Blackout Podcast

Born in Ukraine, Margarita Fainshtein earned a BFA from the University of Haifa, Israel and MFA from School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Exhibitions include: Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, Chicago; Chicago Art Department, Chicago; Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Halifax; The Artist House, Jerusalem (forthcoming), The ArtCake Gallery, New York, USA (forthcoming), Katzman Art Projects, Halifax;...

At fifteen, her first song emerged from an English class assignment, built on three chords and sung with friends. That simple moment with a guitar quietly began a path she could never leave. Born in Santiago, Chile, she was raised among films, music, and poetry, where art persistently called to her. Through mentors and fellow artists, she found stages, collaborators, and the understanding that art...

Dana Elborno is a Palestinian-Canadian social advocate based in Halifax. She is diving into her long-awaited art career. Dana holds a Child and Youth degree with a minor in Psychology from MSVU and currently works as a mental health and youth worker. Dana started her activist career in 2021 and has continued to showcase her advocacy on social media, rallies, events, and fundraisers. She has been i...

What started as a simple side hustle for a single mom in Halifax has exploded into a thriving business crafting stunning charcuterie boards and tables for weddings, corporate events, and more. In this inspiring and down-to-earth conversation, Amanda shares her incredible journey: from buying her first house and needing flexible work, to landing a 250-person corporate gala and fitting four commerci...

Sherry Anne Crowe is a model, actor, and inspirational speaker in her 50s who believes that life is not about fading quietly with age, but about evolving boldly. Through her creative work and growing social media presence, she challenges outdated narratives around ageing, confidence, and visibility, empowering women to take up space on purpose and define success on their own terms. Rooted in lived...

Job Brumaire is a creator and entrepreneur born and raised in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. He is driven by a deep passion for expression through both music and craftsmanship. His journey in music began behind a drum kit in church, evolving into a heartfelt way to connect with people and channel positive energy. Beyond the stage, Job is the owner and operator of Jules & Jax Contracting Services , a...

Luke French is a rapper and songwriter out of Westville, Nova Scotia Now residing in Halifax. Influenced by both new and old-school artists like Griselda, J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar and Eminem, French began his career in 2020 after releasing his mixtape “1624”, which earned praise from Griselda producer Camoflauge Monk for his production work. Luke's most recent project with fellow collaborators C-St...

Natalie Chiasson is a journalist and visual artist based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She moved to the East Coast from western Canada in 2019, and has established strong roots here in Mi’kma’ki. She is passionate about storytelling through writing, photography, videography, and illustration, and strives to document stories that amplify underrepresented voices that bring attention to environmental, cul...

What happens when you don’t choose music, but music chooses you? In this electrifying episode, the magnetic Nigerian artist Oluzy traces his journey from freestyling on street benches in Lagos to sharing stages with Afrobeats giants like Ruger and Joeboy in Canada. Oluzy pulls back the curtain on his unique creative process, revealing how a chance airport encounter inspired his viral hit “Bamidele...

Blackout Podcast Episode 349: Double A - DJ / Founder, Modus Music Group Double A first made his mark as a pioneering drum and bass DJ in Montreal’s underground scene in the early 1990s. Over the next decade, he toured extensively across North America and around the globe—from Cape Town to Tokyo, Los Angeles to Toronto. Alongside longtime DJ partner Twist, he co-founded Dune and Nude Recordings, t...

Born and raised in Ottawa, Canada, Caleb Latreille has spent most of his adult life wandering across both the planet and creative disciplines. As a youth, he was a prolific writer, writing and directing for the theatre and becoming deeply involved in the North American zine scene of the late 1990s and early aughts.   After a move to Halifax, Nova Scotia, his work with paper shifted towards mu...

Courtney Baker is a self-love coach who helps women reconnect with their worth and remember they are the love of their own lives. Her approach is rooted in softness, honesty, and a deep belief that self-love is a radical, necessary act of reclamation. Not a luxury masked in bubble baths and overpriced coffee, but in fact, your birthright. She works through 1:1 coaching, creating space for body neu...

