Learn Spanish with Stories
Learn Spanish with Stories is a podcast designed for upper beginner to intermediate Spanish learners. It offers fun and interesting stories from Latin America to aid in Spanish immersion. Listeners can read along with transcripts available at the podcast's website.
Episodes
Selena, the Queen of Tex-Mex (Selena, La Reina Tex-Mex)
Latin America regularly produces some of the best and most globally acclaimed music artists in the world, but the story of Selena Quintanilla is quite singular.A musician who started her career extremely early — at 9 years old! — Selena was destined for greatness from the first moment she stepped on a stage. Accompanied initially by her siblings and father, she soon outgrew this little family band
2026 FIFA World Cup: The Biggest World Cup Ever (Copa Mundial FIFA 2026, El Mundial Más Grande)
The 2026 FIFA World Cup was a massive one, don't you think? We're not just talking of the level of football or geographical extension (it was, after all, hosted across 3 countries) - we're talking of the 48 teams that participated, a massive increase of 16 more than the last edition, and Latin America was an important presence across all of its rounds.In this Season 6 debut episode,
How Can Latin America Be Fixed? (¿Cómo Se Arregla Latinoamérica?)
Honestly, we all love Latin America, but we're not blind to the fact that many things simply don't work or could be better. Whether it's at the political or social level, Latin America has the potential to be a much more developed region.But what is the cause behind all of it? Is it a problem of corruption or bad decisions? Could it even be... a cultural issue?In this special DUAL N
Avándaro, The Day That Changed Mexican Rock (Avándaro, El Día que Cambió el Rock Mexicano)
Rock music has always been somewhat controversial in conservative societies, and Mexico (a highly religious and Catholic country) held great distrust and contempt towards this music which, according to some, was linked to the "Devil" and "bad behaviors".But then Avándaro happened... an improvised festival which, unexpectedly, blew up and attracted 10x the crowds they had initia
How the Internet Changed Spanish (Cómo Internet Cambió el Español)
The internet has shaped every language it has come in contact with, and Spanish is no different. It doesn't help that Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, with 20 independent countries and one territory (Puerto Rico, if you're curious) speaking it in their own unique ways.But why did this happen, and how have social media and video platforms helped accelerate
Violence in Mexico, The Shadow of El Mencho (Violencia en México, La Sombra de El Mencho)
Mexico is no stranger to cartel-related violence, and early in 2026, we witnessed how the death of a cartel leader caused an explosion of terror across 12 states - businesses burned, roads blocked off, and even an airport being attacked.Flights were canceled, transport was paralyzed, and kids had to stay home, as the situation was not only unpredictable but also highly volatile, with the cartel pr
Music Without Translation: The Bad Bunny Phenomenon (Música Sin Traducción, El Fenómeno Bad Bunny)
Bad Bunny. A name, a personality, a legend (maybe)? Everyone knows him, everybody feels something towards him, whether it's love, admiration, or pure rejection. He's the face for Latin American music right now, and he seems to be skyrocketing towards more and more success as the years pass.But what's the story behind this singer, this "Conejo Malo" whose real name is Benit
What if...? Latin America Under the British Flag (What if...? Latinoamérica Bajo la Bandera Británica)
Living in Latin America, you'll hear the following nostalgic phrase at least once in your lifetime (especially if somebody is complaining about laziness or bad habits): "If only we had been colonized by the Brits..."This belief, shared by a certain portion of the Latin American region and often used when looking north at the vastly superior technological development achieved in the
How Latin America Has Changed the World (Cómo América Latina Ha Cambiado el Mundo)
Let's do an exercise - since we've already explored how Latin America has been changed by Spanish colonization, by the influence of the United States, and other nations... why don't we spin it around for once, and ask how Latin America has influenced the rest of the world?After all, Italy wouldn't have its beloved tomatoes if not for the Aztecs and Andeans cultivating it; we wo
Venezuela and the Fall of a Dictatorship (Venezuela y la Caída de una Dictadura)
On January 3, 2026, Venezuela's dictator, Nicolás Maduro, was removed from power. Plenty of us already know this headline, and many are already aware of how this looked from the outside - Donald Trump's government prepared the attack meticulously before executing, and Maduro ended up in chains, headed to New York aboard the USS Iwo Jima.However, very few have wondered what it felt like f
Life in Latin America’s Most Dangerous Neighborhoods (Cómo Se Vive en los Barrios Más Peligrosos de Latinoamérica)
