092 – La Cuesta de Enero | The January Slope

092 – La Cuesta de Enero | The January Slope

After the holidays, many people who live in Spain and Latin America have to deal with the “January Slope” or “January Struggle.” This cultural phenomenon in Spanish-speaking countries is an interesting difference that many people in the U.S., myself included, don’t have to deal with. But what’s the deal? Why is this notorious month of financial overwhelm a thing? Listen as we explore La Cuesta de Enero in-depth in this episode.

089 – El Curioso Origen de las Piñatas – The Curious Origins of Piñatas

089 – El Curioso Origen de las Piñatas – The Curious Origins of Piñatas

Piñatas are without a doubt one of Mexico’s most well known traditions. They are present in many of the most common celebrations in the country like birthdays, posadas, Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, and even baptisms and baby showers.

Although most people in the world immediately associate piñatas with Mexico, they likely came from a rather unexpected place. Find out more in this episode.

087 – La Virgen de Guadalupe como Símbolo Mexicano | The Virgin of Guadalupe as a Mexican Symbol

087 – La Virgen de Guadalupe como Símbolo Mexicano | The Virgin of Guadalupe as a Mexican Symbol

Is the Virgin of Guadalupe the same person as the Virgin Mary? This is a question that I’ve had for years, but it wasn’t until May and I sat down to record this episode of the podcast that it all made sense. Religion plays such an important role in Mexican culture, so even if you’re not Catholic or even religious for that matter, it’s helpful to understand the significance of this important Mexican figure: La Virgin de Guadalupe.

084 – Los Mejores Tacos del Mundo | The Best Tacos in the World

084 – Los Mejores Tacos del Mundo | The Best Tacos in the World

Tacos: The definitive Mexican food. And we’re not talking about the hard-shell with shredded cheese variety. We’re talking about the authentic Mexican soft tortilla with all the fixings kind. But where do they come from?What are the most popular ones? How much does a typical taco cost in Mexico? Which ones are our favorites? Find all that out and more in this episode.

082 – El Pan de Muerto | Bread of the Dead

082 – El Pan de Muerto | Bread of the Dead

Who knew bread could have such a colorful and creepy history? In this episode we talk about pan de muerto or “bread of the dead.” Where does it come from? What does it mean? Where can I get the chocolate filled kind? We answer all these questions and more.

081 – La Llorona y Otras Leyendas Latinoamericanas | The Weeping Lady and Other Latin-American Legends

081 – La Llorona y Otras Leyendas Latinoamericanas | The Weeping Lady and Other Latin-American Legends

Have you heard about the Llorona (The Weeping Lady)? Legend has it that if you listen carefully, you might just hear her crying in the distance for her deceased children. Latin American culture is full of stories that are passed down from generation to generation. All of these tales were new to me when I first visited Mexico, and if you’re a believer, some are enough to make your hair stand on end. In this episode, we take a deep dive into some of the most popular legends in Mexico and Latin America.

077 – El Chupacabras: ¿Mito o Realidad? | The Chupacabras: Myth or Reality?

077 – El Chupacabras: ¿Mito o Realidad? | The Chupacabras: Myth or Reality?

From Bigfoot to the Loch Ness Monster, mythical creatures have been a source of intrigue worldwide for millennia. Are there creatures that exist just outside of view? In this episode, we explore the ever-evasive chupacabras, a creature that has both terrified and baffled populations in Latin America and beyond. Is it real? Where does it come from? Find out that and much more in this episode.

074 – Lo Malo del Mes de la Herencia Hispana | The Bad of Hispanic Heritage Month

074 – Lo Malo del Mes de la Herencia Hispana | The Bad of Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month was established to recognize what Hispanic and Latinos have brought to the world in terms of culture and history, but it isn’t without its critics. Often such holidays that are meant to honor different groups of people become overcommercialed and don’t do much to advance general knowledge about what these groups actually contribute to the world. So in this episode, we dive into what this holiday means for some, and how you can better celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.

068 – Todo Sobre el Tequila | All About Tequila

068 – Todo Sobre el Tequila | All About Tequila

Nothing says “Mexico” like tequila. In this episode, we talk about the origins of this quintessential Mexican drink, where it’s produced, how it’s made, how it compares to its cousin mezcal, and more. ¡Salud!