Hustle Her
Hustle Her
Hustle Her - Patrina
Get ready to be enriched and enlightened as we open up our world to Patrina O’Connor-Paynter, famously known as Power Girl Trina and 2023 Woman of the Year. Within this episode, we unravel her life’s journey through the entertainment industry, her philanthropic endeavors with Big Brothers Big Sisters Bermuda, and the many trials she has faced on her journey.
Brace yourselves as we uncover the many facets of Patrina’s life. From her work in radio and television, her involvement in various community programmes such as one-on-one matches, Boys to Men and Girl Power, and her robust bond with her sister, Patrina’s story uncovers the essence of resilience and strength. Beyond the limelight, Patrina shares her personal battles with depression, self-esteem, and a traumatic dog attack, giving us a raw and real insight into her life and the importance of seeking help.
As we round off the episode, we delve into her faith journey and how it has guided her through her career, the importance of self-care, and mental health awareness. Patrina gets candid about her life experiences, providing profound insights into her career path, her struggles, and her triumphs. Engage with us on this enlightening journey as we learn from Power Girl Trina’s experience, and the power of resilience and strength in adversity.
It's time for hustle her podcast. I'm your host, deshae Keynes. Hustle her is all about inspiring women through real life experiences that have helped to mold and develop not only me but my guests into the entrepreneurs and leaders we are today. If you're an enterprising woman determined to succeed and looking for a bit of motivation, a bit of tough love and some actionable takeaways to be the best you girl, you are in the right place. Hey guys, and welcome back to hustle her podcast. I'm so grateful you decided to spend some time with me today. As always, we give a big shout out to our sponsors for this season Browning Company and 59 front. Make sure you guys head over there. You can head over to the bookmark at Browning Company. You can also see all the amazing products they have down at 59 front. Today I'm super excited about my guest. She is not only a media personality, she's also a philanthropist. She's also 2023's woman of the year and she is the managing director of big brothers and big sisters. Petrina O'Connor Pankter, better known as Power Girl Trina.
Speaker 2:Welcome. Listen, I'm just really excited to be here. I've been watching the podcast and I know we were trying to schedule in before and it never worked out, but I'm actually. It's an amazing podcast. I have to tell you that first.
Speaker 1:I love what you're doing to appreciate that. I really appreciate it. I'm so I'm glad that we finally were able to do this. And I say this all the time and people come on and I'm like because you should ask somebody in the line, but you were like, yes, right away, and then we figured it out and now we're here and the funny party is because I really don't like doing interviews.
Speaker 2:I prefer to be the person being interviewed. But in 2023, I started to step out of my confidence, and so this is. You know, this is what I'm supposed to be.
Speaker 1:Yes, absolutely All right. So few questions. Let everyone get to know you a little bit better, right, because we see this big personality online, but let's get to know you. It's all about you this time, all right. So first thing that comes to mind for the next few questions All right, ready, all right. I'm happiest when I'm with my family. Okay, what do you do on a plane? Like, when you're finally settled on a plane, what's your thing?
Speaker 2:Like no, honestly, like I, I love to travel, but I am terrified of flying. It didn't happen until I got a bit older, but, yes, I'm terrified. So as soon as we relax and sit down, I'm like yeah, Really Okay.
Speaker 1:You'd be surprised how many people are afraid of flying.
Speaker 2:Anyway, let's get back to that too, okay, all right.
Speaker 1:Skincare routine.
Speaker 2:So skincare routine I'm not the best with it. However, I do like to exfoliate. I do an exfoliate in the morning. I normally use Clarence products.
Speaker 1:59 front you can get. Look guys, we didn't even discuss that, oh really.
Speaker 2:So look, my Clarence products that's my go-to. But also I have this, this rosewater spray that I actually get from the casino store as well, and I listen, I live by that. It's like a turner spray my skin and then I'm able to put my moisturizer on, but I don't do a whole lot of you know what they say.
Speaker 1:We don't crack girls, so it's all right. It's a beautiful thing, so okay. Next, what did you spend your first paycheck on when you were like in the proper working world?
Speaker 2:In the proper working world. My first paycheck Girl I don't know Girl I was just. I was just excited to have some money. This is the funny part. It was never where I was like, oh, when I get money, I'm going to buy that parcel or whatever it was like.
Speaker 1:I got money, I'm actually spending it.
Speaker 2:And then, of course, I was spending it on Firm Beals, backman Cause you're like I know it was no free free nights and weekends, not a thing anymore.
Speaker 1:It's hilarious. Okay, who's your closest friend?
Speaker 2:My closest friend is my sister.
Speaker 1:Oh, I love that. Okay, what does love feel like? What does love?
