Explore every episode of the podcast Island Girls Rock Podcast
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROOTED Ep 3: Carine Jocelyn - The Haitian Women’s Collective (Haiti) | 22 Mar 2026 | 00:40:14 | |
In this episode of Rooted, we are speaking with Carine Jocelyn, founder of the Haitian Women’s Collective and the Fund for Haitian Women, the first women’s fund in the entire Caribbean region. This is a conversation about legacy and the long game. What it means to spend more than 25 years building institutions rooted in the belief that Haitian women deserve to be seen, supported, and centred. And what it takes to create something so foundational that it outlives your own direct involvement. From establishing a community health centre in Port-au-Prince that continues to be locally run to this day, to making history at Profamil, to founding two landmark organisations, Carine brings both extraordinary depth and quiet conviction to this work. We really hope this conversation moves you as much as it moved us. This podcast is hosted by Chantal Miller Produced by BreAnna Holmes & Chantal Miller Edited by BreAnna Holmes See more from the Haitian Women’s Collective here: www.haitianwomenscollective.org See more from the Clara Lionel Foundation here: https://www.claralionelfoundation.com See more from Island Girls Rock here: https://islandgirlsrock.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| ROOTED Ep 2: Keithlin Caroo-Afrifa - Helen's Daughters (Saint Lucia) | 15 Mar 2026 | 00:47:01 | |
In the second episode of Rooted, we are speaking with Keithlin Caroo, founder of Helen’s Daughters, a regional organisation rooted in Saint Lucia that is transforming what is possible for Caribbean women in agriculture. This is a conversation about land and legacy. What it means to build an organisation around the realities women farmers actually face, and why investing in women’s access to training, markets, and each other is not just good development practice, it is a form of justice. From the early days of Helen’s Daughters to the launch of the Unconference on Agriculture and the HD Ag-cademy, Keithlin brings both rigor and deep care to this work. We really hope this conversation moves you as much as it moved us. This podcast is hosted by Chantal Miller Produced by BreAnna Holmes & Chantal Miller Edited by BreAnna Holmes See more from Helen’s Daughters here: https://www.helensdaughters.org/ See more from the Clara Lionel Foundation here: https://www.claralionelfoundation.com See more from Island Girls Rock here: https://islandgirlsrock.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| ROOTED Ep 1: Amina Doherty - Clara Lionel Foundation (Caribbean, U.S. South & Africa) | 08 Mar 2026 | 00:49:00 | |
Welcome to Rooted: Stories of Community-Driven Change, a special partnership between Island Girls Rock and the Clara Lionel Foundation. This season, we're sitting down with women leaders across the U.S. South and Caribbean who are leading organizations rooted in culture, community, and purpose. These are the voices reshaping local power structures, uplifting traditions, and proving that the most powerful innovations emerge from deep community roots. In our first episode of this very special series we are speaking with Amina Doherty, the head of programs and impact at he Clara Lionel Foundation. This is a conversation about identity and belonging. What it means to lead with both strategy and heart and why trusting communities to shape their own futures is not just an approach, it’s a conviction. From her Nigerian and Antiguan roots to the global work she carries. Amina brings a rare clarity and warm everything she touches. We really hope this conversation moves as much as it moved us. This podcast is hosted by Chantal Miller Produced by BreAnna Holmes & Chantal Miller Edited by BreAnna Holmes See more from the Clara Lionel Foundation here: https://www.claralionelfoundation.com See more from Island Girls Rock here: https://islandgirlsrock.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Back to the Beginning - Chantal Miller with Vanel Bailey & Brianné Chapman (Nevis) | 05 Mar 2026 | 00:59:07 | |
In this special season finale of the Island Girls Rock Podcast, we flip the script. Youth Engagement Coordinators Vanel Bailey and Brianné Chapman step into the hosting seats, turning the mic on the podcast’s host, Chantal Miller, for a candid and celebratory conversation. With Island Girls Rock marking its 10th year, Vanel and Brianné take the opportunity to go back to the beginning — exploring the inspiration behind the organisation, and the woman at the heart of it. Chantal reflects on her childhood growing up between Nevis and the UK, how navigating two worlds shaped her identity, and how those experiences ultimately led to the creation of Island Girls Rock. It’s a warm, fun, and deeply insightful conversation that feels like a love letter to a decade of community, culture, and Caribbean girlhood. This podcast is produced by Island Girls Chantal Miller & BreAnna Holmes Edited by Island Girl BreAnna Holmes Chantal's Interview with Huey Sergeant Adopt-A-Coastline Ocean Stewardship Information Visit our website: islandgirlsrock.com Connect with us on Instagram: @igr_love Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Holding Story, Place, and Possibility - Brittany Suzanne Kelly (Cayman Islands) | 29 Jan 2026 | 01:05:38 | |
