In this episode we explore Cuba’s folkloric poetry, the Punto Guajiro, through a few verses written by my cousin José Luis Rodríguez Martínez, who lives in Fomento, Cuba. Punto is the poetic voice of our Cuban farmers. It consists of singings an improvised or learned stanza of ten octameter verse lines, with a rhyming scheme accompanied by string i…

If you could taste the green of the grove of palm trees,the blue of the water, and the breeze on your face as you drive toward El Escambray, tell me. What do you think it would taste like? Would it be like marshmallows roasting by the fire or thesmoke from the fire pit? Or would it be a combination of scents that transcend olfactory comprehension? …

Here is a comical anecdote about finding a compatriot and amenable conversation about croquetas. He aquí una anécdota cómica sobre la búsqueda de un compatriota y una conversación amena sobre las croquetas. Recuerden que la parte en español viene después de la grabación en inglés. #TheGreenPlantainpodcast #TheCubanStoriesProjectpodcast #Cubanstorie…

It was April 17, 1961. For over two years, Cuba had been suffering the quake of change that disrupted life as most knew it. It didn’t matter who or where you were: Teachers in the hills conducting a census of literacy En el campo vacationing at a friend's house or in the city. Word spread across the island like lit gunpowder as the much-awaited inv…

Today we bring you Episode 104 – Gabriela, a storyset in a Cuba where 1950s Chevy convertibles still roam the streets of La Habana under a blue sky. Gabriela is a young, slim woman who inherited a bottle of Chanel No. 5 perfume from her grandmother and a love for couture sewing. #TheGreenPlantainpodcast #TheCubanStoriesProjectpodcast #Cubanstories#…

The love stories keep coming! This time, in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, a Cuban story from Ireland. Her name is Sara, a woman who is passionate about herroots. #TheGreenPlantainpodcast #TheCubanStoriesProjectpodcast #Cubanstories#Cuba #cubanosporelmundo #cubanstoriesonthegreenplantainpodcast #untostonanyone#atostonanyone #Love #Ireland #Irlan…

Last month, we shared love stories, and in this microburstepisode, we explore the love for an artifact that embodies the feeling of home for a little girl. This is an excerpt from the book Flight of the Tocororo, and it starts with a brief memory. The Rocking Chair I don’t remember the heat of summer nor the coolness brought by the rain. But I can …

Join us as we close the month of love with Episode 101 – My Only Love This story, like the previous one, begins with two families, the Salih/Gonzalez, Jorge from Syria, married to Adela, a Venezuelan, and the Martinez/Hidalgo, Fernando and Luisa, Cubans, and the turn of eventsthat led to a fortuitous encounter between two souls. In a small town lik…

We are celebrating our 100th episode with a very special love story about two very dear people in my life: Jannett Jewett and Manuel Rodriguez. Theirlove story reminds me of certain Hallmark movies where the boy stops at nothing to gain the girl's love. ~~~ Estamos celebrando nuestro episodio número 100 con una historia de amor muy especial sobre d…

Hola, bienvenidos al Episodio 99 – Folklor cubanoen el Green Plantain - El podcast del Proyecto de Historias Cubanas. Un espacio bilingüe dedicado a contar las historias de quienes viven en la isla y la diáspora cubana. Los episodios, tipo Microráfaga, como este, son conversaciones cortas con mi familia y amistades, y no son editadas. En noviembre,…

Los episodios, tipo Microráfaga, como este, son conversaciones cortas con mi familia y amistades, y no son editadas. Hoy les traigo una conversación con una poetisa cubana muy querida donde comparte con nosotros una poesia sobre nuestra bandera cubana. Prepárense para ser incorporados en una lectura llena de emocion. --- Support this podcast: https…

Happy New Year! Do you know what has been celebrated on January 6th since the third century in certain parts of the world? Three Kings Day! El Dia de los Reyes Magos. It’s the 12th day of Christmas, when Melchior, Caspar,and Balthazar rode their camels through miles of desert with gifts for baby Jesus and found their way to him guided by a new star…

This episode, written by Dr. Martha H. Corvea, and is our second “first Christmases in exile” story, which brings home an example of sacrifices made by families to reach the Land of Freedom. As a family unit, her parents, brother, Abuela, and she lived like gypsies for months after leaving Cuba on a tourist visa. They traveled across Mexico & Ecuad…

In December we celebrate our roots with stories of “first Christmases in exile.” In a past episode, I had shared a story about our family Chistmases in the United States but somehow, tucked away in the recesses of my mind was another first Christmas. One which came at the heels of the triumph of the revolution. En diciembre celebramos nuestras raíc…

In November of every year, we bring you stories of “first Cuban Thanksgivings.” Mixed with the emotions of living in a land of freedom, we were introduced to “the turkey” – the culinary centerpiece of the holiday and all its accompaniments. Also, as a new Spanish-speakingarrival in North America, we were faced with a different language and what see…

