Send us a text In this powerful conversation, Raymond Ramnarine, frontman of Dil-E-Nadan, sits with Corie Sheppard to share the faith, discipline, and family values behind one of Trinidad & Tobago’s longest-running bands. Raymond opens up about: 🎵 Growing up in the Ramnarine family band and carrying the legacy after his father’s passing. 🙏 The mantra “We pray before we play” and how faith shapes his leadership. 🥁 Why he insists on full live-band performances — no tracks, no shortcuts. 🌍 T...

Send us a text In this inspiring and unfiltered conversation, Lady Lava shares how authenticity, hustle, and survival shaped her into one of the most influential voices in modern soca. She talks about building from the ground up—selling slippers, coconut water, and ice cream to fund her dreams—and why every stage of the grind made her unstoppable. Lava opens up about artist independence, income discipline, and why talent without structure will keep you stuck. She also speaks passionately abou...

Send us a text In this episode of The Corie Sheppard Podcast, Corie sits down with Kasey Phillips, the world-renowned producer and CEO of Precision Productions, whose sound has defined a generation of soca and shaped the evolution of Caribbean music. Kasey opens up about his journey from engineering hits for KMC and Machel Montano to crafting global soca anthems like Antilles and countless Road March winners. He reflects on his creative philosophy, the business of production, and why he refus...

Send us a text In this episode of The Corie Sheppard Podcast, Trinidadian artist and poet Jimmy October opens up about his creative evolution, the story behind New Calypso, and his new project Episode 3 — a four-track EP that moves from the high-energy “Bam Bam” to the reflective “Desires.” He explains how fashion became self-expression (“the three belts story”), why his sound blends Calypso roots with modern R&B and pop influences, and what it really took to walk away from a secure hospi...

Send us a text Corie dedicates this episode to the late matriarch “Mama Doreen,” whose Girl Guides guard-of-honour in a packed Tacarigua church sparked a bigger conversation: the crisis of community and how strong institutions can pull Trinidad & Tobago back from its apparent moral decline. Anchored by memories from the funeral and repass—hymns, kaiso, and hard truths—Corie argues that movements like Girl Guides, Brownies, Scouts, Cadets, school bands, and the Police Band don’t just “nice...

Send us a text This week on The Corie Sheppard Podcast, we sit down with Chromatics — rapper, radio host, and founder of OUR Radio — to talk about music, entrepreneurship, and the courage to carve your own path. From the cultural shockwaves of Carnival Rap Up to the reflective storytelling of Tobago Chokey, Chromatics shares how he built his career on authenticity and adaptability. He opens up about the dream of performing on the Skinner Park and Dimanche Gras stages, the lessons learned in t...

Send us a text From Milan to Arena, from Synergy Soca Star to the founding of Trinidad & Tobago Restaurant Week — Shira Mohammed’s story is one of grit, creativity, and culture. In this episode, we trace her unlikely journey from a love child in Italy to becoming the driving force behind one of the country’s biggest culinary festivals. Shira opens up about the hustle behind Restaurant Week, the parallels with Carnival, the challenges of sponsorship, and her vision to brand Trinidad & ...

Send us a text This week on The Corie Sheppard Podcast, we sit down with Gary Aboud — businessman, activist, and long-time Corporate Secretary of Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS). From building Mode Alive into one of Trinidad and Tobago’s most recognizable retail brands to decades of outspoken advocacy on issues like oil spills, coastal protection, and sustainable fishing, Gary has never shied away from standing up for what he believes in. In this wide-ranging conversation, we cover: T...

Send us a text Cindy-Ann Boisson | Comedy, Honesty & Owning the Trini Accent This week on The Corie Sheppard Podcast, comedian Cindy-Ann Boisson joins me for a hilarious and powerful conversation about the craft of stand-up, surviving the grind, and staying authentic. We talk about her upcoming comedy competition Punched Up, why repeating jokes is part of the art form, and the balance between silence and punchlines. Cindy-Ann shares raw stories—from almost being assaulted in Florida and e...

Send us a text We sit down with Stacey Sobers — calypsonian, actor, and entrepreneur — for an inspiring conversation on music, resilience, and community. Stacey shares her journey from growing up in Chaguanas to starring in Queen of the Road - Calypso Rose: The Musical, the untold story behind “Let Me Know When You’re Coming,” and the moment that shifted her from soca to calypso. We talk about women in kaiso, mentorship, and the realities of competition at Skinner Park and the Savannah, her 2...

