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I was honoured to spend this episode chatting with Antiguan Megan Samuel-Fields, who is a woman on a mission to improve financial wellness for Caribbean people. As a certified public accountant (CPA), Attorney-at-Law, PhD candidate, life coach and the CEO of Samuel-Fields Consulting, her plate is full, and her passion for making every second and every cent count is unmistakable.

This episode continues exploring the essential question: how do we, as Caribbean women, maximize our contribution to regional economic development while protecting our wellbeing? We discuss the real barriers – the knowledge gaps, the tendency to follow only what our parents practiced – and the specialized strategy required to move beyond them.

In this conversation, Megan shares her insights on:
💲🌿The Power of Layering: How combining disciplines (like accounting, law, and finance) has created a powerful, integrated advantage for her as a Caribbean business leader navigating regional and global markets.

💲🌿Her scores on the Island Woman Ambition/Wellbeing Equation™: A candid discussion on balancing a 9/10 ambition with a sustainable 8/10 wellbeing, and the discipline required to maintain that equilibrium.

💲🌿The Founder’s Foundation: Practical steps and a “survival kit” for Caribbean entrepreneurs seeking growth and resilience in their ventures.

💲🌿Redefining Financial Health: Moving past traditional definitions to understand financial wellness as a holistic life practice tied to intentional living, not just the balance in your bank account.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Megan Samuel-Fields
01:51 Survival Kit for Caribbean Women Entrepreneurs
06:01 The Role of Samuel Fields Consulting Group
11:55 Passion for Learning and Financial Literacy
17:51 Likkle Byte Ideas: A Family Collaboration
23:49 The Importance of Financial Wellness
29:55 Advice for Aspiring Women Entrepreneurs

If you are a Caribbean woman who is building something – whether it’s a business, a career, or a legacy, this is a conversation that will empower your next move.

CONNECT & SUPPORT:
Find Megan at:
🌐 www.SamuelFieldsConsulting.com
Facebook: SamuelFields Consulting Group
LinkedIn: Megan Samuel-Fields
If this conversation resonated with you, please like, share it with a friend, and subscribe!
​ ⁨@samuelfieldsconsultinggrou7033⁩
——————
Check out my services for Caribbean women founders, leaders and organisations at www.diannensquires.com.

#IslandWomanPodcast #CaribbeanWomenLeaders #FinancialWellness #Financial Literacy #IntentionalLiving #MSME #CaribbeanWomenEntrepreneurs

This week, for our Sunlight Raise The Bar edition, we sat down with Tyson Sybateli; one of the sharpest pens and most compelling voices in the current SA hip hop landscape.

We unpacked the mindset behind his craft, the stories that shape his music, and the discipline it takes to keep growing while staying true to the art. Tyson opened up about evolution, intention, and the pressure (and privilege) of raising the bar with every drop.

Tap in and catch the gems.

On this episode of Behind the Mic, Queen PR of Those Wrestling Girls opens up about how women’s wrestling, Bronx roots, and a front row seat to John Cena’s final time at MSG shaped her journey. From Stone Cold memories and pay per view Sundays with her dad to building a platform that centers Black women wrestling fans, she shares how fandom became purpose.

B-Sides Track of the Week: “Marcy Me” by Jay-Z
💽 Listen to our B-Sides Track of the Week playlist on Spotify or YouTube;
Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2EysXGOWrzoQ3Zmp34VWLx⁠⁠
YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOCTSuUwMT0fHHhB6oPtaEYyTh2OWq7zY⁠

Featured Quote: “John Cena brings everyone together.” – Queen PR

Chapters

01:47 Wrestling Journey and Personal Stories
04:39 B-Sides Track of the Week
14:48 John Cena’s final time at MSG
21:10 Favorite Wrestling Events of 2025
27:15 The State of Wrestling Podcasts and Independent Promotions

Guest Socials: Follow Queen PR on Instagram and Twitter at @queen___pr

Credits:
Host: Wize Grazette
Produced and edited at StoryTime Studios

This week on the Island Woman Podcast, I’m thrilled to bring you a powerful conversation with the wonderful Karin Wilson Edmonds, the founder of Bloom, a thriving online wellness membership specifically for women over 40.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Caribbean Women Founders
02:19 Building Community as an Entrepreneur
05:05 Transitioning from Corporate to Wellness Coaching
09:49 Adapting to Change: The Impact of COVID-19
13:39 The Evolution of Bloom: A Wellness Community
18:27 Menopause and Its Economic Impact on Women
22:33 Ambition vs. Wellbeing: Finding Balance
26:24 Advice for Aspiring Caribbean Women Entrepreneurs

Karin, who joins us from Jamaica, perfectly embodies our season’s mandate: exploring how Caribbean women can maximise their contribution to regional economic development while protecting their well-being. A former corporate professional and consultant, Karin’s wellness-driven decision to spend less time “hunched over a laptop” set the stage for a massive career pivot over 15 years ago. She became a Yoga/Pilates Teacher and later a Certified Wellness Coach.

