On this episode of Creole Narratives, we’re celebrating Creole Heritage Month & Day (Oct. 28) — honoring a language born out of resistance, resilience, and unity.Today, more than a dozen nations speak Creole — a living expression of identity that continues to shape our culture, music, and storytelling. From the powerful rhythms of Boukman Eksperyans’ “Se Kreyol Nou Ye” to everyday conversations that connect generations — Creole lives on.Linguist Websder Corneille, founder of the Creole Language Program, joins us to explore the origins, evolution, and global impact of Creole.Here’s a list divided by region ⸻ Caribbean & Americas • Haiti – Haitian Creole (Kreyòl Ayisyen) • Saint Lucia – Kwéyòl (Saint Lucian Creole French) • Dominica – Kwéyòl / Dominican Creole • Guadeloupe – Guadeloupean Creole • Martinique – Martinican Creole • French Guiana – Guianese Creole • Belize – Belize Kriol (English-based Creole) • Jamaica – Jamaican Patois (English-based Creole) • Bahamas – Bahamian Creole English • Trinidad & Tobago – Trinidadian Creole English and French Creole (less common today) • Barbados – Bajan Creole • U.S. Virgin Islands – Virgin Islands Creole English

She’s a familiar face on national television — a legal analyst seen on NBC, FOX, and Court TV.But behind the headlines and the courtroom commentary, Marie Pereira is fighting another battle — one for dignity, protection, and economic freedom.

Dr. Walter Lee Smith, president of Florida A&M University from 1977 to 1985, is remembered for strengthening higher education not only in the United States, but also across the African diaspora — including Haiti. Through the eyes of his son, Walter Smith Jr., we revisit those historic missions to Haiti and explore the lasting legacy Dr. Smith left behind.In this episode, Walter Smith Jr. — an anthropologist and engineer — also breaks down Haiti’s history since the revolution, while shedding light on the country’s vast mineral wealth and why, despite its natural resources, Haiti has struggled to benefit from them.This conversation connects history, education, and global Black identity — while pointing to the opportunities and challenges that continue to shape Haiti’s future.

Happy Haitian Heritage Month! This week on Creole Narratives, we’re joined by Nydia Simone, founder of Blactina, as she breaks down the complex Black history of Latin America & the Caribbean.From her Panamanian roots to the deep ties between Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and the wider Afro-Latinx identity, Nydia unpacks the truth behind Afrolatinidad—challenging the myths and reclaiming the narratives her 20K+ followers can’t stop talking about. now to hear how history, heritage, and healing intersect in this powerful convo.#CreoleNarratives #Afrolatinidad #Blactina #BlackLatinaVoices #Haiti #DominicanRepublic #Panama #PodcastDrop #BlackHistoryCaribbean #AfroDiaspora

Former Miss Haiti Sandra Justice joins the Creole Narratives podcast to discuss the history of Choucoune in song, the soda brand, and the international Haitian beauty pageant that she founded. Justice is an award-winning actress and producer; whose work spans from films to TV series, commercials to music videos. Justice shares more about using her platforms to #AmplifyAyiti and edify Haitian woman. Applications are currently being accepted for the 2025 Miss Choucoune Pageant

Haitian Times Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Vania Andre joined the Creole Narratives podcast for #womenshistorymonth .The Haitian Times is the leading news outlet covering the Haitian Diaspora globally.They are celebrating 25 years as the leading voice in the community’s evolution.Vania replaced veteran journalist and founder Garry Pierre-Pierre.Vania talks about the latest events in the diaspora and the publication’s next chapter.#amplifyayiti

Kicked off the second season of Creole Narratives Podcast on The International Day of Mother Language. It is observed annually to observance to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. The day #Feb21 was proclaimed by the General Conference of UNESCO in November 1999. 2025 marks the 25th anniversary of the celebration of #MotherLanguageDay. This episode features Websder Corneille, a Haitian Linguist and Adjunct Lecturer of Haitian Creole Language and Haitian Studies at the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies at Indiana University -Bloomington. Corneille worked as an ESL Interventionist at the elementary level at the time of this interview. The founder of the @haitiancreoleprogram discusses the foundation of the language and Haitian polyglots.

Luckson Saint-vil is a correspondent for Radio Television Caraibes, one of Haiti's biggest radio stations and Voice of America in Florida. Luckson's latest assignment brought him to Springfield, Ohio that has been in the spotlight since rumors circulated that Haitian immigrants there were eating the pets of residents. City leaders have debunked that claim that was mentioned during the September 10th Presidential debate between Trump and Harris. Luckson talked with both American residents and Haitian immigrants about the tension between the two communities. He shares with Creole Narratives, the Haitian diaspora there are now facing violent and verbal threats.

Wanda Tima is a pioneer of amplifying Haitian voices and our culture in the age of digital media. On the latest episode she lists her longing to reconnect with her own roots and experiences with xenophobia as motivators for launching her L'Union Suite platform in 2011. With blogs and posts going viral every day, today L’union Suite is the number one digital platform for Haitian-Diasporas with over 380,000 subscribers and reaches an average of 3-5 million people weekly.Wanda shares some exciting projects on the way and what’s next for L’union Suite.

