Learn Spanish with Stories

Simón Bolívar is known as the Liberator, and he rightly gained this title... but there is another, one who fought as hard as Bolivar but was nowhere near as recognized as the Venezuelan: José de San Martín.Born in Argentina and raised as a Spanish soldier who fought for the Spanish Empire, José de San Martín's eyes were opened to the human desire for freedom, and made it his personal goal not only to topple the Spanish colonizers in South America, but to do it in the humblest and most selfles...

One of the creepiest tales to come out of Venezuela was that of Dorancel Vargas. A homeless man with severe mental issues who lived outside the city of San Cristobal, Vargas had a fascination that no human should have...He enjoyed eating human meat. And the ugliest thing of it all isn't that he just feasted on the meat, but the fact that he hunted people down like game, taking special advantage of runners who came through his territory.In this special DUAL narrator episode, we go over a polic...

Latin America is beautiful, but it's also dangerous, and I'm not talking about the wildlife here... Holding 6 spots in the top 10 crimes rates worldwide, this region has unfortunately been one of the most deadly in recent decades, and its people have lived in fear of violent crime and terrorism for too long.And with organizations such as the FARC and ELN, FMLN, the US-backed Contras, Sendero Luminoso, and more, it's no surprise that there's plenty of content for today's episode on the scary p...

We've given Mexico some love in recent times, after Season 3's finale "Te Amo, México" - and today is no exception. In fact, today we'll talk about how Mexico's modern political structure came to exist.The nation wasn't always a stable democracy (well, depending on who you ask these days). It has had its up and downs, and its downs have been preeetty low. With multiple authoritarians coming and going, it was inevitable that the people would rise up, and with it... a revolution would start.You...

Do you love chocolate as much as we do (and if you don't, WHY)? Well, in that case, you might be curious as to how we ended up having this delicious sweet all across the world, on every continent. And yes, that includes Antarctica.Born in the heart of Mesoamerica and originally consumed by the Olmecs, Mayas and Aztecs, cacao (the precursor of chocolate) was discovered by Spanish conquistadors, who decided to take this curious fruit back home with them, which soon led to an explosion of delici...

Have you ever seen flowers in the desert? One of the most curious climate phenomena worldwide is El Niño, which is the irregular warming of sea surface temperatures, which leads to a cascade of effects on weather patterns and ecosystems.In this episode, we talk about what it involves, how it affects the lives of animals and human beings in Latin America, and what is being done to lessen its effects on people and nature.Oh, and you'll also learn more about how and why this phenomenon occurs, a...

Welcome back to the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast, this time for a fourth season! We've returned with a pretty interesting episode about something that isn't talked about enough... Latin America's Space Race!I bet you know the U.S., the EU, China, India and the Soviet Union (back in the day) had all built amazing missions to space, but Latin America doesn't often come to mind when discussing satellites and spaceflight.That changes today. In this episode, we will tell you all about how go...

It's the final episode of Season 3, so let's admit it: we haven't been fair with Mexico during our podcast's lifetime. Yes, we've talked about the Aztecs, but we've also talked a lot about the border issues, El Chapo, and other negative circumstances in the beautiful country of "El Águila Real" (the Royal Eagle). But it's time to redeem ourselves.In this special DUAL NARRATOR season finale, we meet Ana and Oliver, who join forces to discover the beauty, magic, and power that Mexico has in eve...

Do you like tea? Sure, maybe. But have you ever tried (or seen someone else try) yerba mate? Mate goes beyond just a drink. It goes beyond the English tea time or that of other cultures. It's something which is almost... spiritual, you know?Having started as a tradition among the Guarani people and then adopted by Spanish colonizers, this drink has spread across the world and is now seen consumed by European athletes, Hollywood artists, and even... U.S. presidents?!The story behind mate ...

You know of the Panama Canal (we already talked about it in Season 1 if you didn't), but you probably had no idea that a second canal has been in plans for a very, very long time now - one that passes through Nicaragua (that's north of Panama).But the delays haven't just been a problem of bureaucracy and budget... the canal would actually have to pass through a delicate natural reserve, where both humans and animals coexist, as well as a lake that certain endangered species call their home. A...

The Jesuits were a Catholic order that was founded in Europe, but which soon expanded to South America to spread the word of God - mainly to Paraguay.However, they had a different way of evangelizing, which made them as interesting as it did controversial... hated, even. You see, the Jesuits didn't believe in forcing their beliefs on the local indigenous tribes or forcing conversion.Instead, they integrated themselves into the indigenous beliefs and allowed the natives to express themselves, ...

While not a country we hear about often these days, Nicaragua has gone through quite a turbulent history that has left it with long-lasting economic, political and social scars.And leaving aside the subject of Daniel Ortega, current dictator of Nicaragua and one of the longest-lasting presidential terms in the world (with 26 interrupted years in power), Nicaragua's Sandinista revolution, in particular, brought massive transformation to the country, although with great controversy attached to ...

