Duolingo Spanish Podcast

By Duolingo

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What's Duolingo Spanish Podcast about?

True stories for English speakers learning Spanish. From the makers of Duolingo, the most popular language-learning app, comes a new podcast that delivers fascinating real-life stories in easy-to-understand Spanish with English narration. These are not language lessons; they’re life lessons through language. Hosted by Martina Castro, co-founder of NPR’s Radio Ambulante.

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LAST EPISODE

Extrañamente idénticas (Str...

03.11.2021

When a family friend told Dolores Fernández that she’d seen her on television, Dolores was sure there must be a mistake. But then Dolores saw the program for herself…and there she was. Except Dolores had never been on television. So ...

Duolingo Spanish Podcast episodes:

03.11.2021 Extrañamente idénticas (Strangely Identical) When a family friend told Dolores Fernández that she’d seen her on television, Dolores was sure there must be a mistake. But then Dolores saw the program for herself…and there she was. Except Dolores had never been on television. So ...
03.04.2021 El perro que protestó (The Dog Who Protested) María Campos falls in love with a stray dog who has a knack for leading protests — and becomes a global symbol of unity and strength in Chile's historic social uprising. A transcript of this episode is available at podcast.duolingo.com.
02.25.2021 Reforestación inteligente (Smart Reforestation) After experiencing climate change-fueled wildfires in person, a young Spanish businessman searches for a solution to reforest the planet, with help from a tree-whispering monk. A transcript of this episode is available at podcast.duolingo.com.
02.18.2021 Irse de Venezuela (Leaving Venezuela) Pushed away by growing insecurity and political unrest in her country, a Venezuelan woman follows her dream of moving to Georgia, USA. There, she faces a tough reality of the language barrier and harsh work conditions…obstacles she meets with a ...
02.11.2021 Terapia de tatuajes (Tattoo Therapy) A tattoo parlor in Barcelona helps survivors of domestic violence start a new chapter in their lives. A transcript of this episode is available at podcast.duolingo.com.
02.04.2021 Buscando a los 33 (Finding the 33) Eleven years ago, a young geologist named Sandra Jara became an unsung hero in the high-stakes race to rescue 33 trapped Chilean miners. Now, she’s telling her story. A transcript of this episode is available at podcast.duolingo.com.
01.28.2021 El nopal es el nuevo cuero (Cactus is the New Leather) After a fortuitous encounter in Taiwan, two Mexican friends decide to transform their national symbol into an ethical alternative for the fashion industry. A transcript of this episode is available at podcast.duolingo.com.
01.21.2021 Una cancha para ellas (A Field of Their Own) In one of the poorest neighborhoods of Buenos Aires, a soccer coach helps girls fight for their right to play, building a feminist soccer league that becomes an example of inclusion in sports. A transcript of this episode is available ...
01.13.2021 Inside "El gran robo argentino" In this special episode, we go behind the scenes of “El gran robo argentino,” the first special mini-series from the Duolingo Spanish Podcast. Host and executive producer Martina Castro reveals the most intriguing secrets from this one-of-a-kind show — with ...
12.03.2020 Part 6: El juicio (The Trial) The robbers are forced to face the consequences of their crime, and find themselves up against potentially lengthy prison sentences. While the evidence against them is damning, they hope to make the case for leniency by arguing that they were ...
11.19.2020 Part 5: El golpe (The job) It's the version of the heist you haven't yet heard: the day of the robbery, from the thieves' point of view. Hear the play-by-play of what really happened inside the Río Bank on January 13, 2006. With everything planned down ...
11.12.2020 Part 4: El plan (The Plan) The mysterious mastermind assembles a band of thieves to rob a bank without firing any shots. For a year, the gang thinks through every single detail. But can they really trust one another to pull off such an elaborate scheme? ...
11.05.2020 Part 3: Las detenciones (The Arrests) An unexpected betrayal leads to the downfall of the robbers. But police still struggle to answer a central question: Who is the man who dreamt up this audacious plan that made fools of them? A transcript of this episode is ...
10.29.2020 Part 2: La caza (The Hunt) The police have finally put together how the robbers vanished with the loot. Yet despite several leads, agents are struggling to arrest any suspects. While the police try to keep their investigation secret, the reporters will learn that the thieves ...
