Jus' Ah Conversation

What does it really mean to raise a child with special needs — and how much of that experience does the wider public actually understand?
In Season 4, Episode 4 of Jus’ Ah Conversation, hosts Fabian Belgrave and Dionne Best are joined by Orlanda Atherly, Parent and Down Syndrome Advocate; Ann-Marie Johnson, Parent and Disability Advocate; and Tracey Knight-Lloyd, Autism Advocate and Parent for an honest conversation about the realities families face every day.
From navigating education and healthcare to managing public perceptions, finding appropriate support and dealing with the emotional and financial demands of parenting, this episode goes beyond assumptions and gives parents space to speak from lived experience.
Orlanda shares his journey raising his daughter Haylee, who was born with Down syndrome and congenital heart disease. Ann-Marie speaks about caring for a son living with intractable epilepsy and advocating for stronger support systems, while Tracey reflects on autism, acceptance, inclusion and creating environments where children can thrive.
But this conversation is not about pity.
It is about understanding, inclusion, acceptance and recognising the experiences of families whose challenges are often unseen.
📺 Watch on YouTube (@thebgis)
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

The climate is changing, technology is moving quickly, and the way we produce food has to keep evolving with it.
In Season 4, Episode 3 of Jus’ Ah Conversation, hosts Mikul Elcock and Aisha Reid explore what it really means to farm smarter in Barbados — and whether climate-smart agriculture can help build a stronger, more resilient food system.
Joining the conversation are Dr. Shantal Munro-Knight, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Nutritional Security; Dr. Chelston W. D. Brathwaite, Agricultural Development Expert and Former IICA Director General; Dr. David Bynoe, Agronomist, Economist and Sustainable Development Specialist National Coordinator, GEF SGP UNDP; and John Hunte, Permaculture and Community Agriculture Advocate.
Together, they explore everything from soil health, water management and sustainable farming practices to greenhouses, hydroponics, drones, sensors, artificial intelligence and precision agriculture.
But farming smarter is about more than technology. The conversation also gets into financing, policy, infrastructure, getting more young people involved in agriculture, and ensuring that innovation actually reaches the farmers who need it.
As Barbados looks toward greater food security, the question is not simply whether we can grow more — but whether we can grow differently, adapt faster and build an agricultural sector ready for the future.
📺 Watch on YouTube (@thebgis)
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & Amazon Music

Drones, robotics, coding kits and remote-controlled technology are often treated as toys — but what happens when we start looking at them as tools?
In Season 4, Episode 2 of Jus’ Ah Conversation, we explore how these technologies are already being used in agriculture, mapping, environmental monitoring, education, disaster response and other emerging industries — and what that could mean for Barbados.
Joining the conversation are Professor David Oscar Yawson, Director of CERMES at UWI Cave Hill, and Jelani Payne, Robotics & STEM Education Advocate with Robot Adventures.
The discussion looks at the opportunities these technologies can create, particularly for young innovators, educators, researchers and entrepreneurs, while also tackling the real concerns around safety, regulation, licensing and responsible use.
How do we manage the risks without shutting down innovation? And are we doing enough to prepare Barbadians to use these technologies productively?
From toys to tools, this conversation is about what becomes possible when technology is given purpose.
📺 Watch on YouTube (@thebgis)
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Why do some young people feel like no matter how hard they try, they still can’t get ahead?
In this episode of Jus’ Ah Conversation, Mikul Elcock and Aisha Reid sit down with Shakir Daisley, Janae Husbands, and Omari Cheltenham for a real conversation about youth, opportunity, pressure, and the growing feeling among some young people that the future is slipping further out of reach.
From the cost of living and housing affordability to education, employment, social media comparison, mental health, and the pressure to “make it,” this episode looks at the gap between what young people are told is possible and what they actually experience.
Is it hopelessness? Is it a lack of opportunity? Or is it a sign that systems, communities, and conversations need to change?
This is a grounded discussion about what young people are facing, what they need, and why listening to them matters.
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and wherever you get your podcasts.
📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube (@thebgis).

Money can feel stressful, confusing, and sometimes completely out of reach — but getting a better handle on it starts with honest, practical conversations.
In this episode of Jus’ Ah Conversation, Aisha Reid and special guest host Sharon Austin Gilmore sit down with Nikita Gibson, Marcia Armstrong, Dwayne Jones, and Kelly Jones for a real conversation about money that makes sense.
From budgeting and saving to credit, debt, financial habits, and the pressure of rising living costs, this episode looks at how people can start making stronger decisions with what they have.
The conversation also explores Dwayne and Kelly’s journey to becoming debt-free after paying off approximately $67,000, and what that experience can teach others about discipline, teamwork, sacrifice, and financial freedom.
This is not a conversation about pretending money is easy. It is about building confidence, facing the numbers, and taking the next step toward breaking free.
📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube (@thebgis).
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and wherever you get your podcasts.