As we move through this paradigm shift, how will we go about tilling the soil of the mind to remove seeds of untruths and delusion and plant seeds rooted in our history, intuition, and divine truth? We often say we live in the post-colonial world as if that means the frameworks and ideology of colonialism have been wiped from our collective consciousness. Traces of colonial ideas still plague the thoughts of the people, turning the oppressed into the oppressor. In this episode of the chattabox, Nelly Blaise (@stemsbynellyblaise) author, advocate for the youth, and community leader in St. Maarten shares his thoughts on how colonialism continues to impact generations of Caribbean people and the importance of reshaping the stories we tell about who we are as Caribbean people and how we came to be. Through his work at the St. Maarten Youth Brigade, Nelly shares trends amongst the island's youth and the shift towards more acceptance and empathy for others. As a health and wellness enthusiast, Nelly highlights the role jujitsu plays in his life and the various practices he incorporates to be athlete ready. Nelly shares his vision for the island and how his work to cultivate open spaces for others to express themselves has positively impacted his life and those of his community. 

We often hear we should have faith, but what does a life lived in faith actually look like? If there is one person that exemplifies what it means to love unconditionally, vibrating nothing but good vibes, it is Jakisha Brooks. In this episode of the chattabox, Jakisha (@kishax_nb) shares her philosophy of life and the role faith plays in managing fear and self-doubt. As a daughter of the soil, Jakisha shares what it has been like returning to St. Maarten since studying abroad in the US and her journey of navigating her adult life locally. Working within the waste management sector of the island, Jakisha shares how biowaste is managed locally and the opportunities to sustainably integrate biowaste back into the natural ecosystem. Jakisha is one of the kindest most loving people I've ever encountered; she highlights the role her great-grandmother played in instilling the value of love and community in her life and how this is counter to what she experienced in the US. We discuss what the future of the island could look like and opportunities to grow the local economy through small business development, technology adoption, legalization of cannabis, and increased land preservation. 

Living your truth can often come at a cost, but nothing is more beautiful than a soul that refuses to settle for anything less than 100% RAW realness. In this episode of the chattabox, Jelani Simmons (@jelvni) shares his journey of coming out as a member of the LGBTQ+ community and navigating the backlash within conservative Caribbean communities. Coming to terms with his identity and passions led Jelani to travel the world to not only find a place to call home but a family that allows him to truly be himself. He dishes out how drag, pole, and fashion helped him in his journey of becoming and exploring his femininity and masculinity. Jelani introduces us to Miss Katrina aka Hurricane Kat aka his baddie alter-ego, and the BTS of life as a drag queen. As a ghetto fashion influencer, Jelani spills the tea on some of his most iconic looks from 2022 and the importance of sustainability when developing a look. In this episode, we get to see the soft and wild side of this bright spirit and what it takes to live in your authenticity. Jelani highlights the importance of being a voice for the LGBTQ+ community within the Caribbean and his desire to help others walking in similar heels. Purrr. 

How many of us live our lives unapologetically in our authenticity... living by each breath, moving with purpose, and being open to whatever comes? From the day we're born into this world, so many of us slowly forget who we are to become someone we should be. Being yourself can be one of the boldest statements you ever make, but so many of us filter what we show the world. We judge ourselves, neglect ourselves, and do not love ourselves as much as we deserve.  In this episode of the chattabox, free-spirited actress Mara Reltien (@marareltien) shares her perspective on living authentically and her journey of coming back to herself. Growing up on various islands, she shares the role nature plays in cultivating her divine femininity and the importance of community. In a time of so much uncertainty, Mara shares how she stays grounded and open to possibility. We each have a role in walking each other home; the question is will you join us? 

No matter where you are in your journey, returning to the breath is the easiest way to ground yourself and get in tune with the moment. This episode of the chattabox features avid meditator and yoga instructor, Thang Nguyen. Together, we explore what it means to meditate and different ways to grow your practice, the impact of being mindful, and the stages of enlightenment. Thang shares his meditation journey with Thict Nat Hanh as well as his perspective on the mind and non-dualism. 