10.22.2020 Part 1: El robo (The Robbery) In January 2006, a group of thieves entered a bank in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in what appeared to be just a regular theft. But soon, it became clear that this would be unlike any crime Argentina had ever seen. In ...
09.27.2020 Trailer Season 9 The Duolingo Spanish Podcast is back with new episodes starting October 22, 2020. Listen to the trailer now!
08.20.2020 Una rana llamada Romeo (A Frog Named Romeo) A Bolivian biologist studies a lone frog named Romeo,, who's in danger of extinction — until she makes him a dating profile and starts an international fundraising campaign to find his Juliet and save the species. A transcript of this ...
08.13.2020 La abuela superstar (Grandma Superstar) Irma Silva was born on a ranch, married young, and raised a large family — the traditional life of a rural Mexican woman. At 80 she thought that was it for her…until her grandson made an offer she couldn't refuse, ...
08.06.2020 Un tesoro internacional (International Treasure) There are two places Teresa Valcarce calls home: Spain and the United States. But after discovering that one of her countries never fulfilled a centuries-old promise to the other, Teresa sets out on a mission to track down a missing ...
07.30.2020 Rap originario (Indigenous Rap) A young Mexican man discovers that he can use rap as a tool to help save his native language. But can he convince a new generation to love this new form of rap, too? A transcript of this episode is ...
07.23.2020 Las mamás del río Amazonas (Mothers of the Amazon River) Dr. Magaly Blas trades the security of a city hospital job for a post in the Amazon, where she serves pregnant women who don't have access to modern healthcare. But when Magaly discovers that she, too, is pregnant, her work ...
07.16.2020 El arte del café (The Art of Coffee) Alejandro Méndez's new boss, café-owner Federico Bolanos, is obsessed with one thing: training Alejandro to compete in the world's toughest barista competition. But can a country like El Salvador hold its own against prevailing champions like Australia and the United ...
07.09.2020 Un exiliado en Rusia (An Exile in Russia) In 1973, 16-year-old Víctor Yáñez travels from his home in Chile to the former USSR to study agriculture. But when a military coup strikes at home, he's stranded in Communist Russia…for the rest of his life. A transcript of this ...
07.02.2020 Libros tras las rejas (Books Behind Bars) Growing up in a house without books, Ana Sicilia always dreamed of having her own library. Years later, after teaching a writing workshop in a nearby prison, her dream would come true — just not in the way she'd imagined. ...
06.25.2020 Trailer Season 8 The Duolingo Spanish Podcast is back with new episodes starting July 2, 2020. Listen to the trailer now!
06.18.2020 Ask Martina Anything: Your Listener Questions Answered In this special episode, we answer your most burning questions about the Duolingo Spanish Podcast! Listen as host and executive producer Martina Castro takes you behind the scenes of this one-of-a-kind podcast — with a little help from some friends. ...
05.21.2020 Los niños de los desaparecidos (The Children of the Disappeared) As the child of adoptive parents in 1980s Argentina, Tatiana Sfiligoy knew her family situation was unique. But it would be another decade before she uncovered the truth about what happened to her biological parents — including the role her ...
05.14.2020 La vida en los tiempos del coronavirus (Life in the Time of Coronavirus) Like many others around the world, Spanish speakers on both sides of the Atlantic have responded to the coronavirus pandemic with exceptional acts of courage and kindness. In this special episode, we’ll hear stories of people who have stepped up ...
05.07.2020 Tejiendo un legado (Weaving a Legacy) In El Salvador, waist loom weaving is a revered craft, historically undertaken by women—until Ronald Vega had to take over the job from his sick mother, becoming the first man in his family, and his country, to practice this ancestral ...
04.30.2020 Un cocinero para la gente (A Cook for the People) After an impressive career of cooking in some of the world's best restaurants, Marco Quelca decided to dedicate his life to bringing gourmet cooking to lower income communities in his native Bolivia, pioneering a new kind of performance art: high-end ...
04.23.2020 Mi abuela la curandera (My Grandmother the Healer) As a child, Dr. Linda Valencia was fascinated by her grandmother, a traditional healer in Guatemala. But after choosing a different path and becoming a medical doctor, Linda realized that she could integrate the best parts of her grandmother's practices ...
04.16.2020 Un hogar en tierra prohibida (A Home on Forbidden Land) When María Elena Paz moved to a plot of land on the outskirts of Mexico City, she was shocked to find no water, electricity, or roads. She and her neighbors weren't even supposed to live in the ecologically protected zone. ...
