Luis Von Ahn - Episode 86- Marta On The Move
Marta On The Move Podcast- Hosted by Marta Napoleone Mazzoni
Release Date: 06/04/2017
#161 Improv Comedy Classes an Avenue to More Playfulness, Creativity, and Better Communication.
Marta On The Move Podcast- Hosted by Marta Napoleone Mazzoni
Welcome back all! Today I am going to be exploring more into my new found passion of Improv comedy classes and why I am here to tell all of you, to try one out in your own hometown. On episode 158 I delved into some deep content about facing your I directly referenced Phil and I pushing past our awkwardness and joining Improv classes. It turns out I wasn't quite done with the subject, and in fact will probably record another podcast about how to make meaningful relationships as you age, which Improv will be involved in that discussion as well. What can I say... When I am into something... I...
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#160 A Rest and Reset. My Experience with 150 Days of No Alcohol, Caffeine, or Sugar.
Marta On The Move Podcast- Hosted by Marta Napoleone Mazzoni
Every year my husband and I do a sort of reset after the holidays. We aren't people who drink a ton. We stick with nicer wines and maybe a Negroni or two when out. Our diets are pretty good, and I usually only consume matcha or decaf espresso in limited amounts. However, the holidays build and build upon these vices, and since we have been eating cleaner every year, when we have more than we should, our bodies feel it more. Sleep gets affected, memories of a story the night before are hazy, brain fog, bloating, and anxiety increases so slowly you don't realize how badly you feel. How much your...
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Free 15 Minute Meditation to Help Ground While Traveling
Marta On The Move Podcast- Hosted by Marta Napoleone Mazzoni
Use this meditation anywhere to quickly come back to your breath, check in with your body, and become more grounded while traveling. For more meditations or private sessions visit or email
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#159 Working with Feelings of Self Doubt and Inadequacy? Ditch Comparing Yourself to Others.
Marta On The Move Podcast- Hosted by Marta Napoleone Mazzoni
This is a subject I have avoided writing or speaking about. I think this avoidance was unconscious, but I am now highly aware of it. I am aware of it because at many a time in my life I have suffered from self doubt, imposter syndrome (I didn't even know that existed until two years ago), and confidence issues. This month is particularly bad for me. I could not understand why I would awaken to dread and sadness. I felt on many days no motivation at all. I know I am still healing from grief, but it was more than that. Something was nagging at me, and I realized it was my own self doubt. I have...
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#158 Facing Fears and Finding Joy in Life Through Discomfort
Marta On The Move Podcast- Hosted by Marta Napoleone Mazzoni
Fear– An unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger. We are not immune to fear. It comes to us like waves and is usually unwelcome. There are global fears such as the war in Ukraine, global warming, food shortages, death. Death of a loved one, or our own amount of time on this spinning globe. I will touch on some of that later, but today I want to tackle some fears that we ourselves can have control over to allow us to stretch outside our comfort zones, try new things, and find peace and joy in our lives. Fear stems from uncertainty and doubt. How do we...
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#158 What's in Your Toolbox? Simple Tips to Help Reduce Anxiety and Stress.
Marta On The Move Podcast- Hosted by Marta Napoleone Mazzoni
We all have a toolbox in our home. A toolbox is a collection of items that is there when we need it in case we have something to fix. All handy, and all in one place. It probably contains at least one of the following items- Hammer, wrench, nails, measuring tape, screw driver, etc. We create these boxes for fixing things in our home, but have you ever thought to create your own personal toolbox to use as a coping mechanism? I sure as hell didn't. Not until I heard someone talk about their own list of things that they held inside of their boxes. When life got hard, when they felt down and out,...
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#157 Five Books That Got Me Through My First 6 Months of Loss.
Marta On The Move Podcast- Hosted by Marta Napoleone Mazzoni
I had someone ask me recently what the fives books that really helped me with this last year of losing my sister. I figured this would be a good opportunity to put them in one place in the hopes that the people who need them, will find them. If you know someone who is grieving and don't know how to help them, one of these or another read delivered to their house is a wonderful way to show them they are on your mind. Friends and family sent me books during this time, and I feel that more than flowers, or candy (Aside from hand written notes because I loved those) recieving the gift of a book in...
