Keep it Positive, Sweetie - Season Reunion | The Conversations That Stayed With Us

Episode Date: June 28, 2026

This season gave us more than unforgettable interviews—it gave us perspective. Join Crystal Renee, Shelly, Ashauna, and Wes as they look back on a season filled with powerful conversations, unexpected laughter, personal growth, and life-changing moments. Together, they revisit the stories that stayed with them long after the cameras stopped rolling—from healing and purpose to leadership, relationships, and finding your voice. It’s a celebration of the lessons, laughter, and humanity that defined Season 11. Whether you’ve watched every episode or you’re discovering Keep It Positive, Sweetie for the first time, this special invites you to reflect, grow, and remember why honest conversations matter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. It's that time to put on your jersey and wave your flag, whoever you root for. Why do I watch the walk up? That's like asking me, why do I breed? And it's beautiful. The guys are young and cute and fit.

It's not just a game. It's your culture. I like watching it with my dad. It's a connecting force. From Futuro Studios, I'm Fernanda Chavari, and this is American Football, a show about soccer culture in the U.S. and its underdog roots. Listen to American Football on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you get your podcasts. Joy is essential and it's also elusive, but now there's a new and exciting way to start your journey toward a more joyful existence. Joy 101. It's a new podcast hosted by me, Hoda Kotby. If you're craving inspiration to maximize your joy, Tune into these candid, uplifting, and moving on-air chats. Open your free IHeart Radio app.

Search Joy 101 and Listen Now. Joy 101 with Hoda Kotby is presented by CVS. My first guest is Terrence Hilton. Shakira. Luke and Yerrin. Have surprises? Many surprises. Welcome to the Sweet 305 podcast where the group chat comes to life.

What on? You're the only person I know that loves a yellow star. It's lemonade. This is Sweet 305. Here, oversharing is encouraged. Listen to Sweet 305 with Lele Pons on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. Happy pride from the Outspoken Podcast Network. All month long and all year round, we're celebrating being loud, proud, and always original.

It's me, Brandon Kyle Goodman, host of the podcast, Tell Me Something Messy. Check out my show for unfiltered takes on dating, relationships, and adulting. Listen to High Key for the best pop culture takes, and there are no girls on the internet for all your tech news. For your favorite celebrity key keys, check out outlaws with T.S. Madison. Learn to love yourself unapologetically with BFF, Black Fat Fem. And start your day with intention with waking up with Ryan coming in July. Celebrate Pride with the Outspoken Network.

Open your free IHeart Radio app. Search Pride and listen now. Calling all my sweeties to the forefront. I'm your host Chris Renee Hazel. And this is the Keep It Posit. Sweetie Show. Guys, we did it. Season 11 is officially wrapped.

Crazy. Right? We were just talking about the first guest. And now we're sitting here trying to figure out how to recap it all, which was harder than producing the season itself, actually. And you did a great job with that, Shelly, by the way. That's amazing. Let's go, Shelly.

First season, producer, okay. Was this your first season? Yeah. Yeah. Really. Came in here. It was like, forever. I know.

It feels like forever. You know. So good. No, but it was. I feel like it was really tough because originally I wanted to do like a reunion-style recap. And then I was like, no, we need to sit down. Yeah.

We need to talk about it. It was so many clips. And I realized I just want to talk about our favorite moments, right? Yeah, I felt the same way. Mm-hmm. Yeah. But then when I watched everything back, I realized that I was picking up new things from every conversation.

Yeah, for sure. Right? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. That's production though. You know, we're present during the filming days. And then, you know, we're just in a different mode. But then a lot of times you get to thinking about patterns of like, okay, what can we change? What can we do? And then the guest conversation, some people are coming in for deeper conversation. Some people are coming to a hidden.

Some people are coming for purpose, you know. It's just this is a great space. And I feel like, you know, you embody that to host you. Man, I appreciate that. Thank you. But you're absolutely right. You know, rewatching made me realize that people come in for one thing. but then the conversation takes a turn into something way bigger than I think any of us could imagine.

I always look behind the camera and I'll see Ashana's hand. And I'm like, the church is saying, amen. I'll see Shelley nodding. Yeah. So I feel like to see it in real time, even though we're present, to see the impact that the conversations are having when they may just come in for a book or come in to talk about the movie they're doing or just their journey to see how it resonates with us all in real time. It's really cool. Yeah. And I think that's why they resonate.

because it's a reminder that they are human just like us and we all have similar experiences. And I think that's why people come to keep a part of this week. Exactly. You know, I love that our guests, they show up in more ways than we expected them to. And looking back, I realize that we're not just documenting conversations. We're literally documenting people in the middle of their becoming, you know. And I think that's what made this season so special.

So let's check out some clips, shall we? When it comes to knowing, like, when God gives you something and you know it, even when people around you don't get it, people you love, trust and respect, that's why you got to cultivate that. Yes. Because there's something that God sees that he's revealing to you that if you honor it against the naysayers, it's going to set you up for success. It will not always be easy, but it also will not always be hard.

That is what has been foundationally true for me. Yeah. And I'm always so clear that my heart has a timeline, but my good is, like, it is always concurrent, it is always running. And so there are moments when those trying days feel louder than the good days. Yeah. But the good is omnipresent.

If we can shift our mindsets to believe that the goodness is omnipresent. We've never given up on each other at the same time. Oh, I love that. Relationships. The best of relationships aren't perfect relationships. Sometimes you're here and sometimes you're here, and it may all be in the same day. But that friendship, sometimes the same hour.

I was dating selfishly. I wasn't dating like I had a kid. I was dating based off of how you made me feel. Like, wasn't even worried about, like, whether they were good with kids not, whether they could have a discussion with a kid, whether they could, you know, get to know my child or not. If you were doing something to make me feel good, you know, whether that was sex, just conversation, because I didn't like to be alone, whatever it was. If I felt like you were doing something for me, fine, you were good in my book. And that's how I am. I'm like that too. It's just like,

I do, it's people that I do genuinely miss. Yeah. Like, I miss them. I miss the relationship we had. I miss them. But I'm so cool. I miss you, but stay where you at. That's how I'm listening. Yo, I am so cool with it.

