Nihongo to English marks first year with 37 episodes and a global audience

Los Angeles comedians Michelle MaliZaki and Michael Allen are marking one year of their bilingual podcast Nihongo to English on October 2, 2026, with Episode 37. The show has passed 2,600 downloads and built listeners in the U.S., Japan and beyond by leaning into imperfect language and casual conversation.

Why it matters: - Nihongo to English is built around a simple lesson for language learners: communication can still work even when speakers are not fluent. - The podcast reaches both English speakers learning Japanese and Japanese speakers learning English. - The show has also found an audience beyond language students, which suggests cross-cultural conversation can travel well as entertainment.

What happened: - Los Angeles comedians Michelle MaliZaki and Michael Allen, CPA, marked the podcast's first anniversary on October 2, 2026, with the release of Episode 37. - The show launched in October 2025. - The podcast has released 36 episodes in its first year. - The show is expected to surpass 2,600 downloads by the anniversary. - Roughly 50% of listeners are in the United States. - About 20% of listeners are in Japan. - The remaining audience is spread across Asia, Europe, South America, Australia and Africa.

The details: - MaliZaki is Japanese-born, and Allen is American. - The hosts knew each other for about seven years through the Los Angeles comedy scene before starting the podcast. - The show features casual conversations in Japanese and English about everyday topics, language, culture and whatever else comes up. - The podcast includes exercises from the Genki workbook for listeners who want to study along. - The format is designed to be accessible to people who are not language students. - The show also streams regularly on Twitch, giving listeners a chance to interact with the hosts in real time. - Allen has been livestreaming his Morning Motivational program as part of Goat VS Fish since January 2026, which feeds into the podcast's live-streaming experience.

Between the lines: - The podcast's appeal appears to come from its imperfections as much as its structure, with mistakes and misunderstandings treated as part of the point. - The show turns bilingual conversation into a comedic format, which gives language practice a lower-pressure entry point. - MaliZaki's comments frame the project as proof that people do not need perfect grammar or pronunciation to stay connected.

What's next: - MaliZaki and Allen plan to keep exploring the awkward, funny and universal parts of communicating across languages and cultures. - The podcast will likely continue its mix of recorded episodes and Twitch livestreams as it moves into its second year.

The bottom line: - Nihongo to English has turned a bilingual comedy premise into a yearlong format with real audience reach and a clear message: imperfect communication can still be meaningful.