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Welcome back Sober Soldiers! The studio was buzzing with energy for this one, because we know it’s been a long time since we parlayed. We wasted no time and dove deep into the sneakers, and then. Then, we shifted gears to the music scene, sharing of our faves from the past few weeks. Enjoy yeah?

What if building your business was more like training for the Olympics? 🏃🏽‍♀️
In this episode, I explore how Caribbean entrepreneurs can learn from elite athletes — their systems, discipline, and mindset — to build businesses that last.

What can Caribbean entrepreneurs learn from the discipline, mindset, and systems of world-class athletes? In this episode of the Island Woman Podcast, I explore how champions like Shelley-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Julien Alfred train, recover, and maintain excellence — and how those lessons translate into building sustainable, successful businesses in the Caribbean. 🏃🏽‍♀️
We cover:
– The system of success behind elite athletes and how it applies to entrepreneurship
– Reframing setbacks as part of the long arc of growth
– Building a culture of discipline, resilience, and excellence in your business
– Caribbean-specific insights on mentorship, support systems, and enterprise-building

If you’re a Caribbean entrepreneur, freelancer, or anyone navigating the challenge of building your own enterprise, this episode offers practical inspiration and actionable ideas to help you run your business like a champion.

#Caribbeanentrepreneur #caribbeanbusiness #Caribbeantrackandfield #islandwomanpodcast #trackandbusiness #intentionalliving

Kwannette & Kwardel Lewis share how their family turned family land in Sierra Leone into Lewisville Hotel, a thriving hospitality business.

✅ Tips for managing contractors and maintaining quality abroad
✅ The importance of investing in your home country in Africa
✅ How they financed their project without outside investors
✅ Overcoming the short-term mindset in Sierra Leone
✅ The power of generational wealth and land ownership

YouTube Chapters:
0:00 Intro & Guest Background
4:23 Wahala – Speak Your Language Challenge
9:42 Africa Diaspora Roots
12:55 Growing Up Between Atlanta & Sierra Leone
20:00 Building Lewisville Boutique in Freetown
24:52 Managing Property & Maintaining Standards
36:12 Financing & Costs of African Hospitality
50:32 Tips for First-Time Travel to Africa

––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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What does it take to make your vision real? In this episode of the Island Woman Podcast, I share how my own vision took shape, why imagination is powerful, and what really matters when it comes to turning a dream into reality.
You’ll hear about the daily video diary practice that gave me clarity, how reflection shaped my Rooted & Ready programme, and why compounded action — the small steps done consistently — is the most important key to living the life you imagine.
✨ Inside this episode:
00:57 – How I think about vision
02:05 – The daily practice that shaped my personal vision
03:36 – Getting Rooted & Ready
04:14 – Making the vision real
05:04 – The power of compounded action

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If you’re a woman in leadership ready to embody your voice, presence, and power without overwhelm, explore the Rooted & Ready 3-month 1:1 programme. Email me at diannensquires@diannensquires.com for details.

🌴 The Island Woman Podcast is about cultural clarity, holistic wealth, and intentional living — rooted in the Caribbean, with a voice for the world.
👇🏽 Share your thoughts: Is having a vision important to you? How do you keep moving toward it?

Island Woman Podcast | Episode 6, Season 2
🎧 Make Your Vision Real
#CaribbeanWomen #HolisticWealth #LeadershipJourney #IslandWomanPodcast #IntentionalLiving

Not everyone will choose you — whether it’s for a project, a friendship, or a role in their life. But that doesn’t mean you’re not worthy of being chosen. In this episode, I share why choosing yourself matters, what it really looks like, and 3 small but powerful ways I’m practising it right now.

From the crowded buses of my teen years in Barbados to the lessons I’ve learned about podcasting, boundaries, and vision-setting, I explore how following your inner compass creates the space to breathe, grow, and excel.
If you’re ready to stop waiting for validation and start walking your unique path, this episode is for you.

✨ In this episode:
– Why “choosing yourself” isn’t selfish, it’s sustainable
– How a clear vision helps guide your decisions
– 3 daily practices to honour your own time and energy

A story of how not choosing myself once stalled my growth — and what I’m doing differently now

🌺 The Island Woman Podcast celebrates Caribbean women, Caribbean stories, and the pursuit of holistic wealth, rest and renewal, and intentional living.
📌 Share this episode with a friend who needs the reminder: choosing yourself is the first step toward freedom.

