November 12, 2023 • 54 mins
Get ready to be enriched and enlightened as we open up our world to Patrina O’Connor-Paynter, famously known as Power Girl Trina and 2023 Woman of the Year. Within this episode, we unravel her life’s journey through the entertainment industry, her philanthropic endeavors with Big Brothers Big Sisters Bermuda, and the many trials she has faced on her journey.
Brace yourselves as we uncover the many facets of Patrina’s life. From her work in radio and television, her involvement in various community programmes such as one-on-one matches, Boys to Men and Girl Power, and her robust bond with her sister, Patrina’s story uncovers the essence of resilience and strength. Beyond the limelight, Patrina shares her personal battles with depression, self-esteem, and a traumatic dog attack, giving us a raw and real insight into her life and the importance of seeking help.
As we round off the episode, we delve into her faith journey and how it has guided her through her career, the importance of self-care, and mental health awareness. Patrina gets candid about her life experiences, providing profound insights into her career path, her struggles, and her triumphs. Engage with us on this enlightening journey as we learn from Power Girl Trina’s experience, and the power of resilience and strength in adversity.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
It's time for hustle her podcast.
I'm your host, deshae Keynes.
Hustle her is all aboutinspiring women through real
life experiences that havehelped to mold and develop not
only me but my guests into theentrepreneurs and leaders we are
today.
If you're an enterprising womandetermined to succeed and
(00:22):
looking for a bit of motivation,a bit of tough love and some
actionable takeaways to be thebest you girl, you are in the
right place.
Hey guys, and welcome back tohustle her podcast.
I'm so grateful you decided tospend some time with me today.
As always, we give a big shoutout to our sponsors for this
(00:43):
season Browning Company and 59front.
Make sure you guys head overthere.
You can head over to thebookmark at Browning Company.
You can also see all theamazing products they have down
at 59 front.
Today I'm super excited aboutmy guest.
She is not only a mediapersonality, she's also a
philanthropist.
She's also 2023's woman of theyear and she is the managing
(01:05):
director of big brothers and bigsisters.
Petrina O'Connor Pankter,better known as Power Girl Trina
.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Welcome.
Listen, I'm just really excitedto be here.
I've been watching the podcastand I know we were trying to
schedule in before and it neverworked out, but I'm actually.
It's an amazing podcast.
I have to tell you that first.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
I love what you're doing to appreciate that.
I really appreciate it.
I'm so I'm glad that we finallywere able to do this.
And I say this all the time andpeople come on and I'm like
because you should ask somebodyin the line, but you were like,
yes, right away, and then wefigured it out and now we're
here and the funny party isbecause I really don't like
doing interviews.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
I prefer to be the person being interviewed.
But in 2023, I started to stepout of my confidence, and so
this is.
You know, this is what I'msupposed to be.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Yes, absolutely All right.
So few questions.
Let everyone get to know you alittle bit better, right,
because we see this bigpersonality online, but let's
get to know you.
It's all about you this time,all right.
So first thing that comes tomind for the next few questions
All right, ready, all right.
I'm happiest when I'm with myfamily.
Okay, what do you do on a plane?
(02:12):
Like, when you're finallysettled on a plane, what's your
thing?
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Like no, honestly, like I, I love to travel, but I
am terrified of flying.
It didn't happen until I got abit older, but, yes, I'm
terrified.
So as soon as we relax and sitdown, I'm like yeah, Really Okay
.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
You'd be surprised how many people are afraid of
flying.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Anyway, let's get back to that too, okay, all
right.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Skincare routine.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
So skincare routine I'm not the best with it.
However, I do like to exfoliate.
I do an exfoliate in themorning.
I normally use Clarenceproducts.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
59 front you can get.
Look guys, we didn't evendiscuss that, oh really.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
So look, my Clarence products that's my go-to.
But also I have this, thisrosewater spray that I actually
get from the casino store aswell, and I listen, I live by
that.
It's like a turner spray myskin and then I'm able to put my
moisturizer on, but I don't doa whole lot of you know what
they say.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
We don't crack girls, so it's all right.
It's a beautiful thing, so okay.
Next, what did you spend yourfirst paycheck on when you were
like in the proper working world?
Speaker 2 (03:23):
In the proper working world.
My first paycheck Girl I don'tknow Girl I was just.
I was just excited to have somemoney.
This is the funny part.
It was never where I was like,oh, when I get money, I'm going
to buy that parcel or whateverit was like.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
I got money, I'm actually spending it.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
And then, of course, I was spending it on Firm Beals,
backman Cause you're like Iknow it was no free free nights
and weekends, not a thinganymore.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
It's hilarious.
Okay, who's your closest friend?
Speaker 2 (03:51):
My closest friend is my sister.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
Oh, I love that.
Okay, what does love feel like?
What does love?
Speaker 2 (04:00):
feel like man.
It's hard to explain.
Um you, that's a hard question.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
What does it feel like?
What does it feel like to you?
Like when do you feel the mostloved?
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Okay, so so you mean loved by people loved by family,
Whatever.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Whatever does that mean to you?
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Just when we're just being in the presence makes me
feel loved.
I mean, it's it's.
It's difficult to even explainbecause, especially this summer,
my family was together.
We spent like almost everyweekend, every waking moment
together, doing stuff together,going out together, and that
just like it just warms my heartand fills me with joy.
So that's when I feel the mostloved.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
Okay, All right.
What are you listening to rightnow?
Like what's on your your play.
We see you working out onInstagram and stuff.
What's on your playlists.
What are you currentlylistening to the most?
Speaker 2 (04:50):
I'm old school, so anything that's old school, you
know what I mean.
I can listen to some R&B, somehip hop, some reggae, sometimes
some biggie.
You know I love my old schoolrap and R&B.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
So yeah, okay, all right.
What is a hidden talent?
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Hidden talent.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
I don't know Like well I heard you singing last
night and I had never heard yousing before.
You can sing.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
So bear in mind, I used to sing when I was younger
with my mom, so I wouldn't saythat that's really a hidden
talent, because people knew thatI sang from back in the day.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
You won't be singing too.
I heard her church before.
She's a praise team leader,she's a worship leader.
Yeah, she sure does, even inlike Pentecostal, and also she.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
She trained me up when I was younger.
That's the reason why I don'tlike to practice now.
So I like to freestyle sing,but when it comes to hey, let's
practice to be in a show, let'spractice to do something, I'm
like yeah, no, I forgot aboutyou, she's a worshiper, she, she
takes us in.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
I mean not everyone has that, that ability to do
that Like some people can justsing, but a lot of people invite
you into worship, which yourmom does really well, and it's
something that's just passionateabout.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
Yes, and she knows that it helps people to to
growing closer to God, so Ithink it's really important for
her.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
Yeah, I love that.
Okay, let's begin your finishup, all right.
Well, who's your celebritycrush?
Don't worry, we won't tell yourhusband.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
See, it's so hard for me because there's so many
people out there that I findvery attractive.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
Okay, name me a few.
See, this is an iPad.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Come on, we've got to do it.
Let the people know.
Okay, so I can tell you backany day.
How about I tell you back anyday?
Back any day.
So don't laugh Back any day.
I had this big crush on JordanKnight from New Kids on the
Block.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
Okay, okay, I can see that.
I think I know which one thatis.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
And then it was Tyson Backford.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
Okay, tyson was hot, yeah, Then it was Shamar Moore.
So Shamar Moore was handsome,and then he did.
I know, listen that movie withthem, braids.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Listen after the Braids.
The Braids taught me listen.
I can't.
He spoiled that for me.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
That laced from his bed that was in Tala Paris, our
older days.
He's doing better now and we'regrateful.
We are grateful, but I'm Ilisten.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
When you ask me questions like that.
It's really hard for me tothink when you're spoiled.
But those were, those are likethose are.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
Those are good people , so we're good there.
All right, and last butcertainly not least, you know
these questions are making menervous.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
I'm like I'm sitting here.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
These are supposed to be rapid too.
So last but certainly not least, who is your caught match team
Somerset.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Hello, somerset, let me see you with your hands and
put them in the air.
Hey, hey, listen, that was easy.
See, that was, that's not evena question.
There you go.
You don't know, you don't know.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
You don't know.
Yeah, there you go.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
This is what I'm going to say.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
That is the best response ever, okay, and we are
here for it.
All right, there we go, allright, so let's jump right in
now, okay.
So when I think of and you know, my sister was saying it
pre-show, she was like her nameis not Petrina, her name is
power girl, right.
So when we think of power girl,and the longevity you've had in
your career, here in Bermuda.
(08:04):
How do you stay and forgive meif I don't want this to come
across negatively in any way,shape or form, but relative in
our community and people stillusing you and these types of
things.
So we don't see that very oftenin Bermuda.
Like, how do you remain on topof the game?
Speaker 2 (08:18):
So, first of all, I'm not trying to remain on top of
the game.
That's number one.
Number two is is realizing thatthere are seasons for
everything.
So there was a season for me towork in radio.
There was a season for me towork in TV, but then there was
there's a season for someoneelse to do it Right.
And then there's a season forme now to work for nonprofit.
I never thought I'd be doingthat one.
(08:39):
There will also be a season forsomeone else to take over that
as well.
So it's realizing that thereare seasons for certain things.
And then there are some thingsthat I do because I enjoy them
so much.
So, with reference to hosting,that's something that I may not
give up right away, but some ofthe other stuff, it's like
learning and growing and thenalso being able to pass that
(09:00):
information on to the nextgeneration and what you'll find.
Well, what I've found is that alot of people feel intimidated
by people that are coming up inthe next generation.
So, for example, you have apodcast and let's say, someone
had a podcast before you and youask some questions and they
don't want to share, or or theyfeel like, oh, she's doing a
podcast she's copying all for me.
I don't look at it like this.
I feel like it's room foreveryone and I feel that if I
(09:23):
have something that I can passon to the next generation, then
why not?
Why am I going to keep that tomyself?
So some of the people that I'veconnected with they were five.
They might now be in theirtwenties, which is true,
actually, of course that'smaking me sad I'm aging myself,
but anyway, no.
So I have people that were five,that are now 20, and they come
to me.
Hey, I used to listen to youwhen you were on the radio.
(09:43):
How did you do this?
Sure, I'm going to sit down.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
Let's have a coffee.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
Well, I don't drink coffee, I drink tea.
I drink tea.
So, thatotes, you can curse meout tomorrow and I'll speak to
(10:17):
you the next day.
I don't let it bother me.
I let it roll off my back.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
I'm still working on that.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
It's, and it's, and it's difficult and don't and
trust me, it took me a while tobe like that.
It really did.
I've been through so manypeople laughing, talking about
me, saying hurtful things,telling me I'm a dits and all
that type of stuff, but after awhile and I think it comes over
time.
You know cause being in apublic eye is is not an easy
thing.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
And it's not hard, it's.
It's difficult in a smallcommunity as well.
Right, Like you have to see yourfamily Girl, we get it Right,
we totally understand.
So people don't understandthose effects.
So, like in bigger places, youknow someone's saying something
about you, very, really hearabout it, or it's a later down
the line, like here in Bermuda,if something happens, especially
(11:01):
negative things, cause we allknow those things spread, you
know, like wildfire, um.
But in a smaller community youfeel it and it's like gut
wrenching right, because it'sjust like how could someone
think about me like that,because we're so close knit,
right.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
This is it and and, and that's the hard part about
it.
But the other thing that peoplefeel to realize well, they,
they know it, but they don'tknow it right Is that no one's
perfect.
Everyone has stuff, everybodyhas issues, everyone has
challenges.
Everyone has people in theirfamily that are on drugs,
everybody has people in theirfamily that have mental illness
and divorce, and you know what Imean.
So it's like oh my gosh, she'sgetting divorced.
(11:36):
Oh my gosh, did you hear she'shospitalized?
Oh did you you all have thatsame like we're.
We're human, and so, instead ofgetting so caught up in a talk
and talking and making peoplefeel less than that's kind of.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
No, I totally agree with you.
But in that same vein, rightLike, because you put like your
personality out there and I'mvery careful with saying
personality as opposed to life.
Thank you, so you got to bereally careful about that, thank
you, but with doing that, likewhat do you?
What is the biggestmisconception of you?
Um, given that you are onlinefrequently, you?
Speaker 2 (12:08):
know it's so funny because I do a lot of stuff
that's crazy and funny.
You know, I run up and down, Ijump up and down, I'm playing
with the kids, I'm on a funcastle, like I just do that
stuff.
It brings me great joy.
But I'll never forget likesomeone had written something in
the Royal Gazette, right, andit was about another personality
, and they were like, um, sayingsomething negative about them,
(12:30):
and so they ended up bringing myname to the table and they were
like, could you imagine ifPower Girl and this person were
running for politics?
Those two are so ditzy, blah,blah, blah.
Like they wrote all this stuffand I don't really always look
at the comments, but someonebrought it to my attention and
that's what I've gotten.
A lot is oh, she's a ditzy orshe's a bubble head, oh she's,
(12:50):
you know, because she does crazythings.
But hey, you don't realize thatI have to advocate for children
, that I have to write proposalsfor funding, that I have to
make presentations in front ofexecutives and some of the stuff
that I do.
You don't see it because it'sbehind the scenes.
I'm not stupid, I'm not dumb,I'm college educated.
But because I have that side ofme and that's the only side
(13:12):
that you see.
You make that assumption aboutme.
It's very hurtful, you know.
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (13:18):
And I mean most people don't realize the other
side of Power Girl, which isPetrina, who's a managing
director of a massive charityhere in Bermuda, big brothers,
big sisters, and that takes andyou run that charity.
So, what does that entail?
Speaker 2 (13:33):
I mean running the staff, running the actual
programs, fundraising, strategicplanning, just really ensuring
that the organization is doingwhat it's supposed to be doing
alongside the board.
It's a lot of work and it's notwork.
That's for the faint of heart.
Working for a charity, it's notwhere I'm making some big.
Everybody thinks that peoplethat work in charity make this
(13:54):
big fat paycheck.
I'm not making it.
I'm not in it for the paycheck.
That's why I'm out of hustling.
I'm just no.
I'm running it real though,like it's it's.
It's work to where you getembedded in the community.
I'm embedded in people'sfamilies like a big brothers,
big sisters.
I call it the big brothers, bigsisters family because I know
their circumstances, I knowtheir situations and sometimes I
(14:14):
get calls at 12 midnight atnight just for somebody that
just needs to talk and I'm there, like you know, and some of
this stuff that we know aboutand we, you know, people see it
just on social media, but Iactually know this stuff, I know
the deal and sometimes it keepsme up at night, you know, and
it makes me want to do more,like I want to help everybody,
(14:35):
but then I had to come to therealization that if I can save
one or two or three.
You never know what type ofdominant effect that can have.
So sometimes I may not be ableto help somebody and it's hard
and it takes a toll on you yeahdefinitely how many kids kind of
have progressed through BigBrothers, big Sisters, since
you've been hundreds.
Really yes, because right now wehave 150 kids right now.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
Wow, and so and it.
What does that actually entailbeing a part of Big Brothers and
Big Sisters from a children'sperspective?
Speaker 2 (15:04):
from a children's perspective, majority of the
people that enter the childrenin the program may not have a
male or female role model.
Okay, and so it.
Initially we started out asone-on-one matches and, you know
, working fine.
You know, obviously there'salways a shortage of male
Volunteers within Bermuda.
But then afterwards we we satthere and we were talking to our
(15:25):
clients and we realized that itwas more than just that that we
needed to do so.
For example, we do couplematches, we do company matches,
so now we have companies thathave now come on board and they
have children that come to theoffice so they can get an
experience in an orphanenvironment, help with homework
and then also just some socialskills that some of the children
(15:45):
need.
We have a program, boys to men,and where we partner with mass
Bermuda, because we realizedthat with boys in Bermuda they
weren't talking about theirfeelings.
So we were like listen, likemaybe we could do something
that's kind of group therapy,but not therapy that can kind of
get them talking.
And so during the pandemic wetalked to fit, see and the crew
there and we created thatprogram.
And then also we have girlpower with the girls that dr
(16:08):
Jenna Otterbridge is a part of,and that's that's happening
weekly with some of our girls.
I mean, we we have a lot ofDifferent programs that are
running, and then also, when wesee stuff out there that we know
that children are interested incertain Skill sets, and if
there's an opportunity for acamp, we reach out to that place
and say, hey, we have somechildren, do you have any
scholarships or do we need toget funding for it?
(16:29):
So it's it's kind of trying tomeet the needs and also partner
with other communityorganizations, because we know
we're not the end.
Oh be all.
So we have to be able toAdafigate for the children while
working with our communitypartners as well, whether that's
a corporate company, anothercharity, a Community group, a
football club, whatever it is,whatever it takes to help them,
because they're not.
(16:50):
We don't own the children, yeah, the children of our community.
So all of us binding togetheris really what is going to make
the biggest impact.
So that's what we're trying todo at Big Brothers, big sisters.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
So you just mentioned all of that, and that alone is
a big job, right, yes?
And then we have Personalitypower, girl Trina, how do you do
both?
Speaker 2 (17:10):
so the power girl.
Part of it is, believe it ornot, stress relief.
When I'm on a stage I Know thesongs cliche, because everybody
says when they get on the stagethey're not themselves.
Give me a mic in my hand and Ifeel empowered.
I feel like I look at all ofyou and I'm like I wonder what
(17:31):
type of day she had.
Maybe that girl's lookingmiserable over there.
How can I make her day?
How can I make her happy?
How can I make her dance andsmile?
She looks a little rigid andyou know it's kind of worm, that
part of it.
It just helps me and it buildsme you know.
Speaker 1 (17:47):
No, I love that.
I would have never.
You don't assume that somethinglike that is something that you
love, right, and it brings youjoy because, let me tell you
something.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
One of the things that a lot of people don't know
about me is my sister is asocial butterfly.
My sister likes to go toeverybody's party.
I've got 50 million friends goout, trip, all this type of
stuff.
She is really what everybodythinks I am.
Yeah, I get in a room.
It like let's, let's say it's amix and mingle cocktail hour.
I feel like I just feeluncomfortable.
I feel I don't know.
(18:18):
I just I don't know if it goesback to childhood or what right,
some trauma there, but it'slike I really feel like I'm
gonna get swallowed up.
But I can fake it till I makeit.
But I'm never comfortable inthis Environments and there's
circumstances until you put amic in my hand, give me a mic,
and I'm great.
Yeah, take the mic away from meand I just I feel now, oh, I
(18:39):
can do what I have to do, butit's really not comfortable for
me.
And that's really being openand honest.
My sister, give her a mic,she'll faint, but give her the
room and she will work thatentire room.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
I know the dynamic between sisters is also Amazing
right, but it's a crazy as well.
Like the strengths that some ofyou have, the other one might
not have you know me.
I have sisters as well.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
So you know I'm saying your sister's in action
and let me tell you I love themto death, but they drive me nuts
.
They drive you nuts, but theythey help you yeah you know what
I mean.
They help us to be better.
Yeah, they want us to be thebest version of ourselves.
I agree They'll be fight on thesidelines.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
Yeah, we do fight, we do fight and we disagree and we
have all big personalities,right and but Some of the
relationships that I value themost are the ones I have my
sisters.
I'm gonna cry, stop, okay.
But yeah, that is how you know,I don't start, cuz you know the
biggest baby.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
Don't do this to me.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
I know please.
I know, don't because he lostmy come off girl.
So listen, my sister mademyself laugh.
Okay, we're back.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
You.
My sister helps to dress me.
Today she helped to put makeupon me because I don't I'm
clueless when it comes to stuff,but like she got up early to
help me this morning and shealways does that and before I go
to events she'll call andshe'll be like God's got you,
girl, you're gonna rock it.
You are a power girl.
Power girl.
Like it's like she won't, she'sreal, like she's my hype girl.
(20:05):
Like you know, at all times,you know, and I just hope I'm
there for her in the same waythat she.
