Do you love chocolate as much as we do (and if you don't, WHY)? Well, in that case, you might be curious as to how we ended up having this delicious sweet all across the world, on every continent. And yes, that includes Antarctica.


Born in the heart of Mesoamerica and originally consumed by the Olmecs, Mayas and Aztecs, cacao (the precursor of chocolate) was discovered by Spanish conquistadors, who decided to take this curious fruit back home with them, which soon led to an explosion of delicious new products.


But I'm done "spoiling" the episode here. You should check it out and unravel the history of cacao, chocolate, and the origin of one of the most delicious desserts you'll ever try, in this episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast!


Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1305

Have you ever seen flowers in the desert? One of the most curious climate phenomena worldwide is El Niño, which is the irregular warming of sea surface temperatures, which leads to a cascade of effects on weather patterns and ecosystems.


In this episode, we talk about what it involves, how it affects the lives of animals and human beings in Latin America, and what is being done to lessen its effects on people and nature.


Oh, and you'll also learn more about how and why this phenomenon occurs, and you'll find out why I asked you about flowers in the desert - so don't miss it!


Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1272

Welcome back to the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast, this time for a fourth season! We've returned with a pretty interesting episode about something that isn't talked about enough... Latin America's Space Race!


I bet you know the U.S., the EU, China, India and the Soviet Union (back in the day) had all built amazing missions to space, but Latin America doesn't often come to mind when discussing satellites and spaceflight.


That changes today. In this episode, we will tell you all about how governments in Latin America are starting to pay attention to the universe outside our planet, and using technology to bridge the gap between the Latin world and the immensity of space. So, buckle up and get your astronaut suit, we're lifting off with Season 4!

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1271

It's the final episode of Season 3, so let's admit it: we haven't been fair with Mexico during our podcast's lifetime. Yes, we've talked about the Aztecs, but we've also talked a lot about the border issues, El Chapo, and other negative circumstances in the beautiful country of "El Águila Real" (the Royal Eagle). But it's time to redeem ourselves.


In this special DUAL NARRATOR season finale, we meet Ana and Oliver, who join forces to discover the beauty, magic, and power that Mexico has in every street corner, every local restaurant, every beating heart...


And we give you a ton of reasons to visit this beautiful and magical nation of the Aztecs. Enjoy our season 3 finale of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast, and see you soon!


Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1270

Do you like tea? Sure, maybe. But have you ever tried (or seen someone else try) yerba mate? 

Mate goes beyond just a drink. It goes beyond the English tea time or that of other cultures. It's something which is almost... spiritual, you know?


Having started as a tradition among the Guarani people and then adopted by Spanish colonizers, this drink has spread across the world and is now seen consumed by European athletes, Hollywood artists, and even... U.S. presidents?!


The story behind mate is quite a fascinating and interesting one, and it's a story we dive into in our penultimate episode of the third season of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast! Enjoy the episode, and make sure to prepare your favorite drink before diving in!


Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1269

You know of the Panama Canal (we already talked about it in Season 1 if you didn't), but you probably had no idea that a second canal has been in plans for a very, very long time now - one that passes through Nicaragua (that's north of Panama).


But the delays haven't just been a problem of bureaucracy and budget... the canal would actually have to pass through a delicate natural reserve, where both humans and animals coexist, as well as a lake that certain endangered species call their home. All of this has caused great controversy.


And that doesn't even cover half of what has happened (or failed to happen) during the planning and proposed construction of this canal. Because even nuclear warheads (?!) have been considered, and yes, we're not kidding. Want to find out more? Check out this week's episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast!


Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1268

The Jesuits were a Catholic order that was founded in Europe, but which soon expanded to South America to spread the word of God - mainly to Paraguay.


However, they had a different way of evangelizing, which made them as interesting as it did controversial... hated, even. You see, the Jesuits didn't believe in forcing their beliefs on the local indigenous tribes or forcing conversion.


Instead, they integrated themselves into the indigenous beliefs and allowed the natives to express themselves, as long as they understood what Catholicism meant. This, and the fact that Jesuits believed in communal living, social justice, and a huge respect for the poor, led other branches of Catholicism (and even royal figures) to see them as dangerous Marxists who needed to be eliminated.


But this story has quite a few twists and turns before we get to the end - find out exactly what happened to the Jesuits in Latin America in this week's episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast!


Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1267

While not a country we hear about often these days, Nicaragua has gone through quite a turbulent history that has left it with long-lasting economic, political and social scars.


And leaving aside the subject of Daniel Ortega, current dictator of Nicaragua and one of the longest-lasting presidential terms in the world (with 26 interrupted years in power), Nicaragua's Sandinista revolution, in particular, brought massive transformation to the country, although with great controversy attached to it.


In this episode, we discover what exactly led to this revolution of the people, who the Somoza dynasty was and what they did to cause it, and why Nicaragua became the United States' biggest enemy for a period during the 1980s, culminating in a grand trial at the International Court of Justice.


Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1266

If you want to see historic sights everywhere you go, you go to Europe. But if you want to have fun, Latin America is the place to be.


Known as the land of dance, music, and smiles, Latin America just has "something else" that makes it a spicy and sweet combination of great food, fantastic nightlife, and quick friendships unlike any other. It's in the culture. It might even be in the genes, if we dug deeper (hmmm...)


But that's still too vague, right? How exactly is this culture of enjoyment expressed each day and night - is it through dancing reggaeton and salsa? Or cultural festivals? Art and museums? Perhaps it's a mix of feasting and drinking that is unrivaled anywhere in the world.


What if I told you that it's all of that and more? And that you're about to do a heck of a deep dive into discovering what makes Latin Americans tick - which will help you have even more fun once you get there.


So buckle up and enjoy this episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast... if you think about it, enjoyment is its middle name!


Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1233

There could be a war brewing in South America... and it's a conflict that has been a long time coming.


You see, Guyana and Venezuela have been fighting a silent battle for centuries over a large territory that makes up two-thirds of Guyana - the Essequibo. During the late 1800s, Venezuela lost this territory to a treaty signed by the United Kingdom and the United States, and things seemed to end there.


However, the recent discovery of oil deposits containing up to 700 million barrels of oil (worth close to $40 BILLION) and the potential existence of a secret CIA base in the area have rekindled the flames of conflict.


With Maduro's regime in Venezuela desperate for cash at any cost, could there be an escalation about to break out in the north of South America - and could this be the start of a new global conflict?


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/1232