Keep it Positive, Sweetie - Bold Manifestations w/ Edwina Findley-Dickerson

Episode Date: November 9, 2025

This week on Actress, author, and woman of unwavering faith Edwina Findley joins us and shares how her journey from The Wire to Hollywood stardom has been guided by divine purpose every step of the way.  Edwina opens up about walking in obedience when doors close, finding joy through motherhood, and why you never have to compromise your peace for prosperity. It’s an inspiring conversation, reminding us all that delayed is not denied and that we all have the power to declare bold manifestations over our lives.  Connect @luvCrystalRenee @EdwinaFindley Visit: CrystalReneeHayslett.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Calling all my sweeties to the forefront. I'm your host, Chris Renée and Hazel, and this is the Keep It Posit Sweetie Show. Sweetie's my next guest I've known for a very long time. She's an actress, a wife, a mom, and she's literally living the example that Godwings happen if we can take the time to see them. Sweeties, give a very warm welcome to my dear friend, Edwina Finley. Edwina. Hello, Crystal. Oh, my gosh, we're united and it feels so good.

It really does. It feels amazing. How are you feeling today? I am blessed in Holly favor. I feel good. You should. I feel amazing. I'm happy to have you here, excited about your book and all the things you have going on.

But I want to take it back. Okay. Back in the time. 2014 was when if loving years wrong came out. I was a costume where you guys, I used to actually put on Edwina's shoes in 2014. And in 2015, I became the costume designer. And that's when I learned that jewel tones was your jam. And still is.

Through this day. When you came in, I said, jewel tones is still it? Right. You're like, you remember. I can't believe you remember that. Absolutely. I think as a costume designer, we learned so much about the person, really, even more than the character. We learn what you like, what you don't like, your body, and like what you feel comfortable in.

And I always remember you love jewel tones. So it's like something that just was cemented into my head. Dill tones for Edwina. Yes, but I mean, I know that's when I met you, but I know there was so much more before we got to that point. So tell us everything. Yeah. So I was born and raised in Washington, D.C. I kind of grew up as an arts kid.

So my first memory of performing was around five years old. I was doing musicals and plays. And I grew up in the church. So a lot of my arts background was in church, choir, praise team, drama ministry, all of that. And then when I began. came, you know, finally kind of school age, my mom let me go to a high school for performing arts. Shout out Dick Ellington School of the Arts, Washington, D.C. And then when I was 16 years old, I was at that crossroads of, okay, what am I going to do with my life? Yeah. Right. And there were

some people in my family that said, well, you should be a doctor. You should be a lawyer. You know, get a safe job. Yes. But then there were others that said, hey, you've been doing the arts for years. Maybe you should continue on that path. And so I really had to pray. And so I really had to pray. And I just remember at 16 years old, hearing God speak and tell me, I'm calling you into arts and entertainment. Wow. And that was the turning point. I ended up being accepted into NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, which obviously is a very prestigious drama program. Yes.

Study drama there. And then it was, okay, God, I'm about to come out of college. Like, now what? The real world is now, right? Yeah. And so I was able to fortunately get an agent right before graduating. Wow. I interned at the public theater that was Shakespeare in the Park,

Joseph Pat Public Theater in New York. And that was under folks that were doing those plays with Sonal Aethan, Joe Morton, Jeffrey Wright. And so I was interning with them, right? And helping them run lines and making sure that they had what they needed. And it was Shakespeare. So I would help them with their lines. And then I would memorize all these grand soliloquies, you know, and kind of pretend when everyone went home, I would take the stay.

and like pretend I was playing the role. Wow. Yeah. And then, but shortly after coming out of college, I was doing a lot of theater and Shakespeare. And then I got cast on the wire. So it was very funny because the wire, any of you who used to watch the wire on HBO, you know, it is a gritty show. Yes.

So my character, Tasha, I was playing kind of a sidekick to Omar, bless Michael K. Williams. Yes. And so we would like kill barksales by D. day, and then at night I would run to the Shakespeare Theater, performing Welsh, don these big, beautiful velvet robes, you know, sing classical music. And then in the morning, it was like, shoot him up, bang, bang. And so that in some ways is kind of how my career has been, like moving in and out of very different types of characters and very different types of roles.