I just hope that she's there forme because I love her.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
I got it Honestly, I genuinely got it, and most
people don't realize what.
Behind the scenes here as well,my sisters are here, so they're
looking at me making all thesefaces right, but I and I'm not
saying this because they- knowthis right.
It's just three relationshipsin my life that I have no
concern with how they know how Ifeel about them.
(20:35):
Like I would do absolutelyanything for them at all times I
would drop whatever I'm doingand I'll do it right.
And I know that, they know thatand I.
We got into an argument, not meand them, but someone else.
They were like you don't knowhow they feel about you.
I said no, I know that, andthat's one thing I'd be willing
to die on 100%.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
And I love how you said in the argument whatever
right, my sister and I like mysister sometimes just backs and
then I'm like, okay, let meleave all alone, and then the
next day we're good.
But I know, let me tell yousomething.
We may fight, we may bicker,but let me tell you something
Come talk about her sister.
My sister will come looking foryou.
(21:15):
My sister bomb it.
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 1 (21:19):
But I think that's also learned too right, like, I
think, when you come fromfamilies that are close or from
whatever else that may have comefrom, but from us it's very
much like my dad and my uncle,or like that like they those are
twins, right, so they're prettymuch the same person in
different ways.
But those they could befighting or anything could be
good on with them, but you canno one can talk badly about the
(21:39):
other right and they have eachother's back all the time.
So I think that's been modeledfor us as well, so we know that
yeah it is.
But those are threerelationships I probably value
them.
I do value most in my life.
Sorry mom, sorry dad, but theyare they are definitely they're
sibling is your first friendWell, so for me it's a little
different.
They're like my little siblingkids, so I know we'll have to
(22:02):
talk offline about that, butthere's a big age gap.
There's a big age gap at leastseven, eight and 11 years.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
So if my sister was seven years apart and I'll never
forget this like my mom used todress us alike.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
And.
Speaker 2 (22:14):
I couldn't stand it because I'm older, so I'm like
we can dress me like this baby,you know.
And then she used to want to beeverywhere I was, want to
follow me all over the place,and she used to like it used to
arc me, but it's like somethingtransitioned, Like when I went
away to university and I cameback and all of a sudden it was
like let's go out.
Hey, what, what, what you doingthis weekend?
(22:35):
And it's just like I love howthe relationships morph right,
yeah, like transitions intosomething Now, that's into
friendship, and I genuinely likethat.
Speaker 1 (22:44):
I love that about it.
So it's a pretty good segue.
I love when that happens.
Tell me about little not I wasgoing to say little power girl,
tell me about little Patrina.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
Little Patrina had a lot of mouth.
You couldn't control whatlittle Patrina was going to say,
and so my mom would take meplaces and be like I don't know
what this child's going to say,like I'll bump into somebody and
you know, is that your real her?
No, jesus, you know you havesomething.
Or you know, like that was meand it was.
It wasn't in a rude way, it wasjust that.
(23:15):
And then I always wanted toknow why.
So somebody would tell mesomething.
I said, yeah, but why?
I'm a Patrina, but why it's notmaking any sense.
Like, yeah, I need to know.
I had a really wide vocabularyI love.
I was an avid reader.
I would get buried in books.
And the other thing that'sfunny that I can kind of look
back now and see why I work fora charity is because back in the
(23:39):
day, the people that no oneelse wanted to be bothered with
or deal with, the people thateveryone would tease with, the
people that I would reach out to, so, for example, if you saw
someone, as a child little.
So I don't want to be graphicabout it, but I have to break it
down to you.
So let's say somebody was in awheelchair and something was
going on with them.
Let's say that's not on theface, and this is a real story.
(24:00):
And you know they were thereand and people were keeping away
from them, just a caregiveraround them.
I would run over to that personand give them a hug and a kiss,
and my mom would be, and peoplewould be like she's not afraid
of them.
And my mom was like, no, that'sjust that's how she is.
And I would literally talk topeople and you know, it didn't
(24:23):
matter, like skin condition,whatever it was, smells,
whatever.
I was always that person.
Even the elderly just wanted totalk to the elderly.
Sit off, Like I would alwaysjust have conversations.
And my mom was like, like youwere the wordest kid, because no
, all the other children wouldbe like I'm trying to play a
thumb, I try to talk to them,but I always, you know, wanted
(24:44):
to be around them.
Yeah, so that's crazy.
Speaker 1 (24:47):
I would, you don't.
But it also makes a lot ofsense, right, because, like you
said earlier, you knowphilanthropy and working in
charity is it's not for thefaint of heart, right, and you
have to be really passionateabout it, because when you're
not passionate about it, it alsothat disingenuous nature of it
comes across, right, and wenever get that from you.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
So hearing that part of it Listen, you see, that
makes me feel good, because Inever want anyone to think it's
disingenuous, because at the endof the day let's, let's be
honest I could be workingsomewhere else making way more
money and all my private jet ofjust teasing.
But, but, but in all honesty,like since I've been at Big
Brothers, big Sister, I've beenpushed from other organizations,
(25:25):
companies and and everything,but this is where I'm meant to
be, this is where I'm purpose tobe.
Yeah, is to advocate for youngpeople.
Speaker 1 (25:33):
Yeah, no, I love that and I mean.
So what exactly did you go toschool for?
Speaker 2 (25:39):
I'm a communications major, ok.
So the funny part about it is Ihad this whole field, that I
was going to come back toPrometa and I was going to be a
journalist.
So Glenn Jones and I graduatedfrom Barkley together.
We even interned togetherPrometa Broadcasting Company.
So when I went away to school Ilearned how to work camera, I
learned how to edit, I learnedhow to be in front of the camera
(26:01):
.
I did everything that I neededto do production and then I
started taking these courseswith reference to like newspaper
writing.
So I got to write and then Idid editing and writing for the
news.
What I didn't like is themgiving me stories that I didn't
like.
So it's like, here it isSomebody got murdered today.
(26:22):
Here's the story, patrice, andI need you to cover it.
The flu shots are coming up,patrice.
We need you to cover that story.
That's not a night.
You're like you know.
You know what I mean.
It was.
It was.
You know.
I had these big dreams becauseI'm from the world.
Don't laugh, because you knowWalter Crichton.
I don't know who that is.
Dan Rather.
(26:42):
I know Dan Rather's ConnieChong, you know from that type
of era.
So for me it was kind of like.
You know, I felt like I coulddo this.
I'm not that person.
I don't want to write the newsstories.
I don't want to be the personthat you tell me I have to write
about something that's going tomake other people miserable.
I want to do something that'sgoing to bring joy to people and
I want to do something that'sgoing to bring about impact and
(27:05):
I'm not saying that as a newsjournalist that you can't, but
at the time for me it was likethis is not what I want to do.
I'm not happy with this, but Ialso enjoyed editing and
videography as well.
But what happened when I cameback to Bermuda was I got pushed
more in front of the camerathan behind the camera.
So I never really, you knowwhile, I have some skills I
(27:27):
never got to do.
Speaker 1 (27:28):
Yeah, so how did you deal with that while working and
I don't know if you said thecompanies, I won't say it, but
at the company when you firstcame back to Bermuda, you were
working there how did you dealwith, you know, being given
stories that you didn't want todo Because that happened in
university?
Speaker 2 (27:43):
Okay, don't listen, that happened in university, but
I was just giving an examplelike but the flu shot one was
one I had to write.
I had to write that for theschool newspaper and then I had
to do a TV thing for it.
I was like this is boring.
I could be writing somethingelse, I could be saying
something else.
I can't add my swing to it, andso that was the other part.
(28:03):
Always wanted to add a littlebit of something, a little
possess.
Speaker 1 (28:07):
A little, possess A little shot.
Yeah, there you go.
So tell me.
I know a lot of people knowthis, but I think with your
social media presence, I thinkyou're also getting a younger
audience.
Now, right, and I don't thinkpeople know the origin of
PowerGirl.
Where did that come from?
Not everyone, I should say.
Speaker 2 (28:24):
So I worked at Power95 radio station.
I was in PowerGirl All right, Iit's funny, because at Bermuda
Broadcasting Company theyweren't hiring.
But when I came back to schoolI harassed Rick Richardson and I
was like listen, I need a job,I need to be doing this.
Like you know, you're fresh outof school.
You're like I need to be atBermuda Broadcasting Company.
(28:45):
Well, the job came out in salesand marketing, and he was like
well, we have a position here.
I said I'll take it.
And so I started out doing salesand marketing.
But obviously you know it waslike oh, you want to try out
this.
So they had something calledPower95 Interactive.
Don't laugh, it was a card towhere you can get like discounts
and go to parties and do yourlittle too young fellow, and but
(29:08):
, anyway.
So they were having this bigparty and all that type of stuff
, and so they asked me to go onwriting on show, because writing
on you Savaspecha on Saturdays.
And so I went on writing onshow and something crazy
happened.
People were like, oh my gosh,you guys together, who is that
girl?
So afterwards it was like theywere like you need to go back on
(29:30):
, come back on.
So I just ended up being hissidekick, his co-host, you know,
and while I was there I alreadyknew to play.
I knew how to play a bit, butRoddy was like no, you need to
know how to play, and so hewould you know, train me up and
I would just be there andsometimes I would be doing the
playing and he would do theplaying.
Speaker 1 (29:46):
And it was just kind of cool.
You learned from David Roddygon.
That's pretty cool.
No see, listen David.
Speaker 2 (29:52):
Roddygon.
Bermuda was Roddygon, oh my bad.
See, listen, see that shows up.
So Roddygon of Bermuda, okay,not David Roddy.
I didn't know.
It's okay, this is so funny.
My bad, I'm having you makingme laugh, but listen, what
happened after that was, therewas someone called Lord Anthony.
I don't know if you know aboutClub Meadowbark.
Speaker 1 (30:10):
I know, lord Anthony, I'm just making sure.
Yeah, I know, lord Anthony,he's going to gap her.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
So I'm making sure I gotta make sure, do not kill me,
petrina.
