In this episode, I mark my arrival in my 50th country and reflect on what that number really means. After more than two decades of nomadic life, I’ve averaged about two countries per year. Some travellers race through dozens in a short time, while others, like me, move more slowly. I consider whether the goal should be collecting countries or shaping a style of travel that genuinely suits your values and curiosity.

For me, it has always been about people and language. Rather than ticking off landmarks, I prefer spending months in a place, learning the local tongue and building real connections. A few small states have boosted my total with brief visits, but most of my journeys have been deeper projects. As I reach this milestone in Brunei, I’m not chasing 100 countries, just continuing at a pace that feels meaningful and sustainable.

If you need one-on-one language guidance, schedule a consultation session with me at languagehacking.com/chat.

And don’t forget to check out the Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp here!

Or you can follow me on all Social Media channels:
Instagram: @irishpolyglot
Thread: @irishpolyglot
TikTok: @irishpolyglot

In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking podcast, I share how two childhood challenges, hearing issues and speech difficulties, ultimately gave me an advantage as a language learner. Growing up, I rarely understood 100 percent of what I heard, which forced me to get used to guessing, filling in gaps, and tolerating confusion. So when I began learning foreign languages, the beginner stage did not feel shocking or discouraging. I was already comfortable not fully understanding and figuring things out as I went.

I also talk about needing speech therapy and struggling with certain English sounds, which made me approach language more analytically from a young age. Because I had to consciously learn parts of my own native language, I never saw communication as effortless. Those setbacks, along with ADHD, built resilience and a comfort with making mistakes. In this episode, I encourage you to reframe your own challenges as potential strengths that could support you in language learning and beyond.

If you need one-on-one language guidance, schedule a consultation session with me at languagehacking.com/chat.

And don’t forget to check out the Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp here!

Or you can follow me on all Social Media channels:
Instagram: @irishpolyglot
Thread: @irishpolyglot
TikTok: @irishpolyglot

In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, I share how ADHD, something that once made me feel like I was terrible at languages, has actually become one of my greatest strengths as a learner. Although I was only diagnosed as an adult, looking back I can clearly see how distractibility and a constant need for dopamine hits made school language classes a nightmare for me. English, Irish and German were consistently my worst subjects, and I assumed that meant I simply was not cut out for languages. Now I completely reject that idea. Being bad at languages in school only means you were bad at learning them in that environment. It says nothing about your potential as an adult.

I explain how I’ve deliberately designed my entire learning philosophy around short-term missions, public accountability and real human interaction to harness the hyperfocus that often comes with ADHD. My three-month missions, weekly mini-goals and regular conversations create urgency and momentum, turning what could be a weakness into a superpower. While ADHD still has its challenges, I’ve learned to channel it into immersive travel experiences and meaningful connections through language. If you think this intensive, mission-driven style might suit you, I also share how you can work with me through my Bootcamp or one-to-one coaching.

If you need one-on-one language guidance, schedule a consultation session with me at languagehacking.com/chat.

And don’t forget to check out the Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp here!

Or you can follow me on all Social Media channels:
Instagram: @irishpolyglot
Thread: @irishpolyglot
TikTok: @irishpolyglot