But that's one of the things I've really enjoyed about being an actress. Yes, I can imagine. Now, what was it like working with Michael Kay Williams? I got to meet him. I think it was like Tyler's. 45th birthday he was at the house and this is before he passed and he was the kindest soul his energy was just like it was crazy he was so nice though what was it like actually getting to work with him what an honor you know it was one of my very first tv shows and so you know by that point

they had been on for a season and it had already kind of developed a lot of buzz right here i am coming in as a young actress he was so welcoming so loving, so generous, you know, and he just became like a big brother to me. And there was a point where God put it in my spirit to start writing these inspirational columns. And he is one of the people that kept emailing me. He was like, keep these coming, keep these coming, keep these coming. These are blessing me. Keep these coming. And it was, you know, scriptures and verses. And I didn't know, like, all I knew was God told me to do this. I didn't know how it was going to be received. And I also didn't know until he passed some of the things that he was going through at that

time. I didn't know we were working together, but I didn't know a lot of the personal things that were happening. And so that meant a lot to have that encouragement from him. So now all these years later, it's almost like a part of my purpose too. Like I remember Michael in just such a beautiful way. And I think about how in our industry, a lot of people are experiencing things that we may not know from the outside. Absolutely. Right. And so it's important for us to lean into our Pauling and the things that God calls us to do because we have no idea how we're blessing each other. Yes, that is so true. And I'm glad that you didn't know the why, but you kept putting in it. He was like, he's sitting in these. I need it. So you know, even if you're reaching one person,

you're doing what God told you to do, the assignment was understood. That is so good. Do you still write those? So honestly, a lot of that has been poured into this book. The world is waiting for you. So you were, you were practicing then and they probably didn't realize it. Right. It was just about obedience and so I feel like along the way God has just given me these things to do in obedience not realizing that oh as you follow this path of obedience here's where it's going to lead so funny enough when I was on set not too long ago with the residents at shondaland I was there and this executive in production came up to me and she said did you used to write a blog like 15 years ago what Edwina's words of wisdom I was like yes how do you know that

She said, my mother used to publish them every month in her Christian women's magazine. Are you kidding me? I am not kidding. Wow. It's like even now, things that were done 10 years, 15 years out of obedience. Yes. And so this, maybe about last month, they asked if they could put me on the cover of the magazine. I was like, wow, it's just so funny how everything comes full circle.

It really does. It truly does. You talk about playing all these different characters. Your range is so dynamic. Thank you. That's from the wire to the power. And then recently, Shonda Rhimes, the residence. I don't know if I deemed you or text you, y'all, I'm always behind on the shows, right?

So I wasn't too behind on this one, but my brother Marquis kept saying, you got to watch the residence. So I was like, oh, yes, I said, my girl, Edwin is on there. I got to watch it. Y'all, when I say she stole the show, had me hollering. I said, I did not know she was this funny. Girl, when I say stole the show, you are so funny. And then I saw the threads and people comment And I was like, they are loving her

Oh my gosh, that was Miss Sheila, y'all Miss Sheila took the cake Thank you It was such a fun character I loved her down And I was so excited that people loved her too Yes, oh my goodness It was so good

Where did you go like What places did you pull from for the comedy part? I'm talking about it It was like you weren't even trying You were just funny I was like this girl is a natural You know what? And thank you for that.

You know, it's kind of this combination. Like a lot of times my work tends to be dramatic, right? It turns out, you know, that's the type of work I've done a lot. But then I have done some comedies like Get Hard with Kevin Hart and Will Ferrell, Veep, you know. But sometimes when you're a dramatic actor, they don't always know, like, you have a whole other side. Me being from Washington, D.C., and feeling very passionately about the African-American culture of Washington. And in fact, I myself had been creating a show called Chocolate City that was rooted in the African-American culture of D.C. And specifically that White House culture, because we don't see that expressed on screen, especially when it comes to White House shows.

So that's exactly where I was when I got the script from the residence. And when I read this character, I said, oh, this is my opportunity to really create a multidimensional character who is herself, right? who is fully herself and who works in the White House but is not from that area of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, right? And because I was raised in Washington, I know Southeast.

Come on. I know from whence others come. So I said, you know what? What I want to do is honor the people that are not always honored on screen. And it became about creating that type of character, you know, but also not more. making her a stereotype, right?

