Dis a Fi Mi History Podcast: Explore Caribbean Ancestry & Culture

What does the food on your plate tell you about Caribbean history?

In this episode of Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, host Wendy Aris speaks with Roger Carmichael of Uncharted Taste about the fascinating history behind Caribbean food and the many peoples, cultures, migrations and traditions that have shaped what we eat today.

Caribbean cuisine is not simply a collection of recipes. It is a record of history, migration, survival, adaptation, trade, culture and memory.

Together, Wendy and Roger explore the Indigenous, African, European, Indian, Chinese and other influences that have contributed...

Season 10 of Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast is here!

Join Wendy Aris, Caribbean historian, genealogist, author, and host of Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, for another season exploring Caribbean history, family history, genealogy, archival research, migration, memoir, culture, and the stories that shape our understanding of the Caribbean and its people.

Season 10 explores the power of language and storytelling—how books, articles, memoirs, family stories, archives, DNA, and personal memories can help us uncover histories that are often overlooked, misunderstood, or left out of the traditional narrative.

This season takes us ac...

How far back can DNA and genealogy take you? In this episode of Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, we explore the fascinating history of the Sotomayor family in Puerto Rico, tracing ancestral connections back to the late 1500s through the combination of genetic genealogy, archival research, and historical records.

Professor Antonio Sotomayor explains how Y-DNA testing, TMRCA (Time to Most Recent Common Ancestor), agnatic lineages, surname variations, and maternal ancestry can help genealogists uncover connections hidden within incomplete Caribbean records.

The conversation examines the variations between Sotomayor and Soto, as well as maternal family...

What happens when Caribbean voices and community histories are left out of mainstream historical narratives? In this episode of Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, the hosts speak with the founders of Counter Narratives Gyonne Zafira & Nagila Muller, an organization working to challenge historical erasure and preserve the stories, experiences, and knowledge of Caribbean communities.

The conversation explores how oral history, archival research, digital archives, and community mapping can recover forgotten histories and create new ways of understanding the Caribbean and its diaspora. We discuss the power of historical institutions, who gets to control the narrative, and...

How can DNA testing, artificial intelligence, and genealogical bioinformatics uncover family secrets hidden for generations? In this episode of Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, host Wendy Aris is joined by Arun Konanur, a genetic genealogist and creator of patented genealogical bioinformatics tools, to explore how advanced DNA analysis is transforming family history research.

Discover how Correlated Multiphasic Analysis (CMA) combines DNA evidence, data mining, and pattern recognition to solve complex genealogical mysteries that traditional research alone cannot. Arun shares the fascinating case of tracing a nineteenth-century Jones family, demonstrating how innovative analytical methods can identify distant...

How did Black hair become a symbol of race, identity, power, and resistance? In this episode of Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, host Wendy Aris sits down with Dr. Shaunasea Brown to explore the complex history of Black hair from the era of transatlantic slavery to the present day.

Discover how European beauty standards shaped ideas of "good" and "bad" hair, influencing generations of Black communities across the Caribbean and the African diaspora. Dr. Brown examines the historical roots of hair discrimination, the social and professional pressures surrounding hair straightening, the health and emotional impacts of c...

What can Caymanian bush medicine teach us about history, healing, and cultural identity? In this episode of Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, host Wendy Aris welcomes Hannah Reed Ford, founder of Bush Girl Medicine, to explore the rich tradition of Caymanian herbal medicine and the ancestral knowledge passed down through generations.

Discover how medicinal plants have supported the health and well-being of Caymanian families while preserving cultural heritage and strengthening community resilience. Hannah discusses the importance of traditional plant knowledge, the role of elders in safeguarding these practices, and how modernization, urbanization, and the Caribbean diaspora...

The 1790s marked a turning point in Caribbean history, as revolutionary ideas swept across the Atlantic world and transformed the lives of free and enslaved people throughout the Greater Caribbean. In this episode of the Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, Professor Klooster explores how the French Revolution, the Declaration of the Rights of Man, Spanish colonial reforms, and British abolitionist debates inspired new hopes for freedom, equality, and citizenship.

Discover how revolutionary ideals spread through trans-imperial networks, with Curaçao serving as a critical hub connecting the Caribbean, Europe, and the Americas. Learn how sailors, merchants, m...

