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A coworking space can be a desk, or it can be a lifeline. We’re talking with Johanne Brierre, a Haitian American community builder who helped scale Brooklyn Commons and then took a bold leap during COVID to launch NY Beauty Suite, a private beauty suite model built for stylists, nail techs, aestheticians, massage therapists, and other wellness entrepreneurs who couldn’t get a fair shot at traditional leases.

We get into the real story behind the sharing economy in Brooklyn, from noticing early demand for smaller, more flexible meeting spaces to building a community-first coworking culture in Flatbush and beyond. Joanne breaks down what makes community workspace powerful: proximity, trust, referrals, and the simple fact that you’re no longer building alone. If you’ve ever felt like your neighbourhood has resources you hear about too late, this conversation speaks directly to that gap.

Then we go deep on the NY Beauty Suite concept: suite sizes, 24-hour access, turnkey amenities, and why post-pandemic clients want privacy and a more personal experience. We also talk mindset and business infrastructure, including programming, office hours with experts, getting your LLC and paperwork right for grants and loans, and using content tools like a podcast studio and photography space to grow your brand.

NY Beauty Suites - Instagram | NYbeautysuites.com | hi@nybeautysuites.com

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The pandemic didn’t just change schedules, it changed family roles, nervous systems, and the way kids act when they feel trapped, scared, or out of control. We sit down with Dr. Anne-Louise Lockhart, a pediatric psychologist, author, and parent coach originally from St Croix in the US Virgin Islands, to talk about what parenting during a pandemic really looks like for Caribbean and West Indian families, especially when you’re working from home, managing remote school, and trying to keep everyone steady.

We get into why so many children are pushing boundaries right now, and why that push-pull is often a signal, not a character flaw. Dr. Lockhart breaks down how to look behind behaviour, stop turning every moment into discipline, and use more grace when families have less support than usual. We also tackle screen time limits with a realistic lens: why too much tech can dysregulate kids (sleep, mood, tantrums), and how routines, breaks, and non-screen play help restore balance.

One of the biggest takeaways is a better script for hard moments. Dr. Lockhart explains why asking kids “Why did you do that?” backfires, and offers an emotion coaching approach you can use immediately: listen, reflect, empathise, validate, then collaborate on solutions. We also talk child-centred, uninterrupted play as a powerful tool for connection, emotional regulation, and reducing resistance, plus how to unlearn parts of old-school parenting without losing respect in the home.

If you’re a single parent, a new caregiver, or simply exhausted, this conversation delivers practical parenting strategies grounded in child psychology and cultural reality. Subscribe, share this with a parent who needs it, and leave a review with the one idea you’re trying this week.

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1. Donate: If you believe in our mission and want to help amplify Caribbean voices, consider making a donation.
2. Get Merch: Support Carry On Friends by purchasing merchandise from our store.

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A Breadfruit Media Production

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Afrofuturism gets treated like a buzzword, but Vianca helps us see it as something much more grounded: a creative practice that lets Caribbean people and the wider African diaspora imagine a future without external control. From her work at the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute (CCCADI) in East Harlem, she shows how arts and culture can move racial and social justice forward, not just talk about it.

We get specific about cultural equity, what it actually means, and why it matters. Vianca breaks down how culture is restricted through stigma, policy, and uneven funding for cultural institutions, and why that puts Caribbean cultural preservation at risk. We also connect the dots between reclamation of African retentions and the ability to envision a liberated future, from Haitian Independence to today’s cultural movements.

We also talk about the “post-technology” question: where do folkloric dance and music fit in a TikTok world? Bianca argues tech can be a bridge, while intentional choices by adults ensure kids inherit more than trends, they inherit lineage.

If you care about Caribbean American identity, decolonization, Afrofuturism, and the future of Afro-Caribbean traditions, press play. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

Reference: Puerto Rico's Bomba: A Musical Revolution (Strictly Facts Podcast)

Connect with Viannca Velez - Instagram | Website | Cultura Lovers

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Support How to Support Carry On Friends

1. Donate: If you believe in our mission and want to help amplify Caribbean voices, consider making a donation.
2. Get Merch: Support Carry On Friends by purchasing merchandise from our store.

Connect with @carryonfriends - Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
A Breadfruit Media Production