Speaker 2:feel like man. It's hard to explain. Um you, that's a hard question.
Speaker 1:What does it feel like? What does it feel like to you? Like when do you feel the most loved?
Speaker 2:Okay, so so you mean loved by people loved by family, Whatever.
Speaker 1:Whatever does that mean to you?
Speaker 2:Just when we're just being in the presence makes me feel loved. I mean, it's it's. It's difficult to even explain because, especially this summer, my family was together. We spent like almost every weekend, every waking moment together, doing stuff together, going out together, and that just like it just warms my heart and fills me with joy. So that's when I feel the most loved.
Speaker 1:Okay, All right. What are you listening to right now? Like what's on your your play. We see you working out on Instagram and stuff. What's on your playlists. What are you currently listening to the most?
Speaker 2:I'm old school, so anything that's old school, you know what I mean. I can listen to some R&B, some hip hop, some reggae, sometimes some biggie. You know I love my old school rap and R&B.
Speaker 1:So yeah, okay, all right. What is a hidden talent?
Speaker 2:Hidden talent.
Speaker 1:I don't know Like well I heard you singing last night and I had never heard you sing before. You can sing.
Speaker 2:So bear in mind, I used to sing when I was younger with my mom, so I wouldn't say that that's really a hidden talent, because people knew that I sang from back in the day.
Speaker 1:You won't be singing too. I heard her church before. She's a praise team leader, she's a worship leader. Yeah, she sure does, even in like Pentecostal, and also she.
Speaker 2:She trained me up when I was younger. That's the reason why I don't like to practice now. So I like to freestyle sing, but when it comes to hey, let's practice to be in a show, let's practice to do something, I'm like yeah, no, I forgot about you, she's a worshiper, she, she takes us in.
Speaker 1:I mean not everyone has that, that ability to do that Like some people can just sing, but a lot of people invite you into worship, which your mom does really well, and it's something that's just passionate about.
Speaker 2:Yes, and she knows that it helps people to to growing closer to God, so I think it's really important for her.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I love that. Okay, let's begin your finish up, all right. Well, who's your celebrity crush? Don't worry, we won't tell your husband.
Speaker 2:See, it's so hard for me because there's so many people out there that I find very attractive.
Speaker 1:Okay, name me a few. See, this is an iPad.
Speaker 2:Come on, we've got to do it. Let the people know. Okay, so I can tell you back any day. How about I tell you back any day? Back any day. So don't laugh Back any day. I had this big crush on Jordan Knight from New Kids on the Block.
Speaker 1:Okay, okay, I can see that. I think I know which one that is.
Speaker 2:And then it was Tyson Backford.
Speaker 1:Okay, tyson was hot, yeah, Then it was Shamar Moore. So Shamar Moore was handsome, and then he did. I know, listen that movie with them, braids.
Speaker 2:Listen after the Braids. The Braids taught me listen. I can't. He spoiled that for me.
Speaker 1:That laced from his bed that was in Tala Paris, our older days. He's doing better now and we're grateful. We are grateful, but I'm I listen.
Speaker 2:When you ask me questions like that. It's really hard for me to think when you're spoiled. But those were, those are like those are.
Speaker 1:Those are good people, so we're good there. All right, and last but certainly not least, you know these questions are making me nervous.
Speaker 2:I'm like I'm sitting here.
Speaker 1:These are supposed to be rapid too. So last but certainly not least, who is your caught match team Somerset.
Speaker 2:Hello, somerset, let me see you with your hands and put them in the air. Hey, hey, listen, that was easy. See, that was, that's not even a question. There you go. You don't know, you don't know.
Speaker 1:You don't know. Yeah, there you go.
Speaker 2:This is what I'm going to say.
Speaker 1:That is the best response ever, okay, and we are here for it. All right, there we go, all right, so let's jump right in now, okay. So when I think of and you know, my sister was saying it pre-show, she was like her name is not Petrina, her name is power girl, right. So when we think of power girl, and the longevity you've had in your career, here in Bermuda.
Speaker 1:How do you stay and forgive me if I don't want this to come across negatively in any way, shape or form, but relative in our community and people still using you and these types of things. So we don't see that very often in Bermuda. Like, how do you remain on top of the game?
Speaker 2:So, first of all, I'm not trying to remain on top of the game. That's number one. Number two is is realizing that there are seasons for everything. So there was a season for me to work in radio. There was a season for me to work in TV, but then there was there's a season for someone else to do it Right. And then there's a season for me now to work for nonprofit. I never thought I'd be doing that one. There will also be a season for someone else to take over that as well. So it's realizing that there are seasons for certain things. And then there are some things that I do because I enjoy them so much.
