Carry On Friends: The Caribbean American Experience

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

  1. Jul 7

    'Queenie' Shows How Messy Healing Can Be

    Send us Fan Mail Reels & Riddims is another Breadfruit Media production, where we talk about what's onscreen through a Caribbean Lens.  Experience this episode of Reels & Riddims where we discuss 'Queenie' the novel by Candice Carty-Williams and the miniseries adaptation, which is available on Hulu and Disney+.   We get into the big questions people argue about: what the series gets right, what the book does better, and why some viewers tap out early. From Queenie’s breakup fallout to her messy choices, we talk self-worth, self-sabotage, and the relentless pressure to perform “strength” while you’re unraveling. We also name the uncomfortable parts head-on, including sexual fetishization of Black women, consent, and the way bodies are policed and consumed in dating, friendships, and public spaces.  Just as important, we zoom out to the systems around her: workplace bias, the politics of whose ideas get valued, and the coldness you can meet inside medical care when you most need compassion. We talk family dynamics, generational trauma, therapy, and the small tender moments that feel deeply Jamaican and deeply immigrant at the same time.  Check out Reels & Riddims on Apple Podcast | YouTube. 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

    'Queenie' Shows How Messy Healing Can Be
  2. Jun 23

    Planning Across Borders: Caring for Family, Land & Legacy from Abroad (Replay)

    Send us Fan Mail Living across borders means more than booking flights home. It often means caring for aging parents, managing family property, navigating two legal systems, and preparing for the unexpected. In this episode, Kerry-Ann is joined by attorney Renee Kendall of Caribbean Legal Solutions to explore the realities Caribbean families face when life spans multiple countries. Their conversation goes beyond wills to discuss elder care planning, powers of attorney, healthcare proxies, land ownership, estate administration, protecting yourself from fraud, and why organizing your affairs today is one of the greatest gifts you can leave your family. Whether you're helping parents back home, own property in the Caribbean, or simply want to spare your loved ones unnecessary stress one day, this episode offers practical guidance for anyone whose life and family exist across borders. In this episode you'll learn: Why planning before a crisis mattersHow wills fit into a broader estate planThe importance of powers of attorney and healthcare proxiesCommon challenges of managing land and legal affairs across countriesPractical steps you can take now to organize your documents, digital accounts, and family informationHow to avoid common pitfalls when buying or inheriting Caribbean propertyPlanning for the future isn't about expecting the worst. It's about making life easier for the people you love. Renee Kendall is a New York attorney and founder of Caribbean Legal Solutions. Her practice focuses on estate planning, real estate, and helping Caribbean diaspora families navigate legal matters that span multiple countries. Through Caribbean Legal Solutions, she connects clients with trusted legal professionals across the Caribbean while providing guidance on cross-border estate and property matters. Contact Caribbean Legal Solutions - https://caribbeanlegalsolutions.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

    Planning Across Borders: Caring for Family, Land & Legacy from Abroad (Replay)
  3. Jun 9

    Caribbean Languages Are Not "Broken English"

    Send us Fan Mail Is Jamaican Patois really "broken English"? How did Caribbean languages develop, and why do debates about language continue to spark strong reactions throughout the region and the diaspora? In this crossover episode from Breadfruit Media sister show, Strictly Facts, Dr. Alexandria Miller speaks with linguist Dr. Joseph T. Farquharson about the history, structure, and future of Caribbean languages. Together they unpack common misconceptions, explore African linguistic influences, and discuss what language recognition means for cultural identity and belonging. Key Takeaways Caribbean languages are complete linguistic systems, not failed versions of European languages.African languages played a significant role in shaping Caribbean grammar and speech patterns.Migration and music helped preserve and globalize Caribbean languages.The Cassidy-JLU writing system provides a standardized approach to writing Jamaican.Language recognition is connected to identity, education, cultural preservation, and access.Mentioned in This Episode Carry On Friends episode with Dr. Kari-Lee GrantCarry On Friends episode with O'Neil MaddenCOFMG Insights Paper - Jamaican New Testament Strictly Facts PodcastSubscribe 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

    Caribbean Languages Are Not "Broken English"
  4. May 26

    You’re Not Either Or, You’re Both And: Lens 6 Caribbean Diaspora Experience Model (CDEM)

    Send us Fan Mail What happens when a first generation is told “you’re not Jamaican” in one but never fully seen as American either?  In this episode, I explore Lens 6 of the Caribbean Diaspora Experience Model (CDEM): "You're Not Either Or, You're Both And".  Through stories from podcast guests, family experiences, and  observations over more than a decade of podcasting, I unpack the emotional complexity of Caribbean identity in the diaspora for first generation Caribbean Americans.  This conversation explores what it means to navigate layered identities when your heritage, upbringing, geography, and community experiences don’t always align neatly. From being called a “Yankee” by family members to reconnecting with culture later in adulthood, this episode validates the experiences of people who have spent years trying to prove they are “Caribbean enough.” The episode also explores: Why some immigrant parents distanced their children from cultureThe role of fear, assimilation, and survival in shaping identityWhy accents and language don’t determine belongingThe emotional impact of cultural gatekeepingHow Caribbean identity evolves across generationsAt the heart of this episode is a reminder: you do not have to choose between identities. You can be Caribbean and American. Jamaican and Canadian. Guyanese and Brooklyn-born. Identity is layered, lived, and evolving. Resources Mentioned Caribbean Diaspora Experience Model (CDEM)Previous Lens Episodes:Lens 1: Where You Start Shapes the JourneyLens 2: Where You Live + What You Seek = How You Connect Lens 3: Cultural Anchors Keep Us RootedLens 4: Your Identity Will ShiftLens 5: Culture Influences How We Show Up At WorkSubscribe 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

    You’re Not Either Or, You’re Both And: Lens 6 Caribbean Diaspora Experience Model (CDEM)
  5. Apr 28

    More Than a Patty: Building the Juici Patties Brand in the US with Purpose & Pride

    Send us Fan Mail A Jamaican patty can take you back in one bite, to lunch money days or some other memory. Franklyn is a Jamaican entrepreneur helping grow to Juici Patties franchises in the United States. We talk about why that nostalgia comes with real responsibility when you’re carrying a beloved Jamaican brand into cities like New York and markets across the country.  Franklyn shares his journey from Jamaica to school in Tennessee, finishing his degree in Florida, working in software engineering, and then stepping fully into franchise ownership. From there, we dig into the business side of Caribbean food. He explains why consistency is everything, why one average patty can hurt the whole brand, and how a viral moment only matters if the product can back it up.  Is it possible to normalize the Caribbean Food category the way Italian and Mexican food have been normalized without losing culture or ownership? Franklin addresses that concern head-on, then closes with what he hopes successful Jamaican brands can do for Jamaica itself through investment, development, and long-term economic lift.  If you care about Jamaican patties, Caribbean American identity, or how to scale a food brand without selling out, press play, follow, and share this with a friend then leave a review and tell us your go-to patty and drink pairing. 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

    More Than a Patty: Building the Juici Patties Brand in the US with Purpose & Pride

Trailers

4.9
out of 5
80 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.

More From Carry On Friends

You Might Also Like