Keep it Positive, Sweetie – Ep. KIPS LIVE SHOW Pt. 2: Cracking The Da'Vinchi Code

Release Date: April 6, 2025
Host: Crystal Renee Hayslett
Special Guest: Da’Vinchi (Abraham D. Juste)
Podcast Theme: Honest and uplifting conversations rooted in purpose, faith, and healing, with culture-shifting guests exploring authenticity, growth, and the Black experience.

Episode Overview

This live show episode brings actor Da’Vinchi (noted for All American, BMF, and Thoughts of a Colored Man) to a vibrant, energetic crowd for an unfiltered conversation. Host Crystal Renee Hayslett dives deep into Da’Vinchi’s journey from Brooklyn to Broadway to Hollywood, exploring themes of personal evolution, fame, financial literacy, Black family legacy, mental health advocacy, and the importance of faith and authenticity in love.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Brooklyn Roots & Growth (01:16–03:16)

• Crystal kicks off with Da’Vinchi’s Brooklyn origins, comparing their shared roots in music.
• Da’Vinchi reflects:

  “The dopest part about growing up in Brooklyn in a fast city like that...you grow up fast, or...at the rate you're supposed to grow up...We became men kind of quicker.” (01:34)

2. Transition from Music to Acting (02:08–03:52)

• Both disliked the politics of the music industry.
• Da’Vinchi’s switch came as he realized the expectations didn't align with his values:

  “When you get there and it's not a figment of your imagination...they really want a certain thing there...sometimes they just really want some real killers. People that's just killing left and right.” (02:24) “I realized...I can’t be preaching this message...I made it out because I stopped doing certain things.” (03:31)

3. Broadway vs. TV & Film: Craft vs. Career (03:52–05:31)

• Discusses the intensity and discipline of Broadway (Thoughts of a Colored Man).

  “Broadway was really hard...it teaches you something that film and TV can’t ...In Broadway, once you live and you're in front of a crowd...you better hope your partner just wing it with you.” (04:22)

• TV/film “pays the bills,” but Broadway is about love for the craft.

4. Trying Stand-Up Comedy & Mental Health Messaging (05:31–07:41)

• Stand-up as personal risk and growth:

  “For me, stand up is like...skydiving. What's gonna happen if I go on stage and I just talk shit?” (06:04)

  • Comedy is also a way to blend education and humor about mental health.

5. The Reality of Rejection in the Acting Business (07:43–09:15)

• The unglamorous journey—thousands of “no’s” for a handful of “yeses”:

  "I got over probably like a thousand no's and I only got like eight yeses...three of the eight yeses is All American, BMF, and...Grown-ish." (08:17–08:43)

• The struggle with constant scrutiny, especially for Black actors:

  “This is one of the few businesses in the world that you're constantly being scrutinized for how you look, your size...So [it] plays with your head, man.” (09:15)

• Da’Vinchi speaks about authenticity and representation:

  “I've went out for Haitian characters before. I'm Haitian...they calling my team, like, he doesn't look Haitian. They want to make everyone look a certain way...They're telling a narrative for us and...it's offensive.” (09:49)

6. Financial Literacy and Fame’s Hidden Costs (10:31–12:09)

• Both share their rude awakenings about taxes and money management:

  “You think student loans are bad?...If you get a bill that you gotta pay Uncle Sam a million dollars...what am I...Like, how am I contributing?...I was just shocked.” (11:25–12:09)

7. Navigating Fame and Maintaining Authenticity (12:21–15:13)

• Da’Vinchi unpacks the side effects of fame:

  “The cancer of that is fame. Fame is not what it's all cracked out to be...when shorty's be online like, ‘my man, my man’, y’all deadass.” (12:21–13:26)

  • On fans overstepping and lack of boundaries, he describes awkward and intrusive moments.
  • Discusses always needing to be “on” for fans, regardless of personal struggles.

8. Relationship Shifts & Protecting Energy (16:58–19:20)

• How fame changed his circle and outlook:

  “You got to protect your life because...you're retiring your parents by the grace of God...so many people revolve around you...if your life were to stop...so many other lives that would be affected.” (17:08)

• Importance of letting go of relationships when growth no longer aligns.

9. Family, Upbringing, and Seeking Emotional Education (19:20–22:37)

• Da’Vinchi’s family didn’t model “family values”—he learned by observing others:

  “I didn't have that foundation growing up. I didn't understand the family value...I was just in a curse...” (19:59) “Parents did the best they knew how...meeting the basic needs...never focused on emotional needs.” (21:02)

• Empowered himself by reading and learning outside the home.

