Babes, how did you get here

Pregnant, No English, New Country: How Jamaica Became Home for 18 Years | Best of

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:24:46 -0000

What happens when a Dominican lawyer trades courtrooms for Caribbean vibes, lands in Jamaica pregnant, speaking zero English, and builds a whole new life from scratch?

🇩🇴🇯🇲 In this heartwarming episode of 'Babes, How Did You Get Here?',

April sits down with Ysis — a Dominican Republic-born lawyer turned event planner who moved to Jamaica 18 years ago with her husband, a six-year-old son, and nothing but faith and Google searches about goats in the streets. From navigating language barriers and spicy patties to raising two boys with completely different cultural identities, Isis opens up about what it really takes to build a home in a country that wasn't yours — and why she wouldn't change a thing.

We talk about: 🌍 The moment her husband asked: "Do you want to move to Jamaica?" — and she said yes without ever visiting 🤰 Arriving pregnant, no English, just vibes and a dream 🗣️ Learning a new language while raising kids in a foreign school system 🍛 Dominican food vs Jamaican food: why curry lobster made her cry (and why patties are life) 👶 Raising two sons with totally different relationships to Jamaica — one feels 100% Jamaican, the other… not so much 💼 From lawyer to stay-at-home mom to thriving event planner in Kingston 🎉 Why her 51st birthday became the launchpad for her business 👯‍♀️ Building a chosen family across cultures: Haitian, Mexican, Chilean, French, Jamaican, and beyond 💔 The hardest moment: losing her father while living abroad and grieving from a distance 🏝️ Why Blue Lagoon is paradise and the south coast has her heart 🎄 Christmas Eve Dominican style vs. Jamaican Christmas — and why she'll never shop on December 24th 🎭 Dominican Carnival (covered faces & choreography) vs. Jamaica Carnival (bikinis, feathers & vibes)

✈️ Her two rules for anyone thinking about moving to Jamaica This isn't just an expat story. It's about choosing joy over perfection, surrounding yourself with the right people, and learning to embrace a new home without comparing it to the old one. It's about motherhood across borders, grief across oceans, and finding your people in the most unexpected places. Whether you've ever thought about moving abroad, struggled to fit in somewhere new, or just love a good story about resilience, reinvention, and rum — this episode will make you laugh, cry, and maybe even crave a beef patty. 💬 Tell us in the comments: Have you ever moved to a new country? What was the hardest part? And Team Tasty or Team Juicy? 👀 —

🎧 About the show – "Babes, How Did You Get Here?" Hosted by entrepreneur & former Miss Jamaica, April Jackson, this podcast dives into the real, unfiltered stories of people who left the script — swapping comfort for courage, and choosing a life "elsewhere." New episodes every week from around the world.

📌 Subscribe for more stories on: • Life abroad, expat realities & building home in foreign places • Motherhood, identity & raising third-culture kids • Language barriers, cultural shock & finding your people • Reinvention, resilience & trusting the journey • Food, friendship & what it means to truly belong 👍 If this episode moved you, like, comment and share it with someone who needs to hear that home isn't always where you're born — it's where you choose to bloom.

Chapters:

Chapters

00:00:00 From Dominican Republic to Jamaica: A Leap of Faith
00:01:08 First Impressions and Early Challenges
00:03:08 Language Barriers and Finding Community
00:06:06 Raising Children Across Two Cultures
00:07:21 Food Culture Shock: Spice and Flavor
00:12:09 From Lawyer to Events Planner
00:13:58 Building a Business and Social Circle
00:23:06 The Hardest Part: Distance from Family
00:26:24 Advice for Future Expats
00:28:47 Favorite Places and Cultural Traditions

#HowDidYouGetHere #AprilJackson #DominicanInJamaica #ExpatLife #JamaicaLiving #LifeAbroad #DominicanRepublic #CaribbeanLife #Motherhood #ThirdCultureKids #EventPlanner #KingstonJamaica #CulturalIdentity #Immigration #LatinasAbroad #RealStories #Podcast #Reinvention #FindingHome #ExpatMom #CaribbeanExpat #LanguageBarrier #GriefAbroad #ChoosingJoy

Gang Member, TV Chef, he Gives His Life to Jesus

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 00:15:06 -0000

What happens when an Irish boy grows up in England, lands in juvenile detention at 15 after a gang fight that turned deadly, spends a year in custody waiting for a trial that eventually gets thrown out, discovers purpose in a professional kitchen under the mentorship of Michelin star chef Aaron Patterson, learns resilience working for Marco Pierre White at Wheelers in London, climbs the culinary ladder from Hamilton Hall to the French Laundry in Napa Valley, survives the chaos of high pressure kitchens where plates get smashed and egos get bruised, witnesses cultural diversity become the backbone of his identity, experiences discrimination for being Irish in England, finds spiritual awakening and trades religion for relationship with God, navigates COVID lockdowns while trying to keep his South African restaurant afloat, moves to Montana for what he thought was a dream opportunity only to be sued for $1.6 million by a powerful lawyer with CIA connections, escapes to Philadelphia and then Florida while fighting legal battles across state lines, works on the Michelin Guide launch dinners in Florida only to be let go for not delivering an instant star, gets his name tarnished and his reputation questioned, and eventually returns to Cape Town where he finds home in the mountains, the winelands, the sea, and a community of resilient people who remind him of his own?

In this raw, deeply spiritual, and wildly honest episode, host April Jackson sits down with Chef Rikku—an Irish born, Michelin trained chef who has worked in some of the world's most celebrated kitchens, opened award winning restaurants across continents, and survived betrayal, lawsuits, and the brutal realities of hospitality in America—now living in Cape Town, South Africa, building a life rooted in gratitude, collaboration, and soul nourishing food.

From growing up Irish in England and being stereotyped because of his surname, to getting into a violent altercation at 15 with a local gang in Leicestershire that left someone dead and him in juvenile detention for a year, to being released when none of the testimonies added up, to discovering the kitchen as a place of purpose while washing dishes at an award winning restaurant in Brooklands, to being mentored by Aaron Patterson who taught him discipline and sent him to London to toughen up, to working for Marco Pierre White at Wheelers and learning resilience through militant precision and high stakes services, to the infamous soufflé disaster where Marco threw a dish against the wall and chaos erupted mid service, to realizing that kitchens were full of artists who didn't make it, ex convicts, and immigrants from all over the world who became his brothers, to experiencing discrimination as an Irish person in the UK where hotel bookings got canceled and assumptions were made, to moving through France, Italy, the US, and eventually landing in Cape Town in 2012 after meeting a South African surfer in Bali, to consulting for top restaurants and opening Riku Chef's Counter, to COVID hitting nine months after opening and having to refund two million rand in bookings, to pivoting with wine clubs and frozen pizzas to keep staff employed, to moving to Montana for what was advertised as a noma style concept but turned out to be a private chef gig for an egotistical owner, to being sued after leaving and having his partner experience racism in a red county.

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction: An Irish Chef's Journey to South Africa
00:03:38 Growing Up Irish in England: Early Years and Family
00:05:53 The Incident: Juvenile Detention at 15
00:15:50 Finding Purpose: Discovering the Kitchen
00:25:57 Climbing the Ladder: From Hamilton Hall to Marco Pierre White
00:30:35 The Soufflé Disaster: A Service to Remember
00:38:17 Cultural Diversity and Kitchen Brotherhood
00:45:25 The Irish Experience: Discrimination and Identity
00:55:51 Spiritual Awakening: From Religion to Relationship
01:09:29 Faith Tested: Navigating Challenges with Gratitude
01:29:59 COVID and the Move to America
01:34:49 Montana Nightmare: Lawsuits and Betrayal
01:40:53 Finding Hope in Philadelphia and Florida
01:58:05 The Michelin Guide: Politics, Integrity, and Evolution
02:15:58 The Future of Kitchens: Peace, Collaboration, and Soul Food
02:21:56 Life as a Postcard: Traveling, Healing, and Happiness

#HowDidYouGetHere #AprilJackson #ChefLife #MichelinStar #IrishChef #CapeTownLiving #SouthAfricaLiving #HospitalityIndustry #MarcoP ierreWhite #TheFrenchLaundry #JuvenileDetention #SpiritualAwakening #FaithJourney #RestaurantLife #CulinaryArts #ChefStories #LegalBattles #COVID19 #MontanaToCapeTown #MichelinGuide #KitchenCulture #SoulFood #Resilience #Gratitude #Entrepreneurship #TravelingChef #CulturalDiversity #IrishDiscrimination #FloridaLiving #PhiladelphiaLiving #Collaboration #NewWaveChefs

BEST OF: Jamaican Girl Goes BROKE in Dubai — Then THIS Happened…

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 17:02:04 -0000

What happens when a Jamaican beauty entrepreneur leaves behind a fully booked calendar, a thriving lash and microblading academy, and everything she's built—moving to Dubai with $700, no clients, and nobody who knows her name, taking a nine to five job for the first time since college, sleeping through jet lag after years of hustle, navigating the bruised ego of being unknown in a city where she once had authority, setting high standards for relationships while refusing to settle, discovering that chivalry hits different in different cultures, teaching herself that failure isn't an option because she sold everything at a yard sale, and realizing that sometimes you have to start from scratch to build something even bigger?

In this raw, vulnerable, and deeply inspiring episode, host April Jackson sits down with Shafawa Hilton—a Jamaican beauty therapist, lash artist, and founder of the Lash Accessibility Academy who left Jamaica in October with a dream bigger than her island could hold, landed in Dubai without ever visiting, and is now rebuilding her empire one conversation, one client, and one nine to five shift at a time.

From growing up sheltered in a home school church routine, to being bullied at church for her teeth, to starting her beauty business in college charging students $300 JMD for eyebrows, to becoming known as the eyebrow girl on the UTech campus, to learning makeup from YouTube University, to going on a work and travel program to the US in 2017, to taking a one day lash course and a two day microblading course in Florida, to spending 10 hours on her first client, to coming back to Jamaica and doing lashes and makeup on campus for graduating students, to being approached at an expo by the owner of a top makeup school who asked if she'd ever considered teaching, to launching her academy in 2020 during COVID with five students despite everyone telling her not to, to being the first person in Jamaica to offer a seven day course with internship instead of the typical one or two day programs, to realizing her premium pricing made her inaccessible to most Jamaicans but refusing to drop her rates because she knew her value, to always feeling like she didn't quite belong in Jamaica after being trained in the States, to watching her clients in America book refills in advance while Jamaican clients struggled with the culture of maintenance, to setting a goal to save one million Jamaican dollars before leaving and getting to eight hundred grand, to having a yard sale and selling everything she owned, to boarding her first ever flight to Dubai, to realizing $700 doesn't go as far as she thought, to taking a hospitality job for stability and visa sponsorship, to experiencing the ego check of being completely unknown after being fully booked back home, to starting to lose her spark in the first two months, to going back to Jamaica in December and realizing how valuable her clients made her feel, to choosing Dubai over the US or UK because she can't do snow and her aunt already lives here, to running ads to try to get students and clients before leaving, to juggling expenses in Jamaica while trying to save for a new country, to dreaming of bringing Jamaican students abroad for exposure, to falling deeper in love with Jamaica after leaving but being okay with staying away because the earning capacity just isn't there, to refusing to let go of her roots and finding ways to squeeze her accent into conversations, to wanting children and a family but not being rigid about timelines because she's learned to be realistic.

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction: A Jamaican Beauty Entrepreneur's Journey to Dubai
00:01:05 Sheltered Beginnings: Home, School, and Church
00:01:54 From Doctor Dreams to Beauty: Finding Her Calling
00:04:37 Work and Travel: The American Experience
00:05:29 Building the Business: From Campus to Clients
00:06:06 The Teaching Revelation: Becoming an Educator
00:07:08 COVID Launch: Starting the Academy Against All Odds
00:08:06 The Premium Problem: Quality vs Affordability in Jamaica
00:09:20 The Itch to Leave: Feeling Out of Place
00:10:57 The $800,000 Goal: Preparing for the Move
00:10:22 Two Months In: Losing the Spark
00:12:55 Jamaica vs Abroad: Earning Capacity and Dreams
00:14:10 Identity and Roots: Staying Jamaican From Afar
00:18:21 The Sheltered Child: How Protection Created Fearlessness
00:19:46 Parental Support: The Foundation of Success
00:21:08 No Plan B: The Yard Sale That Made It Real
00:21:55 The Corporate Experiment: Trading Entrepreneurship for Stability
00:24:32 Misconceptions: The Reality Behind the Dubai Dream
00:26:19 The Postcard: Just Do It

#HowDidYouGetHere #AprilJackson #DubaiLiving #JamaicanInDubai #BeautyEntrepreneur #LashArtist #Microblading #LashAcademy #ExpatLife #StartingOver #Reinvention #CourageOverComfort #NoPlanB #EgoCheck #LivingAbroad #JamaicaToDubai #BeautyIndustry #Entrepreneurship #CaribbeanInDubai #BuildingDreams #BeautyEducation #YouTubeUniversity #WorkAndTravel #PremiumPricing #KnowYourValue #FearlessWomen #JustDoIt

She Chose Jamaica Over Her Birthplace (Here's Why)

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 17:23:28 -0000

What happens when a diplomat's wife lands in Jamaica with a toddler, three towels, and no plan—discovers she can't find a single pastry she likes, teaches herself French patisserie in three condensed weeks in Montreal, starts a catering business out of sheer boredom, gets approached by the owner of Café Blue to transform Jamaican cocoa into world class chocolate, spends three years learning to identify perfectly fermented beans, launches her first product with blue mountain coffee beans covered in dark chocolate, accidentally creates her signature colorful splash design when chocolate drips on a mold, names her brand Likkle More after her favorite Jamaican expression despite being from Ivory Coast, commutes between Haiti and Jamaica every two weeks for five years to keep her business alive, builds a factory with a team she trained from scratch, exports her bean to bar chocolate globally while attending international trade shows, realizes she feels more at home in laid back Jamaica than in the intensity of Abidjan, and admits that driving in Ivory Coast is infinitely more stressful than anything Kingston traffic could throw at her?

In this warm, surprising, and deeply inspiring episode, host April Jackson sits down with Nudin—a trained dietitian turned French pastry chef turned award winning chocolatier, founder of Likkle More Chocolate, a bean to bar chocolate brand that captures the vibrant spirit of Jamaica through bold flavors, striking hand painted designs, and the finest locally sourced cocoa—who moved to Kingston in 2010 as a diplomatic spouse, fell in love with the island's relaxed pace and friendly people, and built a thriving artisan chocolate company that represents Jamaica on the global stage with sophistication, authenticity, and a little bit of European flair.

From landing at night in downtown Kingston with her husband and baby son only to discover their rental apartment had no towels or bedding, to taking taxis everywhere for three months and learning every shortcut in the city, to enrolling her son in an American school system when she expected French education, to baking out of boredom because she couldn't find quality pastries in local coffee shops, to convincing a pastry instructor in Montreal to condense a six week course into three weeks so she wouldn't be away from her toddler, to launching a catering business that spread purely by word of mouth, to meeting the owner of Café Blue who asked if she'd ever considered working with Jamaican cocoa, to spending a year researching before saying yes, to learning how to identify well fermented beans and roast them to perfection, to creating the first product—blue mountain coffee beans covered in dark chocolate—to accidentally inventing the signature colorful splash when chocolate dripped onto a bar mold and she thought it looked too cool to waste, to choosing the name Likkle More because it was her favorite Jamaican expression and she wanted to make patois elegant, to being told by a branding company to change the name and refusing, to moving to Haiti for five years and commuting back to Jamaica every two to three weeks to keep the business running, to training a team so well that she can now develop new products remotely, to attending global trade shows through the International Trade Centre and securing export deals, to dreaming of opening a physical store one day, to realizing her son feels more Jamaican than anything else and wants to return after university, to admitting that her Belgian husband likes Jamaica but doesn't love it the way she does, to comparing traffic in Abidjan to Kingston.

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction: From Ivory Coast to Jamaica via Diplomacy
00:02:09 First Impressions: Landing in Kingston with No Plan
00:03:46 Settling In: School, Shortcuts, and Finding Home
00:07:04 Baking Out of Boredom: The Birth of a Passion
00:10:14 From Home Baker to Catering Business
00:11:25 The Chocolate Opportunity: Meeting Café Blue
00:12:48 Learning the Craft: From Bean to Bar
00:14:03 The First Product: Blue Mountain Coffee Beans Covered in Chocolate
00:16:29 Creating Likkle More: A Brand Born from Patois
00:20:18 The Signature Splash: An Accidental Innovation
00:22:38 Balancing Two Countries: The Haiti Years
00:24:09 Growing the Business: Export, ITC, and Global Shows
00:25:04 The Dream: A Physical Store and Global Reach
00:26:46 Jamaica vs Ivory Coast: Traffic, Food, and Finding Home
00:32:19 Quick Fire Round: Tasty Patty, Sorrel, and No Rum

#HowDidYouGetHere #AprilJackson #JamaicaLiving #IvoryCoast #BeanToBarChocolate #LikkleMore #ChocolateMaker #CaféBlue #BlueMountainCoffee #JamaicaCocoa #FrenchPastry #Entrepreneurship #DiplomaticLife #ExpatLife #ChocolateBusiness #ArtisanChocolate #CaribbeanBusiness #FoodEntrepreneur #WomenInBusiness #JamaicanPatois #InternationalTrade #HaitiToJamaica #ChocolateFactory #CulturalFusion #AfricanInJamaica #StartingOver #PassionToBusiness #GlobalExport

She Became Miss PLANET. But First, They BROKE Her. | Sydney's Unfiltered Story.

