Hispanophiles Podcast Sun, 06 Sep 2026 03:04:42 -0400 https://hispanophiles.buzzsprout.com/ en-us © 2026 Hispanophiles Podcast yes Spain ad41e16a-d98e-50e1-8fff-fc2f77f168bf Hispanophiles episodic false Travel In Spain With Only Half A Brain

A Podcast about Spain and all things Spanish. In each episode, the Hispanophiles explore their adopted home one topic at a time with thought provoking discussions and plenty of laughs.

From biographies of some of Spain's most famous men and women to comprehensive city guides via the essential dos and don'ts of travel in one of the world's most popular destinations, the Hispanophiles bring you as close to the land of sun, sea, siesta and Sangria as possible through your smartphone!

So grab your passport, sunglasses and some decent shoes and come join us on our adventure.

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Spain, Travel, España, Spanish, Visit, Barcelona, Madrid, Europe, Holiday, Valencia, Travelling, Vacation Hispanophiles https://storage.buzzsprout.com/d004cfy16esfw8g86zujytywp984?.jpg Hispanophiles Podcast https://hispanophiles.buzzsprout.com/ Atlético Madrid - The Most Hated Club in Spain | GolGolGolGol Atlético Madrid - The Most Hated Club in Spain | GolGolGolGol The other two big boys may get all the international media attention, but inside Spain there is no club as universally hated as Club Atlético de Madrid. In this episode of GolGolGolGol, we look at the three key events from Atleti's history that have made it the villain of La Liga. Do you think there is a club that is more widely hated in Spain than Atlético? Did we miss any anecdote? Let us know in comments and thanks for listening!

]]> The other two big boys may get all the international media attention, but inside Spain there is no club as universally hated as Club Atlético de Madrid. In this episode of GolGolGolGol, we look at the three key events from Atleti's history that have made it the villain of La Liga. Do you think there is a club that is more widely hated in Spain than Atlético? Did we miss any anecdote? Let us know in comments and thanks for listening!

]]> Hispanophiles Buzzsprout-19758109 Sat, 05 Sep 2026 09:00:00 +0200 2636 spain, podcast, football, soccer, sports, la liga, atletico, atletico madrid, atletico de madrid 3 9 full false Asking AI Our Ridiculous Spain Questions Asking AI Our Ridiculous Spain Questions We've finally fallen in love with AI..... from investigating how much ketchup is lost during La Tomatina to calculating how long it would take Peter Crouch to walk the Camino de Santiago, in this episode James and Silvano ask an AI chatbot all their dumb and silly questions about Spain that they could never ask a Spaniard in person! Note - no bulls were harmed in the making of this podcast episode.
Thank you for listening to the Hispanophiles Podcast. Please like and subscribe to our channel!

]]> We've finally fallen in love with AI..... from investigating how much ketchup is lost during La Tomatina to calculating how long it would take Peter Crouch to walk the Camino de Santiago, in this episode James and Silvano ask an AI chatbot all their dumb and silly questions about Spain that they could never ask a Spaniard in person! Note - no bulls were harmed in the making of this podcast episode.
Thank you for listening to the Hispanophiles Podcast. Please like and subscribe to our channel!

]]> Hispanophiles Buzzsprout-19710122 Thu, 27 Aug 2026 10:00:00 +0200 3134 spain, españa, travel, culture, barcelona, madrid, valencia, pamplona, tomatina, camino de santiago 3 8 full false ONE HAS TO GO Spain Edition ONE HAS TO GO Spain Edition Dalí or Picasso?? Patatas Bravas or Calamares?? Madrid or Barcelona?? In this episode, Angelique and James play "One Has To Go" and identify which of Spain's cultural treasures, historic monuments, natural wonders, gastronomic delights and perennial nasties the country could really do with out.... Did we make the right decision? Were there some categories missing? Let us know in comments, and thanks for listening!!

]]> Dalí or Picasso?? Patatas Bravas or Calamares?? Madrid or Barcelona?? In this episode, Angelique and James play "One Has To Go" and identify which of Spain's cultural treasures, historic monuments, natural wonders, gastronomic delights and perennial nasties the country could really do with out.... Did we make the right decision? Were there some categories missing? Let us know in comments, and thanks for listening!!

]]> Hispanophiles Buzzsprout-19579665 Fri, 31 Jul 2026 11:00:00 +0200 4014 spain, spanish, españa, travel, culture, podcast, madrid, barcelona, valencia, sevilla, andalusia, catalonia, catalunya, andalucia, basque, one has to go, 3 7 full false The Story Of Guernica The Story Of Guernica Pablo Picasso's 1937 anti-war masterpiece remains one of Spain's most important works of art , but the timeline of events from the Nationalist air force campaign against the small Basque town to the publication of the eponymous painting makes the Guernica story even more fascinating. Attempts to keep the truth from the public failed as the French press broke the news of fresh atrocities which finally gave a horrified Picasso a subject for a looming deadline. Many thanks for listening to The Hispanophiles Podcast. 

]]> Pablo Picasso's 1937 anti-war masterpiece remains one of Spain's most important works of art , but the timeline of events from the Nationalist air force campaign against the small Basque town to the publication of the eponymous painting makes the Guernica story even more fascinating. Attempts to keep the truth from the public failed as the French press broke the news of fresh atrocities which finally gave a horrified Picasso a subject for a looming deadline. Many thanks for listening to The Hispanophiles Podcast. 

]]> Hispanophiles Buzzsprout-19376260 Sun, 21 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0200 3352 spain, culture, history, art, picasso, pablo picasso, guernica, paint, painting, basque, basque country, euskera, euskadi, 3 6 full false Spain's Punk Football Club | GolGolGolGol Spain's Punk Football Club | GolGolGolGol CE Júpiter is simultaneously one of most obscure and most celebrated sports clubs in Catalonia. Its longstanding connections to the working class communities of east Barcelona proved to be a springboard for the club's emergence as a vehicle for activism and protest during the turbulent decades of the early 20th century. And although sporting achievements have been lacking in recent seasons, its political ties and community focus have justifiably earned Júpiter praise from around the world.