Speaker 2:So, with reference to hosting, that's something that I may not give up right away, but some of the other stuff, it's like learning and growing and then also being able to pass that information on to the next generation and what you'll find. Well, what I've found is that a lot of people feel intimidated by people that are coming up in the next generation. So, for example, you have a podcast and let's say, someone had a podcast before you and you ask some questions and they don't want to share, or or they feel like, oh, she's doing a podcast she's copying all for me. I don't look at it like this. I feel like it's room for everyone and I feel that if I have something that I can pass on to the next generation, then why not? Why am I going to keep that to myself? So some of the people that I've connected with they were five. They might now be in their twenties, which is true, actually, of course that's making me sad I'm aging myself, but anyway, no.
Speaker 2:So I have people that were five, that are now 20, and they come to me. Hey, I used to listen to you when you were on the radio. How did you do this? Sure, I'm going to sit down.
Speaker 1:Let's have a coffee.
Speaker 2:Well, I don't drink coffee, I drink tea. I drink tea. So, thatotes, you can curse me out tomorrow and I'll speak to you the next day. I don't let it bother me. I let it roll off my back.
Speaker 1:I'm still working on that.
Speaker 2:It's, and it's, and it's difficult and don't and trust me, it took me a while to be like that. It really did. I've been through so many people laughing, talking about me, saying hurtful things, telling me I'm a dits and all that type of stuff, but after a while and I think it comes over time. You know cause being in a public eye is is not an easy thing.
Speaker 1:And it's not hard, it's. It's difficult in a small community as well.
Speaker 1:Right, Like you have to see your family Girl, we get it Right, we totally understand. So people don't understand those effects. So, like in bigger places, you know someone's saying something about you, very, really hear about it, or it's a later down the line, like here in Bermuda, if something happens, especially negative things, cause we all know those things spread, you know, like wildfire, um. But in a smaller community you feel it and it's like gut wrenching right, because it's just like how could someone think about me like that, because we're so close knit, right.
Speaker 2:This is it and and, and that's the hard part about it. But the other thing that people feel to realize well, they, they know it, but they don't know it right Is that no one's perfect. Everyone has stuff, everybody has issues, everyone has challenges. Everyone has people in their family that are on drugs, everybody has people in their family that have mental illness and divorce, and you know what I mean. So it's like oh my gosh, she's getting divorced. Oh my gosh, did you hear she's hospitalized? Oh did you you all have that same like we're. We're human, and so, instead of getting so caught up in a talk and talking and making people feel less than that's kind of.
Speaker 1:No, I totally agree with you. But in that same vein, right Like, because you put like your personality out there and I'm very careful with saying personality as opposed to life. Thank you, so you got to be really careful about that, thank you, but with doing that, like what do you? What is the biggest misconception of you? Um, given that you are online frequently, you?
Speaker 2:know it's so funny because I do a lot of stuff that's crazy and funny. You know, I run up and down, I jump up and down, I'm playing with the kids, I'm on a fun castle, like I just do that stuff. It brings me great joy. But I'll never forget like someone had written something in the Royal Gazette, right, and it was about another personality, and they were like, um, saying something negative about them, and so they ended up bringing my name to the table and they were like, could you imagine if Power Girl and this person were running for politics? Those two are so ditzy, blah, blah, blah. Like they wrote all this stuff and I don't really always look at the comments, but someone brought it to my attention and that's what I've gotten.
Speaker 2:A lot is oh, she's a ditzy or she's a bubble head, oh she's, you know, because she does crazy things. But hey, you don't realize that I have to advocate for children, that I have to write proposals for funding, that I have to make presentations in front of executives and some of the stuff that I do. You don't see it because it's behind the scenes. I'm not stupid, I'm not dumb, I'm college educated. But because I have that side of me and that's the only side that you see. You make that assumption about me. It's very hurtful, you know. Absolutely.
Speaker 1:And I mean most people don't realize the other side of Power Girl, which is Petrina, who's a managing director of a massive charity here in Bermuda, big brothers, big sisters, and that takes and you run that charity. So, what does that entail?
Speaker 2:I mean running the staff, running the actual programs, fundraising, strategic planning, just really ensuring that the organization is doing what it's supposed to be doing alongside the board. It's a lot of work and it's not work. That's for the faint of heart. Working for a charity, it's not where I'm making some big. Everybody thinks that people that work in charity make this big fat paycheck. I'm not making it. I'm not in it for the paycheck. That's why I'm out of hustling. I'm just no. I'm running it real though, like it's it's. It's work to where you get embedded in the community.
