Taboo: The Stories of Caribbean Women
Taboo: The Stories of Caribbean Women is a podcast hosted by Ciara James. It focuses on Caribbean women owning, embracing, and speaking their truth. The show shares personal stories and experiences in the hope of helping other Caribbean women. Topics explore taboo subjects and encourage open conversation.
Episodes
Veera Bhajan
In this week’s episode, Veera Bhajan shares her journey of growing up without arms, building a successful career in law, challenging discrimination, and finding confidence, purpose, and self-acceptance along the way.
Dr. Breneil Malcolm
In this week’s episode, Dr. Breneil Malcolm shares their journey of navigating gender and sexuality and finding the freedom to live authentically.
Shantal Samaroo
In this week’s episode, Shantal Samaroo shares her journey from aspiring scientist to educator and entrepreneur, building iLearn Academy from the ground up while navigating motherhood, partnership, and the realities of balancing it all.
Chrislyn Lashington
In this week’s episode, Chrislyn Lashington shares her journey from aspiring doctor to entrepreneur, pivoting into marketing and communications, and navigating life in the public eye while balancing business, media, and fitness.
Neola Zama
In this week’s episode, Neola Zama shares her journey of navigating maternal abuse, fertility loss, and how those experiences shaped her work as a trauma therapist and her own path to healing.
Charla Hobson
In this week’s episode, Charla Hobson shares her journey through fashion design and education, moving from Anguilla to the Cayman Islands, navigating the loss of her mother, and building a business centred on everyday style for Caribbean women.
Fiona Branker
In this week’s episode, Fiona Branker shares her journey in the fitness industry, challenging stereotypes in bodybuilding, and empowering women over 40 to navigate perimenopause and menopause.
Lesley Bradshaw
In this week’s episode, Lesley Bradshaw shares her journey through multiple marriages, heartbreak, healing, and finding love again.
Xannah Moniq
In this week’s episode, Xannah Moniq shares her journey of overcoming childhood abuse, heartbreak, health challenges, and embracing a new chapter of purpose.
Cavelle Davis
In this week’s episode, Cavelle Davis shares her journey through young motherhood, a legal battle with her former employer, building her childcare business, and enduring the loss of her brother and father.
Giselle Mashama
In this week’s episode, Giselle Mashama shares her journey of love, loss, faith, and resilience, from marrying a formerly incarcerated partner and continuing his NGO after his passing, to finding love again while being anchored by her faith in God.
Leeonney Bentick-Gilliam
In this week’s episode, Leeonney Bentick-Gilliam shares her journey from accounting to becoming a chef, and how that path led her into culinary wellness for hormone health while still honouring her Caribbean roots.
Gayatree Dipchan
In this week’s episode, Gayatree Dipchan, a Trinidadian living in Norway, shares her lived experience of sexual violence and trauma, and how navigating that journey as a therapist has shaped both her healing and her work with survivors.
Teneisha Grimes
In this week’s episode, Teneisha Grimes shares her journey from a successful corporate career to becoming a full-time Caribbean Relationship and Money Mindset Coach, and what inspired her to make that life-changing pivot.
Afiya Francis-Riley
In this week’s episode, Afiya Francis-Riley, the force behind In Season Life, shares her journey of growing up across different countries, her love for travel and carnival, and finding love in her late thirties.
Raisa Marshall
In this week’s episode, Raisa Marshall shares her journey through pregnancy, loss, and resilience, and how after many challenges she was finally able to welcome her baby girl.
Chantal Juman
In this week’s episode, Chantal Juman shares how she returned to Trinidad, built the highly successful Babe Cave from the ground up, and in her 30s boldly pivoted into interior design while juggling and growing two businesses in entirely different fields.
Lyndi-Anne Koylass-Rennie
In this episode, Lyndi-Anne Koylass Rennie shares her journey into the fitness industry, the creation of her brand Fit Appeal, and how she manages running a business alongside a full-time corporate career while balancing her personal life.
Rosana John-Mitchell
In this episode, Rosana John-Mitchell, attorney, content creator, lecturer, children’s book author, and new mom, shares how she juggles her many roles while finding balance and purpose in both her personal and professional life.
Letina Mata
In this episode, Letina Mata, a mindset coach, reflects on her journey through childhood challenges, heartbreak, motherhood, and career shifts, while sharing the mindset transformations that have fuelled her healing, growth, and daily pursuit of a more intentional life.