In this episode of the Island Girls Rock Podcast, we sit with Brittany Suzanne Kelly (they/them), award winning Caymanian writer, producer, director, and the first Film Commissioner of the Cayman Islands, for a thoughtful conversation on Caribbean cinema, storytelling, and cultural leadership. Rooted in a deep family legacy in film, with their great grandfather owning the first cinema in the Cayman Islands, Brittany reflects on what it means to support and create stories shaped by lived Caribbean experience. We speak about creative autonomy, co production in the region, moving through film spaces in London and Los Angeles, and how identity, belonging, and place are understood and felt across different contexts. This episode is especially resonant for film lovers, filmmakers, and anyone invested in the future of Caribbean storytelling. This podcast is produced by Island Girls Chantal Miller & BreAnna Holmes Edited by Island Girl BreAnna Holmes Connect with Brittany: Instagram: @striketwicecreative See Brittany's Projects & More Here Visit our website: islandgirlsrock.com Connect with us on Instagram: @igr_love Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Holding Strength, Care, and Community - Sharon Feanny (Jamaica) | 15 Jan 2026 | 00:55:58 | |
In this episode of the Island Girls Rock Podcast, we sit with Jamaican wellness pioneer, yoga teacher, and community guide Sharon Feanny for a generous and steady conversation on midlife, recovery, and what it means to care for ourselves while holding space for others. Rooted in ancestral Caribbean wellness practices and more than three decades of lived experience, Sharon reflects on aging with vitality, strength, and self trust, particularly in seasons of upheaval. Drawing from her deep connection to Treasure Beach, where she hosts retreats and remains closely embedded in community care following Hurricane Melissa, she shares insights on resilience, collective recovery, and the quiet, necessary practices that help women continue to thrive as they age. This conversation is an offering for women in midlife, and for any woman, at any stage of her life, who is navigating change while remaining deeply connected to her body, her community, and her sense of purpose. This podcast is produced by Island Girls Chantal Miller & BreAnna Holmes Edited by Island Girl BreAnna Holmes Connect with Sharon: Instagram: @sharonfeanny Join Sharon's 10-Day Longevity Reset Visit our website: islandgirlsrock.com Connect with us on Instagram: @igr_love Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Just Be - Nikeva Stapleton (Nevis) | 18 Dec 2025 | 01:08:00 | |
In this episode of the Island Girls Rock Podcast, we sit with actor, dancer, wellness instructor, and teaching artist Nikeva Stapleton for a grounded and generous conversation on presence, purpose, and possibility. Nikeva reflects on Nevis as her place to simply be, shares what it means to fully claim life as a multi-hyphenate, and speaks openly about manifestation and the power of naming what you’re calling in. From global stages and screens to movement, wellness, and community work across the Caribbean, this conversation is an invitation to listen closely to yourself, your path, and what you’re ready to speak into existence. This podcast is produced by Island Girls Chantal Miller & BreAnna Holmes Edited by Island Girl BreAnna Holmes Connect with Nikeva: Instagram: @kevakevs The Intuit Body: https://www.theintuitbody.com/ Visit our website: islandgirlsrock.com Connect with us on Instagram: @igr_love Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Culture, Identity and Showing Up - Simone Mills (Nevis) | 11 Dec 2025 | 00:47:41 | |
In this episode we sit with creator, scholar and proud Nevisian, Simone Mills, known online as @everytingsimsimma, for a rich and grounded conversation on culture, Carnival, identity and the quiet ways we continue to resist. Simone shares how she tells our stories through two essential lenses: the creative and the academic. She speaks openly about “nerding out” over history, constantly tracing threads between our present day traditions and their deeper roots. Her research into Carnival as resistance has shaped not just her work but the way she moves through the world. We talk about showing up in spaces that were not made with us in mind, and how disruption does not always need to be loud to be powerful. Simone also offers a beautiful reflection on growing up between worlds, feeling too West Indian for American folks and too American for her Caribbean family, and how that in between space helped her anchor herself in her identity. For her, the islands are not just heritage. They are home. This is a thoughtful and heart full conversation with a woman who studies, celebrates and lives her Caribbean identity with clarity and joy! This podcast is produced by Island Girls Chantal Miller & BreAnna Holmes Edited by Island Girl BreAnna Holmes Connect with Simone: Instagram: @everytingsimsimma TikTok: @everytingsimsimma Twitter/X: @icegreenandgold Visit our website: islandgirlsrock.com Connect with us on Instagram: @igr_love Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Joy, Healing and Trying a Ting - Sherween Gonzales (Saint Lucia) | 27 Nov 2025 | 00:58:53 | |
