Speaking Tongues Podcast: Celebrating Voices, Stories, and Flavors From Around the Globe
Speaking Tongues is a podcast celebrating language, culture, and identity through in-depth conversations with multilingual guests from around the world. From endangered and Indigenous languages to Creoles and diaspora stories, each episode explores how language connects us to memory, history, community, migration, and meaning. Host Elle Charisse talks with artists, educators, and storytellers working to preserve cultural heritage through words, food, music, research, and lived experience.
Episodes
Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we dive into the intricate world of bilingualism and translation with Melanie Marquez Adams and Emily Hunsberger, author and translator respectively of Wonderland, a collection of crónicas, essays, and experimental texts.
Melanie Márquez Adams is an Ecuadorian American writer. She is the author of two collections of short stories and two essay collections as well as the edi...
Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we’re discussing the linguistic and cultural heritage of Galicia with Dani, a passionate Galician language teacher and content creator. Dani shares his journey of embracing his bilingual identity and the challenges faced while navigating the complexities of Galician and Spanish in a rapidly changing linguistic landscape.
In this episode we discuss:
🌟 Dani's bilingual up...
In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we embark on a fascinating journey through the linguistic and cultural tapestry of Nigeria with Raphael, a multilingual storyteller and podcaster. Raphael shares his unique experiences growing up in Jos, Nigeria, navigating the complexities of language and identity amidst a rich backdrop of diverse cultures.
In this episode we discuss:
🇳🇬 Raphael's first language journey, starting with...
Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues we’re having a conversation about Piemontese & Lombard with Guglielmo, co-founder and president of De Vulgare, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness about minoritized languages. With a rich background in special education, history, and archaeology, Guglielmo shares his insights on the linguistic landscape of northern Italy.
Join us as we discuss:
🇮🇹 G...
Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we explore the vibrant linguistic and cultural landscape of Mauritius with multilingual music artist, writer, producer, and podcaster Lazou. Growing up in a melting pot of languages, Lazou shares her unique experiences navigating English, French, and Mauritian Creole.
In this episode we discuss:
🇲🇺 Lazou's multilingual upbringing, balancing English, French, and Maurit...
In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we dive into the world of culinary storytelling and global flavors with Chef Einav Gefen. A seasoned chef and innovator, Einav shares her journey from her roots in Israel to her current role at Restaurant Associates, where she champions quality and sustainability in the culinary arts.
Join us as we discuss:
🫒Chef Einav's multilingual upbringing, with Hebrew as her first language and her expe...
Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues we’re going back to the roots in The Bahamas with multifaceted Bahamian artist Bodine Victoria. Heralded as one of the most consistent hitmakers in the local music business, Bodine Victoria has turned her gift for communication into a successful multi-faceted business.
An actress, entertainer, presenter, and entrepreneur with 20-years of broadcast experience, She produces...
This episode was originally published as Episode 39 on January 11, 2021.
In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we're having a conversation about Martiniquais Creole and French with our guest Mickael, founder of French Class NYC. Mickael shares his insights on the Creole spoken in Martinique and the French spoken in France, discussing the cultural and linguistic nuances that define these languages.
In this episode, we discuss:
🇲�...
This episode was originally published as Episode 97 on April 18, 2022.
In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we have a conversation about Singlish, a unique linguistic blend that reflects the multicultural essence of Singapore. Our guest, Marcus, provides fascinating insights into the nuances of Singlish and its interplay with the diverse languages of Singapore.
In this episode, we explore:
🇸🇬 The linguistic landscape of Singap...
This episode was originally published as Episode 116 on October 24, 2022
In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we journey into the world of Finnish language and culture with Saga from FinnishLearning on Instagram. Join us as we explore the intricacies of Finnish grammar, the unique agglutinative nature of the language, and the cultural significance of the sauna tradition in Finland.
In this episode, we discuss:
🇫🇮 The meaning ...
This episode was originally published as Episode 109. Speaking Armenian on July 25, 2022.
In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we're having a conversation on the diverse world of the Armenian language and culture with our guest, Liana, a writer, journalist, and creator of "Dining in Diaspora." Liana shares her journey from Iran to the United States and her experiences within the Armenian community in Southern California.
In this...
