Once Upon a Time in Havana

Oct 10 2024 19
Once Upon a Time in Havana Podcast artwork

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.

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The Haunting

Oct 10 2024 16 mins  
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. Support the Artist Residency Fund. Learn more about the HAVANA SYNDROME series at havana-

Intelligence Failure

Oct 03 2024 14 mins  
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 updates on our newsletter or follow us on Instagram and TikTok! Join us for our live t

Small Acts of Resistance

Sep 26 2024 21 mins  
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 band in an unnamed bar in Havana. Support the Artist Residency Fund. Learn more abo

2+2=5

Sep 19 2024 19 mins  
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 at havana-syndrome.net Sign up for the latest updates on our newsletter or follow us

The Sacred Tree

Sep 12 2024 23 mins  
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 follow them on Instagram @beyondroots. Attributions to Democracy Now! for the Assata Sh

Malecón, Mafia, and Molasses

Sep 05 2024 20 mins  
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 at havana-syndrome.net Sign up for the latest updates on our newsletter or follow us

The Judgement of Solomon

Aug 29 2024 21 mins  
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 to take Elián into custody. Credit for the archival clips to C-SPAN, CNN, ABC, and t

Sin Eater

Aug 22 2024 12 mins  
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 music featured from freesound.org, and Blue Dot Sessions. Support the Artist Residency

60 Years. 3 Days.

Aug 14 2024 14 mins  
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 released just in time for the anniversaries of two major U.S.- Cuba events: the 10th an