Ken Oguzie is a dynamic and results-driven international trade and investment professional. He is the President/ Founder of Africa Canada Trade and Investment Venture based out of Nova Scotia, Canada, with partner offices across Africa. ACTIV is a boutique consulting firm specialising in trade and investment solutions, with a focus on promoting and facilitating Trade and Investment between Canada...

Hailing from Kjipuktuk/Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, Jupiter V (they/them) is a queer artist, musician and creative crackerjack with a career spanning over a decade. Making a name with award-winning gig posters, they've gone on to illustrate for film, graphic fiction, children's literature and more. Most recently, they worked with EVERYSEEKER Music and Arts Festival (2025 & 2026) and Nocturne:...

C Stone-Léon, a rapper/producer/curator residing in Halifax, NS.   He draws inspiration from underground and old-school sounds, citing influences like Westside Gunn, Roc Marciano, MF Doom, and The Alchemist. Collaborating with long-time friend French, they released Léon’s debut mixtape “Burning Bushes on Marble Floors” in January 2021. The lead single “Matilda” received recognition from Ghost...

Teo Kim is a story-driven marketer and creator based in Halifax.   He shares the people, culture, and everyday life of Atlantic Canada through film, conversations, and community projects.   His work connects communities by blending marketing, storytelling, and culture into one cohesive voice.   Find out more @teokim.ca

Favour Ikitde is a Canadian based fashion creative whose work blends storytelling, style, and visual experimentation. Originally from Nigeria, Favour discovered his passion for fashion early, but only truly began expressing it after moving to Canada. Through bold concepts, striking silhouettes, and intentional content creation, he has built a unique visual language that resonates with audiences ac...

Maral Porretta is a stylist and creative director who blends fashion, storytelling, and culture into everything she touches. Her work is rooted in authenticity and the belief that style is a language that connects people. She built her career through content creation, community building, and a sharp creative eye that pulls from her experiences in fashion, entrepreneurship, and global travel. Her p...

Prince Churchill is a multidisciplinary artist, designer, and creative director whose work transforms personal history into bold visual storytelling. Adopted from Haiti after the 2010 earthquake, he channels themes of identity, resilience, and culture through his studio, Art By Prince. His creations blur the lines between art, design, and emotion, transforming survival into a powerful form of expr...

Sarah Poko is a Nigerian-Canadian playwright, screenwriter, and director who uses horror and folklore to reflect society back unto itself. From a young age, she was captivated by the folktales told by her grandmother and the myths she discovered from her travels around the world.   An avid storyteller, Sarah uses the supernatural to examine power, identity, and moral consequence in everyday l...

Dawn “Juan” Collins (she/they) is a multidisciplinary artist, musician, and community builder whose work bridges creative expression, holistic practice, and cultural dialogue. Drawing on decades of experience in social policy, trauma-informed care, and healing arts, Dawn integrates somatics, Indigenous wisdom, and spiritual practice into her performances and community offerings. Her music and perf...

Isi, a content creator, creative director, and the visionary behind Big Sis Club. Isi opens up about her journey from completing an MBA and working in corporate consulting to picking up a camera and finally giving herself permission to create. She gets real about the internal battles that held her back for years, including being a "recovering people pleaser" and the fear of putting her work out in...

Kooms , a producer whose journey from church sound systems to crafting hits for artists is a masterclass in persistence and finding your sound. Kooms pulls back the curtain on his creative process, revealing why he always starts with the drums, the one plugin he swears by, and how a single week in Montreal yielded five finished tracks. He opens up about the pivotal moment a top-tier producer valid...

How does a basketball injury lead to opening for Tech N9ne and D12? In this high-energy episode, Kid Coffin, a Halifax-based rapper, videographer, real estate agent, and Special Olympics coach, unpacks his incredible journey from a shattered sports dream to sharing stages with hip-hop legends.   Kid Coffin pulls back the curtain on the grind, revealing the 12-hour rehearsals, strategic networ...

In this heartfelt and inspiring episode, Chris—a talented blonde specialist and salon owner—takes us on the journey from a kid colouring hair with permanent markers to running a successful, community-focused salon.   Chris opens up about the challenges and rewards of becoming a specialist in a world that told her she couldn't, the intense certification processes that left her shaking, and the...