We like to highlight the beauty and magic of Latin America in as many episodes as we can... but sometimes, there is "another" truth that is not as pretty: Latin America, for all its magic, can be a very dangerous place.In today's episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast, we're heading to the region's most dangerous neighborhoods (places commonly known as barrios o
The Names That Shaped Latin America (Los Nombres que Construyeron América Latina)
Where do names come from, and most importantly, where do country names come from? Usually, they have some sort of historic link with tribes who already lived there, with a great historic figure, or simply as a description of something that explorers saw. But in Latin America, quite a few names were given due to transcription or translation errors, such as "Costa Rica" being literally fro
Latin American Lullabies (Historias de Cuna Latinoamericanas)
Do you remember the first lullabies that were sung to you as a baby? Probably not, but there definitely is a song in your mind that brings you back to your earliest, most innocent days. Latin America, a cultural mix, has plenty of lullabies with interesting origins.Some came to arrive all the way from Africa, with the slaves that crossed the oceans and worked tirelessly under colonial rule; others
María Corina Machado, The Woman Who Stole Donald Trump's Nobel Prize (María Corina Machado, La Mujer que le Quitó el Nobel a Donald Trump)
Unless you've missed a lot of the recent news, you'll probably have heard about María Corina Machado's Nobel Peace Prize award, and how US President Donald Trump soon became the recipient of her winning medal... but what is the backstory behind all of this?Too much has been spoken about Venezuela from sides that are extremely politically driven (on both sides of the spectrum), but w
San Basilio de Palenque, The First Free Town in America (San Basilio de Palenque, El Primer Pueblo Libre de América)
There are some really amazing stories regarding independence and freedom in Latin America, but what if I told you that the episode you're about to listen to is about the first settlement to gain freedom in ALL of the Americas (North AND South America): San Basilio de Palenque.Located on the Caribbean coast of Colombia, Cartagena was one of the main slave hubs of the continent, and a place whe
The Kidnapped Truth, The Mystery of Jesús de Galíndez (La Verdad Secuestrada, El Misterio de Jesús de Galíndez)
Latin America has suffered under fascism throughout its history, and right-wing dictators have made a strong negative impact on the region throughout several decades of the region's existence. These, perhaps, have been the more bloodthirsty of past and present dictators, willing to harm citizens to effectively further their goals.One of the most terrible dictators Latin America ever had was R
The Flags That Changed Latin America (Las Banderas que Cambiaron América Latina)
Some of the most interesting and curious flags in the world are those in Latin America; after all, aren't some, like, almost identical to each other? And why would that be?Besides, what's with Paraguay having a two-sided flag (the ONLY one in the world to have this characteristic)? Or Brazil having "Ordem e Progresso" stamped across the center of its flag? And why do Uruguay an
Manuela Sáenz, The Liberator of the Liberator (Manuela Sáenz, La Libertadora del Libertador)
History tells too many tales of great men, but what about the incredible women that liberated countries and fought valiantly in wars where they were overpowered and outnumbered? Manuela Sáenz was such a woman who, despite being seen at the time as little more than "Simón Bolívar's love interest" was actually a political and military mastermind in freeing the colonies from Spanish ru
Daniel's Journey, A Road Trip Through Latin America (El Viaje de Daniel, Un Camino por Toda América Latina)
One of the most exciting plans you can have for traveling across Latin America is by road trip. After all, it is one of the most biologically, climatologically, and socially diverse regions in the world, with over 670 million people spread across 20+ countries, and there is so much to see.In today's episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast, our protagonist Daniel finally embarks on t
Rubén Blades, From the Barrio to Harvard (Rubén Blades, Del Barrio a Harvard)
Latin America has produced some of the most amazing artists, and today's star of our podcast is no exception. Rubén Blades, born to two musicians in a humble neighborhood, grew rapidly to become one of the world's household names when it comes to salsa and other tropical music.However, he didn't stay limited to being recognized as a world-class "salsero", oh no... he studi
The American Footprint in Latin America (La Huella Estadounidense en América Latina)
The United States and Latin America are connected in a massive amount of ways, and it's not just a matter of geography: generations have grown up listening to American music, watching American TV and Hollywood productions, and receiving a heavy inflow of cultural influences in every aspect.But it hasn't just been culture - it's been technology, politics, worldviews, and so much more
Spanglish, Portuñol, and Llanito: How These Hybrid Languages Came About (Spanglish, Portuñol y Llanito, Cómo Nacen Estos Híbridos)
