Best Fenomeno Podcasts (2024)

1
Horror Witnesses, The Story of The People Eater (Testigos del Horror, La Historia de El Comegente) 28:58

3h ago28:58

28:58

One of the creepiest tales to come out of Venezuela was that of Dorancel Vargas. A homeless man with severe mental issues who lived outside the city of San Cristobal, Vargas had a fascination that no human should have... He enjoyed eating human meat. And the ugliest thing of it all isn't that he just feasted on the meat, but the fact that he hunted…

1
Shadows of the Past, Terrorism and Violence in Latin America (Las Sombras del Pasado, Terrorismo y Violencia en Latinoamérica) 32:03

1d ago32:03

32:03

Latin America is beautiful, but it's also dangerous, and I'm not talking about the wildlife here... Holding 6 spots in the top 10 crimes rates worldwide, this region has unfortunately been one of the most deadly in recent decades, and its people have lived in fear of violent crime and terrorism for too long. And with organizations such as the FARC …

1
Of Blood and Earth, Stories from the Mexican Revolution (De Tierra y Sangre, Historias de la Revolución Mexicana) 30:22

14d ago30:22

30:22

We've given Mexico some love in recent times, after Season 3's finale "Te Amo, México" - and today is no exception. In fact, today we'll talk about how Mexico's modern political structure came to exist. The nation wasn't always a stable democracy (well, depending on who you ask these days). It has had its up and downs, and its downs have been preee…

1
The Journey of Cacao, From the Mesoamerican Jungles to the Global Boom (El Viaje del Cacao, De las Selvas Mesoamericanas al Boom Global) 29:49

15d ago29:49

29:49

Do you love chocolate as much as we do (and if you don't, WHY)? Well, in that case, you might be curious as to how we ended up having this delicious sweet all across the world, on every continent. And yes, that includes Antarctica. Born in the heart of Mesoamerica and originally consumed by the Olmecs, Mayas and Aztecs, cacao (the precursor of choc…

1
The El Niño Phenomenon, Following in the Weather's Footsteps (Fenómeno El Niño, Tras las Huellas del Clima) 28:46

29d ago28:46

28:46

Have you ever seen flowers in the desert? One of the most curious climate phenomena worldwide is El Niño, which is the irregular warming of sea surface temperatures, which leads to a cascade of effects on weather patterns and ecosystems. In this episode, we talk about what it involves, how it affects the lives of animals and human beings in Latin A…

1
Satellites and Dreams, The Space Race in Latin America (Satélites y Sueños, La Carrera Espacial en América Latina) 30:12

29d ago30:12

30:12

Welcome back to the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast, this time for a fourth season! We've returned with a pretty interesting episode about something that isn't talked about enough... Latin America's Space Race! I bet you know the U.S., the EU, China, India and the Soviet Union (back in the day) had all built amazing missions to space, but Latin …

1
I Love You, Mexico! (¡Te Amo, México!) 29:37

5M ago29:37

29:37

It's the final episode of Season 3, so let's admit it: we haven't been fair with Mexico during our podcast's lifetime. Yes, we've talked about the Aztecs, but we've also talked a lot about the border issues, El Chapo, and other negative circumstances in the beautiful country of "El Águila Real" (the Royal Eagle). But it's time to redeem ourselves. …

1
Mate, A Drink that Transcends Borders (El Mate, Una Bebida que Atraviesa Fronteras) 27:09

5M ago27:09

27:09

Do you like tea? Sure, maybe. But have you ever tried (or seen someone else try) yerba mate? Mate goes beyond just a drink. It goes beyond the English tea time or that of other cultures. It's something which is almost... spiritual, you know? Having started as a tradition among the Guarani people and then adopted by Spanish colonizers, this drink ha…

1
The Nicaragua Canal, An Unfinished Dream (El Canal de Nicaragua, Un Sueño Inconcluso) 28:48

6M ago28:48

28:48

You know of the Panama Canal (we already talked about it in Season 1 if you didn't), but you probably had no idea that a second canal has been in plans for a very, very long time now - one that passes through Nicaragua (that's north of Panama). But the delays haven't just been a problem of bureaucracy and budget... the canal would actually have to …