Speaker 2:I'm embedded in people's families like a big brothers, big sisters. I call it the big brothers, big sisters family because I know their circumstances, I know their situations and sometimes I get calls at 12 midnight at night just for somebody that just needs to talk and I'm there, like you know, and some of this stuff that we know about and we, you know, people see it just on social media, but I actually know this stuff, I know the deal and sometimes it keeps me up at night, you know, and it makes me want to do more, like I want to help everybody, but then I had to come to the realization that if I can save one or two or three. You never know what type of dominant effect that can have. So sometimes I may not be able to help somebody and it's hard and it takes a toll on you yeah definitely how many kids kind of have progressed through Big Brothers, big Sisters, since you've been hundreds.
Speaker 2:Really yes, because right now we have 150 kids right now.
Speaker 1:Wow, and so and it. What does that actually entail being a part of Big Brothers and Big Sisters from a children's perspective?
Speaker 2:from a children's perspective, majority of the people that enter the children in the program may not have a male or female role model. Okay, and so it. Initially we started out as one-on-one matches and, you know, working fine. You know, obviously there's always a shortage of male Volunteers within Bermuda. But then afterwards we we sat there and we were talking to our clients and we realized that it was more than just that that we needed to do so. For example, we do couple matches, we do company matches, so now we have companies that have now come on board and they have children that come to the office so they can get an experience in an orphan environment, help with homework and then also just some social skills that some of the children need.
Speaker 2:We have a program, boys to men, and where we partner with mass Bermuda, because we realized that with boys in Bermuda they weren't talking about their feelings. So we were like listen, like maybe we could do something that's kind of group therapy, but not therapy that can kind of get them talking. And so during the pandemic we talked to fit, see and the crew there and we created that program. And then also we have girl power with the girls that dr Jenna Otterbridge is a part of, and that's that's happening weekly with some of our girls. I mean, we we have a lot of Different programs that are running, and then also, when we see stuff out there that we know that children are interested in certain Skill sets, and if there's an opportunity for a camp, we reach out to that place and say, hey, we have some children, do you have any scholarships or do we need to get funding for it?
Speaker 2:So it's it's kind of trying to meet the needs and also partner with other community organizations, because we know we're not the end. Oh be all. So we have to be able to Adafigate for the children while working with our community partners as well, whether that's a corporate company, another charity, a Community group, a football club, whatever it is, whatever it takes to help them, because they're not. We don't own the children, yeah, the children of our community. So all of us binding together is really what is going to make the biggest impact. So that's what we're trying to do at Big Brothers, big sisters.
Speaker 1:So you just mentioned all of that, and that alone is a big job, right, yes? And then we have Personality power, girl Trina, how do you do both?
Speaker 2:so the power girl. Part of it is, believe it or not, stress relief. When I'm on a stage I Know the songs cliche, because everybody says when they get on the stage they're not themselves. Give me a mic in my hand and I feel empowered. I feel like I look at all of you and I'm like I wonder what type of day she had. Maybe that girl's looking miserable over there. How can I make her day? How can I make her happy? How can I make her dance and smile? She looks a little rigid and you know it's kind of worm, that part of it. It just helps me and it builds me you know.
Speaker 1:No, I love that. I would have never. You don't assume that something like that is something that you love, right, and it brings you joy because, let me tell you something.
Speaker 2:One of the things that a lot of people don't know about me is my sister is a social butterfly. My sister likes to go to everybody's party. I've got 50 million friends go out, trip, all this type of stuff. She is really what everybody thinks I am. Yeah, I get in a room. It like let's, let's say it's a mix and mingle cocktail hour. I feel like I just feel uncomfortable. I feel I don't know. I just I don't know if it goes back to childhood or what right, some trauma there, but it's like I really feel like I'm gonna get swallowed up. But I can fake it till I make it. But I'm never comfortable in this Environments and there's circumstances until you put a mic in my hand, give me a mic, and I'm great. Yeah, take the mic away from me and I just I feel now, oh, I can do what I have to do, but it's really not comfortable for me. And that's really being open and honest. My sister, give her a mic, she'll faint, but give her the room and she will work that entire room.
Speaker 1:I know the dynamic between sisters is also Amazing right, but it's a crazy as well. Like the strengths that some of you have, the other one might not have you know me. I have sisters as well.
Speaker 2:So you know I'm saying your sister's in action and let me tell you I love them to death, but they drive me nuts. They drive you nuts, but they they help you yeah you know what I mean. They help us to be better. Yeah, they want us to be the best version of ourselves. I agree They'll be fight on the sidelines.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we do fight, we do fight and we disagree and we have all big personalities, right and but Some of the relationships that I value the most are the ones I have my sisters. I'm gonna cry, stop, okay. But yeah, that is how you know, I don't start, cuz you know the biggest baby.
Speaker 2:Don't do this to me.
