The podcast starts with a monologue (0:00 – 12:36). I talk about Coronavirus, its economic impact & give recommendations for how to think about investing during uncertain times.
We owe a debt of gratitude to health care workers & service providers who are putting themselves at risk for our safety. I’d also like to thank our politicians, scientists & homeschoolers who are working much harder than usual—thank you.
Note: This podcast was recorded prior to the Coronavirus outbreak in the US.
When I began traveling the world in 2015, one of my goals was to study Spanish in a Spanish-speaking country. I asked a Spanish teacher from my former high school where I should go and she recommended Playa Del Carmen, Mexico.
In Playa, I met the best Spanish teacher on the planet—Sandrita Sandriux. Her personal story is incredible. She was born & raised in Cuernavaca, Mexico, a hotbed for narcos. At 18 years old, she got pregnant with son, Diego, and attended university with him in tow. Fortunately, classes were small—other students didn’t understand why a chica would study Español.
After graduating, she was offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to teach Spanish in paradise (Playa). Seven years later, she’s still in the touristy Mexican beach town, living a life she never thought possible.
In this episode, we discuss The Story of Stuff by Annie Leonarda, a Youtube video with > 6 million views. Sandrita gives me an opportunity to rebut its claims, since it paints America as the “the big bad wolf.”
We also talk about Mexicans’ view of Donald Trump, the border wall and why Americans are often perceived as arrogant.
Other topics discussed:
- How to build muscle
- How to get smarter
- How to build your happiness
- How to build your aptitude for risk-taking
- Social media worsening bias
- Spanish in Argentina, Columbia & Costa Rica
- “The Material Economy”
- Pitting people vs. corporations
- Predicting “peak oil”
- In praise of corporations
- Using our share of stuff
- Americans are hyper-productive
- America’s standard of living
- Consumer culture / buying new iPhones
- External costs of making stuff
- We only have one planet
- The world that we are leaving behind
- America’s founding & small government
- Government’s responsibility to take care of its citizens
- Poverty vs. Relative Poverty
- Poor US zip codes are most gordito
- Importance of being happy
- What real poverty looks like
- Loss of character in the US
- Mexico is not only tequila or tacos
- Why Sunday is so important to Sandrita
- Cost of living in Playa del Carmen, MX
- Whether America is destroying the planet
- Contributions of Americans to the world
- How it feels to live in a beach town
- How religion has impacted Sandrita’s relationships
- Being grateful to God
Questions asked:
- Why is Cuernavaca a hotbed for narcos?
- Are there advantages to studying Spanish in Mexico over Costa Rica or Columbia?
- How much money can a teacher make in Playa del Carmen?
- Where should someone from Houston go to learn Spanish?
- How does it feel living in a beach town [knowing you can go to the beach at any time]?
Fun questions:
- What brings you the most joy?
- Do you have a favorite movie?
- If someone dropped $1 million in your lap tomorrow, what would you do with it?
- What are you most grateful for?
Connect with Sandrita:
- on Facebook
Listen here:
