Carry On Friends: The Caribbean American Experience

Carry On Friends
  • 4.9 (78)
  • PERSONAL JOURNALS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Carry On Friends has an unmistakable Caribbean-American essence. Hosted by the dynamic and engaging Kerry-Ann Reid-Brown, the podcast takes listeners on a global journey, deeply rooted in Caribbean culture. It serves as a melting pot of inspiring stories, light-hearted anecdotes, and stimulating perspectives that provoke thought and initiate conversations. The podcast invites guests who enrich the narrative with their unique experiences and insights into Caribbean culture and identity. With an array of topics covered - from lifestyle and wellness to travel, entertainment, career, and entrepreneurship - it encapsulates the diverse facets of the Caribbean American experience. Catering to an international audience, Carry On Friends effectively bridges cultural gaps, uniting listeners under a shared love and appreciation for Caribbean culture.

  1. From Disconnected To Deeply Rooted: How She Reclaimed Her Caribbean Identity & Helps Others Do The Same

    5D AGO

    From Disconnected To Deeply Rooted: How She Reclaimed Her Caribbean Identity & Helps Others Do The Same

    Send a text I this episode I sat down with cultural heritage reconnection coach Tami Garcia to trace a path from distance to pride. Raised in Cleveland by Jamaican and Dominican family who chose assimilation for survival, Tami grew up without language, rituals, or a map for belonging; until Howard University cracked something open: pride, proximity, and a hunger for the fullness of her story. This conversation traces Tammy’s journey from disconnection to reclamation, and how that personal work became the foundation for the work she now does with families and individuals across the diaspora. Along our conversation journey, we name cultural imposter syndrome, face the pain of gatekeeping on both sides of the diaspora, and offer strategies to enter new spaces with respect: arrive in silence, observe, share your story and build trust step by step. Connect with Tami Garcia - https://www.tamigarcia.com/ Subscribe to the Newsletter Support How to Support Carry On Friends Donate: If you believe in our mission and want to help amplify Caribbean voices, consider making a donation. Get Merch: Support Carry On Friends by purchasing merchandise from our store. Connect with @carryonfriends - Instagram | Facebook | YouTube A Breadfruit Media Production

    53 min
  2. Your Cultural Identity Will Shift: Lens 4 Caribbean Diaspora Experience Model (CDEM)

    FEB 3

    Your Cultural Identity Will Shift: Lens 4 Caribbean Diaspora Experience Model (CDEM)

    Send a text What if you’re not losing your culture, just carrying it differently? In this solo episode, I unpack cultural evolution, identity shifts, and why growth is essential to preservation. Topics Covered Aging and cultural relevance in the diasporaFrom consuming culture to preserving itCultural guilt and letting it goThe role of elders, adults, and youth in cultural continuityKey Takeaways Cultural evolution does not equal cultural disconnectionDifferent life stages naturally emphasize different cultural anchorsDepth of understanding often increases even as participation changesHow you express identity shifts based on context, safety, and life stageLinks & Resources Caribbean Diaspora Experience ModelLens 1: Where You Start Shapes the JourneyLens 2: Where You Live + What You Seek = How You Connect Lens 3: Cultural Anchors Keep Us Rooted Subscribe to the Newsletter Support How to Support Carry On Friends Donate: If you believe in our mission and want to help amplify Caribbean voices, consider making a donation. Get Merch: Support Carry On Friends by purchasing merchandise from our store. Connect with @carryonfriends - Instagram | Facebook | YouTube A Breadfruit Media Production

    17 min
  3. Read & Carry On: Unpacking Honeysuckle & Bone

    JAN 20

    Read & Carry On: Unpacking Honeysuckle & Bone

    Send us a text In this Read and Carry On edition of Carry On Friends, I am joined by writer Nicole Dubois and comedian and creative Onicia Muller to talk about Honeysuckle and Bone by Trisha Tobias. It is a YA novel set between New York and Jamaica, filled with puppy, politics and class, but also with very real questions about identity, social media and what we do and do not tell our children.  Spoiler Alert: There are some spoilers but we kept it light. Connect with Nicole: Website | Instagram Connect with Onicia: Website Subscribe to the Newsletter Support How to Support Carry On Friends Donate: If you believe in our mission and want to help amplify Caribbean voices, consider making a donation. Get Merch: Support Carry On Friends by purchasing merchandise from our store. Connect with @carryonfriends - Instagram | Facebook | YouTube A Breadfruit Media Production