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 07:06:05 -0000

Nobody talks about what really happens backstage at beauty pageants. The harsh words. The brutal judges. The tears nobody films. Today, Sydney opens up about the constant humiliation, the lack of confidence, and the moment everything changed. She didn't just survive the industry — she became Miss Planet. This is the episode we filmed before she won. Watch it differently.

Babes, How Did You Get Here? | From Four-Year-Old Model to Miss Planet International Cambodia: A Half-Cambodian American's Journey Through Contracts, Mental Health, Typhoid Fever, and Finding Her Voice on the Global Stage

What happens when a half-Cambodian American girl starts modeling at age four, takes her first international contract to Thailand at sixteen with her dad by her side, spends nine months working seven days a week across Malaysia and Indonesia while battling body pressures and mental health struggles, gets hospitalized with typhoid fever in Jakarta and realizes she's happier sleeping in a hospital than working another catalog shoot, flies home to reconnect with family and find balance, falls in love long distance with someone she met in Indonesia, decides to represent Cambodia in pageantry instead of America because she wanted to embrace a culture with strong values, competes in Miss Supranational Cambodia for three months while living out of one suitcase and moving apartments three times, places runner up but gets offered Miss Planet International Cambodia, discovers that speaking and advocacy give her the voice modeling never could, navigates the reality that social media looks perfect but homesickness and isolation are real, and realizes that success isn't about luxury but about freedom to see the people she loves whenever she wants?

In this deeply vulnerable, raw, and inspiring episode, host April Jackson sits down with Sydney—an international model, current university student studying marketing, and newly crowned Miss Planet International Cambodia who has spent the last few years living between Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Cambodia, building a career in an industry that demanded she shrink herself, and finding her voice in a pageant world that finally let her speak.

From starting to model at age four in a healthy, supportive way, to taking her first three month contract to Thailand at sixteen with her dad accompanying her the entire time, to doing online university classes while working as a lifeguard and cheerleader, to visiting Cambodia for the first time at fourteen and being terrified it would be holes in the ground for toilets, to moving to Malaysia at eighteen and working consistently in modest wear and hijab shoots, to living in model apartments with girls from Russia, Brazil, and Argentina, to extending her contract because she couldn't find the next one, to moving to Jakarta and working seven days a week on boring catalog shoots while struggling with body image and bingeing at night on crackers, cheese, chocolate, and wine, to getting typhoid fever and being hospitalized for four days and telling her mom she was happy to finally sleep, to going home after nine months abroad and her mom noticing she'd never been that anxious, to teaching Pilates and working front desk jobs while planning her next move, to meeting her boyfriend in Indonesia and navigating long distance with strong communication and respect, to being told by everyone in Indonesia to join a pageant.

00:00:00 Introduction: An International Model's Journey to Cambodia
00:00:30 The Pageant Opportunity: Being Open to New Paths
00:01:20 Starting Young: Modeling from Age Four
00:09:15 First Time in Southeast Asia: Cambodia at 14
00:11:50 Cambodian Heritage: Growing Up Half-Cambodian in America
00:13:39 Contract Modeling: Malaysia and the Reality of the Industry
00:20:32 The Dark Side: Body Pressures and Mental Health Struggles
00:29:14 Breaking Point: Typhoid Fever and Hospitalization in Jakarta
00:33:25 Going Home: Reconnecting with Family and Finding Balance
00:42:12 Long Distance Love: Navigating Relationships Across Countries
00:46:55 The Pageant Decision: Why Cambodia Over America
00:52:36 Miss Supranational Cambodia: Three Months of Competition
00:57:33 Finding Her Voice: The Power of Speaking and Advocacy
00:59:40 Miss Planet International: Representing Cambodia on the Global Stage
01:10:12 Social Media Reality: The Pressure Behind the Perfect Posts
01:04:21 Future Dreams: Creative Strategy and Giving Back to Cambodia
01:08:48 The Spirit of Cambodia: Love, Resilience, and Connection

#HowDidYouGetHere #AprilJackson #CambodiaLiving #ModelingContracts #PageantLife #MissPlanetInternational #MissSupranationalCambodia #CulturalIdentity #MentalHealthInModeling #BodyImage #TyphoidFever #LongDistanceLove #SoutheastAsia #ThailandLiving #MalaysiaLiving #IndonesiaLiving #ModelLife #PageantQueen #CambodianHeritage #ExpatLife #SocialMediaReality #CreativeStrategy #GivingBack #Resilience #FindingYourVoice

$700 in My Name & a Prayer: Why I Left Everything in Jamaica for Dubai

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:06:04 -0000

Babes, How Did You Get Here? | From Jamaica to Dubai: A Beauty Entrepreneur's Leap Into the Unknown – Starting Over, Ego Checks & Building Dreams in a New City

What happens when a Jamaican beauty entrepreneur leaves behind a fully booked calendar, a thriving lash and microblading academy, and everything she's built to move to Dubai with $700, no clients, and nobody who knows her name—taking a nine to five job for the first time since college, sleeping through jet lag after years of hustle, navigating the bruised ego of being unknown in a city where she once had authority, experiencing the heartbreak of miscarriage and moving forward, setting high standards for relationships while refusing to settle, discovering that chivalry hits different in different cultures, teaching herself that failure isn't an option because she sold everything at a yard sale, and realizing that sometimes you have to start from scratch to build something even bigger?

From growing up sheltered in a home school church routine, to starting her beauty business in college charging students $300 JMD for eyebrows, to learning lashes and microblading on a work and travel program in the US, to becoming one of Jamaica's premium priced lash artists, to hearing a prophecy that confirmed her international calling, to boarding her first ever flight to Dubai, to realizing that $700 doesn't go as far as you think, to taking a hospitality job for stability and visa sponsorship, to experiencing the ego check of being completely unknown, to navigating a miscarriage four years ago and carrying the dream of motherhood, to setting standards for a partner who wants to be a father and a husband, to observing that men hug differently here, to discovering that Dubai isn't as cheap as Instagram makes it look, to refusing to have a Plan B because she already sold everything—Shafawa's story is one of courage, reinvention, and choosing growth over comfort every single time.

00:00 Introduction: A Jamaican Beauty Entrepreneur's Leap to Dubai
00:31 The Prophecy: Divine Confirmation to Leave Jamaica
01:43 The Journey: From Jamaica to Dubai via the States
05:40 The Dream: Building a Lash Empire and Bringing Value
07:19 A Taste of Motherhood: Miscarriage and Moving Forward
14:49 Relationships and Standards: Learning from Past Love
15:40 Men and Women as Friends: Setting Boundaries
34:10 Starting from Scratch: The Reality of Rebuilding in Dubai
38:34 The Business of Beauty: Education Over Quick Money
49:42 Childhood Roots: Sheltered Life and Finding Her Voice
1:02:35 Cultural Observations: Men, Masculinity, and Affection
1:04:26 Just Do It: Living Life as a Postcard

#HowDidYouGetHere #AprilJackson #DubaiLiving #JamaicanInDubai #BeautyEntrepreneur #LashArtist #Microblading #LashAcademy #ExpatLife #StartingOver #Reinvention #CourageOverComfort #NoPlanB #EgoCheck #LivingAbroad #JamaicaToDubai #BeautyIndustry #Entrepreneurship #CaribbeanInDubai #BuildingDreams #MiscarriageAwareness #Motherhood #HealthyLashes #BeautyEducation #ChristianEntrepreneur #PropheticWord #FearlessWomen

From Booked & Blessed in Jamaica to Sleeping & Starting Fresh in Dubai

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 17:05:39 -0000

Babes, How Did You Get Here? | From Jamaica to Dubai: A Beauty Entrepreneur's Leap Into the Unknown – Starting Over, Ego Checks & Building Dreams in a New City

From growing up sheltered in a home school church routine, to starting her beauty business in college charging students $300 JMD for eyebrows, to learning lashes and microblading on a work and travel program in the US, to becoming one of Jamaica's premium priced lash artists, to hearing a prophecy that confirmed her international calling, to boarding her first ever flight to Dubai, to realizing that $700 doesn't go as far as you think, to taking a hospitality job for stability and visa sponsorship, to experiencing the ego check of being completely unknown, to navigating a miscarriage four years ago and carrying the dream of motherhood, to setting standards for a partner who wants to be a father and a husband, to observing that men hug differently here, to discovering that Phuket isn't Benidorm and Dubai isn't as cheap as Instagram makes it look, to refusing to have a Plan B because she already sold everything—Shafawa's story is one of courage, reinvention, and choosing growth over comfort every single time.

In this episode, we discuss:
The Decision to Leave: Why Dubai over the US or UK, choosing hot weather over snow, having an aunt already here, and knowing that Jamaica felt too small for her dreams.
Landing in Dubai with $700: Arriving in a city she'd never visited, realizing the reality of starting over, and knowing that God didn't bring her here just because it's shiny.
Growing Up Sheltered: Home school church life, being told to be quiet, and how that shaped her fearless character today.
Starting a Beauty Business in College: Charging students $300 JMD for eyebrows at UTech, learning makeup from YouTube University, and becoming known as the eyebrow girl on campus.
Work and Travel Program: Going to the US in 2017, taking lash and microblading courses, spending 10 hours on her first client, and using the money to pay school fees and invest in her business.
Building the Lash Accessibility Academy: Starting with five students during COVID, expanding from five days to seven days with internship, being the first in Jamaica to offer that level of training, and realizing that people couldn't afford premium but she wasn't dropping her prices.
Knowing Your Worth: Charging premium prices in Jamaica, educating clients on healthy lash practices, and realizing that once you know your value you start to feel the itch to leave.
Taking a Nine to Five Job: Getting offered a hospitality job through a friend, praying about it and getting confirmation, realizing it's full circle because hospitality funded her beauty business the first time, and embracing the learning curve.

Timestamps:
00:00:00 Introduction: A Jamaican Beauty Entrepreneur's Leap to Dubai
00:00:40 The Decision to Leave: Why Dubai Over Traditional Routes
00:03:18 Growing Up Sheltered: Home, School, and Church
00:04:24 From Eyebrows to Empire: Starting a Beauty Business in College
00:06:50 Work and Travel Program: The Foundation for Growth
00:08:40 Building the Lash Accessibility Academy: Teaching with Value
00:11:35 Knowing Your Worth: When Jamaica Feels Too Small
00:20:59 Starting From Scratch: Taking a Nine to Five Job
00:30:26 Prophecy & Faith

Two White Girls Moved to Jamaica at 8 & 9: Identity, Belonging & What 'Jamaican' Really Means

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 20:29:13 -0000

Babes, How Did You Get Here? | Two Canadian Sisters Who Call Jamaica Home: Growing Up Between Cultures, Identity Crisis, and Finding Belonging in the Arts

What happens when two Canadian sisters, aged eight and nine, move to Jamaica without a choice, spend their formative years navigating the zoo effect at Mona Prep, grappling with cultural identity, building careers in theatre and horseback riding, and discovering that home isn't where you're born but where you choose to grow—even when you're not sure you're allowed to claim it?

In this raw, hilarious, and deeply vulnerable episode, host April Jackson sits down with Alexandra and Scarlett—two teenagers who moved from Montreal to Jamaica in December 2015 and have spent the last decade figuring out what it means to belong. From being flocked by curious classmates on their first day at Mona Prep, to hand learning Jamaican social studies for quiz competitions, to battling the question "am I allowed to call myself Jamaican?", to navigating race and privilege as white foreigners in a predominantly Black country, to building a life in theatre and music, to training horses six times a week, to missing dumplings and real maple syrup, to discovering that Jamaica has given them the gift of culture they never would have had in Canada—this is a story of resilience, reinvention, and choosing authenticity over expectation.

In this episode, we discuss:
The Move: Arriving in Jamaica in December 2015, starting at Mona Prep, and experiencing the "zoo effect" as the first white kids many classmates had seen.
Cultural Adjustment: Learning Jamaican social studies, Patwa proverbs, and current affairs through junior quiz competitions, and discovering that standardized testing became second nature.
Identity Crisis: Wrestling with the question "am I allowed to call myself Jamaican?" when you're not Black, don't have a passport, and can't vote—but Jamaica is home.
Race and Privilege: Being hyper aware of standing out, navigating street harassment, and realizing that being white and foreign comes with both privilege and scrutiny.
Building a Life in the Arts: Teaching piano privately, stage managing productions, working in New York as a music director, and putting on Jamaica's first live musical theatre camp with no backing tracks.
Horseback Riding Dreams: Training up to six times a week, competing abroad under the Jamaican flag, and planning to become an equine vet to fill a gap in Jamaica's veterinary infrastructure.
The Reality of Growing Up Between Two Worlds: Missing dumplings and maple syrup, being asked if Jamaica has schools, and discovering that people abroad think Jamaica is in Africa.
Future Plans: Heading to university in Ontario to study music education, pursuing veterinary school, and grappling with whether to come back to Jamaica or stay abroad.
Quick Fire Round: Choosing juicy patties over tastee (or no patties at all because of a traumatic maggot incident), curry goat over oxtail, sorrel over eggnog, and rum over Red Stripe.

00:00:00 Introduction: Two Canadian Sisters Who Call Jamaica Home
00:02:18 The Move: December 2015 and First Impressions
00:08:40 Starting School at Mona Prep: The Zoo Effect
00:13:54 Cultural Identity Crisis: Am I Allowed to Call Myself Jamaican?
00:15:56 Navigating Race and Privilege in Jamaica
00:20:30 Building a Life in the Arts: Theatre and Music
00:17:55 Horseback Riding Dreams: Scarlett's Passion
00:28:57 The Reality of Growing Up Between Two Worlds
00:31:21 Future Plans: University, Veterinary Dreams, and Coming Back
00:36:38 Quick Fire Round: Patties, Rum, and Jamaican Vibes

#HowDidYouGetHere #AprilJackson #JamaicaLiving #CanadianInJamaica #ThirdCultureKids #CulturalIdentity #MonaPrep #TheatreLife #HorsebackRiding #MusicEducation #ExpatLife #GrowingUpAbroad #RaceAndPrivilege #JamaicanCulture #LivingBetweenWorlds #Reinvention #CourageOverComfort #FindingBelonging #CaribbeanLife #MulticulturalIdentity

From Jamaica to Dubai: A Pastry Chef's Journey of Sacrifice, Motherhood & Finding Her Mark

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 00:45:06 -0000

Babes, How Did You Get Here? | Shauna Silvera: From Jamaica to Dubai – A Pastry Chef's Journey of Motherhood, Sacrifice & Building a Life Across Borders

What happens when a Jamaican pastry chef gets offered an opportunity in Dubai, turns down a promotion at home, leaves her three year old son with her village, boards her first ever flight, and spends the next nine years building a career in recipe development, navigating hospitality's brutal hours, managing motherhood through FaceTime and time zones, and discovering that home is wherever you choose to build it—even when your heart is split between two worlds?

In this raw, deeply emotional, and profoundly honest episode, host April Jackson sits down with Shauna Silvera—a Jamaican born pastry chef and recipe developer who left everything she knew in 2017 to chase opportunity in Dubai, trading a promotion at Moon Palace Jamaica for a plane ticket to a city she'd never visited, a career she was still building, and a son she wouldn't see for months at a time.

From growing up in St. Mary and St. Ann surrounded by pastry, learning from her church mom who took her through every parish delivering wedding cakes, to studying at HEART College of Hospitality Services, to working at Jules and Moon Palace, to landing in Dubai at night and seeing the lights for the first time, to spending four months without a job, to working in fine dining beside the Dubai Opera, to transitioning into recipe development for a catering company, to navigating the guilt of missing her son's childhood, to planning for the day they'll finally reunite, to turning down custom cake business because she refuses to be stationary, to representing Jamaica everywhere she goes, to discovering that tolerance is survival in a city of a thousand nationalities—Shauna's story is one of courage, sacrifice, and choosing growth over comfort every single time.

In this episode, we discuss:
The Decision to Leave: Trading Promotion for Opportunity – Turning down a promotion at Moon Palace to move to Dubai, consulting her sacred space people, and boarding her first ever flight.
First Impressions: Landing in Dubai at Night – Arriving in Frankfurt for a nine hour layover, landing in Dubai, seeing the lights, and thinking "look at me, little Kingston girl."
Life Before Dubai: Pastry Roots in Jamaica – Growing up surrounded by food, learning from her church mom, delivering wedding cakes across every parish, and studying at HEART College.
The Hardest Decision: Leaving Her Three Year Old Son – Hosting his birthday party before leaving, saying no at first, and finally deciding to jump.
Motherhood Across Borders: FaceTime and Time Zones – Managing the nine hour time difference, crying in the bathroom at work, and living for video calls.
Finding Community: Jamaicans in Dubai – Connecting with other culinary professionals, discovering the Caribbean community, and why Jamaicans are respected and loved in Dubai.
Working in Dubai's Hospitality Scene – From fine dining beside the Dubai Opera to cafes to central kitchens, and why every phase taught her something different.
The Reality of Hospitality: A Message to Customers – Why kindness matters, why grace is everything, and why your waiter might be going through something you don't see.
Career Evolution: From Baker to Recipe Developer – Moving from baking to recipe development, creating for multiple brands, and why she's still in the learning phase.
The Entrepreneurship Dilemma: Custom Cakes vs. Freedom – Knowing exactly what she wanted a year ago, pulling back because she doesn't want to be stationary, and waiting for the right time.