Speaker 1:I know please. I know, don't because he lost my come off girl. So listen, my sister made myself laugh. Okay, we're back.
Speaker 2:You. My sister helps to dress me. Today she helped to put makeup on me because I don't I'm clueless when it comes to stuff, but like she got up early to help me this morning and she always does that and before I go to events she'll call and she'll be like God's got you, girl, you're gonna rock it. You are a power girl. Power girl. Like it's like she won't, she's real, like she's my hype girl. Like you know, at all times, you know, and I just hope I'm there for her in the same way that she.
Speaker 2:I just hope that she's there for me because I love her.
Speaker 1:I got it Honestly, I genuinely got it, and most people don't realize what. Behind the scenes here as well, my sisters are here, so they're looking at me making all these faces right, but I and I'm not saying this because they- know this right. It's just three relationships in my life that I have no concern with how they know how I feel about them.
Speaker 1:Like I would do absolutely anything for them at all times I would drop whatever I'm doing and I'll do it right. And I know that, they know that and I. We got into an argument, not me and them, but someone else. They were like you don't know how they feel about you. I said no, I know that, and that's one thing I'd be willing to die on 100%.
Speaker 2:And I love how you said in the argument whatever right, my sister and I like my sister sometimes just backs and then I'm like, okay, let me leave all alone, and then the next day we're good. But I know, let me tell you something. We may fight, we may bicker, but let me tell you something Come talk about her sister. My sister will come looking for you. My sister bomb it. Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 1:But I think that's also learned too right, like, I think, when you come from families that are close or from whatever else that may have come from, but from us it's very much like my dad and my uncle, or like that like they those are twins, right, so they're pretty much the same person in different ways. But those they could be fighting or anything could be good on with them, but you can no one can talk badly about the other right and they have each other's back all the time.
Speaker 1:So I think that's been modeled for us as well, so we know that yeah it is. But those are three relationships I probably value them. I do value most in my life. Sorry mom, sorry dad, but they are they are definitely they're sibling is your first friend Well, so for me it's a little different. They're like my little sibling kids, so I know we'll have to talk offline about that, but there's a big age gap. There's a big age gap at least seven, eight and 11 years.
Speaker 2:So if my sister was seven years apart and I'll never forget this like my mom used to dress us alike.
Speaker 1:And.
Speaker 2:I couldn't stand it because I'm older, so I'm like we can dress me like this baby, you know. And then she used to want to be everywhere I was, want to follow me all over the place, and she used to like it used to arc me, but it's like something transitioned, Like when I went away to university and I came back and all of a sudden it was like let's go out. Hey, what, what, what you doing this weekend?
Speaker 2:And it's just like I love how the relationships morph right, yeah, like transitions into something Now, that's into friendship, and I genuinely like that.
Speaker 1:I love that about it. So it's a pretty good segue. I love when that happens. Tell me about little not I was going to say little power girl, tell me about little Patrina.
Speaker 2:Little Patrina had a lot of mouth. You couldn't control what little Patrina was going to say, and so my mom would take me places and be like I don't know what this child's going to say, like I'll bump into somebody and you know, is that your real her? No, jesus, you know you have something. Or you know, like that was me and it was. It wasn't in a rude way, it was just that. And then I always wanted to know why. So somebody would tell me something. I said, yeah, but why? I'm a Patrina, but why it's not making any sense. Like, yeah, I need to know. I had a really wide vocabulary I love. I was an avid reader. I would get buried in books. And the other thing that's funny that I can kind of look back now and see why I work for a charity is because back in the day, the people that no one else wanted to be bothered with or deal with, the people that everyone would tease with, the people that I would reach out to, so, for example, if you saw someone, as a child little.
Speaker 2:So I don't want to be graphic about it, but I have to break it down to you. So let's say somebody was in a wheelchair and something was going on with them. Let's say that's not on the face, and this is a real story. And you know they were there and and people were keeping away from them, just a caregiver around them. I would run over to that person and give them a hug and a kiss, and my mom would be, and people would be like she's not afraid of them. And my mom was like, no, that's just that's how she is. And I would literally talk to people and you know, it didn't matter, like skin condition, whatever it was, smells, whatever. I was always that person. Even the elderly just wanted to talk to the elderly. Sit off, Like I would always just have conversations. And my mom was like, like you were the wordest kid, because no, all the other children would be like I'm trying to play a thumb, I try to talk to them, but I always, you know, wanted to be around them. Yeah, so that's crazy.
Speaker 1:I would, you don't. But it also makes a lot of sense, right, because, like you said earlier, you know philanthropy and working in charity is it's not for the faint of heart, right, and you have to be really passionate about it, because when you're not passionate about it, it also that disingenuous nature of it comes across, right, and we never get that from you.
