Spanish Loops

Hola Chicos! Welcome back to Spanish Loops! Today we talk about one of the most beautiful and honestly, unique traditions in Spain: Sant Jordi in Catalonia. So… who is Saint George? Picture this: a brave knight, a terrifying dragon, and a princessabout to meet her fate. According to the Catalan version of the legend, Saint George slays the dragon and from the dragon’s blood, a red rose blooms, whi...

Welcome back to  Spanish Loops . This week, we take on a subject that is as uncomfortable as it is essential: slavery. Not just the version most people immediately associate with the Atlantic world, but a deeper, broader reality that stretches across civilizations and centuries. Slavery has existed since the earliest organized societies. In places like Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, and Ancient Ro...

Let us ask you something… How different is life, really, between Spain and the United States? Because we all think we know the answer, right? Big houses, big cars, fast living on one side… Slow meals, late nights, and “family first” culture on the other. But today… we go way beyond the clichés. In this new episode of Spanish Loops, Fran and I take you into the real differences, the ones you only d...

Hola Chicos, welcome back to Spanish Loops. This week, we’re stepping inside one of the most structured, fascinating systems in the world: the hierarchy of the Catholic Church. You’ve seen the titles: Pope, bishop, priest, but what do they actually mean? And more importantly… Why is it all organized this way? Let’s break it down, simple and clear. At the very top, you have the Pope. Think of him a...

In this episode of  Spanish Loops , we uncork the fascinating story behind  cava , Spain’s most famous sparkling wine and one of the country’s most recognizable celebratory drinks. Although often compared to champagne, cava has its own identity, history, and cultural significance deeply rooted in Spain, especially in Catalonia. The story begins with the influence of French champagne in the 19th ce...

Barcelona is famous for its modern life, stunning architecture, and Mediterranean energy, but its story began more than two thousand years ago. In this episode of Spanish Loops, we travel back to the origins of the city when the Romans founded Barcino, a small but strategic colony on the northeastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula. Long before Barcelona became a global destination, this Roman sett...

While the world watches the Academy Awards, Spanish Loops revisits the extraordinary story of Sara Montiel, the very first Spanish woman to achieve major success in Hollywood. Born in La Mancha and first discovered after winning a local radio singing contest, Sara Montiel built her early career in Mexico before marrying acclaimed Hollywood director Anthony Mann and entering the American film indus...

S3, Ep : 30. Spain’s Aperitivo Ritual: Sip, Savor, Socialize. Hola amigos, Jorge and Fran here from Spanish Loops… and this week we’re talking about something that is not just food, not just a drink, but a lifestyle. El aperitivo in Spain. Because in Spain, we don’t just eat. We prepare to eat. The aperitivo usually happens between 12:30 and 2:30 PM, right before lunch. It’s that golden moment whe...

Spain has officially lost its mind… for cheesecake. What was once a discreet indulgence reserved for select tables has become a full-blown national pilgrimage. From locals queuing around the block to influencers chasing the perfect molten slice, cheesecake is no longer just dessert:  it’s destination dining. In this new episode of Spanish Loops, Jorge and Fran uncover how this sweet revolution too...

This week on Spanish Loops , the podcast turns its spotlight on a topic that sparks endless curiosity, strong opinions, and more than a few misconceptions: weapons regulation in Spain. In this chapter, Spanish Loops breaks down clearly, calmly, and without Hollywood myths how weapon ownership actually works in Spain. And spoiler alert: this is not a country where you can buy a weapon just because...

Spain is not a single story. It’s a living archive of human history. And it’s written in our DNA. In this episode of Spanish Loops, Fran and I explore Spanish heritage and the extraordinary mix of cultures that shaped the people of the Iberian Peninsula.  This land has never been the edge of Europe; it has always been a crossroads. For thousands of years, civilizations passed through, settled, mix...

Spain has always lived facing the sea. And not just for the views. In this new episode of Spanish Loops, we (literally) dive into one of the most fascinating and sometimes controversial parts of Spanish life: fishing, Europe, and the quotas that shape what ends up on our plates. Spain is one of the biggest fishing nations in the European Union, but that comes with rules, limits and long negotiatio...

Welcome back to Spanish Loops, the show where we explore the heartbeats of Spain  and this week we walk through Madrid’s market culture. If you think markets are just places to buy groceries, think again. These vibrant spaces are living museums of food, history, and community where locals shop, chefs scout, and travelers fall in love. Not many farmer’s markets in Madrid due to the size, but the mo...

