Our guests for this month's Feature Friday are Kye Clayton and Jody Upshaw.

Kye Clayton is a Halifax-based artist, producer, and certified audio engineer pushing the sound of Nova Scotia forward. As Manager of Youth Power and Innovation at Hope Blooms, he empowers youth through music and mentorship. A two-time ANSMA Award winner — earning the Lieutenant Governor Award and Portia White Youth Award — Kye has performed at the ECMAs, Nova Scotia Music Week, and Magnetic World Festival, and opened for Xzibit. Through his collective LDN and upcoming project Live by Faith, Not by Sight, Kye continues to inspire creativity and community growth.

Jody Upshaw is a radiant force of emotional truth and feminine power whose brand essence lives at the intersection of beauty and battle, vulnerability and victory. With every lyric, every look, every live moment, she creates a space for women to rise, release, and reclaim their power.

From her single being featured on the hit HBO series Euphoria to being named Music Nova Scotia's 2022 Artist in Residence. earning multiple East Coast Music Award nominations, and taking home the African Nova Scotian Music Association's Rising Star Award, Jody has captivated audiences with her signature blend of raw vulnerability and ethereal glamour. Jody embodies liberation through art. Her mantra to #FreeTheGirls from toxic narratives and limiting beliefs isn't just personal - it's communal.

Beyond her artistry, Jody is passionate about empowering the next generation of musicians, particularly within the African Nova Scotian community. She envisions using her industry experience and authentic understanding of the creative process to provide mentorship, strategic guidance, and professional development support to emerging artists navigating their own journeys toward artistic and commercial success.

It was a pleasure hosting Kye and Jody in part 2 of their episode!

Show notes:

00:11 – Roots & heritage

02:40 – "What does community mean to you?"

04:34 – Social media awareness + protecting your mind

06:52 – Being a positive representative (even when others aren't)

11:35 – Giving back "with a real heart"

12:08 – Jody on community + the legacy of Three Mile Plains

17:03 – Finding community beyond where you live

21:12 – Music community + chasing purpose professionally

23:07 – What's next: projects + release plans

25:08 – Ten years from now: Kye's vision + leadership

33:50 – Jody's 10-year vision

35:12 – Career highlights

39:41 – How "Jody + Kye" started

48:58 – One word check out with Jody and Kye!

Our guests for this month's Feature Friday are Kye Clayton and Jody Upshaw.

Kye Clayton is a Halifax-based artist, producer, and certified audio engineer pushing the sound of Nova Scotia forward. As Manager of Youth Power and Innovation at Hope Blooms, he empowers youth through music and mentorship. A two-time ANSMA Award winner — earning the Lieutenant Governor Award and Portia White Youth Award — Kye has performed at the ECMAs, Nova Scotia Music Week, and Magnetic World Festival, and opened for Xzibit. Through his collective LDN and upcoming project Live by Faith, Not by Sight, Kye continues to inspire creativity and community growth.

Jody Upshaw is a radiant force of emotional truth and feminine power whose brand essence lives at the intersection of beauty and battle, vulnerability and victory. With every lyric, every look, every live moment, she creates a space for women to rise, release, and reclaim their power.

From her single being featured on the hit HBO series Euphoria to being named Music Nova Scotia's 2022 Artist in Residence. earning multiple East Coast Music Award nominations, and taking home the African Nova Scotian Music Association's Rising Star Award, Jody has captivated audiences with her signature blend of raw vulnerability and ethereal glamour. Jody embodies liberation through art. Her mantra to #FreeTheGirls from toxic narratives and limiting beliefs isn't just personal - it's communal.

Beyond her artistry, Jody is passionate about empowering the next generation of musicians, particularly within the African Nova Scotian community. She envisions using her industry experience and authentic understanding of the creative process to provide mentorship, strategic guidance, and professional development support to emerging artists navigating their own journeys toward artistic and commercial success.

It was a pleasure hosting Kye and Jody in part 1 of their episode!