Send us a text Kit Israel | From Kan Kan to Folklore, Calypso with a K, and the Future of Caribbean Music Kit Israel of AdvoKit Productions joins The Corie Sheppard Podcast for a deep dive into the music, culture, and vision that drive his work. The son of legendary musician and producer Roger Israel, Kit brings both heritage and innovation to the table — combining his degree in Mathematics with his passion for sound to approach music as both science and art. As the producer behind the Kan Ka...

Send us a text Kwesi “Hoppy” Hopkinson has been a driving force in Trinidad & Tobago’s entertainment and media landscape for decades. From his teenage years building Radioactive and Players Inc, to shaping the party culture with iconic events like Soca Picnic, to creating platforms such as Scorch Magazine, Scorch Radio, Island E-Tickets, and now Scorch TV — Hoppy’s story is one of vision, branding, and resilience. In this episode, we talk about: The early days of sound clashes, dubplates,...

Send us a text Marc Jardine: From Fatima Days to the Helm of RBC In this episode, Corie sits down with Marc Jardine, Managing Director and VP of Commercial Banking at RBC Royal Bank Trinidad and Tobago. They reflect on their shared Fatima College roots, school days, and the importance of mentorship and fatherhood. Marc opens up about his unexpected career path—from dreams of ornithology to finance, agriculture, and now banking leadership. The conversation dives into life lessons from Fatima, ...

Send us a text In this vibrant and heartfelt conversation, percussionist, vocalist, and cultural advocate Ajibola (Sheena Richardson) joins Corie to share her journey from drumming on her mother’s Bible at age three to gracing stages with icons like Ella Andall, Vaughnette Bigford, Etienne Charles, and Machel Montano. She reflects on her mission with Girls Can Play Drums Too, an initiative empowering women of all ages to embrace rhythm, balance, and self-expression. Ajibola opens up about her...

Send us a text Celebrating the Life of Lord Funny – Calypso’s Master of Wit In this heartfelt and laughter-filled episode, Corie pays tribute to the late great Lord Funny, one of Trinidad and Tobago’s most beloved calypsonians. From his razor-sharp social commentary to his unforgettable humour, Funny’s music could both break the tension in a heated calypso tent and shine a light on the nation’s biggest issues. Corie revisits classics like Farmer Brong, Sweet Sweet Trinidad, and Bamsie, weavin...

Send us a text In this episode, Corie sits down with the founder of Adam’s Bagelry for an unfiltered conversation about business resilience, brand building, and the mindset it takes to last over 30 years in the game. They discuss: The origin story behind Adam’s Bagelry — and how a bagel shop in New York sparked a lifelong businessThe impact of the 1990 coup on Adam’s first storeGrowing a family business out of his mother’s kitchenScaling from baked goods to sauces, retail, and now expansionTh...

Send us a text Step into a celebration of Trinidad and Tobago's cultural heartbeat as we mark Emancipation Day with powerful reflections on the guardians of our heritage. This special episode weaves together the melodious rapso rhythms of Karega Mandela while taking you behind the curtain of my recent conversations with some of our nation's most brilliant minds. From the theatrical brilliance of Tyker Phillips confronting difficult social issues through art, to the extraordinary journey of M...

Send us a text In this wildly funny and unexpectedly honest episode, Jr Lee sits down with Corie for a raw conversation about comedy, politics, family, friendship, and fighting for relevance. From lying on the podcast table to explaining why he can’t get a visa — nothing is off limits. He breaks down his approach to skits, why he doesn’t beg for followers, and how he deals with being misunderstood. They talk about grief, schooldays, raising children, and why Jr Lee feels loyalty to his audien...

Send us a text In this powerful episode, Corie sits down with Maxine Williams, VP Head of Accessibility and Engagement at Meta (formerly Chief Diversity Officer), Rhodes Scholar, Oxford and Yale graduate, for an honest, inspiring, and deeply Trinidadian conversation. From acting on stage in Earl Lovelace's the Dragon Can't Dance with Brother Resistance and playing the evil Isis in Westwood Park, to working alongside Mark Zuckerberg at one of the world’s most influential tech companies, ...

Send us a text In this week’s episode, playwright and cultural force Tyker Phillip brings real Jamette energy and opens up about the making of her acclaimed play Poison, a gripping drama born from the haunting lyrics of Dexter Dapp’s “Breaking News.” She breaks down her creative process, the casting of Nikolai Salcedo and Tafar Chia, and why she chose intimate spaces to make the audience sit in discomfort. We dive into her Belmont roots, her work with Belmont Freetown, and how mentors like Ra...