S3, Ep : 24. Paradores of Spain: Sleeping in History, Chasing the Eclipse In this new episode of Spanish Loops, we travel through one of Spain’s most unique and quietly ambitious success stories: Paradores de Turismo. More than just a hotel chain, Paradores is a living idea: one born from the need to protect Spain’s historical heritage while opening the country to travelers in a thoughtful, dignif...

In this week’s episode of Spanish Loops, we look into one of the most fascinating and misunderstood artistic languages of the Iberian Peninsula: Mudejar art. Together with Fran, we explore how Mudejar emerged in Christian territories between the 12th and 16th centuries, shaped by Muslim artisans who continued working after the Christian reconquest. While often confused with Islamic or Arabic art,...

There are phrases that define a city, and then there are phrases that become a destiny. In this new chapter of Spanish Loops, Francisco and I invite you to travel through one of the most powerful and recognizable expressions in Spain: “De Madrid al Cielo.” Where does this sentence come from? Who first dared to pronounce it? And why has it survived centuries, revolutions, monarchs, artists, and dre...

Breaking news!! Stop what you're doing! Today, Spanish Loops, hosted by the brilliant Jorge and the ever witty Fran, aka, both of us… are dropping a chapter that’s not just another cultural detour from Spain to the world, no, no. This week, we two take a soulful splash into what we ourselves are thankful for in these utterly convulsive times we are living in, and we share powerful wishes for t...

Hey Chicos! It’s Jorge and Fran! Welcome back again to Spanish Loops, the show where we loop you into the culture you love. This week we discuss something totally fascinating: Nobility titles in Spain. Yep, we’re talking kings, dukes, counts… and all that royal jazz with a Spanish twist. So first up: what are these titles anyway? From Rey/Reina (King/Queen) at the top down through Duque, Marqués,...

Get ready for an unforgettable journey as  The Essence of Southern Spain  tour arrives in Cádiz, a timeless coastal jewel with roots that stretch back over 3,000 years. I’m Jorge, and alongside my co-host Fran, we scratch this ancient city’s rich history, vibrant traditions, and mouth watering gastronomy.  From its legendary Phoenician beginnings to the stories hidden in its sun washed alleys, Cád...

S3, Ep : 18. Exploring Spain’s Romerías and pilgrimages through tradition, culture, and Journey. Hola Chicos! Big news! I’m super excited to announce this new chapter of Spanish Loops today. In this episode we cherished some rituals of Spain: the vibrant, festive Romerías and the more solemn, spiritual Pilgrimages. We explore how each is rooted in centuries of Spanish Catholic tradition, how they...

Hola Amigos, and welcome back to another episode of Spanish Loops, where history comes alive with our unmistakable voices.  This week, we take you into the extraordinary life of a woman who refused to stay within the lines drawn for her time: María Eugenia de Montijo, the Spanish noblewoman who rose from the sun washed streets of Granada to the dazzling courts of Paris, ultimately becoming the Emp...

Hola! This is Jorge from Spanish Loops, and I’m so excited to welcome you to today’s episode. This week, Fran and I are touching a topic that is a bit differentfrom our usual, but I promise it’s just as fascinating. We’re talking about none other than Pablo Picasso, but not just the genius artist we all know. No, today we’re exploring the man behind the paintings. The real Picasso, the one with al...

Hola!, and welcome back to Spanish Loops.  As always we bring you the human stories hiding behind history, and today’s chapter is a cracker: Ramón Franco, the daring aviator and paradoxical brother of General Francisco Franco.  Ramón shot to fame after commanding the 1926 Plus Ultra transatlantic flight, a feat that made him a celebrity and symbol of modern Spain. But Ramón’s politics and personal...

Welcome back to Spanish Loops, where this week you are taken into a place that any traveler never see, yet every restaurant, bar, and seafood stall in Madrid depends on it. It’s one of the biggest fish markets in the world, second only to Tokyo’s. Yes, right in the heart of Spain, hundreds of Kilometres from the coast, lies a seafood empire that feeds millions every day. We’ll take you behind the...

Hello Chicos and welcome to another exciting edition of  Spanish Loops , your passport to the culture, stories, and heartbeat of Spain. This week, we open the doors to one of the most famous noble families in the world "La Casa de Alba", the House of Alba. We’re talking about a lineage that’s been shaping Spanish history for centuries, from the royal courts of old Castile to the modern p...