• Discovering Belize, a Journey Through Its Hidden Wonders (Descubriendo Belice, un Viaje por sus Maravillas Ocultas)
    Nov 19 2024

    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 and goes to some of the most impressive natural reserves you'll ever discover in an episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast!


    Enjoy the episode, and start preparing your next trip to the country known lovingly as "The Jewel" - you definitely will want to go when you're done listening.


    Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/143e m

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    28 mins
  • José de San Martín, from Soldier to Liberator (José de San Martín, de Soldado a Libertador)
    Nov 12 2024

    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 selfless way possible.


    You see, San Martin did not want the fame or the glory of becoming "the Liberator" that Simon Bolivar did, and when he was at his peak, having achieved so much and saved so many lives... he gave his power away.


    Find out why, and what exactly this legendary figure did, in this week's episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast!


    Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1403

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    27 mins
  • Horror Witnesses, The Story of The People Eater (Testigos del Horror, La Historia de El Comegente)
    Nov 5 2024

    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 police case led by Inspector Alfredo Gómez and reporter Elena Ramírez, as they push to capture this terrible monster before he can continue committing heinous crimes on his fellow man (and woman).


    Warning: Viewer discretion is advised.


    Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1370

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    29 mins
  • Shadows of the Past, Terrorism and Violence in Latin America (Las Sombras del Pasado, Terrorismo y Violencia en Latinoamérica)
    Oct 29 2024

    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 past (and present) of Latin America's crime underworld.


    We love Latin America (especially as Latin Americans ourselves!) - but today, we'll spend half an hour going through the dark side of the Latino region. Enjoy the episode.


    Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1338

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    32 mins
  • Of Blood and Earth, Stories from the Mexican Revolution (De Tierra y Sangre, Historias de la Revolución Mexicana)
    Oct 22 2024

    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've probably heard of Emiliano Zapata and Pancho Villa, two Mexican heroes... but do you actually know what they did? If the answer is no (and I'm hoping for that, so you can listen to the episode), you're going to enjoy today's episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast!


    Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1337

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    30 mins
  • The Journey of Cacao, From the Mesoamerican Jungles to the Global Boom (El Viaje del Cacao, De las Selvas Mesoamericanas al Boom Global)
    Oct 15 2024

    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 delicious new products.


    But I'm done "spoiling" the episode here. You should check it out and unravel the history of cacao, chocolate, and the origin of one of the most delicious desserts you'll ever try, in this episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast!


    Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1305

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    30 mins
  • The El Niño Phenomenon, Following in the Weather's Footsteps (Fenómeno El Niño, Tras las Huellas del Clima)
    Oct 8 2024

    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, and you'll find out why I asked you about flowers in the desert - so don't miss it!


    Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1272

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    29 mins
  • Satellites and Dreams, The Space Race in Latin America (Satélites y Sueños, La Carrera Espacial en América Latina)
    Oct 1 2024

    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 governments in Latin America are starting to pay attention to the universe outside our planet, and using technology to bridge the gap between the Latin world and the immensity of space. So, buckle up and get your astronaut suit, we're lifting off with Season 4!

    Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1271

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    30 mins