Kim Angoy is the embodiment of working hard for the life you want. Her lifelong love of art has led to a creative professional path from working as an interior designer to founding one of Barbados’ most recognisable swimwear brands, Suga Apple Swim. Having grown up working various jobs within her family's businesses, Kim developed a deep work ethic and a clear understanding of what it takes to run an enterprise. She credits her family's unwavering support as part of her success, acknowledging the village that helped raise and guide her throughout her journey. Kim applies the village mentality to her business, emphasising collaboration and trusting other Bajan creatives’ input in bringing her visions to life.

Her family’s influence also shaped her personal life. Kim loves being a mom to her two boys and a wife to her husband of 14 years. She ensures her family comes first, regardless of the professional ventures she undertakes. This is a major life lesson she learned from her late father, a remarkable man who continues to be her hero and role model.

Tune in for an episode chock-full of gems where we discuss the importance of preparation in managing a work-life balance, not living in fear of what you want in life, and how her brand has become synonymous with empowering women.

Follow Kim on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimangoy/

Follow Suga Apple Swim on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sugaappleswim/

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This season is made possible in part by the Cultural Industries Development Fund of the National Cultural Foundation of Barbados

Gratitude 🙏🏽

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Damian has earned an impressive list of accolades throughout his career, including:

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Caribbean Chef of the Year 2016

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Barbados Chef of the Year 2016 and 2018

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Seafood Chef of the Year 2017

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BHTA Pastry Chef 2019

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NIFA Chef of the Year 2016

A pioneer in Caribbean cuisine, Damian's journey began as a troubled student at St. Michael's school, where a Food and Nutrition class unexpectedly sparked his culinary passion. His supportive teacher's belief in him proved transformative.

After studying abroad, he started at The Cliff restaurant handling basic prep work, learning the value of earning respect from the ground up. His career flourished with the opening of Cocktail Kitchen, where he prioritizes hiring local culinary students.

As a feature chef at the Food and Rum Festival since 2017, he promotes Barbados alongside renowned chefs who inspired him. Despite his success, he stays grounded - admitting to loving chicken nuggets and being candid about kitchen pressures and holiday sacrifices.

Known for his shy nature and authentic Barbadian accent, Damian remains true to himself. He's now expanding his horizons with a new Mediterranean-Caribbean fusion restaurant, while advocating for aspiring chefs to understand both the passion and sacrifices required in the culinary world.

His story exemplifies how determination, humility, and staying authentic can transform a challenging start into culinary excellence.

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This season is made possible in part by the Cultural Industries Development Fund of the National Cultural Foundation of Barbados

Gratitude 🙏🏽

Faith Callender has taken the Caribbean music industry by storm. For the last ten years, she has worked tirelessly cultivating her sound and talent, evolving into a charismatic performer on and off the stage. Her bold fashion style makes a head-to-toe statement, meticulously curated from striking hairstyles to artfully polished nails and flawless makeup. Faith’s career has fueled her love of travel, allowing her to share her passion for soca music and representing Barbados anywhere she goes. In 2024, she was nominated for and performed at the Caribbean Music Awards and garnered another nomination in 2025. Faith's success is a testament to the value of hard work, and her efforts have clearly not been in vain.

While her hard work has brought about significant recognition, the journey hasn't been without challenges and occasional scrutiny. Struggling with the limitations that come with being an artist in the Caribbean, Faith has had to keep faith in herself, her support system, and God to keep her grounded. Through being intentional with her life and practicing self-reflection, she has been able to remain unapologetic about her work and way of life. Faith continues to be an example for others to stay true to themselves and put their all behind anything they do.

In this episode, we discuss finding confidence, trusting the process, and some of Faith’s favourite books that helped elevate her mindset.

Follow Faith on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faithcallender/

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Sign up for our newsletter: https://bio.fewwture.com/ - scroll to Join The Tribe

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gemsfromfriends/

#GemsFromFriends

This season is made possible in part by the Cultural Industries Development Fund of the National Cultural Foundation of Barbados

Gratitude 🙏🏽

💎

Chapters

00:00 Trailer

01:37 Intro

02:05 Welcome, Family

09:52 Balancing Business

22:29 Staying Driven

29:21 Finding Joy

36:40 The Power Behind It

45:21 Having Different Perspectives

56:24 New Gem Dropping

58:05 What's Next?