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Send us Fan Mail Angela Hunte helped write an anthem the world knows. Behind the music is a story of rejection, recognition, motherhood—and a health crisis that changed everything. In this episode of The Corie Sheppard Podcast, Angela shares the unexpected journey behind “Empire State of Mind”: writing it while homesick in London, its initial rejection, Lady Gaga’s interest, and why she believed Alicia Keys should sing the hook instead of her. From growing up between Brooklyn and Trinidad to finding her place in the music industry, Angela takes us inside a career spent creating songs across genres, often away from the spotlight. She shares the stories behind “Party Done” with Machel Montano and “Mon Bon Ami,” the encouragement she received from Kes when she considered stepping away from music, and the reality of balancing performing with a newborn at home. In one of the conversation’s most personal moments, Angela opens up about major heart surgery, learning to walk and talk again, and finding renewed purpose through music, television and film. In this conversation: • Growing up between Brooklyn and Trinidad • Ghostwriting, recognition and the business of songwriting • Machel Montano, “Party Done” and motherhood • Creating “Mon Bon Ami” in one take • Kes and finding the motivation to keep making music • The story behind “Empire State of Mind” • Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, Kanye West and Lady Gaga • Heart surgery, recovery, faith and starting again • Building a future in television and film Subscribe to The Corie Sheppard Podcast, share this conversation, and tell us which part stayed with you. #AngelaHunte #EmpireStateOfMind #TheCorieSheppardPodcast

Send us Fan Mail Already established in Saint Lucia, Teddyson John had to introduce himself all over again in Trinidad. “Allez” opened the door—but his story goes far beyond one hit. Teddyson joins us to talk about teaching himself instruments, leaving school two weeks before his exams, and navigating the tension between his church upbringing and his passion for performing. We explore the meaning behind “Allez,” the pressure to deliver a new hit every Carnival, his friendship with Kes, and representing Saint Lucia on the Tiny Desk stage. He also shares the vision behind his stripped-back concerts—and why an artiste’s entire body of work deserves to be celebrated. A conversation full of laughter, faith, music and pride in where we come from. 🇱🇨 Enjoyed the episode? Like, share and subscribe to The Corie Sheppard Podcast. For early access and extended conversations, join us on Patreon.

Send us Fan Mail His father wanted him to become a doctor. Carl “Beaver” Henderson imagined that future—and realised he could be successful and still be unhappy. He walked into his pre-med exam, handed in a blank paper and never went back. This week on The Corie Sheppard Podcast, we sit down with musician, producer and pioneer Carl “Beaver” Henderson for a conversation about choosing your own path, challenging convention and helping shape the sound of Trinidad and Tobago. Beaver takes us inside his sessions with Shadow and Lord Shorty, his unexpected first assignment producing Denise Plummer, and the early experiments that helped soca evolve. He also shares the remarkable story of Marlon Asher’s “Ganja Farmer”—from getting little encouragement from radio to finding an audience far beyond Trinidad. We explore: • Leaving medicine for music—and the rift with his father • The lesson Shadow taught him about a “wrong” chord • The Last Supper and his early band days • Funk, technology and the evolution of soca • Why he believes competition prizes can limit creativity • The making and breakthrough of “Ganja Farmer” • His account of early chutney soca experiments • Why young creatives need opportunities and support A conversation about trusting your instincts, staying curious and refusing to let other people define your future. Subscribe and join us in the comments: have you ever had to choose between the life expected of you and the life you wanted? Support The Corie Sheppard Podcast on Patreon for early access and extended conversations. #CorieSheppardPodcast #CarlBeaverHenderson #Soca #TrinidadAndTobago #GanjaFarmer

