Chris Renee Hazlett
Appearances
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
That's it. Don't do that.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
Oh my goodness. Okay, Samia. You are married. And a wise man once said, a man with no money has a lot of time. And a man with money has no time. When you were deciding on your person, did you choose time or money?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
Help me.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
Come on, I love it, I love that. So I think it's safe to say that all of us are really strong in our faith. We've all at some point had conversations about
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
just our faith and how we had to lean on god in certain situations and i would say recently i just did a podcast about this and opened up about he's talking about sex about god convicting me on sex yeah i'm with you v i mean b i ain't doing it no more i've been delivered i was i promised swear you ain't doing what no more wait i missed it
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
Yes. Oh, my goodness. Congratulations. Thank you. That's amazing.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
Yeah, so thank y'all.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
I forgot how long this ponytail was. Then I done broke my fan. Help me, Lord.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
Yes, the goal is until marriage. Yeah, because.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
Okay. Come on, Lord. Speak this thing. But does that include my talks? Just take one clue and everything. Honey, I threw my vibrator away. What? Yes. I was dead serious.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
yeah so like i've been really in my bible and like every time i would read it seemed like it i have on this bible plan so it gives you like different books to read from and i feel like every morning it was like sexual immorality i'm like it was just like jumping out the pain i'm like look okay calm down and um finally i just got to the point i was like all right god i'm in a relationship and
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
just transparently I was having sex. So I was like, this man's about to leave me. You know what I'm saying? Cause like you feel like we have been conditioned. I'm sure we all can attest. We've been conditioned that what you don't do, another woman will. Right. Yeah. So we've been like really groomed to like take care of a man and make sure that we know what we doing, you know?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
And when we had that conversation, I literally was in my kitchen like crying as we're on the phone. And God was like, you just got to trust me on this. And I had done this before, and the relationship didn't work out. So I was like, well, that didn't work, so I'm going to go on back to busting wide open and maybe then... I'm just being transparent. We keeping it real, unfiltered and raw.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
And then this relationship came and God was convicting me again. I was like, all right, I really have to take this serious. So we got through that. And he was like, no, he said, we'll just find other ways to be intimate without any sexual... Yeah. Yeah. Yes, so we're doing that, and that was December that we stopped that. And then I was at home.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
I was at home, and God literally said, I was sitting in bed, and he said, that too. And I said, what you talking about? You know what I'm talking about. And I looked to the nightstand. I said, now you taking it too far, Lord. He said that too. So I literally pulled my vibrator out the drawer, put it in the trash can, and it was the day that my cleaning ladies were coming.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
And that's when I knew I was serious because I said on the podcast, I said, if I wouldn't, if they didn't come that day, I might have pulled that thing back out and washed it off.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
Y'all better have them fans. Thank you, baby. Take mine. Take mine. Please. All right. Ladies. Ladies. Thank y'all so much for joining me today. I really appreciate it. I know y'all are all busy. And speaking of being busy, I ain't gonna lie to y'all. Since we put this show on sale, my sweetest can attest, the devil has been busy. From the day we dropped it, it was something, but we here.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
One more time.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
That's what they said. I'm trying to make a hundred, okay? But no, I just want to know, like, has there been any moments in your life where you guys have been tested, your faith has been tested, where God has really, like, pushed you to your limits? Because that was the limit for me. I said, oh, that flesh is hard to fight. Oh, my God. Anybody want to chime in? I mean...
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
We from Florida, y'all.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
We made it and the devil is alive. But I would be lying if I said I have not been stressed out lately, trying to balance everything from putting the show together with my amazing team, to balancing travel and appearances, nurturing relationships. And I recently had to check myself because I realized I'm not nurturing the relationships how I should. Now, all of us are very busy.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
I love that. Ladies, this has been beautiful. Oh, my goodness. So good. So I'm introducing a new Girl Talk game. Before we close out this segment of the show, I want to play it with y'all. Are y'all down? Okay. Let's do it. All right, let's do it. So there should be some cards next to you. These little cards. Do you see your cards? You got your cards? So I'll go first, all right? Oh, Lord. Yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
Well, I ain't got my phone on me, but it says, send a voice note to someone saying I had a dream about you last night and let them wonder.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
Get Crystal her phone, please. Where's my phone?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
See? Look at the devil.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
Okay, so somebody else go so we can keep it going, and then we'll get to this.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
That's good.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
Let's pick one because we've been running a long time, so go ahead and pick one.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
You in here?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
That's the perfect answer, baby. That's good. Ladies, I love y'all. We love you. Thank you guys so much. Thank you. Guys, you guys stay tuned. We have so much more in store for y'all. DJ Mars, take us away. Take us out.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
That's a blessing. Vina, you got a whole devotional out. You're on the cover of Upscale Magazine. God is good. Come on, y'all.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
How are you balancing it all?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
Guys, we have so many surprises in store for you. I just want to thank you all so much for coming. I love y'all. I love it. I see the t-shirts. So guys, there are so many different sides to me. You know what I'm saying? I love my girls. I love good girl talk. Hey, cuz. You know, I love talking about Jesus. I also love some deep conversations. I'm a sapiosexual, if y'all didn't know that.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
I love that. B, my sis, you just launched an app. You have a podcast as well. It's coming. Okay, the app is coming. You have a podcast. You're doing comedy shows. You're all over the world. And you're traveling. She's doing, is it two countries or one country every week? One country of mine.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
Yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
Shout out, Shornell. Shornell. Shornell. Shornell.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
That's so good. I love that. Shamia, the mother of all trades. She does everything.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
Justin, you were there. He said, that really happened? But yeah, it's like trying to balance everything. And I had to check myself. I had to ask him one day, how are you? Because I realized I had been so consumed in everything that I was doing that I hadn't really checked in properly.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
And I think there's so many times because I'm a creative and when I get, I can literally lose myself in creativity. and I forget everything else that's going on. I'll be up all hours of the night, and I'm like, oh, it's 4 in the morning. I need to go to sleep, you know, because I actually love what I do.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
Have you guys had any issues with that as well in trying to balance relationships and nurturing, whether it's platonic or romantic or even family relationships? I'm going right to you. Are you looking at me? Oh, my gosh.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
You gotta get me here. And then also, I love connecting with y'all. That's the most important part. All right, so tonight we doing everything. Are y'all ready? All right, so we gonna go and get this show started. So first up, I have some real, raw, unfiltered girl talk with some of my favorite girlfriends. Are y'all ready? Welcome to the stage, my sisters, Pretty V! B. Simone!
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
Come on now.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
I love that. That's good. That's so good.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
Come on.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
That's so good. Bina, you talk about if you single for too much longer, you're going to be a nun.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
Oh, Lord.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
I'm serious. You have to talk to someone. You know what I'm saying?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE - Pt. 1: The Group Chat w/ B. Simone, Pretty V, Watch Jazzy + Shamea Morton
I love that, B. That's so good. B, let me ask you a different question. When you're dating or looking, well, I guess as a woman, you don't look. They find you. Come on now. What are the most important things for you and what's your deal breakers?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Calling all my sweeties to the forefront. I'm your host, Chris Renee Hazlett, and this is the Keep It Positive Sweetie Show. Welcome to another episode of the Keep It Positive Sweetie Show. I'm your host, Chris Renee Hazlett, and today we are joined by multi-hyphenate talent. He is an actor, singer, songwriter, known for his virtual talents in both entertainment and music.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Is it? Happy birthday, Burgundy. I know this will be after your birthday, but happy birthday, boo. Love her. But yes, I love that show. But Jacob, you have been doing this since you were eight years old and you're 28 now. So most of your life. So you got a lot of skin in the game. So I've only been doing this for like five or six years. So I need to pick your brain.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
The bigger your expenses, the more Uncle Sam takes. We're not getting a refund check, you know, and we're paying him. Yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Sometimes you have to say no to others to say yes to yourself and yes to your future because unlike a lot of people, our jobs are not promised. It could be canceled tomorrow, God forbid. But we have to do everything we can now to make sure we're set up for the future. Most people have some type of job security. We don't have that, so we have to save for the rainy day.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
That's what I have to do. It's the pressure of dealing with, I don't know.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Like- Did they not open your eyes?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
And spending frivolous money, yeah. Sections is crazy. They are crazy.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
You also spoke about something that we have in common. I don't know if you're your relationship status right now, but you talked about loneliness and sometimes loneliness is not a bad thing. I know for me gaining success, it was hard for me to find the right relationship that understood what all comes with this life.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
I'm trying. But I'm really proud of you. But how starting at a very young age, what is that journey been like to get to where you are now?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
And even now it's like, you date someone and they're like, oh my goodness, you come with a lot. And it's a lot of amazing things, but they may not be used to the level of the amazing things. They're like, this is a lot. And then you're busy all the time and you're on the go and you have to stay focused. What was the moment where you realized, wait, being lonely is not a bad thing.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
It's not lonely just being in solitude and by yourself. What did you realize?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
No, no, I got to go. Hey.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Can you face out? No, no, no. I be looking crazy in my good life. I was so working. She on the night shift. She want me to. She didn't believe you was my cousin. I'm over there looking. I'm like, girl. Can I pull up on set?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
I can't talk to you. I'm depressed. Literally. You know what I'm saying?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Don't get no ideas, y'all.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Listen, I tell Deval all the time, because in the first few seasons, we would push ourselves. And I'm like, all right, we just wrapped.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Back to back. Y'all like theater. No, that's what we shoot. We literally shoot like we're in front of a live audience. I love that. One take, because Tyler comes from the theater.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Really? Yeah. Wow. Wow, and that's still going. It's crazy. That show is still going.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Something crazy, yeah. I'm like, I need to be, that's the type of longevity I need. Give me that consistent check. I love it. Tyler. But no, I get it. And we would literally push ourselves. And by season maybe four, I was like, D, I can't keep doing this. I was like, let me go to sleep. Because we used to stay on campus. After COVID, we would stay at the studio.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
So after we wrapped, all right, I'm about to order some crab legs. Let's get these lines down for the next day. And one day we were running lines and I was like... And he was like, Chris, I was like, not, he's like, Chris, I said, huh? And I was like, I got to go to sleep. I can't. So I went, I was like, I went to sleep. And then the next day knew every line. He was like, how did you do that?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
And I was like, I got to sleep. You got to sleep on it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
That's exactly exactly. When it comes to roles that you choose as an actor, do you let the story speak to you? Are there some absolute things that you look for in the character? How do you go through that process? Like you just had two auditions today. What made you say, I want to read for these?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
He's one of my favorites. He's absolutely incredible.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
I'm like... You're a little bit right. Put these sides down.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
And I was like... Incredible. Do you know where he studied? Because I always love to, like, people, do you do that?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Like, he was, like, okay, went, like, classically trained. Because I always look to see, like, people that I love in their work. I'm like, where do they study? Because if I can get some type of intensive course in, I like to keep that tool sharp.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
He like, shake that off.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Wow. Was it frustrating? A little bit. Because I'm sure at this point in your career, you're like, either you want me or you don't. Yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
When they call you in that fifth and sixth, you're like, we're getting somewhere.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
And that's who has to work with you. You know, that director. Yeah, exactly.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
In your career, what has been like the most challenging thing that you had to deal with on set? I'm sure that was one of the most. Definitely. Was that the most challenging?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
To be able to perform the way you need to.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Are you a method actor?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
That was my first agency. First agency out here. Yes, love them.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Yes. I want to be rude. Yeah, no.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
and then as soon as we wrap it's like man thank y'all so much like cut let's go let's go yeah no i get it you do and it's there's times like even with my hair and makeup team they know me so well but before they really understood my method they would be like kiki and i would have super emotional team like hey can y'all just bring it down just a little bit because i can't be around like ha ha ha
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
and over here like trying to keep that because I'm a naturally happy person and I'm not I'm getting to the point where I can almost cry like it to the job but I need it takes a minute to build it I'm not like a yeah it's and it gets harder too because you're like you build tougher skin and you don't you're not as emotional as you was you know so you gotta like go listen to that one song listen
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
And I shouldn't ask you that because my acting coach told me never ask an actor what their trigger is or their song or whatever.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Oh, your dad was a singer? Uh-huh, yeah. Wow!
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Shout out. We need we need those voices in our ears because it can get a little crazy, you know, when you're it's so much coming at you and life is changing so fast. You need to stay grounded. Absolutely. Shout out for that. Got to listen to it. Yes, absolutely. Speaking of music, one of my favorite songs right now is residuals.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
You like how I slid on in there? You, let me tell you something. Hit record. Bodied. You bodied the, when Tank started the challenge, I was always, I'm like, okay, now who's, cause that song is just like so good. The R&B of Thorne. When he started that, I was like, who's going to like hop on this? And when you came in, baby, let me tell you something. I was like, hey, what? Enough fire signs.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
I was like, so good.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
And you don't get that a lot.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Really? He's like, I ain't going to do it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
What was the hesitation?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Because we were all like, oh, that's how you feeling.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Kids family, please welcome Jacob Lattimore. Jacob, thank you so much for coming.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
When Emmitt start singing? Forever? You know? That's crazy.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
And I'm going to say something. That song, it... how vulnerable you were in your cover on that one. I feel like you had that Usher Confessions type of vulnerability where you're really pouring your heart out and sharing your truth and something that a lot of people aren't comfortable doing.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Now that you're working on your own original music, is that something that you're putting into your music now?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
And with social media, too. And then the
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Absolutely, don't box yourself in. You know what I mean?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
It's gotta be worth it. It has to be. That's what Sean and I say all the time. If we're gonna go to a bigger company for representation, they have to be doing more than what we're doing here. And West 2, we're like, if they ain't doing, listen, the three of us, listen, we go get it. So y'all have to bring more than what we're doing ourselves. Absolutely. Because we can keep that money. Absolutely.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Build your own fan base.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
The backing is crazy. Out the gate.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
you know like you like oh my stuff ain't popping you like you can't even compare your your dollars you can't you know you got to focus on your audience so and then when it's when it's the right time yeah go expand yep exactly i love that switching gears a little bit i want to talk about love relationships and personal growth as a young man who the ladies love is that love me ladies is that is that true why is that lady
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Oh, my gosh. Classic. Do you find it hard to date being in the public eye? Um...
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Okay. Yeah. I came in 2009. I was in DC working on Capitol Hill. Wow. And I was like, I saw all my friends out here thriving. I'm like, if they can do it, I can do it. And like you, like I wanted to do music. Like that was my thing. And if acting, if music opened the door for other things, I was open to it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Yeah, exactly. Beware. Be ready. Social media, like, was that ever, like, an issue in your, because I know for me, like, they, like, you just give one little clue and they, like, they know this person's whole life, their whole backstory. Yeah. And then they have an opinion on everything and it's like, I ain't ask y'all for all that.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
What would your boundaries be?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
I'm with you. Yes. Yes. I'm not popping out. Yes. That's that's one of my boundaries. If we're dating, there's no red carpets, no like social media posts.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
I'm not going to hide you. We can go out and do whatever people see as they see us. Yeah. But I'm not broadcasting it until that's that's just for my husband.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
I love it. So I want to know Jacob's dream girl. If you could like give the DNA or the makeup and the qualities of your dream girl, what would she be like?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
There's no such thing. You know what I mean? Absolutely.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
And then it kind of ended up being the reverse where acting ended up opening the door for music.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
It's great bonding too.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Both of y'all can't be, yeah. So how do you feel about that now?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
But it's honest. But it's honest. Yeah, you have to be honest with yourself and what you need, you know, and finding the person that's like, yeah, I can do that.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Finally. How are you feeling?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
I can get used to this.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Yeah. I was a habitual dater. Like I break up and somebody was like, I'm like, yep, next, next, next.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
And the silence of my career. Jacob's important.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
And I'll tell you something, because I'm a lot older than you. Okay. When I had a season in my life where I didn't date as well. And I feel like when you're like us and we've dated so, like, frequently and you have all these different people and these different energies and just pouring, pouring, pouring. Because when you're in a relationship, it's all about your partner.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
And there comes a time where you do have to be selfish or whatever you want to call it. But I think in those moments, you learn so much about yourself. You learn how to figure out what it is you like. Because sometimes we can be in relationships like, whatever you like, whatever you want to do, it's like, what do I like? Right.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
You know, and I feel like in those moments of solitude and just not being with somebody, you learn exactly what you want. So I'm proud of you. Thank you. Yeah. Because a lot of people, they say, you shouldn't be alone. No, sometimes you need those moments.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
But you're not so like, I got to get somebody like you're not on the hunt or on the prowl.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Good. So you're not leaving anyone on.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Thank you. Thank you. You know, it's tough.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
I ain't got no vision. I ain't thinking about the next two years or nothing. Yeah, you have to be very intentional when it's time to be in that space. Yeah. Because you can break somebody's heart. Because they'll be like, Jake O'Lantern was like me. Like, it's the one. Yeah. And then he's like, he just broke up with me because you wasn't ready. Yeah, I'm like, my bad.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Now Jake O'Lantern broke my heart. That. That. That is what I don't want. I don't want that. I don't want no track record. No, no. So you're doing the right thing. I'm proud of you. So I, I know you, we said when people ask you what's next, so I'm not gonna ask you what's next, but what are you looking forward to for the future for you right now?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
You have to be quick on your pivot.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
We'll have to get you a journal. I have a journal. I got some.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Go ahead and get you some. You know, we like a little affordable, good price points. That's right. Comfortable. Got to keep it cozy.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Yeah, that's okay. It's really hard, especially when you're busy. It's hard to like wake up or in the evenings to figure out a time to sit down and really journal. You have to be very, it's something you have to be intentional with.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
So I understand, trust me, because there's times in my life where I'm like, oh, that was January. It's March.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
so like i definitely get i'm more intentional about it now yeah because it's therapeutic for me and it's i write my prayers out yeah so like i talk to god about like what i'm grateful for what i'm going through what i want him to like guide me through and all type of things so it's more of like my time with god okay where i write it out but um yeah we'll make sure we give you a journey we always need we always need them journals i feel like i've had like three or four over the past couple years yeah like you got some information in there you got some information yes and you just
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Oh, yeah. You need to get out of the states. You know, I need to get out of the states. Absolutely.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
All the things. Yeah, that's good. You'll come back inspired. Yeah. I promise you. Oh, he's different now. Y'all thought I was different. I'm different now. I love that. So we do what is called positive outcomes, where our listeners write in and we give them advice. So I'm going to read this letter from, I don't want to butcher your name, I hope I'm saying this right, Nelijah Williams.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Hey, Nelijah. Nelijah says, I recently just left a relationship I was in for nine years. The only relationship I've been in, the only person I've ever been with. I have three children by him. As I started seeking God, we became further apart. I didn't quite understand until one night we had a big argument, and I prayed for clarity. And it was as if God himself was in my face and said he can't go.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
The flesh wants what it wants when it's comfortable, but the spirit says no. How do you handle flesh and spirit? Oh, my gosh, Nelaja.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Absolutely. I wanted to ask you about working with Will. Will Smith is like everybody's icon, you know, in our North Star, especially in music and acting. We just, that's the place that we aim to go. What was it like working with him?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
I think her biggest thing is that she's seeking a relationship with God and the guys pulling apart from her So is I haven't had that situation, but I have had a situation where I had missed that part.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
I'm gonna listen Okay, I think that was her biggest thing but for me I've been in a situation where literally God said in the car and was like I heard the same thing He can't go because I was fighting for it. I was like he was a narcissist manipulative Oh, he can't go as in like into your next journey of your life. I see. Ooh, yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
But you like, the flesh wants what it's like, but I love this man and this woman. And it's like, you see all the things that it could be in your mind and God's like, no, that ain't what I have for you. And the reason why you still stuck is because you haven't let this go. Because I can't take you to the next level. I've had that situation.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
And then even where I am now, God has been, I've talked about it on another podcast, but God convicted me on sex. So I'm really my Bible. And like, I'm reading, it's like sexual morality. I'm like, it's like the words of life. I'm like...
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
He saw that. You're right.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
I told a friend of mine, because I gave up sex, and I had the hardest time telling the guy I was dating. I was like, he going to be like, nah, I'm good on that. And he was like, nah, this is what God convicted you on. I'm with it. But I remember telling my friend as I
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
went even further i threw my vibrator out and all the things i was like i'm really gonna do this because i can't like be halfway in and halfway out yeah and um i remember telling her i was like there was a bad storm like a few weeks ago and i was like i woke up the thunder was so loud i was like is that god like i thought he was bad i went in my closet and everything i was like yeah lord i was like if you coming come on no yeah them stomach feelings don't like oh i've realized like you can't ignore it you can't ignore it you know and anytime i have it's like
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
That discernment, yeah, you felt it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Yeah, I told my girlfriend, I said, when I thought he was here, I was like, I really thought God had came back. And I said, and I thought, ooh, if God come back to right now, do I want to be somewhere with my legs cocked back? Like, oh! She said, damn, I didn't think about it like that. I was like, think about it. I said, whatever you're doing that you ain't got no business doing.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
I was like, I want to be like, hold on, hold on, hold on.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
I knew you were coming.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
My daddy going to say, I told my dad, he was done. He said, girl, he said, you're going to be gone before he even know you, like before you know you're going to be caught up in the rapture. I was like, dang. I said, well, whatever I'm doing, I want to be caught up doing the right thing. I want to be getting there like. butt naked, like, what was you doing?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Yes. So, Nelaja, I would tell you just to continue to work on your relationship with God and anything that is pushing you away from that or hindering you from that, you have to separate from it. That's right.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
No, you good. So we are going to end the show with a rapid fire game. Okay. All right. So every word or phrase that I say, you're going to tell me the first thing that comes to mind. Okay.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Say it one more time. I'm going to say, I'll be listening. I'm going to give you some phrases and whatever I say, I want you to say the first thing that comes to mind. It can be like, it doesn't have to be just one word. You can like, whatever comes to mind, you can say it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Yeah, that's a thing. You know, my gosh, I almost lost a job like this. Yes. Jamie Foxx.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Um, the first one is the shy. Okay.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
She's out there somewhere. Self-care.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
I love that. Milwaukee.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Was it... Manhood. Manhood.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
I love that. I love that. Jacob, thank you so much. I really enjoyed talking to you. They are going to love it. They're going to love it. Thank you so much. Thank you. Oh my goodness. My episode with Jacob Lattimore was absolutely amazing. He has been in the game for so long. I took so many gyms when I know you guys did too.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
One of the things that stood out the most to me were when we talked about survivors remorse and who can come with you and who can't. And I feel like that is so prominent in so many people's walks is knowing when it's time to let certain people go and the people you should hold on to that understand where you're going and your walk. That was an incredible conversation with Jacob.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
His journey and personal growth is inspiring, and I hope you're walking away as motivated as I am. Thank you so much for tuning into this episode. If you want to write into our Positive Outcomes listener letter, you can send us an email to keepitpositivesweetie at gmail.com. You can follow me on all platforms at Love Crystal Renee, and you can follow the show at Keep It Positive Sweetie.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Guys, don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who could use some positive energy. And remember, no matter what life throws at you, stay focused, stay confident, and always keep it positive, sweetie. I'll see you guys next time.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
And we're getting the best part of it as the actors, you know, and you have to be, I worked on the other side as well. I was costume designer with Herman. Herman was my supervisor and understanding how tired they are as well. Like we're all exhausted, you know, cause they're taking care of us and we're trying to deliver the lines and make the director happy. But it's, everybody's pulling.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
eight months last year so just enjoying home you know yeah not leaving not leaving tell me about it it's always fascinating because I'm in the Tyler Perry ecosystem and we shoot 22 episodes in two weeks insane and to hear you shooting for eight months I'm like what's that like I feel like I would get bored though I'd be like
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Everybody's pulling. So it's so, I love that you do that. And I love that Will was that example for you. Absolutely. Because sometimes our icons aren't the nicest, you know, and you're like, dang.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
that's cool yes it's so funny because there are i was just talking about this actually with da vinci about how we can we're human yeah first and foremost but we can be having the worst day yeah but we always have to be on yeah you know no matter what because you want that moment with that fan to be the best moment because i know what it's like to meet somebody that i just adore and like oh my gosh i just love everything you do and they were like completely mean it's like yeah oh my goodness give a lot of yourself
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
That's good. So speaking of refueling and balancing, how do you balance between all the many hats that you wear? I don't know. That was like, I'm still trying to figure that out.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
You make time, yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Very consistent, yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
And I feel like that's where a lot of people fall short. That makes a difference between making it and not making it, is that consistency. You don't have to be the best doing what you're doing, but the ones that are consistent, make it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
It don't take long. You know what I mean? It takes two weeks to get it off, but one chicken tender to get it back on.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
man it's like we gotta cut you off listen no i got this because when they're not moving in the same direction you yeah that you are just like all the people that are around you and if you don't be very mindful and intentional about the people you're around you'd be like why am i oh because yeah i'm around you a lot because they start to rub off on you whether you whether you're in that headspace or not
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
It's like it's inevitable.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Even on your off days, you never know if you're going to bump something up.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
I think I'm like, I don't know.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
Right. And the right person would be like, oh, thank you for seeing me.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
And I do want to like, you know, do better. You know, most people would take if they're in there for the right reasons and they have the right mindset, they would be grateful that you gave them that insight. Yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
I love that show. It's so good. Shout out Lena and Luke James, one of my really good friends. And I just did a movie two years ago with Burgundy. Oh yeah, Burgundy.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Career, Personal Growth + Residuals w/ Jacob Latimore
I love that. You spoke on being the only one and you opened up about survivor's remorse on the BETs for the fellas. I want to dive more into that because that's something I love talking to my peers about because a lot of times we are the ones that made it and we carry so much weight when it comes to that. How are you navigating that now?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Money Mindset Part Two w/ The Wall Street Trapper
Coming up on Keep It Positive, Sweetie. We live in a culture where everyone is trying to teach, have all these courses and things like that. How did you cultivate your course to make sure that people understood it's not a scam? Because there's a lot of people out here really scamming people.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Money Mindset Part Two w/ The Wall Street Trapper
He's like, I want to learn about stocks and bonds and about finance. And he was like, there's this guy named Wall Street Trapper. And I paid for him. Did not know you, but I paid for him to take classes so that he could learn more. And then later on, we have mutual friends. And I was like, that's the And he was like, you know, like, oh my gosh. So yeah, you, where did that even come from?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Money Mindset Part Two w/ The Wall Street Trapper
They need to see proof.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Money Mindset Part Two w/ The Wall Street Trapper
Okay, we believe you now.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Money Mindset Part Two w/ The Wall Street Trapper
That's what I believed. I love that because we have mutual friends and I remember Kiana. She was like, y'all need to talk to my girl. She was like, y'all need to talk to him. He can tell you where to put your money and everything because when I really started making money, that's when I was like, I've got to learn where to put it, how to invest it, how to save on tax.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Money Mindset Part Two w/ The Wall Street Trapper
It's so many loopholes and so much game that we don't know as a black community, when we start making money, the first thing we want to do is spend it, you know? And you said people don't believe you when they don't see it, but you look at some of the wealthiest people, they're not walking around looking wealthy, but they got it, you know what I'm saying?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Money Mindset Part Two w/ The Wall Street Trapper
So I think we have to get out of the mindset of, okay, yeah, I believe it now because of how you're living or all those things, because sometimes you ain't got it either when you're living like that outside of your means. we live in a culture where everyone is trying to teach, have all these courses and things like that.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Money Mindset Part Two w/ The Wall Street Trapper
How did you cultivate your course to make sure that people understood it's not a scam? Because there's a lot of people out here really scamming people. How did you really build that and say, I'm going to keep this integral and make sure that I'm teaching people and that they get what they need out of it?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Money Mindset Part Two w/ The Wall Street Trapper
Wow, the kilo pack. The kilo pack.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Money Mindset Part Two w/ The Wall Street Trapper
Like the, to learn about finances and then to say, hey, I want to spread this and teach people.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Money Mindset Part Two w/ The Wall Street Trapper
Everything was surrounded around street talk. But I'm sure people that were gravitating towards you understood and loved it. They understood it. They loved it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Money Mindset Part Two w/ The Wall Street Trapper
And that is a lot of times we just don't get it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Money Mindset Part Two w/ The Wall Street Trapper
What did you do for your daughter? Because I do want to give some tips.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Money Mindset Part Two w/ The Wall Street Trapper
If we have family members that have newborn children, how can they set their children up? Or if you have somebody, say, who has no idea about the stock market but is looking to get into it, can you give them just one tip just to get started?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Money Mindset Part Two w/ The Wall Street Trapper
See, and that's what I've heard. I've heard, look at all your products. You have Apple products.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Money Mindset Part Two w/ The Wall Street Trapper
Don't put stock in sharp.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Money Mindset Part Two w/ The Wall Street Trapper
How did you really build that and say, I'm going to keep this integral and make sure that I'm teaching people and that they get what they need out of it?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Money Mindset Part Two w/ The Wall Street Trapper
You can start there. Yeah. I love that, Trapp. Thank you. Come on. That's so good. I love it. I love it. Come on. Thank you. So I want to know what is next for Trapp. You just bought this building. Yeah. We're going to work on a movie.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Money Mindset Part Two w/ The Wall Street Trapper
What else we got going on?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Money Mindset Part Two w/ The Wall Street Trapper
Yeah. That's it. Yes. That's it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Money Mindset Part Two w/ The Wall Street Trapper
So what are you looking for? What are you looking for in a woman?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Money Mindset Part Two w/ The Wall Street Trapper
Okay. All right. We got the exclusive here. He's not dating, but he's pursuing.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Money Mindset Part Two w/ The Wall Street Trapper
Yes, yes. I love that you've been traveling.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Money Mindset Part Two w/ The Wall Street Trapper
Listen, no, I get it, because I've been traveling to Europe since like 2017. And I haven't had anyone, like a significant other that I could experience that with. And you get to a point where you're like, dang, like, this would be really dope to experience with someone else. Yeah, no, I feel you, yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Money Mindset Part Two w/ The Wall Street Trapper
Yeah. I need to know.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Money Mindset Part Two w/ The Wall Street Trapper
Exactly. And you know what you have in her.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Money Mindset Part Two w/ The Wall Street Trapper
I love that. I'm happy for you, man. Seriously. Thank you for sharing. You are such a beautifully layered man.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Money Mindset Part Two w/ The Wall Street Trapper
I love all the layers of you. Thank you for your transparency and your openness and coming to share with us. I know I learned a lot. Come on. And I appreciate you, and I wish you nothing but this.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Money Mindset Part Two w/ The Wall Street Trapper
Yes, that's it. We are vessels.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Money Mindset Part Two w/ The Wall Street Trapper
For sure. Thank you. I appreciate you. Thanks for coming on. Oh, come on here. Thank you so much. I appreciate you. Thank you all so much for spending time with me today. I hope you learned some things that you can now use in life and in business. You can follow me on all social media platforms at Love Krista Renee. And you can also follow our show at Keep It Positive, Sweetie.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Money Mindset Part Two w/ The Wall Street Trapper
Wow. What happened when you got home?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Money Mindset Part Two w/ The Wall Street Trapper
So what did that look like? Because I'm interested, like, did you use, like, the dope money to, like... Yep.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Money Mindset Part Two w/ The Wall Street Trapper
Hi, I'm Chris Rene Hazlitt, and this is Keep It Positive, Sweetie, a safe space to heal, laugh, grow, and love. In last week's show, I talked about creating and maintaining a money-making mindset with Camille Rose, founder and CEO, Janelle Stephens, and serial entrepreneur, The Wall Street Trapper.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Money Mindset Part Two w/ The Wall Street Trapper
Because I'm like, I'm already seeing them. I'm like, let's do a movie.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Money Mindset Part Two w/ The Wall Street Trapper
Yeah. But I won't go like this. Like facing death like that.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Money Mindset Part Two w/ The Wall Street Trapper
Like what in those moments where, well, I mean, I guess it wasn't that traumatizing because you continue to do things that will put you back in that position. But I think about like if somebody had a gun to my head, I don't know if I would do it again. Like I don't think I'd put myself back in that.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Money Mindset Part Two w/ The Wall Street Trapper
Yeah. At some point.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Money Mindset Part Two w/ The Wall Street Trapper
Yeah, because eventually it's going to be too.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Money Mindset Part Two w/ The Wall Street Trapper
My conversation with The Wall Street Trapper was so layered, it took us a little extra time to get through it all. So this show is a continuation of that conversation. You are world renowned for your financial tips. My brother actually called me It was a few years ago. I didn't even know who you were. He called me. He said, hey, sis, like I really probably during COVID.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Money Mindset Part Two w/ The Wall Street Trapper
The way you're looking at everything. It's different. Everything has changed.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Money Mindset Part Two w/ The Wall Street Trapper
Wow. So the way you took everything you learned in prison and then made mistakes again after you got out, but then flipped it. How did like everything take off once you put it on Instagram?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
Calling all my sweeties to the forefront. I'm your host, Chris Renee Hazlett, and this is the Keep It Positive Sweetie Show. Hello and welcome to this episode of the Keep It Positive Sweeties Show, a safe space to heal, laugh, grow, and love. I'm your host, Chris Renee Hazlett, and today is another solo episode because you guys love these. Today I'm answering questions. It's fun.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
not having everything I needed to know and having to learn really fast how to manage that so that like when you do have down seasons, you know, okay, cool. Like I can, I've already managed this properly so that when I have a down season, I don't have to figure out how to come back. And I think that comes with maturity, but it wasn't always like that.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
So that was probably one of the seasons, a series of years that I would call a season where I had to literally fight my way back it wasn't just a quick comeback um let's see what else we got oh the friend audit keeping your circle strong this is really good um and this goes with all type like I want to say this is going to be for friends and family.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
I remember another time when I was working on Capitol Hill in D.C. that this is when then Senator Obama was running for his first term in presidency and his one of his I don't know if he's a legislative correspondent or But he worked in Senator Obama's office at the time.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
You got to really make sure that the people around you serve the season that you are in. Because if you're around people and you're unequally yoked, when it comes to where you are in your life, it can derail you so fast. And I think that for me, where I am in my life now, and I look around at my friend circle, we are so strong in our faith and our firm foundation in Christ.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
And it helps me stay focused. If I was running around with people that were like, still in the streets, in the club, being promiscuous and doing all these different things, like not saying that everybody, everybody's walk is different. Let's be very clear on that.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
But if we're all striving for the same thing, if we're all focused and like we see each other at church on Sundays, you know, like we're all like on that path. It it helps with your walk. So like when you look at your circle, you kind of have to see, like, let's take a little inventory and audit. Where are people in their lives who's kind of stagnant right now?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
And how can we help lift them up to where we are, you know, besides just throwing people away? But also you have to be around people who want that for themselves. You know, so I think for me and my journey, it is I do probably yearly kind of an audit, maybe sometimes throughout the year. You kind of have to be very
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
conscious of your surroundings and who you keep, because you know, sometimes you'll look and be like, wait a minute, why am I acting like this? Like, what is that? Because I don't really do this because you start to pull, you don't realize you are like the people that you hang around the most. So like, you guys might have cousins like a sailor and you're trying to stop cussing.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
You'll find yourself like, wait, why am I cussing all the time? It's like, oh, like, OK, now I got to talk to my friend. Hey, bro, like you got to chill out because I'm really working on this and I'm starting to pick it up. It's like a kid, you know, like you got a kid who like absorbs everything. And then you're like, where'd I get that from? Oh, I got it from my mama.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
You know, so it's like the same thing. We are constantly absorbing things. So I think the friend audit is very, very important, especially when it comes to just evolving in life. You know, for me, even with attaining fame and trying to figure out how to navigate it, I've noticed that my friends have even had to kind of shift and even kind of elevate and grow because they are around me.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
They're like, dang, we realize like we can't move how we used to move because of you. And sometimes it can be a heavy thing to carry when you're not the one that has to bear that. You know, like for me, it's like it's a part of it, you know, but when you're just attached to me and
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
and somebody who's just an innocent bystander where they have to kind of shift too, sometimes they don't understand why they have to shift or even understand the importance of it because they're not living it. But then other people that I'm around, they're like, no, I get it and I'm willing. You know what I'm saying?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
Like, sis, I see, like, I understand where you are and where you're going and I want to go too and I want to grow in my areas and I would love to be around you because it inspires me. But like when you have people who aren't really quite there yet, You have to decide when it's time to sever those ties.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
Or, you know, I feel like the saying that people are in your life for a reason and a season or a lifetime is so true. And you have to be OK with that. You know, we want to hold on to people and hold them tight forever. And that's not everybody's position in your life. And you have to understand that.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
And he was like, hey, Crystal, he was like, Senator Obama is running for president and we have some paid positions to come work on the campaign. Would you want to come do it? And I'm like, heck, yeah. And he was like, all right. So I call my parents. I'm like, hey, guys, I'm going to quit my job and I'm going to go work on the Obama campaign. And my parents are like, you are crazy.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
And that doesn't mean that you don't love them any less, that they're not in your prayers or that they can't call you if they need you for anything. But some people just can't stay that close to you all the time, you know.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
depending on where you are in your life so the friend audit is important make sure you guys do that and check your circle you got to keep it strong this is a good one would you date you oh oh that's so good oh my goodness wow Would I date me? I mean, of course I would date me, but there are some things, when you ask me that, I'm like, there's some things I need to work on. I have like a
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
Like I like the I like things the way I like it, you know, and I can when you've been by yourself for so long, you have cultivated a way of life. You've cultivated your patterns in the way you like to do things. And sometimes it's hard to like shift those things when you're so stuck in your ways. So I know for me, like when it comes to dating me,
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
If I was to date myself, those are some things that this is good because it's kind of a little self-reflection that I would need to work on, like, you know, being more like water. You know what I'm saying? Like if if I'm with somebody, I want us to flow. You know, it doesn't have to always be my way. That's something I need to work on.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
I think something else I would work on if I was to date myself would be. Wanting. Oh, you know what? If I was to date myself, I would also tell Crystal to work on making sure that you give people the grace that you want. people to give you. A lot of times we want people to come exactly how we want them to come. You know, I struggle with this myself.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
Like you had this list of things, like I want somebody who is on the same page as me spiritually. Like I want somebody who's taking their walk with God seriously. I want somebody who's got their stuff together. You know, I want somebody who has this, at least makes this amount of money. You know, they don't have to make the same amount. You have the list. You know what I'm saying?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
Whatever your list is, we all have it. And I think we have to understand that sometimes when we put those limitations on people, we also block our blessing of an amazing person. So I would definitely say learn to give grace more. And kind of, you know what I'm saying? You can have your non-negotiables, but kind of throw the list away. Because sometimes the list is just, it's not realistic.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
So I would do that. And then... What else? I think everything else, like, I would keep. You know, like, I'm a good time. Like, I'm well-traveled, so I know a lot of things. I can introduce you to different things. And I'm fun. I, yeah. Everything else, I'm good. Those are a few things I need that control and that grace I need to work on. But other than that, yeah, I would date myself. Mm-hmm.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
I would. Let's see what else. No more pick me energy standing firm in your worth. I am there, honey. I used to be the girl. I just had to be in a relationship. Please pick me, please. Not anymore. No. Listen, I'm very open because I did go through a phase in my life where. I just was very close minded and wasn't putting myself out there to meet anyone. Now I'm very open minded.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
And I was like, no, I really think he's going to win. My parents were like, I don't know, you know, because we had never seen it. You know, and this is no slight to them. Like nobody ever thought that we would have a black president. You know, we were hopeful that we would have one.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
I've grown and matured in the things that I want in a man. But as far as being desperate and like, please pick me like I just I want to be in a relationship so bad. No, those days are over. I'm not that girl anymore. And I thank God that I've been delivered from that, because a lot of times we when you had that pick me energy, you are willing to do anything.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
And it turns into like only how can I serve you? And then the part is not reciprocated on the other end. But when you have values and standards, you come to the table with the man understanding from the jump, oh, this is how I have to approach her. Oh, these are the things that she needs and demands in a relationship. And I think when you enter it in that way, it sets the tone for what you need.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
And also you're open as a woman to give the man what he needs. And it's not a one sided relationship. But I think a lot of times we as we get older, for me, it was I had a phase in my life as I was getting older and I wasn't settled down yet that I did have that energy where I just wanted someone to pick me like I was ready.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
