Antwone Fisher: Forgiveness, Memory, and the Stories We Tell Ourselves
In this episode of Soul Thursdays, Calvin sits down with Antwone Fisher — celebrated author, screenwriter, and one of the most compelling storytellers of our generation. From foster care to the Navy, from Hollywood to the page, Antwone shares the raw, unfiltered journey of a man who was never supposed to make it — and did.
The conversation centers on forgiveness, not as a moment, but as a process. Antwone reframes fear, survival, and identity in ways that will stay with you long after the episode ends. This is one of the most powerful conversations Calvin has had on Soul Thursdays.
Join Antwone Fisher and host Calvin on this week’s episode of Soul Thursdays to explore what it means to survive, to forgive, and to finally become who you were always meant to be.
## Description
Calvin opens by framing the conversation around the idea of “being chosen” — not through comfort, but through the ability to survive. Antwone shares that forgiveness is not instant: *”You have to live long enough… and process it.”* He compares emotional pain to physical injury — it must heal naturally over time, not on demand.
A defining turning point in Antwone’s life came when he stopped focusing on what he lacked: *”I stopped focusing on what I didn’t get… and started figuring out what I could do for myself.”* That shift led him to join the Navy — and eventually to writing, filmmaking, and becoming a voice for millions who grew up without one.
Antwone also shares how he began writing as a child — putting feelings on paper and destroying the pages afterward. *”That was my first beginning of getting it out.”* He reframes fear not as the enemy, but as a signal: *”Maybe fear isn’t the enemy… maybe it’s an alarm.”* This episode is a masterclass in resilience, identity, and what it means to claim your story.
## Quotes
• “You have to live long enough… and process it.” (00:42:15-00:42:22 | Antwone Fisher)
• “I stopped focusing on what I didn’t get… and started figuring out what I could do for myself.” (00:51:30-00:51:40 | Antwone Fisher)
• “That was my first beginning of getting it out.” (00:38:44-00:38:48 | Antwone Fisher)
• “Maybe fear isn’t the enemy… maybe it’s an alarm.” (01:05:20-01:05:26 | Antwone Fisher)
• “Anybody had to win, and start all over, and have to win again.” (00:19:25-00:19:34 | Calvin)
## Links
Antwone Fisher Website - https://antwone-fisher.com
Reflections Beneath the Buckeye Trees (New Book) - https://antwone-fisher.com
Finding Fish: A Memoir - https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Fish-Memoir-Antwone-Fisher/dp/0688176992
A Boy Should Know How to Tie a Tie - https://www.amazon.com/Boy-Should-Know-How-Tie/dp/1416566627
Who Will Cry for the Little Boy? (Poem) - https://poemanalysis.com/antwone-fisher/who-will-cry-for-the-little-boy/
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Witty, thought-provoking, and uplifting, Soul Thursdays is the livestream podcast you’ll want to invite friends over to watch every week. Join us Thursdays at 8 PM Eastern for real conversations, fascinating guests, community dialogue, and inspiring stories that help us learn, connect, and grow together.
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