Legends of Latin America, the Journey of Quetzalcoatl (Leyendas de Latinoamérica, el Viaje de Quetzalcóatl)
The gods of ancient Latin American belief were very interesting and different from what we have to come to know in Asia, Europe, and North America... they were somewhat more human, said to walk among us when they felt like it, and collaborated closely with animals and nature to make things occur.Quetzalcóatl, the Feathered Serpent, is one such example, perhaps the greatest of them all... disguised as a noble but aging traveler, he walked among men and taught them the marvels of science and engineering, until he was targeted by Tezcatlipoca, the god of conflict. Today, we tell their stories.And the coolest thing about this episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast? It's not just about what was going on in Mesoamerica, but also what was happening in the Inca Empire, when Inti (the Sun) and Mama Quilla (the Moon), made their appearance and began to influence life itself. Check it out and enjoy!Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/2888
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33:08
Retiring in Latin America, a Dream Retreat? (Jubilación en Latinoamérica, ¿Retiro Soñado?)
Retiring in Latin America as a foreigner = 👍Retiring in Latin America as a Latin American = ☠️Let's face it - when you think of the Caribbean, Brazilian beaches, the Angel Falls in Venezuela, Mexican resorts and Argentine plains, there's a feeling of relief and joy that you can spend your final years just exploring the land and living for cheap.But what does it look like for a native, and how they survive while receiving a pension that is probably 30% (on average) of what they used to earn while working? In this episode, we find out more first-hand from Juan, a new retiree who, after doing his initial paperwork, has just found out the sad reality of being a native retiree in Latin America. Enjoy this week's episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast!Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/2756
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28:41
José Rizal, An Unarmed Hero (José Rizal, Un Héroe Sin Armas)
There is a Filipino hero who, despite raising his voice and an entire nation against the Spanish colonizers, is so respected globally that he has his own monument in the center of Madrid, Spain's capital.His name is José Rizal - but what's the story behind this incredible figure, who, unlike Simón Bolívar or José de Martín (among others), never raised his arms against the Spanish and instead led with beautiful words, such as: "Justice is the foremost virtue of the civilizing races. It subdues the barbarous nations, while injustice arouses the weakest".And what spark did Rizal light that eventually led him to his untimely and premature end at the hands of a Spanish firing squad? Find out in this week's episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast!Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/2723
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30:31
Left vs. Right, The Battle for Latin America (Izquierda vs. Derecha, La Batalla por Latinoamérica)
If you think only North American politics get crazy around, before or after election season, then you're very mistaken: Latin America has a serious problem with political polarization. And the worst part, frankly (as a Latin American myself), is that both sides are very poor at doing their job.Because sadly, both the left and the right wing of politics have failed to follow through with their promises, and have let their voters down, every single time. Whether it's the left giving away money until nations plummet into crisis and dictatorships like Maduro and Ortega come into power...Or the right wing actually going out and hunting people because they supported the other side - committing atrocities that we also covered extensively in the Operation Condor episode - Latin America's politics need a real fix. If you want to learn more, then listen to this week's special DUAL NARRATOR episode, where two friends decide to debate on which side is worse:Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/2690
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31:51
Should Spain Apologize to Latin America? (¿Debería España Pedir Perdón a América Latina?)
"Spain should ask for forgiveness" - these were the words of Mexico's new president, Claudia Sheinbaum, shortly after being elected. She took it a step further and decided not to invite Spain's King Felipe VI after he failed to respond, and this initiated a grand debate: should Spain apologize for what their ancestors did 500 years ago?Some claim it is a fair demand by a number of Latin American groups, while others believe it to be excessive - after all, who from today was alive back then? - but everybody has their own opinion.In this week's episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast, we follow a young man named Armando, as he explores this subject and digs deep into what Latin Americans and Spaniards really think about colonization and the consequences it has had until this day. Enjoy the episode!Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/2591
Learn Spanish with Stories is the number one podcast for upper beginner to intermediate Spanish learners. The main objective of this podcast is to give students fun and interesting stories from Latin America to help students with Spanish immersion. You can read while you listen if you head over to podcast.lingomastery.com to find the transcript.
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