]]> CE Júpiter is simultaneously one of most obscure and most celebrated sports clubs in Catalonia. Its longstanding connections to the working class communities of east Barcelona proved to be a springboard for the club's emergence as a vehicle for activism and protest during the turbulent decades of the early 20th century. And although sporting achievements have been lacking in recent seasons, its political ties and community focus have justifiably earned Júpiter praise from around the world.

]]> Hispanophiles Buzzsprout-19233722 Mon, 25 May 2026 12:00:00 +0200 3095 spain, españa, catalonia, cataluña, cataluña, barcelona, sports, football, futbol, jupiter, 3 5 full false Ultimate Tier List Of Spanish Nasties Ultimate Tier List Of Spanish Nasties Disease... Bullfighting... Frauds... Having dinner at 10pm.... in this episode we take a break from celebrating all of the amazing things about Spain and turn our attention to the Nasties of Spanish and Iberian history - in Tier List Format! Alex and James sit and give their verdict on which Spanish nasties are minor misdemeanours and which are the worst of the worst (while still having a laugh). Did we miss any subjects out? Let us know in comments and thanks for listening!

]]> Disease... Bullfighting... Frauds... Having dinner at 10pm.... in this episode we take a break from celebrating all of the amazing things about Spain and turn our attention to the Nasties of Spanish and Iberian history - in Tier List Format! Alex and James sit and give their verdict on which Spanish nasties are minor misdemeanours and which are the worst of the worst (while still having a laugh). Did we miss any subjects out? Let us know in comments and thanks for listening!

]]> Hispanophiles Buzzsprout-19104226 Thu, 30 Apr 2026 18:00:00 +0200 2536 spain, spanish, travel, culture, history, tier list, opinion, 3 4 full false Flamenco - The Tragedy Of The World's Greatest Folk Music Flamenco - The Tragedy Of The World's Greatest Folk Music Flamenco is a music style that is easily conceptualised but seldom understood. From humble origins it has found a global audience, but Flamenco's modern reputation as "Spain's national music" would shock its 16th century pioneers who used song and dance as a way to cope with tragedy and despair. In this episode, we introduce you to the advocates, to the detractors and to the trailblazers of cante jondo, and we offer a basic understanding of the tormented history of the world's most popular folk music - as well as its cultural relevance in the 21st century. 

]]> Flamenco is a music style that is easily conceptualised but seldom understood. From humble origins it has found a global audience, but Flamenco's modern reputation as "Spain's national music" would shock its 16th century pioneers who used song and dance as a way to cope with tragedy and despair. In this episode, we introduce you to the advocates, to the detractors and to the trailblazers of cante jondo, and we offer a basic understanding of the tormented history of the world's most popular folk music - as well as its cultural relevance in the 21st century. 

]]> Hispanophiles Buzzsprout-18938566 Tue, 31 Mar 2026 17:00:00 +0200 4396 music, flamenco, spain, spanish, españa, folk music, history, culture, andalusia, andalucia, 3 3 full false Inside Barcelona's Gingerbread House Inside Barcelona's Gingerbread House The Casa Vicens is the private summer house commissioned by stockbroker and merchant Manuel Vicens i Montaner in the charming, alternative neighbourhood of Gràcia. Now open to the public, Vicens gave young local architect Antoni Gaudí his first opportunity to explore ideas and concepts that would later define much of Barcelona's fabulously idiosyncratic modernist architecture. And while Gaudí experimented wildly from room to room, the common colour scheme of the building's exterior gives the Casa Vicens the impression of being one giant gingerbread house!
Have you visited? Is there a different Gaudí building you prefer? Let us know in comments and don't forget to like and subscribe. Many thanks for listening!

]]> The Casa Vicens is the private summer house commissioned by stockbroker and merchant Manuel Vicens i Montaner in the charming, alternative neighbourhood of Gràcia. Now open to the public, Vicens gave young local architect Antoni Gaudí his first opportunity to explore ideas and concepts that would later define much of Barcelona's fabulously idiosyncratic modernist architecture. And while Gaudí experimented wildly from room to room, the common colour scheme of the building's exterior gives the Casa Vicens the impression of being one giant gingerbread house!
Have you visited? Is there a different Gaudí building you prefer? Let us know in comments and don't forget to like and subscribe. Many thanks for listening!

]]> Hispanophiles Buzzsprout-18760487 Fri, 27 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0100 3121 barcelona, architecture, arquitectura, gaudi, spain, españa, design, 3 2 full false What IS Sherry?? What IS Sherry?? Andalusia's fortified wines are some of the most prestigious but most misunderstood drinks on the planet. From the driest of the dry to the sweetest of the sweet, centuries of tradition and careful supervision combine in a small corner of Southwest Spain to produce a range of wines unlike any other on the planet. In this episode, we explore what sherry is, why it is the way it is and what type of sherry is best suited to your palate. ¡Salud! 

]]> Andalusia's fortified wines are some of the most prestigious but most misunderstood drinks on the planet. From the driest of the dry to the sweetest of the sweet, centuries of tradition and careful supervision combine in a small corner of Southwest Spain to produce a range of wines unlike any other on the planet. In this episode, we explore what sherry is, why it is the way it is and what type of sherry is best suited to your palate. ¡Salud! 

