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Episode 130: Special Guest, Kate Connelly, Shares Her Stories About the 'Nomad' Life

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Episode 130: Special Guest, Kate Connelly, Shares Her Stories About the 'Nomad' Life

With the rise of remote work during the pandemic, the world has seen a significant increase in people leaving their urban homes for more rural settings away from the city and traditional office settings.

Some are even brave enough to leave their permanent homes behind and accept a nomad lifestyle, traveling from place to place to live and work.

Join us for today’s episode as we sit down with special guest, Kate Connelly, to talk about her decision to leave her urban life in Washington DC and take on the nomad life from the beaches of Rhode Island to the mountains of Colorado.

Read the full transcript on our website: https://www.dynamicenglish.cl/coffee-with-gringos-podcast-clases-particulares-de-ingles/episode-130-special-guest-kate-connelly

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Episode 129: What is a Ponzi Scheme? Its Origin Story and Much More

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Episode 129: What is a Ponzi Scheme? Its Origin Story and Much More

A Ponzi scheme is a fraudulent investing scam that generates returns for earlier investors with money taken from later investors. This is similar to a pyramid scheme in that both are based on using new investors' funds to pay the earlier backers.

These schemes have existed for many years and examples can be found all over the world from Brazil’s Telexfree to Alberto Chang in Chile.

But, why is it called a Ponzi scheme? And how are these con artists able to trick so many people into giving them their money for a reward that doesn’t really exist?

Join us for today’s episode as we discuss the origins of Ponzi schemes, how they function, and how Bernie Madoff successfully pulled off the biggest Ponzi scheme in history.

Read the full transcript here: https://www.dynamicenglish.cl/coffee-with-gringos-podcast-clases-particulares-de-ingles/episode-129-what-is-a-ponzi-scheme

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Episode 128:  The Death Penalty....For Better or Worse

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Episode 128: The Death Penalty....For Better or Worse

The death penalty—also known as capital punishment—is the execution or killing of an offender sentenced to death by a court of law for a serious crime such as murder.

While many countries have abolished capital punishment, it still remains a prevalent practice in many other countries, including the United States where seventeen executions took place in 2020 alone.

Join us for today’s episode as we discuss the dark and controversial issue of the death penalty.

Read the full transcript here: https://www.dynamicenglish.cl/coffee-with-gringos-podcast-clases-particulares-de-ingles/episode-128-the-death-penalty

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Episode 127: On the Road Again...CWG talks all about road trips

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Episode 127: On the Road Again...CWG talks all about road trips

There are few things that give us a sense of freedom like hopping in the car and driving a long distance from one place to another, viewing the scenery and landscapes along the way. Road trips give us the opportunity to explore new places and cultures, see famous and unknown attractions, and bond with our friends and family.

Like most things in life, road trips don’t always go perfect and you always have to expect the unexpected from speeding tickets and hitchhikers to broken down cars and blizzards.

Join us for today’s episode as we discuss everything about hitting the open road and the memorable experiences that come with it.

Read the full transcript here: https://www.dynamicenglish.cl/coffee-with-gringos-podcast-clases-particulares-de-ingles/episode-127-road-trips

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Episode 126: Privacy...Do We Really Have Any?

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Episode 126: Privacy...Do We Really Have Any?

In the age of digitization when we are all constantly shopping online, sharing content on multiple social media platforms at once, and our whole lives are essentially online, we give up more and more of our personal data to companies and governments.

Is it worth giving up some of our personal information in exchange for access to the digital world? Or are we risking more and more privacy to the point of being watched and listened to constantly?

Join us for today’s episode as we discuss encryption, Edward Snowden, and Apple’s fight for privacy rights against the US government.

Difficult to understand this conversation in English? Read the full transcript here: https://www.dynamicenglish.cl/coffee-with-gringos-podcast-clases-particulares-de-ingles/episode-126-privacy

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Episode 125: CWG Celebrates Black History Month

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Episode 125: CWG Celebrates Black History Month

In the US and Canada, Black History Month takes place during the entire month of February and is dedicated to remembering and recognizing important people and events of African descent.

While we still have a long way to go in order to reach equality, it’s important to recognize the accomplishments and contributions that have been made throughout history by prominent figures such as Martin Luther King Jr., Frederick Douglass, Rosa Parks, and Jesse Owens among many others.

Join us for today’s episode as we discuss Black History Month, some of the most outstanding black figures, and their contributions to mankind.

Read the full transcript here: https://www.dynamicenglish.cl/coffee-with-gringos-podcast-clases-particulares-de-ingles/episode-125-cwg-celebrates-black-history-month

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Episode 124: Pandemic Marriages - Will they survive or fail?

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Episode 124: Pandemic Marriages - Will they survive or fail?

According to the New York Times, when there is a tragedy or disaster, it is common to see an increase in marriages as people want to maintain their feelings of safety, security, and love by deciding to marry their partner. This has certainly been the case during the global pandemic, with figures showing as much as a 70% increase in marriage licenses in some places.

