Advertise on podcast: Simple Stories in Spanish

I consider myself to be a strong person, but there are still many things that scare me. Most things that scare me are pretty typical, like horror movies, and the dark. Other things I don’t want to scare me, so I do my best to overcome them, such as heights or moving fast on skis. This story is in the first person and present tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “me asusta” (scares me), “miedo” (fear), “espantoso” (scary), “escalofrío” (shiver), “oscuridad” (darkness), “patas” (feet - animal), “silvestre” (wild), “altura” (height) No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2026/10/12/simple-stories-in-spanish-que-me-asusta/  ¡Muchas gracias por escuchar! Thank you for listening, and a HUGE thank you for your support. I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories in Spanish. If you would like to help me in that endeavor, consider buying me a taco at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SpanishTeacher . You can also find me on Venmo and PayPal @Small Town Spanish Teacher Support the show

One of my favorite Spanish artists is Francisco de Goya. He created light hearted paintings of picnics and beautiful religious scenes, but also dark, sometimes disturbing, etchings of war and social injustice. Goya lived in a tumultuous time in Spain, and he witnessed many sad moments in history and in his own life. Like many artists, Goya captured these moments through painting, drawing, and etching. This story is in the third person and past tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “obra” (work, such as “obra de arte”, work of art), “pintura” (painting), “grabado” (etching), “retrato” (portrait), “enfermedad” (sickness), “sordo” (deaf) No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2026/09/21/simple-stories-in-spanish-francisco-de-goya/  ¡Muchas gracias por escuchar! Thank you for listening, and a HUGE thank you for your support. I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories in Spanish. If you would like to help me in that endeavor, consider buying me a taco at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SpanishTeacher . You can also find me on Venmo and PayPal @Small Town Spanish Teacher Support the show

Mexico has cenotes and Belize has caves. Both of these spaces were sacred to the Mayan people, serving as places to connect with the gods as well as entrances into Xibalba, the Mayan underworld. While in Belize, I entered three caves: one on a tube, one in a canoe, and one on foot. All three were filled with water and were places of offerings to the Mayan gods, yet each cave was also very unique. This story is in the first person and past tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “cueva” (cave), “caliza” (limestone), “techo” (roof), “hueco” (hole), “pared” (wall), “estrecho” (narrow), “calavera” (skull), “calcetines” (socks) No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2026/09/07/simple-stories-in-spanish-dentro-de-la-cueva/  ¡Muchas gracias por escuchar! Thank you for listening, and a HUGE thank you for your support. I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories in Spanish. If you would like to help me in that endeavor, consider buying me a taco at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SpanishTeacher . You can also find me on Venmo and PayPal @Small Town Spanish Teacher Support the show

Huatyacuri lived a lonely life in the Andes mountains. While his father, Pariacaca, the god of wind and storms, loved him, he could not physically hug him, as he only existed in the wind, rain and snow. Huatyacuri longed for ams to hold him. Then he met the beautiful Chaupiñaca and called upon his father to help him overcome the trials presented by her brother Kamachiq to be able to marry her. This story is retold in the past tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: viento (wind), hermoso (beautiful), casarse (marry), ropa (clothing), and abrazo (hug). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2026/08/16/simple-stories-in-spanish-told-faster-la-leyenda-de-huatyacuri/  You can find the original recording of this story at: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2021/02/22/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-leyenda-de-huatyacuri/  ¡Muchas gracias por escuchar! Thank you for listening, and a HUGE thank you for your support. I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories in Spanish. If you would like to help me in that endeavor, consider buying me a taco at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SpanishTeacher or donating to Small Town Spanish Teacher on Venmo or PayPal. Support the show

The state of Colorado exists in large part because of the gold and silver rush that began in 1858. Many ruins of abandoned mining towns and operations can be found throughout the Rocky Mountains. Few people actually became rich, but one family in Colorado experienced a monumental rise in wealth. However, like most mining endeavors, the “boom” was quickly followed by a “bust”. This story is in the third person and past tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “oro” (gold), “plata” (silver), “éxito” (success), “fracaso” (failure), “prudente” (sensible), “gastar” (to spend), “inversión” (investment), “choza” (shack) No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2026/07/31/simple-stories-in-spanish-los-reyes-de-plata/  ¡Muchas gracias por escuchar! Thank you for listening, and a HUGE thank you for your support. I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories in Spanish. If you would like to help me in that endeavor, consider buying me a taco at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SpanishTeacher . You can also find me on Venmo and PayPal @Small Town Spanish Teacher Support the show