If you want to see historic sights everywhere you go, you go to Europe. But if you want to have fun, Latin America is the place to be.Known as the land of dance, music, and smiles, Latin America just has "something else" that makes it a spicy and sweet combination of great food, fantastic nightlife, and quick friendships unlike any other. It's in the culture. It might even be in the genes, if we dug deeper (hmmm...)But that's still too vague, right? How exactly is this culture of enjoyment ex...

There could be a war brewing in South America... and it's a conflict that has been a long time coming.You see, Guyana and Venezuela have been fighting a silent battle for centuries over a large territory that makes up two-thirds of Guyana - the Essequibo. During the late 1800s, Venezuela lost this territory to a treaty signed by the United Kingdom and the United States, and things seemed to end there.However, the recent discovery of oil deposits containing up to 700 million barrels of oil (wo...

Love him or hate him, it is clear that Javier Milei has rapidly made himself quite a controversial figure in global politics. Carrying a message that is unique and very different from traditional South American politicians, Milei has vowed to reduce the "parasitic" state in his country.But his appearance may be ideal for the nation, and his recent victory as President of Argentina is a sign that the people of Argentina are tired of the old, stagnant systems of Peronism and Kirchnerism, that k...

Believe it or not, there are communities of people out there who have never been contacted: they've only ever seen a handful of outsiders in their lifetimes, never been on the internet, driven a car (or bicycle) and are still several centuries behind us in terms of technological advancement.It sure is hard to imagine, right? But in fact, that are several communities in South America that are so remote and separated from civilization that they have managed to maintain their ancient traditions ...

Before Simón Bolívar, before José de San Martín, there was someone else. A man who fought for independence not only in South America but in France and the United States, and whose name is the ONLY American one (North or South) to be engraved in the Arc de Triomphe.I'm talking about Francisco de Miranda, who was born around this time of the year in 1750, and who pretty much got the independence efforts going in Venezuela and South America in general.Born into a Spanish family, Miranda actually...

What will Latin America look like in 2040? It's a question that many experts and onlookers have been asking for a while now. With climate change, socioeconomic equality and the security of the region having become such important subjects in recent decades, one must wonder if the nation comprising Latin America are ready to face them.This is why two experts, Laura and Rafael, have united to create a new global initiative that will bring Latin America forward several decades and get the wheels ...

We often talk about the "discovery of America" when we speak of Columbus and the Spanish. But they didn't really discover America. Think about it: they only came across a continent that was already populated.So the real question would be: how did the first natives in North and South America come to "discover" this land? After all, science has found that humanity originated very far away from the American continent and that these inhabitants are relatively recent compared to those in Africa, E...

Bad Bunny, Karol G, and even Shakira in more recent years... If these names don't sound like anything to you, it's time to dust those earphones off and tune in to the most recent craze of Latin American music that has dominated the planet: reggaeton.Originating in the Caribbean as a result of fusing traditional reggae and Jamaican dancehall, reggaeton has outgrown its forebears and become the strongest source of Latino culture across the world. In fact, it is enjoyed in anywhere from the smal...

You've probably wondered what's beyond the veil between life and death, and that's normal. But some people really want to take it beyond just wondering and actually discover what that is.In the case of the two men we'll talk about today, a Spaniard doctor by the name of Pedro González de Velasco, and a German doctor named Gottfried Knoche, the line between life and death was not as defined as it would be for the rest of us.Because, as we'll soon learn, these doctors didn't think that death ne...

Latin America might be the most diverse region on the planet - after all, it is home to over 660 million people from countless origins, including Spanish, Pre-Columbian, British, Portuguese, African, Indian, Japanese, and more - so it would be fair to say that racism doesn't really exist there... Right?Wrong! Unfortunately, even this incredibly multicultural region of so many skin colors and ethnic background has not been saved from discrimination, and it usually comes as a result of th...

While many of them are cute and fluffy, we've come to learn that some animals out there are VERY dangerous. Latin America is one such place which - though not as "everything is out to get you" as Australia, is still home to venomous snakes, ravenous piranhas, skull-breaking jaguars, and more.In this region of great beauty and a fascinating variety of creatures, you're bound to be safe, until... you're not. So, to help you keep yourself careful out there while on your Latin American adventures...

¡Azúcar! - Whenever you hear this cry, you just know some amazingly good Salsa music is about to begin, as Celia Cruz's voice is moments away from hitting your headphones. And what a character she was, with her flashy hairstyles and extravagant clothing style, her wide smile and powerful voice.But what was her story, before all the fame? How did a young, female Cuban singer with no industry connections end up becoming the Salsa legend? It had a lot to do with her determination and grit. ...

