I needed a minute- but I'm back. I shared my truth with you and appreciate your love and checking in on me. I will be back with more regular episodes soon, but needed to come through and explain this delay and really highlight that life is lifting right now and I am just rolling with the punches. Sending you all love and appreciation.
Podcast site: https://zeeta.ca/podcast
About Mélissa Bolduc
Mélissa started designing her own clothes that flattered her figure at the age of 17. This gave birth to a vocation that would ultimately lead to the creation of her own clothing line, Melow. To
gain knowledge and perfect her talent, she headed to Vancouver, where she studied Fashion Merchandising at the John Casablanca Institute and Fashion Art at the Vancouver Community
College. In 2007, she created her first collection and opened up her flagship boutique Melow par Mélissa Bolduc in Montréal, which is solely devoted to selling her clothing. In addition to her
boutique, the Melow line can be found in 65 points of sale across Canada.
About Melow
Established in Montreal in 2007 and running strong with a loyal client base, the Melow line is designed for women of all shapes and sizes, ranging from XS to XXL.
Proudly designed and made in Canada, the Melow collections have always embodied a casual yet sophisticated style. The designer’s clever engineering of each piece makes the clothing adjust to flatter any body shape. Structured cuts draped into pleats and asymmetrical lines intelligently mix comfort and elegance. The choice of quality, fluid fabrics is instrumental in creating the ease-in-motion experienced when wearing Melow. As much as possible, the fabrics used by Melow are made in Canada as well.
Melow’s team has always been committed to helping sustainable development and works daily to minimize the impact of its activity on the planet. To achieve this, several concrete actions are taken from our manufacturing methods to the travel required for our production. We pay particular attention to the choice of our fabrics, many of which are made in Montreal. We always prefer natural fibres over synthetic fibres. Our production is entirely made in Canada, and about half is made in our workshop. This considerably reduces our ecological impact and encourages the local economy.
https://melowparmelissabolduc.com/
Pascale Lavache
Plus Size Model, Writer, Radio Personality
While Pascale's bio is in French she is perfectly bilingual and our interview is in English.
Bio
À travers son cheminement de carrière, Pascale Lavache, mannequin représentée par Folio
depuis maintenant 7 ans, a pris conscience d'un profond inconfort chez les femmes.
Ambassadrice pour la semaine ”le poids sans commentaire” du groupe Équilibre, et
porte-parole pour la société ANEB, elle comprend l'impact positif qu’elle a et continue d’avoir
pour aider à développer l’estime de soi de chacune et chacun.
En tant que chroniqueuse pour des magazines tels que NoovoMoi et Elle Québec, elle utilise
sa plume et ses plateformes sociales où elle partage ses expériences personnelles et donne
une voix à tous ceux qui ont besoin d'encouragements dans leur propre cheminement vers
l'acceptation de soi. Passionnée de culture, de musique et de mode, c’est à travers la radio
CIBL 101.5, qu’elle nous informe sur tout ce qui bouge dans la métropole et même dans le
monde en prêtant sa voix tous les samedi à l'émission Chad Damord FM.
IG: https://www.instagram.com/pascalelavache/
Julie Savaria, founder of Bindia Savaria
Julie Savaria is the founder of Bindia Savaria consulting and defines herself as a Justice, Equity,
Diversity, and Inclusion designer, an Equity facilitator, and a global citizen at heart.
A biochemist by training, Julie worked in clinical research for 5 years before completing an MBA
from McGill University. It was then that she deepened her expertise in social impact and human-
centered design thinking and the intersectionality of the public, private and social sectors. Julie
worked for innovative and Fortune 500 organizations as well as public institutions, to help them
further their conversations around racism and implement a sustainable strategy dedicated to all their
employees. As such, she founded Bindia Savaria Consulting to help organizations start, deepen or
establish their JEDI strategy or program, and JEDI Kids, a platform dedicated to helping caregivers
and anyone raise the next generation of inclusive and (racially) mindful children. Julie is a TEDx
speaker, a certified integral development coach, and a renowned panellist. She is also the Co-chair
of the B Local Québec chapter, focusing on Collective Impact and Activism and an ambassador for
the Just For Kids Foundation.