This week, our very special guest Sherween Gonzales, brings her familiar warmth, wit, and grounded wisdom. An educator, entrepreneur, co-host of The *(Relate)able Podcast, and the vibrant spirit behind High Times with Sherween, she is well known for her blend of laughter, honesty, and those unmistakable Sherweenisms her audiences adore. In this conversation, Sherween opens up about the threads that run through her life’s work. Education, wellness, spirituality, food sovereignty, and the courage it takes to keep evolving. We talk about her years in the classroom, her commitment to community entrepreneurship, her creative journey with Know Your Caribbean’s “Trying a Ting,” and the deep personal practices that guide her healing work. You’ll hear moments of vulnerability, plenty of joy, and a few surprises as she reflects on where she has been and where she is headed. Including her vision for regenerative farming, community empowerment, and spiritual offerings rooted in her island heritage. It’s a rich, uplifting episode filled with insight, humour, and heart. This podcast is produced by Island Girls Chantal Miller & BreAnna Holmes Edited by Island Girl BreAnna Holmes Connect with Sherween: Instagram: @sherween_gonzales Visit our website: islandgirlsrock.com Connect with us on Instagram: @igr_love Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Rooted and Resilient - Senator Janelle K. Sarauw on Leading Authentically (U.S. Virgin Islands) | 13 Nov 2025 | 00:55:50 | |
This episode arrives a little later than usual because we chose to pause, to organise ourselves for relief efforts, and to honour and share the work that communities and organisations across the Caribbean and diaspora are doing to support those affected by the passage of Hurricane Melissa. In this conversation, recorded on September 16, 2025, we speak with Senator Janelle K. Sarauw of the U.S. Virgin Islands. During our discussion, she reflects on her first term which began after two Category 5 hurricanes devastated the islands. After much consideration, we decided to keep this part of the conversation in as it naturally occurred because it shows the resilience of our people and reminds us of how we continue to rebuild with hope. Senator Sarauw shares her journey from the classroom to the Legislature, her experiences showing up authentically in leadership spaces, and her work advocating for youth, culture, and the environment. Her story is a reminder that strength and leadership take many forms, and that showing up as yourself can be a powerful act of service. If you are looking for ways to support Caribbean communities at this time, these are the organisations we are aligning with in our relief efforts: Girls Care JA and White Ribbon UK for Jamaica, and in Haiti - Hope for Haiti and Haiti Air Ambulance, all doing vital work to support those most affected. If this episode resonates with you, we would love for you to rate, review, and share it with a friend, so others can be inspired by Senator Sarauw’s story of leadership, resilience, and authenticity. This podcast is produced by Island Girls Chantal Miller & BreAnna Holmes Edited by Island Girl BreAnna Holmes Connect with Senator Janelle K. Sarauw: Website: www.janelleksarauw.com Instagram: @jksarauw Visit our website: islandgirlsrock.com Connect with us on Instagram: @igr_love Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Let's Get Loud - Vanessa James (Trinidad and Tobago) | 23 Oct 2025 | 00:54:08 | |
In this vibrant conversation, Chantal sits down with media powerhouse, storyteller and voice over artist Vanessa James,the dynamic voice behind global brands, beloved Caribbean festivals, and empowering creative spaces. From lending her bilingual voice to campaigns for Netflix and JetBlue, to founding Food, Wine & Fete and Women of Impact, Vanessa shares how she’s used her platform to celebrate culture, amplify others, and stay rooted in her Trinidadian heritage. It’s a joyful, inspiring exchange about purpose, passion, and the power of showing up for your community. Join us at "Food, Wine & Fete" 2026! Details Here Connect with Vanessa James: Website: vanessajamesmedia.com Instagram: @vanessajamesmedia Visit our website: islandgirlsrock.com Connect with us on Instagram: @igr_love This podcast is produced by Island Girls Chantal Miller & BreAnna Holmes Edited by Island Girl BreAnna Holmes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| From The DR with Love - Cleyvis Natera (Dominican Republic) | 09 Oct 2025 | 00:55:14 | |
In this episode, we’re joined by writer Cleyvis Natera, author of Neruda on the Park and The Grand Paloma Resort. Together, we explore her journey as a storyteller shaped by her Dominican roots and her experiences living between two cultures. Cleyvis reflects on belonging, identity, and history (including the complex ties between Haiti and the Dominican Republic), in a conversation filled with warmth, honesty, and insight. The Grand Paloma Resort is available now at all major bookstores. Connect with Clevis Natera: Website: https://cleyvisnatera.com/ Instagram: @cleyvisnatera Visit our website: islandgirlsrock.com Connect with us on Instagram: @igr_love This podcast is produced by Island Girls Chantal Miller & BreAnna Holmes Edited by Island Girl BreAnna Holmes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| How to make sh*t happen! - Sherry Ann Dixon (Guyana) | 30 Dec 2018 | 00:42:20 | |
