Learn the meaning of Carnival traditions like jab jab & stilt walking & get recs for visiting Guyana. In Part 2 of this conversation, award-winning journalist Melissa Noel joins Matt to explore how diaspora stories are told—and why depth, context, and care matter. Melissa unpacks the cultural and political meaning behind Caribbean Carnival traditions, shares her personal recommendations for experiencing her home country of Guyana beyond the surface, and reflects on the impact of her Pulitzer-supported reporting on Jamaica’s barrel children and the long-term impact of migration on families. From ethical considerations when interviewing vulnerable communities to the extractive dynamics of tourism and the responsibility of storytellers, this episode examines how culture, migration, and power intersect—and how travel and journalism can be practiced with intention, accountability, and respect.
372: Guyana, Carnival Traditions & Jamaica’s Barrel Children: Melissa Noel on Telling Diaspora Stories with Depth
Episode Summary
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About the Guest
Melissa Noel
Melissa Noel is an award-winning journalist, world traveler, and media entrepreneur redefining how the Caribbean and African Diaspora are represented in global storytelling. She is the founder and CEO of Mel&N Media, a strategic communications and multimedia company producing award-winning content and campaigns centering Caribbean culture and global Black narratives. A proud first-generation Guyanese American, she previously served as the Senior News & Travel Editor at ESSENCE Magazine, and her work has appeared in National Geographic, NBC, ABC and she was recognized as Diaspora Journalist of the Year by the Caribbean Tourism Organization in both 2024 and 2025. She is also the creator and executive producer of the forthcoming “Destination Diaspora” docuseries, which explores the living cultural threads connecting people of African descent around the world, uncovering how history, heritage, food, music, and memory shape the modern Diaspora—which just won the Passport to Storytelling competition at the 2025 Black Travel Summit in partnership with BET+.
What You'll Learn
- How Caribbean Carnival traditions function as cultural memory and resistance
- The emotional, ethical, and long-term impacts of migration and family separation
- How travelers and storytellers can engage the Caribbean responsibly,
Links From the Episode
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CONTACT AND FOLLOW MELISSA
MELISSA’S DOCUSERIES PROJECT
LOCATION WHERE THE INTERVIEW TOOK PLACE
- Matt: Asheville, North Carolina
- Melissa: New Jersey
#1 BOOK THAT MELISSA RECOMMENDS
#1 PERSON WITH WHOM MELISSA WANTS TO HAVE DINNER
TOP 3 TRAVEL DESTINATIONS
TOP 3 BUCKET LIST DESTINATIONS
CARIBBEAN ISLANDS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
CELEBRATIONS AND TRADITIONS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
COMPANIES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
GUYANESE MUSICAL ARTISTS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
- Adrian Dutchen
- Jackie Jaxx
- Kelley Ann Lindo
- Nekeita
- Poonam Singh
- Samuel Medas
- Timeka Marshall
- SAINt JHN
HUMAN RIGHTS MOVEMENT MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
INSTITUTION MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
- Historically Black College or University (HBCU)
- Shirley Chisholm Primary School
- University of the West Indies
PLACES AND SPOTS IN GUYANA MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
- Arrowpoint Nature Resort
- Essequibo River
- Georgetown
- Kaieteur Falls
- Parika
- Rupununi Savannah
- Stabroek Market
- Supenaam
ORGANIZATIONS WITH WHOM MELLISSA WORKED
PEOPLE MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
- Captain Theresa Claiborne
- Claudette Crawford Brown
- Ian Charles
- Lisa Harewood
- Prime Minister Mia Mottley
OTHER PLACES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Time Stamped Show Notes
**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode.
[1:35] Stilt Walking at Caribbean Carnival Celebrations
[5:18] The “Jab Jab” Tradition in Grenada
[10:42] Tips for attending your first Carnival in Caribbean
[13:48] FABA Fest in Barbados for HBCU Alumni
[17:04] Tips for Visiting Guyana
[24:13] Guyanese Musical Artists that Melissa Recommends
[27:33] Captain Theresa Claiborne
[31:34] The Barrel Children of Jamaica
[36:38] Ethical Considerations for Interviewing Vulnerable and Traumatized people
[40:18] Stories from the “Love in a Barrel” Series
[44:20] Presenting at the U.N. and the Impact of the “Love in a Barrel” project
[47:12] Reporting on Black Lives Matter with a Caribbean and Diasporic Lens
[52:52] Tips for Traveling to the Caribbean Ethically and Sustainably
[57:09] Founding Mel&N Media
[1:00:12] What Travel Means to Melissa
[1:01:38] The Lightning Round
[1:09:09] Follow and Connect with Melissa
