From Peloton to Prime Time w/ Tunde Oyeneyin

Summary

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Keep It Positive, Sweetie – Episode Summary

Episode Title: From Peloton to Prime Time w/ Tunde Oyeneyin
Host: Crystal Renee Hayslett
Guest: Tunde Oyeneyin
Release Date: March 8, 2026
Podcast: Keep It Positive, Sweetie by The Black Effect Podcast Network & iHeartPodcasts

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Episode Overview

This vibrant and uplifting episode explores the journey of Tunde Oyeneyin, best known as a Peloton instructor, motivational voice, author, and now a series regular on Tyler Perry's Sisters. Host Crystal Renee Hayslett and Tunde dive into themes of growth, public pivots, preparation, black womanhood, and the power of trusting oneself during seasons of transformation. Tunde shares personal insights, her leap from fitness to acting, and the importance of showing up authentically in every new chapter.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Icebreakers & Foundations (03:44–07:04)

• The episode opens with warm rapport and a rapid-fire Q&A on self-care, workout preferences, affirmations, and musical resets.
  • Tunde prefers a mix of silence and music to reset: “Depends on what energy I'm trying to call in. I love silence. But this morning, I got ready listening to that pop Playlist.” (04:50)
  • Before big moments, she recalls her mother’s affirmation:
    “May whatever I say be the right thing to say. And what that prayer did for me was…Even if what I did was technically wrong, it would actually be right, because in some way, that wrong would prove itself right later.” (06:29–06:55)

2. How Crystal & Tunde Met: A Story of Sisterhood (07:04–09:22)

• Crystal recounts connecting to Tunde via Peloton workouts during the pandemic, then meeting in person at the Strength of a Woman event.
  • Tunde describes their first meeting:
    “You floated past me, and I grabbed your hand, and you grabbed my hand back. And it was just that natural thing that Black women do…showering flowers over each other.” (08:31–09:10)
• Their bond deepening when Tunde auditioned for Sisters, feeling supported by Crystal during the callback process.

3. Stepping Into Acting: Trust, Preparation, and the Call to Pivot (09:43–14:25)

• Tunde shares her emotional process from audition to booking Sisters, highlighting the importance of self-belief and preparation.
  • On transition:
    “I think that my greatest gift is that I move in trust. Even when I don't believe, I trust.” (12:33–12:38)
  • Tunde reflects on not always seeing this trajectory for herself but moving forward by putting trust into her own journey and abilities.

4. Public Pivots & Personal Evolution (15:41–22:54)

• Tunde details her career journey: from makeup artist and educator to Peloton, then best-selling author and finally, actor.
  • On navigating guilt and growth:
    “Do you love this job or do you love the title?...It was difficult for me to admit to myself at that time because I had prayed for this job, I had worked hard…now I was saying I didn’t want it. And so there was guilt.” (17:10–17:29)
  • Key transition moment: her transcendent experience in her first cycling class, leading to a powerful calling and vision.
  • She acknowledges the imposter syndrome faced during these pivots and credits her supportive community, especially Black women.

5. Portraying Madison Truitt on ‘Sisters’: Relatability and Representation (28:27–34:15)

• They shift focus to Tunde’s character, Madison, a woman balancing ambition, identity, and vulnerability.
  • Tunde relates personally:
    “I'm 40 years old…in this space where I love the world that I'm in…She [Madison] wants love. And so, yeah, I was able to pull…a lot of what I'm going through in my own world and put it into the character.” (29:18–29:59)
  • The hosts break down cultural conversations about single, successful Black women owning homes and choosing to live fully rather than “waiting.”
  • Tunde:
    “But that shouldn’t be at the cost of me minimizing or downplaying who I am and what I’m capable of for you to do.” (33:00–33:15)
  • Both reflect on how “Sisters” resonates by representing real, multifaceted experiences.

6. Authenticity, Intention & Navigating Misunderstanding (34:44–36:07)

• Discussing the challenge of being a successful Black woman and sometimes being misunderstood:
  • Tunde:
    “I feel hurt because I know my intention…But then also there's reflection…what part did I play in the misunderstanding? Sometimes…it’s not me…but I ask.” (34:44–35:59)

7. Preparation & Fast-Paced Work Environments: Peloton vs. TV (36:07–38:38)

• Parallels drawn between Peloton livestream energy and the rapid shooting pace on Tyler Perry’s set.
  • Tunde’s advice:
    “If you're prepared, you can be confident because you trust the work that you put in.” (37:00–37:00)
  • Crystal adds, “Once I settled in…trusted myself, stopped judging the character, that’s when I was really able to live in the scene, feel it and react.” (37:45–38:24)

8. Being Part of a Cultural Conversation (39:05–40:06)

• Recognizing the cultural impact of “Sisters”:
  • Tunde:
    “Watching season nine and everything Karen went through…it’s the story unfortunately that so many Black women who are going through childbirth live.” (39:13–39:36)

9. Behind the Scenes: The Energy of the Set (40:06–45:05)

• Tunde describes her first day:
  “He came in, he gave me a note. We redid the scene. He said, cut. Great job. That is the first and only time you will get a second take.” (40:57)
  • The emotional toll of back-to-back filming, and a sense of pride and release at the wrap (42:12–43:30).
  • Bonding through shared culture and mission:
    “I remember my first day…during onboarding…I had to do an HR onboarding meeting. The onboarding meeting started with a prayer. I was like, I like it here.” (44:38–44:49)

10. Representation: Black Excellence in Production (45:05–46:07)

• Tunde celebrates the Tyler Perry Studio environment:
  • “It was just beautiful to see so many people of color…working during a time when most people…are not.” (45:05–45:41)

11. Community, Soul Care & Protecting Peace (47:08–49:57)

• Tunde speaks on what collective Black womanhood and support mean to her:
  • “It makes me feel full…not alone…makes me feel seen, of use, makes me feel good.” (47:20–47:42)
• Protecting her energy and mental health as her “star rises”:
  • “You are the gatekeeper to your own peace…shame on me if I allow a stranger to have me consider anything different.” (48:52–49:24)