Hidden in the Andes mountain range for close to 400 years, Peru's Machu Picchu has long been an incredibly famous South American tourist destination. After all, it's wonderful location, beautiful views and the advanced technology with which it was created (how were those rocks even transported up there?!) make it unique not only in Latin America, but the world.But was it just a temple for the Sun god, Inti, or was it something more? After all, there is evidence that leads scientists to believ...

Move aside, the Himalayas. The Andes might not have the highest peaks in the world, but it's actually the most extensive mountain range on our planet, encompassing 7,242 kilometers and stretching across SEVEN different nations. It's South America's pride.But what's so special about the Andes, and what type of terrain, flora, and fauna can you expect to find there? Oh, and why was it so important for human civilization, who not only lived there but turned it into the birthplace of great empire...

Eva 'Evita' Perón, a woman who caused so much amazement and admiration over the decades that even Madonna, the Queen of Pop, begged to play her in a film. A young woman who, despite growing into the wealth of Argentine politics, actually came from a poor background and knew what it meant to be hungry.The wife of controversial president, Juan Domingo Perón, Evita was a radically contrasting figure. On the one hand, she mingled with the poor and brought women's rights forward a few decades...On...

Do you love soccer? Argentinians do, that's for sure. Their two top teams - Boca Juniors and River Plate - are actually among the fiercest rivals in world soccer, and have seen some of the most amazing encounters that Latin American football has to offer.In this fantastic DUAL episode, we find Lucas and Paula getting ready to enter this year's Superclásico - that is, the duel between these two legendary teams. Having a bit of time to spare before the match, they decide to share a bit of compe...

Sometimes, waiting for law enforcement to help is not enough, especially if the local police are involved in the crime you expect them to solve. Such was the belief of a brave mother named Miriam Rodriguez, who in January of 2014, realized that nobody was going to help her get her daughter back after she was kidnapped.This woman, one of the bravest we've ever heard of, decided to take justice into her hands and commence both an investigation and manhunt like no other. She would go after every...

How much do you know about what goes on in North Korea? Probably not much. Perhaps you think that a lot of what is said is just negative propaganda by anti-communists. But what if I told you that a Venezuelan communist was imprisoned there and got to see how horrible the prisoner treatment was up close?Now, you must be wondering... what was a Venezuelan poet doing working in North Korea? Today's story is precisely about this man and what led him there. Ali Lameda was a passionate dreamer, who...

Have you ever heard of the Mapuche people, or the historical country of “Wallmapu”? Probably not, and there’s a reason for that: the Mapuche people have been conquered, colonized, and excluded for centuries, since the Spanish arrived in South America... to the present day when modern governments continue to ostracize and bar them from possessing the same rights as everyone else.It’s a controversial subject and one that has caused great bloodshed in the south of South America, with fierce prot...

While capitalism has undoubtedly brought us some of our most impressive advancements as a species, it has also done some pretty terrible stuff to people across the world. Latin America is not an exception.In the early 20th century, as corporations in the United States began looking outward and started entering poorer countries (under the guise of "foreign investment"), governments across Central and South America would greedily accept them and allow them to do whatever they wanted.Soon, howev...

When you watch a pirate movie, have you ever asked yourself where most of them are based? Heck, isn't the most famous movie pirate saga based in, precisely, Latin America (the Caribbean)?And I bet you didn't know that most of those characters, events, and legends are based (loosely) on real stories and treasures - yes, it's not an exaggeration when we're told that reality surpasses fiction.So... what is it that drove pirates and explorers to venture into the Caribbean and South American conti...

Did you grow up loving dinosaurs like me? Maybe, maybe not, but you have to admit that it's sad how they disappeared. One day they were out there doing their thing, and then BOOM! A giant asteroid fell from the sky and ended them all. But where did that asteroid land? To be honest, there are mixed studies, but it is widely believed that the Yucatan extinction event was the cause for the disappearance of dinosaurs and 75% of all animal and plant life on Earth. Its crater, specifically kno...

It may be surprising if you didn't already know this, but back in the late 1980s, a son of first-generation Japanese immigrants rose enough in political power and popularity to become president of a South American nation. We're talking of the ex-president of Peru, Alberto Fujimori, who was elected in a time of great economic and social struggle in the nation. There was even an ongoing war against the widespread terrorism brought about by Abimael Guzman's Sendero Luminoso (which we talked...

What if I told you that there was a "day in which the mountain rolled into the sea" in Venezuela? What would you think? It sounds almost poetic, but it describes the country's worst natural tragedy in history. It all began with a week of heavy rain, a storm at the beginning of December 1999, when the whole nation's attention was fixed almost entirely on the shifting political events that would mark the end of an era and the beginning of something revolutionary - the age of a new referend...

