The Moreish Podcast: Caribbean History, Culture, and Cuisine

The Moreish Podcast: Caribbean History, Culture, and Cuisine

More than jerk chicken, beaches and Carnival, the cultures of the Caribbean is unique and diverse with influences from all over the world. Join Hema and guests on The Moreish Podcast as they talk about the history of the Caribbean, and how history influences current day culture and cuisine. The Moreish Podcast: Where Caribbean history meets culture and cuisine. Find us on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube at The Moreish Podcast.

Episodes

December 23, 2025 46 mins

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The Indo-Caribbean Canadian Experience with Ryan Singh

In the last full episode of 2025, Hema is joined by Ryan Singh, the Founder of the Indo-Caribbean Canadian Association (ICCA). They explore the nuances of Indo-Caribbean identity, the impact of colonial history, and the struggle for cultural recognition in Canada. 

Ryan shares the origin story and mission of ICCA, various community programs such as ...

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Caribbean Christmas Traditions and an Anansi story with Kesha Christie

In the final Caribbean folklore episode of 2025, Kesha shares some traditions and unique ways different Caribbean nations celebrate at Christmas, including bamboo bursting and Junkanoo, plus some of the favourite food & drink made at the end of the year. Of course, an episode with Kesha is not complete without a folktale and thi...

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Exploring the Untold Stories of Chinese-Caribbean Heritage 

In this episode, storyteller and frequent guest Kesha Christie dives into the often-overlooked Chinese-Caribbean heritage, exploring folktales and oral histories that highlight the rich cultural fusion in the Caribbean. 

Kesha talks about her research journey uncovering the often untold Chinese-Caribbean stories from Trinidad, Guyana, and Jamai...

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Caribbean Cuisine with Lesley Enston, author of Belly Full: Exploring Caribbean Cuisine Through 11 Fundamental Ingredients and Over 100 Recipes [A Cookbook]

Join Hema and Lesley as they talk about Caribbean cuisine and history through the lens of Lesley's debut cookbook Belly Full, where she delves into Caribbean food through 11 fundamental ingredients.

In this episode, Lesley shares her personal b...

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Exploring Bahamian History: From Indigenous Roots to Modern Identity

In this episode, Hema and Sasha Wells, a PhD student in Caribbean History at Florida International University, delve into the rich history of The Bahamas. The discussion spans multiple eras, from the indigenous Lucayan people, the effects of European colonization, the cultural and racial dynamics influenced by loyalist migration, and ...

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We’re back with another Caribbean folktale, told by Kesha Christie.

In this episode, Kesha shares an Indo-Caribbean folktale from Trinidad titled 'Kadoo Ki Beti' or 'The Pumpkin Daughter.' The story, which dates back to the late 1800s and early 1900s, revolves around Mama Savitri, an old woman who desperately wishes for a child. Through prayers and a magical pumpkin, her wish is par...

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Guyanese Culinary Traditions 

From Guyana’s six peoples to the impact of Guyana’s new wealth, and the national dish of pepperpot, Hema and Dr. Geoffrey Giddings discuss the ever-evolving foodways in Guyana. 

Geoffrey, an expert in African American studies and a passionate advocate for Guyanese food culture, delves into the rich history of Guyana, known as the land of six peoples, highlighting the culina...

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The History of Guyana with Melissa, West Indian Diplomacy

Melissa Goolcharran Ramnauth, Editor-in-Chief of West Indian Diplomacy, shares her knowledge of the history of Guyana on this episode of the podcast. 

From the early Indigenous peoples to the colonial power struggles between the Dutch and the British, Hema and Melissa dive into key historical moments in Guyanese history: the Trans-Atlantic Slave ...

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Exploring Caribbean Culture through Foodways with Dr. Candice Goucher

In this episode Hema chats with guest Dr. Candice Goucher, author of "Congotay! Congotay! A Global History of Caribbean Food," about the dynamic and fraught history of Caribbean food and culture.

From the reconstruction of Caribbean culture, the contributions of Indigenous, African, Indian, Chinese, and European peoples to C...