I love you. I miss you, but I'm cool. I am so cool with it. It's fine. Like, yo, I wish you the best. I wish you the best. But I am so, I am so, I'm a thousand percent cool with it. I feel you on that. Think about the cell phone you had your first Nokia probably.

with the little snake. And think about the iPhone you have probably right now. Imagine if you went from that phone to that iPhone with nothing in between. Wow, yeah. And that's what happens in marriage. Yeah. Ooh.

You got to every phone, every update, you got to learn this new. And just iPhone enough. Headphone jack, oh, dang, I ain't got that. Now I got to get AirPods. And I got to charge this. Now this thing used to not be there. But from the Nokia snake when we started dating to the iPhone 17, yeah.

If I wasn't up to date on every, and think about how little the changes feel at the time. It's just like, oh, dang, man. Yeah. I used to be able, we used to take pictures. They used to be grainy, all that stuff. Now you can shoot. There's a new app.

You can do a shot recorder. I just saw that. Black on, too. Man. I saw that. That didn't exist. Yeah. Two weeks ago.

Right. That was so good. You guys, you know what's really funny? I don't remember the order in which these conversations happened, but I remember how they made me feel. Yeah, no, that's real. Like, I don't remember, like, the day, the time, any of that. But I know, like, oh.

That was a back there. We'd be back there like, um, um, yay. Like, yeah, like all the um-hum is in our house. Yes.

It's been several filming days when I'm like, oh man, okay, that was good. But then like days later, it's like, oh, it hit me in my life or it hit me somewhere.

And I was like, wow. Yeah, I agree. And a lot of the conversations that we have, um, interviews that we have, they don't stop when we yell cut.

They keep going and we keep talking. And, um, it stays with us. No, for sure. I want to ask you guys something. Out of all the conversations and interviews we had this season, what is the one moment that sticks out to you the most?

I know for me, Tiffany Willis, with the on-your narrative, which she said, like, she used the window as her refrigerator. Like, it's her window still is her refrigerator to keep her babies bottle warm. And her whole conversation, she was not a victim, which anyone in that situation could have just taken it and made them, like, your parents get you out when you was 14. pregnant, all these things.

But she just, like, really showed so much gratitude throughout her whole story. So that really resonated with me, and that was one of our earlier shows. So I like the tone that it said, but even in my own life, it was, things can be worse, but things can also get better. It's out of your perspective. Exactly.

I love that. And I love that she wasn't asking anyone to feel sorry for her. She was honored where she came from. She kept her to a G. Yeah, she did. Like, at a very young age, too, and to see who she's become today is just phenomenal. Yeah. Yeah.

remember me and Shelly been on a pre-production call with her and just listen to her stories and just listen to her like bio and just like, oh, this is going to be something. And then we didn't get everything on a pre-foam call. But I love the episode too, but my favorite was Toray. Come on. PT. Listen, he challenged the conversation. Like, we spend a lot of time, you know, thinking about what lane we're supposed to stay in.

And he completely challenged it. Like, he talked about the purpose. being something that follows you, you know. Not something that's attached to a job. Yeah. That really resonated with me as a man. Yeah. I think it resonated with a lot of the sweeties and everyone watching online because, like you said,

purpose isn't just career-based, life-based. And I think he gave all of us who have many career aspirations or many skill sets, the permission to chase them all. and not stay stuck in a box. And I know you should testify. You're on my street, as Pastor Dearest would say. I felt that personally because with everything I have going on, with acting, ORS, the merch, producing, everything.

Singing. It's so many different things that I've questioned myself, am I? Yeah. You saw too. Chachin. I've questioned myself, am I doing too much sometimes, you know?

And I believe this conversation definitely reminded me that purpose is not always linear. You know, it's going to come layered. And you just got to go with the flow and go, for me, I always go with where I am and what really resonates with me in that season. I don't try to force. And I love purpose follows you. I think a lot of people get lost in chasing purpose. But like knowing that when you are walking in it, it's what's following behind you,

it's what you're leaving, you know? Yeah. Yeah. You know a conversation. I felt that myself. I think the sweeties also really enjoyed Carisha. Yeah. Oh, and there was a lot of conversation going into Carisha and having her on the show.

We had her on the live show at the Black Effect podcast festival. And there was a lot of conversation about, you know, what you guys would talk about. Yeah. And even she was a little concerned about how she fit into the Keep It Positive Sweetie show. But I think one thing that you have. coined is that no one's too far from God. And even in her conversation about her journey, her career journey as a podcaster and a business owner, her life journey, she also reflected on her relationship with God. And I think that that is also a testament of, you know, everyone has their own faith walk.

And no one is too far from God. And I think our sweetie took a lot from her conversation. Yeah, I love that. Yeah. I really enjoyed our conversation. I remember she walked at me backstage and she was like, I am so nervous. I was like, don't be. Because one thing I know is that the sweeties are going to support whoever we're talking to.

Absolutely. And she felt that they were talking right back to her, you know, and it made her feel really good. Yeah, yeah. I think people got to see a version of her that you don't always see publicly. Yeah. And I think that's something that we all appreciate about this particular show is like you get a version of the guest that you don't typically see in any other interview. It feels like a safe space. It feels like home.

And I think we got that with Alicia. Yeah, for sure. That's like Jess too. It just came in with one conversation playing somewhere along the way. Yes. Like she started healing. Like it started tears. We was pulling out clean necks or whatnot.

Yeah. But it's about explaining why instead of like her. parenting from fear. You know, like, it's always the root of the issue or the root of somewhere. So, you know, I think that her book really, like, took it to her place. And I think the conversation sitting on that couch, you know, you kind of brought her somewhere else. Like, she felt safer.

