May 13, 2025 • 20 mins
Welcome to Caribbean Adjacent, a brand-new series within the Carry On Friends Podcast!
Randy Pulayya is back on the podcast and this time he is with his wife Shauna. They are dynamic husband-and-wife duo behind West Indies Pepper Sauce,
From meeting at JFK Airport to blending their Guyanese and Vietnamese-American backgrounds, Randy and Shauna share their journey of embracing each other's traditions, preserving cultural legacies, and raising a new generation proud of both heritages. This episode is filled with heartwarming stories, travel adventures, cultural insights, laughs and, of course, a little spice!
Connect with Randy, Shauna + West Indies Peppa Sauce: Website | Instagram
Support How to Support Carry On Friends
- Donate: If you believe in our mission and want to help amplify Caribbean voices, consider making a donation.
- Get Merch: Support Carry On Friends by purchasing merchandise from our store.
Connect with @carryonfriends - Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
A Breadfruit Media Production
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Hello everyone, welcome back to another special
edition of Carry On Friends.
I'm excited to be launching anew series with a couple that I
really have gotten to know inthe last couple months and
really enjoy, and this is calledCaribbean Adjacent, and I
wanted to do this series toincorporate those who are part
(00:25):
of the family through marriageand friendship, and this was
inspired by my uncle and hiswife of 30 years,
african-american, born inMemphis, tennessee, and I
recognize that there are so manymore of these stories out there
.
And I've come to know Randyfrom his last interview If you
haven't checked that out, youshould go and check it out and I
(00:46):
wanted to talk to him and hiswonderful wife, shauna.
So welcome to Caribbeanadjacent, shauna and Randy, how
are you both?
Speaker 2 (00:57):
We're doing well.
Thank you so much for having us, Carrie-Anne.
It's a pleasure to be here.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Doing great.
Thank you so much.
We're excited for today.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
All right, so I told the audience a little bit about
who you are, but give them aquick intro about both of you
and your brands and then we'llget into our questions.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Awesome.
So I'm Randy Palaia and this ismy wife, shauna Vocalaia.
We're the founders of WestIndies Pepper Sauce.
So West Indies Pepper Sauce, weare a brand that is focused on
preserving food culture from theCaribbean and the West Indies.
So when grandma and mom passeson, food culture does not have
to die.
(01:33):
We understand how importantthat is about preserving culture
, because Sean and I myself welived in Vietnam and South Korea
for five years career.
For five years been to 60countries, six continents.
We've seen with our own eyeshow cultures around the world
they're losing part of theiridentity.
And for us, with our mission onkeeping our culture alive for
(01:55):
future generations, for everyoneto enjoy, Wonderful, all right,
so let's get into it All right,how did you two first meet,
right so?
Speaker 2 (02:05):
let's get into it.
All right, how did you twofirst meet?
Hey, so I can start.
I'm sure Randy's gonna, youknow, fill in the pieces that I
miss.
Like Randy said, we love totravel.
We met while we were traveling.
We met at the JFK airport inNew York.
I was coming back from a tripwith some girlfriends right
after college.
We backpacked Europe for abouttwo months.
I was coming back, going backto Arkansas where I'm from, had
(02:28):
slept at the airport, so it waspretty exhausted, coming over a
cold.
And then Randy was going to hisbrother's wedding in St Thomas
and was just coming off ofproperly partying from Halloween
night.
So still on the game, right,partying from Halloween night,
so still on the game, right.
And then, yeah, so we met inthe security line, actually JFK
(02:49):
American Airlines.
And, yeah, I was looking at mypictures of my trip and he just
struck up a conversation with methat he had went to London for
study abroad.
Yeah, and then we exchangedinformation.
He would say within like twominutes, but it was a bit of a
longer, you know, line, I hadtime to take out my camera.
So, yeah, did I miss anythingthere?
Speaker 3 (03:09):
No, I think that's accurate.
This is like five o'clock inthe morning and you know JFK is
busy all day, every day.
And it was a 5 am flight and Iwas with my grandparents and my
cousin and we were on our way tocatch a flight from New York to
Miami because my older brotherwas getting married in St Thomas
.
And yeah, as Shana mentioned, Istruck up a conversation and
(03:31):
I'm from New York, so that wasreal quick.
That was like two, threeminutes, but no, we just had a
conversation and it was greatand we exchanged phone numbers
and it blossomed.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
What I find fitting in all of this is that you both
met at the airport and a lot ofyour life has been traveling,
and I think it's just so aproposand a nice meet cute that you
met at JFK, of all places, oneof the you know most
international airports.