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Notable Quotes

• On Trust:
  “Even when I don't believe, I trust.” – Tunde (12:38)
• On Guilt & Growth:
  “Do you love this job or do you love the title?…There was guilt in that.” – Tunde (17:10–17:29)
• On Black Women’s Community:
  “The number of women, specifically black women, that come up to me…‘We see you. Keep going. I'm rooting for you. I'm proud of you. This is so much bigger than you.’” – Tunde (22:07–22:54)
• On Living Authentically:
  “But that shouldn’t be at the cost of me minimizing or downplaying who I am and what I’m capable for you to do.” – Tunde (33:00–33:15)
• On Preparation & Confidence:
  “If you're prepared, you can be confident because you trust the work that you put in.” – Tunde (37:00)
• On Seen & Supported:
  “Makes me feel full…not alone…makes me feel seen. It makes me feel of use. Makes me feel good.” – Tunde (47:20–47:42)
• On Protecting Peace:
  “You are the gatekeeper to your own peace…Shame on me if I allow a stranger to have me consider anything different.” – Tunde (48:52–49:24)

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Memorable Moments & Timestamps

• First meeting and the “black woman connection”: 08:31–09:10
• Mother’s prayer and self-trust in auditions: 06:29–06:55, 12:33–12:38
• Describing the emotional high of first cycling class: 19:20–20:29
• The reality of guilt when seeking new dreams: 17:10–17:29
• Describing the fast pace and behind-the-scenes on set: 40:57, 42:11–43:30
• Heartfelt advice on protecting one’s peace and energy as a public figure: 48:52–49:57
• Affirmation for aspiring Black women (“We see you. Keep going”): 22:07–22:54

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Conclusion & Takeaways

This episode is both a celebration and a deep dive—rooted in vulnerability, faith, and relentless trust. Tunde’s path from public pivots to stepping into prime time is a roadmap for anyone facing transition or imposter syndrome, especially Black women straddling tradition and new self-definitions. The conversation is infused with laughter, applause, and the palpable warmth of sisterhood. It offers both actionable wisdom for protecting peace and powerful reminders that growth isn’t about becoming someone new, but choosing to trust who you’re becoming.

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Recommended for:
Listeners seeking authentic stories of career pivots, Black excellence on and off screen, balancing strength with vulnerability, and the healing power of communal support.

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Follow Tunde Oyeneyin on Instagram and support her book, “Speak: Find Your Voice, Trust Your Gut, and Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be.” Stay tuned for her upcoming projects and Sports Illustrated Swim feature!

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“Positivity isn’t about perfection—it’s about presence and choosing to grow even when the path feels unfamiliar.”

Transcript

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Every morning is another chance to enjoy your favorite cup of coffee with Nespresso Vertuo up effortlessly craft bold coffee over ice or milk at the click of a button. Nespresso your coffee your way. Virtuo up [e-mail] on the Cino show

[Podcast Narrator/Host (Various)]

podcast, each episode invites you into a raw, unfiltered conversations about recovery, resilience and redemption. On a recent episode, I sit down with actor cultural icon Danny Trejo talk about addiction, transformation and the power of second chances. The entire season two is now available to binge, featuring powerful conversations with the guests like Tiffany Haddish, Johnny Knoxville and more.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

I'm an alcoholic and without this trope, I'm gonna die.

[Podcast Narrator/Host (Various)]

Listen to Cino's show on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[DJ Hester Prynne]

When you feel uncomfortable, what do you put on Biggie? You put on Biggie when you feel uncomfortable.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Cause I wanna get confident.

[DJ Hester Prynne]

This is DJ Hester Prynne's Music Is Therapy, a new podcast from me, a DJ and licensed therapist. 12 months, 12 areas of money, love, career, confidence. This isn't just a podcast. It's unconventional therapy for your entire year. Listen to DJ Hester Prynne's Music is Therapy on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Narrator (Charlie's Place)]

When segregation was a law, one mysterious black club owner, Charlie Fitzgerald had his own rules.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Segregation in the day, integration at night.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

It was like stepping in another world.

[Narrator (Charlie's Place)]

Was he a businessman, a criminal, a hero?

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Charlie was an example of power. They had to crush him.

[Narrator (Charlie's Place)]

Charlie's Place from Atlas Obscura and visit Myrtle Beach. Listen to Charlie's place on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. When segregation was a law, one mysterious black club owner, Charlie Fitzgerald had his own rules.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Segregation in the day, integration at night.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

It was like stepping on another world.

[Narrator (Charlie's Place)]

Was he a businessman, a criminal, a hero?

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Charlie was an example of power. They had to crush him.

[Narrator (Charlie's Place)]

Charlie's Place from Atlas Obscura and visit Myrtle Beach. Listen to Charlie's place on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Calling all my sweeties to the forefront, I'm your host, Chris Renee Hazlett, and this is the Keep It Positive Sweetie Show. Welcome to the Keep It Positive Sweetie Show. A space where we slow down, reflect and grow through honest conversation. Today's episode features a powerhouse author, athlete and now leading actress. I'm so excited to be sitting down with my sister Tunde Oyeneyan Tunde is a New York Times bestselling author, peloton instructor, global Nike athlete, motivational voice, and now a series regular on Tyler Perry's Sister. Known for leading with intention in what she calls soul care, Tunde has inspired millions through movement, and now she's bringing that same depth and authenticity into storytelling on screen. Stepping into the role of Madison Truitt, a confident entrepreneur navigating ambition, identity, and connection. She represents a woman learning to balance strength with vulnerability. Beyond the titles and accolades, what stands out most about Tunde is her commitment to growth. And not just as an athlete or an actress, but as a woman who continues to show up with honesty and purpose. Today's conversation isn't just about a new role. It's about preparation, courage, and what it feels like to be seen while still becoming kids, family. Please give a very warm welcome to my sista Tunde Tunday. First of all, radiating.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

I'm just trying to keep up with you, honey.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

As soon as you walked through the door, I was like, I'm just trying

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

to keep up with you. No, thank you.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

You look stunning. I wore white because I thought you were gonna wear white.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

You know, as women, we have the plan, and then we deviate the plan based on how we feel in that morning.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Absolutely. I was going through it, and I was like, should I wear this? No, I'm gonna switch this up. I was like, just keep it how it was. So we went with how we scheduled it, but you look beautiful.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Thank you. I see you. Yes.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Thank you. How are you feeling?

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

I feel blessed. I'm super excited to be here. I woke up this morning, was like, I get to talk to Crystal today. Like, our story is. I think it's just. It's crazy how we're here, and I'm sure we'll get into it, but yeah, it's just a crazy story of meeting and then now being in this moment, the shared space together.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

For sure. Now we're definitely gonna get into that because I want people to know how we met and all the good things. But before we get started, I want to do a quick, rapid fire little game with you. You know, just a little icebreaker.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

I love a game.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Perfect. All right, so I want to know, ride, playlist or silence to reset.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Ride, playlist or silence to reset?

