Lightning – electrostatic discharges that light up the sky and crash down to the ground every single second across the world. Scientists have calculated the frequency of these flashes: up to 1.4 billion lightning discharges occur every year. But what if we told you that there is a place – a single location – where thousands of flashes occurred every night, with even 40 of them occurring in a single minute? This place truly exists and is known as “El Relámpago del Catatumbo” (The Catatumbo Lightning). As one of the most fascinating locations in the Latin world, it is time we told you more about it. Discover the Catatumbo Lightning in this episode of Learn Spanish with Stories!

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/623

Around the world – but especially in the United States, Spain and Venezuela - there are over 1 million Cubans who have left their country and been forced to start a new life. The Castro dictatorship, which has ruled Cuba since 1959, has forced most of these people into exile due to the complete lack of economic security, food and goods, and even basic human rights abuses that are witnessed on the island. In this episode, we discover more about the causes behind this massive exodus and what positive things it has brought.

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/611

Throughout history, we have witnessed terrible aircraft accidents and other horrific incidents that have cost the lives of hundreds. One of the most tragic plane crashes in Latin American history occurred on October 13, 1972, in which a plane filled with young rugby players and their families crashed in a remote location in the Andes mountain range. What followed was a tale of heroism and complete horror, as they were forced to challenge their bodies, minds and even spirits as they sought to survive against all odds.

Transcript of this episode can be found at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/610

Mexican cartels are among the most dangerous and destructive criminal organizations in the world. With their number of members numbering in the hundreds of thousands and their revenue reaching hundreds of billions per year, these drug trafficking syndicates operate from Mexico to the U.S., their presence expanding to the Caribbean, Europe, and even Asia. One of the most recognized cartel bosses in history has been El Chapo Guzmán, a man of small stature and humble origins who became one of the most powerful men in the world through his criminal activities. In this episode, we reveal his story.

Transcript of this episode can be found at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/607

A magical land that stretches at the southernmost expanses of land before Antarctica (even further south than Australia and New Zealand), the Argentine and Chilean territory of Patagonia is a fascinating region filled with mystery, snowy mountains and… penguins? Discover more about the “end of the world” in this episode of Learn Spanish with Stories!

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/603

There is a country in Central America, sitting between Nicaragua and Panama, which is known as nature’s paradise on Earth. Containing 6% of the planet’s biodiversity despite accounting for only 0.03% of its surface, this is the place to visit if you love animals and plants. In this episode, we learn just how incredible the beautiful land of “Pura Vida” can be.

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/597

The year 1982 saw a huge event occur in South American territory: The Falklands War. Taking place over ten chaotic weeks, this armed conflict saw Argentina and the United Kingdom fight a bloody war for the “Islas Malvinas”, a number of islands just off the Argentine shore which had been under British control since the 1800s. In this episode, we tell the tale of how this war came to occur, and reveal the final victor of this terrible encounter.

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/596

Possessing the most successful national football team in the world, Brazil is a master of the sport. With legends such as Pelé, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Neymar having lit up the world, it is no surprise that this country has won countless trophies. But why and how is Brazil so good? How do the youngsters in this nation – a nation with great economic inequality and social issues – become the best players the planet has ever seen? Discover more in this episode about Jogo Bonito or… “the beautiful game”.

Transcript of this episode available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/595

Venezuela’s crisis is well known across the world – over 5.5 million Venezuelans have left the nation since 2014, due to countless issues of food shortages, a lack of fuel for vehicles and government-sponsored repression against protests. In this episode, we talk precisely about one of the worst events in recent Venezuelan history: the protests of February 12, 2014. From a first-person perspective, you will learn exactly what occurred on this day; a tragic day of great sadness and loss that will never be forgotten.

Transcript of this episode is available at: podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/594

In the dense jungles of Colombia’s Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, there lies a mysterious “lost city”, which was hidden among the bushes, trees and forgotten trails for over 2,000 years. Home to mystical roads, ritualistic boulders and an immense stone staircase that had remained invisible for centuries until the 1970s, the story behind this enigmatic location will blow your mind.

Transcript of this episode is available at: podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/459