The Mental Health Conversation Caribbean Families Have Avoidided | Rebecca Singh, LMHC | KIC Back Podcast Episode 14

In many Caribbean families, mental health is only discussed when someone reaches a breaking point.

But therapy should not begin during the emotional equivalent of a heart attack.

In Episode 14 of the KIC Back Podcast, Licensed Mental Health Counselor Rebecca Singh joins us for an honest conversation about anxiety, depression, trauma, suicidal ideation, family pressure, and the emotional patterns that are often passed from one generation to the next.

Rebecca explains how children can absorb the fears and anxieties they witness at home, why many people struggle to recognize their own emotional distress, and how Caribbean culture can sometimes encourage people to remain silent rather than seek support.

We also discuss what it means to truly be present for someone experiencing suicidal thoughts, why empathy and human connection matter, and how therapy can help people understand themselves before they reach a crisis.

This conversation is not about blaming our parents or rejecting our culture.

It is about recognizing what shaped us, deciding what should continue, and having the courage to heal what should not.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why Caribbean families often avoid conversations about mental health
• How anxiety can be learned from parents and caregivers
• Why therapy should not be treated as a last resort
• The difference between surviving and emotionally healing
• Supporting someone experiencing suicidal ideation
• The importance of empathy, validation, and human connection
• Breaking generational patterns without abandoning your culture
• How to begin seeking help before reaching a breaking point

This may be one of the most important conversations we have had on KIC Back.

Watch the full episode, share it with someone who may need it, and continue the conversation in the comments.

Guest: Rebecca Singh, LMHC
Podcast: KIC Back
Episode: 14

Subscribe to the KIC Back Podcast for honest conversations with Caribbean leaders, creatives, entrepreneurs, and community voices who are helping shape the culture.

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In Episode 13 of The KIC Back Podcast, we sit down with DJ Trev, one of the founding members of Excellent Soundcrew and a DJ whose journey extends far beyond the music.

Trev takes us back to the beginning, before the weddings, packed dance floors, and major celebrations. What started as a fascination with computers, downloading music, and understanding how technology worked eventually became two parallel careers. DJing helped pay his way through college, while that same curiosity for technology opened the door to a career in cybersecurity.

He shares how an English teacher unexpectedly helped launch his professional DJ journey, what it took to grow Excellent Soundcrew, and why controlling the energy of a room is far more complicated than simply playing popular songs. Trev speaks honestly about the pressure behind major wedding moments, the responsibility of reading different generations, and why even after years of experience, certain entrances can still bring nerves.

Beyond the booth, Trev opens up about fatherhood, family, discipline, and the sacrifices required to balance a demanding career with a life in entertainment. We also explore how the West Indian wedding industry has evolved, why communication can matter more than talent, and what separates a professional DJ from someone who simply knows how to mix music.

Of course, no conversation with Trev would be complete without discussing late-night food, corn mutton and roti, and the meal he still has not forgiven his friend for throwing on the floor.

This episode is about more than becoming a successful DJ. It is about following curiosity, building multiple paths, and refusing to believe that one passion has to limit what your life can become.

In Episode 12 of The KIC Back Podcast, we sit down with Dillon Macc, one of the Caribbean community’s most recognizable and original content creators.

Dillon opens up about how creating videos during the pandemic grew from a genuine creative outlet into a platform reaching hundreds of thousands of people across Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and beyond. He explains why he never chased fame, how he developed his unique approach to Caribbean comedy, and why authenticity remains at the center of everything he creates.

Beyond the content, Dillon shares the side of his life that audiences rarely get to see. We discuss his decision to keep his personal life private, his refusal to be placed into one cultural box, and how speaking to the wider Caribbean community has helped his work resonate across different islands and backgrounds.

The conversation also explores entrepreneurship, walking away from the traditional nine-to-five, balancing business with creativity, and building a life centered around freedom. Dillon speaks candidly about his future goals, his passion for cars, the lessons he learned from his entrepreneurial family, and why he believes people should give themselves permission to explore different paths.