How does Caribbean music preserve history, identity, and cultural memory? Can a song tell the story of a people as powerfully as a history book?

In this episode of Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, host Wendy Aris welcomes Darren Shillingford for an engaging conversation about how Caribbean music serves as a living archive—preserving the history, traditions, resilience, and identity of Caribbean people across generations.

From the rhythms of steelpan and the storytelling tradition of calypso to Caribbean folk music, classical Caribbean composers, and contemporary musical fusion, Darren explores how music has documented the ex...

How did a small island in the English Channel become deeply connected to the Caribbean through the salt cod trade? What role did Jersey merchants play in the transatlantic economy, and how did salt cod become a staple food throughout the Caribbean?

In this episode of Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, host Wendy Aris welcomes photographer, researcher, and maritime historian Martin Toft to discuss his groundbreaking research project, Entrepôt, and his Dispatch 1: Caribbean fieldwork exploring the historical connections between Jersey, Canada, and the Caribbean through the salt cod trade.

Martin shares how years o...

How can food tell the story of a people? What can Caribbean cuisine reveal about migration, colonialism, family history, and identity across the diaspora?

In this episode of Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, host Wendy Aris sits down with Hema Ramsingh of The Moreish Podcast for a rich conversation about Caribbean food culture, storytelling, genealogy, and the lasting legacies of colonialism.

Together, they explore how traditional dishes, family recipes, and everyday meals carry memories of migration, resistance, survival, and cultural exchange throughout the Caribbean diaspora. Hema shares the origins of The Moreish Podcast, the...

How did colonial laws shape slavery, race, and justice in the Caribbean—and why do their legacies still matter today?

In this thought-provoking episode of Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, host Wendy Aris explores the enduring impact of colonial law, slavery, and the legal systems that established and maintained racial inequality throughout the Caribbean and the African diaspora.

Through historical analysis and engaging conversation, this episode examines how colonial governments used legislation to legitimize enslavement, enforce racial hierarchies, control labor, regulate land ownership, expand economic exploitation, and shape policing and systems of punishment. These le...

What happens when our memories, photographs, documents, and digital lives slowly disappear? How can we ensure that future generations inherit not just our records, but our stories?

In this episode of Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, host Wendy Aris sits down with historian Tom Mullaney to discuss his thought-provoking book, How We Disappear, and the many ways history can be lost—not only through catastrophic events but through the gradual erosion of personal records, family archives, and digital information.

Together, they explore how family photographs, genealogical records, digital files, government documents, and everyday information sh...

What can archives tell us about the lives of enslaved Africans—and what have they left unsaid?

In this compelling episode of Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, host Wendy Aris welcomes Associate Professor Kathrine Gerbner to discuss her groundbreaking new book, Archival Irruptions. Together, they explore how Caribbean archives, missionary records, and colonial documents both reveal and conceal the religious lives, resilience, and agency of enslaved Africans in eighteenth-century Jamaica.

The conversation examines the Moravian Church's mission in Jamaica, the criminalization of Obeah (Obia) following Tacky's Revolt of 1760, and the complex relationship between Christianity, Af...

In this episode Dr. Amanda T. Perry discusses her research on how early nineteenth-century Haiti used the language of indigeneity to define nationhood after the revolution. The conversation explores how formerly enslaved Africans, Taíno memory, and political claims to territory shaped the new state's identity and citizenship.

Topics include the Declaration of Independence, racial and social divisions, exclusions of French colonists, later debates about Taíno presence, and the long-term implications for Caribbean ideas of belonging and nationhood.

Bio:

Amanda T. Perry is a writer, scholar, educator, and literary critic bas...

In this episode we speak with Paula Ogun Hector, creator of Tapestry of Black Britons, about uncovering and preserving the long, diverse history of people of African and Caribbean descent in Britain. We explore how art, community storytelling and archival research reveal contributions stretching from Roman Britain to the present.

Through tapestry, workshops and exhibitions Paula shows how reclaiming these stories builds belonging, challenges myths about British history, and connects family and national memory across generations.

BIO:

Paula Ogun Hector is a British cultural producer, artist, educator, and founder and Creative D...

In this episode of Dis a Fi Mi History Podcast, host Wendy Aris interviews travel journalist and TV host Natalie Preddie to explore Caribbean history beyond the typical resort experience. They delve into the rich heritage and family genealogy of the islands, uncovering stories shaped by colonialism and community resilience. Explore how community-led tourism offers travelers a meaningful connection to Caribbean culture and history.

