Best Language Learning Humour Podcasts (2025)

1
Why Not Me? Young Chinese Australians taking part in the political game 27:26

5d ago27:26

27:26

According to Australian electoral laws, any Australian citizen above 18 and eligible to vote can run for parliament. So as a young Chinese Australian what’s your chance of becoming Australia’s next Prime Minister? In this episode, Wing Kuang and Bertin Huynh investigate climbing the ladder to Australia’s top job, starting with the country’s lowest …

1
Language, character design, and world building 1:02:15

5d ago1:02:15

1:02:15

In this episode we talk about the role of language in character design and world building. Hosts Dr. Ibi and Dr. Joe cover topics including: language ideologies, stereotypes, and othering characters with different accents or speech impediments spelling in conlangs inspired by real languages real-world associations mapping onto fictional worlds game…

1
Millennials vs Gen Z: Do young Chinese Australians still believe in the fair-go? 23:07

20d ago23:07

23:07

War. Inflation. Loneliness. In the past three years, Millennial and Gen Z Chinese Australians have been caught in geopolitical and economic turmoil. Decades ago our Chinese migrant parents could still make their way following the script of hard work, higher education, and a safe career. But does this still work for young people today? In this episo…

1
Introducing Chinese-ish Season 2: Young Chinese Australians vs The World 1:35

24d ago1:35

1:35

Chinese-ish is back! In season two of the series we will ask more difficult, spicy and sexy questions about what it's like to young and Chinese in Australia today. From dealing with the housing crisis to becoming a politician, improving our mental health and an expert guide to sex, we ask the questions for you, so that you can be heard.…

1
Style That Speaks: How to Dress for Impact on Stage with Kay Korsh - 318 1:02:21

26d ago1:02:21

1:02:21

Let’s be honest — most speakers spend a lot of time crafting their talk, but when it comes to what they wear on stage? That’s often a rushed afterthought… or a full-blown panic. Are you second-guessing whether your outfit actually helps or hinders your message? Ever watched back your talk and thought, “What was I thinking with that jacket?” Or mayb…

1
Hearthstone deep dive: when game studies meets linguistics 1:25:07

1M ago1:25:07

1:25:07

In this episode we take a close look at the online collectible card game 'Hearthstone', which is part of Blizzard Entertainment's 'Warcraft' franchise, and three research papers which study the game in relation to language and communication. Hosts Dr. Ibi and Dr. Joe cover topics including: Humour, puns, and wordplay in Hearthstone; Linguistic diff…

1
Quick Tip - The Author to Speaker Struggle is Real - Here’s How to Win - 317 34:00

1M ago34:00

34:00

I see so many business authors and experts set out to use speaking to have more impact, step firmly into the thought leadership space, and monetise their message, only to get frustrated when they struggle to get the results that they want. Some struggle just getting their talk together, unable to work out which bits of their book ‘baby’ to put in a…

1
Communicate with More Impact and Elevate Your Screen Presence with Loreta Tarozaite - 316 1:06:12

2M ago1:06:12

1:06:12

Ever feel like your message gets lost in a sea of jargon? Do you struggle to turn complex ideas into stories that actually land? Or maybe you’re great in a room full of people, but put a camera in front of you and suddenly you forget how to be yourself? If any of that sounds familiar, you’re in the right place! In this episode, I’m chatting with Lo…

1
Struggling with Speaking Nerves? Turn Anxiety into Confidence with Heather Lillico - 315 1:01:43

2M ago1:01:43

1:01:43

My guest today is Heather Lillico. I was so inspired by an article I read from Heather on the Tiny Buddha website, where she outed herself as a nutritionist who out of the limelight was actually struggling with an eating disorder, that I was curious to find out more. What I discovered is that her journey of managing and mastering anxiety is not onl…

1
[Quick Tip] Every Day You Wait Someone Else Gets the Gig - 314 20:00

2M ago20:00

20:00

In this quick tip episode, I’m tackling something that holds many speakers back —decision-making. Whether you’re using speaking to market your business, win clients, or land paid gigs, hesitation can cost you big time. Every day you wait, someone else is taking the stage. In this episode, I cover: Why making decisions feels so challenging. The resu…

