This week Jim and May take on a topic that isn’t discussed enough - the long, stressful road to American citizenship! Join them as they reveal the beginning half of their journey, from May, getting tourist visas and eventually her green card in 2013, to just a few weeks ago when they finally sent in the paperwork to apply for full citizenship. Find out why Ciudad Juarez is so important to this particular process, and who had to sign papers for May to represent her as a potential caretaker in cas...
Apr 27, 2021•36 min•Ep. 55
At last, it’s been 10 years since Jim and May met in Mexico for the first time. They reminisce on how far they’ve come and also offer advice to couples on a similar path. Learn about how they met online, their marriage story, and getting “lost in translation” when meeting each other’s families in the beginning. If you are in a similar situation with your partner, it could help to hear about their journey. Check out the episode to hear more! Links: 033 - Getting to Know Veracruz with No Hay Tos L...
Apr 20, 2021•34 min•Ep. 54
Meet Olly Richards, polyglot and founder of the StoryLearning method. Olly, who is originally from England, explains that his path as a polyglot began when he was 19 with French as his second language. Jim and May pose the question of the psychological fears surrounding adults and language learning, while Olly shares his opinions on how kids actually learn vs what he considers a myth. Check out his “I Will Teach You a Language” platform - website, YouTube channel, podcast. Just another gentle re...
Apr 13, 2021•31 min•Ep. 53
Wow! It’s been a whole year since the team started this podcast journey! This week we simply take a step back to review the process. Jim and May reflect on the top 5 most popular episodes over the last year. It’s like a little blast from the past. Tune in for little snippets of the episodes, while Jim and May chat about what each episode meant to them. Links: Ep. 003 - Magic Towns of Mexico Ep. 010 - Mexican Spanish vs Spain Spanish with Notes in Spanish Ep. 036 - Mexican Christmas Parties Ep. 0...
Apr 06, 2021•40 min•Ep. 52
This week we discuss the life and success of Selena Quintanilla, the Mexican-American singer and probably one of the biggest Latina stars ever! She met a tragic fate in 1995 at the age of 23, but she managed to garner an incredible amount of fame before that. Her path is an interesting one partly because growing up in Texas, being Mexican-American made her occupy a unique space. Learn all about her journey and also the facts of how someone close to her ultimately ended her life. Links: 049 - Mex...
Mar 30, 2021•36 min•Ep. 51
Get ready to learn 9 of the most common mistakes that students make when they are learning Spanish. Maybe you're making them too? In English, sometimes we use certain verbs interchangeably, but it doesn't always work the same in Spanish. Jim points out how patient May has been while helping him on his Spanish journey since he used to make a lot of these mistakes all the time, but she confirms that if you're making mistakes, then you're learning. Not only do they review these mistakes, but they a...
Mar 23, 2021•36 min•Ep. 50
As March is Women's History Month, it's only right that we highlight some pretty badass women's achievements, both in the past and in the current moment. Most of us know about Frida Kahlo, Salma Hayek, and maybe even Kate del Castillo, but Jim and May share their list of 5 Mexican women that you need to know. Links: Level up your Spanish with our Podcast Membership Get the full transcript of each episode so you don’t miss a word Listen to an extended breakdown section in English going over the m...
Mar 16, 2021•29 min•Ep. 49
Tune in this week as Jared and Diana from Speaking Latino joins Jim and May to chat about their Spanish learning resources for Spanish students and teachers alike. One of their biggest hits is a work called "Speaking Boricua," which is all about Puerto Rican Spanish. In the episode, both parties remark about how Puerto Rican Spanish is full of African influence, how the letter "R" becomes an "L" a lot of the time, and why Spanglish is such a big deal in everyday life. Jared and Diana give their ...
Mar 09, 2021•32 min•Ep. 48
This week, Jim and May catch everyone up with their personal experiences traveling during the pandemic and compare the different cities they’ve visited during this difficult time. Get an idea of how Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the US, differ from each other when it comes to handling the pandemic. Also, listen for a few tips for those eager travelers who plan on catching flights soon. Travel responsibly! Links: Trapped Abroad in Guatemala Video Safest Place to Be in the US Right Now? Live Stream Ep....
Mar 02, 2021•34 min•Ep. 47
“Help! I’m studying Spanish, but I can’t understand native speakers when they ask me something!” or the classic, “I don’t have anyone to practice with!” Don’t worry, we’ve all been there. Learning to have a natural conversation is probably the hardest part of learning a language. What the process is really about is finding a balance between genuinely advancing your target language vocabulary (and grammar too of course!) and allowing your brain to do its job. A lot of communication is subconsciou...
