Callum81:  I understand about your reluctance to take out a long subscription to Spanishpod.com with the news of JP's sudden and premature departure.  I was just about to pay for a Premium Subscription, when I heard this JP departure news with no one trying to convince him to stay on at least one more year. 

I think JP could be convinced to stay on, because he promised to come out with a creative way to teach grammar, and I really believe native Spanish speakers are not just sloppy pronouncers of "b" and "v" and bad spellers of words with those consonants, but that there is actually a hidden grammar of this common problem of people learning Spanish.  Leo said we often sound like "Gringos", when we students of Spanish pronounce every syllable, rather than running words together in the proper way JP imaginatively explained to us (in the Spanish elision lesson).  Some of my Spanish friends told me I am suddenly speaking Spanish much more correctly, really just after this lesson on elision from JP and Leo (with Leo's brilliantly funny joke at the end!). 

Estoy inconsolable! Adios amigos, y gracias por todos! Saludos!

Bienvenido Santiago! Mi amiga Daniela es argentina tambíen.

@eldavid, clearly no one can speak for JP except JP (and likewise for Esti – though you didn’t mention her, we shouldn’t forget her! :) ) However, I’ll point out that it’s important to remember that usually when someone leaves a job it’s because they’re ready to leave. However sad it may be, change is a necessary part of one’s career and one’s life.

Además, aunque no lo hemos visto en público, me seguro que JP, Esti, y Praxis habían hablado mucho sobre todas las opcionas antes de suyas decisiónes – y por más que me gustaría retenerles por especialistas, lo siento pero creo sería tan cara. :(

And though we haven’t seen it in public, I’m JP, Esti, and Praxis had discussed all the options before their decisions – and for all that I’d like to keep them on as consultants, I think it’d be too expensive.  :(

Por otra mano, JP, Esti, espero mucho que todavía podéis enseñarnos por la red, de cualquier forma. ;)  (Vengad vengad, no sería difícil tener un pequeño estudio de grabar... ;) )

On the other hand, JP, Esti, I hope y’all’ll still be able to teach us online, in whatever fashion. ;) (C’mon, c’mon, it shouldn’t be hard to have a small recording studio... ;) )

Every so often I go to sleep listening to Spanishpod.com lessons, which gets Spanish going into my unconscious (I'm one of those psychologists, you know).  So a couple of days ago, I had the Spanishpod.com lesson going as I fell asleep and JP appeared in my dream and said, "David, you don't have to be so concerned about your question of pronouncing "v" and "b" consonants in Spanish.  Just think of the 'irregular verbs" in Spanish, French, and irregular pronunciations of English words, such as "through". 

Later, the thought occurred to me that I only progressed from Newbie to Elementary lessons, and only studied a total of 50 or 60 of the current Team's lessons.  So I can go back and study the 340 or so lessons of the existing Team, even though we will no longer have JP and Esti. 

Señor Flynn, I thought I did mention Esti, and she is really great, funny, dramatic, and creative, and I have some very good friends who are also from Spain.  So I really value the Team having a Castilian native speaker!).

Steveooo, very well put statement about the "strong foundation" JP, Liliana, Leo, Esti, and others have already created for us. 

Thanks to JP and Esti for your wonderful teaching work for Spanishpod!  And don't think I am leaving out Liliana, Leo, and some interns and visitors.

Thanks so much for expressing your concern. I am so sad JP is leaving, believe me, he is a dear friend and colleague.I agree with you guys that he is the best teacher. So keeping this in mind, I will do everything in my power to get the best replacement. No worries, I am very picky, we already went through several candidates that were OK, but we want GREAT.

Thanks for all the support! I appreciate all your kind words. This days have been very hard for me, writing and recording my last dialogues with Esti and JP is no fun, but I am confident they will remian friends of SpanishPod, we can prank call them! jajajaja.

Thanks again for voicing all the concern and support for me and Leo.

Well, needless to say, I wish you both the best.  ¡Buenísima suerte! 

Y buenísima suerte también a Lili y a Leo.

Things will not be the same without the two of you.  You both have helped me personally so much.  Because of you all (and the rest of Spanishpod) I can communicate with my in-laws. 

I wish you both the best. 

I love you guys and am going to miss you so much.  You have truly taken learning a new language to another level.  You have made it so enjoyable and your listeners feel such a personal connection with you.  That is why it is so hard to see you go.  We are losing friends, not just teachers. 

I wish you both the best in your next career path. Thanks again Esti and JP for your contributions to Spanishpod and for helping to make it the best Spanish learning website out there.

I look forward to continuing my learning with Leo, Liliana, Santiago, Marco and the New Spanishpod team members.  Good luck with the hiring Liliana.  I can't wait to see what new chemistry develops between you, Leo and the new person, because that is what truly makes your podcasts interesting... the relationships between you all.