.

Resources for Interpreters in Spiritual Care Settings:  Bahá’í Faith Prayers • The Book of Common Prayer according to the Episcopal Church • The Book of Mormon • Catechism of the Catholic Church • Catholic Online • Jehovah’s Witnesses • Jewish Prayers and Blessings • The Noble Quran

The ATA certification exam is now available online and on demand, and Certification Committee Chair David Stephenson is here to tell you all about it. In Episode 74, David explains to Podcast Host Matt Baird how “on demand” works, from payment to scheduling to security with real time monitoring and recording. And don’t miss this—David also reveals the top reasons people fail and the best way to prepare to take the exam. But first we begin the podcast with a remembrance of Michèle Hansen, CT, who did so much to make ATA’s on-demand certification exam a reality.

This is not another lawyer-turned-translator story, which just goes to show that there's more than one way to become a legal translator! In this episode of Inside Specialization, lawyer-linguist Paula Arturo tells ATA member Daniel Sebesta about the role passion plays in the decision to become a legal translator and why how much you're willing to learn is key to becoming one of the best. You'll also discover why "follow the money" is the secret to choosing a subspecialty, how you can compete against machine translation, and a surprising skill you'll need to climb this career ladder.

Amanda Williams will be the first to tell you that her entry into international trade translation was through the "school of hard knocks"—and she loved every minute of it! Tune in to this episode of Inside Specialization to hear Amanda explain her job to guest host Andie Ho. From port contracts and technology to customs, inventory, logistics, and warehouse automation, it's way more than bills of lading. It's the knowledge beyond the words on the page that will take you places in this specialty. You can never stop learning.

After more than 6,000 program hours of video, film, and TV, Deborah Wexler has plenty of insight and advice to offer translators interested in audiovisual translation. From the value of networking to the fatal mistake of not seeing the career ladder to the secrets of macros, shortcuts, and typing speed, Deborah's interview with the Professional Development Committee's Deputy Chair Charo Welle is not to be missed.

Even if you're not a gamer, video game localization sounds like fun, right? But is it really? Find out in this interview with top video game localizer Marina Ilari, who talked with ATA member Charo Welle about how she found her niche, the challenges of living in "other worlds," and the best ways to gain enough experience to break into the specialty.

Everyone loves a backstory. And the American Foundation for Translation and Interpretation—or AFTI for short—has one that few people know. So stop and listen to Episode 70 of The ATA Podcast as AFTI Board President Geoff Koby sits down with Host Matt Baird to talk about the foundation's beginnings, its current day focus on student scholarships and T&I awards, and how your donation can make a difference.

So often medical interpreters make the job look easy, and yet it's anything but. There's the constant challenge of new terminology, the administrative procedures of different healthcare settings, and the stress of life and death situations—not to mention actually interpreting the patient-provider encounter itself. Join guest host Anne Connor in Episode 68 of The ATA Podcast to learn more about the skills, training, ethical standards, and commitment to lifelong learning needed to work in this very personally rewarding field. During the interview, Medical Interpreting Supervisor Yuliya Speroff also explains the specialty's ongoing quest for professional recognition within the healthcare community and what individual medical interpreters can do to support the effort. This episode includes two great resources you won't want to miss.

Can a specialization that is broad in subject matter still be a niche market? If you're talking about diplomatic translation, then the answer is absolutely yes! In this episode of Inside Specialization, Joseph Mazza, chief of the Office of Language Services’ Translating Division at the U.S. Department of State, explains the tremendous variety of content, text types, and tasks this work involves, including the necessity to understand past history and cultural allusions. You'll also learn why critical research skills and a thorough knowledge of language and culture are important assets for the job. And then there's the pressure that comes with the responsibility of translating content representing the United States! Don't miss this podcast for an insider's view of a truly unique specialty.

The slate is set, the candidates are ready, and the opportunity to learn more about who’s running for the Board is right here in front of you!

In Episode 66 of The ATA Podcast, Host Matt Baird asks the candidates running for Director positions about the T&I work they do, why they joined ATA, and what skills and vision they will bring to their position on the Board. Be sure to catch the first part of this episode to learn more about the candidates running for President-Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer.

Click ATA 2021 Elections for candidate statements and photos. And don't forget to subscribe to The ATA Podcast!