Speaker 1 (30:17):
It's the gap, but okay, I'm coming back, I'm
coming back.
Speaker 2 (30:20):
So he used to have Club Meadowbark.
He used to come on the show topromote parties and one day he
was just like you know what.
With all of your energy, I justfeel it's just so electric,
you're just so powerful.
You know what?
You are a power girl.
After he said that, everybodyand their mama started calling
me power girl.
I didn't even, I didn't evenlike it at first.
(30:42):
I'm like what in the world?
I'm like a power girl.
Like what?
What is that?
That superhero?
I thought super boys just saythat you know what I'm like
maybe it's not like a cartoon,but it's like it started to grow
on me after a while.
And then I went to a churchservice one day and an older
lady came up to me and she saidyou think they call you power
(31:02):
girl because of the radiostation.
Nah, they're calling you powergirl because that is your
destiny, that is your God givenpurpose.
God's power is in you.
Speaker 1 (31:16):
I was like that's so different.
When the old ladies at churchtell you that, I said wow, God's
power.
Speaker 2 (31:24):
Nobody, you don't like.
You start to feel it and I'mlike maybe this is something.
And then it was so many thingsthat have been spoken over my
life by so many different people, and I'm very careful to listen
to what people speak Becauseyou know, sometimes people be
saying a lot of stuff.
Speaker 1 (31:38):
Talking on such a strong.
But yes, and you're like yeah,exactly, you just pray for what
they say.
Speaker 2 (31:42):
I can pray for you, for talking over, but anyway, so
, but over my life from an earlyage, people always say that I
was a light and that as I grewolder, that I will be in a place
of authority, and then alsothat don't laugh Someone
actually said, like you will beamongst queens and kings, and I
(32:05):
was like amen, there you go.
But okay, like you know, likesome of the stuff that people
say that I was rolling my eyesat because I was younger and I'm
like whatever.
But now as I get older, I'mlike you know what.
It may be a little something towhat they were saying, maybe
not the queens and kings part,but to just be someone that's
able to do something thatimpacts the community in a way
(32:27):
that their legacy will be knownAbsolutely.
Speaker 1 (32:30):
So I hear you talking about your mom singing in
church and you go into churchwhen you were younger, Like how
has faith played a role in yourlife?
Speaker 2 (32:38):
I don't know where I would be without my faith.
I think I would probably shrinkout and be in a corner shaking
and hiding.
I've been through so many likeearth shattering things in my
life and I honestly I don't knowwhere I would be without it.
And that's just honestlyspeaking.
I say this to people all thetime.
Like I get it.
Not everybody believes in Godand listen.
(33:00):
That is your choice, but it'salso my choice to believe in God
and because I believe in himand I pray and I just leave
things in his hands.
You have to, you know.
I know some people say universeand some listen, it's all
semantics, but for me I justhonestly don't like, if you
(33:21):
don't have faith, what do youhave?
Like?
You have to have faith right,like sitting in a chair.
We have faith that when we sitin the chair, the chair is gonna
hold our weight.
We have faith that when westand up, our legs are gonna
work Like that, believe it ornot, that's faith.
You know it's faith.
100%.
Everything that we do in lifeis faith.
So why can't I believe insomething greater that's gonna
(33:44):
impact my life and help me toget to the next level,
especially if you know, god hasshown up in your life in ways
that you can't deny it right andlike.
Speaker 1 (33:53):
So it's a few things Like for me.
With this whole I'm gonnamanifest and do all these things
.
But that origin, that's fromthe Bible.
Speak things into existence andyou know God will show up in
your life, right so it's-.
I'm glad you said that yes,cause it manifests in things.
When I hear people that I wentto church with say it, I'm like
girl, like we know what thatmeans.
This is what I'm gonna manifestthat girl.
(34:13):
Manifest that's right, speakthat into existence, speak it
into existence, and that's wherethat actually comes from
Believe it Exactly.
So I totally understand that andI think for me faith has
changed.
Recently I was listening tothis sermon.
It wasn't a part I was gonnasay podcast, but it was sermon
the other day, cause I was liketrying to make some decisions
and you know, growing up youwere always like, oh, you know,
(34:33):
god, close that door if you needto do acts right.
And it explains to me the otherday and it was essentially
saying and I can't remember whoit was and if I can think about
it I'll be sure to mention whoit is but they were essentially
like faith is taking that leapand knowing that God's gonna
catch you regardless of whathappens, like that's the faith
of it.
The faith is in waiting for Godto show you or tell you or give
(34:55):
you a sign Faith is taking theleap.
Taking that leap, yeah, and itliterally put into perspective
for me, cause all my life I waslike no, I'm waiting for God to
tell me, or I'm waiting for Godto show me a sign that this is
what he wants me to do leave thejob or whatever.
That may or may not be.
Faith without works, it's.
Faith without action Is dead100%?
I'm not sure, and I had neverthought of it like that before.
(35:16):
So now, like when I'm makingdecisions in my life, I look at
it in that vein, as opposed tolike knowing that God's got you.
That's the faith portion of it,and I'd never thought of it
that way before.
So that's why I ask thequestion about the faith.
Speaker 2 (35:28):
No, seriously, I mean , let me tell you just, girl,
it's just been so much.
I mean, as you know, what mightthe dog attack with me?
Speaker 1 (35:38):
I actually didn't know that you said that
yesterday when we were catchingup and I won't actually, if you
don't mind, what happened.
I don't know, I'm an open book,it's fine.
Speaker 2 (35:45):
So basically we had a dog.
Something happened at home.
I leaned on something, thespeaker fell on the dog and as
it fell I fell back because Iwas leaning on the speaker and I
kicked the dog.
And I was trying to preventhitting my head on the
refrigerator.
And what happened was is thedog clamped down on my foot and
(36:06):
I couldn't get my foot out hismouth and I was on the ground.
And then the next thing youknow it's my arms, it's my
partially amputated finger, it'smy hand that had to, like my
index finger and my thumbactually were hanging off and
had to be reattached mypartially amputated finger.
They told me that I wouldn'thave a nail, but a nail grew
back.
(36:26):
Girl, you could be amazed whatthese nail technicians can do,
but you know, like completelyyou know, and it was crazy
because during that period Icouldn't do anything for myself
and I'm allergic to all of thegood stuff.
I can only take Tylenol and ifyou know about Tylenol, if you
can't take anything outside ofTylenol, it don't even make
(36:48):
sense.
So I was just in bed like thisand couldn't move.
My hands, my wrists weresprained and my husband had to
bathe me.
My husband had to wipe me.
Yes, wipe me.
This is in sickness, in and out.
Speaker 1 (36:59):
That's the part people don't tell you about,
right?
I'm just gonna let you knowthat was really humiliating.
Speaker 2 (37:05):
But you know, he did what he had to do at that time.
But I remember just being there, just like this, because I
can't do anything and I'm justcrying.
I'm like God, like this sucks,this don't make no sense.
And sometimes things happenbecause you need to be still and
you need to process and youneed to kind of get it together
(37:25):
in your head.
And I took that moment to dothat, Like I took that time of I
literally in order to get anywork done.
Afterwards I had to get aheadset and dictate into it no,
seriously, so it can type for me.
And the funny part about thatis, until it knows your accent,
it types all sorts of messages.
Yes, it does.
(37:46):
But when that happened, youknow, they told me that it's
probably gonna be difficult forme to write, it's gonna be
difficult for me to kind of, youknow, have function Like I may
not have 100% function ofanything and I was like no, no,
no, my God is greater than that,I will have function in my
hands.
I will have a nail.
Speaker 1 (38:07):
I know it sounds cosmetic but I will have a nail
on this finger.
Speaker 2 (38:10):
They told me that they removed the nail bed and
let me tell you something itgrew back.
That's crazy.
It looks crazy, but hey, itdoesn't look until you said
something I would have nevernoticed.
No, I call it thingy.
No, it's chicken or something.
I know it sounds corny, butanyway don't laugh.
It's a serious moment betweenme and this finger.
Speaker 1 (38:25):
I know I'm sorry, I know.
Speaker 2 (38:28):
You're just gonna play in your head.
I know I can't.
I will never forget it.
No, I can't help it.
But also even this like I hadto learn how to write again, I
had to learn how to.
I had to go through handtherapy for a while and if you
look, I have like scars here andup here.
Wow.
I would have never noticed myhusband told me it looked like a
real blubber.
I was like well, thanks, but Iknow I can't help it.
(38:48):
This is my personality.
Speaker 1 (38:50):
It's actually a refreshing because we come from
a lovely family, but also acrazy family.
And they would say some thingslike that you fit right in right
, your whole family right.
So I totally understand it butyou mentioned.
You felt like you went throughthat too, so you could be still
and get some things right ortogether Like what do you think
you learned from that experience?
Speaker 2 (39:14):
So everybody thinks I say yes to everything.
Right, there are periods that Isay no.
And also now I'm very consciousabout what I'm affiliated with,
conscious about who I'm workingfor and what events, activities
, things that I'm aligningmyself with, and during that
(39:35):
period, there were some thingsthat I was aligning myself with
that were not necessarily whereI should be, and it wasn't
anything.
And I'm not saying that it wassomething bad or negative.
It was just that I wasn'tsupposed to be in alignment with
that and I was still kind oflike yeah, yeah, yeah, and I was
like no, no, no, you know whatand I'm not saying that he did
(39:56):
this to stop me, but it justmade me reflect even more and be
like you know what.
Let me take this time out.
The thing that I will tell youis I'm the worst person with
reference to self care, and soduring some of those periods,
that also made me be a littlebit better in taking care of
myself.
Speaker 1 (40:14):
And how has that coped like your mental health,
Like when you were in a positionwhere you weren't doing the
self care and you weren't takingcare of yourself.
Did that affect your mentalhealth in any way?
Speaker 2 (40:23):
Yeah, I mean, listen, I'm someone that when I was
young got a struggle withdepression, low self-esteem,
feeling like I wasn't worthy.
I mean I guess all of us insome periods of our lives kind
of go through that period ofwhere we feel less than we feel
like we don't belong.
