El Lector Stories and Cigars from the Exiled South

Marcos, Matt, Victor and Mark talk about horror movies. Light up some candles and a nice cigar and enjoy the El Lector Halloween Special.

This is a special episode, recorded a couple years ago on a very windy night with a very special guest, Colonel Jack Thomson. A longtime Coral Gables resident, Jack tells us about growing up in Miami, living in Cuba as the revolution was happening and what it's like being a Miami lifer. Happy Birthday, Jack!

WARNING: This episode features gratuitous descriptions of delicious food. You will leave hungry. Marcos, Victor, and Mark are joined by local legend Omar Cartaya, who has worked as a dive instructor and chef among other jobs. The conversation centers on Omar's time as a chef in the early 2000's on Brickell Key in Miami, and then moves on to Cuban cuisine, memorable dishes and the best croquetas in Miami.  What we're smoking: RoMa Craft Intemperance BA XXI Breach of Peace

“Liberty is the right of every man to be honest. To think and speak without hypocrisy.” Jose Marti   “The most sacred thing is to be able to shut your own door” - GK Chesterton   Three Cuban-Americans and a guy from Hammond, Indiana sit down to talk about the current situation in Cuba. We discuss it's history, how Cuba got to where it is at this historic moment, and what we can do to love the people of Cuba.  Their perspective is needed during this time of varying opinions. Voices of experience open up about this Caribbean island that has been at the center of global importance for decades, now in the throes of pain and possibly, a new beginning. This is a great episode and we encourage you to share it with friends who have questions about this troubling and politically charged event that began on July 11, 2021.    What we're smoking? The Toraño Exodus 1959, of course.

El Lector is back! Like a phoenix, rising slowly from a swimming pool, our heroes triumphantly return to regale you with everything they've been doing the last year. Spoiler: not much. Join Marcos, Matt, Mark and special guest Josh Roque from Drew Estate as we discuss things that kept us sane during the last year. Tonight we're smoking Herrera Esteli Piramide Fino - courtesy of our guest. You can read more about that fantastic smoke here: https://www.cigaraficionado.com/top25cigar/herrera-esteli-piramide-fino-2013

Marcos interviews filmmaker Adriana Bosch. They discuss her new film Letters to Eloisa, debuting at the Miami Film Festival in March.

In the early 1980s in Westchester Miami, Jorge Milian and some friends opened a transformative teen night club. Perfectly timed to ride the change of the legal drinking age to 21, the Beat Club was a hit. Hear the story of the club's rise and hey day from its owner, Jorge Milian. Thanks to Jack Toraño for being there to paint the Beat Club, AND for bringing the fantastic Espinosa cigars we enjoy as we record. Check our Facebook page for links to the Spotify playlist and pictures from the club.

We talk with Mike Tuñez and Lillian from Firelock Games, the creators of Blood and Plunder, a table-top miniatures game that was recently featured on South Park(!). Tonight we are smoking Ghurka Rogue Armageddon. Check out Blood and Plunder at Firelock Game's website.

Josh Roque, brand manager at Drew Estate, comes clean about how terrible it is to taste test cigars for a living.   You can read more about the Undercrown Dogma here: https://drewestate.com/drew-estate-unveils-2019-undercrown-dojo-dogma-limited-release/    

The Amparo Experience is an immersive theater experience bringing us the story of the Arrechabala family; a story of “one family's fight for love, country, legacy and the truth behind the real HAVANA CLUB RUM”. We sat down with Writer Vanessa Garcia and Producer Victoria Collado to talk about this moving experience resonating across cultures and with Cuban-Americans who find in it their own stories. Marcos, Raquel and Nelda also sit down to talk about what the experience meant for them providing a generational perspective. This is a true story from the Exiled South; of legacy lost and recovered. Don't tell us we're not Cuban.

Your hosts interview Architect and storyteller Rolando Llanes with guest JB Aleman as they discuss the film White Elephant:What is There to Save? The subjects of conversation in this episode are architecture, baseball and fatherhood, all as viewed from the lens of Miami in the late 20th century. You can check out the film (and we highly recommend that you do) on Vimeo, here: https://vimeo.com/105767151 Enjoy this story from the Exiled South.