For sure. Yeah. And these interviews, they just, like, take a life of their own. When people come in here, it's not even where they think they're going to do. So I love that, too. It's like, you come in here talking about one thing and then actually you unveil a whole bunch of other stuff. That's real.

Like, think about Toy and Red. When they came on, I was like, okay, this is going to be an hour-long conversation about marriage. Yeah. You know, what you deal with in that union. And I love thinking about peace. And healing. Mm-hmm. And connection.

Yeah. Like when Reyes said, we were so quick to correct instead of connect, it took me. Listen, I took that with me. Yeah. Yeah. Not just in relationship, but in business. Yeah. And Red being super honest and transits.

transparent about his journey in therapy. Yes. To hear a black man talk about it. Yeah, that was really great to hear. And then how it got her in the therapy, and I think it was good to kind of hear her say how she would have to step back, even in this age, and stop trying to please people and do all these things for people.

So it was refreshing. Like you said, we thought we were just hear about their marriage, but we're also hearing about them still being cultivated and still growing in their marriage. So we saw them be a union, but also not losing themselves and continue to find themselves. So that was a chef's excuse. I love that conversation.

Exactly. And I think that's the reason why I love this season so much. They didn't give us surface level of conversations. They really left us with pieces of them, you know, and showed us themselves. And those are the moments that stay with us for sure. Let's take a look at that. The window seal as my refrigerator was because I didn't have a refrigerator. I couldn't afford one.

I was just happy not to be homeless anymore. And so being able to put my son. milk on a window seal just to keep it cold. To me, other people probably thought it was poverty. For me, it was actually progress. The challenging part about being in a cocoon is that you don't know it. And sometimes I imagine, like, the caterpillar, I don't know if caterpillars have caterpillar school. Right.

Where there's a nice little whiteboard in the background. Now, listen, you're getting ready to go through something. Right. it's going to be real dark, you're going to be real disoriented. In fact, your whole sense of who you were, your whole sense of identity, how you move about, how you navigate, how you get around, all of that is going to come to a complete stop. And you're going to be in darkness. And then you're actually going to turn into this little mush. But when it's all over, when it's all over, you're going to become something.

thing that you couldn't have even fathom becoming. You didn't have the capacity. So if the cocoon could talk, that's what the cocoon could tell you. And we find ourselves in in cocoons. It's when God knows that we have to become something else. That the version of who we are right now does not match the calling, the purpose, the environment, the destiny that you're assigned to. Learning to come together and operate as one, it's work. Yeah. I think one of the biggest things with us, and I think both of us had kind of an issue with it that we all got better with, was, and it's crazy. I saw it today when I was researching.

We were so quick to correct each other instead of focusing on connecting. Wow. Oh, that's good. Connect instead of correct. And it was all, like for me, I speak for me. I'm real big on if I don't understand son, I debate with you. Because I want you to show me where you're coming from. Yeah.

You know what I'm saying? I want you to show me where you're coming from. But over the years with therapy, and I get it from, I used to have a group of very successful guys. And we always talk. And it's always debates, debates. And we call it iron sharper and iron. Like we're debating about this, we're debating about this, but you're showing me, you're showing me where you're coming from and you're understanding and you're articulating it.

And then over with therapy, I had to figure out what my people, with my village and stuff like that is not necessarily always good because they're not going to get it. And instead of debating and instead of trying to correct, you got it. How can we connect and how can we do that? And I think that was one of the things that we fought with and got better over the years. Every time somebody tell me I can't do something, I do it. I'm like one of God's favorite. Like when they say no, he'd be like, in another one, in another one. Now you're at BMF.

Now you're doing this. Now you're doing that. So I think that it's like, I don't even look at it no more. It's just like, my God got me. Big God. It's like, watch this. Yes. Watch this.

Even when I didn't know how to pray, right? Because my mom has always done that for us. You know, our kids is what I mean by us. But she didn't teach us how to pray. I just had to get that one day. Even when I didn't know how to, always knew that I could talk to God. That's one thing that she did. Always tell us, talk to them.

Your prayer does not have to be perfect. You don't have to, there's no script. You don't have to get it right. He's not looking for you to come to him perfectly. If you stumble over your words, it's okay. You know, you keep talking. He hears you. That's how I did, girl.

I would go, and I don't care where I was. I would be in my car. I would go and if I was, because even if I was at work, like McDonald's, I go in a bathroom and talk to God. I would talk to him anywhere where I would be alone and by myself, like off to a corner. That's honestly really how I got through it. And, you know, I feel like that's cliche. because people say it, but like, no, that's real.

Like, I would really talk to him. And then in talking to him and going to him, because there was nothing that I would never take to him. Yeah. He showed me how to pray. God told me, taught me how to talk to him in a way where I can teach my children. I've been going to therapy since 2012. Wow, that's amazing.

He kind of got me into, because at first time it's, like, very cliche. I need a therapist, so I want to go see my whatever. But he's been doing it. since I met him. Yeah, I go because like you just spoke on earlier, I don't tell my friends and family stuff, especially about my relationship. Yeah. Like I don't, I don't, I don't do that.

Like my friends can't tell you, not one of my friends can tell you our deepest problem or anything like that. Surface level, like they know what I'm going through with business, family or whatever, but if it's dealing with me and my wife, they can't tell you. Come on my wife. They can't tell you what I'm, they can't tell you that. So what I do, I go to therapy and I have an unbiased voice that I can talk to and unload. And like some therapy sessions, I kid you not, some therapy sessions, my therapist say one, say two words, go.

And then the last word, stop. In between then, all I do is talk. You know what gets me is that none of these. moments were forced. Nobody came in trying to get a viral moment. They were just honest. Yeah. I think that's why people connected with them so much and love

Kipp so much because vulnerability recognizes vulnerability and people know when something is real. That's real. Genuine. Keep that one. I want to be. I said genuine. That's crazy.

But you know what's so funny? How we laugh here. We laugh a lot. We do. Even when it gets deep, it's always those laughing moments. And I just love that about the keep it positive, sweetie. It's like we get deep, but we also don't have us a good laugh. Yes. In church.