This conversation highlights sustainable travel, the positive local economic impact, and why understanding historical legacies is essential for connecting deeply with the Caribbean's people and places.

BIO

Natalie Preddie...

In this episode of Dis A fi mi History, Professor Clive Forrester explores how English and Creole coexist in the Caribbean and how language shapes power, identity, and access to justice.

We discuss language advocacy, bilingual education, courtroom interpretation, and cultural movements that uplift Creole languages as tools for social justice and community empowerment.

Bio:

Professor Clive Forrester is a Jamaican linguist, educator, and scholar whose work explores the intersection of language, identity, and communication. His academic journey led him to investigate how judges in Jamaican courtrooms interpret and translate the speech of...

Dis A fi mi History Season 9 explores memory, archives, and cultural preservation across the Caribbean and its diaspora. Episodes examine language, music, archives, genealogy, spirituality, and the stories that shape identity.

Featuring conversations with scholars and community storytellers—from linguistic forensics and ancestral healing to archival silences and genetic genealogy—this season highlights how we remember, resist, and preserve our past for the present and future.

Book: Book The Emotions of Researching your Family Tree: https://a.co/d/0jiaxXxi

#MemoryArchive #CulturalPreservation #OralTradition #StorytellingMatters
#LanguagePreservation #HeritageMatters #CaribbeanHeritage #LivingHistory
#PreservingOurStories #Voice...

Welcome back to Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast—where we center Caribbean histories, voices, and the many ways our stories are preserved across generations, including family genealogy and heritage.

Today’s episode reminds us that not all archives are written—some are spoken, performed, and passed down through voice, serving as a vital mode of preserving Caribbean history and culture.

Across the Caribbean, storytelling has long been one of the most powerful ways to preserve memory and family history. From yard stories to stage performances, from elders’ voices to contemporary digital platforms, these narratives carry hi...

In this insightful episode of the Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, host Wendy Aris delves into genetics and healthcare access within Caribbean communities with Dr. Carika Waldon of Cary Genetics. They explore how genetic testing, including ancestry analysis and pharmacogenetics, intersects with Caribbean history, family genealogy, and heritage. Dr. Waldon shares her personal journey and highlights the importance of regional representation in genomic research to empower family planning and improve health outcomes in the Caribbean.

Listeners will gain valuable knowledge on testing options, data privacy, and the proactive use of genetics in wellness. Resources a...

On this episode of the Dis A fi mi History Podcast, Dr. Ryan  Persadie explores Indo‑Caribbean identity through music, family memory, and the legacy of indentureship. The conversation centers on Chutney and Soca as sites where masculinity, queerness, language, and migration histories are performed, contested, and reimagined.

Through personal stories, intergenerational memories, and cultural analysis, the episode shows how music and dance preserve marginalized histories, unsettle archival silences, and offer practices of joy, resistance, and belonging across generations and geographies.

Bio:

Dr. Ryan Persadie is a scholar, writer, and Course Instructor at the...

In this episode of the Dis A fi mi History Podcast, host and guest Professor Kristen Block explore the lives of ordinary people in the early Caribbean—maroons, sailors, Quakers, and enslaved individuals—revealing how religion, empire, and survival shaped their worlds.

Using archival records and personal stories, the conversation considers identity, resistance, family, and the complex ties between church and state, showing how everyday experiences challenge elite narratives and continue to echo into the present.

BIO:
Kristen Block is an Associate Professor of History at the University of Tennessee (Knoxville). A histo...

Host Wendy Aris engages with Alyssa Green, founder of the Cayman Heritage Guide, in a deep dive into preserving Caribbean history and family genealogy through community efforts in the Cayman Islands. They explore the rich oral storytelling tradition, the impacts of colonialism, and the essential roles of women and language in shaping Caymanian identity. This episode highlights the challenges of safeguarding cultural heritage amid modern changes while turning community memory into a living archive.

Listeners will gain valuable insights on why accessible heritage work matters for family history enthusiasts and those interested in Caribbean heritage preservation.