    48 min
  4. Cultural Anchors Keep Us Rooted: Lens 3 of Caribbean Diaspora Experience Model (CDEM)

    JAN 6

    Cultural Anchors Keep Us Rooted: Lens 3 of Caribbean Diaspora Experience Model (CDEM)

    Send us a text In this episode let's explore how cultural anchors like food, music, language, traditions, spirituality and family keep Caribbean identity alive across distance.  Lens 3 of the Caribbean Diaspora Experience Model (CDEM) looks at how cultural anchors keep us rooted. This episode explains why some anchors travel easily, how others need community, and how everyday moments build memory and belonging. What is your strongest cultural anchor right now? Mentioned in the episode: Caribbean Diaspora Experience ModelLens 1: Where You Start Shapes the JourneyLens 2: Where You Live + What You Seek = How You Connect Herman Hall on How the West Indian Day Parade Started in Brooklyn Subscribe to the Newsletter Support How to Support Carry On Friends Donate: If you believe in our mission and want to help amplify Caribbean voices, consider making a donation. Get Merch: Support Carry On Friends by purchasing merchandise from our store. Connect with @carryonfriends - Instagram | Facebook | YouTube A Breadfruit Media Production

    21 min
  5. Throwback: Felicia Hatcher on Finding Your Zone of Genius and Overcoming Doubts

    12/23/2025 · BONUS

    Throwback: Felicia Hatcher on Finding Your Zone of Genius and Overcoming Doubts

    Send us a text What if losing your job could lead to the creation of a thriving business and a nonprofit dedicated to tech education? Felicia Hatcher, is a dynamic force in the tech world. Felicia recounts her inspiring journey from working at top-tier companies like Sony and Nintendo to launching a gourmet popsicle company after an unexpected job loss.  Failure isn't a dead-end—it's a stepping stone to innovation. In this episode, we dig deep into the concept of failure, challenging traditional views and emphasizing its essential role in discovering new methods and ideas. Felicia and I explore how cultural expectations shape our perceptions of success and failure and discuss how technology now allows for safer experimentation. Even in failure, valuable knowledge is gained, driving home the point that success is a long game with multiple paths. This conversation is a profound reminder that setbacks can be transformative and pave the way for groundbreaking innovations. Find your zone of genius and overcome imposter syndrome with actionable strategies. Felicia and I discuss how focusing on your strengths can lead to ultimate fulfillment and legacy work. Key insights from Gay Hendricks' book "The Big Leap" are explored, shedding light on how to live and work at your highest potential. Learn about the importance of cultivating a supportive community, owning your accomplishments, and confidently sharing your expertise. Felicia's experiences offer a powerful testament to the importance of embracing excellence and unleashing your full potential, ensuring that your hard work and qualifications are recognized and rewarded. Subscribe to the Newsletter Support How to Support Carry On Friends Donate: If you believe in our mission and want to help amplify Caribbean voices, consider making a donation. Get Merch: Support Carry On Friends by purchasing merchandise from our store. Connect with @carryonfriends - Instagram | Facebook | YouTube A Breadfruit Media Production

    50 min
  6. From Carnival Streets To Magazine Pages: Herman Hall On Building Caribbean-American Media

    12/09/2025

    From Carnival Streets To Magazine Pages: Herman Hall On Building Caribbean-American Media

    Send us a text Carnival didn’t just arrive on Eastern Parkway; people fought for it, paid for it, and sometimes lost careers over it. I sit down with Herman Hall, publisher of Everybody’s Magazine and longtime promoter to map how Caribbean culture took root in New York and how a small community magazine became a historical record. From a 1978 Bob Marley cover that sold out twice to the tumult of the Grenada revolution and Michael Manley’s labor politics, Herman walks us through the moments that turned diaspora headlines into global stories. We dig into the migration from Harlem to Brooklyn, the resistance to bringing Carnival to the museum grounds, and the quiet pioneers who made Bed-Stuy and Crown Heights home decades earlier. Herman explains why he ran publishing and promotion in tandem, taking Oliver Samuels across boroughs and managing calypso legend Shadow. The theme is consistent: build platforms that pay artists, grow audiences, and keep Caribbean voices in the spotlight. As the media landscape shifts, Herman shares a pragmatic view: print won’t die, but it won’t be the same. He’s preserving a vast archive - photos, interviews, and manuscripts. In addition, he is writing new books tracing Caribbean contributions from Alexander Hamilton and Claude McKay to Shirley Chisholm and Colin Powell.  If you enjoy this episode, follow the show, share with a friend who loves Caribbean culture, and leave a review. Subscribe to the Newsletter Support How to Support Carry On Friends Donate: If you believe in our mission and want to help amplify Caribbean voices, consider making a donation. Get Merch: Support Carry On Friends by purchasing merchandise from our store. Connect with @carryonfriends - Instagram | Facebook | YouTube A Breadfruit Media Production

    24 min
  7. Why Caribbean Media Must Organize, Monetize, And Own Its Platforms

    11/25/2025 · BONUS

    Why Caribbean Media Must Organize, Monetize, And Own Its Platforms

    Send us a text If you’ve ever wondered why Caribbean-American media still rents space on other people’s platforms, this conversation goes straight to the root: ownership, organization, and the business engine behind our stories.  In this special episode in partnership with WhereItzAt Magazine, I sit down with two veteran publishers - Clive Williams of Where It’s At Magazine and Herman Hall of Everybody’s Magazine; to map what it takes to build power: an association with teeth, a revenue model that outlasts trends, and alliances that turn small outlets into a market force. We dig into the tough stuff too: why advertisers often ignore Caribbean audiences, how tourist boards spend outside the community, and what data and collaboration it takes to win budgets back. Real stories from missed chances to buy stations to the WLIB legacy reveal how fragmentation costs us and how shared platforms can change the math. Call it a blueprint for the next wave: set clear priorities, package real audience insights, and pool resources like other communities do. If we want equity and visibility, we need leverage media kits with proof, sales teams that go to market together, and partnerships that protect voice while scaling reach. By the end, you’ll see a path from consumer to producer, from renting attention to owning distribution. Subscribe, share this with a creator or marketer who needs to hear it, and leave a review with one action you’ll take to support Caribbean-owned media. Subscribe to the Newsletter Support How to Support Carry On Friends Donate: If you believe in our mission and want to help amplify Caribbean voices, consider making a donation. Get Merch: Support Carry On Friends by purchasing merchandise from our store. Connect with @carryonfriends - Instagram | Facebook | YouTube A Breadfruit Media Production

    50 min
  8. Hurricane Melissa: Stories from the Diaspora and the Cultural Anchors That Hold Us

    11/11/2025

    Hurricane Melissa: Stories from the Diaspora and the Cultural Anchors That Hold Us

    Send us a text When Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica, the impact rippled far beyond the island. This episode explores “the middle place” — that emotional space between home and abroad — through the voices of Caribbean people across the diaspora. Through Lens 3 of the Caribbean Diaspora Experience Model (CDEM): Cultural Anchors, Kerry-Ann reflects on how faith, music, sayings, and pride keep us grounded in times of uncertainty and loss. Episode Highlights: The emotional toll of watching home in crisis while abroadFinding strength through cultural anchors: music, prayer, proverbs, and national prideDiaspora coordination, empathy, and responsible giving during disaster recoveryHow resilience and cultural memory fuel the long work of rebuildingRe-examining “giving back” as a year-round cultural practiceMentioned & Related Episodes: Rethinking Caribbean Disaster Relief: A Call to ActionSupport the Caribbean Year-Round: Giving Before, During & After Disaster StrikesFrom Carriacou to Brooklyn: Building Sustainable Futures & Cultural Legacy.  Subscribe to the Newsletter Support How to Support Carry On Friends Donate: If you believe in our mission and want to help amplify Caribbean voices, consider making a donation. Get Merch: Support Carry On Friends by purchasing merchandise from our store. Connect with @carryonfriends - Instagram | Facebook | YouTube A Breadfruit Media Production

    35 min
See All (296)

Trailers

4.9
out of 5
78 Ratings

About

Carry On Friends has an unmistakable Caribbean-American essence. Hosted by the dynamic and engaging Kerry-Ann Reid-Brown, the podcast takes listeners on a global journey, deeply rooted in Caribbean culture. It serves as a melting pot of inspiring stories, light-hearted anecdotes, and stimulating perspectives that provoke thought and initiate conversations. The podcast invites guests who enrich the narrative with their unique experiences and insights into Caribbean culture and identity. With an array of topics covered - from lifestyle and wellness to travel, entertainment, career, and entrepreneurship - it encapsulates the diverse facets of the Caribbean American experience. Catering to an international audience, Carry On Friends effectively bridges cultural gaps, uniting listeners under a shared love and appreciation for Caribbean culture.

Information

More From Carry On Friends

You Might Also Like