Today’s story looks at genealogy research to find balance in present life. And how finding the missing parts of a puzzle brings peace despite the pain of our first Thanksgiving in 1964. This episode expands on the poem and thestory Can I Learn to Walk without You? From my book, Flight of the Tocororo, co-authored with Betty Viamontes. El episodio d…

En este episodio tipo microráfaga del podcast de Green Plantain, tengo el placer de compartir una visita muy agradable con mi prima Nora, la cual ya la conocen por medio de una historia en El vuelo del tocororo. Aquí ella habla sobre los carnavales, nuestra familia y oirán los sonidos de Santa Clara con el bullicio del trafico y la radio. Quizás po…

En esta Microráfaga del Green Plantain podcast, tengo el placer de bienvenir a Betty Viamontes, mi amiga y coautora de El Vuelo del Tocororo – Historias de Cuba y el exilio. Aqui nos lee uno de sus cuentos que se encuentra en la última sección de dicho libro. ¿Pero esperen? ¿Qué es un tocororo? Aqui lo sabran,,,,--- Support this podcast: https://po…

El SS Satrústegui barco gemelo del Virginia de Churruca salió de La Habana rumbo a Venezuela y Colombia en marzo del 1961 a menos de un mes antes de la Invasión de bahía de Cochinos en abril. En este barco de la Compañía Trasatlántica Española iban casi una docena de mis familiares rumbo a Venezuela.Este episodio tipo Microráfaga es una conversació…

In this Microburst, Jon Mueller shares with me a story about using his Fighting Lady aircraft carrier and Morse code to send messages to his dad. It is an endearing story. Perhaps you remember this type of toy from the 1950s. You can also listen to his interview with Mona regarding Memorial Day on her podcast Stories from A-Z with Mona P.--- Suppor…

In this Microburst, Mona Posinoff was telling me a story about her doll when she was a little girl. It is an endearing story. Perhaps you remember these dolls from the 1960s. Thanks for listening. You can also follow Mona on Soundcloud: Stories from A to Z with Mona P.--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/susana-mueller/…

Cinco Puntos con Pepín - Esta Microráfaga fue grabada espontáneamente y la lanzamos en anticipación al episodio de la semana que viene para que Pepín nos de cinco puntos que pueden ayudarnos responder preguntas y disipar algunos mitos sobre Cuba y el presente régimen.--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/susana-mueller/s…

Esta Microráfaga es un extracto del Episodio 24 del Green Plantain. Esta historia trata sobre una amistad inesperada.--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/susana-mueller/support

Durante el siglo 19, el cólera se extendió por todo el mundo desde su reservorio original en el delta del Ganges en la India. El cólera ocurrió en Cuba en diferentes momentos. Aunque la enfermedad no logró entrar en América del Norte, durante el período objeto de examen se produjeron brotes graves en América del Sur (Argentina, 1886 y 1888; Chile, …

Microburst 003 is a short, candid, and informative conversation recorded in my kitchen during a friendly poker game with the kids – my Cuban-American life. This microburst is about how the British got their accent. I don’t want to spoil the story. I hope you like it as much as I do! For more information, checkout this website: http://www.britishacc…

This Microburst of the Green Plantain features a conversation between my friend Mona Posinoff, producer and host of Stories from A-Z with Mona P., and my husband, Jon. You will learn about Memorial Day in the United States and its meaning. Specifically, you’ll hear how to best honor the memory of our fallen service members. You can find the entire …

Microráfagas del Green Plantain son conversaciones cortas, francas, a veces cómicas o satíricas que no han sido masterizadas. Esta conversación tomo lugar en Venezuela. Una entrevista conducida por mi primo hermano Fermín. Una conversación con sus tías Martina y Celia y su Tío Máximo Rodriguez sobre mis abuelos Sebastián Rodriguez Rodriguez y mi ab…

In this episode we continue celebrating poetry through the verses of a man who added to our literary inheritance, our apostle, José Martí. At the budding age of 15, his passionate pen began to fight Spain’s rule through poetry. This episode highlights his accomplishments. En este episodio seguimos celebrando la poesía a travésde los versos de un ho…

Early on in its history, Cuba with its warm climate and paradise-like beauty, attracted people of all nationalities and beliefs…and it became a melting pot. If Cuba has one face, it is the face of an entrepenuer. You can see this whether you are in present day Cuba or in other countries where we have made our homes. I hope you enjoy this story of c…

This composite story is set in the town of Remedios, central Cuba, and represents a few men presently living there. The story illustrates the entrepreneurial spirit alive on the island – and is a vignette that could be true in any Cuban town. Esta historia compuesta se desarrolla en la ciudad deRemedios, en el centro de Cuba, y representa a unos ho…

Across this month, we are reading anecdotes and stories about four-legged animal friends. In the last episode, we had Buzzwinkle and Perico, and today I bring you Lomberto Perez Plasencias’ Lucero. The story is set in the neighborhood of Llamazares in the town of Pinar del Rio, and it illustrates the magical relationship between a boy and his horse…