So that's cute.
(04:04):
If you don't remember whereRandy is from, caribbean culture
, randy tell the people in whichcountry you represent.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
Yes, my mom and dad is from Guyana.
I was born in Richmond Hill,queens, new York, so
representing, you know, guyaneseculture, but at our brand, west
Indies Pepper Sauce, we'rerepresenting everybody across
the board.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
All right.
So, shauna, most of this isgoing to be on you, so my next
question is describe a momentwhere you felt out of place but
embraced it with humor, sure?
Speaker 2 (04:39):
And so we've been married for 12 years.
I've been, you know, with Randyfor a long time, even before we
got married.
We were together for like sevenor eight years before that.
So I've been part of the familyfor a long time and very
honored to be part of, you know,his family.
Guyanese culture, the Caribbeanculture not a very diverse place
(05:04):
and you'd be surprised thereare, you know, several Asian
Americans there.
That I'm Vietnamese American.
So there's actually aVietnamese population who came
there from, you know, beingrefugees.
There's a small Lao population,marshallese there, so you'd be
surprised, you know, there'ssome diversity and Hispanics too
, but not really anyone from theCaribbean.
So when I met Randy, like Isaid, at the airport, he told me
(05:25):
you know where he's from NewYork and he said, oh, but my
family's from Guyana.
I was like, oh, and then heprobably saw my face that I
didn't know where that was.
So he kind of explained it tome, like he's probably used to
doing, you know he did it sograciously.
But yeah, I guess you know beingVietnamese American, and then
you know being with his familywho's from Guyana I think
(05:47):
there's a lot of Chinese,guyanese who are in Guyana,
right, and so I think one thingwas with his family.
They would kind of associateanybody who's Asian to be
Chinese, right.
So they'd be like, oh, theChinese girl.
So I'd be like, yeah, and thenI just use it, as you know, a
teaching moment, so just to letthem know.
You know, yes, the originationscome from China, but my
(06:10):
family's from Vietnam and youknow all that.
So I think it was a teachingmoment for them, but also for me
, like you know.
That's just how they describe,you know Asian people.
So you know they're veryaccepting and I'm very proud and
honored to be part of thefamily.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
So that is a good story and I'm glad you used that
as a teaching moment.
All right, next thing I wantedto ask you have you ever gone to
a Caribbean Guyanese FET, andwhat was that like for you when
you first experienced it?
Speaker 2 (06:47):
Yeah, the first one I can remember was when we were
in New York for Labor Day.
This was the four kids, so theNew York Labor Day.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
West End Day Parade in Brooklyn, yep.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Yeah, we went to explore and went to that parade
and I thought it was really coolwith, like, all the different
the floats or the trucks thatcame by with all the flags that
represented each country.
Definitely, the costumes werevery elaborate, right.
So I felt like, you know,underdressed but not
underdressed, right.
So quite elaborate.
(07:19):
You know how they haveeverything set up.
I thought it was great.
I think it's so cool thateverybody's very proud of where
they're from.
We got a Guyanese flag and woreit, you know, on our bags and
my hair and things like that too.
So I thought it was awesome.
And most recently, we actuallywent to a FET in Miami.
So the Soka, the food, wine andFET that Vanessa James puts on
(07:41):
in Miami.
It was a great event.
You know that's one of thefirst events, that where we had
whips, west English pepper sauce.
So we met, you know, a lot ofgreat people there, a lot of
chefs, they had DJs there andeverything.
So I think you know the fetsand the carnivals.
They're a great part of theCaribbean culture.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
All right, I'm taking you off the hot seat for a
little bit.
Randy, were you ever concernedor worried when you're like,
okay, I'm gonna take Shauna tothis party?
Were you ever worried orconcerned about maybe what your
friends or family would say orwhether you know something would
have been too much for her tomanage initially?
(08:22):
Tell me about that.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
You know that's a great question.
I never really thought aboutthat, but the long answer and
the short answer is no.
I've never concerned or worried.
So you know, I mean, what areyour?
Guyanese, jamaican, trini,bayesian?
We're proud of our culture,right, and we're not going to
hide it, we're not going togonna sugarcoat it.
So when I first met shauna andwe started dating, actually you
know I didn't hide anything.
(08:48):
It was this this is our culture.
I remember she came to new yorkand I was at work and my cousin
was gonna pick her up and wewere in queens, richmond hill,
and anybody knows from queens,they're gonna know a guy in a
bake shop.
