Catatumbo, The Endless Storm (Catatumbo, La Tormenta Sin Fin)

Bad Bunny, Karol G, and even Shakira in more recent years... If these names don't sound like anything to you, it's time to dust those earphones off and tune in to the most recent craze of Latin American music that has dominated the planet: reggaeton.


Originating in the Caribbean as a result of fusing traditional reggae and Jamaican dancehall, reggaeton has outgrown its forebears and become the strongest source of Latino culture across the world. In fact, it is enjoyed in anywhere from the smallest bar someplace in Puerto Rico to massive clubs in Tokyo, such has been its impact.


But what controversies does this music genre hold (including the objectification of women, and its relation to the criminal underground), and how exactly did we end up with Bad Bunny becoming one of the most famous musicians in the world (like seriously)?


Pop your dance shoes out - we'll find out in this week's very rhythmic, very entertaining episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast!


Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1194

You've probably wondered what's beyond the veil between life and death, and that's normal. But some people really want to take it beyond just wondering and actually discover what that is.


In the case of the two men we'll talk about today, a Spaniard doctor by the name of Pedro González de Velasco, and a German doctor named Gottfried Knoche, the line between life and death was not as defined as it would be for the rest of us.


Because, as we'll soon learn, these doctors didn't think that death necessarily ended with a human being's last breath, and that life could continue within their physical form. This led them both to perform interesting but controversial experiments with embalming, twisting both into fascinating but terrifying individuals.


In this episode, we'll go through the life of both these men, especially Knoche, and discover just what it was that made him turn the "Hacienda Buena Vista" into Venezuela's own "House of the Dead"...


Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1193

Latin America might be the most diverse region on the planet - after all, it is home to over 660 million people from countless origins, including Spanish, Pre-Columbian, British, Portuguese, African, Indian, Japanese, and more - so it would be fair to say that racism doesn't really exist there... Right?


Wrong! Unfortunately, even this incredibly multicultural region of so many skin colors and ethnic background has not been saved from discrimination, and it usually comes as  a result of the scars left by colonization. Even now, citizens with "European" features are often held in a higher socioeconomic regard than those with more "native" looks.


And that doesn't begin to cover the blatant inequality that affects hundreds of tribes across Central and South America, as even national governments have regularly disrespected the rights of ancient peoples, in an attempt to take their land and resources.


But what is being done against this? And can we see an end to the inequality still existent in this beautiful region? 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/1192

While many of them are cute and fluffy, we've come to learn that some animals out there are VERY dangerous. Latin America is one such place which - though not as "everything is out to get you" as Australia, is still home to venomous snakes, ravenous piranhas, skull-breaking jaguars, and more.


In this region of great beauty and a fascinating variety of creatures, you're bound to be safe, until... you're not. So, to help you keep yourself careful out there while on your Latin American adventures, we've dedicated an entire episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast to helping you identify these deadly creatures.

Enjoy, and stay safe - we'll need you healthy if you want to keep listening to our podcast!

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1191

¡Azúcar! - Whenever you hear this cry, you just know some amazingly good Salsa music is about to begin, as Celia Cruz's voice is moments away from hitting your headphones. And what a character she was, with her flashy hairstyles and extravagant clothing style, her wide smile and powerful voice.


But what was her story, before all the fame? How did a young, female Cuban singer with no industry connections end up becoming the Salsa legend? It had a lot to do with her determination and grit. 


It also had a lot to do that she had not only a husband, but the lifelong partner who she claimed "I did the music, he did everything else". This romantic story became Celia's signature and spoke of how deeply she and Pedro loved and wished to see each other grow.


But anyway, I'll leave the rest of her story for you to discover - all while learning Spanish! Enjoy!


Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1190

Hidden in the Andes mountain range for close to 400 years, Peru's Machu Picchu has long been an incredibly famous South American tourist destination. After all, it's wonderful location, beautiful views and the advanced technology with which it was created (how were those rocks even transported up there?!) make it unique not only in Latin America, but the world.


But was it just a temple for the Sun god, Inti, or was it something more? After all, there is evidence that leads scientists to believe that not only nobles and priests lived up there but also peasants, who shared its steep streets and paths with a common belief in their deity.


Furthermore, the mystery of its purpose is nowhere near as big as the mystery behind its disappearance into history. After all, Machu Picchu was abandoned long before the Inca Empire disappeared, meaning that something great (and perhaps terrible) took place there that forced its inhabitants to flee.


Want to find out more about that might have been, and get some answers surrounding the Citadel in the Clouds? 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/1189

Move aside, the Himalayas. The Andes might not have the highest peaks in the world, but it's actually the most extensive mountain range on our planet, encompassing 7,242 kilometers and stretching across SEVEN different nations. It's South America's pride.


But what's so special about the Andes, and what type of terrain, flora, and fauna can you expect to find there? Oh, and why was it so important for human civilization, who not only lived there but turned it into the birthplace of great empires?


In this episode, we climb Latin America's highest peaks and ascend to the very sky above this wonderful region to look down upon the magnificent Andes mountain range and uncover its mysteries. Enjoy!


Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1188

Eva 'Evita' Perón, a woman who caused so much amazement and admiration over the decades that even Madonna, the Queen of Pop, begged to play her in a film. A young woman who, despite growing into the wealth of Argentine politics, actually came from a poor background and knew what it meant to be hungry.


The wife of controversial president, Juan Domingo Perón, Evita was a radically contrasting figure. On the one hand, she mingled with the poor and brought women's rights forward a few decades...


On the other, she and her husband were supporters of fascism across the world, including figures such as Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler.


But we'll let you conclude as to how you feel about her, because nobody (not even the greatest humans of all time) are either "good" or "bad".


Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1187

Do you love soccer? Argentinians do, that's for sure. Their two top teams - Boca Juniors and River Plate - are actually among the fiercest rivals in world soccer, and have seen some of the most amazing encounters that Latin American football has to offer.


In this fantastic DUAL episode, we find Lucas and Paula getting ready to enter this year's Superclásico - that is, the duel between these two legendary teams. Having a bit of time to spare before the match, they decide to share a bit of competitive banter while remembering their teams' amazing feats and deciding on which one is best!


So, it's time for you to dive into the magic, tragedy, glories, and failures at the pinnacle of Argentine football. Enjoy this week's episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast!


Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1186

Sometimes, waiting for law enforcement to help is not enough, especially if the local police are involved in the crime you expect them to solve. Such was the belief of a brave mother named Miriam Rodriguez, who in January of 2014, realized that nobody was going to help her get her daughter back after she was kidnapped.


This woman, one of the bravest we've ever heard of, decided to take justice into her hands and commence both an investigation and manhunt like no other. She would go after every kidnapper involved in her daughter's crime and put them behind bars.


This would raise alarm bells among the criminals and cartels, but Miriam admitted it herself: "I'm going to take down the people who kidnapped my daughter, and then they can do what they want with me." 


...Find out how this heroic story ends in the newest epic episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast.


Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1185