
“The whole idea of language learning is saying things wrong until you begin to say them right.” That’s Steve Leveen, founder of America the Bilingual, diving deeper into three new perspectives he encourages adult language learners to adopt. He also shares details of the new Levenger Master Class workbook, How to Learn a Language for Life, that he and multilingual entrepreneur Akshay Swaminathan, cowrote. Episode 80 of the America the Bilingual podcast, You Can Finally Learn That Next Language You’ve Been Thirsting to Speak, is now live.
Thanks to members of the America the Bilingual Project team for this episode: Mim Harrison, editorial and brand director of the America the Bilingual Project, who wrote and directed the episode; Fernando Hernández Becerra and his production house in Guadalajara, Mexico, Esto No Es Radio, which provides sound design and mixing; and Jen Cavagnaro at Daruma Tech, who manages our website.
Music credits, in order of appearance:
Soft and furious - Super connected sleep
https://bit.ly/3rN902r
Kevin Macleod - Quasimotion
https://bit.ly/KevinMacleod_QuasiMotion
Soft and furious - What’s your name again
https://bit.ly/456BynS
Lloyd Rogers - Twelve from the black book
https://bit.ly/44uduv4
Peter Gresser - Skipping in the no standing zone
https://bit.ly/49bUZOw
Fernando Air-Nandez - You live the language
Loyalty Freak Music - Everything is so alive
https://bit.ly/3MYSPJu
Dec 15, 2025
18 min

“I've never learned how to say no properly in my life, to prepare myself properly for things. I just figured if I kept saying yes to things, eventually something good would happen.”
For Mark Ford, not saying no has allowed him to do some of the most important things in his life. Which is why it became easy—in his heterodox fashion—for him to learn first French, then Latin, and now Spanish.
The Spanish is the result of his building an award-winning resort in Nicaragua and the community foundation he created right across the road, which has become an education and trades hub for the non-English-speaking local people.
The French gave him entrée to the Peace Corps after college. But only because the officials didn’t give him the boot for not knowing a word of it when he landed in French-speaking Chad.
The Latin was to meet a PhD requirement. Although let’s just say that the former altar boy in him might have frowned on his modus operandi.
But he’s forgiven for that, because good things for many people have happened thanks to his determination to embrace other languages.
In this lively conversation with Steve, Mark also shares his secret for learning a language. And you won’t have to crack open an app to do it.
Thanks to members of the America the Bilingual Project team for this episode: Mim Harrison, the editorial and brand director of the America the Bilingual Project, who wrote and directed the episode; Fernando Hernández Becerra and his production house in Guadalajara, Mexico, Esto No Es Radio, which provides sound design and mixing; and Jen Cavagnaro at Daruma Tech, who manages our website.
Music credits (in order of appearance):
HoliznaCC0 - Whatever
https://bit.ly/4qDgZsk
Koi Discovery - Beer blues
https://bit.ly/3pIQxmi
Kevin Macleod - Quasi motion
https://bit.ly/KevinMacleod_QuasiMotion
HoliznaCC0 - ICE temple
https://bit.ly/4qHGb1c
HoliznaCC0 - Sunny afternoon
https://bit.ly/47vvyp9
HoliznaCC0 - Unwind
https://bit.ly/3X4hb6m
Koi-discovery - END
https://bit.ly/4qDhLFK
HoliznaCC0 - Laundry on the wire
https://bit.ly/3Jc8R1p
Wax lyricist - Green
https://bit.ly/4qA7c6s
Koi-discovery -Synthetic_synapse
https://bit.ly/4oOlxup
Nov 13, 2025
28 min