Show notes:

00:00 - Introduction to Kye and Jody

02:54 - Planting seeds for the next generation

03:30 - Jody's early grind & family influence

06:40 - Representation, radio, and Nova Scotia pride

12:20 - Kye's path from hoops to hip-hop

13:42 - First songs, LDN collective & DIY come-up

19:10 - Grief, growth & taking music seriously

20:01 - From high school buzz to real momentum

25:01 - Writing, freestyling & creative process

28:14 - Choosing the positive path

31:34 - Jody's sound, R&B lane & "Free the Girls"

37:02 - Collaboration, confidence & beating imposter syndrome

44:22 - Creating for yourself vs. your audience

47:45 - Outro, contests & community

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, earning recognition and accolades for his stage work in Halifax and beyond.

His screen credits include appearances in the legal drama Diggstown, the sketch comedy series This Hour Has 22 Minutes, and independent films like Black Cop.

In FROM, Simmons' character Elgin arrives in the enigmatic township after having premonitions that forewarn the arrival of the town's grim dangers. His portrayal combines youthful urgency with an underlying sense of dread, capturing the show's tension between the ordinary and the unfathomable.

Off-screen, Simmons is also a musician, often performing live in Halifax venues — a testament to his multi-dimensional artistic instincts. With a bright future ahead, he continues to cultivate roles that challenge him and expand his profile across North American productions.

It was a pleasure to host this month's Feature Friday episode with the muti-talented Nathan Simmons!

Show notes:

00:00 - Nathan on his acting style

02:07 - You're Never Fully Ready for Success"

03:31 - Trade-Offs, Missed Gigs & Success as Bubbles

05:11 - Self-Development & Working for Tomorrow

08:34 - Video Games, Gamified Storytelling & Coding

11:29 - Dungeons & Dragons, Storytelling & Black Creativity

16:36 - Hustling on Set: Locations, Crew Work & Learning Film

20:30 - Assistant Work for Sterling K. Brown

23:01 - Film Budgets, Long Days & Why Details Matter

27:04 - From, I'm Black & 0 to 60 – Black Excellence on Screen

32:25 - Nathan on Collective Producing

36:15 - One Word Checkout with Nathan!

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, earning recognition and accolades for his stage work in Halifax and beyond.

His screen credits include appearances in the legal drama Diggstown, the sketch comedy series This Hour Has 22 Minutes, and independent films like Black Cop.

In FROM, Simmons' character Elgin arrives in the enigmatic township after having premonitions that forewarn the arrival of the town's grim dangers. His portrayal combines youthful urgency with an underlying sense of dread, capturing the show's tension between the ordinary and the unfathomable.

Off-screen, Simmons is also a musician, often performing live in Halifax venues — a testament to his multi-dimensional artistic instincts. With a bright future ahead, he continues to cultivate roles that challenge him and expand his profile across North American productions.

It was a pleasure to host this month's Feature Friday episode with the muti-talented Nathan Simmons!

Stay tuned for part 2 coming November 13th!!

Show notes:

00:00 - Introduction to Nathan Simmons

01:57 - Grade-3 heartbreak: skipping the Annie audition & sensing the calling

06:15 - University pivot: sciences → theatre

13:17 - Imagination as a superpower

16:13 - Presence & prep work

18:22 - Nathan's acting technique

27:10 - A teacher's nudge

40:32 — "Marble in honey": Philip Akin's metaphor for truth in performance

45:41 — On FROM: good people, taking your space, humility vs. knowing your worth

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; CBC's artist-in-residence for the Michaelle Jean Foundation Canadian Black Summit held in July 2022, where she hosted an interactive community poetry booth. She is also a freelance journalist for CBC Mainstreet. She has also enjoyed being a board member of the Nova Scotia Girls Institute for Resource and Learning (NS GIRL), and she is a member of the HRM Youth Advisory Committee. Damini has received multiple awards, including the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Community Hero Award. She recently spoke at her first TEDx Talk at TEDx Argyle about the power of creativity, becoming the youngest TEDx Argyle speaker at the age of 18. Damini loves to dance, write, create, sing, and perform poetry about social justice issues she cares deeply about.

It was a pleasure to host this month's Feature Friday episode with the inspiring Damini Awoyiga!