]]> Hispanophiles Buzzsprout-18592661 Thu, 29 Jan 2026 22:00:00 +0100 4498 wine, wine lovers, food and drink, gastronomy, spain, españa, andalusia, andalucia, sherry, jerez de la frontera, 3 1 full false The Mercy Killing That Won An Oscar The Mercy Killing That Won An Oscar Paralysed for 3 decades, Ramón Sampedro was the first ever Spaniard to petition the government for the right to end his own life with dignity. When the courts denied his request, he took matters into his own hands and formulated a cunning plan. Not only was he immortalised in the film Mar Adentro that went on to win the Oscar for Best Foreign Film the following year, Sampedro's story changed the debate in Spain that ultimately resulted in a law changes in 2021. Many thanks for listening!

]]> Paralysed for 3 decades, Ramón Sampedro was the first ever Spaniard to petition the government for the right to end his own life with dignity. When the courts denied his request, he took matters into his own hands and formulated a cunning plan. Not only was he immortalised in the film Mar Adentro that went on to win the Oscar for Best Foreign Film the following year, Sampedro's story changed the debate in Spain that ultimately resulted in a law changes in 2021. Many thanks for listening!

]]> Hispanophiles Buzzsprout-18411078 Wed, 24 Dec 2025 12:00:00 +0100 3370 spain, españa, politics, society, film, movie, alejandro amenabar 2 14 full false I Wish Someone Had Told Me This Before I Moved To Spain I Wish Someone Had Told Me This Before I Moved To Spain Different beauty standards, agonising bureaucracy, terrible soups - the grass is not always greener when moving to a new country.
In this episode, the Hispanophiles explore the hidden challenges to moving to Spain that take some getting used to, both the silly and the serious. And the biggest challenge of all is the one thing nobody ever expects to encounter....
Did we miss anything off this list? How does moving to Spain compare to moving to other countries? Let us know in comments, and thanks for listening!

]]> Different beauty standards, agonising bureaucracy, terrible soups - the grass is not always greener when moving to a new country.
In this episode, the Hispanophiles explore the hidden challenges to moving to Spain that take some getting used to, both the silly and the serious. And the biggest challenge of all is the one thing nobody ever expects to encounter....
Did we miss anything off this list? How does moving to Spain compare to moving to other countries? Let us know in comments, and thanks for listening!

]]> Hispanophiles Buzzsprout-18310255 Sat, 06 Dec 2025 23:00:00 +0100 2976 spain, españa, spanish, español, travel, podcast, travel podcast, madrid, barcelona, valencia, malaga, seville, sevilla, 2 13 full false Spain's Fan Ownership Problem | GolGolGolGol Spain's Fan Ownership Problem | GolGolGolGol On June 30th 1992, Ley 10/1990 del Deporte came into effect, forcing all but 4 professional Spanish football clubs to convert to private limited liability companies and sell shares on the market. The objective? To add an extra degree of accountability to ensure Spanish clubs managed their books without compromising the quality of the game. The outcome? A vicious circle of private investors throwing money at the game with skyrocketing costs that distance average fans from the running of their clubs. In 3 decades, dozens of great clubs in Spain have fallen foul of incompetent owners, dodgy business deals and mountains of debt while Real and Barca consolidate their duopoly. But new legislation passed in 2022 ostensibly designed to protect employees in Spanish sport has thrown an unintended lifeline to aspiring fan-owned football clubs from Spain's lower leagues. Thanks for listening!

]]> On June 30th 1992, Ley 10/1990 del Deporte came into effect, forcing all but 4 professional Spanish football clubs to convert to private limited liability companies and sell shares on the market. The objective? To add an extra degree of accountability to ensure Spanish clubs managed their books without compromising the quality of the game. The outcome? A vicious circle of private investors throwing money at the game with skyrocketing costs that distance average fans from the running of their clubs. In 3 decades, dozens of great clubs in Spain have fallen foul of incompetent owners, dodgy business deals and mountains of debt while Real and Barca consolidate their duopoly. But new legislation passed in 2022 ostensibly designed to protect employees in Spanish sport has thrown an unintended lifeline to aspiring fan-owned football clubs from Spain's lower leagues. Thanks for listening!

]]> Hispanophiles Buzzsprout-18194819 Sat, 15 Nov 2025 11:00:00 +0100 3212 spain, sport, sports, deporte, deportes, football, futbol, soccer, la liga, 2 12 full false Idiot's Guide To Toledo - Faiths and Fortresses Idiot's Guide To Toledo - Faiths and Fortresses The Romans, the Visigoths, the Sephardim, the Moors and the Castilians.... Each great civilisation in Spain left its mark in the Medieval Fortress City of Toledo. The first ever capital of what would later be called Spain, Toledo is located almost perfectly in the middle of the country and entices countless culture-cravers with its otherworldly relics and architectural gems. Come explore one of Spain's truly great cities as we trace the steps of Visigothic kings, Jewish scholars, Umayyad statesmen, Catholic knights and a plot to blow up the biggest building on the skyline....

]]> The Romans, the Visigoths, the Sephardim, the Moors and the Castilians.... Each great civilisation in Spain left its mark in the Medieval Fortress City of Toledo. The first ever capital of what would later be called Spain, Toledo is located almost perfectly in the middle of the country and entices countless culture-cravers with its otherworldly relics and architectural gems. Come explore one of Spain's truly great cities as we trace the steps of Visigothic kings, Jewish scholars, Umayyad statesmen, Catholic knights and a plot to blow up the biggest building on the skyline....