This episode is a look at the person behind the viral videos and the mindset behind the platform.

EPISODE 12 | DILLON MACC: WHY HE REFUSES TO BE BOXED IN | CONTENT, FREEDOM & LIFE BEYOND THE 9–5

What was it really like growing up West Indian in New York City?

In Episode 11 of the KIC Back Podcast, Richie, Tamesh, Bryan, and Brandon look back on the experiences that shaped them, from bringing bara and homemade Caribbean food to school to birthday donuts feeling like a major treat.

The crew shares hilarious and honest stories about strict parents, school lunches, fast food, family traditions, and the moments that once made them feel different. They also reflect on how those same experiences eventually became a source of pride.

This episode explores what it means to grow up between two worlds: American outside the home and completely Caribbean the moment you stepped back inside.

A funny, nostalgic, and deeply relatable conversation about food, family, identity, and being raised West Indian in New York.

In Episode 10 of the KIC Back Podcast, we sit down with Acharya Arun Gossai, spiritual leader of Bhuvaneshwar Mandir, for one of our most powerful and reflective conversations yet.

Arun shares his journey from working in finance to stepping fully into his spiritual path, studying in India, and ultimately becoming an Acharya. He opens up about the influence of his father, the weight of legacy, and the lessons that taught him to build his own lane rather than live off his family name.

We also dive into the vision behind Bhuvaneshwar Mandir, the importance of discipline, and the weekly and daily offerings being built to serve and uplift the community.

This episode is about purpose, faith, sacrifice, and what it really means to answer your calling. A conversation rooted in tradition, but meant for anyone searching for direction. 

In Episode 9 of the KIC Back Podcast, we sit down with Nitesh Prasad, founder of Pradaan Decors and Pradaan Musical Imports.

At only 20 years old, Nitesh is already building two businesses, but his story did not start with everything going right.

He talks about getting scammed at 14, losing money, making mistakes, and learning how to keep moving forward instead of quitting. This episode gets into business, work ethic, family, culture, tabla, dholak, and what it really takes to build something when you are still figuring life out.

And because it is KIC Back, we had to keep it real.

We played dholak, sampled hot sauce, talked music, laughed, and got into the mindset behind a young entrepreneur who is already making serious moves in the community.

This is more than a business conversation.

This is a story about setbacks, culture, discipline, and refusing to stop when things go wrong.

Watch the full episode now.

#KICBackPodcast #KICBack #NiteshPrasad #PradaanDecors #PradhanMusicalImports #SmallBusinessSeries #IndoCaribbean #WestIndianCulture #YoungEntrepreneur #BusinessPodcast #Tabla #Dholak #PodcastEpisode #Entrepreneurship #QueensNY #NYCPodcast #CaribbeanBusiness #DesiBusiness #CommunityStories

Welcome back to the KIC Back Podcast.

This week, we're joined by Ryan Debidin, a New York real estate professional whose journey proves that success rarely follows a straight line.

From driving Uber and stepping away from the traditional path to becoming a respected name in real estate, Ryan shares the mindset, discipline, and belief in himself that helped him create opportunities where others saw obstacles.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Betting on yourself when nobody else will
 • Building a career in real estate from the ground up
 • Sales, entrepreneurship, and personal growth
 • The lessons learned from failure and uncertainty
 • Basketball culture, New York life, and competition
 • Family, sacrifice, and staying focused on long term goals
 • Why taking risks can change the trajectory of your life

Ryan's story is a reminder that success is not always about having the perfect plan. Sometimes it's about having the courage to take the first step.

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like, comment, subscribe, and share with someone who needs to hear this conversation.

🎙️ KIC Back Podcast
 Real conversations. Real stories. Real people.

Follow KIC Back Podcast for new episodes every week.

#KICBackPodcast #RyanDebidin #RealEstate #Entrepreneurship #Sales #Business #NewYork #Podcast #Success #Mindset #BetOnYourself #AgentOfTheYear #KICBack #IndoCaribbean #Leadership

The KIC Back crew returns for one of their most honest and relatable conversations yet.

