

¡Cuéntame! | Learn Spanish with Comprehensible Input
Marta Ruiz Yedinak
Marta Ruiz Yedinak, a Spanish National Board Certified Teacher, uses basic to intermediate level Spanish to tell stories and talk about everyday topics. Second language acquisition takes place through comprehensible input, and when the topics are interesting and compelling to the learner, it happens almost without awareness. Sit back, enjoy, and improve your Spanish listening skills! Join the Facebook group for collaboration!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 25, 2025 • 16min
206. La Santa Compaña
Descubre la escalofriante leyenda de la Santa Compaña, una procesión fantasma que camina por la noche en Galicia. Un líder vivo, que no puede escapar de su destino, entrega una candela a un recién encontrado. Marta comparte formas de protegerse: crear un círculo, rezar o llevar una cruz. Además, explora la importancia de esta leyenda en el folclore gallego y ofrece recomendaciones de libros para quienes están aprendiendo español. ¡No te pierdas los consejos y el pequeño cuestionario sobre esta mística historia!

Nov 17, 2025 • 18min
205. El Xoloitzcuintle
Marta explora la fascinante leyenda del Xoloitzcuintle, un perro sagrado en la cultura azteca. Descubrimos su significado en náhuatl y su papel como guía espiritual hacia el Mictlán. A pesar de ser considerado feo por algunos, el Xolo tiene poderes curativos y es un símbolo de amor con más de tres mil años de historia. La conquista llevó a su casi extinción, pero su resurgimiento y reconocimiento nacional destacan la importancia de esta raza. Además, Marta comparte su novela corta inspirada en esta leyenda y se conecta con oyentes alrededor del mundo.

Oct 30, 2025 • 16min
204. El Silbón
In this first episode of a new ten-part series on Latin American legends, Marta takes listeners to Venezuela to discover a mysterious and chilling tale just in time for Halloween. Using clear and comprehensible Spanish, this episode is perfect for learners who love stories, suspense, and culture.Listeners are invited to support the podcast by rating it, sharing it with friends, and joining the growing community of Spanish learners. Marta also welcomes participation — send her a voice message (in Spanish or English) at 1-920-361-3329, or email her your thoughts and questions!💬 Get involved:Information for the virtual class Email us!Buy Me a CoffeeFacebook GroupInstagram📚 Find comprehensible input–based books for learners at Command Performance Books.

Oct 19, 2025 • 15min
203. ¡Hola, Poska!
In this heartwarming episode, Marta shares a story especially close to her heart — one filled with compassion, second chances, and the unexpected ways love finds us. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the most beautiful connections happen when we least expect them. Look for the pictures at the end of the transcript!If you are interested in taking a Spanish class online with me, complete this form to get more information! If you enjoy the podcast, please take a moment to rate it, share it, and support it so Marta can continue creating meaningful stories like this one. You can find all the links in the show notes — send an email, join the Facebook group, follow on Instagram, or Buy Me a Coffee to show your support.Listeners can also send a voice message in English or Spanish to 1-920-361-3329 — your message might be featured in a future episode, just like Emily's in this one!

Aug 25, 2025 • 18min
202. Mi vida-Parte 7: Profe...¡¿yo?!
Hey friends, it’s Marta! In this episode, I take you into a chapter of my life I never saw coming. Let’s just say… one small decision turned my world upside down and opened a door I swore I would never walk through. 🤔✨👉 Want to know what happened? Hit play, share this episode with a friend, and don’t forget to leave me a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating so more Spanish learners can discover ¡Cuéntame!💌 Email us!☕ Buy Me a Coffee👥 Facebook Group📸 Instagram📞 Send me a voice message in Spanish or English at 1-920-361-3329 to participate in an upcoming episode!

