Wendell Riley, a Trinidadian creative, community leader, educator, and cultural commentator living in the United States, explores themes of immigrant life, building identity in new places, and finding beauty and humor wherever you may go. Through personal stories, lively discussions, and cultural insights, Freshwater Yankee (a Trinidadian term for someone Americanized after time abroad) explores what makes us different across towns, regions, and countries, and ultimately, what connects us all.
The First Rule Of Social Media Is You Should Talk About Social Media
Wendell Riley explores social media's impact and offers strategies for a healthier digital life in this interview.
24 Sept 2026
I Have Read And Agree To The Terms And Conditions
Wendell Riley explores how smart devices connect us globally while questioning the potential downsides of this technological integration.
31 Aug 2026
Chasing Dragons (Stephen Vekovius Part 2 of 2)
Send us Fan Mail Wendell continues his conversation with Stephen Vekovius, entrepreneur, mentor, and native of Louisiana of Syrian and European descent living in Shreveport, La, where they discuss identity, balance, and the search for personal enlightenment as middle-aged adults. Freshwater Yankee on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/freshwateryankee Follow Wendell Riley on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendell.riley.7 Support the show
24 Aug 2026
The Ugly Duckling (Stephen Vekovius Part 1 of 2)
Send us Fan Mail Wendell chats with Stephen Vekovius, a native of Louisiana with Syrian and European roots, to discuss his experiences growing up slightly adjacent to the norm both in physical appearance and cultural background in Shreveport, and how those differences shaped the person who he is today as a successful businessman, philanthropist, mentor, and lifelong seeker of truth. Freshwater Yankee on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/freshwateryankee Follow Wendell Riley on In...
16 Jul 2026
The African Diaspora: A Migration That Shaped The Modern World
Send us Fan Mail Wendell sits down with Dr. Sharlene Sinegal-DeCuir, Department Chair, African American and Diaspora Studies at Xavier University of Louisiana, to discuss the African Diaspora, its reach and influence in the modern world, and comparisons of the experiences of those who were sent to Louisiana vs. the Caribbean. For more information on Dr. DeCuir: https://www.xula.edu/directory/people/ssinegal.html https://www.sinegal-decuir.com/home https://www.instagram.com/...
1 Jul 2026TRANSCRIPT
The World Cup - The Most Beautiful Game
Send us Fan Mail In this episode Wendell reflects on Trinidad and Tobago's history of attempting to qualify for the World Cup, and why the tournament brings out the best of the beautiful game, with nations of all sizes competing in a winner-take-all tournament every four years. Freshwater Yankee on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/freshwateryankee Follow Wendell on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wendell.riley.7 Follow Wendell on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wen...
25 Jun 2026
Wandering Westward
Send us Fan Mail Greetings from Sedona, Arizona! In this episode Wendell shares the roots of his fascination with the American Southwest, and talks about the beauty and splendor on display during road trips across the United States. Freshwater Yankee on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/freshwateryankee Follow Wendell on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wendell.riley.7 Follow Wendell on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendell.riley.7 Support the show
28 May 2026
Linguistics: Episode 1
In this episode Wendell explores the genesis of the way Trinbagonians talk, and gives a tutorial of how to communicate with other Trinis in their unique and melodic accent while using parlance from the twin-island republic. Freshwater Yankee on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/freshwateryankee Follow Wendell on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wendell.riley.7 Follow Wendell on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendell.riley.7 Support the show
21 May 2026
This Isn't The Sandwich I Ordered
In this episode, Wendell takes a break from his crazy routine to discuss his experience of being in the "sandwich era" that is middle age, and what it's like to try to live and thrive while dealing with the competing demands of life at 50. Freshwater Yankee on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/freshwateryankee Follow Wendell on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wendell.riley.7 Follow Wendell on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendell.riley.7 Support the show
1 May 2026
Nerds of a Feather
Living in a foreign land can be lonely, especially when it means leaving a safe space of shared culture with those you grew up with. But lifelong friendships can be found in unexpected places, and common ground can exist between people from two very different backgrounds. Recorded in late 2025, Wendell sat down with Jeremy Wockenfuss to talk about how they met and connected over a shared love of horror movies, sports, and Applebee's wings. Freshwater Yankee on Facebook: https://www.face...
21 Apr 2026
Never See Come See
In this episode Wendell discusses the pitfalls of suddenly being exposed to food culture in America when he emigrated to Maryland to study, and why his Trinidadian background made it harder for him to deal with it. Freshwater Yankee on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/freshwateryankee Follow Wendell on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wendell.riley.7 Follow Wendell on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendell.riley.7 Support the show
1 Apr 2026
On Movies, Comics, and Growing Up Trini
Wendell sits with Christopher Riley to talk about growing up in Trinidad in the 70's and 80's and how that influenced their work on comics like Terror of the Midnight Robber and Mango Chiren. Three Quarter Comics: https://3qconline.com/ Freshwater Yankee on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/freshwateryankee Follow Wendell on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wendell.riley.7 Follow Wendell on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendell.riley.7 Support the show
20 Mar 2026
Trinidad Carnival 2026 - For The Love of Mas
Wendell looks at Trinidad Carnival through the lens of spectator mas, an artform that saw an evolutionary leap in the 80's and 90's. He also chats with Kevin Crosby of Kinetic Mas about what spectator mas looks like today, and what it takes to run a carnival band throughout the year, and on the road on Carnival Monday and Tuesday. Learn more about Kinetic Mas: https://www.kineticmas.com/synopsis See Wendell's Carnival Photos and Videos on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/media/set?van...
24 Feb 2026
Trinidad Carnival 2026 – Potential to Kinetic Energy
Wendell gives an oral account of his experiences playing mas in Trinidad and Tobago Carnival, and he explores the personal, emotional, and spiritual journey of wearing costumes and ‘jumping up’ on the road on Monday and Tuesday. Learn more about You: The Masterpiece, presented by Kinetic Mas: https://www.kineticmas.com/synopsis See Wendell's Photos and Videos on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=61585711033362&set=a.122117776587190367 Follow Wendell Riley on ...
4 Feb 2026
Go Potty!
Wendell reflects on his first two pets back in Trinidad and Tobago, and explores the nature of pet ownership in America and how it differs from when he was growing up in the Caribbean. Freshwater Yankee on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/freshwateryankee Follow Wendell Riley on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wendell.riley.7 Follow Wendell Riley on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendell.riley.7 Support the show
21 Jan 2026
Home Is Where The Heart Is... Right?
Wendell sits down with Miranda Restovic, President and Executive Director of the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities and the Executive Director of PRIME TIME, Inc. Miranda tells her story of coming to America at the age of eleven from Dubrovnik, Croatia, and discusses her work in the Humanities, what the word "home" means, and what it's like revisiting the place where you grew up when you live in another country. For more information on the LEH, visit: https://leh.org/ For more...
14 Jan 2026
The Journey
Wendell shares his journey as an expatriate- from his early days as a young boy growing up next to Green Corner in Port-of-Spain Trinidad, to living in Baltimore, Southwest Virginia, and now Shreveport, Louisiana, and how those stops along the way shaped who he is today. This introductory episode sets the table for the Freshwater Yankee series. You can find out more about the Robinson Film Center at: https://robinsonfilmcenter.org/ Freshwater Yankee on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com...
14 Jan 2026
A Taco By Any Other Name
Wendell sits down with British-born Dr. Helen Taylor, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at LSU Shreveport to discuss living in America, the importance of expanding one's horizons, raising American kids, and the difficulties of ordering at restaurants with an accent in the South. For more information on LSUS, visit: https://www.lsus.edu/ Freshwater Yankee on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/freshwateryankee Follow Wendell Riley on Facebook: https://www.faceb...
Inside a recent episode
The First Rule Of Social Media Is You Should Talk About Social Media
Published 21 Oct 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] So social media has, of course, revolutionized us as a society. It has changed the way we communicate with family, friends, colleagues, elected officials, public and private service providers and corporations. It also allows us to interact with people all over the globe in real time. It has created a critical framework for building and sharing personal and boutique brands, whether you're a celebrity or an influencer or a lowly podcaster. It has helped amplify social and political movements and has become synonymous with our technological landscape. It also helps us learn new things, share ideas and cultures through videos in a way that we have never, or that has never been possible in human history. […]
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