Shows
VOICE: Lives in TranslationVOICE with Madalena Sánchez ZampauloOn this episode of VOICE, Stephanie Rodriguez speaks with Madalena Sánchez Zampaulo, a Spanish and ATA-certified Portuguese to English translator and the owner of Accessible Translation Solutions (ATS), a boutique translation company based in Southern California. As a translator, Madalena specializes in medicine and life sciences. She is also an SEO writer, serving clients in the health and wellness sector.
Stephanie and Madalena discuss entrepreneurship in the translation and interpreting industry, the importance of building a strong network and conducting market research, and the power of setting professional boundaries.
Madalena blogs and shares he...2023-03-2131 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Habits for Kicking Off and Wrapping Up Your WeekEpisode 77: Smart Habits for Kicking Off and Wrapping Up Your WeekIn June 2020 (wow, time flies!), we released an episode on delineating your workday in which we talked about some things we like to do at the beginning and end of a workday. So, for our last episode of 2022, we thought it would be good to do a follow-up episode to talk about some smart habits related to kicking off and wrapping up your workweek. Tune in to hear our conversation on our:• Why it’s important to kick off and wrap up your...2022-12-2700 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Habits for Preparing for an Exam or TestEpisode 76: Smart Habits for Preparing for an Exam or TestDecember is certainly a busy season for most of us, with so much work to wrap up before the holidays and so many personal and family commitments. It’s also a time when we reflect on the accomplishments we made this year and what goals we’d like to set for the coming year. If one of your objectives next year is to take a certification exam or translation test, we think you’ll find this episode useful. Several listeners asked us for tips on prepar...2022-12-1300 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Habits for Forming and Maintaining a Translator CollectiveEpisode 75: Smart Habits for Forming and Maintaining a Translator CollectiveToday, we’re thrilled to share with you a concept that we know is something our colleagues are interested in. In fact, we have not only one guest, but two here to tell us more about it! We’re excited to be sharing the microphones today with our colleagues and friends, Jamie Hartz and Nathalie Reis, who are here to chat with us about translation collectives.Jamie Hartz is an ATA-certified Spanish to English translator who specializes in legal and commercial translation and tran...2022-11-2900 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Habits for Your Social Media Presence with Kelsey FrickEpisode 74: Smart Habits for Your Social Media Presence with Kelsey FrickIn our latest episode, we’re talking about some smart habits related to developing and maintaining a social media presence for your business. Besides coming up with ideas for content, it can be hard to stay consistent when it comes to marketing your business on social media. That’s why we invited a colleague who we think has great insights to share on this topic to join this conversation, and we’re excited to hear her tips.We are thrilled to be joined by Kelsey...2022-11-1500 min
The ATA PodcastE79: The State of the AssociationThe pandemic years changed the business world—and the translation and interpreting industry—in ways we never imagined. As we head into 2023, it’s time to take stock of where ATA stands in support of members and the community at large in the new normal. Listen in as ATA President Madalena Sánchez Zampaulo sits down with Host Matt Baird to outline the work done by the ATA Board, committees, and volunteers in 2022. From the online certification exam to finances to a changing of the guard at ATA Headquarters, Episode 79 covers what you need to know right here, right now. Cl...2022-11-0235 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Habits for Setting Boundaries in Your BusinessEpisode 73: Smart Habits for Setting Boundaries in Your BusinessBefore we jump into the topic of Episode 73, we want to remind you about our next quarterly virtual business retreat, which will be on December 14. We’re excited that our colleague and podcast guest Dorothee Racette has agreed to be our guest speaker this time! She will kick off our retreat with some tips and wisdom on how to set reasonable and realistic goals for the new year, and then we’ll focus on discussing our business goals for the first quarter of 2023. If you’d like t...2022-11-0100 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Habits for Diversifying in a Niche Specialization with Abigail DahlbergEpisode 72: Smart Habits for Diversifying in a Niche Specialization with Abigail DahlbergToday, we’re really excited to be joined by a colleague we both admire very much. She is a translator, content writer, mom, and expert in environmental issues and sustainability. She has been working as a translator for over 20 years and has grown and diversified her business within a very niche specialization. In fact, her success in this area has even earned her the nickname “Trash Girl,” believe it or not!We are thrilled to be joined by our colleague and friend, Abigail Dahlbe...2022-10-1800 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Habits for Attending In-Person ConferencesEpisode 71: Smart Habits for Attending In-Person ConferencesWe’re recording this episode a week after our quarterly virtual business retreat, and we wanted to thank all of our colleagues who participated. We’ve been holding these quarterly business retreats for over a year now, and this was our best one yet—we had great conversations and a guest speaker who we all enjoyed. It’s never easy to find uninterrupted time to sit down and review how various areas of your business are going and what you would like to focus on. Our virtual business retreats are an oppor...2022-10-0400 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsOur Favorite Podcasts About HabitsEpisode 70: Our Favorite Podcasts About HabitsBefore we dive into this episode, we have some news to share!We are excited to announce that Susie Jackson, our guest from Episode 69 on Smart Habits for Negotiating with Clients, will be a guest speaker at our upcoming virtual business retreat on September 20, 2022. So, if you need help making an action plan for 2023 to keep working toward your goals and let go of what's not working for you, we hope you'll join us! Susie will kick off our virtual business retreat with a short presentation on...2022-09-1300 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Habits for Negotiating with Clients with Susie JacksonEpisode 69: Smart Habits for Negotiating with Clients with Susie JacksonIn today’s episode, we’re happy to welcome back a colleague who joined us on the podcast two years ago! She is a translator and a mentor for freelancers who need help figuring out their pricing and getting their business finances in order. We love learning from her through the various courses she teaches and her blog, and we’re sure that she has a lot to share on today’s topic: negotiating with clients.Susie Jackson is a Spanish-to-English translator and copy editor speciali...2022-07-2600 min
En Pantuflas195 – Crecimiento profesional en primera persona - Madalena Sánchez ZampauloComo bien lo dice en plena entrevista, hace mucho que venimos intentando compaginar agendas con Madalena, ¡y lo logramos! La presidenta de la ATA, Madalena Sánchez Zampaulo, se calza las pantuflas y viene a charlar con nosotras sobre un poco de todo, desde las experiencias propias que van forjando su carrera, hasta sus modos de compartir todo eso con la comunidad traductoril a través de sus cursos, de su blog, de su pódcast Smart Habits for Translators, y claro, de su trabajo presidiendo una asociación como la ATA. No dudes más, ¡dale play!
