Blackout Podcast

Ashley is the owner of Happily Hitched Halifax, an all-inclusive wedding chapel in Downtown Halifax specializing in elopements and minimonies. She is also a full-time Event Specialist at the Halifax Chamber of Commerce. Her event planning journey began in theatre with stage management and production in Toronto. Following her family's roots in Cape Breton, Ashley moved to beautiful Nova Scotia with...

Queensley Chidera is a customer service expert, experienced administrative assistant and Certified Scrum master.   She is originally from eastern Nigeria and currently resides in Halifax Novascotia with her husband. Queensley has over 8 years banking experience in Nigeria and 2 years of administrative experience in Canada.   Queensley has a Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology and a master’...

Coming up in the Open Mic & Karaoke Community, Deves Matwawana has a strong love for pop music which shines through with his catchy hooks and his deceptively heartfelt lyrics. A Dartmouth Native and self-professed comic book geek, he’s the lead singer of the ANSMA Award Nominated, Halifax pop-rock band, CASUAL CRIES FOR HELP. Deves wants to use his platform to show a different side of black ma...

Dwayne Marcial, a dynamic serial entrepreneur, thrives at the intersection of business and the arts. As an accomplished artist manager in the Canadian music industry, he navigates the complexities of the entertainment world with finesse. Dwayne's entrepreneurial spirit led him to be a founder of a groundbreaking music streaming app, revolutionizing the way audiences engage with indie music artists...

Trevor Murphy contains multitudes.   Whether as the founder of the boutique record label Acadian Embassy, the leader of bands such as Sluice and Quiet Parade, an award-winning publicist, a radio host, or a respected behind-the-scenes player throughout Nova Scotia's culture sector, he acts as a consistent champion for the outsider.   Leaning on almost 20 years of experience in the mu...

Blanche Israël  is the CEO of the East Coast Music Association. A multilingual Moroccan-French Canadian cultural strategist and accomplished professional cellist, she has called Dartmouth, Nova Scotia her home since 2019. Before joining ECMA, Blanche was the founder and lead consultant at proScenium Services, a consulting firm excelling in transformative strategy which helped secure over $10...

Fatu Kaba is an award-winning human rights activist, high-fashion model, and the founder and CEO of HEARTS, a platform dedicated to building an epistemic community where every individual has a platform to learn, share their story, and access tools to create a positive social impact. She is also a novelist with both published and unpublished manuscripts, including "Fiona Sallami" and "Harder Choice...

  Hilary MacCormick (she/her) is an obstetric anesthesiologist practising in Kjipuktuk/Halifax. Her academic research focuses on improving perioperative care for LGBTQIA+ communities. She is a volunteer with @CASIEF, which takes her to Rwanda every couple of years to help teach the anaesthesia residents at the University of Rwanda.   Hilary began pole dancing 15 years ago for exercise bu...

Jay Fisher is the Headshot Photographer for people who hate having their photo taken. He's been fortunate enough to work with many different people from different parts of the arts world. As a former actor and performer, Jay has spent a lot of time on both sides of the camera and uses that insight and experience to make personality come alive in his clients' images. He has garnered the trust of HR...

Oliver Twisted is a theatrical neo-boylesquer with a passion for the absurd, creative costume design and fully immersive theatre. He has been active in the Halifax burlesque scene for almost 4 years and is thrilled to contribute to the further development of our community. He is on the board of the Atlantic Burlesque Co-operative, and he’s the producer and co-founder of Atlantic Boylesque. Oliver...

Tiffani Young is the CEO of Natural Butter Bar, a multi-award-winning company based in Dartmouth, N.S. that launched in December 2020. Natural Butter Bar offers 100% plant-based products that help different types of hair and skin look their best. Their diverse product line includes Butters, Oils, Essential Oils, Gel, Soap, Shampoos, Conditioners and Accessories. Their products help with a variety...

Veronica Post is an award-winning graphic novelist based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Author ofLangosh and Peppi: Fugitive Days, and Langosh, Peppi and Yeva: Hot to Trot.   Following a brief and disillusioning attempt at university for Philosophy and Fine Arts, respectively, Veronica moved to Montreal where she completed a diploma in fine cabinetry, which suited her much better. She played drums...

