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In this bonus episode of Behind the Mic, I’m celebrating a huge milestone in my journey, receiving the 2025 Black Podcasting Awards Legend Award. After more than a decade in podcasting, it still feels surreal to be called a legend. You’ll hear the full acceptance speech from the ceremony, my reflections on what this moment means, and how I’m focusing on helping creators thrive in the growing orange economy.

I also talk about my new podcast, Coop Back Podcast, where I kick it with my cousins Alex and Kevin about life, anime, and the everyday twists of adulthood in Barbados and abroad.

Featured Quote:
“Legend… it’s a powerful word. And when I started podcasting 13 years ago, it was not something that I had in the cards.”

Chapters:
1:48 – Learn about my new podcast Coop Back
3:23 – Acceptance speech
4:35 – Next episode teaser

Thanks for tuning in to Behind the Mic, hosted by Wize Grazette. Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @TheRealWize, and stay tuned for the next episode featuring Dr. Kevin Greenidge, Governor of the Barbados Central Bank.

Credits:
Special thanks to Storytime Studios for editing and producing this podcast.

Sober Soldiers! One of the culture’s key players pulled up for a proper sit-down. We spoke about his journey through the game; from radio to rap, the highs, the lessons, and everything in between.
Speedsta got candid about legacy, growth, and staying true to himself in an ever-shifting industry. It’s a real conversation with someone who’s seen it all and still moves with love for the culture.
Tap in.

Africon 2025 was more than an event, it was proof that the diaspora is shaping the creative future.

In this episode, I continue my Africon recap with part two of my conversation with Anna and Odessa on the power of unity across the global Black community. Then I share highlights from my mentorship circle, where young creators explored how podcasting can amplify their stories.

I also sit down with Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism & the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, to talk about the country’s growing “Orange Economy,” and close the night with Anna and Sofi the Oddity on the Icon Gala red carpet.

Featured Quote:

“We’re all African. That’s the message I’m here to share until everyone understands it.” — Odessa

Chapters:

01:34 Part 2 of my conversation with Anna & Odessa
06:49 Mentorship Circle recap and clips
10:26 Interview with Minister Hannatu Musa Musawa
17:19 Anna and Sofi the Oddity red carpet interview

Subscribe wherever you listen and leave a five-star review!
Follow ⁠@TheRealWize⁠ on Instagram and X.
Behind the Mic: Hosted by Wize Grazette
Special thanks to ⁠Storytime Studios⁠ for editing and production.

On this episode, I take you inside AFRICON 2025, recorded live at REVOLT Studios Atlanta with Anna from First Gems and Odessa from Reasonings with Odessa. We talk about the energy, panels, and connections that made this year’s AFRICON a powerful experience linking the African and Caribbean diaspora.

From the opening night at The Gathering Spot to inspiring moments featuring David Banner, Tuma Basa, and Shaka Zulu, this conversation highlights how AFRICON Atlanta 2025 brought creators, leaders, and innovators together from across the world. You’ll also hear Odessa’s exclusive interview with Nigerian DJ and cultural icon DJ Obi, who shares the story behind Obi’s House, one of Africa’s most talked-about parties celebrating music, culture, and unity.

“We are not just from Barbados. We’re not Jamaican. We are Africans first.” – Odessa

Chapters

01:48 – Africon Experience: Day One Highlights
04:06 – My Conversation with Anna & Odessa at REVOLT Studios
05:05 – Africon Panels and Key Takeaways
15:23 – Investing in the Caribbean and Africa
20:37 – DJ Obi Interview

Follow me on Instagram and Twitter (formerly X 😂) @TheRealWize, and subscribe so you don’t miss Part 2 of the AFRICON 2025 series.

Credits:

Powered by Offscript Podcast Network

Special thanks to Storytime Studios (@storytime.bb) for editing and production.

#podcast #africandiaspora #atlanta

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
.
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.
——————————
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

Sober Soldiers, on this episode, we sat down with Flvme to dive into his brand-new album Black and White, revisit his past projects, and unpack his journey in the game so far. He opened up about growth, creative freedom, collaborations, and what fans can expect next.
It’s a proper deep-dive with one of the most consistent voices in SA hip hop. Trust us, this one’s a dope one, tap in!

Season 2 of Behind the Mic: Hosted by Wize Grazette is here! This new season expands the vision bringing you interviews not just with REVOLT hosts but also with cultural curators, allies, and creators shaping the future of the creator economy. Expect full interviews, narrated episodes, limited series, and audio-only drops that keep the essence of podcasting alive.
Tap in, follow @TheRealWize, and subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next.

Credits:
Hosted by Wize Grazette.
Produced and edited by The Indie Creative Network and Storytime Studios.

#podcast #podcasts #podcastclips