Intermediate Spanish - Spanish Obsessed

We explore "la charla" - small talk. What is it, how is it used, and why? Find some tips for better smalltalk in Spanish in this episode!Don't forget to head to spanishobsessed.com to download your free gifts.

We are apparently going through an "epidemic of loneliness" - especially middle aged men! What could be behind this, and do we see this in our own lives?Sign up for the full transcription at spanishobsessed.com.

The infamous "suegra" - in-law. In Latin cultures, the suegra plays a pivotal part in a couple's life. In this episode, we explore their role, the stereotype, and reveal how we get on with our suegras. 

Money makes us happy, to an extent... But, how much do we need? In this episode, we discuss the link between happiness and wealth, and what our cultures and society teach us about happiness.

Part two of Rob's conversation with Johana. Discover how to master two essential uses of 'por' and 'para' in Spanish: time expressions and opinions. Learn the crucial differences between phrases like "para mañana por la mañana" and why "por mí está bien" means something different from "para mí está bien." Through practical examples from everyday Spanish conversations, you'll finally understand when to use each preposition with confidence.

Rob and Johana discuss "por" and "para". Why are these words so difficult for learners, and what approach can we take to tackling them? In this episode, we'll look at two common uses for por and para.

Join Rob and Spanish teacher Johana in a conversation about Spanish slang. What are the difficulties for us as learners in learning slang, and is it even worth it? 

Rob and Lis discuss an infuriating situation where they live, and what this shows about classism in Colombia

We discuss learning Spanish later in life. While we are not (just yet) in that situation, we have inspiring students who have shared with us how they are successfully learning Spanish in their senior years.

Our experiences trying to teach our 2 year old daughter Spanish and English. 

We recently held our first full Spanish immersion trip in Bogota, where we were joined by 10 participants. Here's how it went.

How important is a native accent, and is it possible to develop one? Is it even desirable? Rob and Lis talk about their own efforts to develop better accents, and some reasonable goals for learners.

Earlier this year, two protestors threw soup over the Mona Lisa. This follows a long list of similar protests of vandalism of artwork - they got our attention, but do the ends justify the means? And, are these types of protests still effective?

We discuss the trend of "positive thinking" - where does this trend come from, and how have we found it? Also, how is it connected to the concept of "manifestation"?

Rob and Lis recently moved to the "Coffee Axis" in Colombia, not just so Rob could feed his caffeine addiction.They discuss their new lifestyle, and how it compares to city living (so long, Bogota!).

Have you seen the show "Traitors"? Rob and Lis got hooked on it, and discuss it in this episode.

Have you met someone truly "toxic"? What do you think made them that way? In this episode, Lis and Rob discuss the "Fundamental Attribution Error" - when we try to explain someone's behavior based mostly on their personality and don't think enough about the situation they are in. 

¿Qué hace que una relación a largo plazo tenga éxito, y hasta qué punto podemos predecirlo de antemano? ¿Existe un alma gemela para todo el mundo, o podemos decidir a quién queremos?

Why do we decide to bake cookies when we've got a deadline tomorrow?How has procrastination affected us, and what can we do about it? Lis and Rob explore their own experiences with procrastinating, and discuss 3 effective strategies to combat it.

Status symbols... How do people mark themselves as high status around the world, and have we fallen into these traps?