In this episode of Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, host Wendy Aris delves into Caribbean history and colonialism through a conversation with author Roderick Sargeant about his historical-speculative essay "Seven Sisters." The essay traces family genealogy and ancestral memory across Barbados' plantation landscapes, exploring themes of drumming, chanting, rhythm, and silence. They discuss how resistance and memory survive beyond written archives, emphasizing the importance of oral and embodied traditions in preserving culture.

Their storytelling sheds light on healing generational trauma and reconnecting communities to their heritage and family history. Join us to uncover powerful s...

In this episode of the Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, Professor Idalia T. Wilmoth delves into crucial aspects of Caribbean history and heritage through the lens of Black Roatán identity, migration, and language preservation. Exploring family genealogy and the significance of family archives, she paints an immersive picture of how cultural memory is preserved through storytelling, religion, and language amidst political challenges and displacement.

Listeners gain insight into the emotional landscapes faced by Caribbean and Central American diasporic communities as they strive to maintain their unique identity. The conversation emphasizes the urgency of safeguarding documents, o...

In this enlightening episode of the Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, host Wendy Aris speaks with Chedwick Crieghtney, founder of the Gold Pill Group, about conscious return tours that reconnect the Caribbean diaspora to Africa on emotional, cultural, and economic levels. Dive deep into the heart of Caribbean history and family genealogy as Chedwick explains the transformative 'Gold Pill' concept, the healing traditions of Sankofa, and the significance of naming ceremonies.

Explore practical pathways for travel, relocation, and community building in Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, and beyond, emphasizing the importance of reclaiming heritage and ancestral ties. This...

In this episode of the Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, host and Dr. Marva Ferguson delve into the experiences of Jamaican-born adults who migrated to Canada as children, situating their stories within the broader context of Caribbean history and family genealogy. They explore the complex two-step migration process, including the challenges of family separation and reunification, schooling in a new country, experiences of racism, and the lasting emotional and social effects on families.

Using personal stories alongside academic research, this episode highlights how physical distance reshapes identity, belonging, and family ties. The conversation also urges the...

In this episode of Dis A fi mi History Podcast, Jennifer Henczel, founder of the Women Podcasters Network, discusses how podcasting empowers women to share stories and build communities, particularly within the context of heritage and family history. They explore the Network's mission, monetization support, and the People's Choice awards, which teach creators how to engage and rally their audiences effectively.

Jennifer also shares her personal journey of resilience and community-building, offering practical tips for starting a podcast and encouraging storytellers to use narrative as a powerful tool for healing and impact. This conversation is a compelling...

This episode explores the complex intersections of Christianity, colonialism, and slavery in the 17th–18th century Caribbean and Atlantic world. Historian Catherine Gerbner discusses her book, Christian Slavery, shedding light on how baptism and shared worship challenged the institution of slavery and unsettled slaveholders. The episode delves into the legal and racial shifts from identifying freedom by being 'Christian' to being 'white,' and the impactful roles of Quakers, Moravians, and other missionaries in the region.

Listeners interested in Caribbean history, family genealogy, and heritage will gain practical guidance on using diverse church and missionary records to un...

On this episode of the Dis  fi A Fi Mi History Podcast, host and guest Kadeem Leslie dive into vision, ownership, and financial empowerment through the lens of Caribbean family history, heritage, and the enduring impacts of colonialism. Kadeem shares his inspiring journey from humble beginnings in Jamaica to becoming a real estate investor, entrepreneur, and author of Full Money. He explains practical principles like the Full Debt Formula and the three pillars of wealth: business, real estate, and investments.

Listeners will discover essential mindset shifts, actionable steps for building generational wealth, and insights drawn from global t...

Host Wendy Aris sits down with Ana Chavier Caamañor, founder of Tradition Café, to explore how family history, Caribbean history, migration, and food shape identity and heritage. Through oral histories and chosen communities, Ana shares stories that connect Caribbean cultures and spark curiosity about our shared past.

This episode highlights the power of traditions — from recipes and music to respecting elders — showing how these elements preserve cultural heritage and invite listeners to learn, ask questions, and celebrate diverse family genealogies and histories within the Caribbean diaspora.

Bio:

Ana Chavier Caamaño is a f...

