Corie Sheppard Podcast

Corie Sheppard

The Corie Sheppard PodcastA trusted space for honest, Caribbean-rooted conversations that connect generations, challenge norms, and celebrate culture through real stories and perspectives. Hosted by Corie Sheppard-Babb, the podcast explores the lives, journeys, and ideas of the Caribbean’s most compelling voices—artists, entrepreneurs, cultural leaders, changemakers, and everyday people with powerful stories. Each episode goes beyond headlines and hype to uncover the values, history, humour, struggle, and brilliance that shape who we are. Whether it’s music, business, creativity, identity, advocacy, or community, this podcast holds space for the kind of dialogue that inspires reflection, empowers expression, and preserves our legacy. It’s culture in conversation—unfiltered, intergenerational, and deeply Caribbean. Listen, subscribe, and be part of the stories that move the region forward.

  1. 3d ago

    Supplequental Parade Route

    Send us Fan Mail Apparently, Trinidad and Tobago has been having some trouble with words lately — so this week, we're putting our vocabulary to the test. After somehow producing a 30,788-word conversation with KES, I go searching for some of the wordiest and best-written calypsos of all time, with classics from Relator, Mighty Spoiler, Lord Blakie, David Rudder, The Mighty Sparrow and more providing the soundtrack to the conversation. But as always, the music leads us into some bigger discussions. We revisit the debate surrounding the new police and army posts at Eddie Hart, and why supporting increased security shouldn't mean we stop asking questions about process and accountability. I also respond to some of the feedback from last week's discussion about Emancipation and share my experience at Attillah Springer's Roots & Rights Emancipation Concert — an experience that made me think differently about the connection between Emancipation, the Canboulay Riots, culture, business and the enormous tourism potential of what we already have in Trinidad and Tobago. Then there's Benjai. His controversial social media post about Indians, soca and Emancipation — and his subsequent apology — leads into a wider conversation about race, division and why I refuse to believe that what we see online represents how most Trinidadians actually feel about one another. We also get into the Caroni Bird Sanctuary, eco-tourism, the return of the Independence Day parade, the Queen's Park Savannah and why Trinidad and Tobago may have one renewable resource we'll never run out of: Vibes. And through it all, we celebrate the extraordinary ability of our calypsonians to use words — to tell stories, make us laugh, challenge society and somehow fit more lyrics into four minutes than I thought humanly possible. This is not about having all the answers. It's about starting the conversation. Tell me where you agree, where you disagree, and most importantly: What is the wordiest calypso of all time? ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🎧 SUPPORT THE PODCAST Get early access, exclusive episodes and behind-the-scenes content on Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/coriesheppardpodcast 📱 FOLLOW CORIE SHEPPARD 📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coriesheppod 👍 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/coriesheppardpodcast 🎵 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@coriesheppod 𝕏 X https://x.com/coriesheppod

  2. 4d ago

    🇨🇦🇹🇹 From Afghanistan to Trinidad: A Diplomat’s Extraordinary Journey | Michael Callan

    Send us Fan Mail What takes someone from the Canadian military to Afghanistan, Sudan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Jordan and Algeria — and eventually to Carnival, J’ouvert, panyards and life in Trinidad and Tobago? In this episode of The Corie Sheppard Podcast, we sit down with Michael Callan, High Commissioner of Canada to Trinidad and Tobago, for a wide-ranging conversation about diplomacy, conflict, culture and the experiences that have shaped his life. Michael takes us inside his time in Kandahar, Afghanistan, where he worked as a civilian alongside the military in an increasingly dangerous environment. He reflects on the pressure of making decisions with real consequences, the conversations he had with his family about the possibility that he might not return home, and why one of the most difficult periods of his life was also one of his most rewarding. We also trace his journey through international development and diplomacy — from Bangladesh and Sudan to Egypt, Jordan and his time as Canada’s Ambassador to Algeria — and explore what years spent around conflict taught him about people, institutions, leadership and the things human beings have in common. Then the conversation comes home to Trinidad and Tobago. Michael talks about discovering the country beyond the diplomatic bubble: exploring Tobago, visiting panyards, experiencing Canboulay, playing mas with The Lost Tribe, taking part in J’ouvert and even learning to make callaloo. We also explore the centuries-old connections between Canada and Trinidad and Tobago, from trade and migration to Carnival, Caribana, the Caribbean diaspora and even the extraordinary journey of leatherback turtles between our two countries.

