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Episode 11: "It Takes Two to Tango" with Chaz Samuel

Release Date: 11/29/2024

S2E10: "A Marble in Honey" with Nathan Simmons | PART 2

Feature Friday

Our guest for this month's Feature Friday is Nathan Simmons. Nathan is an actor of compelling presence and range, best known for his role as Elgin Williams on the supernatural horror-mystery series FROM. Hailing from the historical Black communities of East and North Preston in Nova Scotia, Simmons brings both authenticity and nuance to his craft. He graduated from the acting program at the Fountain School of the Arts in 2017, laying a solid foundation in theatre before making the transition to screen. Early in his career, Simmons distinguished himself in Canadian theatre,...

S2E10: "A Marble in Honey" with Nathan Simmons | PART 1

Feature Friday

S2E9: "Turning Impulsivity into Possibility" with Damini Awoyiga

Feature Friday

Our guest for this month's Feature Friday is Damini Awoyiga. Damini is a student, an activist, a spoken word poet, and the former Halifax’s Youth Poet Laureate (2023-2024). Damini is the founder of Damini Creatives and the Afro-Indigenous Book Club, a book club created to encourage young people to read books written by Black and Indigenous authors and to share the realities and experiences of Black and Indigenous Canadians. Damini was the Junior Artist in Residence for Wellness Within, a community organization working for reproductive justice, prison abolition, and health equity;...

S2E8: "All Things in Time" with Tyree Haley

Feature Friday

Our guest for this month's Feature Friday is Tyree Haley. Tyree Haley is a model, actor, and fitness coach with a deep passion for helping others unlock their full potential. Now based in Thailand, he runs a wellness retreat on the island of Koh Tao and teaches English part-time, supporting Thai locals in his community. Originally from Halifax, Tyree previously worked as an African Nova Scotian recruiter and served on the board of the Delmore “Buddy” Daye Learning Institute (DBDLI). He has also walked in New York, Paris and most recently Thailand Fashion Week respectively. Ty lives by the...

S2E7: The Future of Black Land Ownership Starts Here | Shekara Grant & Curtis Whiley

Feature Friday

Our guests for this month’s double feature is Shekara Grant and Curtis Whiley! Shekara Grant has ancestral ties to both Cherry Brook and Weymouth Falls, two of over 50 historic African Nova Scotian communities in this province. She graduated from Dalhousie University with combined honours in Sociology and French and a Certificate in Intercultural Communications in 2019. In 2023, Shekara founded the Weymouth Falls Community Land Trust, a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide a platform for a vibrant community voice that stewards the land of Weymouth Falls by intersecting...

S2E6: “If You’re Committed to the Legislation, What Are You Doing to Get There?” | A Conversation on Environmental Racism and the Fight for Justice with Vanessa Hartley

Feature Friday

Our guest for this months Feature Friday is Vanessa Hartley! Vanessa Hartley is an 8th-generation Black Loyalist descendant, born and raised in Shelburne, Nova Scotia. Her work and volunteer efforts demonstrate a deep commitment to Black history, Community Engagement, and Environmental Justice within her home province. Hartley began her career at the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre in 2019, serving as Program Coordinator and Visitor Experience Supervisor, where she developed a love for Black history and Community Engagement. After completing her education, she returned to her...

S2E5: "Find Your Tribe" with Alfred Burgesson

Feature Friday

Our guest for this month's Feature Friday is Alfred Burgesson! Alfred Burgesson is an entrepreneur committed to driving inclusive innovation, economic growth, and social impact. Recognized as a 30 Under 30 Innovator and Top 50 CEO by Atlantic Business Magazine, a Changemaker by Globe and Mail’s Report on Business, and the recipient of the Public Policy Forum 2025 Emerging Leader Award. He is the Founder & CEO of Tribe Network, a thriving community for racialized entrepreneurs and innovators, providing access to capital, coaching, and networks to help them start, build, and scale...