Did you know that one of the most influential writers in history is actually from Latin America? Colombia, to be exact – I’m talking of Gabriel García Márquez, of course! Father of the amazing and refreshing genre known as “Magical Realism”, this Aracataca-born man changed the course of Latin American literature forever with his classic “One Hundred Years of Solitude”. In this latest episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast, we’ll cover his life, his inspiration, the way he...

Do you know what’s one of the strangest things in Latin America? The fact that the biggest country in a Spanish-majority region (with a third of the total population in Latin America) speaks a different language: Portuguese. You’d think that somehow, Brazil would have adopted Spanish like their neighbors, but they never did, and even today, it is a minority language among many others. So… why? Why does Brazil speak Portuguese? Basically, it has a lot to do with its origins and how t...

Have you ever wondered why Paraguay isn’t really a big, star destination in South America? In fact, it’s actually one of the least talked about locations in all of Latin America despite its size and location. Well, this might have a lot to do with the fact that it went through a truly terrible war in the 1800s that decimated its infrastructure and even its population (up to HALF of Paraguayans died!), leaving the country more or less in ruins, and in need of serious rebuilding. And ...

Many of the best heroic stories end in tragedy. Such is the case of Kiki Camarena, the ace DEA agent with a magnificent sixth sense and an ability to sniff out the bad guys unlike any other. Although his career was centered on U.S. law enforcement, this Mexican-born special agent was transferred to Mexico to keep an eye on the ongoing events of the criminal underworld and soon realized that things were getting really bad, really quickly, way before anyone else did. Infiltrating hims...

Some people are born different. Talented, special, prodigies… whatever you want to call them, they are able to do things others could only dream of. Gustavo Dudamel is one such man – from a young age, he demonstrated an immense ability in the world of music. This music conductor not only became the best of his nation, Venezuela, by the age of 18, but also soon dominated South America, Europe, and the entire world with his ability to lead orchestras of all shapes and sizes. Dis...

In 1985, Colombia was going through one of its most terrible periods in all its history. On one side, Pablo Escobar was destabilizing the nation with his drug trade and violence, and the Cali Cartel was growing in power. On the other, only two years before, a terrible earthquake had destroyed the city of Popayán, scarring the memories of local citizens and bringing fear to those around the nation. But before the nation could recover, an even more horrific event struck – one that would be...

Welcome back to the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast by Lingo Mastery! We’ve arrived once more, this time with Season 3, to bring you the best in Spanish learning. This time, we want to travel across the world, away from Latin America… all the way to the Philippines, where a very interesting Spanish-related development happened between the 1500s and late 1800s – the colonization of these enchanting islands by the Spanish Crown. In this episode, we want to tell you more about...

We’ve reached the Season Finale of another wonderful season, and we want to thank you for your support all throughout the year, in which we became one of the biggest Spanish learning podcasts and reached thousands more than we ever had. And, to end Season 2, we want to take you on a journey like no other in this special DUAL-NARRATOR episode.Have you ever felt the threat of burnout, wanted to travel across Latin America and discover the hidden gems and beautiful locations that are nowhere nea...

When you think of the most impressive empires in the world, you cannot avoid thinking of the Aztec Empire, the powerful Mesoamerican civilization that conquered much of modern-day Mexico and was comprised of several million people. This is because, for a civilization that ruled over 500 years ago, the Aztecs accomplished many impressive feats in terms of medicine, society and technology, and were extremely skilled at the arts of diplomacy and war. However… this civilization also had a gr...

In the history of Latin America, political extremes have caused great pain and suffering, especially to innocents throughout the rural areas of Central and South America. Communism has not been an exception to this rule. And in Peru, during the 70s, 80s and 90s, one particular Communist party made Peru an extremely dangerous and unwelcome place to live in. Led by a narcissistic leader who believed in using violence to further his goals, Sendero Luminoso is a fantastic example of terrorist gro...

Nayib Armando Bukele Ortez. You may love him, hate him, or wonder who we’re even talking about – but the truth is that Nayib Bukele has changed the direction of El Salvador’s history forever, simply by turning it from the world’s most dangerous nation to one of its safest, practically overnight. But we must ask the important question here: is he the Central American nation’s savior? Or is he a tyrant slowly controlling the population’s lives with an iron fist? In this episode of the Lear...

Did you know Panama has no army? Probably not, but it wasn’t an arbitrary or random decision. You see, it was all due to one man: a dictator, a tyrant, an enemy of the United States of America. Manuel Antonio Noriega Moreno, who grew from low-ranking soldier in the Panamanian Army to the most powerful man in the country in just a few decades. And – while they initially loved him as a strong ally against Latin American communism – his relationship with the U.S. soon turned sour and brought abo...

So, by you now you know your Latin American beaches, your mountains and waterfalls - of which there are many, so congrats for that – but you probably haven’t yet heard of the lesser-known “bizarre” or even “haunted” places in Latin America. But what makes a place bizarre? Any number of things, starting from a worryingly high number of suicides having occurred there, or a horrific backstory of drowning or demonic possession… anything goes when it comes to the weirdest places in Latin America.&...

