Once Upon a Time in Havana
by Lisette Alvarez
How can an island, only 90 miles from the U.S. coast, feel so far away? Award-winning audio storyteller and second-generation Cuban-American Lisette Alvarez guides you through their journey as the first person in their family to return to Cuba after 70 years, all within the context of U.S.-Cuba geopolitical history.This 12-episode true story is released in advance of an upcoming fictional spy thriller audio drama: HAVANA SYNDROME.
Episodes
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Episode 11: Stormchaser [Series Finale]
A winding, whirling wrap up and the beginning of something new. Thank you so much for listening. It means so much. You can continue the journey on the brand new HAVANA SYNDROME podcast feed - now available to subscribe to on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, etc. If you liked what you have heard, please...
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Episode 10: Love the Bomb
In which Cuba holds the title of closest we got to world-ending shenanigans. Clip credit goes to "Dr Strangelove: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb". Credit for music goes to Blue Dot Sessions. Support the Artist Residency Fund. Learn more about the HAVANA SYNDROME series at...
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Episode 9: The Haunting
The aftermath and emotional fallout of my trip to Cuba. Please note that this episode references historical violent crime and personal mental health struggles. Clip credit goes to Disney's Encanto, and MONSTERS and THE MENENDEZ BROTHERS on Netflix. Credit for music goes to Blue Dot Sessions....
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Episode 8: Intelligence Failure
It's the final day in Cuba, what could possibly go wrong? Credit to clip goes to "The WASP Network", a Netflix orignial movie. Credit for music goes to Blue Dot Sessions. Support the Artist Residency Fund. Learn more about the HAVANA SYNDROME series at havana-syndrome.net Sign up for the latest...
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Episode 7: Small Acts of Resistance
A beautiful beach day turns out to be a lot more complicated than it seems. Clip attributions to the following films and TV shows: Star Wars' Andor, The Mask, Scarface, Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay, and Our Man and the Sea. Credit for music goes to Blue Dot Sessions and the unnamed...
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Episode 6: 2+2=5
On this episode, we hit the streets of Havana to try to understand the tenuous truth of the Cuban experience. Attributions to the BBC, WPTV news and MGM's Our Man in Havana. Credit for music goes to Blue Dot Sessions. Support the Artist Residency Fund. Learn more about the HAVANA SYNDROME series…
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Episode 5: The Sacred Tree
We finally figure out what this whole sacred tree thing is about on my tour with Beyond Roots, and the connection between African descendents in Cuba, the United States, and beyond. A huge thanks to Beyond Roots, you can book your experience in Cuba with them on their website beyondroots.net or...
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Episode 4: Malecón, Mafia, and Molasses
I conduct a pre-Revolution history lesson and share my first moments of being in Cuba. Finally. Credit for the archival clips to 1776 and the Godfather II. Credit for music goes to Freesound.org and Blue Dot Sessions. Support the Artist Residency Fund. Learn more about the HAVANA SYNDROME series…
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Episode 3: The Judgement of Solomon
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Elián González international custody crisis. In this episode, I run through airports with a hope and a prayer that I can get to Cuba without international incident. Content warning: this episode contains potentially distressing clips from the INS raid…
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Episode 2: Sin Eater
A little bit about my family history in the context of the "Miami Cuban" political bloc, including history of the revolution, Bay of Pigs, Watergate, and more. Thanks to the C-SPAN library plus HBO trailers for WHITE HOUSE PLUMBERS and THE SYMPATHIZER for additional material. Creative commons…
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Episode 1: 60 Years. 3 Days.
How can an island, only 90 miles from the U.S. southeastern coast, feel so far away? Lisette Alvarez guides you through their journey as the first person in their family to return to Cuba after over 60 years, all within the context of U.S.-Cuba geopolitical history. This 12-episode true story is...
About this show
How can an island, only 90 miles from the U.S. coast, feel so far away? Award-winning audio storyteller and second-generation Cuban-American Lisette Alvarez guides you through their journey as the first person in their family to return to Cuba after 70 years, all within the context of U.S.-Cuba geopolitical history.This 12-episode true story is released in advance of an upcoming fictional spy thriller audio drama: HAVANA SYNDROME.
Hosted by
Lisette Alvarez