Intermediate Spanish Stories
Intermediate Spanish Stories is a podcast designed for Spanish language learners at levels A2 to C2. It features stories spoken at a slower pace in Mexican Spanish to improve listening comprehension and vocabulary. Each episode covers various topics without grammar lessons, and free transcripts are available on the website. Listeners can suggest stories or topics via email.
Episodios
E81 La Fuga de Alcatraz
On June 11, 1962, inmates Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin staged an ingenious breakout from Alcatraz. The trio famously placed plaster and paint dummy heads in their beds, crawled through ventilation ducts, and used a makeshift raft to paddle into the frigid, fast-moving waters of San Francisco Bay. Their ultimate fate remains one of history’s greatest unsolved mysteries: The Es
E80 La Operación Chavín de Huántar
On December 17, 1996, 14 heavily armed MRTA militants stormed a diplomatic reception at the Japanese ambassador's residence in the San Isidro district of Lima, Peru. They initially took hundreds of captives. Over four months, the rebels gradually released most hostages but retained 72 high-ranking diplomats, military officials, and politicians. The guerrillas demanded the release of jailed MR
E79 Atrapados en la Obscuridad - El Incendio de Utopia
On July 20, 2002, a catastrophic fire occurred at the Utopía discotheque in Lima, Peru, resulting in the deaths of 29 people and injuring dozens more. The tragedy is remembered as one of the most significant safety failures in recent Peruvian history.Cause of the Fire: The blaze began around 3:15 a.m. during a "Zoo" themed party. A bartender performing a fire-juggling or fire-eating act
E78 El Oro Negro de Venezuela: Riqueza, Poder y Colapso
Venezuela has the largest proven oil reserves in the world, exceeding those of Saudi Arabia. In the 1970s, the country was extremely wealthy because of its oil industry and was often called “Saudi Venezuela.” After the oil industry was nationalized in 1976, the state company PDVSA, Petróleos de Venezuela, Sociedad Anónima, became one of the most powerful energy corporations in the world.However, p
E77 Las Islas Malvinas: Guerra y Solidaridad
The Falkland Islands War (April 2–June 14, 1982) was a 74-day undeclared conflict between Argentina and the United Kingdom over sovereignty of the South Atlantic islands. Following Argentina's invasion on April 2, a British task force reclaimed the territory, resulting in 649 Argentine and 255 British military deaths.Argentina (referring to them as Islas Malvinas) claimed the islands, while B
E76 La Tragica Historia de Omayra Sanchez
Omayra Sánchez was a 13-year-old girl who was tragically trapped for almost three days under the debris of her home after the 1985 eruption of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano in Colombia. Despite rescue efforts and media coverage, her legs were hopelessly pinned, and rescue workers could not reach her with the necessary equipment to free her without amputating her legs. After approximately 60 hours, s
E75 Mamíferos Marinos en Cautiverio: Entre la Conservación y la Controversia.
The captivity of marine mammals such as orcas, dolphins, sea lions, and belugas has been the subject of intense debate in recent decades. Although initially justified on the grounds of education, conservation, and entertainment, multiple scientific studies have demonstrated that confining these species generates profound negative consequences. These effects are not limited to the individual well-b
E74 La Santa Inquisición en la Nueva España - El Horror de la Hoguera
The Holy Inquisition was established in 1478 in Spain and later expanded to its colonies, including New Spain in the Americas under the protection of the Spanish Crown and the Catholic Church .Its primary goal was to enforce religious conformity and combat heresy, and it exercised strong ideological and religious control for almost 300 years.In its quest to preserve Catholic orthodoxy, it persecu
E73 El Tren de Hierro, Un Monstruo en Fuga
On May 12, 1989, at 7:36 a.m., a freight train from the Southern Pacific, transporting trona, lost control while descending Cajon Pass, derailed catastrophically on an elevated curve, and plowed into a residential area on Duffy Street, a quiet residential street in San Bernardino, California.The accident was devastating; the lead locomotives and all freight cars were destroyed. The conductor, head
E72 El Condor Pasa
The California Condor, an awe-inspiring bird, holds a unique place in both ecological and cultural spheres. Its story of survival against formidable odds is a testament to the resilience and efforts of conservationists worldwide. In the 1980s, the California Condor was perilously near extinction, with only 22 birds remaining in the wild. This dire situation prompted urgent action from conservation
E71 El Desastre de la Presa de St. Francis
