Learn Spanish with Stories

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, Dor...

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 fi...

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 an...

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 sus...

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 ar...

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 o...

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 ev...

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 travele...

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 growi...

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...

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.  Most...

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 epi...

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...

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 Sp...

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 throu...

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 Do...

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 ex...

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 borde...

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 worl...

The Angel Falls. Yes, the tallest waterfall in the world – you probably have heard this quite a few times… but do you know the myths and legends behind this wonderful location? Found in Venezuela’s southeastern region of La Gran Sabana (a magical creation of nature in itself), this waterfall has a rich history that has captivated travelers and scientists for at least the last century, and which re...

When we talk about World War II and how it ended for the Nazis, it’s almost always about their defeat and how they ended up paying (in one way or another) for their crimes. However, you may not be aware that a small but privileged group of their officers were actually offered a new avenue and a hope for a fresh life – one without justice catching them.  These lucky (and powerful) figures relocated...

One of the most remote places in the world, Easter Island is as far as 3,500 kilometers from the coast of the country it belongs to – Chile. A land with a troublesome and even bloody history, few tourists of today (who visit the island for its wonderful Mo’ai statues) have any idea of how much pain and suffering the Islanders have gone through throughout the centuries. In this episode, we talk of...

Often disregarded by tourists, travel influencers and the general public, Paraguay is actually a fascinating destination with a rich history and the incredibly unique triple frontier. But if travel isn’t your thing and you’re more into business, Paraguay has just what you need – extremely low taxes, quick and easy incorporation of companies and the third largest free-trade zone in the world – you...

Across history and throughout the world, even now, humanity has witnessed the rise and fall of terrible dictators – leaders who may have initially had good intentions but who ended up becoming terrible figures of authority who destroyed their nations and took many lives. The following episode is one of great duality in terms of bad leaders. From Allende, who tore apart the economy of a booming Chi...

There are locations across the world that are shrouded in great mysticism. Whether because of their history or because magical things occurred there, these places carry the essence of myths and legends that make them special. Between Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Peru, a great civilization spread in the 13th Century, ruling over a population of 10 million people. This empire – the Inca Empire, to...