]]> Hispanophiles Buzzsprout-17927909 Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0200 4789 spain, toledo, travel, history, españa, castile, castilla, castilla y la mancha, castilla la mancha, 2 11 full false BRUTALLY Rating Every Spanish Region BRUTALLY Rating Every Spanish Region Having visited each comunidad autónoma in Spain, James reviews every region and gives his brutally honest rating, from worst to best. What makes a place worth visiting? Food? Architecture? Lifestyle? The locals? That indescribable X factor? In this episode, there are no holes bared as we give our honest assessment of each corner of Spain - PLUS the 5 cities we LEAST liked visiting. Enjoy = )

]]> Having visited each comunidad autónoma in Spain, James reviews every region and gives his brutally honest rating, from worst to best. What makes a place worth visiting? Food? Architecture? Lifestyle? The locals? That indescribable X factor? In this episode, there are no holes bared as we give our honest assessment of each corner of Spain - PLUS the 5 cities we LEAST liked visiting. Enjoy = )

]]> Hispanophiles Buzzsprout-17428721 Tue, 01 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +0200 2959 spain, españa, travel, travel podcast, holiday, madrid, barcelona, valencia, seville, sevilla, malaga, zaragoza, bilbao, andalusia, andalucia, aragon, asturias, cantabria, castilla, castilla la mancha, castilla leon, castilla y leon, catalunya, cataluña, 2 10 full false The Ultimate Spain Bucket List The Ultimate Spain Bucket List Spain is a country that offers anything you could want - the best beaches, the finest cuisine, the wildest parties and the craziest cultural events. But which are the ones you really need to put on your bucket list? In this episode the Hispanophiles present the top 10 cultural bucket list activities that you must do in Spain at least once, from wine battles to stargazing via running with the bulls. But is there anything you think we've missed? What activities would you put on your Spain bucket list? We hope you enjoy this episode!

]]> Spain is a country that offers anything you could want - the best beaches, the finest cuisine, the wildest parties and the craziest cultural events. But which are the ones you really need to put on your bucket list? In this episode the Hispanophiles present the top 10 cultural bucket list activities that you must do in Spain at least once, from wine battles to stargazing via running with the bulls. But is there anything you think we've missed? What activities would you put on your Spain bucket list? We hope you enjoy this episode!

]]> Hispanophiles Buzzsprout-17306753 Mon, 09 Jun 2025 19:00:00 +0200 2667 spain, españa, travel, podcast, travel podcast, barcelona, madrid, seville, sevilla, valencia, malaga, zaragoza, bilbao, bucket list, 2 9 full false Andalusia's Most Underrated Tourist Attraction Andalusia's Most Underrated Tourist Attraction The Casa de Pilatos is a 16th century palace that fuses multiple architectural styles in the middle of Seville - the city at the centre of the world in the 1500s. Between the Mudejar archways and the Romanesque columns, the Casa de Pilatos boasts the first ever application of Italian Renaissance design anywhere on the Iberian Peninsula. Therefore, the palace tells the story of the evolution of Spain's high society in the post-Columbian and post-reconquest era where silver mined in the Americas paid for tonnes of neoclassical marble statues imported from Naples. But in spite of its splendour, the Casa de Pilatos remains relatively unknown to the millions of people coming to Spain each year!

]]> The Casa de Pilatos is a 16th century palace that fuses multiple architectural styles in the middle of Seville - the city at the centre of the world in the 1500s. Between the Mudejar archways and the Romanesque columns, the Casa de Pilatos boasts the first ever application of Italian Renaissance design anywhere on the Iberian Peninsula. Therefore, the palace tells the story of the evolution of Spain's high society in the post-Columbian and post-reconquest era where silver mined in the Americas paid for tonnes of neoclassical marble statues imported from Naples. But in spite of its splendour, the Casa de Pilatos remains relatively unknown to the millions of people coming to Spain each year!

]]> Hispanophiles Buzzsprout-17179328 Sat, 17 May 2025 16:00:00 +0200 2846 spain, españa, sevilla, seville, andalusia, andalucia, architecture, travel, travel podcast, history, culture, society 2 8 full false Is Athletic Bilbao Really Completely Basque?? | GolGolGolGol Is Athletic Bilbao Really Completely Basque?? | GolGolGolGol Athletic Club Bilbao claims to be a Basque club for the Basque people, but is it really so? In this Episode of GolGolGolGol, we ruthlessly examine the biggest and most successful Football club of Euskal Herria and look at the ways in which its characteristics represent Basque culture and heritage, from the music played in the stadium, the "Gabarra Athletic" and of course the much celebrated "Basque Only" player hiring policy. But has the club been lying about the origin of some of its recent players?
Thanks for listening!

]]> Athletic Club Bilbao claims to be a Basque club for the Basque people, but is it really so? In this Episode of GolGolGolGol, we ruthlessly examine the biggest and most successful Football club of Euskal Herria and look at the ways in which its characteristics represent Basque culture and heritage, from the music played in the stadium, the "Gabarra Athletic" and of course the much celebrated "Basque Only" player hiring policy. But has the club been lying about the origin of some of its recent players?
Thanks for listening!

]]> Hispanophiles Buzzsprout-17057684 Mon, 28 Apr 2025 18:00:00 +0200 2846 spain, travel, españa, podcast, travel, travel podcast, football, futbol, sports, football podcast, athletic bilbao, athletic club, real sociedad, basque, basque country, basque region, euskal herria, euskadi, euskera, 2 7 full false Pre-Historic Humans in Spain; From Atapuerca To Altamira Pre-Historic Humans in Spain; From Atapuerca To Altamira 4,000 years.... 750,000 years.... ten million years.... How long do you think human beings have been living in Spain??


In this episode the Hispanophiles become anthropologists and get digging in the Sierra de Atapuerca to learn all about the lives of the earliest humans ever to live in Spain. From Ronda to Santander, the discoveries of fossilised skeletons and cave paintings illustrate the spread of the first hominids in the Iberian Peninsula. But although Homo Antecessor, Homo Heidelbergensis and the Neanderthals thrived across Spain for hundreds of thousands of years, climate disaster and the arrival of a new specimen quickly drove them to extinction....


We hope you enjoy this fascinating look at ancient history, and thank you for listening to the Hispanophiles podcast!

]]> 4,000 years.... 750,000 years.... ten million years.... How long do you think human beings have been living in Spain??