1
Gamified language learning: neither fun nor educational? 46:54

2M ago46:54

46:54

In this episode we discuss our experiences of using language-learning apps. Hosts Dr. Ibi and Dr. Joe cover topics including: What is gamification? Loss aversion, quizzes, and immersive learning The (im)balance between vocabulary and grammar Different needs for different audiences Apps such as Duolingo, LingoLegends, Memrise, Influent, and Earthlin…

1
How to Deliver a Magical Audience Experience and Get Booked More with Lee Warren - 313 51:13

3M ago51:13

51:13

I saw Lee Warren speak at the Professional Speaking Association summit and he was one of the star turns of the event. The theme was standing out, and his talk was aimed at helping speakers to do exactly that, for the right reasons. Lee was a magician by night and a sales director by day before he fell into professional speaking. That was 15 years a…

1
[Quick Tip] How to Get More People to Follow You - 312 13:07

3M ago13:07

13:07

Many experts and authors that reach out to me are frustrated that they are struggling to build a following. They often compare themselves to others and think they aren’t connecting with people because of their persona, or their style, but that’s not it. There is a reason that others, often less qualified, are reaching and engaging more people and i…

1
#11: Angela Wanhalla & Erica Newman - Māori on the Home Front: Resilience, Rangatiratanga, and Wartime Mobilisation 1:16:29

3M ago1:16:29

1:16:29

In this episode of Weaving Our Worlds, Melanie sits down with historians Angela Wanhalla and Erica Newman to delve into the untold stories behind the recent dual publications, Te Hau Kāinga: The Māori Home Front During the Second World War and Raupanga, a companion volume in te reo Māori. Together, these books explore the experience of Māori on the…

1
'The gostak distims the doshes': deciphering gibberish-English in a text-based adventure game 48:02

3M ago48:02

48:02

In this episode we discuss Carl Muckenhoupt's challenging 'The Gostak'; a text-based adventure game in which the player has to decipher a gibberish version of English. Hosts Dr. Ibi and Dr. Joe cover topics including: How the game works Translation as game mechanic The syntax of English and what it tells us about the meaning of words Verb transitiv…

1
Overcoming the Challenges to Building a Sustainable Speaking Business with Arel Moodie - 311 1:02:41

4M ago1:02:41

1:02:41

The road to making speaking a sustainable business is littered with people who quit because the journey was so much tougher than they ever anticipated. There are lots of people dangling the golden carrot of gigs worth thousands, and becoming a six figure speaker … and it is absolutely possible, but those who make it are a fraction of those that sta…

1
#10: Melanie Nelson - Libertarianism in legislation: Unpacking the Regulatory Standards Bill 26:30

4M ago26:30

26:30

In this episode, the tables are turned. Thanks to Bryan Bruce Investigates for initiating and sharing this podcast episode where he interviews Melanie Nelson, the host of the Weaving our Worlds podcast and the Coherent podcast. In this episode of Head to Head, Bryan Bruce interviews Melanie Nelson, a writer, researcher, translator and consultant sp…

1
#1 Coherent podcast - A Legal Straitjacket: Jane Kelsey on Neoliberalism and the Regulatory Standards Bill 1:04:25

4M ago1:04:25

1:04:25

This is the debut episode of my new podcast, Coherent. Listeners of Weaving our Worlds might find it of interest. It's available on most podcast platforms. On the Coherent podcast Melanie Nelson hosts in-depth interviews unpacking the political issues shaping Aotearoa New Zealand today. Join us as we explore the sweeping reforms transforming our so…

1
Unleash Your Creativity to Increase Your Visibility with Azul Terronez - 310 1:05:31

4M ago1:05:31

1:05:31

What should come first, your book or your talk? That’s one of the questions I posed to Azul Terronez, book coach to some of the best known thought leaders around. Azul is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author and book coach who specializes in helping leaders write and publish books that elevate their brand. As the CEO of the six-fi…

1
[Quick Tip] The Secret Ingredient for Getting More Speaking Gigs - 309 19:28

5M ago19:28

19:28

I want to share something that I know will get you more speaking gigs and ramp up your confidence for outreach. It’s relevant for live events, podcasts and any other type of It’s very simple yet so many people struggle to execute on it, but hopefully this episode will give you inspiration and some concrete steps to take to implement this in 2025. I…

