a brainfart or stroke of genius. you tell me. this episode of the chattabox is an ode to the present moment mixed with a slight shift in perspective.

A layered conversation with the experimental soul, Fafiella (@fafiella) is in the queue. Contemplating alternative societies, diffusing the ego, modern methods of escapism, living in love, the role of community in healing and growth, dealing with regret, hookup culture, and of course a little bit of meditation. A conversation to stimulate your mind's eye.   

This episode of the chattabox features Sahar Thomson(@saharwanders), a local wanderer exploring this priceless world. Sahar shares what it was like growing up on the island with her unique background, her gap year, and her time abroad for school. We explore her connection to the Bahai faith as well as her time living in Africa and South America. The theme for this episode above all else is connection: whether it be the human connection or our connection to the land, to act globally we have got to start locally.   

This episode of the chattabox features Teen Times Alum and one of the co-founders of SayLessSis, Shanica Romney(@deshantee). It has been a minute since I last caught up with Shanica; in this episode, we reflect on our times in Teen Times as an avenue to exploring deeper subjects like code-switching, struggles with identity, is Sint Maarten really a friendly diverse island, the erasure of minority experiences and more. Shanica shares about her time abroad in the Netherlands, figuring out her passions, returning to the island, and the story behind the launch of SayLessSis. 

Friendships are incredibly underrated; the relationships we cultivate throughout our life add layers of dimension to our experiences. This episode of the chattabox features one of my homies for life, Rachael De Groot. In this episode, Rachael shares life as a Master's student, how she found bouldering, and bike life in the Netherlands. Is plant propagation theft? Will COVID ever end and wtf is monkeypox? How can you plan for your future without setting expectations? Is it possible to be a plant addict? Just some pitstops in this comedy skit. 

If you enjoyed the last episode of the chattabox featuring Carla Vlaun, guess what? There's more! Is the solution to capitalism building a circular economy? Is there another path for modern civilization outside the scope of fascism, communism, and capitalism? How does innovation fuel change? What are the limits of governments? What role does big data play in the formation of identity? Why are stereotypes dangerous and what is the media's role in perpetuating these narratives? Press play to find out. 

This episode of the chattabox features Carla Vlaun, local historian and co-host of the Mélé podcast. Carla's passion for local history has always intrigued me, and in this episode, we do a deep dive into her journey in carving space of Sint Maarten's history and culture and her time abroad. We explore the different narratives developed during historical events, the erasure of experiences, and how this impacts the views we develop of different groups. We nerd out on the topic of identity, the nation vs. the state, sustainability vs. high consumption culture, and examine questions like is equity possible? 

This episode of the chattabox features singer/songwriter, Fafiélla (@fafiella). From Sint Maarten to Toronto, Fafiélla shares her experiences of living in the 6 to further her education and career. In this episode, we explore the various illusions of the ego, the concept of man-made goods vs. natural products, our human obsession with newness, and our ties to the idea of ownership. Lots to think about, and much left to explore. 

Breaking ceilings, Tatiana Illis (@really_the_illist) was the first female to represent Sint Maarten in swimming at the World Championship in South Korea. In this episode of the chattabox, Tatiana shares what got her into swimming, what life is like as a swimmer, and how her mother helped grow her swim career. Tatiana shares the impact Hurricane Irma had on her swim career in Sint Maarten and how it granted her the opportunity to further her swim career in the US. She reflects on her time at the World Championship and the allies she made during those trips. We discuss Sint Maarten's journey to the Olympics and the steps Tatiana is making to open these opportunities up for local swimmers. 

As a teenager, Kyeisha Laurence (@stylebykye_) left the island to further her education abroad in the US. Since then, she has gone on to inspire so many with her work ethic and dedication, which landed her an internship at the National Institute of Health and multiple offers to pristine universities to further her education in medicine. In this episode of the chattabox, Kyeisha reflects on her journey moving to the US, what inspired her to go into medicine, the power of family, her journey undergoing pre-med at the University of Maryland, her passion for Sint Maarten public health, and more.