The St. Francis Dam, or the San Francisquito Dam, was a concrete gravity dam located in San Francisquito Canyon in northern Los Angeles County, California, United States, that was built between 1924 and 1926. The dam failed catastrophically in 1928, killing at least 431 people in the subsequent flood, in what is considered to have been one of the worst American civil engineering disasters of the 2
E70 El Incendio de Pacific Palisades
January 2025 will forever be etched in the memories of Los Angeles residents due to the devastating fires that swept through Palisades and Eaton. These tragic events not only caused significant loss of life and property but also highlighted the vulnerability of urban areas to wildfires in an era of changing climate.The dawn of 2025 was marred by a series of devastating wildfires that swept through
E69 La Reina de los Fantasmas
The R.M.S. Queen Mary spent three decades transporting the rich and famous across the Atlantic before retiring in 1967.She survived the Great Depression and World War II and managed to avoid the tragic fate of her cousin, Titanic. But under the glitz and glamour, this haunted ship is hiding several dark secrets. She offered all the finest amenities: exquisite dining rooms, swimming pools, daily r
E68 Parte II: Soy el Viajero por el Mundo
This is part 2 of the summer 2024 trip. Be sure to listen to the 1st part first. To broaden your horizons, get to know other cultures, learn new things, and enjoy life to its fullest, it is necessary to travel at least once in your life. Traveling is not only a pleasure but almost a human necessity, traveling not only offers you the opportunity to see incredible places and meet interesting people,
E67 Parte I: Soy el Viajero por el Mundo
To broaden your horizons, get to know other cultures, learn new things, and enjoy life to its fullest, it is necessary to travel at least once in your life. Traveling is not only a pleasure but almost a human necessity, traveling not only offers you the opportunity to see incredible places and meet interesting people, but it brings many benefits to your mental health, emotional state, your family
E66 D-Day, La Batalla de Normandía
On June 6, 1944, known as D-Day, entered history when landings on the beaches of Normandy in northern France brought together the land, air, and sea forces of the Allied armies and opened a new European front against the troops of the Third Reich during the Second World War.It was the largest and most dramatic military operation in history, which marked the beginning of the Battle of Normandy, the
E65 Sta Helena, La Dama de las Montañas
At 8:32 a.m. PDT on May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens, a volcanic peak in southwestern Washington, suffered a massive eruption, killing 57 people and devastating some 210 square miles of wilderness.Mount St. Helens is located in the Cascade Range and stood 9,680 feet before its eruption. The volcano has erupted periodically during the last 4,500 years, and the last active period was between 1831 and
E64 El Castillo del Desierto
Legend has it that Death Valley Scotty built his castle on top of his secret gold mine that funded this lavish house. But the true story is even more improbable and interesting!Hidden in the green oasis of Grapevine Canyon in far northern Death Valley is the Death Valley Ranch, or "Scotty's Castle" as it is more commonly known.Walter Scott was a rowdy and shady character, with littl
E63 North Hollywood Shootout 1997
The 1997 North Hollywood shootout, also known as the Battle of North Hollywood, was a confrontation between two heavily armed and armored bank robbers, Larry Phillips Jr. and Emil Mătăsăreanu, and police officers in the North Hollywood district of Los Angeles on February 28, 1997. Both robbers were killed, twelve police officers and eight civilians were injured, and numerous vehicles and other pro
E62 Tláloc: El Señor de las Tormentas
During February 2024, the latest storm brought 1.99 inches of rain to Southern California so far, bringing this month’s total rainfall to 12.56 inches. The latest storm dropped 1.99 inches of rain in downtown Los Angeles and it makes it the fourth wettest February in downtown Los Angeles since 1877 when records first were reported. The monster storm triggered hundreds of mudslides across Los Angel
E60 Un Sábado por la Mañana
On this rainy Saturday morning, I received a phone call from you, we will chat casually while I prepare my morning coffee and tell you about my plans for today and the many things I like to do. Also, I will tell you about some of the wonderful places I like to visit around here. Join me for a casual look into my day. Send me a text but know that I can’t respond hereUpdated official intro without t
E61 La Dalia Negra
Close to 80 years ago, a horrific murder scene, in the quiet neighborhood would shock the neighbors, puzzle the police, and forever stain the pages of the history of United States crime books.Elizabeth Short, known posthumously as the Black Dahlia, was an American woman found murdered in the Leimert Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, on January 15, 1947, her body was cut in half and se
