Coffee & Conversations with Jana Angel is a space for real stories and honest insight — the kind that meets you where you are and gently nudges you forward. Each episode features heartfelt conversations with creators, leaders, and changemakers as they share lived experiences around building something from scratch, leading through transition, finding your voice, shifting your mindset, and navigating recovery, renewal, and reinvention in real time.

Across every story, one message rises to the top: today is the day to go for it — not because life is perfectly lined up, but because progress starts with a decision. This podcast doesn’t ask you to pretend everything is fine; it invites you to get honest about what you need, what you’re ready to release, and what you’re willing to try next. If you’ve been waiting for a sign, consider this your reminder: you don’t have to feel fearless to start, and you don’t have to have it all figured out to take the next step.

New episodes bring fresh perspective, practical encouragement, and the kind of conversation that helps you believe: you can, and you will.

In this episode of Coffee and Conversations, host Jana Angel welcomes her mother, Jan Nieuwstraten Angel, for a personal talk about family, faith and the choices that shaped Jan’s independent path. From free-range childhood adventures in Savannah to a spur-of-the-moment move to Asheville, Jan reflects on responsibility, reinvention and the power of steady composure. She also recounts navigating male-dominated workplaces, demanding fair pay and leading with hospitality, empathy and grit.

Host Jana Angel is joined by Nichole Eaton — therapist, author and manifestation coach — for a candid conversation about what it really takes to move the needle in your life. Nichole draws on her personal story of rising from poverty, food stamps and depression to building a thriving practice, writing two books and living in the home she once only dreamed about — all by learning to shift her mindset and align her energy with what she truly wanted.

Nichole, who holds a master's degree and has worked with clients for 17 years, breaks down the neuroscience behind why people get stuck, how the brain searches for evidence of what it already believes and why visualization is more powerful than most people realize. She shares practical, low-barrier tools — from a five-minute daily manifestation letter to a bullet journal habit tracker — and explains why shooting too far too fast is one of the biggest reasons manifestation doesn't work for most people.

Nichole is also the author of "Rock Your Comeback" and host of the podcast by the same name, where she spotlights stories of resilience and reinvention. This episode is equal parts inspiring and instructional — a must-listen for anyone ready to stop reacting to life and start creating it.

What happens when a rapper picks up a DJ board during a pandemic — and never looks back? In this episode of Coffee & Conversations, Jana Angel sits down with Charlotte's own DJ See Bird Go and her mother, manager, and life coach Mama Bird for a candid conversation about building a sustainable career in the arts, knowing your worth, and the power of a mother-daughter partnership. From learning to DJ on YouTube to sharing a stage at Dreamville Fest with Lil Wayne, See Bird Go's journey is one of intention, preparation, and fearless self-belief. Mama Bird breaks down how she helped craft her daughter's brand — from pricing her talent to curating her signature style — and shares wisdom on why doing the inner work always comes before the outer. Whether you're an artist trying to find your footing, an entrepreneur learning to charge what you're worth, or someone who just needs a reminder to go for it — this one's for you.

Host Jana Angel welcomes Anne Steppe (Step by Steppe Professional Organizing) for a deeper conversation about decluttering—why it’s so hard to let things go, how guilt and identity get tied to “stuff,” and how to create home systems that work long-term. Anne shares tips for reducing overwhelm (especially for ADHD/neurodivergent brains), building simple daily reset habits, and focusing on progress over perfection.

In this episode of Coffee & Conversations, host Jana Angel sits down with Melinda Morris Zanoni, Esq., founder of Apollo Sports & Entertainment Law Group (Chambers-ranked; GGI Global Alliance), to talk about building a firm from scratch and leading at the intersection of sports, entertainment, and media.

Melinda shares insights from representing professional athletes, sports teams, media companies, and celebrities; advising on high-profile transactions totaling more than $21 billion; and navigating emerging issues like NIL rights, broadcast deals, and intellectual property protection.

Key takeaway: real success is sustainable—and it requires intentionally protecting your priorities, your people, and the life that keeps you fulfilled.

UpShot League Coach Trisha Stafford-Odom (Coach Trish) sits down with host Jana Angel for Coffee & Conversations to discuss adaptive coaching, leadership standards, and why women’s basketball is building something entirely its own—bold, fast, and intentionally modern.

Coach Trish shares how she tailors her approach to each athlete to unlock performance and build culture, and we spotlight the new UpShot League and the Charlotte Crown, returning women’s pro basketball to Charlotte at Bojangles Coliseum. 

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Host: Jana Angel

If you’ve ever wondered what real healing can look like, or how to be a better friend, family member, partner, coworker or community member to someone navigating a hard chapter in their life - this conversation is for you.

In the Season 2 finale of Coffee & Conversations, I sat down with Lisa Colson, a beloved part of the team at Community Matters Cafe, and a familiar face to the QC Life crew. What starts as a warm, coffee-table chat becomes a powerful story of transformation, as Lisa describes her shift from survival mode to stability, purpose, and hope.

Often we look at addiction through a singular lens, as if it’s a choice that someone makes. But like many people, Lisa’s journey started with a different battle: fighting cancer. 

Lisa shares how her life looks completely different today, because she chose recovery – and then kept choosing it, one step at a time. With the help of faith, consistent support, and a community that believed in her, Lisa found the structure and encouragement she needed to rebuild her life. 

Now, she’s not only thriving, but she’s also becoming the kind of person who helps others believe change is possible. 

What surprised me most in this conversation was her answer to my question, “What was your first joyful memory of sobriety?” I can’t wait for you to hear her response, because it is something we’ve certainly taken for granted in our own lives. 

The episode also offers practical, compassionate takeaways for anyone involved in or witnessing recovery. 

Lisa and I talk about how to support someone who’s interested in a sober life, from being mindful of triggers to simply asking what support looks like. We also address the reality of loving someone who isn’t ready to get sober yet, emphasizing patience, compassion, and staying connected without judgment. 

Lisa’s message is simple: Lead with love, be curious and not condemning, and connect with someone when you are ready for help. 

Watch the full episode for an inspiring, honest discussion about second chances, the strength it takes to change, and the impact a supportive community can make.

This week on Coffee & Conversations, hosts Jana Angel and Angel sit down with former NASA astronaut and Navy pilot Winston Scott.

Scott shares the story of his path from Naval Aviation Officer Candidate School to flying the F-14 Tomcat, logging more than 7,000 flight hours, and eventually being selected by NASA.

During his time with NASA, Scott flew on two Space Shuttle missions and completed three spacewalks, helping retrieve satellites and test tools that later supported the construction of the International Space Station.

After retiring from NASA and the U.S. Navy, Scott moved into leadership and education. He served at Florida State University, the Florida Space Authority, and the Florida Institute of Technology, where he held several senior roles.

In this conversation, Scott reflects on discipline, curiosity, and the mindset it takes to pursue something bigger than yourself.

Have you ever wondered how nonprofits build a legacy rooted in purpose, or how national brands choose the right partners to serve their communities? In this special on-location episode, host Jana Angel explores what creates meaningful partnerships and lasting impact when mission-driven organizations come together.

This week, Coffee & Conversations spotlights two Carolina staples: The Greg Olsen Foundation and Bojangles, and their shared commitment to heart health through The HEARTest Yard. Jana sits down with Jose Armario, Executive Director of the Bojangles Foundation and CEO of Bojangles, to discuss what it really takes to turn collaboration into action—from corporate social responsibility to community impact and pediatric heart care advocacy.