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A Folktale from Grenada with Kesha Christie 

Welcome to Season 3 of The Moreish Podcast! We kick off with Toronto-based storyteller and podcaster Kesha Christie’s rendition of a humorous Grenadian folktale, 'The Lady and Her Three Sons,' which highlights the Caribbean tradition of descriptive nicknames. 

Hema and Kesha chat about the cultural significance of nicknames, superstitions, and commu...

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Exploring the Legacy of the Slave Voyages Database

In the final episode of season two of The Moreish Podcast, Hema wraps up with an encore episode featuring Dr. Nafees M. Khan and historian Dr. Gregory O'Malley from the Slave Voyages Consortium. The conversation delves deep into the Slave Voyages database, a comprehensive online resource documenting the transatlantic and intra-American slave trade...

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One Caribbean: Exploring Dominican Folklore and Storytelling

In this final folklore episode of this season of The Moreish Podcast, Kesha and Hema celebrate the interconnectedness of Caribbean culture through stories. The episode features a bit of a dark folktale from the Dominican Republic about Joe, a lazy young man who makes a deal with Death to become rich. The story's undertones reflect the is...

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Debunking the Irish-Caribbean Connection: Unravelling Myths and Historical Realities

Dr. Ellen Howley joins Hema to discuss the complex and nuanced history between Ireland and the Caribbean. 

In the context of Irish history from the 17th century, the British Empire, and the forced migration under Cromwell, Dr. Howley shares the complexity of some Irish people being sent to the Caribbean as indentured se...

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Why the Ground Lizard Doesn't Sleep in Trees Anymore - A St. Martin / Sint Maarten Story

Hema and Kesha continue to delve into the fascinating, fun and informative folktales from the Caribbean. This week Kesha shares a story from St. Martin/St. Maarten that explains why ground lizards no longer sleep in trees. Through this short folk story, we learn about Sammy, the ground lizard, tamarind trees a...

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A Deep Dive into Caribbean Culinary History with Keshia Sakarah

In this episode of The Moreish Podcast, host Hema chats with Keshia Sakarah, a self-taught chef, food writer, and educator of Montserratian and Barbudian descent. Based on topics raised in her first book Caribe A Caribbean Cookbook with History they explore the rich history of the Caribbean and its influence on contemporary food and cultur...

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Exploring Pataki Stories: The Tale of Obara and His Gift

Continuing the Caribbean folklore series, Kesha Christie joins Hema on the podcast to dive into Pataki stories of the Afro-Cuban religion Santeria, focusing on the Orishas and their unique powers. 'The Gift’, told by Kesha, is the story of Obara, the once-poor Orisha and how he received his Ashe. The conversation highlights the cultural and ...

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Exploring Papiamentu: The Unique Language of Curaçao

In this episode of The Moreish Podcast, Hema and guest Sheedia Jansen delve into the 300-year-old history of Papiamentu, the vibrant lingua franca of Curaçao.

Sheedia, a Freedom Alchemist born and raised in Curaçao, explains how Papiamentu emerged from a blend of influences from West Africa, Portuguese, Dutch, Indigenous Caquetios, and Spanish culture...

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Antiguan Folktales: Anansi's Wisdom and Lessons

In this episode of The Moreish Podcast, Kesha Christie, a renowned storyteller and Ted Talk speaker, joins the show to explore the rich tapestry of Caribbean folktales, focusing on the iconic trickster hero, Anansi. This captivating Anansi story from Antigua & Barbuda has it’s origins in Ghana (Africa).

Hema and Kesha discuss how these stories ref...

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Exploring the Rich Culinary Culture of Tobago

In the second episode on Tobago, one half of the twin-island nation of Trinidad & Tobago, Hema and guest Devonne Adanna, a storyteller and Caribbean history enthusiast from Tobago, dive into the diverse culinary traditions of Tobago. 

The discussion covers the historical influences on the islands' food, the distinction between Trinidad's fast-p...

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In this episode host Hema and guest Devonne Adanna, a Caribbean history enthusiast, discuss the intricate historical backgrounds of Trinidad & Tobago, with a focus on Tobago. They delve into the impact of European colonization, the economic struggles Tobago faced post-slavery, and the distinct cultural evolution of both islands before they amalgamated to become one country. 

Devonne also shares her...

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