Hi, it's Diane. On my mind, the nation's first black female billionaire, Sheila Johnson first rose to Black Female billionaire.

Sheila Johnson first rose to prominence

as the co-founder of the Black Entertainment Network,

or VETT. Since then, she become a widely recognized business leader, a hotel mogul,

and co-owner of three professional sports teams.

But Johnson says her triumphs, mass deep drama and pain she carried for decades. That included self-doubt and emotionally abusive

33-year marriage and severe depression following her divorce.

Those thoughts still haunt me, and I would say until just before the book came out,

I still had nightmares.

Johnson joined me in April at WAMU's Blackbox Theater

for a special in-person Diane Rain Book Club about her memoir, Walk Through Fire.

I have to tell you, Sheila, we are so honored to have you here.

Thank you.

Hello everyone.

And this is Bella.

She is a very friendly puppy, so she may come visit you during the program. Just don't

feed her. I have both read and listened to this book and I have to tell you every woman I know should be given a copy.

The reason I say that is not just because it tells the story of an

absolutely remarkable life, but such an unusual one, which started, I think, Sheila, with your mother crying in the kitchen and your brother

hollering to you for you to help what was happening.

What was happening is my father suddenly decided to leave us.

And it was a case where he was one of eight African American neurosurgeons in the country.

...