The Blueprint with Dr. Jelani I. Reid

He was helping everyone else. Then his father asked: "What about me?" Garth Voisin is a fitness trainer by trade, but his real work is in the minds of men. After a conversation with his father that shifted his entire perspective, Garth dedicated himself to creating spaces where men—young and old—could finally have the conversations they were never taught to have. In this episode of The B...

H e started at a bank. He ended at the International Criminal Court. And he never planned any of it. Justice Geoffrey Henderson's career is proof that life rarely follows the blueprint we write for ourselves. He graduated with a sociology degree, then law, then took a corporate job at a bank—and hated every minute of it. A chance meeting on Edward Street with a senior state counsel (later Pres...

In this episode of  The Blueprint Podcast , host Dr. Jelani Reid sits down with Dr. Ayanna Miller — Trinidadian-born medical doctor, NHS emergency medicine specialist, and founder of a thriving multi-million dollar scrubs business she runs remotely from the United Kingdom. Dr. Miller pulls back the curtain on the exact framework she uses to navigate migration, identity, entrepreneurship, and long-...

He saw a coworker lose his hand. Then he watched a company try to make it "go away." He said no. Brendon James was working offshore in Trinidad's energy sector when an explosion on a platform changed the trajectory of his life. A 2,500 psi gas line had failed. A valve flew across the deck and hit a colleague in the face. Blood and oil everywhere. That day, Brendon switched his univer...

*He was raised in Laventille, surrounded by calypso royalty. By 18, he was in both the Calypso Monarch and Soca Monarch finals. In 2026, he became the center of a national conversation about judging, gatekeeping, and the future of the art form.* Chuck Gordon is not your typical calypsonian. He holds a degree in social work, has worked in the children's court, and views his music as advocacy. H...

*She was 17, homeless, and fighting to keep her premature baby. Today, she's helping the world heal.* Karen Carrington knows what it means to hit rock bottom. As a teenager, she was a single mother living in a shelter with a son born at 26 weeks, weighing just one pound, seven ounces. Then her child's father took her to court, demanding full custody. She won. But she also learned something...

He said yes to coaching before he knew how to coach. Then he figured it out. Yavniel Yatali was a biochemistry student who wanted to research human metabolism—until a dean told him UWI didn't study "the animal model." He almost quit. His mother convinced him to finish the degree, but she also told him something more important: "When you're done, you don't have to go into...

e was the carpenter's son who became a minister. Then he was rejected by his own party. Now he's fighting to come back. Lovell Francis grew up in Moruga, toting water from a standpipe at 2 a.m., watching his carpenter father and maid mother invest everything in his education. Their gamble paid off: he became a history lecturer at UWI, then MP for Moruga/Tableland (2015-2020), Minister of S...

She won on her mother's birthday. She won again on her mother's terms. Terri Lyons is royalty—but not because her father is soca legend SuperBlue. She has carved her own crown, winning the National Calypso Monarch title twice (2020 and 2026) and holding the Queen of Queens Regional title four times in a row . But her story begins with loss. Her mother, singer Dionne Phillips, died when Ter...

He never wanted to be a politician. Then he spent 10 years as an MP—and learned exactly what's broken. Rushton Paray grew up in Guaya Guayari, Mayaro, watching his community transform as the energy sector boomed. He learned discipline from his policeman father. He learned entrepreneurship from his mother and grandmother, two women who ran businesses in a male-dominated world. He learned system...

“If you don’t learn, if you don’t grow, if you don’t change—what are you? You’re a stone.” At 36, Vaughnette Bigford made a choice that would terrify most: she stopped chasing corporate "stability" to chase her soul. After 20 years in the energy sector, the closure of Petrotrin wasn’t just an economic shift—it was the catalyst for a total reconstruction of her identity. In this episode o...

"If God gave you a talent and you don't use it, He’ll take it back." At 21,  Ta’zyah O’Connor  became the youngest Calypso Monarch in history. But in this masterclass of an episode, Ta’zyah reveals why the crown was a "horrible" experience and why he is 80% certain he will never compete in the festival system again. Host  Dr. Jelani Reid  sits down with the visionary artist...

"Integrity is an individual sport." In her first public interview since the landmark transitions of 2025, former Member of Parliament for Tabaquite and Senator  Anita Haynes-Alleyne  joins Dr. Jelani I. Reid for an unfiltered, visionary conversation on the true cost of public service. While the world saw a public political shift, Anita was navigating a profound private transition into mo...

