Blackout Podcast

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 leader in operational management, volunteer engagement, and community development. His work spans interna...

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 brings depth, intuition, playfulness and a healthy dose of magic to her work. Jule believes that livi...

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 R&B, Julia is known for her warm, engaging performances and her ability to connect with audiences of...

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 financial services, fraud intelligence, audit, and risk management. Beyond his professional career, Ph...

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 share the flavours, traditions and beautiful multicultural heritage of Mauritius with her community in Cana...

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 storytelling. His passion for filmmaking comes from wanting to create work that connects with people and gives a...

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, a creative who's all about connection, intuition, and having fun with the craft. In this episode, Nik t...

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 takes us on a journey through her winding career path: from microbiology and immunology to computer sci...

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 account serves as a digital stage featuring artist interviews—like their popular “30 Second Takeover” ser...

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 Halifax. Passionate about creativity, hospitality, and entrepreneurship, Joelle enjoys building businesses...

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 career as a jewelry designer and founder of C.Francis Jewelry, Candace has since expanded her vision by foun...

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 her world, from sourcing 40-year-old Aso Oke for a Human Rights Commission project, to creating custom ba...

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 life. Expanding her platform for meaningful conversations, Melānie is launching her new radio show, WOW...

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. Originally from Antigonish, André moved to the area for business college and spent over 20 years workin...

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 years as a civilian helicopter flight instructor. Before & throughout her career in aviation, creati...

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 Sessions performance at the skate park, the story behind the song "On My Mind," and why he chose that track...

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 it’s turned into something bigger for her and she hopes to work with brands like Gymshark. Stella’s journe...

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 as one of Atlantic Canada's emerging voices. In 2025, Quoia closed the Nova Scotia Music Week Main Stag...

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 shares how she got her start: from her father's lessons about running toward storms, to her Igbo entrepre...

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 explores themes of heartbreak, hope, manifestation, and love through her music. Since debuting in 2023, sh...

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 to equity, advocacy, and community engagement shapes both her personal and professional approach. Renée...

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 to create pieces that feel both personal and thought-provoking. Originally from Lagos, Nigeria, and now...

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 primarily in digital painting, his pieces are known for their rich colour, layered symbolism, and ability to te...

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 of action-centric modalities, meditation, and a plant- based diet. Embodying a “Light Warrior” mindset...

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 professional singers and actors, post-secondary and post-graduate students and other vocal coaches. Zoe h...