1
Jesuits in Latin America, a Legacy of Transformation (Jesuitas en América Latina, un Legado de Transformación) 27:54

6M ago27:54

27:54

The Jesuits were a Catholic order that was founded in Europe, but which soon expanded to South America to spread the word of God - mainly to Paraguay. However, they had a different way of evangelizing, which made them as interesting as it did controversial... hated, even. You see, the Jesuits didn't believe in forcing their beliefs on the local ind…

1
Sandinista Revolution, the Battle for the Heart of Nicaragua (Revolución Sandinista, la Batalla por el Corazón de Nicaragua) 29:42

6M ago29:42

29:42

While not a country we hear about often these days, Nicaragua has gone through quite a turbulent history that has left it with long-lasting economic, political and social scars. And leaving aside the subject of Daniel Ortega, current dictator of Nicaragua and one of the longest-lasting presidential terms in the world (with 26 interrupted years in p…

1
How Do They Have Fun in Latin America? (¿Cómo se Divierten en Latinoamérica?) 27:59

6M ago27:59

27:59

If you want to see historic sights everywhere you go, you go to Europe. But if you want to have fun, Latin America is the place to be. Known as the land of dance, music, and smiles, Latin America just has "something else" that makes it a spicy and sweet combination of great food, fantastic nightlife, and quick friendships unlike any other. It's in …

1
Guyana vs Venezuela, War for the Essequibo (Guyana vs Venezuela, Guerra por el Esequibo) 27:17

6M ago27:17

27:17

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…

1
Javier Milei in Power, A Change in Argentina? (Javier Milei al Poder, ¿Un Cambio en Argentina?) 28:37

7M ago28:37

28:37

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…

1
Secrets of the Jungle, Latin America’s Hidden Tribes (Secretos de la Selva, Las Tribus Ocultas de América Latina) 27:55

7M ago27:55

27:55

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 …

1
Francisco de Miranda, Latin American Hero (Francisco de Miranda, Héroe Latinoamericano) 26:45

7M ago26:45

26:45

Before Simón Bolívar, before José de San Martín, there was someone else. A man who fought for independence not only in South America but in France and the United States, and whose name is the ONLY American one (North or South) to be engraved in the Arc de Triomphe. I'm talking about Francisco de Miranda, who was born around this time of the year in…

1
The Future of Latin America, Moving Forward or Backward? (El Futuro de Latinoamérica, ¿Progreso o Atraso?) 29:34

7M ago29:34

29:34

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 tw…

1
The Origins of Humanity in Latin America (Orígenes de la Humanidad en América Latina) 28:14

8M ago28:14

28:14

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 foun…

1
Reggaeton: The Rhythm That Took over the World (Reggaetón, el Ritmo que Dominó el Mundo) 27:34

8M ago27:34

27:34

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, regga…

1
The Legend of Dr. Knoche, Echoes of Immortality (La Leyenda del Dr. Knoche, Ecos de Inmortalidad) 26:47

8M ago26:47

26:47

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 lin…

1
Does Racism Exist in Latin America? (¿Existe el Racismo en Latinoamérica?) 27:43

8M ago27:43

27:43

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 mu…

1
Wild Territory, Latin America's Most Dangerous Animals (Territorio Salvaje, Los Animales Más Peligrosos de Latinoamérica) 27:12

9M ago27:12

27:12

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…

1
Celia Cruz and the Magic of Salsa (Celia Cruz y la Magia de la Salsa) 27:20

9M ago27:20

27:20

¡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…

1
Machu Picchu, The Citadel in the Clouds (Machu Picchu, La Ciudadela Entre Las Nubes) 28:11

9M ago28:11

28:11

Hidden in the Andes mountain range for close to 400 years, Peru's Machu Picchu has long been an incredibly famous South American tourist destination. After all, it's wonderful location, beautiful views and the advanced technology with which it was created (how were those rocks even transported up there?!) make it unique not only in Latin America, b…

