The Moreish Podcast

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 Caribbean culture & cuisine,...

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 community spirit within the Caribbea...

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 trades through shipping records and ...

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 island's religious beliefs, ...

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 servants, while others chose to g...

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 and the twin island of St. Marti...

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 culture. From the Indigenous names fo...

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 spiritual significance of these...

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 cultures, and is a result of Caribbean...

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 reflect and preserve cultural and ...

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-paced, street food culture and T...

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 advocacy for autism awareness ...

The Rich Tradition of Anansi Stories, Monkey Tales and Caribbean Folklore

In this bonus episode, Hema and guest Kesha Christie explore the origins and rich tradition of Caribbean folklore and trickster tales. Starting with an Anansi story skillfully told by Kesha, they follow it up with a talk about the origins and roots, tracing it back to West Africa, specifically Ghana. 

Kesha shares another tale, Monkey Who Loves Trouble, followe...

Exploring Trinidad's Rich History and Cultural Blends

In this episode of The Moreish Podcast, host Hema and guest Sunity Maharaj delve into the historical influences on Trinidad's food and culture. We chat the profound influence of diverse cultures on Trinidadian music, spirituality, and daily life, emphasizing the creativity and unique cultural fusion evident in the society. The conversation touches on economic challenges...

Exploring the Rich History of Trinidad: From Indigenous Roots to Cultural Fusion

This episode is the first of two parts with host Hema and guest Sunity Maharaj. They explore the history of Trinidad, uncovering the island's rich cultural tapestry. From the Indigenous people to the effects of European colonization, the relevance of understanding the island’s history is critical to comprehend present circumstances and promote comp...

In this episode of The Moreish Podcast, Hema and Kesha, a Jamaican-Canadian storyteller, chat about the rich tradition of Caribbean folklore. 

Kesha discusses the timeless relevance of folktales, the cultural significance embedded in them, and how they have evolved and intermixed across Caribbean countries. From trickster tales featuring Anansi to the eerie stories of Lagahoo and La Jablesse / La Diablesse, Kesha explains how these ...

Discovering Curaçao's Food Culture with Sheedia

In this episode of The Moreish Podcast Hema and Sheedia chat about the vibrant and diverse food culture of Curaçao. Following up on all we learned in the history of Curaçao episode, we dive into the Caribbean island's culinary influences from African, Dutch, and Indigenous cultures, and how the proximity to Venezula has influenced what is eaten. Sheedia gets into dishes like ...

In this episode of The Moreish Podcast, Hema is joined by Sheedia Jansen, a Freedom Alchemist from Curaçao. Together they delve into the rich history and culture of the Caribbean island. Sheedia shares insights on Curaçao's colonial past, from its Indigenous Caquetio inhabitants to Spanish and Dutch rule, the TransAtlantic Slave Trade, and the influential contributions of the Afro-Caribbean, Dutch, and Jewish communities, and ...

Diving into the History of Carnival in the Caribbean with David Bremang

In this encore episode Hema revisits her chat with David Bremang about the rich and complex history of Carnival in the Caribbean. From the African origins, Carnival of the French colonized islands and Cedula population, and the rebellion that brought Carnival as we know it today, David shares the origins, cultural significance, and evolution of Carniva...