Speaker 2:So hearing that part of it Listen, you see, that makes me feel good, because I never want anyone to think it's disingenuous, because at the end of the day let's, let's be honest I could be working somewhere else making way more money and all my private jet of just teasing. But, but, but in all honesty, like since I've been at Big Brothers, big Sister, I've been pushed from other organizations, companies and and everything, but this is where I'm meant to be, this is where I'm purpose to be. Yeah, is to advocate for young people.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no, I love that and I mean. So what exactly did you go to school for?
Speaker 2:I'm a communications major, ok. So the funny part about it is I had this whole field, that I was going to come back to Prometa and I was going to be a journalist. So Glenn Jones and I graduated from Barkley together. We even interned together Prometa Broadcasting Company. So when I went away to school I learned how to work camera, I learned how to edit, I learned how to be in front of the camera. I did everything that I needed to do production and then I started taking these courses with reference to like newspaper writing. So I got to write and then I did editing and writing for the news.
Speaker 2:What I didn't like is them giving me stories that I didn't like. So it's like, here it is Somebody got murdered today. Here's the story, patrice, and I need you to cover it. The flu shots are coming up, patrice. We need you to cover that story.
Speaker 2:That's not a night. You're like you know. You know what I mean. It was. It was. You know.
Speaker 2:I had these big dreams because I'm from the world. Don't laugh, because you know Walter Crichton. I don't know who that is. Dan Rather. I know Dan Rather's Connie Chong, you know from that type of era. So for me it was kind of like. You know, I felt like I could do this. I'm not that person. I don't want to write the news stories. I don't want to be the person that you tell me I have to write about something that's going to make other people miserable. I want to do something that's going to bring joy to people and I want to do something that's going to bring about impact and I'm not saying that as a news journalist that you can't, but at the time for me it was like this is not what I want to do. I'm not happy with this, but I also enjoyed editing and videography as well. But what happened when I came back to Bermuda was I got pushed more in front of the camera than behind the camera. So I never really, you know while, I have some skills I never got to do.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so how did you deal with that while working and I don't know if you said the companies, I won't say it, but at the company when you first came back to Bermuda, you were working there how did you deal with, you know, being given stories that you didn't want to do Because that happened in university?
Speaker 2:Okay, don't listen, that happened in university, but I was just giving an example like but the flu shot one was one I had to write. I had to write that for the school newspaper and then I had to do a TV thing for it. I was like this is boring. I could be writing something else, I could be saying something else. I can't add my swing to it, and so that was the other part. Always wanted to add a little bit of something, a little possess.
Speaker 1:A little, possess A little shot. Yeah, there you go. So tell me. I know a lot of people know this, but I think with your social media presence, I think you're also getting a younger audience. Now, right, and I don't think people know the origin of PowerGirl. Where did that come from? Not everyone, I should say.
Speaker 2:So I worked at Power95 radio station. I was in PowerGirl All right, I it's funny, because at Bermuda Broadcasting Company they weren't hiring. But when I came back to school I harassed Rick Richardson and I was like listen, I need a job, I need to be doing this. Like you know, you're fresh out of school. You're like I need to be at Bermuda Broadcasting Company. Well, the job came out in sales and marketing, and he was like well, we have a position here. I said I'll take it.
Speaker 2:And so I started out doing sales and marketing. But obviously you know it was like oh, you want to try out this. So they had something called Power95 Interactive. Don't laugh, it was a card to where you can get like discounts and go to parties and do your little too young fellow, and but, anyway.
Speaker 2:So they were having this big party and all that type of stuff, and so they asked me to go on writing on show, because writing on you Savaspecha on Saturdays. And so I went on writing on show and something crazy happened. People were like, oh my gosh, you guys together, who is that girl? So afterwards it was like they were like you need to go back on, come back on. So I just ended up being his sidekick, his co-host, you know, and while I was there I already knew to play.
Speaker 2:I knew how to play a bit, but Roddy was like no, you need to know how to play, and so he would you know, train me up and I would just be there and sometimes I would be doing the playing and he would do the playing.
Speaker 1:And it was just kind of cool. You learned from David Roddygon. That's pretty cool. No see, listen David.
Speaker 2:Roddygon. Bermuda was Roddygon, oh my bad. See, listen, see that shows up. So Roddygon of Bermuda, okay, not David Roddy. I didn't know. It's okay, this is so funny. My bad, I'm having you making me laugh, but listen, what happened after that was, there was someone called Lord Anthony. I don't know if you know about Club Meadowbark.
Speaker 1:I know, lord Anthony, I'm just making sure. Yeah, I know, lord Anthony, he's going to gap her.
