StoryLearning Podcast

StoryLearning Podcast

Learning a new language? Get your language learning questions answered by polyglot Olly Richards, who speaks 8 languages and is the founder of the StoryLearning® method. Whatever's holding you back on the path to fluency, tune in twice a week to get your regular dose of language learning motivation, with Olly and other polyglot guests, such as Benny Lewis, Luca Lampariello, Richard Simcott and Alex Rawlings. Learn Spanish, Learn French, Learn German, Learn Italian, Learn Portuguese, Learn Arabic, Learn Japanese, Learn Chinese

Episodes

October 15, 2025 19 mins

Stop obsessing over grammar rules! Discover why grammar study shouldn't be your focus, especially as a beginner language learner. Find out where to put your time and energy instead.


Grab your FREE Grammar and Vocabulary Study Sheet 👉🏼 https://storylearning.com/free_grammar_vocab_sheet


Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question


Get a 7-day F...

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Want to learn multiple languages? Here's the truth nobody tells you: there's a specific level you need to reach in your first language before starting another. Miss this, and you'll stay stuck at beginner level in both.

Grab your FREE Language Goal Planner 👉🏼 https://storylearning.com/goal_planner_2_languages

Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question

Get a...

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I've sold over 1.5 million copies of my short story books for language learners. But why did I write them all those years ago at my parent's kitchen table? Get the unfiltered, untold story of my books, including details of new languages coming soon.


Grab your FREE StoryLearning Blueprint and find out how easy it can really be to learn a language 👉🏼https://storylearning.com/fluency_blueprint


Got a question you want Olly to answer o...

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Vaughn Smith is a 26-language polyglot who had his brain scanned at MIT. Discover the man behind the scan and the surprisingly simple ways he learned so many languages.


Grab your FREE StoryLearning Blueprint and find out how easy it can really be to learn a language 👉🏼 https://storylearning.com/freefluencyblueprint


Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_questi...

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September 29, 2022 11 mins
In this episode, Juan asks: “I’m learning Portuguese. Which language should I think in - English or Spanish?“ Find a 5* language tutor! We're proud to recommend LanguaTalk as the best place to take language lessons online with a real teacher. StoryLearning is now part-owner of LanguaTalk, and that's because we're committed to building the best possible service out there to practise speaking, find a new tutor, or get support with yo...
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In today's episode, Olly speaks with Sam Hendry, who lives in Dubai, about his amazing journey learning Spanish in one year. 

Here's where you can watch the video of Sam surprising his girlfriend in Spanish:

Find a 5* language tutor!

We're proud to recommend LanguaTalk as the best place to take language lessons online with a real teacher. StoryLearning is now part-owne...

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In this episode you’ll drop in on the StoryLearning team retreat in Bodrum, Turkey. 14 of us descended on a hilltop villa for an entire week to spend some quality time together and plan for the future.
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We're about to release a special new range of intermediate StoryLearning programmes, and I'm sooo excited!

And as a loyal listener, I'd like to offer you early access and a very special offer to celebrate the launch. (It's something I always like to do whenever we release something new!)

To get on the notification list, click: https://storylearning.com/intermediate

The new programmes are:

  • Spanish Uncovered (Intermediate) ...
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In this episode, Olly speaks with Mike Shangkuan, CEO of Lingoda.

In a wide-ranging discussion, you'll hear about:

  • Growing up as a Chinese-American with a passion for languages
  • How Mike pivoted his career from banking to language tech 
  • The challenges of building a tutoring business
  • Adapting language teaching for the online world

Do You Have A Language Question?

This show exists to answer your language l...

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March 31, 2022 17 mins

In this episode, you'll hear from Olly about plans for StoryLearning in 2022!


Do You Have A Question?

This show exists to answer your language learning questions! Send me your questions by visiting:

https://storylearning.com/ask

...and I’ll do my best to feature it on the show! 

