This all-male edition of Jus’ Ah Conversation brings together honest voices to explore what it really means to be a man in today’s Barbados. Hosts Mikul Elcock and Fabian Belgrave lead an unfiltered discussion about leadership, mentorship, masculinity, and the shared pressures that men face — financially, emotionally, and socially. Featuring: 🔹 Fabian Sargeant – Consultant Social Worker & Founder, Men Empowerment Network Support (MENS) 🔹 Germyn Abbott – Business Electronics Sales S...
Longer lives and fewer births; how will this impact Barbados’ jobs, pensions, healthcare and social fabric? In this episode, hosts Fabian and Shayla sit down with a panel that tackles this topic from their unique perspectives. 🔉 Wayne Sobers – Chief Labour Officer 🔉 Marilyn Rice-Bowen – President, Barbados Association of Retired Persons 🔉 Dwayne Devonish – Professor, UWI, Cave Hill Campus 🎧 Watch, share, and join the conversation in the comments. #JusAhConversation #Agei...
Barbados’ future depends on how well our education system prepares students for the realities of the workforce. In this episode of Jus’ Ah Conversation, we take a deep dive into how technical and vocational education (TVET) can help bridge the gap between classrooms and careers. Hosts Mikul Elcock and Shayla Murrell are joined by: 🔹 Erika Watson, Programme Manager at the Ministry of Labour, Social Security & Third Sector 🔹 Shanika A. Best, Employment Relations Advisor at the Barbad...
You’ve done your time behind bars and have now rejoined society. But where do you go next in breaking the cycle and starting over, especially in a society that is not ready to forgive or forget? In this episode, hosts Mikul and Aisha sit down with three men who have felt the impact of incarceration and are building new paths for others through education, entrepreneurship and community work. 🔉 Glenroy Babb – President, Alliance of Reform Minded Entrepreneurs 🔉 Curtis Bascombe – Member,...
Death is never easy to talk about. But if we don’t have the conversation now, our families may be left carrying not just grief — but also financial burdens, legal confusion, and emotional stress. In this powerful episode of Jus’ Ah Conversation, hosts Mikul and Aisha sit down with three experts to break down why preparing your last wishes matters more than ever: Tyrone S. Lowe – Insurance & Financial Advisor with 36+ years of experience in life insurance, financial planning, and legacy pr...
From karate to skateboarding to surfing, Barbados is home to athletes and coaches who have built thriving communities in sports outside the traditional spotlight. In this episode, hosts Mikul and Fabian sit down with three pioneers who’ve each helped shape the landscape of alternative sports on the island: Kelly Payne – Karate instructor, mental health therapist, third-degree black belt, international competitor, and youth counsellor.Adrian Bowen – Skateboard coach, President of the Skateboar...
As Barbados marks the Season of Emancipation, this episode of Jus’ Ah Conversation brings the conversation full circle — from colonial history to contemporary calls for justice. We explore the Caribbean’s ongoing push for reparations from former colonial powers, asking what reparations truly mean in today’s world. Is it about money? Apologies? Institutional reform? Cultural revival? Our guests unpack the moral, legal, economic, and emotional layers of a movement that continues to grow in stre...
Once a celebration of the end of the sugar cane harvest and a reflection of Barbadian identity, Crop Over has evolved into a massive commercial spectacle filled with fetes, celebrities, and corporate sponsorships. But has something been lost along the way? In this episode of Just Ah Conversation, Aisha and Shayla are joined by: Patrick “Salt” Bellamy, a voice of social commentary in soca and on radio,Dane Marshall, seasoned promoter and event planner,and Ashanti Trotman, cultural advocate and...
In Barbados, the promise of education for all doesn’t always match the lived reality—especially for students with learning differences. In this powerful episode of Jus’ Ah Conversation, we take a hard look at the state of special education on the island. Are we truly supporting our most vulnerable learners, or are too many falling through the cracks? Hosts Mikul Elcock and Aisha Reid sit down with guests who bring both professional and personal experience to the table—educators, advocates, an...
Mental health touches us all — yet in Barbados, as in many places, it’s still something we hesitate to talk about. In this episode of Jus' Ah Conversation, we’re breaking that silence. Hosts Shayla Murrell and Fabian Belgrave are joined by: Ryan Lewis (Mental Health Programme Coordinator)Robert Croizat (Mental health advocate and public speaker)Shane Phillips (Founder, Beautiful Minds 246)We explore how mental health challenges show up in everyday life, why stigma persists — especially for me...
🎉 Welcome to Season 2 of Jus’ Ah Conversation! We're kicking things off with a hard but necessary topic: the rise in crime across Barbados — and how it's affecting our youth, families, and communities. In this premiere episode, we dive deep into the root causes of crime, the breakdown of social structures, and what we can do to build a safer future. With insight from the field, lived experience, and faith-based perspectives, our guests offer hope and practical solutions. Guests: Sharon-Rose G...
How do we protect the next generation from a health crisis already claiming 83% of lives in Barbados? The Barbados School Nutrition Policy aims to reshape how our children eat, but the challenges run deeper than food choices on a lunch tray. When one in three Barbadian children is already overweight or obese, and we're witnessing hypertension in 13-year-olds and strokes in 30-somethings, we face a critical turning point. What began as discussions between ministries in 2012 has evolved into a...
Managing money can be overwhelming, but financial literacy is for everyone—not just those with high incomes. In this episode of Jus’ Ah Conversation, host Aisha Reid and guest host Sharon Austin-Gill-Moore explore the essentials of budgeting, saving, and investing with expert insights from: 💰 Nikita Gibson – Senior VP at Clarity Life Insurance Ltd. and Partner at Castalia Consulting Inc. 📊 David Simpson – Lead Consultant at Prestige Accounting Inc., specializing in accounting and manage...
In this episode of Jus’ Ah Conversation, we’re tackling a critical and evolving issue—New Psychoactive Substances (NPS). These lab-created drugs are designed to mimic traditional illicit substances but often come with unpredictable and dangerous consequences. We’re also introducing our final main host, Fabian Belgrave, after welcoming Shayla Murrell last week! He and Aisha Reid are joined by experts in substance abuse prevention and forensic science to break down what NPS are, how they’re det...
In this episode of Jus’ Ah Conversation, we explore the challenges faced by children with learning differences such as ADHD, autism, and speech disorders. How well does the Barbadian education system accommodate these students? What gaps exist, and what can be done to improve support for children who learn differently? Hosts Mikul Elcock and Shayla Murrell sit down with Cindy Blades, Lead Therapist at Blue Sky Speech Therapy; Dionne Best, a parent navigating the education system with an autis...
In this powerful episode of Jus' Ah Conversation, Mikul Elcock and Aisha Reid dive into the raw and emotional realities of surviving hurricanes. Drawing from their own experiences—Aisha as an evacuee from Hurricane Katrina and Mikul as a media professional covering the aftermath of devastating storms like Maria and Beryl—they explore the personal toll these natural disasters take on individuals and communities. Joining the conversation are Tyson Henry, Captain Robert N. Harewood, and Ryan Bo...
It’s a new year, and we’re kicking things off with an inspiring conversation about building skills and opportunities for Barbados’ future! In this episode of Just Ah Conversation, hosts Mikul Elcock and Aisha Reid explore the transformative power of technical education and how it’s shaping the island’s workforce and economy. From vocational training to international competitions, technical education is creating pathways for success. Joining the conversation are special guests Dario Walcott, a...
In this episode of Jus’ Ah Conversation, hosts Mikul Elcock and Aisha Reid tackle the pressing questions about the state of sports in Barbados. Are we truly investing in our athletes and sporting infrastructure, or are we simply going through the motions? Joined by an all-star lineup of guests—Jamal Estwick, a local cricketer and motorsports enthusiast; Renaldo Gilkes, a sports administrator and former footballer; and Annmarie Burke, a senior sports reporter and former athlete—we explore the ...
In this episode of Jus' Ah Conversation, Mikul and Aisha dive into a topic that's close to the hearts (and tables) of Barbadians: growing your own food. With the rising interest in self-sufficiency and sustainable living, we explore how home gardening can transform small spaces into abundant sources of fresh, local produce. Joining the conversation are three incredible guests: Chef Adrian Cumberbatch, a passionate advocate for local, sustainable food sourcing.Michael James, a Ministry of Agri...
Long before illness shouts, your body sends quiet warnings — but are you paying attention? In this episode of Jus’ Ah Conversation, hosts Mikul and Aisha explore how to catch those early signs before they turn into major health problems. With: 💪 Jurad Mason – Classic Physique Athlete, CAC medalist, and certified personal trainer.🩺 Dr. Lana Husbands – Medical Practitioner and preventative health advocate.🥗 Roderick Lashley – Nutritionist and Body Transformation Specialist.We discuss: The small...