Language Is More Than Words - With Michelle from WeCultivate

Send us Fan Mail What if learning a language wasn't really about vocabulary and grammar? In this fascinating conversation, I sit down with Michelle from WeCultivate Training and Media to explore the deeper layers of language—how history, identity, culture, bias, and belonging shape the way we communicate. Michelle shares her multicultural upbringing, her journey from UX designer to language educator, and why she believes language learning is just as much about psychology and sociology as it is about memorizing words. Together we unpack why speaking the same language doesn't always mean understanding each other, how stereotypes influence the way we judge accents and language ability, and why curiosity is one of the most powerful communication tools we have. Whether you're raising multilingual children, living abroad, learning a new language, or simply interested in understanding people more deeply, this episode will challenge the way you think about communication. In this episode, we discuss: - Why language is so much more than vocabulary and grammar - Michelle's multicultural background and how it shaped her perspective - The connection between language, culture, identity and history - Why there is no single "correct" version of a language - How colonial history continues to influence the languages we speak today - The cultural differences hidden within the same language (Spanish, English and beyond) - Judging accents and the myths surrounding "proper" English - Why multilingual speakers are often unfairly corrected or underestimated - The importance of creating safe spaces for language learners - How curiosity can replace stereotypes and assumptions - Practical advice for anyone learning a new language or moving abroad Michelle is the founder of WeCultivate and host of *WeCultivate:The Pod*, where she explores the intersections of language, communication, culture, and identity in real-world contexts. With a multidisciplinary background across science, policy, and tech, her work focuses on the often-overlooked realities of multilingual communication—especially for professionals navigating complex, global environments. She’s known for challenging traditional ideas of “language learning,” shifting the conversation beyond the textbook and toward how people are actually understood, evaluated, and experienced in everyday interactions. Drawing from her experience living across multiple countries and cultures, she brings a perspective that pushes beyond conventional narratives and into the realities most conversations miss. You can find Michelle here: Substack: https://wecultivate.substack.com/ Main podcast page: https://wecultivate.world/podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wecultivate.world/ If this conversation about Third Culture Kids, global parenting, identity, belonging, and raising multicultural children resonated with you, I'd love your support. Please subscribe to the podcast, leave a rating or review, and share this episode with someone navigating international life, raising globally mobile children, or searching for where they truly belong. Together, we can help more globally mobile families feel understood, connected, and at home—wherever they are in the world. For more, please follow me also on Instagram at Quiero un Panino con Cheese