Paradise Perspectives

Let Riselle know you're listening

In this episode I chat with the fearless Alyssa Ramos, a.k.a. My Life's a Travel Movie, who has transformed solo female travel into an art form and inspires countless others to chase their wanderlust.

If you are curious about what it takes to maintain a a positive outlook while you weather the storm of social media negativity or you have been dreaming of becoming a content creator and influencer, this episode is for you.

Alyssa and I share our secrets to a positive mindset, from creating a morning routine that sparks excitement and positivity to a simple mindset change to help you create sustained mental well-being. 

Alyssa shares about her struggles with finding healthy, loving relationships as a single solo female traveler to now being in a supportive relationship, living on a vineyard with her fiancé in Sardinia.

Learn how she's built a supportive community around her globe-trotting lifestyle, and find out how you can connect with her, and her beloved dog, Oscar, and travel with her Tribe to exotic destinations all over the world.

Get ready to be inspired to live your best life, no matter where the journey takes you.

Get Alyssa's book "Yes, I'm a Woman and I'm Traveling Alone" here.

Follow Alyssa on Instagram, and Facebook, and check out her blog.

Reach out for collabs, advertising, or podcast feedback: [email protected]

If this Podcast hit home, subscribe and leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcast. Reviews help this show grow and reach other women who need it too. And share this episode with your friends and family. Not only is sharing caring, but you never know if one of these episodes is exactly what someone in your life needs to hear. 

Thank you for listening and sharing.

XO
Riselle

Let Riselle know you're listening

Ever found yourself at a crossroads, terrified yet so excited by the prospect of change? Join me as I open up about my latest journey—temporarily moving from the sunny beaches of St. Martin to the lush landscapes of Portland, Oregon, for two months. 

This episode, "Stepping Outside Comfort Zones," is all about confronting fears and embracing the unknown for personal growth. I'll share my emotional rollercoaster, from the hesitation of leaving my beloved cat Rufus to the excitement of conquering new horizons. 

Reach out for collabs, advertising, or podcast feedback: [email protected]

If this Podcast hit home, subscribe and leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcast. Reviews help this show grow and reach other women who need it too. And share this episode with your friends and family. Not only is sharing caring, but you never know if one of these episodes is exactly what someone in your life needs to hear. 

Thank you for listening and sharing.

XO
Riselle

Let Riselle know you're listening

Welcome to Paradise Perspectives. 

I’m Riselle Celestina, Caribbean woman, truth teller, and your no-BS sister in courage. This isn’t a feel-good, play-nice podcast. Here we talk real life: fear, doubt, starting over, finding your voice, and taking back your power when the world tells you to stay small.

Every Thursday I drop honest conversations and straight-up tools to help you rise and create the life you want.

Paradise isn’t a place. It’s a mindset. And Laawdamercy, it’s time to claim yours.

Reach out for collabs, advertising, or podcast feedback: [email protected]

If this Podcast hit home, subscribe and leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcast. Reviews help this show grow and reach other women who need it too. And share this episode with your friends and family. Not only is sharing caring, but you never know if one of these episodes is exactly what someone in your life needs to hear. 

Thank you for listening and sharing.

XO
Riselle

Let Riselle know you're listening

Can you imagine living through a scorching summer with constant blackouts? That's the reality for many on the Dutch side this past month.

This episode is a little different. The constant blackouts are just a small part of what I'm talking about in this not-what-you're-used-to episode.

Recording from my tiny, electricity-deprived apartment, I share how I can turn these adversities into positive moments in life and for Paradise Perspectives. This episode is not just a goodbye to season 2 but an introduction to the exciting changes ahead. Despite the sweltering conditions, I reflect on how this unexpected downtime has provided the perfect backdrop to announce our this new direction.

Season three promises to be transformative, moving beyond travel and Caribbean stories to include empowering stories from solo female travelers and mindful episodes on personal growth and development.  So, tune in for a heartfelt discussion that’s as much about resilience in the face of adversity as it is about the thrilling future of Paradise Perspectives.

Paradise Perspectives with The Traveling Island Girl will be back on Thursday, September 5th, 2024

Listen to Untethered with Jen here.

Reach out for collabs, advertising, or podcast feedback: [email protected]

If this Podcast hit home, subscribe and leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcast. Reviews help this show grow and reach other women who need it too. And share this episode with your friends and family. Not only is sharing caring, but you never know if one of these episodes is exactly what someone in your life needs to hear. 

