Thank you for telling your story. I am always looking to read or listen to stories about Cuba or Spain I miss hearing the stories my abuelita and my Tia and tío always told me. I was also touched by how well you handled your father during Alzheimer’s. I work in a memory care community. I teach Alzheimer’s classes and Dementia live. I know how hard it can be for the family I took care of my Tia abuela. This disease is so horrible I say it is the longest goodbye because little by little you have to say goodbye to your loved one. And yet you can still have amazing moments I am blessed to have the chance to help our residents have the best end of life possible and I am making beautiful memories with them that I will forever cherish. Thank you again for your story. Hope to hear more from you.
What an enjoyable listen! Chris is able to tell his dads story and talk about some very tough topics all with a hint of comedy and light-heartedness. I’d recommend this to anyone but be prepared to cry (happy and sad tears).
Raised in Asia, migrated to the US to work , now parents to grown children and caring for a parent with Alzheimer’s. I can relate to your story in each episode. You made me laugh, cry and feel nostalgic for the old country. Kudos to your parents who risked everything to give the family a better future. What better way to honor them than with this podcast.
I’m Cuban American, too and have a parent with dementia. This is so close to home but made me laugh with a tear in my eye. Chris Garcia captures the bittersweet with humor and love.
The whole story is so relatable. Even if your parent doesn’t have Alzheimer’s, it still touches the heart. I thought Chris and his family to be very brave and their actions are a testament to the love they have for Papi. I was moved to tears and then laughter because of Chris’ great storytelling.
A wonderful podcast.
It was moving and I also learned a lot. My grandpa is a white guy from New Jersey but spent most of his youth in Central America and is a professor in Chicano Studies. I am also white but was raised by a Guatemalan family so I have conversations in Spanish with words I don’t know and listening to the narrator is so true. From my grandpa, I have heard so many stories about the time he spent in Cuba (he’s 80). It was good to hear about the bad and hard things of life that actually happened there. I had only heard idealized and academic memories because he had the privilege of only meeting with che and fidel and talking about ideas. Never heard about the life of the people. Thank you for this really well done piece of art. Probably one of the best podcasts made to date. Would love to meet the creator some day. Thanks.
Such a well done podcast with great humor and emotion. The intersections of death, ethnicity, immigration, illness, and trauma come together for a wonderful story that made me laugh and tear up throughout.
My dad passed away in March, he had Alzheimer’s. I finished episode 1, but I’m all in. My mom passed away 7 years earlier so I don’t have her to go and ask questions of. Fortunately his sister is still living and so I find myself on many Sunday afternoons digging into our family history and his story. It feels like putting together a jigsaw puzzle that I know will be incomplete. Thank you for sharing your journey through this space.
I love Chris’ story about his dad and his family’s love for each other! I’m Puerto Rican with family members who are Cuban and Mexican and the podcast feels like home: the struggle of our parents and grandparents that made our college educated privilege possible, the tensions between generations as we grow up, the fierce protective love of caring for our elders as they age, and the desire to honor them when they are no longer physically here, but always with us still. Thank you, Chris, for this gorgeous homage to Latinx families!
This wonderful story is a window into a world I have, basically, never known.
I am a 53 year old white American male. Wonderful shows like this are a reminder of how easily I am able to walk through any door I desire.
I forget. The privileges of my skin color, my nationality, my sexual orientation, etc. - all of this makes everything easier for me. Too easy, sometimes...
I am so lucky. Bad things have happened to me, like everyone, but I have been so fortunate to avoid most of those doors that lead into darkness and despair.
Thank you for sharing your family’s story in such a beautiful, funny, and sometimes terrifying manner.
This podcast is a beautiful thing.
Colin
Thank you for sharing your story. I came from Cuba in 1958. My heart feels like it is not whole here. It should be. I have made a beautiful life here. But like your papi I want to go back to my roots. Great storytelling.
I found this podcast from 2 Dope Queens. I immediately became enthralled in the life of Papi and all that has happened to him. From the concentration camps to the asylum to finally making it back home to Cuba. Chris you were NOT a mistake baby. You were the blessing after your parent’s survived the storm of communism. Your Dad was busy battling for life and when he came home he was blessed with you. I LOVED every minute of this podcast! Congrats on your new bundle of joy on the way. 🖤
I listen to podcasts to help quiet my mind and lull me to sleep. It’s 3:40 AM and I’m wanting to move on to episode three. I’ll be taking a long siesta tomorrow. Bravo to Chris and the Scattered production team. Sleepless in San Diego
I can’t say enough about this podcast. My favorite podcast of all time. My family immigrated from Cuban in the early 1960s and I found so much that reminded me of our story. Thank you to the Garcia family for sharing this touching story. Listen NOW!
I have listened to the first and second episode of so many podcasts this year, just searching for the one that will grab me. All across genre’s, and this is definitely THE ONE YOU'RE LOOKING FOR! If you’ve already listened to every episode of RadioLab as I have, delve into this story, it’s funny, poignant, and always interesting.
This is such a heartfelt love letter to his dad and all the characteristics that make him the quintessential Cuban exile and American success story. Chris so eloquently evokes the overlapping experiences of my parents and grandparents in their quest for freedom in Cuba.
This was so heartfelt. I love the music. For those that long to really know why parents act and do the things they do.. thank you. Nothing short of a gift. Recommend to all my friends.
As a 1st generation Cuban American, I truly enjoyed hearing Chris walk us through his family journey. I found myself laughing and crying all at the same time in various occasions. A story of immigrants but above all a story of family and resilience, which many can relate to. Thank you Chris for sharing your family’s story in a genuine and hilarious way and honoring what many of our grandparents and parents went through.
I’m new to podcasts....and this was a lovely start into being plugged in! Thank You, Chris, and your team for sharing a slice of your life w/listeners. So beautifully told...and engaging! Loved the storyline, pace, music and sound editing, too!
I’ve recommended to several of my friends so I could share my thought. It covers history of Cuba, immigration, family, Alzheimer and some more. I especially loved the music, hard not to laugh and cry. So well done!
You NEED to hear this story. What a brief, beautiful testament to a man’s life that was so quiet. I grew up now knowing my dad, because of his conscious choice to not share. I wish I could find the answers and solace that was found by this podcasts creator. Much love to you ❤️ And thank you for sharing this story.
Such a beautiful podcast. I cried, I laughed and I realized every Latino parent has gone through a struggle to provide a better life for their kids at the cost of their own health. My condolences and love goes out to you and your family. 🖤 Thank you for sharing.
I absolutely loved this podcast. If you’re interested in Cuba, love your parents, like great storytelling, appreciate humor, or any combination of those things, you’ll like this one.
My partner is Cuban from Cuba and his family shares much in common with the family on this podcast. Chris did a fantastic job of paying homage to his father, mother and those who come to this country under trying circumstances.
This podcast showed up in the you might also like section and I have to say from the story line to the production values, I did! Chris is a compelling storyteller. I wouldn’t call this one binge worthy because at times it’s heartbreaking. But it’s well worth a listen and well worth finishing.
Chris, I love your vulnerability and story telling capability. My dad is in his second round of cancer, and hearing you talk about your family has been healing and cathartic. Thank you for telling your family’s story! I ❤️ hearing you!
Im so glad I found this podcast. I’m 49 and know much to nothing about my mom’s family. I also know mami had to go to a forced labor camp making grapefruit desserts or jam. I’ve always wanted to know more. Thank you for giving me this at least.
Coming from a Latino family with grandparents migrating from Mexico, I couldn’t wait to listen to this podcast and it didn’t let me down. I cried during parts, laughed during parts and understood it all. It grabs at your heart and doesn’t let go. This is about FAMILY & where you come from. If you listen to no other podcasts, you need to listen to this one.
I can relate to this on so many levels. My mother was an immigrant that has never shared her experiences from Vietnam and she is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. So many questions and I will never get the answers from her. The story hits very close to home. This podcast is very well produced.