We have church in here. We have all the things. Yeah. You look at everything when you come here. We don't ran around our own. Praise lap. Okay. You know, people always tell us how comfortable it feels to sit on this set,

to be in the space with us. You know, I think that is something we've all cultivated, and that comes from us. But the truth is, we're comfortable too. We laugh, we joke, Kiki. Yeah, they call me Joe Jackson. That's the ongoing joke. That I mean, cracking the way.

Why are you looking like that, Shelly? I'm not. I'm smiling. Right? And is. But we have a lot of like inside jokes. And we have a lot of fun. You do.

We do. You know, I think the best part of that, people don't feel like they're coming in for an interrogation. they've come in for like a real conversation, you know. Yeah, and like Crystal said before with Carisha saying she was like so nervous. And we were like, no, it's going to be okay, so nervous. And she killed it. She did.

She really did. I remember telling a girl, you're going to be fine. And I try to do my, not even interviews. I wanted to feel like a conversation. Yeah. You know, that I know what it feels like because it does feel like an interrogation when you're being interviewed sometimes. And I just wanted to feel like a conversation.

I want you to feel that this is a safe space. it's not messy we're not doing clickbait I pride myself on that I was very intentional about when I created this platform that when people walk in they know what they're walking into and a lot of people will call and say hey I want to come on your show

because they know what it is they know they're not going to wake up one morning and see a clip and be like why she was talking about how nervous she was and five minutes into the conversation we were kicking a lot of girls but I think that is what I pride myself on

is building a platform that is not messy, that's not catty, we don't do the clickbait. So when people come here, they know the energy, they know what they're going to get. They're not going to wake up one morning and be like, oh my God, this clip is gone viral. You know, I know what that feels like,

so I try to not make other people feel that. Yeah, and once they settle in, on the Kip's couch, it stops feeling like an interview, and they stopped thinking about the cameras. Right, for sure. Jess was like that too. Yes, she was. Yes, one minute we were talking about something serious,

And then the next minute we're literally crying and crying, laughing. It was like both. Yeah. I've been reading her book and I was literally in tears. Yeah. You were so moved by her. Yes. Oh my gosh.

But even reading it in her voice. Yeah. It's like you don't want to laugh, but it's like, okay, you're being silly just. But also very relatable. Very relatable. And Toya and Red in that game was crack. Like that was funny. That was a good icebreaker just because, again, they were so honest.

And it was just funny when you hear couples. kind of like, especially like arguing or apologizing. So that was funny hearing you talk about that. Yeah, the way they looked at each other, answered every question, it was fired and it was going to be a good time. Yeah, no, for sure. It felt like we were just hanging out with them. Yeah.

I would also add that as much as we have a lot of fun, when we talk about preparing for these conversations, like you really do the work, you guys do the work to prepare for these conversations. We have to read books in two days and really get into wherever the guest is. in their journey or in their life or in their career to have a conversation that means so much to them. So when you talk about reading Jess's book and crying, like literally when we booked that interview, you had to quickly read the book so that you can really immerse yourself in where she was. Exactly.

I don't like to like talk about a book and have not have read it. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

You guys take it serious. You take it serious. And I think that is what the guest feels too. It's not like a interview check. You know, we talked about surface level things like you guys really take it serious when you're preparing for a conversation. No, for sure. We do. We do.

We really do. That's what I love about this. People don't see that side of it. Yeah. Yeah, the pre-production calls, the reading of the books or the scripts or watching of the movies. Yes. Yeah. All of those things that know.

It's going to dood. The older episodes, well, the older conversations we see, the other interviews that we see the other podcasts. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, looking for those things that they have discussed. There's a lot of work. It's work, but making fun. No, exactly.

We do. We do. Listen. And you're there for heart-wrenching knockouts. The world's biggest stage. And breathtaking triumph. 2026 FIFA World Cup. The knockout stage.

Every match, every moment. Listen on TSN Radio. Join the globe. On the road to the July 19th final. 2026 FIFA World Cup. Stream it all live on TSN Radio. Available on IHeard Radio. I love the sounds.

The buzzing from the stadium, the chanting from the fans, the announcers calling the place soccer, football, it's home. Why do I watch the World Cup? That's like asking me, why do I breed? I inherited that fandom from my mom. It's a connecting force. From Futuro Studios, I'm Fernanda Chavari, and this is American Football, a show about soccer culture in the U.S. and its underdog roots. We go beyond the game to the people and the stories that make it great.

A soccer game is a festival. It's not just a game. It's your culture. I took an elbow to my head, which cracked my skull. It is an American game. The Brazilians don't like hearing that, though. Are they the only ones that don't? Like that. As we get ready for the Men's World Cup this summer, listen to American Football as part of the My Coutura Podcast Network, available on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, I'm Hoda Kotby, host of the podcast, Joy 101 with Hoda Kotby. Okay, if you know me, you know this.

I'm always searching for inspiration, for support, and useful tools to help maximize joy. So this podcast lets us uncover all of that together. We're going to have these meaningful conversations with the world's most fascinating people. Like when actress Olivia Munn shared how she overcame fierce health challenges that she never saw coming. I've gone through breast cancer and then helped my mother through breast cancer. And that was more difficult. There's a lot of people who understand postpartner depression. I was not prepared for postpartum anxiety.

Olympic champ Sean Johnson revealed why she had no choice. but to be a gymnast. There was something about gymnastics that was intoxicating to me. It's given me a belief that we all have one of those treasures inside of us. We just have to find it.

Listen to Joy 101 with Hoda Kotby on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. My first guest is Perix Hilton, Shakira, Luke and Yerrin, Samira and Gracie. I'm so excited. On the bouncy bed. You have surprises?

Many surprises. Welcome to Sweet 305 where the group chat comes to life. What a . It's like a way to say like, Oh, my God, my friend, hello, hello, my brother. Look, I never have I've ever been with nobody.