Webpage: www.bindiasavaria.com
www.jedikids.ca
IG: @Julz_bindia , @bindiasavaria,
@jedi_kid
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/julie.bindiasavaria ;
https://www.facebook.com/bindiasavaria ;
https://www.facebook.com/kidsjedi
Tap Dancer. Performer. Choreographer. Speaker. Believer. Travis Knights is realizing his dreams, pounding rhythms on wood floors all over the world. His talent and dedication have earned him audiences in Shanghai, Dusseldorf, Paris, New York, and Vancouver to name a few.
His career started in 2000, when he was cast as a principal dancer in the motion picture biography of Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson with Gregory Hines and Savion Glover. The film, 'Bojangles', was choreographed by the legendary Henry LeTang.
In 2006, he was tapped to be the principal dancer in the video game adaptation of Warner Brother's 'Happy Feet'. In 2007 and 2008, Travis participated extensively as a Tap Dance consultant for Cirque du Soleil. He had the privilege of performing in Tandem Act Productions' 'Diary of a Tap Dancer' at the Apollo Theatre, and the touring show 'Wonderland: A Tap Tribute to Stevie Wonder', created by Ayodele Casel and Sarah Savelli. Knights was a featured Tap Dancer in the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver. In the same year, he toured North America with the raucous and rowdy internationally acclaimed Australian Tap Dance show, Tap Dogs.
From 2010 to 2013, Knights jumped into the dance company world as a principal dancer with Tapestry Dance Company in Austin, Texas under the artistic direction of Acia Gray. During his time there he was awarded the Austin Critic's Table Award for best dance artist in 2011 and 2013. In 2014, he embarked on a self-produced world tour, filming his web series entitled ’The Interviews' featuring celebrated pioneers in the tap dance world. In 2015, he debuted new works in Thomas Marek's show NOLA in Hamburg, Germany.
In 2018, he worked once again with Cirque du Soleil in Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum. Later that year, he acted as the Artistic Director for the 2018 Vancouver International Tap Dance Festival. In 2019 Knights finished a two-year community development residency at the Tranzac Club in Toronto hosting the Jazz United Jam, a weekly jazz jam session aimed at connecting live musicians with dancers. He is the 2020 recipient of the Jaqueline Lemieux Prize for outstanding contribution to dance in Canada.
He currently lives in Brampton, Ontario and hosts The Tap Love Tour Podcast, available on Spotify, Soundcloud and Apple podcasts, (make sure to subscribe) featuring interviews of a myriad of inspiring artists.
In 2021 he will debut a new full-length original work commissioned by Anandem Dance Theatre called Ephemeral Artifacts. The one-man show will play at Theatre Passe Muraille in Toronto and at the Mai in Montreal.
Danielle Murrell Cox is a minimalist graphic designer & illustrator from Montreal. She is best known for her self-published colouring books Black Queens and Black Kings, which are filled with images of powerful people, and positive affirmations, that will help to uplift your spirit any day. These colouring books are great for people of all ages. Her colouring books went viral on social media and gave her the opportunity to have segments on CBC, Global and CTV, amongst many other local & international platforms. The viral post on social media also gave her the opportunity to create a book with publisher HarperCollins, together they released her board book, “My Hair”. My Hair is the perfect introduction to an array of beautiful hairstyles for tiny naturalistas-in-training!
In addition to her work as a graphic designer, she is the founder, illustrator and designer of her plush toy brand, “Zuri & Dre.” The toy brand officially launched in January 2021, and are based on her colouring books. Along with her own work, she is also recognized for being the illustrator and designer for the “Big Dreamers: The Canadian Black History Activity Book for Kids” Series.
Bibigi Haile is the founder of The Beauvoir Group, a career management and personal branding consultancy. She works with women in middle and senior management roles, helping them make bold moves in their lives and careers as they discover the possibilities that come with finding and owning their unique voice.