Janice Landry has won three national awards for her books and mental health advocacy work.   Janice is a proud Haligonian and is currently working on her seventh non-fiction title which will be published by Pottersfield Press in spring 2025. Her most recent book, Eye of the Ocean, (2022), was a bestseller.   Janice’s biggest inspiration is her family; husband, Rob, and daughter, Laura. S...

Canadian by birth, Ethiopian by ethnicity, traveller by choice. Dinah is from Halifax, Nova Scotia. She grew up travelling back home to Ethiopia quite often as a kid and it has continued to stay with her till this day. She has a huge passion for travelling and doing things outside of her comfort zone as she feels like you learn so much about yourself and the world. Dinah is mostly into budget trav...

Schuyler Vromans is a partner aerial circus artist, osteopath, massage therapist, and acupuncturist. His life revolves around elevating others' health and wellness and pushing the boundaries of physical artistry. In his free time, he's either defying gravity with dynamic aerial routines or finding new ways to blend movement and healing. Every performance, every treatment, is a step towards a holis...

Jasmin Jasko Razic is the dynamic President and owner of True North Events, a company renowned for revolutionizing the DJ & Event services landscape on the East Coast. Born from a legacy established in 2013, True North Events, originally known as True North DJ Services, quickly became a cornerstone in the entertainment industry, renowned for its top-notch DJ services. Jasko's entrepreneurial s...

Mariah has supported small to large businesses locally and internationally for almost a decade. Her expertise is in the overlap of embodying branding with the natural evolution of business. Her support ranges vastly from grounding the strategy, messaging, and visual components of a business; to understanding micro-movements for sustainable success. She is currently the Executive Director of Mariah...

Hailie Tattrie (she/her) is a sociologist, a white settler,  a communist, and a lifelong learner. She is currently working towards finishing her PhD in educational studies at Mount Saint Vincent University. She works as a part-time professor at Saint Mary's University & is hoping to become a full-time professor at one of Halifax's universities when she is done with her schooling.   H...

Anita Kirkbride UNDERcomplicates social media marketing for smart, successful small businesses. She encourages her clients to ditch perfectionism, embrace authenticity and #BeFlawsome in their social media. She started Twirp Communications Inc., a boutique social media consulting business, in 2011 and the Social Media Day Halifax conference in 2018. She has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs leverag...

  Vaishali Sachdeva aka V is an international student from a country rich in culture and diversity, India. She created history by being crowned as the first Miss South Asian Gem Nova Scotia 2023 and is dedicated to achieving more milestones in the future as well.   Since childhood Acting has been her passion and she started her journey as a professional Actor with the Newcomer’s Project...

Josh Creighton is a lifelong resident of Nova Scotia. He works for the Halifax Chamber of Commerce, as the Corporate Partnership Specialist. He also sits on CBC's African Nova Scotian community advisory board. Josh enjoys exploring various entrepreneur efforts, reading, cooking, hiking, and practising martial arts in his spare time. Check him out @joshcreighton2

Iyiola AKA Gafar, a shortened form of the name "Abdulgafar" which means “Servant of the All Forgiving”. He is an artist, Architecture student, and general creative. He has always loved design and aesthetics, and visual art is his preferred way of expressing himself. Born in Canada but lived most of his life in Lagos, Nigeria, Iyiola believes Lagos is a wonderful place, and it has influenced his ar...

Tanya McHarg is a registered social worker, coach and facilitator with over 20 years of experience in the field.   She is the owner and operator of Healing on Purpose Therapeutic Services, currently offering coaching services, facilitation and individual therapy under the mentorship of a clinical social worker. She uses an intersectional, anti-oppressive and holistic lens to support the healt...

A small red Sepal on a Peduncle attached to the deep roots of the flower in a garden full of colorful flowers feeling the scent of nature could be: Basam Murtaza Tahoor. He feeds from the sprinkles of nature, inhales the fragrance of the air, and lives under the rays of the luminous sun. Basam Murtaza Tahoor is the Founder and Managing Director of iClick Agency, a full-service marketing agency. A...

Noémie (pronounced No-Emmy) is a Québecer of Haitian ancestry who has resided, worked and lived in Mi'kma'ki (Nova Scotia) since 2016. She received an undergraduate degree (honours) in Psychology from Mount Saint Vincent University in 2021 and is set to receive a graduate degree in Clinical Psychology from Acadia University in 2024. Noémie has a passion for Health Equity research, and for sharing...