Spain To Go

Sant Jordi is a typical Catalan celebration. Also known as the day of books and roses, it celebrates the very international Saint George. In this episode we talk about Saint George's legend in Spain and abroad, as well as the Catalan celebration and some of the important myths associated with Catalan culture. Donate to the podcast here: https://expatmadrid.com/donate/ Today we deal with a numb...

I'm avoiding politics this week, so here are some contemplations on worshipping the Golden Calf, on staying human, on God-shaped holes, and on Holy Thursday. Also, deadlifting, immigrant-owned businesses, loving your wife, and how everything is right-wing these days... even hake. Support the podcast at: https://expatmadrid.com/donate/ Book a walking tour in Spain or elsewhere in Europe with Wa...

The other day I heard someone talking about American Refugees, and the exodus of people fleeing from the US. Is it real? What is a refugee, anyway? And how does Richard Gere fit into all this? In today's episode of the Spain to Go podcast, we're talking about Americans' many reasons for moving abroad. We'll hear about the LGBTQ Americans in Dutch refugee camps, about "making y...

Spanish President / Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez recently made the news by standing up to Donald Trump on the issue of US military bases and the war in Iran. In doing so, he's gained some fans in the US. But is Sánchez popular in Spain? In a word, no. Here's a rundown of the last several years of Spanish politics, and the several reasons why many Spaniards hate Pedro Sánchez. Donate to the...

A couple of weeks ago I heard that Sagrada Familia is finally finished. Well, that's partially true – but not really. Either way, today we're talking about the world's tallest church, Antoni Gaudí's strange life and afterlife, Barcelona's must-see attractions and more. Sagrada Familia is just one of the famous Gaudí buildings here in Barcelona. If you're visiting any time s...

Today's episode is about a famously spiritual Spaniard, Saint Ignatius of Loyola. Mark Kurlansky calls him the most famous Basque in history, and I guess he would know. Anyway, this one talks about the life of Saint Ignatius, as well as his friend Francis Xavier, and about our modern lives of temptation and materialism. Is it time for some spiritual warfare? Probably. More on the blog: https:/...

The Guardian up in the UK has recently published an article about the "dark history" of Spanish ham. So today's episode is about jamón (and pork more generally) as a piece of the culture wars. Is the Spanish inquisition affecting your dietary choices? Is jamón a tool of social exclusion? All valid questions we'll be answering. Donate to this podcast right here: https://expatmadri...

The Spanish government announced this week that it was going to have a "mass regularization" that might help half a million immigrants to get work permits. As a former illegal immigrant (or undocumented migrant) myself I have some opinions about all this. Donate to the cause here, I appreciate it: https://expatmadrid.com/donate/ If you need an FBI background check for some Spanish visa p...

Julio Iglesias is cancelled, the future of Greenland is up for grabs, and the EU doesn't want to do anything about it. In this "Random Thoughts" episode of the Spain to Go podcast, we talk about one of the most famous Spanish singers being accused of sexual assault, about geopolitics, and much more. Take a look at the article on the blog for links: https://expatmadrid.com/julio-igles...

It's a strange time to be an American in Spain, with the Spanish media pushing an anti-American narrative almost constantly. In this episode I talk about Donald Trump, Nicolás Maduro, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and what it's like waking up to the hatred of a large part of your adopted country. Interesting times! Don't forget to donate to support the cause at https://expatmadrid.com/donate/...

It's been quite a year here in Spain, here's a bit of a recap of some of the top stories and things I've been thinking about. More on the blog: https://expatmadrid.com/spain-2025-review/ As usual, you can donate to the cause over at https://expatmadrid.com/donate/ I really appreciate it! And if you're coming to Spain (for tourism or to live here) check out some of my sponsors and s...

The population of wild boars in Catalonia has suddenly become newsworthy as a few cases of African swine fever outside Barcelona threaten the entire pork industry. Pork is big business in Spain, and if the virus isn't contained, we could have problems. Here's my report on the swine fever, more as usual on the web: https://expatmadrid.com/swine-fever/ Support for this podcast comes from Wal...

A bit about 8 surprising holiday traditions here in Spain. Christmas is a bit different in Spain, so here's a bit about what to expect. You might also enjoy the article I did on Spanish Christmas vocabulary: https://expatmadrid.com/spanish-christmas-vocabulary/ Support for this podcast comes from Walks Tours, with amazing walking tours of incredible locations, right here: https://expatmadrid.com/w...