In this episode the Hispanophiles become anthropologists and get digging in the Sierra de Atapuerca to learn all about the lives of the earliest humans ever to live in Spain. From Ronda to Santander, the discoveries of fossilised skeletons and cave paintings illustrate the spread of the first hominids in the Iberian Peninsula. But although Homo Antecessor, Homo Heidelbergensis and the Neanderthals thrived across Spain for hundreds of thousands of years, climate disaster and the arrival of a new specimen quickly drove them to extinction....


We hope you enjoy this fascinating look at ancient history, and thank you for listening to the Hispanophiles podcast!

]]> Hispanophiles Buzzsprout-16882951 Sun, 30 Mar 2025 13:00:00 +0200 3599 spain, history, pre historic, human, human evolution, evolution, science, 2 6 full false The Siesta Special The Siesta Special Do the Spanish still take siesta? How long is it supposed to last? What are its origins?

In this episode of the Hispanophiles Podcast, we're grabbing a pillow and talking everything Siesta - the famous Spanish tradition of grabbing some shut eye for 20 minutes in the middle of the day. Contrary to popular belief, the Siesta is a core institution of traditional family and town life all around the country. The pressures of the modern world and the demands of a globalised economy are threatening one of the greatest Spanish traditions of them all! But as the hidden health costs of an under rested population accumulate, is the world ready for a resurgence of the Siesta?

Thank you very much for listening and we hope you enjoy the episode!

]]> Do the Spanish still take siesta? How long is it supposed to last? What are its origins?

In this episode of the Hispanophiles Podcast, we're grabbing a pillow and talking everything Siesta - the famous Spanish tradition of grabbing some shut eye for 20 minutes in the middle of the day. Contrary to popular belief, the Siesta is a core institution of traditional family and town life all around the country. The pressures of the modern world and the demands of a globalised economy are threatening one of the greatest Spanish traditions of them all! But as the hidden health costs of an under rested population accumulate, is the world ready for a resurgence of the Siesta?

Thank you very much for listening and we hope you enjoy the episode!

]]> Hispanophiles Buzzsprout-16843268 Sun, 23 Mar 2025 12:00:00 +0100 2855 spain, españa, travel, siesta, culture 2 5 full false My First Culture Shocks In Spain My First Culture Shocks In Spain ¡Buenos días Hispanophiles!

In this episode, James takes us back to the very first day he moved to Spain and shares the greatest culture shocks and biggest surprises he experienced living in rural Andalusia. A 5 month internship was filled with drunk carpenters, nosey neighbours, arrogant managers, snails for dinner and a tiny town that could find any excuse to throw a wild party.

There is no better way to discover a foreign culture than small town life, so sit back and enjoy this story of a wide-eyed kid making the most of every moment!!

]]> ¡Buenos días Hispanophiles!

In this episode, James takes us back to the very first day he moved to Spain and shares the greatest culture shocks and biggest surprises he experienced living in rural Andalusia. A 5 month internship was filled with drunk carpenters, nosey neighbours, arrogant managers, snails for dinner and a tiny town that could find any excuse to throw a wild party.

There is no better way to discover a foreign culture than small town life, so sit back and enjoy this story of a wide-eyed kid making the most of every moment!!

]]> Hispanophiles Buzzsprout-16748548 Fri, 07 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0100 4339 spain, españa, travel, culture 2 4 full false What Else Are The Spanish World Champions At?? What Else Are The Spanish World Champions At?? What do the Spanish do better than anybody else??


Hey Hispanophiles, in this episode we are celebrating the little things that our Iberian friends do better than anybody else in the world and asking ourselves "what else are the Spanish World Champions at?" From keeping their city streets clean to folk music via motorway service station food, James, Jessica and Silvano each propose 3 things that they think the Spanish do better than anybody else on the planet. Spoiler alert: arriving on time is not one of them.....


Is there anything else we missed from this list? What do YOU think the Spanish do better than everybody else in the world? Comment below if we missed anything off and like and subscribe. Thanks for listening!

]]> What do the Spanish do better than anybody else??


Hey Hispanophiles, in this episode we are celebrating the little things that our Iberian friends do better than anybody else in the world and asking ourselves "what else are the Spanish World Champions at?" From keeping their city streets clean to folk music via motorway service station food, James, Jessica and Silvano each propose 3 things that they think the Spanish do better than anybody else on the planet. Spoiler alert: arriving on time is not one of them.....


Is there anything else we missed from this list? What do YOU think the Spanish do better than everybody else in the world? Comment below if we missed anything off and like and subscribe. Thanks for listening!

]]> Hispanophiles Buzzsprout-16626766 Sat, 15 Feb 2025 11:00:00 +0100 3427 2 3 full false The First Man To Sail Around The Earth The First Man To Sail Around The Earth Hello Hispanophiles! On today's episode we are going back to the age of exploration and joining the crew of Fernando de Magallanes a.k.a Fernão de Magalhães a.k.a Ferdinand Magellan on their 16th century circumnavigation of Earth - something that had never been done before. Eager to match their great rival Portugal and directly access the valuable commodities of the Spice Islands of the East Indies, Magellan was given license to lead a team of 235 and 5 ships from Spain, around the Americas, across the Pacific and to the Malay Archipelago where they could load up with lots of valuable spices. But Magellan's plan was flawed, and his stubbornness and poor leaderships constantly got the crew into trouble wherever they went. And when they finally arrived in the modern day Philippines, Magellan's overconfidence cost him his life, and his shipmate Spanish Juan Sebastian Elcano would be the one who took the glory when he sailed back to Spain....
We hope you enjoyed this episode packed with history! Thanks for listening!