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yeah.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Oh, God, that's so difficult, because it depends on what energy I'm trying to call in. I love silence.

[Jo Winterstein]

Yeah.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

But this morning, I have a pop ride next week, and this morning I got ready listening to that pop Playlist. So part of it is resetting, but then it's not truly resetting. Cause it's also me kind of doing work. Cause I'm like, let me make sure this blows.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Right.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

So it's kind of two plug.

[Podcast Narrator/Host (Various)]

Yeah.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

I love that. A cardio day or a strength day? We just talked about working out.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

I would rather lift over cardio.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yes, yes.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

But I love a good run.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Same. Yes. Peloton live ride nerves or filming a scene Nerves.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Oh, Peloton live ride nerves any day. There's not. I'm not nervous when I'm doing. When I'm teaching. Peloton. I'm excited.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yeah.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

And when I'm filming, I'm excited. But it's also a nerve of just, like, making sure I'm doing my due diligence and showing up for the person that I'm sure. And the entire production crew.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Exactly.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

So it's not just me in that moment.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yeah. Big difference. Glam on set or athleisure off camera?

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Glam on set or athleisure off camera?

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Off camera.

[Podcast Narrator/Host (Various)]

Yeah.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Can I do both? Can I be an athleisure in my face beat, period? Yeah, that's my. Yeah, that's my kind of.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Sure can. What is a song that instantly shifts your mood?

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

There's a song, it's by Georgia Smith.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Georgia Smith?

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Yeah. And it's called Finally.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Mm. I love that. That's just a mood. No, you.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

This must.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Okay. Put me on.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

You must.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Because I love her. Yeah, got it. And then the last one is one affirmation you whisper to yourself before a big moment.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

My mother used to always say a prayer over me when I was a little girl. She would always say, may whatever yay. Tunde say be the right thing to say.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yeah.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

May whatever ye Tunde say be the right thing to say. And what that prayer did for me was when I would walk into a room or to. Into a space, I would know that nothing that I was going to do was going to be wrong. Even if what I did was technically wrong, it would actually be right. Because in some way, that wrong would prove itself right later.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Absolutely.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

And so before I have. Before I go on stage or before any really, really big moment, I always say, may whatever I say be the right thing to say.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

I love that. I love that. That is amazing. All right, so we are warmed up. First, let's talk about how we met. So I remember KJ and I used to ride to you. This was before we.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Which is crazy.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

2020. During COVID KJ was living in Los Angeles. I was in Atlanta. And we would do the. You know how you can, like, FaceTime on the screen? So we would FaceTime each other. We lock in.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

And I'm happy that y' all use that feature. Not many people use it.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yes. I love it. And Angie, Beyonce and I would do the same thing. She's on Sisters as well. Place Pam. She and I would do the same thing, but we would ride to you when we were trying to just stay in shape. Because I gained. I gave the COVID £20.

[Podcast Narrator/Host (Various)]

Yeah.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Okay.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

I think mine was a Covid 15. Yeah, it was. You know, it was a time.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

It was a time where I was wearing sweatpants every day. And when it actually. We could actually leave the house, I was like, oh, let me put some clothes on. Can't put any clothes on. Cause I can't fit them.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Didn't need to put any clothes on, though.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yes.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

And that's why nobody knows they were gaining, weights included, you know?

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Exactly. So I went and got me a Peloton. It was like. Peloton was all the rave, and it was you and Ali. Love that. Really? Just, like, you just grabbed me, and I was like, I like these two girls. And. And you inspired me. And the way you talked to us through the screen, I was like, man, I just feel like I knew you and I really drew to you. But then we met through our friend Alex Tucson, who's also on Peloton. We were at a cookout.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

And that's not when we met. No.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

We met at Woman Evolved.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

We met a woman in power.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Strength of a woman.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Strength of a Woman. Yeah.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

That's when we met first. Cause she was like, girl, the outfit.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

And it's so funny because my manager, Kim, is here, and we were joking about this last night because you walked past me with such a regal radiance. You smelled good. Your skin was beaming. The outfit was like. Like, little did I know. Like, that was just. That was you just, like, you know, barely doing your thing. Right. Because I didn't know you at that time. But you just. You were. You didn't even walk past me. You floated past me, and I grabbed your hand, and you grabbed my hand back. And it was just that natural thing that black women do. We just did our thing where we were both just praising and showering flowers over each other.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yes.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

And so that's where we met.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

That's when it was. I don't know why that was the moment. Cause we were just talking about the outfit. I didn't realize that was the moment. That was the moment.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

And then we met again.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

The cookout. At the cookout.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Yes.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

And that was when we really connected. And then I got a call saying we're gonna do a table read and a chemistry read with Tunde for this character, Madison, that's coming on Sisters. I was like, I only know one Tunde. I was like, tunde, Tunde. And they were like, yes. I was like, oh, my goodness. I couldn't say anything. And then finally, when I saw you on the screen, I was like, finally, I can text her and say, oh, my gosh.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

And I. I have to say this, because that meant so much to me in that moment, because I get the audition, and then I get the callback, and they tell me that it's gonna be with you and devale.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yeah.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

And one, I was so nervous. And two, I was also just so excited for the callback, but I was just nervous to be like. I was like, can I do my callback with somebody that's less intimidating than the stars of the show? Like, give me the. You know, the person who opens the door. I don't know, an extra. And so I was nervous to go into that scene, but when I saw that beam of a smile and the support that I felt through the zoom, like, I just felt wrapped in love, and I felt so safe in that audition. And I remember you text me or you called me after.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yeah.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

And I was like, ah, you look so good. So it just felt.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yes.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

It was so supportive, and I thank you so much for that moment.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Absolutely. Take me back to the moment. You got the audition, you put it on tape, you get the callback. Was this something that you always wanted to do, like. Or that she was like, I'm gonna get this. Like, how did you go into this moment?

