Corie Sheppard Podcast

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Celebrating the Life of Lord Funny – Calypso’s Master of Wit

In this heartfelt and laughter-filled episode, Corie pays tribute to the late great Lord Funny, one of Trinidad and Tobago’s most beloved calypsonians. From his razor-sharp social commentary to his unforgettable humour, Funny’s music could both break the tension in a heated calypso tent and shine a light on the nation’s biggest issues. Corie revisits classics like Farmer Brong, Sweet Sweet Trinidad, and Bamsie, weaving in reflections on the role of comedic calypso in national life.

Alongside the celebration, Corie also dives into recent current affairs, the importance of learning from different voices (including controversial ones), and why listening for what’s useful in someone’s story can unlock personal growth. From funny’s lyrical brilliance to the lessons learned from recent podcast guests, this episode is a mix of cultural memory, social insight, and classic Trini humour.

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In this episode, Corie sits down with the founder of Adam’s Bagelry for an unfiltered conversation about business resilience, brand building, and the mindset it takes to last over 30 years in the game.

They discuss:

• The origin story behind Adam’s Bagelry — and how a bagel shop in New York sparked a lifelong business
• The impact of the 1990 coup on Adam’s first store
• Growing a family business out of his mother’s kitchen
• Scaling from baked goods to sauces, retail, and now expansion
• The role of trust, presence, and community in building customer loyalty
• Why staying relevant means embracing change — from social media to local fruit

This episode is filled with gems on entrepreneurship, legacy, and doing business your way. A must-watch for creatives, business owners, and anyone passionate about building something that lasts.

New episodes drop every Monday — 6am on all audio platforms, 8am on YouTube.

👇🏽 Subscribe, rate, and share if this one speaks to you.

#coriesheppardpodcast #adamsbagelry #trinidadbusiness #caribbeanentrepreneurs #familybusiness #trinidadfoodscene

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Step into a celebration of Trinidad and Tobago's cultural heartbeat as we mark Emancipation Day with powerful reflections on the guardians of our heritage. This special episode weaves together the melodious rapso rhythms of Karega Mandela while taking you behind the curtain of my recent conversations with some of our nation's most brilliant minds.

From the theatrical brilliance of Tyker Phillips confronting difficult social issues through art, to the extraordinary journey of Maxine Williams from Trinidad to Yale to global business leadership at Facebook, each story reveals a different facet of our collective identity. You'll hear my genuine awe at sitting across from these luminaries, and the unexpected moments that transformed these interviews into profound exchanges.

I share the fascinating backstory of my conversation with comedian Junior Lee, whose wisdom at just 28 years old (with 15 years already in his craft!) demonstrates why "overnight success" is a myth worth dispelling. These aren't just interviews—they're living archives of wisdom that our young people desperately need to hear in a world full of competing voices.

The episode takes an introspective turn as I discuss why this documentation matters so deeply. When we celebrate our cultural icons while they're still with us, we create pathways for future generations to see possibilities beyond their immediate circumstances. As Trinidad navigates complex social challenges, these documented conversations might be the very roadmaps our youth need.

Join me in embracing the mission of cultural preservation, celebrating our legends, and building bridges through meaningful conversations. And if these stories resonate with you, consider supporting our new Patreon to help ensure these important cultural archives continue to grow.

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In this wildly funny and unexpectedly honest episode, Jr Lee sits down with Corie for a raw conversation about comedy, politics, family, friendship, and fighting for relevance. From lying on the podcast table to explaining why he can’t get a visa — nothing is off limits.

He breaks down his approach to skits, why he doesn’t beg for followers, and how he deals with being misunderstood. They talk about grief, schooldays, raising children, and why Jr Lee feels loyalty to his audience over the algorithm.

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple, and all major audio platforms

📺 Subscribe to the channel for new episodes every Monday

#coriesheppardpodcast #jrlee #trinipodcast #trinitiktok #caribbeancomedy

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In this powerful episode, Corie sits down with Maxine Williams, VP Head of Accessibility and Engagement at Meta (formerly Chief Diversity Officer), Rhodes Scholar, Oxford and Yale graduate,  for an honest, inspiring, and deeply Trinidadian conversation. From acting on stage in Earl Lovelace's the Dragon Can't Dance with Brother Resistance and playing the evil Isis in Westwood Park, to working alongside Mark Zuckerberg at one of the world’s most influential tech companies, Maxine shares the personal and professional journey that led her from WoodBrook, POS to Silicon Valley boardrooms.

They discuss the magic of Carnival, the legacy of Peter Minshall, the future of AI and assistive tech, and what it really takes to get a job at a company like Meta. Maxine also reflects on imposter syndrome, community, the power of representation, and why excellence gives you the freedom to choose your own path.

This one is full of laughter, real talk, and lessons for anyone navigating creativity, identity, and career on a global scale — all while staying rooted in the Caribbean spirit.

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The process/steps by which parents can go from "I think my child might have a learning difference to getting them assessed, diagnosed and a learning plan made begins with getting a psycho educational assessment done. To do this:
1) Ask for feedback from teachers about your child's learning experience and schedule a meeting with the Principal. Get a referral letter from the Principal.
2) Take the letter to the Ministry of Education Student Support Services Division (SSSD) and ask for a free Developmental Assessment of your child https://www.moe.gov.tt/student-support-services-division-sssd/
868) 622-2181.
3) If you would like to get an assessment done sooner and have the means to pay, there are a couple of options:  contact the UWI School of Education PEDIC clinic https://sta.uwi.edu/FHE/education/content/pedic
Or
Select a psychologist from the website of T&T Association of Psychologists
https://psychologytt.org
(868) 794-TTAP (8827)

There are also some NGOs that provide assessments to certain populations in their field or catchment area eg:
* Dyslexia Association for specific Reading based assessments and 
* The Cotton Tree Foundation for children enrolled in their core programmes and in the communities they serve.