This is a heavy-hitter for Episode 28. It perfectly bridges the gap between where you were as a doctor and where you are now—navigating the "pivot." For Spotify, you want to lean into the  human story  and the  specific, high-stakes moments  that make listeners hit play. Here is the description: "The day I officially resigned, I had nothing else going on. I didn’t even have a next j...

In a provocative exploration of the modern career, digital strategist Keron Rose challenges the very foundation of how we define our worth. This episode dismantles the "identity crisis" created by traditional employment and reveals the radical shift required to thrive in a globalized, digital-first world. We dive into Keron's journey from the corporate halls of Apple to the freedom o...

He saved a man's life—then realized he'd probably see him again in six weeks. That moment changed everything. Dr. Michael Taylor was a practicing physician on the frontlines during COVID when a routine resuscitation made him question his entire purpose. In this episode of The Blueprint Podcast, he sits down with Dr. Jelani Reid for a raw, eye-opening conversation about why our current heal...

He was a 17-year-old standing in a fete when he saw an opportunity others missed. He built a brand so authentic that strangers feel like family. And he almost quit—until a moment on a mountain changed everything. In this episode of The Blueprint Podcast, we sit down with Kwesi Lee—better known as  SUPA HYPE —one of Trinidad and Tobago's most versatile and respected creative forces. From radio...

Former government minister Vasant Bharath sits down for a powerful, unfiltered conversation about his journey from a corporate executive haunted by a family trauma to a transformative political leader. He delves into the painful decision to stand with farmers against his own cabinet, the corrosive impact of political tribalism on our nation's progress, and the hard truths about our work ethic...

On this episode of The Blueprint Podcast, we're joined by Saelese Haynes—a brilliant multi-jurisdictional attorney, international speaker, and the founder of Titan Chambers. But beyond her formidable legal acumen, Sales embodies the power of saying "yes." We dive into how this mindset has shaped her journey, from navigating the complexities of international law to passionately advoca...

Mark Ayen is an unstoppable force of nature and a true icon of Trinidad and Tobago's Carnival. In this electrifying episode of The Blueprint Podcast, we dive deep into the mind of a visionary who has dedicated his life to the art and business of Carnival. From the tender age of two, when he first graced the Savannah stage, to becoming the youngest-ever President of the Trinidad and Tobago Carn...

Get ready for an unfiltered and powerful conversation on The Blueprint Podcast as we sit down with the formidable Nicole Dyer Griffith. A former Miss Universe Trinidad and Tobago, senator, and parliamentary secretary, Nicole's path has been anything but conventional. She is a cancer survivor who faced down two diagnoses and emerged with a radical new purpose. In this episode, we dive deep into...

🔥 From Maloney Gardens to NCAA Champion & Entrepreneur — Aqeel Joseph’s journey is pure resilience. In this episode of The Blueprint Podcast , he shares how he went from an anti-social kid to a three-time NCAA All-American, built Family-Oriented Empire (F.O.E.), and turned setbacks into fuel. A battle cry for underdogs and proof that success is about building bridges, not just climbing ladder...

On this raw, unfiltered episode of The Blueprint Podcast, we dive into the DNA of innovation with Joshua Prescott, an alumnus of the auspicious Queen's Royal College and the visionary behind Adrenaline Junkie. From overcoming a speech impediment and defying parental expectations by dropping out of a US university after just two weeks, Joshua's remarkable journey will make you rethink EVERY...

On this raw, unfiltered episode of The Blueprint Podcast, we sit down with Renee Bain-Keller 24-year police veteran, Assistant Superintendent of Trinidad & Tobago’s Mounted & K9 Branch, and the woman who turned a teenage pregnancy into a masterclass in breaking barriers. From working at McDonald’s to commanding officers (and horses), her journey will make you rethink EVERYTHING about resil...

🎙️ "I was the shy girl who refused to climb trees—now I’m leading a movement across 100 countries. Here’s how faith, failure, and JCI rewrote my story."On this electrifying episode of The Blueprint Podcast, we sit down with Regina Bunbury—Guyanese powerhouse, National EVP of JCI West Indies, and serial entrepreneur who turned childhood resistance into regional influence. From losing her...