When Nenna decided to move her family to Canada, she left with an open mind and heart. Three years later, she's the founder of two businesses, a certified AI consultant, and a community-builder who has trained over a dozen immigrant entrepreneurs!

In this episode of The Blackout Podcast, Nenna shares how she got her start: from her father's lessons about running toward storms, to her Igbo entrepreneurial roots. She explains why she launched Graph AI Agency to help businesses automate repetitive tasks like scheduling, lead generation, and content creation, freeing up entrepreneurs to focus on family and life.

This is a conversation about resilience, generosity, and the power of sharing what you've learned.

Learn more @i.am.nnenna

Jéa is a Toronto-born artist of Jamaican and Native Canadian roots, now based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Her sound is raw, soulful, and honest, blending smooth R&B textures with playful storytelling and emotional depth.

Influenced by artists like Snoh Allegra, Jaz Karis, and Alex Isley, she explores themes of heartbreak, hope, manifestation, and love through her music. Since debuting in 2023, she’s released a series of captivating singles, performed at multiple festivals, and recently dropped her debut EP in October 2025.

With more music on the way in the new year, Jéa continues to grow as an artist dedicated to connection, vulnerability, and creating music that can be felt on a deeper level.

Find out more @jeantheartist

Renée Babin is a multidisciplinary professional who grounds her work in compassion, intentionality, and connection. With a focus on holistic approaches to law, community, and wellbeing, she is committed to empowering individuals and organisations to move with clarity and purpose.

Her commitment to equity, advocacy, and community engagement shapes both her personal and professional approach. Renée has been teaching yoga since 2021. With ongoing learning, yoga lends her personal fortitude and teaches others the benefits of wellbeing as a community practice. Deeply committed to community-led change, Renée serves on advisory committees with Halifax Regional Municipality and Correctional Service Canada, contributing to initiatives that advance equity, inclusion, and civic engagement.

She is concurrently completing a Master of Public Administration alongside her Juris Doctor at Dalhousie University and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from Saint Mary's University. Her experience includes serving as a program coordinator in women’s health services, where she contributed to community-based resource development grounded in safety and accessibility. As a business advisor, she has supported organisations in policy development and risk mitigation, strengthening governance and operational effectiveness.

Outside of her professional work, Renée enjoys hiking with her dog, developing new projects, and exploring new places through cultural immersion.

More @renelaurenne

Niyi Adeogun is a multidisciplinary artist, creative director, and founder of CXRE Labs, a creative studio exploring the intersection of art, design, and technology. His work spans visual art, brand identity, immersive experiences, and experimental design, often using symbolism and storytelling to create pieces that feel both personal and thought-provoking.

Originally from Lagos, Nigeria, and now based in Canada, Niyi’s practice is rooted in curiosity, emotion, and innovation. He is passionate about creating work that not only looks compelling but also invites deeper reflection on identity, connection, faith, and the human experience.

Through his studio and personal practice, Niyi continues to build projects that blur the lines between disciplines, bringing together art, design, and emerging technology in ways that feel meaningful, accessible, and alive.

Check him out @niyiadeogun

East Coast Sessions is a Black female-owned and led music platform dedicated to showcasing local musical talent across the East Coast of Canada. Our mission is to empower artists to confidently share their craft while providing an affordable, professional, and supportive space for growth.

Unlike traditional music video services, East Coast Sessions offers a full creative experience tailored to each artist. We guide artists through a collaborative process to help them prepare for their session and highlight their performance in the best way possible. After the session, we provide a content plan designed to help artists share their work with a wider audience and grow their presence online, giving them tools to build a strong and authentic brand.

East Coast Sessions addresses a critical gap in the East Coast music scene, where many talented artists struggle with visibility, branding, and opportunities to perform regularly. Our platform gives artists a space to develop their confidence, connect with audiences, and gain exposure. Beyond supporting artists, we also partner with local businesses to create collaborative opportunities that increase their visibility as well.

Dawn A. Dean - Co-Founder & Director/Editor

Paris Da Breo - Co-Founder & Head of Operations

Check them out @eastcoastsessions_

Daramfon Morgan is a Canadian Nigerian visual artist and the founder of DCM ART CREATIONS, based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. His work explores identity, culture, and memory through a bold visual language that blends African heritage, Caribbean influence, and contemporary expression. Working primarily in digital painting, his pieces are known for their rich colour, layered symbolism, and ability to tell stories that resonate across the diaspora.

Through collections such as Faces of the Diaspora, We Carry the Fire and We Wear Our Stories, Daramfon uses art as a tool for storytelling, education, and connection. His work reflects the lived experiences, traditions, and evolving narratives of Black communities, while also pushing into modern spaces such as public art, exhibitions, and digital platforms. His practice sits at the intersection of culture and innovation, with a growing focus on art licensing, murals, and large-scale visual storytelling.

Beyond his studio practice, Daramfon brings a unique perspective shaped by his professional work in social development and community systems. This influence shows up in the intention behind his work, which often centres on visibility, belonging, and long-term impact. Whether through exhibitions, collaborations, or public installations, his goal is to create work that not only captures attention but leaves a lasting impression.

Check him out @lifecover_art

Zuzu, an author, speaker, percussionist, and photographer, transforms adversity into empowerment.

After breaking his neck, Zuzu was fully paralysed and told he’d never walk again. With an unwavering belief in God and in himself, he has defied the odds by overcoming his paralysis through a variety of action-centric modalities, meditation, and a plant- based diet.

Embodying a “Light Warrior” mindset, he now helps others transcend pain, awaken their purpose, and live a self-actualised life.

“Life is meant to be lived to the fullest… now, in this present moment.” - Zuzu Ramia

Check him out @zuzu_ramia

Raised and based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Zoe believes in the power of the voice to create community through song, and is constantly learning from her students and colleagues. Zoe holds a full studio of amateur and professional singers, and focuses her teaching on CCM pedagogy.

Zoe has coached professional singers and actors, post-secondary and post-graduate students and other vocal coaches. Zoe holds a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance (Jazz Studies) as well as a Masters of Music (Composition). Zoe holds certificates in Somatic Voicework - The Lovetri Method (Baldwin Wallace University) and Acoustic Vocal Pedagogy (University of Michigan). Zoe uses a holistic approach to teach singing that encourages singers to connect mind, body and voice together to reach their fullest potential as artists. Zoe uses science-informed pedagogy in her teaching that motivates singers to challenge pre-conceived notions about what the human voice is capable of, and what makes a ‘good’ singer.

In addition to her private vocal studio, Zoe is the director of the Atlantic Contemporary Vocal Institute. Zoe holds current teaching positions in the music departments of St. Francis Xavier University, The Fountain School of Performing Arts at Dalhousie University, and Nova Scotia Community College where her roles include private voice instruction, ensemble direction, and lecturing in songwriting, music theory and history. Zoe also has a popular online training program that delivers singing training opportunities at an affordable cost.

Zoe is an accomplished jazz and contemporary vocalist and pianist, songwriter and arranger, who has performed across Canada and the United Kingdom as a solo artist as well as in a variety of contemporary ensembles. Zoe has won and been nominated for East Coast Music Awards and Music Nova Scotia Awards for her solo and collaborative recording projects.

Learn more @acvinstitute