Actress and award-winning fertility advocate Kellee Stewart prioritizes her happiness in every chapter of her life. Kellee shares with Ashley how the painful ending to a long-term relationship was the catalyst for her decision to freeze her eggs. Although this decision was not originally in her plans, she talks about how her fertility journey led her closer to God, to herself and provided an opportunity to build the family she always wanted. Kellee believes her willingness to pivot and grow in the face of adversity has changed her life for the better.

Want more podcasts from OWN? Visithttps://bit.ly/OWNPods

You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visithttps://bit.ly/find_OWN  

Best-selling author Ashley C. Ford was raised in survival mode. In her conversation with ABFJ, she talks about the impact of growing up with an incarcerated father and a fraught relationship with her young, single mother. Without the safety of a nurturing caregiver, Ashley grew up believing she only had herself to count on. Years later during an eye-opening therapy session, Ashley discovered she was still holding onto a childhood desire for a close bond with her mother. As an adult who now understands the power of grace, Ashley learned to release her fantasy, forgive her mother’s shortcomings, and accept the reality of their relationship – flaws and all. 

Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods

You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN  

From a very young age, author and media executive Michelle Hord longed to become a mother. When she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl named Gabrielle, Michelle was living a dream fulfilled. Seven years later, after losing her daughter at the hands of her ex-husband, Michelle found herself living her worst nightmare. In this deeply moving conversation, Michelle talks to Ashley about her memoir The Other Side of Yet, where she describes how she rebuilt her life after unthinkable tragedy. Drawing inspiration from Job 13:15: “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him,” Michelle reveals how she found the strength to continue putting one foot in front of the other. During her deepest grief, Michelle says she chose survival and gave herself permission to experience joy. By God’s grace, Michelle’s defiant faith and unwavering commitment to gratitude has sustained her through life’s storms.

Hailing from modest beginnings in Rio de Janeiro, ballerina and activist Ingrid Silva discovered her aptitude for dance at the tender age of eight. In her conversation with Ashley, Ingrid describes feeling free the very first moment she stepped on stage. From there, the precocious but shy dancer promised herself she would push past her fears and be brave enough to follow her dreams. Ingrid’s gift took her all the way to New York City’s competitive Dance Theatre of Harlem where she faced many challenges including a culture shock, language barrier and homesickness. When the obstacles compounded and Ingrid reached a breaking point, her mother’s bold belief that she would succeed encouraged her to continue. Today as a seasoned dancer and working mother, Ingrid believes the unwavering support from her community has both sustained and propelled her into the life of her dreams.

Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods

You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN  

Author and Poet Arielle Estoria hasn’t always recognized her worth. In her vulnerable conversation with Ashley, Arielle explains how engaging in constant comparison throughout her life made her feel small. While uplifting other women with inspiring words always came naturally to her, Arielle often struggled to encourage herself. Raised as a pastor’s kid, the poet also reveals how ignoring the beauty of her body to focus solely on the Biblical rules that governed her soul led to living a “very disembodied spirituality.” Through learning to speak kindly to her body, listening to her inner voice, and embracing her flaws Arielle peeled back the layers of who she was to reveal the bright light she was always meant to be.

Want more podcasts from OWN? Visithttps://bit.ly/OWNPods

You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visithttps://bit.ly/find_OWN  

In the Season 2 Trials to Triumphs premiere, Grammy-nominated R&B singer and songwriter Ari Lennox sits down with Ashley during the 2023 Essence Festival in New Orleans. Both DMV natives, they discuss their childhood and humble beginnings as artists navigating survival jobs until landing their big breaks. Ari opens up about her battles with anxiety, some of her lowest moments, and what tools she leans on to embrace growth. She confides in Ashley about the importance of being accountable for her mistakes.

Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods

You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN  

Our host flips the script and answers burning questions from Trials to Triumphs listeners! Find out the three things Ashley would take to a deserted island, how she decompresses after a long day, and where she would’ve worked if she did not pursue acting. Ashley also discusses navigating the entertainment industry as a dark-skinned Black woman, preparing for marriage, and the power of trusting your intuition. 

Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods

You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN

After the former stockbroker was rejected by investors on NBC’s Shark Tank, she channeled her disappointment into an opportunity to reinvest in her beauty brand and Black women. Melissa tells Ashley about growing up in Detroit and being inspired to make products that catered to and celebrated Black beauty. She was determined to succeed after seeing both her mother and father incarcerated during her childhood and reveals how the experience of purchasing her first car as a teenager taught her a lesson about the power of her own ambition. 

Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods

You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN  

Actor Marque Richardson (Dear White People) no longer operates in “survival mode.” The Netflix star tells Ashley how experiencing homelessness at a young age hindered his self-confidence, impacting his self-worth personally and professionally. An eye-opening conversation with his parents during the early days of the global pandemic led to a greater awareness of his family’s dynamic and of the coping mechanisms that were holding him back. After intentionally shedding old mindsets and unpacking heavy layers of unnecessary pressure, shame, and self-doubt, Marque now fully embraces the freedom and peace that come from living and working as his authentic self.

Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods

You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN