Keep It Positive, Sweetie
Episode: 2-Year Anniversary "Listeners' Choice" - A Cécred Place w/ Tina Knowles
Host: Krystal Renee Hayslett
Guest: Tina Knowles
Release Date: June 22, 2025
Overview
In this special "Listeners' Choice" two-year anniversary episode, Krystal Renee Hayslett welcomes the legendary Tina Knowles to discuss reinvention, family legacy, faith, and resilience. Known as the matriarch of an iconic family, Tina opens up about her upbringing, the power of positivity, her journey as a businesswoman, and the intergenerational impact of her work in beauty and fashion. Their conversation, marked by humor and vulnerability, offers wisdom on navigating the highs and lows of both life and career while staying true to oneself and keeping it positive.
Key Discussion Points
1. Tina Knowles: Roots, Upbringing, and Early Lessons
[05:03]
- Grew up in Galveston, Texas in a poor but resourceful family.
- Her parents bartered her private school tuition: "She did all the sewing for the church and my dad chauffeured the nuns... we were like indentured servants for them, which wasn’t the best experience but it prepared me for a lot in my life."
- Tina's first real job was as a makeup artist, later moving into hair and salon ownership (“Headliners”).
- Emphasizes her “toolbox” of experiences as crucial to her later achievements.
2. The Power of Positivity amid Criticism
[06:51, 07:26]
- Tina praises Krystal’s show for uplifting content:
“What I love about it is the positivity because there’s so much negativity right now... The negativity hurts us. And it doesn’t do anything for anybody’s self-esteem. It’s crab-in-a-barrel mentality. And this is amazing what you’re doing.” — Tina Knowles [07:26]
- Both discuss the pain and difficulty of dealing with negative media and online rumors, especially as public figures.
- Tina stands firm about defending her family when needed:
“Some things are below the belt, and they are just unacceptable... You mess with my grandbabies, you mess with my children, I will speak up.” — Tina Knowles [08:03]
3. Generational Influence: From Seamstress Mother to Beyoncé’s Wardrobe
[09:35]
- Tina's mother was a seamstress, instilling skills she’d later use for Destiny’s Child.
- Her multifaceted life (modeling, hair, beauty) all came together for her family’s success:
“Everything that I’ve ever learned... I’ve been able to apply it to them.” — Tina Knowles [09:35]
4. Salon Culture in Black Communities
[10:29, 10:34]
- The communal, therapeutic, and empowering nature of Black salons:
“It’s therapy, it’s spiritual, it’s camaraderie. It’s just woman power.” — Tina Knowles [10:34]
5. Cécred: From Family Tradition to Groundbreaking Haircare
[11:03–15:14]
- Cécred is Beyoncé’s line but rooted in Tina’s decades of salon experience.
- Years of mixing custom recipes for textured hair shaped the product development.
- The product line has undergone six years of careful development, with family-wide testing and scientific rigor.
- Tina emphasizes balancing protein and moisture for healthy, especially textured, hair:
“If we conquered textured hair, it will work on anybody.” — Tina Knowles [15:05]
6. Life Lessons on Patience, Timing, and Manifestation
[15:37–18:45]
- Tina rarely feels rushed by life; she keeps multiple projects and believes in divine timing:
“He sends us things in the time that we are ready for... Sometimes you got to go back and regroup and make yourself better. And it’s not the world. It is you.” — Tina Knowles [15:58, 17:23]
- Example: Destiny's Child took five years to succeed; setbacks were vital preparation.
7. Instilling Values in the Next Generation
[17:49–18:45]
- Hard work, resilience, and balance were family staples:
“Nothing good comes easy. Like, you gotta work for it. And if you wanna be successful, it’s no shortcuts.” — Tina Knowles [17:57]
- Encouraged children to “regroup and work harder,” find fun and spiritual grounding, not just hustle.
8. Spirituality, Tithing, and the Importance of Giving Back
[18:45–23:58]
- Tina shares spiritual practices instilled by her Catholic upbringing, emphasizes faith in hard times.
- On tithing:
“To whom much is given, much is required. I was taught very early to tithe, to give back, to balance it.” — Tina Knowles [19:30]
- Reflects on her mother’s lessons about giving, even in poverty, and how faith provided for their family.