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#156 Life After Death- A Journey with Grief. What Has Helped, What Hasn't.
Marta On The Move Podcast- Hosted by Marta Napoleone Mazzoni
*Update* I am no longer in a coffeeshop in Philly, but finally got up to record this post as a podcast episode. It is February now. Enjoy and stay warm. I find myself sitting in a coffeeshop in Philly overwhelmed by how many friends and strangers have reached out to me about losing someone they cared about in their lives recently. I have been working on this post for a while, quietly coming back to it time and time again over the past year, and never ready to post or record it. I am ready now because I hope it helps someone who is feeling the way I do. I also wanted to shine more light on...
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#155 Hosting and Toasting! Tips on Creating a More Inclusive and Welcoming Home. How to Not Get Burned Out Doing it.
Marta On The Move Podcast- Hosted by Marta Napoleone Mazzoni
#155 Hosting and Toasting! Tips on Creating a More Inclusive and Welcoming Home. How to Not Get Burned Out Doing it.
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#154 A Letter to Croatia- What I loved and What Annoyed Me. MOTM Adventures.
Marta On The Move Podcast- Hosted by Marta Napoleone Mazzoni
Dear Croatia... I have a lot to say to you, and I hope I summed it up in this episode. I needed to collect my thoughts, to gather up my senses. I also needed some time to completely fall apart when I got home from this month long odyssey. Reintroduction is always hard. In this episode I talk about reasons that I both completely love, and reasons why I am completely annoyed with Croatia. I hope you find each of them useful, or at the very least somewhat amusing. It might even convince you to book your next trip there. To the 24 guests that joined me for my first ever yoga sailing...
info_outline#86 Luis Von Ahn
I wonder how many of you may know, that the widely popular company known as Duolingo, has it's base right here in Pittsburgh, PA? I sure didn't. After trying many language courses, Rosetta Stone, and even regular CD's you can listen to on your way to work (never happens), I found myself drawn to the free app that is Duolingo. I just happened to be browsing online one day, and noticed from their website, that they are Pittsburgh based! What, what?
If you listen to my show, you know I love traveling, and merging my cultural experiences with my beloved hometown of Pittsburgh. Finding out that Duolingo was based here, and that I was addicted to the app, just made my day! I had to find out who was behind this, and get them on the show.
Turns out a gentleman by the name of Luis Von Ahn created Duolingo. I reached out, scheduled an interview, and a tour of the office. Wanting to come prepared for the podcast, I started researching Luis, and found myself blown away by what he has accomplished in his 38 years. Luis is the inventor of the CAPTCHA. You all know what that is, the box at the bottom of almost any screen, with fuzzy words, that let's you prove you are not a robot. Along with that, he created reCAPTCHA, and ESP game, and now Duolingo, among various other notable projects.
Luis has been named one of the 50 Best Brains in Science by Discover, voted in Silicon's 50 Most Influential People in Technology, and has been recognized as a Brilliant 10 by Popular Science. His credits are almost too long to list, and I cannot wait to see what he does next.
To be honest, once I started researching Luis, I was extremely nervous to chat with him. The man is, in fact, a genius, and I suddenly found I wasn't very sure of myself. It turns out, that I did not have to worry at all, and was pleasantly surprised to find him funny, open, and candid. I truly enjoyed my time spent chatting with him about the origins of Duolingo, and what sent this kid who grew up in Guatemala down his path to success. I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I did.
Also, a personal note to Luis. I am still available to be a squatter at Duolingo. I could clean the floors, take out trash, bring coffee, you name it. Ha Ha! (I am only partly kidding.) It is probably the coolest work place I have ever seen in my life. You can hear more about my tour with them in the intro of the podcast.
If you haven't downloaded Duolingo yet, I HIGHLY suggest it. My husband and I practice it every morning, and we have found our Italian to be so much better. It has an amazing success rate, and more importantly, in our busy schedules, it is FUN. I wake up to the owl every morning :)
This episode is sponsored by Levity Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh's best sensory deprivation chamber with a spa like atmosphere. All listeners get $5 off with code "Marta"
- Luis Von Ahn
- He humored me in my thought bubble photo wish. Thanks Luis!