E59 Reflexion de Fin de Año 2023
Taking time to reflect on the past and think about what you want in the new year is essential for many reasons. First, it allows you to gain perspective on your life and identify areas where you want to make changes or improvements. Looking back on your experiences and achievements, you can better understand what works for you and doesn't and use that information to guide your decisions.Refle
E58 Parque Nacional III - Joshua, El Señor de los Desiertos
This is part 3 of the National Park Series Joshua Tree National Park is a vast protected area in southern California. It's characterized by rugged rock formations and stark desert landscapes. Named for the region’s twisted, bristled Joshua trees, the park straddles Two distinct desert ecosystems: the cactus-dotted Colorado Desert and the Mojave Desert, which is higher and cooler. Keys View lo
E54 Zoot Suit Riots
Zoot Suit Riots, a series of conflicts that occurred in June 1943 in Los Angeles between U.S. servicemen and Mexican American youths, the latter of whom wore outfits called zoot suits. The zoot suit consisted of a broad-shouldered drape jacket, balloon-leg trousers, and, sometimes, a flamboyant hat. Mexican and Mexican-American youths who wore these outfits were called zoot-suiters. Pressures rela
E57 Halloween Special III: Halloween the movie
The following episode includes graphic content that may not be suitable for some audiences. Listener discretion is advised.During the month of October, during the Halloween season, I have put together a series of the most terrifying horror Halloween movies, where you will hear about the creepy monsters all wearing their iconic masks that hunt you in your nightmares. This is the last story.This is
E56 Halloween Special II: Friday the 13th
The following episode includes graphic content that may not be suitable for some audiences. Listener discretion is advised.During the month of October, during the Halloween season, I have put together a series of the most terrifying horror Halloween movies, where you will hear about the creepy monsters all wearing their iconic masks that hunt you in your nightmares. This is the second story.This i
E55 Halloween Special I: Texas Chainsaw Massacre
The following episode includes graphic content that may not be suitable for some audiences. Listener discretion is advised.During the month of October, during the Halloween season, I have put together a series of the most terrifying horror Halloween movies, where you will hear about the creepy monsters all wearing their iconic masks that hunt you in your nightmares. This is the first story. This i
E53 La Fuerza Unida, Parte II: Dolores Huerta
Before you start on this second part, please listen to E52, part I: Cesar ChavezCo-founder of the United Farm Workers Association, Dolores Clara Fernandez Huerta is one of the most influential labor activists of the 20th century and a leader of the Chicano civil rights movement. Born on April 10, 1930 in Dawson, New Mexico, Huerta was the second of three children of Alicia and Juan Fernandez, a f
E52 La Fuerza Unida, Parte I: Cesar Chavez
Cesar Chavez (March 31, 1927 – April 23, 1993) was an American labor leader and civil rights activist. Along with Dolores Huerta, he co-founded the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA), later to become the United Farm Workers (UFW) labor union.Born in Yuma, Arizona to a Mexican-American family, Chavez began his working life as a manual laborer before spending two years in the United States Na
E51 Proteo, El héroe de México
On February 6, 2023, at 04:17, local time, a 7.8 earthquake struck southern and central Turkey and northern and western Syria. making it the largest in Turkey since the 1939 Erzincan earthquake of the same magnitude, and jointly the second-strongest recorded in the history of the country, after the 1668 North Anatolia earthquake. The confirmed death toll stood at 57,658: 50,399 in Turkey, and 7
E50 Fort Ord - Un lugar Abandonado
Fort Ord is a former United States Army post on Monterey Bay on the Pacific Ocean coast in California. In its prime, Fort Ord was once one the most coveted military training grounds in the U.S. Founded in 1917, Fort Ord was the first stop for many new recruits in many different wars such as WW2, Korea, and Vietnam. The fort closed in 1994 due to Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) action. Most of
E49 El Día de los Reyes Magos
The día de Los Reyes is better known as the feast of Epiphany in English. Los Reyes Magos – known as the Three Wise Men, or Three Kings in English – are three men who followed the North Star to the town of Bethlehem to welcome baby Jesus into the world. Melchor, Gaspar, and Baltasar traveled from a faraway place to gift the Son of God with gold, incense, and myrrh.While children in everywhere rece
E48 Fin de Año 2022
