Often the story of minority communities gets lost throughout history, but the legacy of these groups continues to influence the present. In this episode of the chattabox, Stephie Gumbs (@stephie.ig) , co-host of the Mele podcast and advocate of St. Maarten history and culture, shares the importance of understanding our roots and how she stays engaged in building and protecting St. Maarten culture. Stephie shares her journey returning to the island and what sparked her love of St. Maarten's history and culture. We dive into Carnival, the influence of radio on the culture, the privilege of having a cataloged history, and the threat of cultural genocide due to climate change. When we remember history, we often focus on the achievers, and rarely the beings. Stephie highlights the gift of celebrating every day and how we have to have gratitude for just being. What roles we play within our community help curate a symphony of experience, do not desensitize yourself to it.

On this episode of the chattabox podcast, we'll explore the power of introspection and self-reflection. Join your host, Nicole Parchani (@harsparc) as she delves into how looking inward can help you achieve greater clarity, peace of mind, and personal growth. Nicole shares her journey of looking within and how it has helped her expand her awareness. She shares how various mindfulness techniques help you peel back the layers of who you think you are to discover your truth. Whether you're feeling stuck in your life or want to cultivate a deeper self-awareness, you won't want to miss this thought-provoking conversation.

Discovering who you are and what sparks joy can be one of life's most thrilling adventures. In this episode of the chattabox, Lynn Martina (@sunny_days33) shares her journey of listening to her heart and following her gut. As a digital nomad in Bali, Lynn highlights the beauty of traveling solo and how it has led her to embrace uncertainty. Lynn shares how listening to her body and soul helped her discover her love for the arts and community development. We discuss the different roles available to us in our community and the importance of stepping out of individuality to realize your gifts. We deep dive into the illusion of separation and how our attachments to physical resources are linked to scarcity. Lynn shares how she discovered her vision of self with a Peruvian shaman and the role symbology played in uncovering hidden parts of her psyche. Finding her path was not a linear experience; we discuss the idea that we are always in the right place at the right time based on our decisions, and how discovery is a process of surrendering.

So many things are changing in the world right now, what do you do about it? In this episode of the chattabox, your host, Nicole Parchani (@harsparc), delves into the ways that we can all learn to be more comfortable with change. We talk about the common reasons why people resist change, and how these reasons can sometimes hold us back in our personal and professional lives. Then, we explore the benefits of embracing change, such as the new opportunities and perspectives that it can bring into our lives. Finally, we provide some practical tips for how you can start to embrace change more fully, becoming more adaptable and resilient in the face of life's many twists and turns.

Many people have different lifestyles, but do they serve our divinity? Shifting into a path of conscious living can be a challenging yet beautiful process; it is a way of life rooted in the now, love, and acceptance. In this episode of the chattabox, Raul Dhanani (@rauldhanani), shares how he fell into a path of conscious living and how that changed his relationship with self by allowing him to let go. As a plant-based culinary alchemist in St. Maarten, Raul explains how his journey adopting a plant-based diet was deeply rooted in his body's needs rather than identity culture. This gave him the space to listen to his cravings and use them as inspiration. As a lover of international cuisine, Raul highlights how the diverse flavors in St. Maarten and having access to high-quality products locally influence the combinations he develops in his food lab. He shares how some of the courses he took while abroad helped him take plant-based cuisine to another level. We discuss how yoga plays a key role in rounding out his daily practice and how others can walk this path if they feel the call to.

I often get asked what inspired me to start the chattabox podcast. Why a podcast? Is it an experiment? I never thought about becoming a podcaster while living in St. Maarten, but as I reflect on this journey, I wonder why I never started sooner. If there are two things to know about me I absolutely love my community and I am obsessed with self-development. St. Maarten's people are everything and the mind is a tricky place to explore. Growing up on an island at the dawn of the millennia, there was so much to explore beyond the horizons of our coasts that I developed this deep curiosity about the world. In this episode, I share my thoughts on the purpose of the chattabox. The voice, the word... they are incredible tools to transform. Through conversation, we learn, develop ideologies, and define identities. Through conversation, we can spark revolutions, inspire movements, and trigger reflection. Extremely grateful to everyone who has joined me on this journey thus far. Together we rise.    

Turning fun times with friends into a profitable business sounds like a great recipe for success. Local filmmaker, actor, and rapper, Keverne Arthur (@kevolution98), shares how he discovered his passion for filmmaking and the journey of turning that passion into Focal Length Studios, a popular film production team in St. Maarten. Filmmaking in the Caribbean is an industry currently lagging behind cinematic powerhouses like Hollywood and Bollywood. Keverne shares the history of filmmaking on the island, the people that helped shape his lens, and his vision for the industry's growth in the near future. Known for their hilarious skits that feature the beauty of St. Maarten and its culture, Keverne describes his teams' process for turning their ideas into reality, their favorite gear, and essential software to get started. As a self-taught filmmaker, Keverne highlights the importance of just diving in and taking advantage of the free resources around you. As Caribbean people, it is so important that we capture the stories close to our hearts because if we don't tell our own stories, someone else will. 

The creation and union we experience around music is something so intrinsic to the human experience. Could any of us live without it? Music tells the story of our soul, catalogs our history, inspires movements, and creates cultures. In this episode of the chattabox, Chantal Richardson (@heychantay) deep dives into the power of music, how it grounds you in the moment, and how it influences the energy of people and spaces. Chantal reflects on her journey of falling in love with the art of music and going outside of her comfort zone to network with movers within the industry. Moving from St. Maarten to the Netherlands and then to Korea, Chantal shares her experience adjusting to different cultures and how taking risks and believing in herself led her to become a platinum-winning songwriter.  Chantal breaks down how her upbringing influenced her musical signature and how she thinks about creating a new song. As an independent artist, Chantal highlights the importance of understanding the business of music and the role technology plays in making it easier for artists to amplify their voices and build their own fan base outside of a label. 

In an era of hybrid work, many feel like escaping to tropical islands is the best way to live out your days. What can be better than year-round sun and lavish beaches?  The reality of living in paradise rarely acknowledges the financial and mental health struggles of the locals living there. In this episode of the chattabox, Tracy Laville (@tracy.lalla) content creator and storyteller, shares the truth about living in the Caribbean and how her global upbringing influenced how she connects with communities. She shares how her journey of becoming a local and taking a genuine interest in communities has allowed her to tell incredibly authentic and wholesome stories about the places she has lived. As a single mom and feminist, Tracy shares how she's fighting for more equity amongst the sexes in her community and in her own home. As a content creator for St. Maarten, Tracy discusses how different Caribbean islands market themselves and the importance of highlighting the local population and culture. Tracy highlights the importance of our community moving from a mindset of resilience to one where people are thriving and how diversification, nature conservation, and developing boundaries are key for the growth and sustainability of our community.

When it comes to being vulnerable, many of us remain guarded. It's better to appear strong than to admit our weaknesses in a culture that rewards strength and power. In this episode of the chattabox, educator, and yogi, Melissa Barasona (@bar.asana) shares her journey of embracing the power of vulnerability and the beauty that can be found in being the lotus that grew out of the mud. Many of us are often caught up in the narratives that swirl in our minds and we conform to the stories we tell ourselves about who we are. Melissa shares how yoga and breathwork have helped her not only create space to identify her pattern of thinking but find peace within. Together, we share stories of moments in our lives that helped us redefine who we were and how our darkest moments showed us not only how to be more empathetic but more loving for ourselves and others.