In this episode, I have the honor of interviewing Genie Milgrom. Genie is a Cuban-American born to a Catholic family. She wrestled most of the life with the Catholic dogma and although rooted in a traditional Catholic family, she converted to Judaism. She immersed herself in the search for her past and in her quest to discover her ancestry discovers her ancestors were part of the Spanish Inquisition. Her Journey led her to writing books, digitizing archives and most recently, created a tell all ...
Mar 13, 2024•19 min•Season 4Ep. 1
In this episode I compiled three fascinating interviews from years passed. If you never listened to these episodes before, this interviews are fascinating. The first is with Alina Garcia LaPuerta who discussed Spanish Nobility in Cuba through her book, La Belle Creole: The Cuban Countess who Captivated Havana, Madrid and Paris. Next, I am fortunate to interview Steven, Ownyeng, a chinese American who tells us about the Chnese migration to Cuba and all the contributions made by Chinese in Cuba. A...
Dec 08, 2023•1 hr 32 min
In this episode I get to chat with Lourdes Del Pino Olazabal, Vice-President of the Cuban Genealogy Club of Miami, about how she became part of the club during its initial founding back in 2002. Throughout our chat she explains the many benefits of becoming a member of the club. The Club's website is a hub for numerous databases, including documents from 21 churches in various provinces, cemeteries, land and military records, and passenger lists just to name a few. Lourdes also discusses her rol...
Nov 02, 2023•25 min•Season 3Ep. 29
In this episode of the Basic of Cuban Genealogy, I hope to share with my rookie genealogist information on how to begin their Cuban genealogy search. They will learn about Cuban church and parish records, where to search military records. I emphasize the importance of understanding Cuban history and where to search for ship passengers, newspaper announcement, and places where records can be found and types of records to find. I wrap up the podcast with information on how to chose a family tree s...
Oct 29, 2023•42 min•Season 1Ep. 1
En este episodio tengo el placer de entrevistar a Samuel Martínez Alcalá, un joven cubano residente en España que inició un ambicioso proyecto combinando la genealogía cubana con la ciencia de tras de los Haplogrupos para encontrar la populación genética de cubanos y definir a que grupo ancestral pertenecen. A lo largo de la entrevista, Samuel explica cuál es el objetivo del proyecto y cómo puedes tu ser una parte integral en él. ¡No te pierdas este interesante episodio!
Oct 29, 2023•38 min•Season 3Ep. 27
En este episodio de Cuban Family Roots tenemos el placer de entrevistar al escritor cubano, William Navarrete quien publicó su segundo libro de genealógia titulado, Primeras Familias, Pobaldo y Ciudad de San Isidoro de Holguín: Estudios de Genealogía Cubana. El explica que el libro se basa en los matrimonios sacramentales registrados en el primer libro de la iglesia de San Isidoro de Holguín entre 1730 y 1763. Gracias a este estudio, los descendientes de los Holguineros de ayer podrán encontrar ...
Aug 02, 2023•24 min•Season 3Ep. 26
In this episode I interview Gerardo Gonzalez who recounts his childhood in Placetas. He discusses with me how it was to return to the Cuba he left as a young boy to reconnect with his roots. He recounts moments in his life while in Cuba and his love for his grandfather who he never was able to see again. He dedicates his memoir to all the refugees who have an opportunity to come to America, the beautiful. As a Dean at Indiana University, he was fortunate to initiate a scholarship fund to help ot...
Feb 23, 2023•39 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Today I interviewed Luis Tomas Puig as he recounts his family search dating back to 1600. A trip to Blanes, a village only an hour North of Barcelona, Spain awakened his curiosity further as he reconnects with his Grandfather's family, a family he had never met. During the trip, he visited cemeteries, churches and collected pictures of his great-grandfather and other ancestors. He learned he was related the DiPuig families of France and Italy and that the line connects with the Germans and Austr...
Dec 14, 2022•27 min•Season 2Ep. 22
Christian recounts his journey to rescuing Spanish – American heritage and tells us of fishermen on the Gulf Coast who fished the waters alongside their Indian fishing partners known as the “Spanish Indians” and some freed black slaves. Christian was inspired to and began to investigate the lives of these fishermen and their influence in the region. From the Tampa Bay down to the condominium developments at Punta Rassa, several Spanish and Cuban fishermen settled in the region establishing fishi...
Nov 01, 2022•23 min•Season 2Ep. 22
It is obvious that the first popular music played in Cuba after the Spanish conquest was brought by the Spanish conquerors themselves, and was most likely borrowed from the Spanish popular music in vogue during the 16th century. Then at the end of the 18th century, the piano rapidly became one of the favorite instruments among the Cuban population. The best preserved are the African polytheistic religions, where, in Cuba at least, the instruments, the language, the chants, the dances and their i...