I remember she was on the phonewith my cousin.
She was like, hey, I going toknow a guy in a bake shop.
I remember she was on the phonewith my cousin.
She was like, hey, I'm in frontof a guy in a bake shop and she
(09:08):
just got thrown right into it.
So the long answer is no.
We come from proud cultures aswell, as her culture is very
proud.
Never for a moment.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
I love the story so far, by the way, all right.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
So, keeping on the theme of FET, right, what's the
one song that goes like winewith me, wine with me.
Of course I'm a bad singer, andso he had to help me.
Speaker 3 (09:48):
Remember what it was.
It was Mr Vegas.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Yeah, always the one I remember.
Okay, yeah, trying to dance toit, but you know.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
No, that's a brave song to dance to, you know, but
I love it.
I love that you catch the vibethat you wanted to dance.
I love it.
Shauna, go on with your badself, All right, all right.
So how does the concept offamily in the Caribbean culture
compared to what you are used toin your culture?
Speaker 2 (10:23):
That's a great question too.
I grew up in a family of.
I have two sisters and abrother.
My mom, she was actuallyadopted from Vietnam, so we
didn't grow up like in theVietnamese culture as much.
My parents split up when I waslike 10 or 11.
So he was a refugee fromVietnam.
She was an adopted child fromVietnam when she was like three
(10:44):
or four.
So we didn't really grow uplike speaking the language.
We had some of the foods, wewent to, you know, some of the
traditional things that they hadin the Vietnamese culture, but
not a lot.
I had cousins who are, you know,vietnamese, american cousins
too.
So, yeah, we're very close, andas we grow older, of course, we
get closer, and even with mycousins too.
So, yeah, we're, we're veryclose, um, and as we grow older,
(11:04):
of course, we get closer, andeven with my cousins too.
So, um, we definitely value ourtime together.
Um, we value each other'sopinions and I think it's very
similar in the Caribbean cultureand the Guyanese culture.
I think they're very close,they're very respectful people.
Randy and his brothers are veryrespectable.
Um, they're hard workers.
You know, coming from, you knowfirst generation American
(11:26):
background, we're all sort oflike really hard workers and I
think we do as much as we canfor our family.
So I think that's, you know,very similar in both of our
families and I think that's oneof the reasons you know all the
values we have together.
That's one of the reasons whywe're together.
So we definitely value eachother's time, opinions and
(11:46):
everything.
Speaker 1 (11:47):
So All right.
So if you had to sum up whatbeing Caribbean adjacent means
in one sentence, what would thatbe?
Speaker 2 (11:57):
So Caribbean, jason, in one sentence, to me means
that you're immersed togetherand sort of what I was talking
about the family, like I've beenimmersed into Randy's family.
I'm, you know, doing differentthings that I wasn't used to,
you know growing up with, likeeven the Hindu culture and the
(12:18):
religion.
So I think it's just reallybeing immersed together and
sharing the values together.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
That's a great answer , shauna.
And so, lastly, what would aCaribbean adjacent survival kit
include, based on yourexperience, oh gosh, that's a
good question 's.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
Um, yeah, I mean definitely, you know.
From a food perspective, let'sstart there.
Um, I grew up, you know, noteating a lot of spicy food.
Like I said, I grew upvietnamese, american.
But my mom she learned, learnedsome Vietnamese dishes, but not
a lot and mostly like no spice,right.
So when I met Randy, a lot ofthe food is definitely spicy,
(13:10):
yes, and it's all like the wholepeppers, right.
I remember there was a timewhen he made some fried rice and
he put the whole, like wherewere your pepper in there?
And, uh, when I eat, I justlike eat.
I didn't really pay attention towhat was in the food.
I was like this tastes good, um, so, um, I had a whole bite of
the.
Where were your pepper?
The whole thing in my mouth.
(13:31):
Um, I had a drink, I think acouple glasses of milk, so, um,
I'd say you know, have someexpectations of you know spicy
levels.
Um, you know it's not only thespice but it's pepper sauce.
So like having you know bostonsome expectations of you know
spicy levels.
You know it's not only thespice but it's pepper sauce.
So like having you know WestIndies pepper sauce.
You know I've come, I'maccustomed to the heat now,
(13:51):
which is great, and I love it.
So yeah, making sure you caneat up, you know, to the spicy
foods.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
You know, that's a really good point, because when
you were talking about like heput the whole pepper and I'm
like all right, what's wrongwith that?
