The 90 Miles Podcast

About this podcast

Cuba in conversation. A podcast highlighting stories from tech, culture & the arts in Cuba. New episodes twice monthly with special programming mixed in time to time.

The 90 Miles Podcast

Episodes

2021
Episode 16: Havana Syndrome with Peter Kornbluh
Collin Laverty is joined by historian Peter Kornbluh, a leading expert on US-Cuba relations and US covert action in Latin America, to discuss mysterious health incidents affecting American Spies and diplomats in Havana. Kornbluh’s organization, the National Security Archive, recently received a series of declassified documents from the US government. Kornbluh provides an overview of how the cases have been handled by various agencies, why the investigation has been shrouded in secrecy, how bilateral relations and the Cuban people have been impacted and ways the Biden Administration can move forward.
March 2, 2021
56 min
Episode 15: Adriana Heredia Sánchez of Beyond Roots
Economist, entrepreneur and community leader Adriana Heredia Sánchez sits down with Collin Laverty to discuss her business Beyond Roots, an Afro-Cuban focused travel services, retail and events company, as well as her shift from the public to private sector, race and identity issues, expectations in Cuba for President Biden and the time her mom finally understood what she’s doing with her life.
February 17, 2021
32 min
Episode 14: Biden & Cuba with Mark Feierstein
Collin Laverty is joined by Mark Feierstein, a longtime expert on Latin America and President Obama’s regional advisor at the White House, where he took part in bilateral negotiations with Cuba and planned Obama’s historic trip to Havana. Mr. Feierstein provides insight into President Biden’s Latin America policy, what to expect regarding Cuba and lessons learned from engagement under Obama, including everything from baseball to human rights.
February 4, 2021
29 min
Episode 13: Update from Havana with Collin Laverty & Susanna Kohly
Susanna Kohly and Collin Laverty chat about what is happening now in Havana. A Covid spike, endless lines for basic goods, currency unification, and a new US president paint an evolving picture on the ground.
January 29, 2021
33 min
2020
Episode 12: Congressman Jim McGovern
Collin Laverty interviews Congressman Jim McGovern on the Congressman's journey into Latin American politics, his longtime support for engagement with Cuba, and what to expect on Cuba policy in the new Congress under a President Biden in 2021.
December 14, 2020
31 min
Episode 11: Rafa G. Escalona
In the midst of a contentious month for Cuban culture, with renewed calls for dialogue between the government and Cuban artists and intellectuals, independent music journalist Rafa G. Escalona of Magazine AM:PM sits down with Collin Laverty in Havana. They talk Cuban music, politics, and media in the context of 2020.
December 8, 2020
37 min
Episode 10: Cristina Escobar
Journalist Cristina Escobar dives into the nuances of working for Cuban state media while recognizing the need for the media to address today's pressing challenges in Cuba.
November 25, 2020
34 min
Episode 9: Michael Bustamante on the Cuban-American Vote
Collin Laverty chats with Cuba historian and FIU professor Michael Bustamante to try to understand the elusive Cuban-American vote. Bustamante takes us through Cuban Americans' political leanings from the Reagan era through Elian Gonzalez, the Obama era and the 2020 elections.
November 12, 2020
41 min
Episode 8: Cimafunk
There's a lot more to Cimafunk than his funky music, groovy dance moves, contagious energy, and deep soul. From dating advice to his roots in Pinar del Rio, his time with Omara Portuondo to whether he owns shorts, Cimafunk goes all in with 90 Miles. For 50 minutes, Google Cuba's Brett Perlmutter laughs with and learns from the artist who is forging his own path in Afro Cuban funk, and he's bringing his unforgettable band with him.
October 23, 2020
51 min
Episode 7: Esterio Segura
Our latest episode features Havana-based artist Esterio Segura. His artwork focuses on history, politics, the essentiality of movement and the effect of restrictions, all in a Cuban context.
October 15, 2020
25 min
Episode 6: Clandestina, Idania del Rio and Leire Fernandez
Episode 6 brings us into the home (via WhatsApp video call) of the founders of Havana's most iconic design brand, Clandestina. Susanna Kohly chats with Idania del Rio and Leire Fernandez about how they got their start, and about what the future of Cuban design looks like for them.
October 1, 2020
28 min
Episode 5: Yasser González and Brett Perlmutter
In this ep, 90 Miles' in-house bike aficionado Brett Perlmutter introduces our guest Yasser González, the Cuban bike guy. Yasser studied and started out as a software engineer, only to realize he missed being outside too much. So, he started a biking business. Collin Laverty caught up with him last week in Havana to learn about his journey from La UCI to Citykleta.
September 23, 2020
23 min
Episode 4: Lauren Fajardo and Adriana Heredia Sánchez
Episode 4 brings us a quick overview of the Cuban private sector by economist and entrepreneur Adriana Heredia, followed by a personal conversation with Havana-based business owner and fashion designer, Lauren Fajardo.
September 10, 2020
37 min
Episode 3: Daymé Arocena and Adriana Heredia Sánchez
The third installment of the 90 Miles Pod brings us economic analysis from economist Adriana Heredia Sánchez, followed by a chat with Cuban musical giant Daymé Arocena. Simply put, there's a lot to cover.
September 1, 2020
43 min
Episode 2: Marta Deus and Ambassador Jeff DeLaurentis
The 90 Miles Podcast returns in Episode 2 with additional expert commentary from Ambassador Jeff DeLaurentis, and Collin Laverty sits down with Cuban serial entrepreneur Marta Deus, co-founder of Havana's on-demand delivery service Mandao.
August 13, 2020
28 min
Episode 1: Liber Puente and Ambassador Jeff DeLaurentis
The 90 Miles Podcast kicks off with two special guests. Ambassador Jeff DeLaurentis shares his thoughts from his extensive time as a US diplomat in Havana, and Cuban tech entrepreneur Liber Puente is interviewed by Collin Laverty in Puente's office, right next to Coppelia.
August 6, 2020
37 min

The 90 Miles Podcast

About this podcast

Categories

About this podcast

Categories

The 90 Miles Podcast

Episodes

Episode 16: Havana Syndrome with Peter Kornbluh

Episode 15: Adriana Heredia Sánchez of Beyond Roots

Episode 14: Biden & Cuba with Mark Feierstein

Episode 13: Update from Havana with Collin Laverty & Susanna Kohly

Episode 12: Congressman Jim McGovern

Episode 11: Rafa G. Escalona

Episode 10: Cristina Escobar

Episode 9: Michael Bustamante on the Cuban-American Vote

Episode 8: Cimafunk

Episode 7: Esterio Segura

Episode 6: Clandestina, Idania del Rio and Leire Fernandez

Episode 5: Yasser González and Brett Perlmutter

Episode 4: Lauren Fajardo and Adriana Heredia Sánchez

Episode 3: Daymé Arocena and Adriana Heredia Sánchez

Episode 2: Marta Deus and Ambassador Jeff DeLaurentis

Episode 1: Liber Puente and Ambassador Jeff DeLaurentis