Corie Sheppard Podcast

Send us a textThis week we welcome the ever-relevant, ever-fierce Kurt Allen — calypsonian, social commentator, and one of only three people who have won both Calypso and Soca Monarch. From his early days as a teen composer to leading Roy Cape All Stars and shaking up Skinner Park with hard-hitting commentary, “The Last Badjohn of Calypso” holds nothing back.We talk competition politics, getting toilet paper in Skinner Park, and the fine art of saying what the people feel — without fear or favour. Kurt breaks down the discipline behind his performances, his years shaping young talent, his experiences in band culture, and his daughter Chocolate's journey from homeschool to international performance stages.We also get into the rise and fall of calypso tents, his work with Caribbean Vision, living with the Marley family in Jamaica and his commitment to using calypso as a real-time tool for social and political truth-telling.This one is about legacy, purpose, and lyrical duty.

Send us a textOn this week's episode of Corie Sheppard Podcast, we sit  with Muhammad Muwakil — poet, performer, and frontman of Freetown Collective.From his early childhood in Carenage to growing up at the Jamaat al-Muslimeen compound on Mucurapo Road, Muhammad shares a deeply personal account of life before, during, and after the 1990 attempted coup. He opens up about community, and what justice really meant to him as a child watching the world shift.We explore how Freetown's music became a vehicle for honesty, healing, and cultural reflection — and why soca, storytelling, and spiritual vulnerability matter more than ever today. He breaks down the band's creative process, the importance of balance in  music, and the origin stories behind songs like Feel the Love, Take Me Home, and Space for a Heart.This episode is a reflection on identity, intention, and legacy — and a must-listen for anyone invested in the future of our culture.

Send us a textOn this week's episode of The Corie Sheppard Podcast, we sit down with Colin Lucas — the voice behind “Dollar Wine” and a pioneer in soca and band culture. From the foundation of Sound Revolution to his corporate leadership roles at the Port Authority, TTPost, and NCC, Colin reflects on a life that moved between big stages and boardrooms.He shares the true origin story behind “Dollar Wine,” the groundbreaking journey of Sound Revolution, and how hits like “Stay,” “Shake It,” and “Football Dance” came to life. We talk about live music vs. backing tracks, the storytelling missing from today's soca, and the challenges of being “the executive” in a world that didn't know where to place him.This one is a tribute to legacy, sound, and purpose — and it just might change how you hear soca forever.Click the link in my bio for the full episode#coriesheppardpodcast

Send us a textWe finally get a chance to catch up and talk about the election results and some other matters at hand.Enjoy!

Send us a textThis week on The Corie Sheppard Podcast, we link up with friend of the show, Kiegs - one of the best voices in Soca Parang and the life of many a wedding. From his early days performing at company competitions and house to house parang to becoming one of the most sought-after hosts in T&T.Kiegs shares the heart, hustle, and humour and the stories behind the journey. We talk music, culture, Christmas vibes, and the magic of making a crowd feel joy — no matter the season.

Send us a textIn this unforgettable episode, we sit  with the legendary David Michael Rudder—poet, prophet, and one of the most powerful voices to emerge from Trinidad & Tobago. Rudder speaks openly about his journey through music, from the early days with Charlie's Roots to his solo classics that became anthems for the Caribbean spirit.He shares deeply personal reflections on living with polio since childhood, his recent Parkinson's diagnosis, and how he continues to push forward with courage and grace. Rudder also talks about bridging the generational gap, why connecting with today's youth matters to him, and the enduring power of calypso to tell our stories and shape our future.It's a rare, moving, and inspiring conversation with a national treasure.

Send us a textIn this episode of The Corie Sheppard Podcast, I reason with the one and only Ozy Merrique — entertainer, producer, author, and visual artist whose fingerprints are all over Trinidad and Tobago's creative landscape. Ozy takes us back to his early start on Party Time, shares the hilarious story of how he borrowed (and somehow never returned) David Rudder's classic 1986 Calypso Monarch outfit, and reflects on building spaces like Jam in the Junction, the weekly showcase that gave countless local artistes a stage before they had one.We also dive into his life as a published author and his work as a painter and visual artist, exploring how his creative expression evolved beyond the stage and into new mediums.Of course, no lime with Ozy would be complete without some laughs — including the unforgettable saga of Suck Tongue Sabrina that had the whole set nearly falling off their chairs!From the early hustle to a lifetime of artistic contribution, Ozy's journey is a reminder that real creativity never stays in one lane.Help keep Jam in D Junction alive — click the link below to support Ozy's GoFundMehttps://fundmetnt.com/campaign/raize-a-light-support-local-talent-with-jam-in-de-junction-season-3-beyond

Send us a textIn this week's episode, we sit with legendary sculptor and visual artist Ben Gayah — joined by his wife Janine — for a powerful conversation on art, legacy, and love. Ben shares how he got started as an artist, the challenges of making it in Trinidad and Tobago, and the stories behind his massive sculptures at St. Mary's Fete and the mural on the Parliament building. With Janine adding her own insights and perspective, this episode offers a rare, intimate look at the life and work of one of the country's most impactful creatives.

Send us a textThis week we sit with Adrian Scoon, CEO of wOw Events, the company behind Spirit Mas, Soaka, Iron Park & Mecka.Adrian dives into the business of Carnival, creativity, and cultural innovation. From the origins of Soaka to the launch of Travel Haeven, a new travel planning platform designed to help the global Carnival chaser curate their Trinidad Carnival experience.Adrian walks us through his evolving vision for experiential events. He unpacks the mission behind wOw Events—particularly the intentional inclusion of local artistes—and shares how Spirit Mas is carving its own lane. The conversation also explores his efforts to spotlight traditional characters through Mecka, challenging the look and feel of mainstream Carnival events.Whether you're in it for the fete, the culture, or the strategy, this one's a masterclass in how to think differently about Trinidad Carnival.

Send us a textIn this episode, we sit with Conrad Baird, founder of Affordable Imports Studios, for an inspiring deep dive into grit, growth, and creative entrepreneurship. After being ousted from an accounting job he loved, Conrad pivoted hard — starting off by buying and selling equipment, then quickly expanding into audio-visual rentals.What began with selling out of a van in Uncle Beddoe's carpark soon evolved into Affordable Imports Studios, a full-fledged creative space that has hosted this podcast and many others, along with videographers, photographers, content creators, cabnival bands and artists across Trinidad & Tobago.

Send us a textIn this episode, we welcome the legendary Duvone Stewart, one of the most revered steelpan arrangers and musical minds in Trinidad and Tobago. From his humble beginnings in Tobago and moving to Nelson Street, to commanding global stages with his unmatched talent, Duvone takes us on a journey through his love affair with the pan, the evolution of his craft, and the discipline that has propelled him to the pinnacle of success in the world of steelpan.Duvone takes us deep into his journey with the bpTT Renegades and his young start under the tutelage of the great Jit Samaroo, reflecting on his long-standing relationship with the iconic band and how their partnership has led to multiple Panorama championships.We explore the emotional story behind one of his first and most unforgettable Panorama victories—winning the big band title with “Year for Love” by Voice. Duvone opens up about how the haunting memory of his friend's cold-blooded murder inspired his powerful arrangement, fueling a performance that resonated far beyond the Savannah stage.Duvone also shares his experiences lecturing on pan in France, where he is helping to spread the rich culture and technical brilliance of steelpan to an international audience. His global impact reinforces the importance of preserving and innovating pan culture worldwide.In a broader discussion about the future of the art form, Duvone highlights the critical role of leadership in shaping pan's trajectory. He speaks candidly about the influence of Her Excellency Christine Kangaloo, President of Trinidad and Tobago, and Pan Trinbago President Beverly Ramsey-Moore, who have both been vocal advocates for pan's recognition and advancement.From local roots to international acclaim, this conversation celebrates the power of pan, the resilience of its people, and the importance of preserving this cultural treasure. Tune in for an inspiring and deeply personal conversation with Duvone Stewart.

Send us a textWhat else could we name episode 222?This episode is full of Kaiso about....you know what -  and a heavy dose of cemetery kaisos of course as we were just as shocked as everyone else with 'influencer' Gabby Fequire popularly known as Gabby Fe's carnival stories. If you missed this you're under a rock and you better off staying there unless you see her coming.Cuba came here and got dealt with while most of us were in traffic trying to get to the game. Thankfully Yorkie steered us into the Gold Cup and we were happy to be there to witness it although the Cuban team was back in Havana before we could get home.Stuartie and the crew are in Jamaica begging for our lives and much to our surprise, Colm is acting Prime Minister once again. We get into a breakdown of what tariffs are and how they intended to work and demystify some of the rhetoric that's being spread across the socials.Enjoy!!!

Send us a textWe're joined today by Traffik lead singer, Eddie Charles. Eddie is the last man standing from the era of the brass band lead singers.Eddie has brought big band Traffik back on the road and he tells us about his gigs for the 2025 season. We got into the difference between today's artists singing with backing tracks vs using his own vocals and back up singers.Of course we had to ask him about classic songs like No Evidence, Let me Go, Musical Healing and him being the original big links man and the fact that he was performing in boxers long before Benjai.Eddie speaks on the era of the ground fete and his experiences in fetes like Wasa, Licensing, Flour, Fire, Customs and clears the air on what really caused Machel to pull away from Brass Festival and start the Alternative Concept.While he might be known to some of us as Traffik's lead singer, some of the youths among us might know him more as a soca parang artist and you might be surprised to find out when he started singing parang.The stories are priceless & you won't want to miss this one.Enjoy!!

Send us a textIn this week's episode we join the silly season with the rest of the country.The election date is here, Rowlers' handover is complete and Stuart Young is now the jefe.He done establish dominance with a. cabinet reshuffle like a true top dawg. Somehow we had him down as a softy after seeing him fall off the stage what day but who knew he was a bully in his school days. Lasana Libud put an end to any thoughts of denying the incident so the PR statements and clean ups are rolling in. Who thought that in 2025 we would be referencing The Mirror Newspaper. We get into what bullying entails and his response to the incident.The opposition is in go mode to launch their entire slate and with the resignations flying in we're working on getting a call up.TTFA is also looking for volunteers so we might be coming out of retirement to hold down a number 9 for the Soca Warriors.Enjoy!!!

Send us a textIn this week's episode we're fortunate to be joined by Franka Philip for customary canaval wrap-up.Franka is a journalist and media consultant with 25 years experience in online, radio and print with specialist skills in digital media.We do a mini review of the fetes we attended during the season and we hear Franka's expert opinion on the elements that make for a great fete experience.We get into the beauty that is Panorama and discuss the results while Franka sheds some light on the comments around Beverly Ramsey Moore's Katzenjammers hattrick winning season.The competitions were a hot topic as well and seem to always be shrouded in controversy and this year was no different as The Ultimate Soca Champion kicked off the bacchanal and Calypso Monarch and Road March sparked a firestorm of opinions. We might finally have some answers on which competitions are still relevant and which ones may have outlasted their usefulness.Franka speaks to her experience with Lost Tribe and reminisces about her time with Minshall and we get into how J'ouvert has changed over the years.As is tradition, the canaval is over when we (and Kitchener) say it over.Enjoy!!!!

Send us a textIn this week's episode we're joined by the legendary Sistaron.We get into her beginnings in the industry and her classic Sistaron ah Come alongside the great General Grant.We get into the classic No Compromise album featuring, Ghettorians, Kindred, General Grant & Sistaron with production by Sheldon '$hel $shok' Benjamin that birther the Kiskidee Karavan coming out of Caribbean Sound Basin lead by Robert Amar. We're lucky enough to take in some of her more recent releases as she discusses her hiatus from the music industry after winning the Award for being the Top Breakout Artiste in the Caribbean.You won't want to miss Sistaron's thoughts on the new generation of artistes in the Trinibad movement!Tune in and Enjoy!!!!

Send us a textThis week we're joined by the oldest breakout artiste in the history of Trinidad & Tobago – Jungie. If you don't know Jungie, just know that your favourite artiste knows him. He's been around since the days of Kisskidee Caravan and has worked with and around some of the biggest names in the industry and 2025 he ketch a length with his breakout tune – Drinking Rum.If you're on the socials you may have seen Jungie giving his own versions of motivational speeches and maintains an aura of persistence and positivity but his pages these days show him putting in the work performing his song with energy on a thousand whether he's on the stages at Army Fete, Different or a backyard jam.We talk to Jungie about his brotherhood with artistes like Mx Prime & Ziggy Ranking and his entry into the entertainment industry. He openly discusses his battles with mental wellness and the role that DJ Bravo has played in his return to the industry.Not one you want to miss.Tune in & Enjoy!!! 

Send us a textIn this week's episode we're joined by ZanZan is a young veteran in the soca industry and we get into some of his hits over the years, his time working as part of Machel Montano's HD band and his current role as the lead singer of The A Team Band.We talk about his friendship and working relationship with Tony Chow Lin On, Shal Marshal, Tim Tim & Kernel Roberts and how he managed to stay consistent over the years. We get into his approach to songwriting and his impact on what we now know as groovy soca and some of his mentors and inspirations in soca.This is not one you want to missEnjoy!!

Send us a textIn this week's episode we're joined by friend of the show Mistah Shak.We talk about some of his classics in the Kaiso arena and his new classic Brand New Lover. Much to our surprise Shak didn't make it to Skinner Park this year and he tells us he isn't surprised.We talk about the state of Kaiso as we see more and more mainstream soca artistes and popular personalities throw their hat in the ring.Of course as a Kaiso lover we talk about some of the legends in the art form and some classic vintage Kaiso.Enjoy!!!!

This is a special episode as we are joined by a long time contributor and friend of the show Omari Ashby, a man who wears many crowns and wears them in style!We get into the forming of Kindred and the origins of Kiskidee Caravan. We also get to talk about his entrepreneurial side and his clothing line, Saga Boy Culture and why he decided to get into the academics as he pursues his Phd. while lecturing at UWI.Omari shares stories about his experience in production, producing for giants like Super Blue and Shadow.Of course it wouldn't be we if we didn't talk kaiso and calypso and get into his experience as a host and MC and his thoughts in the state of the culture today as a calypso historian in his own right.Tune in and Enjoy!!!

This week we're joined by Naldo, half of the Alternative Perspectives Podcast and in the midst of the Canaval we take some time to talk about the political landscape as we gears up for an election.But of course Canaval is bacchanal and we take some time to look into the soca landscape and hear Naldo's perspective as a radio dj, producer and manager.Enjoy!!

In this week's episode we take a quick check in to discuss the fete scene and do a review on Soaka till Sunrise.We take look at the Road March race as February is moving fast and furious and the early pace setters are gone. But despite what we seeing with Pardy we putting our money on Carry It and we'll breakdown why and discuss why Thousand Flag, while it might not be in the race for the road, is the biggest song of them all.Outside of the power soca, the sweetest song in d canaval seems to be one that everybody still sleeping on so of course we hadda wake it up.Is a quick check in so take it een and as always....Enjoy!!!!

We're honoured to be joined this week by Turner!We talk about his return to the soca scene with releases this year like Butter & Lotto. Starting his song writing journey at the tender age of 8, we talk about his entry into the soca industry and shares some stories behind hit songs like She Bad and Wet Yuh Want.We talk about the pain of dealing with the sudden loss of his baby daughter Zuri and the resilience he found in his faith & spirituality.Turner also gets into why he never wanted Machel Montano to do a remix for She Bad despite the song's success.We also get a treat as Turner sings some of his 2025 hits throughout the episode.Tune in and Enjoy!!

This week we're joined by bois man, singer, songwriter, film maker and producer – friend of the show Keegan Taylor. We catch up with Keegan to talk about his J'ouvert anthem, Doh Kry. We talk about his hits as a writer including Waiting on the Stage (Machel Montano) Buss Head (Machel & Bunji) and Rosie (Yung Bredda & Destra).Of course we get into his thoughts on the Bigger Links controversy and his thoughts on Trinidad Killa collaborating with Nicki Minaj.With an anthem like Doh Kry we couldn't help but get into Keegan's background in stick fighting and reminisce on J'ouvert back in the day.Tune in and Enjoy!!!!!

In this week's episode we get back into the Big Links controversy as Nicki Minaj and the barbs are now down with Trinidad Killa but no without an apology. Trinidad responds through voices like KG & Nelly Cotton and they'll surely feel vindicated. We're left to speculate how Fullblown, Rachel and Chinese Laundry feel about this but judging from Trinidad Killa's hostage inspired Louis Vuitton adorned apology all might be well that ends well.PNM is probably very grateful for Canaval drama as their internal fighting seemed to take the back burner this week as Amery Brown steps aside to make way for Hans Des Vignes.Kamla not on that back burner scene though. She congratulated Trump but took some time to bun a fire on Biden and his woke agenda.Tune in and Enjoy!!!

Carnival is bacchanal and the PNM is in full canaval mode. After a week of no signatures and rumours of big divides, all MPs came out of Balisier House in Godfather mode kissing the rings of Stuart Young. And after the PNM defenders and apologists attacked the media for reporting that Amery Browne  was replacing Dr. Rowley in Diego Martin West, the roll out of this exact plan is now in place.Kamla Persad Bissessar & Gary Griffith's responses to Stuart Young being announced as the Prime Minister are on opposite ends of the spectrum as one is playing pretty mad while the other plays blue devil.The carnival bacchanal ain't gonna be left behind either as Trinidad Killa jumped on Full Blown's Big Links Riddim and is left tout int he cold as no approvals seem to be forthcoming. We haven't heard a peep from Machel Montano or Yung Bredda or any of the Full Blown team but Killa has heard from their lawyers.We must take some time to celebrate Rachel Montano on NPR Tiny Desk and congratulate him for pulling together an all star band featuring the likes of Ettienne Charles and Kyle Peters and delivering a stellar performance. At least I thought so before I started reading social media comments.Of course wee take in some of the best songs of the season as always.Tune in & Enjoy!!!!!

Kicking off 2025 with a vibrant celebration of culture and music, I recount my unforgettable Christmas experience abroad with the Cash family amidst the chilly backdrop of the DMV area. Imagine my surprise when I came back into a State of Emergency but up to now I can't figure out what's the emergency as everything that's happening seems like a state of normalcy. Squeeze Rankin's Mama Good Good Son sums up what we've been seeing for decades so maybe we've been living in a State of Emergency for far longer than we knew.On the soca scene, Benjai is back on the scene making carnival great again while Sunny Bling put the spotlight on the issue with artists in the early fetes.Political transitions also take center stage as we explore Prime Minister Keith Rowley's decision to step down and the potential ripple effects on Trinidad and Tobago's leadership landscape as he hands over the reigns of power to Stuart Young. From political rivalries to personal compassion, we discuss the complexities of leadership, the emotional journey of public figures, and the evolving dynamics within the political sphere as the unlikely figure of Gary Griffith seemed to offer the only sober response to Dr. Rowley's resignation.Tune in and Enjoy!!!

In this week's episode we come off the heels of a weekend full of tragedy. We offer sympathy to all the families, communities and to the nation as a whole as we tap into the music to soothe our collective pain.We take a moment to congratulate Darren Sammy on his appointment as the West Indies Test Cricket Coach, making him the coach of all formats of West Indies Cricket.Congrats in advance as well to Dwight Yorke as he takes on his first challenge as Head Coach as The Soca Warriors take on Saudi Arabia in a friendly. More congratulations are in order for Peter Sheppard as he celebrates the 30 year anniversary of his first art exhibit.Join us as we give each other a national hug and embrace those closest to our brothers and sisters who are now smiling down on us.Enjoy!!

WE're back this week with a lil traditional Christmas reminiscing as we say goodbye to the days of old! And by the days of old we mean Hinds, Leonce and if everything works out according to plans, Rowley.We take in the highlights of Kartel's early visit to Trinidad and with the warm welcome he received we're trying to see if we could get we boy Yankee Boy to grab a bite.Enjoy!!

We're back in business after a short runaway. Imagine packing a suitcase full of short pants to go Miami only to reach there and it's 16 degrees. The cold weather mash up my sinus and voice but we here under heavy home remedies from Parlour Stacy.We're just in time to go through the Scorch Top 101 Soca of all time. Maybe it ain't as bad as all the fuss we saw on the socials.We also had the pleasure of taking in Fatima College's Gifts of Gold and Blue over the weekend.Enjoy!!!

We open this episode with Happy Birthday wishes to Parlour Stacy and offer support to the spouses of all Scorpios - it's a real thing.We also celebrate International Men's Day and explore it Trini origins although November 19th is one of the saddest days in history for Trini Men.Dwight Yorke who was part of that sad day is now in charge and ready to deliver smiles throughout the region as we pick back up our World Cup 2026 campaign.We have a slew of songs lined up for men in this episode with the most famous one being Bassman from Hell and Sharlan Bailey helps us celebrate its 50th anniversary with a modern day interpretation of the banger.Somewhere in between all that we talk about Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul and youth vs wisdom.Enjoy!!!

As we run out of US dollars, Uncle Donald is back in charge!! Is this good or bad for T&T? Either way, Colm says nothing changing and the dollar staying where it is but we all know when Yankees Sneeze Trinis catch the Vids.Will Stuart Young get handed the reins in the same way Kamala took over for Biden? Or will they learn from others by ensuring that the process for a new leader is Democratic (No pun intended).Outside of the politics we celebrate Tobago once again as Milford Rd has officially been renamed Calypso Rose Blvd and Dwight Yorke is now the head coach of the Soca Warriors and leading the charge toward World Cup 2026!Enjoy!!

In this week's episode we start by getting into Randal Mitchell, the only Tourism Minister in the world who wants people to leave the country instead of focusing on getting people to visit.Maybe he has USD to sell us because the banks certainly aren't selling any US cash  and credit card limits are being slashed.We spend some time this week delving into what is the cause of the Forex shortage we're facing and look at some potential solutions for individuals, businesses and the country as a whole. What does the future hold for sweet T&T? Of course Kaiso, as always, will help us answer the question.Enjoy!!

In this week's episode we're celebrating the milestone of hitting 200!!!If you're a lover of Calypso, Kaiso and Soca this is a gem of an episode that features only Tobagonian Calypsonians.Enjoy

Calypso history month continues and we're not short of classics this week!We get into the current state of crime and the wave of police impersonations. It doesn't stop there though as we have real life police being charged with kidnapping and murder.Not sure if it's the crime situation but Rowlers is hinting at hanging up his guns while Stuart Young comes out firing.Of course we have ting to celebrate as Machel collects the keys to The City of Lauderdale.We also hear from David Rudder & Valentino on the current state of calypso.Enjoy!!

In this week's Episode we congratulate Darren Sammy and The St Lucia Kings on their first CPL victory. Unfortunately in true West Indian style the victory is overshadowed by infighting between Guyana & Trinidad that has gone way past any imaginable boundary.The cricket isn't the only reason for regional fighting as Trini's are in an uproar about Shensea & her son being signed as Sunshine Snacks brand ambassadors.Maybe Trinis are the problem as we're also fighting ourselves over Hyatt's release about no longer accepting $TT while the OWTU is collecting billions of USD.We soothe troubled waters with some songs promoting regional unity.Enjoy!!

It's Calypso History Month!!! Although Calypso is always on the menu around these parts we celebrate with some classics.We review our weekend pop out at a night for the great George Carter and discuss the performances on the night with included Amantes, Lara Brothers, Kairi Kaiso and Los Alumnos de San Juan.Of course it's budget week so we take a look at Colm's presentation and some of the reactions as we discuss the good the bad and the ugly of what was expected to be an election 'goodie bag' budget.Coming off the National Award Ceremony last week the great Duvonne Stewart calls for Steelpans to replace the recorder in schools. Should it? Lewwe talk about it.Enjoy!!!

In this week's episode we investigate the missing beera - Terrence wife style.We also take a look at Invaders J'ouvert on Republic Day morning and get into some of the history of the Oval Boys.In the words of the great Lord Nelson, man beating woman is not uncommon but this week is woman's revenge as a Lauren Lezama Lee Singh leads the charge.The National Awards ceremony was hosted this week and we congratulate all the recipients while diving into the renaming of Queen's Hall to The Winifred Atwell Auditorium. Enjoy some classics sprinkled throughout the episode!!

In this week's episode we stand in defence of Terrance and we have some Kaiso to help him in his time of need.More on the topic of rebuilding schools as we have some professional help on the issue.Justice Seeparsad takes some time off from fighting crime from the bench to call us all to join the fight.We salute the great Dominic Kaliperssad as he was recognised by the Mayor of New York at the Brooklyn Caribbean Literary Festival.Congrats as well to Stuart Young who is being touted as the Prime Minister in training.With the send off of the great Roy Cape, the music in this week's episode is built around horn - the instrument of course, but we take quick moment to acknowledge Parang History Month with a sprinkle of Lara Brothers.Enjoy!!!

This week's episode is a celebration of life as we honour the legacy of the great Roy Cape. We also send birthday greetings to The Mighty Poser and take in some of his classics over the years.School reopening is a recurring decimal every year and this year is no different as Ryan Gadsby Dolly is under pressure in week 1. We offer some solutions that might take us out of this bandaid approach to school repair.Firing Angus Eve seems to have been an attempt to put a bandaid on a gaping wound as The Soca Warriors collect a hot 4 in Honduras ahead of their home game against French Guiana on Tuesday.Apparently the Grindr robberies have increased to mandemic levels and Newsday has come to the rescue by taking a walk on the rainbow side on our behalf,A special salute to our most decorated olympian. Akeem Stewart on his success!Enjoy!!

In this week's episode we cover Machel Montano's weekend at the Apollo and his push to keep Calypso at the forefront even though his thesis is submitted and he now holds the keys to New York City.Several soca stars received awards and recognition at the Caribbean Music Awards including Patrice Roberts, Nailah and The Mighty Sparrow as he received a lifetime achievement award presented by Machel.Much ado is being made about third parties and political alliances as Gary Griffith and Karen Nunez Texiera are shaking up their parties but for now everyone including Kamla Persad Bissessar are denying any alliances with the UNC - and well PNM don't like nobody so no link ups there either.The discussion on who holds the keys to our cities rages on as the consultation on street names and statues continues and men say Columbus must stay!We take some time to pay respects to Joey "The Flagman" Richardson as we take in some songs that ushered us into Independence as we show appreciation for our nation.Enjoy!!

Apparently the Coat of Arms debate rages on as the Tassa Association wants the real Trini instrument on the emblem instead of the imported steelpan. Brilliant!It's an episode of dualities as we discuss the mourning as the news of the closing of the famed Carrat Shed in Marabella spread against the backdrop of apparent celebration of the woes of Movie Towne.It's a mixed bag when it comes to the reactions to the passing of Lawrence Duprey, once heralded as one of the greatest businessmen in the region. We do a deep dive into his legacy and the unfair tainting of his name and the hostile takeover of his businesses masked as a financial bailout.The music in this episode is a direct response to the divisive statement made by the Tassa Association of Trinidad & Tobago suggesting that Steelpan isn't 100% Trinidadian.Enjoy!!

In this week's episode we weigh in on coat of arms changes as the Columbus' ships make space for our national instrument. We look into what other emblems of the wicked we can remove to better represent our history from our perspective.We also explore the recent increase in police killings as we hear from a father of whose two sons were killed by police and another father who was the victim of a home invasion that lead to the killing. To top it off we look into the increase in extortion particularly int he doubles industry and hear from a family who has chosen to migrate after refusing to pay extortionists or succumb to threats. It's a tipping point in the crime situation in our opinion as while some are choosing to flee the attitude toward police eradicating criminals before they get to the judicial system seems to be changing. You decide if that's for the better.On a lighter note we congratulate the recent successes of the National Under 14 team and salute friend of the show Reagan Rowe, Coach Densill Theobold and his squad as they sit unbeaten in their CFU campaign. Jack Warner came out of the wilderness to dash our hopes though. He's convinced that T&T will never qualify for another World Cup in our collective lifetimes.We also has the pleasure of facilitating a podcasting class at Starr Broadcasting over the weekend and to my surprise none of the youths in the class know who's Brigo. Of course we fix that in this episode as all the music is from the great Samuel 'Brigo' Abramham.Enjoy!!!

In this week's episode we celebrate with the pan fraternity as we recognise World Steelband Day by playing some of the greatest panorama winning songs. We explore the 80's in particular as the golden era of pan music.Maybe we should try to get pan playing registered as an Olympic Sport as we once again walk away without any medals. Fazeer and Ato are passed while the heads of TTOC are calling for change in every area except the mirror.We also celebrate Dominic Kalipersad on receiving more well deserved awards. Are also had some critique for the World Steelband Day celebrations.On the heels of Bounty Killer collecting a National award we celebrate him by stopping him from entering the country ahead of his concert performance. Trinidad immigration remains undefeated!! All was well in the end as The Poor People Governor went on to rip Summer Stage and has joined several dancehalll artistes who have been calling for peace in T&T.Enjoy!!

In this week's episode we discuss our recent travels to Disney and compare some of the experiences we had there to the way we do things back home - how you think that'll go?The World Boss was freed on Emancipation Eve but as much as we anticipated his freedom this host has mixed feelings about the Teacher's release.Of course we spend some time celebrating our athletes and catching up on the Olympics and covering everything we've missed and look at what's to come.To round it off, Angostura is making a push into the Chinese markets and we take a look back at CL World brands and how big a step it was for Lawrence Duprey to take Angostura global. Can't help but think that under his stewardship Angostura, by now, would have been a global force to reckon with. We also celebrate some of our other home grown global brands such as Chubby & Sacha Cosmetics.Enjoy!!

We're back in business and we've got a lot of catching up to do. But of course we have to pay tribute to the legendary Hilton Ghetto Flex Dalzell. We celebrate his life as we take in some of our favourite selections throughout the episode while we give excuses for our absence :)Enjoy!!

In this week's episode we recap the producer's graduation ceremony and his journey as valedictorian.We get into Stephen Williams' role as Erla's advisor - does that make sense? Let's see f it helps her with the latest law suit that's landed on her desk for dragging her feet on the FUL issue.It's a haven for the sports lovers as we have Euro and T20 World Cup on tv all day and night. But we've banned ourselves from talking about West Indies again.We take in some of the best songs about 'talk' this week.Enjoy!

In the week's Labour Day special we take in some tunes about hard work even though we home for the holiday. We also take a moment to salute Kwesi 'Hype Hoppa' Hopkinson, one of the hardest working men in entertainment as he hosts the inaugural Caribbean Musicon.We salute Kamla Persad Bissessar as one of the hardest women in politics as she and the Stars won the internal election and maintain and will lead the UNC into next year's general election.The King Sparrow has licensed his name to a rum brand, working well into his golden years.Of course, without trying to be a agonist and blighting the side, The West Indies seems to have put in the work that puts them on the winning track for the World Cup.We round off the episode with some selections from Machel Montano, the hardest working man in Soca.Enjoy the holiday!!!!

We came out and shake a leg over the weekend. While others went to the Savannah to take in legends like Shabba, Maxi Priest, Barrington Levy and Anthony B, we got an up close and personal concert from Synergy Soca Star winner Valentine 'Chynee'. McCoy.This week we'll find out whether or not Kartel could be one of the concerts we attend in the near future. We have some suggestions for how to throw concerts for the 40+ crowd.In local news the BakingRoomTT managed to edge out the late great BakeryTreatz for the bottom spot in local pastries as their 'baked fresh daily' beef pies were found to be seasoned with maggots and eggs.Gary is offering his services to the PM as the number one Police Commissioner and the best ever Minister of National Security although the statistics might say different.We might want to enlist Angus Eve for the position as he has a quick draw and figured out how to run up the numbers much more effectively than Erla or Fitzy.We take in a mix of music today lead by some of the hits from Synergy Soca Star over the years.Enjoy!!

What happens when a renowned Calypsonian sets the tone for a podcast episode filled with humor, personal stories, and pressing current events? This week, we kick off with a lively introduction from King Obstinate, which leads us into some amusing anecdotes about navigating new eating habits and the thrill of short work weeks. We then shift our focus to the vibrant streets of Trinidad, guided by popular YouTuber Chris Must, as he explores the raw realities of areas like La Horquetta and Gonzalez. Along the way, we discuss the rising popularity of the dating  and robbery app Grinder in Trinidad and its profound impact on modern relationships.Modern dating apps like Tinder also come under the microscope, as we discuss the inherent risks and rewards of meeting strangers through these platforms. From there, our conversation gets serious, diving into the alarming violence that plagues Trinidad and Tobago, and illustrating our points with recent events in Gonzales Belmont. The narrative takes a gripping turn as we analyze the arrest of Chris Hughes, aka Chris Must, during his filming in Trinidad. We explore the potent mix of social media, the attention economy, and the real-world consequences that content creators face, emphasizing how likes, shares, and subscriptions can drive their actions.Our discussion doesn't stop there. We tackle the challenges faced by local content creators in gaining recognition compared to their foreign counterparts, highlighting the efforts of Michael Mondesi to bring attention to talented locals like Certified Samson and Jr Lee. We wrap up with the controversial arrest of Hughes on sedition charges, drawing parallels to crime dramas like Narcos and questioning the broader societal issue of locals feeling like foreigners in their own land. All this and more, underscored by the timeless relevance of Lord Nelson's song "Foreigner," making for an episode that's as engaging as it is eye-opening.Enjoy!!!

We're back in the game!In this week's episode we discuss our recent travels to LA and make some plans for future pods as we wrestle with life's changes.We cover the artist formerly known as Diddy and his downward spiral.A couple prominent businessmen owe the tax man in the hundreds of millions while the BIR is cracking down in an effort to recover $15 billion in outstanding taxes. Run & hide!Erla is calling out the parents and rightfully putting the. crime surge on us as more and more bloggers and YouTubers com etc sweet T&T to cover the gangs in their numbers and visit parts of the country that are forgotten to most of us.In the culture apparently we're still having preliminary talks about how to make carnival into an industry. A thousand years from now we'll still be having those talks but for now.....Tune in & Enjoy!!!!