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.

https://winstonawilson.com

Listen on:

Episodes

Tuesday Mar 17, 2026

Authoring My Own Story: The Camera That Fought the Brain Fog

Tuesday Mar 17, 2026

In 2020, a doctor handed me a scan of my brain. It showed 40 lesions. That was my "line of demarcation"—the moment my world split into "before" and "after" the MS diagnosis. In that cold, clinical room, I realized that my voice (my Sauti) was the one thing the disease couldn't take, but it was up to me to make sure it was heard.
This Sony ZV E-10 isn't just a piece of tech I bought to look "professional." It is a weapon of Fearless Productivity. It’s the tool I chose to ensure that even on the days when my body feels like it's failing, my message—and your potential—continues to rise.
But Fearless Productivity isn't about being perfectly healthy; it’s about being perfectly purposeful. I bought the Sony ZV E-10 as my first vlogging camera because I refused to let my story end in a hospital bed. I needed a way to amplify my Sauti (Voice) while I still had the breath to use it.
In this video, I’m not just reviewing specs. I’m showing you how I use this lens to document my Epic Quests and why you don't need a perfect life to start creating an impact.
Stop being a character. Pick up your pen—or your camera—and become the author.
#SautiGlobal #FearlessProductivity #SonyZVE10 #MSWarrior #YourVoiceRises #NarrativeIdentity

Sunday Mar 08, 2026

The Voice of Resilience with Tanya Blackwell | Courageous Creativity Show

Sunday Mar 08, 2026

The Voice of Resilience with Tanya Blackwell | Courageous Creativity Show
Description:
Welcome back to the Courageous Creativity Show! I am absolutely thrilled to sit down with an amazing creator, writer, and fellow Atlanta Dramatists board member, Tanya Blackwell. In this episode, we explore what it takes to step away from the familiar and ensure your authentic voice truly rises. Tanya recently made the profound decision to leave a highly successful 18-year corporate career in research administration to pursue her creative passions full-time.
Navigating life's major transitions requires a strong community and a willingness to step into the unknown. We dive deep into how artistic expression, world travel, and dedicated mentorship can be the ultimate tools for healing and empowerment. Having poured my own creative energy into playwriting with works like LYRICS, I deeply appreciate the sanctuary that the theater world provides, and it is a joy to share that passion with a fellow creator.
Why You Should Watch This Episode:
The Leap of Faith [08:39]: Hear Tanya’s honest account of leaving the safety of corporate America to fully bet on her writing and creative path.
Healing Through Movement [24:27]: Learn about "Shake It Off with Tanya," a unique somatic experience combining Zumba and mindfulness to help you feel, move, and let go of stored trauma.
Global Inspiration [27:36]: Get inspired by Tanya's transformative travels, particularly her deep spiritual connection to South Africa, and the realization that incredible experiences are worth infinitely more than material things.
The Power of Theater [34:02]: We discuss the immense importance of the Atlanta Black Theater Festival (ABTF) and why protecting and amplifying our stories is more critical than ever.
Affirming Our Men [44:20]: Discover Tanya’s beautiful "Good Morning Black Man" project, an intuitive audio series designed to uplift, love on, and inspire Black men before they face the world.
Connect & Support:
Tanya's Website: http://tanyablackwell.net
Tanya's Social Media: @LilCali52
Courageous Creativity Show / Rising Tides Charity: http://risingtidescharity.org
My Personal Website: http://winstonawilson.com
Watch the full episode here: https://youtube.com/live/EK41voF8DTc?feature=share

Thursday Jan 01, 2026

Leading Through the Fog: Navigating Chronic Illness, Creativity, and the Power of the Pause

Thursday Jan 01, 2026

In this episode, you will learn:
The Leadership Pivot: How to transition from leading sales teams to leading your own health journey.

Creativity as Medicine: How writing plays like LYRICS keeps the mind sharp even when the body is weak.
Your Voice Rises: Why my company’s vision is essential for anyone feeling invisible due to illness.
Living with MS—specifically navigating the daily battles of fatigue and left-side weakness while managing a regimen of Vumerity—requires more than just medication. It requires a complete shift in mindset. I discuss how I refused to let the diagnosis silence me, channeling that energy into my work as a playwright.
"Welcome back. Today’s episode is a little different. Usually, I talk to you about leadership, creativity, and effectiveness. But today, I’m talking about the biggest challenge to my own effectiveness.
In October 2020, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. For a guy from Roosevelt, NY, who spent 30 years in the fast-paced world of Payment Processing, being told your body might not cooperate was a shock. I deal with fatigue and left-side weakness that sometimes makes the simplest tasks feel like billion-dollar negotiations.
But here is what I’ve learned: Structure saves you when strength fails you.
Please subscribe and give me any comments. You can also go to my website to stay in touch with me.
https://winstonawilson.com

Monday Dec 29, 2025

Do I have Imposter Syndrome? Yes and....Here are some thoughts and tips.

Monday Dec 29, 2025

The Personal Battle (How I Combat It) You might look at my frameworks or my career and think I’ve got it all figured out. But let me take you back to 2020. I was sitting in a doctor's office, looking at an MRI of my brain showing 40 lesions.
In that moment, the ultimate 'Imposter' voice spoke up. It said: 'Winston, you are a fifty-plus-year-old man, an immigrant, and now a patient with progressive MS. You are broken. You can't lead. You can't be productive.'
If I had accepted that role as a 'character' in my story, I would have retreated. But I used the concept of Narrative Identity. I realized I wasn't the character; I was the Author. And the Author gets to decide that the diagnosis wasn't the end—it was just a 'line of demarcation'.
I combat Imposter Syndrome by looking at the evidence rather than the emotion. When I feel like a fraud, I open my 'Second Brain'. I look at the logs. I look at the history of what I have Created, Attacked, and Maintained. Facts are the antidote to feelings.

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

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. .