Explore every episode of the podcast Jus' Ah Conversation

Barbados’ future depends on how well our education system prepares students for the realities of the workforce. In this episode of Jus’ Ah Conversation, we take a deep dive into how technical and vocational education (TVET) can help bridge the gap between classrooms and careers.

Hosts Mikul Elcock and Shayla Murrell are joined by:
🔹 Erika Watson, Programme Manager at the Ministry of Labour, Social Security & Third Sector
🔹 Shanika A. Best, Employment Relations Advisor at the Barbados Employers’ Confederation
🔹 Dario Walcott, workforce development and certification specialist

Together, they unpack the skills mismatch between training and employment, explore the role of apprenticeships and private-sector partnerships, and discuss what must change to make technical and vocational careers more attractive to Barbados’ next generation.

🎙️ Are we preparing students for real opportunities, or are we leaving them behind in the classroom?

Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and wherever you listen.

You’ve done your time behind bars and have now rejoined society. But where do you go next in breaking the cycle and starting over, especially in a society that is not ready to forgive or forget?

In this episode, hosts Mikul and Aisha sit down with three men who have felt the impact of incarceration and are building new paths for others through education, entrepreneurship and community work.

🔉 Glenroy Babb – President, Alliance of Reform Minded Entrepreneurs
🔉  Curtis Bascombe – Member, Benevolent Anger Management Project
🔉  Prince Pilgrim – Member, Benevolent Anger Management Project

🎧 Watch, share, and join the conversation in the comments. And for more information on the work of the Alliance of Reform Minded Entrepreneurs, email armentrepreneurs@gmail.com, or call 243-2673.

#JusAhConversation #SecondChances #FromBarsToBridges #LifeAfterIncarceration

Death is never easy to talk about. But if we don’t have the conversation now, our families may be left carrying not just grief — but also financial burdens, legal confusion, and emotional stress.

In this powerful episode of Jus’ Ah Conversation, hosts Mikul and Aisha sit down with three experts to break down why preparing your last wishes matters more than ever:

• Tyrone S. Lowe – Insurance & Financial Advisor with 36+ years of experience in life insurance, financial planning, and legacy protection.
• Kerrilyn Walters – Attorney-at-law specializing in wills, estates, family law, and conveyancing.
• Kyesha Applewhaite – Manager of Legal Services at a financial institution, with expertise in commercial and property law.

We discuss:

• How financial planning and insurance can protect your loved ones after you’re gone
• Why every family should talk about wills and estate planning
• How to view last wishes as a gift of love, peace, and security

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Buzzsprout & more.

#JusAhConversation #LastWishes #FamilyProtection #BarbadosPodcast #FinancialLiteracy #LegacyPlanning

Long before illness shouts, your body sends quiet warnings — but are you paying attention?

In this episode of Jus’ Ah Conversation, hosts Mikul and Aisha explore how to catch those early signs before they turn into major health problems.

With:

• 💪 Jurad Mason – Classic Physique Athlete, CAC medalist, and certified personal trainer.
• 🩺 Dr. Lana Husbands – Medical Practitioner and preventative health advocate.
• 🥗 Roderick Lashley – Nutritionist and Body Transformation Specialist.

We discuss:

• The small signals that often get ignored
• Why waiting until it’s “urgent” can be too late
• How fitness, nutrition, and medical care can work together to keep you healthy

🎧 Available now on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts & more.

From karate to skateboarding to surfing, Barbados is home to athletes and coaches who have built thriving communities in sports outside the traditional spotlight.

In this episode, hosts Mikul and Fabian sit down with three pioneers who’ve each helped shape the landscape of alternative sports on the island:

• Kelly Payne – Karate instructor, mental health therapist, third-degree black belt, international competitor, and youth counsellor.
• Adrian Bowen – Skateboard coach, President of the Skateboard Association of Barbados, head coach at Push Skate Academy, with over 20 years in skating and rollerblading.
• Andre Gittens – Surfer, former Barbados Surfing Association team manager, international surf judge, founder of the East Coast Boardriders Club, and father of World Surf League competitor Ocean Gittens.

Together, we explore the passion, resilience, and culture behind these sports — and what it means for the next generation of athletes in Barbados.