In my head, but I didn'trealize that.
Oh wait, that's not a normalthing really for everyone else.
So when it's part of yourculture, you don't even think of
, like you know, maybe otherpeople don't quite do that.
So thank you for bringing thatawareness to me, cause I'm like,
(14:20):
yeah, you're supposed to putthe whole pepper in it.
We want it.
Boss in the pot.
Is that the term you use, randy?
It has to bus in the pot orsomething 100%.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
Yes, you need a flavor right.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
Yes, yes, oh, my goodness.
So in your survival kit is likelisten, make sure your belly's
strong, or whatever it is forthe spice, because it is coming.
There's no ifs, ands or butsabout it Wonderful.
And then last question whatadvice would you give to someone
dating or becoming closefriends with someone from the
Caribbean, with someone?
Speaker 2 (14:59):
from the Caribbean?
That's a good question.
I mean, I think a lot of myfriends and family who are
associated with people in theCaribbean, with Randy's family,
more people that we meet, thatwe meet at the markets selling
West Indies pepper sauce, theyalways say, oh yeah, I have a
friend who's Guyanese, or myboss is Guyanese, I'm gonna get
(15:20):
this for my friend.
And they always have greatthings to say about the people
of the Caribbean, of Guyana too.
So I mean, everybody's soaccepting, everybody's so kind,
and they really try to tell youabout their culture or show you
what their culture is, even ifyou're not really asking for it,
(15:43):
but they're going to share itwith you Absolutely.
That's a really great aspect ofyou know people from the
Caribbean is that it's just whothey are, you know.
So it's who they are, and thenthey they share their culture,
their values with you andeverybody just feels so
accepting.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
So yeah, and I would probably add to that carry on.
You know, being jamaicanguyanese, you know it doesn't
matter where you're from thecaribbean, the west indies
there's 44 million souls on thisbeautiful earth that represent
the caribbean, the west indies44 million souls.
So we have more similaritiesthan differences.
(16:23):
And I think to Shana's point isanytime we meet people at the
market or we're selling ourpepper sauce, we always hearing
stories and it's great that wecan connect with all of our
people, because when we tell thestory about what we're doing at
West Indies Pepper Sauce andpreserving culture, because if
we don't do it, others will comein and try to dilute it.
(16:45):
So they love what we're talkingabout, because everybody's
always trying to tell a storyand we're a prideful group and I
think we're a very unique group.
You know, that's what I wouldsay.
We're very unique and proud ofwhere we're from and we got to
tell that story very unique andproud of where we're from and we
got to tell that story, yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
And even when we are communicating interculturally,
you know like a Guyanese willtell me oh, in Guyana we did
this, that You're educatingpeople in your conversation.
So we don't make assumptionsthat a Jamaican knows what's
going on in you know Guyana orvice versa.
So even in our conversation, wedo find ourselves explaining
certain things, part of ourculture, and I think it's just
our natural positioning to betelling people what's going on
(17:30):
in our culture.
So I think that's great thatyou've been having such a
wonderful experience, part atFambly, through marriage.
And, randy, my last question isfor you when you look back at
this life and experience thatyou've had with Shauna and what
(17:51):
you both are building with WestIndies Pepper Sauce, what is the
legacy, with your jointcultures, that you are looking
to impart to your children,because they are now
representative of both cultures?
Speaker 3 (18:09):
I love that you asked that question, carrie-anne.
The legacy that we're lookingto leave behind our kids we got
a guy and he's Vietnamese remixright.
Everybody already knows me asReggae Randy, right?
So the legacy that we're tryingto leave for our young kiddos
(18:29):
is be proud of where you're fromright, understand where you're
coming from and where you'regoing right.
So our kids are seeing us inthe kitchen, right.
If I'm making curry or Shauna'smaking pho, you know we do a
remix.
We make some GuyaneseVietnamese food, right.
But it's not only GuyaneseVietnamese food.
(18:49):
We're making all kinds of foodfrom the Caribbean and West
Indies right, and we're makingthat twist to it.
So we just want to keep thatstrong for the future
generations, for everyone,because culture is important to
continue to have.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
Thank you both for joining me for this inaugural
episode of Caribbean Adjacent.
I just really, really enjoyboth of you and wish you enough
more years, plenty, plenty,plenty more years together and
all the success with West IndiesPepper sauce.
I'll make sure I put wherepeople could connect with both
(19:22):
of you in the description andall the good things Just go to
at shop whips all over the placeis the same thing.
