The Nikki Clarke Show

Desarae Dee is an instrumental fusion artist, session musician, composer, producer and educator. She is a classically trained pianist, and self-taught jazz pianist. She also comes from a Gospel music as she grew up playing music at church. Desarae combines her musical background with different genres as she explores the fusion of sounds and textures to create fantastic soulful songs. 

Desarae, says her culture (Jamaican heritage) and gender also play a part in  the music she creates, as she has a unique perspective being a black woman in the Canadian industry. This is especially noticeable because she does not want to fit her music in a box or one genre. There are not as many female musicians who are behind an instrument, and growing up Desarae did not see as many black women  doing what she does when she was young as a child. 

Her main music influence came from her parents, as they nurtured her talent, when they discovered she had a gift for music. However, Desarae was not initially interested in music, instead she wanted to play sports and games with her male counterparts. But her father found a black female music teacher at her school to inspire her to take another look into music. 

That representation encouraged her to try something that she was very good at and discover herself. Her teacher cared for her as a person, not just a student which made an impact. Desarae learned many musical skills and gained opportunities from her. She studied with her for 12 more years before graduating to post-secondary studies. 

As a young adult she studied her Bachelors Degree in Music at York University. Afterwards she was figuring out which career path to pursue, within music or even considered pursuing another field like law as an entertainment lawyer, to represent musicians, producers and bands. 

Ultimately, she decided to further her education by going to teacher’s college. She became a teacher and has worked in the Toronto school board for more than 10 years.

Desarae really wants other young women from every background to know that is possible to be a pioneer in the music industry and make music outside of the box, so long as you work hard and have a vision.

Her musical journey was not always so positive though, since she did face some challenges over the years without having a mentor. She had to learn be the trail blazer alone. She also had face the negative side of being an innovator, is that sometimes you are rejected or dismissed. Canadians are not as receptive to musical styles  and music presented in a way they have not seen before and Desarae had to accept this and take it in stride.  

Although, in most recent years, she is seeing the fruits of her labour, and meeting many women and men from different wants of life, who were inspired by her to learn more about music and pursue the passions that they were always afraid to start.

On this episode, Desarae Dee performed her song, Late Arrival Remix, a re-imagined version of her song Twenty (2016). 

Desarae Dee’s music is available on all streaming platforms including iTunes and Spotify at:

https://music.apple.com/us/artist/desarae-dee/1006740663

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0Jqo0uQOUGNagiBgsY4Dsv

To sign up for piano lessons with her and to learn more about her music visit:

 https://beacons.ai/desaraedeemusic 

Connect with her on social media:

Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLodK3nQJQy78qBgcghb_Rg 

Instagram:

@DesaraeDeemusic

Twitter:

@desaraedeemusic

TikTok:

@desaraedeemusic

https://www.tiktok.com/@desaraedeemusic?lang=en 

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/desaraedeemusic/

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For upcoming and past episode tv airdates and the list of channels that broadcast our show visit our website at: www.nikkiclarkenetwork.com.

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Ainsley Deer is an entrepreneur, and the owner and managing director of Taste Jamaica. He is originally from Jamaica but immigrated to Canada in 2009. His path to becoming an entrepreneur was an unconventional one, as he was a semi-professional soccer player, while studying at the University of Florida. After leaving soccer, he took many different career paths; from working as a player developmental host at a casino, to working in the corporate world, to working as a bouncer, and then even working in the pharmaceutical industry. He eventually became dissatisfied with working for someone else, and realized that he needed to focus on finding a purpose and vision. He decided to pursue his passion for creativity, for food, and to make profit, by starting his own Jamaican food/snack company, called Taste Jamaica. 

Ainsley initially started off with launching his rum cakes in 2021, to test his market and audience. The rum cakes gained in popularity but he still faced hurdles. But in true athletic form he pressed forward.

Ainsley wants people to know that starting your own business is not easy, it is a slow and steady climb. 

In the beginning, there were ups and downs especially during the pandemic, which was ironically a time when many people branched out and became entrepreneurs. 

But now, Taste Jamaica’s brand has gained momentum and their easter bun was even rated as the number one easter bun in Jamaica, for 2023 to 2024. Ainsley has expanded from selling his snacks in local stores and distributing his products with other companies in Canada. 

Now two years into the business, Taste Jamaica has many more branded products (snacks) including: easter bun and cheese, taste Jamaican tamarin balls, spices, smoke bonnet pepper, coconut drops, rum cake ( vanilla, coconut, black cake).

You can try samples of these wonderful treats in the Taste Jamaica gift boxes, including their Easter box. You may purchase Taste Jamaica snacks on their website or locally in 40 different stores in Toronto. It can also be found in stores located in the  tri-state area in the US.

Taste Jamaica not only sells great snacks but they also is starting to venture into spices and seasons, to give  both your Jamaican and non-Jamaican dishes the extra kick of mouth-watering flavour.

To purchase some Taste Jamaica products, visit: www.tasteja.ca 

Connect with Taste Jamaica on social media:

@tastejamaicaja

Linked in

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ainsley-deer-0aa86762/

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For past episodes, upcoming tv airdates and the list of channels that broadcast our show, visit our website at: www.nikkiclarkenetwork.com.

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Nicole Brown Faulker is registered psychotherapist, entrepreneur and the founder of federal government incorporated, Trauma Embodiment Association. Nicole takes her work out in the field and helps patients to deal with trauma and how it manifests in their lives.

Her journey started when she was young and she was forced to be hyper vigilant and had to learn how to cope and heal when she experience trauma. 

Certain cultural norms discourage young people, like those in her Caribbean community, to not voice their distress, since it seen as “airing your dirty laundry”. This is frowned upon. But as Nicole got older she realized that learning more about the human mind and body would be a solution for her.

She wants us all to understand the the foundation of what is trauma? It is the body’s response to helplessness. Whether through abuse or sometimes from lack of resources, people feel paralyzed or stuck in life without reprieve. Nicole says, some people seek out counselling or therapy, when they are ready and she wants to de-stigmatize psychotherapy and all the negative connotations people have about it. 

Nicole works traditionally in her clinical practice where she provides therapy sessions, but also works non-traditionally in local communities, to service people who normally would not have access to therapy and mental health resources. 

There are different ways people show signs that they need to see a therapist through their psychological and behavioural changes. These changes are triggered by major life events like break ups both platonic and romantic, grief, childhood trauma, ptsd (post traumatic stress disorder) from witnessing violence, or accidence, abuse, bereavement etc.  Life events can cause people to have anxiety, fear, anger, be irritable, have depression, even to isolate themselves. 

Nicole wants people to not isolate themselves in shame or fear but instead, feel more empowered by getting the support they need to face those past events, learn how to heal, grieve and eventually move forward, no longer feeling paralyzed by negative emotions. 

She wants everyone to know it is okay to feel vulnerable and it takes courage and humility to ask for help under these circumstances. 

Therapy is a better solution than simply confiding in friends and family, who maybe inept with helping loved ones cope with their psychological and behaviour issues. Even though, people feel more comfortable confiding in friends and family, sometimes we all need an unbiased person, who is clinically trained with various methods to guide us in reflecting, listening to our voice, live in those moments no matter how difficult, to cast down those burdens that are hinder us from moving forward to enjoy our present life.

To learn more Nicole Brown Faulkner’s therapy services, visit her website at:

www.wounds2wings.com.

To get involved with the Trauma Embodiment Association organization, visit: www.teaocanada.com.

Connect  with her on social media at: 

Instagram

@wounds2wings

@teao_canada

Twitter

@wounds2wings

Tiktok

@wounds2wings

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/W2WTEAO

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For past episodes, upcoming tv airdates and the list of channels that broadcast our show visit our website at: www.nikkiclarkenetwork.com.

Contact us:

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Alex Battick is a lawyer and CEO of the law firm, Battick Legal Advisory. Alex grew up in Brampton, Ontario and comes from a family of educators. He studied his bachelors in Sociology at McMaster University, but decided to get into law. He volunteered as a legal aid at a law firm that supported young people, students and families, and realized he did want to work there. He only enjoyed working in the legal clinic. This led Alex to return to school to study law abroad in England. It was a great experience that allowed him to even connect with his extended family there. But once he returned to Canada he did his articling (apprenticeship), then wrote the bar exam and became a lawyer. 

Alex focuses on the Education Law sector that has many areas including human rights, employment laws, and labour laws. He helps students from kindergarten to higher education deal with academic appeals, especially when students have not passed an exam, or when they are accused of cheating. Alex helps them to appeal the school’s academic or disciplinary decision. He also helps students who were involved in fights, have been suspended or expelled for misbehaviour, or have brought a weapon to school. 

Alex Battick says the biggest challenges he faces are outdated practices in education that have not adapted to our current society. His practice helps fill this need for legal representation in the educational sphere, for both individuals and organizations. He helps individuals, who are mostly students and families with human rights claims, educational law matters and advocacy appeals. 

Whereas, with organizations he helps them with drafting policy, workplace investigations, arbitrations, gives them advise, helps them with sports arbitrations, consults unions and he helps both public and private schools. 

