Meet Arwenna Jones

We recently connected with Arwenna Jones and have shared our conversation below.

Arwenna, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

Hidden gem interviews: Resilience

My resilience is not something I was born with, it’s something I’ve had to build, piece by piece, through the kind of unimaginable pain and trauma that would break most people. I’ve been tested more than I ever could’ve prepared for and imagined, and somehow, each time, I’ve found the strength to stand back up. I almost died giving birth. It was a terrifying, life-or-death situation, and I remember lying there, knowing I might not make it, which meant not seeing my son grow up…. but I prayed and prayed and was determined to ‘come back and be a mother’. I fought not only for my own life but for the chance to raise my child, to give him a future. The fact that I survived that moment set the stage for everything that came after. I learned, in that instant, that I was capable of surviving things I never imagined.
Then, when my son was 12, he was in a horrific car accident. I remember the gut-wrenching panic when I first heard the news, and the crushing fear of not knowing if I was going to lose him. He was so young, so full of life, and to see him nearly taken away in such an instant shook me to my core. I was forced to hold it together for him, even though inside I was falling apart. The trauma of that experience could have broken me, but instead, it made me realize how precious life is, how quickly it can be stolen away. In those moments, I made a choice. I chose to be strong, not because I had all the answers, but because I knew I had to be there for him. I had to fight to keep him, just like I fought for my own life when I gave birth.
Then, when my son was 21, he died in a motorcycle accident. That loss—there are no words for it. No words that can explain the excruciating, soul-shattering reality of losing a child. He was my world, the very reason I kept going. I couldn’t fathom a life without him, but suddenly, there I was—living through it, a single mother. It’s a pain that feels almost unbearable, like a knife in the chest that never stops twisting. And yet, here I am, still breathing.
The truth is, when you go through so much trauma, when you face death—your own and your child’s—you realize how fleeting life really is. It’s one of the hardest truths to swallow, but it’s also the one that keeps me moving forward. Life is so short, and if I’ve learned anything, it’s that you have two choices: You can let the weight of grief, loss, and trauma crush you, or you can choose to get back up, no matter how impossible it seems.
I won’t pretend resilience is easy, because it’s not. Some days feel like I’m being swallowed whole by the grief, the pain, the loneliness, and the sorrow. There are times when everything feels too heavy to carry, when it seems like the world is too much to bear, and I wonder if I’ll ever make it through. But through all of it, I’ve learned that resilience isn’t about sidestepping the pain or pretending it doesn’t exist. It’s about feeling the pain, crying wherever you are, and making the choice to move forward, even when every ounce of your being wants to give in. It’s about putting one foot in front of the other, even when it feels like each step is costing you everything you have left.
Resilience is about grounding yourself in whatever you can—finding moments of stillness, even when the world feels like it’s falling apart around you. MOVING your body whether it’s wheels, walking/running/hiking. But above all, it’s about choosing the healthier path. I’ve seen what happens when people give in to the darkness of addiction, depression, and despair. I’ve watched people lose themselves to the aftermath of trauma, and I refuse to follow that path. It’s not easy, but cognizantly choosing to keep fighting for your health—mentally, physically, emotionally—is the only way I know to honor what’s been lost, and to keep moving forward, even when every part of you wants to stop.
I choose the healthy path—not just mentally, but physically and nutritionally, too. I have to nourish my body, my mind, my spirit, because without that foundation, I wouldn’t be able to keep going. I’ve learned to take care of myself, to prioritize my health and wellness, because I know that in order to continue, I need to be strong. But I also know that I can’t do this alone.
The most powerful thing I’ve learned through all of this is the importance of having the right people in your life. Having the best friends—friends and family has been a lifeline. They’ve been my rock, my support system, the ones who have picked me up from the darkest places. They’ve stepped in when the trauma was too much for me to face alone, taking on the impossible tasks that I couldn’t even bring myself to do, like dealing with the police, handling the funeral arrangements, and giving me the space to just breathe. They’ve stayed by my side, unwavering, knowing full well that I was hanging by a thread, and knowing that, without them, I might not have made it.
I also have my family, who has been there in ways I never could’ve imagined. My family has given me love and care, a nurturing place to land and presence when I felt completely shattered. They’ve reminded me of who I am, of the strength I carry, even when I felt like I’d lost it all. They’ve helped me heal, provided me with the foundation I needed to rebuild, one broken piece at a time.
And through it all, I’ve learned that resilience isn’t just about surviving—it’s about thriving, even in the face of the worst kinds of pain. It’s about finding hope when everything feels hopeless. It’s about waking up every day, choosing to move forward, choosing to keep living, even when grief pulls you in every direction. It’s about honoring my son’s memory by living my life with the same strength, the same courage, and the same love that I gave to him while he was here. Life is too short, and I am too grateful to let it slip away. So, no matter how many times I’ve been knocked down, I’ll keep getting back up, one foot in front of the other, carrying the infinite love of my son with me every step of the way.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I work in the film and TV world, collaborating with some of the most incredible crews who bring their passion and dedication to every project. It’s an environment that thrives on creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork, where everyone—from the writers to the camera operators—works in sync to bring a vision to life. As someone in the clearance department, I have the privilege of interacting with so many talented individuals and contributing to the smooth flow of production. The people I work with are driven, highly skilled, and genuinely kind, and it’s the kind of atmosphere that makes the long hours and intense schedules worth it.

