Fluent AF

Ep. 32: From Naming Comes Knowing-The Language of the Source

Before language became content, it was survival. Literally! Episode 32 of Fluent goes back to the source: firelight, foraging, naming, memory, and the first sounds humans used to make sense of the world around them. Form ancient plant knowledge to the hidden power of grammar, this episode explores how language didn't just help us communicate, it helped us survive, connect, and become human. Because maybe the first word wasn't about power. Maybe it was about care.

Ep. 31: What Gets Remembered vs. What Gets Erased with Aubrey Brown

Today on Fluent AF, I'm joined by writer, storyteller, artist, and the creator behind Florida Folk History, Aubrey Brown, for our longest conversation to date. We talk about seven generation of Florida, The Keys, Homestead, and the stories that survive us long after we're gone. From Seminole sympathizers and "El Farito" lighthouse keeper, to generational memory, forgotten histories, and the reality that most people are forgotten within two generations, this episode explores what it means to belong to a place and what happens when its stories disappear. This isn't just a conversation about Florida it's a conversation about memory itself.

Ep. 30: You're not Bad at Languages, You're Just Uncomfortable

Most people think they're bad at languages because they can roll their R's, remember vocabulary fast enough, or sound "natural." That's not usually the real problem. The real problem is discomfort. In this episode of Fluent AF, I break down why speaking another language can make even smart, confident people suddenly feel awkward, quiet, or "stupid.' From identity shifts and code-switching to accents, power, and the fear of sounding imperfect, this episode explores the emotional side of language learning nobody talks about enough. Because fluency isn't just grammar. It's confidence. It's vulnerability. It's learning how to still feel like yourself while sounding completely different. If you've ever frozen mid-sentence, avoided speaking, or felt like your personality disappeared in another language... this episode is for you. Episode 30 out NOW!

Ep. 29: You don't speak Spanish... So what are you? With Michelle Sanches

You Don't speak Spanish... So what are you? This week on Fluent AF, we say the quiet part out loud. Who gets to belong? Michelle grew up with a white mom and a multiracial dad. No spanish. No bilingual household. Still deeply connected to her culture. We talk identity, colorism, code-switching, and what it feels like to be questioned in spaces that expect you to prove who you are. Because fluency isn't the same as authenticity. And culture doesn't live in language alone.

Ep. 28: Touch has an Accent: The Language of Touch, Culture, & Closeness

Touch has an accent. In this episode of Fluent AF, we explore how culture, family, and memory shape the way we give and receive affection. From cheek kisses and hugs to hair-touching, closeness, and the body language of love. Because what feels warm in one culture can fee like back up, babe in another. Ep. 28 is out now.