His law firm is here to provide the support you need and he wants to make a difference by helping you get justice. Alex’s journey from studying law to creating his own firm up , has been unpredictable from the beginning. But he would not change it.

To learn more about his legal services by visiting his website at www.batticklegal.ca.

Contact Battick Legal Advisory by phone at 905-872-3222 or email them at: [email protected]. 

Connect  with them on social media at: 

Instagram

@BattickLegal

@AlexBattick

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/BattickLegal/

Twitter

@batticklegal

Linkedin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/abattick/?originalSubdomain=ca

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For past episodes, upcoming tv airdates and the list of channels that broadcast our show, visit our website at: www.nikkiclarkenetwork.com.

Contact us:

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Jamelia Gay  is  founder and CEO of  JAMELIA GAY COACHING INC. She is the ADHD & Executive Function Coach and registered  Early Child Care Educator. She has been working for over a decade and previously worked as a supervisor of two childcare centres. In 2020, so she launched her own company Diamond Initiative, then restructured into JAMELIA GAY COACHING.

ADHD is attention deficit disorder and it effects they way people function daily especially with time management, behaviour, impulsivity and regulations of emotions. Those diagnosed with it have trouble focusing and be internally hyperactive, have raising thoughts, being impulsive, overly emotional. 

Jamelia wants to encourage and support parents, families, children, youth and adults who struggle with ADHD because she didn’t receive that support growing up. She has only recently recognized as an adult that she has the disorder. She realized when she had difficulty remembering and keeping track of her thoughts and through her work she has developed tips and strategies to help people to be able to function in society. She advises people with ADHD to use queue cards to help them remember thoughts, ideas etc.

Jamelia also wants to help women especially black women. She has created a women’s “On Purpose” retreat to help black women to focus on themselves, to feel rejuvenated and take time to rest and be mindful of your mind, body and mental health. She wants women to accept feeling vulnerable and practice self-care. The retreat is a perfect opportunity for attendees to do this in September. Jamelia wants black women and black people, in general to focus on advocating for ourselves, but also on moving forward and persevering for our next generation to succeed.

Visit her website to learn more about her coaching services at: www.jameliagaycoaching.com.

 Connect with Jamelia on social media , by phone and via email:

 Instagram 

@jameliagaycoaching

Facebook:

Linkedin

Phone: 

647-860-5518

Email:

[email protected]. 

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For upcoming and past episode tv airdates and the list of channels that broadcast our show visit our website at: www.nikkiclarkenetwork.com.

Contact us:

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Bruk Telahun is the CEO  and owner of Best Mortgage Solutions, mortgage brokerage. However, he was not always so passionate about selling homes. He came from humble beginnings and as a first generation immigrant from Ethiopia, he initially wanted to work in law enforcement to help people. But decided to change career path when he eventually he realized it was not his true his purpose. He focused more on his people skills and background in sales, which it lead him to become a mortgage broker. 

Bruk recognizes that home ownership is important key to building generational wealth but not easy for people to achieve. He wants to help people to focus on their future plans for the next 3-5 years, create a budget, and review their financial situation to coach his clients on what they can do to reach their homeownership goals.

1.) Income-downpayment for your house

2.) Credit-how to improve it

3.) Liability-car loans/payments

He stresses that you have to sacrifice to buy a home. He encourages people to develop a plan to make it easier ton purchase a home. Here are some tips for new home owners below:

When Buying A Home

1.) Consider co-owners

2.) Saving/Budget

3.) Different streams of income

4.) Downpayment

5.) Fixed v.s. Variable rate

*Fixed following a budget of payment

*Variable-payments  fluctuates 

6.) Smith maneuver-to restructure mortgage make it tax deductible

Bruk hosts B2B podcast where he interviews entrepreneur to highlight their journey and the challenges they faced along with their successes. He invites fellow business owners to visit his studio in Grimsby, Ontario and be a guest on his podcast, to share their story and inspire others, just like he did.

Bruk want newbie entrepreneurs and business owners to focus on what they are passionate about, search for mentors to help them, be flexible and figure out how they provide a service that helps people.

Bruk understands that the most expensive depth we carry is our primary home. He advises that people should follow a smith manoeuvre to restructure your mortgage to make it deductible especially for those who want to get into real estate investment. 

Finally, Bruk loves to help people who were struggling financially purchase their first home. Nothing is impossible with the proper plan and resources.

Visit his website to learn more about his services at www.bestmortgagesolutions.ca. 