J'elle Valdez
In this episode, J’elle Valdez, a counselling psychologist, shares insights into her upbringing, her journey into the mental health field, and how her podcast is bringing mental health awareness to the foreground for Caribbean people by working to make conversations around feelings and mental well-being far less taboo.
Nikita John-Walters
In this episode, Nikita John-Walters reflects on living through the La Soufrière volcanic eruption during COVID-19, her unexpected shift from teacher to frontline worker, postponing her wedding, and her journey as an organic pad distributor.
Candice Bailey
In this episode, Candice Bailey shares her journey through profound loss, from losing her father as a child to the death of her fiancé, and how she channelled her grief into writing a book and eventually found love again.
Stephanie Ramlogan
In this episode, Stephanie Ramlogan opens up about her transition from the world of fashion to writing and teaching, while navigating relationships and grieving the recent loss of her father.
Rohanne Persaud
In this episode, Rohanne Persaud shares her journey as a content creator and mixologist, and reflects on how being plus size may have affected her experience in both worlds.
Shannon Parris
In this episode, Shannon Paris shares her story of marrying early in life, moving to Italy with her husband, navigating the challenges of marriage and divorce, and rediscovering herself and what she truly wants out of life post-divorce.
Shenelle Nangoo
In this episode Shenelle Nangoo shares her experience with limb loss, specifically losing her leg, and how she navigates life today.
Stachen Lett-Frederick
In this episode Stachen Lett-Frederick shares her journey of balancing her career, marriage, and motherhood while managing life with fibromyalgia.
Stephanie James
In this episode Stephanie James discusses her documentary, which features over 100 Caribbean women, her spiritual journey, and how she combined traditional and conventional medicine throughout her cancer experience.
Kered Clement
In this episode Kered Clement, a first generation Grenadian, shares her experience of moving from the United Kingdom to Grenada, and her deep passion for Grenadian culture and its preservation.
Jamila Bannister
In this episode Jamila Bannister shares her breast cancer journey, including her experience with a double mastectomy, as well as her ongoing reconstruction process.
Melanie Grant
In this episode Melanie Grant shares insights into her nomadic lifestyle across the Caribbean and reflects on her spiritual journey.
Tenille Clarke
In this episode Tenille Clarke discusses her journey in public relations and reflects on the lasting influence of her late father on her business, Chambers Media Solutions.
Myles Marbella
In this episode Myles Marbella shares her story of migrating from the Philippines to Trinidad and Tobago as well as her path to becoming a sushi chef and business owner.
Debbie Ali
In this episode Debbie Ali shares her story of being kidnapped, her struggle for survival, and the aftermath of her experience.
Gina Noel-Romilly
In this week’s episode Gina Noel-Romilly talks about her difficult pregnancies and the aftermath, learning to prioritise her needs, and her ongoing spiritual journey.
Abigail Gittens
In this episode Abigail Gittens talks about her current experience living as an English teacher in Cambodia, as well as being a Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma cancer survivor.
Aisha Manrique
In this episode Aisha Manrique shares her experience losing her mom to cancer and reflects on the profound love they shared.
Patricia Nalls
In this episode Patricia Nalls opens up about her experience living with HIV/AIDS.
Sonya Wright
In this episode Sonya Wright opens up about her process of accepting and embracing life with Alopecia.
Melanie Nunez
In this episode Melanie Nunez talks about her path to becoming a single mother by choice as well as her experience as a breast cancer thriver.
Safia Hosein
In this episode Safia Hosein shares a bit about her journey to becoming a helicopter captain, along with her passion for mountaineering and travel.
Shervana Francis
In this episode Shervana Francis shares a bit of her life story, including her experience in an abusive relationship, getting divorced, and how these experiences shaped her life into what it is today.
Nikki Crosby
In this episode Nikki Crosby shares her journey as a comedian, living with endometriosis, and life after 50.
Jonella Graham
In this episode Jonella Graham shares her story of sexual abuse as both a child and an adult.
Aruna Maharaj
In this week's episode Aruna Maharaj shares a bit of her current journey from beautician to spiritual activist.
Genisa Sellier
In this episode Genisa Sellier shares a bit of her life story, including getting divorced twice, finding her now husband, and her love for God.