Oct 01, 2022•20 min•Season 2Ep. 22
In this episode Christian highlights five unknown Cubans who played a major role in America's early formation. We can no longer depend on others to discuss our involvement in America's story, it is now up to us to identify Cubans who made significant contributions to America. The story belongs to us and must be told by us. Don't miss this episode and learn about these five Cubans who may be your ancestors!
Sep 01, 2022•18 min•Season 2Ep. 21
In this episode, Christian and I explore six Cuban Genealogy myths. Although Cubans do not use online resources to find Cuban Genealogy information, there’s a considerable amount of misinformation and false myths in Cuban genealogy and history. Some are comfortable in maintaining these myths and no one dares to challenge them. An honest genealogist/family historian will go to great length to documents, verify and corroborate information. Christian and I debunk these myths to maintain truth and h...
Aug 18, 2022•17 min•Season 2Ep. 20
En este episodio tengo el placer de entrevistar a Ignacio Cabrera Mas, un Saludeño de pura cepa que dedicó 20 años a construir una enciclopedia del Municipio de La Salud. La Salud es la localidad más pequeña de la provincia de La Habana y por diversas razones se fue quedando cada vez más atrazagada hasta perder su Ayuntamiento. En este episodio nos dedicamos a rendir homenaje a un pueblo que lucha por mantener su identidad e independencia. Si no hubieran detenido el desarrollo del pueblo de Sant...
Aug 16, 2022•32 min•Season 2Ep. 19
En este episodio #18 de Cuban Family Roots tengo el placer de entrevistar a mi amiga y presentadora del Green Plantain Podcast (Plátano Verde), Susana Jiménez Mueller. Susana nos cuenta su trayectoria genealógica y anécdotas de su paso por Cuba. También nos da un poco de información sobre sus nuevos libros y colaboraciones. ¡No te pierdas este episodio!
May 31, 2022•39 min•Season 2Ep. 18
In this episode of the Cuban Family Roots podcast, I have the pleasure of interviewing Ed Elizondo, a retired engineer and the first to bring us virutal Cuban genealogy repository through the CubanGenWeb.org website which he created back in 1996. Since then, the CubaGenWeb.org has been a great resource for Cuban genealogy data and has facilitated the search for many Cubans when looking to finding their genealogy. Throughout the interview, Ed tells us what motivated him in starting this resourcef...
Apr 30, 2022•18 min•Season 2Ep. 17
The history of the Korean migration to Cuba was small by the number and forgotten. It was revived recently when Joseph John, a Korean American featured the film JERONIMO in 2019. The film explores the life of a Cuban of Korean-descent named Jeronimo Lim. Throughout the document we see Jeronimo's attempt "t o unveil a forgotten chapter in the history of Korean diaspora" Throughout the interview, John explain how and why the Koreans came to Cuba and offers information about various Korean-Cuban or...
Apr 01, 2022•28 min•Season 2Ep. 16
March is Women's History Month. In this podcast episode we celebrate Women's History Month by celebrating our Cuban Countess, Maria Mercedes Santa Cruz y Montalvo, a woman larger than life which little is known or written about in our Cuban history. She was not only part of Cuban aristocracy, she was a singer and the first Cuban-woman writer of her time. Mercedes' memoir and travel writings specifically, "Viaje a La Habana" introduces 19th century Cuban society to many Europeans. Of the many con...
Mar 05, 2022•35 min•Season 2Ep. 15
This episode of The Irish in Cuba provides a historical perspective of the Irish migration in the Island. Although the Irish migration to Cuba was not directly from Ireland, the host explains how significant it was to the development of Cuban economy and culture. Prohibition is mentioned as a time when several Irish bar owners from both New York and Boston also settled in Habana. In addition, an interview with a Cuban-American reveals how he came to learn about his Irish roots and his journey to...
Mar 05, 2022•41 min•Season 1Ep. 3
In this episode I discuss the Chinese migration to Cuba from 1850 when the Chinese arrived to toil in Cuba's Sugarcane fields to the second migration of 1870's when more than 40,000 Chinese arrived to the Island. In addition, I discuss the establishment of El Barrio Chino in La Habana and later the migration from California in the 1900's. My guest, Steven Owyang, a Chinese American with family in Cuba, also provides information on why the Chinese came to Cuba and most importantly, he discusses h...
Jan 31, 2022•51 min•Season 2Ep. 14
As young Cuban Americans who loves genealogy, Aileen and Christian want to share their passion and knowledge of genealogy they've gathered through the years with the rest of the Cuban Community. In honor of the 12 months of the year, they bring you Cuban Genealogy resources that they feel are the greatest resources for searching your Cuban family roots. The resources mention include databases for searching Cuban family both here and on the Island.
