Costa Rica is a tropical paradise located between the Caribbean and Pacific oceans. From its white sand beaches to its lush rainforests, Costa Rica has something for everyone. In this episode of the podcast, we explore what makes Costa Rica such an incredible destination. We will learn about the country’s history, culture, and attractions that make it one of Central America’s most popular tourist destinations. Links: 042 - Pura Vida con Carlota Morales | Pure Life with Carlota Morales All countr...
Jan 03, 2023•39 min•Ep. 144
Start the year off with a routine that will help you stay focused and productive. In this episode, we explore how exercise, writing, reading, meditation, and affirmations can improve our productivity and self-esteem. And somehow, we manage to tie it all together to learning Spanish and accomplishing whatever you put your mind to. 😅 Let’s start the year off right together with successful routine to keep us on track to accomplish our goals. ¡Feliz Año Nuevo! Links: Mañanas milagrosas (Spanish Edi...
Dec 27, 2022•34 min•Ep. 143
La Rama is a traditional celebration that takes place throughout Mexico during the Christmas season. It is a festive event that usually occurs during the nine-day Posada processions, when villagers parade through their town singing villancicos and carrying a decorated branch. La Rama has been an important part of Mexican culture for centuries, representing joy and togetherness within communities. Learn how this unique tradition is celebrated in this episode. Links: 036 - Las Posadas Navideñas Me...
Dec 20, 2022•27 min•Ep. 142
In this episode of the podcast, we take a look at the importance of Spanish Christmas carols and some notable examples of these songs. By listening to popular carols such as "Campana sobre Campana" or "Los Peces en el Rio" you’ll not only pick up useful vocabulary but also gain insight into the history and culture of Spanish-speaking countries. Links: 036 - Las Posadas Navideñas Mexicanas | Mexican Christmas Parties 037 - Diferencias Navideñas entre México y EEUU | Christmas Differences Between ...
Dec 13, 2022•33 min•Ep. 141
Jo Franco is an entrepreneur, traveler, and polyglot. She's a first-generation immigrant from Brazil who has carved out a name for herself on social media in the travel, self-care, and language spaces. In this episode, Jo shares her story of how she has used language to create cultural bridges and navigate the world as someone who grow up surrounded by multiple cultures. She talks about how she has dealt with the conflicting emotions that come with being an immigrant, such as feeling disconnecte...
Dec 06, 2022•32 min•Ep. 140
Making mistakes is part of learning a new language. Often these errors include using the wrong verb tense, forgetting to use gender agreement, or translating a phrase literally. While these mistakes can be frustrating, they are also opportunities to learn and improve your language skills. With a little practice and patience, you can avoid making these common errors and become a more confident Spanish speaker. In this episode, we take another look at some of the most common errors Spanish student...
Nov 29, 2022•29 min•Ep. 139
If you want to fit in at a Mexican birthday party, there are a few things you need to know. One is the “mordida,” another is the piñata chant, and perhaps the most important is the traditional Mexican birthday song! In this episode, we share the lyrics and the meaning behind this unique song so that you can be prepared the next time you’re at a Mexican birthday party. Links: 018 - Tradiciones de los Cumpleaños en México | Birthday Traditions in Mexico 089 - El Curioso Origen de las Piñatas - The...
Nov 22, 2022•22 min•Ep. 138
Learning one new language is hard, but what about learning six? Does language learning get easier the more languages you learn? What’s the best way to learn quickly? In this episode, we sat down with interview Benny Lewis, world renowned polyglot and founder of Fluent in 3 Months, to find out. Links: Check out Benny’s blog, Fluent in 3 Months Visit Benny’s Facebook Page Follow Benny on Instagram @languagehacking @irlandesastre Listen to Benny’s “Language Hacking Podcast" Check out Benny’s book o...
Nov 15, 2022•30 min•Ep. 137
Hairless dogs aren’t often people’s first choice when adopting a new pet, but to the Aztecs, a curious breed of canine helped them cross into the underworld. In this episode, we explore the topic of the Xoloitzcuintle; the curious Mexican hairless dog breed with a fascinating history. Links: 028 - Día de Muertos: Lo Que Tienes Que Saber | Day of the Dead: What You Need to Know 135 - Día de Muertos: Respondemos tus Preguntas | Day of the Dead: We Answer Your Questions Level up your Spanish with o...
Nov 08, 2022•32 min•Ep. 136
Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday that’s often misunderstood. Every autumn, people around the world turn to the internet to ask if it’s Mexican Halloween, where it comes from, and how it’s celebrated. So in this episode, we decided to answer some of the most commonly searched for questions about this fascinating celebration. Correction @ 00:10:27 : se quedan toda la madrugada hasta el dos de noviembre* Links: 028 - Día de Muertos: Lo Que Tienes Que Saber | Day of the Dead: What You Need to Kn...