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Oh, gosh. There's two parts to that question. Like, how did I feel with the callback? And then did I always see this for myself? I mean, I was excited. I was excited for the callback. I was nervous for the callback. I was in disbelief for the callbacks, and it kind of. I took myself back to my mother's prayer. May whatever I say be the right thing to say. And I just reminded myself that they liked something that they saw the first time.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Definitely.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Now I need to go in there and just claim it as mine. Do the same thing again. I kept just telling myself, do the same thing again.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Do what you did.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Do the same thing again.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yeah.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

I will never forget. I just left my acting coach's place whenever I got the call that I booked the gig, my manager called me. And anytime, my manager, whenever there's an agent, she says, can I three way insert X agent's name in? It's always good news. Yeah.

[Podcast Narrator/Host (Various)]

Yeah.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

It's good news or it's bad news. Some good or some bad. So she said, can I plug Fatmada in? And I was like, oh, my God. I remember I was standing in a cvs, and I remember I was taking mental snapshots in that moment because I knew that what was coming next was about to change my life. So I was like, snapshotting. I remember the lady at the register. I remember everything in that moment. Is this something that I saw for myself? I can't say that I did, but, Crystal, I don't know if there's any. I don't know if there's all the blessings that are in my life right now. Everything that is present in real time right now. I don't know if I saw any of this.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Wow.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

I knew that I was capable of doing great things with my life.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yeah.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

But did I know that this is how the story would unfold? Did I know that these would be parts of it? No. I think that my greatest gift is that I move in trust.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yeah.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Even when I don't believe, I trust.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

That's. Ooh. Even when I don't believe that's real.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Yeah. I trust. I do. A monthly newsletter. I've shared this with you before, but I write a monthly newsletter, and I just kind of happened to go back to old newsletters. I was trying to find something, and I stumbled across my May 2023 newsletter. And in that newsletter I had talked about, I had just booked a small part on a show. It was just like, I shot for, like, two days. It was it. And it was amazing. And I had the greatest experience. And in the newsletter, I said, I'm going to start beefing up my time with my acting coach. Like, this is something I really want to just put my feet in and see what happens. Yeah. And it was. That was May of 2023. May of 2025. So exactly two years later, I was on set shooting season 10 assistance.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Wow.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

And so it's just like, did I see this? Exactly. No, Not. Maybe not for a grand amount of time. But a few years ago, I said, I'm going to try. And I've put in. Trust. I don't even know if that makes sense. I, like, put trust in. I just. I've put in trust into myself that this is something that I can try to Do.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yes. And you're doing it. You are doing it. You talked about 10 seasons. 10 seasons coming into a show that has been on. It's built a legacy of its own. What did it feel like stepping into that? And were you like, oh, my goodness, like, this is something that I'm stepping in. That's huge. And how did you walk into that space?

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Well, first and foremost, I thank you and the other four women and all of the actors on the show, the entire ensemble, for creating legacy for me to easily be able to step into and walk alongside with you. So thank you.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yes.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

I think for any show to be in its 10th season. Season is profound. Any show girl, much less a show that is telling black stories.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yes.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Female stories.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yes.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

And so it really is a monumental moment in time. I think KJ said this yesterday when, you know, we were sitting down, we were in an interview, and she said, like, thank you. Like, person interviewing us. Thank you for continuing to be interested

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

and calling us and say, we want to talk to you. Right.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Fans, thank you for continuing to be interested. I'm just so lucky that I. That I get to. To join the legacy that is already in motion.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yeah. I love that now. You have transformed bodies, millions of bodies, from the bike and from your workouts on Peloton. What did it feel like to transform into a different space publicly of your own?

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

What did it feel like to transform into a different space? Space publicly, on my own? I think I'm in transition now, but I think that I've also become familiar with pivoting publicly. Because you call yourself the queen of the pivot. Like, I'm a public pivoter. I started in the cosmetic world and moved from Texas to LA to pursue my dream of becoming a makeup artist. I was in that world for six months, years.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

And we see it, honey.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

It comes in handy. So much like, not having to pay for glam is really. Listen, save your coins.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Save your coins.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Listen, I. Yeah, so I was in the makeup world for 16 years. I loved that world. I loved that job. I loved what I. What I did until I didn't. Like, I. I often say I. You know, I was in the cosmetic world. I was an educator, so I was a trainer. I would fly around the country training makeup artists on everything from their artistry skills into how to teach and talk about a product and also how to sell it. And so there were so many people that would have, you know, literally push, shoved, and killed to have taken my position.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Absolutely.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

I fought for that position. And I will never forget the Day I was on my break at work. I took a very long break in the restroom. You ever go to the restroom, you sit on the stall doing nothing.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

I've done that.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Listen. Just to escape, just to get away, Please. That's where I was. I went to wash my hands. I'm looking at myself in the mirror. I splashed water on my face. I said, tunde, do you love this job or do you love the title? Do you love the job or do you love the respect they give you when you walk into a room?

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yeah. Wow.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

And that was just this real honest moment where I also. I felt guilt. It was something that was difficult for me to admit to myself at that time because I had prayed for this job, I had worked hard for this job, and now I was saying that I didn't want the job. And so there was guilt in that. And it was just. It took me time to acknowledge that. I love sharing the story because whenever I share this next story, it puts me back in gratitude because I remember where I was, and it reminds me to be so grateful for where I am. Yeah. I was on a business trip. I'd flown from LA to New York. I lived in la. Flew from LA to New York for a cosmetic conference. And I was like, super on my. I was wearing, you know, the watch. You have to try to close the ring on the walk, which workout? And I was like, on a super kick.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Okay.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

I remember one of my friends, I took the watch off one day because one of my friends was getting married. She was like, you're not wearing that watch to my wedding. You're like, oh, you're not doing it. So I took the watch out. I don't wear it anymore. But when I was wearing the watch, I wanted to close my rings. I'd flown seven hours, landed in New York, went downstairs to the hotel gym to work out.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Wow.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Treadmill was busted. Couldn't get a workout in. There was like a hula hoop in the gym. I don't know what they wanted us to do with that, but. So I never taken a cycling class before, but I remembered at the time, Kelly Ripa was always talking about how she would go cycling. Sometimes Beyonce would show up. Kelly Rowland would be there. And so I was like, what is this indoor cycling thing? Let me go try it. Maybe Beyonce will be there. Right. So I went to the cycling class, completely judged myself for paying $40 for a 45 minute experience. But three minutes into the class, I'm in this state of euphoria.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yes.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Where like, have you ever Done something. And within your first time doing the thing or maybe even meeting a person, you feel so connected.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yes.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