S2E4: "Take the Stairs" with DeRico Symonds

Feature Friday

Our guest for this month's Feature Friday is DeRico Symonds! DeRico Symonds is a 8th generation African Nova Scotian currently employed with the African Nova Scotian Justice Institute as the Director of Engagement and Justice Initiatives. DeRico Symonds is the founder and President of Ignite Consulting, as well as a founding member of two non-profit organizations, ACCE (Arts, Culture, Community, Economics) and GC902 (Game Changers 902), a social justice advocacy group based in Halifax. DeRico has been awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Century of Service Award, the Irving & Ruth Pink...

S2E3: "More Than Just an Athlete" with Daneesha Provo

Feature Friday

Our guest for this month's Feature Friday episode is Daneesha Provo! Daneesha’s journey has been all about growth, purpose, and impact, and she is excited to see where it takes her next. Right now, Daneesha is taking some time away from basketball to focus on family, enjoy life, and really be present in this chapter. After years of dedicating herself to the game, playing at the highest levels, traveling the world, and pushing through the ups and downs, she’s embracing a new balance. One of her biggest priorities is building her basketball academy. She’s always believed in using...

S2E2: "Let Your Light Shine No Matter Who Gets Blinded by It" with Angelina Simmonds

Feature Friday

Our guest for this month's Feature Friday, as well as first guest of season 2, is Angelina Simmonds! From North Preston, Angelina spent much of her early life as an athlete including basketball and competitive swimming. Competing provincially and nationally, and holding records in Nova Scotia. Driven to uplift women and girls through empowerment and confidence-building, Angelina founded Black Girls Pillow Talk (BGPT) in 2023 to create nurturing and encouraging spaces for young Black girls to share their lived experiences, prompt the healing of intergenerational...

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This episode is brought to you by Burchell Wickwire Bryson LLP, a group of common sense lawyers whose clients appreciate our approachable style, practical advice and broad range of expertise.

To learn more about what they do, head to their website: www.bwbllp.ca/ or call them at (902) 423-6361.

Our guest for this month's Feature Friday is Chaz Samuel! Chaz Samuel was born and raised on the island of Antigua. He moved to Halifax in 2018 to pursue a Bachelor’s of Commerce at Saint Mary’s University. From a very young age he fell in love with basketball. He played collegiate basketball at Tyler Junior College in Texas, USA and proudly represented the national basketball team for Antigua.

His love for the sport has grown into a passion for helping young athletes reach their full potential. In 2019, he co-founded No Days Off Apparel Inc., a clothing company created to motivate and inspire people to stay committed to their goals. In 2024, he expanded this vision to No Days Off Fitness Inc., the first and only private basketball facility in Nova Scotia. NDOFitness Inc. consists of a team of dedicated coaches who are passionate about providing a high-quality basketball experience that fosters teamwork, discipline, and dedication. It offers customized training programs, clinics, camps and birthday parties with the overall goal of creating a safe and inclusive space for every athlete to reach their full potential, on and off the court.

Additionally, NDOFitness Inc. strives to showcase the basketball talent in Nova Scotia through social media. Chaz has grown his Instagram account @ndo.fitnesss to over 200,000 followers with the intention to put Nova Scotian athletes on the basketball map. He is constantly finding innovative ways to contribute and giveback to the basketball culture.

It was a pleasure hosting the inspiring Chaz Samuel, Shayna Court-Samuel, and their daughter for our podcast episode this month!

Show notes:

00:00 - Introduction to Chaz and Shayna

6:35 - The origins of No Days Off Fitness

13:30 - How Chaz and Shayna share their entrepreneurial journey together

15:50 - How Shayna’s journey has led her to medical school and beyond

21:15 - Chaz and Shayna on parenthood

27:05 - No Days Off Mentality

32:55 - Advice from Chaz on how to build a business successfully

36:40 - NDO’s business structure

41:40 - Three things an athlete needs to be successful

43:15 - What do Chaz and Shayna think is the biggest takeaway from their entrepreneurial journey so far