In this anthology episode, Trials to Triumphs host Ashley Blaine Featherson-Jenkins revisits key insights from this season on generational healing. ABFJ looks back at how actress, comedian, and social justice advocate Amanda Seales learned to set healthy boundaries with her mother and what radical acceptance taught best-selling author Ashley C. Ford. She also reflects on how life coach and six-time bestselling author Dr. Iyanla Vanzant transformed her shortcomings into lessons of healing and...

Actress Bresha Webb sees God’s hand in all things. She talks to Ashley about moving through grief with resilience and hope. Two years ago, Bresha lost her father in the midst of filming her hit show, Run the World. Despite the pain of that season, she pushed through believing that goodness would find her on the other side of her grief. Speaking candidly about the genetic disorder she inherited from her late father and its impact on her pregnancy, Bresha shares how God sustained her in the...

Trials to Triumphs host Ashley Blaine Featherson-Jenkins is joined by three of her best friends: Angelique, Crystel, and Madison for a special conversation on growth and the beauty of sisterhood. Reflecting on the genesis of their friendships (meeting Crystel in middle school and later, Angelique and Madison at Howard University), the group shares how they intentionally create space for one another in their evolving worlds. Highlighting the love and support that knits their friendship...

Trauma therapist, life coach, and minister Dr. Anita Phillips believes embracing our emotions with authenticity is crucial to leading a powerful life. She talks to Ashley about the connection between our emotional well-being and our spiritual and physical health. Drawing from her New York Times best-selling book, "The Garden Within," Dr. Anita reveals that our hearts are a garden and its condition determines the direction of our lives. Sharing her own experiences of emotional pain and...

Actor, writer, and speaker Franchesca Ramsey no longer believes in forcing opportunities. Franchesca talks to Ashley about the importance of pursuing alignment and ease in her career. Franchesca describes how the support she received from her parents as a child nurturing multiple creative passions continues to serve her today. She opens up about how shedding her insecurities helped her befriend De'Lon Grant, her close friend turned co-host of pop culture podcast, Lemme Fix It! Franchesca also...

Actress, comedian, and social justice advocate Amanda Seales has never been afraid of speaking the truth. In this candid conversation, Amanda talks to Ashley about the cost of being honest. Recalling a classroom experience in which she corrected her teacher, Amanda reveals she learned early that speaking up for what she believed in can sometimes make others uncomfortable. However, as she grew older, Amanda realized honesty and authenticity are essential ingredients for transforming a society...

Wellness entrepreneur and angel investor Hannah Fallis Bronfman has never “lived in a box.” Hannah talks to Ashley about harnessing her potential and allowing herself to expand beyond her wildest dreams. As a young girl growing up biracial in New York City, Hannah’s parents taught her there were no limitations on what she could do or dream and that she belonged in every room she set foot in. When Hannah encountered challenges, her parents’ lessons gave her the strength to own her identity and...

Dancing with the Stars finalist and star of the Bachelorette Charity Lawson is living out her wildest dreams. Charity talks to Ashley about creating a vision board full of future goals. While Charity had bold dreams in mind, she never could’ve imagined the year she eventually experienced. After being nominated to compete on The Bachelor by a close friend, opportunities to star on The Bachelorette and Dancing With the Stars soon followed. Wrapping 2023 happily married and as a Dancing with the...

Emmy-winning writer, producer, and actor Lena Waithe has always relentlessly pursued her dreams. Ashley and Lena talk about meeting over a decade ago and the growth they’ve experienced in their friendship since their early days in Los Angeles. While Lena initially desired to pursue a career in television writing, the opportunity to star in Netflix’s Master of None presented new avenues to achieve her dreams. While acting was not her initial focus, Lena later realized her on-screen presence...

Actress Gail Bean is trading frustration for gratitude. Gail talks to Ashley about the challenge of navigating 2023. After enduring the actor’s strike, a breakup, and saying goodbye to her hit show Snowfall, Gail found herself walking through a dark valley of uncertainty. It was difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel in the face of so many ‘dead-ends’, but Gail kept believing that things would change for the better. A year later, Gail declared her word for 2024 is "receiving,"...

Actress Melanie Liburd knows how to fight for what she needs. She tells Ashley taking her craft into her own hands as a budding actress was one of her greatest acts of self-care. In the early stages of her career, Melanie struggled to juggle multiple auditions during Hollywood’s ‘pilot season hustle.’ Having recently moved from London to Los Angeles, the British actress quickly grew overwhelmed by the pressure to wow casting directors while adapting to a new culture and learning her lines in...

Actress Teyonah Parris knows the power of co-creating with God. In this heartfelt conversation, she talks to Ashley about the process of nurturing a God-given dream. Comparing the experience of believing before seeing to walking through a pregnancy, Teyonah shares how she learned to activate her faith and remain expectant. She also discusses the importance of setting healthy boundaries to guard against negative influences and cultivating gratitude in the midst of frustration. Teyonah reminds...

