Leigh Turner diplomacy and writing

One of my most popular TikTok videos is called "How to learn languages". Maybe people like it because I reveal how difficult I myself find learning them! My book "Lessons in Diplomacy" contains several stories showing how hopeless I've always been at learning grammar for e.g. German or Turkish. But I've clawed my way to a reasonable command of lots of languages despite that handicap. Key lesson: try a few different techniques; and never believe you can't learn a new language.

For more about real-life diplomacy and the nuts and bolts of what diplomats and ambassadors really do, check out my book "Lessons in Diplomacy: Politics, Power and Parties". ⁠https://geni.us/LessonsinDiplomacy.

#languages #learning #diplomacy #lessonsindiplomacy #booktok

When I published a video on my Instagram saying "Anyone can be a diplomat", I got a lot of support - and a lot of pushback. Some people found the idea that anyone could be a diplomat empowering. Others said "it's just not true. You have to know the right people." Which is true?

For more about real-life diplomacy and the nuts and bolts of what diplomats and ambassadors really do, check out my book "Lessons in Diplomacy: Politics, Power and Parties". https://geni.us/LessonsinDiplomacy

Costa Rica is home to some of the most spectacular natural beauty on the planet, as well as teeming with wildlife and world-class beaches. The Pre-Columbian Gold Museum in San Jose is a marvel of design and beauty. On the Pacific Coast, you can watch both mother turtles laying their eggs and baby turtles hatching and running the gauntlet of countless predators to try and reach the ocean. This is the last of my five podcasts about my 6-week journey from Patagonia to Costa Rica in November-December 2025.

You can find many pictures to accompany this podcast at https://rleighturner.com/costa-rica/.

#costarica #turtles #reforestation #gold #precolumbian #history

Don and Mike recently interviewed me on their "Vintage FM" channel using a "Desert Island Discs"-type format. It's a brilliant format because it prompts lots of really personal stuff. You can hear the results here.
All FM is a fabulous local radio station in Manchester. Hosts Don Berry and Mike Bath run a series of interviews on their Vintage FM Channel every Tuesday between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. "A mixture of great music to suit all tastes and 'on the nail' interviews with local heroes that get behind the scenes on what makes Manchester great." Do tune in. I'm grateful to Don and Mike for making this happen. Lovely to hear the great music, too.

Colombia at last! Who knows the main sights of Colombia, a country as large as Germany, France and the Netherlands combined? I visited Medellin, with its tragic history and story of hope; and Cartagena, with its Caribbean beat, mighty castles and exquisite food and drink.

You can find many pictures to accompany this podcast at https://rleighturner.com/colombia/.

#colombia #medellin #cartagena #travel #southamerica #latinamerica