Madalena Sánchez Za...2022-07-1531 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsOur Favorite Books About HabitsEpisode 68: Our Favorite Books About HabitsIn this episode, we’re chatting about what is probably our favorite topic ever—books! And not just any books… but our favorite books about habits. It’s no secret that we love reading about smart habits and discussing how to adopt them in our businesses and personal lives—so much so that we started this podcast! That's why we thought we should dedicate an entire episode to this topic.Tune in to hear our conversation about some of our favorite books on creating new habits and how they apply to t...2022-06-2100 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsTools for Organization and Follow-ThroughEpisode 67: Tools for Organization and Follow-ThroughAs professional translators and business owners, we have to stay organized to make sure our businesses run efficiently. And there are so many things that can be organized: finances, client projects and information, plans for our business, marketing campaigns, and so much more.Keeping your systems in check by using tools that help you stay organized and follow through on your projects and communications is vital to the overall health of your business. And it can also be vital to your own health! Being disorganized can cause...2022-05-3100 min
Translation ConfessionalNEWSFLASH: Smart Habits for Translators InterviewHello everyone! This is just a quick note to let you know that our host Rafa Lombardino was interviewed by fellow podcasters and language professionals, Madalena Sánchez Zampaulo and Veronika Demichelis. Rafa talked about her work routine, her decision-making process to set priorities throughout the day, and how she has tried to remain organized as her business evolved over time. Check out their conversation at the Smart Habits for Translators podcast: https://tinyurl.com/smarthabits-rafa
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Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/translation-confessional/message2022-05-1800 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Habits for Maintaining a Sustainable Business with Rafa LombardinoEpisode 66: Smart Habits for Maintaining a Sustainable Business with Rafa LombardinoWe are excited to welcome a wonderful colleague to join us in today's episode. She is a translator, teacher, fellow podcaster, and expert on audiovisual translation and tools and technology for translators. She has been working as a translator for over 20 years and has grown and diversified her business during that time. We enjoyed hearing from her about ways to grow a sustainable business while doing what you enjoy.We’re very happy to welcome Rafa Lombardino to the podcast.Rafa was bo...2022-05-1700 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Habits for Overcoming an All-or-Nothing Mindset with Nora DíazEpisode 65: Smart Habits for Overcoming an All-or-Nothing Mindset with Nora DíazIn today’s episode, we are joined by a colleague who is an expert on tools and technology for translators and interpreters. She is one of the organizers of the popular Innovation in Translation and Innovation in Interpreting Summits, and she is very active in our profession. We always enjoy following her work and are in awe of how she handles all her projects and responsibilities. We know she has a lot to share on the topic of smart habits, so we are excited she agr...2022-05-0300 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Habits for Overcoming Limiting BeliefsEpisode 64: Smart Habits for Overcoming Limiting BeliefsIn this episode, we are having a conversation about limiting beliefs—what they are, how they can affect the work that we do as translators and interpreters, and how to challenge or overcome them. Limiting beliefs are like deeply ingrained stories we tell ourselves about why we can or can't make progress in a given area. We all have limiting beliefs about something in our freelance translation or interpreting businesses. Some are related to how much money we believe we can earn, while others might be related to ou...2022-04-1900 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Habits for Aligning Your Business With Your Values and Goals with Marina IlariEpisode 63: Smart Habits for Aligning Your Business With Your Values and Goals with Marina IlariIn today’s episode, we’re joined by a colleague, fellow podcaster, and fellow working parent, who will help us explore the topic of staying organized and focused when you have a lot on your plate. So many of us can relate to the feeling of being overwhelmed and scattered when we have an endless list of responsibilities, projects, and goals. We’re very excited to welcome Marina Ilari to the podcast.Marina is an ATA certified English>Spanis...2022-04-0500 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Habits for Following Up With ClientsEpisode 62: Smart Habits for Following Up With ClientsIt’s been said many times that it’s easier (and less expensive) to retain clients than it is to find new ones. But we know of so many freelance translators and interpreters who say that following up with clients is just really hard for them. They don’t want to bother anyone or come across as annoying or desperate for work.In today’s episode, we’re talking about the importance of following up with your translation or interpreting clients and how to make this process less awkwa...2022-03-2200 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Habits for Drumming Up New Business with Melanie Padgett PowersEpisode 61: Smart Habits for Drumming Up New Business with Melanie Padgett PowersSo many of us have experienced the ups and downs of freelancing, which have felt magnified over the last two years as a result of the pandemic. We’ve heard from many of you that you’d like more ideas for ways to grow your business and get more recurring work from clients. Well, our guest today happens to have some excellent advice on this topic, and we’re thrilled she agreed to join us.In today’s episode, we get to talk to a fel...2022-03-0800 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Habits for Taking Time OffSmart Habits for Taking Time OffWe all know that time off is important, yet it’s not something independent translators and interpreters allow themselves to do very often—or consistently. Freelancers often feel guilty about taking time off because they feel like they’re neglecting their businesses. • “What if an important client needs something?”• “What if there’s no work when I return?”• “I can’t afford to take time off!”Sound familiar?We think it’s important to discuss the topic of taking time off, so we're dedicating...2022-02-1500 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Habits for Maintaining Your WebsiteSmart Habits for Maintaining Your WebsiteMaintaining a website is something so many freelancers find overwhelming. We get it. There’s a lot to think about, which can leave you feeling like you don't know where to start.Our goal with this episode is to dispel the myth that maintaining your website is as tedious, hard, or time-consuming as so many people think. Your website is the only digital asset you can really control, one that gives clients a better idea of who you are, what makes you unique, and what it’s like...2022-02-0100 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Habits for Growing Your Online NetworkSmart Habits for Caring for Growing Your Online NetworkWe all hear about the importance of having a strong network for our business. And in some of our previous episodes, we've talked about ways to network at in-person events. Today, we thought it would be great to chat about growing your network online and some dos and don’ts that we personally