The Nona Jones Show

Grief can knock the breath out of you. One moment life feels steady — and the next, everything you knew is gone.In this episode of The Nona Jones Show, I sit down with author and speaker Courtney Pray Duke, who was widowed at 29 and left to raise three young children after the sudden loss of her husband.This isn’t a conversation about “moving on.”It’s about what happens when resurrection meets real life — when Jesus shows up in the middle of heartbreak and helps you rise again.We talk about:• walking through unbearable grief• faith when God feels silent• declarations in the dark• filtering voices during loss• and how healing actually happensScripture reminds us in Matthew 9:25, “The girl got up.”Sometimes that’s the miracle, not the absence of pain, but the strength to stand again.If you’re grieving, exhausted, or wondering if your story is over, this conversation is for you.

Dr. Gino Collura, behavioral scientist and neuroanthropology expert who advises leaders and wrote The Seven Layers of Successful Relationships, explores how trauma hides in our reactions. He discusses early love shaping expectations. He explains why high-achievers chase success for belonging. He outlines trauma-driven patterns like people-pleasing, withdrawal, and the path toward rewiring and healing.

Most of us enter relationships trying to pass; pass as healed, pass as confident, pass as ready. But love was never a test to ace.This conversation shifts the posture from trying to master love to becoming a student of it. Drawing from Student of Love, we explore how relationships are meant to teach us, through rejection, boundaries, identity, commitment, and even discomfort.Too often, we chase connection without clarity and search for soulmates without doing the soul work. When we stop trying to control love and instead listen to what it’s teaching us, something changes.Love doesn’t fail us; we fail to listen.And when we do, we don’t just experience love, we reflect it.Laterras R. Whitfield's new book, Student of Love, is available now, wherever books are sold.

Your “yes” to God may cost you comfort, but it will lead you to purpose. Saying “yes” sounds simple, until it stretches your faith, disrupts your plans, or challenges your comfort zone.The truth is, many of us pray for clarity, but what we really want is control. And when obedience feels risky, fear will always try to talk us out of faith.But what if the blessing you’ve been praying for is waiting on the other side of that trembling, uncertain, but willing “yes”?What if the detours and disruptions aren’t distractions, but divine direction?This week, I’m joined by Brenda Palmer author of The Journey to Yes, for a powerful conversation about what it really means to surrender to God when the path doesn’t make sense.Because every “yes” to God may feel like loss in the moment, but it always leads to more than you could imagine.

A candid look at pain after betrayal and how to stop carrying someone else’s hurt. Personal travel and ministry conflict set the scene for raw, honest prayer. Discussion of repentance, the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation, and trusting God to handle justice. Practical signs that bitterness is broken and an invitation to exchange burdens for rest.

Rejection isn’t the end of your story—it can be the beginning of God’s greater plan.If you’ve ever felt cast aside, overlooked, or unseen… this conversation is for you. Because rejection hurts—deeply. Whether it’s a broken relationship, a missed opportunity, or simply feeling invisible, those moments can leave scars that whisper lies: you’re not enough, you’re not wanted, you don’t belong.But here’s the truth: rejection doesn’t define you—in God’s hands, it refines you.Today, I’m joined by Ginger Stache, Emmy Award–winning storyteller and Chief Creative Officer at Joyce Meyer Ministries. She knows what it’s like to walk through rejection and come out stronger, wiser, and more anchored in God’s love.We’re talking about how God can take the sting of rejection and use it to shape you, strengthen you, and set you free.Because when God rewrites your story, rejection becomes redirection—and that’s where purpose begins.

Your faith was never meant to be hidden—it was meant to be lived, breathed, and embodied in how you lead, love, and show up every day.Today’s conversation is for anyone navigating the tension of being a believer in spaces that don’t always honor belief. My guest, Enitan Bereola, shows us what it looks like to live authentically with God—not perfectly, but fully present, fully aligned, and fully courageous.Culture is loud. It tells us who to be, what to value, and how to think. And too often, its voice conflicts with God’s truth. Many of us feel pulled in two directions—our faith on one side, our cultural life on the other. But here’s the truth: faith wasn’t meant to be compartmentalized. It was meant to transform every part of your life.Enitan has spent his life bridging that gap—reshaping conversations about identity, relationships, and culture through his work as an author, creative, and thought leader. Husband, father, entrepreneur, and man of faith, he’s learned how to navigate influence without compromising conviction.Today, he shares how to stand firm in your beliefs while engaging culture with relevance, grace, and boldness—reminding us that our light is meant to shine everywhere, not just in church.

Influence isn't about being seen—it’s about what you build when no one’s watching.This conversation is for high-capacity women and dreamers who feel called to big stages but are unsure how to navigate the industry, the politics, or the pressure. Candi’s journey reveals what it really takes to rise, lead, and last in a world that often values image over integrity.When you think of the entertainment industry, you might think lights, cameras, red carpets—and yes, there’s all of that. But what you don’t always see is the grit. The resilience it takes to lead behind the scenes, especially as a woman. Especially as a woman of color.According to a 2023 USC Annenberg report, only 26% of executive producers across the top 100 television shows were women—and just 6% were Black women. So what does it take to break those barriers? What does it cost? And more importantly, how do you keep your soul intact while doing it?Today’s guest didn’t just walk through the doors of the entertainment industry—she helped build the house. She’s produced iconic shows, navigated high-stakes rooms, and carried the weight of leadership with grace, grit, and faith. And today, she’s sharing what she’s learned so others can follow—not just in her footsteps, but in her faith.

There’s a moment in every leader’s life when the assignment that once felt like destiny starts to feel like disobedience. You’re still producing. You’re still respected. But inside, there’s a quiet whisper that says: It’s time to move on.The problem? We often confuse disruption with failure. Especially when we’ve built a name, a reputation, or even an identity around what we do. The idea of stepping away—especially from something successful—can feel like stepping into the unknown with no map and no guarantee.But what if disruption isn’t the end? What if it’s actually the beginning? Today’s conversation is for anyone sensing that nudge to pivot, but unsure how to let go of what’s familiar without falling apart. Because when God says it’s time to shift, obedience is your strategy—and dignity is still possible.

A spiritual battle over identity and how lies steal your calling. Exploration of how comparison, rejection, and social media fuel identity confusion. A look at signs of a false identity and practical steps to restore your true self. Personal testimony about healing performance-based identity and reclaiming purpose through faith.