Deana-Rae Clayton
In this episode Deana-Rae Clayton talks about what her life now looks like, after being involved in a serious car accident.
Chandra Minns
In this episode Chandra Minns talks about: her experience as a Caribbean woman living in the United States of America without family nearby, getting divorced, and raising her daughter.
Kiffy Greaves
In this week's episode Kiffy Greaves talks about the shame that came with defaulting on a loan and having her name published in local newspapers, as well as being robbed at gunpoint.
Shanica Anderson
In this episode Shanica Anderson shares a bit of her life journey including abuse and being diagnosed with breast cancer.
Nikisha Watson
In this week's episode Nikisha Watson talks about her journey as a Caribbean woman raising her children in a different culture, and what led her to sharing her experiences, as a mother, on social media.
Dominique Jackson
In this episode Dominique Jackson shares her story as a woman of trans experience who has navigated through life's challenges to become the woman she is today.
Paige Gellineau
In this episode Paige Gellineau shares her journey to living a minimalist lifestyle in Bali and pursuing a holistic life coaching business.
Janelle Jackman
In this episode Janelle Jackman shares her story about the loss of her brother and how she overcame her grief.
Naikey Lenescat
In this episode Naikey Lenescat shares her story about leaving Haiti at a young age, moving to the United States of America and the effect it has had on her life.
Mel Gabriel
In this episode Mel Gabriel speaks about her breast cancer journey which involves a double mastectomy, and how she has been living out loud ever since.
Jillian John
In this episode Jillian John talks about overcoming emotional abuse in her past marriage and becoming the person she is today.
Carla Williams Johnson
In this week's episode Carla Williams Johnson shares her journey of becoming a publicist.
Mitera Balkaran
In this episode, recorded in 2022, Mitera Balkaran shares her sarcoma cancer journey. Sadly Mitera passed away on Saturday 18th February 2023. She was one of the most genuine and transparent persons that I have met. We will continue to tell your story Mitera, and raise awareness of this very rare and aggressive cancer. Sleep in peace.
Norma James
In this week’s episode Norma James shares how she navigated her way through losing a husband at an early age, raising two young children, and life to date.
Shauntal Baker
In this episode Shauntal Baker shares a bit about what it's like being in a polyamorous relationship, married to both a man and a woman.
Savina Leo
In this episode clairaudient Savina Leo talks about her spiritual journey and how she helps others on their journey.Editor's Note: In this recording the meanings of clairaudience and clairsentience are switched.
Jeleesa Randolph
In this episode Jeleesa Randolph shares her experience as a single mom of three.
Ameera Mohammed- Ali
In this episode Ameera Mohammed-Ali shares her experience of trying to live her life consciously and making decisions that she’s passionate about as opposed to just settling.
Mikcarla Aquing
In this episode Mikcarla Aquing shares her experience of losing both parents, within three years, due to illness.
Tynessa Gay
In this episode, Tynessa Gay shares how she navigated marriage, separation, divorce and life after divorce.
Dana James-Edwards
In this episode Dana James-Edwards shares her journey towards her twin boys being born, as they were conceived by In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF).
Arielle Williams
In this episode, Arielle Williams shares what it's like being queer, being raised in the Caribbean, and what the future looks like.
Shamiso Morris
In this episode Shamiso Morris shares her story about how loneliness and isolation during the pandemic, especially as a nurse/ frontline worker, almost led to the loss of her authentic self and life.
Kathryn Nurse
In this episode, Kathryn Nurse shares her story about freezing her eggs.
Shereza Mohammed-Ramjattan
In this episode Shereza Mohammed-Ramjattan shares how walking through doors of discomfort led to success and alignment of self.
Tamara Fook
In this episode Tamara Fook shares her story about life after the loss of her son, Zane, and the subsequent birth of her daughter, Zhanna.
Darcel de Vlugt
In this episode Darcel de Vlugt shares her story, which involves her journey as a single mom.
Crystal Payne
In this episode Crystal Payne shares her story, which involves being diagnosed with breast cancer at a young age.
Paula Hamilton-Smith
In this episode Paula Hamilton-Smith shares her story, which involves the loss of her child and the death of her husband.
Ciara James
In this episode, Host and Creator Ciara James, shares her story.
What is Taboo: The Stories of Caribbean Women?
In less than a minute you'll learn all about this new podcast Taboo: The Stories of Caribbean Women
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