Except with my kids, my kids, so, my amante. Oof, punch, that incredible, yeah, the telenovela. You're the only person I know that loves a Yellow Starburst. It's limited.

There's not anyone that you You don't want to say, I'd like to collaborate with this person. This is Sweet 305. Listen to Sweet 305 with Lele Pons as part of my Culture Podcast Network on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts.

We capture so much, so much. I want to see what else we got. Listen, it was one of them, you know how you go on a date with somebody and you post the food and not the man, and you post a place and not the man. That was me and him. We would go all kind of days, go all kind of places, and never post each other.

And then it's like I pop up pregnant. Everybody like, what? But we were feeling, you know, getting to know each other for real and enjoying each other in private. I could pray somebody under a table. Like sometimes, Chris, when I pray, I'd be like, dang, that was good, God. Like, okay, look at you, working at me. You know, I'd be so hype. Like, even though the breakfast cup, I'd be like, show me.

I just pray a crazy prayer. I bet it was better than yours. Like, I know. I'm getting a little crazy with the competition prayer, but I'll be paying myself with a bad guy. I need new energy, a new frequency, you know, just positive, just happy, just focusing on me. I think that when you focus on yourself, that's when you're the best version of yourself. Because it's like when you're in a group, it's like being in a relationship. Sometimes y'all don't always be eye to eye.

And it's just like when you finally lead that relationship, it's like, yeah, my hair getting on, my skin going, because you're focusing on yourself. Right. So that's how I look at it. Focus on myself. Thank you. Clock it. Two fingers. Like I was telling her like, chill, shoddy.

You know what I'm saying? Oh my goodness. Like, you know, I was like, yo, calm down. I know you. You know what you. You know what I'm lying. That part. Chill shawdy.

It's crazy. Nah, just like she said, we became real close and it was just like. I was just talking to, you know, one of your amazing producers and she mentioned one of the, the chapters in the book that really stuck with her.

Yeah. And I'm like, I'm well because I am open to the fact that I have growth opportunities. Yeah. And so I'm doing really good. I don't mind whooping for wrong. Yeah. Like growing up. I got whooped when I was right.

And if you would have just let me explain, you would have seen it actually wasn't what you thought. Right. And then my parents find out later, they ain't going to undo the who. And they ain't gonna say sorry. They're like, you want something to eat? No, no. No. I want you to listen.

Okay? You have to feed me. If you would have just gave me three seconds, I could have told you what happened. But no, nah, nah, no. Fussing that room. I got that little game you wanted. Wanted the apology. Yeah.

I'll take the game. Let me take the game. But I want to be an apology. We too nice to the kids. You're right. Joe Jackson said, I got to, y'all got to work. Yeah. Michael and then was at work at an adult.

club at seven. You know, I'm like, oh, my son, I love you, mental health, mental hell. Yeah. He ain't going to be Michael Jackson. He's not. Because I didn't push him and I didn't him. Yeah. So, you know, that whooping is bad, but also Michael Jackson's bad album. Hello. It all works together. We ain't seen no level star with the loving gentle parents. All I'm saying, we ain't love nobody into greatness yet. Listen. We've done cool, but we ain't love nobody healthily into greatness because you've got to be a little crazy to reach them level, you know? You got to hate, they hated Joe Jackson.

They're like, I'm about to sing my life off because I hate you. Love ain't enough. I got to hate you to get where I want to go. Literally. Wow, I needed that. I really did. I love that people let their guards down with us, you know. It makes me think about something.

We have talked about the moments that stayed with us, the moments that made us laugh. The moments made us cry, but I want to ask you guys this, what conversation genuinely changed the way you think? Not your favorite guest, not your favorite episode. I want to know what conversation made you walk out differently than the way you came in. So right, for me. So right. I walked in with a thinking about we were going to have a conversation about ministry.

And it turned into a conversation about purpose. and you know like he challenged the idea that the calling only exists in one title or one position but actually like it went to something you carry into business something you carry in the leadership something you carry into your family yeah you know yeah I think that conversation came at the perfect time of my life you know launching ORS um an actor expanding in that space being an entrepreneur He helped me realize that my purpose doesn't ask me to choose one version of myself. You know, and I think for me, that's what I thought it was. You know, this is the thing that I'm passionate about.

This is God's purpose in my life. This is what I focus on. But what he said is that it asked you to steward every version you've been trusted with. And that right there, that hit me because I realized that God has entrusted a lot in me. And when I look at that and I look at all the different things, I'm like, okay, and all these things, require a different version of crystal. You know, so yeah, yeah, PT definitely.

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms was one for me. And I will also add Dr. Key. Mayor Keelan's Bottoms for me because I can't, I couldn't imagine the cross that she has to carry, right? Being the mayor,

leaving the mayor's office, then getting the courage to run for governor, you know, all of the challenges that come with politics. She's a mom. mom, she's a wife. And so sometimes when you think about the things that you have to carry or the weight that you hold, it's like, and then you think about that kind of way.

Yeah, because I was thinking even, you know, you don't want to judge a book by its cover, but never met, you know, I've never met her before. So I just had this persona of Mayor Keishalan's violence, especially in the era that I knew her in, right? So I'm thinking we just don't talk to this politician or, you know, I did read the book. So as I'm reading the book, it was, I kind of started feeling the. layers, but even meeting her in person. It was just a different vibe. And she had her guard completely down.

Yeah. And it was just a very moving conversation, even hearing about her motherhood journey. And even that, like, people in that space don't share that kind of stuff. And so just to hear her speak about all of her kids being adopted and her going through the IVF. And she was just very honest, which I think, one, she didn't have to be because, you know, it's her life. But she probably really, and I know she did reading the comments, they loved it.

They loved it. And I think it just was amazing to know that she would turn around and become. Yeah. Yeah. Nomin. You know. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. For like, like, sign up. Yeah.

