In this powerful and deeply human episode of Free Thinking with Montel, Montel Williams sits down with writer, cultural advocate, and founder of the Baldhead Empress platform, Cheryl McCourtie, to unpack the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Melissa and what recovery really looks like for Jamaica. On October 28, 2025, the strongest hurricane in Jamaica’s recorded history tore through the island—claiming lives, displacing more than 12,000 people, crippling agriculture, and wiping out an estimated 41% of the nation’s GDP. But beyond the headlines and statistics lies a deeper story: one of community resilience, cultural strength, and the urgent need for healing—both physical and psychological. Cheryl brings a personal and unfiltered perspective as she reflects on watching her homeland endure unimaginable loss while confronting cascading crises in public health, food security, tourism, and mental well-being. Drawing from her work as the Baldhead Empress, she shares how affirmation, storytelling, and community connection become lifelines in moments of collective trauma.
Up Next in Season 1
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Caroleen Moise Defying All Odds
Montel talks with filmmaker Caroleen Moise on this episode of Free Thinking, about her latest film Defying All Odds. This award-winning writer, producer, and director started working in the film industry in 2003 in her native home city of Montreal. The Franco-Canadian who now lives in Syndey, Aus...
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BLAKE ARNET Dunk MS
In this heartfelt episode of "Free Thinking with Montel," we invite you into the remarkable world of Dunk MS, a groundbreaking initiative turning the battle against Multiple Sclerosis into a slam dunk. Montel Williams is joined by Blake Arnet, the former UCLA basketball star and visionary behind ...
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COLIN GOODMAN and MATTHEW KNAGGS
On this episode of Free Thinking with Montel, Montel sits down with endurance runners Colin Goodman and Matthew Knaggs—two men living with Multiple Sclerosis who refuse to let diagnosis define their future. After being diagnosed with MS, both Colin and Matt chose movement over fear. Their latest ...