White House correspondent and author April Ryan has always used her voice for good. April talks to Ashley about discovering her purpose in one of America’s most prestigious political institutions. As a young girl from Baltimore, Maryland, April constantly fought to overcome adversity and being underestimated. Reflecting on her early days at the White House, April shares her struggles with imposter syndrome and finding her footing. While covering the Trump administration later in her career,...

Actress Karen Pittman no longer subscribes to a scarcity mindset. The Nashville native talks to Ashley about learning to align herself with abundance and claiming what was rightfully hers. Karen describes the major transitions of her life including shifting from the cutthroat financial world to attending NYU’s prestigious acting program...while pregnant! Pittman shares her journey in the acting industry, including the show review that changed her life and the moment she realized her dreams...

Doula and author Brandi Sellerz-Jackson understands the power of sharing our stories in community. She talks to Ashley about growing up in Alabama and functioning in survival mode. When she found the courage to revisit her childhood trauma in therapy later in life, Brandi discovered that healing happens in community. Brandi also discusses her work as a doula and how nurturing others in her craft helped her learn to nurture herself. Brandi knows that authentic connection helps us thrive and...

Award-winning actress Wendy Raquel Robinson has learned how to sit in her dreams. The South-Central LA native talks to Ashley about the defining moments in her life and career; from her early days taking the stage at Howard University to starring in the long-running hit series, The Game. No stranger to the grind of the entertainment business, Wendy shares the greatest lesson she’s learned throughout her career is how crucial it is to pause and take a moment to celebrate your accomplishments....

Grammy Award-winning jazz singer Samara Joy accomplished a major feat when she was awarded Best New Artist at the 2023 Grammys. But just two months later, she realized her newfound success came with new challenges. Samara talks to Ashley about prioritizing rest in the midst of walking in her purpose. She also shares the importance of taking breaks to prevent burnout and finding balance in her career as a young artist. With many more milestones ahead of her, Samara knows it will take...

Blogger and model Achieng Agutu no longer lives within societal confines. The self-proclaimed “Confidence Queen” talks to Ashley about learning to love herself and confidently step into her power. As a child growing up in Kisumu, Kenya, Achieng knew all about the unwritten rules dictating how women in that society should behave. But as she grew older, she discovered existing within those margins would restrict her from a life worth living. Achieng later determined her confidence couldn’t come...

Emmy-nominated actress and Human Rights Advocate, Angelica Ross uses her privilege for purpose. Angelica talks to Ashley about embracing her essence and fighting for what she believes in despite the cost. When a series of unfortunate events led to a fallout with one of Hollywood’s most powerful producers, Angelica chose not to buckle and bend under the pressure. Instead, she stood her ground, speaking up for herself and those who lacked the courage. Angelica’s commitment to knowing and...

Four-time Olympic gold medalist and star of the Real Housewives of Atlanta, Sanya Richards-Ross talks to Ashley about understanding the power of the tongue. From predicting her Olympic win at the age of nine, to preparing herself to retire from track and field, prayer and preparation have served Sanya in powerful ways throughout her life. Sanya also opens up about her heartbreaking miscarriage and how that experience shaped her perspective on motherhood. As she and her husband prepare to...

Comedian and actress Nicole Byer’s superpower is authenticity. In this candid conversation, Nicole talks to Ashley about gratitude, discovering her creative voice, and being unapologetically herself. Despite the entertainment industry’s subjective and fickle nature, Nicole has always trusted her brand of funny. The Emmy-nominated host emphasizes the power of believing in yourself and how taking risks led to life changing opportunities. Nicole also shares her perspective on handling criticism...

CEO and Founder of Slutty Vegan, Pinky Cole knows the road toward purpose-driven work is paved with successes and failures. After a grease fire destroyed her first restaurant in New York City, Pinky relocated to Atlanta where she developed the concept for her now multi-million dollar restaurant chain, Slutty Vegan. Pinky talks to Ashley about how the very things that looked like they would hinder her actually contributed to her success. The entrepreneur turned author also talks about her new...

Life coach and bestselling author, Dr. Iyanla Vanzant is no longer playing small. While the world may know her as a masterful spiritual teacher, Dr. Iyanla confesses to Ashley that there are some days where she forgets to embrace her full power. Dr. Vanzant shares how her phrase of the year “full bloom” is helping her live life to the fullest. The prolific author also opens up about the difficult process she endured to birth her most personal book "Peace from Broken Pieces," written after the...

CEO and Boxing Champion, Laila Ali has always marched to the beat of her own drum. Laila talks to Ashley about the trials and triumphs of following in her famous father's footsteps as a young woman. Despite initially lacking her dad’s approval, Laila defied the odds and claimed her spot as one of the boxing greats when she became an undefeated world champion. After retiring from boxing, Laila says shifting her public image from a professional fighter to a homemaker presented a new challenge,...