And I think a lot of times I settled in relationships because of that energy. And I was with people that God had not designed for me and that he hadn't chosen for me. But I was so eager to be in a relationship and just be chosen. And, you know, like you want that, you know, like we can't say like, I don't care. No, you want those things, but you wanted to be with the person that God chose for you.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
So that's my take on that. Plot twists and pivots when life doesn't go as planned. All right, guys, I am working on this because I work so hard to plan things. And this is where the control comes back into. It's hard for me sometimes to immediately go into the. All right. What are we going to do? Let's pivot. You know, I am.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
Because when you like so structured and you, you plan everything to a T, like you want things to go right. And sometimes depending on if I'm PMSing and I'm super Aggie, or if I'm in that space where like, all right, it's fine. Like, what are we going to do? For the most part, I'm a, it's fine. What are we going to do?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
But at that moment, they really weren't sure that it was smart for me to quit my job to go work on a campaign for someone who I could possibly not have a job after that moment. Needless to say. I was right. They were wrong. No, but he won. And after that, they were like, you know what? We're not going to tell you what you can and cannot do. Just go for it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
But there's another, like, I would say 49% of the time I'm like, all right, what are we going to do? The other 51% of the time, I'm like, why is this not going the way we planned it? And that just is not how life works. You know, life is going to give you pivots.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
And that's something that I have to work on to make sure that when those moments, those pot twists happen, those moments occur that I just say, you know what, this is beyond my control. How can we fix it? If I was to give you an example of a plot twist that I've had to
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
bounce back from, let's see, besides the New York Fashion Week moment where I had to, we had to figure out what to do within like three hours, my very first fashion week, my day one clothes left in Atlanta, having to figure it out. And that was, when I tell y'all, that was like one of the worst weeks. And I use the word worst very loosely. We had just dropped a live show and I promise you like,
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
every single day something was going wrong. You know, the tickets were selling, but I have my sweeties on Patreon where there are certain things that are supposed to go to them first. Things are being leaked that wasn't getting to them. And I'm telling them one thing and I'm confirming with my team and then other things are happening that's beyond their control.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
They've sent explicit instructions on how this works in the Crystal Renee world. I'm just like, what is happening? Like, why is nothing going right? And
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
I feel like every day that weekend my my sweetest can attest like every day that week it was something and then that Friday we get to New York we land and the guy was like all right we got six bags I'm but I'm seeing a seventh bag in the queue but it's not here and I'm like What? What? No, no. It's got to be there. We were at the airport an hour and a half before we left.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
I paid extra for Delta VIP. Why is my bag not on this plane? And they were like, ma'am, I have no idea, but we appreciate your diamond medallion status and we're going to figure it out. And shout out Delta, because y'all did figure it out. I appreciate y'all. But it was one of those moments where I had to pivot. And you think about it like this is a dream come true.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
Like I'm getting to do my first New York Fashion Week and my clothes don't make it. That was a moment. Shout out to Shauna, who she was so calm. And she's like, it's okay. Because like a year or two before, the same thing happened to her when she went to Paris Fashion Week. So she knew how to pivot. So I'm grateful for that. Another situation in my life where I had to pivot would probably be
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
On set. Okay, let's take to set. Work. We're on set. We're moving 90 miles a minute. Super fast. It's a very intense, Herman. You can attest to this, how fast we move at TPS. Very intense.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
The speed of lightning. And you've gone through every single look and you know, okay, for this outfit, if I'm going to be in this outfit for two weeks, baby, This the one. And you get in that dressing room and that's the wrong outfit and you're like, you know what I'm saying? Not your most favorite outfit. And you got to wear it and you're like, I got to be in this for two weeks.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
And they don't have time to get the outfit from the dream building. You know what I'm saying? That's a moment where it's like you just got to swallow it and pivot and be like, all right, I just got to wear this outfit. Got to make it work.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
And it's because you do like take your character so seriously and you know the clothes that you just because there's certain pieces that just hit, you know, and you want to wear that piece the longest. And that's happened a few times. But then you also have to understand the culture and how fast we're moving, where you got to give grace. That's where grace has to be extended.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
And it's like, OK, we're not saving lives here. It's not the end of the world, like it's just the outfit, but it's the outfit. So that's another moment of like, I feel like we're having to pivot and make things work. Yeah. What about you? Has there been many moments in your life where you had to like, where God threw you a plot twist and you had to pivot?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
Because I could have been working in the White House for the first black president, you know, but that's neither here nor there. So, yeah, I think I'm definitely Delulu when it comes to manifesting my dreams. So I guess that has played a huge part in my success today. And literally since a kid, I don't care if anybody likes it or doesn't like it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
Oh, I love that. That is so true. Like when I think about our time at TPS and like, man, if we had done like a reality show, remember at one point they were like doing a show during COVID. If they had an air like to see, that's the real show. The real show is behind the scenes, y'all.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
And seeing how we pivot, and if you take that and apply it to real life, there are so many life lessons that we learn through work there. And I think one thing, there's many things that I'm grateful for Tyler for, but his work ethic and how he pushed us and stretched us. And it was like the pressure of diamonds being made. We were diamonds in the rough there.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
No, and he had to remind himself, we're not.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
How much money? It was something crazy.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
It's like broken down. Yeah, when he breaks it down, you'll be like, you got it, sorry. No, it's so true. I love that. Thank you for coming in, Herman. All right.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
That's it. That was good. I like this. Tria, thank you for this idea for this solo episode. I loved it. All right, guys, thank you so much for tuning into this episode of the Keep It Positive Sweeties show. I'm your host, Chris Renee Hazlitt. You guys can follow me on all social media platforms at Love Chris Renee. You can also follow our show at Keep It Positive Sweetie.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
And that's sweetie with an IE. You can write into our positive outcomes listener letter at Keep It Positive Sweetie at gmail.com. In the meantime, in between time, you already know what to do. Keep it positive, sweeties.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
As long as I set my mind to it, there's no stopping me. So call me Delulu or whatever you want to call me, but yeah. All right. So the next one is how do I make everyday moments feel magical? I feel like I try to make everything that I do fun and enjoyable. I don't really do anything that I don't enjoy.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
You know, there are some things you're like, this isn't the most fun thing, but I know it's good for me. So I do it and then I end up loving it. But. Things that I make enjoyable and that I just really love. I love my daily routine. I love my self-care routines. You guys know in the mornings I do my meditation, I pray, I read my Bible, and I journal in my Light the Flame Within journal.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
I even broke the fourth wall and included some of my crew. So let's have a good time. I hope you guys enjoy this one.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
That is very therapeutic for me and it really helps me kind of get centered in the day and helps me fight off all the craziness that I'm ready to face throughout the day. things that make me feel like I'm in a movie. So I just had a moment. I was in New York Fashion Week and I was sitting next to, oh my gosh, such an amazing moment.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
I was sitting next to Jay Manuel, who if you've watched America's Next Top Model, he was one of the guest judges that always made appearances on America's Next Top Model. So I have, and just a great, great love for J. Manuel. So I got to sit next to him at the Romeo Hunt show. And anybody who knows me knows that The Devil Wears Prada is one of my favorite movies starring Meryl Streep.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
And we were at this show and the show was getting started late and I had a very, very tight schedule that day where I had to be at another show by five o'clock. So I was banking on that show starting on time. And Jay goes, honey, he was like, you need to leave now. And I was like, what do you mean? He was like, you don't want to be late for that show.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
all right guys so i'm gonna do something different on this episode i'm gonna be answering a few questions that will also bring you into my mindset and how i think about things the first one is delulu or manifestation hmm the power of dreaming big i can definitely tend to be a little delulu i remember like growing up and my mom would always say oh my goodness you are literally
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
So yeah, those are ways that I make my life fun. And then also moments of my life that kind of felt like a movie. Let's see what we have next. Ooh, the glow up air. Child, we need to find some pictures of me before now. I look crazy. Somebody found like, well, I probably posted it, but it was a picture of me when I was a kid. My teeth were all over the place and I never wear braces.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
So it was like, I guess as they grew and they just grew in straight. But at that moment, it was like one was growing in. It was really bad. Even like through high school, when I look back at my senior picture, like how thin my eyebrows were, I'd be like, oh my gosh, what were you thinking, girl? But becoming my best self inside out, I think
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
For the longest, I've pretty much been a very confident person, but there was a phase in my life where I kind of lost myself in my identity and trying to find myself. And I think where I am now, I am so firm in who I am. I love who I am inside out. I love the skin I'm in. Of course, there's moments where I gain a little weight and y'all be, I'll be seeing y'all.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
Y'all be talking about, is she pregnant? She ain't fat. All these things. But there's times where I am hard on myself. You guys don't even have to say those things because I am so hard on myself. I see it and I'm like, all right, let me fix it. And there's some things I have to do for work where they're like, you do not lose any weight.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
We need you to actually gain some weight because you're pregnant or whatever the case may be. We need it to look real. But
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
yeah for the most part I am very confident but there were times where I was like oh girl like you got to really pull it together but I think things that I've done to get to that point is honestly just understanding that one you're made in the image of God there is no one else like you and I think there was this moment in our culture and society where everybody was just what we all everybody was looking the same like everybody had the body and it was like there was no uniqueness and I
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
would compare myself to all these girls. You get on social media and everybody has the perfect body. And it was a moment where I was just like, okay, maybe I need to do a little something here. You know what I'm saying? A little here. And I remember like not feeling my best self in those moments. But once I got past that and realized, you know what? You are good.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
You know, like, do your thing, do what works for you. And I don't knock nobody for what they do. Do you think it works for you? But as long as you feel good about it. And once I got to that place, I was good. But I had to stop comparing myself to other people and put the phone down. Child confidence is contagious. How you walk into any room like you own it. OK, guys, let me tell you something.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
I am a confident woman, but when I walk into rooms, I'm not the girl that's like, hi, hey, I'm Crystal. Nice to meet you. I am the girl that's in a corner, like not networking, not talking to people. So I had to take people with me that don't mind doing that. You know, so I don't know if I really walk into rooms like I own it. You know, I do walk in if I'm spoken to.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
I'm definitely going to speak with you confidently and carry on a great conversation so that when you leave, it's like, yo, that was a really dope conversation. But as far as me walking in and just kind of owning the room, no, like I feel like when you live your life in the spotlight, you kind of tend to like sit back in those scenarios. So I don't know if I really walk in and own it, but
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
the biggest risk taker of the family. And I think it got me to where I am today because I see no bounds to how far I can go. Some of the craziest things I did growing up, I remember when I was in Washington, D.C., working on Capitol Hill, I drove from D.C. to New York to audition for Diddy's assistant. Yeah, it was crazy.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
Yeah, I'll be chilling. I really be chilling. Let's see. Soft life versus the hustle life. Can you have both? Oh, my goodness. So this is tough for me because. I. I feel like. you have to be very intentional about your soft life if you are a woman or a man, whoever it is that is about your hustle and about your business.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
A lot of times I think we have misconstrued the fact that being about our business, we put aside our soft side because when you're about your business, you have to put on your masculine hat and be tough so people don't run over you and things like that. But I think for me, I'm finally finding the balance of doing things that bring out that softer side because honey, I lost it for a minute.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
Like I was, I got to do everything. I'm hard. You know what I'm saying? Man, I ain't got nobody to help me. So let me just do it myself. Like I was doing everything. And I remember at one point in my life, I just like broke down crying because I'm like, dang, like I don't have anybody to like help with anything. You ever felt like that, Drea? Yes. Like it was something as simple as, um,
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
The garbage disposal, my garbage disposal broke and I was like doing everything. I'm trying to build a business. I was new to acting and trying to balance out that schedule. And my whole life is changing. And I'm like, I literally am doing all this by myself. You know, I didn't have another human body to help me with it. And I think in that moment I was like,
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
the soft life started to kind of like become more popular. I think a lot of women who are entrepreneurs and successful started to realize, dang, I'm doing this on my own and I've kind of become hard.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
harder than hard soft like me I want that soft yes but do you feel like that's something that we as women have to really kind of take control of even if we don't have a man that can make our lives easier because I think a lot of times we like think that somebody else has to come in and do that is that something that we can like implement into our own lives or do you think it's just easier when you have somebody to kind of land on well I think
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
Yeah, I can see that. It's kind of hard. I didn't think about it from that perspective. Yeah, because I don't have any kids, so I don't really have anything else.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
Oh yeah, that's real. That's real. So I think for both of us really more about finding that balance and really kind of pinning in that time to like, I got to have myself time. Well, I think that kind of also ties into like burnout because you know what I'm saying? When you don't take the time to be intentional about the time and space that you need as women, it, Like we end up burning out.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
I will tell everybody, y'all, I can't. Like I'm very firm when it comes to my boundaries of no. You've got to set boundaries. I had to. Like even like now, like I already told them on a certain date when I'm getting ready to prepare to go back for sisters. don't call me for anything. Let me know. So we're doing, I will work my tail to the bone up until that point.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
So you have everything you need for me to take that month off because once that I'm focused on that and it's so much already new, you know how like you can see it in advance, like it's too much. Like, so I know by this point I'm going to be done. So I think, um, having those healthy boundaries of saying no is like so important to anybody.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
Because I wanted to be a singer, I wanted to be an entertainer, and I was like, okay, what's the best way to go about this? I've always, even from back then, I've always been a firm believer of putting yourself around what you want to do so that you can learn from all aspects of that space. And that was one of the craziest things I did. I clearly didn't get it. And then...
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
No. And no, that's it. It's a sentence. It's a no. It's a complete sentence.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
No. No. Yeah, no. Now, if like the right person that you really like. Yes.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
Let me get my boots on. I'm on the way.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
It is. Yeah. Yeah. And I mean, I think that to like finding the balance of like prioritizing your time with everybody, you know, so that you don't neglect people. But also since you're not neglecting yourself because there's weeks where I like, oh, my goodness, I have literally like said yes to everybody every day of the week. And by Saturday, it's like, I'm so tired.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
I just wish I had said no to one of these things.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
Yes. Oh, yeah. My battery. ain't never full. So by the time, like my drainage is like fast. It's like, you know how your computer, when it gets like older or your phone, you can't hold a charge. I'm there. Like that thing, it ain't holding a charge. I get out, I go out and I'm like, y'all ready to go? Chris, we just got here. I'm ready.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
I don't want to be here. That's good. Right. That's it. I got my pictures. They know I was here. We're good. This is another good one. Bouncing back. The art of the comeback. Oh, my goodness. Let me think of a moment where I had to bounce back.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
I feel like it would probably be when I first moved to Atlanta from D.C., going from having a regular paying job, consistent check, and then moving here and going like flat broke. Money ran out fast. Everything I had saved up ran out and trying to figure it out. And that... it was a series of years for the comeback. It wasn't like a quick season where like bounce back.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
Now, you know what I'm saying, your money can get low and then it's like, oh, I know I got this coming, boom, boom, boom. But even in that, like learning the responsibility of how to manage things, because for me, I went from making a good amount of money, a great amount of money to like making like a lot of money in a very short amount of time. And
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
Calling all my sweeties to the forefront. I'm your host, Chris Renee Hazlett, and this is the Keep It Positive Sweetie Show. Hello and welcome to this episode of the Keep It Positive Sweetie Show. I'm your host, Chris Renee Hazlett, and today we have a powerhouse joining us. She's an entrepreneur, investor, author, and co-founder of the Fearless Fund.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
I said, oh, this is going to get dismissed. They have this wrong. Yeah. Oh, my goodness. And now with DEI being cut everywhere. We tried to warn everybody. Did you? Yes.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
Oh, my goodness. So what happened with all the black women that you were helping with their businesses? Oh, no, they still got their money. Oh, I know that's right.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
I can't imagine. What in those moments, I know you speak very openly about your faith. How did you lean in on those? Because I know a lot of times you're like, Lord, okay now. I know I'm strong.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
Now, have you seen those people that have came after you since then? And they see that it didn't work and no weapon formed against you so prosper? He lays the table. God.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
So let's go back to Rosa Parks. Yeah. Coretta Scott King. What? Yeah. This is crazy. Like, it's funny. I was on the phone yesterday with a friend and he was like, you guys are looking like Rosa Parks. And I looked in the camera and I was like, Oh my God, I can see it. Cause I didn't have my glasses on and my hair was like, it wasn't like slick back.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
It was kind of like, I was like, come on, biopic Rosa. Come on. It's funny you said that. And then the moments as you're a child not realizing the preparation that you're like around and the preparation to do what you're doing now. God makes no mistakes. It was already written. Oh my gosh. So where you are now, you're still writing checks. The Fearless Fund is still thriving.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
What are the initiatives that you're going after now that you're over that hurdle?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
That's incredible. Do you do mentorship programs for young entrepreneurs that are trying to start their own business?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
Here we go. And I was coming to you to present my business looking for funding. What are you looking for? That's good. Because I know people are like, well, what do I need to be prepared for when I go ask for this money and this capital?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
I was working at a clothing store. I didn't own one.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
yeah oh wow okay so let's backtrack to the person who's just got an idea before they even can even get to you what are some things they can do to build that social media presence to build the traction to get the emails and you'd be surprised ideas get funded every day
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
Wow. Okay. It's good to know. So you guys, listen, you need to hit Arian up or hit the fearless fund up. So how would you define success when it comes to being an entrepreneur? Because so many people feel like, well, I'm not where Arian is or I'm not where Crystal is or I'm not here, but
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
where would you define success so people can understand there's different levels and you don't have to be here or here?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
No, for sure, yeah. That is impactful. Has your idea of success evolved over the years?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
I know for me, like, I remember where I was, say, 10 years ago.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
Yeah, that was success. And then where I am now, I'm like, that was nowhere near what I thought success was. And then still today, I'm like, I still have so much further to go.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
I love it. Can you share a success story of a business or entrepreneur that you guys have sown into and invested in? Oh, honey, plenty. Please, Sherri, because I'm excited to hear about it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
I didn't know that. Oh, yeah, we got all the success stories, yes. Wow, that is amazing. So how did Pinky come in?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
I know, that's right. He was like, I got you. I was like, ooh.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
And then Marissa at the Lit Bar, I just saw her.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
Oh, see, I love hearing stories like that. And that was another thing that God, he designed that. It was written, since y'all were kids. Like what? You know what I'm saying? Like... That's crazy. That is crazy. How can people, if they want to get involved, if they have the money and they want to just even donate to the fund, how can they do that?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
Okay, perfect. Yeah, because I'm sure people listening are going to want to get behind this.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
Yeah, especially with everything that's going on with DEI and our funds being cut everywhere you turn. How do you feel about the boycotts on different companies?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
I need you to call Aaron. How do I need to write this email?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
And I would have had a check, too. Yeah, because I'm good friends with Tabitha Brown. Love her. And even Monique Rodriguez. Their brands are both on Target show.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
And I've seen them get on Instagram and say, hey, guys, if you're boycotting, you're boycotting us. So if you're going to go, only shop black brands. But when I think about it, I feel like if you just bring it and make your own website and sell it yourself and get a dropshipping, you can make way more money. I said, y'all can all walk out the door and go start Target. Baby, listen.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
Kiss family, let's give a warm welcome to Arianne Simone. Arianne, thank you so much for coming by. Literally, coming by, because you're right there. Yes. Oh, my goodness. I didn't know you were so close. Yes, I know. Yes, I love it. You have to come by more often.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
Did you have to like take like a crash course on how to do it?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
Oh, thank you. Oh my gosh, we are in the presence of a queen. That's so crazy. I was wondering, I was like, how did that happen? So how often do you have to go?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
I love that. I do have a question. There's a big misconception that Africa is not a place that you want to move to. But I hear so many Americans going back to Africa, Ghana specifically. Ghana has done a good job. How do you feel about that? And is that something that you feel people should look into?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
And like I said, God has done a good job of making it easy for people. What about safety? Because I went to Johannesburg with Tyler for Global Citizens Festival, and they were telling us, don't have earpods in your ears, don't be on your phone in the car. Don't stop at the red lights when it gets dark. I've been to Johannesburg a few times. Is it like that?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
And I didn't know if all Africa was like that, and you have other parts where it's war and they're slaughtering each other.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
You did really see everything, because you drive like 30 minutes to Soweto, where Nelson Mandela lives, and then it's like, you're passing huts and like... Correct. You're gonna see all of it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
And Steve Madden has some cute clothes now. I didn't know that. Did you just start making clothes? We did. It's on Revolve. I see it all the time. Yes. I'm like, Steve Madden. Yeah, y'all have some really cute pieces.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
I have a friend, she's been very open. Gail Bean has a house in Accra, Accra.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
Because of the opportunities on the continent. And I love the TV and film industry there. Some of my favorite shows are in Africa.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
Oh my goodness. Poulain. Yes, I've met Poulain. The other sister, I sat next to her.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
It's so good. Yeah, and the production quality is fantastic.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
All right, y'all, we're going to Africa.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
Wow. I love that. Erin, I really enjoyed this conversation. I have too.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
Yes. Just having us a good time in our pajamas.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
Yes. We'll have to do that again. Yes. In our pajamas and really have a good time.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
Before we go, I want to play a game of this or that.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
Are you ready? All right. Let's see. We got angel versus seed investment. You said angel angel investment or seed investment.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
Um, seed investment. Okay. Success versus failure.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
I'm going to go for success. Keep going. Okay, let's do it. Cash versus crypto. Oh, cash. Cash.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
I have not gotten into, I don't trust it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
I took most out. I was in it very early on. Early on, yes. I don't know, it was something that I just really couldn't get into it. And I guess because I'm very old, I want my cash.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
I have a discipline for that. Right. I love that. Last one, sneakers versus heels. I think I know this one. I'm a heels girl. Yeah. I know this one.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
So to end the show, we have what is called positive outcomes where our listeners write into us and we give them advice. You ready? All right. So Carol Lee writes, how can I balance my role as a giver and continue supporting others while setting healthy boundaries to protect my own well-being and foster a more positive dynamic within my family?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
So you are a giver and you're supporting, but you want to set boundaries. I've dealt with this, where I'm constantly giving, giving, giving, and you realize that your giving isn't helping people learn the lesson. Oh, it could be enablement. Very much, and then turn to entitlement.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
This is fascinating. Yes. Thank you for sharing everything with us. I appreciate it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
Of course. I could be here all day. No, same. I'm glad we did this because we have not gotten to talk. We've seen each other in passing so many times and never got to really sit down. This is amazing. Divine timing. Yes. Yes. And we cannot wait for that book. Oh, thank you.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
You're welcome. My goodness, I absolutely enjoyed my conversation with Arianne Simone. There were so many gems. I mean, she touched on financial literacy. She touched on entrepreneurship. She touched on adversity in her journey and how she kept pushing. And I think my biggest takeaway from Arianne would be to honestly look more into my heritage and my lineage to see where I'm from.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
Her talking about Africa and her being a queen in Africa was so inspiring and it inspired me to really look deeper into my ancestry. For all they say, you don't know where you're going until you know where you come from. Thank you so much for tuning in to today's episode of Keep It Positive, Sweetie.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this with someone who could use some positive energy. Also, don't forget to write into our positive outcomes listener letter. You can write in at keepitpositivesweetie at gmail.com. You can follow me on all social media platforms at Love Crystal Renee. And you can follow our show and keep up with everything at Keep It Positive, Sweetie.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
And remember, guys, no matter what life throws at you, stay focused, stay confident, and as always, keep it positive, sweeties. I'll see you guys next time.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
Yes, exactly. So what happened after you got that call?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
I've been wanting to talk to you. I've been so fascinated with everything you had going on. Me? Yes, you. So to get this opportunity, I'm just super grateful. So thank you so much. Oh, thank you. Yes, absolutely. So there's been so many things that people know about you from your story to what you've done lately with the Fearless Fund. Very dynamic woman.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
It's known as Stop the Yard. Which was my first.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
I bet. They're like, she did this, we need her.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
So at that point, did you move from Los Angeles to Atlanta, or did you stay in LA?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
Yes. Oh my goodness. It's funny because Will Packer's married to my cousin now and Heather's my cousin. Yeah. Oh, Tennessee. Yes.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
Heather Hazlett. Yeah. I'm like, yes. Oh my gosh. Yes.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
She is. That is my girl. She's everything. Oh my gosh, I'm like, wait a minute. Yes, small world. Very small world. But Stomp the Yard 2, the sequel, was my very first film that I worked in as an extra.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
So yeah, I got my start. That was before Heather. And it was years later when we found out that they were together. But yeah. Small, small world.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
Yeah, he's incredible. Yeah, I love that. So what was the pivot to what you're doing now? How did you even get into venture capital?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
that is incredible so how did you go about it like you said it just started with words what were you telling people to make because i was i was telling people my where's mine right here baby i was telling people my vision
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
But I want to get to the root of who you are from the beginning. You've been very open about going from homelessness to being an entrepreneur. Tell me about that journey. She even took me back.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
Now, what were some of the hurdles as you're building this? Oh, God. I want to get into that because people see where you are now and it's like... Well, it's capital intensive.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
Yes. And can you explain for people who don't know exactly the mission of the Fearless Fund?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
We're going to take it back and then we're going to come.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
Yes, and then you guys hit a roadblock a huge roadblock with the loss. That's the understatement He drove like it's like What is happening in that moment when it's all happening? What is Aaron Simone thinking? I?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Selling The Vision w/ Arian Simone
Now, is that something your lawyer should have caught like when it happened or you just never know?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
Coming up on Keep It Positive, Sweetie.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
You are not like that. You are not.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
It is. No, I'm serious. It has not changed.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
Right. Yeah. Yeah. Speaking of that, how has it been as you've ascended and your stars continue to rise, just like the people around you and navigating those friendships and relationships?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
Welcome to another episode of the Keep It Positive Sweeties show, a safe space where we heal, laugh, grow and love together. I'm your host, Chris Renee Hazlett. And in this episode, we sit down with the dynamic Shamia Morton Mwangi, renowned for her multifaceted career in entertainment
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
Yeah, no, that's true. That's true. It seems like you're navigating it very well.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
yeah you've been very open about motherhood and about surrogacy and fertility i spoke about this a few times openly about my really just working those years i should have been harvesting my eggs and feeling like i waited too long and then my doctor just telling me recently that you should just try to have it naturally because if you do freeze your eggs who's to say they're all gonna
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
stay alive and be viable so um I've I'm in that stage where I'm going through the dang I wish I had of but you've been through it all and um I want you to share some of your journey and then I want to know how shy is doing oh yes so I'm so happy that that we're having this conversation because I do feel like not just in our community but as women we're often told you know
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
This is an inspiring conversation that offers a deeper look into the life of a woman who seamlessly balances the demands of the spotlight with personal fulfillment because she is more than a housewife. Before we get into the episode, let's take a look into Crystal's closet. All right, guys, let's get into today's look. I am wearing a matching set by Max Marr Sport.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
Seven, okay? What is that like? Because when I was told I should do it, I felt like it was too late. But then also people kept saying, well, I mean, how's that going to work with your career? When are you going to have time? Because you know it's going to take you down and it's not, you gain weight and it's not good. And I'm like, well, when would I have time to do it?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
And then... What's a failed transfer?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
And you were literally bleeding inside.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
I'm wearing an aloe tank and I paired it with these beige Givenchy shark boots. Get into it. Shamia Morton Mwangi exudes energy from her vibrant presence on The Real Housewives of Atlanta to her infectious personality while hosting V103's Morning Show and the high energy she brings to hosting the Atlanta Hawks games and any red carpet.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
Now, how did you find a surrogate? That's another thing, when you think about who would you choose?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
That lets you know how many kids are... There you go.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
I'm super excited to dive into her journey from leading her church choir at the tender age of four to becoming the most exciting multi-hyphenate talents while balancing motherhood, marriage, and career. Ladies and gentlemen, Shamia Morton Mwangi. Hey, best friend. Hey, best friend. I gotta hug you. Oh, my gosh.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
Yeah, because I feel like you never skipped a beat.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
They're like, you got to go. Really?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
I'm excited to have you. I just... First of all, I just love you. Your energy is always electric. From the day I met you, you've been so sweet and kind. And you always invite me and include me and stuff. You never forget about me, even though I'm, like, extremely busy. You know how you, like...
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
That's good. That's amazing. Now, big sister Shia, because you have had to spend a lot of time with Shiloh, how has she been handling everything?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
You are so strong, Shamia. And the way you carry it with such grace, like I would see you document and show everybody what you were going through. And I'm looking like I don't know how she's holding it together, still showing up with a smile on your face, you know, and I just I commend you for that. Thank you.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
Well, hopefully not. But on a lighter note. I know. I know that took you all down with me. No, it's beautiful. And I wanted you to tell your story because it's so many women that are going through the same things that don't have the outlet that we have. And they see you and they just think, oh my gosh, she's got this amazing, glamorous life and doing all the things, but not realizing that.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
People think that like we're exempt from sickness, from depression, from everything just because you have money. That does not change it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
And the patience that it takes with the child.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
I love that. I love it. You're doing an amazing job at it. I remember, I guess it was probably like 2015, 16, 17-ish, we were both single. Because when did you get married?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
Yes! But you figured it out. You married and I want, my question is, how did you integrate into the Kenyan culture? Because I know like being American from this area, like that was a big thing. Yeah, what was that like?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
You personally do that with everybody.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
Yeah, I want to get into that, too.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
Now, how did you, like, not let that get to you? Because I know sometimes you hearing people talk about you.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
Do you feel like at that moment you were looking for an out? Or you just like picking at everything?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
Oh, yeah, no, we're not doing that.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
Really? Took Swahili. Oh, you were invested.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
He's like, is there a class for this?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
I know, that's right. So how long did y'all date before he asked you to marry him?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
I love that. No, I appreciate you so much. And I'm extremely proud of you and your growth. I think when I first met you, you were a dancer for the Hawks. Yes.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
See, he was testing you to see what she was really about.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
I was dancing for the Falcons then.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
Oh, that's so sweet. Is that the ring that you ended up getting?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
He did a good job. And I actually do like the idea, not to tell men to do this, but that he did, like, just to make sure that you were, like, in it for the right reason. Yeah, but then got the right one.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
Yes. Incredible. And then to see you now like the host of the Hawks. Right? You are doing so many things.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
I was like, yeah, I'm not going anywhere. I love that. That means he was doing the right things, intentional, to really get your heart.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
Yeah, it's not a good feeling to know that.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
Yeah, you're a host, you're an actor, you are a mother, a performer, all the things.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
Yeah. No, I mean, and that's the main thing. I think in this society, we have gotten so blinded by what can you do for me, and I need this and this and this, that we miss the things that, if that all goes away, we miss what's truly important.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
Oh, see, that's what you want. That's real love.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
We can do it. You are so silly. What has been your greatest gift that you have gotten from the Kenyan culture and your biggest adjustment that you've had to make?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
We don't. This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Hey guys, there is so much going on in the world. So much so that we don't even have the words to articulate it or even someone to talk to. If that's you, I have something for you and it's BetterHelp. BetterHelp is an app that pairs you with a licensed therapist who specializes in your needs. It's super easy.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
Yeah. I love that. What has been your biggest adjustment when it comes to integrating the two cultures?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
Did you ever feel like they did it on purpose, though?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
So when they go home on the summers.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
Yes. What is next for you? We want to know what's on the horizon for Shamiya. How can we support you? All the good things.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
No, we got you. And can't wait to support your future endeavors. I'm always cheering for you. And I got you.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
I will. This is amazing. Yes, they will. They will say it, too.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
Guys, I am so full after talking to Shamia. We laughed, cried. It was a beautiful, beautiful episode and conversation. But what I took away most was that you never know what people are going through. A smile and community can go a long way. I hope to see her more on the couch. We had such a good time. I'm sure you guys do as well. But remember, we're all going through something.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
It doesn't matter how good it looks on the outside. Just remember that we're human and we're all going through something. Thank you all so much for spending time with me today. I hope today's conversation reminds us all that we should dream big and we can absolutely have it all.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
Oh, my goodness. Yeah. Did you ever feel like with all the things that you wanted to do, did you ever have a feeling where you just had to choose one thing at any moment? Because I know now we're like we're not being boxed in. But was there ever a moment where you did feel like you had to choose?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
Yes, it is yours. And you own it. You are so good.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
Wow, what was that like? Oh, man, it was heartbreaking.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
So was there ever a moment where you were like, all right, God, what's happening? Or did he always just open it, just never let that doubt even settle in because he was always opening another door?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
Speaking of manifesting, you just recently manifested a big, I think, feat that you want to accomplish. You want to share that with us?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
why I walked in today when you were like because I saw your post I said oh my god we had to touch on I didn't know she did the Grammys like it's spreading and people like picking it up you know and it's like I thought it was real and then you're like that was manifestation called me from the network and I'm like oh my goodness we did not know that congratulations I was like in my basement
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
But that's where it starts. That's where it starts. No, you've seen it. Like, I've seen a lot of people do commentary on fashion, and it starts in their living room. And then before you know it, they get so many followers and traction builds where they end up being on the red carpet.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
Yes. Wait till next year. Wait till next year. Because it's going to happen.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
Yes, that's good. There's this new show on BET called Pound for Pound. It's in South Africa, and it follows women who are boxers, but they talk about the struggle to balance it all. You, Shamia, are multi-hyphenate. You do all the things, and you also are a mother. Do you feel like you can have it all?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
All you have to do with a few clicks on your phone is fill out a quick survey with what you're struggling with, and BetterHelp will pair you with the perfect therapist. You don't have to do this alone. If you're struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor, BetterHelp. You can get a discount off your first month using my link, www.betterhelp.com. Guys, let's get better together with BetterHelp.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
Imagine, both of us, from where we were to now is night and day.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
More Than A Housewive w/ Shamea Morton
Do you, have you felt a sense of pressure now that you're not, you're like, you got your peach now. So this is a different level for you on the show. Have you felt any pressure or any hesitancies of sharing your entire world?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Coming up on Keep It Positive, Sweetie.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
I remember we were at the house having wine one night and we were just having conversation. And you were like, I'm going to get in my Bible more. And then I remember you calling me and asking, what time does church start? And then he goes to the service before me, and everyone is like, yo, you're going to love church today. And I'm like, wow, they feel they're really going to church.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Let's all get better together with BetterHelp. Hello, I'm Chris Renee Hazlett, and this is Keep It Positive, Sweetie, a safe space to heal, laugh, grow and love. Guys, I am so excited to be kicking off season six. And as you can tell, we are on a new set. And as I reflect on everything that's been accomplished with this show so far, it has been an incredible journey.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Yeah, I think what I'll piggyback on is like the reality is like you can't pursue Jesus without him. And so I think that like to the love thing, it's like I think about Jesus picked his disciples. They were the worst people ever. Like the absolute worst. Worst people ever. And when Jesus goes to them, he doesn't say like, hey, you're doing this thing wrong. You're doing this thing wrong.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
He just says, hey, come follow me. So much so his first disciples he picked, he gave them a bag, like set them for life. They walked away from the bag and said, actually, I'm gonna go with dude. And there is this there is this learning and this knowledge that you come into.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
through relationship i think the issue with growing up in church is that we grow up in church so we we get into like this performance based things i gotta look a certain way i gotta act a certain way with no root or foundation and why we're doing it the reality is jesus loves us and once i experience and embrace and accept that love I want to reciprocate it with how I live my life.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
So my reason to follow Jesus isn't because I'm trying to make him, I can't earn his love. He gave it to me freely. And once I start, so whenever I see somebody fall short or do something that's off-centered, I go, they haven't fully embraced how much God loves them. And the issue is when we were at church, they were like, don't do this because you don't want to go to hell.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Well, of course, I will make a decision because I don't want to die and go to hell. But then most people think, well, that's after I die. So why does it matter? So that's not even a rooted foundation. But if I told you that somebody chose you, even if you decide not to choose them, they still made a decision about you and nothing you could do would ever change their mind.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
That's the kind of person you want to get to know because you like, dang, I could be raggedy and messed up and make the wrong decisions. And this person never changes their mind. Yeah. And when I come face to face with that person, then I go, okay, now how does my life reflect the love that they've given me? I want to live up to the person that you saw fit to save that way.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
And I'm so grateful we get to continue this ride together. Now I've got some incredible guests lined up for you guys and a lot of fun things as well. Today I'm spending time with a few people who, like me, understand their humanness and also their need for faith, forgiveness, and a strong foundation in God.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Yeah, I think first of all, you ask five questions.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
So everybody will have an opportunity to hear the gospel. That doesn't necessarily mean that they'll make the decision to follow it. And so I think about when you talk about different religions, our faith and religion is built on Jesus. So the only way you have access to the things that are offered in Christianity is through faith in Jesus. It is a divisive world because this is a fallen world.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
The world we live in is not the world the Lord intended for us to live in. We live here now because we have sin. Shout out to Adam and Eve. Wasn't our fault. But that's the world we live in. And so I think that like we have to think of it like we all have a choice. Like God didn't just say like here's what he's saying. Like you get to heaven through Jesus. That's the only way you get there.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
But I'm going to give you a choice. You don't have to choose Jesus even though he chose you. And what happens at the end of your life is based off your decision. And because of that, like, you have free will. You want to choose it. And so I think it's, like, not a sense of dividing. It is a sense of, like, God wants to be chosen for his sake.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
And if you choose to follow something else, as believers, I don't shun a Muslim, but I disagree with their choice of faith. And they believe as hard as we believe. Probably harder. You know what I'm saying? They're ten toes down. Jehovah's Witnesses think that they're only a certain... So here's the question.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Joining me is pastor, producer, host of Life in Perspective podcast, Brenda Palmer, author, advocate, motivational speaker, and host of Break Free podcast, Angela Wright, actor, singer, songwriter, and social activist.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Miss Lawrence, entertainment manager, entrepreneur, and the big fella himself, Wes Lawrence, and my brother from another mother, actor, author, my co-host on our hit show, Sistahs as Tima, Deval Ellis. Guys, thank y'all so much for being here today. I really appreciate it. I'm excited about this conversation. Today we are talking about no one is too far from God.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Through the pastor. Through the pastor. I think like the thing I will add to that is like, I agree with personal relationships and I think like it starts at, I could tell like you're a seeker. And so it's almost like God has to reveal himself to you in ways that we, we didn't all encounter him because of the way that you think.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
But it really starts with faith and it really starts with having an honest conversation. Like I talked to God, like I'm sitting here talking to y'all and it literally starts with God. Show me who you are. like in the most naturalist way. And he'll start to reveal himself. You already mentioned like I have visions and God talks to me this way.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
The issue is that when we grow up with those gifts, if people don't know how to foster them, they will shun them and not dig into that. Somebody should have been cultivating that for you because that's the way God speaks to you. And so I feel like it has to happen that way. I think the other thing is that like Jesus only gave us two commandments.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
It was to love him with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Which you touched on. And that is what it is. But when we talk about loving Jesus with our heart, soul, and mind, that means And it's hard to say it. It's like because I know God is expressed in so many ways. But Jesus in the in the bounds of Christianity is the only way.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
And this conversation actually came from Brenda and I having brunch with some girls in LA and nobody knew that Brenda was a pastor. So everybody was speaking freely at the table. And as the conversation went on, Brenda started speaking to everyone. And it was funny. One of my friends was like very against going to church because God was within her. And she was like, I don't need to go to church.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
And it's hard to understand that. But it's also a journey we take with him because I think I brought the disciples because I'm like, they didn't even know, dude. He's just walking up on the scene as a random guy saying things. But my first experience with Jesus came from. experiencing healing. I had asthma at seven and I was, I wanted to be an athlete.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
I used to have to take the machine every night and I would go to bed at seven and be like, God, I don't want to do this. And at seven, I got healed from it. I've never had asthma again. So I'm like, Oh, you might be real. And then I've seen that over and over again in life, like asking for something and watching him show up. Like last year I quit my job. just following the Lord.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
That ain't, I live in LA. It costs a brief. It's just not a thing I could just be out here doing, but I trust God so much. I'm like, cool, I'll do that. I ended the year with a six figure book deal. I get to travel the world. And those are not the blessing. The blessing is I met Jesus along the way and I know he's a provider.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
You couldn't make me, but you couldn't sit here arguing with me back and forth and be like, no, no, God doesn't provide. Oh, he does. Yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
And there are things that scripture says, right, that we don't necessarily agree with. But it doesn't mean that I...