While today we may recognize Medellín as a beautiful city that is not only welcoming of tourists and digital nomads but also a safe place to live, it was not this way just a few decades ago… You see, in the 1980s and early 1990s, a wanted criminal known Pablo Escobar had made this city – as well as much of Colombia – his personal territory in which he would grow what was the biggest drug trade business in history. It didn’t only earn him much riches and recognition, even being named on the Fo...

Diego Maradona. Lionel Messi. Cristiano Ronaldo. They have all been the greatest of their times at some point… but there is a player who is even greater than these footballing giants. The winner of 7 Ballons d’Or (you’ll understand in a minute), 3 World Cup trophies (sorry Cristiano), Player of the Century and so many more awards, O Rei Pelé was on a whole different level. Furthermore, having been born into extreme poverty was unable to destroy his self-belief or his willpower, and you’ll dis...

Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo Calderón. You may know her simply as Frida Kahlo… An artist with a tragic past. A woman who knew suffering and sadness. A wonderful warrior who fought like no other, both against the societal reality of her time, as well as the difficulties of disability and chronic pain. And yet, her story is not always well told, as it also seems to leave out some important events. You see, for all her strengths and virtues as an artist and a human, she had one massiv...

South America is fascinating and has some incredibly remote areas, but what if you want to go even more south and even more remote? Well, good news for you, as you would find yourself in Antarctica, the land of the penguins and sea lions, the place where the coldest temperature in history has ever been recorded. But what is the link between Antarctica and Latin America, how do you get there, and what crazy story surrounds its discovery and exploration? Find out in this week’s episo...

This is it. The episode you’ve been waiting for… the long-awaited What If? episode, in which we travel through realities and find out what could have happened in Latin American history. Join Anthony and Li as they make use of a time machine to move across realities and witness the greatest moments of Latin American past, present and future transformed into something very different, with quite surprising outcomes... This special edition episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories will blow ...

Over time, more and more Latin Americans have left their nations and traveled across the world – sometimes out of necessity, other times out of the desire to triumph in a nation that offers them opportunities. However, this has sometimes brought conflict with the locals, who have disregarded them or their culture. In this episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast, we want to remind the world of how special Latin Americans can be, whether in the arts, the sciences or any other fie...

In September 2017, life changed forever for Puerto Ricans and other inhabitants of the Caribbean. With an estimated cost in damages of over $91 billion dollars and causing the death of over 3,000 people, Hurricane Maria was a disaster that will never be forgotten. Whether affected directly through damages or indirectly due to the long-term loss of services in their nations, Caribbeans are still reeling from the memory of this disaster. But just how bad was it and how did the storm start?...

You know the Brazilian Carnival, but have you heard how incredible all of the other famous parties and celebrations across South America can be? They get really wild – there is nobody in the world that can party like Latin Americans, after all. But where to find the best ones? And we don't just mean ANY best ones... we mean those that will turn into life-changing experiences! In this episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast, we travel all around the Latin American region to disc...

Let’s talk about Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll – better known as Shakira –but also known as the world’s top Latin American singer, an extremely successful businesswoman, and a dancing and songwriting icon. She is one of Latin America’s great figures and has become the face for Latin music, impressing us all with her hips that simply don’t lie. Whether surrounded by praise for her charity work or shrouded in controversy over her relationship and tax issues, this wonderful artist is rarely out ...

Today, Colombia is one of the most wonderful tourist destinations for those looking to escape for a while to South America, and is considered a safer option than several other nations in Latin America… but a few decades ago, this was not the case. With kidnapping, bombing and assassinations taking place as daily events, Colombia was a total hellscape that led to a mass exodus of its inhabitants to other nations. But what actually was happening behind the scenes, and how did Colombia end ...

There is a famous historic figure who eclipses most others who have ever existed in Latin America, especially South America. His glorious cause led to the liberation of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru and Venezuela, with this latter nation being the country where he was born. We’re talking about Simón Bolívar, “el Libertador”. And the most interesting part about The Liberator is the fact that he was born into privilege – a young man with all of the wealth and support anyone coul...

Shakira, Lionel Messi, Elton John… What do these and other high-profile celebrities have in common? That they have all been in the news lately is one feature they share, of course, but the other is the fact that they’ve all recently been caught evading taxes. But what is tax evasion, and what does this have to do with the Cayman Islands? The Cayman Islands is probably the world’s most famous tax haven and a place where a countless number of companies have been formed, and… that’s probabl...

