The Unstoppable Yes You podcast is a seasonal podcast that seeks to inspire young people of Caribbean heritage. Each season, we will focus on different topics that celebrate our fierceness, resilience, and achievements.

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/3/27/0/86e4d759-d93d-48f5-8fc3-4b87ba8301b3_gherdai-hassell-carib-artist-final.mp3

Gherdai Hassell is a contemporary artist, writer, and storyteller who celebrates Black females through multimedia and collage-like art. The 2022 Winner of the Best of Bermuda Visual Artist Award and has participated in solo and group exhibitions in her home country, Cape Town, South Africa, the United States, and China. Gherdai received an MFA from the China Academy of Art and currently lives in Manchester, UK.In this episode, learn how Gherdai ties her experiences and academic research to cultural, historical, and political understandings to create unexpected narratives surrounding identity. Listen and share with art lovers and aspiring artists.

Caribbean Artists

Gherdai Hassell is a contemporary artist who celebrates Black females through mixed-media collage-like work. The 2022 Winner of the Best of Bermuda Visual Artist Award and has participated in solo and group exhibitions in her home country, Cape Town, South Africa, the United States, and China.

In this episode, learn how Gherdai ties her experiences and academic research to cultural, historical, and political understandings in her work.

Listen and share with art lovers and aspiring artists.

Meet Contemporary Bermudian Artist Gherdai Hassell

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For Martiniquais artist Lionel Perrot, painting is an opportunity to let go to the rhythm of the music that systematically accompanies his creative process. Lionel let himself get carried away by the color, canvas, and tools. The modern artist has exhibited locally and hopes to one day take his works to an international stage.In this episode, Lionel Perrot gives us an introduction to the origin of his works. Listen and share with art lovers and aspiring artists.

For Martiniquais artist Lionel Perrot, painting is an opportunity to let go to the rhythm of the music that systematically accompanies his creative process. Lionel let himself get carried away by the color, canvas, and tools. The modern artist has exhibited locally and hopes to one day take his works to an international stage.

In this episode, Lionel Perrot gives us an introduction to the origin of his works.  Listen to this episode and share it with art lovers and aspiring artists alike.

Color and Culture with Martinique Artist Lionel Perrot

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Akilah Watts is a 27-year-old contemporary artist from St. James, Barbados. Her life-like portraits draw inspiration from her personal life, as she recreates images of her childhood in the backdrop of the island&#39;s beautiful scenery. In 2022, Akilah completed a residency with ArtleadHER and the Monira Foundation. She has exhibited locally and internationally - from New York to San Francisco to Miami.In this episode, hear how Akilah is pushing the age-old portraiture genre in new directions.Listen and share with art lovers and aspiring artists.

Akilah Watts is a 27-year-old contemporary artist from St. James, Barbados. Her life-like portraits draw inspiration from her personal life, as she recreates images of her childhood in the backdrop of the island's beautiful scenery.

In 2022, Akilah completed a residency with ArtleadHER and the Monira Foundation. She has exhibited locally and internationally - from New York to San Francisco to Miami.

Listen to this episode and hear how Akilah is pushing the age-old portraiture genre in new directions.

Akilah Watts Pushes Black Portraiture in a New Direction

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For over a decade, Trinidadian-Korean impressionist artist Marissa Lee has been perfecting her work, which consist of portraits and figures in oil, watercolor, charcoal and pastel. Known for her oil portraits of Caribbean Mas performers, Marissa draws inspiration from the connections with her subjects. Marissa&#39;s work has been exhibited locally and internationally, including the Art Society of Trinidad &amp; Tobago, the Coco Vivo Gallery in Charleston, South Carolina, and the Rotunda Gallery.Learn how Marissa brings her ideas to life.Share this episode with aspiring artists and art lovers.

For over a decade, Trinidadian-Korean impressionist artist Marissa Lee has been perfecting her work, which consist of portraits and figures in oil, watercolor, charcoal and pastel.

Known for her oil portraits of Caribbean Mas performers, Marissa draws inspiration from the connections with her subjects.

Marissa's work has been exhibited locally and internationally, including the Art Society of Trinidad & Tobago, the Coco Vivo Gallery in Charleston, South Carolina, and the Rotunda Gallery.