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
dehumanize you like I still love you even if that's the same thing like if she liked the Falcons and I like the Bears it's like okay that's cool yeah you don't say like I still love Angela we gonna kick it we gonna hang out we gonna talk you know I'm saying and I think that what we we are missing sometimes in the body of Christ is the relational fact like factor like I can see it and I could talk I can engage I've been doing that more like I just want to ask questions like most time people will say things to me and they be like I know you're not gonna you don't know
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
And now she's actually texting Brenda saying, hey, I found this new church you want to pull up. So I was like, this is actually a dope concept to have a conversation of people in different walks of life. in different phases of their relationship with God and their walk with God. And just to like get some clarity on things and be open about what we're going through.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
what I'm going to say.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
You know what I'm saying?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Just say it. And then we can have a conversation because I also want to understand what you're saying and where you're coming from. I also can't show you your need for Jesus if I don't know your need. So I can't even say like, oh, this is what he will do for you if I never took the time to sit and hear you out and listen and learn about you as a person. And so I do think that we're missing that.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
But please keep asking questions. You probably just been asking the wrong people.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Like it's the love. Like I love that you said that, like I asked God for something and then it happens. And the next step in that is like he ain't giving you the plan or the thing. So you'd be like, all right, God, I got you.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
I'll let you next time. Right.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
No, no, no. That is now your invitation to find out who he is. There is a it's a continual process. So the reason he keeps showing up for you that way is because he's like, at some point, my son's going to come and sit with me. And I think sometimes the reason you can't find answers externally is because God wants to meet you where you are.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Cause so many people are struggling in this area. And I think it's so dope because there's so many things we deal with, whether it's church hurt or confusion and trying to figure out why are certain things happening? Does God really exist? Um, I know there's so many times we actually question God, you know, so I just wanted to have, I love all of you guys, and we've all had separate conversations.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
And so I think sometimes some things we can learn from other people. They can build on it. But by the way you think, I mean, God's going to have to literally sit on your bed and tell you something you ain't never told nobody. And you'll encounter him in a way that's going to be like, I know this is real. Yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
It's going to continue to happen that way. And then, to Ms. Lawrence's point earlier, then he'll show you, okay, where can I go to church? Because, I mean, I grew up in church, and sometimes I'll be like, ooh, what is going on here? But we need the church. It's how we raise families. It's how we are discipled. Because for the most part, we're having our own personal encounters.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
We open up the Bible and go, what the heck does this mean? Yeah. And so we need to be in a church that is discipling us and saying, this is what it looks like to live this out. Because most of the time we grew up learning scriptures and had no idea what they meant. And it's like, oh, OK, right. But what does that mean for Monday through Saturday? And so I think like this is a safe space.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Like you have people that are like, no, please ask me all the questions, you know. And if I don't know, I'm going to be like, you know, I don't know.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
You could have been like, you don't know. I'm going to be like, nah, bro, I don't know that one. But I'm going to find out. You're going to help me become a seeker as well. I'm going to make sure I have an answer for you. I'm in seminary right now. Not because I hate it. I absolutely hate it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
I don't even like school, but I want to learn from people like you so I can be like, nah, I do know that King James Version is the most tampered with version of the Bible. They don't even acknowledge it on the scholar side.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
That's crazy. You can't be doing that. But the NIV is really, really accurate in its...
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
But it's God inspired. No, it's God. I mean, because here's the thing, bro. Like, in all the times before there was a Bible, that's why I keep telling you, you need to have an experience first, which will then filter how you experience the Bible. You need the Holy Spirit to read the Bible, because if not, it's just words on a page.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Y'all have super dope stories, so I wanted to have y'all on so we could talk about it. So to break the ice, just tell everybody a little bit about yourselves, just so everybody can kind of know your backstories. I really want to, y'all have so, like, your backstories are so dope, so I want to kind of touch on them. I'm sorry to leave it out.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
I live by the Bible. But... Because the same way you just said, like, God would speak to a prophet and they would tell you, like, what he said. Same way the Bible was written. God spoke. I mean, God spoke, but those people experienced. Because in Bible times, there was not an actual scripture. They were orally testifying what happened. And then it was being put on paper.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
For sure, but how do you know what they're saying is coming from God?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
I was somewhere and there was a prophet there and a friend of mine was like, Hey, this is the prophet that's been praying over me for 17 years.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Everything he has said has come to pass. And I was like, Oh wow, well he needs to speak over me. He ends up calling and saying, hey, a prophet wants to talk to you.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
There were things that I had literally just texted my lawyer the day before that this man was saying that he had no idea like that I, so many things are happening right now that he didn't know me from Adam in my personal life that was happening. I'm like, I know this is God. I know this is God telling me to move. I know this is God telling me to start. It was something so simple as just start.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
And I hit my lawyer about just those two words. And he was like, God has something to tell you. Just start. Just start. Just start. I was like, what? I was like, I just sent this email to my lawyer yesterday.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
It happened just like that. And it was so many different things that he was saying that happened where you said God gives you visions and then you start wondering, is this just me or did God really put this in my heart? The man was like, God has like five things he wants you to do at once because we start thinking we're crazy if we're doing too much.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
He's like, no, all these things he's planning on you, he's just waiting on you to do them. And I was like, oh my goodness. But I think it's when he touches on things that you've had personal conversations with God, that's hot when I know that this is real.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
When he finished, what did he say? How did he finish? After he wrapped it up, what did he say? Something in Jesus' name.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Something in Jesus' name. I just got the joke. Something in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. Something in Jesus' name. You know what I mean?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
it was yeah i have no i have recorded yeah so the reason i asked it is not not that i doubt that like i i'm like here for the prophetic we've had like a holy encounter and when we go together yeah so it's not that it's just that we also have to be aware that sources can have access to you the same way the holy spirit can and so what i would say would also be a like a determining factor even for people watching this because somebody's like i'm gonna find me a prophet
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
that's right they could not be from the lord so i think that we prophesy in part but the goal of that is a always pushes you back to the lord so i think like if a person makes it about them like yeah because i knew i did that right like you got to be careful because it's a line and so i say i would say like a telltale sign for people watching who encounter like jesus that way it's like did this person
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
exalt and push me back to Jesus. Because that should be the source. And when it's not, that will be a determining factor.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Because we are vessels. So it's like, I couldn't sit here and talk to y'all. It's the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Like, I don't know nothing. Like, it's him. And so I think, like, when someone wants to minister to you, that should be their heart posture. Is that without God, I couldn't do this. Like, it's the Holy Spirit that's empowering me to be able to live it out.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
That's so good. Something I want to ask all of you, because y'all have such amazing journeys. pinpoint a point in your life where your faith was tested, where you really had to question God or even wonder if he existed, because I know I've had those moments where I'm like, all right.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
It's out. I came home. It's a seed.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Because faith ain't faith until you can't see it. I feel like God needed you to do all of it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
I love that. I want to know if you got anything.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Maybe she's a client of my salon.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
And I hollered all the way home.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Mm hmm. That's amazing. Now, Deval, you and Miss Lawrence and I mean, well, she work in the entertainment industry as well. But Hollywood and God do not mix. You know, they always try to say, hey, don't say God or Jesus just or say, God, don't say don't say Jesus. Yeah, I thank you, God. Like, no, like they tell us to like not do those things. I haven't really been told that, but we know it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
It's like an unspoken thing. Has there been anything that projects or boundaries that you set within your career because of your faith or just your personal beliefs or things that you like, I'm not doing that?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
I refuse to do it. I'm the same way. I have boundaries on what I show on my body. And you know, because we had those intimate scenes together. And you always make sure I'm safe and that I'm protected and covered where I don't want to be shown. And there was a... It was, I had a scene where it wasn't showing the rape, but it was the aftermath of the rape.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
It just eluded that she had gotten raped, but it just happened. And even in that, I was like, ah, but it was telling a true story. So I was like, okay, as a, as an artist, yeah, this is a story. And that story needs to be told. So I had to audition for it, but someone else ended up getting it. I was like, it was between me and this other person, but I even had to call my dad.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
I was like, dad, like, is it bad to do this? And he was like, what's the story, you know? And he was like, and what are you having to show? I was like, well, it's not showing that part. And he was like, oh, okay, so it's just the aftermath and the effect it has on you.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
But there's, like, certain, I've always said I'll never do, like, any, like, demonic movies or movies that, like, will torture my soul afterwards. There's certain things, like, I'm scary anyway, so...
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
I'll be in the bed like, huh?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Still seeing it? Still seeing it, yeah. So I'm always like, there are certain things I just won't do. Horror, I'm not really into that anyway. So there are certain things I won't do. But because of my faith, I do have boundaries that I set. What about you, Ms. Lawrence?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
I know you were just in Deliverance and there was a movie that it was a lot of different conversations around that movie. But I found out that you all had a pastor on set that prayed and you guys were actually telling a true story.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
And that's what people kind of miss. It was like at first I was like, I'm scared to watch it. They're like, no, it's a true story. I was like, OK. I was like, I can get into it. Cause sometimes when you just feel like they're like making up this stuff, but like, that was a real true story. And when I found you guys had a pastor that I was like, wow, that's dope.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
A consultant. A consultant.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Thank you for feeling safe enough.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
I wanted to create a safe space that we all could be free to ask the questions that we want to ask, talk about our truths, and really just get some knowledge, because Brenda is a wealth of knowledge. I ask her questions about everything. We'll be going through a whole dinner, and I haven't. She's like, inside, I'm waiting for it. You know what's coming.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
I said, wow, you waited an hour.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
I didn't think you'd come back. Yeah, so seriously, thank you guys. I just recently went through a time where I was questioning if This whole being out loud about God and Jesus was even worth it because as we say that Christians can be so judgmental, they can be some of the. I'm talking about just cruel people, you know, especially like on the Internet, what we do all the time.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
And as I was being more and more out loud and just transparent about me not being perfect. then it's like people come at you even harder. And even got to the podcast, I was like, I feel like my podcast is becoming too churchy. Like, I'm not there. I don't want to talk about God. Like, let's just keep it cool. I want them to see who I am. Like, let's have different people on.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
And here we are, our first episode talking about God.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
For sure, and I think it's something I feel like I always work through is, how do I hold truth and what I believe, but also make space for your journey? And the internet doesn't allow that. They just see the one moment. And they don't consider, oh, she's journeying through this the same way I am. Absolutely.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
And that's what I want Christians to really do more of, like, understand that we're all on different paths, all in different parts of the journey, but we're all on a journey together. And if we give each other, like, okay, look, where are you? Okay, I see where you are. Let me help you along the way versus, like, literally being like, oh, you ain't here. You over here doing it. I'm like...
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
And I'm finna go do more. And I think we have a responsibility as believers to see like, okay, dang, Chris needs help. So the first thing I do is like, okay, I'm here to serve you. Like, let me know. And that's what it's about. Like, I'm going to get on the journey with you. We're going to go together. I appreciate that.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
All together. All right. So I know everyone has amazing things going on and things on the horizon. I want our audience to support you because the Kipps and the Sweeties family, I want to tell you, they are standardized. And if we say go support it, I know y'all can go support it. So, DeVal, I'll start with you. I know you got some dope things going on.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Yes, love it, love it, love it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
No, Angela, thank you. Your story is so dynamic, and I just love what you're doing. So I'm honored to have you here. Thank you. Oh, yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
I think the gospel music is going to... Wow, wow.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
He said, I know all those words. I have a podcast called Life in Perspective with Brenda Palmer. It comes out every Monday. Y'all, I just really be on the gram, like dropping gems every day, hanging out with people, going live. It's just what I do. So you can follow me at I am Brenda Palmer everywhere. TikTok, Instagram, YouTube. And I have my first book coming out.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
That's beautiful. I'll just third that. I grew up in church. I grew up with PK, too. Even if my parents weren't pastors, they served at some level of leadership. So street ministry, youth ministry, church was all the time. When I was 18, I was like, I'm done with this. Because my parents ran a smaller church. So I had to do everything. I was the oldest kid in the church. I had to run the audio.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
It comes out next June, but you gotta follow me so you can get all the details. It's called The Journey of Yes, The Everyday Adventure of Radical Obedience. You said, you was waiting. That is not the one. That one was more accurate. So it comes out June of 2025. I'm super duper excited. And thank you for creating this space for us.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Thank you, Brenda. You inspired this. I appreciate you. Thanks for coming all the way from Los Angeles to be with us. Miss Lawrence.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Well, you can first catch everything, Will.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
I like that. Well, guys, thank you so much. Seriously, I feel like conversations like this are what people need who are seeking that knowledge, who are seeking wisdom, and just trying to get closer to God and really don't know how. I appreciate you guys. We were just at Woman Evolved, and they were saying that the unlikely ones are going to be the ones that are rising up, touching people.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
And I feel like this conversation is definitely going to do that.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
So thank you guys so much. Thank you. Thank you.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
One of the reasons I love the conversations that we have on this show is because they leave me so full and I learn so much. One of my biggest takeaways from this talk is, guys, we are so much more alike than not on this faith journey. So give each other grace. Don't be so judgmental and be there for one another. Thank you guys so much for spending some time with me today.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
I had to run the sound. I'm tired. I don't want nothing else to do with this. And so when I was 18, I was like, I'm going to go live life. I went to college. I knew how to go to college and be at college and come home and act like I was good. I did that very well. And then probably like my sophomore year of college, what I was reading in scripture became applicable to my life.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
And I feel like I met Jesus beyond religion and I developed a personal relationship with him. And then from there, I mean, I still, you know, teetered back and forth. But I think when I was 28, I experienced church hurt, like a betrayal from my pastor that was, I don't think I could have ever imagined it. And it almost took my life. Like, I didn't want to live anymore.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
And in that moment, I felt like I came face to face with Jesus because I knew nobody outside of him could get me out of it. And so because of that, I moved to L.A. I started working in the entertainment industry. But I committed my life to creating spaces for people who would experience that church hurt from people, but still wanted a relationship with Jesus.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
So how can I create spaces for people to encounter Jesus, build a relationship with him and figure out the church stuff, figure out where I want to go, figure out where I want to land. But like experiencing like, no, Jesus loves you. And even if you experience it away,
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
that doesn't feel that way from people who represent him, I still want you to have a relationship with Jesus because that's what I needed to survive. And so that's kind of what I do. I travel around the country hosting pop up Bible studies to ensure like to create spaces for people to do this, like talk about God so they can encounter him on their own and not be deterred by all the other stuff.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Yeah, that's dope. And that's what I love about you, Brenda, is that I'm on this journey, and I can be very transparent with you. You don't judge me, but you hold me accountable. You always push me to see things in a different perspective that I don't normally see. I appreciate that. But like everybody else, I grew up in the church. My mother didn't become a pastor. She's an associate pastor.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
This episode is sponsored by Better Health. Hey, sweeties. There is so much stigma centered around therapy, whether it's stress, sadness, worries, or relationship issues. There's shame that is attached to it when it really shouldn't be. I initially started therapy during the pandemic because this is the first time I actually got to sit with myself.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
She didn't become a pastor until I was like ending high school, going into college. So I didn't grow up like as a PK, but I was in the church every time the doors open. I was there from kids choir all the way through. And once I got to college, I was like, I don't have to do this anymore. Same way, like we had to make our bed up every morning. I wasn't doing none of that when I left the house.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Then I was not going to church. I was like, I'm done. And it was one of those things where I was in the streets, promiscuous, partying, drinking, doing all the things because I lived in a very structured household. I won't say strict. Like they were strict, but they also gave us freedoms within the home so that we were protected. But a lot of times it was like I couldn't party.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
I couldn't stay out too late, all those things. So when I got out of the house, I was outside. And it wasn't until freshman semester, I was on academic probation from clearly partying and doing all the things. Yeah. And I had to spend my whole summer to get my GPA back up. And it was in that moment that I realized I've got to get back to what I know. And I was raised Methodist.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
And for me, I love my church, but it was boring to me. Very structured, very structured. We sang hymnals. I wanted to sing Kirk Franklin. And we ended up starting to do that. Our church changed and we started singing really songs that spoke to us as a younger generation. But I ended up going to a Baptist church when I was in college.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
And that's where I really encountered God because I found him through praise and worship. Some people like, I just need to hear him preach. But for me, it was like, I need to hear this music because the music speaks to me. So that was the pivot and the shift where I was like, okay, my mom and dad taught me, but that wasn't my own relationship with God.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
This is where I can build my own and learn how to talk to him in my own way. Like, All right, Lord, what are we doing now? Because this is ghetto, you know, versus Heavenly Father. I just want to thank you. You know, you had to find your own way.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Dress a certain way. Listen. Yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
It was super strict. You had to wear tights under your skirt. You better have no bare legs out. Oh, yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
You got to cover up to the neck covering.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
Ms. Lawrence, what about you? We've spoken. You've been on my podcast before. We had a good conversation.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
With the hustle and bustle of life, we all tend to suppress some things and neglect it when we need help. When I first tried therapy, I didn't feel any mental clarity or that it was working, but that's because I was not being honest with my therapist. Once I found the right licensed therapist for me and I was honest, my world changed.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
That's beautiful. Let's do it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
No One Is Too Far From God: A Roundtable Discussion
If you're like me and you need to talk to someone but don't know where to start, I have something for you. BetterHelp. It's a convenient and easily accessible on your phone. All you have to do is download the app, sign up and fill out a questionnaire. Within a few days, it pairs you with a licensed therapist. So what are you waiting for? Go to www.betterhelp.com forward slash crystal.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Why Not Me w/ Tika Sumpter
Tika! No, you didn't. Yes, I did. You're like, this is what you wanted, right? This is what you wanted. Because you wanted me, I'm sure. Right. You just wanted a different hair. Hair. So here it is.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Why Not Me w/ Tika Sumpter
I'm gonna give y'all, I'm taking these braids out. I'm gonna give you slave. I'm gonna give it to you. And I'm gonna do this. You know what I'm saying? Oh, I know. So you're that actor that's like, I'm like, I'm going to get this.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Why Not Me w/ Tika Sumpter
Yeah. See if I can. You know if you want me or not. Come on. Yeah. Do you just want me to beg? Sometimes that is what they want, yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Why Not Me w/ Tika Sumpter
You don't want to call your friends and be like, hey, come do my podcast. Yeah. You don't want to call your friends. I get it. Not really.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Why Not Me w/ Tika Sumpter
I know. And she's sitting next to him a little too long. Yeah. Y'all a little too close.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Why Not Me w/ Tika Sumpter
And he's like, why wouldn't I be good? You're married.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Why Not Me w/ Tika Sumpter
Yeah, they're like, who are you? I'm sorry. God, we talked about God. We did.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Why Not Me w/ Tika Sumpter
Here's some tools from my toolbox. Yeah. But I don't want to have to give you everything.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Why Not Me w/ Tika Sumpter
Oh, a date? Yeah, absolutely. Well, you look down, so I feel like you won't. I would, yeah, but I love wine. Okay. No, but I'm saying, like, some people are like, that's cheap. No, no. I've heard girls do that. No, I don't think that, yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Why Not Me w/ Tika Sumpter
I feel like wine. Because coffee's like, what's going on? Yeah, yeah. Wine's like, yeah, so. What's going on? Yeah, what's going on?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Why Not Me w/ Tika Sumpter
Give me that Bahamas water. That clear water I can see for miles and miles away.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Why Not Me w/ Tika Sumpter
I was just telling them the other day, I was like, I want to do that, um, that all the kids are doing, and then they're like, da-da-da-da-da.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Why Not Me w/ Tika Sumpter
If young teen could say period, it'd be period. Please don't fight me. I didn't want to do this anyway.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Why Not Me w/ Tika Sumpter
You have to work until you get there. You can't just... No, and I booked a commercial.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
Calling all my sweeties to the forefront. I'm your host, Chris Renee Hazlett, and this is the Keep It Positive Sweetie Show. This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Let's be real, life can get overwhelming. Between work, relationships, and just trying to keep everything together, sometimes we forget to take care of ourselves.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
Best known for her roles as Angela in Tyler Perry's Zatima and Sisters, she has also starred in BET's Curves and Pretty for a Big Girl. After giving what it needed to give, her career-defining scene in All the Queen's Men further cemented her rising star status. Please welcome my friend, my sister, Nzinga Imani. Zing Zing! Hey! We got you on the sofa. Yes, I'm so excited.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
Like, what do you mean? Right. This is your major, ma'am.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
You Ubered? Like you were an Uber driver?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
I love that. I appreciate it. I love that. For me, I went through a similar phase in my life where I was really struggling, trying to figure it out. I had just moved to Atlanta and it was like, all right, I got to figure it out. I was working a job. The first job I had, I was literally making I think it was like $300 a week. So it was like $1,200 a month before taxes.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
Like it was not a lot of money. So like talking about like scrounging for change in the cup holder. Remember back in the day, all the change went to the cup holder. I don't really see change much nowadays. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? Because people don't really carry cash. Cards, everything on our phones and everything. Yeah, so it was changed everywhere.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
So I was literally trying to count the quarters and like, can I get a double cheeseburger with fries? You know what I'm saying? The dollar menu, just trying to make a meal literally out of two cents. Absolutely. And I remember those moments. And I think that's something that always keeps me grounded now that I have made it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
But I'm grateful for those moments where you have to struggle and grind because I feel like if you don't go through that, you're not going to appreciate it when you make it. Yeah. Yeah. Not going to appreciate it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
Come on. God knows. Like, it's all in his perfect timing. That's what I always say because if things had happened before they were supposed to, we would have blew it. Yeah. We really would have. Nzinga, you are one of the most stunning. Your whole family is just stunning, first of all. Thank you. Please go to her Instagram, her whole family, like all of them.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
Girl, the people have been asking for you.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
I know your mom just sitting there can be like, I did that.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
She will. But you guys are all so beautiful. But you're beautiful, you're confident. Thank you. When it comes to love life, let's talk about it a little bit. Okay, girl. Have you always been confident and known your worth? Because you walk in with so much confidence and self-worth. Or is that something that you struggle with at points? Or have you always been like, I know I'm that girl?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
They have been leading Zinga. Yes. And I heard you guys. So we got her on. Thank you so much. Thank you. This is fun. I'm excited. Yes, me too. Because they get to see us on TV, but the show hasn't really, like, really delved into our story yet and like how, how we became friends and our backstory and everything.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
Right. Because you start to look back and you're like, wait a minute. Yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
But I just, I love you and I wanted to bring you on so we can share more of your story so I can get to know you a little better and the audience can get to know you better.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
At what moment did you realize, wait a minute, like I'm, I had these issues from my childhood that are pouring into my adulthood. And was there a moment where you're like, I need therapy? Are you in the therapy? Or has it just been more of like a, I got this on my own type of thing and just constantly evolving? In full transparency. Oh!
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
Real bad. You realize you've been holding a lot in.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
I got you. No, seriously, remember my first live show, I brought my therapist out. Absolutely love her. But it wasn't until, like you said, find the right person, find somebody you can trust. For me, it was the first time I did therapy, I wasn't honest with the person because I didn't really trust them. So I'm like, this ain't working. Like I literally was like, this isn't working.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
And then I got Delaina and I was like, just be honest. If you want this work, you have to just tell her everything and trust that and pray that she's not going to tell anybody your business. But finding, I feel like it's like dating. You know what I'm saying? You got to like talk to them, feel the vibes, see if you're ready to open up to them.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
It's good to be here. You are so talented, beautiful as ever. I remember when we were casting for Zatima and you were already on All the Queen's Men. Yeah. We were trying to figure out who Fatima's best friend was going to be. And Tyler was like, I had the perfect person. I was like, who? And he goes, and Zinga Imani. And at that point, I didn't know who you were personally. And I was like, who?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
But it's not like you hire one person and you got to stick with them. Yeah. You know, so I would just like take your time and just feel people out and see who you like and who you mesh with, because it can like this is a person that you really have to confide in everything with if you really want to get the help you want.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
And for me, it's like that self-realization because we think and we're working on ourselves until you really start to unload, like you said, and you're like, Oh, I got a lot of work to do. Yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
Anyway, I'm going to move on fast. Okay, listen. So since you've gained success in acting, I know that something that can be challenging for us women is dating and finding a man that is confident in what you do and knowing that you may have sex scenes or love scenes with another person and that you have to kiss them.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
Have you had issues since you started acting where a guy's like, I ain't with that? Absolutely. Really? Absolutely.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
And you're probably like sinking in your chair like.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
Because I was like, let me see her Instagram. I was like, oh, I do know her from Instagram. I was very familiar with you from Instagram, but had never met you personally. And I was so happy when we got to work together and you were just a delight because you just never know. Yeah. You just never know what you're going to get with actors.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
Do you feel like you're as open now? Because me, I have very firm boundaries on what I'll show, what I'll do. Are you still like, because some actors are like, no, I'm not going to. Say no to anything. I'm good.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
I feel you. I feel you. No, totally. I understand it because that's something... I actually had an audition for... It was really bad. It was a rape scene. But it was a true story. So in my mind as an artist, I'm like, okay, like... they weren't shooting the actual rape. It was more so the aftermath of it, but like everybody knew what had happened. And I was like second up for that part.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
I did end up getting the role, but when I auditioned for it, I had to call my dad and I was like, listen, I was like, how do you feel about this? You know, cause I was thinking about my parents and like, what they have to go through. If you would say I play certain roles or do certain things. And he was like, you're acting. He was like, that was a true story. It happens.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
And you're shedding light on something that happened. So it changed my perspective on certain things. But then also when it came to like me setting my own personal boundaries, because they can, if I have children one day, what are they going to see? Like, and this internet is like, it's forever.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
You know, you got all different types of personalities and different methods that people use to get into character. And as a castmate, those are things you have to adapt to. So I was really happy when you were super cool and easygoing. Y'all, our rooms are probably like two or three rooms apart on Actors Row. And I'll yell down the hall, zing, zing! You want to run it?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
Like once it's out there and it just like goes from one place to the next and like, before you know it, like it's everywhere. Yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
Ma'am. Yeah. Very, very scary. Yeah. Yeah. You know, we this is a safe space and we also love Jesus over here at the Huey Pie City Show. Has there been moments where your faith has been stretched or moments where you really had to lean on your faith through this whole journey of life?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
And let's be honest, finding a therapist can feel like another task on the to-do list. I remember when I was looking for a therapist, I needed a great deal of support to research therapists in my area who were right for me. I wish I had this resource back then. That's where BetterHelp comes in.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
Listen, we're going to do nothing else. We're going to get these lines out.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
And it's so much. And it's just been a beautiful journey. For sure. Thank you so much for coming. Thank you.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
So I appreciate y'all a lot. Of course, of course. Speaking of crash course. and this whole new TPS world for you, but you've been you've been acting and doing your thing. How was that adjustment like coming into our world and be like, oh, this is how y'all doing things over here?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
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Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
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Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
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Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
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Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
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Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
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Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
Yeah, no, for sure. Oh, this is another good one. Makeup chair for hours or quick and easy?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
I was going to ask you that, too, because you do your own makeup. Have you ever had a makeup artist in you guys and you was like... I do not like the way this looks.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
Ma'am, I literally carry my whole makeup bag every day because I don't know, like, and my makeup, Manny, he's amazing. Yes. So, like, I don't really have to touch anything. But, like, I've had artists before where I'm just like, no, like, I need to get this nose right. I need, there's certain things I just need to pop, you know? I won't even do that. Okay.
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Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
Be prepared. All right, last question. Binge watch your own show or never watch it?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
For me, it's like watching tape like an athlete. I watch it to get better and to study myself. I'm like, okay, I could have done better here. I could have taken a longer beat there. Yeah. I should have like did a different octave in my voice because sometimes I can talk very monotone. So I'm working on inflections and different things like that.
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Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
But yeah, when I watch them, I can't I can only watch it once. I can't go back. Yeah, I agree. And this has been fun. So much fun. Yes. Thank you so much. Thank you. I appreciate you. Jinx. One, two, three. No, but they're going to love this. They've been asking for you. And I thank you so much for taking time to come sit down.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
Thank you so much. Thank you, love. When I say I absolutely enjoyed my conversation with Nzinga, if I had to take one thing away, it was second chances. After being raised in a church and experiencing church hurt, she did not let that keep her away from cultivating her own relationship with God. Thank you so much for tuning into this episode of the Keep It Positive Sweetie Show.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
Today's episode doubled down on how confidence, perseverance, and consistency can take you places. Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who could use some positive energy. You guys can follow me on all platforms at Love Crystal Renee, and you can follow the show at Keep It Positive Sweetie.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
If you want to write into our positive outcomes listener letter, you can send us an email to keepitpositivesweetie at gmail.com. Remember, no matter what life throws at you, stay focused, stay confident, and as always, keep it positive, sweeties. I'll see you guys next time.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
Oh, wow. And then it goes from Zatima to Sisters. Yes. How was that? Like, it's just like boom, boom, boom.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
I want to talk about that waiting, waiting, waiting season. Because so many times when we do, like when it happens, that's all the people see. They're just like, where did she come from? This happened overnight. And no, it did not. So let's dive into that because a lot of people, I think people are inspired by the waiting season to know that they're not alone.
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Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
BetterHelp is an online therapy platform that connects you with a licensed therapist from the comfort of your own home. No waiting rooms, no long drives, just professional support when you need it. With BetterHelp, you can message your therapist anytime and schedule video or phone sessions that fit into your schedule.
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Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
This ain't your college. They were like, you're great at this, but. Yeah. Greater on your life.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
Somewhere in that. That's crazy. That was the year my life shifted. Beautiful. I went from costuming to being Tyler's stylist in costume design. That was a shifting year for me. And I think that was, I think I turned 33 that year. So that's my Jesus year. There's a lot of things happening that year. Doesn't make sense. 2015 was the year that you were like, this is what I'm going after. I love that.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
and give her a chance. Isn't that the power of social media? Yeah, absolutely. You can literally, even YouTube, the world is your oyster. You can do anything. If you have a camera and a tripod or a few friends that are willing to work with you. A phone, honestly.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
Plus, BetterHelp allows you the flexibility to try out multiple therapists until you find the one that's suitable for you, free of charge. Taking care of your mental health shouldn't be complicated. Get started today and find the support you deserve. Visit BetterHelp.com forward slash Crystal Renee for 10% off your first month. Because you deserve to feel your best, mind, body, and soul.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
Yeah, I love that. Was there any point, because you talked about you got all the no's. Was there any point in your journey where you... may have had like doubt or like, did I really choose the right thing? Or were you had any like self-image issues where you were like that?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
Because I know for me, this industry is so vain and there's times where I just don't there's times I didn't feel my best self. Did you ever have moments like that?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
Isn't that amazing? My parents are the same way when it comes to my roles and the things I do. Think about it. The team of season one, it was their graphics. Was that the shower one? No, that was like across the bed, head hanging off. Oh, yes. Yeah, I remember that one. I couldn't even look at that. Yeah, like it went from like, it was such a quick cut. It was like, bam, I was like, ah!
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Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
I was like, I said, dad, I said, just don't watch the first like five minutes of the show.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
Even just to shoot the situation like in real life, like as you're filming it in a room around strangers. Yeah. It's not romantic. You know what I'm saying? It's not at all. It's not at all.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
Even when we filmed season one of Zatima, remember it was like December, it was freezing cold. Oh my God, I think I got sick right after that.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
Barefoot, like he was in the, him and Jazzy were in the jacuzzi freezing. I had to keep running out from upstairs, down the deck, barefoot in that wet, rainy, cold grass. Two days later, I was like...
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
I was like, y'all have me some extra draws, some extra Spanx, everything.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
It's just like hot. And then you got to turn the air conditioner off because of the sound and like turn everything off. So we're just in there baking. Yes. I prefer the cold. what we deal with. We deal with so much. We make it look good, though. Yeah, we do. We stay in it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
That was so bad. Don't let me shoot for winter in the middle of summer. It's like, oh my gosh. Then you got on all the clothes, plus it's hot outside. Hot outside, yeah. Those garage scenes during the summertime, it's just smoldering hot. I just... And I get hot fast.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
Welcome to another episode of the Keep It Positive Sweeties show, the place where we bring real conversation and a whole lot of heart and positivity. I'm your host, Crystal Renee Hazlett. And today we have my girl both on and off the camera joining the show. She's a dynamic actress, entrepreneur and trailblazer in the plus size fashion world.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
So I'd be like, under all that hair we were wearing. Oh my gosh. It'd be too much. Neck melted. Too much. Looking back, we're on season three. Season three just wrapped as a team. Looking back, what was one of your favorite moments filming? Oh.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
Let me roll back. I had to catch myself. I'm like, wait, has that aired yet?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
Somebody just asked me this, and for me, it is every day that we go to work. I love our cast. Everybody is just so amazing to work with. Everybody's so grateful to be there. We all come, we work our butts off. And we work so hard and we create beautiful magic together.
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Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
And I think everybody doesn't get that opportunity to say that, like, I love everybody I work with, you know, because not all environments are as peaceful as ours. Like we come in there and we're like, all right, we two days in, we probably got hit by a bus. We respect each other's faith and time. And we're like, what do you need? You good? Do you feel like running lines? Are you good?
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Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
You know what I'm saying? And we just we just get it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
We're going to rip the wig and we and I, just our little... Just our braid bags. Our big meals. We're like, let's run these lines before we go home. During lunch, when we got a little time off, okay, let's run it real quick. It's so much that goes into everything that we do. If you could give anybody advice on something.
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Create Don't Wait w/ Nzinga Imani
There's a young girl wanting to do what we do, and she's not quite sure of herself, or she's struggling. Maybe she's from a small town like I was, or she's from a place where her parents don't really... accepted, like you don't need to go to get an education, go get you a good job, but she's a dreamer. What would you tell her?
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Coming up on Keep It Positive, Sweetie. What is my take on someone who really loves God but wants to have a little liquor too? Okay, well, as we all know, Jesus turned water into wine, okay? And if you read the text, in the text it said they was already, they'd already gone through the first batch of wine.
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So I would tell myself, just slow down and enjoy the moment and continue to enjoy it as you go through life. Where do I see myself in five years? I see myself probably married. I would love to be married by then, possibly have a kid. I would love to see my businesses flourishing, thriving, making a difference in the community and hopefully worldwide.
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But before we get into the episode, we have to get into this outfit. Let's take a look in Crystal's closet. I am wearing a colorful cardigan from Zara. It's wool blend. I love this. It's actually one of my favorite sweaters. It kind of gives me that collegiate feel. I'm wearing some boyfriend jeans from Zara as well. My boots are Bottega Veneta. These are some of my favorite boots.
