Blackout Podcast

Pamela is the owner and seamstress behind Stone Sewn, a small business that provides custom sewing services and textile products in Halifax. She creates playful, colourful designs inspired by nature, architecture and family connections intrinsic to used fabrics. After completing her undergrad at NSCAD University, she began sewing for local businesses and taking on commission work. Pamela’s passion...

Blanche Israël is a multilingual Moroccan-Canadian cultural strategist and musician. Originally from Montreal, Blanche moved to Nova Scotia in 2020 and quickly integrated into the music community here. As a funding specialist, she has helped artists and arts organizations raise over $10 million in grants and donations since 2015. As a cellist, she has performed and recorded with artists inclu...

Benjamin is a Vietnamese Canadian Filmmaker/Cinematographer/Photographer working in the NS film industry and abroad.  He believes in sharing the truth on the creative industries. Community and learning are the main drives to his goals to make it in the game, working hard relentlessly is just part of the formula.  He shares more that’s below the surface compared to what people see.  ...

Damini Awoyiga is a 16-year-old high school student. She is an activist, spoken word poet and Halifax’s Youth Poet Laureate. Damini is the founder of Damini Creatives and the Afro-Indigenous Book Club. Learn more @damini.awoyiga

Omotola Oyefodunrin is a Nigerian digital artist based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. His artistic disciplines include concept art, illustration, Background Design, Graphic design and Video editing. Omotola's art style is defined mostly by vivid colours with inspiration drawn from life, entertainment, experiences and a God-given imagination. He believes his best version is yet to come and he wants to un...

Originally from the Maritimes, Shawna Garrett has held registrarial and enrolment management positions at Acadia University, NSCAD University, College of the North Atlantic – Qatar, and Mount Allison University. She has also worked as a superintendent, principal, and dean at international schools in Japan and China. Shawna holds degrees from the University of Prince Edward Island and Acadia Univer...

Badisun is currently represented by Soli Management based out of Halifax. After completing her first runway shows last summer, Badi’s love for fashion heightened and inspired her to start her line "Chaotic Luxury" in 2023. Badi is coming out with new items in the summer for “Chaotic Luxury”. Badi continues to create content on her social media platforms and is exploring new ways to collaborate wit...

Jimmy P Torres is born Chilean, Canadian by choice, who moved to Nova Scotia 14 years ago. Jimmy is a sound engineer who works doing films and photography. He has been a published photographer in many international magazines and is always open to new ideas, concepts and challenges. Jimmy loves chasing the light in a creative way. Check him out @jimmyptorres

Mary Beth Piper is a metal artist who recently returned home to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Piper works mainly in sterling silver with freshwater pearls and semi-precious gems, as well as reclaimed materials such as copper and wood. They are interested in making unique jewellery that explores humanity’s place within the natural world and the constructed nature of identity. Piper’s work has been exhibite...

Kevin Hartford is a writer/director based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He is a two-time alumnus of the Atlantic Filmmakers Cooperative (AFCOOP’s) FILM 5 program and twice received their nomination to Telefilm’s Talent to Watch program for his feature film To the Moon, which will go to camera in 2023 with support from Telefilm’s Production Program. His shorts Charlie’s P.O.C. and Disco Apocalypse aired...

Praise, a model, dancer and influencer currently living in Halifax N.S She is currently studying psychology and hopes to focus on modelling, acting and entertainment full-time after school. She teaches dancing on the side as well and dances from time to time. Find out more @akogunpraise

Henry Colin is a writer/director based out of Kjipuktuk/Halifax. He is a passionate filmmaker and an all-around cinephile. Henry has directed a number of award-winning short films, including "Passage" and "In the Cold". Henry has also directed the award-winning feature film "I Am Not A Hero". In 2023 Henry completed principal photography on his sophomore feature "Lost in Time"; a science-fiction c...

Tia Upshaw is a serial entrepreneur, mother of 3, nominee for Business Leader of the Year 2022 & 2023 Halifax Chamber of Commerce, nominee for RBC Woman of Influence 2021,2022 & 2023 and founder & CEO of Blk Women in Excellence.  She is a mentor with Rise & Scotia Bank women's mentorship initiative in partnership with the Forum. She also is a well-known motivational speaker, e...