subscribe to.Networking can be equally daunting whether you’re just getting started in the profession or you’re already an established translator or interpreter. You can feel uncertain about meeting clients on their...2022-01-1800 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Habits for Managing Your InboxSmart Habits for Caring for Managing Your InboxHaving a freelance translation or interpreting business means that you depend quite a bit on your email inbox. At least, we know we do! You probably correspond with most of your clients via email, as well as colleagues and others who need to reach you or send you important information.But it’s really easy to let your inbox take over your work-life (and perhaps your home-life, too!). We know that we have felt this way on and off through the years, especially as email qu...2021-12-2800 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Habits for Caring for Your Mental Health with Dr. Elizabeth MillerSmart Habits for Caring for Your Mental Health with Dr. Elizabeth MillerThere is a lot of responsibility and uncertainty that comes with being a freelancer and a small business owner. Many of us often struggle with feelings of overwhelm and anxiety, and the pandemic has certainly exacerbated this to such an extent that some people could barely function due to constantly feeling worried and not knowing what to expect. Our worlds have been turned upside down, and many people have been feeling guilty that they don’t seem to be able to function the same way th...2021-12-1400 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Habits for Editing and Revising Your Work with Eve Bodeux and Emily SafrinToday’s episode is all about the importance of checking and improving our work as translators. We all know that this is a crucial step in maintaining the high quality of our work. But not all of us enjoy the editing and proofreading step or have a systematic and efficient approach to the process. So, we invited two of our colleagues, Eve Bodeux and Emily Safrin, to discuss this topic with us. Eve and Emily are both excellent translators and talented editors.We’re excited to welcome Eve Bodeux and Emily Safrin to the podcast! 2021-11-3000 min
Troublesome Terps67: The Translation & Interpreting PodcastivalPodcasts are everywhere, so what to listen to?
To help you along here, the Troublesome Terps reached out to some of our favorite language related podcast-superstars and invited them to join our first ever live #podcastival.
The goal was to celebrate the language industry at large in all its beautiful diversity with all its shades and wrinkles and shine a spotlight on these fabulous contributions - if we missed your favorite language podcast, do let us know and enjoy our #podcastival!Special Guests: Ada Volkmer, Carrie Gillon, Cate Hamilton, Corinne McKay, Eve Lindemuth Bodeux, Florian...2021-11-251h 51
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Habits for Thinking as a Business Owner with Sarah TownsendIn today’s episode, we have a thought-provoking conversation about the importance of treating your translation or interpreting business as a business—in particular, thinking like a business owner. This sounds like such a simple thing, but many freelance translators and interpreters fail to do this and consider themselves “just freelancers.” This mindset can have a negative impact on your interactions with clients, your pricing, and many other elements of your business.We have talked about this in many of our previous episodes, but today we’ve invited a special guest to join us in this conve...2021-11-1600 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Habits for Dealing with the Feast and Famine Cycle with Yulia TsybyshevaToday, we want to share an important discussion that we don’t tend to hear a lot of honest conversations about, at least not in a public forum. Freelancers and business owners know that the feast and famine cycle can really take a toll, especially if you’re unprepared to handle times of famine. If you’ve ever been in the middle of a famine in your business, you know how unsettling it can be . . . waiting for that next project, wondering how you’re going to make it to the next big check. But it doesn’t have to be...2021-11-0200 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsAnswering Questions from Our ListenersThis 52nd episode of Smart Habits for Translators marks the second anniversary of our podcast! It’s hard to believe that it’s been two years since we launched Smart Habits for Translators. More than ever, we are grateful to you all, our listeners and colleagues, and it makes us so happy to hear that you enjoy our episodes!Last year, we celebrated our first “podcastiversary” by recording an “Ask Us Anything” episode, so we’re making it a tradition by doing the same this year! We’ve been gathering questions from our listeners for a while, and we want to t...2021-10-1900 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsTips and Tricks for Attending Hybrid Conferences: A Surprise Episode with Speaking of TranslationSurprise! This is another joint episode of Smart Habits for Translators and Speaking of Translation.Corinne McKay and Eve Bodeux, co-hosts of the legendary Speaking of Translation podcast, recently announced, after 13 years they pressed pause on their podcast, but all of their past episodes are still there. We have already recorded two joint episodes (Episodes 29 and 35), and we’re excited that they agreed to join us again and record this special episode!In this episode, we’ll be discussing a topic that many of us are faced with (yet again!) this fall as many of our...2021-10-0500 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsCreating a Vision for Your Freelance BusinessIn this episode, we’re piggybacking on the topic of Episode 49 about conducting a business audit. Before you start reviewing the different areas of your business and identifying or updating your business goals, it’s important to keep in mind what your vision is for your business. As we said in Episode 49, we want you to put your CEO hat on and think about what you would like to get out of your business and whether it’s changed from what you originally thought your business would be.Forming a vision for your business...2021-09-2100 min
Deliberate Freelancer#111: Offering Courses and Coaching, with Translator Madalena Sanchez ZampauloToday’s guest is Madalena Sanchez Zampaulo. Madalena lives in Southern California and owns a boutique translation agency called Accessible Translation Solutions, which she opened in 2010. She continues to do freelance translation work as well, specializing in medicine and life sciences. Madalena shares her knowledge and years of research to help freelance translators and interpreters improve their online presence—from their websites and LinkedIn profiles to SEO and copywriting. She does this through her blog, as well as courses, webinars and coaching and as co-host of the podcast Smart Habits for Translators. I asked Madalena to c...2021-09-0958 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Habits for Conducting a Business AuditWe often talk about small business owners, in particular freelancers, having to wear many hats: we’re our own boss, bookkeeper, marketing team, tech support person, administrative assistant, and more! But how often do you really sit down and think about all these areas of your business?In this episode of Smart Habits for Translators, we are having a conversation about conducting a business audit: why it’s important to check in with your translation or interpreting business regularly, what areas to look at, and, most importantly, how often.This is an area that...2021-09-0700 minThe ATA PodcastE64: ATA's 62nd Annual ConferenceNo