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Through my foundation, I want to start global initiatives as the foundation continues to grow. I don't know, maybe doing more public speaking and different things like that. But yeah. Oh, and a talk show. I'm going to have my own talk. This is going to be a talk show in five years. All right. From my lips to God's ears. Come on. Y'all touch and agree with me. Everybody in the room.
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What books am I reading? Well, I'm glad you asked. So for the whole year, I said that I wanted to read more. And my word for the year was wisdom. I want to gain wisdom. As a child, I was an avid reader. I mean, I sat in my, I think it was because we had the book club and we would get the points and get the pizza, the little personal pan pizza. So it was an incentive for me to read more.
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But it's something that I realized as I got older, I was like, oh my goodness, I'm losing my vocabulary. And I think that was because I wasn't reading enough. So this year I decided to pick up a book. So this is my third book this year. And right now I am reading The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins. This book is so good. It's all the rave. Everyone's been talking about it.
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It's really good when it comes to just allowing people to be them and not taking it personally, because a lot of times we do that, but also allowing ourselves to take accountability and look in the mirror and look inward as well. So loving this book. Shout out, Mel. We need to get you on here, girl, because. You are that girl.
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And then shout out to Brenda Palmer, a good friend of mine who you all saw on one of our episodes. She gave me this book. It's called The All of God. And it is a daily read where you read it every day. And I love it because it talks about how. when you fear God, it's a healthy fear.
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It's really an admiration and an awe of God versus like, oh my gosh, yes, we're supposed to tremble in fear of him, but it should be this, the reverence of him should be so great that we are in awe of him. Absolutely love this book. It's by John Brevere. Shout out Brenda Palmer again for giving me this book. Get you a friend that gives you books that are going to bring you closer to God.
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I love this one. And it at the end of it's really short chapters. And then at the end of it, it gives you a little segment where you can make it personal. And it. It gives you a passage, it gives you points and things to ponder on, and then it gives you a prayer. And I'll just read this one for you guys.
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This prayer says, Dear Heavenly Father, please forgive me for starting to obey what you told me to do but not finishing. Just talk about that, finishing, completing. Either by ignoring it or changing my mind because of not seeing it as self-serving. I repent this lack of holy fear and ask for your forgiveness. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.
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My profession of the day is I choose to obey God's word to completion. So, yeah, it's so good. And I usually just read this after I read my scriptures in the morning as well as journaling. So that's kind of my morning routine, which you didn't ask me. You just asked what books I'm reading, but I just kind of gave you all that. But yeah, those are the two books I'm reading right now.
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Before I read, I just finished The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry. When I say game changer, guys, I am ready to simplify my entire life. You know, it opened my eyes to a lot of things and things that distract us from living more like Jesus. and really focusing on him. There are so many things that are in our lives that are complete distractions from what we should really be focused on.
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So that's another good book. Shout out Pastor Dr. Darius Daniels for recommending that book. Really good book, game changer that I would implore you guys to read. I'm a bookworm now. Should we start a book club with Shauna? Yes. Let's do it. All right. Financial advice I wish I knew when I was 21.
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This is a good one because y'all, that's why I'm so big on financial literacy because I made so many mistakes as a young one. knowing that your income should be four times your rent. So backstory, I moved to Washington, D.C. from Martin, Tennessee. Remember, I stayed at home. And I never told, I don't think I've shared this with you, but my parents, my dad built every house that we lived in.
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And he also built some apartments because it's a college town. So we had 12 units. It was two buildings, 12 units. So in college, I stayed in one of the units. The rent was $350. I paid $87.50. because my parents own the apartments.
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So going from that and then just being able to do whatever I wanted to do with my money, because my dad was like, just pay this, pay your utilities and we'll take care of everything else. He still paid my car insurance and car payments, all those things. And I moved out and I had no idea how to manage money. I had no idea of the core financial literacy principles that I should know.
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I actually have two pair of these in different colors. Love these. I am wearing a A-Tank, also known as a wife beater, from Target. my signature jewelry and some Fendi earrings. That's my look. All right. Here goes nothing. One thing I regret never being able to do and one thing I thank God for shielding me from. Something I regret. I always say that hindsight is 20-20.
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And when I tell you, I learned so many hard lessons when I moved to D.C. So that was one thing. And I even tell adults, because you'd be surprised how many people don't know that, even later on in age, that your income should be four times your rent. Also, you should pay yourself first. You know, you should save money.
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Every time you get paid, save, give yourself something to live off of, and then tithe. I wasn't saving anything. So that's another thing I would say. And then as you get more money and you realize, okay, I've got a little nest egg here, take some of that and put it into an account that grows interest where your money is making money. A lot of people don't know that there are different
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Accounts that you can put that are interest-bearing accounts that you can put money into that can grow Up to like sometimes I don't know what the highest I know like it can start off even like four point five percent that can grow over time No matter how much you put in there. So I think that if we knew more of that We would do better make better decisions.
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So those are the things I definitely wish I knew I'm learning now and I'm trying to share as well What is my dream role? So many, but I want to work on a procedural. I love Law & Order. I can literally watch every episode and not get old. It doesn't matter if it's a rerun, if I've seen it again a million times.
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I love Law & Order, and I would love to do a show like that, play a detective, FBI agent. I love those type of shows. I also would love to do an action thriller. I want to do something like that and a comedy because I think I'm funny. I mean, that's what people tell me. Yeah. When is the album coming out? Honey, I want to know the same thing. We are working on the album. So many things going on.
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So scheduling, getting into the studio and working with the team schedule. So many different people that play a part in me getting in the studio to create the music. I don't just go in by myself. So we are working on that. And I've got some amazing songs already recorded and I cannot wait to share it with you. But just know that as soon as it's ready, you guys will be the first to know.
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Do I have any mentors? Yeah, I mean, I do. I have amazing people in my life. Tyler Perry is one of my greatest mentors, someone that I call on pretty much about every facet of my life, whether it's relationally or financially, business decisions, career decisions. Even ideas that I have, I talk to him about it because he's done it at the highest level.
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And I'm blessed to have someone who has done it at the highest level to really get that insight as I continue to climb and try to go higher. I would say Even in this industry, I would say Deval Ellis, my co-star, is an incredible mentor because he's seen a lot and done a lot. He's able to help me navigate a lot of things. And I do the same for him on the business side.
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I may know something that he may not be privy to, and we share. We're not gatekeepers. We share information. But he's also someone that I can go to and say, hey, D, I'm struggling with this. How do you feel I should handle this? And he gives the best advice.
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and also mom and dad you know i still lean on them as well any strategies for planning out my content let me tell you guys uh being a content creator can take up so much time uh i find myself when i'm really in my creator bag it takes up a lot of time. So you do have to plan it out.
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So I try to take a day out of the week to kind of plan what I want to shoot, when I want to drop it based around whether what episodes coming out, what time of the month it is. There's so many things that go behind the strategy of when we put certain things out or pieces of content out. But yeah, I'm trying to get a handle on that because I want to be consistent, but it also takes up a lot of time.
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So yeah, we're working on that. A day in the life when we're not traveling or working, I wake up. I'll get up, do a meditation, read my Bible, journal, and most of the time just try to read a chapter of the book that I'm reading for that time. And then I'll work out. I will... Run errands if I need to. Sometimes I don't leave the house at all if I don't have anything to do. I love being home.
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I'm a homebody. And chat with friends. Binge watch my favorite TV show. And eat good. That's a day in the life. And shop. I like online shopping because I don't like going into the stores. What is my take on someone who really loves God, but wants to have a little liquor too? Okay, well, as we all know, Jesus turned water into wine, okay?
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And if you read the text, in the text it said they was already, they'd already gone through the first batch of wine, and it was like some really good wine, so they was already, you know what I'm saying, feeling it, you know? And then his mama said, hey, go on and do that thing you do, you know what I'm saying? So he was like, man, mama, all right, cool, I don't wanna do that. Do what I said, dude.
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She gave him the toilet, you better... And he said, all right, babe. So he went ahead and turned that thing, that water into wine. You know what I'm saying? So I don't think there's anything wrong with it. As long as you're not getting intoxicated, you have to know your limits. Of course, you have to be safe.
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And I do feel that responsibly, there are a lot of studies that are coming out just saying that there's certain health risks. So you have to make sure you're drinking the right type of liquor, that you're not just out here drinking.
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binge drinking you know and not being responsible with it but I don't see anything wrong with it I love me a glass of wine I love me a lemon drop and um anybody got a problem with it judge your mama not me okay and that's that on that if I could raid any celebrity's closet who would it be and why man okay oh Hmm, celebrity's closet, Rihanna's closet. I would raid Rihanna's closet.
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She is the ultimate fashionista. Like this girl can do no wrong in my book when it comes to fashion. Like she just has it. She has the street style. She can be elegant. She's sexy. She's edgy. She's all the things. So RiRi, I would come raid your closet for sure. I'm a former cheerleader, but I'm also 42. I ain't going to do no toe touches, okay? I'm like, pop some on the, you know.
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Looking back at my younger years, when I had the opportunity to leave for college, I stayed in my hometown. I think that looking back now, I would have definitely moved, and I think that would have helped me develop faster if I would have learned how to be on my own. a lot quicker because I still had my parents.
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What was my response when Patreon sold out the tote bags before everyone else got dibs? First of all, just mind blown. I was on the phone with my team and we were like, y'all, everything's flying. It was just selling like hotcakes. And before we could even open it up to the public, Like we literally had to up the numbers of inventory and order more stuff in real time.
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And I just, I give all glory to God because a lot of times you go into this and you're like, we play it small and we're like, which was responsible. We play it small and we're like, okay, let's just do this many of this and just see how it does. But when I tell you my Patreon, Kip's family, everybody, you guys show up and show out for me every single time. And I do not take it for granted.
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And I know that everything we do, we put our best out for you guys. I make sure that we have the best customer service. If you have any issues, you call us and you email us and let us know. And we rectify it immediately. But one of the things I'm telling you, when we sold out, I was like, this is crazy. Like I was looking at my computer like. Oh my gosh, it's still going up.
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I'm on the phone with Asana West like, are y'all seeing this? And then we were like, okay, we got extended so they can shop longer. It was just a lot, but it was so much fun. And it just, it made me happy to know that I have people, real people that genuinely love me and support me because that's hard to find in this industry.
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And you work hard and you want to provide different things for your community and you guys, You guys give me ideas on new things to come out with. So I'm grateful. Let's keep doing it. Let's keep selling out. We got something else coming soon. So let's do it again. What is my favorite food?
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ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
Oh, it's so hard because I'm changing so many of my dietary choices that my favorite food is honestly Italian food. But there's cheese in all every dish, mostly. Yeah, I'll still say Italian. It'll forever have my heart. Yeah. We can't afford you and Beyonce. Listen, the dates are dropping soon. Stay tuned. But I can tell you this. Mine is just one day. You can go see Beyonce.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
You have way more options to go see Beyonce. So you can spread it out. You know, we don't have to do it all at the same time. I think I come first anyway, though. So come see me. Then go see my girl. Because you know I'm going to go see my girl. For real. Like, I love me some B. I got to go see her. But yeah, you can do both for sure. Please. Thanks. My favorite college memory.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
I would say, honestly, it was when I won. It was 2003. I won Miss University of Tennessee at Martin, which put me in the Miss Tennessee pageant. That was also my most challenging year in college because I tore my Achilles tendon. And I remember at that time I was done cheering. I was coaching assistant coach for the cheer squad and we were having open gym and I just like to flip.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
And I remember one of the deltas, cause I was always flipping and she's like, Chris, I always flipping and shit. Then I tore my Achilles. She was like, you was flipping this shit, wasn't you? I was like, yes. And I remember at the time, my boyfriend, he had just tore his. He was playing basketball. I tore his. And his went all the way up. If you don't know, Achilles is the back of your ankle.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
And it coiled up to his calf muscle. So they had to literally do the incision all the way up to his calf and pull it down to join it back together. So as soon as I heard it pop, I just went down and grabbed it. I was like, oh my gosh, because I didn't want it to coil up if it completely torn. And I remember going to the doctor that night and it was a husband and wife doctor.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
Say I needed some groceries, I was able to go to my parents and we had a big deep freezer in the garage. I could go get whatever I wanted from that deep freezer. A lot of the responsibility that I would have had to learn very fast if I had moved away from home, I didn't have to learn.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
And she told her husband, she was like, she has the Miss Tennessee pageant. You better make that scar as small as possible. And he did. He did a really good job on it. And gratefully, it didn't completely tear. It was literally just holding on by some strands. But I went on to compete in Miss Tennessee and it was an incredible experience.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
It taught me so much just about community, about women and supporting women, the bond that we built together and competing in a healthy way. What are three important qualities that I look for in a man and what are three deal breakers? Oh, this is good. Important qualities, first and foremost, a believer of Jesus.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
I don't really... I used to put a huge emphasis on where they were in their walk, but you have to have grace for people because I have to know that I was once in a different place and God works with us in his own timing. So just being a believer is the number one thing. Someone who's honest and someone who... who is able to communicate their feelings. I love that in a man.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
Deal breakers would be lying. It would be someone who is not, you don't have to be like, everybody's not gonna be as driven as I am, but I want someone who is not just content with what they're doing. Just mediocre living. I want somebody who wants more and who strives for more and wants more out of life. So I guess that would go into somebody just being lazy and content. I don't like that.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
And another deal breaker would be anyone who mistreats someone of service. Anyone in the service industry, when I tell you the biggest turnoff for me is when someone is rude to someone that is working a job where they're here to serve other people. I don't play that. So that would be the main thing, my three things, yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
Have you lost many friends because of your celebrity status and your walk with God? I wouldn't say I've lost many friends. I would say that or even with your walk with God, things are revealed and you may realize, okay, we're not in the same place.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
It's a blessing as well, but I think one of the things I would have done is definitely left and went to college somewhere else. But still grateful for the experience I had. One of the things I'm grateful God shielded me from, so many things. You know, there's so many times where I look back and I realize some of the choices that I made when I was younger weren't the wisest.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
And a lot of things that God convicts you on, if your friends are still doing that, you may not be able to hang with them or talk to them in the same way because it's not in alignment with where you are with God. As far as like losing friends or anything like that because of that, because of my celebrity or my walk, I haven't lost a lot of friends, no. If anything, it brings us closer.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
And it also, when you have people around you that also want better for themselves or wanna level up, it inspires them. So if anything, it has brought me closer to my friends and I love them for that. How do I handle the negativity on social media and not let it get to me? There are days where I feel like Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Bye. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
And it was like some really good wine, so they was already, you know what I'm saying, feeling it, you know? And then his mama said, hey, go on and do that thing you do, you know what I'm saying? So he was like, man, mama, all right, cool. I don't wanna do that. Do what I said, dude. She gave him the toilet, you go. And he said, all right, babe.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
And I thank him for shielding me from myself sometimes. You know, even now, I look back and like that was nothing but God. So yeah, definitely some of the decisions. My self-care ritual when I need time to myself, I usually catch a flight down to Miami just to spend time down there. That is my place of solitude. I love the water. When I'm there, I spend time at the pool or I'll go to the beach.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
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Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
even spend time alone you know sometimes people feel like isolation is not a good thing but i feel like my isolation is more solitude you know where i find peace to be at one with my thoughts and by myself a lot of times when you're around a lot of people you can be distracted by how you really feel and sometimes you need to be centered and to do that is to find alone time with god so definitely going down to my spot in miami just to
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
Refresh and refill my cup and get some sunshine. My top three hair products. Right now I use Sacred's hair oil. I love that. I use Miel's. It's one of their mint deep conditioners. Babasuit mint deep conditioner. Love that. And then for these edges, honey, I use ORS's edge control. Okay, so right now I'm using the entire Renewtriv Collection by Estee Lauder top to bottom.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
I tell you guys, I've been using it for over a year now. I started last January of 2024 and it has done wonders for my skin. Even the bags under my eyes from filming and wearing a lot of makeup and having the makeup packed on. Throughout the day, I noticed the bags in my eyes were insane. It was so bad. I was like, I look like I'm 70.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
And once I get that age, of course, I will embrace whatever wrinkles I have because they're all a blessing. But at this age, I'm like, it shouldn't look like this. So it has worked wonders on that. I love Butterskin. They have this amazing toner that helps my skin feel really refreshed. And Tatcha. Tatcha has this, it's a rice scrub that kind of exfoliates your skin, but it's a gentle exfoliator.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
When I tell you my face feels like a baby, it feels so soft when I use that. Hmm, how is my dating life? Don't you want to know? Everybody wants to know. My dating life is great, you know, and as a public figure, there are a lot of things that I share, but I've also learned to keep things private. And I think it is great because that is something that I choose to keep private.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
So he went ahead and turned that thing, that water into wine, you know what I'm saying? Welcome to another episode of the Keep It Positive Sweeties Show, a safe space to heal, laugh, grow, and love. I'm your host, Chris Renee Hazlett, and today we are turning the spotlight on to you. Guys, I receive so many heartfelt messages, thoughtful questions, and inspiring stories from you all.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
But yeah, it's going good. Am I going to do a Kips tour? Yes, I'm going to do a Kips tour. I'm so excited about it and I hope to see you all there. I do. The first one was amazing and I cannot wait to see everyone and just see the community because it's so beautiful and bright and I cannot wait. So yeah, it's on the way. What is my secret to getting motivated?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
When I tell you guys, just full transparency, for the past few weeks, I've had a hard time going to sleep. So I find myself hitting the snooze button multiple times and sleeping sometimes hours past the time that I try to get up in the morning. really not feeling as motivated as I usually do or as I try to be because I know that my motivation inspires other people to be motivated.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
But I've had a bout of unmotivated energy. Like, I just, yeah, I don't feel like getting out of bed. And I'm not depressed or anything. I'm just tired. I'm not getting enough sleep because my mind is wandering. And sometimes I think that we have so much going on, it's hard to shut our brains off.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
So when I'm not motivated, I eventually, after I've hit the snooze button 10 times, I say, all right, Crystal, enough. It's time to get up. And once my feet hit the ground, I say, thank you, Jesus. the energy comes and I just hit the day and do what I can. Sometimes that's all you can do. My favorite memory on Sistahs and my favorite memory on Zatima. For Sistahs, favorite memory.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
One of my favorite things that we did with the sisters was, I want to say the top of 2024, we got to go to the very top of the Empire State Building. The view was absolutely stunning. It's an area that a lot of people don't get to go to. So to experience that with my sisters was amazing. On Zatima, one of my favorite moments is honestly, every day that I get to go to work with those people.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
You know, the Zatima cast is very special. Daval and I have an opportunity to go in and set the tone for the energy that we want on our set. And it literally flows from the cast, the crew, the executives. Like, you just feel the energy from the moment that you walk into the building. Everyone's happy to be there.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
And it's just, yeah, I think that's my favorite thing is just getting to work with everyone. It's truly special. What is a career goal or dream that I have been afraid to chase? You know, I've always wanted my, it started off as just wanting to be this incredible businesswoman that built an empire and
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
seeing so many parts of the industry oversaturated, but having such great passions and all these different things, there was this doubt in the back of my mind, could I really thrive and prosper in these certain areas? So these are things that I'm working on this year and hopefully soon to come that I'm actually going to go for it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
And that would be having my own haircare line, having my own fashion line. I love fashion, you know, having my own lifestyle line. home like I want to do all the things and I don't want to put myself in a box but that would be something that I think I have kind of held off on for a while that I think I'm ready to run after now.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
One of my greatest challenges that I have overcome in the last year and how did I rely on my faith to overcome it I um Last year was a really tough year because I feel like God was really just convicting me on a lot of things. He was working on me. And a lot of times when God is like really getting to you, the devil is so busy trying to distract you.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
And I found like a lot of things were kind of irking my spirit. as it came to Christianity. And a part of me was like, I just want to do what I want to do. Like, this is just too much. But that was nothing but the enemy because he knew what God was trying to use me for. And in that, trying to be transparent about my walk and understanding that, look, God knows where I am.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
But when you try to be open about it, it seems like the Christian community was the first to come and attack me.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
And I think that's one of the biggest things that I had to overcome, because when you know that you are truly seeking God's face and you're wanting to do right and changing things in your life, whether I publicize it or not, there's so many things in private that God is working with me on. And when I try to share my testimony and try to share my walk, people tear you down.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
And there was a time where I was just like, I don't want to do this anymore. Like, I'm cool. You know what I'm saying? Y'all got it. And that was something initially I was done with, but God really worked with me. And I started leaning on him and asking him, God, show me how you want to use me. Because I think I lost myself in just trying to do what everybody else was doing.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
And okay, well, this works, so let me try this. But I need to do exactly what God has for me because I'm nobody else. I'm uniquely made in His image, and because of Him, I'm able to stand firmly and confidently in my faith and talk about it. The wellness routine that I rely on most to de-stress would one be, well, I'm gonna give you a few because it's not just one thing. Meditation.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
I have to sit still, breathe, and really listen to the Word of God and just hear His voice. Sometimes we just be still. That's all you got to do is be still. Another thing is running. I'm not like an outside runner. I'm a treadmill runner. But it's something about getting a good run in. When I finish, I feel so good. And another thing would be massage. I love a good massage.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
That's time for me to disconnect. And I have to do a better job with that because sometimes I'll still be on my phone. But yeah, definitely those three. Meditation, running, and massage. Yes. Being a Christian in the public eye does have its challenges and I'm holding up well.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
You know, I ask God for guidance every day on how he wants to use me, how I can better steward over the platform that he's given me. And yeah, he's with me and I'm handling it really well. Thanks for asking. Do I have to sacrifice other parts of my life to have the career that I want to have? Of course. I mean, with anything that is worth having will come sacrifice.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
You know, for years, I felt like I sacrificed love, you know, and finding that. And there were times that I would pray to God and say, God, I feel like I have everything but this one thing. And what I realized was that God was preparing me for that moment because he knows me. He knows me better than anybody. And he knows I am when I love someone, I go all in. and I give it 1,000 percent.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
In this special episode, I'll be checking my DMs and answering your questions and sharing my perspective on topics that matter most to you. So grab your favorite drink or dessert, get comfortable, and let's embark on this journey of positivity and growth together. And remember, no matter what, we're gonna keep it positive, sweetie.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
But if I was giving that 1,000 percent, I wouldn't be able to really put the energy and time into what I needed to do to build my career. So I think everything is in God's timing, and He knows us better than anybody. But yeah, that would be one of the main things that I feel like I've had to sacrifice. On top of that, you know, there are certain things you can't do.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
You can't move how you used to move. A lot comes with it. You know, you have to think about
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
way more than you ever had to think when um when i was just regular crystal um i still operate as myself and feel like i'm still a regular crystal but i can't move like that you know there's a lot of things that i had to change and sacrifices come with that as well and salt and pepper a sugar in my grits okay i'm a country girl y'all and growing up i was a sugar girl okay
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
I was a sugar girl, but I have since graduated and now I am a salt and pepper. I used to love cheese, but I stopped eating dairy recently, so I can't even say cheese grits, but those are my favorite. Absolute favorite. But yeah, salt and pepper. I don't do the sugar anymore. What am I most looking forward to in 2025? I am most looking forward to completing every goal that I go after.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
You know, you start the top of the year with all these dreams and like, I'm going to do this, I'm going to do that. This year is the year of completion. And that is I'm most looking forward to just going and executing every single thing I want to go after. And my go-to karaoke song, I was just talking about this on Angie Martinez. It is Incomplete by Sisqo.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
I know that is a random song, but I love all the, ooh, yeah. Yeah, it's like, it's so good. It's so good. Go listen to the song. It's a great karaoke song. I'm telling you, when I'm with my friends and they play that song and we like sing it together, it's so much passion. And yeah, Sisqo really did that. But that's a fun one. What would I tell my younger self?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
ASK CRYSTAL w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett
I would tell her, do not be in a hurry to grow up. I can't count how many times I said, oh, I can't wait to get at this house. I can't wait to grow up. Child, no. Because it looked like it was so much fun to be an adult and do what you wanted to do. But little did I know that there is so much more that comes with being an adult.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
Coming up on Keep It Positive, Sweetie. What got you to the point where you were like, you know what B, I'm about to just put it all out there.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
You know what? For me right now, one of my first boundaries in non-negotiables is faith. Okay. Because I want to be the submissive woman that can be led, but you can't leave me if you have no relationship with the king. And if you're not submitting to him. Wow. Wow.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
It's itchy out here. I don't belong here.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
No, seriously. And that's been an issue where guys, like they didn't understand why I didn't want to be in a relationship anymore. I'm like, I can do this by myself.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
If I don't feel like you can lead me, then it's like, it's fine. I got it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
So I'd rather be alone. and continue to work myself with god versus be with somebody who can't leave me at all because it's frustrating for me okay that is like one of my main deal breakers especially in this point of my life okay where i need that okay yeah what about you do you have deal breakers or boundaries
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
Thank you for pulling up. And we finally got her here, guys. Finally. You've been on the road with me. You've been everywhere with me. Everywhere.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
That's interesting to me because I had a friend who used to say, you're single until you're married.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
Why do we put marriage stipulations on people we're not married to? And I was like, hmm. So what's like marriage stipulations? Like not cheat, like cheating, like vows. You know what I'm saying? You're like putting the sleeping with not sleeping with other people. That's like a marriage stipulation that you're putting on someone who hasn't made that vow to you.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
It kind of changed my perspective on dating, which I don't, this is not. I'm not saying you can cheat. That is not that. But she changed my perspective where I stopped holding people to that standard before they asked me to be their wife.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
Something that you touched on earlier was finances. And a question that I get asked often is would you date someone who doesn't make as much money as you? As a high earner, would you date someone who doesn't make as much money as you?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
We wouldn't have it any other way. Thank you.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
No, it makes perfect sense. It's funny because I've said the same thing because people always ask like, would you date someone? I'm like, yes. Yeah. Yeah. I definitely would. But I do. I love the things that I love and I've never been ashamed of that.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
Always very transparent about that. Like this is what I like to do. Yeah. And as long as I can do it. Lord, I want to continue to do those things.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
Yes. I just feel like once you, and a lot of it comes with exposure. Yes. You know, sometimes for me, exposure inspires.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
You know what? I've been broke before, so I know the stress. Oh, yeah. Same. Yes, I've been broken. It's a different type of stress. I always say, I'd rather be rich and stressed than be broke and stressed.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
So I'm grateful. And even a friend said, he's like, it's a privilege to be able to do what you want to do, be able to take care of everything, and then also be like, I want to go do this or do that or I want to invest in this and you can take the risk. That is a privilege and a blessing.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
And I don't take it for granted. Yeah. When it comes to finances, how are you doing like with budget? We've talked about this. Yeah. That's a big thing. We get relationships trying to figure out, OK, like has money. How are you with money?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
Thank you. I'm so proud of you. Thank you so much. Thank you. I'm glad to be here. It has been a labor of love. I'm so excited about rebranding everything. Yeah. We're going up. Yeah. It's an upgrade. I'm super excited. I love it. I'm happy to have you here. Thank you.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
Yes. So I want to see it liquid. Liquid is different. It's different to see them zeros.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
They say after the first million, it's easy to get the next million. It's just getting that first one.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
I was like, what y'all want to do?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
And a million dollars is nothing.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
People think that's like, oh my God, it's nothing.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
I used to get money. What? I'm like, uh-uh, no. I think I got some money back this year. Yeah. I got a good accountant, though. Shout out to Alicia. That's good. Yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
And that's in the space that you were in.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
So it's more than just putting her in a house.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
But no, seriously, it is an honor to have you here today. I'm excited. We always have amazing conversations. People have heard our stories, heard us talk about everything. So the first thing I want to ask you today is give me one word that describes the season that you're in right now in your life.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
No, seriously. I'm doing the same thing. I have a new accounting team and I have Marquise. Every business trip I go on, anytime I leave the house for a period of time where I'm spending a lot of money, he does a spreadsheet of how much money I'm spending. How much did we spend last week when I was going to New York? $23,000. In a week? No, three days. Well, what was y'all eating?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
No, that wasn't even eating. What was y'all flying? What was y'all booking? There was airfare, hotels for people, trains for people. I already know. Per diem.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
And people don't see that. They don't, they see all the things that happen. They don't know what goes behind making everything work. And what I'm grateful for now is my team. Who's like, we're like, I've been finding a place where they can like source out the money. Yeah. But like right now, it comes out of my pocket until we get the money, you know? And it wasn't always like that.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
And it costs money to make money. So I was like, this is an investment. We have a bigger goal here. It's going to come back. We have the vision. But I have to be diligent. I need to go through those line items and see what's important and what's not important.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
Get out of here. Get out. Yes, it adds up.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
You got everybody drinks, everybody food. We not eating no... We at Tao, Old Charlie's, Chili's. We at Tao and Nobu and Mastro's.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
We love it because you want to expose everybody to that. To everything. And I feel the burden like, ooh, I can't really, I got it already.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
If you could describe it in one word. I know it's so hard.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
No, I am literally like that. I order the whole menu. I want to try everything. Even if I order like, I love La Colonial. I order to the house. I get like three appetizers. I get a tuna tartare, the chicken dumplings. I get the salad. I get the shaking beef. That's me. Do you understand what we're saying? This is nuts. It's like a $300 Uber Eats bill for one meal a day.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
That's not including the breakfast I had. That's not including the smoothie.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
Your closet is so organized and pristine. I was like, girl, who did this closet? But it shows how you take care of things, you know, how you steward over it. I was talking to a friend of mine about tithing and about making, I said, my mom used to, it started off with shoes. I'm like, I want a new pair of shoes.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
She's like, I'm not giving you another pair of shoes until you take care of the ones you have. Wow. And we'd be like, we want this, we want this, we want that. And God's like, but you're not taking care of what I'm giving you. What you got. So how can I trust that when I give you more, you're going to blow through that, too? Yeah. So making sure that, like, I tied.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
Before, like, Petey talked about it. He said, y'all know how y'all get on the weekends. Y'all want to go out. He was like.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
if you know how you are go ahead and give god his gift so you can go do what you want to do with the rest of it yeah um but the moment i really started taking that seriously i saw god continue to bless you because he knew i was gonna do the right thing i love that you know and it's like it's exciting to give god he is yeah saying what belongs to me yeah it's his anyway it is his anyway yeah but i too was like you girl i would blow through money just it was like itching to hold my pocket
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
What you want? Get you something to eat. What? Oh, yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
And it feels good to be able to bring your friends along and do experiences like that. It feels good.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
We're not. Making smarter choices, smarter decisions. I'm proud of you. Thank you. I really am. I was telling people it was the strike that really shifted my mindset on where my money, I'm making all these millions of dollars every year. What are you doing with it? What are you doing with it? What are you doing with it?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
Yes, I can have all designer clothes in the world, but I can make Zara look like designer, honey. Hey, don't sleep on Zara. Don't sleep on, baby, Steve Madden? Honey, girl, Steve Madden be on Revolve now? Is there a new collection? Ma'am! I bought two bags, boots, and some jewelry.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
No, I didn't know they had clothes. I was on Revolve the other day. I was like... Steve Madden got clothes and they're cute. She was just, my friend was just going to check out.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
Keep it sponsored, sweetie. MCTA, come on. Come on over. Yes. We can have some outfits. You know, we love the fashion tips of the day. Yeah. Yes. But that's good. I love that. I love that. We always talk about friendships. Yes. And, um, I wanted to ask you something because this is always a question that I wanted to know that I asked some of my friends.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
What are things that you look for in a friend? And the second part is what makes you a good friend? Because I know it makes you a good friend, but you know, sometimes we don't understand who we are and what we bring to the table as a friend.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
Yep. That's so true. Yeah. Everybody needs something different. Everybody needs something different.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
I love that. That's so important. And it's also important to know that like sometimes So take it in between like, wait, did I do something wrong? Yeah. Because sometimes you can take things out of context and you really have to know where you're coming from on certain things.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
we have um you and i both have talked about friends family um and forgiveness yes and we this summer we talked about something personal that i had gone through and how i was navigating that forgiveness man yeah um as a woman where you are now in your walk with god if you had to grade yourself a to an f what would you grade yourself on forgiving others
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
Oh, that's good. That's so good.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
Yes, Carl, Ulysses, my tailor, one of my tailors, he actually gave me that book a few years ago to read. It's so good.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
That's so good. Now, how would you grade yourself on forgiving yourself?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
Because I know for me, it's harder. I'm harder on myself than I am on other people. I can be like, okay, that's fine, whatever, move on. But when it comes to me, I feel like I'm harder on myself than I am on others.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
I would never. No, but seriously, this has been an amazing conversation. I love you. I love how we can just talk about anything. Anything. This is how we are in real life, guys.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
Girl, I ran when you texted me that. I said, girl, it's so stupid.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
Thank you. Proud. I'm proud of you. Proud. You equal. You talk about how I inspire you. You inspire me as well.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
Like, seriously, the way you push me and I remember when I was first doing this and I was like, yeah, I'm going to do a podcast. And so I'm like, okay, yeah, that's good. What's what's up? You were like, let me know.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
Like if you need like camera people or where to get equipment or if you need me to help you like that, if you already had your own pockets, I was like, this girl is like, you're just a unicorn. I just love you. I love you too.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
You know, another thing I love about you is you're so transparent. Thank you. A lot of people wouldn't tell people that. Thank you. I love that about you. And you are so transparent about so many different parts of your life, which is why I think you're so relatable. Yeah. A lot of people just gravitate to you because they see themselves, even if it's like a certain part.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
Yeah. I feel it. I feel it. God is really moving, and I'm just excited. I'm telling you, when I saw this space, I was excited. My God. tears. I was like, I literally, Siri was in the middle of like going, okay, this is what we're doing. I was just like, I know.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
that's all I want I got you so I would love to know or my people would want to know because I probably already know yeah you know everything already yeah but is there anything that you have on the horizon that you want to share with us because we want to support you in any way we can yeah so this is my first time sharing this I was going to go to Patreon but I decided to start my own platform you are actually a part of it I can't wait to
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
You let everybody see all of you and all the different colors of you. Yeah. So it's like, oh, I can identify with that. I can identify with that. Yeah. I just love that about you. Thank you. I'm not as transparent.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
I think... I was always taught that there was something about being a mystery. Oh, I like that too. Yeah, there's something about being a mystery. And don't let everybody know everything you have going on. You know how to tell people everything. But in this world now where we're on social media and we're on platforms like our shows that we have, you have to be more open and transparent.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
And I still find myself being selective but trying to be more open.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
I go through this as well. And I'm like, OK, I'm not going to hide you. like we're gonna go out, but I feel like putting somebody out on social media, if you see it, you see it. But putting it out there, I don't know if I would do that either. And for the most part, the guys I've dated are okay with that.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
So I haven't ran into an issue, but that is a thing. You want to protect things. You want to keep it sacred. Sacred. Yeah, no, I feel you on that.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
And to them it does. You shouldn't have put it out there if you didn't want us to say nothing.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
Did we just get a... Kip's, Kip, Kip's exclusive. Drop that in. Why you drop that? Kip's exclusive. Kip's exclusive.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
It was a look. It was a... I'm laughing.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
Yeah. You know, it's looking good. Jesus. Yes. He is working, honey. Yes. Oh my God. Why is my heart pounding? I feel like I'm finally in a space where, you know, you like, you search and you hope and pray for like the person that like understands, even if they don't understand this, like they understand you and their care and love for you is like, I see who you are from the jump. It's special.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
So you know what I'm saying? I'm just letting God take this thing the way he wants to take one thing at a time. Enjoying it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
What about you? Are you ready for love?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
Because you know what? It's a long distance relationship. He's overseas. So him coming here, you know, being very intentional about getting to know me, listening. You know, I remember I was... sitting outside one day reading my Bible. We were doing the Proverbs challenge at Change Church, Wise Up was what the challenge was called. And he was watching me outside reading my Bible.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
Hello, I'm Crystal Renee Hazlett, and this is Keep It Positive, Sweetie, a safe space to heal, laugh, grow, and love. And season six is underway and off to a great start. We've got this amazing new set, and we've had some incredible conversations so far. I'm going to keep the momentum going with my guest for today, my sister, my friend, B. Simone.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
And he goes, let me go get some of this wisdom. This is what he says to himself, not knowing that I was reading Proverbs. And he comes up and he's like, hey, what are you doing? I was like, I was just reading Proverbs trying to catch up because we're doing this for the whole month. He's like, do you mind if I read with you? Oh my God. Oh my God. Baby. I said, huh? He's like, I already went.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
So he read like a chapter piece and like after each chapter we broke down how we interpreted it. And these are the things you pray for, right?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
A woman who was after God's heart and, like, really seeking him. You want a partner that's doing the same thing.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
And he was in a different space. We'll probably talk about this once we get to that point, talk about it publicly. But he was in a space where he was raised in the church, raised as Christian, read the Bible, knows the Bible, knows the Word, but got away from it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
Because it's like, you know, like, it's too many contradictions. Yep, yep. But...
