If you’ve been trying to learn Spanish but feel like years of classes left you unable to hold a real conversation — you’re not alone! Marco Fierro is the host of Spanish for Beginners with Marco, a podcast that has been helping true beginners find their footing in the Spanish language for nearly seven years. Listen to Rory (co-founder of Common Ground International) talk with Marco about how the podcast got started, what makes it different, and how you can use it to fast-track your Spanish journey.
How It All Started
Marco launched Spanish for Beginners with Marco in 2019 — just before the pandemic — and what began as a side project to support his own students has since grown into his full-time career.
The idea came from his wife. Both Marco and his wife are avid podcast listeners, and at the time, they noticed a real gap in the market: there wasn’t much Spanish-language learning content coming out of Latin America.
“In 2019, I think there were not many podcasts from Latin America. So many students felt frustrated with the accent.”
So Marco — originally from Chile — and his wife — from Colombia — decided to create something that reflected the diversity of Latin American Spanish. Two accents, one podcast, and a space that finally felt familiar to students learning the variety of Spanish spoken across the Americas.
This resonated with Rory immediately. Common Ground International’s mission is centered on Latin American Spanish — because the majority of Spanish speakers in the United States who don’t speak English are from Latin America, not Spain.
Built for True Beginners
One of the things that sets Marco’s podcast apart is its focus on learners who are just starting out. Most Spanish-learning podcasts cater to intermediate or advanced students — leaving true beginners without many options.
“I found that there was not a lot of material for early beginners. So I decided, let’s start a podcast that can help students get material and study while they’re doing something else.”
The approach is communicative, not grammar-heavy. Instead of starting with rules and drills, Marco builds each lesson around a real-life situation and then gives learners the language tools they need to navigate that situation successfully. Dialogues are a central part of every episode, helping listeners get comfortable with pronunciation and natural conversation flow from day one.
Real Impact, Real Stories
The approach is clearly working. Marco shared one moment that stuck with him:
“I remember one student left a comment that he was struggling with Spanish, and just by listening to the podcast he got better marks in school. That was very touching for me — very motivating. I could see: this has a real impact.”
It’s a reminder that the right resource at the right level can change everything for a language learner.
Where to Start (Hint: Episode 1)
Marco’s advice for anyone diving into the podcast: start from the beginning. The first 30 episodes lay out the fundamentals of Spanish — pronunciation, basic vocabulary, essential grammar — and the level builds naturally from there. Don’t jump to the most recent episode if you’re a true beginner. Start with Episode 1 and work your way through.
Resources from Marco
Beyond the podcast, Marco has built out a whole ecosystem of Spanish learning tools:
- The Podcast — Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major listening apps. Search Spanish for Beginners with Marco.
- The Website — Visit latinele.com for blog posts that accompany each episode, with additional explanations and lesson breakdowns.
- The Spanish Starter Pack — A PDF summary of the first 30 foundational lessons, perfect for beginners who want a study companion alongside the podcast.
- The Book — La Aventura de Luna, a 30-chapter bilingual book (Spanish and English side by side) available on Amazon. Great for continuing your learning after the first 30 podcast episodes.
A Perfect Complement to Immersion Learning
Whether you’re preparing for a Spanish immersion program, brushing up on the basics, or just trying to finally use what you learned in school — Marco’s podcast is a fantastic resource. His communicative, Latin American-focused approach aligns perfectly with what we believe here at Common Ground International: that the best way to learn a language is through real communication, not just rules.
Check out Spanish for Beginners with Marco wherever you listen to podcasts, and visit latinele.com to explore all of his resources.
¡Buena suerte — and enjoy the journey!