matter what your language or specialty, whether you are a veteran conference-goer or a first-timer, you'll walk away from ATA's 62nd Annual Conference with practical and realistic ways to build, manage, and grow your business. In Episode 64, you’ll find out more about this opportunity to learn how to get better at what you do. Host Matt Baird speaks with ATA President-Elect and ATA62 Conference Organizer Madalena Sánchez Zampaulo. Find out about the educational sessions, networking opportunities, precautions being taken to keep attendees safe, and more. Don’t miss this sneak peek at ATA’s flagship event!2021-08-3127 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsMaintaining a Professional ImageWe all know that first impressions count, and this applies to all interactions you have with other people–both online and in person. When you run your own business, it’s even more important that you come across as a reliable, trustworthy professional, someone who clients and colleagues can trust and value.After all, this is how we often choose service providers ourselves. Whether we need a graphic designer or an accountant, or when we’re looking for colleagues to collaborate with, we want to find someone who portrays themself as a professional from the start.But...2021-08-2400 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Habits for Engaging with Clients OnlineAs most translators (and many interpreters) work remotely, it’s important to think about how we can reach and engage with our clients from a distance. With technology at our fingertips, there’s no excuse for not engaging with our clients online. And yet… it can feel overwhelming, intimidating, and for some, even anxiety-inducing. We don’t say this lightly. We know a lot of people deal with anxiety when it comes to their business and trying to market to potential clients. So, in this episode, we share our thoughts on engaging with clients...2021-08-1000 minThe ATA PodcastE60: ATA Halftime ShowDid you hear about ATA's new e-book Guide to Starting Out as a Translator? Will the ATA62 conference be virtual this year? Is it true that ATA's certification exam can now be taken online? How does the new ATA website help members make more of their membership? Why is it never too late to attend an ATA membership orientation session? Why did the number of ATA webinars double this year? And what is the Back to Business Basics series? How is ATA doing financially? It's the annual Halftime Show where President Ted Wozniak and President-Elect Madalena Sánc...2021-07-0156 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Habits for Finding the Right Clients for YouHaving a freelance business means that you’re always looking for new clients. Even if you have some regular clients, all freelance translators and interpreters should be planning ahead and marketing their services or responding to inquiries from potential new clients.But just as you’re not always the right fit for a particular project or client, they might also not be the right fit for you. This goes back to the goals and aspirations you have for your business, your specializations, or your particular schedule or personal circumstances.But how do you determine if a pa...2021-06-2900 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Habits for Specializing and Keeping Up with Your SpecializationWe’ve all heard how important it is to specialize as professional translators and interpreters. But not everyone agrees with this. There are many who believe that specializing is not necessary and that you can get enough work as a generalist to make a good living. We’re not here to argue that you can’t, of course, but we do feel that specializing is an excellent way to stand out as a professional, gain better clients, and open more doors for future opportunities in an area you already know well.Choosing a specialization can feel d...2021-06-1500 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Habits for Diversifying Your Translation BusinessWhile it’s definitely important to master your craft and hone your skills, we also think that offering more than one type of service or working with various types of clients can be a safeguard for your business. After all, you never know when things might shift, and when they do, it tends to happen when you least expect it. Or maybe you’re just ready for a change. There are so many reasons to diversify your translation or interpreting business! In this episode, we want to share some ways to do that, along with some...2021-06-0100 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsFinding Mentors and Surrounding Yourself With People Who Encourage and Push You to Be Better at Your CraftIn this episode, we’re sharing a conversation about finding mentors and surrounding yourself with people who encourage you and push you to be better at your craft. This can feel like a difficult thing to do, especially in a profession where we are used to working alone and behind the scenes.It can be especially daunting if you’re a new translator or interpreter. It’s not that easy to know where to start, and finding someone who will guide and encourage you can feel nearly impossible. So, how do you go about...2021-05-1800 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsFinding Time and Energy for Unpaid Projects and WorkIn this episode, we’re having a conversation about finding time for unpaid work and projects. You know, those things we truly enjoy doing—whether for our own development or personal fulfillment or as a volunteer in an organization—but that can be difficult to make time for during busy days filled with paid work.Like most of our translator and interpreter colleagues, it comes as no surprise that we love the work we do and we sometimes can’t believe that we get paid to do it. But there are also other projects and goals we have tha...2021-05-0400 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Habits for Using Technology in Our Work with Jost ZetzscheToday’s episode is all about using technology in your work. Sounds like a no-brainer, right? Even though many translators and interpreters like putting pen to paper, we depend on technology and tools to make us more productive and maintain our work's high quality. This is also a controversial topic, especially the debate surrounding the advances in machine translation (MT), how this technology affects our work, and what lies ahead.We also often get questions from listeners on the beginner end of the spectrum about translation environment tools or CAT tools: which ones are best an...2021-04-2000 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Habits for Managing Your Finances with Pamela CapaladManaging finances is one area of business that all freelancers and small business owners have to deal with on a regular basis, and translators and interpreters are no exception. Owning a small business often means that you wear many hats, and, let’s face it, the role of CFO, or Chief Financial Officer, is one that a lot of us struggle with or even dread. We often hear colleagues ask questions about managing the financial side of their business and financial planning, and we’re interested in these topics too. And because the financial side of a business is so v...2021-04-0600 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Habits for Growing Your Freelance Career with Laura BriggsIn today’s episode, we’ll talk about the mindset shift and strategies that are necessary when you’re ready to take your freelance translation or interpreting business to the next level. Whether you aspire to make more money as a freelancer or you simply want to reach the stage where you’re only working on ideal projects for ideal clients at ideal rates, you may find yourself with more questions