Like giving her these levels and layers and colors. And the fact that she's just funny, you know what I mean? And I feel like when it comes to black women, when we get together, you know, there's just a certain humor and a vibe that we can share. Yes. And so I wanted that to be reflected on screen, too. It was. I'm glad that that all came through.

And just as an actor, I was also doing improv, you know, a lot of elements in the show. They allowed me to improv. And also, you know, I went to UCB. and these different improv programs. So I kind of brought it all together. I love that. Now tell me about how this audition came apart and what was that whole journey like?

I know sometimes you get callbacks and other times it's like you're the one. What was this process like? So this was a very interesting process because, as you know, I'm big on manifestation and big on manifesting the God dream over your life. And like I said, with obedience, like sometimes God will call you to do things

or maybe drop something in your spirit. You may not quite understand why, but you just go for it. So one April Fool's Day, I got this vision of, because my social media manager was like, what should we do for April Fool's Day? What should we post? And somehow we got this idea of posting me on a Shondaland poster. And so she literally photoshopped me. And I thought it was ridiculous.

I thought it was so funny. You know, she photoshopped my face, like, onto this existence. Shonda Lamp poster, and then we announced this big new role that I was doing for it. And so, you know, I thought, oh, this is hilarious. Like, you could still see the Getty images, like, label on the picture. That's funny. But the way people were like, oh, look at God. This is amazing.

This is wonderful. God, it's open all these doors for you. You know, and I was afraid to be like, y'all, it's a joke. It's April fools. Gotcha. Yeah. But as I started seeing their comments, you know, it started elevating my faith.

Yeah, wow. And it was like, could God do something like this? And it helped me to start taking the limits off of my own imagination of what God can do. Well, let me tell you by that exact day, the following year, I was on set at Shondaland filming this new show, The Residence. And, of course, that poster ended up coming out, which had my actual face on it. You know, and so there's this chapter in my book called This Time Next Year. Yes.

And it's really all about like declaring and speaking into existence, prophesying your next year. What can God do by this time next year? Yeah. And so for me, you know, when I got that script for the residence, it just hit me like, okay, like I had to receive maybe three scripts that same week. Yeah. And so I was just kind of going through all of them, but that highlighted for me, okay, lean into that. Yeah.

And that's exactly what happened. with me if loving you is wrong. Right. I'd received all these prophecies about Oprah, about Tyler, and about Georgia, all three, and about Tyler Perry's studio. So that's four. I'd received prophetic words about all four. Wow.

So when if loving you is wrong, offer came on Oprah's network with Tyler, filming in Georgia at Tyler Perry Studios. I knew, okay, this is a part of the Goddream that was over my life. This is a role that I'm supposed to accept. Yes. Now, talk about when you actually went to, um, Oprah was it Oprah in your studio and then you went to Tyler Perry's here and put your feet on the ground yeah so in the book I give this story about how I'd received you know I received prophecies first about Oprah then I received prophecies about Tyler and Tyler Perry Studios so I felt like I need to make a bold manifestation move in the direction of what God is speaking yeah so in 2011 which was the very year that own opened yeah I went inside of the lobby and I I literally just wanted to put my foot on it.

And I asked one of the people that worked there, do you mind taking a picture of me in front of this sign? And it said, own Oprah Winfrey Network. I said, will you take a picture of me in front of this sign? Yeah. She did. I posted it to Facebook that day, along with the scripture, Joshua 1.3, wheresoeverver, the soul of your footshel tread, God will give unto you.

Well, later that same year, I was in Atlanta, on the way to the airport, I was with Kelvin. and I said, wait, wait, take me to Tyler Perry Studios. He was like, well, we're going to miss our flight. I said, no, I need you to take me to Tyler Perry Studios. So we drive there, you know, we're at the guard's desk. I was like, hi, I said, do you guys offer tours or can I, like, schedule a tour for like right now? He was like, ma'am, no, this is not open to the public. Here's a postcard, which I recently found that postcard from all those years ago.

He was like, here's a postcard, go on now, you know, about your travels. So I was crestfallen, got back in the car, but as Kelvin was pulling away, I said, no, no, no, stop, stop. I got out the car, ran to the, to the fence, slipped my foot under, set a prayer, and declared that same scripture, Joshua 1-3. Wheresoever the soul of your foot shall tread, God will give unto you. And I raced back in the car, we drove to the airport. And literally, my next time there, here I was being welcomed by Tyler in that exact same. same place. That's one of the stars of If Loving You is Wrong.

