We were lucky to catch up with Lynette Winters recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Lynette, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
It was April 21, 2024 at the end of our show, Brown Bodies on a Blue Earth, a colleague from another agency who is a social worker showed up with a bunch of social workers in support of me and she said, “ I can see you pivoting from being a social worker to doing theater full time.” It was that aha moment where I decided I wanted to do something different. Then, on May 2 at the Watch Party of S2 of Opportunity Knock$, a tv series my family was featured on, my financial coach and the show creator expressed something similar: like, we see another part of your brain working….we didn’t know. That was me referring to theater.
Lynette, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I’m Lynette Winters—a writer, advocate, creative visionary, and coach called to help people rise from what’s trying to bury them. I didn’t enter this industry the traditional way. I entered it through survival, faith, and a fire that wouldn’t let me give up. After escaping 14 years of domestic violence and raising a blended family, I rebuilt my life one act of courage at a time—from housing instability and hardship to healing and leadership.
Today, I lead The Underground Theater, write books and plays rooted in truth and transformation, and run The Restoration Place, a nonprofit that helps others reclaim identity, purpose, and hope through Christ-centered healing and practical support.
Whether I’m directing a play, coaching someone through divorce and purpose recovery, or helping a formerly incarcerated person land a six-figure job—my mission stays the same: push people into purpose.
What sets me apart? I’ve lived it. I don’t just talk about breakthrough, I’ve fought for mine—and I help others do the same. I use storytelling, strategy, and spirit-led guidance to shift lives. No fluff. Just truth, tools, and transformation.
I’m most proud of turning my pain into platforms—for my family, for my community, and for people who’ve been told it’s too late. It’s never too late.
If you’re ready to rise, reclaim, and rebuild—I’m your person. Let’s work.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding part of being a creative? Hands down—it’s getting to showcase the brilliance of others. Whether it’s through my direction or something I’ve written, there’s nothing like watching someone step into their power because you created the space for them to shine. That’s the real win.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
My creative journey is driven by a deep desire to see what I’m truly capable of—and then push even further. I love challenging the status quo, trying something new, and proving to myself that I can nail it. I’m a collaborator at heart, and nothing fuels me more than building something powerful together. That’s where the magic happens.
Image Credits
There’s only one: Danielle Barnum photography.
– image of people sitting on a stage in costuming and special lighting