Blackout Podcast

Rosanna Pelton is the founder and CEO of ROSAPEL Virtual Assistant Services Incorporated. Recognized for her ingenuity and unwavering dedication to helping businesses thrive, Rosanna has positioned ROSAPEL as a premier provider of virtual assistant and consulting services.

With a profound understanding of the challenges entrepreneurs face, Rosanna founded ROSAPEL with the mission of alleviating the administrative burden on business owners. Her company provides tailored solutions that enhance productivity, efficiency, and organization for clients across various industries.

Find out more @rosapel_va

With Over Two Decades Of Experience, Devin Sherrington Is An Award-Winning Fitness Professional And The Founder Of 360fit. Named The #2 Best Trainer In Canada In 2015, Devin’s Commitment To Excellence Has Been Recognized With 10 Gold Awards, 3 Silver Awards, And 9 Bronze Awards For Halifax’s Best Trainer.

His Dedication To Fitness And Client Success Extends To His Gym, 360fit, Which Has Earned Top Honors As Coast Magazine’s Best Gym, Including A Gold Award In 2013, Multiple Silver Awards In 2012, 2014, And 2015, And Bronze In 2017, 2018, And 2019.

The Gym Has Also Been Recognized By Metro Star, Winning Silver In 2018 And 2019. Devin’s Expertise And Passion Continue To Inspire Clients And Elevate The Fitness Community.

Check him out @360fitgym

Serena Wu is a multilingual singer-songwriter from Halifax, Nova Scotia, whose pop-driven music blends relatable, emotional lyrics with upbeat percussion and catchy melodies.

Her latest single, Étranger (French for "Stranger"), is available on all streaming platforms, along with an official music video. Produced, recorded, and mixed by award-winning collaborator Daniel Ledwell, the track explores the intrigue and uncertainty of falling for someone while questioning who they truly are. It starts with a staccato ukulele riff and quickly expands into a lively arrangement featuring soulful, funk-infused instrumentation. A playful bassline, shimmering guitar riffs, and a vibrant brass section provide an exciting backdrop for Serena’s dynamic voice and textured harmonies.

Serena performed with Ashley MacIsaac at the 2021 Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo and in Halifax for the 2022 Acadian National Day, where she joined him on his hit Sleepy Maggie. Last November, she was featured among artists presented by Acadian Embassy at Nova Scotia Music Week in Yarmouth, NS. Recently, she’s been working on new original songs, showcased live at venues like the Seahorse Tavern and the Emerge Festival with her band.

Étranger is the first in a series of new releases from Serena Wu, with songs in both French and English. On October 16th, she released the official video for this debut single, directed by James Turpin. Another new track, also produced by Daniel Ledwell, is set for release in the New Year.

Learn more @serenawu_._

Okoye Franklin aka Bad Friends is a record producer, sound engineer, DJ, musician & songwriter from Halifax.

Bad Friends was recently nominated for "DJ OF THE YEAR", "ELECTRONIC ARTIST OF THE YEAR"  Awards - MUSIC NOVA SCOTIA and Emerging Artist of the Year - ANSMA.

Supported by Spinnin' Records and recently signed to One Seven Music, distributed by Sony Music, Bad Friends mixes his Nigerian roots with his new Canadian home in a thunderous heartfelt track that lets EDM and Afrobeat mingle on the dance floor.

Check him out @badfriends_music

Courage has 10+ years of experience in the corporate world in different continents and across sectors. She is currently a Business Development Manager at Futurpreneur and supports Young Entrepreneurs in Nova Scotia in launching their businesses through the organization's various program offerings.

Courage has developed a number of skill sets in her career journey, and combined with her diverse experience, she is able to support and champion different causes across Africa - first in her home country, Nigeria and two Eastern African countries - Ethiopia and Kenya. Some of these causes include financial literacy training for women and tech education for children.

A lover of art and entrepreneurship, Courage operates a digital media outfit in Halifax and spends her weekends photographing individuals, and helping professionals and small business owners create memorable brands through photography and storytelling.

Courage holds a master’s degree in International Development from The New School, New York, a Bachelor's degree in Guidance and counselling from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria; and several certificates in finance, Web design, Marketing and Project Management.

In her downtime, Courage enjoys photographing, designing, bead crafting, cooking, reading, volunteering and travelling.

Linda Espinosa Valencia is an equity, diversity and inclusion consultant and alongside Ana Maria Desmasion Cornejo co-founded Ventura Collective. Ventura Collective is a Latine women-owned equity, diversity, and inclusion consulting collective. Ventura utilizes the Diversity and Inclusion ISO 30415 standard to disrupt the current DEI status quo and enact systemic change in organizations.

Linda holds a Marketing and International Business Degree, a Diversity and Inclusion Certification from Cornell University and a Diversity and Inclusion Service Management ISO 30415:2021 certification from the University of Georgia. Linda was the first DEI consultant in Canada to be certified to implement ISO 30415:2021 Diversity and Inclusion Framework in organizations. 

Linda has lived and worked in Mexico, Canada and the US. Living in these three different settings has taught her that differences are what make places and organizations thrive and diversity must be celebrated. She is fluent in both English and Spanish. 

