Trials To Triumphs

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-tim...

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 fro...

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 anothe...

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...

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...

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 olde...

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...

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...

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 achiev...

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 th...

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...

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 ag...

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...

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 in...

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 h...

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 through...

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 care...

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 w...

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, spea...

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...

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 ri...

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...

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...

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...

Media mogul Necole Kane lives a lifestyle of abundance. The serial entrepreneur talks to Ashley about overcoming rock bottom moments in her career after finding global success as celebrity gossip blogger, Necole Bitchie. Necole says her unwavering belief that her purpose was always greater than “giving good tea” led her to sunset her blog and launch XONecole, a women’s lifestyle brand. Years after...