As if you've been there before.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yes.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

I felt like I'd been there before and I was returning to where I was always supposed to be. Maybe. And so I leave the cycling class and walking back from the class to my hotel, my walk turns into a skip, my skip turns into a hop. And within a matter of five seconds, I feel this wave of blue energy move from my fingertips into my toes. Crystal. That was my very first cycling class. Right after that class, walking home that day, I had this blue light vision, this divine download of information where within a matter of five seconds, I knew that I'd be cycling for the rest of my life. Not only that, but within this vision, I see myself on a platform. So I know I'm going to be teaching.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yeah.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

And beyond that, without even knowing what Peloton was at the time, I knew I was going to be able to impact the lives of millions of people by virtue of a bike.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Wow.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

I say that to say I was in this space where I felt guilt about no longer being in love. Within that relationship. Cosmetics.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yeah.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Then I have this profound vision where I know it's what I'm supposed to do. Lots of imposter syndrome came in. Lots of voices of. After that vision, when I got back to LA and actually tried to pursue it, I said to myself, you don't look like, walk like, talk like, move like an instructor. I battled with my weight my entire life. And so I thought to myself, nobody's gonna look at you and be motivated. They're gonna say, what is this girl doing up here? Like all the things, but all the things you tell yourself. Right.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

That's a real thing.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Yeah. And so insert the first pivot. Going from cosmetic world into cycling. Insert. Hey. I decided I wanted to tell my story.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yeah.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

So I wrote a book. It became a New York Times bestseller.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yes, you did.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Thank God.

[Jo Winterstein]

Yes.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

That was the second pivot. While still, you know, doing the full time job right from that pivot. I've done jobs in hosting. I am a 2026 Sports Illustrated rookie. And then now insert, like this world acting, you sisters. And so, yeah, I think that I've become, to answer your question, finally I've become comfortable publicly pivoting. I think that I'm really fortunate that I have a really just beautiful, devoted base of people that, no pun intended, ride with me.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Literally.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Yeah.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yeah.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

And so I'm just fortunate and lucky and I think that so much of What I do like so much of the pivots that I've found myself in, placed myself in. It's just. It's due to the support. Like, I feel the hands on my back oftentimes, like the number of women, specifically black women that come up to me and they say, we see you. Keep going. I'm rooting for you. I'm proud of you. This is so much bigger than you. You're doing it for all of us. My daughter sees herself in you. My sister, you helped change her. Like, it's not just me. It's not just me. It's not just me. Every single time I try on a new hat, I try on, I try out a world that I have no business being in, I remind myself to dare to have the audacity, to trust, because this is bigger than just youtunde.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Wow, that's amazing. And that was a perfect way to answer that question. That was so good. I love the backstory because we need. People need to hear that. They do come. Sure, a lot of people feel the guilt of, like, I'm appreciative where I am, but I don't want to be here anymore. And how to move past that and then honor the next space that you're in. Yeah, I love that. Yes, exactly. Do not let fear steer.

[Jo Winterstein]

Hi, this is Jo Winterstein, host of the Spirit Daughter podcast where we talk about astrology, natal charts, and how to step into your most vibrant life. And I just sat down with a mini driver.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

The Irish traveler said when I was 16, you're going to have a terrible time with men.

[Jo Winterstein]

Actor, storyteller, and unapologetic Aquarian visionary. Aquarius is all about freedom, loving and different perspectives. And I find a lot of people with strong placements in Aquarius, like, are misunderstood A sun and Venus in Aquarius in her seventh house Spark her unconventional approach to partnership.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

He really has taught me to embrace people sleeping in different rooms, on different houses, in different places, but just an embracing of the isness of it all.

[Jo Winterstein]

If you're navigating your own transformation or just want a chart side view into how a leading artist integrates astrology, creativity, and real life, this episode is a must. Listen. Listen to the Spirit Daughter podcast starting on February 24th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your podcast.

[Podcast Narrator/Host (Various)]

I'm Clayton eckerd, and in 2022, I was the lead of ABC's the Bachelor.

[Stephanie Young]

Unfortunately, it didn't go according to plan. He became the first Bachelor to ever have his final Rose rejected. The Internet turned on him.

[Podcast Narrator/Host (Various)]

If I could press a button and rewind it all, I would.

[Stephanie Young]

But what happened to Clayton? After the show made even bigger headlines. It began as a one night stand and ended in a courtroom with Clayton at the center of a very strange paternity scandal.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

The media is here. This case has gone viral.

[Podcast Narrator/Host (Various)]

The dating contract.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Agree to date me, but I'm also suing you. Police.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Search warrant.

[Luke Combs]

This is unlike anything I've ever seen before.

[Stephanie Young]

I'm Stephanie Young. This is Love Trapped. This season, an epic battle of he said, she said and the search for accountability in a sea of lies.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

I have done nothing except get pregnant by the Bachelor.

[Stephanie Young]

Listen to Love trapped on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jay Shetty]

Hey, I'm Jay Shetty, host of the On Purpose podcast. I'm joined by Luke Combs, award winning country music artist and one of the most authentic V in music today. Luke opens up about success, self doubt, mental health and what it really takes to stay true to who you are when your life changes overnight.

[Luke Combs]

I hate fame. I hate the word celebrity. I hate those words. They make me uncomfortable. But I think when you get to a certain point, the fame or the success or the influence, it just accentuates and exacerbates the inherent person that you are. The guy that says he's always going to be there and that will do anything, anything to be there is the only guy that's not there. I'm in Australia when Beau is born. My whole identity is that no matter what, I'm gonna prioritize my wife and my children over my job. I dread the conversation with my son.

[Jay Shetty]

What do you think you'd say listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Amanda Knox]

In 2023, a story gripped the UK evoking horror and disbelief.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

The nurse who should have been in

[Jay Shetty]

charge of caring for tiny babies is

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

now the most prolific child killer in modern British history.

[Amanda Knox]

Everyone thought they knew how it ended. A verdict. A villain. A nurse named Lucy Letby.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Lucy Letby has been found guilty.

[Amanda Knox]

But what if we didn't get the whole story?

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

The moment you look at the whole picture, the case collapses.

[Amanda Knox]

I'm Amanda Knox and in the new podcast, the Case of Lucy Letby, we follow the evidence and hear from the people that lived it to ask what really happened when the world decided who Lucy Letby was.