Marcos, Mark, and Matt are joined by Bob, Angel and Philip to discuss the 2018 Cigar Aficionado Top 25 list, the cost of cigars, and some of their favorite cigar memories. Pour a glass of your favorite drink, light up a great cigar, and enjoy!

Our hosts try to educate themselves on the topic of cigar tasting. Featuring notes of ridiculousness, neti pots, and retrohaling, this episode will surely hit the right spot. This week everyone smokes La Mission by L'Atelier: https://www.neptunecigar.com/cigar/la-mission-by-l-atelier We discuss the following pages for inspiration: Small Batch Cigar's FAQs series: https://www.smallbatchcigar.com/faq-how-do-cigar-reviewers-taste-all-those-crazy-flavors Retrohaling: The Nose Knows from Cigar Advisor https://www.famous-smoke.com/cigaradvisor/retrohaling-the-nose-knows and finally, here's Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman with their wood smelling video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URLCRZuttCs

Daniel DiFabio tells Marcos about his family and their heritage as cigar crafters. Recorded live in Key West at the Rodriguez Cigar shop. This is the story of the Rodriguez Fabrica de Tabacos of Key West, as told by Daniel DiFabio. Another story from the Exiled South.

Almost forty years ago, during the sweltering summer of 1980, Fidel Castro declared that any Cubans desiring to leave the island of Cuba could do so, as long as someone outside of Cuba would come to the island and claim them. Between April and September of 1980, 1,600 vessels, commissioned by previously exiled Cubans, crossed the Florida Straits to claim more than 125,000 Cubans. The boats returned to the United States overloaded with precious cargo: Cuban families exiled from their homeland, searching for freedom. This is the story of one of those families. A story from the exiled south. Mariel intro music: Marc Ribot y Los Cubanos Postizos - Aurora en Pekín El Lector intro music: The Spam All Stars - Fiesta de los Feos

Our hosts had the honor of being able to record live at the Ernest Hemingway home and museum in Key West, Florida. Tour guide Chris Parsons joins us and regales us with Hemingway fact, myth, and more. Be sure to check out the full notes at exiledlector.com

Two weeks after returning from Cuba, Marcos and Mark reflect on their trip. This is reflecting on the trip and really discussing the impact of this, Mark's first trip, and Marcos' sixth. Be sure to check out our site, exiledlector.com for the full notes.

In February of 2018, Marcos and Mark went to Cuba with Marcos' daughter Racky, as well as Dr. Dan van Voorhis and Dr. Jeff Mallinson of the Virtue in the Wasteland podcast.

"A wizard is never late. Nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to." We have two episodes from our trip to Cuba posting in the next week! And more episodes ready to go!

In which Marcos, Matt, Victor and Mark discuss their favorite Miami movies. We touch on Big Trouble, The Miami Connection, The Birdcage, Casino Royale and many more. Happy New Year from El Lector! As mentioned in the episode, here's the IMDB page for The Miami Connection: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092549/

Miami Motel Stories is an immersive play in which the viewer wanders the halls of a hotel in Little Havana, experiencing the sights, sounds, cafecito, and more. The play tells the history of the area, as well as walks the viewer through life in Miami today. In this episode of El Lector, Marcos and Mark sit down on Calle Ocho with Juan C. Sanchez, the writer, and Carmen Peláez, one of the stars of the play. Be sure to check out the Juggerknot Theater Company - http://www.juggerknottheatrecompany.com for upcoming productions from this talented crew.

On this episode our conversation with Steve Roitstein continues and goes a bit deeper. We bring a bit of historical perspective on Cuba and the black-listing of certain artists, specifically Willie Chirino who Steve collaborated with for years. Steve tells how a song became a sensation and source of hope in Cuba and how that song also led to the arrest of some who dared listen to it or sing it in their homes. We talk Miami and the things that connect us. No matter where we come from the history of the Cuban exile to Miami impacts us all, even a Jewish kid from Connecticut.

