Collective Drift: Celebrating International Women, Culture, and Travel

What are the top travel hacks Saving money and staying fit & healthy during COVID19 w/ Dr. Sheba KingHow to save up for traveling? What are the best hacks to traveling on a budget? What does it feel like to travel more than half of the world? What precautions to take when traveling during COVID? How to follow a healthy diet all the while traveling and eating delicious food? How to get motivated for working out? What is the true essence of self-care? In this podcast, we got to know the ever so lovely Dr. Sheba, who is a health, fitness, and nutrition coach. She's also the co-founder of "Road to 100 Countries" and has visited 108 countries and counting all over the world with her husband! Born and raised in New York, Sheba is a true New Yorker by heart, but her parents originate from Trinidad. Sheba is super passionate about health and traveling, pursuing her dreams all the while visiting numerous gorgeous countries. She's also a new mom of an 11-month-old and is getting to experience mom-hood as time goes by. Let's get into the interview now to know more about Sheba!This episode of the Collective Drift podcast is sponsored by Truist. Truist is here for better. BB&T and SunTrust formed Truist with a shared purpose—to inspire and build better lives and communities. With our combined resources, collective passion, and commitment to innovation, we’re creating a better financial experience to help people and businesses achieve more. Go to https://www.truist.com​ for more information.Read my favorite questions in the interview here: https://kadealo.com/collective-drift/s2-e2-what-are-t…vid19-w-dr-sheba/Where to find Erica and Collective Drifthttps://www.instagram.com/collectivedrift/https://www.youtube.com/collectivedriftCollective Drift is now a part of Kadealohttps://www.Kadealo.comWhere to find Dr. Shebahttps://www.instagram.com/getfitwithdrsheba/?hl=enhttps://drsheba.com/https://roadto100countries.com/https://www.facebook.com/RoadTo100Countries/https://www.instagram.com/roadto100countries/?hl=enThe Collective Drift podcast was created by Erica Knowles to celebrate all women, the beauty of their cultures, and international travel experiences. I believe that women possess magic, that gives them strength and grace to change the world. We learn how to tap into our power in various ways based on our cultural backgrounds and our journeys. Join me and an amazing collective of multicultural, multiethnic, and multigenerational women that are artists, cultural leaders, and travel enthusiasts as they tell their stories about their culture, their tribe of women, their passions, their art, and their favorite international experiences. Welcome to Collective Drift.

What is the importance of prayer and spirituality? What is self-care to you? How can you feel closer to God? How do Nigerian values and culture impact a child's upbringing? How effective are Balinese herbs? Why is it important to learn about different cultures? How to break the ice with people of different cultures? How important are exercising and prayer in the morning? What is a must-see on a trip to Nigeria?In this interview, we got to interact with the ever-so-sweet Sope Aluko, a devout Christian, mom of two, and an actress. Sope was born in Nigeria, raised in the UK, but she also lived on five different continents. She’s known well for her role as a shaman in Black Panther, which has a beautiful story behind it, a true miracle from God. Follow us through this interview to learn more about Sope, her Nigerian upbringing, her spirituality, the importance of prayer, her experiences of living on five different continents, and her view on acting. Let’s get into it!Collective Drift is taking up AARP's challenge to reinvent what it means to age.  Remember, what you do after 50 can be just as amazing as what you've done before 30. It's time to disrupt aging. This is the second of 3 episodes in partnership with AARP highlighting amazing women from around the world who have disrupted aging. Go to aarp.org/disrupt-aging to learn more.Keep reading on Kadealo.com/collectivedriftWhere to find Erica and Collective Drifthttps://www.collectivedrift.comhttps://www.instagram.com/collectivedrifthttps://www.youtube.com/collectivedriftCollective Drift is now a part of Kadealo https://www.Kadealo.comWhere to find Sopehttps://www.instagram.com/sopealukohttps://twitter.com/sopealukohttps://www.facebook.com/Sope-Aluko-461432133872601

What is it like to grow up and live around the world? How can I explore cultures around the world? What does it feel like to be a multiethnic woman? What does it mean to be multicultural? How can I be accepted by people of different cultures? How can I invest my time into different types of art?In this interview, we got to talk to the amazing Vanessa Selk, who can definitely be called “a woman of the world”. Born in Spain and coming from Guianese and German parents, Vanessa has traveled and lived all around the world. Her insight into so many cultures is admirable, that's why I loved listening to her perspective in this interview. Apart from that, Vanessa is an independent cultural producer and political arts consultant. She has also written and directed theater plays, organized film and art festivals, as well as exhibitions, while also being involved in international affairs as a former diplomat at the United Nations and for the French government.  Vanessa’s current mission is the Tout Monde Foundation, which she recently founded. The Tout Monde Foundation is a non-profit organization and public charity supporting Caribbean contemporary visual and performing artists through socially impactful projects dedicated to our 3E-values: Ecology, Education and Equal Rights. Learn more here: https://www.tout-monde-foundation.org/ . This is the final episode of season 1 of the Collective Drift podcast. We are looking forward to season 2. Make sure that you have subscribed to Collective Drift on your favorite listening site.Here are a few of my favorite parts of the interview:Collective Drift (CD) / Vanessa Selk (VS)CD: How would you describe yourself?VS: I'm definitely a citizen of the world. I do not belong to one particular country, or a city, or even a particular community. I really feel at home wherever I am at the moment. And every time I travel, I feel like I belong wherever I go because my goal is to adapt to the local culture, understand it, and generally try to speak the language as best as possible. Though it's not always as easy when you're an international citizen and work for a government at the same time.CD: How has your upbringing allowed you to be so open to being a citizen of the world?VS: I think I became open to this because my parents are very open-minded. I like to call them Bohemians because they love to travel. Both of them were already traveling when they were young, and that's when they met each other in Spain and where I was born. Then afterward, they continued traveling and they really wanted me to learn the importance of both of their cultures considering that I’m half German and half French Guianese. That’s why my parents agreed to live in both regions and countries.Read more https://www.collectivedrift.com/post/vanessasWhere to find Erica and Collective Drifthttps://www.collectivedrift.com/https://www.instagram.com/collectivedrift/https://www.youtube.com/collectivedriftWhere to find Vanessahttps://www.instagram.com/vandagem_art/Vanessaselk@gmail.comhttps://www.tout-monde-foundation.org/The Collective Drift platform was created by Erica Knowles to celebrate all women, the beauty of their cultures, and international travel experiences. I believe that women possess magic, that gives them strength and grace to change the world. We learn how to tap into our power in various ways based on our cultural backgrounds and our journeys. Welcome to Collective Drift.