Season 3 babeeeee! They say the third time is the charm right? A call to all the dreamers, stewards of light, curious creators, and champions of consciousness... this podcast is for you. We have to fight for the reality we know we all deserve and operate in mindful synchronicity to create it. This podcast is for the inner chattabox in all of us, using our voices to empower others and remind us of what power we all share. 

Most people that know today's guest, Bianca Dijkhoffz (@bb_bad), know all the incredible work she's done representing St. Maarteners in the entertainment industry as a dancer for top musical artists and in popular films, but in this episode of the chattabox, we get to know the girl with crazy curly red hair.  Now living in LA, Bianca shares what it has been like living on both US coasts and finding her community by tapping into the Caribbean Diaspora. Working in the entertainment industry, Bianca shares her journey of developing a thick skin and how being a St. Maartener adds to her authentic story. We share the struggles of the lack of home support for the island's talent in promoting our culture and people. Choosing a career in the arts can be a lonely road, but Bianca highlights how the support of her parents and dance community helped give her the backing to push through the highs and lows of being a professional dancer. Dance is therapy and sacred geometry. Bianca shares how her love of dance has helped heal her spirit and the parallels of Carnival as a period of healing for Caribbean communities. Re-discovering her love of sound and how she has naturally gravitated towards mediums that put you in the moment, Bianca details her journey of becoming a DJ BB BAD, getting comfortable living in uncertainty, and being a vibe. Life is a journey of self-discovery and each stage has lots to offer us. Bianca shares her thoughts on what's next for her and her pursuit of creating an authentic expression of self. 

Caribbean engineers EXIST! Growing up in the region, it can be difficult to find those that pursue a degree in engineering, but this episode of the chattabox features Jamaican mechanical engineer, Melissa Douglas (@melannadoug), one of the incredible talents working to create premium devices at Surface. In this episode, Melissa shares what it was like growing up in JA, her journey discovering engineering, and pursuing a ME degree at Howard University. Moving to the US from the Caribbean can be difficult as not only are you leaving your home but adjusting to being viewed and treated as a minority is .... a unique experience, and we share the similarities and differences of moving to D.C. vs. Michigan. As Caribbean engineers at Surface, we discuss the recruitment process and what ultimately attracted us to big tech. Building premium devices takes a lot of cross-platform collaboration across a diversity of fields; Melissa shares her work in enclosures and how that translates for customers. Diversity truly makes us better. As a child, I never thought I would meet another Caribbean engineer. Getting to work alongside Melissa and see how we can influence the next generation of devices to empower the world of creatives, there's nothing like it.  

Time stops for no one, but if you are smart, you take a few moments to capture it. The ability to freeze time and tell the story of our experience is an art form that documents reality. Photographers and filmmakers make us feel so much with visual media. This episode of the chattabox highlights the work of Cameron Hyman (@itscameronhyman), a local photographer and videographer in St. Maarten sharing the stories of Caribbean identity and creating artifacts so critical to developing the local culture and narrative of what it means to live on the island.  Cameron shares how he fell into photography and the lens from which he creates. We chat about his obsession with perfection, building a film crew on the island, and the importance of telling our own stories. Capturing film is one thing, but the art of editing can be a daunting task for many; Cameron highlights tools he uses in his process and tricks to get the most out of your shots. With the release of his latest photobook, Moonlight, Cameron reveals how he arrived at the concept and built this portfolio featuring the diversity of the Caribbean experience.   As technology processes, so does the world of film and photography, how will we deal with data integrity over time and art ownership with the growth of digital assets? Cameron shares his thoughts.

Becoming an engineer isn't for the faint at heart, but for today's guest, Mike Breedlove (@_breedlove_63), representing minorities in the field has been a big motivator in pursuing a degree in Industrial and Operations Engineering at the University of Michigan. Currently an operations engineer for Danaher, Mike shares his journey towards becoming an engineer and how his view of engineering changed from high school to college and now in the industry. Mike shares his perspective on making the most out of life, discovering his purpose, and the role of community in developing ourselves. We explore the multi-dimensional nature of growth and finding happiness in the moment. How can we break out of the chase of the rat race and find true contentment? Join us to find out.