Feb 23, 2021•31 min•Ep. 46
We started off this week with Valentine’s Day, or “El Día del Amor y la Amistad” in Mexico. Of course, most of us are familiar with celebrating love on this day with gifts or romantic gestures, but how did Valentine’s day come to be? Jim and May run down the list of stories surrounding the origin of Valentine’s Day. Links: Level up your Spanish with our Podcast Membership Get the full transcript of each episode so you don’t miss a word Listen to an extended breakdown section in English going ove...
Feb 16, 2021•26 min•Ep. 45
Where do we find the motivation to do things we want to accomplish in life? How do we stay consistent in order to reach our goals? Jim and May give advice about how to overcome the mental blocks that everyone has. Links: Forbes: The Science Behind Motivation Sign up for our newsletter for motivation, tips, reviews, and more Level up your Spanish with our Podcast Membership Get the full transcript of each episode so you don’t miss a word Listen to an extended breakdown section in English going ov...
Feb 09, 2021•27 min•Ep. 44
Out of the foods that we know and cherish today, how many do we actually know the origins of? Take tamales for example - they are so important to Latin American gastronomy, especially in Mexico. But where did they come from? When were they first introduced to society? Learn about the history and importance of this traditional food in this episode! Links: Episode 039 - Día de Reyes Day of the Dead in Michoacán Video Level up your Spanish with our Podcast Membership Get the full transcript of each...
Feb 02, 2021•36 min•Ep. 43
Join Jim and May as they chat with Carlota Morales, a Tica who breaks down everything you need to know about her country - from ecotourism and typical food, to what makes Costa Rican Spanish so different from other Spanish-speaking countries. If you’ve never been to Costa Rica, you’ll definitely add it to your bucket list by the end of the episode! Links: Planeterra Worldpackers Niños de Guatemala Carlota’s Instagram Level up your Spanish with our Podcast Membership Get the full transcript of ea...
Jan 26, 2021•47 min•Ep. 42
Are you having a hard time expressing yourself in Spanish? Do you get nervous or feel embarrassed about having to speak the language? Have you struggled to find a way to use your Spanish in a real context? Don’t worry, these are common concerns of most people learning a second language and in this week’s episode, Jim and May share their 5 tips to success when it comes to achieving Spanish fluency. Links: Special promotion for the new Podcast Membership Plus! Episode 040 - Políglota Después de lo...
Jan 19, 2021•30 min•Ep. 41
Learning multiple languages when you’re young is hard enough, but can you imagine at 70? In this episode, Jim and May interview Steve Kaufmann, linguist, polyglot, and co-founder of LingQ, a platform designed to expand your language skills. Links: Check out LingQ LingoSteve - Steve Kaufmann’s YouTube Channel Level up your Spanish with our Podcast Membership Get the full transcript of each episode so you don’t miss a word Listen to an extended breakdown section in English going over the most impo...
Jan 12, 2021•35 min•Ep. 40
January 6th pretty much wraps up the holiday season in most Spanish-speaking countries with Día de Reyes , or Three Kings’ Day. It’s a holiday that’s an important part of Mexican culture, showing us how important religion, tradition, and family are to so many across the country. Links: More about Día de Reyes Ep. 038 - Christmas Differences Between Mexico and the US Level up your Spanish with our Podcast Membership Get the full transcript of each episode so you don’t miss a word Listen to an ext...
Jan 05, 2021•27 min•Ep. 39
Got any New Year’s resolutions, anyone? Maybe getting back into the gym, taking that trip you’ve always wanted, or even starting a business? People bring in the new year differently all over the world, but the one thing most countries have in common is making New Year’s resolutions. Jim and May chat about different traditions that people have and compare how they celebrated the holiday growing up. Links: Atomic Habits by James Clear The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg Spanish and Go New Year’s ...
Dec 29, 2020•38 min•Ep. 38
Christmas is finally here after a very long year. Ever wonder how people in Mexico celebrate the holidays? Jim and May compare their own holiday traditions growing up. After listening to the episode, can you name any more differences? How does your personal experience compare? Links: Christmas in Mexico vs US video Podcast Episode 036 - Las Posadas Navideñas Mexicanas Level up your Spanish with our Podcast Membership Get the full transcript of each episode so you don’t miss a word Listen to an e...
Dec 22, 2020•36 min•Ep. 37
Around Christmastime in Mexico, you’ll start to hear a lot about “ las posadas navideñas” - all the little Christmas parties leading up to Christmas Eve. Learn about these Mexican Christmas parties and how they’re celebrated in this episode. Links: Día de Reyes Video Pedir Posadas song La Guadalupana song Episode 022 - Traditional Drinks of Colima, Mexico Episode 018 - Birthday Traditions in Mexico Level up your Spanish with our Podcast Membership Get the full transcript of each episode so you d...
