Carry On Friends: The Caribbean American Experience
Carry On Friends has an unmistakable Caribbean-American essence. Hosted by the dynamic and engaging Kerry-Ann Reid-Brown, the podcast takes listeners on a global journey, deeply rooted in Caribbean culture. It serves as a melting pot of inspiring stories, light-hearted anecdotes, and stimulating perspectives that provoke thought and initiate conversations. The podcast invites guests who enrich the narrative with their unique experiences and insights into Caribbean culture and identity. With an array of topics covered - from lifestyle and wellness to travel, entertainment, career, and entrepreneurship - it encapsulates the diverse facets of the Caribbean American experience. Catering to an international audience, Carry On Friends effectively bridges cultural gaps, uniting listeners under a shared love and appreciation for Caribbean culture.
Episodes
When Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica, the impact rippled far beyond the island. This episode explores “the middle place” — that emotional space between home and abroad — through the voices of Caribbean people across the diaspora.
Through Lens 3 of the Caribbean Diaspora Experience Model (CDEM): Cultural Anchors, Kerry-Ann reflects on how faith, music, sayings, and pride keep us grounded in times of uncertainty and los...
What if access to culture isn’t the same as connection? We dive into lens two of the Caribbean Diaspora Experience model (CDEM) and map how place and personal drive intersect to shape identity; whether you’re surrounded by patty shops and dancehall flyers in Brooklyn or piecing together community in a low-density city in middle of America.
I share a grounded look at density, from high to low and how each envi...
Simone W. Johnson Smith is the author of Decoding America: The Immigrant Experience and host of The Immigrant Experience in America podcast. A Jamaican-born public servant and cultural coach, Simone supports immigrant professionals through the emotional and cultural transitions of life in a new country.
Caribbean immigrants create something new and powerful when they leave their birth countries—a hybrid identity that&a...
"When someone asks you where you're from, what's the first thing that comes to mind?" This seemingly simple question opens a window into the complex world of cultural identity for Caribbean people living in diaspora communities. Your answer likely depends on who's asking, where they're asking, and your unique migration journey.
The Caribbean Diaspora Experience Model (CDEM) provi...
In this riveting conversation, food security activist Peter Ivey reveals that approximately two-thirds of Jamaica's population experiences food insecurity despite the island's abundant natural resources. As founder of Mission Food Possible and CEO of The Reggae Chefs, Peter is fighting to reconnect communities with their culinary heritage and build resilient local food systems.
"I didn't c...
What happens when you follow your dreams across the Atlantic? Tahia Hobson is a Jamaican-American professional currently based in Paris, France. With a 20-year career in healthcare behind her, she recently made a bold pivot to luxury marketing, fueled by her love of culture, service, and personal growth. We talk about cultural identity, starting over, and finding Caribbean community abroad.
What happens when you leave behind the familiarity of corporate America for an uncertain future on a small Caribbean island? For Stacey Liburd, it became the first step in an extraordinary journey toward becoming the CEO of the Grenada Tourism Authority.
Stacey's story is one of courage, faith, and purpose. Ten years ago, she abandoned her New York-New Jersey commute for Anguilla, a tiny island of just 3...
What happens when your language becomes a battleground for identity, education, and cultural sovereignty? When Oneil Madden, a Jamaican linguist who speaks five languages, joined me for this conversation, we uncovered the profound connections between language, heritage, and self-perception that shape the Caribbean experience both at home and abroad.
Oneil shares his journey to becoming a lecturer at the Unive...
Welcome to back to another episode of Caribbean Adjacent, a series within the Carry On Friends Podcast!
Tiffany Cohen is back on the podcast and this time she is with her husband Jorge. They are dynamic husband-and-wife duo behind Flor de la Jara, an olive oil brand rooted in generations of Spanish farming and powered by cross-cultural connection.
In this episode, they shared their airport meet-cute (yes, another one!...
The destruction of Grenada's Carriacou Museum during Hurricane Beryl reveals a critical vulnerability in Caribbean cultural preservation that goes far beyond one building. When Majella Mark witnessed the museum's roof torn away, she saw decades of irreplaceable historical artifacts—from ancestral diaries to rare photographs—exposed to the elements, threatening to erase community memory overnight.
Ma...
In this episode we discuss the stereotypes that Caribbean American women face in the workplace. Join us as we kick off with Deanna, a vibrant soca music party blogger, who dives into her experiences of how her Guyanese heritage often becomes a central topic at work. Contrastingly, Alysia, our returning guest, shares her decision to keep her West Indian background private in her predominantly white industry to avoid b...
Caribbean-American women are leaders—but do our workplaces recognize that? In this episode, Dr. Kerry Mitchell Brown joins me to unpack how cultural identity is a leadership strength. From code-switching to radical self-care, we explore what it means to lead boldly, confidently, and Caribbean.
Takeaways:
- Cultural identity is not a weakness—it’s a strategic advantage.
- Workplace narratives can be rewritten through self...
This episode introduces The Caribbean Diaspora Experience Model™ (CDEM). The model offers a guide for understanding how Caribbean cultural identity forms, evolves, and expresses itself in diaspora communities. Based on real-life experiences and stories shared through ten years of podcasting, this model validates the diverse ways people connect to their Caribbean heritage outside the region.
The 6 Lenses of CD...
Jermaine Rowe is a Jamaican-born storyteller, professor, theater maker, and cultural curator. Jermaine shares his incredible journey from Spanish Town, Jamaica to the global stage, blending Caribbean folklore with contemporary storytelling.
This conversation dives deep into the intersections of identity, creativity, mentorship, and the challenges and triumphs of being a multi-hyphenate creative in the diaspora. From th...
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 c...
What happens when life hits you with multiple life-altering challenges at once? For Nicole Dubois, it was the catalyst for a profound journey of healing, self-discovery, and ultimately, sharing her story with the world.
Nicole's memoir "Unparalyzed" began during a solo trip to Greece—a journey she took after leaving a note on the refrigerator for her husband of 17 years announcing her decision ...
In this episode, Anthea McLaughlin from the Caribbean Philanthropic Alliance helps to reshape our understanding of disaster relief and philanthropy across the Caribbean's 22 nations. Together they explore how strategic, year-round support builds stronger communities that can withstand increasingly severe climate events.
- Caribbean philanthropy isn't just for wealthy donors but is deeply embedded in communi...
In this episode, I’m taking a moment to reflect on the powerful conversations had on the podcast so far this year—with the team behind Sugar Dumplin’, Natalie Bennett, Diana McCaulay, and Malene Barnett. What started as individual interviews became something more—more clear and focused themes around cultural preservation, identity navigation, and evolving expressions of Caribbean-ness.
I explore how these episodes othe...
This episode's guest is multidisciplinary artist, textile designer, and author Malene Barnett. From her Caribbean heritage (St. Vincent & Jamaica) to her latest book, Crafted Kinship: Inside the Creative Practices of Contemporary Black Caribbean Makers, Malene shares insights on art, storytelling, and preserving cultural traditions.
Discover the power of art, kinship, and cultural identity as Malene ...
In this episode acclaimed Jamaican author Diana McCaulay to discuss her latest novel "A House for Miss Pauline."
Before we get to the book Diana and I discuss her journey from insurance professional to environmental activist; Jamaica's changing landscape, environmental challenges, the delicate balance between preservation and progress.
We dive into the inspiration behind the novel, "A House for Miss ...
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