In this podcast interview, we got to talk to the amazing Evelyn Onyejuruwa, better known as Evelyn O. She is the Founder/CEO of Ankara Miami. Born in Nigeria and raised in Florida, Evelyn has been investing great time and effort into representing and redefining the beautiful African cultural trends through Ankara Miami, a special events company that specifically carries out events for black or culture-focused businesses. Evelyn also manages Ankara Delights, a shop and series of pop-up shops specializing in African print fabrics, apparel, and hand-crafted goods. Being in the retail industry, Evelyn loves visiting markets around the world and exploring various fashion trends in the African Diaspora. Take a cultural fashion trip with Evelyn and Collective Drift in this interview, as she tells us about the wonderful African fashion and her love for the rich Nigerian culture!This episode of the Collective Drift podcast is sponsored by Truist. Truist is here for better. BB&T and SunTrust formed Truist with a shared purpose—to inspire and build better lives and communities. With our combined resources, collective passion, and commitment to innovation, we’re creating a better financial experience to help people and businesses achieve more. Go to truist.com for more information.Here are a few of my favorite parts of the interview:Collective Drift (CD) / Evelyn Onyejuruwa (EO)CD: So Evelyn, how would you describe yourself?EO: Well, I think I am a multi-dimensional creature. I’m a weird mix of reserved and social at the same time. But aside from that, I describe myself as a visionary. I have a lot of grand ideas. I have a lot of things that I like to collaborate on. And I just try to find out  how to work with different types of people and deal with different types of cultures and demographics, etc. I gravitate towards being consistent, being able to adapt to different types of people, and being able to watch my surroundings. CD: Where does the idea behind “Ankara Miami” (Florida’s premier African fashion week) come from?EO: The overall idea is related to my culture. I was born in Nigeria. I've been primarily raised here in Florida, but I do go back and forth. It started when I won the Nigeria Florida cultural pageant back in 2011 in South Florida. The thing that I loved about it was that it wasn't based on beauty, body, and things like that. This pageant was based on promoting the culture, so it was quite different. It was just young women representing the area that they're from by mixing in tradition with modern fashion and showcasing the beauty of what our culture is. Read more: https://collectivedrift.com/post/evelynoWhere to find Erica and Collective Driftcollectivedrift.com/instagram.com/collectivedrift/youtube.com/collectivedriftWhere to find Evelyninstagram.com/evelyno11twitter.com/EvelynO11Where to find Ankara Miamiankaramiami.cominstagram.com/AnkaraMiamifacebook.com/AnkaraMiamiWhere to find Ankara Delights509 S 21st Ave STE 101Hollywood, FL, USAankaradelights.cominstagram.com/Ankaradelights

What gives you joy? How do you find joy? What helps you feel better? How can I get through my depression? What do I need to do to feel happy? What makes you happy? Why am I depressed? What can help ease my stress? Can travel make me feel better? How can faith in God help me? Will having faith help improve my mood? Will taking a trip help? What do I need to do to get out of this slump? Will I feel better after going on vacation?This podcast interview is with the very joyful and happy Dawn Kelly. She is a world traveler,  mom, mentor, publicist, and owner of an amazing smoothie shop The Nourish Spot in Jamaica, Queens, New York. In this episode of the Collective Drift podcast, Dawn tells us about how she’s been able to overcome difficult situations; her trips to Cape Town, South Africa and Phuket, Thailand; and her relationship with her daughter Jade. I especially love how Dawn’s love of international travel has inspired her daughter’s career and love of travel.  Dawn even brings back international recipes to The Nourish Spot. Dawn is at a minimum resilient. Listen to this episode of Collective Drift to learn Dawn’s blueprint for getting through a dark time in your life because she has definitely succeeded and continues to succeed. Her energy is contagious so watch out!Collective Drift is taking up AARP's challenge to reinvent what it means to age.  Remember, what you do after 50 can be just as amazing as what you've done before 30. It's time to disrupt aging. This is the second of 3 episodes in partnership with AARP highlighting amazing women from around the world who have disrupted aging. Go to aarp.org/disrupt-aging to learn more. Here are a few of my favorite parts of the interview:Collective Drift (CD) / Dawn Kelly (DK)CD: You’re 58, but you feel like you’re 12 years old. Tell us more about that?DK: I'm still a kid at heart. I'm still full of wonder and curiosity. I'm still full of joy. I love to laugh. I love to play, I love to hug. Although we can't hug during COVID. I like to explore and learn different things. So you know, I've heard ages just a number. And I believe that the way I live, my life showcases that that is actually true. It's how you feel? Not what number characterizes your age?CD: How are you embodying that?DK: I like to have fun. I’ve traveled the world. Before COVID, I was always in some foreign distant land. I love to learn. So I'm always engaged in some kind of learning program. And I actually learned that at AARP; AARP taught us that learning is a lifelong journey.  I started working at AARP, when I was 23 years old, I believe. I was still young and naive about a lot of things.Read more: https://www.collectivedrift.com/post/dawnkellyWhere to find Erica and Collective Drifthttps://www.collectivedrift.com/https://www.instagram.com/collectivedrift/https://www.youtube.com/collectivedriftWhere to find Dawnhttps://www.instagram.com/prmaven17/Where to find The Nourish SpotThe Nourish Spot, 107-05 Guy R Brewer Blvd, Jamaica, NY https://the-nourish-spot.business.site/https://www.instagram.com/thenourishspot/The Collective Drift platform was created by Erica Knowles to celebrate all women, the beauty of their cultures, and international travel experiences. I believe that women possess magic, that gives them strength and grace to change the world. 

(ep 14)  Where can I find inspiration? With fashion and culture photographer Celia D. LunaWhat inspires you? How can I be inspired? What should I look for, for inspiration? How can women influence me? How can I be more creative? What inspires your creativity? What is your passion? How do little things help spark your interest? Who can help me be more of me? How do you find yourself? I really enjoyed this interview with small business owner, artist, photographer, and mom, Celia D. Luna. It completely reminded me of the time that I spent in Peru. She was born in Ayacucho, Peru. While I didn’t spend time in Ayacucho, you can’t really go to Peru and experience it’s culture without knowing about the amazing place. The women from Ayacucho have a significant presence in the major Peruvian festivities such as Inti Raymi, which celebrates the sun god. I remember seeing the women with their top hats, wide colorful skirts, white blouses and boots.  This episode of the Collective Drift podcast is sponsored by Truist. Truist is here for better. BB&T and SunTrust formed Truist with a shared purpose—to inspire and build better lives and communities. With our combined resources, collective passion, and commitment to innovation, we’re creating a better financial experience to help people and businesses achieve more. Go to truist.com for more information.In this interview Celia tells us about how her mother from Ayacucho inspires her. Celia is an entrepreneur and  photographer whose mother owned a travel and tourism company. Through this Celia got to experience and see many different cultures. She also talks about life as a small business owner and the women and brands she photographs with from around the world that are telling their stories.  Sustainability is very important to Celia and she loves working with brands that are proactive about protecting the environment. She tells us about her connection with her daughter who is now exploring photography as well. We wrap up the conversation with Celia’s favorite travel experiences and her favorite places in Miami.  With her mother’s influence on her to be powerful, her love of travel, and her ability to stay grounded through meditation, Celia inspires us.Here are a few of my favorite parts of the interview. Collective Drift (CD) / Celia D. Luna (CL)CD: Who is Celia D. Luna?CL: I guess I'll describe myself as this creative person that wants to communicate her message visually. And my message right now is about sustainability. I'm very into saving our planet and I want my photos to say that. Also girl empowerment, that also comes through very naturally. I was raised by a single mom; so, I've always had this big connection with women that kick ass. So that's what I do.CD: What did your mom teach you about being a strong woman?CL: I was born in Ayacucho, which was a little town in Peru. And she was in charge of a travel and tourism company. So she was a Boss Lady. So that's the first impact that I have from her, or the first connection that I relate to her...Read more: collectivedrift.com/post/celiadlunaWhere to find Erica and Collective Driftcollectivedrift.cominstagram.com/collectivedriftyoutube.com/collectivedriftWhere to find Celiaceliadluna.com/instagram.com/celiadlunafacebook.com/celiadluna

In part 1 of this interview, we got to know Sandra Christmann. We talked to her about her past, her career, her experience with kite surfing, the women who have influenced her, and the steps she has taken to help the people in need. We touched on the topic of her international travel experiences briefly, so let’s dive into it properly now! In part two of our interview with Sandra, she dives into her spiritual connection to Kenya; getting married in Venice, Italy; spending time with her best friend in Paris, France; and all the best places to visit in Düsseldorf, Germany. Please note this was recorded prior to the COVID19 pandemic.Collective Drift is taking up AARP's challenge to reinvent what it means to age.  Remember, what you do after 50 can be just as amazing as what you've done before 30. It's time to disrupt aging. This is the part two of the first of 3 episodes in partnership with AARP highlighting amazing women from around the world who have disrupted aging. Click HEREto learn more disrupting aging with AARP!Click HERE to make sure that you get our upcoming episodes.So, what is a question Sandra would ask other women? “What is your challenge? And how do you feel as a woman?”To Sandra, what is female strength and what does it mean to be a woman?“A woman’s strength lies in her emotions, her bravery, and her delicateness. Being a woman gives you a natural charm that helps you exude friendliness and welcome people with a smile.”Read more HEREWhere to find Erica and Collective Drifthttps://www.collectivedrift.comhttps://www.instagram.com/collectivedrift/https://www.youtube.com/collectivedriftWhere to find Sandrahttps://www.instagram.com/sandrachristmann/Art Düsseldorf Places mentioned Königsallee Kunstsammlung K21Media Harbour Museum KunstpalastDüsseldorfer SchauspielhausOld TownOberkassel Ponte dei Tre Archi Countries mentionedKenya Italy Cities mentioned hereShimoni, Kenya Mombasa, Kenya Rome, Italy Florence, Italy  Marche, ItalyVenice, ItalyParis, France Düsseldorf, Germany

Click HERE to make sure that you get our upcoming episodes!How does one find their true passion? What can you do to have a fulfilling life even at an older age? How can one find the best opportunity to help others? Are women who do not get to travel not aware of their privilege? How do women influence women? What does it feel like to be a German woman? What is something you wish another woman would’ve told you? These are all the questions that our interviewee Sandra Christmann answers wonderfully in this first part of the interview! Being acquainted with such topics and spending her life finding her passion, she’s the best person you can go to for these answers.Collective Drift is taking up AARP's challenge to reinvent what it means to age.  Remember, what you do after 50 can be just as amazing as what you've done before 30. It's time to disrupt aging. This is the first of 3 episodes in partnership with AARP highlighting amazing women from around the world who have disrupted aging. Go to aarp.org/disrupt-aging to learn more. Sandra Christmann is a 52 year old woman that disrupts aging by 1000%! She’s a mother, an   art powerhouse, kitesurfer, world traveler and philanthropist. Sandra was born and raised in Essen, Germany.  She studied German linguistics, media and Italian in Düsseldorf where she still resides. At the age of 25 she was fortunate to give birth to her favorite person in the world, her daughter Lana. Soon after that, she started working as a PR and marketing manager. Despite being good at marketing, she couldn’t find the necessary drive in it. She wasn’t content with the said job and decided to find something where her heart would feel at peace. Then, many of Sandra’s friends, who were artists themselves, prompted her to direct her attention to art. That’s when she started working at one of the most famous museums, focusing on classic modern and contemporary art, The Kunstsammlung in Düsseldorf. She spent 13 years there as the general manager responsible for sponsoring. After turning 50 years old she made another life changing move. She became the head of strategic alliances for the startup art fair Art Düsseldorf. So don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t get a new job after 50 or that only millennials can work for startups!Click HERE to read more!Where to find Erica and Collective Driftcollectivedrift.cominstagram.com/collectivedrift/youtube.com/collectivedriftWhere to find Sandrainstagram.com/sandrachristmann/Art Düsseldorf art-dus.de/Aid Kenya Watoto aidkenya.org/Click HERE to make sure that you get our upcoming episodes!

Exploring Race and Femininity in Caribbean and Mexican Cultures with Perez Art Museum Miami’s Curator, María Elena Ortiz Click HERE  to make sure that you get our upcoming episodes! What is it like being the only woman in the workplace? What is Classism vs. Racism like in Latin America? How does race impact art? Why should artists be funded by the government? What is it like being an Afro Latina in Mexico? How does surrounding yourself with a positive company affect you? What is it like to live in Mexico?In this interview with María Elena Ortiz, a curator at the Perez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), we learned so much about Afro Caribbean art and culture. She shared her adventures around the English speaking Caribbean; growing up in a progressive Puerto Rican household; living in Mexico and Miami, and what it’s like for her to be a Black Puerto Rican woman in the art world. This episode is sponsored by the Knight Foundation on behalf of PAMM’s Fund for African American Art. CLICK HERE to learn more.Please note that this episode was recorded prior to the Coronavirus pandemic and the current fight for valuing Black lives in America and the world. However, it is timely as we had a great discussion on the dynamics of race in the Caribbean and art.María Elena is originally from Puerto Rico, born in San Juan and raised in Carolina by her mother and father. She’s lived in Mexico City, Mexico and currently resides in Miami, FL, USA. María Elena has spent an extensive amount of time in the Caribbean Islands conducting research on Afro Caribbean Art for her book and PAMM exhibition both titled “The Other Side of Now”. CLICK HERE to read more and to get all of the links for Maria's recommendations.So, what is a question María Elena would ask other women? “How do you feel today?”How does María Elena define a woman?“To be powerful, and to own our power and use it.”Make a donation for Perez Art Museum Miami Fund for African American Art (All donations go towards an endowment for purchasing art from the African Diaspora):https://pamm.org/artfund Where to find Mariahttps://instagram.com/contemporarychica/Where to find Erica and Collective Drifthttps://collectivedrift.comhttps:/instagram.com/collectivedrift/https://youtube.com/collectivedriftClick HERE to make sure that you get our upcoming episodes! https://collectivedrift.com/stayintouchThe Collective Drift platform was created by Erica Knowles to celebrate all women, the beauty of their cultures, and international travel experiences. 

(ep 11) Love, travel and balance with Nicole Gates, owner of Lil Greenhouse GrillMake sure you get our latest episodes: https://www.collectivedrift.com/stayintouchI had such a fun conversation with Nicole Gates, co-owner of Lil Greenhouse Grill restaurant in the heart of Historic Overtown, Miami, FL. Just this January Oprah Winfrey recently visited Nicole’s restaurant and listed it as one of her favorite restaurants for Weight Watchers, so she must be doing  something right.  Nicole is a proud Black woman, she has an amazing soul food restaurant, she is a daughter, a mom, a media executive, and has lived internationally as an army brat. In this conversation Nicole allowed me to get all up in her business. So we talked about everything including her love life, owning a restaurant, and travel.Nicole talks about the process her and her son's father Karim Bryant went through to become owners of and keep Lil Greenhouse Grill. Yes, I said her father’s son, no they aren’t in a relationship anymore and yes, I did make sure to talk to her about that. So, you’ll hear how she’s managing that in the dating world. Although marriage wasn’t in the cards for Nicole and Karim she has learned about love from her mother and step-father. Her mother taught her “if it doesn’t feel right then let it go”. But also through watching her parents' marriage she learned that true commitment, and the importance of making good decisions and sacrifices together are key to relationships.Read more: https://www.collectivedrift.com/post/nicolegatesThis episode is sponsored by the Southeast Park West Overtown CRA. Lil Greenhouse Grill is a grantee of the CRA more info is available in their 2018 Annual Report: http://www.miamicra.com/seopwcra/pages/annual.htmlStay in touch with Nicole and Lil Greenhouse GrillLil Greenhouse Grill1300 NW 3rd Ave Miami, FL 33136(786) 277-3582LILGREENHOUSEGRILL@GMAIL.COMhttps://www.lilgreenhousegrill.com/http://instagram.com/lilgreenhousegrillhttps://www.instagram.com/nikkigeewiz/Where to find Erica and Collective Drift:https://www.collectivedrift.comhttps://www.instagram.com/collectivedrift/https://www.youtube.com/collectivedrifthttps://www.facebook.com/collectivedriftSoutheast Overtown/Park West CRA http://experienceovertown.com/ https://instagram.com/miamicraMentioned in this episode:The Bahamas https://www.bahamas.com/Italy http://www.italia.it/en/home.html

What is wellness and how do I begin my wellness journey? An interview with wellness coach Nzingah OniwosanWhat is wellness? How can women start their wellness journey during Covid-19? What is society’s outlook on wellness? Do western medicine and holistic wellness go together? How long will my wellness journey take? How can I remain consistent on my wellness journey?“Make acceptable goals. Don’t try to climb Mount Kilimanjaro when you barely walk in your neighborhood!”In this interview, we sat down with Nzingah Oniwosan, my wellness coach, and talked about various topics such as holistic wellness, tips on starting your wellness journey, Nzingah’s wellness journey, how she is learning more about Haitian wellness practices,  her travel experiences, and her favorite wellness spots.Nzingah is a holistic health consultant and alchemist under her brand “Yes Baby I Like it Raw”.  She currently lives in South Florida and guides people on their wellness journey.  In addition Nzingah also is a visual artist, a poet, and founder of a small business incubator in Haiti.As a child, Nzingah was always fond of her Haitian culture. Her grandmother and parents did a great job of imbedding their knowledge and ways of her birth culture within her. Nzingah was taught to be unapologetic about who she was and the value of speaking Creole her native tongue. Her father and grandmother are both experts in Haitian herbs and this helped encourage Nzingah’s thirst for knowledge. Continue reading https://www.collectivedrift.com/post/nzingahSo, what is a question Nzingah would ask other women? “How are you loving yourself? Are you loving yourself like you’re loving everyone else?”How does Nzingah define a woman?“Sweet, sour,Strong, vulnerable.Made of stardust And a little bit of heaven. …we are complicated, I love it!”Where to find Nzingahhttps://www.yesbabyilikeitraw.com/?aff=7https://www.instagram.com/yesbabyilikeitraw/info@yesbabyilikeitraw.comhttps://youtube.com/user/NzingahWhere to find Erica and Collective Driftwww.collectivedrift.comhttps://www.instagram.com/collectivedrift/https://www.youtube.com/collectivedriftPlaces mentioned in the interviewEcuador: https://ecuador.travel/en/Cap-Haitien: https://visithaiti.com/destinations/cap-haitien-city-guide/Monterrey: https://www.visitmexico.com/en/destino/monterrey/Florida beaches: https://www.visitflorida.com/en-us/florida-beaches.htmlGumbo Limbo: https://www.gumbolimbo.org/Bassin Bleu waterfall: https://visithaiti.com/things-to-do/bassin-bleu/Citadelle Laferri: https://visithaiti.com/destinations/citadelle-laferriere/Click HERE to make sure that you get our upcoming episodes!

What do girls need? With Thema Campbell, Founder & CEO of Girl Power MiamiWhat do girls need? What do girls need in light of COVID 19? What kind of support do girls need? How can you help girls right now?  What type of encouragement do girls need? How can I support my daughter’s mental health? Do girls need male role models?  In this interview with Thema Campbell, Founder & CEO of Girl Power Miami she answers these questions and more. This episode is the second of a series of episodes that is sponsored by the Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA and will highlight the creative women business owners in their community.Here are a few things that we discussed:What Thema is passionate about She is passionate about giving the best of her. Praying, meditating, and being mindful of the people in her life. She emphasized that it's important to honor what your body needs, especially during this pandemic. So don’t beat yourself up if you have a lazy on the couch, watching tv all day, kind of day. But going back to mediation is something she goes back to “because it’s steady, it’s reliable, and you can see the benefits of it in your life”.What the women in her life taught her Thema is from Georgia and had multiple women in her life that brought different things into her life. They taught her the importance of being physically active and how to cook. Most importantly, they taught her the importance of honesty. She learnt about the importance of touch from another friend. CLICK HERE to read more... Mentioned in this episode:The Little GreenHouse Grill https://www.lilgreenhousegrill.com/Williams ParkThe Black Archives Historic Lyric Theater https://www.bahlt.org/Driving down 3rd avenue and looking at the treesLive jazz music: Maryel Epps http://maryelepps.com/ & Nicole Henry http://www.nicolehenry.com/Her question for women How do you think we as women can change this world to make it better for our children?Thema’s definition of a woman A woman is the life source of the planet … We are the first teachers of men and women.Get in contact with Thema and Girl Power Miamihttps://www.girlpowerrocks.org/Thema@girlpowerrocks.orghttps://www.instagram.com/girlpowermiamihttps://www.facebook.com/girlpowermiamihttps://www.girlpowerrocks.org/Where to find Erica and Collective Drift:https://www.instagram.com/collectivedrift/https://www.facebook.com/collectivedrifthttps://www.collectivedrift.comhttps://www.youtube.com/collectivedriftSoutheast Overtown/Park West CRAhttp://experienceovertown.com/https://instagram.com/miamicraThe Collective Drift  platform was created by Erica Knowles to celebrate all women, the beauty of their cultures, and international travel experiences. I believe that women possess magic, that gives them strength and grace to change the world. 

How have Black women influenced the art world?The Collective Drift  platform was created by Erica Knowles to celebrate all women, the beauty of their cultures, and international travel experiences. I believe that women possess magic, that gives them strength and grace to change the world. We learn how to tap into our power in various ways based on our cultural backgrounds and our journeys. Join me and an amazing collective of multicultural, multiethnic, and multigenerational women that are artists, cultural leaders and travel enthusiasts as they tell their stories about their culture, their tribe of women, their passions, their art, and their favorite international experiences.  Welcome to Collective Drift.What type of art do African American women create? How have African American women left their mark on art? What should I look for when collecting art? What should I look for when buying art? Why should I collect art? What is it like to be a gallery owner? What should I look for when buying black art? What should I look for when buying art by black artists? What should I look for when buying art from female artists? What type of African American art should I buy? In this interview with Lauren N'Namdi co-owner of N'Namdi Contemporary we talked about a number of things including art, of course, being a mother, growing up as an only child in Detroit, her path as an artist and designer, and of course her favorite vacations.Read more...Lauren’s question: If you were to be truly selfish what would you do?How Lauren defines a woman: “A woman is badass”Thanks for listening to this episode. Please remember to subscribe, click the like button if you enjoyed the episode and drop a comment.Where to find Lauren: N’Namdi Contemporary info@nnamdicontemporary.com | 786.332.4736 | 6505 NE 2nd Ave. Miami. FL 33138@nnamdi_galleryWhere to find Erica:collectivedrift.com@collectivedriftyoutube.com/collectivedriftMentioned in the interview (unless noted restaurants are open for takeout /delivery during the quarantine):The Standard SpaLittle Haiti Cultural Center Nanette Carter Patrick QuarmHaulover BeachOvertown Coconut GroveNorth Miami KYU GiGi’s Waterfront The River Oyster Bar*B & M MarketSugercane Phuc Yea Shukin & Jivin  Lil Green House Grill Taverna Opa*Red Rooster Overtown**Temporarily closedMusic by Catherine Knowles

(ep 07) What did you learn from the women in your life?What did you learn from the women in your life? What did you learn from your mom? What did you learn from your grandmother? Did these women teach you to cook? Did these women teach you how to love? Did you learn how to be strong from your mother? Was grace something that your grandmother taught you? Does your mom remind you to sleep and eat when you are stressed? Does your aunt remind you that you are strong? Did your sister teach you to forgive? Did your daughter teach you to relax? What did you learn from them to maintain your mental health? What did you learn from your girlfriends? What about the women you met when traveling? What have you learned from the women in your life? In this interview with Jen Katernick you learn that her grandmother, mom, and sister influenced her life greatly, teaching her independence, strength, balance, Jewish traditions, and forgiveness.Jen Karetnick is a talented published food and travel writer, a poet, she’s a wife, and mom to her daughter and son. We had a really great conversation where we touched a broad number of topics starting with who Jen is and the women in her life influenced her. We discussed a genealogy test that she took that showed that she was 98% Ashkenazi Jewish. Jen touched on how she feels when white people respond to discovering that she’s Jewish. And of course we talked about her Jewish culture and her favorite Jewish meal. This interview also goes into how Jen became a food critic and her favorite travel writing experience. Overall it’s a pretty fun and open interview. I hope you enjoy it.Her question for other women: Why didn’t you tell me how hard it was going to be? What does it mean to be a woman: If you have 1% of feeling like a woman then you have a moment of being a woman.Read more...Jen’s recommendations:Kruger Park in South Africa: http://www.krugerpark.co.za/Women owned vineyards in Paso Robles, CAEpoch https://epochwines.com/ Harmony Cellars https://www.harmonycellars.com/Listen to poetry in MiamiThe Betsy Hotel https://www.thebetsyhotel.com/How to find Jenhttps://jkaretnick.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenkaretnick/Twitter: https://Twitter.com/KavetchnikSupporting Women Writers in Miami https://www.swwim.org/Jen’s recently published book of poetry https://www.amazon.com/Crossing-Over-Jen-Karetnick/dp/1794439277How to find Erica and Collective Drifthttps://www.collectivedrift.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenkaretnick/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CollectiveDriftYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/CollectiveDriftMusic by Catherine Knowles

(ep 6) What do you do to push yourself through? With Overtown hotelier and historian Kristin KitchenWhat do you do to push yourself through? How do you deal with adversity? Is it possible to succeed during a pandemic? How does a hotelier run a hotel during a time of trouble? How do you use creativity to solve difficult problems? These are all things that hotelier Kristin Kitchen handles naturally because her mother handled difficult situations with imagination and creativity. It’s her grandmother’s voice in her head that inspires her and pushes her through to continue to be her best. It’s the poems that she learned as a child that continue to guide her with their wisdom. It’s the international volunteer trips that she has taken that has allowed her to refocus. This is an interview with the remarkable Kristin Kitchen. She is an African American woman, the owner of the Sojourn Heritage bed and breakfast collection, historian and mom of her rambunctious seven-year-old daughter. She owns 6 Acres B & B in Cincinnati, OH and has recently opened The Dunns Josephine Hotel in the Overtown neighborhood of Miami, FL. While her hotels celebrate African American Heritage the majority of her guests are not African American. We had a great conversation about the stories shared at her boutique hotels, how her grandmother and mother influenced her tenacity, and how international travels have impacted her. As we are living in the Coronavirus pandemic we also discussed how she has been able stay positive by having creative solutions. This episode is the first of a series of episodes that is sponsored by the Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA and will highlight the creative women business owners in their community. So you’ll also learn about how Kristin chose the Overtown location and including her favorite spots in Overtown. You can see them in detail below.Kristin Kitchen has been a hotelier for 15 years opening up the first of her Sojourn Heritage Hotels 6 Acres B & B in Cincinnati, OH and more recently the The Dunns Josephine Hotel in the Overtown area of Miami, FL. Both hotels celebrate African American history and are a treat to stay at especially for  is a wonderful place to stay at especially for history and jazz buffs. Throughout Kristin’s she has noticed that African American history hasn’t been told properly or enough in the United States or in other countries around the world. This is one of the things that has inspired her to open hotels based on African American heritage. At the hotels guests are invited to participate in “Let’s share life over breakfast”. In these discussions the guests learn about African American history and share their own stories. Kristin's favorite discussion was when white family visited the hotel as a part of their annual celebration of their mother in conjunction with the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Their mother had walked over the Pettus Bridge with Dr King, and did this defying  her husband who didn’t want her to go by borrowing money from her black maid. CLICK HERE to Read more and to get the list of Kristin's favorites... Southeast Overtown/Park West CRAinstagram.com/miamicraCollective Driftinstagram.com/collectivedriftDunns Josephine Hotelinstagram.com/dunnsjosephinehotel/Music by Catherine Knowles

(Ep 05) How can I practice self care? An interview with Hopi Noel MortonIn my interview with Hopi Noel Morton I learned that self care is the way she lives her life. In order to be successful and to help others you must help yourself first. You must put your air mask on first before you can help someone else. Self care is something that Hopi’s mother taught her. Through her mother she’s learnt that even beauty is a part of taking care of yourself. If you at a minimum wake up and get dressed and make yourself look good it can start the projector of feeling good. You must create time for yourself. This episode is sponsored by Knight Foundation in support of PAMM- Perez Art Museum Miami’s fund for African American Art. Their annual ART + Soul Celebration is this Saturday, February 15th. It’s my favorite party of the year in Miami. Purchase your tickets at pamm.org/artsoul2020 choose celebration for the party and feel free to use my discount code DRIFT2020.In our interview with Hopi we learn about her company Hopi Works where she helps people who helps people. She gets to work with artists and filmmakers, but more importantly she gets to work with people and projects that she likes. This exemplifies how Hopi has mastered the art of self care. She’s worked on projects with Will and Jada Smith, on Caribbean film festivals, and is now traveling the globe supporting a documentary on tattoo artistry around the world. Hopi has traveled all over the world. And has had the opportunity to see some amazing places, have authentic memorable experiences, and connect with the people when she travels. Hopi talks about her trip to the Island of Lamu, Kenya. Through her experience in Lamu she was able to learn more about Muslim culture as well as gain a deeper understanding and respect for the modest aspects of being a Muslim woman. Prior to visiting Lamu she looked at their modesty as oppression rather than a choice. After getting to know the women of Lamu she learned that this was a choice, that they were flourishing leaders, and they were empowered. That the women felt there was a time and a place for modesty and a time for being sexy. She tells us about a magical experience she had while attending a women’s celebration, where only women attended.Hopi has traveled extensively around the world and has provided us with a few authentic travel tips. Hopi’s preference is traveling to places where she can stay close to nature.  Hopi recommends renting a house and possibly having a local chef so that you can have authentic food. While Hopi has lived in multiple cities around the world she calls Miami home. She feels like Miami is a place where she feels most comfortable being her. Hopi’s background is mixed, her mother has Dutch and Finish heritage and her father is African American.  Miami’s diverse culture allows her to fit in. She also loves that Miami gives her easy access to cities around the world. She’s able to fly to places nationally and internationally with ease right out of Miami International Airport. She also loves the arts and feels that institutions such as the Perez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) and Art Basel making Miami an art hub of the world. What is being a woman? Embracing all that our higher power has empowered us with and graced us with.Where to find Erica and Collective Drift:Instagram: @CollectiveDriftFacebook.com/CollectiveDriftcollectivedrift.comTravel Chat Dine - Feb 27 travelchatdineethiopia.eventbrite.comWhere to find HopiInstagram: @hopinoel

(ep 4) How Can Living Abroad Change Me with artist Beatriz ChachamovitsThe Collective Drift  platform was created to celebrate all women, the beauty of their cultures, and international travel experiences. I believe that women possess magic, that gives them strength and grace to change the world. We learn how to tap into our power in various ways based on our cultural backgrounds and our journeys. Join me and an amazing collective of multicultural and ethnic women that are artists, cultural leaders and travel enthusiasts as they tell their stories about their culture, their tribe of women, their passions, their art, and their favorite international experiences.  Welcome to Collective Drift.During this episode of Collective Drift, I sat down with marine activist and Brazilian artist, Beatriz Chachamovits.  We dove into a multitude of topics including her art, marine life, Brazilian culture and living abroad.Beatriz is passionate about marine life and her artwork is a display of her love for it. A large body of Beatriz’s artwork is on coral reef systems, these drawings and sculptures are highly detailed and intricate. Her work largely depicts endangered sea life to show the destruction of the ocean and its animals due to human disregard. Rather than finishing the pieces in their lifelike bright hues, Beatriz leaves her corals and sponges absent of color for you to see the corals as they are dead.Beatriz told us about how she gained her love for the marine world.  She told us about her passion for marine life and the importance of protecting it. And also discussed her rituals for beginning and ending her artwork. We also touched a little on the fires in the Brazilian Amazon. Growing up in Brazil provided Beatriz with access to an array of cultures. We talked about the rich diversity of cultures within Brazil, the positive impacts of it as well as the current ethnic and racial divides that seem to be happening around the world.  We also spoke about her Jewish and Brazilian cultural influences including a story about her very passionate grandmother. The center is her favorite place in Sao Paulo where you can go to really feel the authentic essense of the city. We talked about how cultures are expressed through Brazilian food. Although Beatriz grew up in a very culturally diverse Brazil she mostly was exposed to other Jewish Brazilians. When she lived in Australia for 6 months in a student exchange program she had the opportunity to actually experience other cultures. That time in her life changed her - it made her understand that she needed cultural diversity. She tells us about her time in Tel Aviv, how the women there are so strong, the amazing art scene, the night life, and even her first experience with another woman. Beatriz wants to know “What makes them stronger?”.Where to find Erica and Collective Drift:Instagram: @CollectiveDriftFacebook.com/CollectiveDriftfacebook.com/groups/CollectiveDrift/collectivedrift.comWhere to find Beatriz:Instagram: @beatrizchachamovitzhttps://www.beatrizchachamovits.com/

(ep 3) How Can I Transform My Life by Experiencing Other Cultures? With Asanyah Davidson- Part 2In this episode of Collective Drift we sat down with Asanyah Davidson, child of the world, Fashion Designer, and educator. Asanyah is Jamaican born, American raised, and has lived in West Africa. She is the founding director at the Miami Fashion Institute at Miami Dade College, she has her own fashion line Circa24. We had a really fun conversation on a wide range of topics from being Jamaican, being vegan, living in West Africa, the influence of her European fashion teacher, mentoring and more.During part two of our interview with Asanyah Davidson the conversation goes a little deeper.  Asanyah talks about how having a diverse group of mentors helped her development. Then she discusses the people; cultures; schools such as Design and Architecture Senior High (DASH) in Miami , the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in NYC, and studying at Polimoda in Florence, Italy; and living in different countries influenced her as a fashion designer.  Asanyah goes in depth about her time in Nigeria and Ghana. Her time there gave her a greater appreciation and understanding of textiles and the work behind them. This period in her life greatly influenced her career as a fashion designer. She will teach us about shibori, Adire, Ashoke, and Kente textiles. Asanyah learned about the significance of these fabrics and in this conversation you will learn the difference between what is and what isn’t real African fabric. Through this we delve into her viewpoint on cultural appropriation. How people think Ankara fabric is African fabric but it actually Dutch. Asanyah wants you to know what you are actually wearing so that you can truly appreciate it rather than appropriate it.  All of these topics reflect how the importance of leaving your home country to understand the world better. If you disagree with Asanyah she says you can feel free to contact her. Asanyah talks about the similarities she noticed of African women and Jamaican women. She reminisces about the forever young spirit of African people, about partying with people of all ages and drinking champagne on the dance floor. We talk about her travels to South Africa and the importance of living in the moment. This was an important lesson from her travel. We then of course talk about Asanyah’s two favorite city’s Accra, Ghana and Siem Riep, Cambodia. She adores both of the cities because of how easy it is to get around. She tells us about a great Mexican restaurant in Siem Riep, yes, you heard me right - a Mexican restaurant. Getting a traditional bamboo tattoo while in Cambodia. And she talks about nightlife in Accra, which lead us to talking about how she went to the Guinness Beer factory in Ireland and beer culture around the world. Of course we circle back to Asanyah’s favorite places in Miami, Broward County AKA Greater Fort Lauderdale, and even West Florida. We finalize the conversation with Asanyah’s question for all women - “How are you dealing with life?” and her powerful definition of what a woman is.Collective Drift: Instagram: @CollectiveDrift Facebook.com/CollectiveDrift Find this episode on the CollectiveDrift.com/podcast-blog to get the links to all of Asanyah's favorite places.I'm Erica Vernet Knowles, a Miami native, an international traveler, and a culture enthusiast. I am the founder and producer of Collective Drift. I spent a lot of time in the corporate world, but I honed my leadership in media. Operating as the Editor-in-Chief, Publisher, and the Executive Director for multiple publications on business and entertainment.  Culture and travel have always been my passion. Having the opportunity to spend 3 years abroad between Peru and Thailand, and traveling all around the world gave me experiences, friendships and memories tha

(Ep 2) How Can I Transform My Life by Experiencing Other Cultures? With Asanyah Davidson- Part 1The Collective Drift  platform was created to celebrate all women, the beauty of their cultures, and international travel experiences. I believe that women possess magic, that gives them strength and grace to change the world. We learn how to tap into our power in various ways based on our cultural backgrounds and our journeys. Join me and an amazing collective of multi-cultural and ethnic women that are artists, cultural leaders and travel enthusiast as they tell their stories about their culture, their tribe of women, their passions, their art, and their favorite international experiences.  Welcome to Collective Drift.In this episode of Collective Drift we sat down with Asanyah Davidson, child of the world, Fashion Designer, and educator. Asanyah is Jamaican born, American raised, and has lived in West Africa. She is the founding director at the Miami Fashion Institute at Miami Dade College, she has her own fashion line Circa24. We had a really fun conversation on a wide range of topics from being Jamaican, being vegan, living in West Africa, the influence of her Scottish fashion teacher, mentoring and more.During part one of our conversation with Asanyah she speaks about what it means to her to be Jamaican including a look at cultural norms and stereotypes. She discusses growing up in Jamaica while being raised by her very strong and caring grandmother who was her primary role model when it comes to being a woman. We discuss how it’s possible to be Jamaican and vegan.  Asanyah talks about moving to California with a mom she was really just getting to know. She later relocated to Miami, North Miami specifically where she met the majority of her friends that are Haitian Americans. She learned about and participated in many aspects of Haitian culture that even encouraged her to learn to cook Jamaican food.  Asanyah compares and contrasts cultural norms when it comes to women and men relationship dynamics in Haitian and Jamaican communities. She developed such close friends with within the Haitian community that she is now considered an “honorary Haitian”.  Then we wrap it up with Asanyah’s journey into becoming a vegan and the importance of having sister friends support you in transitions. In part two of How to Transform Your Life by Experiencing Other Cultures with Asanyah Davidson the conversation gets even more interesting.  Asanyah talks about the importance of having a diverse group of mentors, living in West Africa and how that influenced her as a designer, her viewpoint on cultural appropriation and more!Fact check: So is marijuana legal in Jamaica? According to WikiLeaf.com recreational marijuana has been decriminalized in Jamaica and medical marijuana is legal. https://www.wikileaf.com/thestash/marijuana-legal-jamaica/Where to find Erica and Collective Drift:Instagram: @CollectiveDriftFacebook.com/CollectiveDriftfacebook.com/groups/CollectiveDrift/collectivedrift.comGet in touch with Asanyah:Circa 24 http://www.circa24forever.com/Miami Fashion Institute at Miami Dade College https://www.mdc.edu/fashion/Instagram: @Circa24ForeverRestaurants with vegan options mentioned:Screaming Carrots https://screamingcarrot

(Ep 1) What is Collective Drift?The Collective Drift  platform was created to celebrate all women, the beauty of their cultures, and international travel experiences. I believe that women possess magic, that gives them strength and grace to change the world. We learn how to tap into our power in various ways based on our cultural backgrounds and our journeys. Join me, Erica Knowles and an amazing collective of multicultural and ethnic women that are artists, cultural leaders and travel enthusiast as they tell their stories about their culture, their tribe of women, their passions, their art, and their favorite international experiences.  Welcome to Collective Drift.In this episode I’ve taken some time to introduce myself and Collective Drift to you. I will tell you a little bit about my professional background, my experience with culture, as well as my journey abroad and how this inspired Collective Drift. I go into further detail to explain what this podcast is about. And finally I answer a few questions from the Collective Drift Facebook Group including:  Where do you plan your next travel adventure?  Will you be planning collective trips? What are your plans for collaborating with other women? Will your discussions be multilevel? What types of women are you inspired to interview?I asked the group where they would like to travel to. They mentioned quite a few places some were places I’ve been to. And I took this opportunity to tell a quick story about my trip to Ethiopia. To wrap up the discussion with the Collective Drift Facebook Group I asked them a question and I’ll ask you the same. What would they like to ask the interviewees?  I’ll leave this as question on the Collective Drift facebook page, youtube channel and instagram account. Are you following us? Make sure you are and answer the question what would you like me to ask our interviewees. Where to find Erica and Collective Drift:Instagram: @CollectiveDriftFacebook.com/CollectiveDriftfacebook.com/groups/CollectiveDrift/collectivedrift.comErica Vernet Knowles, is a Miami native, an international traveler, and a culture enthusiast. Erica is the creator and producer of Collective Drift. With over 20 years of climbing America’s corporate ladder, Erica found her niche in the media industry serving as an executive director, publisher, and editor-in-chief for five publications. However, she grew up watching her grandmother travel the world, experiencing the arts, and taking international trips with her family.  So, Erica has always had a calling for the arts, culture and travel.In the summer of 2011 Erica began her journey abroad spending a vast amount of time in Lima and Bangkok. She has had the amazing opportunity to visit 30+ countries. Erica's journey has widened her viewpoint of self in relation to others around the world. Furthermore, she gained true friends that are like family around the world and an enhanced appreciation of their culture. It is the bonds with the women she has met while traveling that has inspired Collective Drift.