And my next time at the Oprah Winfrey Network, I was sitting on the stage in front of all these press outlets doing, you know, doing this interview. And that was 9-9. It was 9-2011 when I first went to Oprah's. And it was 9-9-2014 when If Loving You Was Wrong premiered the exact same day. And then this year on 9-9 is the exact day that my book was released and who interviewed me but the Oprah Winfrey. So it's amazing.

You know, I always tell people, God does have a plan for all of our lives. He does. It is very specific and even dated. Yeah. And I, you know, I try to let people know that there's a sense of urgency

around the timing of your obedience and the timing of when you step out to do the thing that he's called you to do because the world is waiting for you. Yeah. We make it about ourselves thinking that. We're born for such a time as this. Yeah, we're born for such a time,

a literal time. Yes. as this you know and so dates like that 9-9 you know and there's many other stories i give in the book two examples of that but i think that god does things like that for a reason to remind us that he is on a schedule right he's on a schedule and he's waiting on us to get on that he's waiting on you thank you the world is waiting for us and i think that if we really lean into that that we will allow ourselves to to show up in the world in an even bigger way i love that now Our industry is over-glamarized sometimes.

You know, it's a very glamorized industry. But you talked about sometimes we can limit our imagination, but in those moments, that's when you activated your faith or took the limits off. What were some times throughout your career where your imagination really wasn't kicking in and you were feeling like, come on, Lord, I need you to make something move, make something shake,

because I know those moments happen, but we see the wire. We see the if loving you is wrongs. We see the residents and the power. But what are those in-between moments? Like, and how do you navigate those? Well, actually, one of those was connected to when, when if loving you was wrong, ended, right?

And so when if loving you was wrong ended, I knew it was ending. So, of course, now it's, I need another job, right? I need my next show. What's my next show going to be? And so I just started praying about it, like, just putting it out there. Okay, God, you got me, right? Like, what's the new show going to be?

And so from January, when we had pilot season, it just became all about get the new show, get the new show. Now, the caveat is that I was also pregnant during that time. So I felt a timetable ticking as well because May was when the baby was due. So I was pregnant. Maybe my husband were going to name the baby Brooklyn because we met in Brooklyn. We got married in Brooklyn. So we're like, yeah, let's name the baby Brooklyn.

Well, maybe, I don't know, a couple weeks later, my husband was praying. And he said, he said, God is saying name the baby London. And I said, why would we name our baby London? Everything, like our whole love story is Brooklyn. And he said, God said, Brooklyn is our past. London is our future. She's going to bring great joy to our family, name her London Joy. Wow.

So by faith, we named the baby London Joy. Now, for me, internally, with the job thing, I'm still like, okay, it's January, February, March, You know, I wanted a show in L.A. because I'm about to have a baby. I wanted it all right there. And it didn't happen. And I was like, God. And so I started wondering, should I, like, should I continue pursuing acting? Is it over? Are you telling me that I should do something else now? And literally, by August, I received a call about a show called the power that literally was, filming in London and they moved my entire family

to London to begin filming an entire new show. Your husband's a man of God too because he's a man of God. The Lord spoke to him and told him and told him and these little girls grew up with British accents

and their names were all over London London and Victoria. London and Victoria everywhere. the street that we walked down to take them to nursey was Kelvindon Road. My husband's name is Kelvin. That's crazy. And then we go to another part of London and it's Edwina Circle, Edwina Square, Edwina Close, Edwina, everywhere. So God was letting us know, oh, I had this set up for you the whole time.

It wasn't according to my timetable. And I thought that because my timetable wasn't working out, that that meant, oh, I need a shift course. But no, delayed is not denied. And so I talk a lot about that in the book, too, about that waiting season and how we just have to continue to keep our faith and move in obedience. In obedience, we named her that. Wow.

And then God brought the manifestation of it. He really did. I feel like your whole life is just a trail of obedience. You know, and if people can really just learn to hear the voice of God and trust it and obey, and when you get those prompts to, like, why do I keep feeling like I should do this? Because that's God telling you to do it, do it, you know, and move swiftly because we are on his timetable. And a lot of times, things aren't moving what we wanted to because we're not in the will.