Dec 15, 2020•25 min•Ep. 36
Meet Ana and David, creators of How to Spanish. Originally from Mexico City, they have a podcast and two YouTube channels, all focusing on improving your Spanish-speaking skills. Jim and May chat with them this week about online entrepreneurship in their experience, and what it's like to be an entrepreneur in Mexico. Links: How to Spanish Podcast Website How to Spanish Podcast YouTube Channel How to Spanish TV YouTube Channel How to Spanish Patreon Level up your Spanish with our Podcast Membersh...
Dec 08, 2020•32 min•Ep. 35
For all the history buffs out there, we have a fascinating topic this week: The Mexican Revolution. Jim and May dive into the reasons behind the movement and the prominent figures like Porfirio Diaz, Francisco I. Madero, and Pancho Villa. Links: Sign up for the Lingoda Sprint here! Get $11 off your deposit with code WIN22 Read the rules before signing up! Mexican Independence Podcast Episode 023 Level up your Spanish with our Podcast Membership Get the full transcript of each episode so you don’...
Dec 01, 2020•36 min•Ep. 34
This week Jim and May chat with Héctor and Beto from No Hay Tos about the Mexican state of Veracruz. Links: “Mi Tierra Veracruzana” by Natalia Lafourcade No Hay Tos Podcast Website No Hay Tos Youtube Channel No Hay Tos Patreon Level up your Spanish with our Podcast Membership Get the full transcript of each episode so you don’t miss a word Listen to an extended breakdown section in English going over the most important words and phrases Test your comprehension with a multiple choice quiz Thank y...
Nov 24, 2020•39 min•Ep. 33
Where does the word gringo come from? Is it offensive? Learn about six popular theories about the origins of the word “gringo.” Which one do you think is true? Links: “Green Grow the Rushes” Song “Green Grow the Lilacs” Song Level up your Spanish with our Podcast Membership Get the full transcript of each episode so you don’t miss a word Listen to an extended breakdown section in English going over the most important words and phrases Test your comprehension with a multiple choice quiz Thank you...
Nov 17, 2020•33 min•Ep. 32
In this episode, Jim and May share what their motto means to them, and why they created Spanish and Go. The process of anything can be beautiful and sometimes people lose sight of that because they’re focused on racing towards the end goal - the destination. Learn to appreciate the journey. It's ultimately what matters most. Links: Spanish and Go Youtube Channel Immersion Retreats with Spanish and Go Level up your Spanish with our Podcast Membership Get the full transcript of each episode so you...
Nov 10, 2020•29 min•Ep. 31
Did you know that there’s a country in Africa where Spanish is the official language? Learn all about Equatorial Guinea in this week’s episode featuring YouTuber and Equatoguinean, Monanga Bueneke. Links: Monanga Bueneke’s YouTube Channel La Finca de Sampaka Video Level up your Spanish with our Podcast Membership Get the full transcript of each episode so you don’t miss a word Listen to an extended breakdown section in English going over the most important words and phrases Test your comprehensi...
Nov 03, 2020•36 min•Ep. 30
One symbol you can see a lot in Mexico around this time of year is the skull. But death is not the only meaning behind it. Learn about the history and origins of the famous Mexican sugar skulls in this week's episode. Links: Episode 28 - Día de Muertos Day of the Dead Video Mexico City’s Historic District: Centro Histórico Level up your Spanish with our Podcast Membership Get the full transcript of each episode so you don’t miss a word Listen to an extended breakdown section in English going ove...
Oct 27, 2020•28 min•Ep. 29
El Día de Muertos is celebrated across Mexico on November 2nd. It is believed that around this time, the veil between this world and the spirit world is thinner. Jim and May talk about the significance of the holiday in Mexico and how it’s celebrated. There’s more depth to this holiday than a lot of people realize, so check out the episode to learn a little more! Links: Day of the Dead Video Level up your Spanish with our Podcast Membership Get the full transcript of each episode so you don’t mi...
Oct 20, 2020•33 min•Ep. 28
Have you heard of telenovelas? They’re similar to soap operas, but with a couple of key differences. Of course, there are crazy plot twists, unrealistic romances, and unexpected drama. But this week, Jim and May go deeper and chat about the origins of these shows and their impact on Latin culture today. Links: List of Telenovelas on Netflix Level up your Spanish with our Podcast Membership Get the full transcript of each episode so you don’t miss a word Listen to an extended breakdown section in...
Oct 13, 2020•33 min•Ep. 27
Moving to another country is something that not nearly enough people get to experience in their lifetime. Jim and May explore some of the pros and cons of living in another country in this week’s episode. They have lived in the US together, and now Puerto Rico, with substantial time in between traveling throughout Mexico. After hearing their experience, hopefully, you can try it out for yourself in the future. Vale la pena. Where would you go? Or, if you already live abroad, can you relate? Link...
Oct 06, 2020•35 min•Ep. 26
