🎙 Final Episode: A Heartfelt Goodbye and New Beginnings In this unedited and deeply personal final episode, I reflect on the journey of the podcast—from its beginnings as a space for introverted language learners to its evolution into conversations on neurodivergence, mental health, and linguistic identity. I share the challenges that led to this hiatus, including burnout and an autism diagnosis, and explore the complexities of navigating language learning as an autistic, introverted American. I also speak candidly about linguistic discrimination, intersectionality, and the need for more inclusive, community-based language spaces. Though the podcast is ending, the conversation isn’t—I’ll still be active on Instagram and through my newsletter. Thank you for being part of this journey.

If you're interested, I created several songs (with the help of AI) about things I've faced using languages (one in particular) as well as my love for languages and an ode to quieter language learners everywhere. I know not everyone's a big fan of AI, but if we're going to use it, I think this is a very good use of it. It's been a very cathartic, very healing process. Here's the link if you're interested in giving it a listen.

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.” “If it doesn’t excite you, why do it?” “The fact that people can communicate at all is a miracle.” “Every single person has their own language—the question is, how do we build a shared one?”

Connect with Etai: 🌐 Website: etaiscorner.net 📺 YouTube: Etai’s Corner 📷 Instagram: @etaiscorner 💬 Threads, Facebook, LinkedIn: Etai’s Corner ☕ Support: Buy Me a Coffee & PayPal donations available via website

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’s surprising discoveries while learning German and Italian and how she embraces unexpected moments like blending accents.
• Insights into her innovative program, Polyglot Delights, designed to make language learning feel like opening a box of chocolates—indulgent and enjoyable.
• Strategies for neurospicy learners, including reframing consistency, overcoming distractions, and creating personalized systems that actually work.
• Why it’s okay to take breaks, listen to your body, and define success in a way that aligns with your energy and goals.

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:

1. Why traditional methods may not work for everyone and how to create strategies tailored to your needs.
2. How to reframe language learning as an indulgent and guilt-free process.
3. Tips for neurodivergent learners to manage energy, reduce overwhelm, and stay consistent without burning out.
4. The role of humor and flexibility in embracing challenges like language interference.

Resources Mentioned:

• Polyglot Delights – Bront’e’s program that combines themed monthly content with strategies to make language learning exciting and personalized.
• Fluency Mastery Lab Lite – Bront’e’s resource hub for quiet souls, spicy thinkers, and learners looking to cut through the noise.

Where to Find Bront’e Singleton:

• YouTube: The Polyglot Fox
• Instagram: @thepolyglotfox
• Listen to her original episode on this show here (I forgot to reference that in the intro to this episode!)

Connect with the Podcast:

• Instagram: @shhh_imlearning
• Newsletter: Sign up here for monthly updates and insights from Shhh! I'm Learning.

Love This Episode? If you enjoyed this conversation, please leave a review and share it with fellow language learners! Your support helps us bring more inspiring guests like Bront’e to the show.

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