Hybrid languages - have you ever heard of them? Spanish has at least two main hybrid languages: Spanglish (which you've probably come in contact with at some point) and Portuñol, which features heavily in the border areas between Brazil and other South American nations. But I'm sure you've never heard of Llanito, and other variations of the Spanish language.In this fun episode of th
Guantánamo From the Inside (Guantánamo Desde Adentro)
One of the scariest and most controversial places on the planet is located in Cuba, in a city of the same name: Guantánamo Bay detention camp. Established by President George W. Bush in 2002, following the Islamist attacks of September 11, it was created to house terrorism suspects and "illegal enemy combatants".However, the reality is that this prison has held many an innocent, those si
Occult Rituals, From Pachamama to Caribbean Voodoo (Rituales Ocultos, de la Pachamama al Vudú Caribeño)
Latin America is a melting pot of cultures, as you'll already know - Spanish culture mixing with Amerindian tradition, and with African rituals combining with Aztec, Mayan, British and... Dutch(?) influences, somehow - so you already know that there's going to be very bold and unique ways of perceiving life, death, religion and belief systems in general.So, it comes as no surprise that t
Juana Azurduy, A Forgotten Heroine (Juana Azurduy, Una Heroína Olvidada)
They say that crisis and pain create great men and women, but life really went a bit too far with Juana Azurduy - first, she lost her parents, and then she would go on to lose her children... but it's what happened in the middle of these things that would mark her remarkable story as a heroine in the fight for Bolivia's independence.A curious girl during her infancy, she developed a cour
Trained for War, Used for Crime (Entrenados para la Guerra, Usados por el Crimen)
As a soldier in Latin America, what happens when you retire? One could think that each state would have a great retirement plan for each soldier who has risked their life for their nation: a decent home, a dignified compensation, health benefits... but this couldn't be further from reality. The reality is that soldiers are practically discarded - thrown aside, left to fend for themselves in a
Pepe Mujica, The President Who Was Just Another Neighbor (Pepe Mujica, El Presidente que Era un Vecino Más)
Despite the traditionally sketchy leaders we've had in Latin America in the past century, one of the most memorable and internationally loved Latin American presidents in recent times has been José Alberto "Pepe" Mujica.Even though he was quite unconventional in his origins, the way he spoke, and especially the fact that he was jailed for his participation as a guerrilla fighter (am
One Español and a Thousand Accents, A Trip Without a Dictionary (Un Español y Mil Acentos, Un Viaje Sin Diccionario)
Spanish is just like English - everyone speaks it in the same way. I'm kidding: we know that English has tons of dialects, and Spanish is just the same in this aspect. Even more complicated is the fact that Spanish is an official language in 21 countries and is spoken widely across 6 continents (with Oceania, not Antarctica being the one where it isn't).So, what I'm getting at here
La Pola, The Young Woman Who Defied an Empire (La Pola, La Joven que Desafió a un Imperio)
There have been some wonderful female heroes throughout history, and South America is no exception. Policarpa Salavarrieta (La Pola) is one of the most famous cases of them all: a woman who defied a massive colonizing force to wake the people of Colombia to the desire for freedom and independence, and whose story ended in an ambiguous (positive) way.In this episode of the Learn Spanish with Storie
When Central America Said Enough Is Enough, The Fall of William Walker (Cuando Centroamérica Dijo Basta, La Caída de William Walker)
The US and other international powers have been meddling in Latin America for as long as we can remember, but one of the worst cases of foreign intervention (ever) occurred in Nicaragua, in the mid-19th Century (and may explain Nicaragua's strong apprehension towards the US today).William Walker. Manifest Destiny. Have you ever heard of these terms? William Walker was a military man with ambi
Uruguay 1930, the First Football World Cup (Uruguay 1930, El Primer Mundial de Fútbol)
The FIFA World Cup is probably the world's biggest sport event, viewed by over 1 BILLION people worldwide, but how did it begin, and why did a tiny South American country, Uruguay, get the honor of hosting its first ever edition?In this episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories Podcast, we travel all the way back to the late 1920s, when preparations were just starting for the first ever FIFA
José Antonio Páez, The Peasant Who Became President (José Antonio Páez, El Peón Que Se Volvió Presidente)
Though controversial, it would be plausible to say that Venezuela has always had controversial leaders, with some bringing glory to the nation, and others bringing sorrow and pain.In the case of José Antonio Páez, both things were simultaneously true, and this strongman and farmer-turned-soldier is an often discussed individual in the history not only of Venezuela, but all nations belonging to &qu
Is Latinidad Innate or Acquired? (¿La Latinidad Nace o Se Hace?)