Thank you for listening and sharing.

XO
Riselle

Send us a text

Ever wonder what it takes to rise from the ashes of a volcanic eruption and transform a community? This episode's guest does.

Vernaire Bass is a strategic consultant, radio personality, and the voice of the Montserrat community. whose voice echoes the resilience and revival of Montserrat.

Our conversation travels from the gripping tales of Montserrat's shining history to the island's current rebirth after a devastating volcanic eruption 29 years ago. We talk about Montserrat's famous St. Patrick's Day celebrations and the meaning behind it and about Vernaire's new show, Women of the West Indies which airs live every Sunday and features different women of the Caribbean.

Listen to Women of the West Indies on YouTube and follow the show on Instagram and Facebook

For the latest Montserrat and Caribbean news, follow Vernair's Media House 664 Connect.

Support the show

Work with me: Coaching, Caribbean retreats, Courses, Events. Click here.

Join my email list for weekly inspo, motivation, behind-the-scenes, and first dibs on events + get my free meditation bundle when you sign up.

Follow me on socials: Instagram, YouTube, Facebook

Reach out for Collabs, sponsorship, or podcast feedback, click here.

If this Podcast hit home, subscribe and leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcast. Reviews help this show grow and get in front of more women who need it. And share this episode with your friends and family. Not only is sharing caring, but you never know if one of these episodes is exactly what someone in your life needs to hear.

Thank you, for listening, sharing, and leaving a review.

Send us a text

Starting a new life in a Caribbean paradise isn't just about the sunsets and soca music; it's a symphony of challenges, culture, and so much more.
This episode features the bubbly Wendy Dyemma-Harper, a Guadeloupean expat who's found her rhythm in Trinidad, sharing her insights on life as a French-speaking Caribbean girl in Trinidad and Tobago.

As your host, I weave my own tales of Caribbean transitions, comparing notes with Wendy on the emotional rollercoaster of setting up shop in St Martin and Trinidad to cracking the code of working and living in a non-native language.

We discuss the nostalgia for the foods and family traditions of our homelands, the hits and the misses, and finding your place as an expat in a different Caribbean setting.
What a fun conversation. 

Follow Wendy's adventures  as a Guadeloupean in Trinidad on Instagram here. 

Support the show

Work with me: Coaching, Caribbean retreats, Courses, Events. Click here.

Join my email list for weekly inspo, motivation, behind-the-scenes, and first dibs on events + get my free meditation bundle when you sign up.

Follow me on socials: Instagram, YouTube, Facebook

Reach out for Collabs, sponsorship, or podcast feedback, click here.

If this Podcast hit home, subscribe and leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcast. Reviews help this show grow and get in front of more women who need it. And share this episode with your friends and family. Not only is sharing caring, but you never know if one of these episodes is exactly what someone in your life needs to hear.

Thank you, for listening, sharing, and leaving a review.

Send us a text

In this episode of Paradise Perspectives, I sit down with Stessie Egouy,  whose fascinating tale of being uprooted from her beautiful life in Martinique to the contrasting culture of France tells about the reality faced by many educators from the French islands.

Stessie, a passionate 27-year-old English teacher, shares with us the emotional and professional hurdles of adapting to a new climate and the systemic policies that displace French island educators from their native soil. We talk about the plight of Martinique's teachers, their fight for recognition, and how some are turning to platforms like this one to make their voices heard.

The episode takes a delightful turn though when we focus on Stessie's homeland and she brightens up as she takes us on a tour of her Martinique. From the comfort of gratin de banane and the sweetness of pain au beurre au chocolat to beautiful black sand beaches like Carbet and waterfalls like la Cascade de Didier.

If you want to get in touch with Stessie to learn more about the Martinique Teachers' fight for freedom to teach where they want to teach, you can send her an email or follow her on Twitter now X,

Support the show

Work with me: Coaching, Caribbean retreats, Courses, Events. Click here.

Join my email list for weekly inspo, motivation, behind-the-scenes, and first dibs on events + get my free meditation bundle when you sign up.

Follow me on socials: Instagram, YouTube, Facebook

Reach out for Collabs, sponsorship, or podcast feedback, click here.

If this Podcast hit home, subscribe and leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcast. Reviews help this show grow and get in front of more women who need it. And share this episode with your friends and family. Not only is sharing caring, but you never know if one of these episodes is exactly what someone in your life needs to hear.

Thank you, for listening, sharing, and leaving a review.

