Ilona Inman - Pilot / Instructor / Creative Jewellery Repair & Upcycling

Ilona Inman - Pilot / Instructor / Creative Jewellery Repair & Upcycling

Author: Israel Ekanem July 20, 2026 Duration: 34:39

Ilona is a Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Veteran, having turned an early fascination with aviation into a position as a helicopter pilot at one of Canada’s Tactical Helicopter Squadrons. After thirteen years in the CAF, Ilona was released following an injury. She continued in aviation for several years as a civilian helicopter flight instructor.

Before & throughout her career in aviation, creativity & craft always played a large role in Ilona’s life, cultivated at an early age when she was encouraged to learn by creating – from sewing & knitting to building & painting. As an adult, Ilona learned the art of wire-wrap jewellery through evening classes, while posted to Comox, BC. This particular craft quickly became the focus of her creative energy.

Now residing in Halifax, NS, Ilona took skills from both her career in aviation & instruction, and her creative practice into entrepreneurship. She is the founder of Mable & Rose Handmade, a creative costume jewellery repair & upcycling business that values secondhand materials, hands-on experiences and community.

Check her out @mable_and_rose


Tune into Blackout Podcast for a series of intimate, unfiltered conversations hosted by Israel Ekanem. This isn't about polished soundbites or superficial interviews; it's a dedicated space where guests from various walks of life-artists, thinkers, creators-open up about the real stuff. You'll hear genuine discussions that weave through the complexities of making art, navigating culture, and the personal journeys that shape us, all while touching on themes of mental health, family dynamics, and the significant beginnings and endings we all face. The podcast lives up to its name by cutting through the noise, offering listeners a chance to sit in on dialogues that are as much about asking honest questions as they are about finding truths. Each episode feels like a deep dive into the experiences of people doing remarkable things, framed within the broader contexts of society, film, and television. If you're looking for a podcast that values depth and authenticity over pretense, where conversations flow naturally from the profound to the everyday, this is the series for you.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Blackout Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Chad W Johnson - Creative Entrepreneur [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:07
Chad W Johnson is a Halifax/Dartmouth-based videographer, photographer, filmmaker, mental health advocate, and creative entrepreneur behind ChadJPictures. Through his work, Chad captures authentic stories, artists, event…
Nik Davis - Photographer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:12
Nik Davis - PhotographerHe grew up watching his dad film the family with old digital cameras, spent his college years designing video games, and now he's one of Halifax's most authentic photographers, but he'll be the fi…
Patricia (Patti) Kibenge - Multi Hyphenate [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:00
She grew up running around a veterinary college, spent three years in med school hating it, ran away to the circus for a bit, and now she's a PhD researcher in adversarial machine learning who doesn't really believe in A…
Takeover Productions - Media Collective [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:37
Takeover Productions - Media CollectiveTakeover Productions is a Halifax-based media collective and event platform dedicated to spotlighting and strengthening the city’s vibrant local arts, music, and nightlife scenes.Bu…
Joelle El Kassir - Photographer / Restaurant Owner [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:26
Joelle El Kassir is a Lebanese-Canadian entrepreneur, photographer, and business owner based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She is the founder of IFL Photography, where she has spent over 15 years capturing meaningful stories…
Candace Mayers- Jewelry Designer/ Founder of Creative Fashion Hub [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:40
Candace Mayers- Jewelry Designer/ Founder of Creative Fashion HubCandace Mayers is a Trinidad-born creative who was raised in Brooklyn, New York. Her passion for fashion, design, and culture has shaped a creative journey…
Omolola Adeyemi – Culture Driven Brand Builder & Storyteller [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:10
When people ask for "African prints," they're usually asking for Kente—but Omolala knows there's so much more. That's why she started Ova Afrique: to educate, preserve, and celebrate the rich tapestry of West African fab…
Melānie Mendez Munden - Multidisciplinary Artist [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:09
Melānie Mendez Munden is a multidisciplinary artist whose work spans fashion, film, and the visual arts. Her creative practice is driven by a passion for storytelling and a desire to explore the connections between artis…
André Myette - Theater Director / Wrestler / Actor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:41
André Myette - Theater Director / Wrestler / ActorIf you live in Colchester County, chances are you’ve crossed paths with André Myette. As the Executive Director of the Marigold Cultural Centre, André is a major driving…
JR Slotta - Rapper [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:14
He showed up to the East Coast Sessions feeling uncomfortable in his outfit, until he put it on and felt like himself. That's JR Slotta: an artist who's always willing to try something new, even when it pushes him outsid…