For that, right? To sign up to be a black female politician. Yes. And Georgia. In spite of what people have already been saying about you. Yeah. You know, and the reputation that she has where people like have taken just small parts of her career and

decided that's what it's going to be. Right. And not looking at it in totality. Yeah. Something she said was strong women pushed through powerful women stop. And because a lot of people were asking her like, why didn't she run

again? Like, why did she just, they felt like you quit on us, you know, in the time we needed you the most. But we didn't know what she was dealing with internally with her health. Our health. Things that she needed to take care of in order to be able to run for governor. We always talk about you can't pour from an empty cup.

Yes. You know, so she made me look at the importance of sitting down, you know, listening to your body. And that's something that really stuck with me because I think as women, black women, especially, we have been taught to push through, be resilient, keep going, nobody cares. Like, you got to keep, you know, and we have worn that as a badge of honor in a way, you know. And I feel like it's time to understand that, no, like I can't. can't be everyone's hero. Sometimes I got to pull the cape off, dust it off, send it to the dry cleaners.

Right. Get it clean. Yeah. And that takes a while. So when that comes back, then I'll be restored and ready to get it back on. And I loved her kind of like blooping because I'm like, you know what? You didn't quit. You did your turn.

And it's crazy how that narrative can spread. So it's like she actually running back. She didn't walk out of her turn or anything like that. So I really to do it again. And you have to respect that. Just like people leave jobs all the time and things like that. Like she said, they put people on the first. pedestor or want politicians to have this

perfectionism and not really think of them as human. So she really gave the politics and political figures a voice and really been able to see them as humans. And I really appreciated that. Another one was definitely Dr. Key, like you said.

Oh my gosh. Dr. Key from the moment she walked in. She floated in. Yes. It was a new, I met her now. She was not on the ground. She was not. She was not. She floated in. She did. She has like a regal, like air when she walks into a room. You almost feel like, okay, let me sit up.

Yeah, let me get myself. Let me get myself together. Let me speak proper English. Right. Because I messed up. Yeah. She definitely is one of the women that make you like sit up. And even just her about community and really having us sit back and take a look.

What does that really look like? And seeing someone who's actually not just saying. saying it, not just putting it on shirts and things like that. She's literally living it and seeing her fruits that are coming up, her living it. It makes you want to be more inclusive

and do things with people and be more open because she was really showing what that looked like. For sure, like her mantra is support is a verb. Like, come on. Like, it's cool when people say, I support you and all this. But actually showing up, actually

investing, actually making the call. to get someone else like ahead or making the connection. Like that's a real thing. Yeah, yeah. And she's super intentional about giving credit where it's due and making sure that she's clear about how she got to where she is. It wasn't by herself. She had a community of people that she supported,

has supported her, and the idea that no one gets there on their own. That's so true. And that her book, No One is Self-made. No one is self-made. Yeah, I'm definitely aligned with that because nobody gets to where they are by themselves. But I think when you realize that that is when gratitude comes with the leadership,

you know, because a lot of times leaders can have this, like, pompous attitude. Yeah, yeah. That they're above everybody and they're like, y'all are here because of me, you know? Yeah. And when you get rid of that persona and understand that, no, like, I'm here because you guys have my back. Yeah.

And that gratitude comes on with it. One, people feel valued, you know, they feel appreciated. They feel seen and those things are important when you're building the team. Yes. And I love that about us too. I feel like here people may see, you know, the sweeties ain't going to ride for Crystal, but I was walking with Wes at the live and they were like, Big West, Big West, Big West. And it was like, I love it because, again, you shot, we're all on here, we're on the after show,

we're all doing things. Wyoming is back there, Herman. It definitely takes a team to do all of this, which is why I just do. love our team because we are truly a team. It's a real life team around here and I think that that really just resonated with me even with her the sun

analogy. Yeah. She said that I was like, oh yeah, the sun shines on the sun shines on both of us. You know, the sun shines on everyone. It's no need to take the spotlight because it's going to come, you know, everyone can shine. So I thought that was really, really dope. Yeah, I love that.

And guys, I could not do any of this without you. I seriously couldn't. I woke up this morning, I was just praying, and we didn't pray before, we're going to pray after this, but I was praying this morning when I woke up and just thanking God for just, I knew where I was coming today. And this is our first day filming here at Tyler Perry Studios. Yeah. And just giving thanks to the moment I walked on this, or to this studio, it wasn't this particular lot, back in 2012. He knew where I would be in 2006, you know.

and the ways that he's made, I'm just so grateful. But the people that he's brought to help me see this and bring it to fruition, I look around me and I feel safe. You know, I don't feel. And, you know, I've been blessed to have amazing teams, you know, people around me. But just to continue to see how I evolve and the people that God brings to my life, I'm so grateful. And I love that we're not just documenting accomplishments here.

You know, we're not just documenting. Don't cry. It's okay. We love you, Mrs. Joe Jackson. We love you, Crystal. Thank you. I love y'all, too. But I think that has been the thread throughout this season, you know,

and I'm really excited about what's to come. Now I'm about to cry. Aw. No, not praise them. Yes. Well, see, clearly, this is bigger than content. Yeah. This is purpose.

Purpose. Purpose. This is bigger than content. content is purpose work. It is, and purpose is following us. That's for sure. I like that purpose. And with that, I think we should look back at some of the lessons that we learn behind these interviews.

Let's take a look. Many may not know this, but I started in business. Wow. So my background is tech. I'm a tech entrepreneur. I think that when people think about a calling, they automatically go to a church mentality. They think I'm called to be. a preacher. I'm called to be a worship leader, maybe a deacon. And I wanted to expand the concept of

what it means to be called because I do think that business is a calling. I think that science is a calling. So I want to expand that and then show them how to be called in that space. You can go to theological school if you want to be a preacher and that's wonderful, but who teaches the person who's called to to start companies. Come on. Who teaches the person who's called to be a scientist and create by the spirit of God groundbreaking health solutions? I'm a battle tested leader.