1
The Inside Track on Becoming More Bookable as a Speaker with Seth Dechtman - 308 1:08:04

5M ago1:08:04

1:08:04

One of the questions I get asked most is how do I get booked consistently for paid speaking gigs. I have my views on this from a speaker and speaking coach perspective, but I wanted to get a view from someone with another angle. That’s why I invited Seth Dechtman onto the show. Seth works with event planners for some of the biggest organisations an…

1
[Quick Tip] How to be a Great Guest and Still Share Your Message Effectively on Podcasts, Panels & Fireside Chats - 307 21:12

5M ago21:12

21:12

“I’ve been booked to do a fireside chat at a conference, have you got any tips?” This is a question I got a few weeks ago from one of my Green Room clients, and she actually had the event this week. In response I shared with her some tactics she could use before and during the event to ensure she influenced the direction of the conversation to wher…

1
Real cultures in games: humour, accents, and how you hold your pizza 48:52

5M ago48:52

48:52

In this episode, we talk about the representation of real cultures in video games. Hosts Dr. Ibi and Dr. Joe discuss: The scope of ‘culture’, from architecture to penis jokes Nationality, regionality, mainstream, and stereotypes Accents and how people feel about them Games such as Grand Theft Auto, Assassin’s Creed, Life is Strange, Thank Goodness …

1
How to Get Results on Social Media as a Speaker with Mark Saxby - 306 1:00:37

5M ago1:00:37

1:00:37

I’m going to be real here. When I look back at my life from my death bed, I am not going to say … “if only I’d spent more time on Linked In”. Most of the people I speak to would be happy to spend less time on social media and free themselves from the guilty feeling that they should be doing ‘more’! But the truth of it is that social media is import…

1
[Quick Tip] Are Free Speaking Gigs Worth Doing? - 305 16:03

6M ago16:03

16:03

“I’ve been approached to speak at an event, but they have no budget for speaker fees, should I do it?” … is a question I get asked a lot. So, I say … “Firstly, that’s not a question I can answer for you … but here’s some ideas for how you can assess the value of an opportunity for you and your message, and how you can make low fee or free gigs pay.…

1
Changing the Narrative with Gethin Jones - 304 1:00:22

6M ago1:00:22

1:00:22

Trigger Warning - this show briefly discusses difficult topics including self-harm and suicide. Gethin Jones is a survivor, but what few people would have believed, (including Gethin), was that he would also become an international speaker and thought leader. Growing up in the care system, he spent a total of 8 years in prison, battled intravenous …

1
How to Put together a Game Changing Signature Keynote - 303 23:32

6M ago23:32

23:32

Business Book publisher and business author Alison Jones said “for business book writers a signature talk changes the game.” Arel Moodie, Professional Speaker, Disney Show Host and Founder of Talkadot said: “If you feel like you are not getting booked enough. You need a signature talk. If you feel like you are constantly chasing clients and they ar…

1
Social simulation in games: what is it and why isn’t there more of it? 57:45

6M ago57:45

57:45

In this episode, we talk about social simulation in games, taking as our starting point Mitu Khandaker's talk ‘Thinking about people: Designing games for social simulation’. Hosts Dr. Ibi and Dr. Joe discuss: What’s a social sim? Autonomous behaviour versus authored branching stories Social simulation in tabletop games What are NPCs for? The multip…

1
[Quick Tip] Does Your Idea have Enough Impact? - 302 13:07

6M ago13:07

13:07

“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” That’s a famous and overused quote from Maya Angelou - that really applies to speakers. Because people won’t remember your name or the exact words you say, but they will remember how your message made them feel…

1
How to Set Your Self Free and Be More You with Michelle Minnikin - 301 1:09:59

6M ago1:09:59

1:09:59

The definition of ‘self-expression’ is the expression of one's feelings, thoughts, or ideas, through words, choices or actions, especially in writing, art, music, or dance. Sounds easy doesn’t it? The trouble is that we are all so bogged down with messages about how we should look, think, speak, and act; that it can make it difficult to let go of e…