04.09.2020 Otro camino hacia la victoria (A Different Path to Victory) Francisco Sanclemente is on the verge of professional soccer success when a serious illness leaves him wheelchair-bound. Without the use of his legs, he's forced to redefine what it means to be an athlete. A transcript of this episode is ...
04.02.2020 Una maestra en botas (A Teacher in Army Boots) In 1961, 15-year-old Norma Guillard left her family behind and ventured into rural Cuba as part of a nationwide campaign to teach people how to read. Her eight-month journey would culminate in a historic accomplishment for her country—and give Norma ...
03.26.2020 "Lo que puede un cuerpo" (“What the Body Can Do”) For 30 years, Ana Larriel struggled with her weight and her body image. Until she decided her body wasn't what needed to change. The cultural perspective she had grown up with was what needed changing. A transcript of this episode ...
03.19.2020 Trailer Season 7 The Duolingo Spanish Podcast is back with new episodes starting March 26, 2020. Listen to the trailer now!
02.06.2020 Jaime, el artista (Jaime, The Artist) A Spanish fashion designer works hard to give her autistic son every opportunity—then discovers that he has a special talent and makes him her business partner. A transcript of this episode is available at https://podcast.duolingo.com.
01.30.2020 El embajador del Mofongo (The Mofongo Ambassador) A young Puerto Rican man takes a dish from his homeland and creates a global food sensation. But when Hurricane Maria hits, he finds a new way of using food to help the island he loves. A transcript of this ...
01.23.2020 La herencia del mezcal (The Mezcal Inheritance) Yola grew up watching her grandfather make mezcal. When he died, she took up the mantle. But how would she transform her grandfather’s hobby into a mezcal for the masses? Study materials and a transcript of this episode are available ...
01.16.2020 El paraíso del chef (The Chef’s Paradise) Rodrigo Pacheco worked in some of the world's best restaurants, but he never truly felt like the chef he aspired to be until he found himself far from the culinary scene on the Ecuadorian coast. That's where his quest to ...
01.09.2020 La isla olvidada de Venezuela (Venezuela's Forgotten Island) Working as a nurse in Venezuela during the worst economic crisis in the country's history, Fabiola Molero is used to seeing hardship. But when she and her team saw a photo of a girl suffering from extreme malnutrition on a ...
01.02.2020 Estar en las nubes (Head in the Clouds) Eréndira Sánchez is a young skydiving apprentice in Mexico when a world-famous skydiver offers her a chance to train at his facility in the U.S. But after a tragic accident, Eréndira is forced to choose between a life of freedom ...
12.19.2019 Drag queen de nacimiento (Born to Drag) In 1980s Quibdó, a rural, Afro Colombian city, homophobia was a part of everyday life. But when Erlin Mena found the courage to put on heels and dance in drag, he helped create a thriving queer community that endures to ...
12.12.2019 La rebeldía mariachi (The Rebels of Mariachi) Growing up as the daughter of a mariachi, Mireya Ramos learned early on that mariachi was a male-dominated world. But after moving to New York City, Mireya decided to challenge tradition and create an all-female mariachi group, opening doors for ...
12.05.2019 Trailer Season 6 The Duolingo Spanish Podcast is back with new episodes starting Thursday, December 12. Listen to the trailer now!
10.24.2019 La lucha por la identidad (The Fight for Identity) It took Vincenzo Bruno years to fully embrace his trans identity. But the moment he did, he became a fierce advocate for other LGBTIQ Costa Ricans, helping to launch a campaign that would end up altering the course of Costa ...
10.17.2019 Una victoria en la cancha (A Victory on the Soccer Field) In May 2019, twenty Paraguayan soccer players traveled from their hometown to Asunción, the nation’s capital, to play the most important game of their lives. Led by their captain, José Elías Argaña, they were the first indigenous team to qualify ...
09.26.2019 El Woodstock chileno (Chilean Woodstock) In 1970, in a country polarized by cold-war politics, Jorge Gómez organized an outdoor music festival. But what he expected to be a peaceful gathering turned into a life-defining moment that would become an enduring myth in his country. Study ...
09.19.2019 El tenor mexicano (The Mexican Tenor) Mexican tenor Javier Camarena discovered he wanted to sing Opera the first time he heard it. His passion for singing Opera lead him to test his strengths and determination over and over. Study materials and a transcript of this episode ...
09.12.2019 La reina del pelo bueno (The Queen of Good Hair) All her life, Cirle Tatis Ariza had been taught to think her curly hair was something to hide. But after years of harsh chemical treatments, Cirle learned to love her hair, and taught other women to do the same. Study ...

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