When Fidel Met Che - Cold War 296

In this episode, Fidel Castro steps out of prison in 1955 and straight into revolutionary planning. We trace his transformation from imprisoned dissident to a man preparing an armed insurrection in exile. We explore his belief in luck, conviction and humility, his frustrating attempt to re-enter Cuban politics, his move to Mexico, and his first electrifying meeting with Ernesto “Che” Guevara. Cameron and Ray dig into why Castro’s charisma made him dangerous to Batista, how Che’s time in Guatemala radicalised him, and how American corporate interests helped crush democracy in Latin America. Along the way we hear about cigars, motorcycle diaries, CIA “successes” that produced decades of bloodshed, Cuban rum, and why delusional certainty sometimes wins revolutions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices