By: Aileen Vega, host of the Cuban Family Roots Podcast
With the rise in popularity of platforms such as Ancestry and MyHeritage, which provide DNA testing and an abundance of genealogy information along with historical facts, tracing one’s roots has become a less formidable task than ever before. However, for the Cuban diaspora, the challenge remains daunting, to say the least. The archival challenges associated with ecclesiastical records and the lack of digitization by church and civil authorities have left us feeling hopeless. The motivation behind creating a podcast on genealogy was to raise awareness and foster a sense of unity among like-minded individuals. Thus, the Cuba Family Roots Podcast was born. You can tune in to my podcast on various popular platforms, including but not limited to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Radio Public, among others.
Despite persistent challenges, the landscape underwent a transformation in the early 2000s with the emergence of organizations like the Cuban Genealogy Club of Miami, building upon earlier Cuban genealogy platforms started in the mid-90s, notably CubaGenWeb. These platforms have proven and continue to be vital repositories of information, offering Cubans worldwide a glimmer of hope as they set out on journeys to trace their roots. In more recent years, a new wave of Cubans, both in the US and abroad, have spearheaded initiatives like the Cuba Research Project, showcasing centralized genealogical information, and MAGENHA, dedicated to Cuban DNA and Haplogroups research. Others have chosen more in-depth literary formats, exemplified by the blog Unveiling Spanish America, which often delves into the Cuban population in Florida during and after the 17th century.
The inception of my podcast idea took shape in 2021, driven by a desire to connect with fellow Cubans and guide them in navigating the intricate path of tracing their family roots. Over the past three years, I have consistently published over 30 episodes, releasing one each month. The objective is to provide listeners with engaging interviews featuring Cuban historians, genealogists, credible authors, and everyday Cubans, each offering unique insights into the realm of Cuban genealogy based on their personal experiences. Building a dedicated fan base, the podcast has reached audiences in more than 60 countries that Cubans now call home. Month after month, eager to glean expertise, Cubans eagerly tune in to explore their favorite topic—genealogy!
From the very first episode, my focus has been on Basics of Cuban Genealogy – providing a comprehensive guide on the necessary elements, where to obtain them, and the valuable insights this information can uncover. Additionally, I’ve conducted intriguing interviews with notable individuals such as Diahan Southard, an esteemed DNA educator and author, skilled in unraveling the mysteries of one’s DNA, and Roger Curtis, the founder of GEDMATCH, a website designed to facilitate the discovery of DNA connections. Furthermore, the Podcast has featured distinguished Cuban intellectuals, including Cuban French author William Navarrette who, among other works, has published invaluable books about the founding families of Holguin and their descendants.
Others I’ve had the privilege of bringing on the Podcast are Ed Elizondo, a trailblazer instrumental in the creation of CubaGenWeb, the first of its kind Cuban genealogy website and Lourdes DelPino from the Cuban Genealogy Club of Miami, the most preeminent Cuban genealogy organization.
From one episode to the next, I’ve explored diverse migration tales to and from Cuba, spanning from Koreans, Chinese, Jewish, to the Irish. Recently, I had the privilege of chatting with author Alina Garcia LaPuerta, who delves into her book dedicated to the Countess of Merlin, a Cuban aristocrat offering insights into early colonial Cuba. The Countess of Merlin is the daughter of the Count of Jaruco, the author behind the cream of the crop of Cuban genealogy works, the book “Historia de Familias Cubana.” An entire episode was dedicated to the Count of Jaruco to ensure that newcomers to the genealogy realm become familiar with his enduring legacy and significant contributions to Cuban genealogy.
After three years of consistent podcasting and dedicated promotion, the Cuban Family Roots Podcast has achieved an impressive ranking of #17 out of 40, considering factors such as internet traffic, social media followers, and content freshness. It brings me great pride that a podcast initiated three years ago has been recognized by panelists as one of the Top 40 Genealogy Podcasts on the web. I invite you to support my podcast by simply tuning in and listening every month.
Excelente idea y si en algo puedo colaborar desde Cienfuegos Čuba, cuente con mi servicio. Felicidades
Amazing! Thank you so much for promoting research and supporting our roots.
Hay que destacar el gran trabajo que hace Aileen desde que empezó su podcast ayudando a muchos cubanos de la diaspora a conectar con sus raíces cubanas, para mi fue un placer haber estado en su podcast como invitado, Muchas Gracias por lo que haces Aileen!
Adonis