Listen to this episode to hear how Marissa brings her ideas to life.

Please share this series with aspiring artists and lovers of the arts.

Impressionist Artist Marissa Lee Sheds Light on Her Work

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Virgin Islands native Ama Dennis had an interest in art for as long as she can remember. So upon her return to the Virgin Islands after hurricane Maria, she made a career change from electrical engineering to photography. Today, she showcases the beauty of her hometown and its rich history and culture in her gallery.In this episode Alma shares how she made the transition successfully.Listen and share with art lovers and aspiring artists.

Caribbean Artist

Virgin Islands native Ama Dennis had an interest in art for as long as she can remember. So upon her return to the Virgin Islands after hurricane Maria, she made a career change from electrical engineering to photography. Today, she showcases the beauty of her hometown and its rich history and culture in her gallery.

Listen to this episode and hear how she made the transition successfully.

Meet Engineer Turned Photographer Ama Dennis

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April Bey is a Bahamian-American visual artist whose work represents icons and anti-heroes of Bahamian and American culture and contemporary pop culture. April&#39;s work is crafted around the perspective of the fictional planet Atlantica, an Afrofuturist alien world which redefines Blackness outside the context of white supremacy and colonial suffering.Listen to this episode to learn how April uses painting, printmaking, collage, and video to broaden her vision for acts of reparation.Share with art lovers and aspiring artists.

April Bey is a Bahamian-American visual artist whose work represents icons and anti-heroes of Bahamian and American culture and contemporary pop culture.

April's work is crafted around the perspective of the fictional planet Atlantica, an Afrofuturist alien world which redefines Blackness outside the context of white supremacy and colonial suffering.

Listen to this episode to learn how April uses painting, printmaking, collage, and video to broaden her vision for acts of reparation.

Who is Contemporary Artist April Bey?

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Kishawnie Henry grew up in the Paul M. Pearson Gardens housing projects, also known as the ghettos, in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. He became a product of his environment and was shot and paralyzed at seventeen.While writing music was Kishawnie&#39;s first love, he decided to explore his talent as an author. In this episode, Kishawnie discusses his upbringing, and how it influenced his debut novel, Dark Paradise. Listen and share with book lovers and aspiring writers.

Caribbean Authors Series

Kishawnie Henry grew up in the Paul M. Pearson Gardens housing projects, also known as the ghettos, in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. He became a product of his environment and was shot and paralyzed at seventeen.

While writing music was Kishawnie's first love, he decided to explore his talent as an author. In this episode, Kishawnie discusses his upbringing, and how it influenced his debut novel, Dark Paradise. 

Listen and share with book lovers and aspiring writers.

Fascinating New Novel of Life in the Virgin Islands' Ghettos

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Shakirah Bourne is an award-winning author and filmmaker based in Barbados. Her novel, a Caribbean middle-grade fantasy, Josephine Against The Sea, was published by Scholastic, a multinational publishing and media company, as part of a three-book deal. It also won the School Library Journal Best Book of 2021 Award.In this episode, Shakirah talks with host Curlis Phillip about the authors who influenced her work, her inspiration for the Caribbean folklore Josephine Against The Sea, and how publishing her first novel influenced her writing process including embracing her Bajan dialect.Listen and share with book lovers and aspiring authors.

Shakirah Bourne is an award-winning author and filmmaker based in Barbados. Her novel, a Caribbean middle-grade fantasy, Josephine Against The Sea, was published by Scholastic, a multinational publishing and media company, as part of a three-book deal. It also won the School Library Journal Best Book of 2021 Award.

In this episode, Shakirah talks with host Curlis Phillip about the authors who influenced her work, her inspiration for the Caribbean folklore Josephine Against The Sea, and how publishing her first novel influenced her writing process including embracing her Bajan dialect.

Listen and share with book lovers and aspiring authors.