Digital nomads - you may have heard of them. One of the coolest trends in the latest decade(s), we're talking about those freelancers, remote workers and entrepreneurs who travel the world while making money online, be it from long-term employment, freelance gigs, or their own businesses. An amazing thing about Latin America is the fact that it has its own fair share of digital nomads and DN destinations.From Mexico to Colombia, Costa Rica to... Paraguay? There are a ton of places to get to k...

Have you ever witnessed a volcano eruption? It is one of the most terrifying forces of nature – pillars of thick, black smoke usually accompanied by sudden flashes of lightning; followed by the flowing rivers of lava pouring down its flanks… Now, imagine you were caught just several kilometers away from one, with no hope of escape. This is precisely what happened to a town in Martinique in 1902.In this episode, we travel to Saint-Pierre, or more precisely to the location of the Mount Pelée vo...

Every year, thousands of people – from Latin America and beyond – are losing their lives in hopes of accomplishing a dream: the American Dream. But how? Known as the Darien Gap, this hostile jungle located between Colombia and Panama has borne witness to some of the most horrific stories ever told by migrants, not to mention that it is a place where people are often kidnapped and forced to become slaves and soldiers for guerrilla movements in northern Colombia. However, people are choosi...

Who is the best football (soccer) player in the world? You know the answer to this question: it’s Lionel Messi. For some, he’s even considered the best player in history. But one thing’s for sure – he’s a phenomenal talent in the world of sports. A boy who turned the misfortune of a growth deficiency at a young age into a drive that would lead him to crown himself as the greatest player of his generation; a man who is loved by millions and appreciated by billions; La Pulga, a legend who had a...

Despite the wars in the Middle East and Europe that have occurred in the past decades, Latin America has been a relatively conflict-free region in modern times… but what if you go back further? Centuries ago, Latin America was a perpetual war zone, with soldiers fighting endlessly for scraps of land on which to plant their flag. 19th Century Mexico was one such place, with the newly-independent United States looking to capture an important extension of its territories before the Mexicans coul...

The beautiful region of Latin America has a darker side that not everyone is aware of, but certainly one that must be talked about. We are talking about the human trafficking and modern slavery that continue to affect the region and ruin the lives of men, women and children who are typically just looking to cross a border in search of a new life. As this situation is seemingly worsening with the great exodus taking place from Central and South America, it is time that the Learn Spanish w...

On December 5, 1945, five General Motors TBM Avenger torpedo bombers disappeared from the face of the Earth during a training flight that took off from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. All 14 airmen were lost, never to be heard of again. A rescue plane with 13 crew members was sent to find them. It, too, was lost to oblivion. And to think that… these aren’t even the only disappearances that have taken place over or within the Bermuda Triangle. This region of the world, so full of mystery and th...

Maybe Jack Sparrow and Hector Barbossa aren’t real, but Blackbeard – or Edward Teach, as he was actually called – definitely did exist, and caused much pain and anguish to ships and their crew across the Caribbean. Likewise, Henry Morgan, Black Bart and Mary Read spread their tendrils across the sea, looting and pillaging when possible. But if you want find out more about these legend’YARRR-y individuals, what they did and where they committed their crimes, you might want to listen to th...

We may fear it, run from it, pretend it doesn’t exist or dedicate our lives to fixing it, but climate change is an absolutely real problem that the entire world is now facing. Scientists have found that – if we don’t act to stop the worst of the consequences – we may lose up to two-thirds of animal and plant species within the next 50 years, and hundreds of thousands of people could die from pollution-related causes. But how is Latin America reacting to this phenomenon? And what is happe...

One of the most interesting thing about sports in Latin America is how varied they can be, with most of them having been imported from Europe. However, there is one particular sport that Latin Americans haven’t simply adopted but actually mastered, playing it at a level that surpasses those who influenced them to play it in the first place. We’re talking about baseball. With countless athletes from Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, and both Colombia and Venezuela holding some of...

While it may be one of the most beautiful regions on the planet, it is no secret that most of Latin America is also one very dangerous place. With some of the deadliest cities on the planet and a questionable amount of corruption within governments and law enforcement entities, you wouldn’t be crazy to think twice before heading to the shady areas of the region. But it can’t all be bad, and this is what we want to cover in this episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast. The good...

Growing a startup to a billion dollars is already a huge challenge – for any founder on the planet, wherever they are. But we must admit that building a “unicorn” startup in Latin America is much harder than doing the same in London, Los Angeles or New York. Yet somehow, a number of founders have accomplished this goal, taking their companies to a valuation that surpasses a thousand million dollars.But which companies are these and how did they accomplish this magnificent goal? In this episod...

Since primitive times, man has sought to learn more about the “beyond” – those gods or other supernatural beings that are said to be in other dimensions or worlds we cannot access until we die. In the case of Latin America, a great number of such gods have caused wonder among many civilizations.In modern times, one such interesting goddess exists, whom is related to death in such an intrinsic way that she is known as “La Santa Muerte” or “The Holy Death”, and both worshiped and prayed to by m...

