On June 15th, 2023 I nervously clicked on the Publish button on my Podcast hosting site of choice. It was a very hot Thursday morning, and I was sitting at my brother’s dining table in his apartment in Antwerp, Belgium. I was visiting for the summer, taking a break from my usual Caribbean scenery to visit family and explore a bit of Europe.

Months earlier, in January, I wrote in bold letters the words “Start a Podcast” on my list of dreams to accomplish in 2023. Little did I know that it would become one of the most enriching and fulfilling experiences of my life. The idea had been floating around in my mind for quite some time, but fear and self-doubt always seemed to hold me back. This year was going to see a different version of me and despite the fear and constant self-sabotaging in my head, I pushed through.

The concept of my podcast, Paradise Perspectives, had been brewing inside me for years. I knew how important authentic experiences are to travelers nowadays and I wanted to shine the spotlight on the locals of the different Caribbean islands for a change and give them a platform to speak. After all, nobody can promote the Caribbean to a visitor like a local person can. As a Caribbean content creator that was often ignored by tourist offices and destination PR companies, I have been preaching this for years. I wanted to capture the unique perspectives of those who actually live where most people vacation, and share them with the world. So, armed with a microphone and a strong desire to make a difference, I embarked on this new adventure, and this is how I did it.