Jus' Ah Conversation

Affordable housing is one of the biggest concerns facing Barbadians today. Whether you’re trying to rent, buy, or simply plan for the future, the question keeps coming up: is affordable housing in Barbados becoming a pipe dream?
In this episode of Jus’ Ah Conversation, hosts Mikul Elcock and Aisha Reid unpack the pressures around housing, home ownership, real estate, and affordability in Barbados.
Joining the conversation are:
Raquel Thompson – Architect
Cherita O’dell – Real Estate Broker
Paul Ashby – Chief Executive Officer, SigniaGlobe Financial Group
Janelle Bruce – Educator and First-Time Homeowner
Together, they explore the realities of the housing market from different angles — design, property, financing, and lived experience. From rising costs and access to mortgages to what first-time buyers are really up against, this is a conversation about more than just houses. It’s about stability, security, and whether ordinary Barbadians can still see a path to owning a home.
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and wherever you get your podcasts.
📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube (@thebgis).

Elder care is changing, and so is the conversation around what it means to age well.
In this episode of Jus’ Ah Conversation, hosts Mikul Elcock and Sharifa Medford-Gilkes explore the realities of elder care in Barbados today — from family responsibility and caregiving pressure to active ageing, nutrition, mobility, and maintaining independence for as long as possible.
Joining the discussion are:
Miss Stacia Whittaker, MPH, RDN — Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with the Ministry of Health & Wellness, working at the St. Michael’s Geriatric Hospital and satellite district hospitals.
Ms. Marcia Best — experienced Health Sister and Coordinator on the Advisory and Inspection Committee, with decades of nursing and public health experience.
Juliette Downes — Medical Social Worker at the Geriatric Hospital, bringing insight into the emotional, social, and family side of ageing and care.
Together, they unpack what elder care looks like in Barbados, the difference between simply living longer and living better, and why movement, muscle-building, nutrition, dignity, and support all matter in the ageing process.
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and wherever you get your podcasts.
📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube (@thebgis).

Menopause is something many women are expected to endure quietly — but that silence comes at a cost.
In this episode of Jus’ Ah Conversation, we open up an honest, informed conversation about menopause and the many ways it affects women’s lives. From hot flashes and sleep disruption to mood changes, mental health struggles, intimacy, and workplace challenges, this discussion goes beyond the usual surface-level talk.
This episode explores what menopause really is, why so many women enter this stage without clear information or support, and how myths and stigma continue to shape the experience. It also looks at the importance of balanced medical guidance, better support systems, and treating menopause as more than just a private issue.
Joining the conversation are:
Dr. Sandra Bynoe — OBGYN and menopause specialist,
Dr. Roberta Corona — OBGYN and menopause specialist, BioConnect
Deidre Wood — Nutritionist
Together, they help break down the facts, challenge the myths, and push for a more open, supportive conversation around menopause.
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and wherever you get your podcasts.
📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube (@thebgis).

Non-communicable diseases continue to affect families and communities across Barbados in a very real way. But tackling NCDs takes more than check-ups and prescriptions — it takes awareness, support, and a deeper understanding of how these conditions shape everyday life.
In this episode of Jus’ Ah Conversation, hosts Shayla Murrell and Fabian Belgrave sit down with three guests who each bring a different perspective to the conversation around prevention, advocacy, and community care.
Joining them are:
Krystal Bowen — communications specialist, cervical cancer and HPV awareness advocate, and founder of @miss_penny246, a platform created in memory of her mother.
Trudy Nicole Griffith — registered pharmacist, clinical pharmacist, and former President of the Diabetes and Hypertension Association of Barbados.
Antoine Williams — marketing consultant, communications trainer, and community engagement facilitator.
Together, they explore how education, storytelling, advocacy, and stronger community support can help shift the fight against NCDs beyond the clinic and into everyday life.
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and wherever you get your podcasts.
📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube (@thebgis).

Crop and livestock theft is something many farmers in Barbados quietly deal with — but the impact is anything but small.
In this episode of Jus’ Ah Conversation, hosts Aisha Reid and Fabian Belgrave sit down with voices from across the agricultural sector to talk openly about the reality of farm theft, how it affects farmers, and what it means for the future of local food production.
Joining the conversation are:
Barney Callender, Deputy Chief Agricultural Officer with responsibility for livestock and over four decades of experience in the Ministry of Agriculture.
Ronald Moore, a crop and greenhouse farmer and board member of the St. George Farmers’ Marketing Co-operative Society.
Keriah Scantlebury, owner of Riah’s Farms and a passionate youth advocate helping to shape the next generation of agriculture in Barbados.
Together they unpack the challenges farmers face when crops or animals disappear overnight, the emotional and financial toll it takes, and the broader impact on food security and the agricultural industry.
It’s an honest conversation about protecting the people who grow our food — and what needs to change.
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts.
📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube (@thebgis).