I fully, fully endorse theyellow sauce.
That's the one me like, fullyendorse it.
All right.
So thank you again both forjoining and, as I love to say,
(19:44):
walk good.
Hello everyone, welcome back to another special
edition of Carry On Friends.
I'm excited to be launching anew series with a couple that I
really have gotten to know inthe last couple months and
really enjoy, and this is calledCaribbean Adjacent, and I
wanted to do this series toincorporate those who are part
(00:25):
of the family through marriageand friendship, and this was
inspired by my uncle and hiswife of 30 years,
african-american, born inMemphis, tennessee, and I
recognize that there are so manymore of these stories out there
.
And I've come to know Randyfrom his last interview If you
haven't checked that out, youshould go and check it out and I
(00:46):
wanted to talk to him and hiswonderful wife, shauna.
So welcome to Caribbeanadjacent, shauna and Randy, how
are you both?
Speaker 2 (00:57):
We're doing well.
Thank you so much for having us, Carrie-Anne.
It's a pleasure to be here.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Doing great.
Thank you so much.
We're excited for today.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
All right, so I told the audience a little bit about
who you are, but give them aquick intro about both of you
and your brands and then we'llget into our questions.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Awesome.
So I'm Randy Palaia and this ismy wife, shauna Vocalaia.
We're the founders of WestIndies Pepper Sauce.
So West Indies Pepper Sauce, weare a brand that is focused on
preserving food culture from theCaribbean and the West Indies.
So when grandma and mom passeson, food culture does not have
to die.
(01:33):
We understand how importantthat is about preserving culture
, because Sean and I myself welived in Vietnam and South Korea
for five years career.
For five years been to 60countries, six continents.
We've seen with our own eyeshow cultures around the world
they're losing part of theiridentity.
And for us, with our mission onkeeping our culture alive for
(01:55):
future generations, for everyoneto enjoy, Wonderful, all right,
so let's get into it All right,how did you two first meet,
right so?
Speaker 2 (02:05):
let's get into it.
All right, how did you twofirst meet?
Hey, so I can start.
I'm sure Randy's gonna, youknow, fill in the pieces that I
miss.
Like Randy said, we love totravel.
We met while we were traveling.
We met at the JFK airport inNew York.
I was coming back from a tripwith some girlfriends right
after college.
We backpacked Europe for abouttwo months.
I was coming back, going backto Arkansas where I'm from, had
(02:28):
slept at the airport, so it waspretty exhausted, coming over a
cold.
And then Randy was going to hisbrother's wedding in St Thomas
and was just coming off ofproperly partying from Halloween
night.
So still on the game, right,partying from Halloween night,
so still on the game, right.
And then, yeah, so we met inthe security line, actually JFK
(02:49):
American Airlines.
And, yeah, I was looking at mypictures of my trip and he just
struck up a conversation with methat he had went to London for
study abroad.
Yeah, and then we exchangedinformation.
He would say within like twominutes, but it was a bit of a
longer, you know, line, I hadtime to take out my camera.
So, yeah, did I miss anythingthere?
Speaker 3 (03:09):
No, I think that's accurate.
This is like five o'clock inthe morning and you know JFK is
busy all day, every day.
And it was a 5 am flight and Iwas with my grandparents and my
cousin and we were on our way tocatch a flight from New York to
Miami because my older brotherwas getting married in St Thomas
.
And yeah, as Shana mentioned, Istruck up a conversation and
(03:31):
I'm from New York, so that wasreal quick.
That was like two, threeminutes, but no, we just had a
conversation and it was greatand we exchanged phone numbers
and it blossomed.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
What I find fitting in all of this is that you both
met at the airport and a lot ofyour life has been traveling,
and I think it's just so aproposand a nice meet cute that you
met at JFK, of all places, oneof the you know most
international airports.
So that's cute.
(04:04):
If you don't remember whereRandy is from, caribbean culture
, randy tell the people in whichcountry you represent.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
Yes, my mom and dad is from Guyana.
I was born in Richmond Hill,queens, new York, so
representing, you know, guyaneseculture, but at our brand, west
Indies Pepper Sauce, we'rerepresenting everybody across
the board.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
All right.
So, shauna, most of this isgoing to be on you, so my next
question is describe a momentwhere you felt out of place but
embraced it with humor, sure?
Speaker 2 (04:39):
And so we've been married for 12 years.
I've been, you know, with Randyfor a long time, even before we
got married.