That is so, oh, my God, so profound. Wow. I am just, like, speechless right now. That is beautiful. Thank you. My goodness. So you are a wife. You're a mother of two beautiful daughters.

you are a powerhouse. How do you even manage it all? You know, now that you, your career, you got a book now, you're traveling the world, the world. Y'all, she didn't just do a stateside tour, okay? You went to Dubai, you were just in Africa. You were in Cape Town, and then where else did you go, London? Yeah, I was just in.

You had to go to London. New York. I haven't been to London yet. That's coming. Okay, you've got to go to London. Yes, in New York, and you're bouncing everywhere. How are you balancing? we're in Atlanta marriage and the children and everything you know one of the things that I realized

as far as calling yes and even vision right and so in the book and the world is waiting for you I talk a lot about vision and a lot about calling and how you know our our purpose stays the same but the method shift right and the things that we're called to shift as well and so there's seasons maybe when, when, you know, and you know as a performer where the performing part is like the main, main part, right? And then there's seasons where God is calling us to expand our territory and that includes family. And to be honest, at first, like, I received prophetic words that I was going to have a baby. You know, and that I was going to be married, like all these things.

I was very focused on career. But as the Lord began to open up these other parts of my life, just like we say about vision, And if he gives you the vision, he'll give you the pro vision. So it's really been about, okay, having these specific things in place to accommodate that in large territory, right? So, like, being able to structure my time in such a way that I'm giving my husband the time that he needs, that I'm giving my children the time that they need while also being called to write a book and also being called to travel the world and these different things. And so there's some practical aspects of the book, if loving you is wrong as well. I mean, love you're wrong. There's some practical aspects of the book.

The world is waiting for you as well, where I like take people through a time map and help them to identify what are the top either goals or roles that you have in life and how can you begin to structure your time every day to match the things that you've been called to in the different areas of your life and your abundant life. Yeah, that is so good because a lot of times,

especially people who have dreams like we did, a lot of times the resources that are, that they really have in reality don't match the dream, you know, so they need those practical tips to help them get there, even like to be prepared. Because you talk about make sure that you are ready for what you're praying for, because a lot of times, like, God, I'm ready for this. And he's like, no, you are not.

And you wonder why he's, like, delaying it, what you think is a delay, because you're not ready. Right. So he has to get that toolbox full so that when it's time for him, be like, all right, go on, then you have everything you need. It's so true. And I think also we as women also, like, you know, we want, to have it all right we want to have it all we want to be successful in our careers we want

husbands we want children we want all these things but what i've noticed is that there are adjustments that we have to be prepared to make yes in our lives in order to accommodate these new things okay if you want to be if you want to be a wife right like okay then you have to start preparing in that way and there's and a lot of that is service a lot of that is rooted in service and so i think that like you said as far as the industry and how glamorized it is, if you adopt an idea that everything's supposed to be about you, then you may not be prepared to be a wife or a mother. Hello, because I've heard you become last when it, because everything comes before you. Listen, even Jesus said the greatest is the least. Yes. Right. Yeah. The greatest is the least.

And that, and that really is true when it comes to being a wife and a mother. So, so you're negotiating these different roles. Like in the public, you may be an author, you may be a podcast, you may be an actor, all these things. But then, and honestly, I learned a lot of that from Viola, from Viola Davis. I learned a lot living with her. Yeah, let's talk about that. Your life. I'm just like, this woman, like, God has really had his head. Like, he's over here, like, boop, boom, boom. You live with Viola Davis, and she's, like, still someone very near and dear to your heart and prominent in your life. Let's talk about that because that is, yeah. I'm just like, and Weena's life is crazy.

Well, when I told you that, you know, God told me to start writing this inspirational column at Venus' Words of Wisdom, she also, along with Michael Kay, would receive them and say, keep going, keep going, keep writing this. This is so inspiring to me. And so not long after I came out of college, she and her husband ended up commissioning me to help write this one-person show for them. And so that's really how our relationship started. And then when I was cast in a show in L.A., they said, oh, well, you can live with us. Wow. And so my introduction to Hollywood was really with them and through them and living with them. What an introduction.

Yeah, you know, and she would take me with her everywhere to late night talk shows, to interviews, you know, and to magazine shoots, on set. And I just got a chance to soak it all up, to learn, to experience. And so that level of mentorship and love in those very intimate ways were so key. And through her, I saw how public life and private life, like I saw the difference. I saw, you know, being a star, but also being a servant. Yes. Right. And she modeled that in such a beautiful way.