What makes somebody "Latin American?" (or Latino*?) Is it being born in Latin America? Is it being born to Latino parents? Or is it adopting the culture and actually feeling Latino?In this special DUAL NARRATOR episode, we go over this frustration that so many Latinos and non-Latinos can go through, especially those who have been born to Latino parents outside of Latin America, or who ha
Guaraní, Paraguay's Hidden Heart (Guaraníes, El Corazón Escondido de Paraguay)
There is a country in South America that is particularly "different" from its neighbors in many ways, but the most interesting is its language and culture: I'm talking about Paraguay.Not only is the only nation where the most-spoken language is an indigenous language (Guaraní), but it also has a very strong "mestizo" presence (over 93%), making it one of the most homogeneo
The Crisis that Sunk Latin America (La Crisis que Hundió a Latinoamérica)
Economic crises are nothing new to us, especially in these times of unpredictability and instability, but Latin America took it to a WHOLE new level in the 1970s.During a particularly wealthy economic period, banks in the US and other rich nations began to lend billions in cash with few conditions (really, all they asked was "pay it later"), with Latin American governments siphoning it a
Backpacking with Sayings, A Trip through Latin America (Refranes con Mochila, Un Viaje por Latinoamérica)
Latin America, a region of almost 700 million people, speaks mostly one language (Brazil will have to forgive us for this generalization), but we're not talking of one single Spanish language that everyone understands.In fact, each country has its own dialects, sayings, and differences that can be as crucial as they can be careful - after all, some completely normal words in one nation could
The Thousand Day War (La Guerra de los Mil Días)
We rarely hear about the local wars in South America, but some were just as ugly and crude as the historical wars in Europe and the US - and the Thousand Day War (technically, the 1,130 Day War, but the given name sounds catchier) was no different.A conflict that initiated when Colombia's Liberals decided that enough was enough, and that they would not stand for the corruption and impoverishm
Spain in Free Fall, The New Latin America? (España en Caída Libre, ¿La Nueva Latinoamérica?)
Spain, just like Latin America, has been a popular place to visit and move to as an expat, due to its beautiful beaches, modern cities, and great food. However, also like Latin America, it is affected by corruption, a lack of opportunities, and overall, bad policies that are making life harder for its citizens.And while many of its ministers and politicians flock to social media to make claims on
To Stay or to Go? The Latin American Dilemma (¿Quedarse o Partir? El Dilema Latinoamericano)
Life in Latin America can be stressful or it can be the most comfortable existence you'll ever have - it all depends on how you look at it.In today's DUAL NARRATOR episode and Season 4 finale, we fly over to warm, sunny Cali to join Daniel (a Colombian looking to move to Spain) and Sofia (a Spaniard looking to move to Colombia) as they spend a few months together and explore the next ste
The Worst Kind of Impunity, The Atrocious Case of Linda Loaiza (La Peor Impunidad, El Atroz Caso de Linda Loaiza)
One of the saddest things about crime in Latin America is that even the worst criminals can benefit from impunity. In the case of Linda Loaiza, this was demonstrated in the most brazen and shameless way possible.Linda was a young woman from the west of Venezuela who moved to the capital, Caracas, to study and become a veterinarian. But one day, she was kidnapped by a wealthy and well-connected ind
Rigoberta Menchú, Courage in the Form of a Woman (Rigoberta Menchú, El Coraje Hecho Mujer)
Guatemala has a Nobel prize winner who you've probably never heard of, but she's one of the most incredible cases of a small voice being powerful enough to topple giants: Rigoberta Menchú.A poor indigenous woman in a nation where belonging to any of those three conditions reduces you to background noise, Rigoberta lost multiple family members in the terrible events of the 36-year Guatema
The Revolution of “Rock en Español” (La Revolución del Rock en Español)
Rock music is no longer as popular in the world as it once was (and what a loss THAT has been, am I right?) - but rock "in español" has a very important place in world history.Not only was it super difficult to produce and promote (thanks to the fact that Latin American dictatorships would read the lyrics with magnifying glasses to ensure it wasn't "inciting violence"), bu
El Mozote, The Massacre the U.S. Knew About and Kept Quiet (El Mozote, La Masacre que Estados Unidos Conocía y Calló)