Timestamps:
00:00:00 Introduction: A Jamaican Pastry Chef's Journey to Dubai
00:01:18 The Decision to Leave: Trading Promotion for Opportunity
00:02:52 First Impressions: Landing in Dubai at Night
00:05:10 Life Before Dubai: Pastry Roots in Jamaica
00:09:32 The Hardest Decision: Leaving Her Three Year Old Son
00:12:44 Motherhood Across Borders: FaceTime and Time Zones
00:26:10 Finding Community: Jamaicans in Dubai
00:29:05 Working in Dubai's Hospitality Scene
00:31:48 Career Evolution: From Baker to Recipe Developer
00:33:42 The Entrepreneurship Dilemma: Custom Cakes vs. Freedom
00:44:44 The Reality of Hospitality: A Message to Customers
00:59:55 The Question of Home: Could She Have Stayed in Jamaica?
01:03:56 Dubai Then and Now: Nine Years of Change
01:09:54 Advice for Aspiring Expats: Jump or Plan?
01:19:49 Dating in Dubai: The Cultural Challenge
01:22:17 The Future: Reuniting with Her Son
01:24:23 Life as a Postcard: Half Black, Half Colour

#HowDidYouGetHere #AprilJackson #DubaiLiving #JamaicanInDubai #PastryChef #RecipeDeveloper #MotherhoodAcrossBorders #ExpatLife #HospitalityIndustry #CaribbeanInDubai #LivingAbroad #Reinvention #CourageOverComfort #FaceTimeMotherhood #WorkLifeBalance #DubaiExpat #JamaicanCulture #IslandIndustry #CulinaryJourney #SacrificeAndSuccess

Digital Nomad Reality Check: Lies, Loneliness, Car Crashes & the Truth About 'Living the Dream'

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 03:45:06 -0000

Babes, How Did You Get Here? | Janelle Brown: From UK to Thailand – A Two-Week Holiday That Turned Into Seven Months in Phuket

What happens when a British content creator books a two-week Christmas holiday to Thailand, finds an apartment five days after landing, and decides she's not going back—building a digital nomad life as a social media coach, navigating car crashes, client losses, dating disasters, and the reality that Phuket is definitely not as cheap as Instagram makes it look?

In this raw, hilarious, and deeply honest episode, host April Jackson sits down with Janelle Brown—a British digital nomad, content creator, and social media marketing coach who left the UK for Thailand on Christmas Day and somehow never left. From breaking up with her boyfriend in November and reclaiming her freedom, to landing in Phuket with zero plans and finding an apartment in five days, to quitting her corporate job in 2019 and moving to Ibiza (where the beach clubs took over), to lying on her CV to get into marketing, to having 15 jobs before turning 23, to losing one of her biggest clients last month, to surviving a car crash on Thursday and breaking down on the side of the road, to navigating the language barrier with Google Translate, to refusing to use dating apps because people can literally make up their whole identity, to discovering that Phuket is not Benidorm but it's definitely not cheap either—Janelle's story is one of risk-taking, reinvention, and choosing freedom over safety every single time.

In this episode, we discuss:
The Two-Week Holiday That Never Ended: Landing in Phuket on Christmas Day 2023, finding an apartment in five days, and telling friends back home she's not coming back.
The Breakup That Changed Everything: Ending a two-year relationship in November, realizing she had no ties, and choosing Thailand over starting over in the UK.
From Ibiza to Thailand: Quitting her corporate job in 2019, moving to Ibiza to build a business, partying instead of working, coming home with zero money and zero clients, and learning the hard way.
15 Jobs Before 23: Working as a waitress, teaching assistant, events manager, PA, doing door-to-door sales for two days, and being called a jack of all trades her entire life.
Lying on Her CV: How she got into social media marketing by pretending she had experience, getting full training from her employer, and building a business from there.
Life as a Digital Nomad: Running a social media marketing business from Thailand, coaching other entrepreneurs, and why success is speed.
The Car Crash: Having a car accident on Thursday, the front of the car coming off, breaking down on the side of the road, and wanting her mum but having to deal with it alone.
Losing a Major Client: Having one of her biggest clients end their contract last month, the financial panic, and the reality that nobody's coming to save you.
The Reality of Phuket: Why Phuket is not as cheap as people think, why a dress cost 40 pounds when Bangkok sells similar for 11, and why gentrification is happening here too.
Dating in Thailand: Why she doesn't use dating apps, why holiday romances don't work, and why it's terrifying that people can make up their whole identity in a foreign country.
The Language Barrier: Learning basic Thai, relying on Google Translate, and why living here is actually harder than living in the UK.

📚 For more details on parenting course:
https://april-s-site-fcfd.thinkific.com

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction: From Two-Week Holiday to Seven Months in Phuket
00:47 The First Trip: Following Intuition to Thailand
02:45 Christmas Day Arrival and Finding Home in Five Days
03:20 The Breakup That Changed Everything
05:11 Building an Online Business: From Ibiza Failure to Thailand Success
02:19 The Thai People and Building Community
09:16 When Reality Hits: Car Crashes and Losing Clients
10:26 Driving in Thailand: Freedom and Fear
12:36 What Surprised Me About Living in Phuket
14:34 Why Phuket Over Other Parts of Thailand
15:41 Friendships Across the World and Staying Connected
17:30 The Reality of Digital Nomad Life: Isolation and Pressure
19:39 Turning 30 and Redefining Success
20:20 Jack of All Trades: Embracing Multiple Passions
23:47 The Future: Staying Open to Change
25:09 Dating Abroad: The Challenges of Finding Love in Transit
26:37 Reinventing Identity: Becoming a Content Creator
28:22 Misconceptions: Phuket Isn't That Cheap
30:59 Respect and Tourism: Navigating Cultural Sensitivity
34:41 Advice for Aspiring Expats: Build Before You Leap
36:33 Life as a Postcard: Beach, Sunset, and Freedom

#HowDidYouGetHere #AprilJackson #ThailandLiving #PhuketLife #DigitalNomad #ContentCreator #SocialMediaMarketing #ExpatLife #UKToPhuket #OnlineBusiness #Reinvention #CourageOverComfort #TravelingAlone #LivingAbroad #SoloFemaleTravel #ThailandExpat #BeachLife #SoutheastAsia #EntrepreneurLife

18, She Chose Rural Cambodia Over College & Never Looked Back

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 03:30:06 -0000

Babes, How Did You Get Here? | Why I Chose Cambodia Over College: A Story of Language, Loneliness & Learning to Belong What happens when an 18-year-old from Colorado takes a one-month volunteer trip to rural Cambodia, falls in love with the golden rice fields and slower pace of life, and decides to skip college entirely—spending the next six years hand-washing clothes, learning Khmer from children, sleeping through 4 AM ceremonies, battling crippling social anxiety, running a women's book club, teaching middle schoolers, and building a life in a country where she'll always stand out but finally feels like she belongs? In this raw, deeply vulnerable, and inspiring episode, host April Jackson sits down with a young American woman who traded the traditional college path for rural Cambodia at 18—and never looked back. From volunteering in a children's home in a rural province, to returning home just long enough to tell her parents she wasn't coming back, to battling severe social anxiety so intense she couldn't buy bottled water for years, to learning to read, write, and speak Khmer fluently by asking kids endless questions, to accidentally starting a 40-person women's book club after her co-founder moved away, to navigating the backpacker teacher stigma, to discovering that life in Cambodia is far less dramatic than the books she loves—this is a story of courage, reinvention, and choosing authenticity over expectation. In this episode, we discuss: Introduction: A Unique Journey to Cambodia – How a gap year volunteer trip turned into six years and counting in Southeast Asia. First Impressions: Arriving in Rural Cambodia – Golden hour light over rice fields, 4 AM ceremonies, and falling in love with a place she barely knew. Returning Home and Planning the Big Move – Telling her parents she wanted to move back to Cambodia to keep volunteering, saving for a year, and arriving in February 2020. Social Anxiety and Cultural Adjustment – Being too scared to talk to adults, asking kids to buy things for her, and realizing the "confident version" of herself was just a two-year phase. Rural Life: Hand-Washing Clothes and Farm Work – Never quite mastering hand-washing, harvesting cashews and cassava, taking care of cows, and learning what rural Cambodian life actually looks like. Family Dynamics and Cultural Differences – Why Cambodian middle schoolers say their parents are the most important people in their lives, and how family loyalty is woven into daily life. Managing Distance from Home – Staying close to her family from 6,000 miles away, visiting once a year, and why her brother also left their home state. The College Path Not Taken – Wanting to prove she could succeed without a degree, avoiding student debt, and why she's still working toward a sociology degree online. Transitioning from Volunteer to Teacher – Realizing she had no idea how to teach English just because she spoke it, getting certifications, and discovering she loves teaching 7th graders but not preschoolers. Moving to the City: Phnom Penh Life – Leaving rural Cambodia for modern conveniences, grocery stores, and malls—but missing the nature and slower pace. Finding Work as an English Teacher – How being a white native English speaker made finding a job easy, navigating the "backpacker teacher" stigma, and why she's grown to love teaching middle school. Food Adventures: From Balut to Cambodian Cuisine – Trying snake, balut (fertilized duck egg), and discovering her love for sour soups, lemongrass stir fry, and amok. Learning Khmer: The Language Journey – Learning to read, write, and speak Khmer by asking kids endless questions, memorizing the alphabet in the US. 📚 For more details on parenting course: https://april-s-site-fcfd.thinkific.com 00:00:00 Introduction: A Unique Journey to Cambodia 00:06:15 First Impressions: Arriving in Rural Cambodia 00:07:24 Returning Home and Planning the Big Move 00:10:07 Social Anxiety and Cultural Adjustment 00:17:04 Rural Life: Hand-Washing Clothes and Farm Work 00:18:58 Family Dynamics and Cultural Differences 00:21:04 Managing Distance from Home 00:23:30 The College Path Not Taken 00:26:52 Transitioning from Volunteer to Teacher 00:32:47 Food Adventures: From Balut to Cambodian Cuisine 00:38:02 Moving to the City: Phnom Penh Life 00:43:03 Finding Work as an English Teacher 00:50:35 Learning Khmer: The Language Journey 00:59:50 Starting a Book Club and Finding Community 01:06:42 Understanding Cambodia's History and Resilience 01:08:16 Weddings, Ceremonies, and Cambodian Celebrations 01:10:02 Final Thoughts: A Postcard from Cambodia #HowDidYouGetHere #AprilJackson #CambodiaLiving #PhnomPenh #RuralCambodia #GapYear #VolunteerWork #LearningKhmer #SocialAnxiety #BookClub #ExpatLife #TeachingEnglish #KhmerLanguage #CambodianCulture #SkippingCollege #LivingAbroad #Reinvention #CourageOverComfort #FindingCommunity #SoutheastAsia #CulturalImmer

What it is like to be a Jamaican in South Africa

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 01:15:06 -0000

Babes, How Did You Get Here? | Marlon Cotterell: From Jamaican Model to South African Reggae Frontman – Fashion Week, Prison, and Finding Home in Cape Town What happens when a Jamaican model flies to South Africa for a week-long fashion show, decides to stay three months, and ends up living there for 15 years—building a career as the frontman of South Africa's biggest reggae band, spending a week in maximum security prison over a fake work permit, raising a multicultural daughter, and never once looking back? In this raw, hilarious, and deeply honest episode, host April Jackson sits down with Marlon Cotterell—a Jamaican-born model, musician, and father whose life took an unexpected turn after walking in Africa Fashion Week in Johannesburg in 2011. From working as a travel agent in Jamaica and running a music studio with Jimmy Cliff's engineer, to accidentally falling into modeling, to choosing Cape Town over Johannesburg because of the ocean, to joining South Africa's biggest reggae band (The Rudimentals) by pure coincidence, to spending a week in jail over immigration fraud he didn't commit, to navigating race, class, and identity in post-apartheid South Africa, to raising a half-German daughter who sings the Jamaican national anthem every morning—Marlon's story is one of serendipity, resilience, and choosing peace over comfort every single time. In this episode, we discuss: Introduction: A Jamaican Model's Journey to Cape Town – How a trip to Africa Fashion Week in 2011 turned into 15 years in South Africa. The Move to South Africa: From Fashion Week to Forever – Spending three months in Johannesburg, moving to Cape Town for the ocean, and calling his mom to say he's not coming back. Becoming a Model: The Accidental Career – Working as a travel agent, being scouted repeatedly, finally saying yes just to shut his girlfriend up, and why he does modeling—he's not a model. Life as a Male Model: Behind the Scenes – Seeing his face on billboards he's never visited, sending photos to his agent to make sure he gets paid, and why he's never done cartwheels over a booking. Finding Music in Cape Town: The Rudimentals – Meeting the band by coincidence, performing without knowing the songs, and becoming the frontman of South Africa's biggest reggae band. Culture Shock: Jamaica vs South Africa – Missing Christmas decorations, realizing Cape Town is "very European," and why people think Jamaica is in Africa. The Arrest: A Week in South African Prison – Getting arrested at the airport for a fake work permit he didn't know was fake, spending a week in maximum security, refusing to eat, sleeping on the floor with 17 strangers, and why his mom's calmness saved him. Race and Identity in South Africa – Being called "different" because he's a black foreigner, navigating the colored vs black divide, and why South Africa only unites during rugby season. Fatherhood: Raising a Multicultural Child – His daughter is half-German, half-Jamaican, born in South Africa, sings the national anthem, and told her German mom she's not allowed to sing it because "you're not Jamaican." Jamaica's Global Influence: Food, Music, and Culture – Why Zimbabweans speak Patois, why reggae was banned during apartheid, and why Jamaica has the second biggest black culture in the world after America. Why This Story Matters This isn't just a story about moving to South Africa or becoming a musician. It's about: Following serendipity—even when it leads you somewhere you never planned to go. Surviving injustice and choosing to stay anyway. Raising a child across cultures and teaching her to be proud of all of them. Being Jamaican anywhere in the world—and why that confidence is unmatched. Choosing peace, ocean, and music over safety and familiarity. Whether you're considering a big move, navigating identity in a foreign country, or just need permission to follow the path that doesn't make sense to anyone but you—this episode will move you, inspire you, and remind you that home is wherever you choose to build it. About the Show – "Babes, How Did You Get Here?" Hosted by entrepreneur and former Miss Jamaica April Jackson, this podcast dives into the real, unfiltered stories of people who left the script—swapping comfort for courage and choosing a life "elsewhere." 00:00 Introduction: A Jamaican Model's Journey to Cape Town 02:37 — Fatherhood and Identity: Raising a Mixed-Race Child 07:54 — Black Identity Pain Point 22:26 — I Felt That I Needed to Go Back 27:55 — Jamaica's Global Influence and the Expat Experience 75:03 — Arrested: A Week in South African Prison 93:15 — Life as a Model: Behind the Glamour #HowDidYouGetHere #AprilJackson #SouthAfricaLiving #CapeTown #JamaicanInSouthAfrica #Modeling #ReggaeMusic #TheRudimentals #PrisonStory #ExpatLife #MulticulturalFamily #RaceAndIdentity #JamaicanCulture #LivingAbroad #Reinvention #CourageOverComfort #CaribbeanLife #AfricaFashionWeek #InterculturalFamily

The REALITY of Being a Jamaican Foreigner in South Africa: Privilege, Prejudice & Finding Home

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 01:00:06 -0000

Babes, How Did You Get Here? | Marlon Cotterell: From Jamaican Model to South African Reggae Frontman – Fashion Week, Prison, and Finding Home in Cape Town What happens when a Jamaican model flies to South Africa for a week-long fashion show, decides to stay three months, and ends up living there for 15 years—building a career as the frontman of South Africa's biggest reggae band, spending a week in maximum security prison over a fake work permit, raising a multicultural daughter, and never once looking back? In this raw, hilarious, and deeply honest episode, host April Jackson sits down with Marlon Cotterell—a Jamaican-born model, musician, and father whose life took an unexpected turn after walking in Africa Fashion Week in Johannesburg in 2011. From working as a travel agent in Jamaica and running a music studio with Jimmy Cliff's engineer, to accidentally falling into modeling, to choosing Cape Town over Johannesburg because of the ocean, to joining South Africa's biggest reggae band (The Rudimentals) by pure coincidence, to spending a week in jail over immigration fraud he didn't commit, to navigating race, class, and identity in post-apartheid South Africa, to raising a half-German daughter who sings the Jamaican national anthem every morning—Marlon's story is one of serendipity, resilience, and choosing peace over comfort every single time. In this episode, we discuss: Introduction: A Jamaican Model's Journey to Cape Town – How a trip to Africa Fashion Week in 2011 turned into 15 years in South Africa. The Move to South Africa: From Fashion Week to Forever – Spending three months in Johannesburg, moving to Cape Town for the ocean, and calling his mom to say he's not coming back. Becoming a Model: The Accidental Career – Working as a travel agent, being scouted repeatedly, finally saying yes just to shut his girlfriend up, and why he does modeling—he's not a model. Life as a Male Model: Behind the Scenes – Seeing his face on billboards he's never visited, sending photos to his agent to make sure he gets paid, and why he's never done cartwheels over a booking. Finding Music in Cape Town: The Rudimentals – Meeting the band by coincidence, performing without knowing the songs, and becoming the frontman of South Africa's biggest reggae band. Culture Shock: Jamaica vs South Africa – Missing Christmas decorations, realizing Cape Town is "very European," and why people think Jamaica is in Africa. The Arrest: A Week in South African Prison – Getting arrested at the airport for a fake work permit he didn't know was fake, spending a week in maximum security, refusing to eat, sleeping on the floor with 17 strangers, and why his mom's calmness saved him. Race and Identity in South Africa – Being called "different" because he's a black foreigner, navigating the colored vs black divide, and why South Africa only unites during rugby season. Fatherhood: Raising a Multicultural Child – His daughter is half-German, half-Jamaican, born in South Africa, sings the national anthem, and told her German mom she's not allowed to sing it because "you're not Jamaican." Jamaica's Global Influence: Food, Music, and Culture – Why Zimbabweans speak Patois, why reggae was banned during apartheid, and why Jamaica has the second biggest black culture in the world after America. Why This Story Matters This isn't just a story about moving to South Africa or becoming a musician. It's about: Following serendipity—even when it leads you somewhere you never planned to go. Surviving injustice and choosing to stay anyway. Raising a child across cultures and teaching her to be proud of all of them. Being Jamaican anywhere in the world—and why that confidence is unmatched. Choosing peace, ocean, and music over safety and familiarity. Whether you're considering a big move, navigating identity in a foreign country, or just need permission to follow the path that doesn't make sense to anyone but you—this episode will move you, inspire you, and remind you that home is wherever you choose to build it. About the Show – "Babes, How Did You Get Here?" Hosted by entrepreneur and former Miss Jamaica April Jackson, this podcast dives into the real, unfiltered stories of people who left the script—swapping comfort for courage and choosing a life "elsewhere." 📚 To join the Parenting community: https://april-s-site-fcfd.thinkific.com 00:00 Introduction: A Jamaican Model's Journey to Cape Town 04:41 First Impressions: Arriving in Africa 06:37 From Music to Modeling: An Accidental Career 12:22 Choosing Cape Town: Ocean Over City Life 19:21 Cultural Differences: South Africa vs Jamaica 27:23 Finding Music Again: Joining The Rudimentals #HowDidYouGetHere #AprilJackson #SouthAfricaLiving #CapeTown #JamaicanInSouthAfrica #Modeling #ReggaeMusic #TheRudimentals #PrisonStory #ExpatLife #MulticulturalFamily #RaceAndIdentity #JamaicanCulture #LivingAbroad #Reinvention #CourageOverComfort #CaribbeanLife #AfricaFashionWeek #InterculturalFamily

From Dubai to Kingston: How I Found My Home in Jamaica's Warmth & Simplicity

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 01:30:06 -0000

Babes, How Did You Get Here? | Farnoosh: From Iran to Jamaica – A Nurse Who Found Home in the Kids She Never Thought She'd Have What happens when an Iranian-Canadian early childhood educator takes a two-week volunteer trip to Jamaica, falls in love with the kids in Riverton and Mustard Seed communities, and decides to leave everything behind—her family, her career, her country—to build a life serving children who need her most? In this deeply moving and profoundly honest episode, host April Jackson sits down with Mahsa—an Iranian-born, Dubai-raised, Toronto-educated early childhood educator who traded the safety of Canada for the chaos, beauty, and purpose of Kingston, Jamaica. From her first volunteer trip in 2010, to leading groups of 30 volunteers twice a year, to having a hysterectomy that changed everything, to moving to Jamaica permanently in 2016, to living in Vineyard Town, to working with children living with HIV and disabilities, to navigating the class divide between inner-city and uptown Jamaica, to building youth leadership programs and baby wellness clinics—Mahsa's story is one of resilience, selflessness, and choosing purpose over comfort every single time. In this episode, we discuss: The First Trip That Changed Everything: Volunteering in Jamaica for two weeks in 2010 and falling in love with the kids at Mustard Seed and Riverton. From Toronto to Kingston: Growing up in Iran and Dubai, moving to Canada for school, and why Jamaica felt like home from day one. The Hysterectomy That Sealed the Decision: Having surgery in 2016, losing the ability to have biological children, and realizing the kids in Jamaica were her purpose. Living in Vineyard Town: Moving to one of Kingston's toughest neighborhoods and why she never felt unsafe. Working with Mustard Seed Communities: Serving children living with HIV, disabilities, and abandonment, and why they became her family. Building Programs from Scratch: Youth leadership camps, baby wellness clinics, after-school programs, and empowering kids to be agents of change in their own communities. The White Savior Complex: Why she hates voluntourism, why she stays behind the scenes, and why she gives the kids money to buy their own ice cream at Devon House. Navigating Class in Jamaica: The difference between inner-city and uptown Jamaica, and why she refuses to shop at Ashley Furniture when she can support local craftsmen downtown. Her Mother's First Visit: Bringing her mom to Riverton, running a baby wellness clinic together, and hearing her say, "Okay, I get it now." The Cost of Giving: Learning to say no, teaching kids responsibility, and why she refuses to create dependency. Dealing with Judgment: Being told she has everything because of the color of her skin, and why she doesn't walk around talking about her struggles. The Kids Who Made It: Sending kids to school, watching one become a lawyer, another migrate to Canada, and why that's the whole point. The Heartbreak of Leaving: Coming for two weeks and leaving the kids behind, and why that was always the hardest part. Why Jamaica?: Sunday dinners, slower living, seasonal fruit, and why it reminds her of Iran and Dubai more than Canada ever did. The Postcard of Her Life: Her, 100 kids, and the beach. Why This Story Matters 00:00 Introduction: From Toronto to Jamaica - A Volunteer's Journey 01:17 First Trip to Jamaica: The Mustard Seed Communities 05:52 The Hysterectomy That Changed Everything 06:58 From Dubai to Toronto to Kingston: A Multicultural Upbringing 08:16 When Mom Visited: Understanding the Why 09:04 Working in Vineyard Town and Riverton: The Real Jamaica 10:45 Voluntourism vs Real Impact: The White Savior Complex 11:47 The Girls at Glenhawk: Shared Trauma and Healing 14:55 Youth Leadership and Breaking the Cycle 15:43 The Pregnant 15-Year-Old: Accepting Limitations 17:05 Grandville Girls Home: Finding Self-Worth Beyond Male Validation 20:41 The Critical Age: Why 13-16 Matters Just as Much as Early Childhood 34:23 Devon House and Teaching Kids They Belong Everywhere 24:41 Donations Gone Wrong: Stop Giving Garbage to the Poor 27:05 Class vs Race: Navigating Jamaica's Social Hierarchy 30:06 Living Like a Local: Renting Downtown and Supporting Small Businesses 33:04 Misconceptions About Living in Jamaica 41:25 Cultural Differences: Sunday Dinners and Slowing Down 44:55 First Time in Riverton: No Fear, Just Connection 46:14 If Life Was a Postcard: 100 Kids at the Beach #HowDidYouGetHere #AprilJackson #JamaicaLiving #KingstonLife #Riverton #MustardSeed #ChildhoodEducation #VolunteerWork #ExpatLife #IranianInJamaica #FindingPurpose #ServingChildren #YouthLeadership #InnerCityJamaica #LivingAbroad #Reinvention #CourageOverComfort #Motherhood #ChildrenWithHIV #CommunityService #caribbeanlife

Military Desertion, 8-Hour Interrogations & Sleeping Rough: My Path from Ghana to Cambodia

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 17:41:53 -0000

Babes, How Did You Get Here? | Kofi: From Ghanaian Military Nurse to Street Photographer in Cambodia – A Story of Survival, Love, and Reinvention What happens when a military nurse from Ghana goes AWOL, books a one-way ticket to Indonesia, gets interrogated at the airport for eight hours, loses his passport in Cambodia, sleeps on the streets for three months, and somehow ends up married to a Korean woman with a baby and a thriving photography career? In this raw, unfiltered, and deeply inspiring episode, host April Jackson sits down with Kofi—a Ghanaian ex-military nurse, street photographer, certified personal trainer, and now a husband and father living in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. From joining the Air Force to escape the pharmaceutical industry, to going AWOL after four years of "yes sir, yes sir," to landing in Jakarta and facing racism at immigration, to losing his passport and living in Amazon Coffee Shop for months, to meeting his wife in a tattoo shop and building a life between Cambodia and Korea—Kofi's story is one of resilience, reinvention, and choosing peace of mind over safety every single time. In this episode, we discuss: The Nephew Who Changed Everything: Losing his five-year-old nephew because of a refusal to do blood transfusions, and how that tragedy led him to nursing. Joining the Military as a Nurse: How the promise of double salary led to a 25-year contract he never planned to finish. Four Years of "Yes Sir": The exhaustion of military nursing, the conflict between caregiving and following orders, and why he couldn't do it anymore. Going AWOL: Booking a flight to Indonesia without permission, leaving the Ghanaian Air Force behind, and never looking back. Eight Hours at Jakarta Airport: Being interrogated, accused of being Nigerian, asked to sing the national anthem, and finally released after proving he was a former Marine. Losing His Passport in Cambodia: Trusting a school with his documents, having them "lost" on a ferry, and spending years trying to get it back. Three Months Sleeping in Amazon Coffee Shop: Living on the streets of Phnom Penh, showering in public bathrooms, and refusing to ask his dad for help. The $10-a-Day Overstay Fee: Saving every dollar to pay off his illegal stay, even without a passport. Meeting His Wife in a Tattoo Shop: How a mutual friend connected them, why they broke up, and how he reinvented himself to win her back. Building a Photography Career from Scratch: From borrowing a camera to shooting weddings in Ghana, to becoming a street photographer in Cambodia, to working in Korean fashion. The Market as His Studio: Why he shoots in local markets, how he learned Khmer from old ladies selling vegetables, and why documentary photography is his calling. Marrying a Korean Woman: Navigating cultural differences, learning Korean from his father-in-law, and why his wife taught him to say no to low-paying jobs. Becoming a Father: Having a baby in Korea, getting a Korean passport for his daughter, and deciding to raise her in Cambodia. Food as Medicine: Why he cooks every meal from scratch, how nutrition and dietetics changed his life, and why he refuses to give his baby processed food. Life Between Cambodia and Korea: Why Cambodia is home for now, why Korea offers better work opportunities, and how he plans to split his time between both countries. Why Cambodia?: The freedom, the honesty, the cost of living, and why it's the perfect place to build a life from scratch. 📚 For more details on parenting course: https://april-s-site-fcfd.thinkific.com #HowDidYouGetHere #AprilJackson #CambodiaLiving #PhnomPenh #GhanaianInCambodia #ExMilitary #AWOL #StreetPhotography #KoreanWife #MulticulturalFamily #ExpatLife #Reinvention #MilitaryNurse #DocumentaryPhotography #FoodAsMedicine #SurvivalStory #CourageOverComfort #SoutheastAsia #interculturalmarriage 00:00 Introduction: A Ghanaian Military Nurse's Journey to Cambodia 04:00 Escape from the Military: The AWOL Decision 07:00 Airport Nightmare: Eight Hours of Interrogation in Indonesia 09:20 Finding Cambodia: A Warm Welcome After Indonesia 12:00 Lost Passport Crisis: Living Undocumented in Cambodia 16:00 Surviving in the Streets: Three Months at Amazon Cafe 21:40 The Photography Breakthrough: Benjamin's Trust 29:20 Cultural Differences: Ghana vs Cambodia vs Korea 35:40 Meeting His Korean Wife: From Tattoo Shop to True Love 45:40 Becoming a Father: Raising a Multicultural Child 1:01:20 Food as Medicine: From Military Nurse to Nutrition Advocate 1:08:50 Photography in Cambodia: The Reality of the Industry 1:01:20 Growing Up Ghanaian: Work, Farm, Church, Repeat 1:44:50 The Postcard of Life: From Tragedy to Triumph

Why Jamaicans Are Built Different: Confidence Secret REVEALED! #shorts

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 08:33:33 -0000

Growing up Jamaican gave her a unique confidence. She reflects on how that upbringing helps her navigate predominantly white spaces, unlike what she imagines it might be like in the UK. #JamaicanCulture #Confidence #WhiteSpaces #CulturalIdentity

Abandoned at 12, Sent to Afghanistan… and Ended Up a World-Record Scuba Diver in Phuket

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 17:32:02 -0000

Babes, How Did You Get Here? | Barrington: From US Marine to Executive Chef to Guinness World Record Holder What happens when a former US Marine, executive chef, and scuba diving instructor decides life is too short to play it safe—and ends up breaking a Guinness World Record by scuba diving across all seven continents in under 20 days? In this exhilarating and deeply inspiring episode, host April Jackson sits down with Barrington Scott—a Guinness World Record holder, ex-Marine, former executive chef, master scuba diver trainer, and current Thailand resident who has lived more adventures in one lifetime than most people dream of in ten. From joining the Marines at 17 to deploying to Afghanistan, from teaching scuba diving in Honduras to working on citrus farms in Australia, and from spending $40,000 on an app that never launched to diving the freezing waters of Antarctica—Barrington's story is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and choosing adventure over comfort every single time. In this episode, we discuss: Joining the Marines at 17: How the promise of "free college" led to a four-year enlistment and a deployment to Afghanistan he never saw coming. Deployment to Afghanistan: The raw reality of war, the fear, and why he blacked out most of the experience. The Gap Year That Changed Everything: Googling "gap year," discovering Southeast Asia, and deciding to spend a year traveling through Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Australia. Working on a Citrus Farm: Being the fastest orange picker in Australia—until a snake appeared in a tree and changed his perspective on farm work. The Executive Chef Life: Landing a six-figure chef job in Darwin, Australia, and the moment he realized he was ready to walk away from it all. Falling in Love with Scuba Diving: His journey from a "discover scuba" experience in the Bahamas to becoming a master scuba diver trainer in Honduras. The Instructor Realization: Spending thousands to become an instructor, only to discover he had zero patience for teaching people underwater. The $40,000 App Lesson: Building a bucket-list travel app, hiring developers in India, and watching it crash—an expensive but vital life lesson. The Spark for a World Record: How a Netflix documentary about Diana Nyad inspired him to set his own "impossible" goal. Breaking a Guinness World Record: The logistics and endurance required to scuba dive across all seven continents in 19 days, 19 hours, and 14 minutes. Swimming with Sharks: Why he has dived with over 20 species of sharks and why he isn't scared of the predators most people fear. Why Phuket?: Choosing Thailand for the perfect mix of palm trees, infrastructure, community, and proximity to adventure. What's Next: Pursuing PA school to fund the next round of bucket-list dreams, exploring the world's largest cave in Vietnam, and chasing the next mountain. Why This Story Matters This isn't just a story about a world record. It's about: Choosing adventure over safety—even when it's expensive, scary, or uncertain. Reinventing yourself as many times as it takes to find what truly fits. Learning expensive lessons and having the courage to get back up anyway. Living fully now instead of waiting for retirement to start your life. Whether you're stuck in a career that doesn't fit, craving adventure, or just need permission to take a risk and build a life that's wildly yours—this episode will move you and remind you that life is happening right now. About the Show – "Babes, How Did You Get Here?" Hosted by entrepreneur and former Miss Jamaica April Jackson, this podcast dives into the real, unfiltered stories of people who left the script—swapping comfort for courage and choosing a life "elsewhere." 00:00 Introduction: Meet Barrington Scott - Guinness World Record Holder 00:36 From Marines to Medicine: The Post-Military Transition 04:40 Boot Camp Reality Check: The Deployment to Afghanistan 07:17 Discovering Gap Years: A Life-Changing Concept 09:52 The Australia Chapter: From Citrus Farms to Executive Chef 14:03 Finding Scuba: The Cruise That Started It All 16:31 Honduras Dreams Derailed: The Teaching Revelation 17:53 Why Phuket? Finding the Perfect Balance 21:05 The Guinness Record: Inspired by a 60-Year-Old Swimmer 24:01 19 Days, 7 Continents: Completing the Record 29:14 Swimming with Sharks: A Love Story 33:13 The $40,000 App Mistake: Bucket List Reloaded 32:45 What's Next: PA School and the Luxury Life #HowDidYouGetHere #AprilJackson #GuinnessWorldRecord #ScubaDiving #ExMarine #Afghanistan #ThailandLiving #PhuketLife #DigitalNomad #BucketList #SharkDiving #Antarctica #TravelStories #LivingAbroad #Reinvention #AdventureTravel #CourageOverComfort #ExpatLife #LifeElsewhere #ChefLife #GapYear #SoutheastAsia

The Truth About Moving to Jamaica: A Russian Dancer's Story of Love, Loss & Starting Over

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 01:30:06 -0000

Babes, How Did You Get Here? | Karina: From Moscow Dance Floors to Kingston Streets – Finding Home After Dancehall Broke Her Heart What happens when a Russian hip-hop dancer falls so deeply in love with dancehall culture that she moves 6,000 miles to Jamaica—only to discover that the community she worshipped would eventually exile her, leaving her stranded between two worlds, two Jamaicas, and two versions of herself? In this raw, unfiltered, and deeply honest episode, host April Jackson sits down with Karina Galliamova—a Russian dancehall dancer, former Moscow dance instructor, and now a Kingston-based content creator who traded the grey skies of Russia for the chaos, beauty, and heartbreak of Jamaica. From her first trip in 2016 (thinking she'd get shot), to teaching dancehall across 50+ Russian cities, to surviving COVID in Jamaica, to being canceled by the very community she loved, to finding unexpected love at Carnival and building a new life in uptown Kingston—Karina's story is one of passion, resilience, cultural collision, and choosing happiness even when the dream doesn't look like you thought it would. In this episode, we discuss: Falling in Love with Dancehall: How a crush on a dancer led her into a culture she initially hated—and then couldn't live without. First Trip to Jamaica (2016): Arriving terrified, hearing gunshots in Spanish Town, and still thinking, "I wish I could stay." Life in Moscow: Teaching dancehall across Russia, traveling to 50+ cities, working with Nike and Adidas, and burning out. The Balcony Moment: Sitting in New Kingston in 2019 and randomly deciding, "I could live here." COVID and Choosing to Stay: Coming for three months in January 2020, getting the option to leave, and deciding to extend her visa and stay. The Abusive Relationship: Falling for a Jamaican man who had someone else, living a double life, and surviving emotional manipulation. Living Between Two Jamaicas: Dancehall vs. uptown, street parties vs. boat parties, and navigating class and culture shock. The Post That Changed Everything: Writing "80-90% of Jamaican dancehall dancers cheat" and getting canceled, called racist, and exiled from the community she loved. Surviving Depression: Losing her identity, her community, and her purpose—and choosing to stay in Jamaica anyway. Finding Uptown Jamaica: Meeting a Russian friend who introduced her to a completely different Kingston—one with money, boats, and no one asking her to buy them drinks. Meeting Her Boyfriend at Carnival: Seeing his "bad picture," meeting him at Kaya Fest, talking for two hours, and never leaving his place after the first visit. The Red Flags She Ignored: He had a daughter, she said she'd never date a man with kids, and then she fell in love anyway. Life in Kingston Now: Living with her boyfriend, building her social media platform, navigating "tourist tax," and learning to love ackee and breadfruit. The Cost of Living Shock: Paying 10,000 JMD for electricity in a studio with no AC, vegetables costing more than in Moscow, and realizing Jamaica is expensive. Being Russian in Jamaica: Dealing with stereotypes, being called a spy, and learning to say "I was born in Ukraine" to change the energy in the room. Home or Not?: Still asking herself if Jamaica is forever, knowing she's traumatized by her dancehall experience, but choosing happiness over comfort. Why This Story Matters This isn't just a story about moving to Jamaica or falling out of love with dancehall. It's about: Following your passion even when it leads you somewhere dangerous and unpredictable. Surviving heartbreak, exile, and depression in a foreign country—and choosing to stay anyway. Navigating cultural collision when you're white, Russian, and in love with Black culture. Finding love after trauma and learning to trust again. #HowDidYouGetHere #AprilJackson #JamaicaLiving #KingstonLife #DancehallCulture #RussianInJamaica #ExpatLife #CulturalCollision #FindingHome #Heartbreak #Reinvention #UptownJamaica #LivingAbroad #CourageOverComfort #ChoosingHappiness #MovingToJamaica #caribbeanlife 00:00 Introduction: The Cost of Living in Jamaica 00:45 Meet Karina: A Russian Dancer's Journey 02:15 First Trip to Jamaica: 2016 04:37 Falling in Love with Dancehall Culture 09:12 The Spanish Town Incident: A Wake-Up Call 13:01 The Toxic Relationship That Brought Her Back 01:30 COVID Times: Choosing to Stay 23:29 The Controversial Post That Changed Everything 39:05 Discovering Uptown Jamaica 41:46 Two Jamaicas: Inner City vs Uptown Life 47:52 Finding Love at Carnival 1:05:27 Tourist Tax and Daily Challenges 1:01:29 Culture Shocks: What Nobody Tells You 1:14:31 Jamaican Food Favorites and Discoveries 1:13:51 Final Thoughts: Is Jamaica Home?

