Keep It Positive, Sweetie: "Pretty Confident with Pretty Vee" – Podcast Summary

Podcast: Keep it Positive, Sweetie
Host: Crystal Renee Hayslett
Guest: Pretty Vee (Vena Excell)
Episode: "Pretty Confident with Pretty Vee"
Date: February 20, 2024

Overview

This episode brings comedian and influencer Pretty Vee (Vena Excell) for an honest, uplifting conversation with Crystal Renee Hayslett. The themes revolve around self-confidence, authenticity, faith, navigating the entertainment industry as women of faith, and the power of community and support among Black women creators. The pair discuss struggles and triumphs, spiritual dilemmas in entertainment, the importance of service, and the ongoing journey of personal growth.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Celebrating Authenticity and Embracing Natural Beauty

• Both Crystal and Vena started the episode without makeup, embracing their raw selves and echoing the quote:
  "Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it. The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mode, but the true beauty of a woman is reflected in her soul.” (00:43)
• Pretty Vee: "No makeup on... My skin is doing good. Let's just rock out. I'm pretty sure Krista will understand." (01:39)

Growing Up PK (Preacher’s Kid) and Faith’s Influence

• Vena shares about being raised "Jamaican and very strict" by a prayerful, ordained mother (03:04–04:31).
• Discusses the challenge of forging her own path while respecting her mom’s discernment and values.
• Quote: "My discernment is always on 100... But that's been taught." (04:07)
• Both women relate on the struggle of choosing roles or performances in entertainment versus their upbringing.

Balancing Faith with Entertainment Career

• The pressure of representing faith in a public, creative career—especially regarding "edgy" skits or performances (06:33–09:07).
• Vee talks about having to check with her spirit:
  "If that's bothering you, take it down... You gotta know what's going to be bothering you at night." (07:58)
• The power of the tongue: Vee recalls doing a skit referencing COVID and then actually getting sick—highlighting how words and art "speak things into existence." (09:06)
• As growth happens, both see the need to "elevate" and shift what they choose to share.

The Role and Responsibility of Representation

• Vee discusses the importance of showing young girls her full range—beyond the ‘skit girl’ persona (11:44–12:33).
• Shares about her nonprofit, Pretty Victory, which mentors and encourages young women across the country.
  “Outside of Pretty Vee... I’m a girl that’s gonna pray down for you.” (12:44)
• Both talk about the mental health challenges—the “mind is a battlefield”—and the need for real community and spiritual grounding (14:04).

Navigating Depression, Anxiety, and the Journey to Success

• Vee is candid about periods of depression and anxiety before fame (15:21–16:23).
• Shares how her faith and purposeful action helped her overcome:
  "God had... put you through a process before the promise." (15:45)
• Her path included college radio, admin work for DaBaby, getting fired, then going viral with her first skit, all fueled by tenacious faith (17:22–19:16).

Family, Community, and the Power of Connection

• Vee’s mother’s recent launch of her own church and move from Miami to Georgia (20:04–23:14).
• The importance of support (“the covering I needed”) and processes leading to promises—both in faith and in career.

The Realities of Being a Black Woman Creative

• Being “the only one” or “the new one” in rooms of creatives—how to walk with confidence and set a positive energy regardless of others’ demeanor (28:27–29:49).
• The supportive, “girl’s girl” atmosphere among peers like B. Simone, Jess Hilarious, Issa Rae, and others—celebrating one another’s unique paths.

Lessons from Industry Greats

• Vee describes powerful moments with Tichina Arnold, Taraji P. Henson, Issa Rae, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Monique, and others, emphasizing mentorship and paying it forward (30:15–33:12).

Career Highlights and Acting

• Vee discusses her move from social media to mainstream acting (Pretty Stoned, a lead role, a Christmas movie, and others) and ambitions for more live performances and character development (32:49–35:20).
• Aspires to have a Hollywood star, start her own production company, and direct/creative-direct for brands (43:23–44:28).

Handling Setbacks and Uncertainty

• Candidly addresses her reaction to the cancellation of “Rap Sh!t”—handled with gratitude and optimism, trusting Issa Rae, and focused on “what’s next” (35:23–37:49).
• Stresses: “People think when stuff get canceled... you just wait for the next call, but you gotta keep creating.” (37:25–37:49)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Pretty Vee on discernment and growth:
  “My discernment is always on 100... That’s been taught.” (04:07)
• On faith and elevation:
  “What you did back then, you can’t do now because you elevating.” (09:28)
• On being a role model:
  “Outside of Pretty Vee... I’m a girl that’s gonna pray down for you, that’s gonna send you devotionals, that’s gonna FaceTime you randomly.” (12:44)
• On entering entertainment:
  “I’ve always wanted to be in the entertainment industry... [but] I was still broke. But I know I had faith and I know I had a gift.” (17:23–19:03)
• On success and opportunity:
  “God will put you in places that you not even feel like you confident for.” (32:54)
• On process and purpose:
  Crystal: “There’s a process before the promise.” (23:14) Pretty Vee: “God had... put you through a process before the promise.” (15:45)
• On the industry’s ups and downs:
  “A delay is never denial.” (41:24)
• On being free as an artist, but true to one’s faith:
  “You want to create and you want to be free while you create... but still have fun.” (42:31)

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Opening, embracing authenticity: 00:09–01:27
• Pretty Vee’s upbringing and faith: 02:59–05:43
• Balancing faith with entertainment career: 05:51–09:28
• Role modeling and mentoring young women: 12:33–15:21
• Struggles with depression and journey to entertainment: 15:45–19:03
• Mother’s move, church launch: 20:04–23:14
• Support for and from other Black women creatives: 28:27–33:12
• Film/TV projects, dreams for the future: 32:49–35:20, 43:23–44:28
• Handling the cancellation of “Rap Sh!t”: 35:23–37:49
• Listener advice segment “Positive Outcomes”: 44:32–47:48
• Personal growth reflections / “What I’m Going Through and Growing Through”: 47:48–52:02

Listener Letter & Advice – "Positive Outcomes" (44:32–47:48)

A listener recounts leaving her comfort zone but feeling both excited and scared.
Crystal and Vena both stress the importance of being still and listening for direction from God—don’t rush, but trust the process.
Pretty Vee: “I used to hate the word ‘be still’... but just take a second, and like Crystal said, be still.”

Personal Growth Reflection – "What I'm Going Through and Growing Through" (47:48–52:02)

Crystal: Learning to identify repeating patterns—especially with people and business—and setting better boundaries.
Vee: Striving for better balance, letting God lead rather than getting stuck in old habits.
Pretty Vee: "When you know who you are in God, those cycles become so like, oh, my God, minute. Like, that's a brush off the shoulder." (51:09)

Closing Blessings and Friendship

The episode closes with mutual encouragement, prophesying greatness, and expressing gratitude for each other’s spirit and future trajectory.

Find Them Online:

• Pretty Vee: @yesimprettyvee on all platforms (55:02)
• Crystal: @lovechriss (54:38)

Overall Tone & Takeaways

• Uplifting and raw—full of laughter, honesty, spirituality, and wisdom
• Celebrates “keeping it positive”—even through challenges and uncertainty
• Highlights the importance of discernment, self-care, strong support systems, and staying grounded in faith and purpose
• A must-listen for creatives, especially faith-driven women navigating today’s entertainment space

“A delay is never denial. Never. What’s for me gonna be for me.” – Pretty Vee (41:24)