than answers on how to get there. When possible, we like to step outside of our professional bubble and talk to colleagues in other fields, especially creative...2021-03-2300 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Habits for Managing Freelance Work and ParenthoodIn today’s episode, we’re having a conversation on the topic that we briefly discussed in several previous episodes and that many of our listeners often ask about: being a parent and a freelancer. Those of us who have kids know that parenting is a full-time job. But running your own freelance business can also take a lot of time and energy. So, how do you combine the two without crashing and burning in the process? We don’t have all the answers, but we’ll share our experience and what has worked for us.Here’...2021-03-0900 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Habits for Improving Your Online Research With Elizabeth AdamsIn today’s episode, we’ll talk about one of the most important tasks in our workflow. Whether you’re a translator, an interpreter, a copywriter, or if you offer any other language-related services, you have to do your fair share of research. In fact, when we don’t do our research, it shows in the final product. So, today we’ve invited a colleague to join us. She really impressed us at the last two ATA conferences with her knowledge and smart tips on improving your online research. Elizabeth Adams graduated with a degree in Russian...2021-02-2500 minThe ATA PodcastE52: ATA 2020 Year In ReviewHow did ATA do in 2020? In Episode 52, ATA President Ted Wozniak and President-Elect Madalena Sánchez Zampaulo tell Matt Baird, host of The ATA Podcast, how 2020 became the "year of the ATA volunteer." From membership to advocacy, from professional development to honors and awards, ATA members pulled together to make things happen for their colleagues. And both Ted and Madalena say there's a lot more to come in 2021! ATA Letter to CDC: Interpreters Need the Vaccine • ATA Members Report How Their Work Changed in 2020 • 5 Reasons to Join ATA • Check Out the New ATA Website • ATA62 Call for Proposals...2021-02-131h 12
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Habits for Building Lasting Relationships with Your Clients with Amanda CalvinIn today’s episode, we’ll talk about something that, as freelancers, we all aspire to achieve: building lasting relationships with our clients and leveraging those relationships to build our referral networks.To discuss this topic, we invited a special guest to join us. She’s not a translator or an interpreter, but she works in a creative field, and we think it’s extremely valuable to look outside our profession and see what other freelancers are doing so we can learn from their approach.We’re excited to welcome Amanda Calvin, an experienced graphic designer a...2021-02-0900 min
Speaking of TranslationBoundaries and sticky situations: a joint episode with Smart Habits for Translators
Thanks to our friends Veronika Demichelis and Madalena Sanchez Zampaulo at Smart Habits for Translators, for asking us to record another joint episode!
Our topic this time around is boundaries and sticky situations:
How to handle non-paying clients, especially if you know them personallyWhat to do when a dream client wants to work with you…but can only pay a fraction of your normal rateHow to respond to rude/unprofessional feedback from an editorWhat to do when you pour your heart and soul into a translation test…and you fail itHow to handle drama and misunderstandings when...2021-01-2600 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsMaintaining Healthy Boundaries between Work and Personal Life: Another Joint Episode with Speaking of TranslationThis episode is another collaboration with our colleagues Corinne McKay and Eve Bodeux, co-hosts of the popular podcast, Speaking of Translation. We’ve already had the pleasure of speaking with them before—Corinne was our guest in Episode 20 and shared about creating professional partnerships, Eve joined us in Episode 30 to talk about maintaining your second language, and we discussed handling the winter holidays with Corinne and Eve in Episode 29.In this episode, we invited them to discuss a topic that many of us often struggle with: maintaining healthy boundaries between work and personal life.H...2021-01-2600 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Habits for Making Movement and Exercise a Priority with Eva StabenowIn this episode, we invited a special guest who’s not only a fellow translator but is also qualified to share exercise-related advice! Eva Stabenow is an ATA-certified EnglishGerman translator focused on translating, writing, and adapting consumer-facing medical and health content. She holds a graduate degree in Conference Interpreting and has served the American Translators Association in various roles ranging from division administrator to mentor to certification exam grader. She is also a past president of the Southeast Chapter of the American Medical Writers Association. If you’re an ATA member, you may also know Eva...2021-01-1200 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Habits for Setting Priorities and Getting Things Done with Dorothee RacetteIt’s very common at the end of a calendar year to analyze how things went and what you would like to do differently in the coming year. So, we thought it appropriate to talk about productivity, organization, time management, and priorities for this last episode of the year.We’re excited to welcome a very special guest, colleague and fellow translator Dorothee Racette.Dorothee is a Certified Translator and a Certified Productivity Coach.She brings together her expertise from decades of working as a freelance translator with her experience as a certified prod...2020-12-2900 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Sales Habits for Introverts with Matthew PollardIf you listened to our popular episode on conference habits (Episode 3 at the very beginning of our podcasting journey), you may remember that we mentioned a book called The Introvert’s Edge: How the Quiet and Shy Can Outsell Anyone. We both really enjoyed this book and often recommend it to friends and colleagues who may struggle with introvert tendencies.Now, in Episode 32, we’re excited to welcome a special guest: the author of The Introvert’s Edge, Matthew Pollard.Matthew Pollard is responsible for five multi-million-dollar business success stories, all before the age of 30. His hu...2020-12-1500 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Habits for Marketing in Unexpected WaysWe all know that marketing is necessary to run any business well. And while sometimes marketing can feel tedious or overwhelming, it doesn’t have to be that way. You can very much create some good habits around marketing your business that will leave you feeling more in control of the future of your business and with more work/life clarity. In this episode, we're sharing about something that has worked well for us and that, we hope, will be helpful to you: smart habits for marketing in unexpected ways. Be sure to stay tuned until the en...2020-12-0100 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Habits for Maintaining Your Language Skills with Eve BodeuxIn today’s episode we’re excited to welcome our friend and colleague, Eve Bodeux. Eve Lindemuth Bodeux is a 20+-year veteran of the language services industry and has worn many hats. She is an ATA-certified French to English translator focusing on the translation of corporate communications, market research and international development content. She is also the owner of Bodeux International LLC, offering multilingual project management to clients worldwide. Eve is co-host of the long-running Speaking of Translation podcast and author of Maintaining Your Second Language: practical and productive strategies for translators, teachers, interpreters and othe...2020-11-1700 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsHandling the Winter Holidays: A Special Episode with Speaking of TranslationWe are excited to announce this special joint episode with our colleagues, friends, and superstar-podcasters Corinne McKay and Eve Bodeux!Corinne and Eve are co-hosts of the popular podcast, Speaking of Translation, which we have both been enjoying since before we even thought about launching our own. When Corinne and Eve asked if we would like to record a collaborative episode together, we didn't even hesitate to say yes. These ladies are wonderful to talk to, and we highly recommend that you subscribe to their podcast!Since we only have a few weeks...2020-11-1000 minSpeaking of TranslationHandling the holidays as a freelancer: a joint episode of Smart Habits for Translators and Speaking of Translation