#chooseyourself #islandwomanpodcast #Caribbeanwomen #boundariesmatter #holisticwealth

Nanette joins The Sobering fresh off announcing her upcoming album Painfully Happy — dropping August 29th with the love-struck R&B focus track “Suddenly.” We dive into the story behind her nostalgic new single Abazali, a soulful Soweto-funk-inspired love letter to her parents, South Africa, and the sounds that raised her. She opens up about the highs, lows, and contradictions that inspired Painfully Happy, and how she’s navigating the space between joy and heartache while making music that connects across generations.

Caribbean realities are complex, from high youth unemployment to the rise of informal work, gender inequality, and climate threats. But alongside the challenges, there’s a deep well of hope, ingenuity, and resourcefulness we can tap into.

In this episode of the Island Woman Podcast, I explore how we as Caribbean people can manage distractions, stay focused, and hold onto what’s real. Drawing on insights from the Caribbean Development Bank’s Labour Market Differentials in the Caribbean study, we’ll look at three truths that can keep us grounded:

1️⃣ The power of sharing and community: from backyard produce to collective entrepreneurship.
2️⃣ Turning off the noise: and protecting your mental space in a hyper-connected world.
3️⃣ Caribbean ingenuity: the traditional practices and mindset shifts that can fuel sustainable living and a stronger future.
If you care about Caribbean resilience, sustainable living, and economic empowerment, this conversation will inspire you to see possibilities beyond the “doom and gloom.”

🎧 Listen now and share your thoughts in the comments: How do you cut through distraction and focus on what matters most?

📌 Timestamps
00:00 – Intro: Caribbean reality vs distraction
01:31 – Key findings from the CDB Labour Market Study
03:10 – Reality #1: Sharing and generosity in Caribbean culture
04:50 – Reality #2: Turning off the noise
05:39 – Reality #3: Caribbean ingenuity and sustainability
07:10 – Closing thoughts and invitation to share

Caribbean Development Bank’s Labour Market Differentials in the Caribbean study – https://www.caribank.org/publications-and-resources/resource-library/publications/labour-market-differentials-caribbean-gender-age-indigeneity

🔗 Related episodes:

Health & Wellness Series with Carla Ramsay https://www.youtube.com/playlist?
list=PLl48MDCkiuOUGopfVUBzwNtoeEfIqhiga

Courageous or Crazy? Why I Chose a Big and Simple Life https://youtu.be/_ihKxkbYeSU

#islandwomanpodcast #caribbeanresilience #sustainableliving #sustainablelivingCaribbean #economicempowerment #focusandclarity

✅ Discover why every Black person should experience Africa at least once
✅ Ugo of Discover Gidi shares how he turned a group trip into a global travel company
✅ What it’s really like doing business in Africa
✅ The power of visiting Africa with family vs. friends
✅ Why Ghana is the perfect entry point for diasporans
✅ Insider tips on planning your first trip

This episode is packed with real stories, travel gems, and advice for anyone curious about connecting with the continent.

YouTube Chapters:

0:00 – Intro & Wahala: Name butchering stories
6:13 – Ugo’s backstory & Discover Gidi origins
14:45 – Travel fails, visa wins, & growing a business
26:09 – Missions, culture shocks & “African time”
37:08 – Doing business in Africa: Expectations vs Reality
45:04 – Why diasporans must go back
51:07 – First-time travel tips for Africa
54:24 – Closing

––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

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

Are you over 35 and starting to feel niggles in joints you forgot you had? For me, it’s the ‘phantom pains’, the ones you can’t link to anything you did. If that’s you too, we’re not alone.

In the Caribbean, joint-related issues linked to NCDs and more sedentary lifestyles are showing up earlier and more often than we think. In this episode of the Island Woman Podcast, I’m joined again by Nutritionist Carla Ramsay.

She talks about 3 essential things you can start doing today to protect your joints and preserve your mobility as you age. From anti-inflammatory foods to muscle support and sunshine, this is a must-listen for every Caribbean woman who wants to move freely and live fully.

And tell your younger friends that nutritionist Carla says, “Don’t wait, start showing your joints some love from now. They’ll thank you as you age.”

👣 Whether you’re already feeling joint pain or just trying to prevent it, this episode will help you take grounded, powerful steps toward long-term health.

🌺 Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro
01:52 – When to start thinking about joint care
02:10 – Top 3 things you must do now
04:40 – Stronger muscles for better mobility and the role of protein
06:20 – How nutrients work for better joints
09:48 – Questions for you
🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe.
💬 Are you feeling joint pain? What are you doing about it? Drop a comment below!
👉 Subscribe to the Island Woman Podcast for more honest conversations about wellness, lifestyle, and Caribbean clarity the BIG and simple way.
#IslandWomanPodcast #CaribbeanWellness #JointHealth #WomensHealth #NCDs #CaribbeanWomen #BigAndSimpleLife #HealthOver35 #MobilityMatters