Forgiveness sounds simple… until life asks you to practice it with real people and real pain.

In this heartfelt solo episode of Choosing Joy, Deborah Joy Winans Williams opens up about one of the most difficult—and most freeing—parts of her own journey: learning how to forgive others, forgive herself, and release the resentment that keeps us bound.

Deborah shares the story of her parents’ divorce, how childhood wounds shaped her understanding of forgiveness, and the moment her grandmother gave her a piece of wisdom that changed her life forever. She talks about shame, grace, reconciliation, and why forgiveness isn’t a one-time event, but a process that comes in waves.

With honesty and compassion, Deborah reminds us that forgiveness is not about excusing someone else’s behavior—it's about choosing freedom, healing, and joy for your own life.

If you’re holding onto hurt, wrestling with disappointment, or trying to heal old family pain, this episode will meet you right where you are.

💜 “Forgiveness doesn’t always mean reconciliation. But it always means freedom.”

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Actress, comedian, and new mom Bresha Webb joins host Deborah Joy Winans Williams for a deeply personal and joy-filled conversation about marriage, motherhood, healing, faith, and navigating Hollywood with grace.

Bresha opens up about her high-risk pregnancy, discovering a genetic heart condition while carrying her daughter Brave, and the frightening moments that tested her faith. She talks candidly about grief after losing her father, the miracle she experienced in postpartum recovery, and how becoming a wife and mother changed her understanding of love and purpose.

With her signature humor and honesty, Bresha shares what it means to protect your peace, why saying “no” matters, how gospel and Cardi B coexist in her self-care routine, and why she believes joy must be chosen over and over again.

If you’re looking for a story of healing, hope, laughter, and the power of faith, this episode will bless your spirit.

💜 “You can’t make me doubt Him — I’ve seen too much.” — Bresha Webb

00:00 – Opening: The industry finally sees Black women
00:38 – Deborah Joy introduces her 19-year friendship with Bresha
01:22 – Becoming a wife, mother, writer & artist
02:50 – What marriage actually looks like vs. expectations
04:16 – How partnership changed Bresha’s life
06:00 – Putting God at the center of her marriage
09:00 – Grief, love, and learning to lean on her husband
11:22 – Becoming a mom & balancing Hollywood
12:16 – The pregnancy complication that changed everything
12:54 – Discovering her heart condition
13:53 – Fear, faith, and the birth of Brave
16:03 – Why her daughter’s name carries so much power
17:07 – Deborah Joy shares her own pregnancy challenges
18:27 – Postpartum healing & Bresha’s miracle recovery
21:03 – Protecting peace in a demanding industry
21:56 – The role of faith in every obstacle
22:33 – Gospel + Cardi B = Bresha’s wellness formula
23:17 – Lessons from Niecy Nash & Kim Whitley
24:31 – Handling rejection & relying on God
25:21 – The audition that gave her new perspective
26:03 – When a "no" is really a divine redirection
28:55 – Honoring her value as a Black woman in Hollywood
29:55 – College memories & high-energy grit
31:09 – Losing 100+ lbs postpartum
32:38 – Health, wellness & lifting heavy
33:32 – Reflecting on years of growth
34:21 – Theater dreams & stepping into new callings
36:20 – Realizing she’s living her childhood dream
38:08 – Seeing herself clearly for the first time
39:02 – Closing reflections on joy, gratitude & purpose

#ChoosingJoyPodcast #BreshaWebb #DeborahJoyWinans #BlackWomenInHollywood
#MotherhoodJourney #FaithAndHealing #CelebrityInterviews #BlackJoy
#WomenInEntertainment #InspirationDaily

If this episode encouraged you, make sure to follow the show, leave us a review, and share it with someone who needs a reminder that joy is still a choice.

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In this deeply honest and joy-filled episode of Choosing Joy, host Deborah Joy Winans Williams welcomes actress, producer, and mother Ryan Michelle Bathé for a soul-nourishing conversation about embracing the chaos of life without apology. From navigating marriage with fellow actor Sterling K. Brown to building a life rooted in faith, humor, and resilience, Ryan opens up about the lessons, missteps, and mantras that keep her grounded.

Together, they unpack what it means to redefine womanhood, honor your emotional bandwidth, and build a home full of love—even when your champagne flutes are mismatched. Ryan shares vulnerable reflections on aging, self-care, parenting through exhaustion, and finding joy in a world that rarely slows down. With warmth, wisdom, and a whole lot of laughter, this episode is a celebration of imperfection, intention, and unapologetic Black womanhood.

If you've ever felt the weight of being everything for everyone, or struggled to feel safe in your own skin, this one’s for you.

Chapter Markers

00:00 – Building a Life of Joy
03:00 – Australia, Motherhood & God's Surprises
06:00 – 19 Years of Marriage & Unpredictable Careers
09:00 – Faith, Stubbornness & Acting as a Calling
12:00 – Hollywood Rejection & Learning to Stay
15:00 – Parenting & Losing Yourself in the Process
18:00 – Perimenopause, Health, and Black Women Aging
21:00 – Family, Fear & Avoiding the Doctor
24:00 – Illness, ALS, and Loving Through Change
27:00 – Alzheimer’s, Caregiving & Choosing Joy Daily
30:00 – You Don’t Have to Get Through it Pretty
33:00 – Marriage Realizations & Letting Go of Perfection
36:00 – Church Culture, Legacy & Beautiful Homes
39:00 – Broken Glass & Emotional Meltdowns
42:00 – Stewardship, Provision & Taking Care of What God Gives
44:00 – Growing With Your Partner & Listening Deeply
47:00 – Community, Evolution & Loving the Present
49:00 – One Word She Wants Her Sons to Remember

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How do you balance being a wife, mom of four, content creator, comedian, and actress — all while keeping your joy?

In this hilarious and heartfelt episode of Choosing Joy, host Deborah Joy Winans Williams sits down with her friend That Chick Angel (Angel Laketa Moore) for a conversation about motherhood, marriage, faith, and the unexpected journey from actress to content creator.

Angel opens up about pivoting her career when she became pregnant, building a digital brand, raising four Black boys with her husband Marcus, and how outrageous faith has guided her through every season. From funny pregnancy stories to the challenges of communication in marriage to finding joy in serving others, this episode is both laugh-out-loud and deeply inspiring.

💜 “When I can’t see the way forward, I serve.” — That Chick Angel

If you need encouragement, laughter, and a reminder that joy is always within reach, this conversation is for you.

 #ChoosingJoy #ThatChickAngel #DeborahJoyWinans #AngelLaketaMoore #BlackWomenInComedy #MotherhoodJourney #FaithAndFamily #ContentCreatorLife #JoyAndPurpose #CelebrityPodcast #BlackJoy

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In this radiant episode of Choosing Joy, host Deborah Joy Winans Williams sits down with the one and only Gabourey Sidibe—award-winning actress, director, and mother—to talk about choosing self-worth, navigating colorism, and embracing joy in a world that often tells you you’re not enough. From her unexpected journey into stardom with Precious to raising twins and reclaiming her own story, Gabby opens up with humor, honesty, and an unshakable spirit.

She shares how her mother’s influence, her unconventional path into Hollywood, and her deeply grounded sense of self have kept her centered through fame, criticism, and cultural expectations. This conversation goes beyond celebrity—into what it means to love yourself loudly despite the noise.

Expect laughter, real talk, a few tears, and a reminder that every person deserves good things. Whether you're an artist, a parent, or just someone trying to find peace in your own skin, this episode is for you.

✨ This is Choosing Joy at its most soulful and powerful.