In this episode, Richie, Tamesh, Bryan, and Brandon discuss some of the toxic habits, mindsets, and cultural norms that many Indo Caribbean and Caribbean families have normalized for generations.

From mental health being dismissed, pressure to get married, community gossip, alcohol culture, family expectations, and learning how to build confidence despite criticism, the team shares personal stories, laughs, and real perspectives on what it means to grow up between cultures.

This episode is funny, thought provoking, relatable, and packed with conversations many people have experienced but rarely talk about openly.

In This Episode:

• Mental health in Caribbean households
• "You have food on the table, what are you depressed about?"
• Community gossip and judgment
• Marriage pressure and family expectations
• Growing up first generation Indo Caribbean
• Alcohol culture and normalization
• Toxic comments from relatives
• Building confidence and self worth
• Why some people want you to succeed, just not more than them
• Navigating modern life while respecting culture

Whether you grew up Guyanese, Trinidadian, Indo Caribbean, West Indian, or simply in a family where everyone had an opinion about your life, this episode will feel familiar.

WATCH NOW and join the conversation.

FOLLOW KIC BACK PODCAST

Instagram: @kicbackpodcast

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Instagram: @kictassanyc
YouTube: @kictassa8777

Welcome to the KIC Back Podcast, a New York based podcast spotlighting culture, business, food, identity, music, entrepreneurship, storytelling, and the conversations shaping our communities today.

Hosted by Richie, Tamesh, Bryan, Brandon, and the KIC Back team.

New episodes weekly.

Powered by KIC Tassa and Classic Creatives Media.

Actress and social media personality, Kalissa Persaud joins the KIC Back Podcast for one of our most entertaining and honest conversations yet.

From filming content in her Queens apartment during lockdown to appearing in national campaigns alongside Bad Bunny during the Super Bowl, Kalissa opens up about the real journey behind social media fame, acting, rejection, confidence, and building a career in entertainment.

With over 146K followers on Instagram, Kalissa has built a loyal audience through humor, storytelling, relatable content, and authentic personality while representing a new generation of Indo Caribbean creatives online.

In this episode:
• how Kalissa went viral online
• landing major commercial acting roles
• working on the Super Bowl Ritz campaign with Bad Bunny
• growing up Indo Caribbean in Queens, New York
• balancing acting and content creation
• social media pressure and rejection
• funny stories from auditions and commercial sets
• cultural identity, family, and creativity
• the reality behind internet fame

This episode is hilarious, inspiring, relatable, and packed with moments that creators, actors, entrepreneurs, and anyone chasing a dream will connect with.

WATCH NOW and subscribe for more conversations on culture, entertainment, business, storytelling, and community.

FOLLOW KALISSA:
Instagram: @kalissapersaud

FOLLOW KIC BACK PODCAST:
Instagram: @kicbackpodcast

#KalissaPersaud #Kalizzle #KICBackPodcast #Podcast #Actress #ContentCreator #BadBunny #SuperBowlCommercial #Viral #Entertainment #CommercialActing #QueensNY #IndoCaribbean #SocialMedia #Comedy #ActorLife #NYCCreator #Influencer #PodcastInterview

KIC Back Episode 5, we sit down with Josh from Datz Deli, the creator behind the now iconic Mac Patty, a concept that started with an idea and turned into something the entire community talks about. What began inside a local deli became a brand, a movement, and proof that originality still matters.

Josh’s story is built on resilience, persistence, and staying locked in on the vision even when things were uncertain. From long hours behind the counter to national recognition, we discuss the sacrifices, the pressure, and the mindset it takes to keep building when nobody sees the work behind the scenes.

But this episode goes deeper than food. We get into childhood memories, Pokémon cards, video games, growing up Guyanese in New York, and the culture that shaped who we all became. It’s funny, nostalgic, and honest all at the same time.

This is a conversation about creativity, perseverance, and building something people will remember.

Thanks to our sponsor, Mark Persaud @lawbypersaud