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
being around me he's starting to like watch watch he's changed global so he watches church online yeah he watches online and every sunday he'll call me after church it'll be four o'clock his time and then i'll watch it i'll go to church here yeah and he'll call me and we'll go over each other's notes and he's like you know i really loved it when he's yeah come on accent what did you love about it darling
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
Yeah, but that was a part of it, really just wanting to be in my world and be a part of what I'm doing. He loves that we can do things together. He's like, this is something else we can do together. I love that. And normally it was me being like, what can we do together? Let's do this. Yeah, and he's really into that. So I was like, okay, this is dope.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
And then even the time that we spend together, like when he would come here and visit me, it was just beautiful. Like no stress. It just felt almost like home. Easy. Yeah, very easy. Yeah. And there was times where I'd pray about something. I journaled about him. And I'm like, God, this and then like literally there'd be something like, hey, babe, I was thinking about this.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
And it would be like what I prayed about to God, like because I didn't want to like come off like needy or like I need you to do this. It's like I need to work on that. I was like, oh, this is this is great. Did you read my journal? Right. But he was overseas. I was like, I literally just prayed about this. Wow. And he was like, are you serious? I was like, yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
And the fact that he can be open and, like, that's something else I pray for, a man that can communicate and, like, even point out his flaws and be like, hey, I need to work on this because I want to be better for you. Accountability, emotional intelligence.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
Oh, you got to watch Sunday sermon, honey. What? What was it called? I won't go back? I won't go back. I won't go back. Yeah, because we go back to what we're comfortable with.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
It will come. And I'm going to tell you this. You have to be very intentional and specific in what you want.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
Because I literally, right, I was like, God, I want this, this, this, this, and this. And God gave me exactly what I wanted. And I'm like, but Lord, he ain't got this, this, and this. He's like, what's important? Ooh-wee. What do you want? Because I'm giving you what you asked for. Right.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
Now, it only took six seasons to get her here, but we're gonna have some good girl talk about any and everything like we always do. She does so many things well, and she means so much to so many people, including me. She's an actress, comedian, entrepreneur, and a great friend. I finally got her here, y'all. I am so excited. My friend, my sister, B. Simone. Thank you, sis.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
And when I started being intentional about what I really wanted... And I was about to like, I was thinking about going back to something else that no longer served me. A relationship. Yes. And then the next day I ran into him. Yeah. And I was like, God. Interrupted it. He's like, what you're not about to do is do this.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
Right. Right, good, good. But you have to be very specific. And also there was a time where I knew that God wasn't bringing the right person to me because I couldn't handle it. You weren't ready. And I love that you even, like, I pray that I can handle it because I knew I wasn't ready, you know, but now I know like this is the one thing that I need.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
But God knows how that man needs to be built for me. Yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
Like, yeah, you have money. Let's talk about it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
Okay, you know what? Yeah. That's a good, when you know that you still have a lot of work to do, just know that like whenever you find that person, they're probably gonna have work to do as well. But are you willing to work with them?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
That's the difference because a lot of people get into relationships and they're not perfect or like completely ready, but they feel like this is my person, you know? And then you see relationships that really work. And neither one of them felt like they was ready, but they ended up making it work together.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Truth Isn't Always Pretty w/B. Simone
Oh, my sweetie. My sweeties. Darling B, that's what I'm.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Kips Live Pt. 3 w/ The Cast of Zatima: Devale Ellis, Nzinga Imani, Danielle Laroach and Watch Jazzy + Positive Outcomes
Kid family, can we make some noise for our amazing visionary? The best podcast you can watch anywhere. Make some noise for yourselves one more time. I want you to know that I literally, I pulled up and I saw the billboard and I saw sold out. And literally, I want you to understand that this room is not sold out because of the character you play on television.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Kips Live Pt. 3 w/ The Cast of Zatima: Devale Ellis, Nzinga Imani, Danielle Laroach and Watch Jazzy + Positive Outcomes
Wow.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Kips Live Pt. 3 w/ The Cast of Zatima: Devale Ellis, Nzinga Imani, Danielle Laroach and Watch Jazzy + Positive Outcomes
But it's sold out because of the character of your heart. And these women and men and whoever are watching week to week and who are in this room, like they're not connected to a character like, who you are, it just explodes out. Like your heart is what makes you this incredible person.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Kips Live Pt. 3 w/ The Cast of Zatima: Devale Ellis, Nzinga Imani, Danielle Laroach and Watch Jazzy + Positive Outcomes
And like, I've just kind of watched God from the vantage point that I have just keep elevating you and elevating you. And the thing that's so dope is you remain this amazing person that you have this stuff, but this stuff doesn't have you. And that's why we love you. That's why I did all these services and came straight here. Four services today and then came here.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Kips Live Pt. 3 w/ The Cast of Zatima: Devale Ellis, Nzinga Imani, Danielle Laroach and Watch Jazzy + Positive Outcomes
I just want to speak this over you. Eyes haven't seen. Ears haven't heard. Neither has it entered into the heart of man.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Kips Live Pt. 3 w/ The Cast of Zatima: Devale Ellis, Nzinga Imani, Danielle Laroach and Watch Jazzy + Positive Outcomes
All that God has prepared for you, you have not scratched the surface. And I'm so proud. I tell you this all the time. I'm so proud of you. And I can't wait to see what God does next. Can I pray? I'm going to pray. Can we stand? Is that cool? We're getting ready to go home. You've been sitting down for a long time outside of those of you who were twerking with the DJ. I'm sorry. But let's pray.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Kips Live Pt. 3 w/ The Cast of Zatima: Devale Ellis, Nzinga Imani, Danielle Laroach and Watch Jazzy + Positive Outcomes
Lord, I thank you. I thank you for this amazing visionary. Thank you for my friend. I thank you for what you're doing through her, that she has not sacrificed you for an opportunity that she tells everybody that if it had not been for the Lord, I wouldn't be where I am. And I pray that you continue to protect her, keep her open doors that no devil can shut.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Kips Live Pt. 3 w/ The Cast of Zatima: Devale Ellis, Nzinga Imani, Danielle Laroach and Watch Jazzy + Positive Outcomes
I thank you that Lord, because of how she serves you, that she takes you with you on every elevation. So God, as you promote her, that you promote the kingdom of God as well. And I thank you, Lord. For every person in this room and for every person that's going to watch this podcast, Lord, let us all leave better and inspired to grow and become all that you have called us to be.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Kips Live Pt. 3 w/ The Cast of Zatima: Devale Ellis, Nzinga Imani, Danielle Laroach and Watch Jazzy + Positive Outcomes
Keep us safe until we meet again. In Jesus' name, amen.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Kips Live Pt. 3 w/ The Cast of Zatima: Devale Ellis, Nzinga Imani, Danielle Laroach and Watch Jazzy + Positive Outcomes
I keep showing up and showing out. Period. No, but truly, I mean, that's one way. But also, I have to say, like, Crystal continues to be an example in so many different ways. Because there's a lot of times where people comment things, and I'm ready to say something back. And then I just got to be like, keep it positive, sweetie. You are better than this. You are better than that.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Kips Live Pt. 3 w/ The Cast of Zatima: Devale Ellis, Nzinga Imani, Danielle Laroach and Watch Jazzy + Positive Outcomes
And so you're constantly an inspiration in even just how to deal with those situations. But both of you have set great examples of how to lead this cast in humility and grace. And I am so grateful that we got you guys as an example coming into this because it was a learning experience. It was. It definitely. And we came in with so much preparation because you guys made sure that we were.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Kips Live Pt. 3 w/ The Cast of Zatima: Devale Ellis, Nzinga Imani, Danielle Laroach and Watch Jazzy + Positive Outcomes
So shout out to y'all. Thank you. Can I let it go past without saying it?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
He's here now to share his powerful testimony and how he's moving forward in music, movies and more. Dro, we got you here.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
You are here. I'm so happy. I just, I love your energy. Thank you. I appreciate your support. We follow each other on Instagram. We do. I was like, oh my gosh. I just, from growing up, well, we're probably about the same age, but like we grew up together and you were such an instrumental piece of hip hop. So to actually know you now, I feel blessed.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
Are you kidding me? Yep. This is like a movie.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
Please. Oh my God. I have a lot of fears in life. One is like dying while giving birth and then another one is getting shot. Is that a feeling that you never forget? Like that feeling when you like hit or some kind of sometimes your adrenaline is going, you don't even realize and you're like, oh shit, I'm hit. What was that moment like in the moment when it happened?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
You thought that was your friend that was approaching you and then it wasn't.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
Oh my goodness. You spoke about at that point, the situation being in the hospital and getting addicted to drugs, to the pain medicine. When I was in college, I tore my Achilles tendon and my mom, she works in a hospital.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
and by day three she took the hydrocodones away from me because she was like you're fine you're okay and i remember what it felt like the sleep i was telling them earlier i could hear myself snoring like it was the best sleep i had ever had in my life and um i know i was like even though i don't have an addictive spirit i know how people have just i just want to feel that um at that age what was it for you um well nobody in the family ever
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
I'm so happy. Thanks for having me. How you feeling?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
That's good. So I want to talk about the fits, because, Joe, you have been clean. And that was another thing. You said we have a new definition of I'm cleaning this bitch, because you clean now.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
Now I wonder if at some point the nurses should have stepped in and said, okay, that's, or had some type of limit of how much they, you know?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
It's like 15 years old, somebody needs that, yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
But I want to talk about the fashions. I was a stylist. I styled Tyler Perry for five years. I was a costume designer at the studio for five years. So I'm all about the fashions. And you have been repping Polo since that. Before there was influencers, you was a Ralph Lauren influencer. Did you ever even like have a partnership with them? What?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
No, seriously. The hip hop industry speaks a lot about drugs and lean and all types of pills and things like that. And I think even more today, They're more outward with it in their music. We hear so many people are overdosing. Being that you were in the industry, the addiction started at such a young age.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
As you continue to be engulfed in this career path, was that something that you were faced with, where you just try new stuff because that spirit was already kind of set in with being addicted?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
Got you. Recently you opened up about TI's son Damani saving you from an overdose. Was that the turning point? Tell me about that situation.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
Yes, he will. And it happened. Oh, you're going to make me cry. That's so good. I listened to it. So who was it? We have a church, or it's like a group of us to go to church together. I'm really about to cry. I'm so excited. Because God is so good.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
He is so good. People don't understand when you have that relationship with him to listen to him the way you have. How he will restore you and turn you around. And sometimes you think things are not redeemable or you can't come back from something. So I love that, God, you listen to him. And we were on our way to church and a friend of mine, we call ourselves the squad.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
We all go to church together. And he sent that song to us. And me and Marquise, we were listening to it. And as I was like, oh my goodness, like I didn't know Joe went through this And it was so beautiful how you told the story and I reposted it that day. I was like, oh my gosh I just love this song.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
But um, I Had went to I was doing I've been doing this show for a while and I remember I was like, oh like I want to I feel like it's getting too touchy and I don't want to do this and I went to a woman evolve and And I was telling my team, we need to switch it up and rebrand it. I want to be more of me. And I went to Women Evolve and Sarah Jakes was preaching. That's my girl. Yeah, love her.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
And I came back and I was like, y'all, I got to be aware of the content that I'm putting out, the message that I'm sending. And it's basically God saying, like, I've given you this platform, but I need you to keep me in it. And it's funny because even in the rebranding, God always comes up. It's like he's in the midst.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
Even if I am being myself, he's like, you can be yourself, but I'm going to be in there. You know, and it always comes up. But it's just listening to that voice and knowing that the platform he's giving you and giving me, he wants the glory for it. Yes, he does. Yes, I'm proud of you for that. So in your new music, I know you're more aware and conscious of the message you're putting out.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
How has that shifted? And when you go into the studio now, is it a different energy that you feel?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
Yeah Me too. I'm the same way. I'm like, yeah, I'm like, let's let's not do that. These are things I want to talk about I'm not gonna talk about that right because we had to be responsible It's now it's like a certain responsibility that we have for the people that's listening
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
So something I want to talk about, because you talked about the trauma, like always looking around. Like if somebody's going to shoot me or hit me upside the head with a bottle or stab me, have you gone to any therapy? Or are you actively in therapy to kind of help with that trauma?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
So do you style yourself, or do you have a stylist?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
Wow, I love that. Joe, this is good. I love that. So you had your trajectory of music. I did want to ask you, because I didn't know that you were on before T.I. was on. His career went crazy. Crazy, crazy. Now, I want to talk about friendships and the business. Was there ever a point where you were like, damn, like, this nigga done, you know what I'm saying, like, went, surpassed me? Yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
Was there ever one where you kind of, like, felt a way, like, dang, like, I'm supposed to be there because this is what, I was doing this first?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
Because I know sometimes that happens in friendships. You know why?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
I love hearing that because sometimes we don't hear the positive sides of friends being in business together. I love that it's been a positive situation for you. What are some things that you've learned from him with the business?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
I love that. You have a song called Put It On. Put It On. And I was just talking to my parents the other day, and we were reminiscing about our trip to Europe this past summer. And they were like, you were just in there like, okay, we want to get this, this, and this. And we were just walking around looking like hillbillies. I said, nah, y'all put that shit on. And they was like, what?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
I love that, shout out to, I love that. I got to work with him on a movie, like 2015, and he's such an incredible worker, works very hard, professional, and it was a joy, so I love Tip. I love it, so you spoke about acting. Yeah. Is this like, has this always been a dream, or is this something that just kind of fell into? You know what, I think I'm an unofficial thespian.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
I said, y'all put that shit on. And I was like, I said, so when you get dressed, because I had about to like Louis Vuitton and all that stuff, so they was looking good. And I said, y'all had it on. I said, that's when you put your fits on, you look good. They're like, oh, okay, we put that shit on. Yeah. And then I was listening to your song this morning. I was like, put it on.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
Amazing, so when are they coming out? Can we let the people know? I don't know. Okay, so we'll be on the lookout. They should be soon, though. Yeah, we'll be on the lookout. They're done. I love that. So you are back in the studio working on more music.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
I love that. Is there a release date on that?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
I'm like, oh, I got something. Because guess what I thought?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
And that was a lot. That was a lot. Yeah, I need our aspiring rappers to hear that because I think they look at a lot of the rappers today and think, oh, I got to be on these drugs. I got to do this to be cool. and to come across as reputable, you know, and have that reputation. But I mean, you don't have to do all that.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
a pill or two like god yeah you need to add nothing to this yeah i love that um if there was anything that you would tell young men i know you you have outreach um right now but what if you could leave the young man that may watch this show with something what would you tell them um it's okay to admit that you walked in the wrong door than to spend your lifetime in the wrong room Write that down.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
I'm taking that one. I am taking that one. That is so good. Joe, I have absolutely enjoyed this conversation. This is deep. You brought me to tears today, man. God is good.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
no man that was that was heartfelt man i appreciate you feeling for me yeah no i felt that we need to we need a lot of that in the world today people to feel for people the grace yeah i think that's something that um the christian community lacks is um grace for each other to give the same grace that god gives us that's that's powerful Mm-hmm, yeah. Well, I appreciate you.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
Any way that I can support you or the KIPPS community can support you, we got you. Thank you. And we're here for you. Just call on us. Thank you. Yes, thank you so much. Whew, man, between Young Joe's testimony, the tears, and the gems he dropped, guys, I am so full. There was so much I took away from our conversation, but I had to choose one thing.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
It would be, it's okay to admit you walked in the wrong door instead of spending a lifetime in the wrong room. So that right there was so poignant and it meant so much because I think sometimes we make a mistake and instead of trying to find a way out of it, we just stick with the devil that we know and we stay in that situation. Joe, thank you so much. I love that.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
Thank you all so much for watching and for your support of the Keep It Positive Sweetie Show. I also want to thank Young Joe for coming through and sharing his story. For those watching who may be struggling with substance abuse or mental health challenges, you don't have to go through this alone. You matter. Your love and the help is available to you.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
You can contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP. And to keep up with our show and all the cool things we have going on, you can follow me on all social media platforms at Love Crystal Renee. And you can also follow our show at Keep It Positive, Sweetie.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
I love it. I love it. Congratulations on Young Dro Day. I heard that that just happened. And guess what? What? That's my birthday. What? October 18th. So we share a special day together.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
We need to collab on our day. That's crazy. How about that?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
I love it. What did it mean to you to have that level of recognition in your city?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
Yeah. And you're already doing that. You were doing that before you got your day. Um, and I love how you're in the community speaking to young men and, trying to make sure they stay on the right path. I applaud you for that. Recently for the election, you were very involved with making sure people got registered to vote. What was the importance of that?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
Because I know this is a big election for us.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
Locally, that, oh my gosh, I'm so glad you said that. Backstory, I used to work on Capitol Hill, so I love politics. Not enough to say in it, but I'm very enamored in it, and I just love how it works, and I want people to be more educated on it, because a lot of, like you said,
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
She was running for an office that nobody even knew about and didn't even know what that position, what the decisions she would be making in that position. And I try to tell people, it's your sheriffs, your police chiefs, your mayors. Those are people that are making the choices closer to you. The judges, you know, so if something happens, that's who you're going to see.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
And you have to make sure those people either reflect your standards in what you're voting for or they look like you. And a lot of times they don't in those positions. So that's so important. I'm proud of you for that. Thank you.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
when it comes to the message you want to send to black men because i know you talk to the young young men but like to black men and where we're going within this next four years before we have another election what's the message that you would drive to them so they can kind of help prepare for the next race when we get there um i have to keep i have to keep it gonna because
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
That's good. I love that message. Message to the message. I love that because a lot of times we forget we just think about the right now, but we're not thinking about our legacy. Exactly. And that's what we need to like literally cultivate a culture that protects them. Because right now I don't have any children, but I'm afraid to bring a child into this world because it's so scary.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
I'm like, I don't I know I'm protective of my people. If I have a mini me running around here. I will go crazy, because I just want to make sure they're always good, you know?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
Hi, I'm Chris Renee Hazlett, and this is the Keep It Positive Sweeties Show, a safe space to heal, laugh, grow, and love. I'm really looking forward to the show today because we've been trying to get this next guest on for a while. I'm talking about hip-hop great Young Dro. We'll deep dive into how he overcame a lengthy drug addiction and how he's using his testimony to inspire and uplift others.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
You do? Oh, yeah, yes, we met at the game, yes.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
Yeah, I love that. You've had an incredible career with your music. Hip-hop is so instrumental in our culture.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
At what point did you know that you had a gift to rap?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
i love that so when you put it on pen to paper i used to write poetry as well as a kid my mom used to always say don't buy me a car write me a poem because i was i was pretty good at it i need to get back to it um but i would write poetry at what like when did you say okay i'm gonna put it to pen to paper and then i'm gonna get in the studio or did you just start doing like talent shows or rap it in the neighborhood oh to be what's crazy was like when i was young i i was i used to like this girl named maya in the second grade okay and i wrote her this
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
Right. What did grandma say when he was like, I want to do rap? Was she like, what?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
Best known for hip-hop hits like Shoulder Lean and We in the City, Young Dro has been a part of the soundtrack of my life along with so many others. Despite having hit records over the course of his career, young Joe was immersed in a drug addiction that spanned decades. Now nearly four years sober, Joe is more focused than ever.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
Wow. Is that when T.I. noticed you or somebody else?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro
Okay, that's what's up. So I guess Tip decided he was going to do Grand Hustle, and did he come back and was it one of those, hey, come with me, or were you like, hey, bro, you see what I'm doing?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Calling all my sweeties to the forefront. I'm your host, Chris Renee Hazlett, and this is the Keep It Positive Sweetie Show. Monique Rodriguez has shattered the glass ceiling in the beauty world with her Miel Organics brand. As the founder and CEO, Monique transformed her personal tragedy into a thriving, purpose-driven enterprise.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Really?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Right, no.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Especially now, no.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Yes. That's powerful. I know as a black woman, just finding the right primary care doctor. I have a black woman that's my primary care doctor. Yeah. And then I went and got my first mammogram the other day. Yeah. And I was so nervous. I was so nervous because I don't know, in my mind, I think sometimes I feel like.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Because some people, the doctors will say, oh, we see cancer, and then you'll go get a second opinion. They're like, there's nothing there. So I'm always worried about, are they going to tell me the right thing? Or it's like, what's going to happen? Because I was having this pain right here. And of course, you get on Google and start Googling. Google is your enemy. Right. It's like, you're dying.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
I was like, oh, gosh. And so you're automatically like going in kind of preparing for the worst, but hoping for the best. But understanding that having I want to look across that room and see someone that looks like me or reflects me. And that's so important, which is why I love my primary care doctor, because she is a black woman and she she gives it. I'm talking about I can call her any time.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
I can pull up on her and say whatever I'm feeling. She's gonna look into it and connect me with the right, another black doctor that's gonna take it serious versus like, oh, it just comes with age or oh yeah, you're fine. You know, like it's very passive. Yes, and I don't like that. So I totally understand why you were like, no, I have to get out of this so that I'm not depressed. I get it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
From that, did that make you more of an advocate for midwives and doulas? Are you more like an at-home birth mom where you, like, want to push women, like, just kind of stay away from the health care system? How do you feel about that?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
I love that. That's so good. So this caused a pivot for you to go into entrepreneurship. What was like the first thing that you tried? I know you've done a few things. What was one of the first things that you tried to do on your own outside of being a nurse?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
That's so true.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Right.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Very much.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
I love that. What made you want to go into hair care? Like, what was the spark for that? Besides your beautiful hair.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Yes.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Yes. You touched on something about... How dare you dream this big? I was reading a book called The Prayer Circle where you like basically kind of build your own Jericho wall. Yeah. How they go around the wall until it comes down and it becomes true. And in the book, he says something about a lot of times when you like your faith is too small or you don't believe big, it's an insult to God.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Absolutely. Yeah. So when you said that, it reminded me of that. I was like, it is. It's an insult to God. Like, how dare you not dream that big?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
You know?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Yes. And you're holding everybody else up. Yeah. Like sometimes it's you that's holding everybody else up.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Yes, that's so true. In your book, you had a chapter called Finding Your Person. And you and your husband, Melvin, were high school sweethearts.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
That's crazy. I only know one other. Well, I know a few people, but I know Daval and Kadeem were like, they met in high school and are still together to this day. But you don't hear that happening a lot.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
At what point did you know, like in high school, did you know then, or y'all were just like boyfriend and girlfriend, did you see it then, like this is the person I'm going to be with for the rest of my life?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Yes, I know that's right. I love that. You are really big on your faith. And so is he. How has faith played a role into where you guys are in your business partners? Y'all do everything together from what I see. Yeah. How has that played a role? Even when you said it was rocky at certain points, like how did that faith play a role through your relationship?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
And your girls, they're adorable the way they dress as well. Thank you. So you picked that up from your mom, because they are stylish. They look so cute all the time. Thank you. Yes. I love that.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
I love that. Now you guys work together. I know for me, like I like my space. So I like to like be able to go. But I feel like you guys, was there any moments as you're building this huge brand that it is today where y'all were like bumping heads or was it always just like, no, we're on the same page. It's smooth.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Yes.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Me? Honestly, my mom used to make my dresses as well. Oh, really? Yes, when I was a kid. And we had layaway, too. Yes. But she made my outfits. And I'm from a small town, so I used to, like, get my inspiration from TV and magazines.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
You do that very well too. Yeah. I try on a high level back.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Absolutely. Yeah. In building Mile Organics, what was the moment where you both realized, We got something and this is a hit.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Her journey from registered nurse to a leading global beauty brand is a testament of resilience, faith, and unwavering determination. In her new book, The Glory in Your Story, Activating a Fearless Faith to Change Your Life, Your Career, and the World, she shares intimate insights into overcoming adversity and finding purpose through pain. Monique's story is not just about business success.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Like, we're in the grocery store in the line, and I'm picking up Ebony and Vibe and all those magazines and Essence and reading through them, like, oh, I need this outfit. So we happened to go to Memphis, like, two hours away to, like, get to the nicest mall so that I could, like, get certain things that I wanted.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Yeah. And when did you, like, decide that we're going to go into the big stores? Like, what was that moment that you couldn't handle it from the basement anymore?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
I remember the garage. I think I remember y'all posting that.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
And I'm like, What are the odds we're in Texas?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Two hours, no mall where I'm from.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
I'm going to make this work. Yeah, yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Yes, yeah, here in Atlanta, yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
A huge blessing because most of the time people are pitching their product to the retailers. That's amazing.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Wow, that is incredible. So you're on this journey of just the rise of Miel Organics. What was that journey like? Because I know as you're going up, you're going to, because people always think that like once you make it, quote unquote, that like, oh, it's just smooth sailing, it's easy. What were some of the bumps that you guys hit along the way as you continue to rise?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Yeah, came to town with no mall.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Yeah, it is. No, and I feel like even from a young age, it was a part of how I expressed myself. Now, you'll see me in jeans. I'm a tomboy at heart.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
so you'll see me in jeans baggy sweatpants um and it all kind of just expresses how i feel like today i came in and i was in pink maybe your girliness is running off because i came in here looking real cute like girlish today um other days my i have an aloe like sweatsuit that i call my uniform i have in all different colors and i wear that like almost every day oh wow i wouldn't have took you as i thought you were like a girl here i always see you dressed up though yeah that's for pictures
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Right.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Exactly.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
I love that. I love that. So we get to the point where it's time for the biggest exit and your approach with, hey, we want to buy your company. As an entrepreneur, when do you know it is time to sell or to say, hey, no, we don't want to sell. We want to keep it. What made you guys say this is time?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Yeah, I guess that's when that fearless faith comes in.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
That's true.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
You know how on Instagram it's like, this is me 99% of the time, like no makeup, hair looking crazy. And then like the 1% you're on Instagram like,
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Wow.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
So, okay, so you're saying once you put it out there, there's no saying, oh, we don't want to sell it now. Like real estate, like how you can take your house off the market. Yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Right. We clean up well. We clean up very well, yes.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
They do so many different things, but so we've, um, all your faithful buyers and customers here that you sold to Procter and Gamble, which is what is business. You know, it's business. But there was so much backlash from that, like, oh, she sold out or oh, she like sold out to the white man or whatever people say.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
When you're at home and you're hearing these things and reading these things, but knowing that this is the business decision that I made and I'm standing on it. How did how did that feel when you're reading and hearing all these things that people are saying?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Yeah, see, I need to do Paris with you.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Yeah. Yes, duty called. I had to get ready for work, and I had 22 scripts that landed on my desk that I had to learn. So I was like, go have fun in Paris and get back and not know my lines or... be ready for what pays the bills, so I had to pick and choose. Priorities.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Yes, it will. Yes, and we can go again some other time. I would love that. I would love that. So thank you for taking the time. Of course. I'm so excited to dive into everything about your new book and just talk to you about your journey and everything you have going on.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Right. I love it. That is so good. It's crazy because when you are building and grinding, everybody's cheering you on. As soon as you become the one, that's when all the haters and they say, I'm literally coming out the woodworks like little cockroaches.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Literally, literally. There was a big viral moment where people were coming out saying that they were losing their hair from using one of your products. And I'm going to say, I got a head full of hair. And I've been using your products for years. Same. And ain't lost none of it. Besides the hair that falls out on a day-to-day basis just naturally.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
and um i was just like i cannot believe that like somebody's going to this these lengths you know to try to take down another black woman and it was just so disheartening and i can only imagine and i would like for you to share like in those moments in your closet because i see you in your prayer closet praying with other women what were those conversations like with god when you saw somebody really trying to attack your brand this is like your baby you know yeah yeah but
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
But I want to start from the beginning. You are from the south side of Chicago.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Like, wait for it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
That, from the stories I've heard, that is a rough side of town. Like, I always hear, like, stories about Chicago. And Michelle Obama is from there. And I read her book. And I was like, oh, OK. It's a very interesting place to grow up. What was it like for you? Because I know everybody has different experiences in different places. What was the South Side of Chicago like for you?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
They hear you. They will hear me. Absolutely.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
And I will say that you handle it with such grace. Cause I can't imagine like being in the position you are and working as hard as you have to get to where you are and then be hit with something like that. And I was like, my girl is handling this thing. Yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Yeah. And they're definitely on to something else now. Yeah, that is so true. When it comes to empowering others, there are so many people who want to be entrepreneurs. What is some advice that you would give? And I think you've given a lot of nuggets today.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Just even to me, I'm taking mental notes and I'm going to go back and rewatch this because I'm building a brand and I have some other brands I want to do. And you've given me so many things to think about. Yes. Thank you. But if there's just any like tip that you could give anybody who really wants to get into it or a piece of advice, what would you give them?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Yes.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
It is.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
I love that. I love that. Leaving a legacy behind. You spoke about you're building a legacy. What is the thing that you want to leave behind when it's all said and done?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
That's real. That is so good. I love it. So before we get out of here, what is next for Monique Rodriguez?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Period. And you're doing it. I'm so inspired. I really am. Before we get out, we're going to do something that we call positive outcomes. This is where our listeners write in and ask us a question and then we give them advice. You down? Yes. All right.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
So this comes from Kerrigan Buck and she says, what advice would you give to a woman that's struggling with differentiating between a positive and supportive lady versus a doormat?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Yes.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
It does get cold.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
No, for sure. I love that. And Kerrigan, I would add to that. A lot of times when you're trying to make sure you're not being too supportive or being in... on the borderline of being a doormat, I would also say set healthy boundaries.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
You know, a lot of times we lack boundaries where we do become, if you're on the opposite side of that, where you're the one that's being taken advantage of and being the doormat because you're always, yes, yes, yes, whatever you need, I got you. And then it comes to the point where, wait, are they taking advantage of me? That's when I feel like you also have to have set healthy boundaries.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
She's trying to differentiate, like, being a supportive lady or a doormat.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
I think I asked the question wrong. That was a good perspective. What you said is a great perspective on it. That's what I would say. That's good. That's really good. Monique, thank you. Seriously, I'm so inspired. I cannot wait to introduce this book to everyone so we can all read it together. Yes, thank you. You are so inspiring. Thank you so much.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Thank you so much. I can't wait to hang out with you outside of this. And thanks for making time. Thank you. Thank you for having me. You're welcome. I appreciate it. All right. This is good. Guys, there was a great conversation. I hope you all received the message on leading fearlessly with faith.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
My takeaway from this was that any decision Monique makes, she does not make it without talking to God first. Thank you guys so
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
much for tuning into another episode of the keep it positive sweetie show don't forget to subscribe leave a review and share this episode with someone who could use a little positivity today and as always stay blessed stay encouraged and remember to keep it positive sweetie i'll see you guys next time
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
It's about inspiring others to embrace their own narratives and pursue their dreams fearlessly. Join us as we delve into her incredible journey and the lessons she's learned and how she's empowering others to find the glory in their own stories. KISS family, let's welcome Monique Rodriguez. Monique, thank you so much for coming today.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
No, I love that.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
It is. That it taught me. I can see that. I can see that because I love the show The Chi. And I guess that shows like a different it shows you different sides of Chicago as well. Lena does a really good job of showing you the political side and I guess the higher end of it. And then also the crime and the disparities that go on in that city.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
But I've always been fascinated with the city and the people that come out of it. So to know that that's where you're from as well was like, it makes sense.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
You know, I'm a professional, so... Okay, Southside Monique. What was a moment that you can recall where Southside Monique tried to creep out?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Of course. Absolutely.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Same. Girl, I'm right there with you.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
there has definitely been times even recently um it's i guess the last big one was last year i did a podcast when we talk about interviews yeah and sometimes the backlash or the comments that people make and um somebody from church is like somebody needs to take your phone yeah give somebody your phone because no yeah or you like don't read them like don't don't even like
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
It's not. It is not. Let's talk about the glory in your story. I'm often inquisitive about what makes somebody decide, I want to write a book or it's time to write a book. So what moment were you like, Mo, it's time?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Me too. We got to hang out for the first time really together for Fashion Week. Yes. You guys, Monique allowed me to come to the Tom Brown show with her.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Will you be my mentor? I'm sure you can attest with our schedules. It's so hard to really commit to that. And you have two daughters, and then you have businesses, and you have so much going on. I know it's hard to find time to really commit to mentoring. So this is a great way to pour back into. And I love that. I do. And in your book, you also talked about the passing of your son, Milan.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
And you worked as a registered nurse. Yes. And then that was a turning point of you to start your entrepreneurship journey. At what point? in that, were you like, I can't do this anymore?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Thank you. I had a blast. It was like one of the most amazing shows I've ever seen. So that was a great time. But fashion has become a part of your personal brand. When did you really get into fashion? I know you have Jeremy, who is an incredible stylist. But when did you really decide this is something that's a part of me and I love it?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
And I also wanted to ask you, and it's a two-part question, when you saw everything that was happening in that hospital room, as they're calling all the things and you're saying, I know that's not right, this is not what should be happening, at what point were you like, this is, I can't do this, this anymore, working in the healthcare system with all the disparities for minorities?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez
Yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
Calling all my sweeties to the forefront. I'm your host, Chris Renee Hazlett, and this is the Keep It Positive Sweetie Show. Welcome to another episode of the Keep It Positive Sweeties Show, a safe space where we heal, love, and grow together. I'm your host, Chris Renee Hazlett, and I'm super excited about this episode because I get to talk to one of my new favorite people, Leigh Vassie.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
How was yours? It was amazing. But the first day we got there, Delta lost my luggage. So yes, all my day one looks were left in Atlanta. Yes, you should have seen this girl. We were literally, Ashana and I, we landed and the guy came out and he's like, yeah, I'm only seeing six bags. And we were like, well, there was definitely seven.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
I don't want like it's real it's like when you put into their perspective yeah like my parents are like you think about like when God comes back what do you want to be doing and it's not until this big age where I was like taking it what do I want to be caught doing you know like you think about it I feel you when that thunder roared the other night I said oh no, is he here right now?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
I was like legit scared and I don't wanna be scared. I wanna be like, let's go. I don't need no bags, I'm ready. I wanna be ready. I feel you. I've definitely had those moments where
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
That's the next thing he working on me on, girl. Girl. Every time I drink, I took a sip of some wine the other day, and when I tell you this sharp pain went up to my head, I said, what was that? I like my little wine now. You can't take everything away from me. Right.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
Exactly. You have to find that balance. Right. Yeah. I really don't think there's anything wrong with drinking. Yeah. It's just the consumption and being responsible because there again, that's a boundary that he put in place to protect us. Yeah. Yeah. You know, people follow that. We wouldn't have the car wrecks and the people getting killed from drunk driving. Yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
And so as we're running close on time, because I had press here in Atlanta for BET. So, I hopped on the plane. I had like maybe three hours before a Sergio Hudson show. Got in the car. I was like, we have to head towards the hotel. So, I'm literally in the back on top of suitcases unzipping to see what made it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
How are you on with that now? Cause we just think about like we, we teeter the line of like culture and Christianity. We're around it, but we're not consuming it. You know what I'm saying? And I feel like my church, we call like, what is your street that God is switching on?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
Like our street is the street of arts and entertainment where we take God's light into those spaces where he's normally not talked about. But like, do you ever feel like when we're like out in the clubs and stuff, like you got to go to these places and meet these people to build these relationships. Do you, does your spirit ever feel convicted?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
Isn't it crazy? You know? How like when you literally surrender and like before your eyes, you're like, oh, I was just telling Wes the other day, I was like, man, I said, ever since I've like surrendered sex to God, Like, literally, I see doors that were shut. It's just like now it's multiple options. Like, I'm like, God, like, that's what you do? Oh, that makes me want to cry.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
No, like, girl, that's how he works. Yeah. It's crazy. And, like, until you experience it, you don't really understand it. But you're right. You don't know what's on the other side of that, of the obedience. Yeah, yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
Because I didn't know what my stylist or my assistant Herman had put into each suitcase. And I was like, it's not in here. We opened it. I was like, it's not in here. I was like, we got one more. And then if not, we got to figure this out. So...
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
That's it. Yes, that's it. I think that's the part that we miss. I used to always say people think being a Christian is boring. It's not. And when you really follow him, you can still have a sense of humor, a clean sense of humor. And there's ways to do it where he's still like, that is honorable my sight. You good. Yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
The ways for us to spread his word and his light, you know, and I remember like last year I was going through like a really big season of spiritual warfare where people close to me who had like this really good relationship with God, it literally would irk me because like I'm like, yes, I believe in him. Yes, but you're doing too much. You know, like, calm down.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
Like, everything got to be Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. And in this season of life, I'm realizing that was the devil. He was literally, like, he knew what God was trying to work in me. And I was like, no, like, you know what I'm saying, teetering that line in entertainment, like, trying to figure out where I fit in and how does this work and how do I keep everything going but not lose myself.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
the pivot is is powerful and we ashawn ended up calling a girl at burgdorf from sergio hudson we went she literally threw it in the car as we were driving past burgdorf headed to the hotel to get ready uh i love it honestly i love the drama of it all it's like you know you can't beat a good memory so right and it works out you look fat without that yeah yeah yeah thank you So, yeah, it was fun.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
And God's like, you're not going to lose yourself if you're with me. You know, because that's where the authentic, true you comes out.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
It's so much more peaceful. Even with music, I did Woman Evolve this past summer and even in that moment I was still struggling because I had just done Lecrae's episode and I talked about, I saw where you weren't having sex before marriage and I was like, yeah, that was the season of my life, but not being mature, I was still on some milk at that time, so I hadn't gotten to the filet mignon.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I was like, I said that was the season of my life. And when that, this I'm gonna be honest with you, I thought that like, okay, God, I'm gonna do it your way. I've been doing it my way all my life. I'm gonna do it your way. And I just knew my testimony was gonna be, y'all, I did it God's way and I got a ring. Okay. And that did not happen. And I was like...
