Courageous Creativity

Creators on "The Courageous Creativity Show" redefine success and purpose not merely by traditional metrics like applause or fame, but through a deeper commitment to authenticity, impact, and personal growth, especially when navigating life's challenges.

Here's how they express this:

Redefining Success

• Provoking Thought and Resonating with Audiences: For playwright Jeanette Hill, a play is successful if it makes people think or provokes discussion, even if they don't agree with the content. Similarly, if a character resonates with even one person, it's a success. The goal is for people to leave thinking, even if they don't have a good time. Jeanette believes that if the audience "got it" when they leave, that's what she's striving for. She recalls a time when people in a restaurant were arguing about characters and events from her play, indicating its success in sparking discussion and relating to their lives.

• Inspiring, Healing, and Transforming: Jeneen Hammond's motivation is to tell stories that inspire, heal, and transform, emphasizing the power of one's own story and voice. This mission to help communities tell their stories, as seen in her nine-month project in Pennsylvania, highlights success through collective impact and revival. Jeneen views herself as a "steward" of stories that come from "Divine orchestration," highlighting a purpose beyond personal gain.

• Authenticity and Vulnerability: The show emphasizes that genuine conversations and authentic work are key to impactful connections with the audience. Tarnisha Small, for example, found her voice and confidence through acting by embracing vulnerability and letting go of the fear of failure. Jeneen Hammond notes that writing from an authentic space, truly reflecting oneself, can be scary but leads to impactful stories.

• Emotional Connection: Success is often measured by the emotional connection a story creates, whether through laughter or tears. Jeneen Hammond herself knows a story is on an emotional track if it makes her cry or laugh.

Finding Purpose Amidst Challenges

• Drawing on Personal Experiences: Many guests transform personal challenges into their purpose.

◦ Grief and Navigation: Angel L. Henderson shares that navigating life after losing both parents requires immense courage, making her journey of building her own voice and seeking counseling a display of strength.

◦ Overcoming Self-Doubt and Trauma: Tarnisha Small's journey into acting was sparked by a friend's perception of her potential, helping her overcome low self-worth and shyness. Tamina Ward uses her experiences with childhood teasing, abandonment, and generational trauma to inspire young adults to break free from their past burdens. She intentionally "dropped the pack" of past hurts. Jason C. Louder's stories, like the one about "Baba Tunde the Grio," often focus on themes of love, hope, faith, and overcoming self-doubt and trauma.

◦ Healing from Pain: Jeanette Hill discusses how her play "Clean Sheets," which garnered a perfect score but theaters were afraid to produce, addresses cultural hurts, aiming to move from a "scab to a scar" for societal healing. She emphasizes that there's "no honor in pain" and that unresolved hurts can manifest as anger or other negative behaviors.

• Embracing a Divine Calling and Stewardship: Jeneen Hammond believes her writing comes from a "Divine orchestration" and views herself as a "steward" of these stories, emphasizing a purpose beyond personal gain. This resonates with the idea that every person has a "Divine calling and assignment and purpose."

• Proactive Creation and Entrepreneurship: Instead of waiting for opportunities, creators like Tarnisha Small choose to write and produce their own films to create roles for themselves and others, recognizing the need to be entrepreneurial. Jeneen Hammond developed "The Dreamer's Village" to help people revive their creative dreams and learn to monetize their gifts, emphasizing taking ownership of one's God-given dream and not waiting for external validation.

• Mindset and Resilience:

◦ Learning from Setbacks: Jason C. Louder views challenges as "learning opportunities" that can push one forward. He uses financial challenges in the acting industry as a motivator for learning and growth.

◦ "Just Do It": Portia Cue and Winston Wilson encourage creators to "just start" their projects, regardless of how big or small, and not wait for perfection or validation. Portia gives the example of Lita Renee Brown and Dour Ashwood producing their own micro-miniseries, "Pressure."

◦ Consistency and Persistence: Jeanette Hill, a prolific playwright with over 100 plays, exemplifies consistency, writing "all of the time." She advises writers to keep notes, save all writing, and not let "writer's block" stop them, encouraging "what if" exercises and knowing that "there's no such thing as useless writing." She also notes that her stride was not hit until she was 72, emphasizing the importance of showing up every day, authentically, and doing what you're supposed to do, regardless of external validation.

◦ Daily Practices: Guests maintain well-being through practices like gratitude journaling, meditation, exercise, and daily creative activities. Tarnisha Small starts her day with prayer, meditation, and gratitude journaling. Winston Wilson practices daily gratitude, focuses on top priorities, and engages in creative activities. Tamina Ward emphasizes that mindset fuels courage and resilience, and that even when physically limited (like her knees for running a marathon), mental focus can drive capability.