We were together for like sevenor eight years before that.
So I've been part of the familyfor a long time and very
honored to be part of, you know,his family.
Guyanese culture, the Caribbeanculture not a very diverse place
(05:04):
and you'd be surprised thereare, you know, several Asian
Americans there.
That I'm Vietnamese American.
So there's actually aVietnamese population who came
there from, you know, beingrefugees.
There's a small Lao population,marshallese there, so you'd be
surprised, you know, there'ssome diversity and Hispanics too
, but not really anyone from theCaribbean.
So when I met Randy, like Isaid, at the airport, he told me
(05:25):
you know where he's from NewYork and he said, oh, but my
family's from Guyana.
I was like, oh, and then heprobably saw my face that I
didn't know where that was.
So he kind of explained it tome, like he's probably used to
doing, you know he did it sograciously.
But yeah, I guess you know beingVietnamese American, and then
you know being with his familywho's from Guyana I think
(05:47):
there's a lot of Chinese,guyanese who are in Guyana,
right, and so I think one thingwas with his family.
They would kind of associateanybody who's Asian to be
Chinese, right.
So they'd be like, oh, theChinese girl.
So I'd be like, yeah, and thenI just use it, as you know, a
teaching moment, so just to letthem know.
You know, yes, the originationscome from China, but my
(06:10):
family's from Vietnam and youknow all that.
So I think it was a teachingmoment for them, but also for me
, like you know.
That's just how they describe,you know Asian people.
So you know they're veryaccepting and I'm very proud and
honored to be part of thefamily.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
So that is a good story and I'm glad you used that
as a teaching moment.
All right, next thing I wantedto ask you have you ever gone to
a Caribbean Guyanese FET, andwhat was that like for you when
you first experienced it?
Speaker 2 (06:47):
Yeah, the first one I can remember was when we were
in New York for Labor Day.
This was the four kids, so theNew York Labor Day.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
West End Day Parade in Brooklyn, yep.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Yeah, we went to explore and went to that parade
and I thought it was really coolwith, like, all the different
the floats or the trucks thatcame by with all the flags that
represented each country.
Definitely, the costumes werevery elaborate, right.
So I felt like, you know,underdressed but not
underdressed, right.
So quite elaborate.
(07:19):
You know how they haveeverything set up.
I thought it was great.
I think it's so cool thateverybody's very proud of where
they're from.
We got a Guyanese flag and woreit, you know, on our bags and
my hair and things like that too.
So I thought it was awesome.
And most recently, we actuallywent to a FET in Miami.
So the Soka, the food, wine andFET that Vanessa James puts on
(07:41):
in Miami.
It was a great event.
You know that's one of thefirst events, that where we had
whips, west English pepper sauce.
So we met, you know, a lot ofgreat people there, a lot of
chefs, they had DJs there andeverything.
So I think you know the fetsand the carnivals.
They're a great part of theCaribbean culture.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
All right, I'm taking you off the hot seat for a
little bit.
Randy, were you ever concernedor worried when you're like,
okay, I'm gonna take Shauna tothis party?
Were you ever worried orconcerned about maybe what your
friends or family would say orwhether you know something would
have been too much for her tomanage initially?
(08:22):
Tell me about that.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
You know that's a great question.
I never really thought aboutthat, but the long answer and
the short answer is no.
I've never concerned or worried.
So you know, I mean, what areyour?
Guyanese, jamaican, trini,bayesian?
We're proud of our culture,right, and we're not going to
hide it, we're not going togonna sugarcoat it.
So when I first met shauna andwe started dating, actually you
know I didn't hide anything.
(08:48):
It was this this is our culture.
I remember she came to new yorkand I was at work and my cousin
was gonna pick her up and wewere in queens, richmond hill,
and anybody knows from queens,they're gonna know a guy in a
bake shop.
I remember she was on the phonewith my cousin.
She was like, hey, I going toknow a guy in a bake shop.
I remember she was on the phonewith my cousin.
She was like, hey, I'm in frontof a guy in a bake shop and she
(09:08):
just got thrown right into it.
So the long answer is no.
We come from proud cultures aswell, as her culture is very
proud.
Never for a moment.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
I love the story so far, by the way, all right.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
So, keeping on the theme of FET, right, what's the
one song that goes like winewith me, wine with me.
Of course I'm a bad singer, andso he had to help me.
Speaker 3 (09:48):
Remember what it was.
It was Mr Vegas.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Yeah, always the one I remember.