Chapter Markers

00:00 – We All Deserve Good Things

03:00 – Gabby’s Unexpected Journey into Hollywood

06:00 – Spirituality, Serendipity & Precious

09:00 – Gabby’s First Time on Set

12:00 – What Hollywood Really Is 1

5:00 – Colorism, Casting, and Identity

18:00 – Exhaustion, Projection & Protecting Joy

21:00 – Gabby on Self-Love and Her Mother

24:00 – Marriage, Kids & Redefining Want

27:00 – IVF, Motherhood & Living Fully

30:00 – The Power of Storytelling

#GaboureySidibe #ChoosingJoyPodcast #DeborahJoyWinans #SelfLove #Colorism #HollywoodTruths #BlackMotherhood #BlackWomenInFilm #IVFStory #Precious #EmbraceJoy #ConfidenceJourney #BlackExcellence #WomenInHollywood #ActressInterview

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In this intimate and profoundly moving episode of Choosing Joy, host Deborah Joy Winans Williams sits down with her mother, Deborah Kerr Winans, to share a deeply personal story of love, legacy, and faith in the face of Alzheimer’s.

What began as a conversation meant for family became something much more—a testament to the power of memory, God’s grace, and choosing joy in the midst of unimaginable challenges. Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2020, Deborah Kerr Winans may not remember everything, but she never forgets her children, her faith, or the goodness of God.

From growing up in Detroit and becoming the first in her family to earn a college degree to raising four children with fierce love and intention, this conversation honors a mother’s journey, strength, and unwavering belief. It’s a story about what remains even when memory fades—love, faith, and joy.

✨ Whether you’re a caregiver, a daughter, or someone facing hard truths about health and aging, this episode will wrap you in warmth and remind you: You’re not alone. And joy is still possible.

Chapters

00:00 – Why This Conversation Matters
01:00 – Living With Alzheimer's: A Daughter's Reflection
03:00 – How the Diagnosis Changed Everything
05:00 – Sitting in Gratitude, Not Just Grief
07:00 – What My Mom Remembers Most
09:00 – Holding Faith in the Middle of Memory Loss
11:00 – Raising Us with Intention & Love
13:00 – Faith, Detroit, and Family Values
15:00 – A Mother's Unshakable Joy
17:00 – The Gift of Her Legacy
19:00 – Final Reflections, Birthday Song & A Blessing

#DeborahJoyWinansWilliams #ChoosingJoyPodcast #DeborahKerrWinans #AlzheimersAwareness #FaithAndFamily #LegacyOfLove #BlackWomenCaregivers #ChoosingJoyInGrief #MotherDaughterLove #SpiritualHealing

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What does choosing joy really mean when you’re living through pain, pressure, or exhaustion? In this deeply personal solo episode, Choosing Joy host Deborah Joy Winans Williams sits down—not as an actress or celebrity, but as herself—to answer your questions, share her heart, and reflect on what joy looks like when it’s uncomfortable, spiritual, and hard-won.

Deborah opens up about motherhood, mental health, faith, grief, self-worth, and how she learned (and is still learning) to choose joy daily—not just on stage, but in real life. From the lessons of her Winans family legacy to her girls' trip epiphany with Merle Dandridge to the quiet prayers that sustain her, this episode is a soulful, grounding invitation to go deeper.

Whether you’re a woman of faith, an artist in progress, a mother in motion, or just someone trying to pour from a not-so-full cup—Deborah’s raw honesty and wisdom remind us that joy isn’t a mood... it’s a decision.

Chapters

00:00 – What Choosing Joy Means to Me
01:00 – Unpacking My Relationship with Joy
03:00 – What Life Has Taught Me About Grace
05:00 – The Power of Choosing Yourself
07:00 – A Girls' Trip That Changed Everything
09:00 – How My Faith Guides My Work
11:00 – My Morning Routine of Gratitude
13:00 – 6AM Prayer, Grandma Winans, and Simplicity
15:00 – Staying Grounded in a Chaotic World
17:00 – What My Family’s Legacy Taught Me
19:00 – How My Uncle Bebe Changed My Perspective
21:00 – Seeing People as Ministry
23:00 – Navigating Motherhood, Germs & Balance
25:00 – Rest, Vitamins, Vaseline & Olly Multis 
27:00 – Playing Charity on Greenleaf
29:00 – Grace for Imperfection & Finding Your Way
31:00 – Advice for Young Women in Music & Acting
33:00 – Final Reflections & Your Invitation to Joy