I know that I sometimes stillstruggle with it, even at this
age, which is crazy, but when Iwas going through those periods
(40:46):
it's a low period for you, right, and you feel like you're all
alone and it's really, reallyeasy to get yourself into a hole
.
And so I know, in Bermuda, formost people, talking about
mental health and sitting on thetherapist's couch is taboo.
Speaker 1 (41:00):
But I'm going to tell you, especially in Black
culture as well In Black culture, yes, and for me, listen.
Speaker 2 (41:04):
if you need help, sit on that couch, whatever it
takes.
It's time for hustle her podcast.
I'm your host, deshae Keynes.
Hustle her is all aboutinspiring women through real
life experiences that havehelped to mold and develop not
only me but my guests into theentrepreneurs and leaders we are
today.
If you're an enterprising womandetermined to succeed and
(00:22):
looking for a bit of motivation,a bit of tough love and some
actionable takeaways to be thebest you girl, you are in the
right place.
Hey guys, and welcome back tohustle her podcast.
I'm so grateful you decided tospend some time with me today.
As always, we give a big shoutout to our sponsors for this
(00:43):
season Browning Company and 59front.
Make sure you guys head overthere.
You can head over to thebookmark at Browning Company.
You can also see all theamazing products they have down
at 59 front.
Today I'm super excited aboutmy guest.
She is not only a mediapersonality, she's also a
philanthropist.
She's also 2023's woman of theyear and she is the managing
(01:05):
director of big brothers and bigsisters.
Petrina O'Connor Pankter,better known as Power Girl Trina
.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Welcome.
Listen, I'm just really excitedto be here.
I've been watching the podcastand I know we were trying to
schedule in before and it neverworked out, but I'm actually.
It's an amazing podcast.
I have to tell you that first.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
I love what you're doing to appreciate that.
I really appreciate it.
I'm so I'm glad that we finallywere able to do this.
And I say this all the time andpeople come on and I'm like
because you should ask somebodyin the line, but you were like,
yes, right away, and then wefigured it out and now we're
here and the funny party isbecause I really don't like
doing interviews.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
I prefer to be the person being interviewed.
But in 2023, I started to stepout of my confidence, and so
this is.
You know, this is what I'msupposed to be.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Yes, absolutely All right.
So few questions.
Let everyone get to know you alittle bit better, right,
because we see this bigpersonality online, but let's
get to know you.
It's all about you this time,all right.
So first thing that comes tomind for the next few questions
All right, ready, all right.
I'm happiest when I'm with myfamily.
Okay, what do you do on a plane?
(02:12):
Like, when you're finallysettled on a plane, what's your
thing?
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Like no, honestly, like I, I love to travel, but I
am terrified of flying.
It didn't happen until I got abit older, but, yes, I'm
terrified.
So as soon as we relax and sitdown, I'm like yeah, Really Okay
.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
You'd be surprised how many people are afraid of
flying.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Anyway, let's get back to that too, okay, all
right.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Skincare routine.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
So skincare routine I'm not the best with it.
However, I do like to exfoliate.
I do an exfoliate in themorning.
I normally use Clarenceproducts.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
59 front you can get.
Look guys, we didn't evendiscuss that, oh really.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
So look, my Clarence products that's my go-to.
But also I have this, thisrosewater spray that I actually
get from the casino store aswell, and I listen, I live by
that.
It's like a turner spray myskin and then I'm able to put my
moisturizer on, but I don't doa whole lot of you know what
they say.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
We don't crack girls, so it's all right.
It's a beautiful thing, so okay.
Next, what did you spend yourfirst paycheck on when you were
like in the proper working world?
Speaker 2 (03:23):
In the proper working world.
My first paycheck Girl I don'tknow Girl I was just.
I was just excited to have somemoney.
This is the funny part.
It was never where I was like,oh, when I get money, I'm going
to buy that parcel or whateverit was like.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
I got money, I'm actually spending it.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
And then, of course, I was spending it on Firm Beals,
backman Cause you're like Iknow it was no free free nights
and weekends, not a thinganymore.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
It's hilarious.
Okay, who's your closest friend?
Speaker 2 (03:51):
My closest friend is my sister.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
Oh, I love that.
Okay, what does love feel like?
What does love?
Speaker 2 (04:00):
feel like man.
It's hard to explain.
Um you, that's a hard question.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
What does it feel like?
What does it feel like to you?
Like when do you feel the mostloved?
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Okay, so so you mean loved by people loved by family,
Whatever.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Whatever does that mean to you?
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Just when we're just being in the presence makes me
feel loved.
I mean, it's it's.
It's difficult to even explainbecause, especially this summer,
my family was together.
We spent like almost everyweekend, every waking moment
together, doing stuff together,going out together, and that
just like it just warms my heartand fills me with joy.
So that's when I feel the mostloved.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
Okay, All right.
What are you listening to rightnow?
Like what's on your your play.
We see you working out onInstagram and stuff.
What's on your playlists.
What are you currentlylistening to the most?
Speaker 2 (04:50):
I'm old school, so anything that's old school, you
know what I mean.
I can listen to some R&B, somehip hop, some reggae, sometimes
some biggie.
You know I love my old schoolrap and R&B.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
So yeah, okay, all right.
What is a hidden talent?
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Hidden talent.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
I don't know Like well I heard you singing last
night and I had never heard yousing before.
You can sing.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
So bear in mind, I used to sing when I was younger
with my mom, so I wouldn't saythat that's really a hidden
talent, because people knew thatI sang from back in the day.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
You won't be singing too.
I heard her church before.
She's a praise team leader,she's a worship leader.
Yeah, she sure does, even inlike Pentecostal, and also she.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
She trained me up when I was younger.
That's the reason why I don'tlike to practice now.
So I like to freestyle sing,but when it comes to hey, let's
practice to be in a show, let'spractice to do something, I'm
like yeah, no, I forgot aboutyou, she's a worshiper, she, she
takes us in.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
I mean not everyone has that, that ability to do
that Like some people can justsing, but a lot of people invite
you into worship, which yourmom does really well, and it's
something that's just passionateabout.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
Yes, and she knows that it helps people to to
growing closer to God, so Ithink it's really important for
her.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
Yeah, I love that.
Okay, let's begin your finishup, all right.
Well, who's your celebritycrush?
Don't worry, we won't tell yourhusband.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
See, it's so hard for me because there's so many
people out there that I findvery attractive.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
Okay, name me a few.
See, this is an iPad.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Come on, we've got to do it.
Let the people know.
Okay, so I can tell you backany day.
How about I tell you back anyday?
Back any day.
So don't laugh Back any day.
I had this big crush on JordanKnight from New Kids on the
Block.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
Okay, okay, I can see that.
I think I know which one thatis.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
And then it was Tyson Backford.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
Okay, tyson was hot, yeah, Then it was Shamar Moore.
So Shamar Moore was handsome,and then he did.
I know, listen that movie withthem, braids.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Listen after the Braids.
The Braids taught me listen.
I can't.
He spoiled that for me.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
That laced from his bed that was in Tala Paris, our
older days.
He's doing better now and we'regrateful.
We are grateful, but I'm Ilisten.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
When you ask me questions like that.
It's really hard for me tothink when you're spoiled.
But those were, those are likethose are.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
Those are good people , so we're good there.
All right, and last butcertainly not least, you know
these questions are making menervous.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
I'm like I'm sitting here.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
These are supposed to be rapid too.
So last but certainly not least, who is your caught match team
Somerset.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Hello, somerset, let me see you with your hands and
put them in the air.
Hey, hey, listen, that was easy.
See, that was, that's not evena question.
There you go.
You don't know, you don't know.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
You don't know.
Yeah, there you go.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
This is what I'm going to say.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
That is the best response ever, okay, and we are
here for it.
All right, there we go, allright, so let's jump right in
now, okay.
So when I think of and you know, my sister was saying it
pre-show, she was like her nameis not Petrina, her name is
power girl, right.
So when we think of power girl,and the longevity you've had in
your career, here in Bermuda.
(08:04):
How do you stay and forgive meif I don't want this to come
across negatively in any way,shape or form, but relative in
our community and people stillusing you and these types of
things.
So we don't see that very oftenin Bermuda.
Like, how do you remain on topof the game?
Speaker 2 (08:18):
So, first of all, I'm not trying to remain on top of
the game.
That's number one.
Number two is is realizing thatthere are seasons for
everything.
So there was a season for me towork in radio.
There was a season for me towork in TV, but then there was
there's a season for someoneelse to do it Right.
And then there's a season forme now to work for nonprofit.
I never thought I'd be doingthat one.
(08:39):
There will also be a season forsomeone else to take over that
as well.
So it's realizing that thereare seasons for certain things.
And then there are some thingsthat I do because I enjoy them
so much.
So, with reference to hosting,that's something that I may not
give up right away, but some ofthe other stuff, it's like
learning and growing and thenalso being able to pass that
(09:00):
information on to the nextgeneration and what you'll find.
Well, what I've found is that alot of people feel intimidated
by people that are coming up inthe next generation.
So, for example, you have apodcast and let's say, someone
had a podcast before you and youask some questions and they
don't want to share, or or theyfeel like, oh, she's doing a
podcast she's copying all for me.
I don't look at it like this.
I feel like it's room foreveryone and I feel that if I
(09:23):
have something that I can passon to the next generation, then
why not?
Why am I going to keep that tomyself?
So some of the people that I'veconnected with they were five.
They might now be in theirtwenties, which is true,
actually, of course that'smaking me sad I'm aging myself,
but anyway, no.
So I have people that were five,that are now 20, and they come
to me.
Hey, I used to listen to youwhen you were on the radio.
(09:43):
How did you do this?
Sure, I'm going to sit down.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
Let's have a coffee.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
Well, I don't drink coffee, I drink tea.
I drink tea.
So, thatotes, you can curse meout tomorrow and I'll speak to
(10:17):
you the next day.
I don't let it bother me.
I let it roll off my back.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
I'm still working on that.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
It's, and it's, and it's difficult and don't and
trust me, it took me a while tobe like that.
It really did.
I've been through so manypeople laughing, talking about
me, saying hurtful things,telling me I'm a dits and all
that type of stuff, but after awhile and I think it comes over
time.
You know cause being in apublic eye is is not an easy
thing.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
And it's not hard, it's.
It's difficult in a smallcommunity as well.
Right, Like you have to see yourfamily Girl, we get it Right,
we totally understand.
So people don't understandthose effects.
So, like in bigger places, youknow someone's saying something
about you, very, really hearabout it, or it's a later down
the line, like here in Bermuda,if something happens, especially
(11:01):
negative things, cause we allknow those things spread, you
know, like wildfire, um.
But in a smaller community youfeel it and it's like gut
wrenching right, because it'sjust like how could someone
think about me like that,because we're so close knit,
right.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
This is it and and, and that's the hard part about
it.
But the other thing that peoplefeel to realize well, they,
they know it, but they don'tknow it right Is that no one's
perfect.
Everyone has stuff, everybodyhas issues, everyone has
challenges.
Everyone has people in theirfamily that are on drugs,
everybody has people in theirfamily that have mental illness
and divorce, and you know what Imean.
So it's like oh my gosh, she'sgetting divorced.
(11:36):
Oh my gosh, did you hear she'shospitalized?
Oh did you you all have thatsame like we're.
We're human, and so, instead ofgetting so caught up in a talk
and talking and making peoplefeel less than that's kind of.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
No, I totally agree with you.
But in that same vein, rightLike, because you put like your
personality out there and I'mvery careful with saying
personality as opposed to life.
Thank you, so you got to bereally careful about that, thank
you, but with doing that, likewhat do you?
What is the biggestmisconception of you?
Um, given that you are onlinefrequently, you?
Speaker 2 (12:08):
know it's so funny because I do a lot of stuff
that's crazy and funny.
You know, I run up and down, Ijump up and down, I'm playing
with the kids, I'm on a funcastle, like I just do that
stuff.
It brings me great joy.
But I'll never forget likesomeone had written something in
the Royal Gazette, right, andit was about another personality
, and they were like, um, sayingsomething negative about them,
(12:30):
and so they ended up bringing myname to the table and they were
like, could you imagine ifPower Girl and this person were
running for politics?
Those two are so ditzy, blah,blah, blah.
Like they wrote all this stuffand I don't really always look
at the comments, but someonebrought it to my attention and
that's what I've gotten.
A lot is oh, she's a ditzy orshe's a bubble head, oh she's,
(12:50):
you know, because she does crazythings.
But hey, you don't realize thatI have to advocate for children
, that I have to write proposalsfor funding, that I have to
make presentations in front ofexecutives and some of the stuff
that I do.
You don't see it because it'sbehind the scenes.
I'm not stupid, I'm not dumb,I'm college educated.
But because I have that side ofme and that's the only side
(13:12):
that you see.
You make that assumption aboutme.
It's very hurtful, you know.
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (13:18):
And I mean most people don't realize the other
side of Power Girl, which isPetrina, who's a managing
director of a massive charityhere in Bermuda, big brothers,
big sisters, and that takes andyou run that charity.
So, what does that entail?
Speaker 2 (13:33):
I mean running the staff, running the actual
programs, fundraising, strategicplanning, just really ensuring
that the organization is doingwhat it's supposed to be doing
alongside the board.
It's a lot of work and it's notwork.
That's for the faint of heart.
Working for a charity, it's notwhere I'm making some big.
Everybody thinks that peoplethat work in charity make this
(13:54):
big fat paycheck.
I'm not making it.
I'm not in it for the paycheck.
That's why I'm out of hustling.
I'm just no.
I'm running it real though,like it's it's.
It's work to where you getembedded in the community.
I'm embedded in people'sfamilies like a big brothers,
big sisters.
I call it the big brothers, bigsisters family because I know
their circumstances, I knowtheir situations and sometimes I
(14:14):
get calls at 12 midnight atnight just for somebody that
just needs to talk and I'm there, like you know, and some of
this stuff that we know aboutand we, you know, people see it
just on social media, but Iactually know this stuff, I know
the deal and sometimes it keepsme up at night, you know, and
it makes me want to do more,like I want to help everybody,
(14:35):
but then I had to come to therealization that if I can save
one or two or three.
You never know what type ofdominant effect that can have.
So sometimes I may not be ableto help somebody and it's hard
and it takes a toll on you yeahdefinitely how many kids kind of
have progressed through BigBrothers, big Sisters, since
you've been hundreds.
Really yes, because right now wehave 150 kids right now.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
Wow, and so and it.
What does that actually entailbeing a part of Big Brothers and
Big Sisters from a children'sperspective?
Speaker 2 (15:04):
from a children's perspective, majority of the
people that enter the childrenin the program may not have a
male or female role model.
Okay, and so it.
Initially we started out asone-on-one matches and, you know
, working fine.
You know, obviously there'salways a shortage of male
Volunteers within Bermuda.
But then afterwards we we satthere and we were talking to our
(15:25):
clients and we realized that itwas more than just that that we
needed to do so.
For example, we do couplematches, we do company matches,
so now we have companies thathave now come on board and they
have children that come to theoffice so they can get an
experience in an orphanenvironment, help with homework
and then also just some socialskills that some of the children
(15:45):
need.
We have a program, boys to men,and where we partner with mass
Bermuda, because we realizedthat with boys in Bermuda they
weren't talking about theirfeelings.
So we were like listen, likemaybe we could do something
that's kind of group therapy,but not therapy that can kind of
get them talking.
And so during the pandemic wetalked to fit, see and the crew
there and we created thatprogram.
And then also we have girlpower with the girls that dr
(16:08):
Jenna Otterbridge is a part of,and that's that's happening
weekly with some of our girls.
I mean, we we have a lot ofDifferent programs that are
running, and then also, when wesee stuff out there that we know
that children are interested incertain Skill sets, and if
there's an opportunity for acamp, we reach out to that place
and say, hey, we have somechildren, do you have any
scholarships or do we need toget funding for it?
(16:29):
So it's it's kind of trying tomeet the needs and also partner
with other communityorganizations, because we know
we're not the end.
Oh be all.
So we have to be able toAdafigate for the children while
working with our communitypartners as well, whether that's
a corporate company, anothercharity, a Community group, a
football club, whatever it is,whatever it takes to help them,
because they're not.
(16:50):
We don't own the children, yeah, the children of our community.
So all of us binding togetheris really what is going to make
the biggest impact.
So that's what we're trying todo at Big Brothers, big sisters.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
So you just mentioned all of that, and that alone is
a big job, right, yes?
And then we have Personalitypower, girl Trina, how do you do
both?
Speaker 2 (17:10):
so the power girl.
Part of it is, believe it ornot, stress relief.
When I'm on a stage I Know thesongs cliche, because everybody
says when they get on the stagethey're not themselves.
Give me a mic in my hand and Ifeel empowered.
I feel like I look at all ofyou and I'm like I wonder what
(17:31):
type of day she had.
Maybe that girl's lookingmiserable over there.
How can I make her day?
How can I make her happy?
How can I make her dance andsmile?
She looks a little rigid andyou know it's kind of worm, that
part of it.
It just helps me and it buildsme you know.
Speaker 1 (17:47):
No, I love that.
I would have never.
You don't assume that somethinglike that is something that you
love, right, and it brings youjoy because, let me tell you
something.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
One of the things that a lot of people don't know
about me is my sister is asocial butterfly.
My sister likes to go toeverybody's party.
I've got 50 million friends goout, trip, all this type of
stuff.
She is really what everybodythinks I am.
Yeah, I get in a room.
It like let's, let's say it's amix and mingle cocktail hour.
I feel like I just feeluncomfortable.
I feel I don't know.
(18:18):
I just I don't know if it goesback to childhood or what right,
some trauma there, but it'slike I really feel like I'm
gonna get swallowed up.
But I can fake it till I makeit.
But I'm never comfortable inthis Environments and there's
circumstances until you put amic in my hand, give me a mic,
and I'm great.
Yeah, take the mic away from meand I just I feel now, oh, I
(18:39):
can do what I have to do, butit's really not comfortable for
me.
And that's really being openand honest.
My sister, give her a mic,she'll faint, but give her the
room and she will work thatentire room.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
I know the dynamic between sisters is also Amazing
right, but it's a crazy as well.
Like the strengths that some ofyou have, the other one might
not have you know me.
I have sisters as well.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
So you know I'm saying your sister's in action
and let me tell you I love themto death, but they drive me nuts
.
They drive you nuts, but theythey help you yeah you know what
I mean.
They help us to be better.
Yeah, they want us to be thebest version of ourselves.
I agree They'll be fight on thesidelines.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
Yeah, we do fight, we do fight and we disagree and we
have all big personalities,right and but Some of the
relationships that I value themost are the ones I have my
sisters.
I'm gonna cry, stop, okay.
But yeah, that is how you know,I don't start, cuz you know the
biggest baby.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
Don't do this to me.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
I know please.
I know, don't because he lostmy come off girl.
So listen, my sister mademyself laugh.
Okay, we're back.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
You.
My sister helps to dress me.
Today she helped to put makeupon me because I don't I'm
clueless when it comes to stuff,but like she got up early to
help me this morning and shealways does that and before I go
to events she'll call andshe'll be like God's got you,
girl, you're gonna rock it.
You are a power girl.
Power girl.
Like it's like she won't, she'sreal, like she's my hype girl.
(20:05):
Like you know, at all times,you know, and I just hope I'm
there for her in the same waythat she.
I just hope that she's there forme because I love her.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
I got it Honestly, I genuinely got it, and most
people don't realize what.
Behind the scenes here as well,my sisters are here, so they're
looking at me making all thesefaces right, but I and I'm not
saying this because they- knowthis right.
It's just three relationshipsin my life that I have no
concern with how they know how Ifeel about them.
(20:35):
Like I would do absolutelyanything for them at all times I
would drop whatever I'm doingand I'll do it right.
And I know that, they know thatand I.
We got into an argument, not meand them, but someone else.