Nov 01, 2022•31 min•Ep. 135
Mexico is rich in pre-hispanic traditions that you can still experience to this day. One of our favorites is a beverage you can taste in Oaxaca called “tejate.” This delicious corn and cacao-based drink has been used to help energize people for hundreds of years. Find out more in this episode where we interview doña Lucrecia, maker of some of the best tejate in Oaxaca. Links: Drink Tejate with Doña Lucrecia on our Oaxaca Spanish Immersion Retreat 022 - Bebidas Tradicionales de Colima, México | T...
Oct 25, 2022•35 min•Ep. 134
Airbnb can be a breath of fresh air from hotels or an absolute nightmare. We should know. We’ve stayed in over sixty of them. In this episode, we share our worst experience with Airbnb yet. It’s a harrowing tale about a filthy house, an out-of-state landlord, and two vengeful admins. This is an experience no one should ever have to go through. Links: 088 - Pesadillas de Airbnb Parte 1 | Airbnb Nightmares Part 1 Get 25% Off Trusted Housesitters Level up your Spanish with our Podcast Membership Ge...
Oct 18, 2022•33 min•Ep. 133
It’s every Spanish students’ worst enemy: the dreaded subjunctive form. This beast of a grammatical concept is too big to fit in one episode, but you would do well to know about and practice some of its most common uses in every day conversation. In this episode, we cover ten or so of the most common phrases that use the subjective mood in Spanish. 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 break...
Oct 11, 2022•27 min•Ep. 132
For most, chocolate is a sweet made for enjoying as a dessert or in a candy. But for some communities in Oaxaca, it’s a cultural tradition passed down from generation to generation, where even the question “when are we going to drink chocolate” has a deeper meaning. Find out what cacao and chocolate means to Ervit from Chimalapa Cacao con Origin in this interview. Links: Drink chocolate with Ervit & Ruth on our Oaxaca Spanish Immersion Retreat Check out Chimalapa Cacao con Origin's Website F...
Oct 04, 2022•38 min•Ep. 131
Tacos, burritos, and guacamole - these are foods that everyone thinks of when they think of Mexican food. But Mexican cuisine goes much deeper than just tortillas and tomatoes. In this episode, we take a look at some of the Mexican dishes you’ve probably never heard of before. Links: 013 - La Comida Mexicana | Mexican Food 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...
Sep 27, 2022•31 min•Ep. 130
One of the funnest things about learning a new language is learning new words that don’t have an easy translation into English. In part three of our of our “Words in Spanish That Don’t Translate” series, we dive into even more uniquely Spanish vocabulary. Links: 117 - Palabras del Español que no Existen en Inglés Parte 1 | Words in Spanish That Don’t Exist in English Part 1 121 - Palabras del Español que no Existen en Inglés Parte 2 | Words in Spanish That Don’t Exist in English Part 2 Película:...
Sep 20, 2022•19 min•Ep. 129
Even if you’ve never been to Mexico before, you’ve probably still heard all about their giant sombreros, Cinco de Mayo, and the afternoon siesta… but how much of this is actually true? In this episode, we take a closer look at eight of the most common myths about Mexico. Links: 056 - Cinco de Mayo 075 - Sobre México | About Mexico 104 - ¡Al Chile! - Chilis: Straight to the Point Level up your Spanish with our Podcast Membership Get the full transcript of each episode so you don’t miss a word Lis...
Sep 13, 2022•29 min•Ep. 128
Ecuador really surprised us. It’s a country that seems to have a little bit of everything. Unique flora and fauna, food, culture, and history. It also has something else that most other countries do not… the equator! In this episode, we take a deeper dive into what really stood out to us about this incredible country. Links: 113 - Cómo nos Impactó Nicaragua | How Nicaragua Impacted Us 114 - Sobre Ecuador | About Ecuador 119 - Cosas Que Nos Gustan de Cuenca | Things We Like About Cuenca 124 - El ...
Sep 06, 2022•35 min•Ep. 127
Travel and migration can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, you can enrich yourself with unique experiences, pursue happiness abroad, and help the local economy by spending your limited resources in a new-to-you part of the world. On the other hand, too much tourism or immigration to a specific area can raise prices, pressuring the locals to move out, and dilute cultural elements that made the a place desirable to visit in the first place. This is a conversation that’s happening a lot right n...
Aug 30, 2022•29 min•Ep. 126
Travel doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, now it’s cheaper than ever... as long as you know how to take advantage of the these travel hacks. With our tips, you’ll learn everything from how to pay as little as $10/mo on cellphone service, how to fly for free, to how to pay little to nothing on accommodations. In this episode, we explore 10 unusual ways of saving money while traveling. Links: 061 - Como Planear Viajes Significativos | How to Plan Meaningful Trips 083 - Viaja Más por Menos | Tr...
Aug 23, 2022•41 min•Ep. 125
Ecuador is an incredibly beautiful and diverse country. During our time there, we learned a lot about what makes it special. Not only were the people warm and welcoming, but we learned quite a bit about the Ecuadorian way of speaking Spanish, including their sing-song tonality and unique slang. In this episode, we sat down with Kevin Maldonado from Free Walking Tours Cuenca to chat about Ecuadorian Spanish. Links: Get the interactive transcript of this episode for free Check out Free Walking Tou...
Aug 16, 2022•28 min•Ep. 124
Perhaps the most important rite of passage for women in Latin American countries is the Quinceañera. The time when a “girl becomes a woman” at the tender age of… 15. In this episode, we talk about where the tradition comes from, and whether they should bump the age back a few years. Links: 121 - Palabras del Español que no Existen en Inglés Parte 2 | Words in Spanish That Don’t Exist in English Part 2 018 - Tradiciones de los Cumpleaños en México | Birthday Traditions in Mexico 028 - Día de Muer...
Aug 09, 2022•31 min•Ep. 123
When we tell people we travel around the world full-time, they often assumed we’re loaded. But travel doesn’t need to be expensive. In fact, it can be even cheaper than living in one spot if you do it right. House sitting has been a major resource for us when it comes to visiting new countries. Not only has it allowed us to get to visit exotic countries around Latin America, it has also saved us thousands of dollars. In this episode, we share how you can do the same. Links: Get 25% Off Trusted H...
Aug 02, 2022•28 min•Ep. 122
We love taking a deeper look at differences in language, whether it’s comparing the accents of two different countries, or the words that one language has that another does not. In this episode, we take another look at some words that exist in Spanish that don’t have an exact single-word translation in English. Links: 117 - Palabras del Español que no Existen en Inglés Parte 1 | Words in Spanish That Don’t Exist in English Part 1 088 - Pesadillas de Airbnb Parte 1 | Airbnb Nightmares Part 1 Piña...
Jul 26, 2022•29 min•Ep. 121
Learning a language is more than just studying textbooks and grammar rules. At some point, you have to get out there and practice! Fred is a friend and student of ours who embodies this idea. He’s not afraid to get our of his comfort zone and practice his Spanish all over the world. And he’s done just that with us on our immersion retreats as well as with other Spanish schools in several different countries. Learn about his journey learning Spanish, the techniques he has used, and his mission to...
Jul 19, 2022•27 min•Ep. 120
Before we arrived in Cuenca, Ecuador, we didn’t really know what to expect. We had heard that it was a fairly popular expat destination, but that was about it. We weren’t expecting the beautiful rivers, clean walkways, excellent public transit, and variety of restaurants. It’s safe to say that this city is worth a visit, and for us, maybe even a place to live in the future. In this episode, we discuss some of our favorite things about Cuenca, Ecuador. Links: 080 - La Ciudad Más Bonita de México ...
Jul 12, 2022•25 min•Ep. 119
Mexican street food comes in many shapes, sizes, and degrees of spiciness. Sure, a lot of it has a corn base, a guiso , and salsa, but there’s much more to it than that. In this episode, we talk about some of the most popular Mexican street food - some of which may surprise you. Links: 084 - Los Mejores Tacos del Mundo | The Best Tacos in the World 043 - Tamales: Su Origen e Importancia | Tamales: Their Origin and Importance Candelaria in Oaxaca: Authentic Mexican Tamales Fresh From the Market (...
Jul 05, 2022•28 min•Ep. 118
One of the most beautiful things about learning a different language is discovering new words that don’t have an easy translation into English. Sometimes, one word in Spanish can translate into three or four words in our mother-tongue. In this episode, we’re sharing part one of some of of our favorite words in Spanish that don’t exist in English. 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 breakdo...
Jun 28, 2022•19 min•Ep. 117
Listening to real Spanish conversations is really one of the best ways to learn the language. That’s why we were thrilled to meet Alba and Joel, hosts of the podcast Conversations in Spanish and Other Languages. In this episode, we talked to Alba, who is from Spain, about working and teaching online, as well as learning and working through cultural and linguistic challenges. At the end of the interview, we share one of their podcast episodes about Alba’s breakfast routine in Spanish. We know you...
Jun 24, 2022•49 min•Ep. 116
Fathers around the world are known to say some typical “dad” things. But what do dads say to their kids in Mexico? In this episode, we’re celebrating Father’s Day by sharing seven common things Mexican dads say. ¡Feliz día del Padre! Happy Father’s Day! Links: 109 - 15 Frases de las Mamás Mexicanas | 15 Mexican Mom Phrases Get 25% Off Trusted Housesitters 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 break...
Jun 21, 2022•16 min•Ep. 115
