Podcast Summary

Podcast: Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Host: Crystal Renee Hayslett (B)
Guest: Queen Naija (C)
Episode: Eat The Fish & Spit Out The Bones w/ Queen Naija
Date: July 15, 2025

Episode Overview

This heartfelt and candid episode features R&B chart-topper and YouTube star Queen Naija. She and host Crystal Renee Hayslett explore the challenge of navigating fame with authenticity, faith, and positivity. Their raw conversation ranges from body image and public scrutiny to parenting, spiritual conviction, industry boundaries, and staying humble amid success. Queen Naija shares her journey from social media personality to acclaimed artist, highlighting her ongoing growth, love for music, and desire to make a lasting, positive impact.

Major Discussion Points & Insights

1. Humility and Staying Grounded in Fame

• Crystal highlights Queen Naija’s humility despite her fame, recounting how Queen reached out as a fan of the podcast.

  “For you to be so known, to still say, ‘I’m just glad you know who I am,’ I was like, this girl has a beautiful spirit.” (B, 01:55)

• Queen admits she often doesn’t realize who knows her, choosing modesty over entitlement.

  “I be in my little bubble… I never want to be that person like, ‘you should know who I am.’” (C, 02:29)

2. The Double-Edged Sword of Social Media & Self-Esteem

• The conversation turns to how social media amplifies insecurities. Both discuss feeling pressured by negative comments, confessing to moments of self-doubt and body image struggles.

  “People make you look at things that you never paid attention to.” (B, 05:51)
  “I never cared about any angle of my face… until I started being in the public eye.” (C, 06:05)

• Queen candidly shares her experience with body dysmorphia and cosmetic surgery, and the ongoing journey toward self-acceptance:

  “I used to obsess over being 135 pounds… but baby, I’m close to 160. I just learned to accept it.” (C, 06:54)
  “Sometimes people will do surgery over and over just trying to get that perfect look… but you can't keep risking your life to go under the table.” (C, 07:27)

3. Vulnerability, Criticism, and Online Boundaries

• Both discuss the weight of internet criticism and the necessity of boundaries for mental health:

  “Happy people, if you’re so busy being happy, you shouldn’t have time to be negative.” (C, 08:44)

• Queen speaks on self-filtering, learning from past moments shared online, and the unpredictability of live platforms like Twitch:

  “You gotta watch what you say. Because [Twitch] will literally clip the smallest thing, and the next thing you know, I’m all over TikTok.” (C, 09:45)

4. Faith, Purpose, and Musical Direction

• Queen Naija opens up about her spiritual roots, ongoing relationship with God, and internal debates about musical direction (R&B vs. Gospel):

  “I’m just trying to get my relationship right with God so that I could hear from him directly… I know there’s gonna be a point in time where he might tell me, ‘okay, it’s time to do worship music.’” (C, 11:19)

• Both Crystal and Queen share their convictions and struggles bridging the gap between secular success and spiritual responsibility:

  “You can’t just reach people that’s already in church. You got to reach the people that's outside — might be in a club. You gotta meet people where they are.” (C, 13:00 & 13:38)

5. Community, Accountability, and Church Hurt

• They discuss finding a supportive “tribe” of faith, dealing with spiritual isolation, and processing disappointment from scandals in church.

  “Churches that go through scandals… it runs a lot of people away… we're looking at humans here. You need to eat the fish and spit out the bones.” (C, 18:00)

• The need for accountability and spiritual counsel is highlighted, especially in high-pressure industries.

  “That’s so important because, girl, we’d be lost out here with so many influences.” (B, 19:15)

6. Industry Boundaries & Artistic Integrity

• Queen shares a harrowing story about a music video shoot that made her uncomfortable due to occult symbolism, emphasizing the importance of saying “no” to situations that conflict with her spirit:

  “It was this empty pool… reminded me of a baptism pool… it was empty… the statue was beheaded… I was like, get that out of here… you gotta be careful because they be putting stuff in there.” (C, 23:49-24:19)

• She reflects on staying true to herself, even if it means slower industry advancement.

  “I stay true to myself... Gotta continue to keep blessing me.” (C, 24:41)

7. Family Life & Balancing Motherhood

• Queen speaks about stepping back from work to focus on her family, acknowledging “mom guilt” as she balances career demands and quality time with her sons:

  “I just felt like I needed to get my house in order… I just wanted to be a mom again.” (C, 25:26)
  “I don’t want my boys saying, ‘Mom, you weren’t there, the babysitter had to raise me.’” (C, 26:27)

8. The Business of Being an Artist

• Behind the glamour is intense work: studio perfectionism, legal hurdles, and the business side of launching music.