For many in long-term relationships, the pandemic has marked a moment for them to take their love to the next step while others might be choosing to get married just because they are bored in quarantine.

Join us for today’s episode as we discuss the increase in pandemic weddings and whether or not these relationships will stand the test of time.

Read the full transcript here: https://www.dynamicenglish.cl/coffee-with-gringos-podcast-clases-particulares-de-ingles/episode-124-pandemic-marriages

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Episode 123: CWG Sits Down With Special Guest and Educator Angela Sigismondi

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Episode 123: CWG Sits Down With Special Guest and Educator Angela Sigismondi

Can you think back to your days in school and remember a certain teacher that really made an impact on your life? Maybe it was a teacher that made you laugh, maybe that made you think deeply, or maybe inspired you to pursue your goals and dreams? Whoever they might be, great teachers are invaluable and we are lucky to have them.

Join us for today’s episode as we chat with our special guest, Angela Sigismondi—a high school English teacher from the US who is doing her best to be that special teacher even with the complications of Zoom classes, controversial book reads, and religious objections.

Read the full transcript: https://www.dynamicenglish.cl/coffee-with-gringos-podcast-clases-particulares-de-ingles/episode-123-special-guest-amp-educator-angela-sigismondi

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Episode 122: A Breakdown on American Football, the Super Bowl and the Chiefs

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Episode 122: A Breakdown on American Football, the Super Bowl and the Chiefs

The Super Bowl—the annual championship game of American football in the United States—is happening this Sunday between the Kansas City Chiefs (Ian’s favorite team!) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a showdown to find out which team will be crowned champions.

And while it’s the most important and popular sport in the United States, American football is mostly unknown or misunderstood everywhere else in the world. Even though the rules can be complicated, it’s a dynamic and entertaining sport to watch either on TV or live in the stadium.

Join us in today’s podcast as we explain everything about American football from halftime and pizza to touchdowns and timeouts.

Read the full transcript on our website: https://www.dynamicenglish.cl/coffee-with-gringos-podcast-clases-particulares-de-ingles/episode-122-american-football-the-super-bowl

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Episode 121: Riddle Me This...

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Episode 121: Riddle Me This...

Riddles are tricky, brain-teasing statements or questions that are designed to be difficult to solve like a puzzle. Some people are great at solving them while others—like us—are not.

Join us for today’s episode as we try our best to solve and break down the meanings of some tough riddles in English.

Read the full transcript on our website: https://www.dynamicenglish.cl/coffee-with-gringos-podcast-clases-particulares-de-ingles/episode-114-riddle-me-this

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Episode 120: Argentina Legalizes Abortion After Years-long Fight

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Episode 120: Argentina Legalizes Abortion After Years-long Fight

Argentina has finally achieved their goal of becoming the largest Latin American nation to legalize abortion after years of grassroots efforts in the historically Catholic and conservative country.

This marks a milestone for the growing feminist movement in the region which has experienced pushback from the Catholic church, conservative leaders, and anti-abortion movements for so long.

Will the effects spread to the rest of the region or will women’s rights continue to be suppressed as they have been for centuries?

Join us for today’s episode as we discuss Argentina’s historical conservatism, the rise of feminism, and how the landmark change could affect the rest of Latin America in the future.

Read the full transcript here: https://www.dynamicenglish.cl/coffee-with-gringos-podcast-clases-particulares-de-ingles/episode-120-argentina-legalizes-abortion-after-years-long-fight

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Episode 119: Historic and Violent Break-In at the U.S. Capitol

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Episode 119: Historic and Violent Break-In at the U.S. Capitol

Only six days into the new year, we watched in horror as violent, Trump-supporting protesters forced their way into the US Capitol building after President Trump’s public speech encouraging them to stop Congress from finalizing the Electoral College results and democracy from taking place.

The historic coup-attempt resulted in hours of destruction, looting, and the deaths of five people before it all ended with Congress still proceeding to finalize the election results.

Will President Trump be held responsible for his actions or will he be able to avoid accountability as we have seen throughout his entire presidency?

Join us for today’s episode as we discuss the details of the US Capitol riots and what possible consequences it might have moving forward.

Read the full transcript and vocabulary guide here: https://www.dynamicenglish.cl/coffee-with-gringos-podcast-clases-particulares-de-ingles/episode-119-historic-and-violent-break-in-at-the-us-capitol

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Episode 118: Fake News - It's Everywhere

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Episode 118: Fake News - It's Everywhere

Fake News—it’s the buzzword that we hear across all forms of communication from social media platforms, news companies, and the most powerful politicians in the world.

The rise of digital communication has allowed us to publish and share any information across the internet with the click of a button without having to verify if it’s actually true.

While most of it is silly and harmless, what happens when fake news is taken too seriously and causes violence and hatred?

Join us for today’s episode as we discuss clickbait headlines, anti-vaxxers, and Nigerian genocide, and other problems caused by President Trump’s favorite word.

