Learn Spanish with Stories
by Lingo Mastery Spanish
Learn Spanish with Stories is the number one podcast for upper beginner to intermediate Spanish learners. The main objective of this podcast is to give students fun and interesting stories from Latin America to help students with Spanish immersion. You can read while you listen if you head over to podcast.lingomastery.com to find the transcript.
Episodes
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Potosí, The Richest Mountain in History (Potosí, La Montaña Más Rica de la Historia)
Modern civilization is something of a privilege for you and me, especially those of us living in developed nations - much of it has been built on the backs of hard, unforgiving work from centuries ago, when men and women were enslaved and forced to extract resources from countries far, far away....
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How Did Coffee Conquer the World? (¿Cómo el Café Conquistó el Mundo?)
Coffee is everywhere - you may have just had a cup, or at least one this morning (right?), and it has helped corporations build billion-dollar brands across the globe that distill the precious dark bean into all kinds of drinks... But why is coffee so important today? How did this even happen,...
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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…
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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...
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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...
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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…
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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...
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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…
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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...
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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...
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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…
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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,...
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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...
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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…
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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...
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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"...
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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...
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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...
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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…
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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…
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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...
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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...
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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…
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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…
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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...
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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,...
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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...
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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...
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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....
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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...
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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…
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About this show
Learn Spanish with Stories is the number one podcast for upper beginner to intermediate Spanish learners. The main objective of this podcast is to give students fun and interesting stories from Latin America to help students with Spanish immersion. You can read while you listen if you head over to podcast.lingomastery.com to find the transcript.
Hosted by
Lingo Mastery Spanish