#DeborahJoyWinansWilliams #ChoosingJoyPodcast #GreenleafCharity #BlackWomenInFaith #JoyIsAChoice #FaithAndMotherhood #ChristianWomenPodcast #WomenInEntertainment #HealingWithGod #SoulfulStorytelling

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What happens when your purpose feels too heavy to carry? When the grief, burnout, or self-doubt start whispering louder than your confidence?

In this heart-centered and life-giving episode of Choosing Joy, Emmy-nominated journalist, media personality, and host of Healed Girl Era Gia Peppers sits down with Deborah Joy Winans Williams for one of the most raw, uplifting, and spiritually rooted conversations of the season.

From growing up immersed in Black excellence in D.C. and Maryland to navigating loss, therapy, and self-reinvention, Gia shares the full spectrum of her journey. She opens up about losing her grandmother, surviving depressive episodes, and how therapy and faith helped her find joy again.

Whether she’s talking about  being on 106 & Park, the inspiration behind Healed Girl Era, or why joy must be an intentional daily choice—Gia reminds us: healing is possible, even in the middle of the storm.

✨ This episode is a love letter to every woman figuring it out in real-time. To every woman choosing herself, one sacred step at a time.

Chapters 

00:00 – Intro & Sponsor Message
00:46 – Why Gia Peppers is That Girl
02:00 – Growing Up in the DMV & Black Excellence
04:00 – Howard University Influence & Community Impact
06:00 – Her Dad’s Legacy in Journalism
08:00 – Early Dreams of Hosting & Performing
10:00 – Inspired by Free on 106 & Park
11:30 – Interning with Donnie Simpson & Black Radio Roots
13:00 – Navigating the Cutthroat Industry with Kindness
14:30 – The Power of Representation for Black Girls
16:00 – Teen Girlhood, Beauty, and Identity Today
18:30 – Choosing Joy in the Midst of Transition
20:30 – Letting Go of Self-Doubt with Therapy
23:00 – Choosing Grace Over Pressure
25:00 – Joy as a Choice, Not a Feeling
26:30 – How the Pandemic Revealed Deep Emotional Shifts
29:00 – Grief, Loss & Losing Her Grandmother
31:00 – Breaking Generational Silence Around Mental Health
33:00 – Creating the Healed Girl Era Podcast
35:00 – Finding Purpose in Her Own Voice
37:00 – Vulnerability, Impact & Stepping Out in Faith
39:00 – Learning to Rest and Rebuild
41:00 – What Choosing Joy Looks Like Now
43:00 – Final Reflections & A Prayer for Joy

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What does it mean to thrive in your skin—not just as an artist, but as a woman, a mother, and a soul who’s lived many lives before the world even saw her?

In this soul-nourishing episode of Choosing Joy, genre-bending singer-songwriter ROE joins Deborah Joy Winans Williams for an honest and vibrant conversation about identity, motherhood, music, and trusting divine timing. Known for her songwriting with Mary J. Blige, Usher, and more, ROE is now stepping boldly into her own spotlight.

From her Crenshaw roots to navigating motherhood and music as an independent artist, ROE shares how she learned to pause, reflect, and create art that feels as true as her own breath. With a warm spirit and razor-sharp creativity, she invites us into her world—and even blesses us with a live snippet of her upcoming single, “In My Skin.”

✨ This episode is for anyone figuring it out in real time. Anyone who’s put a dream on hold. Anyone choosing presence over pressure and joy over perfection.