[DELETED ON YOUTUBE] The Truth About Moving to Jamaica: A Russian Dancer's Story of Love, Loss & Starting Over

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 22:13:27 -0000

Beyond the Borders: My Escape From a Double Life to a New Self

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 01:30:06 -0000

Babes, How Did You Get Here? | Saiora: From Kazakhstan to Cambodia – Dancing Her Way to Freedom What happens when a Kazakh dancer realizes that following her passion means leaving behind everything familiar—the conservative expectations, the need to conform, the pressure to be "right"—and building a life 4,000 miles away in a country she barely knew, where she could finally be herself? In this inspiring and deeply authentic episode, host April Jackson sits down with Saiora—a Kazakh dancer, high heels dance teacher, and solo traveler who traded the rigid cultural expectations of Kazakhstan for the creative freedom and acceptance of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. From competing as a child dancer, to working in corporate sales, to falling into depression, to rediscovering her passion during COVID lockdown, to finally finding home in a country that lets her dance, dress, and live exactly as she wants. Saiora's story is one of courage, self-discovery, and choosing authenticity over approval. In this episode, we discuss: Growing Up in Kazakhstan: The pressure to conform, the cultural expectations, and why being open and expressive felt dangerous. Falling in Love with Dance: Competing as a child, taking a 10-year break, and why she danced to win—not just for fun. The Corporate Years: Working as a sales manager for cosmetics and solar panels, achieving the salary she dreamed of—and feeling completely empty. COVID and the Awakening: Making TikToks during lockdown and realizing she was doing it for free because it made her happy. Living a Double Life: Dancing in secret, not posting online, and struggling with the question: "Which version of me is real?" The Conservative Reality: Why high heels dancing felt risky in Kazakhstan and how cultural judgment shaped her choices. First Time in Cambodia: Visiting in 2017, studying at the Russian Embassy, and falling in love with the freedom she felt. The Decision to Return: Leaving corporate life, quitting everything, and moving back to Cambodia with no plan—just faith. Week One Miracle: Posting on Facebook looking for a dance space and getting offered a full-time teaching job within days. Teaching Ballet to Kids: Why she loved it but realized she wasn't the best fit—and the emotional responsibility of working with young dancers. Building a Dance Community: Creating a professional adult high heels dance scene in Phnom Penh from scratch. What Dance Teaches You: Facing your insecurities in the mirror, choosing technique over self-doubt, and helping students do the same. Her Parents Moving to Cambodia: How her family followed her to Cambodia and why she finally realized they're her best friends. The Cambodian Difference: Why Cambodia feels like "summer camp," the power of slow living, and how Cambodians taught her to stop rushing. Cultural Adjustment: Learning to embrace slowness, letting go of the need to "see people working hard," and finding peace in doing nothing. The courage it takes to live authentically when you've been taught to conform. Trusting that the right place will feel like home—even if it's halfway across the world. Whether you're feeling stuck in a life that doesn't fit, considering a big move, or just need permission to stop rushing and start living—this episode will inspire you, move you, and remind you that home is wherever you can finally be yourself. About the Show – "Babes, How Did You Get Here?" Hosted by entrepreneur and former Miss Jamaica April Jackson, this podcast dives into the real, unfiltered stories of people who left the script—swapping comfort for courage and choosing a life "elsewhere." 00:00 Introduction: Following Her Heart from Kazakhstan to Cambodia 02:12 Growing Up in Kazakhstan: Culture and Constraints 03:28 The Dance Journey: From Childhood Competitor to Lost Corporate Worker 06:01 COVID Awakening: TikTok and Rediscovering Passion 07:01 Living a Double Life: The Struggle Between Authenticity and Safety 13:46 First Impressions: Cambodia in 2017-2018 16:19 The Big Decision: Choosing Freedom Over Success 25:00 The Leap of Faith: One Week to Finding Work 27:08 Teaching Dance: More Than Just Movements 34:59 The Art of Dance: Architecture, Lines, and Self-Discovery 22:20 Cambodia's Magic: Summer Camp Energy and Acceptance 53:28 Cultural Adjustments: Learning to Slow Down 46:16 Family Reunion: Parents Move to Cambodia 51:55 Building Community: Finding Family in Foreigners 1:00:28 Two Versions of Self: English vs Native Language 1:01:15 Final Reflections: Cambodia as a Movie-Like Reality #howdidyougethere #AprilJackson #CambodiaLiving #PhnomPenh #Kazakhstan #DanceTeacher #HighHeelsDance #ExpatLife #CulturalExpectations #FindingFreedom #SoloTravel #DigitalNomad #BreakingStereotypes #LivingAbroad #Reinvention #CourageOverComfort #DanceCommunity #AuthenticLiving #SlowLiving #SoutheastAsia

[DELETED ON YOUTUBE] Full Edit Pre Prod

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 21:17:38 -0000

Babes, How Did You Get Here? | Katie: From UK Makeup Artist to Male Prison Worker to Solo Fitness Entrepreneur in Thailand What happens when a 21-year-old British-Indian makeup artist gets tired of playing it safe, calls every MAC store in Australia until someone gives her a job, and ends up building a life that defies every cultural expectation her family ever had for her? In this inspiring and deeply honest episode, host April Jackson sits down with Katie—a British-Indian fitness coach, former male prison worker, and solo traveler who traded the traditional path of marriage and settling down for a life of adventure, independence, and unapologetic authenticity in Phuket, Thailand. From crying on a plane to London, to coaching fitness classes on Australia's Bondi Beach, to working in a Category B male prison during COVID, to finally finding home on "Fitness Street" in Phuket—Katie's story is one of courage, cultural defiance, and choosing yourself even when it feels like the world (and your family) wants something different. In this episode, we discuss: The Australian Dream: How she harassed a MAC regional director until she got a job in Sydney—and moved halfway across the world alone. Crying on the Plane: The fear of leaving everything familiar behind and nearly turning back at London. Three and a Half Years in Australia: Living in Bondi, discovering fitness, and realizing she didn't want the life waiting for her back home. Working in a Male Prison: Why she chose a Category B prison over a charity job—and what her boss told her about dressing "mumsy." COVID and Career Pivot: Getting furloughed, launching free Instagram Live workouts, and building an online fitness business from her attic. Finding Phuket: How two weeks on "Fitness Street" turned into two months—and eventually, permanent residency. Cultural Expectations: Growing up Sikh and Punjabi, the pressure to marry and settle down, and the guilt of living abroad as an Indian woman. Her Dad's Acceptance: The moment her father sent her the link to Thailand's Digital Nomad Visa—and what that meant after years of "when are you coming home?" Solo Travel and Independence: Why she loves being alone, why it's made dating harder, and why she wouldn't trade it for anything. Life at 42: No marriage, no kids, no house—and why she's finally okay with that. Vietnam, Bangkok, and What's Next: Her dream of visiting 50 countries by 50 and where she might move next. Advice for South Asian Women: Why she wants more women from her culture to take risks, travel, and live life on their own terms. Why This Story Matters This isn't just a story about moving to Thailand or building a fitness business. It's about: Defying cultural expectations without losing respect for your roots. Choosing yourself even when it feels selfish or scary. Building a life that looks nothing like the plan—and being proud of it. Solo travel as an act of self-love and independence. The courage it takes to disappoint people you love in order to live authentically. Whether you're from a traditional cultural background, considering a big move, or just need permission to live life on your own terms—this episode will inspire you, challenge you, and remind you that your path doesn't have to look like anyone else's. About the Show – "Babes, How Did You Get Here?" Hosted by entrepreneur and former Miss Jamaica April Jackson, this podcast dives into the real, unfiltered stories of people who left the script—swapping comfort for courage and choosing a life "elsewhere." #HowDidYouGetHere #AprilJackson #ThailandLiving #PhuketLife #SoloTravel #IndianWomen #SikhCulture #CulturalExpectations #DigitalNomad #FitnessEntrepreneur #ExpatLife #SouthAsianWomen #BreakingStereotypes #LivingAbroad #SoloFemaleTravel #FindingHome #Reinvention #courageovercomfort 00:00 Introduction: Living as a Single Indian Woman in Thailand 00:17 Discovering Fitness Street: From Two Weeks to Two Months 01:16 The Bold Move: From UK to Australia 02:03 Breaking Barriers: An Indian Girl's Dream 02:40 Persistence Pays Off: Calling Every Mac Store 03:39 First Flight: Tears and Transformation 04:15 Australia Years and Family Duty 04:57 Finding Home: Why Phuket Has Everything 06:43 The Fitness Journey: From Beach Skeptic to Coach 08:30 The Prison Chapter: Working in a Category B Male Prison 11:48 COVID and Building an Online Business 12:51 Cultural Expectations and the Set Plan 14:21 The Black Sheep: Choosing Adventure Over Tradition 16:40 Independence and Solo Travel 17:44 Vietnam Dreams and Travel Goals 18:53 Dad's Acceptance: The DTV Visa Moment 21:55 The Guilt of Living Away 22:50 Final Message: Take the Risk

I Was Told to Look Unattractive at Work: From Prison to Finding My Paradise in Phuket

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 01:30:06 -0000

Babes, How Did You Get Here? | Katie: From UK Makeup Artist to Male Prison Worker to Solo Fitness Entrepreneur in Thailand What happens when a 21-year-old British-Indian makeup artist gets tired of playing it safe, calls every MAC store in Australia until someone gives her a job, and ends up building a life that defies every cultural expectation her family ever had for her? In this inspiring and deeply honest episode, host April Jackson sits down with Katie—a British-Indian fitness coach, former male prison worker, and solo traveler who traded the traditional path of marriage and settling down for a life of adventure, independence, and unapologetic authenticity in Phuket, Thailand. From crying on a plane to London, to coaching fitness classes on Australia's Bondi Beach, to working in a Category B male prison during COVID, to finally finding home on "Fitness Street" in Phuket—Katie's story is one of courage, cultural defiance, and choosing yourself even when it feels like the world (and your family) wants something different. In this episode, we discuss: The Australian Dream: How she harassed a MAC regional director until she got a job in Sydney—and moved halfway across the world alone. Crying on the Plane: The fear of leaving everything familiar behind and nearly turning back at London. Three and a Half Years in Australia: Living in Bondi, discovering fitness, and realizing she didn't want the life waiting for her back home. Working in a Male Prison: Why she chose a Category B prison over a charity job—and what her boss told her about dressing "mumsy." COVID and Career Pivot: Getting furloughed, launching free Instagram Live workouts, and building an online fitness business from her attic. Finding Phuket: How two weeks on "Fitness Street" turned into two months—and eventually, permanent residency. Cultural Expectations: Growing up Sikh and Punjabi, the pressure to marry and settle down, and the guilt of living abroad as an Indian woman. Her Dad's Acceptance: The moment her father sent her the link to Thailand's Digital Nomad Visa—and what that meant after years of "when are you coming home?" Solo Travel and Independence: Why she loves being alone, why it's made dating harder, and why she wouldn't trade it for anything. Life at 42: No marriage, no kids, no house—and why she's finally okay with that. Vietnam, Bangkok, and What's Next: Her dream of visiting 50 countries by 50 and where she might move next. Advice for South Asian Women: Why she wants more women from her culture to take risks, travel, and live life on their own terms. Why This Story Matters This isn't just a story about moving to Thailand or building a fitness business. It's about: Defying cultural expectations without losing respect for your roots. Choosing yourself even when it feels selfish or scary. Building a life that looks nothing like the plan—and being proud of it. Solo travel as an act of self-love and independence. The courage it takes to disappoint people you love in order to live authentically. Whether you're from a traditional cultural background, considering a big move, or just need permission to live life on your own terms—this episode will inspire you, challenge you, and remind you that your path doesn't have to look like anyone else's. About the Show – "Babes, How Did You Get Here?" Hosted by entrepreneur and former Miss Jamaica April Jackson, this podcast dives into the real, unfiltered stories of people who left the script—swapping comfort for courage and choosing a life "elsewhere." #HowDidYouGetHere #AprilJackson #ThailandLiving #PhuketLife #SoloTravel #IndianWomen #SikhCulture #CulturalExpectations #DigitalNomad #FitnessEntrepreneur #ExpatLife #SouthAsianWomen #BreakingStereotypes #LivingAbroad #SoloFemaleTravel #FindingHome #Reinvention #courageovercomfort 00:00 Introduction: Living as a Single Woman in Thailand 00:18 Discovering Fitness Street: From Two Weeks to Two Months 01:16 The Bold Move: From UK to Australia 02:03 Breaking Barriers: An Indian Girl's Dream 02:40 Persistence Pays Off: Calling Every Mac Store 03:38 First Flight: Tears and Transformation 04:13 Australia Years and Family Duty 05:00 Finding Home: Why Phuket Has Everything 06:45 The Fitness Journey: From Beach Skeptic to Coach 08:37 The Prison Chapter: Working in a Category B Male Prison 11:46 Lockdown Pivot: Building an Online Business 13:10 Cultural Expectations: The South Asian Experience 15:54 The 11-Year Relationship and Choosing Yourself 16:39 Independence vs. Partnership: The Solo Travel Life 17:02 Exploring Thailand and Beyond: Vietnam Dreams 18:44 Parental Acceptance: The DTV Visa Moment 19:50 Safety and Community: Why Thailand Works 21:09 Father-Daughter Reflections: Breaking Generational Patterns 21:55 Guilt and Growth: Living Away from Family 22:59 Final Wisdom: Taking Risks and Living Without Regrets

Headhunted to Jamaica: How a Random Call Changed My Life & Made Me Stay 7 Years

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 01:30:06 -0000

Babes, How Did You Get Here? | Lana: From Beirut to Dubai to Kingston – Building Home Wherever She Lands What happens when a Lebanese tax professional gets a random call from a UK recruiter about a job in Jamaica—a place she only knew through Bob Marley—and decides to leave Dubai’s glossy efficiency for an island she’d never even Googled? In this warm, deeply authentic episode, host April Jackson sits down with Lana—a Lebanese expat, tax professional, former Dubai resident, and now a proud Kingston-based mom who’s called Jamaica home for seven years. Born in Gabon, raised in Lebanon, educated in Dubai, and now raising her Jamaican-born daughter in Kingston, Lana shares what it really takes to build a life “elsewhere”: culture shock, misconceptions, unexpected belonging, and choosing to truly live where you land—not just exist. In this episode, we talk about: The unexpected recruiter call that changed everything Leaving Dubai after seven years and trusting the timing Googling Jamaica (“most dangerous city in the world”) vs the reality she found Jamaican warmth vs transactional service—community, kindness, and being cared for while pregnant Pregnancy and giving birth in Jamaica (including home-birth planning) Taking a full year to decide: move closer to family or stay—and choosing simplicity Raising a confident child in a community-centered culture School choices, standardized testing, and why “outdoor/forest days” mattered Food, culture, vegan life, cravings, and what she just can’t eat “Jamaican time” and adjusting to a different pace Safety misconceptions about Kingston—and why she’s felt secure The mindset shift: home is wherever you live fully If you’re considering a big move, curious about expat life in Jamaica, or need a reminder that home is something you build—this episode will inspire you (and might make you crave callaloo). About the show – Babes, How Did You Get Here? Hosted by entrepreneur and former Miss Jamaica April Jackson, this podcast shares real stories of people who left the script—choosing courage, community, and a life elsewhere. 📚 To join the Parenting community: https://april-s-site-fcfd.thinkific.com Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction: The Call to Jamaica 02:13 From Lebanon to Dubai: A Journey of Phases 03:16 Manifesting Change: Ready to Leave Dubai 05:51 First Impressions: Safety and Settling In 07:32 Mom's Blessing and Visit 09:08 Island Life vs. City Living 15:05 The Warmth of Community 19:19 Raising a Jamaican Daughter 16:46 The Decision to Stay 22:27 Education, Food, and Cultural Adjustments 30:12 Jamaican Time and Honest Conversations 32:20 Home is Where You Live #HowDidYouGetHere #AprilJackson #ArabInJamaica #ExpatLife #JamaicaLiving #LifeAbroad #DominicanRepublic #CaribbeanLife #Motherhood #ThirdCultureKids #EventPlanner #KingstonJamaica #CulturalIdentity #Immigration #LatinasAbroad #RealStories #Podcast #Reinvention #FindingHome #ExpatMom #CaribbeanExpat #LanguageBarrier #GriefAbroad #ChoosingJoy

