Beyond Words: Language, Literature, Prison Volunteering & Medical Clowning | LINDA ULĀNE (SKRANDA)

What can language, literature, prison volunteering, and medical clowning teach us about people? In this episode, I sit down with Linda Ulāne (Skranda) for a conversation about language, literature, creativity, and the many different ways we connect with other people. We talk about Linda’s experience volunteering in prisons, the stereotypes and assumptions we carry with us, and what happens when we actually meet the people behind those assumptions. Linda also shares her experience in medical clowning, what it means to work as a medical clown, what working in hospitals has taught her, and how these experiences have shaped her on a much deeper level. We also talk about Latvian language and literature, creativity, empathy, meaningful work, and discovering different sides of yourself through the things you do. And stay until the end — Linda closes our conversation by reading one of her poems in Latvian. Learn Latvian through stories. This interview is also an authentic Latvian listening resource for intermediate Latvian learners. Instead of learning only from textbook dialogues, you can hear Latvian as it is actually spoken — naturally, spontaneously, and in a meaningful real-life conversation. Students in my B1 and B2 Latvian courses will work with this interview and similar authentic materials to develop their listening comprehension, expand their vocabulary, understand natural spoken Latvian, and learn the language through real language. If you want to learn Latvian and move beyond textbook Latvian towards understanding real conversations, explore my Latvian language courses at latvianonline.lv. Whether you are learning Latvian at B1 or B2 level, interested in Latvian culture and literature, or simply enjoy meaningful conversations, I hope you enjoy this interview with Linda Ulāne. Learn Latvian beyond words.