Professor/publisher/author/OED consultant Ilan Stavans has written books about all three of the languages he speaks: his native Mexican Spanish, his heritage Yiddish, and his adopted English. In Episode 78, Ilan and Steve have a far-ranging conversation that touches on how American literature is becoming multilingual literature, why prescriptive dictionaries don’t work for English, and the secret to seeing your children embrace the language of their heritage. Listen and you’ll soon know why America the Bilingual has dubbed him a Tocqueville for bilingualism in America. Enjoy!
Music credits, in order of appearance:
HoliznaCC0 - Tranquil Mindscape ( Lofi , Happy , Reflection )
https://freemusicarchive.org/music/holiznacc0/public-domain-lofi/tranquil-mindscape-lofi-happy-reflection/
U.S. Army Blues - Kelli's Number
https://freemusicarchive.org/music/US_Army_Blues/Live_At_Blues_Alley/0_-_08_-_The_US_Army_Blues_-_Kellis_Number/
John Bartmann - African Moon
https://freemusicarchive.org/music/John_Bartmann/Public_Domain_Soundtrack_Music_Album_One/african-moon/
John Bartmann - Somewhere nice
https://freemusicarchive.org/music/John_Bartmann/Public_Domain_Soundtrack_Music_Album_One/somewhere-nice/
HoliznaCC0 - 20 Minute Meditation 1
https://freemusicarchive.org/music/holiznacc0/space-sleep-meditation/20-minute-meditation-1/
U.S. Army Blues - Oginiland
https://freemusicarchive.org/music/US_Army_Blues/Live_At_Blues_Alley/0_-_06_-_The_US_Army_Blues_-_Oginiland/
Komiku - In the restaurant
https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Komiku/THE_GIRL_WITH_THE_BASEBALL_BAT/Komiku_-_THE_GIRL_WITH_THE_BASEBALL_BAT_-_03_In_the_restaurant/
Koi-discovery - Oxforf by Night
https://freemusicarchive.org/music/koi-discovery/ante-chrysalide/oxforf-by-nightmp3/
Sep 24, 2025
29 min

The multilingual Esteban Battalán, principal trumpet of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Brass, shares how his language odyssey has sounded important notes in his music odyssey. Hear his story on Episode 77 of the America the Bilingual podcast, “A Trumpeter’s Tale.”
America the Bilingual is a project of the Levenger Foundation, which supports bilingualism and biliteracy in the Americas.
Thanks to members of the America the Bilingual Project team for this episode: Mim Harrison, editorial and brand director of the America the Bilingual Project, who wrote and directed this episode; Fernando Hernández Becerra and his production house in Guadalajara, Mexico, Esto No Es Radio, which provides sound design and mixing; and Jen Cavagnaro at Daruma Tech, who manages our website.
Music performed by Mr. Batallán is from these recordings: Haydn Trumpet Concerto in Eb, Nightfall, and Premiere,“Mr. Batallán.” Further details on estebanbatallan.com/videos.
Additional music, in order of appearance
Koi Discovery - Beer blues
https://bit.ly/3pIQxmi
Illinois Brass Band - Wright, Tam O'Shanter's Ride
https://bit.ly/4iGDOXc
CSO Principal Tuba Gene Pokorny - Schifrin's Tuba Concerto
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kG4lZ-2zWao
Kevin Macleod - Quasi Motion
https://bit.ly/KevinMacleod_QuasiMotion
Frederic Lardon Feat Laura Palme - Dans la méditation transcendantale
https://bit.ly/3PsIzaE
Monplaisir - Jam with me
https://bit.ly/3EO0o23
Esteban Batallan - Hummel trumpet concerto 1st Movement
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXV7V4ipl1s&t=1s
May 1, 2025
29 min

The conventional description of someone who speaks as many languages as Akshay Swaminathan does is “polyglot.” But as you’ll quickly hear when you listen to this episode, there’s nothing conventional about how this Knight-Hennessy scholarship recipient and PD Soros fellow approaches languages.
There is, however, a solid commitment to use what he’s learned about learning languages to help other adults learn, too. His new, virtual language workouts focus on speaking fluently in the language you’re learning, and getting there quickly. Episode 76 of the America the Bilingual podcast is now live!
Music Credits:
HoliznaCC0 - 20 Minute Meditation 1
https://bit.ly/492XPlN
Nomadic - Pictures of the floating world
https://bit.ly/3RyMxjV
Kevin MacLeod - Quasi Motion
https://bit.ly/KevinMacleod_QuasiMotion
Sam Natarajan (Akshay’s father), thiruppAvai #01 and #02 - nAttai and gowLa.m2ts
https://bit.ly/40q8xln
Komiku - Helice’s theme
https://bit.ly/425trHy
Loyalty Freak Music - Waiting TTTT
https://bit.ly/3HEwICx
Ghanam Krishna Iyer, Thiruvotriyur Thyagarajan -Atana- Rupakam, performed by Shreyas Muralidharan and Akshay Swaminathan
https://bit.ly/4gRhCtm
Frederic Lardon Feat Laura Palme - Dans la méditation transcendantale
https://bit.ly/3PsIzaE
HoliznaCC0 - Sky Scrapers
https://bit.ly/4j9T2W4
Jan 15, 2025
28 min