As we approach the end of another year it is important to reflect on the experiences that one has lived, it is important to analyze the success you obtained and your failures, it is also important to make plans, and set goals to achieve new purposes, you have to put energy into things that are worthwhile, dedicate time to yourself and the people you love in life. While some wait until January 1 to
E47 La Vida Incompleta de John Lennon
On the evening of 8 December 1980, English musician John Lennon, formerly of the Beatles, was shot and fatally wounded by an obsessed fan outside of the Dakota, his residence in New York City. John Lennon and Yoko Ono returned to the Dakota Apartments at approximately 10:50 p.m.As Lennon passed by, he glanced briefly at Chapman, appearing to recognize him from earlier. Seconds later, Chapman drew
E46 La Vida Incompleta de JFK
John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), often referred to by his initials JFK and the nickname Jack, was an American politician who served as the 35th president of the United States from 1961 until his assassination near the end of his third year in office. Kennedy was the youngest person to assume the presidency by election. He was also the youngest president at the end of his
E45 Halloween Special III: Los Espectros de Gettysburg
During the month of October, during the Halloween season, I have put together a series of the most terrifying and creepy real-life ghost stories, where you will hear about the unexplained paranormal and supernatural occurrences that have stained the pages of the history of the United States. This is the last storyThis is part 3 of the Halloween Special 2022 SeriesFor over 100 years, Gettysburg, Pe
E44 Halloween Special II: La Casa de Terror de Amityville
During the month of October, during the Halloween season, I have put together a series of the most terrifying and creepy real-life ghost stories, where you will hear about the unexplained paranormal and supernatural occurrences that have stained the pages of the history of the United States. This is part 2 of the Halloween Special 2022 SeriesInside The Real Amityville Horror House And Its Story Of
E43 Halloween Special I: Las Brujas de Salem
During the month of October, during the Halloween season, I have put together a series of the most terrifying and creepy real-life ghost stories, where you will hear about the unexplained paranormal and supernatural occurrences that have stained the pages of the history of the United States. This is the first story.This is part 1 of the Halloween Special 2022 SeriesThe Salem witch trials were a se
E42 Northridge 1994
The 1994 Northridge earthquake that struck the densely populated San Fernando Valley in southern California, U.S., on January 17, 1994, was the third major earthquake to occur in the state in 23 years and was the state’s most destructive one since the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 and the costliest one in U.S. history. The earthquake occurred just after 4:30 AM local time along a previously und
E41 El Noroeste del Pacífico
The Pacific Northwest Coast is a geographic region in western North America bounded by the coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean to the west. Though no official boundary exists, the most common conception includes the U.S. states of California, Oregon, Washington, and the Canadian province of British Columbia.Few areas of the United States are as diversely beautiful as the Pacific Northwest. You pro
E40 La Ciudad en Llamas de 1992
The 1992 Los Angeles riots, were a series of riots and civil disturbances that occurred in Los Angeles County, California, in April and May 1992. The unrest began in South Central Los Angeles on April 29, after a jury acquitted four officers of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) charged with using excessive force in the arrest and beating of Rodney King. This incident had been videotaped and
E39 Parque Nacional II - La Tierra de Gigantes
This is part 2 of the National Park SeriesBeing dwarfed by Earth’s most massive tree, the giant sequoia, fills you with wonder. It’s hard to believe that a living thing can be so enormous and old. Also known as Sierra redwoods, the largest of these trees live in California’s rugged Sierra Nevada mountain range.Some of the largest surviving giant sequoia groves can be seen in Sequoia and Kings Cany
E38 Leyendas V: Una Trágica Historia de Amor
This is part 5 of the Leyenda SeriesHundreds of years ago, when the Aztec Empire dominated the Valley of Mexico, it was common practice to subject neighboring towns and to require a mandatory tax. It was then that the chief of the Tlaxcaltecas, bitter enemies of the Aztecs, weary of this terrible oppression, decided to fight for his people’s freedom.The chief had a daughter named Iztaccihuatl: th
E37 El Hospital Linda Vista
The Linda Vista Hospital was first established in 1904 as the Santa Fe Coastlines Hospital, a prospering healthcare facility dedicated to servicing employees of the Santa Fe Railroad. During the early decades of the 20th century, the hospital flourished as did Los Angeles' surrounding Boyle Heights neighborhood. East LA was slowly transformed into a less affluent area, and the number of viole