Lingjie was born in China, Shanghai and lived in Japan for 8 and a half years. She started working in the hospitality industry at an American dive bar in Tokyo. She moved to Canada and met the owners of DearFriend Matt Boyle and Jeff van Horn through the NSCC hospitality program and started working as a server. Having worked with and learned from so many amazing bartenders in Halifax, Lingjie got...

Moashella Shortte is a mother, educator, author, entrepreneur, and child and youth advocate.    She received her formal training at Mount Saint Vincent University, earned an Early Childhood Management Certificate at St. Mary’s University and was granted a “Baccalauréat en sciences humaines” from “immigration et communautés culturelles”, in Montreal.  She spent most of her...

As a teenager, Chris had managed to narrow down his future to either becoming a Buddhist monk or running the race to be successful. For various reasons, he chose the latter, but he's always kept one foot in the world of subtle energy and strange events. As a roughneck, he studied alternative health modalities, and when his encounter with the fossil fuel industry motivated him to study renewable en...

Wyndolyn Brown started Empowerment For Hope, a non-profit organization based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Empowerment For Hope helps and supports girls, women and gender-diverse persons from other marginalized communities involved in sex trafficking or at risk of being involved, which in turn results in addiction and or homelessness. Find out more @empowermentforhope

Using a songwriting ability seldom found in musicians of his age group, 19-year-old Joe Hubley takes inspiration from Motown-soul, funk, and synth-pop artists to intricately craft a sound that is uniquely his own while paying a crafty homage to his musical predecessors. Hubley made waves coming up in Halifax's fruitful all-ages scene, becoming known for his incredibly enigmatic live shows and comm...

Alyssa is a self-taught artist from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Currently immersed in painting with acrylics on birch gallery panels. Her works are inspired by everyday moments captured first with her camera and then with her paint brushes. Alyssa is captivated by bringing light and depth to her paintings while leaving behind visible brush strokes to maintain a painted look and feel. She sells original...

Blessing Owowa is the Creative Director and Owner of DB Pearlz Designs, an Afrocentric fashion brand with a unique selling point of blending the best of modern Western and African fashion cultures.  DB Pearlz Designs specializes in apparel making (bespoke and ready-to-wear), accessories (bags, purses and headpieces), footwear and custom-fit tailoring services using quality African and Western...

Paollo13 is a Lebanese-Canadian rapper hailing from Halifax, Nova Scotia, known for his lyrical prowess and undeniable talent. Born and raised in the vibrant and multicultural community of Halifax, Paollo13 found inspiration in the rich diversity of his surroundings and used it as fuel to craft his own unique style of music. In 2022, Paollo13 released his highly anticipated debut studio album, "St...

Allie White, with RE/MAX NOVA, has qualified for the esteemed RE/MAX Platinum Club Award, which honours high-achieving real estate professionals for their service to buyers and/or sellers during the past year. Allie White has been serving her community as a real estate agent with RE/MAX NOVA for 1 year and 4 years as an agent. She has extensive experience in renovations, investment properties, and...

Ugochi is a skilled development strategist, with over a decade of experience in investment banking, business development, social innovation, and entrepreneurship. She is an intellectually curious professional who is self-motivated and persistently innovates ideas to create prime and viable solutions for businesses to succeed and stay ahead. Find out more on her LinkedIn @ughochiwest

Stak is an acclaimed producer/songwriter that grew up in Lagos, Nigeria and moved to Canada about 7 years ago. Because of his passion for music, Stak started writing his own songs and later found his love for beat-making. He is fondly known for his unconventional blend of Afrobeats and RnB as his choice of music and is the powerhouse to most of Arenye’s music. He is the current Director of Million...

A native of Andros, Bahamas, Danielle Gaitor, M.Sc. B.Sc., is a scientist, author, and creative. She hopes to inspire all youth to love themselves unapologetically and to stand firmly in who they are. Her debut book is dedicated to all black girls and boys around the world, teaching them about self-care and self-love. Look out for more from her coming in the near future! Learn more @danielle.gaito...