This episode was originally published as Episode 94 on March 28, 2022
This week, we're diving into the fascinating world of Egyptian Arabic and ancient Egyptian cuisine with Dr. Menna El Dorry, an Egyptologist and archaeobotanist. Dr. Menna shares her expertise on the intersection of language, history, and food in Egypt, offering us a unique glimpse into the past and present culinary traditions of this remarkable country.
In this ...
This episode was originally published as Episode 119 on November 14, 2022.
This episode of Speaking Tongues wades into the fascinating world of the Sardinian language & culture with our guest Dalila. We explore the unique characteristics of Sardinian, its historical influences from Catalan and Spanish, and how it stands apart from Italian. Dalila shares insights into the grammar, highlighting differences between Sardinian spo...
This episode with my guests Kimhia and Indira was originally published as Episode 98 on April 25, 2022.
This episode unfolds the many influences that have shaped Saint Lucian Creole, highlighting its roots in Mandinka and Wolof grammar structures. We explore the cultural significance of Creole Day in Saint Lucia and the use of Madras fabric, while also practicing some phrases in Creole.
In this episode, we discuss:
🇱🇨 The fa...
This episode with our guest Grace was originally published on May 2, 2022.
In episode 99, we explored the intricacies of Thai grammar, including its 72-letter alphabet, and practice the tonality of the Thai language. Grace guides us through the use of polite particles and highlights the similarities between Thai and Chinese, particularly the five distinct tones.
In this episode, we discuss:
🇹🇭 The structure of Thai grammar and t...
This episode was originally published as Episode 83. Speaking Te Reo Maori on January 10, 2022. Our guest is Amelia Butler, the founder of Learn Māori Abroad.
In this episode, we discuss:
🌿 Emilia’s journey with Te Reo Māori, from her early education in Māori immersion schools to her current role in teaching the language worldwide.
🌿 The historical transition of Te Reo Māori from an oral to a written language and the impact o...
This conversation with Mauricio of @babelsolutions was originally published on March 21, 2022 as Episode 93: Speaking LatAm Spanish
Episode 93 takes us on a linguistic journey through Central and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean, offering insights into the rich tapestry of Spanish dialects across these regions.
In this episode, we discuss:
🌎 Mauricio’s upbringing between Argentina and Peru, and how this duality shaped h...
This episode from the archives is a conversation about Greek language and culture with Stefanos, (IG: Learngreekwithstefanos) Greek language teacher from Cyprus. This episode was originally published on August 9, 2021
In this episode, Stefanos shares:
🇬🇷 The connections between modern and ancient Greek, and the intriguing triple Greek dialect.
🇬🇷 Insights into Greek etymology and some favorite root words that appear in modern...
In case you missed it, this is a repost of Episode 33. Speaking Swahili, Kikuyu & Sheng, first published Nov 16, 2020.
Our guest Wairimu (@mwalimuwairimu) talks with us about experiences growing up in a multilingual environment and the origins of Swahili, its spread through East Africa, and the unique differences between coastal and Nairobi Swahili.
In this episode, we discuss:
🇰🇪 Wairimu’s journey from being exposed to K...
Hello Language Lovers! Welcome back to a new episode of Speaking Tongues.
This week, we're thrilled to explore several languages through jazz music, the legendary and influential Cesária Évora, and the new album, Cape Verdean Blues with the incredibly talented Kavita Shah. Kavita is an award-winning vocalist, composer, researcher, and educator who deeply engages with the jazz tradition while advancing its global sensibili...
Popular Podcasts
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.
If you eat, sleep, and breathe true crime, TRUE CRIME TONIGHT is serving up your nightly fix. Five nights a week, KT STUDIOS & iHEART RADIO invite listeners to pull up a seat for an unfiltered look at the biggest cases making headlines, celebrity scandals, and the trials everyone is watching. With a mix of expert analysis, hot takes, and listener call-ins, TRUE CRIME TONIGHT goes beyond the headlines to uncover the twists, turns, and unanswered questions that keep us all obsessed—because, at TRUE CRIME TONIGHT, there’s a seat for everyone. Whether breaking down crime scene forensics, scrutinizing serial killers, or debating the most binge-worthy true crime docs, True Crime Tonight is the fresh, fast-paced, and slightly addictive home for true crime lovers.