E36 La Batalla del Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo is a yearly celebration held on May 5, which commemorates the anniversary of Mexico's victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, during the Franco-Mexican War. led by General Ignacio Zaragoza.While it is a relatively minor holiday in Mexico, in the United States, Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a commemoration of Mexican culture and heritage, particula
E35 El Hotel Fantasmal
A California hotel reminiscent of the lodge in the horror film The Shining has had a long history of paranormal activity and what are believed to be ghostly guests.The Padre Hotel in downtown Bakersfield first opened its doors in 1928, and the Spanish colonial revival structure has been the setting for a series of deaths and related tragedies through the years. According to local archives, example
E34 El Tiburón del Mioceno
Nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains near Bakersfield is Sharktooth Hill. First documented by William P. Blake in 1853, Sharktooth Hill is one of the most significant Miocene fossil sites in the world Sharktooth Hill is a middle Miocene marine exposure of the Round Mountain Silt unit of the Temblor Formation. Using magnetic stratigraphy data, the age of this unit is estimated to
E33 El Teatro de Madera
Acapulco, a beach resort town on Mexico's Pacific coast, is set on a large bay backed by high-rises and the Sierra Madre del Sur mountains. Made famous by the jet set in the 1950s and ’60s, it's known for its high-energy nightlife, beaches, and golf.The screen of the Flores theater projected that night the short entitled The passion for billiards. The astonishment of the large audience w
E32 La Gran Inundación de 1862
When the rain began drenching the California landscape in December 1861, none of the state’s 500,000 residents could have imagined the devastation that was about to strike the region.Just a few months earlier, the farmers and ranchers of California had been praying for rain to spare their parched land from the two previous decades of exceptionally dry weather.The Great Flood of 1862 began in late
E31 La Bandera de México
Flag Day, or ‘Día de la Bandera’ as it’s known in México, is celebrated on February 24 every year, since it was first established. To fly the national flag is a sign of pride and patriotism. It is a positive affirmation of loyalty and commitment. It marks out a country that has confidence in itself and is comfortable with its place in the world, its history, and its future.The central emblem is t
E30 Los Cenotes Mayas
If you’ve ever wondered how it would be to visit the Yucatan Peninsula and the Riviera Maya, if you are a nature lover and flora and fauna enthusiast, you’ve probably heard about some mystic places called cenotes.A cenote is said to be quite significant to the Mayan people. Whilst cenotes were their main water source, they were also considered to be the entrance to the Xibalba, translated to the u
E29 Leyendas IV: El Palacio de Lecumberri
This is part 4 of the Leyenda SeriesThe Palacio de Lecumberri is a large building, formerly a prison, in the northeast of Mexico City, Mexico, which now houses the General National Archive. Known in popular culture as The Black Palace of Lecumberri, it served as a penitentiary from 1900 to 1976. It was inaugurated by President Porfirio Díaz. The Diary of Lecumberri by Colombian Poet Álvaro Mutis,
E28 Parque Nacional I - Yosemite
This is part 1 of the National Park SeriesYosemite National Park, one of the ecological treasures of the United States, is located in northern California. The seven square miles (18 sq km) Yosemite Valley is the most popular part of the park. The park features granite monoliths, waterfalls, streams, and Giant Sequoias.Yosemite National Park offers breathtaking views, incredible rock formations,
E27 La Flor de Nochebuena
With cheerful red bracts and delicate yellow flowers framed against velvety green leaves, colorful poinsettias are an indisputable symbol of Christmas. In fact, poinsettias are the most commercially important potted plant in the world because of their endearing association with the December holiday season. But how did this warm-weather shrub native to western Mexico become so closely associated wi
E26: Los Juguetes Infantiles Mexicanos
Traditional Mexican handcrafted toys are those made by artisans rather than manufactured in factories. The history of Mexican toys extends as far back as the Mesoamerican era, but many of the toys date to the colonial period. Many of these were introduced as teaching tools by evangelists and they were associated with certain festivals and holidays. These toys vary widely, including el trompo, el b
E25: Leyendas III: El Monstruo de Xochimilco
This is part 3 of the Leyenda SeriesIn southern Mexico City, a gritty working-class neighborhood gives way to the famous canals of Xochimilco, Xochimilco is one of the most popular destinations in Mexico City, principally for the miles of waterways that run through the area, the last remnants of a vast water transport system built by the Aztecs, which have led to it being dubbed the Venice of Me