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
okay so I'm sacrificing my flesh and what I really want and I didn't get what I wanted so I went back dumb I went back to my old ways and it was a cycle of still heartbreak yeah and everything and um I realized like when I was open about that the Christian fans of his podcast literally like crucified me for being honest
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
about my transgressions and like, you know what I'm saying, where I was and it was like an attack. I'm like, so y'all been perfect your whole life? Like, y'all see, I'm trying, you know? And I'm just being honest about my shortcomings. And at that moment, I was like, I'm not doing any other podcasts.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
And I actually cried on stage at Woman Evolved telling it, because I was like, I just didn't want to talk about God anymore. And then because I knew I was still doing things that weren't pleasing in his sight, I didn't want to feel like a hypocrite, you know? So I was like, let's not talk about it. I want to have fun.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
you look at the podcast that have millions of views they got the alcohol on the set they cussing and they having fun it's like you get kind of blindsided like what what's working yeah you know what i'm saying the numbers ain't numbering like okay so i need to go do this and like god had to work on me like no baby girl that ain't that ain't you trying to run from me yeah and i noticed like in the season that as we started filming i was like guys we want to switch i want to switch up i want more fun you know it's a little risk cave and every episode here come jesus
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
Working his way into, I said, I see what you're doing. You are not letting me run from you. Okay, let me stop. I'm not a runner like that anyway, so let me sit down. But it was in those moments where I was like, God, show me what you want me to do with this platform. Because I'm trying it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
I'm trying to do what I see is working and not reinvent the wheel, but give me the wheel that you want me to run. And I think now I'm finding that. And even with my music, I was telling Wes, I was like, you know, after that, I was so convicted. I was like, okay, I can't curse in my music. And I was talking to my friend, Pastor Brenda. We call her BP. We call her Pastor Pete, huh? BP.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
BP, because it has been a problem, but I call her Pastor Brenda. She hates it. And I was like, you know, I was like, just trying to figure out what to do my music. And she's like, Crystal, she goes, she's major in Stevie Wonder as example. She was like, they don't curse their music. They make great secular music, but it's nothing derogatory. Yeah. And she was like, you can still find your lane
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
It was a lot of fun. I've met a lot of amazing people like you. Like, this is my first time meeting you. I was first introduced to your music on Instagram. Okay. You had a VAR moment with GPS, which I absolutely love that song. Aw, thank you. Everybody was posting, and I was like, oh, my gosh, I love this girl. And then when Simone was like, oh, she's one of my clients, I was like, oh, my gosh.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
and it doesn't have to be Christian, but in my mind, I was like, should I be singing Christian music? Like I was, I just was still trying to figure out how to navigate that. So I love how you found like a way, cause I listened to Corinne Hawthorne's album. And that was a great album.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
And you couldn't really tell if it was Christian or R&B, but then when you listen, like, oh, she's talking about God. And I just love how she like found her lane too within her journey to still talk about God, but make it unique to her walk. Right. So when you got to this, like when you got to that point and you were like, all right, God, I'm going to do it your way.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
And you decided to do Christian R&B. What was that like aha moment? Like, were you just in your room like writing and God was like, write about me? Or were you just in that space where you're like, I want to write a love letter to God?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
So I was super excited to meet you and happy that you are on the show.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
I wanna know more about you, because this is our first real chit chat, because everything in New York was like, so like, hey girl, hey girl. But I wanna really learn more about you and your journey. So you're from Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
Now it's making sense. You know crazy how he's like, I'm going to give you the destruction. I'm going to show you what I'm talking about.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
How was that growing up? Isn't that where J. Cole is from?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
It's so cool, and I absolutely love it. I'm so proud of you. Thank you. I really am. You start off with acting and singing. Is that something that you want to kind of get back into? And if so, like... What roles would you see yourself playing now? Yeah Walk of your life.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
Yes, I love that. It's going to happen. It's going to happen. I receive it. Yes. Is there anything coming up that our audience can support you on or that you want to let us know you can give us a little tea on?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
like all the world is crazy it's crazy it's crazy and so I would love to go see some of those places yeah this year well before we get out of here I want to play a quick game with you okay it's a rapid-fire game and it's just this or that okay praise and worship or Bible study okay I'll say I'll say praise and worship okay Street Edge or a church boy
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
And then you did Broadway. I did. How old were you then?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
Leigh is a triple threat singer, songwriter, and actress who is shattering genre barriers with her unique blend of Christian and R&B music. The incredibly talented singer-songwriter and actress Leigh Vassie hails from Fayetteville, North Carolina, beginning her career in entertainment at the age of nine years old on Broadway as young Nala in The Lion King.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
I'm with you on that. Okay. All right. We just did fashion week. So Chanel or Hermes?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
Okay. Love it. Classic. Yeah. Yeah. Lemon pepper wings or Caesar salad?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
I thought you were going to say that. I was trying to be cute with it, but no. A little salad.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
Yes. There you go. Balance, baby. Balance. Inches and bundles or naturalista?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
I love it. It works. I love it. Yes, I feel you. A fun night out or a quiet night in?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
Me too, girl. I am a homebody. My social battery be draining so fast. Yeah, yeah. I'm like, just give me a quiet night in. I feel you. Sneakers or heels? Heels. Yeah. Acting or singing? Singing. Yes. If you could listen to only one album for the rest of your life, not including yours, what would it be?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
I love it. Leah, thank you. Thank you. That wraps up this round of rapid fire questions. Amazing. I love you. And I am so proud of you for staying on this journey and finding your place in this world where you can honor God. Thank you. Thank you for taking time to be with us.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
Thank you so much. Of course. No, a pleasure. Please come back.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
When you're working on something else, come back. You always have a place on the couch.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
Absolutely. Thank you. Thank you. Wow, today's episode was so amazing. I really enjoyed talking to Lee. One of my takeaways from our conversation is that your relationship with God is uniquely your own. We can inspire each other by being transparent about what we're going through in our journeys because we're all going through something, but our relationship is ours and with him alone.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
So remember that. Don't compare your journey or your walk to anyone else's. You can be inspired by people's journey and their walk, but your relationship with Jesus Christ is yours. Thank you all so much for spending time with me today. I hope today's conversation inspired you all to dream big, break boundaries, and be confident in your career and faith journey.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
You guys can follow me on all social media platforms at Love Crystal Renee. And you can also follow our show at Keep It Positive, Sweetie. If you want to write into our positive outcomes listener letter, you can send us an email to keepitpositivesweetie at gmail.com. In the meantime, and in between time, you guys already know what to do. Keep it positive, sweeties. I'll see you next time.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
Now, I'm always interested, like, what is it as a child? Because I know Broadway can be a very rigorous schedule, demanding, and it's not as glamorous as people think it is. Right. Like, you get to TV and film, you have hairstylists and makeup artists, and you're just kind of sitting there learning your lines. And it's still a lot of hard work, but with Broadway, you have to do everything.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
It's not like you don't have, like, the team of people. How was that at a very young age?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
So Tyler, he comes from the theater world. So I understand like we have one shot to get the take. What is that pressure like day in and day out knowing that you're performing in front of a live audience and you gotta get it right in that one shot?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
What was like, can you remember what was a moment where it was like, whoa, like you had your first technical difficulty or you had to improv? Were you kind of like, oh, what's happening? Did you kind of have to learn like how to pivot or was that something that just came naturally?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
Keep going. I had a moment like that in my first pageant. I wasn't as young as you. I was probably like...
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
13 and I did my first pageant and I was such a tomboy growing up okay but you know how like they do like the parade where all the girls walk out all the contestants and I literally lost my shoe and I had to like stand on the hill like on my tippy toes on one foot and had to keep going make it work my friend she was behind me and she kicked the shoe out of the way like similar to yours so that is funny but that's good that you had the wherewithal just keep going yeah yeah yeah and that's life man
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
No, that is something you can literally take with you for the rest of your life. Just keep going. I love that. You ended up, how long did you continue pursuing this career as you got older?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
Leigh has since released multiple singles, making her one of Christian Music's most exciting new stars, and Amazon Music naming her as the 2025 Artist to Watch.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
guys i am so excited she's here welcome lee thank you so much for coming thank you for having me you look beautiful thank you how are you feeling i feel great how are you feeling i'm good i'm good yeah it has been a long week we just finished with fashion week yes that was my first one was that your first yeah it was my first one girl when i say exhausting girl
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
Yeah, oh my goodness. Do you mind sharing? Because I like for our audience to see that we are just like them. A lot of times they see us in the spotlight and think, oh, they don't go through anything. Are you comfortable with sharing anything that you were going through in that moment that may help someone else?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
So my question, did you have like an upbringing where you're raising the church? Because a lot of times, like for me, I was raised in a church, my mother was a pastor, we were there every time the doors of the church opened. Got to college and I was buck wild, like rebelled. I was the prodigal daughter. I literally, same thing, partying, drinking when I got to college.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
with the wrong guys, you know, it was just like down this path of destruction. Was there a moment in your childhood where you had something to reach back to knowing like, I got to get back to the foundation?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
You really had to like, the same way you get ready for tour, I feel like you had to be prepared for Fashion Week because it is a marathon.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
the daily bread is literally like you die daily and you wake up for it. It's literally like every day. And there's seasons where you go through spiritual warfare. There are seasons where you're really locked in. There are seasons where you're knocked off your rocker. And for me, I know I can, I've been very vocal about my walk.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
And sometimes Christians aren't the easiest to be open with, you know, in my mind, I'm like, God knows the truth. So why am I going to fake it for y'all? You know? And, um, I was very honest about moments where I backslid, you know, and now I'm on the path where I'm really, really in tune and intimate and really pursuing that intimate relationship with God. And some people just don't get it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
They're just like, you know, I had somebody ask me, like, I mean, if you've been doing it, like,
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
like why now like why would you just stop doing them like because the Bible says like once you realize you're going don't you turn away from that you don't keep going down the path of destruction like what sense does that make yeah and I feel like where we are now just the state of the world I feel like God is pulling his children near and pulling his clothes have you noticed that like every conversation you have for me every conversation I've had since the beginning of 2025
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
Jesus has come up at some point yeah like it just ran like a lot of people don't really they kind of stay away from the topic of God and don't really want to like step on any feet or like ruffle any feathers but I feel like everyone he's like tugging on everyone yeah and the other night we had like this really bad storm and I literally thought God was back I thought I was like Lord is that you right I was like yes like it and I was like why am I scared
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
You know what I'm saying? And it was such an aha moment. I was like, oh, girl, I don't want to be scared. I want to be like, thank you. Come on, wrap me up. Let's go. Yeah. Like I don't want to I don't want to be like, oh, my God. And I recently just like God had been convinced me on sex.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Your Will w/ Lee Vasi
And as I was reading, I just I posted something the other day about every time I read the Bible, sexual immorality was just like literally jump off page. I'm like, yeah. I'm like, okay, Lord. I get it. And when that happened and I was thinking about the next day after the storm and I was like, I don't want to be somewhere where my legs cut back and God come down. Can you imagine? And then be like,
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Do It Anyway w/Tasha Cobbs Leonard
So you all have a blended family. You recently adopted and you've been very open about your fertility journey. I recently went to my gynecologist and got all my labs done, blood work, testing and everything. And she said, you know, it's too late to freeze your eggs. And it was like a gut punch. Wow. I was like, ah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Do It Anyway w/Tasha Cobbs Leonard
And I had this friend, and I used to get so frustrated with her because every time we would talk, it would come up, have you frozen your eggs? Did you freeze your eggs yet? I'm like, get out of my uterus, girl. Leave me alone, you know? And I've been so, my career took off very late in life. So the time that I should have been.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Do It Anyway w/Tasha Cobbs Leonard
And I want to be that for people because a lot of times we feel like it's too late to get started or to get going. I hope that I'm a source of inspiration for people who are still searching even later on in their life. It's never too late. That's how I feel. But in this moment, when she told me that, I was like, oh my gosh.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Do It Anyway w/Tasha Cobbs Leonard
And she said, yeah, she's like, I don't even want you to go through IVF because it's
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Do It Anyway w/Tasha Cobbs Leonard
if they go in and they pull the eggs that you do have say only two of them are like good and what if you lose them and then she's like you'd be more she said you had your probability to have a child is better to do it naturally than to go through all that and I would like to know because a lot of people leave out they're like oh yeah I froze my eggs but they leave out all the wear and tear and how emotional that journey was yeah can you talk about about that a little bit
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Do It Anyway w/Tasha Cobbs Leonard
First of all, you came in here, you got the curls popping. Hi. What made you even decide to cut it off? We talked about the big chop. That's such a, it can be a spiritual journey when you chop your hair off or emotional. What made you chop your hair off? I love it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Do It Anyway w/Tasha Cobbs Leonard
Yeah, exactly. And it's funny you say that because when you said your, your test was, your faith was truly tested. Um, I find myself now being in a position when she told me it's too late for all that. Now it's like, okay, you really got to activate this faith that you're in a different position. Because I've had faith in my career.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Do It Anyway w/Tasha Cobbs Leonard
I've had faith in how for God to lead relationships and to guide me through life. But this is something totally different.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Do It Anyway w/Tasha Cobbs Leonard
It's different, yeah. So I find myself sitting in just quiet spaces, praying and talking to God to, like, just lead me through this. Don't let it, like, take. Because sometimes it can overtake your mind. I know for, like, when I turned 35, everything was just, like, going up to my lightning speed. Career, I'm just like, boom, boom, boom, boom.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Do It Anyway w/Tasha Cobbs Leonard
And then you get to like 40 and like, wait, I'm here already? And then it's like, oh, yeah, it's too late. And you're like, wait, what? But I know the God I serve.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Do It Anyway w/Tasha Cobbs Leonard
It's never. So I did Latarius Whitfield's podcast, Dear Future Wifey. And you would ask about that. And I was like, I feel right now. I was like, you know, bro, I feel like I'm in a space now where if it's meant to be, God will allow it to happen the way he wants it to happen in his will, not my way. Because I know, I mean, I'm like, all right, Lord, we're going to figure this thing out.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Do It Anyway w/Tasha Cobbs Leonard
But definitely faith is super activated right now. That's awesome. Yeah, I love it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Do It Anyway w/Tasha Cobbs Leonard
No, my nephew is 3, and I'm like... They're like adults. Yeah, but you're not. But you're a child. They're like so grown.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Do It Anyway w/Tasha Cobbs Leonard
That's incredible. All right. So is he going to be playing for the church?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Do It Anyway w/Tasha Cobbs Leonard
For one day, I'm going to be over there. That is so cute. I love that. Thank you. That is beautiful. And I love that... Your husband's ex was able to like because a lot of people are not that blessed to have somebody mature enough to say, I love the way you love my children. So I love you for that. And to be able to get along, you know, because it doesn't have to be people move on. Life goes on.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Do It Anyway w/Tasha Cobbs Leonard
um you have been very vocal even through your music about depression and mental health where do you stand now and how important because i know now everybody's talking about it yeah but you've actually spoken about your and a lot of times christians don't speak about it so i love that when you sing about the state of depression you on um
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Do It Anyway w/Tasha Cobbs Leonard
One of Maverick City's albums, you took a moment to talk in the room, and you talked about your cousin staying with you and how she loved you. She said, Tasha, I can't do this no more. And you felt rejected, but God was like, no, you've got to work on this. What... what steps did you take to get to where you are now? Cause the Tasha I see now, like you look like you've done the work. Yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Do It Anyway w/Tasha Cobbs Leonard
And that's all that matters, okay? That's all that matters. I love that. But I love how I can see your beautiful face. And I asked you, I was like, how many compliments have you gotten? And you're like, a lot. Yeah. Because a lot of times we don't realize how we hide. We do. Not intentionally, but we hide behind our hair.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Do It Anyway w/Tasha Cobbs Leonard
I love that. You just helped me because I know my team back there like, thank you for saying that. Yeah, I know y'all.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Do It Anyway w/Tasha Cobbs Leonard
Yeah, that is me. I'm always like, I don't know. I think also because I had the example of like a Tyler Perry who like, was there with us grinding. Every time I looked up when I was tired, I saw him behind that monitor. I never felt like I was in it alone as the person who was pushing the whole thing. And he was driving it, but we were the ones working together.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Do It Anyway w/Tasha Cobbs Leonard
So I think a part is like, I never want anybody to feel like we're doing all this and she just shows up.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Do It Anyway w/Tasha Cobbs Leonard
But there is a part of where you got to let people do what they do, you know?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Do It Anyway w/Tasha Cobbs Leonard
And we don't realize when we reveal all that, it's like, wow, people really can see your true beauty.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Do It Anyway w/Tasha Cobbs Leonard
That's powerful. That's powerful. I love it. Do you have any products that you like to use?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Do It Anyway w/Tasha Cobbs Leonard
I know that's right. I'm here for it. I'm here for it. Now, you recently just dropped a new devotional called Do It Anyway. And I feel like that is a testament of just who you are. There's things that you've done that the Christian or gospel world may look at like, but you do it anyway and it works. What actually inspired your devotional?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Do It Anyway w/Tasha Cobbs Leonard
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Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Do It Anyway w/Tasha Cobbs Leonard
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Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Do It Anyway w/Tasha Cobbs Leonard
I'm looking at the titles that you have. Discover it, pursue it, read it. How it is. That's a good one. Yes. Question it. I'm a creator, so I love that. Oh, wow. So it's a 60. This is amazing.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Do It Anyway w/Tasha Cobbs Leonard
I love starting my day with devotionals. I love starting with meditation and just really being still. Yeah. So I'm going to add this to my morning routine. I cannot wait. No, thank you. Seriously. I love you. And I'm so glad I got to share space with you. This has been incredible.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Do It Anyway w/Tasha Cobbs Leonard
Thank you so much. Guys, I have to admit, Tasha Cobbs Leonard left me with so much to think about and pray about. So much that it was actually kind of challenging to come up with a gym for the day. But if I had one takeaway, it would be that rest is trust. Guys, I'm such a workhorse. I love having my hands in everything because I have so many things going on. But sometimes I just need to be still.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Do It Anyway w/Tasha Cobbs Leonard
So that is my takeaway and my gym for this week. Today's show was nothing short of amazing, and I can't thank you guys enough for watching. You can follow me on all social media platforms at Love Crystal Renee, and you can also follow the show at Keep It Positive, Sweetie.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Do It Anyway w/Tasha Cobbs Leonard
I'm like, oh, my God. Thank you for sharing. That's an incredible story. And I know a lot of people wouldn't have been able to get up seven days later after losing a parent.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Do It Anyway w/Tasha Cobbs Leonard
You did, yes. That is beautiful. You are all over the place. You're doing music, you're touring, you just started your own church. That's so incredible. The Purpose Place. Oh my goodness. What started that and what inspired that? Because I know a lot of my Christian friends say that they have such a hard time finding a safe place
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Do It Anyway w/Tasha Cobbs Leonard
church home um i have friends that live in la that are like ministers and people that really are seeking that they're like we just cannot find a place wow so what made you say i want because i've known you um to do lead praise and worship at different places and you actually i used to go to um free chapel uh-huh and um what's the church here i just drew a blank louis giglio
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Do It Anyway w/Tasha Cobbs Leonard
Hi, I'm Crystal Renee Hazlitt, and this is Keep It Positive, Sweetie, a safe space to heal, laugh, grow, and love. I can't wait to bring today's guest to the couch. Her musical ministry has definitely brought me through. I'm talking about the goddess of gospel, Tasha Cobbs Leonard.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Do It Anyway w/Tasha Cobbs Leonard
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I love that live album that you did there. So you've gone to all these different churches. What made you say, honey, we need to start our own church? What was that?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Do It Anyway w/Tasha Cobbs Leonard
With a voice that carries the essence of praise and worship, a musical ministry that has blessed millions around the world, Tasha Cobbs Leonard is one of gospel's most grounded torchbearers. In recent years, she's traveled the world carrying her gift of song and surrender with her.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Do It Anyway w/Tasha Cobbs Leonard
i love it i love that it's funny because i just did a podcast with b simone and every i don't know i guess since i started dressing more ladylike um everyone's like you every time i come to church they're like because i would wear like first lady i literally i'm like first lady i'm like i am not gonna be a first lady they're like don't ever say that i don't know
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Do It Anyway w/Tasha Cobbs Leonard
it's so funny like when you just started dressing so ladylike all of a sudden and I was like you know I just got older and I was like let me switch it up because like but I'm still a tomboy at heart yeah I love like I told you I love my sweats and my hoodies I'm gonna pull over any day even if it's 90 degrees outside I'll wear a hoodie like I just love hoodies
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Do It Anyway w/Tasha Cobbs Leonard
These days, she's on and off tour stages, managing a ministry with her husband, mothering her children, and enjoying the release of her new devotional, Do It Anyway. And in the midst of all that, guys, we got her on the couch to talk to me. Tasha, thank you so much for coming.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Do It Anyway w/Tasha Cobbs Leonard
But she said that, and I was like, mm-mm. I was like, no. So you said you're asking that question.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Do It Anyway w/Tasha Cobbs Leonard
I love it. Now, when your husband told you, I feel like God has called me to do this, was there any moment where you felt like, okay, I need to submit to this? Because we talk about submission when it comes to marriages. But even though you were having a little hesitance and reluctancy, was there any moment where you were like, you know what? Okay, God, let me just submit to this.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Do It Anyway w/Tasha Cobbs Leonard
This is what his vision is. How do you navigate submission in your marriage?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
Coming up on Keep It Positive, Sweetie.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
And it's because after I hear people talk about their truths that have been married for so long and I'm literally like idolizing their relationship, like that's what I want, that's what I want. And they tell me, no, honey, it was not all roses. It still isn't. But this is my person. So it's so true.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
You were just speaking on the breakfast club. Yes, yes.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
Yeah. I hear it on both sides. That's where the discipline comes in. Yes.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
Yeah. What do we do in this space? Because your hormones are all over the place. Yeah. What does that look like, right? I've seen friends, male and female, and I've been on the receiving end of hearing both the wife and the husband vent about those things. And I'm like... we need to understand her body's going through all these different changes.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
And then the guy's like, like the same thing, like, well, I mean, let me get some head or something. I'm like, can I ask you this?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
Thank you. You are such a busy woman. Every time I turn on my phone, I feel like there's a clip of you. You have been everywhere.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
Cause it's been a long time.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
I need to feel. I want to be loved on.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
Oh, my gosh. I love this. This is what I wanted to get into. So say that you're on a first date. What are some first date questions? Because me and Ashana and some of our girls, we've been talking about questions, the wildest questions that we've been asked and some turnoffs.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
What are some questions that you feel are important to ask on a first date when you're like, okay, this is going in a good direction?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
That's all that matters. I love that. I love that. So we're going to get to the deep stuff. We see you on the phone, on the interviews, having deep conversation, always therapizing and helping people. But I want to know, what does Dr. Bryant do? You pour into everyone. How do you pour back into yourself?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
With your engagements, and you are still a woman who wants to be loved, who aspires to be in a relationship. What kept you still wanting that? Because I know some people, when they've been engaged and maybe it didn't work out, that happened twice for you. What kept you saying, no, I still want love? You know what's crazy, Crystal?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
At what point were you like this amazing guy? He's doing all these amazing things, going the extra mile to get the extra job. What was it that you were like, this isn't my forever person? Because it sounds like a great, great guy.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
And I want peace. Now, do you think that if he didn't do the whole, I can go five days without talking to you, do you think you could have maybe let the having the kids slide? Yeah. Because you love the girls, they clearly still have a great relationship with them.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
Is that something that maybe if that was strong and the communication and maturity was there, that you could have kept that relationship going?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
Right, yeah. So I want to ask you this because... as we get older, the chances of having children and like, it gets less and less and less. Have you ever had thoughts of like, dang, like, you know what I'm saying? I want this thing, but is this even possible the longer I wait for this man who doesn't have children? Because I used to have, that was one of my ultimatums.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
I was like, I don't want anybody to get kids. Like, I was in college saying that, and my- We might be Kendra's sisters over here.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
Right, I used to think like that, and I don't know if it was my mom, or a friend of mine, someone. I was in college and I was like, I do not want anybody that has kids. I just saw the baby mama drama and I did not want that. And like you, my father has four kids by four different women. Wow. Yeah, so. But my father is an incredible dad and someone had to point that out to me.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
What an amazing father my dad is. And could you not love someone who has children? That changed my mindset, my mindset and perspective on dating a man with children because of how amazing my dad was, how he honored my mother with the other women to make sure she never felt inferior, that there was still anything going on.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
you know you had those issues too um so i changed my mind on that but as a woman and we're getting older how do you wrap your mind around i'm still holding on to wanting to date somebody who doesn't have kids when that that opportunity for us naturally is fleeting two things one i've dated my first fiance had no kids look how good god is he gave me every all the experience to choose my first fiance had no kids my second one had kids two totally different men um the relationship with no kids
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
And guess what? I'll wait. I'll wait. So I, something similar to that. I was on the Dear Future Wifey with Latarius Whitfield and he asked me about having children. I love him by the way. I know. Isn't he amazing? I love Latarius. I love you. Shout out Latarius. And he was asking me about having children.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
I said, I'm so sick of people saying, like, I feel like as a woman in our, women in our forties, it is the most annoying question is when you gonna have some babies? And I told him, I said, my answer is just stay out of my uterus. I have a friend that literally DMs me every few months, have you frozen your eggs yet? Have you frozen your eggs yet? I'm like, oh my gosh, seriously.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
And I told him, I said, I'm in a space now where I've waited too late. I went to the doctor and she was like, it's too late to freeze your eggs because you don't want to freeze them And then only one may survive. And she said, so at this point, you just try to get pregnant naturally. And I was like, okay. And same, I've used the Abraham and Sarah analogies exactly like you did.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
And I said, you know what, where I am and where my faith is, if it's meant to be, it will happen, you know, and it's going to be a healthy pregnancy. The baby's going to be healthy and live a great life, but I can't put that pressure on myself. But I do feel like because of the same way, I literally said this, we may be, Tween, where have you been?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
Because I told a friend, I said, you know, I used to pray like, God, I have everything. But this one component, like, why am I missing the love? Like, I want somebody to share this beautiful life with. And it would, I'm telling you, I would like sit in my room and be really sad, walk into this big, beautiful home, sad to not have anyone to share it with.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
baby, it's a real thing. And I was sitting there and I was like, but I knew, I was like, God literally said, if I brought you that, I know how you are. I'm always like, what you need, what you need, what you need, how can I help? And I would have been putting so much into that person that I would have let my career go by the wayside.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
That would have been, and I look back at relationships and I'm like, dang,
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
Oh, he will. I'm a living witness.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
expert advice on certain things it's like you got to get a second third opinion yeah because yeah right and i haven't frozen but my doctor's like you're 42 i'm like i know freeze you got follicles i'm like i know but even that process people don't talk about how hard that is on the body going through that it's a lot and then you're so busy you have to put your body in in the phases though you are yeah we don't talk about that never i was like just go freeze your eggs i'm like
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
You want me to, that's a whole process that I have to put my body through while I'm still trying to function.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
Yeah, I love that. It seems like one of your non-negotiables, which is having a man who has children, kind of also is in direct line with the broken homes that you talk about. And I saw you first. My first introduction to you is on Cam Newton's show. And you talked about broken homes and broke that down to him.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
What was it with that you saw with your father in your childhood that made you say, Hey, I do not want to repeat this.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
And then also what are some things that we can communicate just to help communicate better about that so that we can try to, I know it's going to be hard to like stop because it's so deeply rooted, but what are some things that we can help our black families understand how we can break this cycle?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
I love it. It looks like you live what you preach even in your friendships. Because we talk about your relationships and you give advice on relationships. But it sounds like you do that also in your friendships. That's amazing. I do.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
Yeah, that's right. I love that. So I get it. I totally I understand why you do that. You are the president of the NAACP. I am. And we just had an election. I also worked on Capitol Hill. So, yeah, yes. Yeah, I'm really big into politics. And I just spoke at North Carolina Central University. And the students there were saying that the morale on campus is so low right now.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
um everyone was really pulling for kamala to win and now we are faced with our future and what it could be and everybody is really in a low place what are some tips that you could give our community just kind of help us navigate this because it's so fresh right now yeah i love that question i i'm
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
But I will body slam you.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
I love that. In your downtime, I don't know how much downtime you get now. What is like your favorite place to go on vacation just to get away?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
Yeah, no, for sure. That's amazing. You also have a book called Mental Detox. And I want to ask you, what do you do to mental detox after the day? Say this is like a busy day. You got more to do after this. At the end of the day, what are you going to do to mental detox?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
I love that. So tell the people what is next for Dr. Bryant.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
Wow. That's going to be good.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
But I am. I am, but I'm not.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
That is incredible. I just want to say thank you so much for taking the time out of your extremely busy schedule to come sit down and talk with me. This has been such a refreshing conversation. They've been waiting for me. They have been waiting. Yes.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
So I'm ready. Oh, I got the memo loud and clear. We heard you.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
Thank you. So thank you for doing that. Thank you so much. I appreciate you. Love you, girl. Yes, you too. This has been amazing. Dr. Cheyenne Bryant came through and got us all the way together, as I knew she would.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
But the part of our conversation that really struck a chord with me was when she spoke about wanting marriage and wanting a family, but knowing that certain things you have to wait on. And she used the analogy of Abraham and Sarah. And in that, she also asked God to fill her up in the places that she may have felt empty, as though they already existed. And I love that.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
I never looked at it from that perspective. So I want to challenge you, whatever you feel like you may be missing in your life, pray for those things, but also ask God to fill you up as though they already exist. Thank you all so much for watching and all of your support of the Keep It Positive Sweetie show. I also want to thank Dr. Cheyenne Bryant once more for being our guest.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
To keep up with all the great things happening in season six, you can follow me on all social media platforms at Love Crystal Renee, and you can also follow our show at Keep It Positive Sweetie. If you want to write into our Positive Outcomes listener letter, you can send us an email at keepitpositsweetie at gmail.com. In the meantime, in between time, you know what to do.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
Keep it positive, sweetie. I'll see you guys next time.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
I like to be there. Yeah, no, I get it, because I feel the same way a lot of times. We go so much, and that home can be a vacation and actually enjoying your home.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
I remember telling a friend I was working so much leading up to COVID that when I had to sit home, I was like, wow, like I finally got to appreciate where I live because it's literally just going to sleep there because I was working and on the go so much that I realized, oh my goodness, this is a blessing and I can actually sit in this for a minute. So I get it. It was like your refuge.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
No, it's funny. I just took my parents to Europe for the first time. They've never been. And I just love traveling overseas. And at first my dad was like, I don't know. that long flight and I'm like, dad, come on. And he was like, it's just, I don't know if I can fly that long. And a friend of his was like, if my daughter's gonna take me overseas, I'd be on the first thing smoking.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
And he called me back and he goes, you know what? I'm gonna do it. And it was the best decision he made. And they're still talking about it. They have the time of their life, but I get it. They have to travel. They have to, girl. And take a vacation, yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
Hi, I'm Chris Renee Hazlett, and this is the Keep It Positive Sweetie Show, a safe space to heal, laugh, grow, and love. Today's show is all about mental health, the keys to good communication, and the pathways to living your best life. Dr. Cheyenne Bryan is here, and between her viral interviews and tell-it-like-it-is demeanor, there's a lot we'll be able to talk about.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
But did she have fun when she got there?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
I love it. You're very open about dating. We spoke offline about you're from Los Angeles, but you are here working a lot. And you talked about how the dating, it's not really a lot going on here. It's not. We can talk about that. You know what?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
Or hi, how you doing? You said something that stood out, making sure that you put yourself in the places to attract the type of man you want. I just talked about that because my friends, when I was looking today, they were like, well, where are you going? I'm like, no way. I was like, well, first year.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
I'm dating now. But like, I wasn't like, I'm dating someone. Oh. Yeah. I love it. Exclusive. She dated someone. Oh, my gosh. So it was like one of those things, like, what are you doing? And I'm like, I don't go anywhere. And it was then I was like, I have to start putting myself in places. So what are some of the places that you go to attract the man that you want?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
With an unapologetic delivery and honest reads of the social, romantic and professional lives of some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry, Dr. Cheyenne Bryant's brand is buzzing. I'm so excited to talk to her about her love life, the formula for communication without conflict and how we can all attain mental and emotional wellness. Dr. Bryant, thank you so much for coming today.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
I'll leave a man. I'm not leaving my husband. Your husband, exactly. I was watching something on, you know, all these, it's a lot of relationship talk on Instagram. And I cannot remember who it was, but he was saying that marriages... Oh, I think it was...