In my role, I handle Clearances for TV shows and feature films. Clearances are essentially the legal process of securing permission to use certain materials, images, trademarks, or names in a production. It’s about making sure that everything depicted on screen—whether it’s a branded logo, a piece of art, or even a person’s likeness—has the proper rights or releases associated with it. This involves negotiating with rights holders, securing licensing agreements, and ensuring the production complies with all intellectual property laws. It’s a behind-the-scenes job that’s crucial for ensuring that everything on screen is legally sound, allowing the creative team to focus on what they do best—making great content. A special thanks to the folks in this world that supported me and continue to do so are Showrunner/EP Howard Gordon, Showrunnder/EP Barbie Kligman, EP’s John Weber, Frank Siracusa and best friends Randi Richmond (Snr VP NBC/Universal), Clara George ( Regional Sustainability Advisor for Netflix), and Melissa Stubbs (Stuntwoman).

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back on my journey, the three qualities that have had the most impact are resilience, emotional honesty, and the ability to ask for and accept help. Resilience is something I’ve had to develop over time. It’s not about bouncing back quickly or pretending the pain isn’t there—it’s about learning to keep moving forward even when every day feels like an insurmountable struggle. The key is taking it day by day and recognizing that resilience is built through each step, no matter how small. My advice to those early in their journey is to be patient with yourself and know that resilience doesn’t mean you’ve “fixed” the pain; it’s about showing up, even on the hardest days.

Emotional honesty has been another game-changer. For so long, I tried to bury my emotions—thinking that if I just pushed through, the pain would eventually go away. But I’ve learned that facing your emotions, no matter how raw or overwhelming, is a crucial part of healing. Grief doesn’t go away, it changes, and being honest with yourself about what you’re feeling—whether it’s anger, guilt, or profound sadness—allows you to move through it, rather than being stuck in it. For those who are just starting this journey, my advice is to let yourself feel what you’re feeling without judgment. There’s no right way to grieve, and pretending you’re okay when you’re not only delays your healing.

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned, though, is the power of asking for help. As a single mother, I never asked for help before. I took pride in doing it all on my own, believing it was a sign of strength. But after my son’s death, I realized that I couldn’t carry the weight of grief alone. Over time, I became comfortable with raising my hand and saying, “Please help.” It was a humbling but necessary shift. The truth I’ve come to understand is that people genuinely want to help—they want to support you in any way they can. Accepting help doesn’t make you weaker or less capable; it makes you human. My advice to those starting their own journey is to lean into that support. It’s not a weakness to ask for help—it’s an essential part of healing. Grief can be overwhelming, but when you allow others to lift you up, it makes the journey a little bit easier. And you’ll find that you’re never truly alone if you allow others to walk with you.

Together, these three qualities—resilience, emotional honesty, and the willingness to ask for help—have shaped my healing. Grief is a long and difficult road, but these lessons have made it possible for me to continue forward, honoring my son’s memory while still finding a way to live with purpose.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

My father was a nuclear physicist, and from him, I learned some of life’s most profound lessons. One of the first things he taught me was that life isn’t fair—he often spoke about chaos theory, how everything is unpredictable and out of our control, yet we must find a way to navigate through it. He taught me how to move through problems with grace and resilience, emphasizing that anger doesn’t solve anything. Life is too short to hold onto it. Instead, he encouraged me to learn from my past mistakes and to always be curious—curious about the world, about others, and about myself. His advice was simple: ask people what they’ve learned from their own experiences, because there’s so much wisdom in their stories. He taught me that growth comes from asking questions, from staying open to new ideas and perspectives.

But perhaps the most important lesson he imparted was about the brevity of life. He always reminded me to truly connect with that reality, to understand just how precious and short our time here really is. He showed me the importance of loving everyone around you and making sure they feel that love—because, in the end, it’s the relationships and the connections we build that truly matter. His lessons shaped who I am today, and they continue to guide me through the ups and downs of life.