Send us a text

This is an episode I was not looking forward to making. It's never easy to correct someone or to tell them that how they have been pronouncing something all their lives, is not exactly the correct way. Ouch!

In this episode, we dissect the complexities behind the spelling of St Martin's name. This is unlike any of the previous episodes about the island I call home; it's a passionate exploration into our  identity and how honoring the correct name spelling can be a significant way of showing that you, as the visitor, does care.  

Whether you're a seasoned traveler about to return to this beloved island or a curious newcomer tuning in, prepare for an eye-opening conversation that will deepen your connection to St Martin and to us, the locals who call it home.

Support the show

Work with me: Coaching, Caribbean retreats, Courses, Events. Click here.

Join my email list for weekly inspo, motivation, behind-the-scenes, and first dibs on events + get my free meditation bundle when you sign up.

Follow me on socials: Instagram, YouTube, Facebook

Reach out for Collabs, sponsorship, or podcast feedback, click here.

If this Podcast hit home, subscribe and leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcast. Reviews help this show grow and get in front of more women who need it. And share this episode with your friends and family. Not only is sharing caring, but you never know if one of these episodes is exactly what someone in your life needs to hear.

Thank you, for listening, sharing, and leaving a review.

Send us a text

My heart is full after a whole week in Puerto Rico's enchanting town of Aibonito. It was a week filled with serendipity, local culture, and a deeper connection with my dear friend Milly. Together, we explored the lesser-known mountain towns of the Island of Enchantment. 

From the chinchoreo bar-hopping culture to the majestic backdrop of Milly's deck, experience our awe as we reveal the local habits and heartwarming tales that make Puerto Rico a treasure in the Caribbean.

Imagine sipping a mojito with mint so fresh, or enjoying a super cold beer while you enjoy small roadside bars with vistas out of a fairy tale. Millie and I take you through our adventures on narrow, winding roads, comparing driving experiences and laughing at the unexpected. We reveal the cozy nooks of Puerto Rico’s bar scene, from establishments steeped in nostalgia to those with waterfalls as their backdrop. The island's Airbnbs offer luxuries and views that rival any five-star resort, and we can't wait to share the hidden spots for those who find joy in a quieter, more scenic surroundings.

If you want to see some of the places we mentioned in this episode check out video 1 and video 2 about Aibonito on my YouTube channel.

Support the show

Work with me: Coaching, Caribbean retreats, Courses, Events. Click here.

Join my email list for weekly inspo, motivation, behind-the-scenes, and first dibs on events + get my free meditation bundle when you sign up.

Follow me on socials: Instagram, YouTube, Facebook

Reach out for Collabs, sponsorship, or podcast feedback, click here.

If this Podcast hit home, subscribe and leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcast. Reviews help this show grow and get in front of more women who need it. And share this episode with your friends and family. Not only is sharing caring, but you never know if one of these episodes is exactly what someone in your life needs to hear.

Thank you, for listening, sharing, and leaving a review.

Send us a text

Join us on an amazing journey to Tobago, the tranquil sister of Trinidad. 
My guest is, Abe Sutherland, a Trinidadian content creator and entrepreneur, who shares his intimate connection with this hidden Caribbean gem. Picture yourself in a place where time flows like the gentle Caribbean tides, and the smiles of locals are as warm and inviting as the Caribbean sun.

This episode will take you to the serene streets of Tobago, which is quite a contrast with Trinidad's lively hustle, and where each interaction is more than just a transaction—it's a personal connection. Discover the pride Tobagonians take in their identity, a pride that resonates through their approach to life's simple pleasures. Listen to Abe as he recounts his favorite aspects of the Tobago island life, from the joy of barefoot strolls on sandy beaches to the ease of forming genuine friendships with those you meet.

Get in touch with Abe on Instagram and make sure you follow I Love Tobago TT, which he manages, for all Tobago travel-related information.

Support the show

Work with me: Coaching, Caribbean retreats, Courses, Events. Click here.

Join my email list for weekly inspo, motivation, behind-the-scenes, and first dibs on events + get my free meditation bundle when you sign up.

Follow me on socials: Instagram, YouTube, Facebook

Reach out for Collabs, sponsorship, or podcast feedback, click here.

If this Podcast hit home, subscribe and leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcast. Reviews help this show grow and get in front of more women who need it. And share this episode with your friends and family. Not only is sharing caring, but you never know if one of these episodes is exactly what someone in your life needs to hear.

Thank you, for listening, sharing, and leaving a review.