And so these are some of the lessons that have also poured into the book and that I've also just cherished in my own life that I received from Viola. Yeah. Man, that is amazing. Shout out Ms. Paola Davis. Man, she is an icon, a great in our industry and even in our culture, something we look up to. So that's amazing that you had that firsthand mentorship from her. What does mentorship mean to you and how are you giving back? So I know you and your husband, you co-founded Abundant Life You or you're paying it forward.

So let's talk about that. Yeah, I mean, I've been doing Abundant Life University for over 15 years, you know, before ever getting into the industry you know like it was always important to me to be pouring into other people's lives and that's another thing no matter where you start you don't have to have you know some big podcast or some big tv show or anything like that to affect the people around you the world is waiting for you that's your neighbors that's your your your your schoolmates you know that's the people at church that can be anyone in your neighborhood community you know you don't have to have some big platform in order to do that. And so when I started, I started very small. I was feeding the homeless,

you know, doing all these things. And meanwhile, during that time, my income was right near the poverty line. Like, I did not have much. But I did have a calling. And so I knew that whatever it is I have, that's what I'm being called to give. And so as the platform has grown, you know, that just means that more and more people can come in, right? Right. And so with Abundant Life, you. And now this program, the Goddreamers Academy, we are just inviting so many people from around the world to participate, to go through the book, and then also to join us in manifesting that God dream that's over their lives. My husband, Kelvin, and I just really believe that God has a purpose and a dream over everyone. And if people need that help, that guidance

to help pull it out of them and bring it to pass, you know, that's, that's what we do. It is beautiful. So, yeah, so anyone, you can go to the worldiswaiting.org and find a lot more about the Goddreamers Academy. Yeah, that's amazing. Yes, please tap me in you guys. You have said that your faith has been the anchor in this industry for you. Can you share a moment where leading on God really changed your trajectory in your career?

Yeah. You know, early on, I received this offer for this huge contract. And it was so much money. And I told you, I was like, I was living in low-income housing. I did not have a lot of money. And suddenly this contract came with all this money attached to it. And it was in Hollywood. And it was just, you know, I was like, wow, this is my big break.

Like, oh, my God, this is it. But it came with a nudity clause. Don't they always, all the big ones come with, it's like, heavy. I was like, why? Ooh. Why? What do I do? Right.

And that was a place of conviction for me. And I felt like I want. I want what they're offering. I want the opportunity. I love the role. But if that means that I have to perform nude in order to get it, then that might mean I have to wait a little bit longer. And so I didn't sign it.

And I went back to hearing the sirens outside my window and the rats running across the street and people, you know, stopping drug fights and all these things. But I just believed. I was like, God, I honored you. and I just believe that you're going to open the door for me. And three years later, I was invited to Hollywood again. This time, it was not with this huge contract.

It was not first class, everything. It was literally to minister. It was to speak to other artists of faith. And I was flown out there to do that. And the next day, a friend invited me to a place called Runyon Canyon. I love Runyon. Yeah. You know, it's like kind of this big mountain, you know, like this hill right in

middle of Hollywood. So we're hiking, hiking, hiking. We get to the top. And, you know, up there, you feel like you're just like you can see everything. And I literally felt like I was overlooking the promised land. Wow. It just swept over me. And there was this sign in the distance that called my attention. And I couldn't make out all the words. I was trying to piece it together. And finally, my friend was like, come on, let's go, let's go. And so two days later, my last night in LA I'm walking with another friend and my camera suddenly takes

a picture by itself and flashes so I'm looking at her the same way you're looking at me we're looking at each other and then looking at the camera like how did that happen so I picked up the camera to turn it over to see what it took a picture of Bristol it was the sign that I saw

I got the top of Runyon Canyon two days prior now up close and perfectly framed inside of my camera and it said from Harlem to Hollywood you're a star

congratulations what literally very shortly if you just like break down crying I would be like I collapsed I collapsed and then when I got back to New York

the next day you know I'm sitting with of this. And then I remembered that my uncle, Uncle Howard, he was a pastor in Maryland who passed just a few days before my trip. I remembered that before he passed, he had prophesied to me, but I couldn't remember what he said. So I started looking everywhere. I remembered that I recorded it. I video recorded it. So I was looking for the video. I finally found it. I pushed play. And here is my now deceased uncle looking into the camera, prophesying to me that God is about to take me to Hollywood. And the instructions that the

Lord wants me to know. Scriptures, instructions, everything. Soon thereafter, I was cast in a show in Hollywood, living with Viola on red carpets. My entire life changed. Wow. And while we were on the red carpet, forget hard with Kevin Hart, Will Ferrell.