Thanks to our awesome friends and colleagues Veronika Demichelis and Madalena Sanchez Zampaulo over at Smart Habits for Translators for this very fun joint episode on handling the holidays as a freelancer! We discuss topics such as:-How we all handle vacations over the winter holidays; and how this very atypical year is the same or different-How to decide whether to work or not work over the holidays-How to take a real vacation without losing clients-How to use the holidays to your advantage, especially if you’re actively looking for work-H...2020-11-1000 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsDealing with and Overcoming Serious Illness with Meghan KonkolAs many of you may know, October is international breast cancer awareness month. So, it seemed like the perfect time for a very important conversation: dealing with (and overcoming) serious illness, as well as some smart habits that can be helpful if you or someone you know is dealing with something similar right now (or in the future).We are very grateful to our colleague and friend, Meghan Konkol, for discussing this important topic with us.Here’s a summary of our conversation with Meghan:- How and when she started her freelance tr...2020-10-2000 minSpeaking of TranslationMaking the most of LinkedIn
Eve and Corinne discuss how to make the most of LinkedIn as a freelance translator or interpreter, including:
Tips for optimizing your profile (specifically for our industry)How we use LinkedIn in our own businessesEve’s ongoing use of LinkedIn PremiumCorinne’s recent experiment with the LinkedIn Premium free trial
Links mentioned in this episode:
Eve’s Global Reads book clubEve interviewed by Isabella Massardo for her blog and #SmartReads newsletterSee your LI profile as others see it and modify what they see (if you are logged in)Customize your LinkedIn profile URLMiriam Hurley’s article...2020-10-0900 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsA Special Episode to Celebrate Our First PodcastiversaryThe Smart Habits for Translators podcast is 1 year old!To celebrate our podcastiversary, we recorded another Ask Us Anything episode, answering questions that we received from our listeners and colleagues via social media.Here’s a summary of our conversation:• Our thoughts on the unwritten rule that translators should only translate into their native language and not into their second language• What it's like being freelancers and moms during this very atypical time• How we battle Zoom fatigue• Whether we were nervous before our first episode and if the ner...2020-10-0600 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Habits for Attending Online ConferencesYou might remember that we talked about smart habits for attending conferences last year, in Episode 3. We shared tips about the things you can do before, during, and after a conference to make it worth the investment of your time, your energy, and your money. In fact, this is our most popular episode since we launched the podcast last year, and we are so glad that our colleagues are still finding these tips useful. But, as so many things have moved online this year, we realized that we needed to share an update on this topic.As...2020-09-2200 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Habits for Staying Safe Online with Alexander Drechsel and Josh GoldsmithOnline security seems to be more important than ever these days. Since technology has become so ingrained in our daily lives, especially as a result of the pandemic, it's essential to do what we can to stay safe online.But how much do you know about staying safe online? And more importantly, do you implement all those recommended precautions, like smart password management?We wanted to get a refresher on this topic and encourage fellow translators and interpreters to take the necessary steps to protect their identities and personal information, as well as any confidential...2020-09-0800 minThe ATA PodcastE47: The ATA61 Annual Conference ReviewFor many of translators, interpreters, and company owners, ATA’s Annual Conference is the most highly anticipated event in their professional calendar—not just for learning and getting leads on jobs but also for meeting and networking with other translators and interpreters. How is it possible to do all this virtually? Find out when Host Matt Baird interviews ATA President-Elect and Conference Organizer Madalena Sanchéz Zampaulo in Episode 47 of The ATA Podcast.2020-08-3131 minThe ATA PodcastE46: ATA Halftime ShowCalifornia Assembly Bill 5 and job loss. COVID-19 and economic crisis. Travel bans and everything going virtual. Few of us could have imagined a year like this one. So, how has ATA responded? And is there anything you may have missed along the way? Find out as ATA Podcast Host Matt Baird interviews President Ted Wozniak and President-Elect Madalena Sánchez Zampaulo for our 2020 Halftime Show. 2020-08-1758 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsCourse-Correction for Your Business during Times of UncertaintyNo matter how well you plan ahead, there are times when things happen that are out of your control. We're all experiencing this right now as a result of this year's events.Perhaps the world health and economic crisis threw a wrench in your business plans this year. Or maybe your career had to take a back seat due to family obligations or parenting responsibilities. Or perhaps you've experienced an uptick in work (in which case, congratulations!).Normally, this summer, we would do a mid-year business review and set goals for the next 6 months, but...2020-08-1100 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Habits for Planning Your Professional DevelopmentWe all know that professional development is extremely important for both translators and interpreters, but it can sometimes be a challenge to prioritize it over paid work, marketing, or establishing and growing your business.Especially these days, with so many learning and training opportunities available, it can be overwhelming to pick the right one.In this episode, we share our own experiences and thoughts on the topic of professional development for language professionals: how to choose, plan, and schedule it, as well as how to implement what you’ve learned.Here is a su...2020-07-2800 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Habits for Managing Social Anxiety and Perfectionism with Sadie HallBack in May, we asked our listeners what topic we should discuss on our podcast, and the response was overwhelming: anxiety.We believe that this response is definitely a reflection of the time we’re all in, but it is also something many freelancers struggle with from time to time—both anxiety in general and social anxiety in particular.We are very grateful to our