◦ Allowing for Breaks: Tarnisha Small advises taking breaks when feeling frustrated, as the industry isn't going anywhere, allowing for a fresh perspective. She also learned to not fear failure, which had held her back.

◦ Borrowing Belief: Tomina Ward suggests that when an individual's belief system is low, they can "borrow that belief" from good people in their circle.

• Community and Giving Back:

◦ Sharing Resources and Wisdom: Jason C. Louder stresses the importance of sharing resources within the creative community, noting that "we cannot exist without one another." Tamina Ward is compelled to "speak life" into young adults and educators, sharing her "wealth of knowledge" to help them avoid past mistakes and break generational trauma. She believes human beings are "the original AI" through storytelling.

◦ Pouring into Others: Winston Wilson, the host, expresses that his core value is helping others succeed and that talking to people and connecting with them is a key motivator. He daily calls someone he hasn't talked to in a while to offer support. The show itself aims to inspire at least one person to expand their path. Jeneen Hammond's "Dreamer's Village" provides a supportive community for individuals to revive and monetize their creative dreams. John C. Smith, a lifelong friend of the host, exemplifies how strong, long-lasting friendships provide unwavering support and positive influence in life and creative pursuits.

In essence, creators on "The Courageous Creativity Show" believe that true success stems from creating work that is authentic, impacts others positively, and allows for continuous personal growth and healing, driven by a deep sense of purpose that often transforms personal adversity into a powerful mission to serve and inspire their communities.

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Listen on:

Episodes

Saturday Nov 29, 2025

Stop Working. Start Dreaming. (The Strategy Behind the Vision)

Saturday Nov 29, 2025

Epic Quest" starts with a vision, but are you giving yourself the space to see it? As part of the Sauti Global mission to help you find your voice, this episode dives into the lost art of daydreaming. We aren't talking about being lazy; we are talking about the strategic use of imagination to design the life—and the legacy—you actually want to build.

Winston shares how stepping back from the to-do list allows you to tap into your creativity, the true foundation of a meaningful life.

🎧 Listen to learn:
From Dream to Data: How to take a vague daydream and break it down into a tangible 3-year blueprint using the Fearless Productivity method.

The Clarity Hack: A simple mental exercise to distinguish between "distraction" and "visualization," ensuring your downtime actually moves the needle on your goals.

Tuesday Nov 11, 2025

Portia Cue returns. Her spirituality and empathy will help keep us grounded.

Tuesday Nov 11, 2025

Portia returns with a deep conversation about all which swirls around us these days.
https://portiacue.com
https://winstonawilson.com

Saturday Oct 18, 2025

"Passing Shadows" with Carol Welter. A show for the ages. This conversation has it all.

Saturday Oct 18, 2025

As the director of this incredible play, I sat down with Carol to go behind the curtain. In this summary, you'll see us discuss: The Play's Deep Origins: Carol shares the powerful inspiration for "Passing Shadows," a story rooted in the "Windrush" generation and the complexities of identity. Her Creative Sanctuary: We talk about her unique creative process, which starts in her dreams and is nurtured by working in her garden with "good clean dirt". Resilience and Courage: Carol shares an incredibly powerful life philosophy. At 70, and as a cancer survivor, she's a testament to her own message: "Don't get sad, get mad" and fight for your life and your art. The Power of Theater: We discuss why live theater is a crusade, an experience that changes you the moment you walk in and share that space with the actors and audience. Trust me, after you hear Carol's story and her passion, you will be counting the days until the show!

https://www.simpletix.com/e/carol-d-welter-s-passing-shadows-tickets-234926

Sunday May 11, 2025

Do you want to learn now to keep going? Tomina returns to guide us.

Sunday May 11, 2025

We are thrilled to welcome back the extraordinary Tomina Ward to our show! Tomina is a remarkable individual—a decorated Marine Veteran who served our country with distinction, a gifted public speaker who captivates audiences with her captivating stories and insightful perspectives, and a devoted mother of two. She has inspired so many with her vision and insight.

There are two compelling reasons why you absolutely must not miss this episode:

First, witness Tomina’s transformative journey from the front lines to the center stage. She will share her unique perspective on courage, resilience, and how the discipline and leadership skills honed in the Marines have profoundly impacted her impactful work as a speaker and her experiences navigating the beautiful chaos of motherhood. Her story is a testament to strength and transformation that will leave you feeling empowered and ready to confront your own challenges with renewed vigor.

