Today we’d like to introduce you to Nadean Barton.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Sure! My journey has been one of resilience, reinvention, and purpose. I proudly served 24 years in the U.S. Navy. What some people may not know is that out of those 24 years, 8 were spent as a Dental Assistant and 15 as a Navy Recruiter. Those experiences taught me leadership, discipline, and the importance of showing up fully in everything I do.
When I first interviewed with you back in 2021, I had written two books and co-authored two others. Since then, I’ve grown tremendously. My journey as an author started after I went through a miscarriage. Out of that pain, I wrote my first book, Can a Girl Catch a Break, in just 6 days and published it in 30. Today, I am a 10-time author, with all of my books available on Amazon and at www.nadeanbarton.com
. Writing became my way of using my pain to position my purpose and sharing stories of strength, healing, and empowerment with others.
I’ve even written a children’s book called: Love Travels in Uniform, a Military Guide to Staying Strong While Missing Mom and Dad, it’s in 5 different languages, English, Spanish, German, Japanese and French.
Alongside writing, I pursued higher education and earned my Master’s Degree in Entrepreneurship and Small Business. I also became a travel agent, creating unforgettable experiences for people through my travel business.
In addition to books and travel, I also launched my own line of luxurious body butters. They’re made with love, quality ingredients, and designed to nourish the skin while adding a touch of self-care and confidence. My body butters are available through my website and social platforms @CABZENZAH and www.cabzenzah.com, giving people a way to experience a little luxury in their everyday routines.
At the same time, I leaned into my passion for creativity and storytelling through acting. I’ve worked on productions such as Beyond the Gates, Zatima, P-Valley, The Oval, and many others, and I’ve recently stepped into even more diverse roles. Acting has given me another platform to inspire and connect with people on a deeper level.
Today, I continue to write, act, and empower others. I see myself as living proof that no matter what life throws at you, you can reinvent yourself, keep chasing your dreams, and live unapologetically.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Like many people, I’ve faced my share of obstacles. One of the hardest moments in my life was going through a miscarriage. That experience was devastating, and at the same time, it became the turning point that pushed me to write my first book. It showed me how to take pain and turn it into purpose.
Transitioning from military life after serving 24 years in the Navy was another challenge. I had to rediscover who I was outside of the uniform and figure out how to start over in a completely new chapter. There were also times of uncertainty; however, I learned to lean on faith, discipline, and perseverance.
And as an entrepreneur, one of the biggest challenges is rejection. You hear a lot of no’s, just like when I was a Navy recruiter, not everyone is going to say yes. But I learned that every no gets you closer to the right yes, and that mindset has kept me moving forward.
Every struggle taught me something valuable. Instead of letting obstacles stop me, I’ve used them as stepping stones. And honestly, without those challenges, I wouldn’t be the woman I am today, an author, actress, entrepreneur, and someone who continues to inspire others to keep going, no matter what.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Absolutely! I wear a few hats, but they all connect to my passion for storytelling, service, and empowerment. I’m a 10-time author, an actress, an entrepreneur, a travel agent, and also a co-host on the lifestyle podcast Hoy en Día TV, which streams live every Thursday at 7:30 p.m. EST on multiple platforms including:
RSS
Spotify
Amazon Music
Facebook
Apple Podcasts
Pandora
Instagram
iHeart Radio
Podcast Addict
Podcast Index
Podverse
Deezer
Fountain
Truefans
YouTube
Rephonic
Stay tuned, stay connected, and don’t miss a moment of the inspiration, stories, and conversations we bring to you every week.
As an author, I specialize in writing books that encourage healing, self-love, and resilience. I’m known for taking real-life experiences, including very personal struggles, and transforming them into stories that inspire others.
As an actress, I bring that same authenticity to the screen. I’ve worked on productions such as Dad in a Cheer Bow, I played Deja a boujee cheer mom, Garden of Dreams, Beyond the Gates, Zatima, P-Valley, The Oval, Diarra from Detroit and more, and I’m proud of how far I’ve come in such a short time. I’m about to film My Girlfriend’s Husband, so things have been looking up since I’ve retired and I’ve been so Grateful.
On the entrepreneurial side, I run my own travel business, helping people create unforgettable getaways, and I also created a line of luxurious body butters designed to bring confidence and self-care into everyday life.
What I’m most proud of is the fact that I’ve been able to reinvent myself multiple times — from Navy veteran, to author, to entrepreneur, to actress, and now to podcast host. What sets me apart is my resilience and my ability to use my personal journey as a way to uplift and inspire others. I don’t just tell stories; I live them, and I want people to see that if I can keep pushing forward, they can too.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
What I love most about Atlanta is its culture and endless opportunities. The city has such a vibrant energy from its rich history to the amazing food scene, music, film industry, and diversity of people. For someone like me in the entertainment space, Atlanta has truly become the ‘Hollywood of the South,’ and I love how much opportunity there is here for growth and connection. When I retired from the Navy, I had already been stationed here and lived in Atlanta for three years. By the time retirement came, it felt like home, and I decided to stay.
On the flip side, what I like least would have to be the traffic. Atlanta traffic can test anyone’s patience! But even with that, the positives of this city far outweigh the negatives, and I’m proud to call it home and to be a part of its continued growth.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nadeanbarton.com
- Instagram: @nadiab_1202
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nadean.barton.39
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadean-bar/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@njb1202
- Other: https://www.cabzenzah.com
Image Credits
Images by Gregory Jones of Positive Exposure Photography(NC) and Myself.
