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
Nahome Assefa - Artist / Curator / Writer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:33
Nahom Assefa is a multidisciplinary artist, curator, and writer whose practice explores cross-cultural storytelling, belongingness, and identity through visual and community-based work. Being a self-taught artist and Bus…
Kvng Nova - Singer / Music Artiste [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:12
Kvng Nova, born Abraham Adebayo, is a Nigerian artist carving out a distinctive sound that bridges cultures and emotions. Blending Afrobeats, Hip-Hop, R&B, and Afrofusion, his music reflects both his roots and a global o…
DJ Utshab - DJ / Producer / Performance Artist [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:34
DJ Utshab is one of the most renowned DJs in Bangladesh, celebrated for his electrifying performances. He began his DJ career in 2010, and with years of dedication and hard work, DJ Utshab became one of the most sought-a…
Nicolae - Musical Artist / Professional DM [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:04
Nicolae is an alternative R&B singer, rapper, drummer, and producer based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. His music blends soulful R&B, hip-hop honesty, and rock-leaning energy, with rhythm always at the centre. His latest rele…
Stacey Moser — Diver / Artist / Feral ’70s Child [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:58
Stacey Moser is a fiercely independent creative who believes reinvention is a choice, not a phase. A SCUBA diver, model, artist, and postmenopausal ADHD woman with relentless curiosity, Stacey has been forging her own pa…
Margarita Fainshtein - Artist/Educator [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:21
Born in Ukraine, Margarita Fainshtein earned a BFA from the University of Haifa, Israel and MFA from School of the Art Institute of Chicago.Exhibitions include: Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, Chicago; Chicago Art Dep…
Macarena Carreño - Musician / Artist / Art Administrator [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:05
At fifteen, her first song emerged from an English class assignment, built on three chords and sung with friends. That simple moment with a guitar quietly began a path she could never leave. Born in Santiago, Chile, she…
Dana Elborno - Mental Health and Youth at Risk Advocate [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:10
Dana Elborno is a Palestinian-Canadian social advocate based in Halifax. She is diving into her long-awaited art career. Dana holds a Child and Youth degree with a minor in Psychology from MSVU and currently works as a m…
Amanda Martin – Owner / Founder - Sweet Cheesus Charcuterie [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:31
What started as a simple side hustle for a single mom in Halifax has exploded into a thriving business crafting stunning charcuterie boards and tables for weddings, corporate events, and more.In this inspiring and down-t…
Sherry Anne Crowe - Model / Actor / Inspirational Speaker [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:33
Sherry Anne Crowe is a model, actor, and inspirational speaker in her 50s who believes that life is not about fading quietly with age, but about evolving boldly. Through her creative work and growing social media presenc…