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 very strong "mestizo" presence (over 93%), making it one of the most homogeneous demographies in Latin America.

But who are the Guaraní, and what makes them so special - and more importantly, what does the future hold for this unique culture, language, and Paraguay as the world evolves? Find out the answers and gain more Spanish fluency in the latest episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast!


Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/4439

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 conditions (really, all they asked was "pay it later"), with Latin American governments siphoning it all up to modernize their nations and invest in the future... sadly, the prices of raw materials that these countries exported soon fell, and the Federal Reserve decided to raise interest rates.

Soon, leaders of these nations started to tremble, and when banks arrived to demand their money and the first of these countries simply said: "We can't pay", all hell broke loose. Find out how it happened and what happened next in this weeks¡ episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories Podcast!

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/4406

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 Liberals decided that enough was enough, and that they would not stand for the corruption and impoverishment committed by the Conservatives, and picked up their tools and makeshift weapons to fight.

A war that started small but soon lit up across the nation like wildfire, this horrible civil conflict destroyed homes, lands, and families. But who won, and why is this story so linked to the birth of Panama as a nation? 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/4341

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 for its citizens.

And while many of its ministers and politicians flock to social media to make claims on how well the country is doing, the youth of the country is questioning if it's worth it to continue living there, with 60% of the younger generation claiming that they don't think their lives will be better than their parents'.

In this episode, we do a deep dive on just what is holding Spain back and, ironically, what might gradually turn Spain into a European version of Latin America if they don't make the right fixes now.

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/4076

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 Spaniard looking to move to Colombia) as they spend a few months together and explore the next step of their lives and careers.

Is Latin America a place worth living in, or is it only good enough for a short vacation? Find out in this amazing season finale - enjoy!


Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/3482

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, Caracas, to study and become a veterinarian. But one day, she was kidnapped by a wealthy and well-connected individual who decided to make her his latest victim; what followed was months of pain and humiliation, and it would not end once she was rescued.

In this episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast, we discover the story of Linda Loaiza, a woman who went through some of the worst events possible to come out a stronger, determined individual who would go on to fight injustice for the rest of her life.


Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/3450

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 background noise, Rigoberta lost multiple family members in the terrible events of the 36-year Guatemalan Civil War, and knew that she had to speak up if nobody else would.

What followed was a journey of legend, as this woman broke each and every barrier, becoming unstoppable despite the opposition, and eventually leading her to become world-famous and recognized as a true freedom fighter. Discover her story in this week's episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast!

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/3317

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 the lyrics with magnifying glasses to ensure it wasn't "inciting violence"), but also because labels looked to fund more traditional Latin American music.

In this episode, we discover how exactly the top Latin American rock bands of all time managed to overcome these endless obstacles, carve their place as musical legends, and remain in the collective memory of global citizens forever. Rock on!


Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/3251