By now, if you’ve listened to our podcast, you’ll be aware that Latin America has plenty of Spanish, African, Dutch, French, Italian and even British influence which has helped shape the region and make it what it is today… but did you know that Japan has also brought its important share of influence to Mexico and several South American countries, and that there are a ton of Japanese migrants who have even forgotten their native language?Yes, believe it or not, over the decades, Japan has see...

When it comes to dictators, Latin America has had quite its fair share of these, with both left and right-wing figures having subjugated and terrorized populations of several countries in the Caribbean and Central and South America throughout the decades. The Dominican Republic does not forget its own tyrant – Rafael Leonidas Trujillo, “Generalísimo” – who could basically do anything he wanted without consequence.That is, until a brave family of fearless women decided to stand up against him ...

Peru is a land of wonderful food, fascinating historic sites and rich traditions… but not all of its history has been a bed of roses. You see, in 1970, a great but terrible event changed everything for this nation: starting as a soft swaying of the ground but soon transforming into the terrifying rumble and ripping of the earth which brought buildings crashing down into rubble and destructive landslides tearing through villages and cities…The Ancash Earthquake, a 7.9 seismic event on the mome...

Unless you’ve switched off the news for the past decade, you will probably have heard of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Venezuela. With tragedies ranging from food shortages in the mid 2010’s to millions of migrants desperately crossing borders all over North and South America, this once wealthy region has fallen to its knees… and all of it thanks to the Hugo Chavez and Nicolas Maduro governments.But who exactly is Nicolas Maduro, and how did Chavez manage to accelerate the beginning of t...

After a successful first season, the Learn Spanish with Stories Podcast returns with Season 2! And in this season's premiere, we want to take you somewhere that is almost as unknown as it is underrated. We’re talking about Uruguay, South America’s most underrated nation.Boasting one of the highest levels of human development, tolerance, peace, GDP growth and innovation, Uruguay is one of the most developed nations in Latin America and a growing economy with plenty to do and to see if you’re t...

We have reached the Season 1 Finale of our podcast – and this episode is a bit different. Although we have typically told the story from a third-person perspective (apart from Episode 2 – Últimas Horas), this episode is a first-person tale by your narrator, Anthony, in which he explains just how Latin America can take over your heart and mind. With its natural beauty, wonderful locations, lovely people and fantastic variety of cultures, Latin America is a place to love.And just as importantly...

While Latin America has produced some of the most fascinating people in history, we cannot pretend that it hasn’t spawned its own monsters, as well. Merciless murderers, monstrous hunters of children and even bloodthirsty cannibals(!) have left a mark of pain and death on the Latin American legacy.In this episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast, we cover the stories of Pedro Nakada, Dorangel Vargas and Julio Pérez Silva, among others, as we speak of the men, women and even teenagers...

On March 13, 2013, a massive event took place within the Catholic Church – the first ever South American Pope, and the first from outside of Europe since the 8th century, was elected to succeed Pope Benedict XVI, who had resigned earlier.This came as a shock to many – as respectable as he was, Pope Francis, who is actually called Jorge Mario Bergoglio – was something of a humble and less rigid figure, even considered a progressive by many. He had worked as a bouncer at a club in his youth, go...

Haiti – when you hear the name of this nation, what comes to mind? Usually, you can recall the hurricanes, earthquakes and other horrific tragedies that have hit the island and its people, plunging them further into a state of despair and disaster that they have suffered for decades now.But Haiti is much more than disaster, pain and suffering. It is a nation with a rich history full of bravery and valor, in which the populace had to fight for its rights and throw off the yoke of French tyrann...

The deserts across the planet are some of the most majestic and impressive destinations you will ever witness; Latin America is no exception. But there is one specific Latin American desert that has managed to blow the minds of even the highest level of scientists on the globe: The Atacama Desert.Known for being the most arid (driest) desert outside of Antarctica, Atacama has still managed to sustain life, and is the place where you are most likely to have the best visibility of distant stars...

When thinking of South America, people across the world typically recall Brazil and its beaches, Argentina’s football and history, or perhaps the beautiful northern coasts of Colombia and Venezuela… but you can bet that hardly anybody remembers that the Guianas even exist!But our goal is to change that: you see, Guyana, Suriname and the French Guiana are extremely singular, lush locations that are just as emblematic to the region as any other country. When you look at their history, their cap...

You may have heard of “The 33”, a group of miners who were unexpectedly trapped in a mine back in 2010… but do you know the full story? It all started with one big uproar – a loud boom of noise and collapse of earth that would set a series of events in motion that would shift all eyes from across the world to a small mine in the north of Chile. A terrible tragedy, a magnificent show of humanity of an entire world united and even the appearance of the United States National Aeronautics an...

