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Behind the Confident Smile
October 22, 2026
In this episode of Behind the Confident Smile, host Bianca Cotton speaks with author Precious Watkins, who was diagnosed with MS shortly after losing her grandmother. Watkins reflects on grieving two losses at once—her grandmother and the health and future she had taken for granted—and on learning to adjust to a changed sense of self.
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Behind the Confident Smile
October 7, 2026
In this episode of Behind the Confident Smile, host Bianca Cotton speaks with Dorian Spears, who ended her marriage and then had to grieve a future she had already envisioned, without a blueprint for the one ahead. Spears reflects on navigating that loss privately while continuing some of the most meaningful work of her career.
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Behind the Confident Smile
October 5, 2026
In this episode of Behind the Confident Smile, host Bianca Cotton speaks with Dr. Erie S. Crawford, who lost her husband to suicide in 2019. Crawford reflects on how suicide loss brings not only grief but lasting, often unanswerable questions, and on breaking the silence that surrounds this kind of loss.
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Behind the Confident Smile
September 23, 2026
In this episode of Behind the Confident Smile, host Bianca Cotton speaks with psychotherapist Brandi Green, who lost her mother at 28, her father at 32, and her brother at 40. With no immediate family remaining, Green reflects on grieving the family life she never had and building a community of support from the ground up.
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Behind the Confident Smile
September 16, 2026
In this season premiere of Behind the Confident Smile, host Bianca Cotton opens a season devoted to grief with guest Dr. Shaniqua Jones—educator, TEDx speaker, author, and founder of Purple Path by Dr. J. Jones discusses her journey from wife to full-time caregiver and what profound loss taught her about herself, in a conversation about making room for grief and honoring caregivers.
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Behind the Confident Smile
December 9, 2025
The season finale of Behind the Confident Smile closes with a tender and transformative conversation as host Bianca Cotton sits down with Elle Davis, MSW, nonprofit leader, speaker, and resilience coach. Together, they explore what it means to navigate the first holidays after loss, how grief and joy can exist side by side, and the ongoing process of healing while honoring the ones we’ve loved.
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Behind the Confident Smile
December 3, 2025
In this episode of Behind the Confident Smile, host Bianca Cotton sits down with Ke’Ana Lampkins, MSW, LCSW—therapist, speaker, and founder of The Well of Life Counseling and Consultation—for a profound conversation about the maternal influences that shaped her life. Ke’Ana reflects on the impact of being raised and influenced by three mothers, exploring how each relationship molded her identity, her emotional landscape, and her path toward healing. With honesty and depth, she shares how her personal journey informs her work supporting others through trauma, spiritual burnout, and the process of reclaiming one’s voice and joy.
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Behind the Confident Smile
December 3, 2025
In this episode of Behind the Confident Smile, host Bianca Cotton sits down with Crystal Morgan—Family Nurse Practitioner, IBCLC, and oral function specialist—for an eye-opening conversation about living with tongue, lip, and cheek ties. Crystal breaks down what these oral restrictions really are, how they affect feeding, speech, breathing, and daily life, and why so many families struggle to get proper diagnosis and treatment. Through clinical expertise and compassionate storytelling, she offers clarity, hope, and practical guidance for anyone navigating tethered oral tissues.
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Behind the Confident Smile
November 11, 2025
In this episode of Behind the Confident Smile, host Bianca Cotton sits down with Kiana Jones, founder of Jones’s Jewels Learning Center, for an inspiring conversation about her mission to close the learning gap. Kiana shares how her frustration with the education system sparked a transformative vision—one rooted in holistic care, music-infused learning, and unwavering belief in every child’s potential. With over a decade of experience, she reveals how creating a safe, nurturing environment can help young learners thrive academically, emotionally, and creatively.
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Behind the Confident Smile
October 21, 2025
In this heartfelt episode of Behind the Confident Smile, host Bianca Cotton sits down with Victoria Ivy for an intimate conversation about her experience with an unplanned C-section. Together, they unpack the emotional and physical journey of navigating birth plans that don’t go as planned—exploring themes of vulnerability, strength, and grace in recovery. Through candid reflection, Bianca and Victoria offer a powerful reminder that healing and self-compassion are vital parts of every birth story.
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