Raising a Trans Daughter in a Muslim Country: How My Family Chose Love Over Fear

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 14:39:42 -0000

Babes, How Did You Get Here? | Paz Fourcard: Redefining Solo Motherhood & Finding Love in Bali What happens when a 22-year-old Filipino beauty industry star gets pregnant, refuses to shrink, and builds a life that redefines what it means to be a solo mom—twice—before finding a love so pure it made her feel like she was finally coming home? In this deeply moving and powerfully honest episode, host April Jackson sits down with Paz Fourcard. A true Filipino beauty industry OG, former model, and former chief makeup artist for Estée Lauder and MAC, Paz is now a Bali-based entrepreneur, podcaster, and mother to four incredible humans. From the glitz of Manila's fashion world to the chaos of solo motherhood, and from an abusive marriage to a love-at-first-sight romance that changed everything, Paz opens up about the moments that broke her, rebuilt her, and made her the fiercely loving, unapologetically direct woman she is today. In this episode, we discuss: The Pre-Kids Era: Living for fun, modeling, and makeup artistry in Manila, thinking she’d never have children. Unexpected Pregnancy at 22: The moment the music stopped and everything changed. Surrender and Faith: Being brought to her knees, praying for the first time, and choosing motherhood. Her Father’s Love: The man who raised her up when she thought she’d brought shame to her family. Marriage and Mistakes: Enduring verbal and physical abuse, and the strength it took to leave. Solo Motherhood in the Philippines: Navigating a conservative Catholic society where single moms were often tabloid fodder. No Regrets: Owning her decisions and refusing to speak badly about her exes in front of her children. A Year of Messages: Falling in love with Pablo through Facebook for a full year before ever meeting face-to-face. Moving to Bali: Meeting Pablo in person and the instant feeling of "finally coming home." The Byron Bay Influence: How Pablo’s easy-going "life is long" philosophy transformed her high-pressure mindset. Blended Family: How her children—ages 14 and 9—immediately accepted Pablo as their dad. Tony’s Coming Out: Supporting her oldest child’s trans journey with unconditional love and acceptance. Raising Good Humans: Why she prioritizes teaching her sons to be respectful men and future partners. Losing Her Father: Navigating the greatest grief of her life and the reality of unprocessed healing. Why This Story Matters This isn’t just a story about solo motherhood or finding love in Bali. It’s about: Choosing yourself when the world tells you to shrink. Raising children with intention, respect, and unconditional love. Knowing you are enough—even when you are doing it alone. Building a blended family where love, not biology, defines what it means to be a "dad." Whether you’re a solo parent, thinking about leaving a relationship that doesn't serve you, or just need to hear that you’re doing a great job—this episode will move you, challenge you, and remind you that motherhood is the hardest, most sacred work there is. About the Show – "Babes, How Did You Get Here?" Hosted by entrepreneur and former Miss Jamaica April Jackson, this podcast dives into the real, unfiltered stories of people who left the script—swapping comfort for courage and choosing a life "elsewhere." Subscribe for more stories on: Solo motherhood, blended families, and intentional parenting. Finding love after divorce and building a life in Bali. Filipino culture, Catholic guilt, and breaking generational expectations. Supporting trans children with unconditional love. Resilience, reinvention, and refusing to shrink. #howdidyougethere #AprilJackson #BaliLiving #SoloMotherhood #Philippines #BeautyIndustry #BlendedFamily #TransJourney #UnconditionalLove #FindingLove #Reinvention #Motherhood #ParentingWithIntention #LifeInBali #GriefAndHealing #YouAreEnough #PazForecard 01:00 Introduction: Filipino Beauty Industry OG 01:37 Love at First Sight: Moving to Bali 02:06 The Digital Love Story 03:48 Byron Bay Influence and Easy-Going Love 05:24 Why Bali? The Island Connection 08:34 The Fast Track: Three Months to Forever 14:22 Solo Motherhood: The Origin Story 15:36 Pregnancy Crisis and Finding God 18:32 Marriage and Mistakes: The Ex-Husband Chapter 37:26 Leaving an Abusive Relationship 40:57 Raising Boys: The Big Brother Protector 17:26 Trans Child Journey: Love Without Labels 1:02:58 The Dad Question: When Kids Don't Ask 1:26:57 Motherhood Truth Bombs: No Manual, No Mistakes 1:56:12 Marriage Wisdom: Showing Up as Your Best Self

[DELETED ON YOUTUBE] 22, Pregnant & Scared: How My Dad Saved Me When I Thought My Life Was Over

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 11:18:06 -0000

Babes, How Did You Get Here? | Paz Forecard: Redefining Solo Motherhood & Finding Love in Bali What happens when a 22-year-old Filipino beauty industry star gets pregnant, refuses to shrink, and builds a life that redefines what it means to be a solo mom—twice—before finding a love so pure it made her feel like she was finally coming home? In this deeply moving and powerfully honest episode, host April Jackson sits down with Paz Forecard. A true Filipino beauty industry OG, former model, and former chief makeup artist for Estée Lauder and MAC, Paz is now a Bali-based entrepreneur, podcaster, and mother to four incredible humans. From the glitz of Manila's fashion world to the chaos of solo motherhood, and from an abusive marriage to a love-at-first-sight romance that changed everything, Paz opens up about the moments that broke her, rebuilt her, and made her the fiercely loving, unapologetically direct woman she is today. In this episode, we discuss: The Pre-Kids Era: Living for fun, modeling, and makeup artistry in Manila, thinking she’d never have children. Unexpected Pregnancy at 22: The moment the music stopped and everything changed. Surrender and Faith: Being brought to her knees, praying for the first time, and choosing motherhood. Her Father’s Love: The man who raised her up when she thought she’d brought shame to her family. Marriage and Mistakes: Enduring verbal and physical abuse, and the strength it took to leave. Solo Motherhood in the Philippines: Navigating a conservative Catholic society where single moms were often tabloid fodder. No Regrets: Owning her decisions and refusing to speak badly about her exes in front of her children. A Year of Messages: Falling in love with Pablo through Facebook for a full year before ever meeting face-to-face. Moving to Bali: Meeting Pablo in person and the instant feeling of "finally coming home." The Byron Bay Influence: How Pablo’s easy-going "life is long" philosophy transformed her high-pressure mindset. Blended Family: How her children—ages 14 and 9—immediately accepted Pablo as their dad. Tony’s Coming Out: Supporting her oldest child’s trans journey with unconditional love and acceptance. Raising Good Humans: Why she prioritizes teaching her sons to be respectful men and future partners. Losing Her Father: Navigating the greatest grief of her life and the reality of unprocessed healing. Why This Story Matters This isn’t just a story about solo motherhood or finding love in Bali. It’s about: Choosing yourself when the world tells you to shrink. Raising children with intention, respect, and unconditional love. Knowing you are enough—even when you are doing it alone. Building a blended family where love, not biology, defines what it means to be a "dad." Whether you’re a solo parent, thinking about leaving a relationship that doesn't serve you, or just need to hear that you’re doing a great job—this episode will move you, challenge you, and remind you that motherhood is the hardest, most sacred work there is. About the Show – "Babes, How Did You Get Here?" Hosted by entrepreneur and former Miss Jamaica April Jackson, this podcast dives into the real, unfiltered stories of people who left the script—swapping comfort for courage and choosing a life "elsewhere." Subscribe for more stories on: Solo motherhood, blended families, and intentional parenting. Finding love after divorce and building a life in Bali. Filipino culture, Catholic guilt, and breaking generational expectations. Supporting trans children with unconditional love. Resilience, reinvention, and refusing to shrink. #howdidyougethere #AprilJackson #BaliLiving #SoloMotherhood #Philippines #BeautyIndustry #BlendedFamily #TransJourney #UnconditionalLove #FindingLove #Reinvention #Motherhood #ParentingWithIntention #LifeInBali #GriefAndHealing #YouAreEnough #PazForecard 01:00 Introduction: Filipino Beauty Industry OG 01:37 Love at First Sight: Moving to Bali 02:06 The Digital Love Story 03:48 Byron Bay Influence and Easy-Going Love 05:24 Why Bali? The Island Connection 08:34 The Fast Track: Three Months to Forever 14:22 Solo Motherhood: The Origin Story 15:36 Pregnancy Crisis and Finding God 18:32 Marriage and Mistakes: The Ex-Husband Chapter 37:26 Leaving an Abusive Relationship 40:57 Raising Boys: The Big Brother Protector 17:26 Trans Child Journey: Love Without Labels 1:02:58 The Dad Question: When Kids Don't Ask 1:26:57 Motherhood Truth Bombs: No Manual, No Mistakes 1:56:12 Marriage Wisdom: Showing Up as Your Best Self

Bajan by Birth, Jamaican by Heart: How I Found Love, Community & My Calling in Kingston

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 19:34:26 -0000

18, In Love & Never Looking Back: My 22-Year Journey from Bajan/Hindu Student to Jamaican Mom Hindu, Bajan & Jamaican by Heart: Raising My Daughters Between Cultures, Continents & Curries

Indian Girls Don't Do This: How I Went from Scared & Shy to Thriving Solo in Thailand

Sat, 10 Jan 2026 01:00:06 -0000

What happens when a shy Indian girl who hated standing out, never traveled alone, and was expected to “settle down by 30”… ends up building a thriving online fitness business from a Thai island—teaching her dad what freedom looks like—and choosing solo beach walks over the life everyone planned for her? 📚 To join the Parenting community: https://april-s-site-fcfd.thinkific.com In this deeply honest and inspiring episode of “Babes, How Did You Get Here?”, host April Jackson sits down with Maddie Hart (also known as Yagi in Thai Online)—a British-Indian online fitness coach, former prison mentor, entrepreneur, and solo traveler—who shares the unexpected path that took her from feeling like an outsider to finally feeling at home in herself. Maddie opens up about growing up in the UK as one of the only Indian kids in a predominantly white school—navigating racism, isolation, and the heavy pressure to shrink herself to fit in. Raised in a traditional Sikh Punjabi household, the “life plan” felt non-negotiable: get a degree, get married, have kids, stay close to home, and don’t take risks that make the family uncomfortable. But at 21, everything changed. With zero travel experience and a lot of fear, Maddie left the UK for Australia—and admits she cried through her entire first flight. Her dad wouldn’t let her go without a job, so from the UK she called every MAC store in Sydney and Melbourne until she finally got hired. What followed was the real start-from-scratch experience: hostels, constant moves, battling cockroach-infested apartments, and learning how to build friendships as a quiet, shy introvert far away from everything familiar. In Australia, Maddie discovered fitness in Bondi—and it became far more than a physical pursuit. Movement became her therapy through anxiety and depression, and eventually her purpose. She trained, became a coach (including in the F45 world), and realized that transformation isn’t about “abs”—it’s about confidence, self-trust, and identity. With her background in psychology, she developed a coaching approach that helps women build strength from the inside out. Then came one of the most unexpected chapters: working inside a male Category B prison as a personal development mentor—especially during COVID. Despite the strict rules and the stereotypes (including being told to “dress as unattractive as possible”), she describes the work as meaningful and energizing—supporting men rebuilding their lives and finding purpose in a place most people would never choose. When lockdown hit, Maddie started doing free Instagram Live workouts—from a small attic space—simply to help and stay connected. What began as generosity turned into momentum, and that momentum became a full online coaching business, growing into six figures. Around her 40th birthday, she visited Phuket for what was meant to be a two-week holiday. She fell in love with the island—especially Phuket’s famous “Fitness Street”—and never left. She built a life, a community, and a business in Thailand, finding a sense of safety and belonging she didn’t feel back in London. One of the most emotional moments of the episode is her relationship with her father. After visiting Phuket and seeing that Maddie was not only safe but truly thriving, he sent her a link to Thailand’s Digital Nomad Visa—his quiet way of saying, “I see you. I accept you.” For Maddie, it was the first time she felt fully supported for choosing a life abroad. She also speaks honestly about the guilt of living far from family, the cultural pressure to settle down, and the decision to stop shrinking her dreams to make other people comfortable. Her “postcard moment” says it all: walking alone on a Phuket beach at sunset, phone in hand, realizing she was finally free. 💬 Question for you: Have you ever felt like you didn’t belong at home? And would you choose freedom over the life everyone expected you to live? If this episode resonated, like, comment, and share it with someone who needs the reminder: it’s never too late to choose yourself. 00:00 Introduction: From Prison Work to Life in Thailand 00:40 First Steps to Thailand: Discovering Phuket's Fitness Street 01:36 The Australia Chapter: Breaking Cultural Barriers 04:06 Overcoming Fear: Solo Travel and Finding Confidence 08:48 Building a Fitness Life in Australia 10:52 Working in a Male Prison: An Unexpected Career Move 14:04 COVID Lockdown: The Birth of an Online Business 15:10 The Move to Phuket: Building a Business in Paradise 21:07 Cultural Expectations vs Personal Freedom 29:32 Dating and Relationships in the Digital Nomad World 34:23 From Self-Doubt to Self-Love: Embracing Being Different 38:20 Safety, Misconceptions, and Life in Thailand 43:58 Final Thoughts: Taking Risks and Living Without Regrets #Phuket #ThailandLiving #ExpatLife #DigitalNomad #OnlineCoaching #FitnessCoach #SouthAsianWomen #Sikh #SoloTravel #Entrepreneurship #Reinvention #Podcast

Google Said Jamaica Was Dangerous, LinkedIn Said Otherwise: My Year in Kingston

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 04:08:37 -0000

What happens when a Korean girl who dreamed of being Oprah lands in Kingston, speaking zero patois, knowing nothing about Jamaica except what Google told her — and decides to stay longer than planned? 📚 To join the Parenting community: https://april-s-site-fcfd.thinkific.com In this warm and deeply personal episode of "Babes, How Did You Get Here?", April sits down with Herim — a South Korea-born UN Volunteer, content creator, and Korean food pop-up queen who: Googled her way into a UNESCO job in Jamaica Sold out 180 portions of bibimbap in an hour Learned to be proud of where she's from by living somewhere that celebrates itself unapologetically From leaving home at 14 to chase an Oprah-sized dream, to living in New Zealand, New York, and Boston, to choosing Jamaica over Fiji and Mongolia (even though it was her third choice), Herim opens up about belonging, identity, the $100 grocery bill that shocked her, and why she stopped using her English name after years of trying to fit in. We talk about: ✈️ Leaving South Korea at 14 because Oprah's story on a plane to Switzerland changed everything 🎓 High school in New Zealand, university in Boston, and always knowing she'd leave home 🇺🇸 Losing her US work visa after a year and returning to Korea in a quarter-life crisis 🌍 Applying to the UN Volunteers Program and picking Jamaica as her third choice — based on the job, not the country 📊 Googling "safety Jamaica", seeing the homicide stats, then talking to real people and deciding to see for herself 🛫 The 25-hour journey from her island in South Korea to Kingston (and why her mom thought Jamaica was in Africa) 🥥 Arriving in June during hurricane season: heat, humidity, and a $40 grocery bill for eggs, chicken, and coconut water 🛒 Shopping at Coronation Market, missing Korean food for the first time, and stuffing ingredients into her suitcase from the US 🍚 Hosting two sold-out Korean food pop-ups — 60, then 180 portions of kimchi fried rice, bibimbap, tteokbokki & hotteok How Jamaicans' pride in their culture made her more proud to be Korean 🎉 Her first Grand Gala: a stadium full of black, green, and gold, gospel, Bob Marley, and an energy she'd never felt before 🪪 Why she stopped using her English name "Henna" and started introducing herself as Herim — "clever forest", the name her Buddhist monk grandfather gave her 🏝️ Why she extended her stay in Jamaica — and why she's now moving to Bulgaria 💑 Long distance with her boyfriend in the US for three years — and how Jamaica actually made it easier 🌊 Her "postcard moment": alone on a Caribbean beach, relaxed and content, with big cities, diverse people and food swirling around her like an AI-generated dream This isn't just a UN volunteer story. It's about: Choosing to be called by your real name Learning to be proud of your culture by seeing how others celebrate theirs Realizing that home isn't always where you're born — sometimes it's where people make you feel like you belong It's about $1,500 grapes, sorrel with ginger, juicy patties over Tasty (yes, we're judging), and why Jamaicans wearing flags everywhere made a Korean girl finally understand what pride looks like. Whether you're thinking about working abroad, wondering what it's like to be Asian in Jamaica, or you just love stories of reinvention, resilience, and refusing to shrink your name to make others comfortable — this episode will inspire you, make you hungry, and maybe convince you to trust real people over Google stats. 💬 Tell us in the comments: Have you ever changed your name to fit in? Would you move to a country you knew nothing about for the right job? 👀 🎧 About the show – "Babes, How Did You Get Here?" Hosted by entrepreneur & former Miss Jamaica April Jackson, this podcast dives into real, unfiltered stories of people who left the script — swapping comfort for courage and choosing a life "elsewhere". New episodes every week from around the world. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction: A Korean Journey to the Caribbean 00:50 Leaving Home at 14: The Oprah-Inspired Dream 04:47 The US Work Visa Crisis and Returning to Korea 07:25 Finding Purpose: The Path to the United Nations 09:51 The Application: Fiji, Mongolia, or Jamaica? 12:27 The Decision: Safety, Distance, and Belonging 20:25 Arrival and First Impressions: Heat, Humidity, and Housing 25:21 Sharing Korean Culture Through Food 32:17 Life in Jamaica: Relationships, Carnival, and Community 34:47 Lessons Learned: Pride, Culture, and What's Next 35:46 From Henna to Herim: Reclaiming Identity 41:02 The Grand Gala: Understanding Jamaican Pride #howdidyougethere #AprilJackson #KoreanInJamaica #JamaicaLiving #ExpatLife #UNVolunteers #UNESCO #SouthKorea #KoreanFood #PopUpDinner #KingstonJamaica #DigitalNomad #CulturalIdentity #Bibimbap #Tteokbokki #GrandGala #JamaicanPride #AsianInJamaica #Reinvention #RealStories #Podcast #FindingHome #CoronationMarket #LifeAbroad #Bulgaria #CaribbeanLife #ThirdChoice