E24: La Revolución Mexicana
The Mexican Revolution was a complex and bloody conflict that arguably spanned two decades, and in which 900,000 people lost their lives. The Revolution began with a call to arms on 20th November 1910 to overthrow the current ruler and dictator Porfirio Díaz.Díaz was an ambitious president, keen to develop Mexico into an industrial and modernized country. While he worked on implementing a capitali
E23: El Día de los Veteranos
November 11 is Veteran's Day in the United States and it is celebrated every November, Veterans Day honors all who have served in the U.S. military.Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day and it is an opportunity to commemorate the contributions of living veterans publicly and to show appreciation toward them.For much of the rest of the world and especially in Europe, it is Armistice
E22: El Día de Muertos
A dedication to the deceasedDay of the Dead (Dia De Muertos) has its origins in the pre-Hispanic cultures of Latin America, and it is a Mexican holiday that honors deceased family members, friends, and ancestors.It is a two-day holiday that reunites the living and dead. Families create "ofrendas" (Offerings) to honor their departed family members that have passed. These altars are decor
E21: Los Pueblos Indígenas de México
Columbus Day celebrations in the United States – meant to honor the legacy of the man credited with “discovering” the New World – are almost as old as the nation itself. The earliest known Columbus Day celebration took place on Oct. 12, 1792, on the 300th anniversary of his landing. But since the 1990s, a growing number of states have begun to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day – a h
E20: Los Incendios Forestales
While wildfires are a natural part of California’s landscape, the fire season in California and across the West is starting earlier and ending later each year. Climate change is considered a key driver of this trend.Warmer spring and summer temperatures, reduced snowpack, and earlier spring snowmelt create longer and more intense dry seasons that increase moisture stress on vegetation and make for
E19: La Independencia de México
Independence Day (Día de la Independencia) is a Mexican holiday to celebrate the “cry of independence” on September 16, 1810, which started a revolt against Spanish rule.Independence Day celebrates the day Miguel Hidalgo is believed to have made the cry of independence (El Grito de la Independencia) in the town of Dolores, in the north-central part of the Mexican state of Guanajuato. Hidalgo was o
E18: Los Ataques del 9/11
Twenty years ago, the nation watched transfixed as planes hijacked by terrorists crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania on Sept. 11, 2001. Nearly 3,000 people died as a result of the attacks, including the 19 hijackers from the Islamic extremist group, al-Qaida. It remains the deadliest foreign attack on U.S.
E17: Leyendas II: La Lechuza
This is part 2 of the Leyenda SeriesOwls have also long been viewed as harbingers of bad luck and even death. One myth tells us that bad luck will befall anyone who hears an owl hoot three times. Another wild myth claims that owls are the only creatures that can live with ghosts.Since long before the first Halloween, witches have been linked to owls. The Romans and Greeks once believed that witche
E16: Las Abejas Están Desapareciendo
Bumblebees are going extinct in a time of ‘climate chaos’Loss of vital pollinators, due in part to temperature extremes and fluctuations, could have dire consequences for ecosystems and agriculture.Bumblebees, among the most important pollinators, are in trouble. Fuzzy and buzzy, they excel at spreading pollen and fertilizing many types of wild flora, as well as crucial agricultural crops like tom
E15: Los Fósiles de La Brea Tar Pits
The La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles, California have fascinated scientists and visitors for over a century, and today, this area is the only actively excavated Ice Age fossil site found in an urban location in the world! Over the last 50,000 years, Ice Age animals, plants, and insects were trapped in sticky asphalt, which preserved them for us to find today. More than 100 excavations have been mad
E14: San Francisco II: La Isla de Alcatraz
The federal prison on Alcatraz Island in the chilly waters of California’s San Francisco Bay housed some of America’s most difficult and dangerous felons during its years of operation from 1934 to 1963. Among those who served time at the maximum-security facility were the notorious gangster Al “Scarface” Capone (1899-1947) and murderer Robert “Birdman of Alcatraz” Stroud (1890-1963). No inmate eve
E13: San Francisco I: El Puente Golden Gate
