Keep it Positive, Sweetie: "Questions w/ Crystal Renee Hayslett"

Podcast: Keep It Positive, Sweetie
Host: Crystal Renee Hayslett
Date: May 25, 2025

Main Theme

In this solo episode, Crystal Renee Hayslett invites her listeners into an intimate, candid Q&A session, tackling audience questions and reflecting on themes of faith, manifestation, confidence, self-care, work/life balance, boundaries, resilience, relationships, and personal growth. The episode feels like a conversation with a close friend, enriched by input from crew members Drea and Herman, and laced with humor, warmth, and vulnerability.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Manifestation vs. “Delulu” (Delusional) [00:57]

• Crystal shares the thin line between being “delulu” (overly optimistic/dreamy) and manifesting your dreams.
• She recounts bold career decisions, like quitting a Capitol Hill job to join Obama’s campaign, despite family doubts.
  • Quote:
    “I see no bounds to how far I can go... Call me Delulu or whatever you want to call me. But yeah.”
    —Crystal Renee Hayslett [03:07]
• Emphasizes learning through proximity: “I’ve always been a firm believer of putting yourself around what you want to do so you can learn from all aspects...” [01:48]

2. Making Everyday Moments Magical [04:21]

• Crystal’s tools for creating joy and meaning: meditation, prayer, bible reading, journaling.
• She shares a “movie moment” from New York Fashion Week, sitting next to Jay Manuel, who advises her with the poise of a scene from The Devil Wears Prada.
  • Quote:
    “J, honey, he was like, you need to leave now… in the fashion world, there’s a 15 minute grace period. Anna Wintour would be walking out.”
    —Crystal Renee Hayslett [05:54]
• Advocates for finding small things to savor as “movie moments” in daily life.

3. The "Glow Up Error" and Self-Confidence [07:50]

• Crystal reflects on her physical transformation and confidence, emphasizing self-acceptance.
• Confronts the pressure of societal standards and body comparisons, especially on social media.
• Quote:
  “You’re made in the image of God. There is no one else like you... I had to stop comparing myself to other people and put the phone down.”
  —Crystal Renee Hayslett [09:52]
• Discusses inner versus outer glow and how confidence is built.

4. Confidence in Social Spaces

• Crystal shares that despite confidence, she’s not naturally the life of the party and prefers to “chill in the corner” rather than network aggressively [10:47].
• She values authentic connections over showy networking.

5. Soft Life vs. Hustle – Achieving Balance [11:04]

• Definition: “Soft life” means embracing ease, joy, and self-care, versus the “hustle” of constant productivity.
• Drea and Crystal discuss balancing business drive with softness, especially for women and single parents.
  • Quote:
    “You have to be very intentional about your soft life.”
    —Crystal Renee Hayslett [11:40]
  • Drea: “When you are a single parent, you’re forced to be harder... as a parent and an entrepreneur and a working mom...it’s kind of hard.” [12:04]
• Both agree: boundaries and intentionality are key.

6. Boundaries, Burnout & Saying No [13:18]

• Crystal and Drea stress the necessity of boundaries for self-preservation; both now love saying “no.”
  • Quote:
    “No…and no. That's it. It's a sentence.”
    —Crystal Renee Hayslett [14:20]
• They trade stories about depleted “emotional batteries” and setting limits for self-care.

7. Bouncing Back - The Art of the Comeback [15:44]

• Crystal recounts moving to Atlanta and the financial struggles that followed, underlining that recovery is often a long process.
  • “It was a series of years for the comeback. It wasn’t a quick season.”
    —Crystal Renee Hayslett [16:03]
• She touches on learning financial management and resilience.

8. The Friend Audit & Keeping Your Circle Strong [18:06]

• Crystal advocates auditing your circle to ensure alignment with your values and aspirations.
  • Quote:
    “You have to really make sure that the people around you serve the season that you are in.” [18:11]
• Explains that growth often requires changing friendships and being okay with letting go.
• Stresses support, uplift, and inspiration as vital traits in close friends.

9. Would You Date You? – Self-Reflection [22:27]

• Crystal muses on self-improvement, control, and grace in relationships.
  • “When you’ve been by yourself for so long, you have cultivated a way of life... sometimes it’s hard to shift those things when you’re so stuck in your ways.” [22:33]
• Recognizes the need to let go of rigid “lists” and be more fluid in relationships.

10. “Pick Me” Energy & Self-Worth [25:43]

• Crystal candidly addresses her previous “pick me” mindset, desperate for relationship validation, and how she outgrew it.
  • “I have been delivered from that. Because a lot of times we… when you have that pick me energy, you are willing to do anything and it turns into only, How can I serve you?”
    —Crystal Renee Hayslett [26:08]
• Now prioritizes reciprocal, intentional, God-aligned connections.

11. Plot Twists, Pivots, and Grace Under Pressure [27:25]

• Shares stories of unexpected obstacles—lost luggage at Fashion Week, outfit mishaps on set.
• Emphasizes quick adaptation, learning grace when things go off-script, and not sweating the small stuff.
  • “We’re not saving lives here. It’s not the end of the world. Like, it’s just the outfit. But it’s the outfit.” [30:27]
• Crew member Herman weighs in on how the fast-paced environment at Tyler Perry Studios taught him flexibility and resilience.
  • Quote:
    “TPS, Tyler Perry Studios, prepared me for this… you have to adjust and move at the speed of lightning, but at the same time, be perfect because you can’t mess up.”
    —Herman [31:25]

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On manifestation and bold moves:
  “As long as I set my mind to it, there’s no stopping me.” [03:23]

• On boundaries:
  “No, and no. That’s it. It’s a sentence.” [14:20]

• On emotional recharging:
  “My drainage is, like, fast… you know how your computer, when it gets, like, older, or your phone, you can’t hold a charge? I’m there.” [15:19]

• On friendship audits:
  “People are in your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime… and you have to be okay with that.” [20:54]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:57] — Delulu vs. Manifestation
• [04:21] — Making Everyday Moments Magical
• [07:50] — The Glow Up Error & Self-Confidence
• [11:04] — Soft Life vs. Hustle Life (ft. Drea)
• [13:18] — Boundaries, Burnout, & Saying No
• [15:44] — Bouncing Back from Setbacks
• [18:06] — The Friend Audit—Curating Supportive Circles
• [22:27] — Would You Date You & Self-Reflection
• [25:43] — No More Pick Me Energy
• [27:25] — Plot Twists & Pivots (NYFW and On Set)
• [31:16] — Herman on Adaptability at Tyler Perry Studios

Overall Tone & Style

Friendly, honest, relatable, and faith-centered. Crystal radiates warmth as she reflects on life’s ups and downs, balancing humor and vulnerability. The episode is uplifting and practical—with takeaways for listeners eager for empowerment and real-talk about self-worth, growth, and staying "positive, sweetie."