The Great Steve Roitstein joins us, along with Joe Cardona as we discuss his prolific musical career, from learning the clave to arranging a hit as his first salsa arrangement! This is part one of a two part interview with Steve and Joe joining Marcos and Matt (and Raquel). Be sure to look for our next episode where we go deeper with Steve Roitstein. Featuring the song Cresencio by Palo! as our opening this week.

Every year on Columbus Day, Americans awaken with heavy questions on their minds…. “Is there garbage pick-up today?” “Crap. Is the bank closed? Will I be able to deposit my check?” “How many likes did I get on my craft beer photo at the brewery?” Deep questions indeed, until we open our apps and social media reminds us through clever memes and two-minute video clips that it's really Hate on Columbus Day. Tempers flare, sides are taken and keyboards explode from endless diatribes on Columbus bringer of genocide and slavery up against Columbus the right-wing evangelical (wait… wasn't he Catholic??) who brought us prosperity and of course, ‘Murica. In this episode the El Lector crew have a frank conversation about Christopher Columbus and the day memorializing his landing in the New World. Adam Conover of the popular show “Adam Ruins Everything” recently released a clip called “Christopher Columbus was a Murderous Moron”. Among the many anti-Columbus articles and websites vilifying him we decide to tackle the idea of how history is taught and received rather than the man or the event. We are joined in this episode by Dr. Joseph Holbrook, director of Academic Programs at the Latin American and Caribbean Center at FIU. Dr. Holbrook reminds us that history is filled with “the good, the bad and the ugly”, and describes Christopher Columbus as a complex individual who we must understand in context as a man of his time. Our intent with this episode is not to argue for or against Columbus Day. Instead we explore the importance of studying history in context, how history can be twisted to support myriad arguments and agendas. More importantly, we discuss how learning history in context can help us better understand who we are and avoid repeating horrific historic events.

Hurricanes blow. As Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico are still picking up the pieces from the first two-thirds of this year's hurricane season (still two months left!), Marcos, Mark and Victor reflect on what they learned in the wake of a near direct hit from Hurricane Irma. Be sure to check our website exilelector.com for links to what we're smoking, our facebook and instagrams, and our Spotify playlists.

In episode 6 we pick up Marcos' interview with Dr. Joseph Holbrook as they continue their conversation about Christian culture, focusing on empathy.

Cultural Christianity with Dr. Joseph Holbrook This week join the guys as they discuss the muddy waters at the intersection of American and Christian cultures, featuring Marcos' interview with Dr. Joseph Holbrook, professor of History at Florida International University. Some of the items discussed this week: Billy Graham's Crusades: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Billy_Graham%27s_crusades The movie Saved! (from which we get the title of this week's episode. Saved! on imdb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0332375/ Check out the website, exiledlector.com for the complete show notes, including links to the cigars we're smoking this week.

Recorded LIVE at Cigar Cellar in Coral Gables. Jack Toraño is the ambassador for the Toraño brand at General Cigar Company. We sit down with Jack to talk about the Toraño family legacy in the cigar industry going back 100+ years! Jack also gives us an update on the IPCPR trade show and some of the cool new sticks hitting your favorite boutique soon. We talk Miami, cigar industry blues and blessings and even have a special call in from author and friend of the podcast, Ted Kluck. We'd like to thank Rhea at Cigar Cellar and Lounge for hosting the event! Check out Cigar Cellar at cigarcellarmiami.com You can find more info about El Lector at exiledlector.com

What is outrage porn? Why are we always getting angry at the next story online?! Join your Lectores as they discuss outrage, internet activism, and where knowledge comes from.

Episode 2 of the El Lector podcast. Tonight join Marcos as he interviews Nelda Peruyero. They discuss her father, Juan Jose Peruyero (Joseito). Peruyero was assassinated in 1977 in front of his Little Havana home. His murder remains a cold-case. Nelda shares with us the character of her father and paints a vivid picture of a turbulent time in Miami and Cuban history.

Episode 1 of the El Lector podcast. In our inaugural episode, meet Marcos, Matt, Victor and Mark. They discuss Miami: how they got here, why they've stayed, why they've come back. But more importantly they talk about story, and why telling stories matters. Light a cigar, pour a drink, and listen to El Lector.