Meet Margaret Boyle, coauthor with Ilan Stavans of “Sabor Judío: The Jewish Mexican Cookbook”. Margaret and Ilan have added their own ingredient to the cookbook: the history behind many of the recipes, some of them their families’, others the history of Jewish immigration to Mexico over the centuries. If you’re a foodie, find history fascinating, or would like to sample the Spanish language through the culinary fusion of Jewish and Mexican cultures, quench your appetite now with Episode 75 of the America the Bilingual podcast.
Thanks to our America the Bilingual team who worked on this episode: Mim Harrison, our editorial and brand director, who wrote and directed it; Fernando Hernandez Becerra, who produced the episode from his studio in Guadalajara, Mexico, Esta No Es Radio; and Jen Cavañaro at Daruma Tech, who manages our website.
Music credits in order of appearance:
John Bartmann - Somewhere nice
https://bit.ly/3ZqUpGv
Kevin Macleod - Quasi Motion
https://bit.ly/KevinMacleod_QuasiMotion
John Bartmann - Bouncy Gypsy Beats
https://bit.ly/4aR7RZv
Demoiselle Döner - Autodétermination - Free Music Archive
https://bit.ly/3OeUzM2
Komiku - In the restaurant
https://bit.ly/3OfJTOs
Pictures of the floating world - Nomadic
https://bit.ly/3LVlpYV
Monplaisir - J A
https://bit.ly/3uNedIT
TRG Banks - Horse ride 2
https://bit.ly/3LRPuZv
Holizna CC0 - 20 minute meditation 1
https://bit.ly/492XPlN
John Bartmann - Bouncy Gypsy Beats
https://bit.ly/4aR7RZv
Nov 16, 2024
27 min

The United States leads the world in bilingualism.
No kidding.
Because of this, no country understands the world as well as the United States.
Seriously.
Ah, you may be thinking, there must be a catch. No catch—just a different way to understand the uncontested data that’s been accumulating for decades.
So…how did we get here, and how might we use this newly unveiled status to the betterment of the country?
In this episode, America the Bilingual founder Steve Leveen takes you through the history, context and science that have led him to this realization of America’s leadership role in bilingualism. Whether or not you’re bilingual, you’ll want to hear this good news for America.
Thanks to our America the Bilingual team: Mim Harrison, editorial and brand director, and early advocate of quizzes as a way to enliven ideas; Fernando Hernandez Becerra, who produced this episode from his studio in Guadalajara, Mexico, Esto No Es Radio; Alli Torban, who designed the data visuals in the quiz; and Jen Cavagnaro at Daruma Tech, who manages our website.
Music and sounds in order of appearance by:
Monplaisir - Be a good punk
https://bit.ly/3Xe2z4f
Anthousai - 23cm glass bowl - tone - cloth mallet 02.wav
https://bit.ly/3MsBh5d
License: Creative Commons 0
Kevin Macleod - Quasi Motion
https://bit.ly/KevinMacleod_QuasiMotion
Monplaisir - Garage
https://bit.ly/3XbPokd
Stomachache - Take me Out to the Ball Game by stomachache -- https://bit.ly/3z65vb4 -- License: Creative Commons 0
Nikitralala - korea_baseball.flac by nikitralala --
https://bit.ly/3MuT23J -- License: Creative Commons 0
Tylermyers1992 - MLB Crowd Cheer - 09032022.wav
https://bit.ly/3MsL3Ev -- License: Creative Commons 0
The United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps -
United States National Anthem (The Star Spangled Banner)
https://bit.ly/3Mx7RTi
The United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps - Reveille Variation/Drum Call/Slow Scotch/Quick Scotch/Yankee Doodle/Mont....
https://bit.ly/3Tf4Qei
Komiku - De l'herbe sous les pieds
https://bit.ly/3z66eJk
Komiku - In the restaurant
https://bit.ly/3OfJTOs
Komiku - Beach
https://bit.ly/4e8qEjH
Komiku - Where you hear the prayer (McGuffin theme)
https://bit.ly/4g1ZyMS
Komiku - Everything is groovy (how to move your body)
https://bit.ly/3xejA4I
Komiku - The road we use to travel when we were kids
https://bit.ly/47fG2Zw
Sep 4, 2024
26 min

