Grace & Grit: featuring Will Whitlow

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.

It's time to live boldly. Coffee and Conversations from WBTV is bringing you honest chats between everyday people -- some who happen to be celebrities, others who may be your neighbor. Together, we 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.