Send us Fan Mail Behind Chucky Gordon’s smile and stage presence is a story of depression, self-doubt, and finding a reason to keep going. Roderick “Chucky” Gordon joins us for an honest, funny, and fearless conversation about how the performing arts helped save his life, his search for his father’s attention and approval, and the journey to finding his own voice. The two-time Calypso Monarch also opens up about the shock of missing the finals, the pressures of speaking truth to power, and why he refuses to compromise his convictions. From soca success to his signature “Jiggy Calypso,” we explore what it takes to build your own lane—and keep standing in it. In this episode: • Depression, healing, and finding community through music • His father Roland Gordon’s influence and legacy • The disappointment of being left out of the Calypso Monarch finals • Politics, artistic freedom, and the responsibility of a calypsonian • Soca hits, industry cliques, and reclaiming his identity • Bringing calypso to a new generation Subscribe, share, and tell us which part of the conversation stayed with you. For early access and extended episodes, join us: https://www.patreon.com/CorieSheppardPodcast #CorieSheppardPodcast #ChuckyGordon #Calypso #Soca #TrinidadAndTobago

Send us Fan Mail Justice Westmin James’ journey to the bench didn’t begin where many might expect. Born in Morvant/Laventille and raised without significant financial means, he attended Mucurapo Junior Secondary, St James Secondary and Tranquility Government Secondary before eventually making his way to the Faculty of Law at The University of the West Indies, graduating with First Class Honours and later earning a scholarship to study at Cambridge. transcript-judging-in-the-real-… Today, Justice James is a Judge of the High Court of Trinidad and Tobago, a Judge on the Caribbean Community Administrative Tribunal and the IDB Administrative Tribunal, having previously served as a Judge of the High Courts of Belize and Barbados. In this episode, we go beyond the titles and into the realities of life on the bench: the restrictions judges live with, security concerns, friendships and social media, unconscious bias, the intimidation of the courtroom and why justice can sometimes take so long. We also get into one of the biggest changes facing the legal profession — Artificial Intelligence. Justice James reveals that people are already using AI to represent themselves in court and recounts encountering AI-generated “hallucinations” in legal submissions, which led him to address the ethical use and verification of AI in one of his judgments. transcript-judging-in-the-real-… But at the heart of this conversation is a remarkable Caribbean story about opportunity, education, ambition and what can happen when someone is given a chance. This is Justice Westmin James on The Corie Sheppard Podcast.

Send us Fan Mail Peter C. Lewis grew up watching television through a neighbour’s window. Years later, he created Synergy TV and helped put a generation of Caribbean talent on screen. We sit down with Peter to trace the journey from the Bread Boys and his years in soca to performing with Machel Montano and building a television station from the ground up. He shares the night he finally found his confidence on stage, the work behind Synergy’s early shows, and the personal promise that led him back to his faith. Watch the conversation, and tell us: what’s your favourite Peter C. Lewis or Synergy TV memory? For extended conversations, join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CorieSheppardPodcast #PeterCLewis #SynergyTV #CorieSheppardPodcast

Send us Fan Mail After nearly 25 years as Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves joins us for a candid and wide-ranging conversation about losing power, accepting the will of the electorate and adjusting to his new role as Leader of the Opposition. He reveals why he removed every personal possession—even his toothbrush—from the Prime Minister’s residence before each election and explains the philosophy behind his declaration: “My brain is not defeated. My spirit is not defeated.” We explore his Trinidadian roots, relationship with Kamla Persad-Bissessar, lifelong friendship with Patrick Manning and what he believes contributed to his government’s electoral defeat. He also reflects on growing up without electricity or pipe-borne water, earning his PhD at 27, living in Uganda under Idi Amin and being accused of serving Cuban and Soviet interests. Gonsalves speaks frankly about Donald Trump, American foreign policy, Venezuela, Cuba, Caribbean sovereignty and why the region must never simply “roll over and play dead.” Plus, he shares the remarkable story behind helping Vybz Kartel receive medical treatment in St. Vincent—and explains why he considers himself the real “World Boss.” Is his political career finally coming to an end? His answer may surprise you. Subscribe, like and share to support more meaningful, Caribbean-rooted conversations. #RalphGonsalves #SaintVincentAndTheGrenadines #CaribbeanPolitics #CorieSheppardPodcast #CARICOM

Send us Fan Mail Long before she became one of the Caribbean’s most recognisable sporting voices, Alex Jordan was building a career that would take her from radio in Barbados to the BBC, SportsMax, the Olympic Games and the CPL. In this wide-ranging conversation, Alex shares the unlikely path behind her success—from leaving a comfortable life in Barbados and struggling to find her break in London, to learning live television while the entire region watched. She speaks candidly about overcoming the fear of looking unprepared, finding confidence in what she uniquely brings to broadcasting and why it is perfectly acceptable not to know everything. We also explore her deep connection to Caribbean identity, the intimacy of radio, the voice that helped raise a generation and why she now feels ready to slow down, write and begin a new chapter. This is Alex Jordan beyond cricket: thoughtful, funny, refreshingly honest and unmistakably Caribbean.

Send us Fan Mail Adrian Chandler is the founder of Strictly FX, the boss behind Fitt St and a co-founder of Air Committee—but his journey has included enormous risks, painful losses and moments when survival was far from guaranteed. Adrian takes us behind the scenes of Trinidad and Tobago’s events industry, revealing the real cost of producing major Carnival experiences, why large crowds do not always mean profit and what happened with Keyshia Cole’s shortened performance at RB Brunch. He also opens up about losing his father, the death of his brother during Carnival and selling his boat, vehicles and equipment when COVID shut down the entertainment industry. What began as a plan for a sports bar became a grocery during lockdown—and eventually evolved into Fitt St. This is an honest conversation about entrepreneurship, resilience and the sacrifices hidden behind success. Get the extended episode on Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/CorieSheppardPodcast/redeem/871D3

Send us Fan Mail Before urban radio became part of everyday life in Trinidad and Tobago, Adrian “Third Bass” Hackshaw was among the young DJs helping to take the music of the streets, maxi taxis and record shops onto national radio. In this episode, Third Bass takes us from the little boy who practised being a radio announcer at home to becoming one of the pioneering voices of 98.9 FM and 96.1 FM. He shares how Third Bass was formed, why he left his first 9-to-5 job before lunchtime, the rise of Dancehall Good to Beand the criticism urban radio faced for changing what a generation of young people was hearing. We also get the stories behind J’Ouvert Morning, Make Me Feel High and Stush in the Bush; his early work with Destra Garcia; the songs he helped break; the music he secretly wrote for other artistes; and the infamous night one song played repeatedly on 96.1. This is a conversation about knowing your purpose, trusting your instincts, challenging the establishment and helping to change Caribbean music and radio forever. If you enjoyed this conversation, like the episode, share it and subscribe to The Corie Sheppard Podcast. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🎧 SUPPORT THE PODCAST Get early access, extended conversations and exclusive episodes on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/coriesheppardpodcast ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 📱 FOLLOW THE CORIE SHEPPARD PODCAST Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coriesheppod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecoriesheppardpodcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@corieshep X: https://x.com/coriesheppod #ThirdBass #CorieSheppardPodcast #TrinidadRadio #CaribbeanMusic #Soca #Dancehall #TrinidadAndTobago

Send us Fan Mail Behavioural psychotherapist and body-language expert Gayatree Dipchan shares the deeply personal story of surviving a violent sexual assault—and the long journey from trauma to healing, purpose and peace. Gayatree opens up about the night that changed the course of her life, the relationships that helped her survive, raising and protecting her daughter, and why she refuses to let her most traumatic experience define the rest of her story. We also explore what our bodies communicate when words cannot, the cultural norms that leave children vulnerable, and what it truly takes to move beyond being a victim—not only to survive, but to thrive. Thank you for supporting The Corie Sheppard Podcast and helping us continue to create a trusted space for honest, meaningful Caribbean stories. Content warning: This episode contains detailed discussions of rape, sexual violence, abuse and physical trauma. Listener discretion is strongly advised.

Send us Fan Mail Destra Garcia has spent more than two decades becoming one of the defining voices and performers in soca. But behind the Queen of Bacchanal is a story of faith, family, ambition, sacrifice and an unwavering love for Caribbean culture. In this episode of The Corie Sheppard Podcast, Destra takes us from growing up as a pastor’s kid and becoming “addicted” to the applause at just 10 years old, to Roy Cape taking her under his wing, her decision to go solo and the songs that would eventually travel around the world. 👑 WATCH THE EXTENDED VERSION ON PATREON This YouTube episode is only part of the conversation. The extended Destra interview is available NOW exclusively on Patreon, with more from our conversation that didn’t make the YouTube cut. 👉 Join us on Patreon for the extended episode and more exclusive CSP content. Destra opens up about stepping away from Carnival to complete her gospel album, her relationship with God and the criticism that can come with being both deeply spiritual and the Queen of Bacchanal. We also get the stories behind some of the biggest moments of her career — including how “It’s Carnival” was originally intended for another artist before Machel Montano joined the record, why she once believed they were robbed of Road March, and why she now sees the song’s longevity as something far more important. Destra also talks about the true story behind “Lucy,” growing up in Laventille, motherhood, Roy Cape’s passing, being underestimated, building a catalogue that has lasted decades and the R&B career that almost took her outside of soca. And then there’s the Rihanna story: “I gave Rihanna my dream and she ran with it.” 😂 FOLLOW THE CORIE SHEPPARD PODCAST Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coriesheppod/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@corieshep Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecoriesheppardpodcast Like, share and subscribe to help us continue telling Caribbean stories and having conversations that entertain, educate and inspire. #Destra #DestraGarcia #Soca #TrinidadAndTobago #Caribbean #TheCorieSheppardPodcast

Send us Fan Mail What began as  friends laughing, playing games and being themselves became one of Trinidad and Tobago’s most joyful online movements. Avril, KP and Shinzy of Cheerful Company join us for a lively and deeply personal conversation about their friendship, their contrasting personalities and the unexpected journey from casual TikTok videos to millions of views. They share how messages from people struggling with depression inspired the name Cheerful Company, why faith remains at the centre of everything they do, the realities of turning viral content into a business, and how they balance their public personalities with life beyond the camera—including careers in policing. It’s an episode filled with laughter, honesty, purpose and the unmistakable chemistry that has made Cheerful Company a source of sunshine for so many. Like, share and subscribe for more meaningful Caribbean-rooted conversations.

Send us Fan Mail This week’s solo episode starts with an apology to the Mighty Conqueror after last week's search for the “wordiest” calypso — before Corie tells the story of being challenged to attend Lady Lava’s birthday Steam aboard the Harbour Master. From figuring out what you’re actually supposed to wear to a Steam, to arriving at a boat ride at the correct Trinidadian time, trying to keep up with the younger generation, discovering new music and eventually learning that sometimes your body simply tells you when the party is over — it was an experience. Then we get into some more serious business. The new Venezuela–Trinidad and Tobago gas developments could represent a major opportunity for the country — but have we learned anything from our previous energy booms? Corie talks Dutch Disease, government spending, public-sector wages, diversification and why another energy windfall shouldn't simply mean going back to business as usual. We also get into the new army-police posts, the Independence Day parade changes at the Queen’s Park Savannah, the way political tribalism shapes our reactions to almost everything, the ugliness of social-media comments surrounding tragedy, and Sharon Rowley rediscovering her passion for art in retirement. Plus music and stories involving Lady Lava, Coutain, Christo, Jordan English, Voice and more. It’s Steam Night Stories, economics, politics, music, ageing and Trinidad & Tobago being Trinidad & Tobago. Tell me in the comments: what age do you officially become too old for Steam? 😂

Send us Fan Mail Born without arms, Veera Bhajan learned from childhood how quickly the world can define someone by what it believes they lack. But behind her remarkable academic achievements and successful legal career was a much deeper struggle involving survival, shame, depression and the pressure to continually prove her worth. In this deeply personal conversation, Veera explains how achievement became connected to acceptance—and why she eventually realised that much of her life had become performative. She takes us inside her childhood in Trinidad and Tobago, being rejected from preschool, learning to write and complete everyday tasks with her feet, excelling academically and becoming nationally recognised after placing among the country’s top students. Veera also discusses the emotional cost of living in survival mode, the public dispute surrounding her appointment to the Equal Opportunity Tribunal and how that painful experience reopened wounds of rejection that stretched back to childhood. Today, Veera is an attorney, trauma coach, yoga instructor and motivational speaker. Through therapy, meditation and yoga, she has learned to separate her identity from her achievements, disability and past experiences—and reconnect with the person beneath them all. This conversation explores disability, childhood trauma, depression, healing, hustle culture, education, vulnerability, identity and what it truly means to live an authentic life. If this conversation resonates with you, like the episode, share it with someone who needs it and subscribe to The Corie Sheppard Podcast.