Podcast Summary: The School of Greatness

Episode: Tabitha Brown: What Happens When You Finally Stop Pretending
Host: Lewis Howes
Guest: Tabitha Brown
Date: January 23, 2026

Overview

In this heartfelt and inspiring episode of The School of Greatness, Lewis Howes sits down with actress, entrepreneur, and bestselling author Tabitha Brown. Together, they explore the transformative power of authenticity, faith, and obedience. Tabitha shares her journey from struggling with illness and self-doubt to personal and professional abundance—all sparked by letting go of societal masks and embracing her truest self. The conversation is a deep dive into courage, letting go of conformity, the significance of small daily changes, and building a life (and relationship) rooted in faith and truth.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Tabitha’s Path to Authenticity

• Letting Go of Pretending
  Tabitha reflects on her long journey through chronic illness, depression, and professional setbacks (03:34). Feeling lost and abandoned even by God, she had a transformative moment:

  "My prayer was, God, if you heal me, you can have me. That meant I'm not going to do it my way anymore...I'm going to allow you to deposit inside of me like only you can." (05:24)

• From Habit to Intentional Faith
  She distinguishes between "habitual prayer" and seeking God intentionally, realizing she needed to unlearn habitual faith and discover her own connection (04:51).

The Cost of Wearing a Mask

• Code Switching & Conforming
  Growing up in the South, she learned to conform and "code switch" for acceptance, in both social and professional settings (09:18):

  “We go to the bank … [my mother’s] voice is different … I learned early, oh, this is how we have to talk to people who are not black.” (09:37)

• Industry Pressures She recalls being told to neutralize her accent and appearance in entertainment, conforming out of a belief that her authentic self wasn’t enough (10:56).

• Turning Point
  After years of playing a role, Tabitha realized:

  "The very thing that I used to cover about myself is the thing people love about me the most now. I returned [the mask] and got all my money back with interest." (12:40)

Living in Alignment with Truth

• Alignment and Health
  Tabitha shares the physical and emotional toll of living out of alignment, noting her health and sense of self improved as she shed old layers (08:33-08:49).

• Manifesting What’s Meant for Us By being authentic, she found blessings she created while pretending weren’t truly hers:

  "God can't bless who you're not. He can only bless who you are. So if I am pretending … what are these blessings that I'm getting? Those aren't mine." (15:00)

Discovering Your True Self

• Finding Truth After Years in Disguise
  Tabitha suggests reconnecting with one’s childhood joys and silent moments to rediscover truth (16:15):

  “Your truth is in your silence when no one else is around … childhood memories before you were taught that you weren’t enough.”

• 30 Days to Living Free
  Her new book and framework revolve around making small daily changes—like taking a new route or trying a new food— to rewire routine and spark personal growth (32:01).

Dreams vs. Goals

• The Nature of True Dreams
  Tabitha and Lewis discuss the distinction:

  “Goals are things that we create. Dreams are deposited inside of us. We don’t make them up … they live there.” (33:01)

• Start Small & Stay Consistent
  Even the tiniest daily actions towards a dream matter, no matter how stuck or busy you are (33:48).

Timing & Preparation

• Success Comes When You’re Ready Both Tabitha and Lewis acknowledge that true abundance (financial, career, spiritual) came later in life and after much growth:

  “I learned that I was not ready when I thought I was. I needed to do more living before it came so that I could … know how to pray for it.” (34:38) “Money comes to you when you're ready for it.” (35:21 – Lewis’ mentor)

• Losses Along the Way
  She discusses losing friendships as she became more authentic:

  “Everybody's not ready to walk in their freedom, so being close to you while you’re in yours is disturbing their spirit.” (36:23)

Relationships & Marriage

• Navigating Marriage Through Transformation Tabitha honors her husband, Chance, for supporting her journey:

  “My husband was so happy. He was like, finally the world gets to see who I know.” (39:08)

  Their relationship is built on faith, partnership, and mutual respect.

Vision, Faith, and Obedience

• Faith Over Sight She attributes her ability to persevere to faith and signs of confirmation from her environment, staying attentive to divine guidance (41:10–45:44).

• Obedience > Sacrifice Tabitha stresses the importance of listening to intuition/God—even in business decisions, relating a story about a short-lived restaurant venture (47:57–52:48).

  “Every time I went against that thing [intuition], I get burned every time.” (51:02)

• Saying No True readiness for success is demonstrated in being able to say no to opportunities that are out of alignment, even when money is tight (56:25).

Staying Grounded Amid Success

• Balance & Boundaries Now, her spirit and actions are in alignment, so success feels "normal" and not overwhelming (55:44).

• Authenticity in Business Tabitha refuses to put her name on anything out of alignment with her values (72:22).

Final Wisdom & Reflection

Tabitha’s “Three Truths” (75:22)

1. Live free
2. Spread love
3. Eat well

Definition of Greatness (75:47)

“Greatness is … freedom, right? Being completely free in your world and in everybody else's.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Mask-Wearing & Conformity:
  “Somebody sold me a lie and I bought it. But now, honey, I returned it and got all my money back with interest.” (12:40)

• On Manifesting Blessings:
  “God can’t bless who you’re not. He can only bless who you are.” (15:00)

• On Dreams vs. Goals:
  “Goals are things that we create. Dreams are deposited inside of us. We don’t make them up.” (33:01)

• On Loss and Growth:
  “Everybody's not ready to walk in their freedom, so being close to you while you’re in yours is disturbing their spirit.” (36:23)

• On Marriage & Authenticity:
  “My husband was so happy. He was like, finally the world gets to see who I know.” (39:08)

• On True Readiness:
  “Now my spirit and flesh, we are in alignment. So this feels like home. It feels normal to me.” (55:44)

• Three Truths:
  “Live free, spread love, and eat well.” (75:22)

Key Timestamps

• Tabitha’s breakthrough with illness and prayer: 03:34 – 06:42
• Code switching and masking: 09:18 – 12:40
• Turning to social media & viral moment: 21:27 – 29:16
• Alignment and manifesting blessings: 15:00 – 16:10
• How to rediscover your truth: 16:15 – 18:11
• Small steps to living free: 32:01 – 33:24
• Learning & readiness for abundance: 34:38 – 36:23
• Friendship loss and moving forward: 36:23 – 38:42
• Impact of authenticity in marriage: 39:08 – 40:04
• Vision, faith, and looking for confirmation: 41:10 – 45:44
• Obedience and sacrifice, business story: 47:57 – 52:48
• On turning down misaligned opportunities: 56:25 – 57:48
• “Three Truths” & definition of greatness: 75:22 – 75:59

Tone & Closing

The episode is filled with warmth, candor, and humor. Tabitha’s Southern charm, humility, and focus on faith are palpable throughout. Lewis matches her sincerity with thoughtful questions and openness about his own growth. The conversation is an uplifting reminder that the path to greatness is not in pretending but in honoring our truest selves, consistently and courageously.

For more inspiration, follow Tabitha at @iamtabithabrown, pick up her new book I Did a New Thing, and revisit your own dreams—no matter where you are in life.