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In this week’s episode, playwright and cultural force Tyker Phillip brings real Jamette energy and opens up about the making of her acclaimed play Poison, a gripping drama born from the haunting lyrics of Dexter Dapp’s “Breaking News.” She breaks down her creative process, the casting of Nikolai Salcedo and Tafar Chia, and why she chose intimate spaces to make the audience sit in discomfort.

We dive into her Belmont roots, her work with Belmont Freetown, and how mentors like Raymond Choo Kong, Tony Hall and Sprangalang shaped her path. From Mansplain to her iconic flag woman performance, Tyker speaks on what it means to create art that is culturally grounded, politically charged, and spiritually necessary.

Click the link in my bio for the full episode

#coriesheppardpodcast #tyker #belmontfreetown #poisonplay 

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In this bonus episode we get back with super producer XplicitMevon for an unfiltered conversation that dives even deeper into the beats, stories, and realities behind some of Trinidad & Tobago’s most impactful music.

Mevon recounts his transformative experience leading a music workshop in Anguilla—where he was welcomed like royalty—and contrasts that with the lack of recognition at home. He shares the powerful, never-before-heard backstory behind “Anxiety,” the emotional collaboration with Patrice Roberts recorded just days before tragedy struck.

The conversation explores:

• Why soca is often seen as an “old man’s genre” and how that’s locking out young artists
• The origins of Trapso, blending hip hop, soca, and Trini slang
• Creating timeless hits like “Ponani,” “Annie,” “Come Home,” “Sugar Daddy,” and “Every Time”
• The systemic barriers that keep emerging talent off the radio and out of fetes
• How memes and double entendre still shape modern soca
• The importance of documenting these stories for the next generation

Whether you’re a longtime fan of Caribbean music or simply curious about the creative process behind Carnival anthems, this episode is full of honest reflections, cultural insights, and moments that might change the way you hear the music forever.

👉 Subscribe, share, and click the link in my bio to hear the full story.

#Soca #Trinidad #XplicitMevon #Calypso #Trapso #Carnival #MusicPodcast

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Just in time for Christmas in July, in this  inspiring episode, we sit with super producer XplicitMevon Sooden.

Mevon Soodeen—aka Explicit Boy—is the Trinidadian music producer behind some of the biggest soca, soca parang & hiphop hits in recent years. 

In this episode of The Corie Sheppard Podcast, we dive into Mevon’s journey from a self-taught beatmaker in St. James to producing Carnival and Christmas anthems like Pone Annie (with Rome), Come Home (with Nyla & Skinny Fabulous), and Take Me Home (with Freetown Collective).

We discuss:
🎶 The story behind hits like Come Home and why major artists turned it down
🥁 How hip hop and Fruity Loops shaped his unique soca-parang production style
🎤 Collaborating with Rome, Kyle Phillips, Jeffers, Kit Israel, Freetown Collective, and more
💻 Leaving a government IT job to build a full-time career in music
🍽️ Parang, Christmas culture, and controversial doubles combos (smoke herring, anyone?)
📈 How Mevon is shaping the next generation of Caribbean sound

If you're a fan of Caribbean music, Trinidad Carnival, music production, or just love a good origin story—this one’s for you.

🔔 Subscribe for more deep dives with the voices behind the culture.

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Episode Description:

In this episode, we sit down with pianist, singer, and producer Johanna Chukaree — better known as D Piano Girl — for an honest and uplifting conversation about creativity, healing, and purpose.

Johanna shares her journey from early classical training and national music festival wins to a corporate career in engineering and HR — before finally stepping fully into her artistry. We get into the story behind her viral Savannah Grass cover, the emotional layers of her new single Forever, and how she blended Bollywood rhythms, Hindi lyrics, and Trinbagonian spirit to produce a deeply personal anthem.

We talk about her process, her voice, and how music became a way to process life, raise her vibration, and reconnect with joy. From working out Phase II Pan Groove intros as a child in Woodbrook to making original music heard on major stations, Johanna opens up about learning to believe in herself — and how that belief shapes everything around her.

🎹 This episode includes:
• The making of Forever and her Hindi-infused production choices
• The impact of her Savannah Grass performance
• Boogsie and Phase II being musical influences
• Her time in the Marionettes Chorale
• Hosting 12 & Under with Vaughnette Bigford
• How she balances artistry with purpose and peace

🎧 Click the link in our bio for the full episode.
#coriesheppardpodcast

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In this episode, Lou Lyons shares the journey from growing up in a strict Tobago household with no TV to co-founding Freetown Collective and becoming a voice for cultural introspection. We talk about his early love for vinyl, the creation of Full Disclosure, and how the pandemic pushed him deeper into music and self-discovery. Lou reflects on the spiritual responsibility of artistry, learning guitar while studying law, and how he and Muhammad Muwakil built Freetown from spoken word roots to international stages.

We also discuss:

• The impact of calypso on all Trinbagonian music
• Collaborating with Machel Montano on “Represent”
• Why he left Lord Shorty off his soca Mount Rushmore
• The importance of documenting music legacies and teaching pan over recorders
• The spirit behind “Feel the Love,” “Light Man,” and his upcoming album

A deeply thoughtful conversation about culture, conviction, and creative purpose.

🎧 Click the link in my bio for the full episode

#coriesheppardpodcast #loulyons #freetowncollective #calypso #soca #kaiso #trinidadandtobago