The Golden Gate Bridge is an iconic structure connecting the city of San Francisco to Marin County, California. It spans almost two miles across the Golden Gate, the narrow strait where San Francisco Bay opens to meet the Pacific Ocean. The dream of connecting San Francisco to its northern neighbors became a reality when construction commenced in 1933. The Golden Gate Bridge opened to the public i
E12: Guanajuato II: Las Momias
Mummies in Mexico?! Yes! The expressions on the faces of the mummies of Guanajuato show the terror they felt when they awoke in coffins and realized they had been buried alive. The Mexican mummies you see in the Guanajuato mummy museum all share a horrifying story.What is the story behind the Guanajuato mummies? The year was 1833. The place, Guanajuato, a colonial town in the center of Mexico. O
E11: Guanajuato I: Joya de Mexico
The state of Guanajuato is located in the northern-central region of the República Mexicana (Mexican Republic). Its historical significance is so great for the country, that each of its corners tells a formidable story. It's known for its silver mining history and colonial architecture. Its network of narrow streets, alleyways, and tunnels is typified by the Callejón del Beso (Alley of the K
E10: La Confianza en ti Mismo
This a special episode to celebrate my 10th episode, and I want to take this opportunity to thank all my audience for the unexpected success and for allowing me to reach out to you wherever you are in the world. Trust in yourself and believe you too, can reach your goals!Send me a text but know that I can’t respond hereUpdated official intro without the season year Support the showYou will find th
E09: Leyendas I: La Llorona
This is part 1 of the Leyenda Series Mexico is a country known worldwide for its deep-rooted cultural traditions, and legends, which balance between reality and fiction.The legends of the colonial era are stories that have an important cultural message since they are enriched by components of the folklore of the Spanish colonies in America. Generations of Mexican children have grown up afraid of
E08: La Segregación Racial de 1930
Racial segregation of Mexican students in the California public school system during the 1910s and 1920s traces its origins to racial ideologies of Anglo-Saxon superiority from the 19th century. “The Eugenics Movement”, an applied ideology of improving the genetic traits and quality of the human population strongly advocated superiority and inferiority beliefs.In the 1930s racial segregation allow
E07: El Hotel Cecil: Los Misterios, Muertes y Crimenes
The Cecil Hotel in Los Angeles, California, has been the site of so many gruesome suicides, grisly murders, and unexplained deaths. In addition to the number of guests who have passed while visiting the Cecil, at least two serial killers have stayed at this notorious hotel during their sprees, making it the kind of place where you just might sleep next door to a slayer. However, it wasn't un
E06: La Zona Arqueológica de Teotihuacán
Teotihuacán is an ancient Mesoamerican city located in a sub valley of the Valley of Mexico, which is located in the State of Mexico, 40 kilometers (25 mi) northeast of modern-day Mexico City. Teotihuacán is known today as the site of many of the most architecturally significant Mesoamerican pyramids built in the pre-Columbian Americas. Teotihuacán ('the place where the gods were created&apos
E05: El Famoso Letrero de Hollywood
It’s fitting that the Hollywood Sign, the worldwide symbol of the entertainment industry, was conceived as an outdoor ad campaign for a suburban housing development called “Hollywoodland.” After all, despite the high profile of the film biz, real estate has always been Hollywood’s primary economic driver.Although the Sign’s appearance and purpose have evolved over the years, its basic aspirational
E04: El Centro Histórico de México
The historic center of Mexico City also known as Centro Histórico is the central neighborhood in Mexico City, Mexico, focused on Zócalo or main plaza and extending in all directions for a number of blocks, with its farthest extent being west to the Alameda Central.This is where the Spaniards began to build what is now modern Mexico City in the 16th century on the ruins of the conquered Tenochtitl
E03: Un Mar de Plástico
We are turning our beautiful Ocean into a plastic soup. About 8 million tons of plastic enter the sea every year, and if we do not change, we face a future with more plastic in the ocean than fish by 2050. Our plastic addiction and waste mismanagement are condemning countless marine birds and animals to death by entanglement or poisoning. From the Arctic to the Antarctic, no corner of the Ocean is
E02: El Resurgimiento de los Elefantes Marinos en la Costa de California
Today we will take a narrative tour through the central California valley and visit Piedras Blancas, home to the Northern Elephant seals, you will learn about the history and habits of these extraordinary animals. Starting in the 1700s, the maritime fur trade of the Pacific Northwest depleted nearly all species of marine mammals including sea otters, whales, dolphins, seals, and sea lions. Elephan
