Comeback Stories

Before the Target collabs, before the McCormick's deal, before millions of people called her their favorite auntie on the internet,Tabitha Brown was sitting in the dark, convinced she was dying.

In one of the most honest conversations Happy With Tammi Mac has ever produced, host Tammi Mac creates a sacred space for Tabitha Brown to go all the way back. Back to 2016 and 2017, when she spent over a year battling a mysterious autoimmune illness that left doctors baffled and left Tabitha terrified. With a headache that lasted one year and seven months, vision loss, chronic pain, and failing strength in her hands, Tabitha's mind went to the place she feared most, her mother. Her mother, who died of ALS at just 51. Her mother, who was told by doctors that it was all in her head for 11 months, before being given six months to two years to live.

Tabitha saw the mirror. And she prepared herself for the end.

What saved her wasn't another doctor's appointment. It was a documentary. A conversation with her daughter. A decision to go vegan for 30 days. And on Day 10, the headache that had been her constant companion for nearly two years was gone.

This episode moves through all three segments of Happy With Tammi Mac: The Dark Journey, Tabitha's health crisis and grief; The Turning Point, the plant-based decision that changed her biology and her destiny; and Finding Happy, what it means to look back at the viral car video that launched everything and choose gratitude over forgetting.

Tammi Mac also shares her own story, the pandemic depression that inspired this entire podcast, reminding us that sometimes the most honest thing you can say is "I did this for me."

This episode is for anyone who has been dismissed by a doctor. For anyone who has watched someone they love die too young. For anyone who has sat in the silence of a body that won't cooperate and a mind that has started saying goodbye. And for anyone who needs proof that a turning point is still possible.

Happiness has been a hard word to come by, but it will exist again.

🎧 Subscribe to Happy With Tammi Mac on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Part of the Inflection Network.

Hosted by Tammi Mac, known and loved from KJLH Radio.

Coming up on future episodes: MC Lyte, Kelly Price, James Wright Chanel, and Judge Mathis.

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🎙️ Born to the Game — Larry Drew Jr.

Pressure, Identity & Finding Purpose Beyond the Game

In this powerful episode of Born to the Game, we sit down with Larry Drew II.—former NBA Player, McDonald’s All-American, NCAA Basketball National Champion, and son of longtime NBA coach Larry Drew Sr.—to unpack what it really means to grow up in the game.

From courtside childhood memories with legends like Kobe Bryant to navigating the expectations that come with a name, Larry shares a deeply honest story about identity, pressure, and redefining success on his own terms.

We talk about:

• Growing up in the NBA and realizing your life isn’t “normal”
• The pressure of carrying a legacy—and having the same name as your father
• Being a top recruit and the reality behind college basketball politics
• Winning a national championship… and not feeling fulfilled
• Injuries, mental health, and the hidden struggles athletes face
• Using creativity, music, and wellness as outlets for self-expression
• Transitioning out of basketball and building a new purpose as an entrepreneur

Larry opens up about the moment he realized basketball wouldn’t define his entire life—and how he began rebuilding his identity through self-awareness, creativity, and connection.

This episode is about more than sports—it’s about evolving when your dream changes, finding peace in that transition, and learning how to create a new vision for your life.

💡 Key takeaway: Know your game. Know your people. And don’t be afraid to dream a new dream.

🎧 Tap in for one of our most honest and introspective conversations yet.

Subscribe, share, and join the journey. New episodes drop every Tuesday.

Follow Born to the Game:

INSTAGRAM             YOUTUBE                 https://borntothegamepodcast.com/

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🎙️ Born to the Game — Mariah Woodson

Turning Pain Into Purpose | The Story Behind the Show

Before Born to the Game became a platform… it was pain.

In this deeply personal episode, Mariah Woodson steps out from behind the mic and onto the couch to share the story that started it all.

The daughter of NBA player and coach Mike Woodson, Mariah opens up about growing up around the game—but not always inside it—and the moment everything changed.

From watching her father face public criticism, hate, and pressure… to navigating her own battles with identity, health, grief, and mental health—this is the unfiltered story behind the creation of Born to the Game.

🔑 In This Episode, We Cover:

• The phone call that sparked Born to the Game
• Dealing with public criticism, online hate, and protecting family
• Growing up as the child of an NBA coach—and what people don’t see
• Moving from a sheltered life in Texas to the realities of public scrutiny
• Experiencing bullying tied to her father’s career
• A life-altering health scare at 13 years old
• Losing her best friend—and how grief reshaped her perspective
• Navigating depression, anger, and healing
• The difference between perception vs. reality in legacy families
• Turning pain into purpose—and building a platform for others

💭 This Episode Is About…

• Identity vs. expectation
• Pain vs. purpose
• Strength, resilience, and growth
• Finding your voice when the world thinks it already knows your story

🎧 About Mariah Woodson

Mariah Woodson is a creator, storyteller, and co-host of Born to the Game. Raised around professional basketball, she brings a unique perspective on legacy, identity, and what it truly means to grow up connected to greatness.

Her mission: to create a space where the next generation can tell their own stories—on their own terms.

Follow Born to the Game:

INSTAGRAM             YOUTUBE                 https://borntothegamepodcast.com/

New episodes weekly.
Where legacy meets identity—and the next generation tells their story.

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This is a featured conversation from another show on the Inflection Network: Jenkins & Jonez.

In this episode, the hosts break down the Oscars through the lens of Sinners, Michael B. Jordan, and Ryan Coogler—looking at what gets recognized, what gets overlooked, and why those gaps exist. The conversation expands into a broader discussion about cultural impact versus institutional validation, and how success is often defined differently depending on who’s doing the measuring.

While rooted in film and pop culture, the throughline is familiar: staying grounded in your work and perspective even when external recognition doesn’t fully align.

Jenkins & Jonez brings a sharper, more unfiltered voice to the kinds of conversations we explore here—offering a different angle on resilience, identity, and navigating the highs and lows that come with any journey.

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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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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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