]]> Hello Hispanophiles! On today's episode we are going back to the age of exploration and joining the crew of Fernando de Magallanes a.k.a Fernão de Magalhães a.k.a Ferdinand Magellan on their 16th century circumnavigation of Earth - something that had never been done before. Eager to match their great rival Portugal and directly access the valuable commodities of the Spice Islands of the East Indies, Magellan was given license to lead a team of 235 and 5 ships from Spain, around the Americas, across the Pacific and to the Malay Archipelago where they could load up with lots of valuable spices. But Magellan's plan was flawed, and his stubbornness and poor leaderships constantly got the crew into trouble wherever they went. And when they finally arrived in the modern day Philippines, Magellan's overconfidence cost him his life, and his shipmate Spanish Juan Sebastian Elcano would be the one who took the glory when he sailed back to Spain....
We hope you enjoyed this episode packed with history! Thanks for listening!

]]> Hispanophiles Buzzsprout-16504705 Sun, 26 Jan 2025 17:00:00 +0100 2819 spain, spanish, portugal, explore, exploration, history, indonesia, philippines, brazil, magellan, elcano 2 2 full false How To Travel In Spain On A Budget How To Travel In Spain On A Budget Welcome to the Hispanophiles' ultimate guide to travel in Spain on a shoe-string budget!! In this episode we share our best tips on how to get the most out of your trip to Spain for cheap, from recognising the overpriced restaurants and tapas bars to navigating public transport from one city to another for under 10 Euros. Plus we reveal the most backpacker-friendly city in all of Spain!!
Thank you for listening!

]]> Welcome to the Hispanophiles' ultimate guide to travel in Spain on a shoe-string budget!! In this episode we share our best tips on how to get the most out of your trip to Spain for cheap, from recognising the overpriced restaurants and tapas bars to navigating public transport from one city to another for under 10 Euros. Plus we reveal the most backpacker-friendly city in all of Spain!!
Thank you for listening!

]]> Hispanophiles Buzzsprout-16418811 Sat, 11 Jan 2025 12:00:00 +0100 4071 spain, travel, españa, spanish, holiday, vacation, 2 1 full false Villarreal's Journey from Provincial Minnow to Europa League Winners | GolGolGolGol Villarreal's Journey from Provincial Minnow to Europa League Winners | GolGolGolGol Welcome to Villarreal - the Europa League champions from a town small enough to fit into most stadiums!
In this episode of GolGolGolGol the Hispanophiles are taking a look at extraordinary rise of Villarreal CF; the "Yellow Submarine". Now a difficult team for anyone to play against, Villarreal does not come from a large city and it does not boast centuries of tradition like other many Spanish Football clubs. However the astute business decisions of one local family have allowed it to leapfrog its bitter neighbours up La Liga and into the final of European competition.... but how?
We hope you enjoy this episode! Like, comment and subscribe and we'll see you soon!

]]> Welcome to Villarreal - the Europa League champions from a town small enough to fit into most stadiums!
In this episode of GolGolGolGol the Hispanophiles are taking a look at extraordinary rise of Villarreal CF; the "Yellow Submarine". Now a difficult team for anyone to play against, Villarreal does not come from a large city and it does not boast centuries of tradition like other many Spanish Football clubs. However the astute business decisions of one local family have allowed it to leapfrog its bitter neighbours up La Liga and into the final of European competition.... but how?
We hope you enjoy this episode! Like, comment and subscribe and we'll see you soon!

]]> Hispanophiles Buzzsprout-16160055 Sat, 23 Nov 2024 14:00:00 +0100 3377 la liga, villarreal, spain, españa, football, futbol, sport, valencia, 1 12 full false The Coolest Gaudi Building You've Never Heard Of The Coolest Gaudi Building You've Never Heard Of ¡Buenos días chicos! In this episode, the Hispanophiles visit Bellesguard - a fortified royal house in Barcelona restored by Catalonian architect Antoni Gaudí who left subtle clues and details all around the building to honour the grand history of the House of Barcelona and the monarchs who built this place. But while other more famous Gaudí works are known for their colour and vibrance, Bellesguard is darker, more mysterious and has far more secrets.... But best of all, the visitors who are brave enough to climb to the rooftop come face to face with a recreation of the fearsome dragon slain by Saint George the patron saint of Barcelona!
Have you ever visited the Bellesguard house? How does it compare to Antoni Gaudí's other famous landmarks? Let us know in comments and thanks for listening!

]]> ¡Buenos días chicos! In this episode, the Hispanophiles visit Bellesguard - a fortified royal house in Barcelona restored by Catalonian architect Antoni Gaudí who left subtle clues and details all around the building to honour the grand history of the House of Barcelona and the monarchs who built this place. But while other more famous Gaudí works are known for their colour and vibrance, Bellesguard is darker, more mysterious and has far more secrets.... But best of all, the visitors who are brave enough to climb to the rooftop come face to face with a recreation of the fearsome dragon slain by Saint George the patron saint of Barcelona!
Have you ever visited the Bellesguard house? How does it compare to Antoni Gaudí's other famous landmarks? Let us know in comments and thanks for listening!

]]> Hispanophiles Buzzsprout-15991394 Fri, 25 Oct 2024 19:00:00 +0200 3475 spain, travel, spanish, españa, barcelona, catalonia, catalunya, cataluña, gaudi, antoni gaudi, bellesguard, architecture 1 11 full false Spain's Most Dangerous Animals (Excluding Politicians) Spain's Most Dangerous Animals (Excluding Politicians) If you go down to the woods today, you're in for a big surprise....

From creepy crawlies to beasty maulies, in this episode the Hispanophiles take a look at all the dangerous animals you can find in Spain as well as the best ways to avoid them. They may be camouflaged in dense forests, lurking in shallow rock pools, or even waiting patiently in your shoes by the back door....

Like, subscribe, enjoy the episode and stay safe!!

]]> If you go down to the woods today, you're in for a big surprise....

From creepy crawlies to beasty maulies, in this episode the Hispanophiles take a look at all the dangerous animals you can find in Spain as well as the best ways to avoid them. They may be camouflaged in dense forests, lurking in shallow rock pools, or even waiting patiently in your shoes by the back door....

Like, subscribe, enjoy the episode and stay safe!!

]]> Hispanophiles Buzzsprout-15912721 Sat, 12 Oct 2024 14:00:00 +0200 4651 spain, travel, españa, spanish, travel podcast, 1 10 full false Your Perfect Spanish Holiday (featuring Daniel Radcliffe) Your Perfect Spanish Holiday (featuring Daniel Radcliffe) No plans yet for your next holiday? Struggling to decide where to go? The Hispanophiles have got you covered! 

In this episode, Mistique, James and Daniel Radcliffe throw caution to the wind and discuss what their perfect 7 day holiday in Spain would look like! From bodega tours to history walks, from horse races to fine dining, we leave no stone unturned in our plan to deliver you the PERFECT itinerary for your next summer vacation.

Do you agree with our choices? What would your perfect trip in Spain include? Thanks for listening and have a great holiday!

And yes, fine, we'll admit.... Daniel Radcliffe didn't actually join us for this episode =D

]]> No plans yet for your next holiday? Struggling to decide where to go? The Hispanophiles have got you covered! 

In this episode, Mistique, James and Daniel Radcliffe throw caution to the wind and discuss what their perfect 7 day holiday in Spain would look like! From bodega tours to history walks, from horse races to fine dining, we leave no stone unturned in our plan to deliver you the PERFECT itinerary for your next summer vacation.

Do you agree with our choices? What would your perfect trip in Spain include? Thanks for listening and have a great holiday!

And yes, fine, we'll admit.... Daniel Radcliffe didn't actually join us for this episode =D

]]> Hispanophiles Buzzsprout-15752252 Sat, 14 Sep 2024 19:00:00 +0200 3884 spain, travel, españa, spanish, seville, sevilla, barcelona, malaga, granada, cordoba, cadiz, bilbao, pamplona, san sebastian, 1 9 full false Spanish City Top Trumps!! Spanish City Top Trumps!! And the winner is..... 

For this episode, James and Silvano are joined by Angelique, Ino and Jessica for a game of Spanish City Top Trumps to decide which is the best city in Spain one and for all!

We ranked each Spanish city and awarded points depending on how cool or lame each city was in 8 categories before awarding the definitive title of "Best City in Spain" to the city that scored the most points!!

Do you agree with our result? Which categories would you have chosen? Or should we have chosen a different city in Spain? Let us know in comments and thanks very much for listening! ¡Suscríbete y hasta luego!

]]> And the winner is..... 

For this episode, James and Silvano are joined by Angelique, Ino and Jessica for a game of Spanish City Top Trumps to decide which is the best city in Spain one and for all!

We ranked each Spanish city and awarded points depending on how cool or lame each city was in 8 categories before awarding the definitive title of "Best City in Spain" to the city that scored the most points!!

Do you agree with our result? Which categories would you have chosen? Or should we have chosen a different city in Spain? Let us know in comments and thanks very much for listening! ¡Suscríbete y hasta luego!

]]> Hispanophiles Buzzsprout-15710370 Sat, 07 Sep 2024 19:00:00 +0200 4538 spain, españa, travel, holiday, visit spain, travel spain, 1 8 full false The COMPLETE History of the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix The COMPLETE History of the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix Everything you need to know about the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix! 

In this episode, James and Mistique explore the history of the Spanish Grand Prix through the ages from the nascent era of motorracing in Spain and look to the future and the shock decision to move the race to Madrid in 2026. The halcyon days of pre-civil war Grand Prix racing were soon replaced with decades of tragedy, heartbreak, sacrifice and turmoil as Formula 1 racing struggled to find a secure home in Spain until the competition arrived at the Circuito de Barcelona-Catalunya in 1991. But after 32 years of loyal service, the European stalwart circuit now finds itself usurped by the country's jealous capital city....

Thanks for listening!

]]> Everything you need to know about the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix! 

In this episode, James and Mistique explore the history of the Spanish Grand Prix through the ages from the nascent era of motorracing in Spain and look to the future and the shock decision to move the race to Madrid in 2026. The halcyon days of pre-civil war Grand Prix racing were soon replaced with decades of tragedy, heartbreak, sacrifice and turmoil as Formula 1 racing struggled to find a secure home in Spain until the competition arrived at the Circuito de Barcelona-Catalunya in 1991. But after 32 years of loyal service, the European stalwart circuit now finds itself usurped by the country's jealous capital city....

Thanks for listening!

]]> Hispanophiles Buzzsprout-15652506 Thu, 29 Aug 2024 08:00:00 +0200 4986 spain, spanish, españa, formula 1, barcelona, motorracing, motor racing, f1, max verstappen, lewis hamilton, lando norris, 1 7 full false THIS Is Why Living In Barcelona Sucks.... THIS Is Why Living In Barcelona Sucks.... Yes, we know the title is a bit clickbaity.... but not everything that glitters is gold!! 
In this episode, the Hispanophiles let it all out as Silvano, Mistique and James sit down and discuss the 3 things they hate most about living in Barcelona - as well as working out what we can do to fix them. 
Things got heated in the podcast booth.... Do you agree with our choices? Thanks for listening and see you soon!

]]> Yes, we know the title is a bit clickbaity.... but not everything that glitters is gold!! 
In this episode, the Hispanophiles let it all out as Silvano, Mistique and James sit down and discuss the 3 things they hate most about living in Barcelona - as well as working out what we can do to fix them. 
Things got heated in the podcast booth.... Do you agree with our choices? Thanks for listening and see you soon!