We're on Hollywood Boulevard in front of the Chinese theater. I'm doing all this press. You know, and then look up and I see that I'm standing in the exact same spot. where I was when that camera took the picture by itself. Oh, Lord. God is just winking all over your life. Just winking.

He's like, I looked up while I was on the red carpet and literally almost collapsed right there. And so the first chapter of the book is from Harlem to Hollywood. And it's all about that prophetic journey. And the fact that God, his vision for us is already ahead of where we are. Right. Just take the steps and obedience because he already has a planned out.

He does. But that's just an example. You know, sometimes we're being called to say no to things. Yes. And we don't know how it's going to turn out. We think, oh, we have to say yes. I have to say yes. Because if I say no, then what's going to happen to me?

But when we honor God, he also honors us. He does. And it's always way more worth it than if you had to say yes to that thing, you know you should say no to. I'm a living testimony. I know something about that. Yeah, you know, and it's always that when you, and then you look at it. going like, I knew I shouldn't have done that, you know?

And there was always that still small voice that was trying to guide you in the right direction. So you have to listen to that. This is, God has his hand on your life. Do you hear me? My good. Edwin, I'm glad we were sitting down because I did not. Yeah, like, we hear her.

You made the time. I'm glad we were able to do this. Me too. This is so good. Lord of mercy. Okay. because even like when it comes to nudity I'm the same way like that's something I won't do

because I haven't had children yet but I'm like if I do that's just something I don't ever want to have to explain or just have it out there because now they can do anything with your body and it's just like there are certain things I just want to keep sacred you know there's certain things I'm not going to show I'm like if there's a way we can do it

where I will not show these things then we can work around it but I'm not these are my hard lines in the sand that I'm not going to cross and I think that's so important to share too Sometimes we can be afraid to have clear lines. Yes. Right.

And so as a young actor, I mean, literally my agents were like, well, if you're not willing to appear nude, then you'll never work in this town. Like, I received that kind of messaging and felt, you know, it was like God's voice and their voice was just always in conflict. So I just want to encourage anybody that's watching, if there are certain things that you know that you don't feel comfortable with, whether it's in your industry or whether it's in your life, lean into. that spirit that's telling you that's gently guiding you, no. No, it's okay to say no while also believing that there's a yes that's going to come straight

for God. And that's already prepared for you that's going to be even bigger and better than the no. Yes. Oh, that's so good. I just got a script. I'm doing a movie in Houston in like two weeks. Thank you. And I remember he was telling me about it and I was like,

oh yeah, this sounds great. Got the script. Great. And then, oh, I just got this idea. Have you seen, I cannot remember the name of the movie. And I was, I was like, okay, he said, I'm going to see you. He was like, the two couples, he's like, they were sitting in chairs. They were in the nude. And this idea just came to him, and that's how I was looking at.

I'm on the phone like, say, what now? And I was like, I don't, I don't do that. I don't do nudity. And he was like, no, it's going to be. Then it went to even further. Well, you know, it won't even be your breasts. Like, we can like. Yeah, that's exactly how it'll say, like, it'll be AI.

Like, it won't even be. It won't even be you. And I was like, no, I'm not doing that. And the script, the final script came out. The contract comes. And I see nudity in the contract. And I'm like, my writer says, no nudity. Like, I only have certain things that I'll show that I'm okay with.

And so he's like, yeah, I want to call you. And go over the script. I said, yeah. So it was so funny. He called us. And we're going over the script. He said, yeah, and it was more thing. And I was like, yeah, scene six.

Let's go on and get to that. Let us go over here as it says in the nude and I was like so this is what I will do and what I won't do and he's like I can work with it but you have to stand your ground you know because if not you'll be doing things that you'll look back and regret yeah and I don't want to look back and regret anything. Can I just insert this story because this is really important? I had a very dear friend in the industry who got a huge break like when we came out of college I mean, he got a huge break. And said yes to it, but there were a lot of things.