In this must-watch episode, we unpack Karin’s journey from the high-pressure corporate and consulting environment to creating a path for a successful Online Wellness Empire.

We discuss:
🌺 An Unexpected Opportunity to Scale: How the COVID-19 pandemic catalysed Karin’s business from local to global.
🌺 The Intentional Living Mandate: The personal challenges that jump-started her new career in wellness.
🌺 The Core Questions: The non-negotiable advice she gives to every Caribbean woman entrepreneur: You must first answer, “What life do you want?” and “What’s your risk tolerance?”

If you are a Caribbean woman founder scaling a business, or simply striving for intentional living, this episode with Karin Wilson Edmonds is for you.

🔗 Connect with Karin Wilson Edmonds
web🌐karinyogalife.com
Instagram, Facebook & YouTube: @KarinYogaLife

SUBSCRIBE to the Island Woman Podcast for more game-changing conversations about Caribbean leadership, wellness, and global entrepreneurship!

#IslandWomanPodcast #CaribbeanFounder #OnlineWellnessEmpire #WomenInWellness #IntentionalLiving #CaribbeanLeadership #KarinWilsonEdmonds

Code switching — survival tactic or cultural disconnect?
In this episode, the hosts break down the real reasons we switch our tone, accent, or entire personality depending on who’s in the room.

From corporate America to entrepreneurship, from Ebonics to “professional decorum,” and even the moments we first realized we code switched — this conversation digs into how environment, safety, perception, and identity shape the way we speak.

We also debate movie sequels (because why not), talk about growing up in Southwest Dekalb, learn where we picked up Ebonics, and unpack whether code switching is even necessary anymore.

If you’ve ever caught yourself using your “corporate voice”… this one hits home.

What’s YOUR experience with code switching?
Drop a comment and let’s talk about it. 👇🏾

––Music Credits–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

RIDDIM | Afrobeat Library | Music For Content Creators
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fm9_E41jmVA
Creative Commons — Attribution – CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Affiliated YouTube channel | https://www.youtube.com/c/KaseemBada

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This episode takes you through my personal experience covering the GUBA Awards Barbados 2025. I walk you through the Trade and Investment Conference, the GUBA Award Show, and the moments that stood out to me throughout the weekend. I also reflect on what it means to reach one year and fifty episodes of Behind the Mic, and how the growth, the lessons, and the gratitude from this season continue to shape the show.

Featured Quote:

“I have to actually acknowledge that I’m living through history right now, presently right in front of me.” – Wize Grazette

Chapters:

01:27 GUBA Awards Recap
05:05 Snippet of Lady Dentaa’s Opening Remarks at the Trade and Investment Conference
06:51 Wize Shares Thanks
08:22 Introducing REVOLT Art Fair: The Limited Podcast Series

Credits:
Hosted by Wize Grazette
Edited by Storytime Studios

I’m thrilled to share this conversation with a woman who is the absolute embodiment of purpose-driven leadership: Anushka Varsha Sonai.
Anuskha joins us from Suriname, where she is driving digital transformation across the region as the President of Creative Tech Hub Caribbean and the American Chamber of Commerce, Suriname.

I have been impressed and inspired by her since we first met, and her accomplishments speak for themselves—from winning the prestigious Anthony Sabga Caribbean Excellence Award to receiving a nomination for the Women in Tech Global Leadership Award.

In this episode, we uncover an essential blueprint for true Caribbean economic development, a plan that must be led by Women, Alliances, Talent, and Technology.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Anushka Varsha Sonai
02:54 The Caribbean Survival Kit for Women Entrepreneurs
07:23 The Role of Women in Shaping the Caribbean’s Future
12:38 The Importance of Competence and Ambition
20:41 Anushka’s Journey Beyond Leadership
24:45 Balancing Ambition and Well-being
30:18 Creative Tech Hub: A New Business Model

🔑 The Blueprint for Caribbean Growth
Anushka reveals her unique vision for how women can maximise their contribution to regional economic development while still maintaining a purpose-driven vision for their own wellbeing.

Women as Drivers: Anushka strongly asserts that women are not beneficiaries of development; they are the drivers of economic expansion. She shares compelling data that links the development of women to 30% less poverty in the region.

Talent Retention & Brain Drain: We discuss her core mission to create “better futures” at home to halt the flow of people leaving the Caribbean, ensuring our talent is retained to build sustainable businesses.

Alliances over Division: She shares a unique call to action for Caribbean leaders, emphasising the need to move from “playing the victim card” to “speaking from strength” by actively building powerful alliances and an inclusive private sector ecosystem.

From Consumptive to Productive: Learn how Creative Tech Hub is leveraging technology and workforce development to strategically pivot the region from a consumer-based economy to a productive, digital-first industry.
If you’re interested in genuine Caribbean leadership, women in tech, or the strategy behind regional development, this episode is your roadmap.