  “People think you can just go to the studio, record a song, do a one take and then put it out. It’s so not like that.” (C, 27:40)
  “I probably do about 50 takes to make sure something is right… I’m a super perfectionist.” (C, 28:43 & 29:46)

• The importance of being hands-on and learning every part of the business, inspired by artists like Beyoncé.

  “No one’s going to treat it like you would treat it… I want to make sure I can do what everybody else is doing.” (B, 38:01)

9. Collaboration, Aspirations & Creative Process

• Queen is open-minded about musical collaborations but is most focused on authenticity and direct creative input.

  “If we’re gonna work, we’re gonna work. If not, I can hold this on my own.” (C, 44:00)

• She expresses desire to work with Pharrell, The-Dream, London on the Track, and values genuine connections with fellow female artists (Ella Mai, Mariah the Scientist, Teyana Taylor, HER).

• Queen describes her evolving songwriting process:

  “I used to hear a melody in the middle of the night and make that into a beat… Now, I have conversations first and my song is right there in the conversation.” (C, 41:03 & 42:55)

10. The Future: Vision, Impact & Faith

• Queen aspires for a Grammy and expects to eventually create faith-driven music that bridges genres:

  “I see myself getting nominated or winning a Grammy… I want to do more so Christian contemporary worship or Christian R&B fusion.” (C, 45:03)

• She speaks to the power of influence and bringing audiences along on her spiritual journey.

• On impact, Queen says:

  “I’mma always talk about God… just keep that radiant energy and positivity, regardless of what I may be going through.” (C, 47:15)

11. Protecting Peace & Mental Health

• Queen is a strong advocate for therapy and unplugging from social media:

  “Therapy has worked so well for me… sometimes you gotta put the phone down and delete the apps.” (C, 48:21 & 48:59)

• Both discuss the addictive nature of social media and strategies for maintaining mental wellness.

Notable Quotes

• On Humility:

  “You have this spirit of humility… even though you’re so known.” (B, 01:55)
  “I just learned to accept it… you’re never gonna be perfect, so just get with what you got.” (C, 06:54 & 07:09)

• On Negative Energy:

  “Happy people… shouldn’t have time to be negative.” (C, 08:44)
  “If I got pointed hips, I just got to accept it. We gonna have some pointy hips, okay.” (C, 07:44)

• On Musical Calling and Faith:

  “I can’t just use my voice only for [R&B]… When am I gonna glorify God?” (C, 15:21)
  “I want [my gospel music] to be very… genuine.” (C, 11:57)

• On Church Disappointment:

  “You need to eat the fish and spit out the bones.” (C, 18:12)

• On Industry:

  “You can’t just accept everything from everyone… be confused with so many different sources.” (C, 19:29-19:39)
  “You gotta be careful [in the industry] because they be putting stuff in there [for ‘art’], but it has another meaning.” (C, 24:22)

• On Balance and Business:

  “You can’t think about people’s feelings [in business]… You can’t be too much of a pushover.” (C, 33:56 & 34:10)

• On Success:

  “I see myself getting nominated or winning a Grammy… I gotta speak that.” (C, 45:03)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:03 – Welcome and Queen Naija’s Introduction
• 06:05 – Body Image, Surgery & Self-Love
• 09:45 – Dangers & Vulnerability of Live Social Platforms
• 10:19 – Spiritual Calling & Desire for Gospel/Christian Music
• 13:00 – Meeting Audiences Where They Are (Faith & Music)
• 18:12 – “Eat the Fish & Spit Out the Bones” (Handling Church Hurts)
• 22:31 – Industry Stories: Saying No to Occult Symbolism
• 25:26 – Motherhood, “Mom Guilt,” and Taking a Step Back
• 27:40 – Studio Life, Perfectionism, and Recording Process
• 33:56 – Business Lessons: Boundaries & Assertiveness
• 41:03 – Evolving Songwriting & Studio Process
• 44:08 – Favorite Collaborators
• 45:00 – Aspirations for Grammys & Future Musical Direction
• 47:15 – On Impact & Intentional Positivity
• 48:21 – Therapy, Unplugging, and Peace
• 50:16 – Details on Upcoming Album/EP

Tone & Energy

The tone is warm, open, faith-centered, and humorously self-aware, with both women constantly affirming each other and sharing honest, vulnerable insight. The episode exudes empowerment, gratitude, and encouragement to “keep it positive, sweetie,” while never shying away from the realities of industry pressure, personal growth, and spiritual searching.

Summary

This episode is an in-depth, inspiring look at Queen Naija’s journey through self-discovery, stardom, and spirituality. It’s filled with moving confessions, practical wisdom on boundaries, business, and balance, and a consistent message of grace, faith, and staying true to oneself—making it a must-listen for anyone navigating public life, creative careers, or evolving faith.