1
Why You Are Shackled by Self-Doubt and How to Break Free - 300 42:33

7M ago42:33

42:33

This show was prompted by the question of a podcast listener, but reflected a recurring issue with people that I work with. My clients have written great books, become accomplished experts in their field and have a big message to share, but when it comes to sharing their views in person or on stage, a number of them begin to doubt themselves. It sh…

1
#9: Sarah Hopkinson - Exploring Pākehā identity, sustainability, and te Tiriti justice 1:04:38

7M ago1:04:38

1:04:38

In this thought-provoking episode, Sarah Hopkinson, a māmā, curriculum designer, urban farmer, and storyteller, joins Melanie to unravel the intricate threads of identity, ancestry, and the environment. Sarah delves into what it means to be Pākehā in Aotearoa, reflecting on collective accountability, the deep-rooted values shaping our land, and the…

1
Ludemes, ‘game as language’, and other metaphors 56:39

7M ago56:39

56:39

In this episode we try to wrap our heads around the concept of 'ludemes'. Hosts Dr. Ibi and Dr. Joe discuss: The origins of the term 'ludeme' Different games scholars' and game designers' definitions of ludemes Comparisons between ludemes, memes, genes, and linguistic concepts such as phonemes and morphemes Underlying metaphors used to describe gam…

1
Why USPs Don’t Work and What Speakers Should Focus on Instead with Chantal Cornelius - 299 1:15:06

7M ago1:15:06

1:15:06

Do you feel resistance when you hear the word marketing? So many people do. They have hang ups and beliefs about marketing and it can get in the way of them being able to achieve success in their business and as a speaker. I get it though, marketing can feel complicated, overwhelming and confusing. But it doesn’t have to feel that way. What if it c…

1
From the Curious Encounters of Forensic Psychiatry to Cruise Ship Speaking with Rhona Morrison - 298 1:09:08

8M ago1:09:08

1:09:08

Have you got dreams of turning your years of experience, knowledge and wisdom into a new career as a speaker? Well that’s exactly what Dr Rhona Morrison did. She is a retired Forensic Psychiatrist, who worked in the NHS for 32 years, and the author of ‘I don’t talk to dead bodies’. Her book takes you beyond the sensationalist headlines to show you …

1
[Quick Tip] Do You Want to Wing it or Bring It as a Speaker? - 297 17:00

8M ago17:00

17:00

Just recently I’ve had people reach out to me with a bleeding neck, and what I mean by that is … they have a huge speaking gig less than three weeks away and they haven’t got a talk to give. So in this quick tip show, I want to give you a heads up on the problems with winging it and what to do instead. In this show I’m covering: Why people wing the…

1
Unlocking the Cheat Code to Better Health and Performance with Margie Chavasse - 296 59:08

8M ago59:08

59:08

Imagine the scenario, you’ve turned up to a speaking gig, or important presentation and your stomach is playing up, or you’re feeling foggy, and it’s not because you had a heavy night out. It’s just that it happens, and often at the most inconvenient times, and you don’t know why, and your Doctor hasn’t been able to tell you either. So instead of f…

1
Obstacles to Building Your Speaking Gig Pipeline - 295 23:07

8M ago23:07

23:07

The question I hear most frequently from people, whether they’re starting out on their professional speaking journey, or they have been going at it for a while is this one … “How do I get paid to speak consistently?” All they’re getting is the odd few gigs, then tumbleweed. They want a pipeline of speaking gigs but they don’t know how to build it, …

1
Deciphering the Nebula: language, history and narratology in Heaven’s Vault 1:01:28

8M ago1:01:28

1:01:28

In this episode we discuss the brilliant Heaven's Vault; a narrative adventure videogame about decyphering a constructed language in order to learn the history of a fantastical world. Hosts Dr. Ibi and Dr. Joe cover topics including: How the game works Ideographic vs Alphabetic writing systems Semantics and Morphology in language Science fiction, m…

1
#8: Jen Margaret - Honouring te Tiriti o Waitangi, changing systems and working as allies 1:03:00

9M ago1:03:00

1:03:00

In this insightful episode, Melanie Nelson sits down with Jen Margaret, a dedicated advocate and educator for te Tiriti o Waitangi. Jen has spent over 30 years championing the importance of te Tiriti and the responsibilities it entails for Pākehā and Tauiwi in Aotearoa. Jen shares her personal journey into this work, starting with her first encount…