Dad Was Detroit's Biggest Drug Dealer, Now I'm a Digital Nomad: My Journey from Prison to Freedom

Sat, 03 Jan 2026 03:30:06 -0000

What happens when a kid from Detroit's roughest streets trades corporate Australia for Bangkok freedom, loses friends to violence, builds a six-figure recruitment business from an IHOP booth at midnight, and decides he'll never stop moving? 🌍💼 In this raw and deeply personal episode of 'Babes, How Did You Get Here?', April sits down with Agilon Wallace — a Detroit-born nomad, recruiter, and recruitment coach who has lived in Spain, the UK, Australia, and now calls Thailand home. From growing up with a father who was one of Detroit's biggest drug dealers, to losing his first love to suicide, to reinventing himself across a hundred countries, AJ opens up about grief, freedom, and why he refuses to let anyone else control his clock. We talk about: 🏚️ Growing up in the ghetto — gun violence, friends murdered, houses shot at, and why that was just "normal" 👨‍⚖️ His father: a major drug dealer who went to prison for 12–15 years and is now graduating with a PhD in law ♟️ Learning chess in prison visiting rooms — the only game he and his dad ever played 🎓 Escaping to Oxford University and waking up to castles, Bentleys, and a whole new world 🌍 Traveling broke across Europe — couch surfing, sleeping on beaches, and learning to love himself for the first time 💔 Leaving his girlfriend behind to chase Australia — and losing her to suicide years later 🇦🇺 Landing a $100K job fresh out of uni in Sydney while his classmates made half that at Deloitte 💼 Going bald from stress, quitting corporate life, and betting on himself 🥞 Working three jobs at once: bank teller by day, English teacher in the morning, recruiter at IHOP by night 💰 Closing his first $22K deal in an IHOP booth and crying — not because of the money, but because he proved he could do it alone 📍 Why he'll never move back to America — and why his mom's $600 electricity bill confirmed it 🇹🇭 Four years in Bangkok: the freedom, the convenience, the $2 meals, the free museums, and why it feels like a cheat code 🏠 Why he can't buy a house — because he doesn't know where "home" is 👨‍👩‍👧 Dating a Filipina online for four months before meeting, and why he wants his future kids homeschooled and trilingual ✈️ Passport strategy: why he wishes he'd gone to school in France or Germany for EU citizenship 🪦 Why he asks his mom about her funeral plans (and why she hates it) 🧳 His postcard moment: an endless road — because he's never going to stop This isn't just an expat story. It's about surviving trauma, rejecting the 9-to-5 trap, and refusing to let fear, grief, or geography define you. It's about choosing freedom over security, movement over settlement, and building a life where time is on your side. 💬 Tell us in the comments: Have you ever felt like you didn't fit in at home? And would you choose freedom over stability? 👀 — 🎧 About the show – "Babes, How Did You Get Here?" Hosted by entrepreneur & former Miss Jamaica, April Jackson, this podcast dives into the real, unfiltered stories of people who left the script — swapping comfort for courage, and choosing a life "elsewhere." New episodes every week from around the world. 📌 Subscribe for more stories on: • Expat life, digital nomad realities & building freedom abroad • Recruitment, remote work & entrepreneurship from anywhere • Detroit upbringing, violence, trauma & breaking generational cycles • Grief, loss & dating after tragedy • Australia vs America vs Thailand: cost of living, lifestyle & freedom • Passport strategy, visa hacks & global citizenship • Homeschooling abroad, raising multilingual kids & redefining family • Reinvention, resilience & refusing to settle 👍 If this episode moved you, like, comment and share it with someone who's been thinking about leaving — or just needs permission to choose themselves first. 00:00 Introduction: From Detroit to the World 08:29 Growing Up in Detroit: A Childhood Shaped by Contrast 20:46 The First Escape: Discovering Europe and Self-Love 28:21 Returning Home: Depression and the Struggle to Fit In 38:22 Love, Loss, and Moving to Australia 47:17 The Australian Chapter: Success, Stress, and Starting Over 50:52 The Leap into Entrepreneurship: Building a Business from IHOP 53:56 The Digital Nomad Life: Relationships, Travel, and Restlessness 57:05 Life Philosophy: Death, Freedom, and Living Without Regrets 1:08:56 Reflections on America vs Asia: The Cheat Code of Expat Life 1:18:03 Final Thoughts: The Endless Road Ahead #howdidyougethere #AprilJackson #BangkokLife #ThailandLiving #ExpatLife #DigitalNomad #DetroitToTheWorld #Recruitment #RemoteWork #Entrepreneurship #TravelAsia #BlackExpat #GriefAndHealing #Reinvention #FreedomAbroad #PassportStrategy #GlobalCitizen #LifeAbroad #RealStories #Podcast #NeverSettle #BuildingALifeAbroad #FromDetroitToBangkok

21, Broke & a New Mom: How I Manifested Time Freedom & a Life Traveling Thailand with My Family

Sun, 28 Dec 2025 05:58:42 -0000

Six-Foot-Six, Blonde & British: How I Became Jamaica's Most Unlikely Police Reform Hero

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 18:17:33 -0000

📚 For more details on my parenting method: https://april-s-site-fcfd.thinkific.com What happens when a London cop rises through the ranks at Scotland Yard, gets recruited to transform Jamaica's police force, and ends up staying for 20 years — building a life, a business, and a family in a country that wasn't his? 🇬🇧🇯🇲 In this powerful episode of 'Babes, How Did You Get Here?', April sits down with Mark Shields — former Deputy Commissioner of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, Scotland Yard veteran, and now a Kingston-based security entrepreneur who traded the policing career of a lifetime for Caribbean sunshine, political stability, and a whole new definition of home. From arriving in 2005 to overhaul a force riddled with corruption and fatal shootings, to walking away five years later to start his own company, Mark opens up about what it really takes to lead change in a foreign country, why he chose Jamaica over returning to the UK, and how a place he once found chaotic became the place he now defends fiercely. We talk about: 🚔 Leaving Scotland Yard to become Deputy Commissioner of the JCF — and why some colleagues thought he was crazy 📸 Arriving to find crime scenes photographed in black and white, evidence stored in wax-sealed paper bags, and zero accountability 🔧 Introducing exhibit bags, color photography, major investigation task forces, and Jamaica Eye surveillance 💔 The corruption, resistance, and weekly moments of "what the fuck am I doing here?" 🇯🇲 Why Jamaican people embraced him — even when senior officers didn't 👨‍👩‍👧 Getting divorced, remarrying a Jamaican attorney and broadcast journalist, and raising a daughter with an English accent in Kingston 💼 Walking away from policing in 2009 to start Shields Crime and Security — and why he finally became the entrepreneur he always wanted to be 🎥 Facial recognition cameras, vehicle tracking tech, and why Jamaica needs more than just "Jamaica Eye" 🚗 Why 400+ road deaths a year could be cut in half with traffic cameras — but the regulations still aren't in place 🇬🇧 Comparing UK chaos (five prime ministers since 2015, Brexit, economic disaster) to Jamaica's political and financial stability 🏡 Why his London friends are selling houses for £1.9 million — and why he can't afford to move back 🌍 The cultural differences: disorder vs. freedom, sexism, entitlement at Hillel, and why some expats love it here and others can't wait to leave 🗣️ Why he's protective of Jamaica's reputation — and why crime headlines are often irresponsible and misleading It's about political stability, economic growth, and why Jamaica in 2025 might actually be safer and saner than the UK. It's about raising a third-culture kid, defending a misunderstood island, and finding home in the last place you expected. Whether you've thought about moving to Jamaica, wondered what it's like to work in law enforcement abroad, or just want to hear a story about resilience, reinvention, and refusing to go back — this episode will challenge you, inspire you, and maybe make you rethink what "home" really means. 💬 Tell us in the comments: Have you ever stayed somewhere you only meant to visit? And would you choose Jamaica over London right now? 👀 🎧 About the show – "Babes, How Did You Get Here?" Hosted by entrepreneur & former Miss Jamaica, April Jackson, this podcast dives into the real, unfiltered stories of people who left the script — swapping comfort for courage, and choosing a life "elsewhere." 📌 Subscribe for more stories on: • Expat life, Jamaica living & building a life abroad • Law enforcement, crime, policing & justice reform • Entrepreneurship, security tech & starting a business in Jamaica • UK vs Jamaica: politics, economy & quality of life • Raising third-culture kids & navigating identity across borders • Cultural misconceptions, media narratives & defending Jamaica's reputation • Reinvention, resilience & choosing a new home. 00:00 From Scotland Yard to Jamaica: A Leap of Faith 05:13 First Impressions and Cultural Shock 09:50 Transforming the Jamaica Constabulary Force 11:43 Public Support and Professional Challenges 13:20 Daily Life and Cultural Adjustments 15:42 Deciding to Stay: Family and New Beginnings 16:55 Building a Business in Jamaica 18:37 Technology and the Future of Policing 22:33 The Reality of Crime and Safety in Jamaica 22:53 Political Stability and Economic Progress 25:24 Reflections on Home and Identity 38:46 Raising a Jamaican-British Daughter 47:19 Multiculturalism: Jamaica vs London 51:00 Misconceptions and the Real Jamaica 53:07 Quick Fire Questions and Final Thoughts #howdidyougethere #AprilJackson #MarkShields #JamaicaLiving #ExpatLife #ScotlandYard #JCF #LawEnforcement #KingstonJamaica #UKvsJamaica #LifeAbroad #PolicingAbroad #Entrepreneurship #SecurityTech #ThirdCultureKids #Reinvention #FindingHome #CaribbeanLife #JamaicaVsUK #RealStories #Podcast #PoliticalStability #CrimeAndSecurity #BuildingALifeAbroad

Fighting for My Rights in Cambodia: Why I'll Never Cry at Immigration Again

Sun, 21 Dec 2025 16:00:27 -0000

📚 For more details on my parenting method: https://april-s-site-fcfd.thinkific.com What happens when a Trinidadian producer trades Caribbean sunshine for Southeast Asian adventure, lands in Cambodia speaking zero Khmer, and builds a whole new life teaching kids from five different countries? 🇹🇹🇰🇭 In this raw and unfiltered episode of 'Babes, How Did You Get Here?', April sits down with Abigail — a Trinidad & Tobago-born educator and content creator who Googled "easiest place to get a job in Asia," booked a flight to Cambodia with zero knowledge of the country, and has been navigating the beautiful chaos ever since. From visa runs to Thailand, cockroach-infested apartments, and being told she's "too black" for modeling jobs, Abigail opens up about what it really takes to build a life in a country where nobody knows Jamaica exists, Bob Marley is "young people's music," and being dark-skinned comes with its own set of challenges. We talk about: 🌍 Googling "easiest place to get a job in Asia" and landing in Cambodia with no plan ✈️ Getting denied entry at Bangkok airport and nearly being sent home before even starting 📄 The visa struggle: border denials, tourist visas, and finally getting the paperwork right 🪳 Moving apartments to escape cockroaches and paying $350/month for peace of mind 👩‍🏫 Teaching kindergarten vs primary school — and why she'll never go back to two-year-olds 🗣️ Teaching Chinese, Vietnamese, Taiwanese & Korean kids who speak zero English 🎬 Building a content creation setup in a tiny apartment (and giving back the TV for wall space) 🌑 Colorism in Cambodia: being told "you're so dark" and why bleaching is normalized across Asia 📸 The modeling industry's dark side: $150 for black women vs $1,500 for white women — for the same "job" 💔 Dating in a small expat community where everyone knows everyone (and their ex) 🍜 Fermented fish, squat toilets, and why she still can't eat pork in a pork-heavy country 🇺🇸 Getting a US visa in Cambodia in one month vs four months in Trinidad 🏝️ Visiting provinces, buying ice lollies for village kids, and seeing a completely different Cambodia 💰 Fighting for her salary, standing up to schools, and refusing to be treated like she doesn't know her rights 🇨🇳 Why she wants to move to China (for the money) but keeps getting rejected (for her skin) 🌸 Her postcard moment: a temple by the sea in Jeju Island, Korea, with waves crashing and a Trinidadian flag in the corner. It's about standing up for yourself when schools try to cheat you, when agencies insult you, when immigration officers question you — and refusing to shrink. Whether you've thought about teaching abroad, wondered what life is really like in Cambodia, or just need to hear a story about resilience, self-advocacy, and repping your country no matter where you are — this episode will inspire you, challenge you, and maybe make you rethink what freedom and strength really look like. 💬 Tell us in the comments: Have you ever Googled your way into a new country? And would you stand up to a school the way Abigail did? 👀 — 🎧 About the show – "Babes, How Did You Get Here?" Hosted by entrepreneur & former Miss Jamaica, April Jackson, this podcast dives into the real, unfiltered stories of people who left the script — swapping comfort for courage, and choosing a life "elsewhere." New episodes every week from around the world. 📌 Subscribe for more stories on: • Teaching abroad, expat life & navigating visa struggles • Cambodia living, Southeast Asia realities & cultural differences • Colorism, racism & being black in Asia • Content creation, social media & building a side hustle while working full-time • Dating abroad, small expat communities & finding your people • Standing up for yourself, knowing your worth & fighting for your rights • Food culture, language barriers & adapting to life far from home 👍 If this episode resonated, like, comment and share it with someone who's been thinking about teaching abroad — or just needs a reminder that you don't have to accept less than you deserve. #howdidyougethere 00:00 From Trinidad to Cambodia: A Leap of Faith 02:51 Navigating Visas and Immigration Challenges 07:00 First Impressions and Cultural Adjustments 26:04 Teaching Life and Finding Work 34:58 The Color of Skin: Race and Prejudice in Southeast Asia 43:19 Daily Life: From Toilets to Cockroaches 47:58 Food Culture and Culinary Adventures 59:00 Building Community and Social Life 1:15:14 The Business of Beauty: Modeling and Exploitation 1:23:20 Dreams of China and Future Plans #AprilJackson #CambodiaLiving #TeachingAbroad #ExpatLife #LifeInAsia #TrinidadAndTobago #CaribbeanAbroad #TeachingInCambodia #BlackInAsia #Colorism #VisaStruggles #ContentCreator #TikTokAbroad #SoutheastAsia #PhnomPenh #ExpatTeacher #RealStories #Podcast #StandingUpForYourself #KnowYourWorth #CaribbeanExpat #TravelAsia #DigitalNomad

Why Maddie Refuses to Return Home: The Truth About Expat Life in Thailand

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 11:42:52 -0000

Navigating Life Abroad: From Tourist Tips to Finding Home in Thailand In this episode, our host discusses with Maddie Hart, known as Yagi in Thai Online, about her journey from a planned one-year stay in Thailand to a long-term residency. They delve into the cultural etiquette she learned, the challenges and growth she experienced living abroad, and how the pandemic played a significant role in her decision to stay. They also explore Maddie's perspective on building a life and community in Thailand, handling grief from afar, and finding a sense of belonging in a foreign land. Maddie shares insights on adapting to different cultural expectations, the nuances of dating as an expatriate, and maintaining familial and social relationships across continents. This heartfelt conversation offers valuable lessons for anyone considering a move abroad. 00:00 Introduction to Yagi and Her Thai Adventures 00:59 Yagi's Journey to Thailand 01:59 The Impact of the Pandemic 03:15 Adapting to Thai Culture 04:55 Building a Life in Thailand 06:03 Learning Thai and Community Integration 13:14 Family Reactions and Misconceptions 15:08 Challenges and Reflections 25:09 Navigating Friendships Abroad 25:45 Compromising Core Values for Friendship 26:53 Building a Strong Community 27:39 The Honeymoon Period of Moving Abroad 28:20 Struggles of Maintaining Long-Distance Relationships 31:56 The Challenge of Grieving from Afar 39:22 Balancing Identity Between Two Worlds 43:53 Dating Challenges in a Transient Place 48:24 Raising a Family Abroad 49:31 Unique Aspects of Living in Thailand

From UK to Phuket Janelle Brown on Soft Life, Digital Nomad Dreams & Living Beyond the Algorithm