  3. Aug 7

    We Divide Our Own.....But Welcome Everyone Else

    Send us Fan Mail What if the biggest thing dividing Trinidad and Tobago isn't race, politics or religion—but the way we choose to treat each other? This week, I reflect on the response to our Dominic Hadeed interview before exploring the conversations that dominated the Emancipation weekend. From the Indian High Commission controversy and the Emancipation Village to politics, identity and national discourse, one question kept coming back: Why do we so often extend grace to strangers, yet struggle to show that same grace to our own people? Along the way, we discuss: The response to the Dominic Hadeed interviewEmancipation, identity and national prideThe Indian High Commission controversyThe Emancipation Village experiencePolitics, race and public discourseWhy supporting culture also means supporting businessWhat it means to build a country where everyone belongsThese weekly conversations aren't about telling you what to think. They're about slowing down, looking beyond the headlines and making sense of the issues shaping Trinidad and Tobago. I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

  4. Aug 5

    Kes on Taking Soca Global, Family & the Mission Behind the Roots, Rock, Soca Tour

    Send us Fan Mail Fresh off the Roots, Rock, Soca Tour, Kes joins The Corie Sheppard Podcast for one of his most personal and insightful conversations to date. Known for timeless hits and electrifying performances, Kes reflects on the journey behind the music, the responsibility of representing the Caribbean on the global stage, and why introducing new audiences to Soca has become his mission. In this episode, we discuss: The vision behind the Roots, Rock, Soca Tour Taking Soca to audiences around the world The stories behind some of his biggest songs Family, fatherhood and staying grounded Creativity, longevity and purpose The future of Caribbean music Whether you've followed Kes from the beginning or you're just discovering his music, this conversation offers a rare look at the person behind one of the Caribbean's most influential artists. This episode is brought to you in partnership with the new Lucozade Sport Ice Kick by Jude Bellingham. With refreshing lemon and lime flavour, plus carbohydrates and electrolytes to help hydrate, fuel and restore during and after exercise, it's the perfect companion for active lifestyles. Available for a limited time only. Thanks to Lucozade Sport for partnering with us on this episode. 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and wherever you get your podcasts. ⭐ Support the podcast and get exclusive episodes, extended conversations and early access on Patreon: https://patreon.com/coriesheppardpodcast Follow The Corie Sheppard Podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coriesheppod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecoriesheppardpodcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@corieshep X: https://x.com/coriesheppod #Kes #CorieSheppardPodcast #RootsRockSoca #Soca #CaribbeanMusic #TrinidadAndTobago #podcast

  5. Aug 1

    How Dominic Hadeed Built Blue Waters by Solving Problems

    Send us Fan Mail From building one of Trinidad and Tobago's most recognised brands to developing a philosophy centred on solving problems, Dominic Hadeed shares the ideas that have shaped his approach to business, leadership and life. In this conversation, Dominic explains why success is often the absence of failure, why every entrepreneur must define their end game before chasing it, and how learning to embrace honest feedback can transform both business and personal growth. We discuss Blue Waters, entrepreneurship, leadership, company culture, problem solving, Trinidad and Tobago's business environment, the future of Caribbean enterprise and the lessons Dominic believes every leader should learn. Editor's Note: This interview was recorded before the recent events involving Dominic Hadeed and members of his family. Those events are not discussed during this interview. At the time of publication, Mr Hadeed and his wife had been released after their Preventive Detention Orders were revoked. This conversation is presented as it was originally recorded. If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe for more conversations with the Caribbean's most influential leaders, entrepreneurs, creatives and changemakers. Follow The Corie Sheppard Podcast: Instagram: https://instagram.com/coriesheppardpodcast Facebook: https://facebook.com/coriesheppardpodcast TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@coriesheppardpodcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/

  6. Jul 27

    Vaughnette Bigford on Depression, Petrotrin, Menopause & Finding Her Authentic Voice

