Comeback Stories

About Comeback Stories

Inspirational comeback arcs aren’t reserved for fiction. Darren Waller, tight end for the New York Giants and Donny Starkins, mindfulness teacher, surface real-life tales of resiliency, including vulnerable insights into their ongoing recovery journeys and interviews with guests who illustrate what “comeback” means to them.

Publisher

iHeartPodcasts

Category

sports

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

19 Jan 2021

Latest episode

4 Sept 2025

Latest episodes

118 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   4 Sept 2025

   Deborah Joy Winans Williams on Choosing Joy for Real—Not Just Performing It | Choosing Joy

   What does choosing joy really mean when you’re living through pain, pressure, or exhaustion? In this deeply personal solo episode, Choosing Joy host Deborah Joy Winans Williams sits down—not as an actress or celebrity, but as herself—to answer your questions, share her heart, and reflect on what joy looks like when it’s uncomfortable, spiritual, and hard-won. Deborah opens up about motherhood, mental health, faith, grief, self-worth, and how she learned (and is still learning) to choose joy daily—not just on stage, but in real life. From the lessons of her Winans family legacy to her girls' trip epiphany with Merle Dandridge to the quiet prayers that sustain her, this episode is a soulful, grounding invitation to go deeper. Whether you’re a woman of faith, an artist in progress, a mother in motion, or just someone trying to pour from a not-so-full cup—Deborah’s raw honesty and wisdom remind us that joy isn’t a mood... it’s a decision. Chapters 00:00 – What Choosing Joy Means to Me 01:00 – Unpacking My Relationship with Joy 03:00 – What Life Has Taught Me About Grace 05:00 – The Power of Choosing Yourself 07:00 – A Girls' Trip That Changed Everything 09:00 – How My Faith Guides My Work 11:00 – My Morning Routine of Gratitude 13:00 – 6AM Prayer, Grandma Winans, and Simplicity 15:00 – Staying Grounded in a Chaotic World 17:00 – What My Family’s Legacy Taught Me 19:00 – How My Uncle Bebe Changed My Perspective 21:00 – Seeing People as Ministry 23:00 – Navigating Motherhood, Germs & Balance 25:00 – Rest, Vitamins, Vaseline & Olly Multis 27:00 – Playing Charity on Greenleaf 29:00 – Grace for Imperfection & Finding Your Way 31:00 – Advice for Young Women in Music & Acting 33:00 – Final Reflections & Your Invitation to Joy #DeborahJoyWinansWilliams #ChoosingJoyPodcast #GreenleafCharity #BlackWomenInFaith #JoyIsAChoice #FaithAndMotherhood #ChristianWomenPodcast #WomenInEntertainment #HealingWithGod #SoulfulStorytelling See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

2. 

   28 Dec 2023

   Owning Your Worth

   Darren and Donny explore self-abandonment's impact on our lives and relationships, discussing familiar behaviors like people-pleasing and conflict avoidance. They share personal stories, emphasizing the importance of recognizing our self-worth and taking charge of our lives. Offering practical tips for self-care and breaking free from societal conditioning, the hosts conclude with a powerful reminder: by valuing ourselves, we can authentically pour love into others. Join this empowering conversation to start a journey toward self-love and fulfillment. ► YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCriVmGIBt38uDKYOL3pmjkw ► iHeart https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-comeback-stories-119696372/ ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/inflectionent/?hl=en ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/comebackstoriesshow/?hl=en DARREN WALLER ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?... (https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?...) ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en (https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en) DONNY STARKINS ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_stark... ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins (https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins) #ComebackStoriesPodcast #AllIN #InflectionNetwork See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

3. 

   21 Dec 2023

   Presence over Presents

   In this episode, Darren and Donny spotlight the essence of the holiday season: prioritizing presence over presents. They advocate for cherishing moments with loved ones, emphasizing human connections over material possessions. Encouraging listeners to set boundaries and be fully engaged in relationships, the conversation urges a shift towards meaningful experiences. They delve into self-love, authenticity, and reevaluating life's pursuits, inspiring a reflective and uplifting perspective on the holiday season and beyond. ► YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCriVmGIBt38uDKYOL3pmjkw ► iHeart https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-comeback-stories-119696372/ ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/inflectionent/?hl=en ► Instagram https://www.instagram.com/comebackstoriesshow/?hl=en DARREN WALLER ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?... (https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?...) ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en (https://twitter.com/rackkwall83?lang=en) DONNY STARKINS ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/donny_stark... ► Twitter | https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins (https://mobile.twitter.com/donnystarkins) #ComebackStoriesPodcast #AllIN #InflectionNetwork See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

313 ratings

Spotify

4.9 / 5

57 ratings