Scholastic Novelist Shakirah Bourne on Embracing Her Dialect

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/7/13/0/fe0b8352-7f58-48d4-854d-58f050d94a67_sharma_taylor_podcast_episode_final.mp3

Sharma Taylor is a lawyer by profession and a writer by passion. This celebrated Jamaican author won the 2020 Frank Collymore Literary Endowment Prize for her collection of short stories. She was also the winner of the 2019 Bocas Literary Festival&#39;s Johnson and Amoy Achong Caribbean Writers Prize for emerging writers and was shortlisted four times for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize.In this episode, Sharma discusses her debut novel, What a Mother&#39;s Love Teaches You, which has been described as a powerful story of belonging, identity, and inheritance. She also offers tips on how to select a literary agent and get a book deal.Listen and share with book lovers and aspiring writers.

Sharma Taylor is a lawyer by profession and a writer by passion. This celebrated Jamaican author won the 2020 Frank Collymore Literary Endowment Prize for her collection of short stories. She was also the winner of the 2019 Bocas Literary Festival's Johnson and Amoy Achong Caribbean Writers Prize for emerging writers and was shortlisted four times for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize.

In this episode, Sharma discusses her debut novel, What a Mother's Love Teaches You, which has been described as a powerful story of belonging, identity, and inheritance. She also offers tips on how to select a literary agent and get a book deal.

Listen and share with book lovers and aspiring writers.

Lawyer Pursues Childhood Passion for Writing

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Jeunanne Alkins is a prize-winning author and creative director from Trinidad and Tobago. She is passionate about design and the difference it can make in how children learn. Jeunanne has published three children’s books, including The Most Magnificent Stories, which launched May 2022. In this episode, we talk with Jeunanne to learn how she channels the spirit of her Caribbean childhood in her books to showcase the little things that make these islands special. Listen and share with book lovers and aspiring writers.

Jeunanne Alkins is a prize-winning author and creative director from Trinidad and Tobago. She is passionate about design and the difference it can make in how children learn. Jeunanne has published three children’s books, including The Most Magnificent Stories, which launched May 2022. 

In this episode, we talk with Jeunanne to learn how she channels the spirit of her Caribbean childhood in her books to showcase the little things that make these islands special. 

Listen and share with book lovers and aspiring writers.

A Conversation with Children's Author Jeunanne Alkins

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Janice Lynn is a Bahamian-Canadian author of two-acclaimed young adult fiction novels Learning to Breathe and Facing the Sun. Learning to Breathe was a 2018 Governor General’s Award finalist, a British Columbia Book Prize finalist and it won the Joan F. Kaywell Books Save Lives Award. Facing the Sun won the Amy Mathers Teen Book Award and was named one of the the best Canadian young adult and middle-grade books of 2020. She recently published her first adult fiction novel, Uncertain Kin.In this episode, Janice discusses her journey as an author and Uncertain Kin, a collection of stories about women and girls searching for identity and belonging. Listen and share this episode with book lovers and aspiring authors.

Caribbean Author Series

Janice Lynn is a Bahamian-Canadian author of two-acclaimed young adult fiction novels Learning to Breathe and Facing the Sun. Learning to Breathe was a 2018 Governor General’s Award finalist, a British Columbia Book Prize finalist and it won the Joan F. Kaywell Books Save Lives Award. Facing the Sun won the Amy Mathers Teen Book Award and was named one of the the best Canadian young adult and middle-grade books of 2020. She recently published her first adult fiction novel, Uncertain Kin.

In this episode, Janice discusses her journey as an author and Uncertain Kin, a collection of stories about women and girls searching for identity and belonging. 

Listen and share this episode with book lovers and aspiring authors.

Who is Acclaimed Fiction Author Janice Lynn Mather?

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While she did not think writing could become her full-time career, Jasmine Sealy is one of the most exciting and powerful new voices in fiction. Hailing from Barbados, she is now based in Vancouver, British Columbia. In 2020, Jasmine won the University of British Columbia HarperCollins Fiction Prize for her first novel – The Island of Forgetting, a hauntingly beautiful intergenerational saga.In this episode, the prize-winning author joins Unstoppable Yes You host Curlis Phillip to talk about her novel and shares how her Bajan roots and bi-racial background influenced this story.Listen and share with book lovers an aspiring authors.

