Author

Yeah, we know it’s been a minute. But look at the bright side, we here now Sober Soldiers, back with what can be called the parlay of all parlays. We kicked it off with shoes and got a bit carried away there. But that had nothing on the way we delved into events just before going into all the music that has dropped. Sober Soldiers, lock in. It’s a parlay.

In this episode of Behind the Mic, host Wize Grazette sits down with Talib Jasir, founder of the Afros & Audio Podcast Festival, to explore how one man’s vision reshaped the landscape for Black podcasters across the nation.
Talib shares how his passion for storytelling and audio fiction led to the creation of a thriving national community for independent creators, the challenges of sustaining Afros & Audio without major funding, and why this year’s event in Baltimore will be its final celebration. Together, they dive into his personal journey, creative growth, and what’s next for the movement he built.

🎧 B-Sides Track of the Week: “Lucky” by Tish Hyman — a soulful reminder to stay grounded in gratitude and perseverance through creative highs and lows.

💽 Listen to our B-Sides Track of the Week playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2EysXGOWrzoQ3Zmp34VWLx

💽 Listen to our B-Sides Track of the Week playlist on Youtube:

“We are the most powerful people in this industry. The podcast industry doesn’t exist without podcasters.” — Talib Jasir

Chapters
01:27 — Talib’s Journey and Afros & Audio
03:19 — B-Side Track of the Week
04:50 — Talib Jasir before Afros & Audio
12:10 — Trials & Tribulations
14:58 — Final Afros & Audio Podcast Festival

Subscribe to Behind the Mic wherever you listen and leave a five-star rating — on both Spotify and Apple Podcasts if you’re a real one.

Follow Talib Jasir on Instagram and Twitter @TalibJasir and visit AfrosAndAudio.com
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Follow Wize Grazette on Instagram and X @TheRealWize.

🎙️ Behind the Mic: Hosted by Wize Grazette is Powered by Offscript Podcast Network.
🎧 Edited and produced by The Indie Creative Network and Storytime Studios.

#podcast #podcasts #podcasting

Season two of Behind the Mic opens with a powerhouse conversation between host Wize Grazette and Lady Dentaa Amoateng, the Founder and President of GUBA Enterprise. Known for her mission to Grow, Unite, Build Africa, Lady Dentaa has spent over 16 years creating opportunities that connect Africans across the diaspora.

This episode dives into the upcoming GUBA Awards Barbados, supported by the Prime Minister’s Office, Invest Barbados, BTMI, and the National Cultural Foundation. Lady Dentaa shares how this year’s theme, Reclaiming Our Atlantic Destiny, aligns with the shared history and future of Africa and the Caribbean, unveiling details about the Trade and Investment Conference, cultural collaborations, and the first-ever chartered flight from Ghana to Barbados.

Lady Dentaa also opens up about her journey from pediatric nurse and TV actress to receiving a diplomatic passport, all while raising four children who embody Ghanaian heritage through their names and values.

B-Sides Track of the Week: Adonai by Sarkodie — a gospel-infused anthem blending rap, soul, and spiritual power.
💽 Listen to our B-Sides Track of the Week playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2EysXGOWrzoQ3Zmp34VWLx

Featured Quote: “We need to reclaim our land destiny, reclaim our people, and start doing things together.” – Lady Dentaa

Chapters:
00:00 Welcome to Season Two!
00:52 Upcoming Cultural Events
01:18 Introducing Lady Dentaa Amoateng
01:46 Lady Dentaa’s Journey
03:02 B-Sides Track of the Week
04:08 The GUBA Awards and Its Impact
10:09 Reclaiming Our Atlantic Destiny

Subscribe to Behind the Mic on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, and Pandora.

Follow @TheRealWize for updates, and connect with @Dentaa_Show and @GUBAAwards to learn more about the GUBA movement.

🌺Calling Caribbean women founders, experts and change makers to be our guests in Season 3 🌺
👉🏽 Are you one of them, or do you know someone who is?
Email diannensquires@diannensquires.com with a short bio and links to your/their work.
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We’ve reached the end of Season 2 of the Island Woman Podcast, and what a season it’s been. From the cultural power of breadfruit and the structure behind successful side hustles, to the surprising ways Caribbean women are shaping wellness and wealth, this season has been a celebration of our stories, our brilliance, and our potential.

In this final episode, I share 5 of my favourite moments from across the season and put out a call to Caribbean women founders, leaders, and experts to join the conversation in Season 3.

In this episode:
0:00 – Welcome & Season 3 call for guests
0:44 – Why Caribbean women’s economic power matters now more than ever
2:05 – Breadfruit & food heritage with nutritionist Carla Ramsay
3:19 – An antidote to doomscrolling: holding on to hope
4:34 – Shauna Marshall on scaling your solopreneur business
5:27 – Mialisa Garnes on the unseen threats to women’s wellness
7:27 – Why health is wealth is more than a saying — it’s a strategy

Season 3: Your Voice Is Needed
We’re dedicating the next season to the women shaping the future of the Caribbean: founders, innovators, culture shifters, and experts building solutions from the ground up.
👉🏽 Are you one of them, or do you know someone who is? Email diannensquires@diannensquires.com with a short bio and links to their work.

🔥 Why this conversation matters
Between 2000 and 2010, growth in women’s income in Latin America and the Caribbean reduced poverty by 30%. Imagine what’s possible if more of us build successful businesses, create opportunities, and lead with vision — while staying grounded in health, joy, and wellbeing.

💬 If this episode inspired you, like, comment, share, and subscribe. It helps more island women discover stories that reflect our realities and possibilities.
#IslandWomanPodcast #CaribbeanWomen #WomenLeadership #CaribbeanFounders #CaribbeanWomenInBusiness #CaribbeanStories #WomenEntrepreneurs #IslandWomen #WomenShapingTheCaribbean #HolisticWealth #CaribbeanPodcast #WomenBuildingImpact