Leave a Review

If you'd like to support the show, the best way to do that is to:

  • Leave an honest review of the show wherever you g...
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November 19, 2021 19 mins

🤥 From people claiming to learn a language in 24 hours to those shouting that "all YouTube polyglots are FAKE!", the online language learning world is fraught with controversy and vitriol. So what's the truth? And can a so-called "YouTube polyglot" (man, I hate that term) comment on YouTube polyglots lying? Well, I’m going try...

🦃 BLACK FRIDAY SALE!

Get my Uncovered courses for just $97 each (up to 75% off) from Friday,...

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Julian (a.k.a. "JJ") is the woman behind two popular YouTube channels: 1) JJsays - 雪莲说 (where she shares Chinese language learning tips and videos), and 2) JJsings (where you can hear her singing in Mandarin together with her mother). JJ is an extremely passionate language learner, and I really enjoyed digging into her methods and philosophy. We discuss the challenges of overcoming insecurities, how the Dunning-Kruger effect manife...

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Today I’m speaking with Jannah Hossain, who learned to speak Japanese in 6 months to surprise her best friend. Here’s her original video:

https://youtu.be/W6Lnaf7Um2c

To find out more about the course she used, Japanese Uncovered, visit:

http://japaneseuncovered.com

Do You Have A Question?

This show exists to answer your language learning questions! Send me your questions by visiting:

https://www.iwillteachyoualanguage.com...

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September 16, 2021 7 mins

I'm thrilled to be released three new StoryLearning courses:

  • Russian Uncovered
  • Chinese Uncovered
  • Turkish Uncovered

Only those on the mailing list will be notified about the launch of these courses, so click below to join the list if you're interseted:

https://www.iwillteachyoualanguage.com/new

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September 14, 2021 17 mins

I love the Spanish language and the many cultures who speak it, but my journey to learn the language was anything but easy. There was pain, struggle, and even a near-death experience! In this episode of the podcast (originally published on my YouTube channel), I share the whole story of how I learned Spanish (my second foreign language after French), including all the bumps and mistakes along the way. You'll also learn why I speak ...

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August 31, 2021 14 mins

Learning French completely changed my life. It set the stage for learning 7 more foreign languages, writing dozens of language learning books, and starting a language learning company that employs dozens of people and reaches millions of people around the world. In this episode of the podcast (originally published on my YouTube channel), I share the story of how I learned French and how it all started with heartbreak...

Downloa...

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In this live episode of the podcast, I answer YouTube user Kay Koopmans' excellent question:

"I have a month before I go to Germany for a 10-month foreign exchange program, but I don’t know any German. With a month's time to prepare, what do you suggest I do? Just learn like anyone else? Just memorize vocab? What’s the most effective thing to focus on when you only have a very short amount of time before being thrown into the deep ...

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If you've listened to this podcast or watched some of my videos, you may be thinking to yourself: "Wait a minute... Olly's method seems to be ALL ABOUT READING! What about listening and speaking? Does this guy think you can get fluent by reading alone?!" In this episode of the podcast (originally published on my YouTube channel), I answer this exact question.

Note: I refer to a simple graph in the episode that I drew out on a white...

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Imagine that you got a letter in the post announcing that you will be put on a plane to Korea in just 9 weeks, where you will stand on a street corner and talk to strangers about your faith IN KOREAN. Add to this the fact that you don't yet speak a single word in the language!

That is precisely what Derek Driggs experienced when he trained to be a Mormon (LDS) missionary at the Missionary Training Center (MTC) in Provo, Utah, befor...

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In this LIVE recording of the I Will Teach You A Language Podcast on YouTube, I answer YouTuber user @Bash Fakosh's question: "Do you think learning 2 languages together works? Or is it a recipe for disaster?"

Free Download: StoryLearning Kit

Click below to get free access to my StoryLearning Kit and discover how to learn a new language quickly and naturally through stories:

https://iwillteachyoualan...

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