Every four years the FIFA World Cup attracts a world-wide audience. And every FIFA World Cup also attracts controversy. Forty years ago, in 1986, the games in Mexico had their fair share of controversy, as well as amazing moments, surrounding Diego Maradona. Maradona is one of the greatest footballers, or soccer players, of all time. He started playing professionally just before his 16th birthday. He was already a popular player when he arrived at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. However, it would be his performance here, especially in the quarterfinal game against England, that would cement his name in history. This story is told in the third person and the past tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “ganó” (won/beat), “partido” (game), “pelota” (ball), “golpeó” (hit), and “Inglaterra” (England). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2026/07/19/simple-stories-in-spanish-told-faster-maradona-y-la-mano-de-dios/  You can find the original slower recording of this story at: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2024/01/16/simple-stories-in-spanish-maradona-y-la-mano-de-dios/  ¡Muchas gracias por escuchar! Thank you for listening, and a HUGE thank you for your support. I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories in Spanish. If you would like to help me in that endeavor, consider buying me a taco at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SpanishTeacher or donating to Small Town Spanish Teacher on Venmo or PayPal. Support the show

The National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC has a lot to see. Tucked among the aircraft there is a display case with a lion. That lion is Gilmore. Gilmore, the flying lion (o león volador) flew more than 25,000 miles, including trips that broke speed records, with his owner Colonel Roscoe Turner, a daredevil pilot and aviation activist.  This story is in the third person and past tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “avión” (plane), “pasajero” (passenger), “carrera” (race),“volar” (to fly), “deleitar” (to delight). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2026/05/31/simple-stories-in-spanish-roscoe-turner-y-el-leon-volador/  ¡Muchas gracias por escuchar! Thank you for listening, and a HUGE thank you for your support. I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories in Spanish. If you would like to help me in that endeavor, consider buying me a taco at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SpanishTeacher . You can also find me on Venmo and PayPal @Small Town Spanish Teacher Support the show

Adrian is not looking forward to the long drive to his grandparents’ house. It takes forever and is so boring. But maybe this trip will be more interesting. Maybe he’ll see dinosaurs, or monster trucks, or aliens. Maybe he’ll even win a race. Probably not, but Adrian can always dream. This story is in the third person and present tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “viaje” (trip),“mochila” (backpack), “manejar” (to drive), “carretera” (highway), “aplastar” (to smash), “seguir” (to continue/follow), “extraterrestre” (alien),  “OVNI/objeto volante no identificado” (UFO/Unidentified Flying Object) No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2026/04/26/simple-stories-in-spanish-el-viaje-largo/  ¡Muchas gracias por escuchar! Thank you for listening, and a HUGE thank you for your support. I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories in Spanish. If you would like to help me in that endeavor, consider buying me a taco at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SpanishTeacher . You can also find me on Venmo and PayPal @Small Town Spanish Teacher Support the show

Every year when I teach my students about Costa Rica we spend time learning about the fascinating animals of Central America. I was reminded of these amazing animals recently when I visited the Smithsonian Natural History Museum in Washington DC. Costa Rica is home to incredible biodiversity and intriguing animals. Today’s story investigates 8 of these animals and their unique characteristics.   This story is in the third person and present tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “perezoso” (sloth/lazy), “mapache” (raccoon), “lagarto” (lizard), “cazar” (to hunt) and “depredadores” (predators). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2026/04/12/simple-stories-in-spanish-los-animales-de-costa-rica/  ¡Muchas gracias por escuchar! Thank you for listening, and a HUGE thank you for your support. I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories in Spanish. If you would like to help me in that endeavor, consider buying me a taco at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SpanishTeacher . You can also find me on Venmo and PayPal @Small Town Spanish Teacher Support the show

In June of 2025 I finally traveled to a place I have wanted to visit for some time: Mexico. The final stop on my Mexico trip was the one I was most excited about: Tulum. The smaller ruins of Tulum are picturesque, located right on the Caribbean coast. There is also a lot of nature to enjoy, and I got to see it up close with a boat ride and canal float. This story is in the first person and past tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “siglo” (century), “abejas” (bees), “miel” (honey), “aretes” (earrings), and “despedirse” (to say good-bye). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2026/03/22/simple-stories-in-spanish-mi-viaje-a-mexico-parte-4/  ¡Muchas gracias por escuchar! Thank you for listening, and a HUGE thank you for your support. I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories in Spanish. If you would like to help me in that endeavor, consider buying me a taco at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SpanishTeacher . You can also find me on Venmo and PayPal @Small Town Spanish Teacher Support the show

In June of 2025 I finally traveled to a place I have wanted to visit for some time: Mexico. In today’s leg of my trip, we left the ruins and the beach behind for a taste of lake life in Bacalar. As a Minnesota girl, I love lake life, and being in the small town of Bacalar was both soothing and uplifting in so many ways. This story is in the first person and past tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “apenas” (just, barely), “amanecer” (dawn, sunrise), “remar” (to row), “árbol” (tree), and “tinte” (dye). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2026/03/16/simple-stories-in-spanish-mi-viaje-a-mexico-parte-3/  ¡Muchas gracias por escuchar! Thank you for listening, and a HUGE thank you for your support. I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories in Spanish. If you would like to help me in that endeavor, consider buying me a taco at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SpanishTeacher . You can also find me on Venmo and PayPal @Small Town Spanish Teacher Support the show

