The decisions we make in life affect so many more people than ourselves. Sergio was born into a large family. He made bad decisions and then decided to change not only his life, but also the lives of orphaned boys. He believed the world needed “sacerdotes chidos”, or “cool priests” to inspire. So he set out to become one and in the process created the coolest priest to ever set foot in a wrestling ring: Fray Tormenta.

This story is in the first person and past tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “pandilla” (gang), “sacerdote” (priest), “iglesia” (church), “pegar” (to hit), “luchar” (to fight), “la lucha libre” (wrestling), “huérfanos” (orphans), “chido” (cool)

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/2026/11/03/simple-stories-in-spanish-fray-tormenta/

¡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

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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

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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

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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