Trials To Triumphs

To get to her breakout role as Mercedes on  Glee , Amber P. Riley made some hard choices that eventually led her to the life she’d always dreamed of. But, as she tells Ashley, it didn't happen overnight. Amber’s relationship with the  Glee  cast was tested through real-life experiences they navigated together, including some she describes as “trauma bonding.” She also discusses the tragic losses o...

Hip Hop rising star Lady London is known for her unique flow and powerful freestyles. Unlike some of her most memorable lyrics, her success hasn’t been improvised. Lady London explains to Ashley why she believes “stagnancy is the same as regression” and how she finds growth in times of being uncomfortable.  She shares her struggles with being “subject to public scrutiny or subject to whatever peop...

Ashley’s husband Darroll Jenkins Jr. reveals the changes and challenges he overcame to become the life partner he is today.  Darroll, who is now a sports agent, talks about letting go of his basketball dreams and what it took for him to build an abundant life with Ashley. Darroll admits to being a selfish boyfriend at the start of their relationship, but now lives to love and support Ashley for a...

Actress and singer/songwriter Naturi Naughton-Lewis’ greatest trials have become her greatest triumphs. Ashley and Naturi chart her journey from singing in her church to stardom becoming the final member of the platinum-selling girl group 3LW. The two-time NAACP Award winning actress recounts making the difficult decision to leave 3LW at its height and details the decade it took her to get over th...

Ashley chats with close friend and critically acclaimed actress Aisha Hinds about her path to replenishment. Aisha has appeared in a number of hit series including 9-1-1, True Blood and The Shield . She made her mark with a powerful performance in Underground playing icon Harriett Tubman. In this vulnerable conversation, Aisha reflects on how her parents’ divorce left her feeling fractured as a yo...

Trials to Triumphs host Ashley Blaine Featherson-Jenkins welcomes award-winning actress Malinda Williams to the show for a powerful conversation about discernment. Malinda has appeared on a wide variety of beloved TV shows including Sister, Sister , Moesha and Soul Food. She has also turned in powerhouse performances in films such as The Wood , Accidental Love and First Sunday . Malinda explains w...

Emmy- and Tony-nominated and Grammy-winning actress Danielle Brooks opens up to Ashley about pushing through some of her darkest hours to find love, sisterhood and her purpose. She talks about the sacrifices that led to dream roles in HBO’s Peacemaker, Netflix’s Orange is the New Black and The Color Purple on Broadway. She also describes how she balances marriage and motherhood with the hectic car...

Comedian and executive producer Robin Thede created HBO’s  A Black Lady Sketch Show  to surround herself with funny women. She explains to Ashley that making room in the entertainment industry is serious business.  After years ascending from the writers’ room to on-camera work, Robin says she realized that her work isn’t about making everyone happy, but about “elevating the art in some way that’s...

Ashley sits down with Grammy award-winning singer/songwriter Estelle to talk about “the courage to lay it all down.” Estelle shares how losing her manager at a crucial time in her career led to a turning point. Like a rocket rising and watching the pieces fall away, she released harmful habits during this intense season of growth. Estelle says she steered herself out of her own way to make room fo...

Ashley has a heart-to-heart with her close friend and Dear White People costar Logan Browning about the places and people who made her. Logan, best known for playing Samantha White on the hit Netflix series, speaks candidly about the show’s cultural impact and what it taught her about colorism in the entertainment industry. She shares how she found the confidence to challenge the status quo and tu...

Trials to Triumphs, host Ashley Blaine Featherson-Jenkins has a soulful chat with acclaimed actress Sonequa Martin-Green. Sonequa starred as Sasha Williams on The Walking Dead and currently plays the main role of Captain Michael Burnham on Star Trek: Discovery. Sonequa opens up about losing both her parents within 24 hours of each other. She explains how she learned to accept that “grief stays wit...

In this candid interview, Kelly Rowland gets real about questions she's never been asked. She describes the moment she knew she  belonged  on stage and reveals how her “tumultuous” relationship with her mother changed after she passed away. Kelly also speaks about her once estranged father, childhood trauma and the therapy that has helped her survive. She says her healed wounds have helped her tea...

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