Cap-Haitian will proudly celebrate its 354th Anniversary in August. The Creole Narratives podcast is thrilled to welcome Bradley and Alendy, the founders of Sakapfet Okap on the show. They talked with host Fadia Patterson about "Okap Flavors' and the festival that celebrates OKAP’s birthday. With their experience as tour guides, Bradley and Alendy are anticipating thousands for the annual celebration. Their influential platform on Instagram and YouTube boasts around half a million global followers. They consistently share stunning content showcasing Haiti’s beaches, historic monuments, celebrations, and its people, contributing to the local economy’s growth. They recently built a new library for the city. Despite the ongoing turmoil in the nation and an opportunity to leave —the pair shared why they decided to stay.“If you’re not in Haiti, If you’re not involved in Haiti — you let some other country build your country for you and they will build for you what they think you deserve. And no else knows better than you what you deserve. So you have a choice if you leave. The next generation will have what someone else designed for them,” said Bradley.

Former Konpa Dancer of the Year - Caleb Exantus is featured on the latest episode of the Creole Narratives podcast!He said, “They think it’s all about Gouyad, but Konpa is more than that. It’s authentic traditional. When you dance Konpa you are telling a story with your body.” During #CaribbeanHeritageMonth and #BlackMusicMonth, we celebrate the music genre and dance style called Kompa. The modern Méringue dance music of Haiti first became popular in the 1950s. Caleb Exantus is an instructor who shares how the dance links people to the rhythms, beats and soul of #Haiti We also learn more about the ‘Father of Konpa’ Musician and Artist Nemours Jean-Baptiste and his ties to #Tampa . Caleb is one of many Kompa dancers who have used social media to bring #konpa to the world.

Renowned Haitian journalist Harold Isaac joins the Creole Narratives podcast from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and analyzes the nation's recent developments over the past few weeks.Isaac and podcast host Fadia Patterson engage in a detailed discussion about Prime Minister Gary Conille's recent health scare while trying to build a new government, the ambush and murder of three members of the Haitian Police's Anti-gang (UTAG) unit, and the new Kenyan police deployment, which will now also include Kenyan ministers.

Let’s catch up on Haitian Flag Festivities, Caribbean Heritage Month, Kenyan Police Deployment, Haitian Airports Reopening, Tampa Man sentenced in the Assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise, and a Good Samaritan helping Citizens and those with Humanitarian Parole return to the U.S. from Haiti. On the latest episode, Host Fadia Patterson talks with Allen Sherwood who has completed several rescue missions to Haiti within the last two months.??When airports were closed, Sherwood chartered private jets to Haiti to bring American citizens, missionaries, and those on Humanitarian Parole back to the U.S. He says there are still more people waiting and wanting to leave, but the ongoing crisis has threatened his mission. Despite airports re-opening, he also says those who live in the most rural parts are at risk. #AmplifyAyiti

Kate Outlaw’s mantra, ‘Si Nou Pa Ri Nou Pral Mouri’ (If we don’t laugh, we will die), is a common theme in her social media posts and stories about Haiti. The mother, wife, influencer and medic of Haitian descent decided to #AmplifyAyiti with her strongest medicine — laughter. She was raised in both the U.S. and Haiti and was immersed in the culture and Creole language that she celebrates on her platform. She also uses the platform to share some hard truths about the state of Haiti today.Following the 2010 Haiti Earthquake Kate began her mobile medicine program in the most rural parts of the country. She’s also an advocate against child abuse and human trafficking.

Octavio Jones is a freelance visual journalist and documentary photographer based in the Tampa Bay area. Recently, he accepted his seventh assignment to work in Haiti, coinciding with the resignation of the Prime Minister, two prison breaks and the takeover of the capital, Port Au Prince, by gangs. Despite the challenges, Jones was able to cover the updates and recount some of the hurdles he faced as a journalist getting in and out of the country. Jones began his travels to Haiti after the earthquake in 2010 and has been covering stories there ever since.He delves into Haiti’s history and gives context to the images he has captured over the years. Jones’ work has been published by multiple local and national outlets.

It's been five years since Creole Narrative's Host Fadia Patterson's last trip to Haiti. She returned for a family reunion via a Royal Caribbean Cruise to Labadee, a stop that has since been cancelled until further notice due to unrest at Haiti's Capital of Port au Prince. Fadia talks about being among the last passengers visiting the Labadee Port, the instability in Haiti that impacted her own family, and her hopes for the future. #AmplifyAyiti

Explore the fascinating world of Creole Narratives - a podcast that aims to amplify the rich stories of Haiti #AmplifyAyiti, the vibrant cultures of the Caribbean, and the Afro-Latin diaspora. In this podcast, you can join the award-winning journalist, Fadia Patterson, as she sheds light on diverse perspectives and brings important issues to the forefront.Don't miss out on this opportunity to listen to thought-provoking conversations and gain a deeper understanding of these cultures. Tune in to Creole Narratives now!