Subscribe and listen to the B2B podcast with Bruk  Telahun  on iTunes, Spotify and Podbay at:

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/b2b-podcast/id1667650586

https://open.spotify.com/show/7p28E7WcEUdZ3znMepA9yR?si=5e8fefe6bc004f85

https://podbay.fm/p/b2b-podcast-219779

Connect with Bruk on social media at: 

Instagram

@BruktheBroker

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/brukthebroker/

Linkedin: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brukthebroker/?originalSubdomain=ca

Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/@b2bpodcast

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For upcoming and past episode tv airdates and the list of channels that broadcast our show, visit our website at: www.nikkiclarkenetwork.com.

Contact us:

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Ciara Leah is a soulful musician with an eclectic sound. She came from humble beginnings as the 8th child of a family of 9, she was used to staying in the shadows while her older sister was the family musicians who sang opera. Ciara instead focused on learning classical music on the piano as a child and then eventually took interest in science at school. Her love for classical music came from her mother, while her father was more of a rock and funk/disco music fan.  Ciara did not anticipate that she would even become a musician, instead earned her Bachelors and Masters in science. But her heart for music never left as she grew up and become a musical connoisseur, from hearing her older siblings favourite albums. Once she became an adult she stepped out from the background to take her place on the centre stage, as a musician. 

Ciara blends her childhood musical influences of classical, jazz, folk, funk, RNB, and everything in between into a sublime debut album. Her favourite artists who helped inspire her sound on this album are Donnie Hathaway, Anita Baker, Steve Wonder Prince …and the list of legends continues. 

Her album was created during the pandemic while Ciara was going through a rough patch, but got inspired by her children to hold on and keep moving forward. She also applied for a grant that provided the resources and funds for her to produce her album, through FACTOR, the Foundations Assisting Canadian Talent On Recording. FACTOR is a nonprofit organization that strives to help the Canadian music industry and artists, by making recording studios more accessible to them for their albums and EP projects. The for different facets of the the music industry not just album creation, but also promotion/marketing etc.

Visit their website to learn more about the grants available for artists, producers and other music industry professionals at:

https://www.factor.ca/

Ciara's album is about love and perseverance, an important message for everyone to grasp. She hopes to especially inspire her daughter, an upcoming musician as well as other mothers, daughters and people from all walks of life to realize they should never give up on their dreams. In fact, Ciara’s dreams of melodies are what led the foundation of her passion project. 

During the pandemic Ciara co-produced her debut album, “Love Money” with Juno-award nominated producers Chris Rouse and Thomas Mckay. She even featured and credited her adorable youngest baby daughter, as a background vocalist.

Despite the challenges Ciara faces while wearing many hats: mother, musician, entrepreneur producer etc. She continues to make music she loves with a supportive musical  family, including her partner. She also has a great team in her peers, the local Toronto musicians who helped her create her album.

On this episode she performed her song “The Dream,” from her debut album Love Money (2023).

Ciara Leah’s debut album, is available on all streaming platforms including Spotify and iTunes.

Connect with Ciara Leah on social media:

Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/@ciaraleahmusic

Instagram:

@ciaraleahmusic

Facebook:  

https://www.facebook.com/ciaraleahmusic 

link.tree:

 https://linktr.ee/ciaraleahmusic

Bandcamp: 

https://ciaraleahmusic.bandcamp.com/ 

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For past episodes, upcoming tv airdates and for the list of channels that broadcast our show, visit our website at: www.nikkiclarkenetwork.com. 

Contact us:

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Jayden Kennedy is a real estate broker who started off as a professional athlete. Her drive and hard work led her to get a scholarship to study at university and play volleyball professionally abroad,  in California. There she transformed her passion for completing in sports into a passion for helping people find the perfect home.  She now wants to make the home ownership process more smooth and simple for her clients. She empowers them by stressing the importance building generational wealth through purchasing real estate. 

Jayden recognizes that when buying your first home, it’s best to start somewhere with a simple house in a good neighbourhood and  it does not have to be your forever home. It can be a starter home or a stepping stone to your dream home.

She also wants clients to know they do not need a perfect credit score to buy a home. You also do not need to pay for the realtor as seller of the home is responsible for that.  Another great tip, Jayden reiterates is that you do not need to make a 20% downpayment towards the home you purchase, unless you are purchasing property through a business. Instead she wants people to focus on being financial stability and have a good credit score that is above 680. It does not have to be perfect. 

 Having your own property leads you to be more secure in this economy. Jayden encourages future home owners that even though interest rates are higher right now and there is less of a demand for property, there should be more affordable property as we going to 2024 as interest rates lower. 