Speaker 2:So I'm making sure I gotta make sure, do not kill me, petrina.
Speaker 1:It's the gap, but okay, I'm coming back, I'm coming back.
Speaker 2:So he used to have Club Meadowbark. He used to come on the show to promote parties and one day he was just like you know what. With all of your energy, I just feel it's just so electric, you're just so powerful. You know what? You are a power girl. After he said that, everybody and their mama started calling me power girl. I didn't even, I didn't even like it at first. I'm like what in the world? I'm like a power girl. Like what? What is that? That superhero?
Speaker 2:I thought super boys just say that you know what I'm like maybe it's not like a cartoon, but it's like it started to grow on me after a while. And then I went to a church service one day and an older lady came up to me and she said you think they call you power girl because of the radio station. Nah, they're calling you power girl because that is your destiny, that is your God given purpose. God's power is in you.
Speaker 1:I was like that's so different. When the old ladies at church tell you that, I said wow, God's power.
Speaker 2:Nobody, you don't like. You start to feel it and I'm like maybe this is something. And then it was so many things that have been spoken over my life by so many different people, and I'm very careful to listen to what people speak Because you know, sometimes people be saying a lot of stuff.
Speaker 1:Talking on such a strong. But yes, and you're like yeah, exactly, you just pray for what they say.
Speaker 2:I can pray for you, for talking over, but anyway, so, but over my life from an early age, people always say that I was a light and that as I grew older, that I will be in a place of authority, and then also that don't laugh Someone actually said, like you will be amongst queens and kings, and I was like amen, there you go. But okay, like you know, like some of the stuff that people say that I was rolling my eyes at because I was younger and I'm like whatever. But now as I get older, I'm like you know what. It may be a little something to what they were saying, maybe not the queens and kings part, but to just be someone that's able to do something that impacts the community in a way that their legacy will be known Absolutely.
Speaker 1:So I hear you talking about your mom singing in church and you go into church when you were younger, Like how has faith played a role in your life?
Speaker 2:I don't know where I would be without my faith. I think I would probably shrink out and be in a corner shaking and hiding. I've been through so many like earth shattering things in my life and I honestly I don't know where I would be without it. And that's just honestly speaking. I say this to people all the time. Like I get it. Not everybody believes in God and listen. That is your choice, but it's also my choice to believe in God and because I believe in him and I pray and I just leave things in his hands. You have to, you know.
Speaker 2:I know some people say universe and some listen, it's all semantics, but for me I just honestly don't like, if you don't have faith, what do you have? Like? You have to have faith right, like sitting in a chair. We have faith that when we sit in the chair, the chair is gonna hold our weight. We have faith that when we stand up, our legs are gonna work Like that, believe it or not, that's faith. You know it's faith. 100%. Everything that we do in life is faith. So why can't I believe in something greater that's gonna impact my life and help me to get to the next level, especially if you know, god has shown up in your life in ways that you can't deny it right and like.
Speaker 1:So it's a few things Like for me. With this whole I'm gonna manifest and do all these things. But that origin, that's from the Bible. Speak things into existence and you know God will show up in your life, right so it's-.
Speaker 1:I'm glad you said that yes, cause it manifests in things. When I hear people that I went to church with say it, I'm like girl, like we know what that means. This is what I'm gonna manifest that girl. Manifest that's right, speak that into existence, speak it into existence, and that's where that actually comes from Believe it Exactly.
Speaker 1:So I totally understand that and I think for me faith has changed. Recently I was listening to this sermon. It wasn't a part I was gonna say podcast, but it was sermon the other day, cause I was like trying to make some decisions and you know, growing up you were always like, oh, you know, god, close that door if you need to do acts right.
Speaker 1:And it explains to me the other day and it was essentially saying and I can't remember who it was and if I can think about it I'll be sure to mention who it is but they were essentially like faith is taking that leap and knowing that God's gonna catch you regardless of what happens, like that's the faith of it. The faith is in waiting for God to show you or tell you or give you a sign Faith is taking the leap.
Speaker 1:Taking that leap, yeah, and it literally put into perspective for me, cause all my life I was like no, I'm waiting for God to tell me, or I'm waiting for God to show me a sign that this is what he wants me to do leave the job or whatever. That may or may not be. Faith without works, it's. Faith without action Is dead 100%? I'm not sure, and I had never thought of it like that before. So now, like when I'm making decisions in my life, I look at it in that vein, as opposed to like knowing that God's got you. That's the faith portion of it, and I'd never thought of it that way before. So that's why I ask the question about the faith.
Speaker 2:No, seriously, I mean, let me tell you just, girl, it's just been so much. I mean, as you know, what might the dog attack with me?