1
The Andes, Where America Touches the Sky (Los Andes, Donde América Toca El Cielo) 26:22

9M ago26:22

26:22

Move aside, the Himalayas. The Andes might not have the highest peaks in the world, but it's actually the most extensive mountain range on our planet, encompassing 7,242 kilometers and stretching across SEVEN different nations. It's South America's pride. But what's so special about the Andes, and what type of terrain, flora, and fauna can you expe…

1
Eva Perón, Don't Cry for Me, Argentina (Eva Perón, No Llores Por Mí, Argentina) 25:38

9M ago25:38

25:38

Eva 'Evita' Perón, a woman who caused so much amazement and admiration over the decades that even Madonna, the Queen of Pop, begged to play her in a film. A young woman who, despite growing into the wealth of Argentine politics, actually came from a poor background and knew what it meant to be hungry. The wife of controversial president, Juan Domin…

1
Boca Juniors vs. River Plate, The Eternal Superclásico (Boca Juniors vs. River Plate, El Eterno Superclásico) 27:43

10M ago27:43

27:43

Do you love soccer? Argentinians do, that's for sure. Their two top teams - Boca Juniors and River Plate - are actually among the fiercest rivals in world soccer, and have seen some of the most amazing encounters that Latin American football has to offer. In this fantastic DUAL episode, we find Lucas and Paula getting ready to enter this year's Sup…

1
Miriam Rodríguez, A Mother's Sacrifice (Miriam Rodríguez, El Sacrificio De Una Madre) 27:54

10M ago27:54

27:54

Sometimes, waiting for law enforcement to help is not enough, especially if the local police are involved in the crime you expect them to solve. Such was the belief of a brave mother named Miriam Rodriguez, who in January of 2014, realized that nobody was going to help her get her daughter back after she was kidnapped. This woman, one of the braves…

1
Alí Lameda, A Poet Imprisoned in North Korea (Alí Lameda, Un Poeta Preso en Corea del Norte) 27:41

10M ago27:41

27:41

How much do you know about what goes on in North Korea? Probably not much. Perhaps you think that a lot of what is said is just negative propaganda by anti-communists. But what if I told you that a Venezuelan communist was imprisoned there and got to see how horrible the prisoner treatment was up close? Now, you must be wondering... what was a Vene…

1
Mapuche Conflict, An Unending Battle (Conflicto Mapuche, Una Batalla Interminable) 27:13

10M ago27:13

27:13

Have you ever heard of the Mapuche people, or the historical country of “Wallmapu”? Probably not, and there’s a reason for that: the Mapuche people have been conquered, colonized, and excluded for centuries, since the Spanish arrived in South America... to the present day when modern governments continue to ostracize and bar them from possessing th…

1
Banana Republic, Cause or Consequence of Decadence? (República Bananera, ¿Causa o Consecuencia de la Decadencia?) 27:10

11M ago27:10

27:10

While capitalism has undoubtedly brought us some of our most impressive advancements as a species, it has also done some pretty terrible stuff to people across the world. Latin America is not an exception. In the early 20th century, as corporations in the United States began looking outward and started entering poorer countries (under the guise of …

1
Latin America's Lost Treasures (Tesoros Perdidos de Latinoamérica) 27:16

11M ago27:16

27:16

When you watch a pirate movie, have you ever asked yourself where most of them are based? Heck, isn't the most famous movie pirate saga based in, precisely, Latin America (the Caribbean)? And I bet you didn't know that most of those characters, events, and legends are based (loosely) on real stories and treasures - yes, it's not an exaggeration whe…

