Coffee & Conversations

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.

What can you learn about someone you see on your television every single day, but never quite get to know. Today on Coffee & Conversations, I am sitting down with the man behind the desk, and so many media moments across the Carolinas, John Carter.

For decades, John has been a trusted voice in our community, delivering the news at four, six, and eleven, and sharing unforgettable stories through Carolina Camera. But behind the broadcasts is a journey filled with career pivots, public service, entrepreneurship, and personal challenges that shaped the man viewers welcome into their homes each day.

We talk about his path from a young news assistant at WBTV to anchor, business owner, state senator, and back to the newsroom. We also open up about his battle with prostate cancer and how that diagnosis changed his perspective on life, work, and the importance of early detection for men.

And of course, we dive into one of his most talked about recent interviews, a conversation with the infamous Roof Man, the criminal who once cut holes in restaurant roofs and even hid inside a Charlotte toy store while on the run. John shares what it is like to sit across from someone with a story like that, and how he approaches interviews that capture the attention of the entire region.

It is a conversation about the man and the job, the headlines and the heart behind them, and what it means to spend a lifetime telling other people’s stories while building one of your own.

How do you go from the White House to Broadway in one life?

Host Jana Angel sits down with Paul Oakley Stovall, an actor, writer, producer, and storyteller whose journey spans the Obama White House, Broadway stages, and deeply personal creative work.

Paul portrayed George Washington in the first national tour of Hamilton, is a Tony Award–winning producer of A Strange Loop, and spent seven years working in the Obama White House, including as advance staff lead and media logistics coordinator for First Lady Michelle Obama.

In this conversation, Paul shares the defining moments that shaped his life, including surviving a near-fatal shooting at 21, rebuilding his career one day at a time, and learning to live with intention, grace under pressure, and honesty. Together, Jana and Paul explore what it means to say yes to life, embrace the parts of yourself that stand out, and tell the truth through your work.

The episode also dives into Paul’s most personal project yet, Breaking Free, a cabaret rooted in healing, community, and the beauty that comes from putting broken things back together.

This episode is for creatives, performers, and anyone navigating change while trying to live authentically and with purpose.

Hosted by Jana Angel, this conversation with Chef Sam Hart isn’t about food. It’s about people.

Chef Sam Hart, the mind behind the Michelin-Star restaurant counter-, shares what leadership looks like when care, honesty, and respect come first. From building a people-centered kitchen culture to creating sustainable career paths rooted in fair pay, education, shared ownership, and mental health awareness, Sam offers a clear picture of how leaders can serve well without losing themselves.

Jana first met Sam during a dinner at counter-, expecting an impressive meal but leaving with something deeper. What stood out wasn’t just the experience, but the intention behind it. Every interaction, every story, and every detail reflected a belief that leadership begins with how you treat people.

This isn’t a traditional chef interview. It’s a conversation about purpose, culture, and leading in a way that leaves people better than you found them.

Join Jana Angel as she talks to Meredith Dean, the personal branding coach who's helping creators launch their dreams without the corporate cage.

After 10 years in Charlotte, from CBS to Ryan Seacrest Studios, Meredith made the bold move to go all-in on her passion: coaching entrepreneurs to build authentic personal brands. In this episode, she breaks down:

• The "Forget Me Not" framework—a game-changing way to identify your unique brand
• Why perfectionism kills your content (and what to do instead)
• How to build real social capital and network authentically
• The difference between chasing likes and creating real impact
• Your "9 to 5" to "9 to Thrive" mindset shift

Whether you're thinking about leaving your job, starting a business, or just want to show up authentically online, Meredith's got the receipts (and the advice) to back it up.

Time to amplify your voice and act on your mission.

We all talk about “new year, new me,” but real change doesn’t start with resolutions. It starts with grace. Before growth can happen, we have to forgive ourselves for the past mistakes, the decisions we wish we could redo, and the versions of ourselves we’re still learning from.

The first guest of 2026 is Will Whitlow — a Charlotte native, proud father, and man in recovery. After years working in the nonprofit space and walking alongside others on their recovery journeys, Will found a calling rooted in encouragement, community, and lived experience. He knows firsthand how powerful support can be.

Will recently stepped into entrepreneurship as a small business owner selling home gyms, a move that’s allowed him to be a stay-at-home dad while building something meaningful. Fitness has long been central to his life, and for Will, sobriety is about more than abstaining. It’s about balance — body, mind, and spirit.

In this conversation, hosted by Jana Angle, Will shares his story with honesty and clarity, reflecting on forgiveness, self-grace, and what it takes to move forward. Many people struggle to step into their next chapter not because they lack motivation, but because they haven’t released the weight of past choices.

On a personal note, Jana met Will when Coffee & Conversation first began at Community Matters Cafe. She’s watched him live out the mission, become a father, and now grow into his own as a business owner and leader in the community. This conversation is a reminder that healing and new beginnings begin when we give ourselves permission to forgive.

Coffee & Conversations is a WBTV original series created as a space for meaningful connection with people who made bold choices to build lives they truly wanted to live. Throughout the first season, those choices often meant taking risks, betting on themselves, and embracing uncertainty, and every conversation became a moment of growth and learning for me as the host. At the end of each episode, I ask one simple question, “What fills your cup?” In this special reflection, we revisit those answers and the powerful perspectives that shaped season one.

Have you ever thought about walking away from everything safe, secure, and predictable - because you just had a gut feeling you were meant for something bigger? Did you ever feel like your shine was constantly being dimmed? If you are ready to hear from a woman who amped up her own wattage by walking away from her corporate career to become a full time media maven, then buckle up and tune in to the most caffeinated episode of Coffee & Conversations yet!