]]> Hispanophiles Buzzsprout-15560696 Sat, 10 Aug 2024 09:00:00 +0200 2947 Spain, Travel, España, Spanish, Barcelona, Catalonia, Catalunya, Cataluña, 1 6 full false Salvador Dali's Crazy Life Salvador Dali's Crazy Life ¡Hola chicos! In this episode the Hispanophiles learn all about the wild life of Salvador Dali, one of the most celebrated and vilified artists of all time. In spite of a difficult childhood, his outrageous talent and wild curiosity paved the way for his emergence as a cultural icon and international rockstar living in his own time. But Dali's genius, originality and flare were often overshadowed by the controversaries that seemed to follow him, and he lived out his final days penniless and paranoid. Whether you love him or loathe him, Salvador Dali was undoubtedly one of the most influential Spaniards of the 20th century - listen, like and subscribe!

]]> ¡Hola chicos! In this episode the Hispanophiles learn all about the wild life of Salvador Dali, one of the most celebrated and vilified artists of all time. In spite of a difficult childhood, his outrageous talent and wild curiosity paved the way for his emergence as a cultural icon and international rockstar living in his own time. But Dali's genius, originality and flare were often overshadowed by the controversaries that seemed to follow him, and he lived out his final days penniless and paranoid. Whether you love him or loathe him, Salvador Dali was undoubtedly one of the most influential Spaniards of the 20th century - listen, like and subscribe!

]]> Hispanophiles Buzzsprout-15387119 Sun, 21 Jul 2024 10:00:00 +0200 3935 Dali, Salvador Dali, Art, Artists, Spain, Travel, España, Spanish, Travel Podcast, Visit Spain, 1 5 full false Idiot's Guide to Seville - Bullrings and Moorish Kings Idiot's Guide to Seville - Bullrings and Moorish Kings Welcome to Seville - capital of Andalusia and one of the most distinctive and fascinating cities not just in Spain, not just in Europe, but in the entire world! In this episode the Hispanophiles take a trip to the ancient city to uncover its magnificent past, unearth some of its dark secrets and point out some of the most breath-taking sites Seville has to offer. From UNESCO World Heritage Sites to abandoned space rockets, join us on our trip to Spain's 4th largest city!

]]> Welcome to Seville - capital of Andalusia and one of the most distinctive and fascinating cities not just in Spain, not just in Europe, but in the entire world! In this episode the Hispanophiles take a trip to the ancient city to uncover its magnificent past, unearth some of its dark secrets and point out some of the most breath-taking sites Seville has to offer. From UNESCO World Heritage Sites to abandoned space rockets, join us on our trip to Spain's 4th largest city!

]]> Hispanophiles Buzzsprout-15386998 Tue, 09 Jul 2024 19:00:00 +0200 3938 Seville, Sevilla, Andalusia, Andalucia, Spain, Travel, España, Spanish, Travel Podcast, Visit Spain, 1 4 full false Evolution of the Tourism Industry in Spain (Hangover Optional) Evolution of the Tourism Industry in Spain (Hangover Optional) In episode 003, the Hispanophiles delve into the history books to understand the evolution of the tourism industry in Spain and how it became one of the world's most popular holiday destinations!

Your hosts examine how Spain transformed itself through the 20th century, the incredible impact international tourism had for the Spanish (economically and culturally), what the future for Spanish tourism might look like and the potential dangers that an economic reliance on tourism poses for the country.

From the Camino de Santiago to package holidays on the Costa del Sol, all is revealed in this episode! Listen, like, subscribe and enjoy!

]]> In episode 003, the Hispanophiles delve into the history books to understand the evolution of the tourism industry in Spain and how it became one of the world's most popular holiday destinations!

Your hosts examine how Spain transformed itself through the 20th century, the incredible impact international tourism had for the Spanish (economically and culturally), what the future for Spanish tourism might look like and the potential dangers that an economic reliance on tourism poses for the country.

From the Camino de Santiago to package holidays on the Costa del Sol, all is revealed in this episode! Listen, like, subscribe and enjoy!

]]> Hispanophiles Buzzsprout-15214199 Sat, 08 Jun 2024 01:00:00 +0200 3187 Spain, Travel, España, Spanish, Travel Podcast, Visit Spain, 1 3 full false Exploring Spanish Geography And Debunking Mistique's Siesta Scepticism!! Exploring Spanish Geography And Debunking Mistique's Siesta Scepticism!! In this episode, the Hispanophiles explore Spain's extraordinary geography, from the top of the highest mountains to the bottom of the deepest rivers. Taking a step back, the Hispanophiles ask the big questions about the country's main geographical features while also sharing their thoughts on some of their earliest culture shocks in Spain. Enjoy!

]]> In this episode, the Hispanophiles explore Spain's extraordinary geography, from the top of the highest mountains to the bottom of the deepest rivers. Taking a step back, the Hispanophiles ask the big questions about the country's main geographical features while also sharing their thoughts on some of their earliest culture shocks in Spain. Enjoy!

]]> Hispanophiles Buzzsprout-15214035 Sat, 08 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0200 3874 Spain, Travel, España, Spanish, Travel Podcast, Visit Spain, 1 2 full false Meet Your Hosts! (And How Not To Impress An Air Hostess....) Meet Your Hosts! (And How Not To Impress An Air Hostess....) The Hispanophiles Podcast is live!! In the very first episode, Silvano, Mistique and James discuss their "origin stories" and how they made the bold decision to move to Spain as well as their initial impressions of the city where they all first met - Barcelona. Thanks for listening!!

]]> The Hispanophiles Podcast is live!! In the very first episode, Silvano, Mistique and James discuss their "origin stories" and how they made the bold decision to move to Spain as well as their initial impressions of the city where they all first met - Barcelona. Thanks for listening!!

]]> Hispanophiles Podcast Buzzsprout-15213971 Fri, 07 Jun 2024 23:00:00 +0200 3613 Spain, Travel, España, Spanish, Travel Podcast, Visit Spain, 1 1 full false