In June of 2025 I finally traveled to a place I have wanted to visit for some time: Mexico. My trip to Mexico began with the beach and then the impressive ruins of Chichén Itzá. However, the best moments of the trip were yet to come, including a magical cenote and a more intimate experience with beautiful Mayan ruins. This story is in the first person and past tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “cenote” (spring fed lake), “piedra” (stone), and “edificio” (building). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2026/03/09/simple-stories-in-spanish-mi-viaje-a-mexico-parte-2/  ¡Muchas gracias por escuchar! Thank you for listening, and a HUGE thank you for your support. I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories in Spanish. If you would like to help me in that endeavor, consider buying me a taco at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SpanishTeacher . You can also find me on Venmo and PayPal @Small Town Spanish Teacher Support the show

In June of 2025 I finally traveled to a place I have wanted to visit for some time: Mexico. It was an amazing adventure filled with history, food, fun, and friendship. It inspired several story ideas, some of which you have already heard and will probably recognize, and some that are still in the works. Above all, this trip to Mexico reminded me of why I love to travel. This story is in the first person and past tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “solitario” (lone), “viajar” (travel), “jamaica” (hibiscus), and “molestaba” (bothered). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2026/03/02/simple-stories-in-spanish-mi-viaje-a-mexico-parte-1/  ¡Muchas gracias por escuchar! Thank you for listening, and a HUGE thank you for your support. I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories in Spanish. If you would like to help me in that endeavor, consider buying me a taco at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SpanishTeacher . You can also find me on Venmo and PayPal @Small Town Spanish Teacher Support the show

They made it out of Xibalbá! They beat the odds, escaping the gods’ tricks and traps. They climbed the roots of the ceiba tree and found their way back to the land of the living. But this adventure isn’t over yet. This story is in the third person and present tense, with multiple other verb forms used as needed to tell the story. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “agarra” (grab), “gira” (rotate), “rugido” (growl), and “cenizas” (ash). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2026/02/16/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-aventura-de-la-vida-parte-11-conclusion/  Find part 1 here: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2025/09/02/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-aventura-de-la-vida-parte-1/  Find part 2 here: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2025/09/22/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-aventura-de-la-vida-parte-2/  Find part 3 here: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2025/10/13/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-aventura-de-la-vida-parte-3/ Find part 4 here: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2025/10/26/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-aventura-de-la-vida-parte-4/ Find part 5 here: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2025/11/09/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-aventura-de-la-vida-parte-5/  Find part 6 here: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2025/11/24/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-aventura-de-la-vida-parte-6/ Find part 7 here: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2025/12/08/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-aventura-de-la-vida-parte-7/ Find part 8 here: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2026/01/04/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-aventura-de-la-vida-parte-8/  Find part 9 here: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2026/01/19/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-aventura-de-la-vida-parte-9/  Find part 10 here: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2026/02/01/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-aventura-de-la-vida-parte-10/ ¡Muchas gracias por escuchar! Thank you for listening, and a HUGE thank you for your support. I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories in Spanish. If you would like to help me in that endeavor, consider buying me a taco at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SpanishTeacher . You can also find me on Venmo and PayPal @Small Town Spanish Teacher Support the show

Sandra is ready to leave Xibalbá. She is tired of the riddles and rooms full of tricks. She feels that they are close to the exit, but she also knows that leaving Xibalbá will never be as easy as it looks. This story is in the third person and present tense, with multiple other verb forms used as needed to tell the story. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “cuchillo” (knife), “raíces” (roots), “salida” (exit), and “gruñir” (to growl). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2026/02/01/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-aventura-de-la-vida-parte-10/  Find part 1 here: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2025/09/02/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-aventura-de-la-vida-parte-1/  Find part 2 here: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2025/09/22/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-aventura-de-la-vida-parte-2/  Find part 3 here: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2025/10/13/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-aventura-de-la-vida-parte-3/ Find part 4 here: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2025/10/26/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-aventura-de-la-vida-parte-4/ Find part 5 here: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2025/11/09/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-aventura-de-la-vida-parte-5/  Find part 6 here: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2025/11/24/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-aventura-de-la-vida-parte-6/ Find part 7 here: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2025/12/08/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-aventura-de-la-vida-parte-7/ Find part 8 here: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2026/01/04/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-aventura-de-la-vida-parte-8/  Find part 9 here: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2026/01/19/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-aventura-de-la-vida-parte-9/  ¡Muchas gracias por escuchar! Thank you for listening, and a HUGE thank you for your support. I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories in Spanish. If you would like to help me in that endeavor, consider buying me a taco at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SpanishTeacher . You can also find me on Venmo and PayPal @Small Town Spanish Teacher Support the show