📌 Chapters 

00:00 – Wellness Sponsor Message
00:36 – Meet ROE: The Voice Behind the Hits
01:30 – Musical Roots in South LA & Crenshaw Sundays
03:00 – From Theater to Singing to Songwriting
05:00 – ROE’s Genre-Bending Identity
07:00 – Writing for Others vs. Finding Her Story
09:00 – Melody First: ROE’s Creative Process
10:30 – Motherhood & Pivot to Songwriting
12:00 – Wellness, Balance, and Priorities
14:00 – Faith, Family & Trusting the Timing
16:00 – Living to Write vs. Writing to Live
18:30 – Choosing Joy as an Independent Artist
21:00 – Stage Mishaps & Letting Go of Perfection
23:00 – Social Media & Holding Mystery
25:00 – On Balance, Presence & Purpose
26:30 – ROE’s Favorite Song: “In My Skin” (Live Snippet!)
29:00 – “This or That” Game & Final Reflections
33:00 – Closing from Deborah Joy

#ROE #ChoosingJoyPodcast #DeborahJoyWinansWilliams #BlackWomenInMusic #InMySkin #WomenInEntertainment #SongwriterToSinger #AuthenticArtist #HealingThroughMusic #FaithAndMotherhood

💬 What part of ROE’s journey moved you most—her motherhood pivot, her genre-bending honesty, or her stunning live performance?
Let us know in the comments below!

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CNN anchor and political correspondent Abby Phillip joins Deborah Joy Winans Williams on Choosing Joy for an unfiltered and deeply human conversation on identity, motherhood, ambition, and letting go of perfection.

From her roots in Trinidad and the DMV to her journey through Harvard and into the national spotlight, Abby opens up about what it means to live with purpose, protect your peace, and embrace the unknown. She shares the highs and lows of working in political media during chaotic times, and why truth, even when hard to hold onto, is still worth chasing.

This episode is a masterclass in resilience, clarity, and joy. Abby reveals how motherhood has reshaped her priorities, what it takes to recharge in a demanding world, and how she learned to choose herself, even when it meant walking away from expectations.

✨ Whether you're navigating your own dualities, striving for balance in work and life, or figuring out how to hold onto joy in a world full of noise—this conversation is your permission to slow down, listen inward, and stay grounded in who you really are.

Chapters 

00:00 – Sponsored Message: Wellness for Kids & Parents
01:00 – Why Abby Phillip is That Woman
02:00 – Childhood in Trinidad & the DMV
04:00 – Memory Loss as a Coping Mechanism
06:00 – The Joy of Family, Even from a Distance
08:00 – College Years & Feeling Lost at Harvard
10:00 – The Trip That Changed Her Career Path
12:00 – Why Journalism Still Matters
14:00 – The Struggle to Find Truth in the Chaos
16:00 – Letting Go of Internet Clashes
18:00 – Learning to Recharge as an Introvert
20:00 – Intentional Joy & Small Daily Rituals
22:00 – The Power of Knowing Yourself
24:00 – Constantly Becoming & Purpose Over Perfection
26:00 – Pushing Through Self-Doubt & Expectations
28:00 – Why Perseverance Is Her Superpower
30:00 – Joy as a Choice, Affirmations & Boundaries
33:00 – How Traveling Solo Rekindled Her Power
35:00 – Becoming a Mother Changed Everything
38:00 – Redefining What It Means to “Be Ready”
41:00 – The Lie of the “Perfect Time” to Have Kids
44:00 – Building a Life That Will Be There for You
47:00 – Choosing Joy in Relationships
50:00 – Final Reflections on Joy, Power & Self-Knowledge
54:00 – Deborah Joy’s Reflection & Close

💬 What resonated with you most in Abby’s story—her motherhood journey, her honesty about self-doubt, or her commitment to telling the truth?
🔔 Download episode now!

#AbbyPhillip #ChoosingJoyPodcast #DeborahJoyWinansWilliams #WomenInMedia #BlackWomenInJournalism #AuthenticityMatters #MotherhoodAndCareer #TruthInJournalism #PowerOfJoy #PurposeOverPerfection

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