guest, Sadie Hall, for joining us in this episode and sharing her experience with managing anxiety, social anxiety, and perfectionism.Sadie is a freelance translator and editor living in H...2020-07-1400 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Habits for Dealing With BurnoutAs freelancers, most of us have to deal with some degree of burnout at one time or another. We work remotely, but that means that we don’t have colleagues nearby who we can vent to or have a quick work break with. We work flexible hours, but we work for ourselves, which means that we can easily choose to work extended hours or devote evenings and weekends to work. We are trying to achieve our financial goals while being constantly reminded about the need to market ourselves, develop professionally, stay up-to-date with relevant tools and resources, un...2020-06-3000 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Habits for Creating Professional Partnerships with Corinne McKayIn today’s episode, we’re talking with our friend and colleague Corinne McKay about creating professional partnerships with colleagues. Many of you have surely heard of Corinne, but if you haven’t, here’s a quick introduction:Corinne McKay is an ATA-certified French to English translator and Colorado court-certified French interpreter based in Boulder, Colorado. She has been a full-time freelancer since 2002, and since 2005 has written books and taught courses for other freelance translators in addition to her own translation and interpreting work. Corinne's book How to Succeed as a Freelance Translator has sold over 12,000 copies and is a...2020-06-1600 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Habits for Delineating Your WorkdayWe hope that the topic of today’s episode is relevant not just for translators or interpreters, but for all freelancers! While we are used to working from home, we know that it's been an especially stressful time during the COVID-19 pandemic to delineate between work and personal time.In this episode, we talk about different ways to delineate your work day—not in a general sense of setting boundaries, like we discussed in Episode 1 on Work/Life Balance, but specifically how to signal to yourself that your work day has come to an end— and how to shi...2020-06-0200 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsCreating a Four-Day Work Week with Matt BairdAs the name of our podcast suggests, we’re always on the lookout for new smart habits that can be helpful in our work and personal life. We have been long-time admirers of the approach that today's guest takes to create work/life clarity and find freedom in freelancing. Our friend and colleague, Matt Baird, is joining us to share how he transitioned to a four-day work week. A necessary caveat: Like most of us, Matt’s reality is quite different these days (during the COVID-19 pandemic). However, his goal is to return to a four-day work week...2020-05-1900 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsCoping With Quiet Work PeriodsThis topic was a request from one of our listeners, and we thought it would likely apply to the current situation when many of us are feeling a lull in our work—or maybe even some patchy spots when work is busy for a week and then completely quiet the next—because of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on the global economy.We’ll also talk about other situations when you might experience a quiet work period, like holidays, summer vacation, or those times when you have unresponsive clients.So, today, we’ll share our pers...2020-05-0500 minThe ATA PodcastE43 COVID-19 & CARESOn March 27, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, a $2-trillion emergency relief fund to assist Americans during the COVID-19 shutdown. In this special edition of the ATA Podcast, Host Matt Baird speaks with ATA President Ted Wozniak and ATA President-Elect Madalena Sánchez Zampaulo about the CARES Act and the impact of COVID-19 on language professionals. Don't forget to subscribe to The ATA Podcast on iTunes, Feedly, and Spotify!2020-05-0119 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Marketing Habits with Tess WhittyWhile everything about business looks a bit different than usual for most people right now, we can still be thinking about smart habits to put in place to market our businesses moving forward. Does it feel strange to think about marketing your services these days? You’re not alone!That’s why we’re excited to share our interview with our colleague and friend, Tess Whitty.A disclaimer: we recorded this interview about a month before the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the world. However, the content of our conversation is still relevant, and we hope that y...2020-04-2100 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Sleep HabitsThis topic may be one that hits particularly close to home for a lot of us, especially in times of uncertainty and stress. We all know how important sleep is for our physical and mental health, but it can also be one of the hardest habits to maintain. Many of us can relate to this during the current COVID-19 crisis, when our usual daily routine is disrupted, our financial stability is affected, and we are overwhelmed with heavy news. That’s why we felt it was particularly important to talk about smart sleep habits and how to ma...2020-04-0700 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSmart Habits During Social Isolation: A Special Episode with Sara Maria HasbunIt has been a strange few weeks, hasn’t it? The global COVID-19 pandemic turned our whole world upside down. It's impossible not to be affected by it in some way.That's why we decided to record this special episode. We are so grateful to our guest for meeting with us virtually and sharing some great advice on how to come out of this experience feeling stronger.Sara Maria Hasbun is the founder of Meridian Linguistics, a language services agency providing translation, language data collection, language data analysis, and linguistic annotation services to technology companies. She al...2020-03-3100 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsAnswering Your Questions: Our First "Ask Us Anything" EpisodeWe are shaking things up with a special episode by answering your questions this week! Thank you to everyone who sent us questions.Before we jump in, we would like to share our support and solidarity with our colleagues who are experiencing a setback in their freelance businesses because of what’s going on right now with the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time of recording this, we know that many interpreters have lost work, and while some translators are seeing an uptick in documents related to information on the virus, there are still many who are not re...2020-03-2400 min
Troublesome Terps46: Caught in a Web of Sites with Madalena ZampauloTogether with ATA president-elect Madalena Zampaulo, the Troublesome Terps embark on a perillous journey into the world wide web and the various types of online presence an interpreter or translator can have: From LinkedIn profiles, to Twitter, blogs and especially your own website(s), Madalena talks do's and don'ts, gives valuable tips and shares experiences with the Terps. Take a listen and let us know what you think and if you have any tips regarding websites and online presence! Special Guest: Madalena Sánchez Zampaulo.Links:Madalena's Course PortfolioSpeaking of Translation: Website and Online P...2020-03-191h 18
Smart Habits for TranslatorsFinancial Habits for a Healthy Business with Susie JacksonFirst, a quick announcement: we now have listeners in over 40 countries—wow! We are so grateful that you choose to listen to our podcast, and we really appreciate all the support!