9. Fashion Legacy: House of Deréon and Miss Tina
[24:07–25:38]
- House of Deréon arose from fan demand and family creativity; ultimately shut down over business disagreements about the brand’s direction.
- Tina’s tailoring expertise (from her mother) was foundational to the line’s success:
“They were the first darted jeans. I took all those tricks of tailoring from my mom and put them in the jeans.” — Tina Knowles [25:02]
10. Family: Grandchildren and Success Stories
[27:08–31:00]
- Grandson Julez’s entry into modeling and fashion as a “natural progression.”
- Blue Ivy’s Renaissance tour performances; Tina details Beyoncé’s hesitation:
“[Beyoncé] just didn’t want the pressure on her because she knows what that brings... she said, ‘I want her to decide on her own what she wants to do.’” — Tina Knowles [29:54]
- After facing public scrutiny, Blue returned to perform and improved drastically:
“You can let them win... but if I were you, I would go work harder, and I would get out there and kill it and shut them up. She did.” — Tina Knowles [30:17]
11. Raising Grounded, Hardworking Daughters
[32:27–34:44]
- Tina speaks with pride about Beyoncé, Solange, and “adopted daughter” Kelly Rowland:
“I’ve always been proud of them, not only for, you know, show business, but just as being good human beings. And that’s most important.” — Tina Knowles [32:35]
- She credits their humility to her efforts to keep them grounded through simple acts and reminders.
12. Listener Letters & Advice: Reinvention After Hardship and Dating
[37:14–40:47]
- Krystal and Tina respond to a listener recovering from years of caregiving who is ready to date again.
- Highlights: Manifestation, openness, discernment, and proactive attitude in dating:
“You got to manifest what you want and be very, very picky... but also get out there and open your heart.” — Tina Knowles [39:22]
“If you just going to work and coming home, probably ain't going to happen.” — Tina Knowles [40:10]
13. Personal Growth: Coping with Loss and Cherishing Family
[41:34–43:25]
- Tina openly discusses recent loss of her siblings and how it’s shifted her focus to cherishing family time:
“What I decided is that the two that I have left, I’m going to make a lot of time for. And I’m going to spend the time with them and not let so much time pass...” — Tina Knowles [41:48]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Timing and Faith:
“He sends us things in the time that we are ready for.” — Tina Knowles [00:41], [15:58]
-
On Staying Positive:
“It was important that I come and do this because we should support these positive things because they help us. The other stuff hurts us. It does.” — Tina Knowles [06:51]
-
On Building Legacy:
“All that time of being around show business... it was just tools that she can pull out.” — Tina Knowles, on how family experience shapes the next generation [35:54]
-
On Blue Ivy’s Growth:
“You can let them win... but if I were you, I would go work harder, and I would get out there and kill it and shut them up. She did.” — Tina Knowles [30:17]
-
On Loss and Growth:
“What I decided is that the two that I have left, I’m going to make a lot of time for. ... That’s what I’m growing through.” — Tina Knowles [41:48]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- [05:03] Tina’s early life and “toolbox” of skills
- [06:51 – 08:03] Handling negativity in public life
- [11:03 – 15:14] Cécred haircare: Family, science & legacy
- [17:49] Values instilled in Beyoncé & Solange
- [18:45 – 23:58] Spirituality and generosity (tithing)
- [24:07 – 25:38] Origin and legacy of House of Deréon
- [27:08] Julez’s modeling journey
- [29:54 – 31:00] Blue Ivy’s perseverance and growth
- [32:35 – 34:44] Keeping daughters grounded amid fame
- [37:14 – 40:47] Advice on dating after caregiving and hardship
- [41:34 – 43:25] Coping with grief and valuing family time
Closing
The episode wraps with the signature "Keep it ___, Sweetie" segment:
- Krystal: “Keep it pushing, sweetie, because no matter what life throws at you, you just got to keep going.”
- Tina: “Keep it moving, which is kind of the same thing... No matter what’s going on in your life, this too shall pass.” [43:49–44:01]
Listeners are encouraged to embrace faith, hard work, discernment, and, above all, positivity—no matter their stage in life or the hurdles faced.
Connect:
- Tina Knowles: Instagram @tinaknowles
- Krystal Renee Hayslett: @lovechrystalrenae
Listener Letters: keepitpositivesweetiemail.com