And I fought with every single thing I had for the people of Atlanta and for the people across the state. And I did it because it was the right thing to do. And it doesn't mean that every decision I made was perfect. But it did mean that it did mean. But it did mean that I tried my very best. And, you know, even when people have asked me, well, why don't you run for a second term again? That's a question that comes up.

Yeah. I went into prayer about that. You know, reminding people I finished my term and I finished it strong. I did a poll just before I left the mayor's office. That's 68%. Wow. Yeah. Our internal polls showed me.

So I knew that people of Atlanta were pleased with the representation I provided. And I write about this in my book. My dad died suddenly at 55. And I given everything I had to be mayor into the city. I was giving everything I had to my family. I write about even the night of the protest in Atlanta when I gave that speech. I remember like it was yesterday. When I got home, my son, my son likes it was like, they ate all the fish.

They ate all the fried fish because I was cooking when I, left to go to police headquarters. I came in and I fried fish and cooked grits for him. Oh, when I got home. Back to Mommy mode. It's like still got a, yeah. So I'd given every single thing I had. But at that time, I had, I was pre-diabetic.

I was pre-glacoma, which I still am. I have to use drops now. Pre-hypertensive, chronic inflammation, I gained 30 pounds, like all these things. And I would think my daddy died suddenly at 55. If I had four years left. Yeah. What about my kids?

What about me? And making a decision not out of weakness, but out of strength. My book is a loving deprogramming of the consciousness of how we talk about success. Ancestually, we are communal people. Come on. Incessually, in present day. whatever success that we may have and it may not always come in a form that we want. Yeah.

Any great thing that we have done well in life, there have been prayer partners, there have been a group text of friends. Yes. There have people that slide you $20 when you needed it when you're an undergrad. If I accept self-made, then I began to erase people who've been very vital to the own fabric of my existence. Yeah. And so no one is self-made is to say, be intentional about every single thing. thing that you say thank you to, even the titles that people give you. And I have sat for interviews and people have said,

Dr. Keith, how does it mean to be a self-made woman? And because I know that words are prophetic. And I know that words and have an opportunity to teach in a moment. I always say, but actually I'm village made. An IR Radio Experience weekend gold tickets to Ilson Inc. One, two, three, everybody just screwed. In Montreal with Dom Dalla, Chris Lakin friends, Woolley, Deadmouse, Above and Beyond, Subfocus, and more.

With flights from Porter Airlines, three nights at Residence in downtown Montreal, and $1,000 cash. Enter for your chance to win at iHeartRadio.ca. Ilsonique, in Montreal, every day you enter is another chance to win. I love the sounds. The buzzing from the stadium, the chanting from the fans, the announcers calling the place soccer, football at home.

Why do I watch the World Cup? That's like asking me, why do I breed? I inherited that fandom from my mom. I like watching it with my dad. It's a connecting force. From Futuro Studios, I'm Fernanda Chavari, and this is American Football, a show about soccer culture in the U.S. and its underdog roots.

We go beyond the game to the people and the people, and the stories that make it great. A soccer game is a festival. It's not just a game. It's your culture. I took an elbow to my head, which cracked my skull. It is an American game. The Brazilians don't like hearing that, though.

Are they the only ones that don't like that? Nobody likes that. As we get ready for the Men's World Cup this summer, listen to American Football as part of the MyCultura podcast network, available on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, I'm Hoda Kotby, host of the podcast, Joy 101 with Hoda Kotby. Okay, if you know me, you know this.

I'm always searching for inspiration, for support, and useful tools to help maximize joy. So this podcast lets us uncover all of that together. We're going to have these meaningful conversations with the world's most fascinating people, like when actress Olivia Munn shared how she overcame fierce health challenges that she never saw coming. I've gone through breast cancer and then helped my mother through breast cancer, and that was more difficult. There's a lot of people who understand postpartner depression. I was not prepared for postpartum anxiety.

Olympic champ Sean Johnson revealed why she had no choice but to be a gymnast. There was something about gymnastics that was intoxicating to me. It's given me a belief that we all have one of those treasures inside of us. We just have to find it. Listen to Joy 101 with Hoda Kotby on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. My first guest is Paris Hilton, Shakira, Luke and Yerrin, Samira and Gracie. I'm so excited on the bouncy bed.

You have surprises? Many surprises. Welcome to Sweet 305 where the group chat comes to life. What a f***! It's like a way to say like, Oh, my name, oh my best friend, hello, my brother. What a... Look, I never have ever been to have to be able to know.

Except with my kids, my kids, if you know. See my amante. Oof. That's incredible. Yeah, the telenovela. You're the only person I know that loves a yellow starburst. It's ruminated. No, there's someone.

I mean, like to collaborate with this person. This is Sweet 305. Listen to Sweet 305 with Lele Pons as part of my Cultura podcast network on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. You know, guys, like when I first started Keep You Paws at Sweetie, I just wanted to have conversations with people. You know, I wanted to know their journeys. My vision for this was to show people that were more alike than we're not.

But I did not imagine within three years that I'd be reflecting on 11 seasons. That is crazy. Yeah, yeah. And when we started, we came on at season five or six. And it's just the evolution of the show, the evolution of the team. You know, it feels bigger than creating content. Yeah, for sure. I feel so blessed.

Completed my first season came in. Like that beginning of like season 10-ish when you were going on the cruise. Yes. Oh, yes. So that was really cool. And I think that it also speaks to the team and speaks to the system because I was able to jump right in and kind of really understand what was going on. So I think it still speaks to that.

I've been able to add my mind. own pizzazz and my shelliness to it. But overall, this is something that you know you're creating a legacy and something that can live forever because of your greatness. That's true. You know, people leave,

they leave here. They don't talk about the cameras. They talk about how they feel. They talk about the impact they've had, you know, how important was to have a conversation. You leave here with friends, family. Yeah, that's real. That's so true. And I think that some of the best conversations

happened because we didn't just move on to the next topic. We sat in it, you know, and we honored where we were in those conversations. And I love when people, when you're like, they want the clips. They want you to send them the clips. They want to, you know, I love that part because it's, like, ooh, girl, can you, can you have them send you this part? Yes, I love when that happens because it kind of just lets us know that we're doing what we're supposed to do and having the conversations we're supposed to have.