Okay, yeah, trying to dance toit, but you know.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
No, that's a brave song to dance to, you know, but
I love it.
I love that you catch the vibethat you wanted to dance.
I love it.
Shauna, go on with your badself, All right, all right.
So how does the concept offamily in the Caribbean culture
compared to what you are used toin your culture?
Speaker 2 (10:23):
That's a great question too.
I grew up in a family of.
I have two sisters and abrother.
My mom, she was actuallyadopted from Vietnam, so we
didn't grow up like in theVietnamese culture as much.
My parents split up when I waslike 10 or 11.
So he was a refugee fromVietnam.
She was an adopted child fromVietnam when she was like three
(10:44):
or four.
So we didn't really grow uplike speaking the language.
We had some of the foods, wewent to, you know, some of the
traditional things that they hadin the Vietnamese culture, but
not a lot.
I had cousins who are, you know,vietnamese, american cousins
too.
So, yeah, we're very close, andas we grow older, of course, we
get closer, and even with mycousins too.
So, yeah, we're, we're veryclose, um, and as we grow older,
(11:04):
of course, we get closer, andeven with my cousins too.
So, um, we definitely value ourtime together.
Um, we value each other'sopinions and I think it's very
similar in the Caribbean cultureand the Guyanese culture.
I think they're very close,they're very respectful people.
Randy and his brothers are veryrespectable.
Um, they're hard workers.
You know, coming from, you knowfirst generation American
(11:26):
background, we're all sort oflike really hard workers and I
think we do as much as we canfor our family.
So I think that's, you know,very similar in both of our
families and I think that's oneof the reasons you know all the
values we have together.
That's one of the reasons whywe're together.
So we definitely value eachother's time, opinions and
(11:46):
everything.
Speaker 1 (11:47):
So All right.
So if you had to sum up whatbeing Caribbean adjacent means
in one sentence, what would thatbe?
Speaker 2 (11:57):
So Caribbean, jason, in one sentence, to me means
that you're immersed togetherand sort of what I was talking
about the family, like I've beenimmersed into Randy's family.
I'm, you know, doing differentthings that I wasn't used to,
you know growing up with, likeeven the Hindu culture and the
(12:18):
religion.
So I think it's just reallybeing immersed together and
sharing the values together.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
That's a great answer , shauna.
And so, lastly, what would aCaribbean adjacent survival kit
include, based on yourexperience, oh gosh, that's a
good question 's.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
Um, yeah, I mean definitely, you know.
From a food perspective, let'sstart there.
Um, I grew up, you know, noteating a lot of spicy food.
Like I said, I grew upvietnamese, american.
But my mom she learned, learnedsome Vietnamese dishes, but not
a lot and mostly like no spice,right.
So when I met Randy, a lot ofthe food is definitely spicy,
(13:10):
yes, and it's all like the wholepeppers, right.
I remember there was a timewhen he made some fried rice and
he put the whole, like wherewere your pepper in there?
And, uh, when I eat, I justlike eat.
I didn't really pay attention towhat was in the food.
I was like this tastes good, um, so, um, I had a whole bite of
the.
Where were your pepper?
The whole thing in my mouth.
(13:31):
Um, I had a drink, I think acouple glasses of milk, so, um,
I'd say you know, have someexpectations of you know spicy
levels.
Um, you know it's not only thespice but it's pepper sauce.
So like having you know bostonsome expectations of you know
spicy levels.
You know it's not only thespice but it's pepper sauce.
So like having you know WestIndies pepper sauce.
You know I've come, I'maccustomed to the heat now,
(13:51):
which is great, and I love it.
So yeah, making sure you caneat up, you know, to the spicy
foods.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
You know, that's a really good point, because when
you were talking about like heput the whole pepper and I'm
like all right, what's wrongwith that?
In my head, but I didn'trealize that.
Oh wait, that's not a normalthing really for everyone else.
So when it's part of yourculture, you don't even think of
, like you know, maybe otherpeople don't quite do that.
So thank you for bringing thatawareness to me, cause I'm like,
(14:20):
yeah, you're supposed to putthe whole pepper in it.
We want it.
Boss in the pot.
Is that the term you use, randy?
It has to bus in the pot orsomething 100%.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
Yes, you need a flavor right.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
Yes, yes, oh, my goodness.
So in your survival kit is likelisten, make sure your belly's
strong, or whatever it is forthe spice, because it is coming.
There's no ifs, ands or butsabout it Wonderful.
And then last question whatadvice would you give to someone
dating or becoming closefriends with someone from the
Caribbean, with someone?
Speaker 2 (14:59):
from the Caribbean?
That's a good question.
I mean, I think a lot of myfriends and family who are
associated with people in theCaribbean, with Randy's family,
more people that we meet, thatwe meet at the markets selling
West Indies pepper sauce, theyalways say, oh yeah, I have a
friend who's Guyanese, or myboss is Guyanese, I'm gonna get
(15:20):
this for my friend.
And they always have greatthings to say about the people
of the Caribbean, of Guyana too.
So I mean, everybody's soaccepting, everybody's so kind,
and they really try to tell youabout their culture or show you
what their culture is, even ifyou're not really asking for it,
(15:43):
but they're going to share itwith you Absolutely.
That's a really great aspect ofyou know people from the
Caribbean is that it's just whothey are, you know.
So it's who they are, and thenthey they share their culture,
their values with you andeverybody just feels so
accepting.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
So yeah, and I would probably add to that carry on.
You know, being jamaicanguyanese, you know it doesn't
matter where you're from thecaribbean, the west indies
there's 44 million souls on thisbeautiful earth that represent
the caribbean, the west indies44 million souls.
So we have more similaritiesthan differences.
(16:23):
And I think to Shana's point isanytime we meet people at the
market or we're selling ourpepper sauce, we always hearing
stories and it's great that wecan connect with all of our
people, because when we tell thestory about what we're doing at
West Indies Pepper Sauce andpreserving culture, because if
we don't do it, others will comein and try to dilute it.
(16:45):
So they love what we're talkingabout, because everybody's
always trying to tell a storyand we're a prideful group and I
think we're a very unique group.
You know, that's what I wouldsay.
We're very unique and proud ofwhere we're from and we got to
tell that story very unique andproud of where we're from and we
got to tell that story, yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
And even when we are communicating interculturally,
you know like a Guyanese willtell me oh, in Guyana we did
this, that You're educatingpeople in your conversation.
So we don't make assumptionsthat a Jamaican knows what's
going on in you know Guyana orvice versa.
So even in our conversation, wedo find ourselves explaining
certain things, part of ourculture, and I think it's just
our natural positioning to betelling people what's going on
(17:30):
in our culture.
So I think that's great thatyou've been having such a
wonderful experience, part atFambly, through marriage.
And, randy, my last question isfor you when you look back at
this life and experience thatyou've had with Shauna and what
(17:51):
you both are building with WestIndies Pepper Sauce, what is the
legacy, with your jointcultures, that you are looking
to impart to your children,because they are now
representative of both cultures?
Speaker 3 (18:09):
I love that you asked that question, carrie-anne.
The legacy that we're lookingto leave behind our kids we got
a guy and he's Vietnamese remixright.
Everybody already knows me asReggae Randy, right?
So the legacy that we're tryingto leave for our young kiddos
(18:29):
is be proud of where you're fromright, understand where you're
coming from and where you'regoing right.
So our kids are seeing us inthe kitchen, right.
If I'm making curry or Shauna'smaking pho, you know we do a
remix.
We make some GuyaneseVietnamese food, right.
But it's not only GuyaneseVietnamese food.
(18:49):
We're making all kinds of foodfrom the Caribbean and West
Indies right, and we're makingthat twist to it.
So we just want to keep thatstrong for the future
generations, for everyone,because culture is important to
continue to have.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
Thank you both for joining me for this inaugural
episode of Caribbean Adjacent.
I just really, really enjoyboth of you and wish you enough
more years, plenty, plenty,plenty more years together and
all the success with West IndiesPepper sauce.
I'll make sure I put wherepeople could connect with both
(19:22):
of you in the description andall the good things Just go to
at shop whips all over the placeis the same thing.
I fully, fully endorse theyellow sauce.
That's the one me like, fullyendorse it.
All right.
So thank you again both forjoining and, as I love to say,
(19:44):
walk good.
Popular Podcasts
Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club
Welcome to Bookmarked by Reese’s Book Club — the podcast where great stories, bold women, and irresistible conversations collide! Hosted by award-winning journalist Danielle Robay, each week new episodes balance thoughtful literary insight with the fervor of buzzy book trends, pop culture and more. Bookmarked brings together celebrities, tastemakers, influencers and authors from Reese's Book Club and beyond to share stories that transcend the page. Pull up a chair. You’re not just listening — you’re part of the conversation.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!