1
From Elfsperanto to Orcstralian: The Languages of D&D 43:59

9M ago43:59

43:59

In this episode we discuss the languages used in Baldur's Gate 3, and in Dungeons & Dragons more broadly. Hosts Dr. Ibi and Dr. Joe cover topics including: What is a lingua franca? What is a constructed language? Fantasy races (species) and the signs and sounds they make. How the needs of tabletop roleplay leave D&D's designers to "leave something …

1
[Quick Tip] Nuggets from the Speaker Summit - 294 24:12

9M ago24:12

24:12

I was at the Speaker Summit and Speaker Awards in London a couple of weeks ago, and I wanted to share some of the advice and tips from the experts there on the day. In this show I’m covering: The questions that can uncover speaking leads everywhere How to turn your LinkedIn profile into a gig magnet Standing in front of other people’s parades Make …

1
Breaking the Silence with Don Ryan - 293 59:57

10M ago59:57

59:57

Please be aware that this episode does discuss the topics of death and suicide. Each of us has a story to tell, but for many people no reason compelling enough emerges for us to embark on the journey to sharing that story with others. But for some people, there comes a time where something happens and it ignites a burning desire to share their stor…

1
#7: Dr Jeremy Tātere MacLeod - Toitū te Reo festival, the future of the language and the need for allies 54:35

10M ago54:35

54:35

Dr Jeremy Tātere MacLeod joins Melanie to talk about the upcoming celebration of te reo Māori - the first national Māori language festival, Toitū te Reo. He shares about the inspiration and focus of the festival, its welcoming nature to all, and what it will look and feel like. We discuss some of the speakers and topics which will be included. We a…

1
[Quick Tip] Why We Avoid Making Decisions and Give Up Too Soon! - 292 15:18

11M ago15:18

15:18

This quick talk tip will help you avoid procrastination, move closer to your dreams and keep going when things feel tough. In this show I’m covering: A reframing for the Field of Dreams Why we procrastinate when making decisions The antidote to inaction The greatest place to be in relation to making a decision The lesson from Steve Jobs Why you sho…

1
#6: Beth Tupara-Katene - Ocean centred marine-governance, community led solutions & customary/commercial fisheries 57:49

11M ago57:49

57:49

Beth Tupara-Katene joins Melanie to share the findings of research project Tangaroa Ararau. The project has focused on how to put Tangaroa and Hinemoana (the ocean) at the centre of marine governance, with decisions led collectively by local communities. We include Māori perspectives on governance and relating to the ocean, across the spectrum of k…

1
The True Levers You Need to Pull for Positive Change with Ruth Taylor - 291 1:01:39

11M ago1:01:39

1:01:39

We are living in tumultuous times, we are facing some of the biggest challenges ever as a species, and as individual countries, organisations and people. And despite the huge incentives to come together to work through these problems, we are in a lot of ways more divided than ever before. Many speakers today are talking on some of these big topics …

1
[Quick Tip] How to Make Your Talk More Marketable - 290 16:17

12M ago16:17

16:17

This quick talk tip will help you avoid the trap that many speakers fall into, and will help you become more marketable to your target audience. In this show I’m covering: The burning platform thought experiment. The impact of failing to find a ‘hot’ problem. Hot topic vs. hot problem The evergreen hot topics The principles of making your talk topi…

1
The Truth Prescription - Hacking Your Health with Dr Brooke Bussard MD - 289 1:09:51

1y ago1:09:51

1:09:51

All of us want to be healthy, happy and live a long and active life, but getting clarity on how to achieve that is a struggle. The information we get is often tainted by corporate interests pushing us in the direction of their products or pills, and all of this can leave you feeling like you’re in a maze full of dead ends, getting spun around with …

1
[Quick Tip] Why Most Speakers will Never Get Paid to Speak - 288 13:24

1y ago13:24

13:24

This quick talk tip will help you avoid the pitfalls that stop most speakers from realising their dream to become a professional, paid speaker. If you have that dream, then listen up. In this show I’m covering: The brutal truth about speaking A story that illustrates two of the biggest obstacles to authors and experts becoming paid speakers Three t…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Language Learning Humour Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide