Corie Sheppard Podcast

359 Episodes

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Helon Francis Breaks His Silence on the Calypso Monarch Mic Controversy

2026-11-0201:20:14

Send us Fan Mail What really happened when Helon Francis' Calypso Monarch performance was interrupted during the television broadcast? Was it a technical failure, something deliberate, or a controversy that exposed deeper issues within the calypso fraternity? Two-time National Calypso Monarch and former Independent Senator Helon Francis joins us on The Corie Sheppard Podcast for a revealing conversation about calypso, politics, artistic integrity and his extraordinary journey. For the first t...

Kernal Roberts: The Stories Behind Palance, Jumbie & It’s Carnival

2026-10-3101:32:04

Send us Fan Mail You know the songs. Now hear how they happened. Kernal Roberts joins us to share the stories behind “Palance,” “Jumbie” and “It’s Carnival”—from an unexpected phone call and a melody inspired by Roman trumpets to a visit to his father’s statue that helped unlock a missing lyric. The songwriter, producer and musician takes us through his journey as the son of the Grandmaster, Lord Kitchener, while building a musical identity of his own. We revisit school calypso competitions, ...

Viking Ding Dong: The Pain Behind His Smile & Betting on Himself

2026-10-2601:29:05

Send us Fan Mail You know the laugh, the energy and the songs. In this conversation, we get to know the man behind them. Viking Ding Dong joins us for one of our most wide-ranging conversations yet, tracing his journey from Point Fortin and unpaid overnight radio shifts to touring with Bunji Garlin and Fay-Ann Lyons—and taking the chance to build his own singing career. He shares the preparation behind his performances, the stories behind “Outside,” “Horn” and “Drink and Party,” and why being...

Jules Sobion: 20 Years Gambling on Carnival — Why Caesar’s Army Is Changing

2026-10-2401:16:59

Send us Fan Mail For 20 years, Jules Sobion has helped shape some of the Caribbean's most unforgettable Carnival experiences through Caesar's Army. But behind the sold-out events, spectacular productions and international success is a business he describes as “the casino.” In this revealing conversation on The Corie Sheppard Podcast, Jules explains why producing events is such a high-stakes business, the challenges of building Caesar's Army, and why he's now preparing to take the brand in an ...

Angela Hunte: The Real Story Behind “Empire State of Mind,” “Party Done” & Learning to Walk Again

2026-10-1901:22:39

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 ...

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