The US has done incredible things in its history, but it has also been involved in some of the most tragic events, too. The El Mozote Massacre that occurred on December 11, 1981, is among the worst of these US-sponsored tragedies.With communist guerrilla movements spreading across El Salvador, both the American and Salvadoran governments knew that they had to quickly put a stop to this before it g
Dictatorship in Venezuela, The Country without a Future (Dictadura en Venezuela, El País que se Quedó sin Futuro)
Today's episode is different. And it's different not because it's a true story (because we always feature those on our podcast), but because your narrator, Anthony, went through the events expressed in the tale.This is the reality of how Venezuela collapsed, of what led 7 million people to flee the country and seek a better life elsewhere. It's an account of how any average fam
Blood, Sweat, and Silver, Latin America's Resources (Sangre, Sudor y Plata, Recursos de Latinoamérica)
The lithium in your phone's battery, maybe the device you're using to read this - it may probably have come from Chile, and the copper in the wires of your charger may have come from Peru... Latin America is and has always been one of the main provider of precious metals in the world.And this didn't begin with the Spanish and Portuguese colonization, either... the natives had been m
Legends of Latin America, the Journey of Quetzalcoatl (Leyendas de Latinoamérica, el Viaje de Quetzalcóatl)
The gods of ancient Latin American belief were very interesting and different from what we have to come to know in Asia, Europe, and North America... they were somewhat more human, said to walk among us when they felt like it, and collaborated closely with animals and nature to make things occur.Quetzalcóatl, the Feathered Serpent, is one such example, perhaps the greatest of them all... disguised
Retiring in Latin America, a Dream Retreat? (Jubilación en Latinoamérica, ¿Retiro Soñado?)
Retiring in Latin America as a foreigner = 👍Retiring in Latin America as a Latin American = ☠️Let's face it - when you think of the Caribbean, Brazilian beaches, the Angel Falls in Venezuela, Mexican resorts and Argentine plains, there's a feeling of relief and joy that you can spend your final years just exploring the land and living for cheap.But what does it look like for a native,
José Rizal, An Unarmed Hero (José Rizal, Un Héroe Sin Armas)
There is a Filipino hero who, despite raising his voice and an entire nation against the Spanish colonizers, is so respected globally that he has his own monument in the center of Madrid, Spain's capital.His name is José Rizal - but what's the story behind this incredible figure, who, unlike Simón Bolívar or José de Martín (among others), never raised his arms against the Spanish and ins
Left vs. Right, The Battle for Latin America (Izquierda vs. Derecha, La Batalla por Latinoamérica)
If you think only North American politics get crazy around, before or after election season, then you're very mistaken: Latin America has a serious problem with political polarization. And the worst part, frankly (as a Latin American myself), is that both sides are very poor at doing their job.Because sadly, both the left and the right wing of politics have failed to follow through with their
Should Spain Apologize to Latin America? (¿Debería España Pedir Perdón a América Latina?)
"Spain should ask for forgiveness" - these were the words of Mexico's new president, Claudia Sheinbaum, shortly after being elected. She took it a step further and decided not to invite Spain's King Felipe VI after he failed to respond, and this initiated a grand debate: should Spain apologize for what their ancestors did 500 years ago?Some claim it is a fair demand by a number
Trump vs. Latin America (Trump vs América Latina)
Donald Trump is back in power, and he is already taking action to bring mass migration into the US from the south to a screeching halt (understandable based on the numbers we were witnessing, but not a popular decision).But he's also affecting Latin America in many other ways, several of which are extremely harmful for local economies. You see: Donald Trump is "America First", throu
Edmundo Chirinos, The Case that Shocked Venezuela (Edmundo Chirinos, El Caso que Estremeció a Venezuela)
If you think about a psychiatrist, you usually associate this with someone of very high social standing, and if it's somebody who even served the president, then there's no way they could be a wrongdoer, right? Right...?Wrong. Edmundo Chirinos, despite even being President Hugo Chavez's psychiatrist at one point, led a despicable double life in which he sedated and abused his female
Why Is Spanish Spoken in Equatorial Guinea? (¿Por Qué se Habla Español en Guinea Ecuatorial?)