    Send us Fan Mail Vaughnette Bigford is one of Trinidad & Tobago's most celebrated performers, but behind the sold-out concerts and standing ovations was a deeply personal journey through depression, perimenopause, identity and rebuilding her life. In this powerful conversation, Vaughnette opens up about the hardest year of her life, why she believes more women need to speak openly about menopause, the devastating closure of Petrotrin, building her own brand without waiting for opportunities, and how studying at Berklee changed the way she viewed Caribbean music forever. She also reflects on entrepreneurship, confidence, parenting, community, jazz, calypso and why finding your authentic voice matters more than trying to become someone else. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🎧 SUPPORT THE PODCAST Get early access, exclusive episodes and behind-the-scenes content on Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/coriesheppardpodcast 📱 FOLLOW CORIE SHEPPARD 📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coriesheppod 👍 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/coriesheppardpodcast 🎵 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@coriesheppardpod 💼 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/coriesheppard 𝕏 X https://x.com/coriesheppard

  7. Jul 20

    Cro Cro: "They Turned Off My Mic... But They Could Never Silence Me"

    Send us Fan Mail Cro Cro is one of Trinidad & Tobago's most influential calypsonians, and in this episode of The Corie Sheppard Podcast he reflects on a career built on fearless social commentary, political criticism and some of the most memorable songs in calypso history. From Common Entrance and Apology to Nobody Ain't Gonna Know , Breastfed and Pass the Ball, Cro Cro explains the stories behind his biggest hits, why he wrote them and the public reaction they created. He also shares his views on the current state of calypso, why he believes social commentary is disappearing from the competition, why he stopped competing in the Calypso Monarch, and why he believes calypso was born to challenge power rather than avoid controversy. The conversation explores judging, TUCO, political commentary, censorship, freedom of expression and whether today's calypsonians are still willing to speak truth to authority. Beyond the controversy, Cro Cro opens up about his songwriting process, learning from legends like Sparrow and Shadow, his early years in the tents, the discipline behind his stage performances, and what it takes to write songs that stand the test of time. He also discusses Machel Montano, Kurt Allen, Orlando Octave, the People's Choice award, and why he has never compromised his writing to satisfy judges or public opinion. Whether you've followed Cro Cro throughout his career or you're discovering his music for the first time, this conversation offers a rare insight into one of calypso's greatest writers and performers, and the philosophy that has defined his career. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🎧 SUPPORT THE PODCAST Get early access, exclusive episodes and behind-the-scenes content on Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/coriesheppardpodcast 📱 FOLLOW CORIE SHEPPARD 📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coriesheppod 👍 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/coriesheppardpodcast 𝕏 X https://x.com/coriesheppod ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

  8. Jul 16

    Honouring Bill Trotman | Making Sense of Trinidad's Biggest Stories

    Send us Fan Mail The passing of Bill Trotman is a reminder of why we must celebrate the people who shaped Trinidad and Tobago's culture while they're still with us. In this week's commentary, I pay tribute to one of our great cultural icons and reflect on why preserving these stories matters. From there, we unpack some of the biggest issues affecting the country—from CARICOM and economic diversification to Nestlé's future in Trinidad and Tobago, government spending, public safety and the headlines that have dominated the week. These episodes are simply a chance to slow down, look beyond the headlines and make sense of the issues shaping our country. Topics covered: Honouring the life and legacy of Bill TrotmanRemembering The Mighty WandererCARICOM and Trinidad & Tobago's role in the regionOil, gas and economic diversificationNestlé's strategic review and what it means for local dairy farmersGovernment spending and the national budgetPublic safety, politics and accountabilityWhat are your thoughts on the issues discussed? Join the conversation in the comments.

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4.9
out of 5
33 Ratings

About

The Corie Sheppard PodcastA trusted space for honest, Caribbean-rooted conversations that connect generations, challenge norms, and celebrate culture through real stories and perspectives. Hosted by Corie Sheppard-Babb, the podcast explores the lives, journeys, and ideas of the Caribbean’s most compelling voices—artists, entrepreneurs, cultural leaders, changemakers, and everyday people with powerful stories. Each episode goes beyond headlines and hype to uncover the values, history, humour, struggle, and brilliance that shape who we are. Whether it’s music, business, creativity, identity, advocacy, or community, this podcast holds space for the kind of dialogue that inspires reflection, empowers expression, and preserves our legacy. It’s culture in conversation—unfiltered, intergenerational, and deeply Caribbean. Listen, subscribe, and be part of the stories that move the region forward.

Information

  • Creator
    Corie Sheppard
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    340
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Corie Sheppard Podcast
  • Show Website
    Corie Sheppard Podcast

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