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Let's Talk: Passion & Purpose with Nicole Thomas

Let's Talk: Passion & Purpose with Nicole Thomas

By: Nicole Thomas
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Welcome to Let's Talk: Passion & Purpose with Nicole Thomas!

Join host Nicole Thomas as she sits down with writers, artists, and visionaries who share their journeys and the services that helped them achieve their goals.

Each episode is packed with inspiration, practical advice, and empowering conversations designed to help you discover your passion, live with purpose, and elevate your path to success.

Tune in for motivating stories, valuable insights, and actionable tips that will inspire you to live a more fulfilled, purpose-driven life.#PassionAndPurpose #Inspiration #Empowerment #NicoleThomasNicole Thomas Art Personal Development Personal Success Social Sciences
Episodes
  • EP 56 – "Celebrating Caribbean Culture Through Storytelling" | Yolanda T. Marshall| Award-Winning Author and Columnist

    EP 56 – "Celebrating Caribbean Culture Through Storytelling" | Yolanda T. Marshall| Award-Winning Author and Columnist
    Jun 25 2026
    In this episode of Let's Talk: Passion & Purpose with Nicole Thomas, Nicole sits down with award-winning, Guyanese-born, Bajan-heritage award-winning author and columnist Yolanda T. Marshall to explore the power of storytelling, the importance of representation in children's literature, and preserving Caribbean culture through books.

    Yolanda shares how writing poetry at just eight years old evolved into a career as the author of more than 20 children's books, inspired by her desire to create stories that reflected her son's Caribbean and East African heritage and the communities she loves.

    In This Episode, We Discuss:
    • Growing up between Guyana, Barbados, and Canada
    • The inspiration behind Commence First Carnival and A Piece of Black Cake for Santa
    • Balancing motherhood, work, and a prolific writing career
    • Why representation in children's books matters
    • Preserving Caribbean culture through storytelling
    • Creating opportunities for Caribbean and Black writers
    • Encouragement for aspiring writers to embrace their voices and share their stories

    This Episode Is For:

    • Writers and aspiring authors looking for encouragement to share their stories
    • Parents and educators who value diverse and inclusive children's literature
    • Anyone passionate about Caribbean culture, identity, and representation
    • Creatives balancing their passions alongside work and family responsibilities
    • Anyone who has ever wondered if their voice, story, or experiences truly matter

    Memorable Quotes

    "My son introduced me to who I was. He took a poet and made me write a picture book for him."

    "I didn't see myself in books growing up in the Caribbean—and I refused to let my son grow up with that same absence."

    "People think writing a children's book is easy because it's short. It's not."

    "I know what it's like to be excluded from platforms. That's why I'm intentional about creating space for other writers."

    "Don't ever count yourself out. This world has a billion people, and you have a book to sell."
    "Before the book is published, you are a writer. Act like it."

    Key Takeaway: Your story matters. There is room for your voice, and the stories we tell today become the legacy we leave for future generations.
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • EP 55 – "Protect the Dream: Purpose, Creativity & Resilience" | Jason Hayes | Filmmaker

    EP 55 – "Protect the Dream: Purpose, Creativity & Resilience" | Jason Hayes | Filmmaker
    Jun 18 2026
    In this episode, Nicole Thomas sits down with independent filmmaker Jason Hayes, also known as Jay D. Hayes, for a powerful conversation about creativity, purpose, resilience, and protecting your dream. Jason shares his journey from a quiet child growing up in Mississippi to becoming a filmmaker whose work has been featured on HBO, PBS, BET, and film festivals around the world. He opens up about overcoming a childhood stutter, navigating racism and rejection, trusting intuition, and staying committed to his calling even when the path wasn't clear.

    Whether you're a creative entrepreneur, artist, filmmaker, storyteller, or someone searching for greater purpose, this episode offers inspiration and practical wisdom for pursuing your passion and staying true to yourself.

    Topics Discussed
    • Protecting your dream when others don't understand your vision
    • Following your purpose and trusting your intuition
    • Overcoming fear, self-doubt, rejection, and adversity
    • Growing up in Mississippi and lessons from early life experiences
    • How a childhood stutter shaped Jason's voice as a storyteller
    • The connection between acting, listening, and effective communication
    • Creativity, filmmaking, and the art of storytelling
    • Balancing artistic integrity with commercial success
    • AI, creativity, and the future of art
    • Building resilience and staying committed to long-term goals
    • Personal growth, self-belief, and finding your authentic path
    • Creating work that helps people feel seen, heard, and understood
    Memorable Quotes

    "Don't ever stress about anything, because it's always okay."

    "Confusion only happens when we refuse to accept the truth of a matter."

    "What is really for you is always downstream."

    "I don't think I chose filmmaking—I think filmmaking chose me."

    "You're not supposed to be anybody but you."

    About Jason Hayes (Jay D. Hayes)

    Jason Hayes, professionally known as Jay D. Hayes, is an independent filmmaker whose work has aired on HBO, PBS, and BET and screened at film festivals worldwide. With experience in writing, directing, producing, and editing, Jason is passionate about telling stories that help people feel seen, heard, and understood.

    Connect With Us

    If this episode inspired you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend who is pursuing a dream, creative passion, or purpose-driven life.

    What dream are you protecting right now?
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    52 mins
  • EP 54 – "Owning Your Voice as a Writer " | Ashley Cowger | Award-Winning Author

    EP 54 – "Owning Your Voice as a Writer " | Ashley Cowger | Award-Winning Author
    Jun 11 2026
    Guest: Ashley Cowger is an award-winning author whose short story collections include On the Plus Side (Galileo Press) and Peter Never Came, winner of the Autumn House Press Fiction Prize.


    What makes someone a writer?

    In this episode, Nicole Thomas sits down with Ashley Cowger to discuss writer identity, creativity, rejection, revision, and the habits that help writers stay connected to their craft. Ashley shares how she embraced the title of writer from an early age and why publication isn't what determines whether someone is a "real" writer.

    Together, they explore the inspiration behind her books, Peter Never Came and On the Plus Side, the realities of social media and mental health, ADHD and creativity, morning pages, reading like a writer, and how thoughtful feedback helped shape her path to publication.
    Ashley also shares practical insights on revision, overcoming perfectionism, and building a sustainable creative practice rooted in curiosity, consistency, and persistence.

    This episode is for:
    • Writers who struggle to call themselves writers
    • Aspiring and published authors navigating rejection and self-doubt
    • Creatives looking to build a sustainable writing practice
    • Anyone interested in creativity, storytelling, and personal growth
    • Writers seeking practical insights on revision, routine, and the creative process
    • People who want to create with more confidence and less perfectionism

    Memorable Quote
    "You're a writer if you write. You don't have to publish what you write."
    Show More Show Less
    53 mins
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