In the history of world football, we have seen many great legends – men and women who have not only help build the sport, but also bring to it a mythical quality from which the greatest stories have been told. One such figure was Diego Armando Maradona. Born in Argentina to a poor family that lived in a shantytown, this skillful young man would grow up to become one of the best football players ever (some would argue -the best-).But there are controversies that helped make El Diego who he was...

When traveling across Latin America, especially at night, you may find that some towns and small populations will recommend you to stay indoors after the sun comes out, but why? Sure, some countries aren’t as safe as others, but it’s not always -human- threats that they’re worried about…You see, in Latin America, there is said to be a number of dark, supernatural threats that await unwary travelers, sometimes monsters with horrific forms, while other times they are what we could have once kno...

For all of its beauty and the “magical realism” that make Latin America such a wonderful place on Earth, even the most passionate of the region’s admirers must accept that the economy can sometimes be a bit… messy. Terrible politics, weak currencies and a general chaotic economic reality make Latin America a roller coaster when it comes to saving and/or investing.But a potential solution is growing in popularity and utility across the region, as more and more Latin Americans, including entire...

Latin America has one of the most heterogeneous populations in the world – in other words, you can find countless ethnic groups, backgrounds and cultures that make it a true gem of humanity. One of the most precious groups that can be found in the region is that of the Garifuna (or Garinagu). Descendants of West African and indigenous Central American natives, this group represents not only a mix of cultures but a beautiful fusion of continents separated by an ocean.But the Garifuna have – in...

One of the things that we seem to know a lot about but strangely, at the same time, not much at all is the Spanish colonization of South America and the Caribbean. Some sources have led us to believe that huge armies of conquistadors traveled from nation to nation, killing, plundering and burning down everything they came across on their conquest… but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Mostly explorers (or at least at the beginning they were), the Spanish conquerors of Latin Americ...

Despite the extensive mountain ranges across the Alaska, Canada and mainland United States, it is in South America where you can find the tallest peak – Mount Aconcagua. An incredible geological formation, this massive stone giant stands at a height of just over 6,960 meters, representing not only the tallest peak in the Americas but also in the Western and Southern Hemispheres.But our latest episode of Learn Spanish with Stories is more than just about how tall a mountain is – did you know t...

Throughout Latin America’s turbulent history, the region has been witness to terrible and unforgettable events, often orchestrated by heartless men and women who care more about their political gain than the lives of their people. One such event – and among the worst – was the right-wing, government-sponsored massacre which occurred in the Southern Cone of the South America, and in which even the CIA and U.S. Government were involved.Resulting in the kidnapping, torture, murder and disappeara...

About 1,000 kilometers away from the coasts of Ecuador lies an archipelago where Mother Nature’s deepest secrets were uncovered – the origin of all species. Discovered and ignored by many different explorers across the centuries, it was not until a young British scientist named Charles Darwin came across it that the value of the Galapagos Islands was finally discovered.In this episode of Learn Spanish with Stories, we travel to the islands where biology, science and the world were changed for...

Of all the works of engineering around the world, one of the most incredible and unique is the Panama Canal: bridging the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean, this fascinating structure is much like an engineering masterpiece of the last century, with bright minds and big pockets making it happen in a country which, today, is immensely proud of this landmark.With around 14,000 ships going through annually, the Panama Canal connects 1,900 ports via 180 shipping routes – it is a true treasure...

Around five-hundred years ago, when America was still considered “The New World”, there were countless treasure hunters and adventurers who made their way to these exotic lands, chasing not only the hopes of acquiring power, but of obtaining the famed riches that so many of its discoverers had talked about. Soon, the biggest rumor of them all began to spread – the existence of a place named “El Dorado”, where a lake full to the brim with gold awaited any brave enough to venture into the jungl...

Many people are aware of the legendary Che Guevara, having seen him in old photos and on the front of many T-shirts. But how much do is really known about him? Few know what he studied at university or what his philosophies were (beyond Marxism), and how his philosophy actually began as that of a pampered rich young man. Furthermore, few know that he was actually one of South America’s biggest explorers, having traveled its four corners in his youth.In this episode, we dive into the life...

The Mexico-United States border – a place of great hope for some and yet also a location of extreme terror for others. For those wishing to live “The American Dream”, this border can soon turn into their worst nightmare. From the cartels picking off anybody who hasn’t paid the price of passage to the heat that can dehydrate and cause harm to any type of traveler crossing these dry lands, the border between these two nations has equally spawned countless stories of bravery and despair that wil...

Across the world, we may witness fascinating places that are unlike any other location on the globe – such extreme and fascinating places that tourists are dragged there by their reputation alone. The Salar de Uyuni is one such place. Found in Bolivia, this MASSIVE salt flat has not just been a filming location for Star Wars and countless amateur YouTube travel videos, but also represents the world’s single largest lithium reserve. A place you will love to learn about, this great expanse of s...