Aug 22, 2025 • 17min
201. Mi vida-Parte 6: ¡Hola, Wisconsin!
🎙️ Episode 201: My Life – Part 6: Hello, Wisconsin!In this episode of ¡Cuéntame!, Marta continues sharing the story of her life. After meeting Keith in Ixtapa, their long-distance relationship grew through phone calls and emails (back in the days before cell phones!). Marta invited Keith to her best friend’s wedding in Morelia, and soon after, it was her turn to visit him in Wisconsin.She opens up about the cultural challenges of making that decision, her family’s reactions, and how love led her to take a brave step. Just months later, she and Keith were married in Las Vegas, beginning a new chapter of their lives together.This episode gives learners a chance to hear real-life Spanish while following Marta’s story of love, culture, and difficult choices.👉 If you’re enjoying the podcast, please rate it with stars and share it with others so more Spanish learners can find us!📩 Email us!☕ Buy Me a Coffee👥 Facebook Group📸 Instagram🎤 Send a voice message in Spanish or English: 1-920-361-3329

Aug 18, 2025 • 17min
200. Mi vida-Parte 5: ¡Hola, Keith!
Previously, Marta talked about life after university—living with her parents and teaching in two schools while searching for new opportunities. But everything began to change when a trip to Ixtapa with friends led her to Señor Frog’s… and that’s where she first locked eyes with Keith. What happened next? That’s the story listeners will hear in this episode.👉 Stay connected with Cuéntame!✉️ Email us!☕ Buy Me a Coffee💬 Join the Facebook Group📸 Follow on InstagramListeners can also send a voice message in Spanish or English to 1-920-361-3329.If you enjoy Cuéntame, don’t forget to rate the podcast with stars and share it with friends—that’s how more people can discover these stories.

Jul 3, 2025 • 15min
199. Mi vida - Parte 4: ¿Productiva?
Welcome to another episode of ¡Cuéntame!, the Spanish podcast created especially for beginner learners. In this episode, host Marta shares part 4 of her personal story in Spanish — this time, focusing on her life after college and the challenges she faced trying to be productiva.As always, there are two versions of this episode. First, you'll hear a slower version with some helpful English translations to support your understanding. After that, there's a second version at normal speed — without translations — for an extra challenge. Don’t forget to check the transcript while you listen; it’s a great tool to follow along and reinforce your learning.We’d love your help spreading the word! Please rate the podcast wherever you listen so that other learners can find us more easily. Share it with your friends, classmates, or anyone who’s learning Spanish.Want to support the podcast? You can find us on Buy Me a Coffee, join the conversation in our Facebook Group, and follow us on Instagram for updates and extra content.And we want to hear from you! Send a voice message — in Spanish or English — to 1-920-361-3329 and be part of the community. You can also email us anytime.Now let’s jump into Episode 199: Mi vida – Parte 4: ¿Productiva?

Jun 28, 2025 • 14min
198. Mi vida-Parte 3: La universidad
🎧 Episode 198: Mi vida – Part 3: La universidadIn this episode of ¡Cuéntame!, Marta shares the ups and downs of her college years. From exploring dentistry and chemistry to discovering a passion for computer science—and ultimately finding her calling in Communications—her journey is full of relatable twists, doubts, and aha moments. She reflects on the friendships she formed, the challenges she faced, and the joy of finally finding a path that truly fit her personality and strengths.Transcript HERE!Designed for Spanish learners, this episode includes two versions: first, a slow-paced version with some English translations, followed immediately by a normal-paced version without translations. Don’t forget to stay until the end for a quick five-sentence translation quiz to test your Spanish skills!If you enjoy this episode, please rate it with stars and share it with fellow language learners. You can also support the show or connect with the community using the links below:👉 Email us!👉 Buy Me a Coffee👉 Facebook Group👉 Instagram🎤 Send a voice message in Spanish or English to 1-920-361-3329, so you can participate in the next episode!

Jun 24, 2025 • 15min
197. Mi vida - Parte 2: La adolescencia
🎧 Episode 197: Mi vida - Part 2: La adolescenciaIn this episode of ¡Cuéntame!, Marta continues sharing her life story—this time focusing on her teenage years. She reflects on the joys of high school, her love of language learning, and the challenges of growing up in a conservative family. From movie nights with friends to strict rules at home, listeners get a personal glimpse into her adolescence in coastal Mexico—and how societal expectations shaped her experience.This episode is perfect for Spanish learners! It includes two versions: first, a slower-paced version with some English translations to support comprehension, followed immediately by a normal-paced version without translations. Be sure to stick around after the main content for a five-sentence translation quiz to test your understanding!Transcript HERE!If you enjoy the episode, please rate it with stars to help others discover the podcast. You can also support the show through the links below!👉 Email us!👉 Buy Me a Coffee👉 Facebook Group👉 Instagram🎤 Send a voice message in Spanish or English to 1-920-361-3329 and participate in the next episode!