They were like you don't knowhow they feel about you.
I said no, I know that, andthat's one thing I'd be willing
to die on 100%.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
And I love how you said in the argument whatever
right, my sister and I like mysister sometimes just backs and
then I'm like, okay, let meleave all alone, and then the
next day we're good.
But I know, let me tell yousomething.
We may fight, we may bicker,but let me tell you something
Come talk about her sister.
My sister will come looking foryou.
(21:15):
My sister bomb it.
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 1 (21:19):
But I think that's also learned too right, like, I
think, when you come fromfamilies that are close or from
whatever else that may have comefrom, but from us it's very
much like my dad and my uncle,or like that like they those are
twins, right, so they're prettymuch the same person in
different ways.
But those they could befighting or anything could be
good on with them, but you canno one can talk badly about the
(21:39):
other right and they have eachother's back all the time.
So I think that's been modeledfor us as well, so we know that
yeah it is.
But those are threerelationships I probably value
them.
I do value most in my life.
Sorry mom, sorry dad, but theyare they are definitely they're
sibling is your first friendWell, so for me it's a little
different.
They're like my little siblingkids, so I know we'll have to
(22:02):
talk offline about that, butthere's a big age gap.
There's a big age gap at leastseven, eight and 11 years.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
So if my sister was seven years apart and I'll never
forget this like my mom used todress us alike.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
And.
Speaker 2 (22:14):
I couldn't stand it because I'm older, so I'm like
we can dress me like this baby,you know.
And then she used to want to beeverywhere I was, want to
follow me all over the place,and she used to like it used to
arc me, but it's like somethingtransitioned, Like when I went
away to university and I cameback and all of a sudden it was
like let's go out.
Hey, what, what, what you doingthis weekend?
(22:35):
And it's just like I love howthe relationships morph right,
yeah, like transitions intosomething Now, that's into
friendship, and I genuinely likethat.
Speaker 1 (22:44):
I love that about it.
So it's a pretty good segue.
I love when that happens.
Tell me about little not I wasgoing to say little power girl,
tell me about little Patrina.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
Little Patrina had a lot of mouth.
You couldn't control whatlittle Patrina was going to say,
and so my mom would take meplaces and be like I don't know
what this child's going to say,like I'll bump into somebody and
you know, is that your real her?
No, jesus, you know you havesomething.
Or you know, like that was meand it was.
It wasn't in a rude way, it wasjust that.
(23:15):
And then I always wanted toknow why.
So somebody would tell mesomething.
I said, yeah, but why?
I'm a Patrina, but why it's notmaking any sense.
Like, yeah, I need to know.
I had a really wide vocabularyI love.
I was an avid reader.
I would get buried in books.
And the other thing that'sfunny that I can kind of look
back now and see why I work fora charity is because back in the
(23:39):
day, the people that no oneelse wanted to be bothered with
or deal with, the people thateveryone would tease with, the
people that I would reach out to, so, for example, if you saw
someone, as a child little.
So I don't want to be graphicabout it, but I have to break it
down to you.
So let's say somebody was in awheelchair and something was
going on with them.
Let's say that's not on theface, and this is a real story.
(24:00):
And you know they were thereand and people were keeping away
from them, just a caregiveraround them.
I would run over to that personand give them a hug and a kiss,
and my mom would be, and peoplewould be like she's not afraid
of them.
And my mom was like, no, that'sjust that's how she is.
And I would literally talk topeople and you know, it didn't
(24:23):
matter, like skin condition,whatever it was, smells,
whatever.
I was always that person.
Even the elderly just wanted totalk to the elderly.
Sit off, Like I would alwaysjust have conversations.
And my mom was like, like youwere the wordest kid, because no
, all the other children wouldbe like I'm trying to play a
thumb, I try to talk to them,but I always, you know, wanted
(24:44):
to be around them.
Yeah, so that's crazy.
Speaker 1 (24:47):
I would, you don't.
But it also makes a lot ofsense, right, because, like you
said earlier, you knowphilanthropy and working in
charity is it's not for thefaint of heart, right, and you
have to be really passionateabout it, because when you're
not passionate about it, it alsothat disingenuous nature of it
comes across, right, and wenever get that from you.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
So hearing that part of it Listen, you see, that
makes me feel good, because Inever want anyone to think it's
disingenuous, because at the endof the day let's, let's be
honest I could be workingsomewhere else making way more
money and all my private jet ofjust teasing.
But, but, but in all honesty,like since I've been at Big
Brothers, big Sister, I've beenpushed from other organizations,
(25:25):
companies and and everything,but this is where I'm meant to
be, this is where I'm purpose tobe.
Yeah, is to advocate for youngpeople.
Speaker 1 (25:33):
Yeah, no, I love that and I mean.
So what exactly did you go toschool for?
Speaker 2 (25:39):
I'm a communications major, ok.
So the funny part about it is Ihad this whole field, that I
was going to come back toPrometa and I was going to be a
journalist.
So Glenn Jones and I graduatedfrom Barkley together.
We even interned togetherPrometa Broadcasting Company.
So when I went away to school Ilearned how to work camera, I
learned how to edit, I learnedhow to be in front of the camera
(26:01):
.
I did everything that I neededto do production and then I
started taking these courseswith reference to like newspaper
writing.
So I got to write and then Idid editing and writing for the
news.
What I didn't like is themgiving me stories that I didn't
like.
So it's like, here it isSomebody got murdered today.
(26:22):
Here's the story, patrice, andI need you to cover it.
The flu shots are coming up,patrice.
We need you to cover that story.
That's not a night.
You're like you know.
You know what I mean.
It was.
It was.
You know.
I had these big dreams becauseI'm from the world.
Don't laugh, because you knowWalter Crichton.
I don't know who that is.
Dan Rather.
(26:42):
I know Dan Rather's ConnieChong, you know from that type
of era.
So for me it was kind of like.
You know, I felt like I coulddo this.
I'm not that person.
I don't want to write the newsstories.
I don't want to be the personthat you tell me I have to write
about something that's going tomake other people miserable.
I want to do something that'sgoing to bring joy to people and
I want to do something that'sgoing to bring about impact and
(27:05):
I'm not saying that as a newsjournalist that you can't, but
at the time for me it was likethis is not what I want to do.
I'm not happy with this, but Ialso enjoyed editing and
videography as well.
But what happened when I cameback to Bermuda was I got pushed
more in front of the camerathan behind the camera.
So I never really, you knowwhile, I have some skills I
(27:27):
never got to do.
Speaker 1 (27:28):
Yeah, so how did you deal with that while working and
I don't know if you said thecompanies, I won't say it, but
at the company when you firstcame back to Bermuda, you were
working there how did you dealwith, you know, being given
stories that you didn't want todo Because that happened in
university?
Speaker 2 (27:43):
Okay, don't listen, that happened in university, but
I was just giving an examplelike but the flu shot one was
one I had to write.
I had to write that for theschool newspaper and then I had
to do a TV thing for it.
I was like this is boring.
I could be writing somethingelse, I could be saying
something else.
I can't add my swing to it, andso that was the other part.
(28:03):
Always wanted to add a littlebit of something, a little
possess.
Speaker 1 (28:07):
A little, possess A little shot.
Yeah, there you go.
So tell me.
I know a lot of people knowthis, but I think with your
social media presence, I thinkyou're also getting a younger
audience.
Now, right, and I don't thinkpeople know the origin of
PowerGirl.
Where did that come from?
Not everyone, I should say.
Speaker 2 (28:24):
So I worked at Power95 radio station.
I was in PowerGirl All right, Iit's funny, because at Bermuda
Broadcasting Company theyweren't hiring.
But when I came back to schoolI harassed Rick Richardson and I
was like listen, I need a job,I need to be doing this.
Like you know, you're fresh outof school.
You're like I need to be atBermuda Broadcasting Company.
(28:45):
Well, the job came out in salesand marketing, and he was like
well, we have a position here.
I said I'll take it.
And so I started out doing salesand marketing.
But obviously you know it waslike oh, you want to try out
this.
So they had something calledPower95 Interactive.
Don't laugh, it was a card towhere you can get like discounts
and go to parties and do yourlittle too young fellow, and but
(29:08):
, anyway.
So they were having this bigparty and all that type of stuff
, and so they asked me to go onwriting on show, because writing
on you Savaspecha on Saturdays.
And so I went on writing onshow and something crazy
happened.
People were like, oh my gosh,you guys together, who is that
girl?
So afterwards it was like theywere like you need to go back on
(29:30):
, come back on.
So I just ended up being hissidekick, his co-host, you know,
and while I was there I alreadyknew to play.
I knew how to play a bit, butRoddy was like no, you need to
know how to play, and so hewould you know, train me up and
I would just be there andsometimes I would be doing the
playing and he would do theplaying.
Speaker 1 (29:46):
And it was just kind of cool.
You learned from David Roddygon.
That's pretty cool.
No see, listen David.
Speaker 2 (29:52):
Roddygon.
Bermuda was Roddygon, oh my bad.
See, listen, see that shows up.
So Roddygon of Bermuda, okay,not David Roddy.
I didn't know.
It's okay, this is so funny.
My bad, I'm having you makingme laugh, but listen, what
happened after that was, therewas someone called Lord Anthony.
I don't know if you know aboutClub Meadowbark.
Speaker 1 (30:10):
I know, lord Anthony, I'm just making sure.
Yeah, I know, lord Anthony,he's going to gap her.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
So I'm making sure I gotta make sure, do not kill me,
petrina.
Speaker 1 (30:17):
It's the gap, but okay, I'm coming back, I'm
coming back.
Speaker 2 (30:20):
So he used to have Club Meadowbark.
He used to come on the show topromote parties and one day he
was just like you know what.
With all of your energy, I justfeel it's just so electric,
you're just so powerful.
You know what?
You are a power girl.
After he said that, everybodyand their mama started calling
me power girl.
I didn't even, I didn't evenlike it at first.
(30:42):
I'm like what in the world?
I'm like a power girl.
Like what?
What is that?
That superhero?