10. Breaking Stigma Around Black Mental Health (22:37–27:35)

• Both discuss the generational trauma and stigmas in Black communities.
• Da’Vinchi is deeply committed to mental health advocacy:

  “When you realize why we're disenfranchised, it's no joke...sometimes the media...love to show us in these lights that's leading to our detriment.” (23:24–24:45) “I thought my way out of this...As I rise, I feel the need to break certain stigmas down to my fellow men and my brothers and sisters, because we weren't given this access, this education to this knowledge.” (24:45–25:47)

• Advocates for rewriting the narrative and empowering Black youth beyond narrow “success” images.

11. Foundations for Love and Partnership (27:48–31:19)

• Da’Vinchi, fiercely private about his personal life, shares his non-negotiables:

  “They gotta have God first. Yes, you gotta have God, and you gotta believe in God the way I believe in God...As long as we don't have philosophical differences, we can build a union.” (28:33–29:22) “She gotta be educated. The dopest thing about women...God gave y’all this to where y’all could pick us up with y’all words...[that lift]...What a woman does—there’s no number that could be put on that.” (29:23–30:33)
  “She cares about health—physically, mentally, and spiritually...I don't care about your following, I don't care how much money you make. God will figure that out for us.” (30:45–31:19)

12. What’s Next for Da’Vinchi (31:28–32:09)

• Season 4 of BMF forthcoming (no date yet).
• New movies, producing on his own, upcoming comedy and mental health tours.
• Follow Da’Vinchi for updates:

  “If y’all follow me, I'll definitely have some good stuff for y’all.” (32:05–32:09)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Surviving the Industry:

  “I can’t be preaching this message, bro...I made it out of my situation because I stopped doing certain things. So for me to then do this...I’m lying.” (03:31, Da’Vinchi)

• On Broadway Training:

  “Broadway...is work—it’s actually work. You have to love it. That was the biggest class for me in my career.” (05:18–05:31, Da’Vinchi)

• On Fame’s Reality:

  “Fame is not what it’s all cracked out to be...The cancer of that is fame...it’s a side effect being on screen.” (12:21–13:26, Da’Vinchi)

• On Family & Learning What Was Missing:

  “I had to really learn that outside my family...My parents did the best they knew how...they were so focused on just meeting the basic needs...never focused on emotional needs.” (21:02, Da’Vinchi)

• On Black Excellence and Social Factors:

  “Black people, man, we special. That’s why it takes a nation to do this to us...when we put our head together, we do things that people just...we’re real special.” (27:35–27:48, Da’Vinchi)

• On Love:

  “As long as we don't have philosophical differences, we can build a union...A house divided can’t stand.” (29:18–29:22, Da’Vinchi)

• On Partnership:

  “If a woman is with a rich man and they divorce, she deserve half. Because what a woman does...there’s no number that could be put on that.” (30:33, Da’Vinchi)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:16 — Growing up in Brooklyn
• 02:08 — From music to acting: facing industry realities
• 03:52 — Broadway vs. film: lessons and challenges
• 06:04 — Embracing stand-up and infusing comedy with mental health advocacy
• 08:17 — The actor’s path of rejection-and-perseverance
• 10:31 — First big paychecks, taxes, and financial literacy struggles
• 12:21 — Navigating life after fame and its side effects
• 17:08 — Evolving relationships and protecting your energy as you grow
• 19:59 — Discovering family values and self-education
• 22:37 — Mental health and historical context in the Black community
• 27:48 — Black excellence and pushing beyond limited narratives
• 28:33 — Traits Da’Vinchi seeks in a partner; godliness, intelligence, health
• 31:28 — What’s next: BMF season 4, new projects, comedy & mental health tours

Episode Tone

The conversation is warm, honest, and dynamic—balancing humor, insight, and serious truth-telling. There’s encouragement, vulnerability, and plenty of relatable anecdotes about struggle, faith, self-acceptance, and growth as a Black creative.

In Summary

Packed with gems for anyone on the journey of growth, KIPS LIVE SHOW Pt. 2: Cracking The Da’Vinchi Code is a refreshingly raw and hopeful look at what it means to find purpose, break generational cycles, commit to mental health, and keep your faith at the center, all while navigating the spotlight. Da’Vinchi’s candor about industry pressures, evolving personal relationships, and what truly matters in a partner will resonate with listeners seeking authenticity, healing, and inspiration.