It's the season 2 finale! What better way to end it than to have Chantal sit down with one of her idols. Sherry Ann Dixon is a multi award winning speaker, journalist and lecturer. Repping Guyana, Sherry is an absolute TRAILBLAZER in the world of black hair and beauty. She gets things done. Original Photography Credit: Beverley Rhoden (Season 1 Episode 10) @SherryADixon @Igr_love @Chantimedia @Weareunedited Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Caribbean Fairytales - Fiona Compton (St Lucia) | 25 Nov 2018 | 00:33:18 | |
On this month's episode, Chantal was joined by artist, filmmaker and historian Fiona Compton. It's a great conversation about Black history and fairytales. If you've ever wanted to know how to link the Haitian Revolution to the Wizard of Oz, tune in! (Season 1 Episode 9) @fiona758 @Igr_love @Chantimedia @Weareunedited Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Chill and create - Carolyne Hill (Jamaica) | 27 Oct 2018 | 00:32:09 | |
On this month's episode, Chantal was joined by brand specialist and founder of Chill Create, Carolyne Hill. It's a great chat about channeling creativity, the frustration of dealing with school career advisors and more. (Season 1 Episode 8) @chillcreate1 @Igr_love @Chantimedia @Weareunedited Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| From J-O-B to J-O-Y - Nadine McNeil (Jamaica) | 29 Sep 2018 | 00:34:07 | |
On this month's episode Chantal had the pleasure of speaking to yogini, humanitarian and Universal Empress, Nadine McNeil. The two talked about Nadine's journey from Jamaica to Bali, the importance of self care for those who heal others and so much more. (Season 1 Episode 7) @Univempress @Igr_love @Chantimedia @Weareunedited Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Cheese on bread! - Pamela R Haynes (Barbados) | 25 Aug 2018 | 00:31:30 | |
We're back to Barbados for another episode! This time around, Chantal was joined by author of 'Loving the Brothers' Pamela R Haynes.This was a great chat about the importance of documenting our stories, domestic abuse in the Caribbean and more. (Season 1 Episode 6) @PamPamHaynes @Igr_love @Chantimedia @Weareunedited Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The big 'C' with a smile - Lea Parris-Cambridge (Nevis) | 28 Jul 2018 | 00:42:05 | |
For this very special episode, Chantal is joined by her cousin Lea Parris-Cambridge. Lea talks about how her faith helped her through Cancer THREE times, her journey to veganism, and how outstanding treatment via the NHS compelled her to help those with Cancer on her beloved island of Nevis. (Season 1 Episode 5) @ParrisCambridge @Igr_love @Chantimedia @Weareunedited Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Calabash in the house? - Lisa Anderson (Jamaica) | 23 Jun 2018 | 00:37:08 | |
For this month's episode, Chantal caught up with curator and founder of Black British Art, Lisa Anderson. Lisa talked about her love of art, how her Jamaican roots have influenced her creativity, and her spiritual experience at Jamaica's Calabash Festival. (Season 1 Episode 4) @lisaandersonaa @blackbritishart @igr_love @chantimedia @weareunedited Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| To de bone! - Keisha Des Vignes (Trinidad & Tobago) | 26 May 2018 | 00:35:34 | |
Keisha left Trinidad and come to England, and became one of the most sought-after women at Carnival. In conversation with Chantal Miller, Keisha Des Vignes describes herself as a 'woman of colours', and uses her science background to bring extra flare to her hair and make-up artistry. (Season 1 Episode 3) @keishadesvignes @Igr_love @Chantimedia @Weareunedited Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| For the love of books - Samantha Williams (Barbados) | 28 Apr 2018 | 00:33:33 | |
Samantha founded Book Love when it became apparent that her children were reading books at school that didn't reflect their heritage. In this conversation, she talks to Chantal about the invaluable 9 years she spent in Barbados, and why representation means so much to her. (Season 1 Episode 2) @Igr_love @Chantimedia @Thisisbooklove @mesamwilliams @weareunedited Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| After the hurricane - Shelly Pestaina (Dominica) | 25 Mar 2018 | 00:32:16 | |
Shelly, a graphic designer, joins Chantal to talk about her beloved Dominica, how she felt seeing the devastation after hurricane Maria and what she did to help. (Season 1 Episode 1) Island Girls Rock is back with more amazing women from the Caribbean and it's diaspora, talking about what their island means to them. @Igr_love @Chantimedia @alilbitof_shel @weareunedited Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| What's so special about Island Girls anyway? | 06 Mar 2018 | 00:01:02 | |
Well, here's what we think? Chantal Miller gives us the heads up on the Island Girls Rock podcast. #islandgirlsrockpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||