The podcast episodes highlight the complexities involved in language translation, particularly when dealing with specialized terminology, poetic devices, and cultural references.

In the episode Hiromi Ito, "Tree Spirits Grass Spirits" (Nightboat Books, 2023), the discussion delves into the challenges of translating plant names and preserving the nuances of Ito's poetic language. Similarly, the episode Last Looks: Samurai Cop (w/ Todd Glass) explores the difficulties in translating and understanding cultural references in the film 'Samurai Cop', directed by an Iranian-American filmmaker.

These examples demonstrate how language and translation play a crucial role in facilitating cross-cultural understanding and ensuring that the original intent and meaning are accurately conveyed.