While she did not think writing could become her full-time career, Jasmine Sealy is one of the most exciting and powerful new voices in fiction. Hailing from Barbados, she is now based in Vancouver, British Columbia. In 2020, Jasmine won the University of British Columbia HarperCollins Fiction Prize for her first novel – The Island of Forgetting, a hauntingly beautiful intergenerational saga.

In this episode, the prize-winning author joins Unstoppable Yes You host Curlis Phillip to talk about her novel and shares how her Bajan roots and bi-racial background influenced this story.

Listen and share with book lovers an aspiring authors.

Jasmine Sealy - A Powerful New Voice in Fiction

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While going through an emotional divorce, Tamara Walcott found comfort in food and gained over 400 pounds. In 2018, she decided to take control of her life and joined a gym. This set the mother of two on a path of losing nearly 200 pounds and competing against legends to become a powerlifting champion. In this episode, the St. Croix native and all-time deadlift world record holder discusses how she transformed her life for the better and how she is using her social platforms to inspire others.Listen and share with others interested in powerlifting and the content creator space.

Rising Content Creators

While going through an emotional divorce, Tamara Walcott found comfort in food and gained over 400 pounds. In 2018, she decided to take control of her life and joined a gym. This set the mother of two on a path of losing nearly 200 pounds and competing against legends to become a powerlifting champion. 

In this episode, the St. Croix native and all-time deadlift world record holder discusses how she transformed her life for the better and how she is using her social platforms to inspire others.

Listen and share with others interested in powerlifting and the content creator space.


Powerlifting Champion Tamara Walcott Talks Body Transformation

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Akhnaten Burrowes is an up and coming actor and the award winning Bajan social media influencer behind the web series Bev. His blend of humor and Bajan culture connects his fans at home and around the world with nostalgia and laughter.In this episode, Akhnaten discusses his inspiration for Bev, his upcoming sitcom, and his aspirations to work with award-winning playwright and cinematic innovator Tyler Perry.Listen and share with others interested in becoming a social media personality and the content creator space.

Rising Social Content Creators

Akhnaten Burrowes is an up and coming actor and the award winning Bajan social media influencer behind the web series Bev. His blend of humor and Bajan culture connects his fans at home and around the world with nostalgia and laughter. 

In this episode, Akhnaten discusses his inspiration for Bev, his upcoming sitcom, and his aspirations to work with award-winning playwright and cinematic innovator Tyler Perry.

Listen and share with others interested in becoming a social media personality and the content creator space.

Akhnaten Burrowes Turns His Web Series ‘Bev’ into a Sitcom

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At the age of 13, Gabrielle Gay founded the Gabrielle Gay Award for Excellence in Reading and Literacy, a Reading Award and Literacy Mentorship Program. She has been on a mission to positively transform lives through education ever since.In this episode, learn how this social media Influencer, motivational speaker, and young entrepreneur is using her influence to uplift and empower students in her hometown of Barbados, the Caribbean, and around the world, while securing major brand collaborations.Listen and share with others interested in literacy mentorship and the content creator space.

At the age of 13, Gabrielle Gay founded the Gabrielle Gay Award for Excellence in Reading and Literacy, a Reading Award and Literacy Mentorship Program. She has been on a mission to positively transform lives through education ever since. 

In this episode, learn how this social media Influencer, motivational speaker, and young entrepreneur is using her influence to uplift and empower students in her hometown of Barbados, the Caribbean, and around the world, while securing major brand collaborations.

Listen and share with others interested in literacy mentorship and the content creator space.

Gabrielle Gay: A Literacy Champion Around the World

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Summer Corbin is a phenomenal cosplay model who uses cosplaying to celebrate her Blackness unapologetically. Her love for Japanese cartoons and obsession with make-up has helped Summer build a community of over 400k fans across Tik Tok and Instagram and major brand collaborations including the Cartoon Network and Got 2B Glued.In this episode, Summer discusses her love for anime, overcoming fat shaming and racist comments, and how she is building her brand through authentic collaborations.Listen and share with others interested in anime and the content creator space.

Summer Corbin is a phenomenal cosplay model who uses cosplaying to celebrate her Blackness unapologetically. Her love for Japanese cartoons and obsession with make-up has helped Summer build a community of over 400k fans across Tik Tok and Instagram and major brand collaborations including the Cartoon Network and Got 2B Glued.