Jan 01, 2022•28 min•Season 2Ep. 13
En este episodio entrevistamos al escritor y novelista cubano William Navarrete. Navarrete analiza su primer libro genealogico titulado, G enealogia Cubana. San Isidoro de Holguín, el cual trabajó con la colaboradora María Dolores Espino. Durante la entrevista habla de las pruebas y tribulaciones de armar esta gran producción genealógica. Fue durante la década de 1990, cuando no había Internet, que se embarcó en este viaje Pero, fue su pasión por la genealogía lo que lo llevó a componer este lib...
Dec 01, 2021•25 min•Season 1Ep. 12
In this episode 11, we focus on the Miyares Family of Cuba. A family that extended its roots throughout Central, South America, and Puerto Rico. In this episode, we'll explore the history of Miyares Family originally from Spain and how they made their way to the Americas. In addition, we tell the story of one of their descendants, Jack McGhee. Jack was secretly adopted by a maternal family member. He finds out that he is not their biological child through a revelation from his son, Lance Lane. A...
Nov 01, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 11
In this episode, we bring you Common Cuban Surnames which have originated from Spain and Portugal, and later Italy and other parts of Europe. Today, some Cubans can traced their surnames all the way back to places from which their families emigrated. We also discuss some not-so common Cuban Surnames. So, Where did your last name come from? Could it have been a distant ancestor’s occupation ? Maybe it tells you what your great-great-great-great grandparents looked like! Whatever your last name is...
Oct 01, 2021•29 min•Season 1Ep. 10
In this episode I recount the early settlement of Jews to Cuba beginning in 1508 when the new Christians arrived in Habana. I discuss the inquisition proceeding to the tribunals of 17th century until the abolition of the Spanish Inquisition in 1834. I also discuss the many contribution Jews made in Cuba from aiding Cubans in the war of independence to the founding of Cuba's cane sugar fields and the first refineries. Then in the 1900's the migration of the Young Turks which brought many Sephardi...
Aug 31, 2021•45 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Did you know that in Cuba there were approximately 10 Count titles? Today we are going to dive deeply into the story of El conde de Jaruco. We will interview one of the the family member of the descendants, Ernesto Bustillo y Sotolongo. He provides information about the Santa Cruz family and explain the history behind this noble title, why and how the nine volumes of “Historia de Familias Cubana” were published. Historia de Familias Cubana is one of the greatest Cuban genealogy resources availab...
Jul 30, 2021•49 min•Season 1Ep. 9
In this episode, I discuss the cool features offered through GEDmatch. GEDmatch is a third-party service where users can compare autosomal DNA files from different testing companies to see if they are distant relatives. Throughout the episode, I discuss each features one by one to show how one can find close and distant relative. GEDmatch can use DNA comparison o find relatives, and has a One-To-Many DNA Comparison Result that helps you compare your genetic profile to users in the GEDmatch datab...
Jul 01, 2021•42 min•Season 1Ep. 7
In this episode of Writing your Cuban Memoir, I explain in a step by step one can bring their memories to life. If you love genealogy, this episode will help you when it's time to write your memoir, a collection of your memories. Through the episode, I explain the differences between a biography and a memoir and highlight some of the things to watch out for as you write about your family members from your perspective. I have a special guest Richard Squires from LifeStory Memoir. Richard explains...
Jun 01, 2021•26 min•Season 1Ep. 6
This episode takes us to two cities histories and how they have been closely intertwined for the past 450 years, Habana, Cuba and St. Agustin, Florida. In the first segment in chronological detail, we’ll contextualize the history of these two cities and how they have been closely intertwined. Our guest, Teresa Fuentes Sardina, a Cuban- American recounts how she learned that her ancestors were founding families of St. Agustin, Florida. Throughout the interview, she tells us of the story of her an...
Apr 29, 2021•51 min•Season 1Ep. 5
This episode of The Irish in Cuba provides a historical perspective of the Irish migration in the Island. Although the Irish migration to Cuba was not directly from Ireland, the host explains how significant it was to the development of Cuban economy and culture. Prohibition is mentioned as a time when several Irish bar owners from both New York and Boston also settled in Habana. In addition, an interview with a Cuban-American reveals how he came to learn about his Irish roots and his journey to...
Mar 29, 2021•45 min•Season 1Ep. 3
In this episode we discuss Genetic Genealogy by explaining what is genetic genealogy as opposed to traditional Genealogy, and how can we use both to work out the precise genetic relationships. I discuss who can benefit from Genetic Genealogy, how we can use it to proof our paper trail, and the existence of various types of DNA test and their purpose. I interview Diahan Southard a leading voice for consumer DNA testing, founder of Your DNA Guide, and author of Your DNA Guide the Book . Diahan ans...
Mar 29, 2021•37 min•Season 1Ep. 4
