Dictatorship in Venezuela, The Country without a Future (Dictadura en Venezuela, El País que se Quedó sin Futuro)
Today's episode is different. And it's different not because it's a true story (because we always feature those on our podcast), but because your narrator, Anthony, went through the events expressed in the tale.This is the reality of how Venezuela collapsed, of what led 7 million people to flee the country and seek a better life elsewhere. It's an account of how any average family (in this case, a family that supported the government at its beginning) lost all its net worth and soon struggled to combat starvation.This is the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast, where we help you learn Spanish while showing you the reality of life in Latin America (both good and bad). So let's dive in, and we hope it helps you understand why so many Venezuelans are now spread across the globe. Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/3086
--------
34:12
Blood, Sweat, and Silver, Latin America's Resources (Sangre, Sudor y Plata, Recursos de Latinoamérica)
The lithium in your phone's battery, maybe the device you're using to read this - it may probably have come from Chile, and the copper in the wires of your charger may have come from Peru... Latin America is and has always been one of the main provider of precious metals in the world.And this didn't begin with the Spanish and Portuguese colonization, either... the natives had been mining long before the arrivals of Europeans, and knew how to keep these operations sustainable (something we struggle with today). However, when these outsiders arrived, production took the main stage, and millions of tons were extracted and taken from the Americas to Europe.But returning to the present: how does Latin America help keep the world running with its resources, and what is the story behind this? Let's dive in, in this week's episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast!Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/3020
--------
34:38
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
--------
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
--------
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
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.
South Africa