Most recently, Linda joined the Standards Council of Canada (SCC), the national representative to the ISO (International Organization for Standardization). She has introduced the first DEI Certification in Canada, based on the International Standard ISO 30415, specifically for DEI professionals.

Learn more @venturacollectiveltd

Deji Majekolagbe, born in 1996 in Lagos, Nigeria, currently resides as a photographer in Halifax, Nova Scotia. His portfolio encompasses a diverse spectrum of photography, including weddings, fashion, street, and portrait photography. Deji's passion lies in capturing the essence of individuals from various walks of life.

In his creative process, Deji emphasizes the importance of simplicity, aiming to evoke emotions, stillness, and vulnerability through his work. His focus is on showcasing the genuine and best versions of his subjects. In the dynamic and ever-evolving world of photography, Deji is dedicated to finding his unique voice, embracing a journey of continual learning, overcoming failures, and persistent experimentation.

Check him out @dejimajek

Lize, originally from South Africa, moved to Canada in 2022 to embark on new adventures and expand her horizons. A crime fighter at heart, Lize is passionate about justice and exploring the complexities of the human psyche. She combined her love for puzzles with her fascination for criminal behaviour, leading to the creation of "Puzzled by Crime" — a project that merges analytical thinking with the exploration of the darker sides of human nature. This creative endeavour aims to stimulate problem-solving skills while fostering conversations around crime, vulnerability, and prevention, encouraging others to find colour and light amidst the darkness.

In addition to her crime-related pursuits, Lize is a dedicated philanthropist, always looking for opportunities to bring positive change to others' lives. Together with a friend, she started a fundraiser "Love and Smile SA" aimed at providing toothbrushes and toothpaste to underprivileged children in South Africa, with the goal of "brightening and broadening smiles one by one." To date, they have raised enough funds to supply oral hygiene products to 650 children, creating lasting, positive effects on the health, confidence, and social interactions of these young individuals. Lize's dedication to uplifting others is at the core of everything she does.

Lize is also an avid traveller, believing that exposure to diverse cultures and experiences enriches personal growth and shapes one's worldview. She values learning from different perspectives and incorporates these lessons into her work, ultimately striving to be a positive influence wherever she goes. Her motto is simple yet powerful: live life to the fullest, find the light in dark places, and make a few people smile along the way. Through her creative endeavours, philanthropy, and enthusiasm for exploration, Lize is committed to leaving the world a little safer and a little happier.

Find out more @lizemels

@loveandsmilesa

https://www.puzzled-by-crime.com/

https://www.gofundme.com/f/love-and-smile-sa/

Yangsta is a hip-hop artist and radio/podcast personality from Dartmouth Nova Scotia. He is an avid supporter of the local NS hip-hop scene and has been releasing music for over a decade. Yangsta’s musical style is inspired by the likes of Will Smith, 2Pac, Jay-Z, Notorious BIG and other notable figures of old school 90s rap era.

A lyrical perfectionist, Yangsta prefers to write bars on a pen and a pad vs. freestyling songs. The polished and to-the-point song structure in all of his music serves as a testament to his effort towards creating the best music.

Yangsta co-hosted a popular radio show on 88.1fm CKDU called “Pyrate Radio”, a one-hour-long local hip hop show alongside Vadell Gabriel. Over the eight years of the show being active, the duo brought on countless guests from the local music community to showcase their content and talents, including the Blackout Podcast’s host. Yangsta & Vadell also performed and DJ’d at various venues across the city such as the Gottingen 250 festival, “Family Over Fame” day, The Coast’s “Food Truck party” and “Multi-cultural night” at MSVU.

Yangsta’s latest project “Tales From the Dark Side” #TFDS is a testament to his lyricism and life experiences as a resident of Dartmouth. The gritty yet energetic sounds of the project is an accurate reflection of life in the Dark Side and the unique vibe the city has. A must listen.

Check him out @theyangsta7

Simone Chia is a transformational coach who helps growth-minded individuals step into their purpose and overcome the obstacles holding them back. Using an integrated mind-body approach, she guides clients to develop deeper self-awareness, gain clarity on their goals, and break free from self-limiting beliefs.

Simone empowers people to stop putting off their dreams and start creating meaningful lifestyle changes that lead to greater contentment, purpose, and joy. Whether you're looking to improve relationships, develop healthy habits, or simply feel more alive, Simone provides the strategies and support to bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be.

She helps growth-minded individuals step into their purpose, whether that’s feeling more content, developing healthy habits, or improving their relationships. Using an integrated mind-body approach, she supports her clients in bridging the gap between where they are now and where they want to be, helping them experience greater life satisfaction and joy. Working with her, clients gain clarity and self-awareness, while developing strategies to move towards their goals in a way that feels realistic and exciting.

Her work centres around helping clients:

Develop deeper self-awareness about what truly matters to them, so they can move through life with intention, not on autopilot.

Gain clarity on their goals and what makes them feel truly alive, and take purposeful action towards those goals.

Identify self-limiting beliefs and behaviour patterns that keep them stuck.

Develop strategies to work towards their lifestyle goals in ways that feel manageable, realistic, and exciting.

Stop putting off their dreams and start creating lifestyle changes that move them towards a greater sense of purpose, contentment, and joy.

Find out more about the retreat here

Learn more about Simone @simone_by_the_sea