In a few days I'll be 43 years old, and I had a bit of a disorienting experience the other day as I realized exactly how much time has passed. Here are a few thoughts on middle age and living the good life. More online: https://expatmadrid.com/middle-aged-wisdom/ Donate to the podcast here, anything helps. Thanks: https://expatmadrid.com/donate/ Also, check out Devour Tours for food tours in vario...

A bit of a roundup of Spanish news stories from recent weeks. First up, a German pastor in Costa del Sol gets a big surprise about his family history. Then, the lost (and found) Picasso painting in Madrid. And finally, Carlos Mazón who was (probably) the most hated man in Spain, finally resigns as president of the Valencian Community... sort of. More on the web: https://expatmadrid.com/himmler-pic...

I've gotten a lot of interesting questions and feedback from listeners and readers in the last few weeks. Here's a new format, then, where I answer everything together – let's call it Mr Chorizo's Mailbag. Donate to the cause at https://expatmadrid.com/donate/ More on the web https://expatmadrid.com/mr-chorizos-mailbag/ Thanks to everyone for listening, reading, donating and commen...

Well, it finally happened! I'm now officially a passport-carrying Spaniard, whatever that means. In this episode I contemplate the concept of "home" and what being a Spanish citizen is really about. More on the web: https://expatmadrid.com/becoming-spanish-citizen/ Check out my supporters Devour Tours at https://expatmadrid.com/devour/ for food tours in Spain (Barcelona, Madrid, San...

The recent Vuelta a España bicycle race ended in chaos as anti-Israel protestors made several stages impossible. Turns out, the government is on their side, and now wants a broader boycott of Israel and Israeli products... Will Spain leave Eurovision over the participation of Israeli artists? Will the national team skip the 2026 World Cup? It looks like every option is on the table. Donate to the...

I had a bit of a run-in with Spanish police the other day. It was pretty stupid, but at least I got some content out of it. So today's episode is about your rights in Spain (as a resident, tourist, or whatever) when dealing with Spanish law enforcement. Know your rights in a police stop and if you've been arrested. As usual, talk to a lawyer if you have doubts! Here's the article: http...

Hey hey! I've got a bit of an update on my Spanish nationality process, as well as some new data about Spanish demographics. Turns out the population is booming due to immigration. More on the web: https://expatmadrid.com/population-explosion/ Support the podcast at https://expatmadrid.com/donate/ Or sign up for a walking tour in Madrid, Barcelona, etc with Walks Tours using my affiliate link:...

What is a belief? And to what extent are our beliefs just a performance for an online (or offline) audience? Sponsored content, TikTok politicians, Elon Musk, nepo babies and much more in this new episode. I've got all the irreverent musings you expect from Mr Chorizo... Support the podcast here: https://expatmadrid.com/donate/ Check out the full article here: https://expatmadrid.com/identity-...

In today's episode, we've got political corruption, prostitution, and the (poorly-named) rise of the far right. Yes, things are changing here in Spain, and people are mad. Far right groups were causing all kinds of havoc down in Torre Pacheco, Murcia over the weekend, after three Moroccans beat up a Spanish grandfather – allegedly for TikTok content. All in all, it's a bad time to be a Spanish vot...

Lauren Aloise started leading food tours in Madrid during the Great Recession, and had soon turned Devour Tours into a thriving business. Learn how Lauren went from recipe blogger to travel entrepreneur, her favorite regional Spanish foods, what she thinks about the future of Spanish tourism (and the risk posed by anti-tourism protests) and more. Book a food tour in Madrid, Barcelona or elsewhere...

Immigration is a hot topic, and I've been an immigrant myself for more than 20 years. My wife Morena is also an immigrant, from a wildly different background. What is immigration? With 250 million migrants in the world, nobody is really "typical". Here's my story, and a few thoughts... Donate to the cause here at https://expatmadrid.com/donate – I appreciate it! Check out my friends over at https:...

It's been a while since I've done "a day in the life", but the news this week sucks and I don't feel like making top 10 lists. So here's a few things going on in Barcelona, from your favorite gym bro / spiritual seeker / history nerd. Donate to the podcast here: https://expatmadrid.com/donate/ You can also support the project by signing up for tours (in Spain or elsewhere) with one of the followin...