[Jo Winterstein]

No voicing of any skepticism or doubt

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

it'll cause so much harm.

[Podcast Narrator/Host (Various)]

At every single level of the British

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

establishment of this is wrong.

[Amanda Knox]

Listen to Doubt the Case of Lucy Letby on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Podcast Narrator/Host (Various)]

China's Ministry of State Security is one of the most mysterious and powerful spy agencies in the world. But in 2017, the FBI got inside.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

This is Special Agent Riegel, Special Agent Bradley Hall.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

This MSS officer has no idea the US Government is onto him, but the FBI has his chats, texts, emails, even his personal diary. Hear how they got it on the Sixth Bureau podcast.

[Podcast Narrator/Host (Various)]

I now have several terabytes of an MSS officer, no doubt, no question of his life, and that's a unicorn.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

No one had ever seen anything like that.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

It was unbelievable.

[Podcast Narrator/Host (Various)]

This is a story of the inner workings of the MSS and how one man's ambition and mistakes opened its vault of secrets.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Listen to the 6th Bureau on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Let's get into Ms. Madison Truitt.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Hello.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

So you came in, I think it was episode four of the new season, and just everybody was like, oh, my goodness, who is this beautiful woman? You are so poised. You're confident, you're a boss. And I think you joked about saying, I am Madison. So when you got the character breakdown and you started studying the scripts, how did you step into that? And how were you able to use Toonday to build out Madison?

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

And let me be very specific and say, I am Madison as she is written today. We don't know where she will go.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

That's so true.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Yeah. I can tell you I relate to Madison in she. In that she has focused the last several years. She has focused on her career.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yeah.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

She has put business at the forefront. And while it's paid off. Right, like she's now seeing the fruit of the work, she's also in this pivotal moment in her life where she's wondering, did I, like, miss the other stuff? Do I still have time for love? Do I still have time for children? And so I relate to Madison. I'm 40 years old, just celebrated my 40th last December, and I'm in this space where I love the world that I'm in. I am blessed with incredible friendships and opportunities and. Hello.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Hello.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

She wants love.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

She does.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

And so, yeah, I was able to pull a lot, and we'll see as the season progresses, but I was able to pull a lot of what I'm going through in my own world and put it into the character. Maybe not all of her, but a lot of her I find in myself.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yeah.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

And I think what's beautiful, too, about the way that Madison is written, we're in this space and time where women are bosses. Like, I think I read something recently where the number of single female owners for the first time, homeowners. The number of single female homeowners is greater than male owners that are single for the first time in history. And so it goes. It just goes to show, like, women are the faces and the head of these businesses. And so I think that it's relatable in many ways.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

It's so relatable. It's so funny you gave that statistic, because when I bought my latest house, I.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Come on. Latest house, latest.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

You're so funny.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

More than one.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

More than one. Flora. I had an older woman, actually a friend of mine, it was her mother who said, are you really gonna buy that big house? Like, no man's, like, basically telling me it's gonna be even harder to find a man. Being that I went ahead and bought this house, and I was like, you know, I'm not gonna wait, you know, because what if that never happens? You know? So I don't want to be in, like, a holding pattern. There are things that I'll, like, be like, I'm waiting for my husband on that. But, like, where I live, that's my sanctuary, you know, that's where I'm, like, my safe place where I can let my hair down. Like, I don't want to wait on that. You know, I still got to live right? And I still got to go to sleep at night. So at least go to sleep in the house you want to come on.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

On a comfortable bed. Because I was told the same thing. I think so many of us were.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

I think, what is that, Tunde?

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

When I was younger, a girlfriend of mine told me, and she was speaking to herself at the time. She was saying that she wasn't going to buy because if she were to buy, if she were to meet a man, a man wants to. He won't be able to see where he can insert himself because there's nothing else to build because you've already done it. A man wants to come in and be able to provide and build.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yeah.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

And so I held onto that thought for some so long. And I remember when I bought my home, I mean, I'll rewind and keep it all the way, you know, real with you. When I was younger, I, you know, you asked me, did you have all these. These plans? I knew I was Capable of greatness. But I don't know that I desired or longed to do it on my own. I always said, I want to work like three days a week. I want to meet me a successful man. I always thought I would be a kept woman. Like, that was somewhat the plan. She never said she was a gold digger.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

No.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

But I thought that the man would be, you know, he would be.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

I think that's kind of how we were raised, Right?

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Yeah, you were too.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

So we were kind of raised that way to think that way.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Right?

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yeah. And then reality said. And I was like, oh, it's not

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

to say that I don't want a man to step in and be a man. Exactly. Like, please step in and be a man. But that shouldn't be at the cost of me minimizing or downplaying who I am and what I'm capable for you to do.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Right. That is so true. And I said, in the understanding and the confidence of knowing that whoever God brings into my life will know, he'll see where he can fit himself in and he'll see where, okay, she's lacking in this area. Come on, let me build in this area. You know, it may not be the house, you know, but I see something else that's cracking over here that let me mend this and fix this up. So I feel like the right person would do that. Yeah, I love that. But I'm so happy that Madison touches on that because so many women are dealing with that. And that's what I love about sistas. Sistas touch on so many stories that people are actually living real. Have you had people walk up to you and say, oh, my goodness, I see so much of myself and you, or heard the stories of like, I. I haven't experienced.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

I haven't experienced that yet. With Madison. I don't know that we've seen the evolution of her character enough yet, but I see it when it happens with you, Crystal. I see when it happens with Mignon. I've seen so many interactions with Mignon when people say, I see Dani in myself. And so, yeah, I absolutely understand that.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yeah, I love that. Shout out to our writers and directors Courtney Glaude and Armani for helping us build out these stories. Something that powerful, ambitious and self assured women, we often get labeled as those things before we're actually understood. And I feel like we carry this Persona, which we have to because we're wearing a lot of hats in order to be successful. But how do you feel when sometimes you don't feel understood as A successful black woman.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

How do I feel when I don't feel understood as a successful black woman? Oh, I feel hurt. Yeah. I feel hurt because. I feel hurt because I know my intention.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yeah.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

And when anyone puts out anything and it is not received in the way they hope for it to be received, it's easy to feel hurt or disappointed. I feel hurt. But then also there's reflection in that I think to myself, like, how could I have said that differently? How could I have managed that differently? How could I have handled that differently? And so on the same breath that I feel hurt, I often ask myself real questions of what part did I play in the misunderstanding? And sometimes it's not. Right, Sometimes it's not. Sometimes people will misunderstand, stand due to jealousy or something else hidden in them.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Right.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

But it doesn't mean that I don't also, in that moment, ask myself if there's something that I put out unintentionally.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

For sure. You said that Tyler's fast paced shooting style reminded you of Peloton Live Rise. No second takes, no second chances. How did your preparation help you from riding to stepping onto set knowing that you get one shot?