Speaker 1:I actually didn't know that you said that yesterday when we were catching up and I won't actually, if you don't mind, what happened. I don't know, I'm an open book, it's fine.
Speaker 2:So basically we had a dog. Something happened at home. I leaned on something, the speaker fell on the dog and as it fell I fell back because I was leaning on the speaker and I kicked the dog.
Speaker 2:And I was trying to prevent hitting my head on the refrigerator. And what happened was is the dog clamped down on my foot and I couldn't get my foot out his mouth and I was on the ground. And then the next thing you know it's my arms, it's my partially amputated finger, it's my hand that had to, like my index finger and my thumb actually were hanging off and had to be reattached my partially amputated finger. They told me that I wouldn't have a nail, but a nail grew back.
Speaker 2:Girl, you could be amazed what these nail technicians can do, but you know, like completely you know, and it was crazy because during that period I couldn't do anything for myself and I'm allergic to all of the good stuff. I can only take Tylenol and if you know about Tylenol, if you can't take anything outside of Tylenol, it don't even make sense. So I was just in bed like this and couldn't move. My hands, my wrists were sprained and my husband had to bathe me. My husband had to wipe me. Yes, wipe me. This is in sickness, in and out.
Speaker 1:That's the part people don't tell you about, right? I'm just gonna let you know that was really humiliating.
Speaker 2:But you know, he did what he had to do at that time. But I remember just being there, just like this, because I can't do anything and I'm just crying. I'm like God, like this sucks, this don't make no sense. And sometimes things happen because you need to be still and you need to process and you need to kind of get it together in your head. And I took that moment to do that, Like I took that time of I literally in order to get any work done. Afterwards I had to get a headset and dictate into it no, seriously, so it can type for me. And the funny part about that is, until it knows your accent, it types all sorts of messages. Yes, it does. But when that happened, you know, they told me that it's probably gonna be difficult for me to write, it's gonna be difficult for me to kind of, you know, have function Like I may not have 100% function of anything and I was like no, no, no, my God is greater than that, I will have function in my hands.
Speaker 2:I will have a nail.
Speaker 1:I know it sounds cosmetic but I will have a nail on this finger.
Speaker 2:They told me that they removed the nail bed and let me tell you something it grew back. That's crazy. It looks crazy, but hey, it doesn't look until you said something I would have never noticed. No, I call it thingy. No, it's chicken or something. I know it sounds corny, but anyway don't laugh. It's a serious moment between me and this finger.
Speaker 1:I know I'm sorry, I know.
Speaker 2:You're just gonna play in your head. I know I can't. I will never forget it. No, I can't help it. But also even this like I had to learn how to write again, I had to learn how to. I had to go through hand therapy for a while and if you look, I have like scars here and up here. Wow. I would have never noticed my husband told me it looked like a real blubber. I was like well, thanks, but I know I can't help it. This is my personality.
Speaker 1:It's actually a refreshing because we come from a lovely family, but also a crazy family. And they would say some things like that you fit right in right, your whole family right. So I totally understand it but you mentioned. You felt like you went through that too, so you could be still and get some things right or together Like what do you think you learned from that experience?
Speaker 2:So everybody thinks I say yes to everything. Right, there are periods that I say no. And also now I'm very conscious about what I'm affiliated with, conscious about who I'm working for and what events, activities, things that I'm aligning myself with, and during that period, there were some things that I was aligning myself with that were not necessarily where I should be, and it wasn't anything. And I'm not saying that it was something bad or negative. It was just that I wasn't supposed to be in alignment with that and I was still kind of like yeah, yeah, yeah, and I was like no, no, no, you know what and I'm not saying that he did this to stop me, but it just made me reflect even more and be like you know what. Let me take this time out. The thing that I will tell you is I'm the worst person with reference to self care, and so during some of those periods, that also made me be a little bit better in taking care of myself.
Speaker 1:And how has that coped like your mental health, Like when you were in a position where you weren't doing the self care and you weren't taking care of yourself. Did that affect your mental health in any way?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean, listen, I'm someone that when I was young got a struggle with depression, low self-esteem, feeling like I wasn't worthy. I mean I guess all of us in some periods of our lives kind of go through that period of where we feel less than we feel like we don't belong. I know that I sometimes still struggle with it, even at this age, which is crazy, but when I was going through those periods it's a low period for you, right, and you feel like you're all alone and it's really, really easy to get yourself into a hole. And so I know, in Bermuda, for most people, talking about mental health and sitting on the therapist's couch is taboo.
Speaker 1:But I'm going to tell you, especially in Black culture as well In Black culture, yes, and for me, listen.
Speaker 2:if you need help, sit on that couch, whatever it takes.