And it also, just curiosity and the questions that we may want to ask or maybe thinking will never get the opportunity to, this also gives us that chance to get, again, another perspective and just hearing from these greats and the things that they're enduring, it really puts your life into perspective, like we were talking about us on earlier. Yeah. We all going to do. We are. Nobody is omitted from going through life.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. What's been your takeaway from this season, Wes? Oh, mine is stewardship. Okay. Toray. So Ray challenged me with that.

Dr. Key reinforced it. You know, like whatever God places in your hands, you know, lead it well. I mean, whether it's your business, family, you know, or just a conversation. Yeah. Just make sure you take care of it. A little bit. Ashana? Mine is Grace.

My takeaway from this season is just a reminder that everyone is carrying something. And most of the time, you never know. and we've had the biggest superstars sit on the couch, we've had the most intelligent the most successful people sit on this couch and when they start to share their journey it's a reminder that grace goes a long way and you never know what someone carrying.

Ooh, I love that. That is so good. I believe that this season reminded me of why I started this show in the first place. You know, and it wasn't for the headlines, it wasn't for the clips. It wasn't for the views. You know, because I definitely in the beginning and even still sometimes get caught up in where we are and how the show is growing.

I think that's with anything that you're, that you're passionate about. Yeah. But there was a time where, like, I was so like, okay, where are we? What is happening? Like, how do we get back to what it was, you know? But the main thing is when I go out and I'm in the streets and I'm traveling and people stop me, oh my goodness, your podcast changed my life. Your podcast brought me closer to God.

your podcast made me men my relationship with my mother. It's helping me handle my finances better. We touch on so many different things and my mental health, you know, to hear that and see women almost in tears, you know, thinking about how this has impacted them. It reminds me of the why, you know, because it's so easy to get lost in everything else. We talk about comparison.

We talk about seeing what everyone else is doing. and sometimes you've got to take a step back and look at everything that you've been able to accomplish and do. And I think with this show, we have definitely made an impact, and that is why I'm most proud of it. Yay. Give ourselves a round of applause.

Yay. I'm excited. Me too. This was good. So if I had some champagne, I would cheers, y'all. To season 12. We got mocktails. Season 12.

Oh, we do have mocktails. We have mocktails. But they ain't paying us, so we can. Oh. No, my girl, we buy her check if you ain't learned nothing else. No free promo. If you haven't learned anything else, sweetie.

You're like this right here. Cheers. On the backhand side. No, but for real, I'm excited about season 12. I cannot wait for you all to see what we have in store for you. Bigger and better is coming. And we are excited to continue to grow. Thank you to everyone who tunes in,

single week. Thank you to everyone who sends a clip to a friend. Thank you to everyone who shows up to the live shows to meet us in person. Thank you for everyone who has joined the Sweetie Social Club. There's so many different things that we have going on. And I'm just grateful that you all trust us, you know, because we could not do this if you didn't trust us. And thank you for sharing space with us and bringing us into your homes and your cars and wherever you are every single week. I love you guys. Doing so good. This is great. I never got a little cheat code,

but I'm going to get, Krista got everything on hard cars. Looking back on this season, I realized, oh, well, I kind of like how you. I just got cut. No, it's okay. Don't cut that. I just realized I was like,

that was great, guys. Thank you, guys. We did it. We're naturals. We need a show. I knew that you just hate this stuff. Listen, I'm gonna... You don't got no words of three.

It's like, like, making sure she got it. Make a sure she got it. Man, I don't know. Man, listen. He can relax. He's a new girl. He's giving confusion. It's not following.

She's not following. It's really like, I'm really smart. I don't know. I'm like, is she? What's going on here? That's not in the skirt. What's going on here? Funny story.

I do this on set where they don't know if I'm acting or not because I'm so in the character. We're like, I literally like start like talking before like I, they're like, is she? It's definitely. Yeah. It's that time to put on your jersey and wave your flag, whoever you root for. Why do I watch the walk up? That's like asking me, why do I breed? And it's beautiful.

The guys are young and, you know, cute and fit. It's not just a game. It's your culture. I like watching it with my dad. It's a connecting force. From Futuro Studios, I'm Fernanda Chavari, and this is American Football, a show about soccer culture in the U.S. and its underdog roots.

Listen to American Football on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Joy is essential, and it's all so elusive. But now, there's a new and exciting way to start. your journey toward a more joyful existence. Joy 101. It's a new podcast hosted by me, Hoda Kotby. If you're craving inspiration to maximize your joy, tune into these candid, uplifting, and moving on-air chats.

Open your free IHeart Radio app. Search Joy 101 and Listen Now. Joy 101 with Hoda Kotby is presented by CVS. My first guest is Terence Hilton, Shakira, Luke and Yerrin. Have surprises? Many surprises. Welcome to the Sweet 305 podcast where the group check comes to life. What on?

You're the only person I know that loves a yellow starburst. It's lemonade. This is Sweet 305. Here, oversharing is encouraged. Listen to Sweet 305 with Llepons on the IHartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. Happy pride from the Outspoken Podcast Network. All month long and all year round, we're celebrating being loud, proud, and always a It's me, Brandon Kyle Goodman, host of the podcast, Tell Me Something Messy.

Check out my show for unfiltered takes on dating, relationships, and adulting. Listen to High Key for the best pop culture takes, and there are no girls on the internet for all your tech news. For your favorite celebrity key keys, check outlaws with T.S. Madison. Learn to love yourself unapologetically with BFF, Black Fat Fem. And start your day with intention with waking up with Ryan coming in July. Celebrate Pride with the Outspoken Network. open your free IHeart radio app. Search Pride and listen now.

This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.