While the whole world does not speak English, it’s nevertheless a ubiquitous language worldwide.
Is that a good thing or bad? Or is it, perhaps, more complicated than that?
Professor Rosemary Salomone, both linguist and lawyer, knows how to answer this question perhaps better than anyone. In this episode, she and Steve discuss her newest book, The Rise of English: Global Politics and the Power of Language, where she takes readers around the world to see just what kind of a global player English really is.
Thanks to members of the America the Bilingual Project team for this episode: Mim Harrison, editorial and brand director of the America the Bilingual Project, who wrote and directed this episode; Fernando Hernández Becerra and his production house in Guadalajara, Mexico Esto No Es Radio, which provides sound design and mixing; and Jen Cavagnaro at Daruma Tech, who manages our website.
Music Credits, in order of appearance
Koi - discovery - beer blues
https://bit.ly/3pIQxmi
Kevin Macleod - Quasi motion
https://bit.ly/KevinMacleod_QuasiMotion
TRG Banks - evening journey
https://bit.ly/4bzZZur
Holizna cc0 - advertisements
https://bit.ly/4eTrXEl
Soft and furious - you’re magic
https://bit.ly/3LjJYhq
Soft and furious - game on
https://bit.ly/3VUuRjz
Koi Discovery - Spike protein
https://bit.ly/3S1leya
Wax liricyst - big green
https://freemusicarchive.org/music/wax-lyricist/the-wax-lyricist/big-green/
He can jog - Prelude (Two Hour Delay, Dane County)
https://bit.ly/3zBaq3G
Soft and furious - When the blood driving the self
https://bit.ly/4aaMt0H
Maarten Schellekens - free classical theme
https://bit.ly/4cXxSXj
Jul 10, 2024
29 min

Hear why Kim Potowski, a professor of linguistics at the University of Illinois at Chicago, has a passion for preserving heritage languages, and how she teaches speakers of these languages. De-stigmatizing the way that a Spanish bilingual speaks his or her home language, in Kim’s view, “is a question of social justice.” Listen now to Episode 72 of America the Bilingual.
MUSIC CREDITS
Komiku - In the restaurant
https://bit.ly/3OfJTOs
Kevin Macleod - Quasi motion
https://bit.ly/KevinMacleod_QuasiMotion
Loyalty Freak Music - Waiting TTTT
https://bit.ly/3HEwICx
John Bartmann - Heart of acceptance
https://bit.ly/JohnBartmann_Heartofacceptance
Frederic Lardon feat. Laura Palmeé - Dans la piscine
https://bit.ly/3xiKf0I
Koi-discovery - Oxforf by night
https://bit.ly/3xn39Ua
Jun 12, 2024
23 min

Want to know what really goes into that Subway® sandwich? Localization. Internationalization. And one more: transcreation. Hear how Subway’s Carrie Fischer is making languages part of Subway’s linguistic palate worldwide, in this new episode of the America the Bilingual podcast.
This episode was written and directed by Mim Harrison, the editorial and brand director of the America the Bilingual project. It was sound designed, mixed and produced by Fernando Hernandez Becerra produced.
Karla Hernandez at Daruma Tech manages our website.
Music credits:
Komiku - Hélice’s theme
https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Komiku/Helice_Awesome_Dance_Adventure_/helices-theme/
Kevin Macleod - Quasi Motion
https://bit.ly/KevinMacleod_QuasiMotion
TRG Banks - City
https://bit.ly/43pM2g4
Komiku - Everything is groovy (how to move your body)
https://bit.ly/3xejA4I
HoliznaCC0 - 20 Minute meditation 1
https://bit.ly/492XPlN
TRG Banks - Horse ride 2
https://bit.ly/3LRPuZv
Komiku - In the restaurant
https://bit.ly/3OfJTOs
Soft and the furious - Superconnected sleep
https://bit.ly/3rN902r
Wax Lyricist - A bad death
https://bit.ly/3WbFwG7
Kai Engel - Holiday gift
https://bit.ly/3TL05cX
Mar 27, 2024
29 min
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