Sun, 14 Dec 2025 11:06:18 -0000

What happens when a two-week Christmas vacation in Thailand turns into a seven-month soft life you never planned to leave? 🇹🇭✨ In this raw and honest episode of 'Babes, How Did You Get Here?', April sits down with Janelle Brown — a UK-born digital nomad, content creator, and social media coach who landed in Phuket on Christmas Day... and simply never went back. From lying on her CV to launch a marketing career, to building an online business that funds her life abroad, Janelle opens up about freedom, loneliness, viral hate comments, and what it really takes to leave the 9-to-5 behind and choose yourself on the other side of the world. We talk about: 🎄 Landing in Phuket on Christmas Day with no return ticket — and finding an apartment five days later 💔 Fresh out of a two-year relationship: how a breakup became the catalyst for freedom 💼 Building a social media marketing business since 2019 — and why Ibiza didn't work out the first time 📱 The accidental rise to content creator: one viral video and suddenly the Daily Mail is calling 🗣️ The reality of online hate: death threats, body shaming, and deleting a million-view video for your mental health 🌍 Why Phuket isn't as cheap as you think — and the misconceptions about living in Thailand 🚗 Surviving a car crash abroad with no family nearby and only Google Translate 🏝️ Tourist vs. reality: monkeys on cars, elephants in the street, and street food that isn't Instagram-ready 💸 Losing your biggest client while living abroad — and why you have to stay hungry every single day 👔 Why there are almost no jobs for foreigners in Thailand (and why that's actually a good thing) ✈️ Visa runs, DTV visas, and the five-year question: will she stay or will she go? 💕 Dating in Phuket: holiday romances, fake personas, and why she's not on the apps 🧠 The inner work you need to do before you move abroad — or go online 🌅 Slow mornings, no alarms, and redefining success outside the rat race 🌊 If her life was a postcard: sunset, sand, and a woman staring at the sea This isn't just a digital nomad story. It's about choosing freedom over fear, building a business that travels with you, and learning that escaping the UK doesn't mean you've escaped yourself. It's about the mental toll of being online, the isolation that comes with independence, and why gentrification, community, and respect matter more than your Instagram aesthetic. Whether you've thought about quitting your job, moving to Thailand, or just wondered what it's really like to build a life from scratch in a foreign country — this episode will challenge you, inspire you, and maybe make you rethink what freedom actually costs. 💬 Tell us in the comments: Would you move to a country you've never been to? And have you ever deleted content because of the hate? — 🎧 About the show – "Babes, How Did You Get Here?" Hosted by entrepreneur & former Miss Jamaica, April Jackson, this podcast dives into the real, unfiltered stories of people who left the script — swapping comfort for courage, and choosing a life "elsewhere." New episodes every week from around the world. 📌 Subscribe for more stories on: • Digital nomad life, online business & building freedom from anywhere • Mental health, self-development & doing the inner work before you move • Social media realities, content creation & dealing with online hate • Thailand expat life, Phuket living & Southeast Asia truths • Dating abroad, loneliness & finding your people far from home • Visa runs, cost of living & the logistics no one talks about 👍 If this episode resonated, like, comment and share it with someone who's been thinking about taking the leap — or just needs permission to choose themselves first. #HowDidYouGetHere #AprilJackson #DigitalNomad #PhuketLife #ThailandLiving #ExpatLife #OnlineBusiness #SocialMediaMarketing #ContentCreator #LifeAbroad #UKExpat #SoftLife #VisaRuns #DTVVisa #SelfDevelopment #Reinvention #FindingFreedom #TravelThailand #SoloFemaleTravel #RemoteWork #Entrepreneurship #MentalHealthAbroad #RealStories #Podcast

Pregnant, No English, New Country: How Jamaica Became Home for 18 Years

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 15:18:03 -0000

What happens when a Dominican lawyer trades courtrooms for Caribbean vibes, lands in Jamaica pregnant, speaking zero English, and builds a whole new life from scratch? In this heartwarming episode of 'Babes, How Did You Get Here?', April sits down with Isis — a Dominican Republic-born lawyer turned event planner who moved to Jamaica 18 years ago with her husband, a six-year-old son, and nothing but faith and Google searches about goats in the streets. From navigating language barriers and spicy patties to raising two boys with completely different cultural identities, Isis opens up about what it really takes to build a home in a country that wasn't yours — and why she wouldn't change a thing. We talk about: 🌍 The moment her husband asked: "Do you want to move to Jamaica?" — and she said yes without ever visiting 🤰 Arriving pregnant, no English, just vibes and a dream 🗣️ Learning a new language while raising kids in a foreign school system 🍛 Dominican food vs Jamaican food: why curry lobster made her cry (and why patties are life) 👶 Raising two sons with totally different relationships to Jamaica — one feels 100% Jamaican, the other… not so much 💼 From lawyer to stay-at-home mom to thriving event planner in Kingston 🎉 Why her 51st birthday became the launchpad for her business 👯‍♀️ Building a chosen family across cultures: Haitian, Mexican, Chilean, French, Jamaican, and beyond 💔 The hardest moment: losing her father while living abroad and grieving from a distance 🏝️ Why Blue Lagoon is paradise and the south coast has her heart 🎄 Christmas Eve Dominican style vs. Jamaican Christmas — and why she'll never shop on December 24th 🎭 Dominican Carnival (covered faces & choreography) vs. Jamaica Carnival (bikinis, feathers & vibes) ✈️ Her two rules for anyone thinking about moving to Jamaica This isn't just an expat story. It's about choosing joy over perfection, surrounding yourself with the right people, and learning to embrace a new home without comparing it to the old one. It's about motherhood across borders, grief across oceans, and finding your people in the most unexpected places. Whether you've ever thought about moving abroad, struggled to fit in somewhere new, or just love a good story about resilience, reinvention, and rum — this episode will make you laugh, cry, and maybe even crave a beef patty. 💬 Tell us in the comments: Have you ever moved to a new country? What was the hardest part? And Team Tasty or Team Juicy? 👀 — 🎧 About the show – "Babes, How Did You Get Here?" Hosted by entrepreneur & former Miss Jamaica, April Jackson, this podcast dives into the real, unfiltered stories of people who left the script — swapping comfort for courage, and choosing a life "elsewhere." New episodes every week from around the world. 📌 Subscribe for more stories on: • Life abroad, expat realities & building home in foreign places • Motherhood, identity & raising third-culture kids • Language barriers, cultural shock & finding your people • Reinvention, resilience & trusting the journey • Food, friendship & what it means to truly belong 👍 If this episode moved you, like, comment and share it with someone who needs to hear that home isn't always where you're born — it's where you choose to bloom. Chapters: 00:00 From Dominican Republic to Jamaica: A Leap of Faith 01:08 First Impressions and Early Challenges 03:08 Language Barriers and Finding Community 06:06 Raising Children Across Two Cultures 07:21 Food Culture Shock: Spice and Flavor 12:09 From Lawyer to Events Planner 13:58 Building a Business and Social Circle 23:06 The Hardest Part: Distance from Family 26:24 Advice for Future Expats 28:47 Favorite Places and Cultural Traditions #HowDidYouGetHere #AprilJackson #DominicanInJamaica #ExpatLife #JamaicaLiving #LifeAbroad #DominicanRepublic #CaribbeanLife #Motherhood #ThirdCultureKids #EventPlanner #KingstonJamaica #CulturalIdentity #Immigration #LatinasAbroad #RealStories #Podcast #Reinvention #FindingHome #ExpatMom #CaribbeanExpat #LanguageBarrier #GriefAbroad #ChoosingJoy

From 9–5 Drone to Bangkok Fitness King: @Darrenliufitness No-BS Journey

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 19:00:06 -0000

If you want to start join the parenting course: https://april-s-site-fcfd.thinkific.com 📖 Description Think all fried food is bad for you? Or that seed oils are poison? 💥 Darren Liu says you’ve been lied to. In this unfiltered conversation, Darren — a Canadian fitness coach turned Bangkok entrepreneur — tears apart the biggest diet myths and shares why “no food is bad food” might just change the way you eat forever. We cover: 🔥 The truth about seed oils and why they’re not the enemy 🍩 How to enjoy cookies, fried foods, and still lose fat 💸 Betting $25K on a mentor with only $5K in the bank 🥣 Launching a bone broth café in Thailand with zero restaurant experience 🏀 From basketball courts in Toronto to coaching celebs in Bangkok 👨‍👧 Balancing fitness, food, and fatherhood Whether you want sustainable weight loss, inspiration to take risks, or just a reality check on what’s actually healthy, this episode will hit hard. 00:00:00 – Intro: Meet Darren & Bangkok 00:03:12 – 8 years in Thailand 00:05:37 – Opening the bone broth café (Genius Bar) 00:09:38 – Seed oils & fat facts (rapeseed, trans fats) 00:11:53 – Body after weight loss: surgery, sag & fat cells 00:14:58 – $25K mentorship decision 00:18:27 – Going viral: 100,000 followers reel 00:21:37 – Bangkok energy: if you win, everybody wins 00:29:03 – Parenting: what my daughter eats at home 00:32:36 – Tinder success story in Bangkok 00:40:09 – Bangkok malls are mini-cities 00:51:57 – Major misconceptions about Thailand

Adopted at 12, Sent to Afghanistan… and Ended Up a World-Record Scuba Diver in Phuket

Sat, 29 Nov 2025 16:39:16 -0000

What happens when a kid who never quite felt at home is adopted, sent to war, burns out in the kitchen as an executive chef… and then decides to break a Guinness World Record underwater in Phuket? 🌊🔥 In this episode, Barrington Scott—Guinness World Record holder for the fastest scuba dive and full-time deep diver in Phuket, Thailand—sits down with April Jackson to unpack a life story that sounds completely unreal… but isn’t. We talk about: Growing up feeling “out of place” and being adopted as a child Why he joined the U.S. Marines and what Afghanistan really did to his mind and body The invisible weight of PTSD and coming back to “normal life” when nothing feels normal How he lied his way into a restaurant kitchen and rose to executive chef The moment he walked away from it all and chose the ocean instead Training his body and mind to break a Guinness World Record in scuba diving What life in Phuket is actually like beyond the postcard beaches How facing death repeatedly changed the way he now lives, loves and chooses peace If you’ve ever felt lost, stuck in the wrong life, or secretly dreamed of burning everything down and starting over abroad, this conversation will hit hard. 💬 Tell us in the comments: What part of Barrington’s journey shook you the most—the war, the kitchen grind, the world record, or the decision to start over in Thailand? — 🎧 About the show – “How Did You Get Here?” Hosted by entrepreneur & former Miss Jamaica, April Jackson, this podcast dives into the real, unfiltered stories of people who left the script—swapping comfort for courage, and choosing a life “elsewhere”. New episodes every week from around the world. 📌 Subscribe for more stories on: Reinvention & second chances Life abroad, expat realities & culture shock Trauma, healing and mental resilience Work, identity and building a new life from zero 👍 If this episode moved you, like, comment and share it with someone who needs proof that it’s not too late to change everything.

Deported, Broke, Alone: How Jamaica Became My Everything

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 22:12:54 -0000

From Montreal's Michelin Dreams to Kingston's Reality: A Chef's Raw Journey of Sacrifice, Survival & Starting Over In this powerful episode of 'Babes, How Did You Get Here?', April sits down with Chef Matthew — a celebrated Canadian chef who walked away from TV fame, two thriving restaurants, and financial security in Montreal to rebuild his entire life in Jamaica with just $60,000, a French bulldog, and Japanese knives. This isn't your typical expat story. It's raw, unfiltered, and deeply honest — about addiction, recovery, reinvention, and what it really takes to start over in a country that tests you at every turn. 🔪 From rehab to restaurants: How cooking saved his life (and became his new addiction) 💰 The sacrifice: Leaving two restaurants, a TV career & financial stability at 34 ✈️ Arrival in Jamaica: Detained at customs, partnership collapsed, sleeping with a machete 🍌 Surviving on nothing: Banana & oatmeal breakfasts, tomato sandwiches, $100 left in his pocket 🌀 Hurricane Beryl: The storm that saved him from deportation 📄 The bureaucracy: 8 months to get a work permit, navigating Jamaica's "fuckery" 🍽️ Building a reputation: His first dinner, $1,000 from mom, and earning his place 💔 Dating in Jamaica: Culture shock, rent requests, and redefining what he's looking for 🏡 Finding home: Why Kingston feels more like himself than Montreal ever did 🇯🇲 Earning your place: What it means to truly belong in Jamaica Matthew opens up about the toxic hospitality industry, his relationship with weed and alcohol, why he'll never open a high-end restaurant in Jamaica (yet), and how moving here forced him to redefine success, happiness, and what it means to feel at home. 00:00 Introduction: A Chef's Journey to Jamaica 01:50 From Rehab to the Kitchen 03:29 The Breaking Point in Montreal 05:02 Spiritual Awakening and the Decision to Move 15:52 The Catastrophic Arrival 21:35 Surviving on $100 and Oatmeal 31:19 The $1,000 Gamble 36:47 Jamaica's Produce and Creative Cooking 45:38 Finding Home in the Culture 1:02:08 The Dating Scene Disaster 1:16:22 Earning Your Place This is more than a chef's story. It's about choosing yourself when everything falls apart. It's about trusting the process even when you're down to your last dollar. It's about finding peace in discomfort and building a life that honors who you really are — not who you thought you should be. Whether you've ever thought about leaving everything behind, struggled with addiction and reinvention, or wondered what it takes to truly belong somewhere new — this episode will challenge you, inspire you, and remind you that sometimes the hardest journeys lead to the most honest versions of ourselves. 👉 Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more real-life stories of courage, transformation, and finding home far from where you started. #ChefLife #Jamaica #ExpatLife #HowDidYouGetHere #AprilJackson #Montreal #CanadianChef #StartingOver #Recovery #AddictionRecovery #KingstonJamaica #CaribbeanLife #Reinvention #ChefStories #RealStories #Podcast #LifeAbroad #Sacrifice #FindingHome #JamaicanCulture

Are You Japanese Enough? Harsh Truth behind the scenes

Sat, 22 Nov 2025 16:23:08 -0000

From Japan to Cambodia: Beauty, Identity & Finding Home Through Pageantry. In this captivating episode of 'Babes, How Did You Get Here?', April sits down with Megumi Wilson — Miss Japan Universe 2022 Second Runner-Up, world traveler, singer, actress, and creative force now thriving in Cambodia. As a former Miss Jamaica Universe herself, April brings a unique lens to this conversation about pageantry, purpose, and the courage it takes to build a life far from home. Meg opens up about her journey as a biracial woman raised in Japan, navigating identity, acceptance, and the pressure to be "Japanese enough." From growing up in Tokyo to competing on the Miss Universe stage with a pixie cut and zero pageant experience, her story is one of resilience, reinvention, and radical self-discovery. 🌏 Growing up biracial in Japan: navigating identity & acceptance👑 The pageant journey: training during COVID, not winning the crown & what came after✈️ Why Cambodia? The vision, the language, the leap of faith💄 Pageant myths vs reality: empowerment, objectification & what girls really need to know🎭 Working in media & entertainment in Southeast Asia🙏 Faith, signs & trusting the process when things don't go as planned 🌸 What being Japanese means to her — and why kindness is at the core This is more than a pageant story. It's about choosing yourself, listening to your inner knowing, and building a life that honors both your heritage and your dreams — even when the path isn't clear. Whether you've ever thought about pageantry, moved abroad, or struggled with identity and belonging, this episode will inspire you to trust your journey and show up as your fullest self. 👉 Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more real-life stories of courage, culture, and transformation. #MegumiWisolson #MissJapanUniverse #HowDidYouGetHere #AprilJackson #PageantLife #MissUniverse #BiracialIdentity #JapaneseAmerican #ExpatLife #Cambodia #PhnomPenh #LifeAbroad #BeautyPageants #Empowerment #FaithJourney #CulturalIdentity #RealStories #podcast

Black in Thailand: Smiles, Stereotypes… and the Ugly Truth

Sun, 16 Nov 2025 15:00:06 -0000

🌏 What does it really mean to be Black in Thailand? In this powerful episode of ‘How Did You Get Here?’, Kikombe shares the reality of being an African expat in Phuket – from racism and stereotypes to finding safety, family and a new sense of home. In this powerful conversation, Kikombe — an African teacher, storyteller, and father — opens up about his life in Phuket. From facing racism and stereotypes during his job search, to the culture shock of moving from Tanzania to Thailand, he shares the raw reality of being Black abroad. 🇹🇿 Growing up in Kenya and teaching in Tanzania ✈️ The challenges of getting work in Thailand as an African 🤝 Finding community, safety, and a new sense of home in Phuket ❤️ Identity, family, and raising mixed-race children abroad 🌍 How racism, culture, and belonging shaped his journey This is more than a travel story — it’s about resilience, identity, and what it truly means to find “home” far from where you were born. If you want to start join the parenting course: https://april-s-site-fcfd.thinkific.com/products/courses/ai-placeholder 👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe if you want more inspiring real-life stories from around the world. 00:00 Intro - Who is The Kikombe 00:07:15 – Life in Tanzania: safety, culture & Kilimanjaro views 00:13:40 – First impressions of Thailand: kindness & cultural shock 00:18:55 – Racism & job struggles: “passport problems” in interviews 00:25:49 – First arrival in Thailand: a sea of yellow & food culture 00:31:39 – Heat, neighbors & small acts of kindness 00:35:16 – Homecoming tears: when Dad said “My son” 00:45:22 – Loneliness abroad & raising kids with mixed identities 00:49:51 – Leaving Bangkok: fast life vs. Phuket’s calmer path 00:57:33 – Football in Phuket: sandals to shin pads 01:03:53 – Cost of living: Phuket housing & the kitchen test 01:05:33 – Toilet culture shock: adapting to the Thai hose 01:09:39 – Raising kids in Phuket: beaches, sports & schools 01:22:06 – Racism & identity: defining the “Black tax” 01:40:54 – Does being a Black man change life in Thailand? 02:20:34 – Kenyan community in Thailand — 600 strong #BeingBlackInThailand #HowDidYouGetHere #AprilJackson #BlackInThailand #BlackAbroad #BlackExpat #ExpatLife #Thailand #Phuket #Racism #Stereotypes #AfricanDiaspora #RealStories #Podcast #LifeAbroad