Real Estate Tips- What To Know Before Buying 

How A Realtor Can Help

1.) She provides support as your realtor to help you understand contracts

2.) She will share with you the key components for ideal property

3.) She will teach you to leverage your investment, and buy more real estate over time

4.) She advises you to buy the worst house on best street to get best resell value 

To learn more about her services visit her website at: www.jaydenkennedy.ca

Connect with her on social media:

Youtube:

@jaydenkennedy724

https://www.youtube.com/@jaydenkennedy724/videos

Instagram:

@JaydenKennedyRealsestate 

TikTok: 

https://www.tiktok.com/@jaydenkennedyrealestate?lang=en

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/jaydenkennedyrealestate 

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For past episodes, upcoming tv airdates and the list of channels that broadcast our show, visit our website at: www.nikkiclarkenetwork.com.

Contact us:

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🐦 Twitter @nikkiclarke2020

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Sam and Rita Burke are authors and founders of Burke’s Bookstore and returned to the show to share their first children’s book “I Like Being Me”. 

Sam and Rita have had a busy fall as Sam just also celebrated the 17th anniversary of the Ebony Toastmasters event. It’s a worldwide organization that encourages people to come together to overcome their fear of public speaking and to learn leadership skills. These skills help to encourage self-confidence and leads to attendees to get better at doing presentations, interviews and different activities.

Rita and Sam had even more to celebrate both socially and personally with the publishing of the first children’s book series. The first book in their book series is called, “I like being Me." It was written to show children and adults that they need to be confident in themselves instead of comparing themselves to other people, which happens often in this society. Sam wrote the manuscript in 2005 and forgot about it but during covid lockdowns both Sam and Rita worked on polishing the manuscript until it became a children’s book. They want their book to also help children especially children of colour, from different walks of life and even disabled children to see representation in media to inspire them to accept and love themselves. As they become more confident they will be eager to try new things and learn new skills like cooking and baking.

Rita sees this book as an extended affirmation and there is research that states doing daily affirmations has a positive impact on the individual whether young or old. Recognizing our identity and purpose in life also helps us to succeed in life

Sam was also very surprised by seeing their finished book because he did not know that his manuscript would turn out to be such a wonderful story.

Sam and Rita are not just authors but also the founders of the former brick and mortar Burke’s Bookstore, which they opened in 1994. Now they have recently moved their bookstore online so it can be accessible to everyone anytime.

Rita wants to encourage aspiring authors that this is the perfect time, especially in the Caribbean diaspora to begin writing. She said there are so many stories to tell and our forefathers would be proud of us sharing their stories so we need to do it.

Visit their bookstore at: www.burkesbookstore.ca.

Connect with Mr. & Mrs. Burke on social media:

@ burkesbookstore

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For upcoming tv airdates, past episodes and the list of channels that broadcast our show visit our website at: www.nikkiclarkenetwork.com.

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Voceta Frempong is the founder of Play Inc. an organization that focuses on PLAY (Physical Lifestyle program for Autistic Youth). Voceta wanted to find a recreational program for her two sons, Junior and Josiah to learn, that basic skills of basketball and soccer while having fun. She is so proud of her sons who are growing into young men and continuing their education in high school and college which they love.

Play Inc. has also recently celebrated their 14th year of having a very successful annual golf tournament. This year it was sold out for the first time. But with great success comes an even larger demand for their services.

Especially during covid lockdowns when many children were homeschooling online and parents were overwhelmed with lack of resources to stimulate and encourage their children recreationally. Parents who receive the new diagnosis of autism for their children need a strong support system. It takes a community or village to raise a child so Voceta stresses that parents can lean on her and the Play Inc. staff for advice, to answer their questions or just vent. Every autistic child is different and there’s no handbook for parents dealing with it.

Voceta learned through her journey of being a mother to advocate for her children and she wants to teach more parents with Play Inc. how to do the same so their children will not get left behind.

Play Inc. is currently looking for more directors, for their board of directors. They need to expand the Play Inc. and acquire their own buildings to serve more parents in children outside of Brampton and Mississauga. But for now their long term goals are to have more programs in communities throughout the GTA, to get more volunteers, and staff.

Voceta Frempong not only has a passion for her autistic youth and her family, she also has has a passion for baking designer cakes. She started combining her passion for fashion and design with baking and created her own baking business from home. It is very therapeutic and allows her to express her creativity. She takes orders on social media and creates cakes for any special occasion.

To learn more about PLAY Inc. visit their website at: www.playinc.org.

www.playinc.org.

Connect with Voceta on social medial at:

@mizvocakes

@mizvoceta

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For upcoming tv airdates, past episodes and the list of channels that broadcast our show visit our website at: www.nikkiclarkenetwork.com.

Contact us:

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