What does it take to truly build a great nation? Active MP Ludmila Duncan (@ludmiladuncan) shares her perspective on how community development, education, and the environment are key issues that need to be addressed locally if we are truly serious about nation-building.  In this episode of the chattabox, we explore what it was like growing up in Sint Maarten during the 90s, the power of being a child of the neighborhood, and the development of Sint Maarten's political structure. Ludmila shares how citizens can get involved in the political agenda, the role of government to create equity locally, and the role we each play in developing our communities. What does it take to empower a nation? Could technology be a solution to reduce the resource constraints of island nations? Press play to find out.

What does it mean to live in balance with nature and how should humans view their role as stewards of the environment? When it comes to resource management and our role in climate change, it can be difficult to find a path where everyone agrees. Nature conservation, waste management, and resource habilitation are all different methods to help maintain the balance of our ecosystems, but how do we measure the success of our environmental theories when change is a natural and dynamic part of the global ecosystem? This episode of the chattabox features environmental activist and animal lover, Alice Manley (@allliicccee) who is currently out exploring the natural spaces throughout Southeast Asia. Having pursued a degree in animal behavior in Cambridge, England, Alice shares how her family's love of the environment influenced her passions, her journey moving away during the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, and the struggles validating her Caribbean identity abroad.  As islanders, our isolated ecosystems are often under threat of invasive species, overfishing, global pollution, and global warming. Alice shares her work managing the invasive monkey population in St. Maarten while at the Nature Foundation, and the importance of humane and ethical treatment of animals. 

We all know that feeling of being on a well-led team; you feel unstoppable and work becomes play. We all also know what it is like being on a team where people don't care, where your leaders are unoriginal, and the vibe is just off. What makes a great leader? How do you cultivate a team when people each have individual motives and intentions? In this fireside chat, Will Neumeyer (@elaborately_living) shares his views on leadership, the importance of creating spaces of trust, the value of vulnerability, and how leaders help people find their power. Often work can become a fast-paced environment and cultivating human connection can be overlooked in the grand scheme of meeting business needs. Will shares how he has used hiking to foster team building as well as share his connection to the outdoors. Our energies speak volumes, and leaders are tasked with using their platforms to uplift others. Recognizing we each hold the key to creating the lives we want, a great leader helps you get out of your own way, but only if you can give yourself permission.

Pivoting from dental school at Howard to becoming a serial entrepreneur in Sint Maarten, Akilah Meulens (@akilahmeu) shares how growing up in a house of strong Caribbean women influenced her identity and outlook on life. The creator of the self-care brand Amibody, Akilah shares the story behind the brand and how she leveraged Youtube to self-educate. In this episode of the chattabox, we navigate Akilah's creative process to entrepreneurship, how she is helping create spaces for Caribbean voices in digital marketing, the limitations of being an entrepreneur in the Caribbean, and her perspective on measuring success on social media. How does Sint Maarten's lack of data impact the growth of its economy? Should locals own the majority of their nation's land? What is the best gym on the island? So many great questions, just click play.

There are some people in life that are just a pure blessing to be around. Alanda Solomon (@landxpanda) is one of those people for me. Words are not a sufficient means of communication to explain to you why Alanda is just amazing. I think when they were looking for the definition of personality, she is the Mona Lisa. The Gen Z delegation has nominated Alanda as our spokesperson and in this episode of the chattabox, you get the rare opportunity to hear the acoustic gold of this tropical panda. Word stuff and things, accents and pop culture references, Internet trolls, conscious computers, smelly Dutch people, D&I and greenwashing, racism, American fertility, and old men with power complexes... just some keywords for the algorithm. 

To be obsessed with learning it all to empower oneself to create. It may be a long road, one with more obstacles, but the result is a unique creative vision that vibrates across many dimensions and speaks to our spirit in ways words can't alone. Meeting individuals on this path, people destined to be creators ... it is like meeting yourself in another experience. Otmar Martina (@otmarxmartina) is one of these spirits with a passion for creative direction. In this episode of the chattabox, Otmar shares his journey from capoeira to dance, the influence of Sint Maarten during the dot com era on his aesthetic, and navigating his identity as a black male Caribbean dancer. As one of the products of Sint Maarten's Art Saves Lives program, Otmar shares the impact ASL and the island's dance community's support had on developing his career in the field. From his first professional shoot with VS model Doutzen Kroes to designing and dancing for PRIDE NL, Otmar spills the tea on how networking helped him land key auditions, his need for mind-body care as a creative, and handling rejection as an artist. 

How many of us are really willing to sacrifice to build the life we want? Ready to give up what's comfortable and safe for the chance to live a life on your own schedule? Chris Lee (@_chef_chris_) is one of those crazy individuals willing to say f**k it and go after it. In this episode of the chattabox, Chris shares what life was like growing up in New Jersey and the reality of studying engineering at Michigan. During the pandemic, Chris left his career at Accenture to take a chance at attaining financial freedom through the pursuit of buying businesses. Chris's philosophy is in anything you do, just get started. This has led him on adventures exploring the world. Now an avid yogi living in Brooklyn, Chris shares how you can ball on a budget and make the most out of every situation. 

A friendly cosmic wonder known in the streets as a 100% genuine boujetto, this episode features the model and creative, Siobhan Mitchell (@bonnstergram). Opening on the topic of WTF is going on in the world is only the amuse-bouche of this colorful exploration of human discussion. Manifesting dreams of living in the Avatar world of Pandora to ancestral visits to what tree would we reincarnate as this episode is bursting with mental flava. BONN shares what life has been like as a model, struggling with imposter syndrome, and lack of togetherness in modern society. The popularity of plastic surgery to ease the ego, taking a tour of the world of cannabis, bioluminescent plants, and how we live in the present. So many courses of food for thought, that you will leave pregnant.

Investing in ourselves is never a waste of time or money. This episode of the chattabox features Dena Romney (@denaromney_), an incredible woman carving out space for female entrepreneurs in the rapidly expanding digital e-commerce market. Originally from Honduras, Dena shares her journey of moving to Sint Maarten as a child and furthering her education abroad in the Netherlands. Since our days in Teen Times, Dena has always shown her love for cultivating beautiful experiences; her energy is infectious. As a female entrepreneur, she knows not only when to go all in, but it is time to pivot. Dena shares her journey of launching and growing her online business, Kralisade, finding her first clients, building her team, and life as a boss. 

As a child, I always expected perfection from my parents and I rarely acknowledge their organic growth from children to adults. In this episode, I get to sit down with the man that helped raise me and share his journey growing up in India during the 70s, building his life in the Caribbean, and discovering the important dimensions of life. My father, Nick Parchani (@nckparch) speaks over 11 languages and has always pushed beyond the limitations of his environment; he shares how he overcame cultural ignorance leaving India, transitioned out of a vegetarian lifestyle, and how his childhood cultivated mental toughness. As a businessman, we discuss what it means to be rich and the influence of marketing and escapism in driving the luxury goods market. How do you tap into higher consciousness? Have ancient civilizations done this in the past? What is the big problem with consciousness? How do we cultivate a mind-body connection? When it comes to talking with my dad, the topics are endless, so sit back, relax and enjoy the journey.