Host Wendy Aris speaks with Jamil Ninsoo (DouglaBwoy,) about tracing his Afro‑Indo‑Jamaican family history through powerful methods such as oral history, archival research, newspapers, and DNA analysis. Their discussion delves into the impact of colonialism on Caribbean historiography, revealing gaps and silences while illustrating the resilience of cultural retention and heritage across generations. They explore how everyday records and family genealogy help reconnect descendants with their identity and roots. The conversation also highlights Jamil’s children’s book, ABCs for the Jamerican Child, and encourages listeners to start their own family history research. This episode emphasizes the importan...

Host Wendy Aris and Gabrielle Garrard of Caribbean Mystics dive deep into the complex history and colonial legacy of the Virgin Islands. This episode explores Caribbean history, spiritual traditions, and how U.S. territorial status influences identity, culture, and self-determination. Through storytelling, the conversation addresses language loss, gentrification, and diaspora connections, emphasizing the importance of family history and heritage in rebuilding Caribbean cultural resilience. Listeners will gain practical steps for preserving culture, engaging in genealogy, and participating in community action to protect and honor the rich Caribbean heritage for future generations.

Bio:

Gabrielle Q...

Season 8, Episode 1 of the Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast delves into significant themes within Caribbean history, focusing on Black Barbadian migration to Canada. Featuring Dr. Christopher Stuart-Taylor and his book Flying Fish in the Great White North, this episode explores how colonialism, kinship ties, and education shaped these deliberate migratory journeys. These movements deeply impacted family genealogy, reshaped heritage, and forged new identities of belonging within the diaspora.

Listeners will gain insight into how migration histories, preserved in archives, letters, and family memories, continue to inform our understanding of resilience and identity. The episode invites reflection...

Welcome to the Dis A fi mi History Podcast. In this season preview, host Wendy Aris outlines Season 8's episodes and themes, including migration and Canadian policy with Dr. Christopher Stewart Taylor; U.S. territorial status and Virgin Islands history with Gabrielle Gorard; Indo-Caribbean indentureship and family history with Janelle Nixu; first-generation migration, women's storytelling, the church as an institution, money and mental health, Roatan and Black identity, and the role of genetics and genealogy in Caribbean research.

Season 8 promises layered, intentional conversations that connect personal family histories with larger Caribbean historical and contemporary issues.

Host Wendy Aris engages with Michael A. Henry in a captivating conversation about Indo-Jamaican migration, memory, and identity within the broader context of Caribbean history and colonialism. They delve into documenting family genealogy using oral histories and archival research, shedding light on the legacy of indenture and the cultural traditions that shape identity today.

Listeners will explore the historical impact of colonialism on Indo-Jamaican communities through discussions of terms like “coolie,” discoveries from ship and contract records, and the enduring influence of heritage in Caribbean culture. Practical research tips and resources are shared to inspire listeners to reco...

In this episode of Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, Wendy Aris interviews Matthew Taylor about his book Black Redcoats, exploring a pivotal yet often overlooked chapter in Caribbean history and colonialism. They discuss how formerly enslaved men who joined the British Colonial Marines during the War of 1812 transformed military service into pathways to freedom, land ownership, and community building. This conversation highlights vital themes in family genealogy and heritage, focusing on Black resistance, mobility, and agency across regions like Trinidad, Nova Scotia, and the Chesapeake.

Listeners will learn about the formation, roles, and lasting legacy of...

In this episode of Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, host Wendy Aris dives into Caribbean history and heritage through the lens of Jamaican self-taught artist Stafford Schliefer.

They explore his decades-long career, unique movement-based painting style, and how his art reflects and preserves Jamaican cultural identity and family heritage.

Their conversation covers Stafford's artistic journey from depicting vibrant market scenes to abstract expression, ongoing cultural projects like Pocomania, and how art serves as a powerful tool for remembering Caribbean history and the legacies of colonialism.

Tune in for an insightful discussion that...

Explore the vital role of Maroon women in Caribbean history, family genealogy, and cultural resistance. Host Wendy Aris speaks with Dr. Tinde van Andel about Maroon communities in Suriname and French Guiana, uncovering their family histories and resilience in the face of colonialism.

They discuss women’s central contributions to agriculture and survival, focusing on the transatlantic transfer and preservation of rice varieties — a symbol of freedom, identity, and living heritage passed across generations. This episode highlights oral memory through songs, rituals, and naming practices that safeguard ancestral knowledge, emphasizing how understanding family and plant histo...