📲 Connect with Anushka & Creative Tech Hub Caribbean
Creative Tech Hub Caribbean: creativetechhub.online
Connect with Anushka: (Search for Anushka Varsha Sonai on LinkedIn)

If this episode inspired you to think bigger about Caribbean development, please:

👉🏾Like this video, Subscribe to the Island Woman podcast channel
👉🏾Share this blueprint with a friend! Let’s build a stronger Caribbean together.

#CaribbeanGrowth #WomenInLeadership #DigitalTransformation #TalentRetention #EconomicExpansion #IslandWomanPodcast #CaribbeanWomen

Sober Soldiers, for this Sunlight Raise The Bar edition, we tapped in with K.Keed; one of the rawest, most fearless young voices shaping the new wave of SA hip hop.

We got into her journey, her sound, the courage it takes to stand out, and the hunger that’s been pushing her forward from day one. She spoke on growth and what it means to build your own lane while still showing love to the culture.

It’s a conversation packed with honesty, ambition, and real “raise the bar” energy. Tap in and witness the rise.

https://www.sunlight.co.za/raise-the-bar.html

In this powerful hosts-only episode, we dive deep into the ongoing Diaspora Wars — the tension, stereotypes, and misunderstandings between Africans and Black Americans.

Llewellyn and Sitta keep it real as they unpack where the divide came from, the history behind it, and why unity is the only way forward. From viral internet debates to real-life experiences, the hosts challenge misconceptions, explore privilege, and call for healing across the diaspora.

💬 Topics include:

✅Chris Brown vs. Usher: who’s the real vocalist?
✅How colonialism and media fuel division
✅“Foundational Black Americans” and African stereotypes
✅Why some Africans view migration as a privilege
✅The danger of internalized bias and lost history
✅Supporting Black-owned brands vs. European luxury labels
✅The call for open dialogue between Africans & Black Americans

✊🏾 “We are not enemies. We are stronger together.”

#Afronomics #DiasporaWars #BlackCulture #AfricanDiaspora #BlackCommunity #AfricanCulture #PanAfrican #BlackVoices #CultureTalk #DiasporaConversations #UnityOverDivision #BlackExcellence #AfricanPride #BlackTogether #culturedebate

––Music Credits–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

RIDDIM | Afrobeat Library | Music For Content Creators
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fm9_E41jmVA
Creative Commons — Attribution – CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Affiliated YouTube channel | https://www.youtube.com/c/KaseemBada

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Caribbean woman entrepreneur Karen Philip, Founder of Kainos Caribbean Consulting and a respected social development specialist, is my guest on this week’s episode. Karen shares her journey and the mission behind Kainos, which is to help non-governmental organisations “Do Good Better” through better systems, better measurement of impact and better grant writing – otherwise known as strategic capacity building and resource mobilisation in sector jargon. We discuss what it truly means to be a “do-gooder” and entrepreneur in the Caribbean development sector.

The Unsung Leaders: We confront the societal oversight that often undervalues the labour of women leaders in civil society. Karen and I discuss why it’s imperative to reward and invest in the Caribbean Women who are the very potters shaping our communities, recognising that their economic empowerment has a magnificent ripple effect.

📑Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Karen Philip and Her Work
05:20 The Importance of Alignment and Boundaries
07:19 Understanding Social Development and Capacity Building
11:59 Empowering Women in Civil Society
17:48 Balancing Ambition and Well-Being
26:38 Advice for Caribbean Women Founders

💡Takeaways:

– Your assignment is determined by your alignment.
– If you cannot measure it, you cannot manage it.
– You need to have boundaries to protect your well-being.
– Caribbean voices must be at the forefront of development.
– Women in civil society are crucial for economic growth.
– It’s okay to pause and reassess your goals.
– Empowerment has a ripple effect in communities.
– Formalizing and valuing invisible labor is essential.
– Your network should support your mission and goals.
– Consistency means not giving up, even if you pause.

👉🏾This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in Caribbean social impact, economic development, and understanding how women lead with both passion and strategic clarity. Karen highlights the fact that empowered Caribbean Women are the drivers of poverty reduction and community growth.

🫱🏾‍🫲🏽Connect with Karen Philip & Kainos Caribbean Consulting:

Website: KainosCaribbean.com
LinkedIn: @Karen Philip & @ Kainos Caribbean
Instagram: @kainos.caribbean
YouTube: @KainosCaribbean

If you enjoyed this conversation, please share it with a friend, leave a comment, or give us a thumbs up! It helps us bring more beautiful voices to the fore.

Learn more about my business Dianne N Squires Consulting
Website: diannensquires.com

#CaribbeanWomenLeaders #SocialImpact #CaribbeanSocialImpact #IslandWomanPodcast #HowWomenLead #Entrepreneurship #CivilSociety #grantwriting