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
The pastor of 2918, Phillip Mitchell, I don't want to misquote his name, but he's a pastor here and he was saying that marriages can be stronger sometimes after infidelity if the both partners
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
work towards it and they can kind of learn more about yourselves and what you can handle but then going in and doing the work together to change you sometimes you can come out even stronger on the other side of that i love that yeah because i always say the bible says seek wise counsel and when it's referring to seeking wise counsel when it comes to marriage
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
This has been long awaited. Our fans were blowing you up. They were blowing me up about getting you on the show. So I'm so excited we got to make this happen.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
Because something's gonna happen. Them things is gonna happen. Yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
The Strength In Submission w/Dr. Cheyenne Bryant
That was me. That was me. For the longest. And I feel like Disney just kind of warped our minds, and I wanted that. And I dated a guy, and he goes, you just want this fairy tale, and it does not exist. And I'm like, yes, it does. And he's like, give it to me now. Yes. And he's like, no, it does not. And I'm finally realizing it does not.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE Pt. 2: Cracking The Da'Vinchi Code w/ Da'Vinchi
I love y'all, too. In that shift, did you also see a shift in your friends or, like, as you're, like, climbing and realizing we're not in the same place? Because you have to start thinking different.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE Pt. 2: Cracking The Da'Vinchi Code w/ Da'Vinchi
Are you serious?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE Pt. 2: Cracking The Da'Vinchi Code w/ Da'Vinchi
Oh, it does. I know. I've been there. You spoke recently on, I think it was for the fellas on BET, about the black family dynamic in Nucleus. I am not gonna lie, y'all, I was blown away by your answers and how you articulated yourself. You the real? I'm sorry. Yeah, we the real guys right here. Well, the trees are artificial, but those are real.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE Pt. 2: Cracking The Da'Vinchi Code w/ Da'Vinchi
No, but I was blown away by the way you articulated yourself, and I wanted to know, like, where did your family values come from, and did you have that foundation growing up?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE Pt. 2: Cracking The Da'Vinchi Code w/ Da'Vinchi
That's amazing. So, like me, you started with music and then you transitioned to acting. For me, music, I just, I didn't fall out of love with it, but I felt, I didn't like the politics of the music industry. What was it with you that made you decide, hey, I don't want to do this?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE Pt. 2: Cracking The Da'Vinchi Code w/ Da'Vinchi
You touched on something just expressing, dad, I'm sad. And you are a huge mental health advocate. And I am as well. But I think it was probably within the last five years, around 2020, around COVID, that a lot of our community realized it's okay to not be okay. And it's okay to say, hey, I feel sad. And we've made it a safe space for our black men to feel okay with expressing their feelings.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE Pt. 2: Cracking The Da'Vinchi Code w/ Da'Vinchi
But for so long, we as a whole were told, shut up. suppress it, push through, and keep going because nobody cares. And I want to talk to you because this is something that you go to speaking to high school students all around the country about mental health. What was it that drew you to that and made you realize that you needed to work on yourself?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE Pt. 2: Cracking The Da'Vinchi Code w/ Da'Vinchi
We're very special. Come on.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE Pt. 2: Cracking The Da'Vinchi Code w/ Da'Vinchi
We are enjoying this, but we are running out of time. Aw, dang. But before we go, I know this is the question you all have been waiting for me to ask since he's been on stage. Let's talk about love. You have been very intentionally private about your personal life, and I respect it. I'm the same way in certain aspects because we share so much of our lives with the public.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE Pt. 2: Cracking The Da'Vinchi Code w/ Da'Vinchi
You have to keep certain things sacred. So I want to know, a man in your position, what are traits and characteristics that you look for in a woman? And don't y'all start being like, that's me.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE Pt. 2: Cracking The Da'Vinchi Code w/ Da'Vinchi
I know that's right. Wow. Put your hands together for DaVinci. Thank you. I appreciate that. Thank you.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE Pt. 2: Cracking The Da'Vinchi Code w/ Da'Vinchi
Is there anything that you can let us know that you have coming up that the Kips community can support you on?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE Pt. 2: Cracking The Da'Vinchi Code w/ Da'Vinchi
Is it? That's what I meant to ask you.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE Pt. 2: Cracking The Da'Vinchi Code w/ Da'Vinchi
Y'all pull up on Da Vinci. Make sure you guys support him. We're going to keep this party going. DJ Mars. And I'll be right back, y'all.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE Pt. 2: Cracking The Da'Vinchi Code w/ Da'Vinchi
What did you get arrested for, DaVinci?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE Pt. 2: Cracking The Da'Vinchi Code w/ Da'Vinchi
That's so good. I got to watch you twice on Broadway for Thoughts of a Colored Man. Guys, it was such a profound play. Just, it really talked about the thoughts that our black men what they go through on a day-to-day basis. We laughed, we cried. It was a really good play, and you were amazing in it. Thank you. But you're also the star of BMF. I want to know, yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE Pt. 2: Cracking The Da'Vinchi Code w/ Da'Vinchi
I want to know, what is your favorite, Broadway or TV and film?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE Pt. 2: Cracking The Da'Vinchi Code w/ Da'Vinchi
It's a love project.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE Pt. 2: Cracking The Da'Vinchi Code w/ Da'Vinchi
That's amazing. I always hear that actors who really take their craft serious go do Broadway. They say there's nothing like it, there's no training course like it, unless you work on a Tyler Perry set. Because we get one take, Tyler shoots like we're on Broadway. I'm like, hey, can I get one more? Then you decided that you wanted to pick up comedy. Now, I tell people all the time that I'm funny.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE Pt. 2: Cracking The Da'Vinchi Code w/ Da'Vinchi
Yeah, exactly. I mean, I'm funny, but I don't know if I had the chance to do stand up. What made you say, I'm going to give this a shot?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE Pt. 2: Cracking The Da'Vinchi Code w/ Da'Vinchi
Be yourself. This is a safe space.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE Pt. 2: Cracking The Da'Vinchi Code w/ Da'Vinchi
Be careful on the F words, but yeah, you can stay.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE Pt. 2: Cracking The Da'Vinchi Code w/ Da'Vinchi
All right, now, I hope y'all ready for this. All right, my next guest, like me, started off in music, and then he transitioned into acting. You might know him as, I don't know, Darnell Hayes from All American. So y'all already know. Ben and Mary J. Blige's Lifetime movies. Or my all-time fave, Terry and BMF. Ladies and gentlemen Da Vinci Hey Da Vinci, how you feeling?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE Pt. 2: Cracking The Da'Vinchi Code w/ Da'Vinchi
Okay, sell out shows.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE Pt. 2: Cracking The Da'Vinchi Code w/ Da'Vinchi
I wouldn't say that. No. They're probably coming from because they saw you on TV and they wanted to see what you did.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE Pt. 2: Cracking The Da'Vinchi Code w/ Da'Vinchi
Okay, y'all going to check him out? Yeah, we definitely are.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE Pt. 2: Cracking The Da'Vinchi Code w/ Da'Vinchi
So something I talk about a lot of times with my peers is that people do not see the journey. They don't see what we go through. We work in a very rejection driven career. We get told no so much, y'all. You have to have some real self-esteem to be an actor. Facts. I can't count how many no's I got before I got a yes. And it takes a hit.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE Pt. 2: Cracking The Da'Vinchi Code w/ Da'Vinchi
If you're not really strong with your self-esteem, it can take a hit. How has that journey been for you, and did you have any moments where you were like, ooh, this is too much?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE Pt. 2: Cracking The Da'Vinchi Code w/ Da'Vinchi
Hey, y'all better act like y'all got some home training around here.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE Pt. 2: Cracking The Da'Vinchi Code w/ Da'Vinchi
Give me some. You have to give us a little bit.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE Pt. 2: Cracking The Da'Vinchi Code w/ Da'Vinchi
Give me some French.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE Pt. 2: Cracking The Da'Vinchi Code w/ Da'Vinchi
Is that trilingual?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE Pt. 2: Cracking The Da'Vinchi Code w/ Da'Vinchi
when I first started making real money, because you go from waiting on a paycheck from the IRS, you can't wait for the refund to come back, to having to pay. And you just did a really funny video on Instagram. There's a way I can pay you back, but my plan is to show you that I understand. Talk about paying taxes. I felt that. I said, oh, Lord.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE Pt. 2: Cracking The Da'Vinchi Code w/ Da'Vinchi
I want to talk about that, because so many times in our culture, we're not educated on how to manage our finances on a normal level. And then we make it, and we're definitely not ready. I can't tell y'all, that first tax bill, I said, yeah, we'll get to that. I was in no hurry to pay it, and they was like, no, you got to pay. I said, pay what?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE Pt. 2: Cracking The Da'Vinchi Code w/ Da'Vinchi
Listen, they have the best energy. Thank you so much. It's an honor to have you amongst the KISS family. And we're going to jump right into it, all right? So you are from Brooklyn, New York.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE Pt. 2: Cracking The Da'Vinchi Code w/ Da'Vinchi
I was mad as hell, though. Oh my gosh. We've all been there. I totally understand. As your star has risen, at what point did you realize that you had to shift the way you moved?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE Pt. 2: Cracking The Da'Vinchi Code w/ Da'Vinchi
And my castmate Deval is also from Brooklyn. I've heard some wild stories. What was it like growing up in Brooklyn for you?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE Pt. 2: Cracking The Da'Vinchi Code w/ Da'Vinchi
We're going to normalize that, though.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE Pt. 2: Cracking The Da'Vinchi Code w/ Da'Vinchi
So if you see me at DaVinci, that's my little bro. Okay, we just, he just pick and fix his brain. So don't even jump to no conclusions.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE Pt. 2: Cracking The Da'Vinchi Code w/ Da'Vinchi
It's hard. It's so hard. I struggle with that, too, and I've had stalkers, you know, and your life changes in the blink of an eye, you know, and it's scary because when you're just friendly and you love people and you, you love your fans, like I ride for y'all, I love you guys so much, but there are some people that take it too far and those boundaries are not respected.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
KIPS LIVE Pt. 2: Cracking The Da'Vinchi Code w/ Da'Vinchi
And as human beings, I wish people understand just that we are human and we have family and we have issues and things that we deal with on a day to day basis. And some days we wake up and we don't feel our best selves, but we have to turn it on. You know, we don't have the luxury of being like, yo, get off my face. I am not in the mood today. We don't have that luxury.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
So being patient with her and just trying to just whine and dine her as much as I could, I would just say, but it's really the patience. Yeah. Really the patience and taking time to even go sit with them even though they don't know. Mm-hmm. That you're there, they may not know who you are. It's really, to me, that's a big part.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
And even the nurses state that that family still needs to come and check on their people. And that's something that, like I said, I learned early on. So it kind of prepared me for when that time came. And it came very important to me. Where I would come and visit with my mother, but I started visiting with other people.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
That's beautiful. So just to... Let them know that they're not alone.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
Yeah. So that's just a part of it. But it is a very, very painful disease to see. Yes. Because it's like my mother's shell was in good shape. But... for her mind to just be gone and she just sit there. She got to the point where it's like she wasn't talking but it's like if you came this way she would always move her mouth. Always move her mouth like you was about to feed her every time.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
So it was just different things but each person is different. So you have some people that snap back and they start talking but they kind of seem mean.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
So you just have to remember the person. Yes. And remember the moments, the precious moments and memories that you had with them beforehand. And he would bring things to my remembrance and we would laugh about it. And it helped us be able to cope with it better.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
And you can feel very, very alone.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
This process for me was... I kind of say it's funny, but I kind of like how Taylor Swift has talked about her life. Yes. This album, I talked about my life of like the different challenges that we were dealing with and facing.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
Like the first single working for me. Some lot of things was happening in the core of like my family. And it put me in a different place that I never thought that I would be.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
And the enemy was just really raising his head up. But I was determined not to be distracted. Because it's like right when we decided to do music, but it's like every time it's time for me to release music Yes! I mean like it's the craziest thing So it was really really hard.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
So I had during the year I was like Lord What do we need to talk about and I just started taking out taking notes for the last year and a half and I was just having little nuggets that I took to the producers to talk about and And working for me was like, even though the Lord comforted me with saying, even though you don't see me working, I'm working for you. I'm working in your behalf.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
And even one song, All Things, there's another song that's on there that the Lord can do all things. Even though it may look crazy and rocky right now, it's like I was talking, okay, he can do all things. Then we were talking about Carry On is another title. Then it's talking about live.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
then the live breathe and fight it's like even though it's happening to me i gotta live because heaven is my destiny yeah i've gotta breathe i'm breathing every breath with purpose and then i know i have a call yeah and i know i have a purpose yeah and then i'm fighting and i'm gonna fight till i get the victory so the lord was just like to me this is stuff not only for me but this could bless his people
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
So it's like, give me the direction of what to talk about. So live is like, because a lot of things, I've never seen it so much in our community than I have now with the mental space that a lot of us are in. It's been really, really heavy. And a lot of the songs are just talking.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
That's what I'm saying from the inside out, that I'm making sure that my mental space is good, that I'm keeping, that I'm having peace of mind. So enough peace to just when I lay down at night that I can rest, that I can rest in him. And God has just really given us peace.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
as a couple even through the things through the challenges that we were facing like in the company with the family just different things that i'm with you yeah i have not forsaken you that you know everything that you're asking for i'm here and it's like as soon as some things change it's like the lord just
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
start just stirring up just different things with things was just coming, working in our behalf, in our favor, for our good. And I just, I'm just so excited about each of the songs. One song on there is called Big Facts. But what happened is the Lord was like, you have to examine yourself. Look in the mirror. Take a look at yourself. Face the facts about you.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
Because a lot of times, a lot of us are trying to say to other people, okay, well you need to, and you need to, when a lot of times the work needs to begin with you. So the Lord let me know in this album, the process of it, to work on you. And then I can do the work around you. So, you know, just listen. Just hear what's being said.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
A lot of times it's not always to respond, but just take your time in what your response is going to be. Because a lot of times my response is like, what? I ain't did it. You know, we just tend to just go there. And the Lord has really gave me a lot of peace, even though I did a lot of weeping when I was recording it. I was crying just even talking the songs through. Yeah. Oof.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
And, you know, it's like, but I got it, but I got to finish. I got to complete the work.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
Yes, very therapeutic. So I think, you know, but a lot of the responses, it's out now. And a lot of the response that I got back is people saying these songs feel like affirmation. And it's really helping me. It's once one song is called Power. It's talking about the power of God.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
That sometimes we forget that if we cast our cares on him, he got all the power. Yes. He's in control. So he's handling the things, all the things that you're trying to do. Right. And to trust him. One song is Lord, I Trust You. So each title is hitting on issues and situations that a lot of us are dealing with. Absolutely. So I came from a real place.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
And actually, it was before that.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
But it was still when you were doing wardrobes.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
And they were one of the guests.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
Isn't this great? Did you just say who? I said who.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
That was great. We had a ball. Yes.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
Thank you. I'm just trying to stay healthy, trying to stay healthy. And even with working on the new music, I'm just saying this right off the top. It's just I'm starting like from inside out.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
He'd say, Tamela, man, they call my home. I'm like, ooh. He was like, you shouldn't have. And then I was like, oh, OK.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
And we was like, that has to be it. But I think what helped us, David, when I start, you know, he could see the change.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
He was like, Tim, you going? I was like, no, I'm not. I'm not. But it's like, he actually sit and read up on and researched menopause. So he came back and he understood it more. And I think that's what happened with a lot of our friends that have divorced is the man didn't realize
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
what that it's a real thing we think that we think they just want to be that way you just want to act like you don't it's such a crushing feeling y'all it's because it's like you could be happy then all of a sudden it's like sadness or it's almost like not just the heat that comes from it but a sadness comes over your body yeah and it's like you're really not Because I'm like, I was just fine.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
So when you say looking at the body, but it's like mental. I'm trying to make sure my mental is right. My spirit man is right. And the body.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
No, but it's something. It's a roller coaster dealing with menopause. And the thing is, we really don't talk about it a lot. My first lady in my church, I just went to pray, and I was like, Lord, I got to be before people, in front of people. People are approaching me, and some days, you know, even my daughter, she was like, ooh, mama, if your eyes could burn, you'd set somebody on fire.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
I was like, I said, for real? She was like, yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
Lord, make me sweet. Help me stay sweet.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
Lord, just help me stay sweet. Because that's like, I don't want, it's like, you know, not even for those who are watching today, it's like, in case of a day come by and I don't greet you as nice, I just want us to know as women, just like when you have, you think having your monthly is rough.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
Menopause is, say, ten times worse than that. Yes, Lord.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
ran me hot. My radiator overheated.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
yeah this one on set they know oh she got him here you ain't gotta have no eyes what i was like yes i do yeah but it but it's that's one thing see well that's that helps me because i didn't know that other people was asking for ice oh honey but i'm asking for ice and well i think you said that yesterday like i just need a cup of ice yeah so that is so true so I'm not alone.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
well like me because of especially with being in gospel music and just trying to be uh an example we're not perfect but you know some some things like have been presented to us like in a script like where they want us to curse and i was like that's not yeah that's just not where i'm going i can't say that for anyone else yeah so you don't cut it all down huh you don't say no curse words oh that is so good is my cousin yeah
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
I had it bad because you know my mama was straight cold drink.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
I know how to put them together.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
And I mean put them together right.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
I didn't have to. I had brothers.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
I didn't have to fight. You can't fight, Tam. No, but fight my battles.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
But I didn't. I just never was. I mean, after that, in our relationship, now, I mean...
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
i have said a couple words when my uh just talking to my kids saying they was like mama you don't know how just jokingly yes i do yes i do i just don't he was like let me hear you you know that's so sad for somebody just want you tyler perry just want me to just come on down you mean yeah come on town oh man yeah give me one yeah give me one i was like no
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
He'll fight. But I'm working on it. I had to pray for him.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
I know because, you know, my mom was had cancer.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
You know, we just all have to calm ourselves. Yeah. You know, it's like, but you know when.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
That's my thing is it's like some people are like, I just can't stop. I'll say, yes, you can.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
Because you really know sometimes certain places that you're at, you know, it don't even come.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
But then there's certain places you step and you be like. Like. Yep. You know, they all just come out easily.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
yes so i um i went through that with her so my constant prayers like lord keep my mind lord keep my yes because i just still even when it comes to your mind is a part of everything that you do and how we function yeah and i'm like when it comes to my singing it's like uh my relationship and then when it comes to the second part which is my singing is so important i'm like lord i need to remember what i gotta say yes oh my goodness yeah there's some times where i get on stage i'm like
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
That's so true. You know when. I say, so it's like something that we all can work on, but that's everything in our lives.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
David, it's hard for me to be mad at him.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
But I do, and I just want to go just in another room.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
I don't get mad at her. You're lying. You straight up lying. Because you do, I've been telling him, I said, you do get mad at me. I know you get upset. You're not mad, but maybe you get upset with me. Because you just tell me.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
With your attitude, yes you do, because your eyes will get red and it's like you'll kind of go into like... I ain't saying nothing. I ain't saying nothing.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
No, you don't do that. But you just go into the calm like, okay, I'm just. That's good.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
Come on, let me hear you say it. I'm going to do like you be doing me. Let me hear you say it. Yeah. You be upset.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
You do. But I do get upset with him and I'll just be like, Oh, she can let me have it. I'll be like, let me get my me time.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
Listen, don't be trying to come and throw my shorts on me. I'm not trying to do that.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
I just got scared. I was at the top. I was at the top of my range. Why were you yelling?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
We have some good times, though. You know, our journey, we've had rough patches. But our journey, he's made me happier than he's made me sad. So it's really been a wonderful ride. You know, we are a work in progress. But our job and our call is to, we know, is to hang tight, hang together, and to just show other people that we can do this thing. We know that's what we're called to do.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
And it's like, that is what we're working toward to not be perfect, but to just give encouragement that it can happen and you can be happy in this thing.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
Things are going to get shaky.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
Our one relationship, well, one point that we talk about is one of our daughters, we didn't find out that she was ours until she was five years old. Wow.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
But we had been married, but I knew of the girl.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
Before we made our commitment.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
So it is so funny. But that was really the hardest because our relationship, we're a blended family. We have two together. He had two, he said, from a previous argument. And we raised my niece. So when he came and told me, because they came and served him papers, that he had to go to court and all that kind of stuff. So when he found out, He told me, and I was like, I don't know.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
Because the first baby, we've been best friends. We started out friends. I was there at the hospital with him when she was born. I mean, stayed the whole 21 hours with him.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
I have one blank. It's like, what's my first word?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
You'll get all of it. yeah each part but the thing is is i i i loved him i sit there as a friend and then once we got married and he you know came with the news about the second daughter i was like i don't know if i can do this yeah and you know the mama was not the best i'm just gonna be honest we wasn't in like the best of friends, even though I knew her, even before he knew her, I knew her.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
Yeah, I lived in the same neighborhoods. It's just funny how life goes, how even you can be knowing the same people and not even know that that person was connected to that person.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
So that's kind of how that happened. But it was really rough for me to accept her at the moment.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
Because I think, too, it's like the nervousness. It's like the kind of people say, you still get nervous, but I do. I really, even to this day. A Tamil man gets nervous? A Tamil man gets nervous every time. You may not see it, but I'm shaking in my boots.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
Because I didn't want to have to be dealing with that.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
He said, you just going to leave me? And then he sat me down and he started talking to me. He was like, I just want you to know that it's always, he did the thing like this where he separated us. He was like, it's me and you and then it's them. It's everybody else. So he said, I'll never put you out there where you have to make the decision or I'm going to make the decision. It's them over you.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
He says, it's always going to be us and then them. Yeah. I love that. So by him reassuring me just for those the listeners and watchers, he reassured me that I was his number one. Yeah. And that has always gave me comfort. And he's always done that. Yeah. He's never showed me anything different. The same love has always been there.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
And if anything went down with the girls and their moms, he was like, you ain't got to talk to me. You need to talk to Tam. It's like we were involved in every step.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
No, because I was fine with the kid because the kid didn't ask to be here.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
And he handled it in that order. That's good. So that's one of the, a great hard part, a hard one for us. And even when it came to, if I could say this quickly, I know we're moving. When it came to the parents, because sometimes when a lady, when a girl marries a man and then he has his mom, sometimes with the mom, She feels like you're taking her son away. So he had to even establish that.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
That happens in real life. And he stood in place. He was like, look, mama, you were the first woman in my life. She's the last lady in my life. So it's like he has really made everybody understand where our positioning is.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
Without picking and choosing.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
I'm going to be there to take care of you.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
She needs some time away from me sometimes. Yeah, because I'll go get my nails done, or I'll just go. go shopping on something. But I do. I have to have it. He says he doesn't. Because David is a homebody. But me, I'll take off. He was like, where you going? I'm going to do this and I'm going to do that. I'll be right here when you get back. He'll say, I'll be here when you get back.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
But then I'm, I'm depending on his strength, his power. And that's what we feel. And that exactly. Cause it's like, once I get them first couple words out, I'm good after that.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
So I do do the separation thing for a minute to just go do my nails, feet, hair, whatever.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
not, it's not overwhelming, but I just, just want that time just for myself to gather my own thoughts. Even sometimes I'll go maybe sit in the tub for two hours. It's just, I just go in there and I want it dark and I just want it to be me.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
And if I miss it, he'd be like, uh, What's the problem? Two hours. Check in.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
Everywhere, you know, depending on, you know, to make sure. In case if something happened, I know where to start looking for you or I know what she said she was going to be. So she should be in this vicinity. Yes.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
We bought a ranch. It's like his getaway place. That's amazing.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
And I think that's what a lot of people, we need to realize, you may not be comfortable with that person after you get there. You don't have to stay. You can pick and choose where you want to go.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
Because I was like, the reason why I say crushing, guys, is I didn't notice it. I didn't see it. It's like I kept asking him, is he okay?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
And David's answer is always, I'm cool. I gave the generic answer. I'm cool. I'm good. I'm good. I'm good. Cool and good. So I'm like, you sure? Yeah, I'm good. So it's like... I said, I was asking you. And you kept telling me you were good. I said, why not just tell me then? But he was like... Because that's the answer Superman gives.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
That I didn't see through that he wasn't okay. So that made me really weep and really just... I just started asking for forgiveness because I was like...
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
i missed it and i mean you know god forbid you just did something to yourself right and i didn't i didn't see it so my thing is now y'all if somebody or you feel like they're not in that place just don't be afraid to just go back and double check go back and double check on that person because they really may need to get that hug or to just have you just sit there and just listen to them.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
But what happens is it's like I really, this time it's like I'm really trying to concentrate on it because I want to be healthy. Yeah. or not causing myself to have or deal with different issues as far as medically. So that has been most of my concentration on it and trying to make better choices. It's not good every day, y'all.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
It's like the weight falls off your body. It's like you can actually feel the weight. You know how sometimes if you get a good cry out.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
It's like you feel 10 pounds lighter. A hug does the same thing. And sometimes some people be like, I don't want one. But they really do. They really do. They do. They need it. Yeah, they do need it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
I mean, like, well, I just was mentioning something. I did. Not necessarily make it come to fruition. Not to fast. Oh, you didn't want a new car? You said a new car.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
Like, that ain't what I meant. But I just, but I thank God for him. And that's, I think also what really gripped my heart is because David notices, I'm not going to cry, everything about me. Everything. And I miss it so much. I keep saying, okay, I'm going to pay attention. He can go shave and he'll come back and he'll say, you notice something? I'll be like, no.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
You messed up again. But he notices everything. I could change your eyebrow. He'll be like,
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
He knows everything. And it's like I said, it's because you know. I know, I know. But it's just, it hurts my feelings. That you don't know. Because I'm not as alert as him. But I'm like, maybe it's just not my character. No, it's not. But I'm just trying to do I think when it comes to relationships, y'all, we just need to always do better with each other.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
And I know that that's something that I'm working on, even with communicating. You know, he's always been the great and over communicator. And I haven't always been. But this last couple of years.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
So I was like, that's how I am today, huh? But I'm just trying, I wanna, like I told him, even when it comes to the artistry, and even when it comes to being his wife and his friend, I just wanna do better. I just wanna be better as a friend, as a mother. I just, I know we can't catch everything with everybody, but I just want to do better.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
It's not happening every day, making the best choice, but I'm just really trying to change my lifestyle thinking. So it's, you know, it's just, I think it's just a part of,
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
That's why when it comes to being sweet, help me to be good, Lord. And I just, to be able to help somebody, you know, just whenever that time is to be able to catch it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
Thank you for sitting with us.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
Mama Man's Kitchen is on YouTube, our Man TV channel, guys. And you can go to TamlaMan.com for the actual, the shapewear. And I also have it where you can get the CD there. So if you want a physical copy, TamlaMan.com. Go check us out, y'all. I promise you this album. I know you may love Take Me to the King.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
but it's some stuff on here that i promise you that'll be right there listen to the power of jesus listen to the the song power of jesus gets me every time and this other song is called you deserve to win yeah deserve to win quit fighting yourself and thinking that you're not good enough and that you don't deserve it because you deserve to win if you put the time in you don't put the work in
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
You deserve to have some good things. You deserve to have peace of mind in your heart, your spirit, and your body. So you deserve to win. You deserve it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
how uh all of us are made because we all have different things that that we have to work on and for me weight has been that that thing but but i honestly came into the world big i was nine and a half pounds so i've been thick my whole life but i can't just ride i realize and talking to myself yes speaking to myself that you gotta you can't make that an excuse yeah and you gotta just make better choices
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
It is a constant move. It's not like I'm sitting down. I'm not necessarily exercising, but I'm constantly moving and not just sitting. So I think that has worked for me, but I really do need to get a regimen in. I like to walk, but I like to walk outside. And even in my neighborhood, it's a cool neighborhood, but people still stop. I have FedEx and UPS men, they stop. My wife...
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
Can we take a picture? I'm like, sir, I can't stop and talk to you. You see me out here trying to exercise? I said, I'm trying to get myself right. Take a picture. You know, it's like you love people, but it's like you are like in those selfish, I can speak for myself, the selfish moment where I'm really trying to concentrate on me and get me better. But that thing like that happened.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
That's why I really stopped going to a major gym. Because people was standing beside the treadmill talking. No, literally.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
I love y'all. It can be rough. We love y'all. So don't misunderstand. Yes. But we're just trying to get it together.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
This is not... Then, no, you know, you look beautiful. Okay. I said, now you know you telling the untruth right now. And I will say, you know, I'm really into water aerobics. So it's like, you know, you wet, you got the wet look, for real.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
and it's like yeah you know but people you know i i i really appreciate because you guys and the people following us make us who we are and the support of what you do but it's like but we still human too yeah we are that's so true i've noticed that um you've really taken fashion to another level you have the tailor-made collection yes that's it is this part of your
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
No, this is not part of the collection, but I'm trying to link. First, I'm into at-leisure things now, but I'm trying to lean more over to more comfort, easy-go things like this. So this is the vein and the avenue that I'm going to, but I'm into really heavily the shapewear. Like now I have new, the latte color that matches our skin. Yes. And it's a nice thing.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
You know, my shapewear, I love about it. I wear it every day. It's comfortable. It gives you a snatch, but it's a comfortable snatch. See, that's what I need. And it gives you a lift, you know, where it helps you. You know, you already got that bundle on. So it's just going to, you know, just give you a little bit more lift.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
But, you know, it ain't going to take it out of proportion, but it's going to hold you.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
I wear it every day. No joke, y'all. I don't wear underwear. I just wear shapewear. There you go. Every day. Every day. That's the secret. I love it. If it's a secret, that's it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
It can be rough. Our first, our early years was really rough, especially when the kids were younger. And even when they got into their teenage years, because that's when like the plays really took off and then we started, you know, with the television stuff. So we would be gone. for months at a time until like, you know, Tyler's smashed it down or crunched it down now.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
We go even faster, but we will be gone and we missed a lot of stuff. So a lot of times it was, it was hard for us. You know, like I can remember one day I was standing on side of the stage and we were doing, Meet the Browns, the play, and I just started crying. So my son had a game. My daughter was getting ready for the prom, but we were out doing the show. We had made the commitment.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
So I missed it. So it's like I was talking to them. He's talking to him play by play with football. And I'm saying, OK, what you going to wear? What color you going to do? You know what the dress look like? You know, so it's like.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
Yes, trying to be present. But it was rough. But a lot of times we would work. But once we come home, we dedicated it to family time where I concentrated on them. If anything or events was happening, if my kids couldn't come, I wasn't going. Because I felt like I had already been gone. And if I'm home, they should be with me. And that's how me and David kind of went about it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
just making sure that we got that family time in because it is important to us. Even to this day, but everybody now has their own families and kids and everything. So I'm letting them also make their own traditions with their family. Even though me and daddy would, David, I'm sorry. Me and David were always, you know, when things happen, we really like things to happen in our house.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
But we've been like that with them since they were kids. They had every event. If they were going to have a party, we wanted everybody to have their party at our house. So we could kind of see what was going on.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
Yes. So we did that a lot. But we kind of learned how to. kind of set times for the acting, learning to set times for the music and things like that. And it's working. I mean, we've been doing it. Everything hasn't been perfect, but it's working.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
the physically just being away was to me the hardest part, actually not being there.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
But the other challenge for me, if I could turn the question a little bit, is when I was trying to do release music and we were filming at the same time, where it got so overwhelming that I was actually, I study a lot, it's like I get in the bathtub with my scripts and I'm reading, and I'm more physical, more so than the iPad, I like the paper. The paper, okay, see I'm an iPad girl.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
I want the actual paper. So I'm there trying to do the lines and I was so tired because it's like we filmed all week. The whole weekend I was out promoting. So it's like I had no time to just wind down. And I got in the tub trying to remember. I was like, I started crying. I said, I don't want to do this no more. Because I couldn't remember, recall no lines. It's like my brain was so full. Yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
I said, it's not staying. It's not sticking. I can't remember. He was like, well, this is how you do it. And David is the kind. He can read it twice. He knows everybody's stuff. He's that guy.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
He's sitting on the side saying my lines with me. And Roger Bob was like, stop that. He was like, what? He was like, you're actually saying her lines as she's saying them. So he was like, I don't even realize it. But that to me was one of the biggest challenges for me is to when things kind of stack up on top of each other. But that's been like the hardest part for me.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
And I was like, I can't do it that way anymore. I gotta schedule things differently where I can think straight and concentrate on what is at hand in that way.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
That's good. First of all, you just have to really be patient with the person, with your mother. Like I said, it is a reverse role of them becoming... it's like you become the parent. But to me, it's like I pray for patience for it, but then there's a time that I had to ask God to help me. David helped me because I was crying a lot because I was missing the connection that me and my mother had.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
And so it's like, really, it's a lot of patience, and you have to take the help where help is. Because sometimes it's like you feel like, well, I felt like I was trying to do it, even with coming in and out, I was trying to do a lot of it on my own. And then sometimes when your family is not coming in to help, those things of just really being really patient
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
and being patient with the person itself, because it can get frustrating, especially if my mother was really easy, but I dealt with because my first job was at a senior citizen home. Really? Yes. I was a nurse's aide. So that kind of prepared me in the long run of what happens. And I just remembered, you got to be very loving. Remember that they're there. Don't forget about them.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
Don't forget about them. because you have to make sure that you're putting in time, even though you have your life, you're taking care of your family and all that, but it's really good to make sure that that person just feels your presence. They may not even know you're there, but you just talk to them as if they know. Cause it's like, I was kind of giving my mother play by play.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
We got to the point where we was buying our first home And I took her and I said, Mama, because she never owned a home. I was like, Mama, I'm buying it. We're buying a house. And this is the house. And she was just standing there like looking, y'all, like into the bliss. But I was like, I just really hate that she couldn't.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
It's Always Us & Them w/ David & Tamela Mann
It's really hard for me to talk about my mom because it really brings me to tears because as my career took off, that's when the Alzheimer's happened. And we were with Kirk Franklin and the family at the time singing. Yeah. So it's like she didn't get to, after all the prayers, she didn't get to see any of my career or the fruits of her labor, even her praying for me.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Calling all my sweeties to the forefront. I'm your host, Chris Renee Hazlett, and this is the Keep It Positive Sweetie Show. Welcome to the Keep It Positive Sweetie Show, the place where we heal, grow, and learn together. This week's guest is a multi-hyphenate fashion designer, wellness advocate, and serial entrepreneur, Jordan Woods.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
I could imagine. It was intimidating. Girl, so you being a basketball player's girlfriend, how is that? Do they say stuff? Do you ever hear them talk about a cat behind you? You're like, hey.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Yeah, no, for sure. I lost my mother at the age of two, so I didn't even get to know her. So I always say that when I hear of people who lost a parent at an age where they actually had that bonding and had a relationship with them, I couldn't imagine. And like you, I also feel like my mother is my guardian angel. Like, there are so many times in my life where I'm like, that was nothing but her.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Like, and her in God's ear saying, just give her a little grace. You know, so I know that that feeling of just knowing that you have someone watching over you. You said that in the beginning, it was like it wasn't real. It wasn't said. When did that grief set in and what did you do just for your mental health to really kind of focus on that head on?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
You don't want to become your grief. Yeah, for sure. And I know Carl, he lost his mother during COVID. And was that something you were able to help him like cope with and deal with?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
As well, yeah. That is beautiful. I just love you two together. Thank you. When we talked about that, I was like, wow, you probably really helped him. And I'm glad that you guys were able to heal together in that. Yeah, that is beautiful.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
That's the perfect time to really water relationships.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
It was one of those things where like we were, because we are so used to our day to day, it made us sit down, you know, and face whatever it was that we were suppressing all those years. So COVID was like a really good healing time for a lot of people.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
I think that was a time that our community, the African-American community really like started taking therapy serious because we had to sit with our demons and we were like, wait, I have been pushing through life and not really dealing with the things that I need to deal with.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
No, couldn't work. And people were losing family members left and right. Like we forget about like, because we got through it. And then now the COVID is like, oh, it's just a cold, you know. But like at one point, like people were really losing their lives.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Isn't that crazy how, like, something that was so traumatic can become normalized?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
No, we have not. We have not. That is so true. You talked about not always being the most confident. When I was driving here, I was thinking about you because you, first of all, the body-ody-ody. Thank you. Your body is banging.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
put in the work. Yeah. I want, cause you grew up in Hollywood, which is just a naturally vain city where everybody's skinny and like all the things where there are times where you went through body dysmorphia and were like, man, I, I need to be skinnier or like binge diet just to like try to be skinnier. Or was it something that you were just like, I'm going to have, this is what it is.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Yeah, that's so true.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Yeah, I'm seriously, like, I'm the type of person, like, I want a nose job.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Yes, I'm going to do it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
No, it's great contouring right now.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
I'm just not. Yes. We're going to get to that. Y'all want to talk to me about like just even social media, because for me, it's hard for me not to react. And sometimes I'm like, I got time today.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Exactly. That is hysterical. So I want to ask you, so if there's any young entrepreneurs watching, what are some tips that you would give them who want to get into the business? Because you have so many businesses. Let's talk about that, too. You have the Talks Here in Buckhead that's opening up. So excited about that.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
You're welcome to come anytime.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
So I'm really big in wellness. And I think also, too, being in front of the camera all the time, you want to take care of your body and just overall. But I see where my water sits.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Yes. And it'll get you in trouble. That's for sure. Your father in love is a big fan of one of my shows. And when I came to the game, he was like, That was you. So when I got to meet you, she said, I want to, I want to introduce you to Jordan. I'm like, okay, let me go meet her. And you and your mom just, first of all, your mom looks like your sister.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Yeah. I think you'll really like it. Yeah. No, I'm excited about it. And then you have first place.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
I love that because for me, I love working out. But with my work schedule, like when we're filming 16 hour days, like I'm not going to work out. No. You know, so, like, the consistency isn't there all the time. It's like, do you sleep or do you work out? I had to, like, tell myself, even, like, sleep or study. Like, there are times where I'm like, just go to sleep. You have to sleep.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Yeah, you got to go to sleep. Because you can't be fresh for the next day. No, you cannot. That is so true. I love that. You have had public relationships and friendships. How do you manage that, living your life in the spotlight? Like, is that how you, or have you, like, kind of learned how to maneuver things?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Let's talk about it. Cause that's why I deal the same thing.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Jordan Woods has been a powerhouse in the world of fashion, beauty, and wellness, and her authenticity and strength continues to inspire so many. She is someone who has faced challenges head-on and turned them into opportunities, all while keeping it real and staying true to herself. Kids family, Jordan Woods. Jordan, thank you so much for coming in.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Just stunning. Seriously.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
No, for sure. I get it. I get it. In those moments where you were feeling the cyber bullying and the attacks, what, take us through that time and what it was like and how did you get out of that? Because I know that was a really dark time for you.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
So sweet. Gents are strong. Yes, they are. They really are. So I want to talk to you about just the diverse career that you built from modeling, entertainment and entrepreneurship. You were raised in Los Angeles, California, and then you moved to Calabasas at a young age. How were you when you moved to Cali?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Yeah, because it makes you just want to shut down.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Yeah, that's so true. I hate that explore page because I'll see something like, this is not, why is this in the past?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Ashana, Wes, I like it. Yeah, we were just filming and we had a scene where some girl said something. I was like, I went like this, like, and I was like, what the kids be doing?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
I bet she keeps you, like, updated on all the videos.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Yeah, you evolved.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
You're evolving. And I know for me, I have, I feel a sense of responsibility when it comes to the people that follow me. And even just, like, what I'm putting out there.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Yes. No, seriously. That was so much time. Yeah. Yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
It is. It is. Take me on... just the day to day like, what is a day in the life like with Jordan Woods?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Yeah. How was that growing up? Just like because your father worked in the industry. How was that just growing up inside that at a young age?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Oh, I'm excited because your whole game is, actually your whole wardrobe, everything is always fly.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Are you really hands-on in the design of it too and being creative with it? Yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
And then I see you like do your own makeup sometimes before the games.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
It looks so good.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
You always look beautiful. But the fact that you're doing all that throughout the day and then it still takes time. Oh, and I get dressed in 10 minutes.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
I feel like we're like twins. No. I literally do that. Do we need to get it together? No. Before a flight, I will pack, like, I'll just do it in the morning. Like, that's me.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Yeah, it is. And we were almost twins today because I actually almost wore a shiny, you know that, I don't know what you would, but I have a cropped trench just like that. And it was laid out and I was like, oh, I could wear this. And then I grabbed this, but we literally were twins.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Same, me neither. My friends will tell you for a year I walked around with my reading glasses that had a safety pin holding them together because I stepped on them one morning.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Listen, and, like, literally I had a safety pin in them because I stepped on them, broke the arm off, and I was like, shoot, I don't have time to go to the eye doctor to get another pair. So I just, like, fixed them. Make it work. So I finally got a new glass. They're like, no, bring the other ones back. It's stylish. You could create a trend.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
But if people saw me on a date, they'd be like, this girl. They're like, you could afford another pair of glasses. I'm like, this keeps me grounded.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
I do, for sure. That is for sure. I want to play a quick game with you. Let's see. We got through it. Okay, so this is just a few questions. Okay, you're known for your sense of style. So what is your go-to outfit or fashion piece that makes you confident every single time?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Yes. You went to, you did a reel about you getting your Hermes bag. Yes. Yes. So like what, what's your favorite bag right now if you had to choose? I can't choose.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Okay, I love that. And what is one of your, I'm interested to know because you travel so much, what's one of your favorite places to shop?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
So true. I love Aritzia. If you could swap lives with anyone for a day, who would it be and why?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
That's a really tough one. That's so true, though. You're right, though.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Yeah. Because I'm listening to you talk and I'm like, this girl is brilliant.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Yeah, like all the things you have going on. Looking at your Instagram, I would have had no idea. No one ever knows, which is fine.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
I'm the worst. Like I bought a little DJI camera.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Exactly. See, I'm like, oh yeah, I'm going to use it. Girl, I do not use it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Jordan. It's like, oh, I've just missed all the good stuff.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
This was what I needed to do. The plus side of that is that we're being present, but then we're not getting the content.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Yeah, no, for sure. What has been the best piece of advice you've ever received?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Can you remember? I can't remember. Do you know the four agreements? What's the other two agreements of the four agreements? But look it up.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Yeah, exactly. So good. Read the book. I haven't read it in years.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
I haven't read that either. So good. And then when you have downtime, what is something that you like to do to unwind?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
I haven't watched it yet.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
I can't think of Sterling K...