Hello and welcome to a short microburst episode on the Green Plantain – Episode 77. This episode is an anecdote about Buzz Winkle and Perico, two four legged animals loved by their towns. #TheGreenPlantainpodcast #TheCubanStoriesProjectpodcast #Realcubanstories #cubanstories #Cuba #Cubanosporelmundo #susanasbooks #buzzwinkle #anchoragealaska #untos…

En esta microráfaga en español les presento una vivencia del primer año vivido en los Estados Unidos. El relato es parte del capitulo ¿Puedo aprender a caminar sin ti? del libro El vuelo del tocororo, co-escrito con mi amiga Betty Viamontes. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/susana-mueller/support…

This is the story of a young girl in love with the idea of a flower on her nightstand. Esta es la historia de una joven enamorada de la idea de una flor en su mesita de noche. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/susana-mueller/support

Today’s story is unique because of the memories the magic of a serenade, can bring. El relato de hoy es único debido a los recuerdos que traede la magia de una serenata, no solo para mí sino para otros en este fantásticoviaje. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/susana-mueller/support…

Cuban Stories on the Green Plantain podcast is celebrating this month of July 2023, its third year on the air. Thank you for listening!! Susana --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/susana-mueller/support

A Declaration of Love is set in the summer of 1939 - It’s my parent’s love story which provides a flavor of Cuban traditions during an era of global transitions. But Orlando doesn’t have room for the news today or the problems of the world; Martha is the only thing on his mind. Don´t miss it! An episode in two languages. First narrated in English a…

The story goes that on a sunny afternoon, Emelia, Aileen’s mother, her sister, and their friend Carmen decided to go to La Bodega de Gorgonio. Her mom and her siblings were farm girls or guajiritas, and they always escorted each other when they went uptown. As soon as they entered la bodega, a young man named Isidro Lorenzo was putting a nickel int…

This episode is a historical account based on a talk given by retired judge Emiliano J. Salcines at the Tampa History Museum. The last episode (number 69) serves as a backdrop to this episode because it brings us a view of Camaguey, Habana, Key West, and Tampa. All I knew, after attending the talk about José Martí given by retired Judge Salcines, w…

This episode is a historical account based on family oral tradition and genealogy research. Through the Window of Time brings us a view of Camaguey, Habana, Key West, and Tampa and how the lives of a family became intertwined within these cities and the American continent. It also illustrates the mobility between towns and countries in the 19th and…

Traveling with her second bag strapped to the handle, Maria’s large suitcase was top-heavy.She fought 75 pounds of luggage with every step she took, especially whenthe wheels got stuck between uneven pavement or tipped one way or another. But,more often than not, the suitcase won. Viajando con su segunda bolsa atada al asa, la maleta grande de Marí…

A memory for childhood steeped in the fragrance of coffee. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/susana-mueller/support

This is a story from the Book Perico- The Fabulous Burro written by Arnaldo Artiles Quintana who presently resides in Santa Clara. And, the story is told from Perico's point of view. The tasajo mentioned was usually a type of Jerky made from horse meat....could these people really want to turn Perico into tasajo de Burro. Este relato es parte de un…

At age 91, my mom, Martina, lived in the historic neighborhood Ybor City in Tampa, independedly and surrounded by Cuban heritage. Everyday, on her way to the grocery store she passed Jose Marti's bust, at the Cuban Club a spot where our he came to raise funds for the liberation of Cuba from Spanish colonial rule. For her, this day would not be an o…

Luisa's character, in episode 64 of The Green Plantain, is a composite of several women presently living in Cuba. The story explores the emotions they tackle everyday living in a totalitarian regime, away from family and friends. This episode is dedicated to them. El personaje de Luisa, en el episodio 64 del Green Plantain, es un compuesto de varia…

As young adults, Mayra and Gene went their way. College and living away from Elizabeth, New Jersey, took them to meet other people and find love. But, were these loves the lasting type? Although they found each other attractive in many ways, they saw each other as childhood friends and didn’t believe the other felt the same way. Would they find lov…

Late last year, I visited Italy with cousins Maria, Gene, and his wife Mayra – mio cugini. This story is a tiny part of a great adventure and will take you to Carrara and Marina di Carrara and the experience of four Cubans sitting under a lemon tree in the Tuscan breeze. A finales del año pasado, visité Italia con mis primos María, Gene y su esposa…

Martha's journey was wrought with changes even before she arrived in Miami. She lived in Mexico and Ecuador where she saw poverty and trauma across all age groups, first hand. It is an understatement to say that she, like many of us who came to the States in the 60s, was deeply affected by cultural changes. We faced the unspoken trauma of being upr…

Hello, and Happy New Year 2023!Welcome to Episode 60 – An Encanto Connection -- Una conexión de Encanto on The Green Plantain.So let´s back up to the 2022 Oscars: Encanto wins award for best-animated picture!"Hurray!" I shouted as my husband looked across the room quizzically.--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/susana-…

Between Loss and Love is the story of a Cuban family and its legacy and it's a Christmas story because it shows us the love of a family and they cherish and live the gift of freedom in these United States and how they pay it forward. Entre la pérdida y el amor es la historia de una familia cubana y su legado. Es una historia de Navidad porque nos m…