There could be a war brewing in South America... and it's a conflict that has been a long time coming. You see, Guyana and Venezuela have been fighting a silent battle for centuries over a large territory that makes up two-thirds of Guyana - the Essequibo. During the late 1800s, Venezuela lost this territory to a treaty signed by the United Kingdom and the United States, and things seemed to end there. However, the recent discovery of oil deposits containing up to 700 million barrels of oil (worth close to $40 BILLION) and the potential existence of a secret CIA base in the area have rekin ..read more

Love him or hate him, it is clear that Javier Milei has rapidly made himself quite a controversial figure in global politics. Carrying a message that is unique and very different from traditional South American politicians, Milei has vowed to reduce the "parasitic" state in his country. But his appearance may be ideal for the nation, and his recent victory as President of Argentina is a sign that the people of Argentina are tired of the old, stagnant systems of Peronism and Kirchnerism, that kept the country poor and corruption at its worst. Still, what has made Milei such an interesting a ..read more

Believe it or not, there are communities of people out there who have never been contacted: they've only ever seen a handful of outsiders in their lifetimes, never been on the internet, driven a car (or bicycle) and are still several centuries behind us in terms of technological advancement. It sure is hard to imagine, right? But in fact, that are several communities in South America that are so remote and separated from civilization that they have managed to maintain their ancient traditions and form of living for many centuries now, and who want to keep it that way. It's a fascinating ph ..read more

What will Latin America look like in 2040? It's a question that many experts and onlookers have been asking for a while now. With climate change, socioeconomic equality and the security of the region having become such important subjects in recent decades, one must wonder if the nation comprising Latin America are ready to face them. This is why two experts, Laura and Rafael, have united to create a new global initiative that will bring Latin America forward several decades and get the wheels of progress turning. In this special DUAL episode, we touch upon a story of two visionaries who jo ..read more

We often talk about the "discovery of America" when we speak of Columbus and the Spanish. But they didn't really discover America. Think about it: they only came across a continent that was already populated. So the real question would be: how did the first natives in North and South America come to "discover" this land? After all, science has found that humanity originated very far away from the American continent and that these inhabitants are relatively recent compared to those in Africa, Europe, and Asia. Is there a simple answer to this question? And, besides that, what peoples lived ..read more

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 co ..read more

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 physi ..read more

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 ..read more

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 identif ..read more

¡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 ..read more