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 motto "All things in time"—a reflection of his belief that with patience, perseverance, and passion, anything is possible. He's deeply connected to his ancestral roots and is committed to amplifying Nova Scotia's presence on the world stage.

It was a pleasure to host this month's Feature Friday episode with the inspiring Tyree Haley!

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 opportunities for growth and development with historical preservation of its cultural identity and assets. In addition to her work with the land trust, Shekara is pursuing a Masters in Sociology where she has been able to read and write primarily about African Nova Scotian and Indigenous relationships to property, land and justice. Her thesis will take a Black sociological approach to understanding and describing African Nova Scotian cultural identity beyond race and locality.

Curtis Whiley is a sixth-generation African Nova Scotian from Upper Hammonds Plains. With over 13 years in public service, he currently serves as Director of the Land Titles Initiative. Curtis holds a Bachelor of Commerce and an MBA in Social Enterprise Leadership. As the founder of the Upper Hammonds Plains Community Land Trust, Curtis leads efforts in land stewardship, affordable housing, and economic empowerment. He sits on the boards of the Canadian Network of Community Land Trusts and the Ecology Action Centre. A passionate advocate, Curtis is committed to building equitable and innovative solutions that facilitate community-led transformation.

It was a pleasure to host this month's Feature Friday episode with two incredible community trailblazers, Shekara and Curtis!

Show notes:

00:00 - Introduction to Shekara Grant and Curtis Whiley

9:55 - Land titles in community

18:45 - Curtis on starting a community land trust (CLT)

27:10 - Navigating communication centred around the community land trusts with community members

31:55 - The ins and outs of a community land trust

40:10 - Determining membership in a community land trust

47:15 - Looking at other CLTs in North America for inspiration

54:00 - The colonial nature of land titles

57:00 - Shekara and Curtis' goals for their CLTs

1:16:20 - Where does funding come from?

1:26:55 - The future of CLTs

1:32:35 - One word checkout

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 community to support adults with different abilities. Seeking further growth, she joined the Tri-County Regional Centre for Education (TCRCE) as a Community Outreach Coordinator, which led her to The PREP Academy as Community Engagement Lead.

Her dedication to community service has been recognized, notably in 2021 when she was awarded Provincial Volunteer of the Year, representing the Municipality of Shelburne. She chaired the South End Environmental Injustice Society (SEED) from 2019-2022, an organization recognized for its efforts in fighting environmental racism in historic African Nova Scotian communities. Hartley also volunteered for the Association of Black Social Workers (ABSW) as the Rural COVID Community Coordinator, part of the ABSW/HACC Covid response team. Additionally, she was the Community Regional Researcher with the Delmore "Buddy" Daye Learning Institute, developing research for an Afrocentric Framework for Recognition of Prior
Learning.

Furthermore, Hartley was the Project Manager for the Provincial Environmental Racism Panel and was a research assistant to Dr. Ingrid Waldron's research project, "Genes and Geography: Disparities in Cancer Incidence and Outcomes in a Black Canadian Community. She also worked as the African Nova Scotian Student Support Worker at Lockeport elementary and high school and is currently the Active Living Coordinator for the Municipality of Barrington.

Vanessa Hartley is also the co-founder and president of the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ), a community-based board established from the historical Bill C-226, aiming to redress environmental harms and injustice in her hometown of Shelburne, Nova Scotia.

It was a pleasure hosting the inspiring Vanessa Hartley on our Feature Friday this month!

Show notes:

00:00 - Introduction to Vanessa Hartley

8:20 - What is environmental racism?

13:45 - Vanessa on the research she's doing

17:00 - The history of environmental racism in Shelburne

26:30 - Vanessa on navigating government to help the community

33:25 - Vanessa on her family history

36:55 - Who inspires Vanessa

44:15 - Vanessa on gratitude

46:35 - Vanessa on what she values most

48:14 - Vanessa's advice

49:45 - Vanessa's five year plan

54:35 - Vanessa's spiritual journey

59:25 - Environmental racism in the news

1:07:32 - Vanessa on her identity

1:15:00 - One word checkout!