This episode is all about Cuba. As incoming travelers compete for the best “authentic” Cuban food Instagram shots, it’s worth remembering that many Cuban residents are going hungry. What does this juxtaposition of privation and prosperity mean? We then lighten the mood with a brief history—and taste—of Cuban rum.

Traveling with us this week are Patrick Simms, the author of two books on Cuba, and a journalist covering for Outside, The New York Times, Harper’s, and GQ; Robert Reid, a former travel writer and the current host of OETA’s Gallery America on PBS; and Jacob Grier, a prominent mixologist who is also a political writer for publications such as The Washington Post.