Read the full transcript here: https://www.dynamicenglish.cl/coffee-with-gringos-podcast-clases-particulares-de-ingles/episode-118-fake-news-its-everywhere

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Episode 117: New Year's Resolutions - Past and Future

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Episode 117: New Year's Resolutions - Past and Future

As we all say goodbye (and good riddance) to 2020, we reflect on the goals and habits that many of us set for ourselves before the start of the year such as losing weight, learning a new skill, traveling, etc.

While most of us didn’t stick to these goals, just making it to the end of this crazy year safe and healthy is enough of an accomplishment.

Join us for today’s episode as we discuss quarantine drinking, broken resolutions, and our own personal objectives for 2021.

Read the full transcript here: https://www.dynamicenglish.cl/coffee-with-gringos-podcast-clases-particulares-de-ingles/episode-117-new-years-resolutions

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Episode 116: 2020...What a Year

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Episode 116: 2020...What a Year

2020 was…well… where do we even start? From kicking off the year with Australian wildfires and the death of Kobe Bryant to the historic Chilean referendum and US presidential elections—all during a global pandemic—this year was one that we will never forget.

Join us for today’s episode as we give a year-in-review wrap-up and discuss some of the most important events that occurred in this crazy, unpredictable, and historic year.

Read the full transcript here: https://www.dynamicenglish.cl/coffee-with-gringos-podcast-clases-particulares-de-ingles/episode-116-2020-what-a-year

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Episode 115: COVID Updates From Argentina, Brazil to the U.S.

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Episode 115: COVID Updates From Argentina, Brazil to the U.S.

As vaccines for COVID-19 have started to roll out in different parts of the world these last two weeks, the thought of terminating this deadly disease and returning to our normals lives is giving many hope as we near the end of a long and dark year.

However, with rising cases, unorganized policies, and limited vaccines available, it’s apparent that our fight against the deadly coronavirus is far from over.

Tune in to today’s episode as CWG gives an update on COVID-19 developments including second waves of infections, vaccine rollouts and Argentina’s coronavirus tax on the wealthy.

Read the full transcript here: https://www.dynamicenglish.cl/coffee-with-gringos-podcast-clases-particulares-de-ingles/episode-115-covid-update

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Episode 114: The U.S. Presidential Election Is Over...More or Less

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Episode 114: The U.S. Presidential Election Is Over...More or Less

The US presidential election which we covered in Episode 105 is now over with Joe Biden presumably being the official winner to become the next president of the United States in a year that saw the highest voter turnout in 120 years.

However, Trump and his supporters continue to contest the election results, claiming voter fraud and corruption, and will possibly resist the transition of power.

Join us for this episode as we discuss the election results, Trump’s ongoing fight, and what we might expect to happen on inauguration day on January 20th.

Read the full transcript here: https://www.dynamicenglish.cl/coffee-with-gringos-podcast-clases-particulares-de-ingles/episode-114-the-us-presidential-election-is-over

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Episode 113: Special Guest, David Vaughn, Talks About Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro

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Episode 113: Special Guest, David Vaughn, Talks About Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro

Located in Tanzania, Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa’s tallest mountain at 5,895 meters (19,240 feet) and takes seven days to complete. With only a 40% success rate of reaching the top, it’s clear that summitting the peak is not for the faint of heart. However, those who brave the harsh weather, high altitude, and physical/mental pain to reach the top can consider it a trip of a lifetime.

Join us today as we discuss mountain climbing training, toilet porters, and Tanzanian whisky on Africa’s tallest mountain with good friend and special guest, David Vaughn.

Read the full transcript here: https://www.dynamicenglish.cl/coffee-with-gringos-podcast-clases-particulares-de-ingles/episode-113-climbing-mt-killmanjaro

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Episode 112: Some Common English Mistakes

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Episode 112: Some Common English Mistakes

Whether being a beginner or an advanced learner, making mistakes in a foreign language is inevitable. While it can be embarrassing and frustrating, making mistakes helps you recognize your weak spots in order to correct them and to sound more natural and fluent.

Tune into today’s episode as we discuss some common English mistakes and how to correct them in order to take your fluency to the next level.

Read the full transcript and vocabulary guide here: https://www.dynamicenglish.cl/coffee-with-gringos-podcast-clases-particulares-de-ingles/episode-112-some-common-mistakes

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Episode 111: CWG Talks About Dating - Past and Present

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Episode 111: CWG Talks About Dating - Past and Present

The rise of social media and technology has changed different aspects of our social interactions, including the way that we romantically date.

Meeting someone and asking them out on a pre-planned date has now been replaced by “liking” photos and swiping left or right on social media and dating apps like Tinder.

Tune into this week’s podcast as we compare dating in the past to the present including catfishing, ghosting, and searching for love in the digital age.

Read the full transcript here: https://www.dynamicenglish.cl/coffee-with-gringos-podcast-clases-particulares-de-ingles/episode-111-cwg-talks-about-dating

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