Episodes
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Laura Rae - Songwriter / Producer/ Label Owner
Blackout Podcast Episode 400: Laura Rae - Songwriter / Producer/ Label Owner Bilingual chanteuse, songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist and educator Laura Rae dances between languages and genres, sounding like Metric met Fleetwood Mac in a Folklore forest. Since releasing her first single,...
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Robert Howlett - Founder - Redefine Social Health Association
Blackout Podcast Episode 399: Robert Howlett - Founder - Redefine Social Health Association Robert Howlett (he/him) is an accomplished non-profit leader with experience in strategic planning, program development, and community engagement. His career includes executive roles where he has been a...
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Jule Rochelle - Certified Sexologist & Embodiment Coach
Blackout Podcast Episode 398: Jule Rochelle - Certified Sexologist & Embodiment Coach Jule Rochelle is an artist of life, embodied intimacy coach, and trauma-informed Sexologist certified in the Somatica® Method. With a background spanning bodywork, somatics, coaching and sacred sexuality, she...
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Julia Tynes - Singer/Songwriter/CEO
Blackout Podcast Episode 397: Julia Tynes - Singer/Songwriter/CEO Julia Tynes is a Halifax-area singer-songwriter, entertainer, educator, choreographer, and CEO whose work brings together soulful music, vibrant live performance, and community connection. Inspired by retro pop, soul, Motown, and...
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Philip Okunaiya - Financial Professional & Community Leader
Blackout Podcast Episode 396: Philip Okunaiya - Financial Professional & Community Leader Philip Okunaiya is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), and MBA graduate, with a career spanning...
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Tanya Suenfa - Co-found MO GATO Mauritian Delicacies
Tanya Suenfa is the co-founder of MO GATO Mauritian Delicacies, a small Mauritian food business she started with her husband, Hans, in Halifax in 2022. Tanya grew up in Mauritius surrounded by family cooking and baking, and food has always been a huge part of her life. She created MO GATO to…
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Chad W Johnson - Creative Entrepreneur
Chad W Johnson is a Halifax/Dartmouth-based videographer, photographer, filmmaker, mental health advocate, and creative entrepreneur behind ChadJPictures. Through his work, Chad captures authentic stories, artists, events, and meaningful moments while bringing his own approach to visual...
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Nik Davis - Photographer
Nik Davis - Photographer He grew up watching his dad film the family with old digital cameras, spent his college years designing video games, and now he's one of Halifax's most authentic photographers, but he'll be the first to tell you he doesn't identify 100% as a photographer. Meet Nik Davis…
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Patricia (Patti) Kibenge - Multi Hyphenate
She grew up running around a veterinary college, spent three years in med school hating it, ran away to the circus for a bit, and now she's a PhD researcher in adversarial machine learning who doesn't really believe in AI. Meet Patti—a woman who refuses to be put in a box. In this episode, Patti...
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Takeover Productions - Media Collective
Takeover Productions - Media Collective Takeover Productions is a Halifax-based media collective and event platform dedicated to spotlighting and strengthening the city’s vibrant local arts, music, and nightlife scenes. Built to champion the creative community from the ground up, the Instagram...
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Joelle El Kassir - Photographer / Restaurant Owner
Joelle El Kassir is a Lebanese-Canadian entrepreneur, photographer, and business owner based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She is the founder of IFL Photography, where she has spent over 15 years capturing meaningful stories through photography and videography, and the owner of Pizza Town PT Caffè...
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Candace Mayers- Jewelry Designer/ Founder of Creative Fashion Hub
Candace Mayers- Jewelry Designer/ Founder of Creative Fashion Hub Candace Mayers is a Trinidad-born creative who was raised in Brooklyn, New York. Her passion for fashion, design, and culture has shaped a creative journey rooted in community, storytelling, and self-expression. Beginning her…
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Omolola Adeyemi – Culture Driven Brand Builder & Storyteller
When people ask for "African prints," they're usually asking for Kente—but Omolala knows there's so much more. That's why she started Ova Afrique: to educate, preserve, and celebrate the rich tapestry of West African fabrics and the stories behind them. In this episode, Omolala takes us inside…
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Melānie Mendez Munden - Multidisciplinary Artist
Melānie Mendez Munden is a multidisciplinary artist whose work spans fashion, film, and the visual arts. Her creative practice is driven by a passion for storytelling and a desire to explore the connections between artistic disciplines, using a variety of mediums to bring her ideas and vision to...
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André Myette - Theater Director / Wrestler / Actor
André Myette - Theater Director / Wrestler / Actor If you live in Colchester County, chances are you’ve crossed paths with André Myette. As the Executive Director of the Marigold Cultural Centre, André is a major driving force in Truro's arts scene, but that’s just one of the many hats he wears....
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Ilona Inman - Pilot / Instructor / Creative Jewellery Repair & Upcycling
Ilona is a Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Veteran, having turned an early fascination with aviation into a position as a helicopter pilot at one of Canada’s Tactical Helicopter Squadrons. After thirteen years in the CAF, Ilona was released following an injury. She continued in aviation for several...
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JR Slotta - Rapper
He showed up to the East Coast Sessions feeling uncomfortable in his outfit, until he put it on and felt like himself. That's JR Slotta: an artist who's always willing to try something new, even when it pushes him outside his comfort zone. In this episode, JR breaks down his viral East Coast...
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Stella Eusebius - Content Creator
Stella Eusebius is a Nigerian creative, content creator and fitness enthusiast who currently lives in Nova Scotia, Canada. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Psychology with hopes to eventually go to medical school. Stella started content creation just for fun, but over time…
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Quoia States - Pop-Fusion Artist
Quoia States is a Jamaican-Canadian Pop-fusion artist based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, known for her soulful vocals and genre-blending sound infused with Afro-Caribbean influences. With a captivating stage presence and an ability to connect deeply with audiences, she continues to establish herself…
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Nnenna N - Business Consultant & AI Educator
When Nenna decided to move her family to Canada, she left with an open mind and heart. Three years later, she's the founder of two businesses, a certified AI consultant, and a community-builder who has trained over a dozen immigrant entrepreneurs! In this episode of The Blackout Podcast, Nenna...
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Jéa - Singer / Songwriter
Jéa is a Toronto-born artist of Jamaican and Native Canadian roots, now based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Her sound is raw, soulful, and honest, blending smooth R&B textures with playful storytelling and emotional depth. Influenced by artists like Snoh Allegra, Jaz Karis, and Alex Isley, she…
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Renée Babin - Social Developer
Renée Babin is a multidisciplinary professional who grounds her work in compassion, intentionality, and connection. With a focus on holistic approaches to law, community, and wellbeing, she is committed to empowering individuals and organisations to move with clarity and purpose. Her commitment…
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Niyi Adeogun – Multidisciplinary Artist / Creative Director
Niyi Adeogun is a multidisciplinary artist, creative director, and founder of CXRE Labs, a creative studio exploring the intersection of art, design, and technology. His work spans visual art, brand identity, immersive experiences, and experimental design, often using symbolism and storytelling…
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Dawn & Paris - East Coast Sessions
East Coast Sessions is a Black female-owned and led music platform dedicated to showcasing local musical talent across the East Coast of Canada. Our mission is to empower artists to confidently share their craft while providing an affordable, professional, and supportive space for growth. Unlike...
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Daramfon Morgan - Visual Artist / Cultural Storyteller
Daramfon Morgan is a Canadian Nigerian visual artist and the founder of DCM ART CREATIONS, based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. His work explores identity, culture, and memory through a bold visual language that blends African heritage, Caribbean influence, and contemporary expression. Working…
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Zuzu Ramia - Light Warrior
Zuzu, an author, speaker, percussionist, and photographer, transforms adversity into empowerment. After breaking his neck, Zuzu was fully paralysed and told he’d never walk again. With an unwavering belief in God and in himself, he has defied the odds by overcoming his paralysis through a variety...
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Zoe Leger - Singer / Voice Coach/ Music Educator
Raised and based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Zoe believes in the power of the voice to create community through song, and is constantly learning from her students and colleagues. Zoe holds a full studio of amateur and professional singers, and focuses her teaching on CCM pedagogy. Zoe has coached...
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Shawntaya MacLean - Poet/ Creative Entity / Future Story Teller
She is a poet at heart, a creative spirit who experiences the world through rhythm, emotion, and truth. Her words are shaped by lived moments and quiet reflections, capturing both the beauty and complexity of life. Through her poetry, she gives voice to the unspoken and creates space for...
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Liz LeClair - Founder, UpRising Philanthropic Consulting
Liz LeClair is a proud fundraiser and an intersectional feminist, bringing 20 years of experience to her work as the founder of UpRising Philanthropic Consulting. Liz is also a gender-based violence advocate working to raise awareness on the epidemic of violence in Nova Scotia and an end to the...
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Warlet - Rapper / Singer / Beatboxer
She writes, raps, beatboxes, performs spoken word, and speaks three languages. Meet Warlet, one of the most exciting and multi-dimensional artists to join The Blackout Podcast. Warlet shares the story behind her journey from Brazil to Canada, revealing how her parents (both vocal coaches)…
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Jessica Steele - Paper Collage Artist
Jessica Steele is a paper collage artist based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She holds a BFA in Fibres from Concordia University and a Diploma of Fine Arts from Dawson College. Working primarily with hand-cut vintage print materials such as books and magazines, Jessica explores how meaning shifts when...
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Tapiwa Munyanyi - Photographer / Filmmaker
He’s a photographer, a videographer, a rugby player, and a die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan. Meet Tapiwa, the creative force behind Captured by Shumba. In this episode, Tapiwa explains how his journey behind the camera began in 2023, inspired by a photographer he met on a solo trip to see the Cowboys....
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Ingrid Tatiana - Engineer / Artist / Community Advocate
Tatiana is a mining engineer by training, a creative by instinct, and a question-asker by nature. She immigrated to Canada from South America as a teenager, carrying with her a spirit of curiosity, deep resilience, and a desire to understand not only herself but, by extension, the people around...
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Cathy Akinkunmi - Creative Director & Executive Producer
Cathy Akinkunmi is a Halifax-based event producer and Creative Director of Beautiful Celebrations & Design, with over 15 years of experience designing elevated, culturally rich celebrations. She is known for blending tradition with modern elegance to create immersive and unforgettable…
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FollyHollyLynn – Multidisciplinary Conceptual Artist
As someone who has always been drawn to explore a variety of interests, FollyHollyLynn’s creative path reflects a lifelong openness to change and growth. Growing up, she experienced both ends of the spectrum when it came to quality of life; nothing overly dramatic in the early years, but enough…
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Savannah "S.Kae" King - Artiste
Literally stumbling into music by escorting a friend to a studio session and jumping on the mic out of curiosity, S.Kae has never looked back. What started as a random moment quickly turned into a serious craft and a movement he is now fully committed to embodying. But being a creative artist was...
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India Gailey - Cellist / Composer / Improviser
India Gailey is a cellist, composer, vocalist, and improviser who appears most often in the realms of classical and experimental music. Named by CBC as one of “30 hot Canadian classical musicians under 30,” India moves fluidly as a soloist, chamber musician, and interdisciplinary collaborator,...
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Nahome Assefa - Artist / Curator / Writer
Nahom Assefa is a multidisciplinary artist, curator, and writer whose practice explores cross-cultural storytelling, belongingness, and identity through visual and community-based work. Being a self-taught artist and Business Administration graduate from NSCC, Nahom challenges the “starving…
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Kvng Nova - Singer / Music Artiste
Kvng Nova, born Abraham Adebayo, is a Nigerian artist carving out a distinctive sound that bridges cultures and emotions. Blending Afrobeats, Hip-Hop, R&B, and Afrofusion, his music reflects both his roots and a global outlook, delivering vibrant, dynamic tracks that resonate widely. Despite…
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DJ Utshab - DJ / Producer / Performance Artist
DJ Utshab is one of the most renowned DJs in Bangladesh, celebrated for his electrifying performances. He began his DJ career in 2010, and with years of dedication and hard work, DJ Utshab became one of the most sought-after DJs in the country. He has been living in Halifax since 2022, where he...
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Nicolae - Musical Artist / Professional DM
Nicolae is an alternative R&B singer, rapper, drummer, and producer based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. His music blends soulful R&B, hip-hop honesty, and rock-leaning energy, with rhythm always at the centre. His latest release, Honey Blooded, explores desire and addiction through metaphor, pairing...
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Stacey Moser — Diver / Artist / Feral ’70s Child
Stacey Moser is a fiercely independent creative who believes reinvention is a choice, not a phase. A SCUBA diver, model, artist, and postmenopausal ADHD woman with relentless curiosity, Stacey has been forging her own path since the 1970s, questioning norms, following instinct, and refusing to…
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Margarita Fainshtein - Artist/Educator
Born in Ukraine, Margarita Fainshtein earned a BFA from the University of Haifa, Israel and MFA from School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Exhibitions include: Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, Chicago; Chicago Art Department, Chicago; Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Halifax; The Artist House,...
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Macarena Carreño - Musician / Artist / Art Administrator
At fifteen, her first song emerged from an English class assignment, built on three chords and sung with friends. That simple moment with a guitar quietly began a path she could never leave. Born in Santiago, Chile, she was raised among films, music, and poetry, where art persistently called to...
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Dana Elborno - Mental Health and Youth at Risk Advocate
Dana Elborno is a Palestinian-Canadian social advocate based in Halifax. She is diving into her long-awaited art career. Dana holds a Child and Youth degree with a minor in Psychology from MSVU and currently works as a mental health and youth worker. Dana started her activist career in 2021 and…
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Amanda Martin – Owner / Founder - Sweet Cheesus Charcuterie
What started as a simple side hustle for a single mom in Halifax has exploded into a thriving business crafting stunning charcuterie boards and tables for weddings, corporate events, and more. In this inspiring and down-to-earth conversation, Amanda shares her incredible journey: from buying her...
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Sherry Anne Crowe - Model / Actor / Inspirational Speaker
Sherry Anne Crowe is a model, actor, and inspirational speaker in her 50s who believes that life is not about fading quietly with age, but about evolving boldly. Through her creative work and growing social media presence, she challenges outdated narratives around ageing, confidence, and...
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Job Brumaire - Drummer / Entrepreneur
Job Brumaire is a creator and entrepreneur born and raised in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. He is driven by a deep passion for expression through both music and craftsmanship. His journey in music began behind a drum kit in church, evolving into a heartfelt way to connect with people and channel…
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Luke French - Rapper/Songwriter
Luke French is a rapper and songwriter out of Westville, Nova Scotia Now residing in Halifax. Influenced by both new and old-school artists like Griselda, J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar and Eminem, French began his career in 2020 after releasing his mixtape “1624”, which earned praise from Griselda...
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Natalie Chiasson - Journalist / Visual Artist
Natalie Chiasson is a journalist and visual artist based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She moved to the East Coast from western Canada in 2019, and has established strong roots here in Mi’kma’ki. She is passionate about storytelling through writing, photography, videography, and illustration, and...