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Well, I think that, like, in order to have a competency in anything, like, to feel in order to be confident in anything, rather, in order to feel confident in anything, there has to be competency. When you put in the time, the work, like learning the craft or like studying. For me, it was like learning those lines.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yes.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Feeling the character, Feeling the scene.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yeah.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

At that point, again, like, I keep going back to this word trust. Like, if you're prepared, you can be confident because you trust the work that you put in.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Exactly.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

And so while everything is fast and while I wish I could redo things for sure and try again and do it differently, I'm going into it. I know that I'm also, as I am, as prepped as I can be given the circumstance. Like, given whether it's the time allotment or anything else. Outstanding. Like, I am as prepped as I can be. And anytime I go into anything prep, whether it's on set or behind the scenes, like, if I'm prepped, I feel more confident.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Same. Absolutely. That's so important.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Same question back at you.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Oh, let's see. Listen, for me, in the beginning, see, Tyler was directing in the beginning, so that was an added, like, level of pressure.

[Podcast Narrator/Host (Various)]

Yeah.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

It's like, I wanna make him proud. Like, I gotta make sure I get this right. And rising to the occasion for this man who gave me an Opportunity. So in the beginning, it was. I was new to this. It was a dream come true. So I'm living out so many different emotions at once, you know? And I believe that once I settled into who Fatimah was, got used to the fast pace, trusted myself, stopped second guessing, stopped judging the character, that's when I was able to really just live in the scene, feel it and react versus, like, okay, I've gotta remember these lines, and I've gotta make sure I get it right. And I only got one chance. It can be a lot of pressure, but once you just relax. And Tyler always says that, just relax, tell the story, you know? And I think once I did that, everything just started to come to life. Yeah. And I was able to enjoy it, you know, versus being like, okay, yes. Yes. It was a lot of those moments in the beginning.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

I remember at the end, the end of shooting, my energy was very different than the beginning. Just like, I feel like I felt like I started to breathe a bit more, understand who Madison was.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yeah. And that helps a bit more. Yeah, yeah, for sure. For sure. I love that. I want to know, at what point did you realize this wasn't a role, but it was actually a part of our cultural conversation?

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Ooh. At what point did I realize that this was not a role and part of our cultural.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Just a role, I would say.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Honestly, just watching season nine, like, watching season nine and everything that Karen went through.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yeah.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

And it's just so relatable and so real. It's the story, unfortunately, that so many black women who are going through childbirth live.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yeah.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

And she did such a beautiful job portraying that story. And it was so beautifully written by Courtney.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yeah.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Yeah. I think that that set me up for what I was coming into.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Absolutely. And we talk about how fast paced everything is, tell people what the environment feels like. Cause we're all moving around. But what does the environment feel like on set? And when you, like, left set, going back to your dressing room the first day.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Right.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

How did you feel?

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Everything is fast. So like, Crystal, I. I know how. I knew how that end of it worked because I was a makeup artist.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Right.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

And so I worked on set like I knew. Action. Cut. Step in, like, touches. Yeah, yeah. This was something else, baby. I remember, like, my first day on set. Armani. Director welcomes me, everybody. Cheers. Welcome, Madison. We did our first scene. I think my first scene was with Deval. He yelled, cut. He came in, he gave me a note. We redid the scene. He said, cut. Great job. That is the first and only time you will get a second take a.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

You're like, what?

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

And then, you know, cut to later in that day. Monty, who plays Rich, we're getting ready for our scene. And it's just, you know, to know what scene is coming up and then to remember, okay, Tunde, you would have just have come from the juice bar. You were sad when you left. Go back into this sad space. Because, you know, we're shooting in different places. Places. One scene you're shooting, you're super happy and excited. The next scene you're shooting, you're mad. The next scene you're shooting, you're sad. And so to remember energetically where we were. And then we've got these curtains up where each actor is within their own tent of a curtain, changing. And he and I are playing our lines off of each other.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Absolutely.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Through a curtain, as we're changing, walking out, dapping it up, looking each other in the eyes, saying, you got this going out there. Delivering the scene, quickly changing. Somebody's touching the wig, somebody's redoing a lip, somebody's pulling up a Spanx, scams, whoever. And you know, so it was just. There was, everything was, go, go, go, go, go. And then you, you're done for that moment of the day. And then I would go back to the dressing room or back to my little Airbnb and prep for the next day.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

For the next day. It doesn't stop.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

And then it was just like washing off that previous day, letting it go. And then. So I honestly, now that I'm saying this is the first time, I'm actually really pressing this. So thank you for this therapy session. But I, I think that that's why I was so emotional the last day, because I went through that 10 days of filming non stop in inputting, inputting, inputting things into my brain, asking my brain to shuffle things and store more, store more, store more.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yeah.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Not dealing with the motions of that day, whether it was like a high or a low. Not dealing with the emotion of the day going into the next day, being on. Not dealing with the emotion of that day. So it's just like stacking. So then you get to the 10th day and finally I was able to breathe.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yes.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Finally I was able to say, good job.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yeah.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

It's almost like during the game, like if you're playing basketball.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yeah.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

While you're playing, you're not saying good job to yourself. You're saying, no, focus on the game. Keep going. Let's focus on like, you know, the, the, the, the next quarter that's ahead. Right. You can't celebrate until it's over or else somebody else is gonna score. I couldn't celebrate. Not that there was somebody else to score in this metaphorical situation, but I wasn't able to celebrate.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

I just need to finish the game.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

And then. So finally, when we wrapped, I was finally able to let everything out, and I was just so proud of myself.