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Okay, before we close out, we have what is called positive outcomes. That's where our listeners write in to us and we give them advice. Okay. So this one is from Sherry Holder. And Sherry says, what strategies can I employ to enhance self-confidence and redirect my focus towards personal development and self-improvement in my career path?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Well, Sherri, I would say first, for me, when it comes to self-improvement and when it comes to even just my business and what I'm trying to do is how I start the day. Like you talked about, like your morning routine, having some type of system in place. How you start the day is how you're going to finish. It just kind of flows throughout the rest of the day.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
When it comes to business, if you didn't go to school for it, I would get books so that you can educate yourself, especially on whatever it is that your career path is. And I would also, what I've been doing is studying the people that are successful in the area. So like I'm huge on emigre, like this woman is just the most. Oh yeah, she's amazing.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
She's so powerful and just her energy and just she's a mom, she's a wife, she's a businesswoman, all the things and she's someone If I thought I had a lot of stuff to do, babe, that woman is busy. So I was I was studying. She even posts like the books that she read to have a better understanding. So I kind of just like follow people.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Yes. The food is very flavorful, salty, fattening, and it's amazing. But we're not as health conscious. That's why I love like when I go to L.A. or Miami, places where wellness is like top tier.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
I read in one of the books that she had recommended was don't try to reinvent the wheel. Like it's whatever's working. It works. So take that and then add your own little spin on it. But you don't have to. I got to figure out a whole new way to do this. Yeah, that's what I would do.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
I love that. Yeah. That's so good. Thank you, Jordan. Thank you. Yes. No, this has been amazing. I'm so glad we got to sit down and talk.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
I know that I learned a lot more about you. So proud of everything you've accomplished and everything that you've overcome. You are glowing, shining, and doing the thing.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
No, you're doing it, honey. Thank you. A friend of mine... Sean Finney, I used to always say, yeah, I'm trying to do this. He said, stop saying I'm trying. You're doing it. Yeah. And I was like, okay, tip. That's what I am.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
I'm doing it. Yes, that's it. When you keep saying that, you are doing it, you know? So yeah, you're doing it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
You're welcome. Thank you so much.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Guys, that was a great conversation and a beautiful reminder to never confine yourself to a box. Chase every dream and explore all of your talents. Thank you guys so much for tuning into another episode of the Keep It Positive Sweetie Show. Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review and share this episode with someone who could use a little positivity today.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
And as always, stay blessed, stay encouraged and remember to keep it positive, sweetie. I'll see you guys next time.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Was there ever a moment, because you started at such a young age, that you were like, I don't want to do this? Or has it always been like, this is just what it is?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Seriously, when I got the call, I was like, absolutely. Yeah, I know. I'm excited. Thank you. I appreciate it. We first met last year, about a year ago. I had to sing the national anthem for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
I had to beg my dad to get a job when I was 15. He was like, all right, you can get a job. But everyone in my family was like, Crystal, you work like there's no tomorrow. And I'm like, it's just in me. I have that grit, that grit.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
You have a lot of things going on, which we're going to get to. So much. You said something about moving. You went to London. Where else did you go? New York. In New York. So what was it like and what prompted you to say, I'm going to go to the U.K. ?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
The Dallas series.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Oh, I just visited Stanford.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
I didn't even get to, I haven't even been there yet. Oh, the campus is stunning. I actually went with Estee Lauder. We went to the longevity center and learned about how to live longer. Oh, I need to go there. Yes. No, it was, the campus is stunning. What did you learn? I learned so much. I learned about the things that we're doing right now, like in particular can help us not have dementia later.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
I need that because I can't even remember what I did yesterday. Right.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
That was insane. It was. The fans are like I've never seen fans crazier than the Minnesota fans.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
So did they give you any like tips? Yeah, they did. They said there's a few things that help when they did studies on people that had dementia and didn't have it was their diet. A lot of them who didn't have it had a vegan diet or plant based diet. They had a sense of community, religion, going to church and having that spiritual foundation and working out.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
And it's like such simple fundamentals could change everything. Your mind. And even just having good community, like your friends and people that you talk to. Because a lot of people start to lose their mind when they don't have anyone to talk to as they get older.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Mm-hmm. Wow. It made a lot of sense. And I came back, I got a chef. I was like, we're changing everything. So have you been doing plant based or any? I'm plant based vegetarian. So I need like something. So like still no dairy. I cut out all the dairy and everything is like super clean and organic.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Oh, and I'm fasting right now. So I cut out alcohol.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
I'm talking about super clear right now.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Come on. I love that. I love it. So like you said, you learned a lot of your life lessons just from moving away from home, going to London. That was something that Omari Hardwick told me. Was it Omari? Yeah, Hardwick from Power. We were working on a movie that Tyler Perry had done, and he was starring in it. And he was asking me what I wanted to do.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
And I was like, I want to be an actor, but I haven't gone to acting school. I'm trying to find a really good coach. And I actually ended up studying at Spies and Sturges, who Will Smith studied under.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
And they were absolutely incredible. But he said, Crystal, he was like, don't worry about all that.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
He said, what I tell people all the time, especially kids who want to act, I say, move away from home. That is where you're going to get those life lessons. Because what you're doing when you're playing different characters is pulling from your own lessons to make it reality. If you haven't done anything or experienced anything, you have nowhere to pull from.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
I love that for you. I wanted to during the strike. As soon as the strike happened two years ago, my initial instinct was I should go to London and study because I love British actors.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
They are so good.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
But no, they're crushing it. They are. So I wanted to move there just for like do like a six week intensive course or something. And Tyler was, I was talking to Tyler about it and he was like, I don't know. He's got a feeling like it's going to be over with. Like they're going to figure it out. And it was three months later. I said, I could have went on to London.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Yes. Oh, yes. You've gotten to see that, too. Yeah. So, yeah. So those are the craziest ones that you've seen. That's the craziest ones I've seen. Yeah, because I haven't been to Boston yet. I've heard about them. And actually, when we play Boston, they travel. Their fans.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
There's something about their mindset. I'm like, wow, the things that we worry about over here, they're like... What are y'all talking about?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Absolutely. I love that. Within your career, what was the biggest turning point where you knew that you like had kind of made your stamp in the industry?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea w/ Jordyn Woods
Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Calling all my sweeties to the forefront. I'm your host, Chris Renee Hazlett, and this is the Keep It Positive Sweetie Show. Hello and welcome to another episode of the Keep It Positive Sweeties show, a place where we bring real conversation with a whole lot of heart and positivity. I'm your host, Chris Renee Hazlett. And today we have a certified superstar joining us.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
this is it i need to have my cup full for my baby yes yeah you spoke about um your on a recent interview about one of your regrets being buying a mansion yeah and i literally two years ago i bought like a multi-million dollar home seven bedrooms i'm by myself in this house and when i saw you say that i felt so seen because i was literally in the process of like i need a downsize because what
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
what am i doing what why did i do this like all the money on that mortgage for what and all the down payment ma'am and the maintenance ma'am the maintenance i had a pool oh see i didn't oh i had a yard i had a pond oh yeah that's fish in there oh yeah that's that is a bill baby then i had a grass that was made out of an elephant
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Wow. So I feel like we are similar in this area as well.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
can't do it since i'm with you and then i didn't have a man yeah it's like nope yeah not gonna happen nah and i let it go that's amazing i'm proud of you for that thank you because a lot of times i think you we get money we get a lot of money yeah and then it's like we do things that we just just i can do it i can afford it i can afford it i can do that like i got it but then you start to educate yourself and you're like wait a minute
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
i can be doing a lot with this money what and i can still have a beautiful home for half the price it is that's something that i don't even need all this and you're not there half the time anyway like you know but you want to come home and be comfortable but like do you need all that you need all that what was that self like reflection when you're like girl you don't need all this i think it's when i came to atlanta to film bmf i had a condo a high rocks
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
It's a view. Restaurants everywhere. Right here. No line, no elephants. What was it? No elephants and trails. Girl, no pond and koi fish. None of that. The pool has already got the maintenance. That's all in there.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Girl, that's me sitting in that house. You don't have any? None. Here and there, crack creaking. I'm like, what's that? You just sitting there. Jumping, scared. So what, did you move? I haven't yet. I just like, I really just came to this realization in the past month.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Yeah. And then I saw you said, I was like, girl, that is me. But I got a condo in Miami, just like you. I got a condo in Miami. It's only like 1,200 square feet. It's perfect. You love it there. I love it. You want to go there? 41st floor. 41st? I'm not mad at that. No. I mean, the sky, honey. I like that. It's gorgeous. The light. Even Wes, he went for his birthday.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
I said, you're just going to stay at the condo because we were in New York for Fashion Week. And he's like, I see why you come down here and don't want to. I said, yeah. He said, so peaceful. It's just so peaceful. Mm-hmm. I'm with you, sis. See? See? Yeah. And my realtor, she was like, I called and I said, I think I want a downside. She said, girl, they got this new condo building here.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
She said, I got you. Yeah, so I'm thinking I'm going to get a downside to that. You should. You should.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Yeah. I can't imagine a violation. And just even the state of the world right now, I see all these posts about this outage that's gonna come and the blackout. And one guy was just saying, he was like, imagine he said when people who aren't prepared haven't eaten in three days, what are they gonna do? They gonna start breaking into houses.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
They just gonna be in flight or flight mode and like trying to survive. And I was like, that's really scary. We're not safe. You know what I'm saying? And I'm like, what am I gonna do? Come in here if you want to. We're not gang bangers. No, I don't want to be in this part.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
No. Speaking of shoot him up, bang, bang. One of my guilty pleasures is mafia, drug movies and TV shows.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
I love them so much, especially when they're true stories. It don't matter what it is.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Yes, I'm fascinated by it. I'm just like, oh my gosh, how people love true crime. I love the mafia, mob, and gang movies. So when it came to BMF, true story and story time, I auditioned for Monique. So when I saw them, I swear. So, you know, when you don't get it, you're like, who got it? You look at like, who got it? And then when I saw you, I was like, she's perfect.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Yeah. It was so good. That's crazy. Yes. That was your role. That's one of my favorite shows. You killed it. Thank you. I appreciate that. I was sad when Lamar did that to you.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Oh, that's good. So you were surprised with the audience.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
I love it. And then I also love the art from Detroit that you're on. You better bring your acting bag. No, I didn't. No. I didn't even know about that show, but I love D.R. Kilpatrick. And Shannon, another one of my friends, he's on that show too. And John. There's a few people that I know on that show. But I love that. So when I saw you on there too, I was like, you better be working.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Listen, I've actually auditioned for a character where I was a heroin addict. Listen, the stuff that you auditioned for. What?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Now, did you do acting classes? How did you prepare for these roles?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Okay, got it. Amazing. Well, you body those roles. Thank you. That's amazing. I love that. I appreciate that. Yeah, for sure. What else is next for you?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Baby, that's another thing. What can I do that can make money when I'm sleeping?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
You have family. Yeah, it makes sense. You have to make it make sense. Yeah, yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Yeah, I love that. I love that. Through everything that you've been through in life, what is a moment or a point that pulled you closer to God to make you lean in on your faith?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Listen, that is one of my greatest fears.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Yeah, I feel like it's an ever-evolving relationship.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
And that's a great relationship. It is. To always, yeah. To keep evolving in and just, yeah, I'm with you on that. And I feel like in this past year, I feel like every conversation I had with friends, at some point God comes up. Have you noticed because of all the tension and everything that's going on, I feel like he's just pulling us closer and closer. Mm-hmm.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
I'm not going. It's scary. Like, I don't think I've prayed. It's always like, thank you, Lord, for let us make your say. Now it's like. I want to kneel down on the floor before we take off. Heavenly Father, please let us make it. You're very intentional now about, am I going to get there safely?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Like, I had to log out. It's like, it's too much. Like, let me just give this a break. I had to start doing, like, a time limit on my social media, like on Instagram. Okay. Like, two-hour daily limit. Throughout the day, I can only be in LSA. For two hours? Two hours. That's good. Yeah, because it is. It's so much negativity.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
It takes us so much time. Yeah, it does.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Yes, I love that. Give me a limit a day. Yep, just a limit, yeah. Just a cool little solid.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Made it into something. I love that. You're in this industry where women are dominating the rap game. Yeah. Like y'all are killing it. Yeah. And I'm loving it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
We do something that's called positive outcomes. And a lot of times when women see us, they feel like we're exempt from heartache or even, you know what I'm saying, being taken advantage of. I don't know why. Because they look at us and like, who would ever... They think it's so perfect. And like, who would ever cheat on you or who would ever break your heart?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Like you, yeah. We're not exempt. Yeah. But if you were, if there was a woman watching, what advice would you give her if she's going through something like that? A heartbreak? Yeah. Or even just feeling like she was taken for granted. Oh.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Cause the way he do his get back. Baby, listen, I didn't see it. It may be some years down the line. You'd be like, you did not forget about, you did not forget about me.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
It's like beautiful to see like everybody just doing their thing. And y'all are so confident and powerful in this space. How do you feel about it? And then who would be like your dream collab? If you could collab with anybody, who would it be?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
I love him. Me too, I love him, thank you. That's perfect advice. To close out, I made a game, a little spin on Cash Commandments. Okay. So rapid fire, you're just gonna answer this or that type of game. All right, first Cash Commandment, always get the bag or always check the contract first.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
which one get the bag or check the contract check the contract all right first more money or more respect more respect big flex or low-key wealth low-key whoa come on that's that real wealth right there it is um invest in real estate or invest in yourself wow that's a tough one i know wow
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Bam, I love that. I'm gonna say that one, yeah. I love that. Now, you love your Birkin bags, so this is gonna be a tough one. Designer bags or property deeds?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
You ain't got to sacrifice one for the other. Right. I'll get both. Right. All right. One has to go forever. We letting go of wigs or lashes. This is tough because Lord have mercy. Oh my God!
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Yes, because I was looking a little sleepy without these lashes. Yeah, without my lashes, I'd be barred. I'd be barred. After I stopped getting those individuals, it was over with. I have no lashes. You was in the visual. See, you is my girl, because I was doing the same thing. Yes, and I pulled them all out during COVID.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Oh, that's what I do now. Yeah, I only do shirts. Well, the individuals, because they put them more towards the skin, but it was like literally pulling my lashes out. It was so bad, yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Well, they have grown back since then, but it's not nowhere near what it was before I started getting them. Yeah, I wish we would just use the mascara. Yeah, because when I look back at pictures pre-2019, when everybody was getting the lash extensions, I had some beautiful lashes with just mascara. With just mascara. Yeah. Look at us, doing too much. You know what I'm saying? Doing too much. Okay.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Anybody, yeah. Dead or Alive, I like to ask those questions. Like, if anybody, like, if you could have your way.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
All right, back to it. Let's see. Late nights in the club or early mornings on a business call?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Yeah, that's good. Spend a weekend with Beyonce or Rihanna? That ain't really two words. I say Rihanna. Riri, okay, perfect. I love B, though. Exactly, no, we love.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Yeah, especially like, I feel like behind closed doors when she can just be herself. I think she gonna be a real good time. I think she a good time. Yeah. It's a tie. Okay, all right, we can do a tie. If someone disrespects you in public, are you clapping back or are you keeping it positive, sweetie? See, it's a mixture, because I'm both.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
No. I feel like there's certain lines that should not be crossed. That shouldn't be crossed. Yeah. And once you do that, all bets are off. For sure. I'm with you on that. If you could listen to only one artist forever besides yourself, who would it be?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Heels, baby. You see the heels? The boots. You see the heels? If a man wants to be in your life, he must bring what? Loyalty or luxury? LL. Both of them. Both of them. Your biggest ick, a man with bad credit or a man with no ambition?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
That is so disgusting. No, I'm with you. Yeah. That's the biggest, it's one of my biggest turnouts. Yeah. Would you rather be spoiled with gifts or spoiled with time and attention? She said, girl, you asking me so hard. I want everything. I want all of it. When they ask me my favorite love language, I'm like, all of them.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Effortless, beautiful. What? I wanted to be her.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Exactly. And it's for him, too. I want to buy you stuff.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
hello like i'm a trip or something buy me stuff so i can buy you stuff and i don't feel bad please please oh you want me so cool i'm about to go get you something all right lads two or three if he fumbles the bag meaning you does he get a second chance or no have you have you spun the block cash It be over. It be over.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
She's a rapper, entrepreneur and all around powerhouse. She's taken the industry by storm with her confidence and authenticity. Get ready because we have Cash Doll in the building. You know her from hits like Ice Me Out and For Everybody, and you may have seen her on your favorite TV show.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Yeah. I tried it, and it just didn't work. It don't work. Yeah, it's almost like, and then you trust the reason why you originally broke up. Why I originally broke up with you.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Yeah, and it was successful, no. Okay, I'm sorry. Broke but loyal or rich and slightly toxic?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Just a little bit of toxic. Like how much toxic? Just a little bit, just enough.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
All right, last question, and we're going to get out of here. Your biggest turn on in a man, power moves or a good sense of humor? Both. Yeah. I need you to make me laugh and make the moves. I don't care how fine you is.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
And you know she's from the deep. Exactly.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Absolutely. I love that. Cash, you've been amazing.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
I had a good time with you. You all right with me. I come kicking with you again. Come on back. You are welcome anytime. I'm serious.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
I don't know. Let's do it. I'm not mad at that. Okay. I love it. Thank you so much. Thank you for having me. Of course.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
What an incredible conversation I had with Cash Doll. Her story is all about resilience, confidence, and staying true to your vision. I hope you're walking away just as inspired as I am. One of my takeaways from this episode is that Cash is really a girl's girl. I absolutely love that about her. I love how she emphasized sisterhood and how important it is to have your sisters.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
I got me a new one today. Love you Cash, and thanks for stopping by. Thank you so much for tuning in to this episode of the Keep It Positive Sweetie Show. Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who could use some positive energy. And while you're at it, make sure you tune in to the new episode of Sisters this Wednesday.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
And remember, no matter what life throws at you, stay focused, stay confident, and of course, keep it positive. You guys can follow me on all platforms at LoveCrystalRenee. You can follow us at Keep It Positive, Sweetie. And you can write into our Positive Outcomes listener letter at KeepItPositiveSweetie at gmail.com. In the meantime, in between time, y'all know what to do.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
That's Aaliyah. The fact that you thought that and look at you now. Come on. Want to do it?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Keep it positive, sweeties. I'll see you guys next time.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Love me some Rih. I could see that too. Y'all would kill a song together.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Yes, that's all I listen to. I was going to ask you that, like, where do you pull your inspiration from? Do you listen to other music to be like, let me see what's out here? Or are you like one of the people like, I can't, because some artists cannot listen to.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Yeah, I love that. I was at Meals on Wheels like two years ago, and you performed. Oh, yeah. Right around the corner. And my publicist, she is, Jennifer, the whitest black girl you ever meet. Rapping lyric for lyric. I love Cash Doll. I was like. Hey, dear. I would have never guessed it, but people love you. I was just like, wow.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Today, she's here to drop gems about her journey, staying true to herself, and how she keeps it moving on no matter what. She's an inspiration to fans everywhere. Please welcome the one, the only Cash Doll. Cash, we got you here. I'm here. You are here, honey. Looking good.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Because you think, I'm like, yeah, she probably don't know that, that Cash Doll. When I say she was in her life.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Very diverse crowd. I'm like, wow. Yeah. Y'all came to see me?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
This is where we are. Wow. The little girl from Detroit that looked up to Aaliyah. That was looking up to Aaliyah. Wondering if I could do, I can't do it like that. I can't do it like her, but I'm going to do it. You're doing it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
I wanted to ask. Yeah, Cassian's here.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
God. Come on. Yeah. Like literally, you had to lean on him.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
You took the words out of my mouth. That's another child that needs that attention and that love.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Yeah. You forgot about your girl. I've been guilty of that. You guilty? I've been guilty of that. Like, being so head over heels. You have. Well, like, I just, like, I'm pouring, pouring, pouring into my person that my girl's like, dang, y'all spend time with us. But, like, your person is always like, let's do this, let's do this, let's go here. And it's like. And you want to go because when you.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Especially that beginning. In the beginning. Forget about it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Nah, oh, you miss me. You got time now. Yeah, yeah. I do better about prioritizing now. Prioritizing, yeah. And that comes with maturity and just growth and learning how to balance it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
it's healthy for your relationship with him too because i feel like he has time to miss you and see that you have a life outside of him exactly and not just oh baby baby it's like yeah i have other things to do like yeah separate that's so i absolutely love that because i've been like that it does it comes time and growth maturity i feel like we're grown now
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
We already on the same page. I love it. Yeah, I love that. I love it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
So yeah, just that's where I'm at in life. I love that. Balancing. Balancing it out. All of this. Yeah. All of this. It's a lot. You just told me that you don't get a lot of rest. I want to challenge you, Cash, to take a day for yourself. You have to. Because I know you've been busy.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
But after this, go do it. I'm going to go, OK. Yeah, go lay down.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
I appreciate that. I appreciate it. Thank you so much for taking time to stop by. For sure. I was excited. I was excited.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Oh, that's another priority. See what I'm saying?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
These are the things you guys don't see.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
You're like, I'm trying. Hey! Yeah. Do you ever, like, deal with, like, anxiety? Because it's, you know, no stress.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
I love that. Because God be stressed. I would be stressed out. Therapy and all. And I don't even have my best friend, my therapist. Really? That's good. Someone you can trust. Yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
I'm there. Thank you. Yes. Thank you so much. I want to learn more about your journey. You're from Detroit. Yes, I'm from Detroit. It's a place that has so much rich history. Yeah. What was it like growing up and what were the inspirations that really pushed you to want to do music?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
No, I love it. I tell people all the time. Because I feel like it is harder for people who have celebrity status to find somebody they can trust. Because trust is such a big thing in our life. But because of law, they can't tell anybody. But even still, in the back of my mind, it's like, you're going to tell my business? How much can I really tell you?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
You know Cas. I came in here. Girl, Cas.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Listen, no. So that's good. You have your tribe.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
That's important. It is very important.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
I know that's right. And you always fly. Do you style yourself or do you have a stylist?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Cash, we can hang out because we like to do the same thing. Because we like to do the same thing. Come on.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
There's one more thing I like. And she sweats the best. I'm not saying everybody know what I'm talking about, but that keeps me good. Yes. Balance. Balance. I love it. I love it. You are the oldest of six. Yeah. Have you ever felt survivor's remorse for being the one who made it and trying to like pull everybody up with you or even holding everybody up? How was that experience?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Sisterhood, God & Kash w/ Kash Doll
Because I definitely dealt with that and it was really tough. And I think that's what drove me to my first panic attack and having anxiety was because like and then like, how do I keep all this up? Because I got to keep this life for everybody now.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
Oh, my God. You were exhausted. That whole situation was exhausting.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
Like, how are y'all doing this? Stay in it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
Amen. My grandma used to say, if the Lord will and the creek don't rise, I'll see you tomorrow. See, right there, that's too many words, but I agree with your grandmother. Yes, yes. Well, I just want to first off say congratulations on your third season of the Sherri Shepherd Show. How does it feel?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
I know you're watching. You have to get Sherry a car.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
Oh my goodness. Sherry, why did I tell him one day? I was like, I could just live here. You would never know I was here. He was like, no. I said, or I could build on your land. You would never know I'm here. He was like, no. Maybe I need to say something different because I was like, can I take my clothes off?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
Listen, that's his favorite line. All right. So y'all ready? Bye, y'all.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
That is incredible. Oh my gosh. Everybody loves Tyler. He's just amazing. And I'm glad you got to experience that. One thing I do say after working with him, we, you look around, you're like, why is everybody moving so slow? Like, come on, let's move it. Cause we know it's done faster.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
And I had to catch myself to kind of just slow down because I'm so used to running circles around everybody because I worked with him from a PA all the way to an actor.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
So I've been used to that fast pace for so long that I have to even catch myself sometimes and say, OK, Crystal, slow down. You can breathe. Enjoy it for a little bit. But I know what you mean.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
Yep. That is his favorite line. I can hear it in my sleep. It's like, it haunts me sometimes.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
Yes. No, seriously. What did you do to prepare for that role?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
Yes. Yes. I love it. Well, congratulations. And I cannot wait for it to come out. I'm telling you, the audience is going to have, like our jaw was on the floor. So I'm excited for it. And congratulations again on that. I appreciate it. You've worked with some of your close friends. I work with some of my close friends. What is it like working with close friends and then also setting boundaries?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
Because as you've climbed, you've taken people along with you. What is that journey been like?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
Yes, I will. Come on over. I got wine. That's it, girl. We can watch movies. What's your favorite movie?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
I know that's right. Listen, I'm so proud of you. Like you've gained so many accolades and nominations. Have you had time to just really sit in it? Because I know you're so busy. When do you find time to just be like, wow, this is my life right now?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
Yes. I love that. You spoke on letting certain people go and like they can't, everybody can't come along with you. What are some things that you've had to shed as you continue to ascend?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
Or people or things that you had to realize I can't, this can't come with me.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
Yes. That's it. I've dealt with the same thing as I've gained fame and just navigating friendships. So it's good to know that you were able to find good people like Niecy that you could do life with. And it's so important. I have friends like that too, where I can call her six months. It's never like... You know, acting brand new, nothing like that. It's just like, hey, let's catch up.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
Like literally didn't skip a beat.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
That's beautiful. I love that. You touched on mental health. What are some things, do you have a therapist? What are some things that you do to really just keep your mental health strong with everything that you have going on? Because I know for me, I dealt with my first anxiety attack last year. just the weight of it all and worried about how am I supposed to keep all this up?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
And what if it doesn't last? What if the show gets canceled? All these different thoughts crept in and literally had my first panic attack. And that's when I really got a therapist and really started talking through things and realized that if I'm grounded in my faith, what am I worried about? Flipping ends four and six.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
But I wanted to know what are some practices that you do just to really keep your mental health strong?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
Come on. I try to tell people that I'm like, be careful what you ask for.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
I know I have to stay on top of that because it's so important. Thank you for sharing that.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
I love it. That's beautiful. I'm happy that you actually find time because sometimes life can be so busy and pass us by. We look up and like, wait, I accomplished all these things, but I didn't really get to sit in it. So I'm happy that you daily can sit in it and find time to just be grateful. That's so beautiful. I love that.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
That's it. That makes me like, wait. They start, then they start looking and we're like, wait, am I ever? Yes. You need to stop doing that.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
I ain't thirsty. I know that's right. Me and mine. I love that. Speaking of your son, how do you balance motherhood and everything else you have going on? Because I can imagine that's a lot. You spoke on him being autistic. How is that managing that?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
Yeah. That's good. I love that. Something that you and I both connected over was our fitness journeys. And you have 50 and I'm fit over 40. Yeah. There we go. Fit over the decades. Yes. And, you know, I feel like after that 40 hit, it got hard. We talked about this on your show. It was hard and harder to get the weight off. What really pushed you to like start this fitness journey?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
And you're on it like you're so committed. And there's days I fall off and I see, you know, like, let me get up.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
Yes. It's so important. It is. They say that health is wealth, but it really is. Oh, my gosh. We put wealth in so many different categories and we overlook the health part. That is like one of the main things.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
Absolutely. Yes. I love that. And keep going because you're not only inspiring so many other people, you're inspiring me too. So thank you for doing that and putting it out there because we need to see that, especially in our community. There's so many health issues that they need to see people like us who are on TV in their homes every day saying, oh, this is important. Oh, let me do that.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
If it's working for Sherry, it's working for Crystal. This is something we can practice as well. So yeah, keep that up sis. I'm proud of you. Yeah. I'm proud of you too, girl. Thank you. Thank you so much. Before we close, you know that I also aspire one day to have my own talk show.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
What is one thing that you as an accomplished talk show host would give advice to me, just someone who wants to do that one day?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
Yes. Thank you so much, Sherri. All right, girl. It was an honor. I'm telling you, I had Tyler on this couch, and I wasn't as nervous as when I knew I was interviewing you today. I said, I'm going to meet Sherri Shepherd. I was like, we're going to have a good time when you invite me to your house.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
I can't wait to have you over. When you're in Atlanta, please let me know so we can have a good girls night and watch Cooley High. I will, girl. I sure will. Have a good day. I love you. Bye-bye. Bye. My conversation with Sherri was everything I needed and everything I hoped for and much more.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
We unpacked so much, but what really resonated with me was what you do in the meantime while you're waiting for your dream to come to pass. A lot of times, I know for me, I felt like I was behind the mark or I was late to the party. But what I realized as I gained footing and living out my passion and my dreams was that I was right on time.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
Oh, that is beautiful. Something that resonated with me is your new series. It's never too late. I was 38 when my career took off. And Sherri, when I tell you, I looked around the room and I was like, everybody is either like 10 years younger than me, 12 years younger than me. And there were so many moments where I felt like I was late to the party.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
And everything I was learning along the way equipped me to handle where I am today. So just remember, no matter where you are in your journey, make sure you pay attention and learn all the lessons that you need to learn for when you get to where you're going. Thank you all so much for spending time with me today. And a huge thank you to Sherri Shepherd for all she poured into this show and me.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
I hope my conversation with Sherri inspires you and encourages you to keep pushing towards your dreams. Guys, you can follow me on all social media platforms at Love Crystal Renee. And you can also follow our show at Keep It Positive, Sweetie. If you want to write into our Positive Outcomes listener letter, you can send us an email at keepitpositivesweetie at gmail.com.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
in the meantime in between time you know what to do keep it positive sweetie see you guys next time you
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
And as I gained my footing, I realized, you know what, you're right on time because everything that I gained, the knowledge that I learned during the waiting period, it really like, it just, it equips me for everything that I was stepping into. What did you do to maintain the waiting phase to really get to where you wanted to get to?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
No, you answered it. I asked you, what did you do in that waiting phase in the meantime?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
Literally, there were so many times where I questioned, I like to question God, but there are so many moments where I'm like, Lord, what am I doing? Why do you have me doing this? I just didn't understand the steps that he was ordering for me. And I always pray God order my steps. But then sometimes like, this is really the step you want me to take. Absolutely. But it makes sense.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
Hi, I'm Chris Renee Hazlett, and this is the Keep It Positive Sweetie Show, a safe space to heal, laugh, grow, and love. Today's show has me all in my feelings, and it's crazy, guys. We're just getting started. I'm having a one-on-one with the one and only Sherri Shepherd.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
Yes. Oh, I love that. That is so good because I definitely resonate with you on that. One thing that I noticed when I come to your show, I was telling my line producer this, I was like, every time I go to Sherry's show, I feel so seen. I love the way that you come. No, seriously. The way you come out and hug on us.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
And I remember one time you didn't see me before the show and you came to, I didn't see you before. Let me give you a hug. Like the fact that you even remember, like I didn't see Crystal. And I was like, this woman has so much going on. And to remember little old me, you know, it just meant so much. And every time I leave the conversations that we have on your show, just leave me so full.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
And I just feel so seen. I just want to thank you for that because if you don't, it feels like just, okay, interview next, you know, but you do not make me feel like that.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
I'm so excited to grab some gems from the talk show queen, and I know it's going to be a really special time for us and for you as well. Whether it be television or movies, comedy stages or daytime talk, Sherri Shepherd is the master of all mediums. Her journey through the entertainment industry has been anything but linear, and she's the epitome of waiting your turn.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
Yes. Seeing that showed me how I need to move forward. I learned so much from so many people that I look up to. And that's definitely something I took away from you when I left your show. Thank you, girl. When you have yours.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
Thank you. You are so multi-talented. You do comedy, you do movies, television. Now you have your own talk show. You and I have something in common. We both have worked with the incomparable Tyler Perry. Listen, honey, I got to tell you, I got a sneak peek of Straw. Oh, you did? Sherri. Sherri. My series going off, going, uh-huh. Baby, you embodied the character so beautifully. It was so grounded.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
The dance that you and Taraji did in your scenes, I was blown away. When the credits rolled, we were like, Oh my gosh. And like Davao was there. It was so many people in the room and we were both like, Sherry killed it. And I just want to give you your flowers and ask you, what was it like working with Tyler?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
Because I know what it's been like working with him and the amazing things that he has instilled in me as an actor. But what was that experience like for you?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
Why is it hard for you to accept compliments?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Working While Waiting w/Sherri Shepherd
Well, her turn and her time is now, and it's now time for us to get together and get the real of her journey up the entertainment ladder and much more. I'm here on my couch, and she is checking in from her dressing room on set. Sherri, thank you so much for coming on today. How are you feeling?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Full Circle Moments w/ Saint Jhn
Calling all my sweeties to the forefront. I'm your host, Chris Renee Hazlett, and this is the Keep It Positive Sweetie Show. Hello, and welcome back to the Keep It Positive Sweeties Show, a safe space to heal, laugh, grow, and love, and keep things real with a positive twist. I'm your host, Chris Renee Hazlett, and I am so excited about today's episode.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Full Circle Moments w/ Saint Jhn
And when people say, man, that just happened. No, it didn't happen overnight. It was 20 years.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Full Circle Moments w/ Saint Jhn
Trying to find it. Do you feel like you found your sound or do you feel like it's always evolving?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Full Circle Moments w/ Saint Jhn
Yes, yeah, yeah, yeah. I got you. That makes sense. I love that. You started off doing songwriting for people. But then you stated, I was having success, but who wants to live their dreams through someone else's eyes? At what point, what was that aha moment that, no, I need to be doing this for myself? Like, what was that shift? Were you in the studio when you were like, wait, what am I doing?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Full Circle Moments w/ Saint Jhn
what am I doing? Like, when did you have that moment where you're like, I need to do this for myself?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Full Circle Moments w/ Saint Jhn
And then you look to your right, and it's Samuel L. Jackson saying, what up, MF? It was like, you just didn't know who you were going to see. And then James calls this kid to the stage, and it was you. Yeah. This is my first introduction to you. And I called Tyler last night. I said, what year was that party? And he was like, which one? And I was explaining. He's like, that was 2017.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Full Circle Moments w/ Saint Jhn
It sounds too much like you. It sounds too much like me. You're like, that's it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Full Circle Moments w/ Saint Jhn
Do you feel like that's the song that changed everything?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Full Circle Moments w/ Saint Jhn
He was like 47. Okay. It was like an odd year. Okay. But, yeah, it was 47, and we had a time. But that was my first introduction to you, and I was an instant fan.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Full Circle Moments w/ Saint Jhn
Right, if you see, yes. You gotta see your perspective, yeah.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Full Circle Moments w/ Saint Jhn
That means he comes on- That'll be the best of these four.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Full Circle Moments w/ Saint Jhn
I love it. I just love how life works. In closing, I want to talk about a few things. We want to be nosy, just a bit. We'll start off easy first. How do you maintain your work-life balance?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Full Circle Moments w/ Saint Jhn
Okay, you just, it's whatever, like, work is life.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Full Circle Moments w/ Saint Jhn
Yes, yes. It's funny. I was telling Donna how things come full circle, and that was one of the moments. I was like, wow, I get to interview him now, but I remember the first time I was introduced to you.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Full Circle Moments w/ Saint Jhn
He said, yeah. What is the DNA of the perfect mate for St. John? Like, how would you describe that person?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Full Circle Moments w/ Saint Jhn
Yeah, I love it. St. John, thank you so much. Thank you. Is there anything else? I want to know what's next that you can tell our audience to how we can support you in your future endeavors. What's coming up?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Full Circle Moments w/ Saint Jhn
Okay, we gotta go on tour. We gotta hit one of those rides.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Full Circle Moments w/ Saint Jhn
I love it. I cannot wait to come see you.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Full Circle Moments w/ Saint Jhn
I'm so excited. Well, anyway, we will definitely support you. Sweeties, make sure you download his new album when it comes out and we will definitely catch you on one of your tour days.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Full Circle Moments w/ Saint Jhn
Seriously, you have been a joy. I absolutely love your energy. Thank you. Thank you so much.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Full Circle Moments w/ Saint Jhn
Wow. Yeah. Thank you. I received that. Thank you.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Full Circle Moments w/ Saint Jhn
I'm like, yeah. Yeah, you're doing it. I love it. I love it. We are coming out with actually some home candles.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Full Circle Moments w/ Saint Jhn
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I need that. Yeah. I got you. We'll send you a big one.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Full Circle Moments w/ Saint Jhn
Oh my goodness, guys. My episode with St. John was more than I could have ever imagined. His energy, his spirit, his journey was so inspiring. The one thing I took from him was when he said that it was 20 years until he got his first shot. And also he said it wasn't until he was in service of others that he really learned everything he needed to learn.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Full Circle Moments w/ Saint Jhn
So that's a note I think we can all take is be of service to others. Wow, what an amazing conversation with St. John. I hope you're leaving inspired as I am. He's a true testament to staying authentic and working hard and trusting the journey. Thank you for tuning in to another episode of the Keep It Positive Sweetie Show.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Full Circle Moments w/ Saint Jhn
Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone that could use a little positivity. Follow me on all platforms at Love Chris Renee. And you can also write into our positive outcomes listener letter at KeepItPositiveSweetie at gmail.com. In the meantime, in between time, you know what to do. Keep it positive, sweeties.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Full Circle Moments w/ Saint Jhn
We've got an incredibly talented artist in the building. He's a Grammy award-winning singer, songwriter, and producer who's made waves with his bold sound and fearless storytelling. He's also making incredible waves in the fashion world. I'm talking about the one and only, none other than St. John. St. John, thank you so much for coming. Thank you for having me.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Full Circle Moments w/ Saint Jhn
He's so nice. Such a nice guy. That was really sad when I heard of his fashion because having an interaction with him as well, I was like, man, when you meet people and really get to feel their energy, he was like nothing like his characters. Like the way he portrayed was genius. Like he came at every character in such a beautiful way. But then when you get to meet him, such a beautiful soul.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Full Circle Moments w/ Saint Jhn
Yeah, it was sort of mind blowing. It was, yeah. We can reminisce on that night alone for like hours. It was such a good night. So let's talk about your journey. Going back to the beginning, you grew up between Brooklyn and Guyana. What was that like between shifting between both cultures?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Full Circle Moments w/ Saint Jhn
We are going to break the ice with a quick game called Roses and Rapid Fire.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Full Circle Moments w/ Saint Jhn
Wow. You talked about your mother being a preacher. My mom was a pastor, so we were PK kids. And just like you, every time the doors of the church opened, we was in there.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Full Circle Moments w/ Saint Jhn
and i know we all like i went through a phase in my life where i was like i'm not going since i got to college i just stopped going to church i was like it's you're forced to do it your whole life and like sunday school choir practice bible study um the meetings like before and after church you're just like oh it's too much the second service it's a lot um have you been able to like find your own relationship with god in your own way because i feel like we are the church it's not a building yeah having to go into someone what do you how do you like carry that out in your day-to-day life now
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Full Circle Moments w/ Saint Jhn
All right. So all you have to do is give me one word that comes to mind when I give you a word. First word is fashion.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Full Circle Moments w/ Saint Jhn
I saw your post. You always put the purple emoji with the cross.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Full Circle Moments w/ Saint Jhn
You don't have to beg him. Yeah. I mean, just like you wouldn't have to beg your mom for something. Correct. We don't have to beg him. I love that. I got to meet your mom.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Full Circle Moments w/ Saint Jhn
very much i love that so we just finished new york fashion week and um one thing i will say about you because i didn't we had never officially met like i think i had um posted one of your songs after tyler's party and you sent me a little um emoji like response or whatever and i was like been a fan ever since tyler's party like you were there like yeah but we never met in real life and i um when i met you last week at fashion week your energy like
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Full Circle Moments w/ Saint Jhn
It's not like you're, first of all, you have this confidence when you enter the room, but then like, when you're like, hi, how are you doing? Like, you're just so welcoming. It's not like that, I know I'm the shit. Like, it's like, I know who I am, but hello, how are you? It's like, I felt that. And just watching you like move through the room, I was like, this guy's got it. You just had it.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Full Circle Moments w/ Saint Jhn
Yeah. Speaking of ups and downs, what is a moment through the failures and the ups and downs that really stood with you and was like, man, I really made it through that?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Full Circle Moments w/ Saint Jhn
We might have to circle back for a second. That's OK. So I just I know like we all have for me, there's moments of my life where I'm like, oh, that was like a rough season. I think me moving to Atlanta was probably one of my toughest, like depressing seasons of my life, trying to figure everything out, starting all over again. That's like one season I remember.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Full Circle Moments w/ Saint Jhn
I was like, that was rough for me where I really had to lean on my faith because I didn't know where the next meal was coming from. Nothing.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Full Circle Moments w/ Saint Jhn
Closest and reference. No, that was probably one.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Full Circle Moments w/ Saint Jhn
And it felt so long. Like, you know how sometimes you just have like a bad week. This felt like a bad year where I was just like, okay, now, did I make the right choice coming here? Clearly I did, but. Definitely. Yeah. That was definitely a season. I want to talk about your music. You have such a unique blend. I don't think there's no genre to put you in a category.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Full Circle Moments w/ Saint Jhn
For me, when I listen to your music, I feel like you kind of, touch on everything. What was the inspiration for that? What was your creative process?
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Full Circle Moments w/ Saint Jhn
All right. I love it. Let's get into it. So I don't know if you remember this. 2017, it was Emmy weekend, Tyler Perry's birthday. He had a huge party in the backyard. James Samuel was on the piano. Everybody, when I say everybody named Mama, every icon from like, I looked to my left, Appalachina was sitting next to me.
Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Full Circle Moments w/ Saint Jhn
Literally. No. And that's why you are where you are today. A lot of people don't make it to be where you are and to live the life you live and to be free and creative because they give up.