Ohavia Phillips-Reed is an author, emcee, radio and tv personality with a megawatt smile and a contagious energy that is not only who she is as a person, but has also embodies her brand. She shares how to dig in and discover how your individual qualities can become your dream career. We talk about the reality and logistics of becoming an entrepreneur, what the math and the calendar look like to be profitable, and she pulls back the curtain on how to stay booked and busy without the burnout. Put a lid on your coffee for this conversation because we are diving headfirst into the #OHMAZING familia! 

If you are faced with unexpected change, the feeling it's time to try something new, or you just want to hear what life at Hallmark is really like, this conversation is for you! 

One of our very own Queen City locals has taken on many roles from First Wives Club to Will and Grace and most recently this season of Hallmark’s “Finding Mr. Christmas”. But before Angel Garrett stepped in front of the camera, he was an athlete that faced a career ending injury and was forced to find his next chapter. He shares how he made the transition from soccer pitch to prime time actor and who he ensured was around him to stay true to his character on and off screen.

Ever wanted to quit your job and travel the world? Have you thought about opening up a restaurant inspired by your favorite places? Have you ever experienced a time where your body was fighting a battle with you and you didn’t know why? If any of these thoughts cross your mind, then this conversation is for you.

This week we are diving into the extraordinary journey of Jamie Brown and Jeff Tonidandel, the husband-and-wife team behind the Tonidandel-Brown Restaurant Group. After getting married, they quit their jobs, traveled the world, and used that inspiration to open their first restaurant with no prior experience. They talk about navigating the unexpected, leaning on their team, and trusting that the next step will appear when you’re willing to take the leap. Jamie also opens up about her battle with food sensitivities and how it shaped their approach to hospitality and the full dining experience. This pair has navigated challenge and changes together successfully with two distinctive personality types. This conversation we learn about the perfect ingredient that makes this recipe for success so right. 

If you have neurodivergent tendencies, a diagnosis, or have a loved one or colleague that is neurodivergent, this conversation is for you. We are diving into executive functioning skills and how they can help support and create peace within worlds and minds that work differently. Jana Angel hosts Executive Function Coach, Ashley Mangione who combines personal stories with real life application and education to share how to improve personal relationships, promote more effective learning in children, find peace as a parent and above all make grace  values life skill.

If you feel like things are always happening around you, but you are racing through life with no real direction? Buckle up for a crash course in self acceptance and discovery. From NASCAR to tiaras, mom, wife, work life, and everything in between - Tara and Deanna will share how they each crafted a life with intention and purpose to find fulfillment and true joy.

This week on Coffee and Conversation Jana Angel welcomes a dynamic duo that have joined forces to the goal is to build confidence, spark curiosity and create career exposure in a field where women are still underrepresented: NASCAR. Tara Allmendinger and Deanna Burnett do it all, while making space for the next generation to grow. As entrepreneurs, mothers, title holders, you’d think the list could stop there, but it doesn't. This year they teamed up with the NASCAR Hall of Fame to launch the first ever all girls STREAM Camp in order to create opportunities for young women to experience all facets of the sport using their combined knowledge of racing, design, marketing, speed, science and of course confidence.

If you want to take center stage in your own life and step into the spotlight, but just need a push to take that next step and bet on yourself, this conversation is for you.

Double the talent and double the inspiration, Maria Howell is a world-renowned singer and actor known for her powerful, energizing voice paired with her ability to act and perform on any stage or screen.

In her career, she has done it all, from “The Hunger Games” to “Hallmark” and everything in between.

Maria’s ability to adapt and embody any role makes her a standout -- and her talents hail from a hometown in Gastonia, North Carolina. You can catch her in the recurring role of Tracy in the CBS soap opera “Beyond The Gates.

instagram.com/mariasingsacts/

If you have a cause that is close to your heart and wonder if you can really make a career out of it, this conversation is for you. Dr. Hrishita Negi shares how her passion for Tiger conservation brought her from Central India to Clemson University in the name of conservation. We talk passion, perseverance, and community without borders. 

Dr. Hrishita Negi is the Associate Director of Tigers United at Clemson University. She grew up near Kanha Tiger Reserve in Central India, where early encounters with wild tigers inspired her lifelong path in conservation.

Her work now bridges science, technology, and community engagement -- whether through conducting field research with rural communities in India, or collaborating on AI-powered camera systems that help prevent human–wildlife conflict in real time.

At the heart of it all, Hrishita is passionate about building connections between people and nature -- and between local knowledge and global expertise -- so that conservation is not just about saving a species, but about creating more resilient and fulfilling ways of living together.

In this episode, Hrishita shares how her passion for Tiger conservation brought her from Central India to Clemson University in the name of conservation. We talk passion, perseverance, and community without borders.

This week on Coffee & Conversations, Jana welcomes Zoe Jensen and Jessie Davidson, who bring to life Glinda and Elphaba from Broadway's "Wicked." Jessie is known for "Pretty Woman," "Six," and "Harmony the Musical." Zoe, has been seen in "Hamilton," "Six," and "The Heart of Rock and Roll." The duo shares how they’ve built confidence, fought imposter syndrome, and learned to trust themselves through every performance.

Recorded at Community Matters Cafe, this conversation goes beyond Broadway lights. From the “no-fly” moments to the green paint and glitter, Zoe and Jessie talk about friendship, authenticity, and finding magic in connection. It’s a reminder that real confidence comes from showing up as yourself — and holding space for others to do the same.

It's time to live boldly. Coffee & Conversations from WBTV, hosted by Jana Angel, will bring you honest chats between everyday people -- some who happen to be celebrities, others who may be your neighbor. Together, we'll talk about our lived experiences and the choices that brought us to where we are today. Our goal is to leave you feeling entertained, enlightened, and encouraged to do the damn thing.