Fine, right off the bat I'm cheating - Equatorial Guinea is NOT a Latin American country, I know... but it's also incredibly linked to the Spanish-speaking culture, and is a case study in itself of how colonization has entirely derailed the future of a nation in good ways and in bad.Equatorial Guinea has a curious story behind it. Unlike with Christopher Columbus's "serendipito
The Day Bolivia Lost its Access to the Ocean (El Día que Bolivia Perdió su Salida al Océano)
Have you heard of the "War of the Pacific" before? Your mind will inevitably go to WWII, where the American soldiers fought the Japanese in an endless, bloody battle that culminated in the two atomic bombs being launched on Japan, but... That's certainly NOT what this was. What I'm talking about today is the war that occurred between Chile and the alliance of Bolivia and Peru,
The Chavín de Huántar Operation, A Complicated Rescue (La Operación Chavín de Huántar, Un Rescate Complicado)
On April 22, 1997, at 15:23, one of the world's most incredible military operations occurred on the planet, and you've probably never heard of it...Operation Chavín de Huántar was a surgical military operation that took place after the MRTA (a far left-wing guerrilla movement) took close to 800 hostages at the Japanese Embassy in Lima, Peru. It was not just any operation, however, but on
Tren de Aragua, Spreading from Prison to the Continent (El Tren de Aragua, De la Prisión al Continente)
Few names of Venezuelan gangs and cartels have made as many headlines as El Tren de Aragua, especially in recent months. Named a terrorist organization by President Trump's administration and called "the most disruptive criminal organization operating nowadays in Latin America" by an esteemed Colombian former vice-president, this gang is among the most dangerous in the world.And the
The Puccio Clan, The Dark Secret Behind A Regular Family (El Clan Puccio, El Oscuro Secreto Detrás De Una Familia Común)
A wealthy and respected family... hiding dark secrets of kidnapping and murder behind the scenes. Nope, it's not your newest documentary on a streaming platform - this actually happened in Argentina in the 1980s, just after the right-wing state terrorism of Operation Condor, when a wide range of corrupt cops and torturers were left unemployed, and had to find another way to use their "ta
Camilo Cienfuegos, The Guerrilla Who Never Came Back (Camilo Cienfuegos, El Guerrillero que Nunca Regresó)
Whenever you think of the Cuban Revolution, the first names that come to mind are Fidel and Raul Castro, and Che Guevara - right?But the amazing thing is that there is a name that should always equally appear alongside them, as one of the nicest and kind of the Cuban revolutionaries, who acted as a pacifying presence and kept everyone level-headed: Camilo Cienfuegos.And the most incredible part of
Crossing the Andes, The Historic Rivalry between Argentina and Chile (Cruzando la Cordillera, La Rivalidad Histórica entre Argentina y Chile)
Neighbors, rivals, and sometimes even enemies: Argentina and Chile have long shared the tall but thin mountain range of the Andes as their border, many times coming close to blows over territorial differences, and long eyeing each other with distrust over their neighbor's plans.But both sides have their points to make, their truths, and their reasons to be as they are - and today we'll h
The Cost of Faith, The Jonestown Massacre (El Costo de la Fe, La Masacre de Jonestown)
What happened at Jonestown, Guyana, is something that has spawned an immense number of books, movies, and even day-to-day phrases, but what it created the most were questions.The biggest of all: why were his followers so easily convinced to drink the Kool-Aid (literally)? And why didn't anyone see this coming?In this episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast, we travel to a country ra
Missing but Not Forgotten, the Ayotzinapa 43 (Desaparecidos pero No Olvidados, los 43 de Ayotzinapa)
Just over 10 years ago, on September 26, 2014, a tragedy occurred in Guerrero, Mexico. 43 students heading to a protest in the capital vanished off the face of the Earth — or actually, they were taken off the face of the Earth.But nobody knew where, and nobody seemed to know who had taken them. All there was, was a flimsy explanation that was quickly accepted as "the official truth" by m
Latin America Through Humboldt’s Eyes (América Latina a Través de los Ojos de Humboldt)
Climatology might seem like it's been around forever, but it's actually one of the newer sciences. One of the fathers of this science was Alexander von Humboldt, who traveled to South America and Mexico with one goal in mind—to demystify the New World and illuminate how the so-called "primitive" natives really lived there.In an extended journey across several nations with his c