Second, gain invaluable insights into the art of courageous communication. As a seasoned public speaker, Tomina will offer valuable advice on how to find your voice, speak your truth authentically, and connect with your audience on a deeper level. Whether you’re seeking to overcome speaking anxieties or simply want to enhance your communication skills in any aspect of your life, Tomina’s wisdom is not to be missed.

Hosted by Winston A. Wilson
https://risingtidescharity.org
https://winstonawilson.com

Sunday Apr 27, 2025

Simplify to focus.

Sunday Apr 27, 2025

I'm convinced that by simplifying areas will unlock my creativity. Let me know what you think.

Sunday Mar 16, 2025

Friendship is the most important thing in my life. Thank you John,

Sunday Mar 16, 2025

From the streets of Roosevelt, NY, to today's podcast! 🎙️ This week, I'm catching up with my dear friend John C. Smith, and we're reflecting on the power of community and the journey of growth. We'll share our experiences of growing up in Roosevelt in the 80s and how those formative years shaped who we are today. Join us on the Courageous Creativity Show for a truly special conversation. #RooseveltCommunity #GrowingUp80s #LifeLessons #FriendshipJourney #CourageousCreativity

Saturday Mar 01, 2025

Jason returns and shares how to keep going as an actor!

Saturday Mar 01, 2025

JASON C. LOUDER: A Master Storyteller!
His Most Powerful Appearance Yet!
Film, TV, and the Heart of Babatunde
Discover the Courage to Tell Your Unique Story!

Friday Feb 07, 2025

I'm concerned but hopeful (for the future).

Friday Feb 07, 2025

It's interesting to see all the things we see on the news, and we all have some anxiety. Keeping our values first puts us in the best position to maintain our productivity moving forward. https://winstonawilson.com Join the show, and let's talk about your system and life.
https://winstonawilson.com

Saturday Jan 18, 2025

Tarnesha Small shares her journey from Columbus to Film and Creative Success.

Saturday Jan 18, 2025

This conversation will inspire you. Tarnesha is an amazing person with an incredible story.
Tarnesha Small is the daughter of two army veterans, father Carlton J Robinson and mother Annie Robinson. After her parents retired, they raised her and her two older sisters in Columbus, Ga. As a child she always had a passion to entertain and has a background in singing, dancing, cheering, and modeling (commercial print and runway). Once she decided to officially pursue acting on a professional level, she began training with seasoned Emmy Award Winning Actor/Writer GregAlan Williams. More recently she's trained with celebrity coach Sarah Mornell.Tarnesha made her first television appearance on CBS's The Inspectors as Wanda Sellick. She's best known for her recurring role as Traci on FOX's Our Kind of People, her recurring appearance on Celebrity Prank Wars executive produced by Kevin Hart and Nick Cannon and her thrilling lead performance in BET's Distorted playing the role of Rae.

Tuesday Dec 24, 2024

2024 was a creative year. The future is bright.

Tuesday Dec 24, 2024

"Hey everyone, it's Winston here, and I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for an amazing year. This year has been a journey filled with incredible experiences and the support of some truly wonderful people.
I'm especially grateful for my men's group from Buckhead Church. These guys are incredible. They recently went above and beyond by delivering meals to a family member in need for two whole weeks. It's a powerful reminder of the impact of community and the importance of supporting each other.
Beyond my church group, I've had the privilege of being part of some amazing organizations this year. The Atlanta Black Theatre Festival and the Atlanta Dramatists have provided incredible opportunities for growth and inspiration. My "Modified by MS" men's group has also been a source of unwavering support and camaraderie.
On a personal note, I've been deeply inspired by Tiago Forte's "PARA" method. It's revolutionized how I approach knowledge management and productivity. In the realm of entertainment, "Arcane" captivated me with its stunning visuals and compelling story, while "Dune: Part Two" delivered breathtaking visuals and a powerful exploration of destiny.
As we move into the new year, I'm filled with hope and excitement for the future. I'm eager to continue learning, growing, and connecting with all of you.
If you're enjoying this podcast, please consider subscribing and sharing it with your friends. Your support means the world to me.
Thank you again for an incredible year. Here's to an even brighter future!"
https://www.winstonawilson.com
https://atlantabtf.org
https://atlantadramatisits.org.

WINSTON A. WILSON

My purpose in my life is to serve our community by giving my energy and focus on improving everyone’s life around me. I do this through the talents God has given me and through the passion of execution. .