Bibigi is a sought-after keynote speaker and business strategist. With a background in organizational development and strategic change management consulting, her career expands over several industries including finance and investment management. Applying a research and evidence-based approach, Bibigi guides her clients through transformational change.
Her current focus on imposter syndrome and women’s visibility through personal branding has earned her spots on national stages.
She hosts Speaking with Women, a podcast about the experience of women in the modern workplace.
Bibigi is also and especially the mother of a wise 6-year-old, a third culture kid, a podcast and book nerd and a running enthusiast.
Chandravati (also known as Wendy) has always had an interest in people, culture, wellness, yoga and meditation. After spending her youth traveling and living in Australia, she returned to Montreal to complete her Bachelors in Psychology in combination with training in Yoga Therapy, Hatha Yoga and Vedanta Philosophy with Dr. Madan Bali. She further went on to complete her Ayurvedic studies and Energy medicine under the private tutelage of the 4th generation Vaiyda Anita Sharma, founder of the Institute of Ayurveda & Well being.
Starting this work since 2009, she brings a variety of experience and understanding of specific treatments available to aid healing the mind, body and soul. As a member of the ANN (Naturopath Association), Canadian Yoga Teacher Alliance as well as the International Association of Yoga Therapists. She has worked in both one on one and in groups settings regarding treatments of imbalances and dis-eases. She has provided numerous workshops and teachings on various aspects of health & wellness and in both private, social and corporate settings.
Through her love of Ayurveda, she is now the founder of the Skylit Ayurveda Center. She is grateful on a daily basis for the opportunity to offer people a place to feel safe, to challenge themselves and deepen their all aspects of their personal growth, as well as her own.
"Chandavati (Chandra 'moon' + vati 'light') literallymeans ‘lit by the moon’.
Chandavati also means"of a princess" in Sanskrit.
As the moon lights up the sky at night, it is my mission to provide a glimmer
of light in what seems like a darkening world. "
Vinay is the founder and curator of The Cutlass, a progressive podcast and social media platform dedicated to the Indo-Caribbean community and descendants of Indian indentureship. He tackles culture, religion, politics, history, and entertainment through his posts, as well as with his podcast guests. To access his content, follow The Cutlass on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook (@cutlasspodcast) and listen to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, AudioBoom, Deezer, iHeartRadio, and JioSaavn. Having taught himself his ancestral language, Vinay's research centers on documenting and revitalizing Hindustani among those living in the West Indies, in addition to the diaspora. His ongoing archival project consists of interviews with elders who still speak the language and have knowledge of old customs that are at risk of fading with time.
Akilah Newton is an activist, entrepreneur and author. She has always had a fascination with the arts and pursued her passion by studying music, drama and dance, and performing in productions at John Abbott College and as a member of the Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir. In 2003 she moved to England to attend the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. After earning a BA in Arts, Music & Entertainment Management she returned to Montreal and founded an organization for artistically-inclined youth. She founded Overture with the Arts (OWTA) in 2009; an organization committed to making the arts accessible to youth from all walks of life. She made it her mission to produce OWTA programs and events that spark discussions about social change. One of OWTA’s most popular programs is their annual Black History Month school tour. The tour visits schools across Canada and educates youth about Canadian Black History using music and spoken word.
Akilah is also the founder of Akilah Newton Projects Inc.; a company that celebrates diversity in ethnicity, gender and orientation through literature, games and art activities and supplies. In 2018 Akilah co-wrote the children’s book Big Dreamers: The Canadian Black History Activity Book for Kids Volume 1. The book highlights the achievements of Black Canadians whose stories are often left untold. Since 2018, Big Dreamers has sold over 6,000 copies. Due to the popularity of the book, in November 2020, Akilah co-wrote and self-published Big Dreamers: The Canadian Black History Activity Book for Kids Volume 2, which has sold over 3,000 copies.
2021 has been an exciting year for Akilah with the recent launch of her first full colour children’s storybook titled Movers, Shakers, History Makers: The Canadian Black History Book of Rhymes. In addition, she has several other product launches this year including a jigsaw puzzle, a line or crayons and more!
