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 ... Show More
Mar 10
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 PDVS ... Show More
26m 5s
Feb 28
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 Arg ... Show More
28m 56s
May 2023
La Llorona is Older Than You Think
It's a common campfire tale -- a mysterious, ghostly entity roams the land, lamenting the loss of her children... and perhaps kidnapping living children to replace her own. In today's episode, Ben and Matt dive deep into the evolution of La Llorona, exploring the nature of folklo ... Show More
56m 4s
Feb 2015
Alina Garcia-Lapuerta, “La Belle Creole” (Chicago Review Press, 2014)
One of the fundamental functions of biography is the preservation of stories. But it also acts to resurrect the stories that may have fallen from view, reinvigorating the tales of people who, with the passage of time, have become merely names on plaques. In La Belle Creole:The Cu ... Show More
38m 49s
Aug 2023
Folk Heroes: Leonarda Emilia
Leonarda Emilia (c. 1860s) was one of Mexico’s most daring bandits. Riding bareback and cloaked in men’s clothes, she used a pistol and machete to steal from passing travelers, and then redistribute the wealth to the poor. This month, we're talking about Folk Heroes. People whose ... Show More
5m 46s
Nov 2022
Explore Latin American Culture through Stories Pt. I (Interview With Carolina Quiroga, Tres Cuentos) ♫ 73 [ENCORE]
In this episode I interview Carolina Quiroga--storyteller, performer, author, and host of the bilingual podcast Tres Cuentos. Tres Cuentos explores historical and literary narratives of Latin America. Last year, the podcast was mentioned by Oprah magazine as one of the best Latin ... Show More
24m 48s
Aug 2023
Folk Heroes: Maria Bonita
Maria Bonita (c. 1900 - 1938) was a legendary Brazilian outlaw. This month, we're talking about Folk Heroes. People whose lives and stories took on mythic proportions. History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wonder ... Show More
6m 12s