Navigating Parenting and Purpose with Courtney B. Vance

Parenting, mental health, and finding your way in a complicated world—Emmy and Tony-winning actor Courtney B. Vance covers it all in this powerful conversation with Carol.

Courtney reflects on his Detroit upbringing, the sacrifices his parents made for his education, and how those lessons shape how he and his wife, (the one and only Angela Bassett), have raised their twins who are now off at college. He shares how they’ve kept their kids grounded despite growing up in the spotlight, and how he’s navigating the balance of letting go while still being there to support them.

Courtney talks with Carol about his new book, The Invisible Ache: Black Men Identifying Their Pain and Reclaiming Their Power, co-written with Dr. Robin Smith. He reveals the devastating impact of his father’s death, how therapy helped him heal, and why breaking the stigma around mental health in the Black community is so critical.

Whether you’ve long admired Courtney on stage and screen or are meeting him here for the first time, this conversation is packed with relatable parenting moments, inspiring stories, and advice you can use. Tune in for his reflections on finding purpose, staying open to life’s possibilities, and helping kids thrive.

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