Mama Oracle is a therapist in Energy Medicine, a herbalist, and a doula. She started her initiation into Energy Healing in 2012 and has since practiced in the Caribbean and Canada, treating thousands of people. She’s helped countless individuals overcome anxiety, depression, stress, insomnia, childhood traumas, sexual traumas, abuse, and more, as well as helping them release the blocages and stagnant energies affecting their lives. She has helped numerous women get pregnant and also supports women in their pregnancies, along with assisting their births.
Happy New Year dear listeners. I want to sincerely thank you for listening and cannot wait to start sharing new episodes. New guests, great topics and deep conversations are on their way!
I wish you self love and kindness this 2022. We can and will get through this!
Sending you love, light and hugs,
Zeeta!
Massage Therapist - Barber - Self Published Author - Public Speaker
Sarah Gagne is a multi-faceted entrepreneur. She has so much to bring to the table and is an open book, that she decided to “un-Funk” herself with her self-published memoir called Mind Funk. It is a deep dive into her story and shares private moments of various realizations, endearing moments and reckoning with herself and relationship to others.
She bravely used this experience to shed some layers and understand herself in a more profound manner.
She is an accomplished athlete, coach and massage therapist. But -, ohhh, she is so much more than that. This episode cracks the surface, thanks for diving in.
Socials:
https://www.facebook.com/sarah.gagne.79
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahgagne22/
Singer, songwriter, bassist, producer, entertainer Fredy V is back with a brand new EP, and this time he brought along his powerhouse band, The Foundation. Their trademark funk sound rises to new levels while combining Afro-pop influences that reflect the group’s diversity. The Foundation From their weekly TV appearances as the house band for CBC/Radio-Canada talk show Les Poilus, to performances at the Montreal Jazz Fest and Cape Verde’s Atlantic Music Expo, the group consistently displays an inclusive and multicultural experience that warrants their catch phrase “We got some for everybody!” Fredy V & The Foundation released their debut EP ‘ONE STEP’ in the Fall of 2020. This collaborative process saw each member's experience and skill put into writing, composing, arranging and producing; giving light to catchy powerhouse songs that seamlessly combine R&B, funk, afropop and hip hop. From backing band to production team, The Foundation is on course to becoming major contributors to Canada’s flourishing R&B culture. GIMME THE CHECK PODCAST Artist/Producer Fredy V takes his humble experience as a music journalist and jumps into the media industry with the launch of his very own podcast GIMME THE CHECK: The show highlights Montreal's budding and diverse R&B scene and provides a much needed platform for Montreal based artists, producers and music industry professionals to dictate their respective narratives.
Michal Harewood aka the Natural Hair Whisperer
Michal Harewood has worked tirelessly for the past decade to bring you a school and comprehensive curriculum for the 21st century. She has worked directly with the Imaging and Microscopy Laboratory at Concordia to work on Cuticle patterns that determine shine and porosity, Internal water distribution to determine elasticity within a hai strand as well as a scientific approach to curl typing through calculating the variation in a diameter’s size along a single hair strand. Working with thousands of clients has infused new research techniques and an inclusive approach on all hair types.
If you don’t have one don’t stress, send me some pointers; some background information you would like to help me shape some questions. While I already adore you and there are so many reasons I do, I want to make sure to highlight the key talking points you would like to discuss on the show.
Socials:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0ELpnZK8bRkghVuexqZYVg
https://www.instagram.com/natural_hair_whisperer/
Roen Higgins is an award-winning Spoken Word Poet, Educator, dynamic Speaker, and Impact Coach. Her mission is to Elevate her audience with important life skills such as self-care, resilience, leadership, creative literacy & community well-being. Roen loves helping young people Emerge and Adults Shift towards Elevation. As a coach, she is dedicated to raising others to get unstuck and tap into their genius zone.
Socials:
https://www.facebook.com/roenhiggins/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/roen-higgins-ab156436/
https://www.instagram.com/roenhiggins/
Svens Telemaque
Svens Telemaque ranks as one of the most impactful speakers touching youth empowerment today. After multiple arrests and various feats with death, he abandoned familiarity and a life of drug trafficking to start anew.
Since relocating to Montreal in 2007, Svens has co-founded L'art Selah, a poetry collective which provides a platform for writers and arms listeners with hope. In 2014 he released his first book entitled Pen of a Ready Writer Vol.1 and has been featured on CBC., Global News, Breakfast Television, and other major networks.
As a social entrepreneur, Svens has been recognized as a regional finalist for Start-Up Canada and awarded the Community Leadership Award from Montreal Community Cares, amongst other honours.
Svens has empowered thousands through his youth empowerment tour across the U.S., Canada, The Caribbean, and Africa. His compelling story does not idolize a troublesome past but reminds us that even "Broken Crayons Still Color".
Socials:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063705123926
https://www.linkedin.com/in/svenst/
https://www.instagram.com/svens_telemaque/
Looking at Tiara Jade Chutkhan gave me so many feels! She looks like me; she could be my little sister, cousin or niece. She is my kin and we never met. It was refreshing to speak to a young woman who has taken the time to find her purpose, dig deep into her heritage, and uncover the stories that made us. The resilience in our lineage is so impressive and uncovering the stories that our parents and grandparents never talk about is so powerful.
I began questioning my own rich heritage and powerful story of how my parents parents parents made their way from India to Trinidad. The first reality is that I always thought it was much deeper in my history, but it is no more than 4 generations ago. That in itself wowed me, and then I went to where we all go; the interwebs! I came across an Instagram page @browngyaldiary. The stories, images and content spoke to me. I hit up Tiara and asked if she would be down for an interview and the rest is the magic of this episode.
I felt connected to her instantly and a warmness that I would family, kin. I enjoyed the chance to see what she and her friends are so fearlessly bringing to the forefront, stories and an understanding of our culture and education for us all really.
I have also decided to take a piece of her advice to heart and start talking and interviewing my parents and elders while I can. Giving them the space to talk and open up is healing and shines a new type of light on the kind of love our fore-parents had for us. I am excited that I opened this Pandora’s Box. To be honest I do not know if its excitement, I feel like I am starting to open myself up, learn some tough truths and more than anything be proud of my people and all those that boarded ships and made it out alive – so I could LIVE. So, I can thrive. So, I can challenge, question, and begin my own origin story.
This episode was what I needed, and I hope that you are able to enjoy it and maybe start your own quest. Feel free to send in your thoughts and feedback- looking forward to hearing from you. And, thank you for listening J
https://www.instagram.com/browngyaldiary/
https://www.instagram.com/bookwormbabee/
Monk.E is a force, a vision, a shining light that touches everyone he meets and those he doesn’t with his magic. His art is magic, and hearing Monk.E speak of his art like his children is exactly what I envision. He speaks from his heart, and he paints his truth.
Monk.E is a creative through and through. He has been making Hip Hop music for years with uplifting messages and crazy beats. His creativity is phenomenal, one look at his stunning murals stays with you in the most beautiful way.
I had the privilege to meet him face to face after wanting to purchase a painting he made, as I discuss in this episode, and feel so blessed for this encounter because every conversation since has been so uplifting.
I hope this conversation brings you the joys it did me. Monk.E is such a blessing and can’t wait for your feedback! Let me know your thoughts, I’m always happy to hear from you!
Enoy!
Monk.E Socials:
https://www.youtube.com/user/Monke1officiel
https://www.instagram.com/monke_k6a/
Alfonso Cuadra is a serial entrepreneur, speaker, author, success coach, and philanthropist. He has endured many hardships in his life, and like a phoenix, he always rises. This episode of It’s About Time dive in and learn more about his story and more importantly I hope you feel his winning spirit and drive come through. It has to be one of the most endearing and honest qualities about him.
I appreciate his ability to tell his truth, but to also give back and allow others to also flourish under his mentorship.
For the last 20 years he has been in real estate, and is instrumental using his life experiences and insights in helping people think big.
https://www.facebook.com/AlfonsoCuadra13
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alfonso-cuadra-75463615/