In this episode, Summer discusses her love for anime, overcoming fat shaming and racist comments, and how she is building her brand through authentic collaborations.

Listen and share with others interested in anime and the content creator space. 


Meet the Black Anime Cosplayer Blowing Up on Tik Tok

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The 23-year-old comedic personality and social media influencer is a content creator on the rise. Daniel Loveless took a chance on himself and built an extremely successful entertainment platform asking trivia questions to everyday people around the world.In this episode, the Trinidad native shares how What Yuh Know became the number one YouTube series from the Caribbean. Listen and share with others interested in the entertainment and content creator space.

The 23-year-old comedic personality and social media influencer is a content creator on the rise. Daniel Loveless took a chance on himself and built an extremely successful entertainment platform asking trivia questions to everyday people around the world.

In this episode, the Trinidad native shares how What Yuh Know became the number one YouTube series from the Caribbean. 

Listen and share with others interested in the entertainment and content creator space.

Who Is 'What Yuh Know' Creator Daniel Loveless?

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Nicole Spence-Goon helps Federal agencies make the most out of their software and human capital. The Jamaican native specializes in team coaching and facilitation of best practices for Agile adoption and execution. Nicole is also a core member of Agile in Color, where she helps support the growth of equity and diversity in the Agile community. If you would like to learn what it takes to be an Agilist, listen to this episode and share with others interested in this in-demand skill.

Caribbean Women in Tech

Nicole Spence-Goon helps Federal agencies make the most out of their software and human capital. The Jamaican native specializes in team coaching and facilitation of best practices for Agile adoption and execution. Nicole is also a core member of Agile in Color, where she helps support the growth of equity and diversity in the Agile community. If you would like to learn what it takes to be an Agilist, listen to this episode and share with others interested in this in-demand skill.

The Career Path of An Agile Coach

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Chelsea Hinds-Charles’ childhood interest in mathematics and science morphed into a deep desire to understand &#34;how things work&#34;. It was this desire that led the Gates Millennium Scholarship recipient to pursue a dual degree in engineering and economics. In this episode, learn how the Guyanese native applies her engineering expertise at work at Twitter as well as in mission-critical projects outside of her workplace. Listen and share this episode with others interested in identifying the engineers within themselves.

Chelsea Hinds-Charles’ childhood interest in mathematics and science morphed into a deep desire to understand "how things work". It was this desire that led the Gates Millennium Scholarship recipient to pursue a dual degree in engineering and economics. In this episode, learn how the Guyanese native applies her engineering expertise at work at Twitter as well as in mission-critical projects outside of her workplace. Listen and share this episode with others interested in identifying the engineers within themselves.

Chelsea Hinds-Charles on What It Takes to Be an Engineer

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Melissa Daley is a Systems Engineer and the founder of Orca Intelligence, an IT consulting and product design firm based in Maryland. Melissa has helped companies like Accenture and Booz Allen Hamilton deliver best-of-breed products to the market. The Jamaican-American is also the creator of Swiftly, a software that automates the product requirements documentation process. As a Black female IT business owner, Melissa has had her share of challenges in this male-dominated field. In this episode, she shares why she stopped seeking validation and believed in her skills. Listen and share with aspiring tech entrepreneurs.

Melissa Daley is a Systems Engineer and the founder of Orca Intelligence, an IT consulting and product design firm based in Maryland. Melissa has helped companies like Accenture and Booz Allen Hamilton deliver best-of-breed products to the market. The Jamaican-American is also the creator of Swiftly, a software that automates the product requirements documentation process. As a female business owner in tech, Melissa has had her share of challenges in this male-dominated field. In this episode, she shares why she stopped seeking validation and believed in her skills.  Listen and share with aspiring tech entrepreneurs.

The Challenges of a Black Female IT Business Owner

Inspirational Stories From The Caribbean

The Unstoppable Yes You Podcast features real-life stories of people of Caribbean heritage to inspire and give hope to the next generation. Each season, we will focus on different topics that celebrate our fierceness, resilience, and achievements.