The Bay of Pigs Invasion, a Cold War Failure (La Invasión de Bahía de Cochinos, un Fracaso en la Guerra Fría)
The U.S. has a shady history in Latin America - we all know this, as much as might love the United States. From the full-blown coups in Operation Condor to CIA involvement in protests, Latin America has often been relegated to becoming "the United States' back yard".But nothing is worse than what happened at the Bay of Pigs. You see, the invasion was planned and approved, and everyt
The Pastry Wars, An Outrageous Claim (La Guerra de los Pasteles, Una Reclamación Insólita)
Mexico has been through its fair share of injustice when it comes to foreign powers, and I'm not even talking of that time when they signed away 55% of its territory to the United States of America, but of something much more ridiculous.You see, in the 1830s, a small dispute over a local bakery turned into an international geopolitical conflict between Mexico and France, with bombings, embarg
Latin America's Billionaires, Beyond Wealth (Multimillonarios de América Latina, Más Allá de la Riqueza)
Billionaires, whether you love them or hate them, have shaped a big part of the modern tech world, and are well-known for building some of the most impressive business ventures.Latin America, though not a Silicon Valley, has individuals who have amassed a large amount of their own wealth, whether through going big on a single startup or by patiently build their own empires.In this episode of the L
The Mayan Civilization, From its Splendor to its Rebirth (La Civilización Maya, Del Esplendor al Renacimiento)
The Mayan Civilization has long been held in an air of mystery - we're familiar with how the infamous calendar made everybody think the world was ending in 2012, due to how accurately the Mayans had mapped out the cycles and astronomy in such a primitive time.But there is more to the Mayans than apocalyptical scenarios and astronomy. In fact, they were one of the most advanced early civilizat
Discovering Belize, a Journey Through Its Hidden Wonders (Descubriendo Belice, un Viaje por sus Maravillas Ocultas)
Belize is a country you rarely hear about, but we can promise you: it is actually one of the most interesting in all of Latin America. With possibly one of the most interesting and diverse mix of ethnicities and cultures, Belize stands out from other nations as Spanish is *not* an official language here. So today, we will accompany our traveling friend, Eduardo, as he explores this amazing nation
José de San Martín, from Soldier to Liberator (José de San Martín, de Soldado a Libertador)
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
Horror Witnesses, The Story of The People Eater (Testigos del Horror, La Historia de El Comegente)
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 advanta
Shadows of the Past, Terrorism and Violence in Latin America (Las Sombras del Pasado, Terrorismo y Violencia en Latinoamérica)
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, Sen
Of Blood and Earth, Stories from the Mexican Revolution (De Tierra y Sangre, Historias de la Revolución Mexicana)
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 mu
The Journey of Cacao, From the Mesoamerican Jungles to the Global Boom (El Viaje del Cacao, De las Selvas Mesoamericanas al Boom Global)
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
The El Niño Phenomenon, Following in the Weather's Footsteps (Fenómeno El Niño, Tras las Huellas del Clima)
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 effect
Satellites and Dreams, The Space Race in Latin America (Satélites y Sueños, La Carrera Espacial en América Latina)
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 m
I Love You, Mexico! (¡Te Amo, México!)
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 thi
Mate, A Drink that Transcends Borders (El Mate, Una Bebida que Atraviesa Fronteras)
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 cons
The Nicaragua Canal, An Unfinished Dream (El Canal de Nicaragua, Un Sueño Inconcluso)
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 rese
Jesuits in Latin America, a Legacy of Transformation (Jesuitas en América Latina, un Legado de Transformación)
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,
Sandinista Revolution, the Battle for the Heart of Nicaragua (Revolución Sandinista, la Batalla por el Corazón de Nicaragua)
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 p
How Do They Have Fun in Latin America? (¿Cómo se Divierten en Latinoamérica?)
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
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