We recently had the chance to connect with Isis and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Isis, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
What I’m most proud of building — that nobody sees is my healing journey. It’s what inspired me to create a space where others can share their childhood trauma stories. The process of healing taught me how powerful it can be when people feel seen and heard. The blog is more than just interviews, it’s a community built on empathy, courage, and truth. What people don’t see is the inner work that made this possible, the growth and self-awareness that turned my own pain into purpose.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Isis, and I’m the creator of Nan Lakou, a storytelling platform dedicated to helping people share and heal from childhood trauma. The name comes from the Haitian Creole word ‘lakou’, which means courtyard, a place where people gather, connect, and share life together. That spirit of community and openness inspired the blog. With a B.A. in Organizational Communication Studies from Florida International University, I’ve spent years learning how people connect, express themselves, and find understanding, skills that now guide me in creating safe spaces for authentic conversation.
Through Nan Lakou, I sit down with individuals to talk about their journeys, the pain they’ve endured, the healing they’re embracing, and the courage it takes to speak their truth. What makes it special is that it’s not about perfection or polished stories; it’s about real people reclaiming their voices and showing that healing is possible.
My own healing journey led me to create this space. I realized how powerful it can be when we share what once silenced us, and how those stories can light the way for someone else. Nan Lakou is still growing, but its heart is already full: a home for honesty, compassion, and collective healing.”
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
The relationship that most shaped how I see myself is the one between my parents. They separated when I was six and divorced a few years later. At that age, I couldn’t fully understand what was happening, but I could feel the shift, the silence, the change in what ‘home’ meant.
Looking back, that experience shaped my sensitivity to emotions and connection. It taught me to pay attention to what people don’t always say out loud, the feelings beneath the surface. Over time, I realized that those early lessons gave me empathy, resilience, and a deep desire to understand the human heart.
That’s part of what inspired Nan Lakou. I wanted to build a space where people could share their stories honestly, without judgment, a place where pain could be met with compassion. My parents’ divorce was painful, yes, but it also gave me the foundation to help others find healing and meaning in their own stories.”
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say one kind thing to my younger self, I would tell her, ‘You did the best you could with what you knew.’
A big part of my healing journey was writing an apology letter to myself, forgiving the version of me who carried so much pain, confusion, and self-blame from things that were never her fault. I often think I could have created a gentler, happier life for that younger version of me. Putting those words on paper was incredibly freeing, it felt like a relief I hadn’t realized I needed… It felt like a weight lifted, like I could finally breathe.
I would remind my younger self that she was never broken, she was just surviving. And that one day, she’d turn all that hurt into something meaningful, something that helps others heal too.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
One cultural value I protect at all costs is the importance of community and shared storytelling. In Haitian culture, the lakou is the communal courtyard and has traditionally been a space where people gather and support one another. But at the same time, there’s often a tendency to silence struggles, brush things under the rug, or respond with, ‘Oh, you’re fine or Se byen ou twò byen in Haitian Creole, implying everything is fine, even when it isn’t. Mental health and emotional vulnerability are frequently overlooked.
That’s why I created Nan Lakou. I wanted to build a space where people could speak honestly about their experiences, be truly heard, and find healing. Protecting this value means encouraging openness, compassion, and connection, showing that sharing your story is not weakness, but strength.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What will you regret not doing?
The thing I would regret not doing is taking the time to truly work on myself. Once I started, it felt like a weight lifted, a kind of rebirth. I listed everything that had hurt me in my life and began questioning each experience. I addressed what I could with my parents, had conversations with my spouse, siblings, and friends, and then turned inward to care for the little girl inside me. I picked up hobbies like painting and even learned how to swim as an adult.
It’s all part of the same journey I’ve been talking about, honoring my past, giving myself compassion, and creating space for healing. Protecting my emotional wellbeing and taking these steps for myself not only transformed my life, but it also strengthened the foundation for Nan Lakou. Now, when I help others share their stories, I do it from a place of authenticity and resilience that I might have missed if I hadn’t taken the time to work on myself first.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wordpress.com/home/nanlakou.com
- Instagram: the_original_isis
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@nanlakou?si=0fhGX2ic29KkI7F8
