Home Podcasts Speaking Tongues Podcast: Celebrating Voices, Stories, and Flavors From Around the Globe
Speaking Tongues Podcast: Celebrating Voices, Stories, and Flavors From Around the Globe

Speaking Tongues Podcast: Celebrating Voices, Stories, and Flavors From Around the Globe

Elle Charisse 200 Episodes Aug 19, 2026

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

What Happens When a Generation Learns Basque? Dr. Eukene Franco Landa on Language Revival
What Happens When a Generation Learns Basque? Dr. Eukene Franco Landa on Language Revival Aug 19, 2026 01:02:56 This episode was originally published on March 11, 2024 Hello Language Lovers! Thank you for joining me for this episode of Speaking Tongues, the podcast in conversation with multi linguals. This week, we’re talking with Dr. Eukene Franco Landa about her language of Basque. Eukene is a Ph.D. in Linguistic Studies at the University of Miami. She is an advocate of minority languages and cultures. He
Between Iran and America: Yara Elmjouie on Language, Identity and Reconnecting to Persian
Between Iran and America: Yara Elmjouie on Language, Identity and Reconnecting to Persian Aug 12, 2026 01:05:17 This episode was originally published on May 22, 2023Hello Language Lovers! Thank you for joining me for this episode of Speaking Tongues- the podcast in conversation with multilinguals.This week’s episode we are talking with Yara Elmjouie who is a James Beard award winning, and Emmy winning journalist for AJ Plus about his language of Persian. I’ve been a fan of Yara’s work for a long time and I’
188. Speaking Computational Linguistics with Dr. Albert Ventayol
188. Speaking Computational Linguistics with Dr. Albert Ventayol Jul 13, 2026 01:18:32 Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we are thrilled to welcome Dr. Albert Ventayol, a computational linguist dedicated to bridging the gap between indigenous and low-resource languages and technology. With a Ph.D. from UC Santa Barbara, Albert is currently on assignment at Meta, where he is working towards achieving omnilinguality in AI-powered automatic speech recognition
187. Speaking Trinidadian Creole & Mandarin Chinese with Janine Lutchman-Nkouetang
187. Speaking Trinidadian Creole & Mandarin Chinese with Janine Lutchman-Nkouetang Jul 6, 2026 01:12:53 Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we are excited to welcome Janine Lutchman-Nkouetang, a passionate foreign language educator and writer whose work  intersects culture, identity, and heritage. As a co-editor and contributing author of the book series "Unearthing Traditions: Stories of Language and Culture," Janine shares her insights on the importance of storyte
186. Speaking Cornish with Elizabeth Ellis
186. Speaking Cornish with Elizabeth Ellis Jun 29, 2026 01:18:19 Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we are thrilled to welcome Elizabeth Ellis, a pioneering figure in the revival of the Cornish language. As the second ever paid officer dedicated to promoting Cornish following its official recognition by the UK government in 2002, Elizabeth has played a crucial role in standardizing the language and fostering its use across various cultu
185. Speaking Sicilian with Nick Panzarella from Cademia Siciliana
185. Speaking Sicilian with Nick Panzarella from Cademia Siciliana Jun 22, 2026 01:11:30 Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we are joined by Nick Panzarella, an Italian American language activist dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the Sicilian language. Based in Houston, Texas, Nick serves as the president of the American branch of Cademia Siciliana and is actively raising his son in Sicilian. Together with his wife, he is set to publish a bilingua
184. Speaking Flemish & French with Dani James
184. Speaking Flemish & French with Dani James Jun 15, 2026 01:06:34 Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we are speaking with Dani James, a native New Yorker with a rich multilingual background, having grown up in Belgium speaking French, Flemish, and various other languages. Dani is the translator of the award-winning memoir "Return to the Place I Never Left" by Tobias Schiff, a powerful narrative that recounts the experiences of
183. Speaking Guaraní & Paraguayan Spanish with Iliana Franco Alvarenga
183. Speaking Guaraní & Paraguayan Spanish with Iliana Franco Alvarenga Jun 8, 2026 01:05:09 Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we are talking with Iliana Franco Alvarenga, a passionate Guaraní translator and linguistic activist. Iliana shares her journey of growing up in Paraguay, embracing her heritage language Guaraní, and the complexities of translating it in a world often dominated by hegemonic languages.We’re exploring the linguistic features of Guaraní, its
182. Speaking Multilingualism In Global Tourism with Ambra Attus of Aquila Center for Cruise Excellence
182. Speaking Multilingualism In Global Tourism with Ambra Attus of Aquila Center for Cruise Excellence Jun 1, 2026 00:55:43 Hello Language Lovers!  In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we are speaking about the power of multilingualism in the global tourism industry with Ambra Attus, a seasoned tourism professional with over 25 years of experience. Originally from Italy and now based in the Dominican Republic, Ambra is a passionate advocate for sustainable tourism practices that foster positive change for both traveler
181. Speaking Yiddish with Mikhl Yashinsky
181. Speaking Yiddish with Mikhl Yashinsky May 18, 2026 01:10:44 Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we are thrilled to welcome Mikhl Yashinsky, a Yiddish playwright, performer, translator, and teacher currently based in New York City. Born in Detroit, Mikhl's connection to the Yiddish language runs deep, rooted in the heritage passed down from his grandparents. Mikhl shares his experiences as a Yiddishist and how this shaped his pas
180. Speaking the Neapolitan language with Massimiliano Canzanella
180. Speaking the Neapolitan language with Massimiliano Canzanella May 11, 2026 01:01:32 Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we sit down with Massimiliano Canzanella, a passionate advocate for the Neapolitan language and its speakers. Since 2001, he has been at the forefront of initiatives aimed at the desegregation of Neapolitan and the recognition of its cultural significance within Italy. From proposing a bill for minority language inclusion to publishing li
179. Speaking New Zealand Sign Language & Te Reo Māori
179. Speaking New Zealand Sign Language & Te Reo Māori May 4, 2026 00:46:42 Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we are joined by Grace Brown, a passionate Maori wahine and 2025 Winston Churchill Fellow, who is dedicated to bridging cultures through innovation and media. Currently situated in Aotearoa, Grace explores how New Zealand Sign Language, emerging technologies, and cultural insights can enhance communication and accessibility in her homelan

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