There were a lot of things in it that really compromised his values and morals. But he said yes to it and became a big star. Big star. He was on the cover of buses and on the cover of magazines and on the cover of billboards. And, you know, all these things became a big star. Earned lots of money. Yeah. But then he became an alcoholic because it was very difficult for him on the inside.

yes to grapple with what he was doing every day it was like the stardom and the fanfare and the money was not enough yes to fill him up compared to what how he was giving his soul every day and unfortunately he's no longer with us my and so i just want to say that as a cautionary tale yeah we can think that the money that the that the fame that the followers you know are all just It's like, oh, that's what life is about. Yeah. And then you get there and it's not enough. But if you know that you are rooted and grounded and you are in the place where God has called you to be, there's a sense of peace that's there.

The prosperity is coming. But you don't have to compromise your peace for prosperity. You can have both. You can really have both. Edwina, I don't know what's left to say. that was good I've been blessed it's funny you said that

because I just had Todd Tribbon on and he was talking about when he got his first two Grammys and he said he got back to the room he said took him out the box and it was just like it was a reminder of everything he sacrificed

his family children time and it was like was it worth it and it didn't feel him the way he thought it would and that changed his his mindset and perspective

on how he looked at it And I said, yeah, and I said, you wanted the next time because you weren't coveting it. He got it again. He wasn't even, I ain't even got. He said, Pastor Chris, because he wasn't what? He wasn't coveting. He wasn't coveted. Did you see that biblical language?

He wasn't coveting it. And therefore, the Lord gave him even more. Yeah, but it's a real thing. Like we think, like the followers, like you said, the money, all these things are going to make us happy. And yes, you have a sense of peace when you don't have to worry about how you're going to get your next meal. You know, it does bring that, but it does not. feel your soul especially when you're selling it honey you just you preach for me y'all go on and get the book the world is waiting because it is waiting for you all right this is so good is there

anything else you want to share with us is we would love to follow you where we can find where can we buy the book all the things we want to support you thank you thank you so I know right so full we're so like oh my but I knew we were going to be this full and I do want to say to you, Crystal, because I feel like you embody a lot of the things that I'm talking about and that we're talking about in this conversation. You, from the moment I met you, I feel like you've had such a servant's heart. You've had such a servant's heart. You've had such a humble heart. And it's been beautiful to see how God has exalted you. Thank you. You know, and the fact that, you know, it's not lost on me that you started this interview saying, I used to, I used to put on her shoes on if love,

loving you is wrong, right? And now you're an actress yourself. And now you have this great platform and great career, you know, but that just goes to show those, when we humble ourselves, we will be exalted. A lot of times we think we have to exalt ourselves. We have to exalt ourselves. We have to tell everybody about ourselves. We got to make sure we put ourselves out there, you know?

But like you started your career serving. Yeah. And I loved it. And loved it because you have a gift of service. and now even through the podcast and all the other wonderful things that are happening you're still serving but it's but it's now a greater level

so I just want to express how proud I am of you who you are who you've become but you are the same person thank you so much yes I mean that and you are too he's exalting you as well and you are still in waiting at like yes thank you so much

yeah for those of you who want to join the community the world is waiting for you you can get the book everywhere books are sold. You can also come on over to the website. The World is Waiting.org. We have the Dreamers Academy. You can also connect directly in with me. You can also follow me on Instagram, on Twitter or X, on Instagram, on X, TikTok at Edwina Findlay. And on Facebook, Edwina Finley Dickerson, come on the journey. The world is waiting for you. And I cannot wait to see what God is going to do in your life by this time next year.

year. Thank you so much, Edwina. I am proud of you and I'm just, this is amazing. This conversation has blessed me. I am full. Yeah. Thank you. I see everybody's shaking their head behind the scenes. This is, yeah. Everybody's like, yes, this has been good. Thank you so much. You're welcome. Yes. People positive, sweetie. Yes. The world is waiting for you. Get it now. Because I said so. You're like, this is my, all we got to do that video was like, this is my friend Edwina. She wrote a new book. And you better go get it. And then we're like,

now turn back your book. Oh, we got to do that. Sweeties, thank you so much for joining me for another conversation. Remember, you don't have to have a big platform to affect the people around you. The world is waiting for you. Until next time, keep it positive, sweeties.