I thought super boys just saythat you know what I'm like
maybe it's not like a cartoon,but it's like it started to grow
on me after a while.
And then I went to a churchservice one day and an older
lady came up to me and she saidyou think they call you power
(31:02):
girl because of the radiostation.
Nah, they're calling you powergirl because that is your
destiny, that is your God givenpurpose.
God's power is in you.
Speaker 1 (31:16):
I was like that's so different.
When the old ladies at churchtell you that, I said wow, God's
power.
Speaker 2 (31:24):
Nobody, you don't like.
You start to feel it and I'mlike maybe this is something.
And then it was so many thingsthat have been spoken over my
life by so many different people, and I'm very careful to listen
to what people speak Becauseyou know, sometimes people be
saying a lot of stuff.
Speaker 1 (31:38):
Talking on such a strong.
But yes, and you're like yeah,exactly, you just pray for what
they say.
Speaker 2 (31:42):
I can pray for you, for talking over, but anyway, so
, but over my life from an earlyage, people always say that I
was a light and that as I grewolder, that I will be in a place
of authority, and then alsothat don't laugh Someone
actually said, like you will beamongst queens and kings, and I
(32:05):
was like amen, there you go.
But okay, like you know, likesome of the stuff that people
say that I was rolling my eyesat because I was younger and I'm
like whatever.
But now as I get older, I'mlike you know what.
It may be a little something towhat they were saying, maybe
not the queens and kings part,but to just be someone that's
able to do something thatimpacts the community in a way
(32:27):
that their legacy will be knownAbsolutely.
Speaker 1 (32:30):
So I hear you talking about your mom singing in
church and you go into churchwhen you were younger, Like how
has faith played a role in yourlife?
Speaker 2 (32:38):
I don't know where I would be without my faith.
I think I would probably shrinkout and be in a corner shaking
and hiding.
I've been through so many likeearth shattering things in my
life and I honestly I don't knowwhere I would be without it.
And that's just honestlyspeaking.
I say this to people all thetime.
Like I get it.
Not everybody believes in Godand listen.
(33:00):
That is your choice, but it'salso my choice to believe in God
and because I believe in himand I pray and I just leave
things in his hands.
You have to, you know.
I know some people say universeand some listen, it's all
semantics, but for me I justhonestly don't like, if you
(33:21):
don't have faith, what do youhave?
Like?
You have to have faith right,like sitting in a chair.
We have faith that when we sitin the chair, the chair is gonna
hold our weight.
We have faith that when westand up, our legs are gonna
work Like that, believe it ornot, that's faith.
You know it's faith.
100%.
Everything that we do in lifeis faith.
So why can't I believe insomething greater that's gonna
(33:44):
impact my life and help me toget to the next level,
especially if you know, god hasshown up in your life in ways
that you can't deny it right andlike.
Speaker 1 (33:53):
So it's a few things Like for me.
With this whole I'm gonnamanifest and do all these things
.
But that origin, that's fromthe Bible.
Speak things into existence andyou know God will show up in
your life, right so it's-.
I'm glad you said that yes,cause it manifests in things.
When I hear people that I wentto church with say it, I'm like
girl, like we know what thatmeans.
This is what I'm gonna manifestthat girl.
(34:13):
Manifest that's right, speakthat into existence, speak it
into existence, and that's wherethat actually comes from
Believe it Exactly.
So I totally understand that andI think for me faith has
changed.
Recently I was listening tothis sermon.
It wasn't a part I was gonnasay podcast, but it was sermon
the other day, cause I was liketrying to make some decisions
and you know, growing up youwere always like, oh, you know,
(34:33):
god, close that door if you needto do acts right.
And it explains to me the otherday and it was essentially
saying and I can't remember whoit was and if I can think about
it I'll be sure to mention whoit is but they were essentially
like faith is taking that leapand knowing that God's gonna
catch you regardless of whathappens, like that's the faith
of it.
The faith is in waiting for Godto show you or tell you or give
(34:55):
you a sign Faith is taking theleap.
Taking that leap, yeah, and itliterally put into perspective
for me, cause all my life I waslike no, I'm waiting for God to
tell me, or I'm waiting for Godto show me a sign that this is
what he wants me to do leave thejob or whatever.
That may or may not be.
Faith without works, it's.
Faith without action Is dead100%?
I'm not sure, and I had neverthought of it like that before.
(35:16):
So now, like when I'm makingdecisions in my life, I look at
it in that vein, as opposed tolike knowing that God's got you.
That's the faith portion of it,and I'd never thought of it
that way before.
So that's why I ask thequestion about the faith.
Speaker 2 (35:28):
No, seriously, I mean , let me tell you just, girl,
it's just been so much.
I mean, as you know, what mightthe dog attack with me?
Speaker 1 (35:38):
I actually didn't know that you said that
yesterday when we were catchingup and I won't actually, if you
don't mind, what happened.
I don't know, I'm an open book,it's fine.
Speaker 2 (35:45):
So basically we had a dog.
Something happened at home.
I leaned on something, thespeaker fell on the dog and as
it fell I fell back because Iwas leaning on the speaker and I
kicked the dog.
And I was trying to preventhitting my head on the
refrigerator.
And what happened was is thedog clamped down on my foot and
(36:06):
I couldn't get my foot out hismouth and I was on the ground.
And then the next thing youknow it's my arms, it's my
partially amputated finger, it'smy hand that had to, like my
index finger and my thumbactually were hanging off and
had to be reattached mypartially amputated finger.
They told me that I wouldn'thave a nail, but a nail grew
back.
(36:26):
Girl, you could be amazed whatthese nail technicians can do,
but you know, like completelyyou know, and it was crazy
because during that period Icouldn't do anything for myself
and I'm allergic to all of thegood stuff.
I can only take Tylenol and ifyou know about Tylenol, if you
can't take anything outside ofTylenol, it don't even make
(36:48):
sense.
So I was just in bed like thisand couldn't move.
My hands, my wrists weresprained and my husband had to
bathe me.
My husband had to wipe me.
Yes, wipe me.
This is in sickness, in and out.
Speaker 1 (36:59):
That's the part people don't tell you about,
right?
I'm just gonna let you knowthat was really humiliating.
Speaker 2 (37:05):
But you know, he did what he had to do at that time.
But I remember just being there, just like this, because I
can't do anything and I'm justcrying.
I'm like God, like this sucks,this don't make no sense.
And sometimes things happenbecause you need to be still and
you need to process and youneed to kind of get it together
(37:25):
in your head.
And I took that moment to dothat, Like I took that time of I
literally in order to get anywork done.
Afterwards I had to get aheadset and dictate into it no,
seriously, so it can type for me.
And the funny part about thatis, until it knows your accent,
it types all sorts of messages.
Yes, it does.
(37:46):
But when that happened, youknow, they told me that it's
probably gonna be difficult forme to write, it's gonna be
difficult for me to kind of, youknow, have function Like I may
not have 100% function ofanything and I was like no, no,
no, my God is greater than that,I will have function in my
hands.
I will have a nail.
Speaker 1 (38:07):
I know it sounds cosmetic but I will have a nail
on this finger.
Speaker 2 (38:10):
They told me that they removed the nail bed and
let me tell you something itgrew back.
That's crazy.
It looks crazy, but hey, itdoesn't look until you said
something I would have nevernoticed.
No, I call it thingy.
No, it's chicken or something.
I know it sounds corny, butanyway don't laugh.
It's a serious moment betweenme and this finger.
Speaker 1 (38:25):
I know I'm sorry, I know.
Speaker 2 (38:28):
You're just gonna play in your head.
I know I can't.
I will never forget it.
No, I can't help it.
But also even this like I hadto learn how to write again, I
had to learn how to.
I had to go through handtherapy for a while and if you
look, I have like scars here andup here.
Wow.
I would have never noticed myhusband told me it looked like a
real blubber.
I was like well, thanks, but Iknow I can't help it.
(38:48):
This is my personality.
Speaker 1 (38:50):
It's actually a refreshing because we come from
a lovely family, but also acrazy family.
And they would say some thingslike that you fit right in right
, your whole family right.
So I totally understand it butyou mentioned.
You felt like you went throughthat too, so you could be still
and get some things right ortogether Like what do you think
you learned from that experience?
Speaker 2 (39:14):
So everybody thinks I say yes to everything.
Right, there are periods that Isay no.
And also now I'm very consciousabout what I'm affiliated with,
conscious about who I'm workingfor and what events, activities
, things that I'm aligningmyself with, and during that
(39:35):
period, there were some thingsthat I was aligning myself with
that were not necessarily whereI should be, and it wasn't
anything.
And I'm not saying that it wassomething bad or negative.
It was just that I wasn'tsupposed to be in alignment with
that and I was still kind oflike yeah, yeah, yeah, and I was
like no, no, no, you know whatand I'm not saying that he did
(39:56):
this to stop me, but it justmade me reflect even more and be
like you know what.
Let me take this time out.
The thing that I will tell youis I'm the worst person with
reference to self care, and soduring some of those periods,
that also made me be a littlebit better in taking care of
myself.
Speaker 1 (40:14):
And how has that coped like your mental health,
Like when you were in a positionwhere you weren't doing the
self care and you weren't takingcare of yourself.
Did that affect your mentalhealth in any way?
Speaker 2 (40:23):
Yeah, I mean, listen, I'm someone that when I was
young got a struggle withdepression, low self-esteem,
feeling like I wasn't worthy.
I mean I guess all of us insome periods of our lives kind
of go through that period ofwhere we feel less than we feel
like we don't belong.
I know that I sometimes stillstruggle with it, even at this
age, which is crazy, but when Iwas going through those periods
(40:46):
it's a low period for you, right, and you feel like you're all
alone and it's really, reallyeasy to get yourself into a hole
.
And so I know, in Bermuda, formost people, talking about
mental health and sitting on thetherapist's couch is taboo.
Speaker 1 (41:00):
But I'm going to tell you, especially in Black
culture as well In Black culture, yes, and for me, listen.
Speaker 2 (41:04):
if you need help, sit on that couch, whatever it
takes.
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