This episode is a special one—we have our first guest! Tune in as we chat with Susie Jackson.
Susie is a freelance copy editor and Spanish-to-English translator specializing in academic texts for the social sciences. She also mentors freelancers to help them figure out how much they should be charging and who their ideal client is so that they can earn a decent living doing what they love.
What...2020-03-1000 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsDeclutteringIn our previous episodes we talked about smart habits for organizing your to-do list and finding motivation to do the tasks that you need to get done. But sometimes the reason we don't feel productive, focused, or motivated is that there is simply too much mental or physical clutter around us.
So, today we wanted to talk about smart habits for decluttering: cleaning out, organizing, and simplifying what’s happening in our office, on our desk, and in our heads.
What you'll hear in this episode:
- Our thoughts on how physical and mental clutter affect us
- How we ca...2020-02-2500 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsFinding MotivationIn our last episode, we talked about different ways to organize your to-do list and get it under control.
But what if you know exactly what needs to be done, but you’re struggling to find the energy or motivation to do it? You know you have a lot of things on your to-do list, but maybe you feel uninspired, and you have no energy or desire to do the work that needs to be done. So, it's easy to procrastinate or get distracted.
We all have days like this!
So, today we wanted to talk motivation: how to find it...2020-02-1100 minSpeaking of TranslationDiversifying your freelance business beyond translationEve, Corinne, and special guest Madalena Sanchez Zampaulo discuss how and why (or why not!) to diversify your freelance business beyond translation. We discuss: -Non-translation lines of work that the three of us have pursued throughout our careers -The pluses … Continue reading →2020-02-0500 min
Speaking of TranslationDiversifying your business beyond translationEve, Corinne, and special guest Madalena Sanchez Zampaulo discussion how and why (or why not!) to diversify your freelance business beyond translation.2020-02-0545 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsConquering Your To-Do ListThe beginning of the year and that time when you come up with your goals and priorities for the year always seem like a clean slate, right? But give it a couple of weeks, and your to-do list can start to get of control. We’ve all been there!
That’s why we wanted to talk about conquering your to-do list and what you can do to prevent it from controlling your life or causing guilt or insecurity about all the things you need to do.
Tune in as we talk about how we organize the tasks on our to-do list...2020-01-2800 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsSetting Goals for the New YearAs the year is drawing to a close, it’s a good idea to review how things went for you both professionally and personally before you start setting your goals and priorities for the new year.
There are so many different ways to do this! You could do your planning on paper, digitally, in your favorite planner (we’re excited to try our Full Focus Planners in 2020!), using an online tool, a mind map, or a vision board… The sky is the limit here!
One way of reviewing your year and planning for the next one is by planning and holdin...2019-12-3100 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsOvercoming Family vs Work GuiltAs freelancers, we often have a hard time hitting the “OFF” button when it’s time to stop working. Whether you are wrapping up your work day, spending time with family or friends, or taking a much-needed break, it can be hard to stop thinking about work, and that often triggers feelings of guilt.
In some way, shape or form, we all experience some guilt as freelancers when it comes to the amount of time we spend in our business and the amount and quality of time we spend with those we love. A lot of us work from home, which...2019-12-1700 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsHealthy Exercise and Nutrition HabitsDo you sometimes find yourself working for hours without proper breaks for movement and healthy meals? Healthy exercise and nutrition habits can be tough for many translators to maintain, because we tend to work long hours in front of the computer.
We tend to think of exercise first and foremost, but the truth is that it goes hand in hand with a healthy diet, drinking enough water, getting enough sleep, and many other factors. So, we though that we should talk about exercise and nutrition as one piece in this puzzle of making sure that you feel your best.
Tune...2019-12-0300 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsReading More When You're Not WorkingTranslators have to read a lot for work, but for many of us it can be hard to find time and energy to read for pleasure or to learn something new. Yet, reading is crucial for maintaining our language skills, learning new terminology, language style and usage, and becoming better writers. Tune in as we talk about strategies and tips that can help you read more when you’re not working.2019-11-1900 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsFollowing Up With Leads and ClientsWe all know that it’s important to follow up with leads and clients, but this can also be a bit nerve-racking. There’s always the possibility that a client may say “No” to a pitch or a quote we send them for our services, and we all have days when the impostor syndrome gets the best of us.
But that’s no reason to avoid this task. Tune in as we talk about strategies and habits that make it easier to follow up with leads and make your efforts more likely to pay off.2019-11-0500 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsConference HabitsDo in-person networking events fill you with anxiety and stress? Or are you excited to attend the moment you put them on the calendar? Conferences and meetings can be a major source of inspiration and energy for translators (and a great way to meet new colleagues and clients!). But there is so much effort that goes into preparing for these events, not to mention the fact that they can truly be exhausting for introverts or people who prefer not to toot their own horn. Wherever you are on the scale from "I love going to conferences" to "I'd rather stay home", w...2019-10-1700 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsImpostor SyndromeHave you ever doubted yourself, sabotaged your own plans and dreams, and thought that others surely think that you are NOT who you say you are? Have you ever felt like an impostor in a room full of geniuses and experts?
Tune in as we talk about Impostor Syndrome and how to overcome that suffocating feeling that you are not enough.2019-10-0800 minThe ATA PodcastATA 2019 Elections: President-Elect Candidate Madalena Sánchez ZampauloMadalena Sánchez Zampaulo is running for the position of President-Elect in ATA's upcoming elections on October 24, 2019.2019-10-0811 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsWelcome and Work/Life ClarityIn this episode, we introduce ourselves and talk about the idea and vision behind the Smart Habits for Translators Podcast. We also talk about work/life clarity, why we prefer this term over "work/life balance", and how to set your boundaries and priorities intentionally.2019-10-0100 min
Smart Habits for TranslatorsPodcast TrailerWelcome to Smart Habits for Translators! We are excited to bring you our podcast on October 1, 2019.2019-09-1401 min