[Podcast Narrator/Host (Various)]

Crystal.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Cause it was so hard. You should be hard.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yes.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

And I was so scared.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Wow.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

And I was. It was. There was just so much unknown. And I think what the most beautiful gift that I was given within this experience has been just like the support of the other castmates. Like, everyone was warm. You're coming into season 10.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Like, you don't know who's gonna be

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

who we gonna be, who. Who you're not supposed to talk to, who you're not supposed to look in the eye.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Right.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

You know, like, you just don't know.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yeah.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

And I walked into what was just like a beautiful environment. I remember I came back and I told my Peloton teammates.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

I was like.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Just like, everybody was so kind. And the. The. The energetically. It started from the top.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yep.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

And it trickles down throughout the entire production team. No one was above any task, and no one was unwilling to help and resolve and. And. And get the job done. It was just. I remember my first day. This was before my first day. This was like, during onboarding. I had to do an HR onboarding meeting.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yes.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

And the onboarding meeting started with a prayer. I texted my boss at Peloton. I said, they started with the prayer.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yeah. Tyler, don't play about that.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

I was like, I like it here. This was. I just was like, wow.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Now he starts every morning with it. Yeah.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

And I have to say this, too. Just like, seeing so many black people working.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Like, everybody says that. They're like, I've never seen this many black people working.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

When you come to that Tyler Perry studio girl.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

And you're driving in the security. The policeman that says hello to you. Black person behind them. Black. You get to the gate. The guy with the dog that's about to inspect the car. Black. You drive through the day, the gate. The person that smiles at you. Black. You walk in the door, the lady. One white guy, black. Right. The cafeteria, the golf cart, the camera. Like, it's just. It was just beautiful to see so many people of color. Color working during a time when most people in the entertainment world within this business are not.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yeah. It's steadily changing and evolving, and it's just. I'm so grateful because a lot of people, a lot of our peers are not working. So to be there and to see us working. And shout out to Tyler for constantly creating new projects and keeping us employed. Thank you so much. And creating something that the fans want to see. He has a core audience that loves everything he puts out, and I'm just grateful to be in the number.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Come on.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Seriously? Yes. Thank you, Tyler. BET has created this safe space called we got you, sis where we build activations and we keep the conversations going beyond the screen into our culture and community. Have you had a chance to sit in on any of those activations?

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Next week?

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Next week. Okay, so you are in for a treat, let me tell you. It's where the fans will now probably. You'll probably. This will probably be the experience where you get to see fans that'll say, I see me and you, and I'm so happy that you're on the show. But the questions that they ask when we have these activations are so touching and lets us know that the stories that we're telling are important. You know, a lot of times we look on the screen and we don't see ourselves, you know, and it can feel defeating. It can feel like we're still climbing an uphill battle to, like, make it in this with TV and film. But I love what we're doing. I love that BET has this so that we're able to actually talk to them and hear how the show is impacting them. Yeah. Love that. So I'm excited for you.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Yeah.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

For you to get that. You talk a lot about soul care when you walk into rooms that feel collectively the energy of black women supporting each other. What does that nourishment do for your own soul?

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

What does it do for my home? So it makes me feel full.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yeah.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

It makes me feel my soul. I feel not alone. Makes me feel seen. It makes me feel of use. Makes me feel good.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yeah, I love it. Okay, last. We're gonna close that. But as you continue to evolve, what do you feel in this season is most important to protect for tune day? Because you're pushing more and more. You've been. Yeah, you've been on the bike. Now you're on the tv. Expansion is expanding, and you're like. Like, what is Toonday protecting?

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

You know, it's really funny because a friend of mine, one of my teammates, his name is Maddie.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Oh.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

It was like something negative someone had said about me online. And other people chime in and chime in and More people like it. I'm like, oh, my God, like, all these people agree with this person's nasty thing that they said about me. And he said, tunde, as your star continues to rise, because you're only going to continue to expand.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yes.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

He goes, more of the. More and more of this, unfortunately, is going to come in. Only going to. To expand as you expand. And he said, you have to protect your

[Amanda Knox]

space.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yeah.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Oftentimes in class, I always say you are the gatekeeper to your own peace. And now I'm in this moment where I'm being tested, like, to remind myself of the words I put on everybody else to remind myself of that I have to be the owner. I have to be the gatekeeper to my own peace. And that means, like, not allowing. Like not putting myself in situations where I see negative thoughts or words about me, and then also being in a space of not allowing myself to accept negative thoughts.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

You know what I mean? Yeah.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

And so I trust that I know who I am. Shame on me if I allow a stranger to have me consider anything different. Yes. Yeah. And so in this season, you know. Yeah. I'm just. I have to remind myself that I know exactly who I am.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yeah. I love that you actually answered my next question. So what was the next question? My next question was on Keep it Positive, Sweetie. We often choose light and positivity, even while we're still becoming. And what does Keep it positive, sweetie mean to you in this season of your life? But I feel like you just answered it. Yes. Tunde, thank you so much. Yes. This has been a beautiful conversation, like I knew it would be. I appreciate you taking time to talk with me. And I know our audience is going to enjoy this.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

I appreciate you.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

Yes. Is there anything else that you have coming up that we can support? Is your book still on the shelves?

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Can we still buy that Apple? Absolutely. Let us know all the things by Tunday Oyedane. Find your voice. Trust your gut. Get from where you are to where you want to be. There's something I've been working on for the last year. A project that is finally going to come to light. I can't share it yet, but it's coming. And then Sports Illustrated Swim will be out soon. I can't share much there either.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

We'll keep looking out for looking out. Instagram tag. We're going to have it on the screen. Make sure you guys follow Tunday. We will support everything. Get the book. Make sure you get the book. Now. We're going to keep it a New York times bestseller. That is incredible.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

Thank you so much.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

My goodness. You are doing all the things. I'm inspired.

[Tunde Oyeneyan]

I'm just trying to keep up with you, girl. Let's go.

[Crystal (Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie Show)]

We're trying to keep up with each other. How about that? I love it. Thank you so much. Thank you. Wow. This moment was so special. It is a reminder that growth doesn't ask us to become someone new. It simply asks us to trust who we are becoming. Watching Tunday step into this chapter with discipline, purpose, and heart is powerful to witness. You reminded us that positivity isn't about perfection. It's about presence and choosing to grow even when the path feels unfamiliar. Thank you guys so much for tuning into this special episode of the Keep It Positive Sweetie show. It's season 10 for Kips and Sistas, so make sure you watch new episodes every Wednesday on Beta Central. Be sure to subscribe and share this episode with someone who needs it. And if you need advice, positivity, or just want to share something with the kids family, please email us at keepitpositive outcomes gmail.com as always, stay blessed, stay encouraged, and keep it positive, sweetie. See you guys next time. Love y' all.