Learn Spanish with Stories

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 America was an important presence across all of its rounds.

In this Season 6 debut episode, we're revisiting the world's largest sports event that took place this summer, analyzing the biggest surprises, the most disappointing endings, and how Spain, the "Madre Patria", took home the trophy after an afternoon of dominance.

Welcome back to the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast. Enjoy the episode and make sure to subscribe!

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/6914

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 corruption or bad decisions? Could it even be... a cultural issue?

In this special DUAL NARRATOR episode and SEASON FINALE, two friends meet up to discuss how they would address the many issues that affect Latin America and, if possible, even fix the region forever. 

Will they be able to find the root of the problem? Find out in the Season 5 finale of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast!

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/5462

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 improvised festival which, unexpectedly, blew up and attracted 10x the crowds they had initially expected, and marked the beginning of a new age for rock music in Mexico. In fact, if you've ever listened to Mexican Rock (which we highly recommend, as they've produced some amazing bands), Avándaro could be cited as one of the greatest influences for its development across the decades. 

But how did Avándaro cause rock music to be banned? Why did the government and press make up crazy stories that never actually occurred here? And how did it all end up in a literal earthquake? Find out in the latest episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast, and enjoy! Rock on!

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/5429

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 ways.

But why did this happen, and how have social media and video platforms helped accelerate this shift? And why on Earth do people who have never set foot in Mexico actually say "wey"?

Find out this and other life-changing questions in our latest episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast - enjoy!

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/5396

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 had to stay home, as the situation was not only unpredictable but also highly volatile, with the cartel presence embedded deeply in each and every local community in one way or another.

But who was the leader whose death caused this all? This Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, AKA 'El Mencho'? Why did he command so much respect, and how high had he been not only on Mexico's but the global Most Wanted list? Today, we'll find out in the latest episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast!

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/5363

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 what's the story behind this singer, this "Conejo Malo" whose real name is Benito Antonio? It's about time somebody told the story behind his nickname, his origins, the timeline that took him from school notes to Super Bowl, and why he's now a global phenomenon.

And that's exactly what we're doing in this week's episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast - enjoy!

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/5330

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 used when looking north at the vastly superior technological development achieved in the United States, is an expression of the infamous frustrations toward everything that is wrong with Latin America and often blamed on the Spanish colonization: corruption, a lack of work ethic, mediocrity, violence...

So, in this episode, we actually go ahead and rewrite history - to tell the story of "What if" the British had been the ones to arrive on Caribbean and South American shores instead of the Spanish (actually, we've made Christopher Columbus a British sympathizer here, for the sake of simplicity) - and how that would have affected the entirety not only of the region, but of the world.

Enjoy the episode and don't forget - it's all playful fiction!

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/5297

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 wouldn't have its beloved tomatoes if not for the Aztecs and Andeans cultivating it; we would not be able to eat fried potatoes if not for Peru and Bolivia; and we have Mexico to thank for corn (which we enjoy in so many ways)!

But it isn't just food... it's language, culture, music, metals and other resources, and all of the incredible things that Latin America has shared with the rest of the globe. In this week's episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast, we discover what all of these things are, and how they came to influence the world.

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/5264

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, headed to New York aboard the USS Iwo Jima.

However, very few have wondered what it felt like for Venezuelans - who, either inside or outside the country, had to deal with the information blackout and the uncertainty that followed... Would this mean the liberation of their country, or would vengeance from Maduro's allies soon follow?

In this episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast, we explore both the events leading up to and the aftermath of Maduro's removal from a Venezuelan point of view and attempt to understand how people in the crisis-stricken feel today about this sudden and violent change in their daily lives. Enjoy!

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/5231

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 to the region's most dangerous neighborhoods (places commonly known as barrios or favelas, depending on the country), where being alert is the default status, and life is typically shorter.

These are places where poverty reigns, danger lurks around every corner, and nights are the moment for quiet reflection - and yet... the neighbors still somehow make their existence work, living relatively normal lives, and trying to work their way to a better life, like the rest of us. 

Let's take a glimpse at a more authentic side of life in Latin America, past the tourism and the rich neighborhoods...

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/5198