✨ Whether you’ve ever stepped on a board, strapped into a gi, or paddled into a wave — this is a conversation worth catching.

🔗 Watch full episodes on YouTube: [link]
 🔊 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & all major platforms.

As Barbados marks the Season of Emancipation, this episode of Jus’ Ah Conversation brings the conversation full circle — from colonial history to contemporary calls for justice.

We explore the Caribbean’s ongoing push for reparations from former colonial powers, asking what reparations truly mean in today’s world. Is it about money? Apologies? Institutional reform? Cultural revival? Our guests unpack the moral, legal, economic, and emotional layers of a movement that continues to grow in strength and urgency.

🎙️ Featuring:

• Ambassador David Comissiong – Barbados’ Ambassador to CARICOM and a key voice in the regional reparations movement
• Trevor Prescod – Cultural advocate, parliamentarian, and longtime reparations campaigner
• Rodney Grant – Community leader and creative activist

Together, they dive deep into:

• Why reparations matter — and to whom
• What form justice could realistically take
• The intersections between history, power, and lived experience
• How the Caribbean can shape the global reparations conversation

This is more than just reflection — it’s about reclaiming legacy, truth, and dignity.

#SeasonOfEmancipation #ReparationsNow #JusticeAndLegacy

Once a celebration of the end of the sugar cane harvest and a reflection of Barbadian identity, Crop Over has evolved into a massive commercial spectacle filled with fetes, celebrities, and corporate sponsorships. But has something been lost along the way?

In this episode of Just Ah Conversation, Aisha and Shayla are joined by:

• Patrick “Salt” Bellamy, a voice of social commentary in soca and on radio,
• Dane Marshall, seasoned promoter and event planner,
• and Ashanti Trotman, cultural advocate and Landship Admiral,

Together, they tackle tough questions:

• Are we still honouring the festival's roots?
• Has the voice of the people been drowned out by big money and big stages?
• Can tradition and commercial success coexist?

It’s an eye-opening discussion on culture, identity, and what it truly means to celebrate “we culture.”

🎧 Listen now and join the conversation.

In Barbados, the promise of education for all doesn’t always match the lived reality—especially for students with learning differences. In this powerful episode of Jus’ Ah Conversation, we take a hard look at the state of special education on the island. Are we truly supporting our most vulnerable learners, or are too many falling through the cracks?

Hosts Mikul Elcock and Aisha Reid sit down with guests who bring both professional and personal experience to the table—educators, advocates, and parents who’ve had to fight for resources, recognition, and respect within a system that often isn’t built to accommodate difference.

🗣️ Guests:
Tania Belgrave
Asha Alleyne-Renwick
Akio Nurse

We explore:

• The gaps in policy, infrastructure, and training
• The stigma and misunderstanding that still surrounds special education
• The emotional and financial toll on families
• What inclusive education could look like if we committed to change

This isn’t just a conversation about the classroom—it’s about justice, dignity, and the future of our children. If we say we believe in equity, it’s time to act like it.

🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and wherever you listen.
🔗 Visit our YouTube for the full video episode.

Mental health touches us all — yet in Barbados, as in many places, it’s still something we hesitate to talk about. In this episode of Jus' Ah Conversation, we’re breaking that silence.

Hosts Shayla Murrell and Fabian Belgrave are joined by:

• Ryan Lewis (Mental Health Programme Coordinator)
• Robert Croizat (Mental health advocate and public speaker)
• Shane Phillips (Founder, Beautiful Minds 246)

We explore how mental health challenges show up in everyday life, why stigma persists — especially for men — and what community, family, and individual action can do to change the narrative.

From personal stories to practical insights, this is an empowering conversation that reminds us: there is no health without mental health.

🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon, and wherever you listen.

#JustAhConversation #MentalHealth #BreakingTheStigma #PodcastBarbados #MentalHealthAwareness #BeautifulMinds246 #CaribbeanVoices #MenAndMentalHealth

🎉 Welcome to Season 2 of Jus’ Ah Conversation! We're kicking things off with a hard but necessary topic: the rise in crime across Barbados — and how it's affecting our youth, families, and communities.

In this premiere episode, we dive deep into the root causes of crime, the breakdown of social structures, and what we can do to build a safer future. With insight from the field, lived experience, and faith-based perspectives, our guests offer hope and practical solutions.

Guests:

• Sharon-Rose Gittens – Social Worker
• Rev. Derick A. Richards – Church Leader
• Shamar Barnard – Former street-involved youth turned mentor

🔊 Real talk on mentorship, family, faith, and community-based intervention.
 🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more!

📢 Season 1 now available. Season 2 is officially here.

How do we protect the next generation from a health crisis already claiming 83% of lives in Barbados? The Barbados School Nutrition Policy aims to reshape how our children eat, but the challenges run deeper than food choices on a lunch tray.

When one in three Barbadian children is already overweight or obese, and we're witnessing hypertension in 13-year-olds and strokes in 30-somethings, we face a critical turning point. What began as discussions between ministries in 2012 has evolved into a comprehensive policy approach to transform school environments into spaces that nurture healthy eating habits.

But as our fascinating panel reveals, resistance comes from unexpected places. Parents struggle with time constraints and generations of marketing influence. "There is a world system deciding what our children should eat," notes Francine Charles from the Heart and Stroke Foundation, highlighting how global forces have shaped our perception of normal eating patterns. Meanwhile, unregulated vendors outside school gates undermine the policy's effectiveness, and some children bizarrely believe water is less healthy than soda.

The conversation takes a powerful turn when examining who bears responsibility. Rather than simply blaming parents, our guests explore how businesses, policymakers, and educators must collaborate. Simple changes like positioning water at eye level in vending machines have already increased healthy choices. The pending Vendors Bill could regulate food sales around schools, while companies have begun reformulating products to meet nutrition standards.

What emerges is a sobering challenge: can a small island nation protect its future against forces much larger than itself? As one guest poignantly notes, "I don't want millennials blaming baby boomers for creating a world they can't live comfortably in." The policy isn't just about rules—it's about creating an environment where healthy choices become the easy choices.

Join us for this eye-opening conversation about food, health, and who really decides what ends up on our children's plates. Subscribe now to hear more discussions about the issues shaping Barbados today.

Managing money can be overwhelming, but financial literacy is for everyone—not just those with high incomes. In this episode of Jus’ Ah Conversation, host Aisha Reid and guest host Sharon Austin-Gill-Moore explore the essentials of budgeting, saving, and investing with expert insights from:

💰 Nikita Gibson – Senior VP at Clarity Life Insurance Ltd. and Partner at Castalia Consulting Inc.
📊 David Simpson – Lead Consultant at Prestige Accounting Inc., specializing in accounting and management services for small businesses.
🎓 Janelle Bruce – Educator and mother of two, who shares her personal journey of taking financial advice and turning her situation around.

Together, they break down financial myths, discuss real-life money challenges, and answer a key question: Is financial literacy only for the wealthy?

🎧 Available now! Listen and take control of your financial future.

In this episode of Jus’ Ah Conversation, we’re tackling a critical and evolving issue—New Psychoactive Substances (NPS). These lab-created drugs are designed to mimic traditional illicit substances but often come with unpredictable and dangerous consequences.

We’re also introducing our final main host, Fabian Belgrave, after welcoming Shayla Murrell last week! He and Aisha Reid are joined by experts in substance abuse prevention and forensic science to break down what NPS are, how they’re detected, and the alarming effects they have on public health and society.

Our guests include:
🔹 Troy Wickham – Deputy Manager, NCSA
🔹 Cheryl A. Corbin – Director, Forensic Sciences Centre
🔹 Makeada Bourne – Substance Abuse Prevention Officer & Social Worker, NCSA

Together, they explore the risks, trends, and strategies for tackling the NPS crisis—from law enforcement challenges to community prevention efforts.

#JusAhConversation #NewPsychoactiveSubstances #NPS #DrugAwareness #PublicHealth

In this episode of Jus’ Ah Conversation, we explore the challenges faced by children with learning differences such as ADHD, autism, and speech disorders. How well does the Barbadian education system accommodate these students? What gaps exist, and what can be done to improve support for children who learn differently?

Hosts Mikul Elcock and Shayla Murrell sit down with Cindy Blades, Lead Therapist at Blue Sky Speech Therapy; Dionne Best, a parent navigating the education system with an autistic child; and Dr. Ian Alwyn Marshall, an educator and leadership development expert. Together, they discuss real-life struggles, systemic challenges, and practical solutions to create a more inclusive learning environment.

#JusAhConversation #LearningDifferences #ADHD #AutismAwareness #InclusiveEducation #SpeechTherapy #BarbadosPodcast

In this powerful episode of Jus' Ah Conversation, Mikul Elcock and Aisha Reid dive into the raw and emotional realities of surviving hurricanes. Drawing from their own experiences—Aisha as an evacuee from Hurricane Katrina and Mikul as a media professional covering the aftermath of devastating storms like Maria and Beryl—they explore the personal toll these natural disasters take on individuals and communities.

Joining the conversation are Tyson Henry, Captain Robert N. Harewood, and Ryan Bourne, who share their gripping firsthand accounts of resilience, recovery, and hope in the face of nature’s fury. From the chaos of the storm to the challenges of rebuilding, this episode sheds light on the human stories behind the headlines.

#JustAhConversation #HurricaneSurvivors #Resilience #BarbadosPodcast #RealStories

It’s a new year, and we’re kicking things off with an inspiring conversation about building skills and opportunities for Barbados’ future! In this episode of Just Ah Conversation, hosts Mikul Elcock and Aisha Reid explore the transformative power of technical education and how it’s shaping the island’s workforce and economy.

From vocational training to international competitions, technical education is creating pathways for success. Joining the conversation are special guests Dario Walcott, a leader in WorldSkills Barbados; Moriah Hill, Barbados’ Best of Nation honoree at the WorldSkills International Competition; and Arlette Knight-Olton, an educator and advocate for the beauty industry.

Discover how technical education is empowering individuals, addressing skill gaps, and setting the stage for a brighter future. Start the year with insights and inspiration to keep Barbados moving forward!

In this episode of Jus’ Ah Conversation, hosts Mikul Elcock and Aisha Reid tackle the pressing questions about the state of sports in Barbados. Are we truly investing in our athletes and sporting infrastructure, or are we simply going through the motions?

Joined by an all-star lineup of guests—Jamal Estwick, a local cricketer and motorsports enthusiast; Renaldo Gilkes, a sports administrator and former footballer; and Annmarie Burke, a senior sports reporter and former athlete—we explore the triumphs, challenges, and opportunities within the Barbadian sports landscape.

From funding and facilities to talent development and public support, this episode dives deep into what it will take to elevate sports in Barbados to the next level.

Tune in for real talk, passionate perspectives, and actionable ideas to make a difference in the world of Barbadian sports.

#JusAhConversation #BarbadosSports #SportsDevelopment #SupportLocalAthletes

4o

In this episode of Jus' Ah Conversation, Mikul and Aisha dive into a topic that's close to the hearts (and tables) of Barbadians: growing your own food. With the rising interest in self-sufficiency and sustainable living, we explore how home gardening can transform small spaces into abundant sources of fresh, local produce.

Joining the conversation are three incredible guests:

• Chef Adrian Cumberbatch, a passionate advocate for local, sustainable food sourcing.
• Michael James, a Ministry of Agriculture expert on home gardening initiatives.
• Sheria Brathwaite, member of the FEED (Food Empowerment and Educational Development) programme, who shares insights into empowering communities through agriculture.

Together, we discuss practical tips, inspiring success stories, and expert advice to help you kickstart your own journey from seed to table. Tune in for an engaging, informative, and empowering discussion!

Welcome to Jus' Ah Conversation – the podcast where we tackle the topics that matter most to Barbadians, blending meaningful discussions with a dash of fun and authenticity. Hosted by Mikul Elcock and Aisha Reid, this series dives into trending issues shaping our lives today—think community stories, hot-button topics, and local insights—all with a relaxed and relatable vibe.

From conversations about mental health and financial literacy to the future of agriculture and technology in Barbados, Just Ah Conversation brings real voices, expert guests, and engaging stories straight to your ears. Whether you're looking to stay informed, laugh, or just feel connected, we’ve got you covered.

Tune in now and be part of the conversation!