There’s a particular kind of courage that doesn’t make headlines — the kind that doesn’t come from winning, but from refusing to be defined by loss. The kind that looks a cancer diagnosis in the eye and says, not today. The kind that takes decades of wisdom, purpose, and lived experience and builds something that could change the trajectory of someone else’s life. That’s the courage at the heart of Say Yes When Life Says No — the bold new series from Dr. DeForest B. Soaries, Jr., and one of the most important storytelling platforms to emerge in this cultural moment.
Why This Show. Why Now.
We are living through a season of collective “no.” At a moment when people across the country are confronting unprecedented personal and collective challenges, Say Yes When Life Says No offers a bold and necessary roadmap for overcoming obstacles, reclaiming mission, and choosing possibility, even in the face of life’s most unforgiving “no.” This is not a feel-good series that skims the surface of struggle. This is truth-telling at its finest — real people, real trials, real tribulations, and the hard-won wisdom that comes from living through all of it. The series features intimate, in-depth conversations with voices whose lived experiences and leadership define this moment, offering viewers lessons in resilience, clarity, and personal reinvention.
Guests like Dr. Randal Pinkett — Apprentice winner turned business powerhouse — Donna Hylton, whose story of survival and healing continues to inspire millions, and visionary developer and philanthropist Jack Morris are not here to offer platitudes. They’re here to tell the truth about what it actually costs to keep going when life delivers its most unforgiving blow — and what becomes possible on the other side of it.
The “No” That Changed Everything. Dr. Soaries has earned the right to host this conversation. “For years I’ve watched people wrestle with doubt, disappointment, and the feeling that life has said ‘no’ to them,” he says. “I’ve had my own share of ‘no’s, especially with my cancer diagnosis. But I realized I had to move through that ‘no’ and find my ‘yes.’”
That kind of transparency — a pastor, civic leader, and visionary saying I’ve been there too, is precisely what our culture is hungry for right now. Not polished perfection. Not performance. Authentic testimony about what it means to keep going when the ground beneath you shifts.
Ownership as an Act of Faith
What sets this series apart isn’t just the message — it’s the model. The studio behind Say Yes When Life Says No was envisioned, built, and fully funded by Dr. Soaries, who has long championed the creation of spaces that elevate diverse voices, lived experiences, and transformative storytelling. At a time when Black media ownership is increasingly recognized and celebrated, this brick-and-mortar property stands as a powerful testament to the impact of investing in and owning the physical spaces that allow our creativity, stories, and influence to thrive. Anchoring the production side of that vision is Executive Producer Desiree Peterkin Bell, Founder and CEO of DPBell & Associates — a globally recognized strategist known for advancing purpose-driven storytelling and cultural impact across media platforms. Her presence behind the camera ensures that the series doesn’t just inspire — it lands with the strategic precision and narrative integrity this moment demands. This is the part of the story that doesn’t get told enough. Building is an act of faith. Ownership is an act of liberation. When you control the studio and the story, you control the legacy.
A Global Vision Rooted in Purpose
For those unfamiliar with Dr. Soaries’ breadth of impact, this show is just one chapter in a remarkable life of service. As founder of the dfree® Financial Freedom Movement, he has helped millions take ownership of their lives, spiritually, financially, and emotionally. In recognition of his impact, he was enstooled in Ghana by His Majesty the Okyenhene as Nkosuohene — Chief of Development — honoring nearly two decades of work supporting community advancement, particularly for children and families. This is a man who has sat with presidents, been celebrated by civil rights icons, and built movements from church basements. And yet, his most urgent message remains the same: your “no” is not your destination.
The Work Continues
I’ve had the privilege of executive producing many projects and events over a 30-year career. But this one holds a different weight. Serving as Executive Producer on Say Yes When Life Says No has been deeply personal. Helping shape these stories of resilience, fortitude, faith, and impact has been an honor — stories that don’t just inspire, but challenge us to move, to act, and to choose differently when life pushes back.
When life says no… what do you build anyway? How do you show up? How do you keep going? These are the questions we’ve explored all season long. And they’re not rhetorical. They’re an invitation to every viewer, every leader, every person who has hit a wall and wondered if there was anything left on the other side of it. There is.
Say Yes When Life Says No airs biweekly on Dr. Soaries’ YouTube channel at 7 pm EST. New episodes are already live. Watch one. Send it to someone who needs it. And ask yourself — what “no” in your life are you ready to move through? Because beyond every “no” is a deeper yes. And it’s waiting for you.
Desiree Peterkin Bell is the Founder and CEO of DPBell & Associates and Executive Producer of Say Yes When Life Says No.
By Desiree Peterkin Bell