1
The Chicxulub Crater: The End of the Dinosaurs (El Cráter de Chicxulub: El Fin de los Dinosaurios) 25:45

11M ago25:45

25:45

Did you grow up loving dinosaurs like me? Maybe, maybe not, but you have to admit that it's sad how they disappeared. One day they were out there doing their thing, and then BOOM! A giant asteroid fell from the sky and ended them all. But where did that asteroid land? To be honest, there are mixed studies, but it is widely believed that the Yucatan…

1
Alberto Fujimori, A Presidential Controversy (Alberto Fujimori, Una Controversia Presidencial) 27:59

11M ago27:59

27:59

It may be surprising if you didn't already know this, but back in the late 1980s, a son of first-generation Japanese immigrants rose enough in political power and popularity to become president of a South American nation. We're talking of the ex-president of Peru, Alberto Fujimori, who was elected in a time of great economic and social struggle in …

1
The Vargas Tragedy, When Nature Roared (La Tragedia de Vargas, Cuando la Naturaleza Rugió) 27:59

11M ago27:59

27:59

What if I told you that there was a "day in which the mountain rolled into the sea" in Venezuela? What would you think? It sounds almost poetic, but it describes the country's worst natural tragedy in history. It all began with a week of heavy rain, a storm at the beginning of December 1999, when the whole nation's attention was fixed almost entire…

1
Gabriel García Márquez, The Father of Magical Realism (Gabriel García Márquez, El Padre del Realismo Mágico) 26:24

12M ago26:24

26:24

Did you know that one of the most influential writers in history is actually from Latin America? Colombia, to be exact – I’m talking of Gabriel García Márquez, of course! Father of the amazing and refreshing genre known as “Magical Realism”, this Aracataca-born man changed the course of Latin American literature forever with his classic “One Hundre…

1
Why Do They Speak Portuguese in Brazil? (¿Por Qué en Brasil Se Habla Portugués?) 30:42

12M ago30:42

30:42

Do you know what’s one of the strangest things in Latin America? The fact that the biggest country in a Spanish-majority region (with a third of the total population in Latin America) speaks a different language: Portuguese. You’d think that somehow, Brazil would have adopted Spanish like their neighbors, but they never did, and even today, it is a…

1
The Triple Alliance War, The Dark History of the South (La Guerra de la Triple Alianza, La Oscura Historia del Sur) 28:13

1y ago28:13

28:13

Have you ever wondered why Paraguay isn’t really a big, star destination in South America? In fact, it’s actually one of the least talked about locations in all of Latin America despite its size and location. Well, this might have a lot to do with the fact that it went through a truly terrible war in the 1800s that decimated its infrastructure and …

1
Kiki Camarena, A Heavy Price to Pay (Kiki Camarena, Un Gran Precio a Pagar) 28:43

1y ago28:43

28:43

Many of the best heroic stories end in tragedy. Such is the case of Kiki Camarena, the ace DEA agent with a magnificent sixth sense and an ability to sniff out the bad guys unlike any other. Although his career was centered on U.S. law enforcement, this Mexican-born special agent was transferred to Mexico to keep an eye on the ongoing events of the…

1
Gustavo Dudamel, The Genius Behind the Music (Gustavo Dudamel, El Genio Detrás de la Música) 25:33

1y ago25:33

25:33

Some people are born different. Talented, special, prodigies… whatever you want to call them, they are able to do things others could only dream of. Gustavo Dudamel is one such man – from a young age, he demonstrated an immense ability in the world of music. This music conductor not only became the best of his nation, Venezuela, by the age of 18, b…

1
Nevado del Ruiz Volcano, The Unforgettable Armero Tragedy (Volcán Nevado del Ruiz, La Inolvidable Tragedia de Armero) 30:59

1y ago30:59

30:59

In 1985, Colombia was going through one of its most terrible periods in all its history. On one side, Pablo Escobar was destabilizing the nation with his drug trade and violence, and the Cali Cartel was growing in power. On the other, only two years before, a terrible earthquake had destroyed the city of Popayán, scarring the memories of local citi…

1
Spanish in Asia, Hispanic Influence in the Philippines (Español en Asia, Influencia Hispana en Filipinas) 28:16

1y ago28:16

28:16

Welcome back to the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast by Lingo Mastery! We’ve arrived once more, this time with Season 3, to bring you the best in Spanish learning. This time, we want to travel across the world, away from Latin America… all the way to the Philippines, where a very interesting Spanish-related development happened between the 1500s …

1
Lugares Imperdibles de América Latina, Un Viaje Inolvidable (Must-See Places in Latin America, An Unforgettable Journey) 29:33

1+ y ago29:33

29:33

We’ve reached the Season Finale of another wonderful season, and we want to thank you for your support all throughout the year, in which we became one of the biggest Spanish learning podcasts and reached thousands more than we ever had. And, to end Season 2, we want to take you on a journey like no other in this special DUAL-NARRATOR episode. Have …

1
The Aztec Empire, The Rise and Fall of a Giant (Imperio Azteca, el Ascenso y la Caída de un Gigante) 26:55

1+ y ago26:55

26:55

When you think of the most impressive empires in the world, you cannot avoid thinking of the Aztec Empire, the powerful Mesoamerican civilization that conquered much of modern-day Mexico and was comprised of several million people. This is because, for a civilization that ruled over 500 years ago, the Aztecs accomplished many impressive feats in te…

1
Shining Path, Abimael's Army (Sendero Luminoso, El Ejército de Abimael) 27:11

1+ y ago27:11

27:11

In the history of Latin America, political extremes have caused great pain and suffering, especially to innocents throughout the rural areas of Central and South America. Communism has not been an exception to this rule. And in Peru, during the 70s, 80s and 90s, one particular Communist party made Peru an extremely dangerous and unwelcome place to …

1
Nayib Bukele, Tyrant or Savior? (Nayib Bukele, ¿Tirano o Salvador?) 27:47

1+ y ago27:47

27:47

Nayib Armando Bukele Ortez. You may love him, hate him, or wonder who we’re even talking about – but the truth is that Nayib Bukele has changed the direction of El Salvador’s history forever, simply by turning it from the world’s most dangerous nation to one of its safest, practically overnight. But we must ask the important question here: is he th…

1
Operation Just Cause, The Last Invasion of Latin America (Operación Causa Justa, La Última Invasión a Latinoamérica) 28:37

1+ y ago28:37

28:37

Did you know Panama has no army? Probably not, but it wasn’t an arbitrary or random decision. You see, it was all due to one man: a dictator, a tyrant, an enemy of the United States of America. Manuel Antonio Noriega Moreno, who grew from low-ranking soldier in the Panamanian Army to the most powerful man in the country in just a few decades. And –…

1
The Most Bizarre Places in Latin America (Lugares Más Bizarros de América Latina) 25:28

1+ y ago25:28

25:28

So, by you now you know your Latin American beaches, your mountains and waterfalls - of which there are many, so congrats for that – but you probably haven’t yet heard of the lesser-known “bizarre” or even “haunted” places in Latin America. But what makes a place bizarre? Any number of things, starting from a worryingly high number of suicides havi…

1
Pablo Escobar, "Plata o Plomo" (Pablo Escobar, Plata o Plomo) 27:38

1+ y ago27:38

27:38

While today we may recognize Medellín as a beautiful city that is not only welcoming of tourists and digital nomads but also a safe place to live, it was not this way just a few decades ago… You see, in the 1980s and early 1990s, a wanted criminal known Pablo Escobar had made this city – as well as much of Colombia – his personal territory in which…

1
O Rei Pelé: The Best Football Player in History? (O Rei Pelé, ¿El Mejor Futbolista de la Historia?) 27:59

1+ y ago27:59

27:59

Diego Maradona. Lionel Messi. Cristiano Ronaldo. They have all been the greatest of their times at some point… but there is a player who is even greater than these footballing giants. The winner of 7 Ballons d’Or (you’ll understand in a minute), 3 World Cup trophies (sorry Cristiano), Player of the Century and so many more awards, O Rei Pelé was on…

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