Redefining Modern Womanhood w/ Karen Pitttman

Summary

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Keep it Positive, Sweetie

Episode: Redefining Modern Womanhood w/ Karen Pittman
Host: Crystal Renee Hayslett (Crystal)
Guest: Karen Pittman
Release Date: October 26, 2025

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Episode Overview

In this empowering episode, host Crystal Renee Hayslett sits down with acclaimed actress Karen Pittman for a heartfelt, candid, and uplifting discussion on modern womanhood. Their conversation navigates Karen’s artistic journey, self-expression, motherhood, career, self-worth, and building resilience. They touch on the complexity and beauty of Black womanhood, the pressures and gifts of motherhood, the importance of intention and healing, and the courage to chart one’s own path.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Karen’s Artistic Roots and Early Inspiration

• Imagination & Self-Expression as Survival:
  Karen describes how her "big feelings" as a child led her to performance as a form of self-expression and emotional processing.

  • “I was one of those young girls with big feelings, like, big feelings. Like, no one knew how to help me process any of the stuff that I was going through...” (04:05)
  • She highlights the role of “imagination work” in childhood, contrasting it with today’s technology-driven culture where emotional resilience can be overlooked.

• Family Background:

  • Grew up in a large, loving family (one of five siblings) in Nashville, with supportive parents who allowed her creative freedom.
  • “It was a family of seven... and we're all still close.” (05:32)

2. The Power of Representation & Black Womanhood On-Screen

• Working on Netflix's "Forever":

  • Karen did not audition for the part but was approached by creator Mara Brock Akil after years of friendship and mutual respect.
  • Describes the media as transformative: “It changed so, so much. That thing changed.” (06:53)
  • On the character Dawn:
    • “We really do believe that that person exists in the world...a wealthy mother in the Black community who's grounded in love and community.” (10:56)
    • Her portrayal is directly inspired by women in her life, including her own mother.

• Authenticity in Creative Relationships:

  • Stresses the importance of non-transactional friendships:
    • “You get to a point in your life when you understand you don't need to actually access someone for their resources...relationships don't need to be transactional.” (08:25)

• Mentoring and Nurturing Young Artists:

  • Uplifts co-star Michael Cooper Jr. for his openness:
    • “He's smart enough to know he doesn't know everything...he's open to other people's wisdom.” (13:06)

3. Real-Life Motherhood and Its Influence on Craft

• Motherhood and On-Screen Roles:

  • Personal experiences as a mother directly inform her roles, including Dawn and the character Nya in “Pipeline.”
  • “To have the anxiety and the drama of trying to get your son to finish his college application... that was definitely taken from my life.” (14:42)

• Balancing Career and Motherhood:

  • “It's a juggle...you can't have one ball in your hand for very long before you throw the other one up.” (17:46)
  • Emphasizes intentionality and boundary-setting, especially about who is allowed in her and her children's space.

4. Emotional Health & Healing Practices

• Processing Intense Roles:
  • Karen shares her ritual of writing letters to her characters to separate from them after intense performances.
    • “At the end of every season with a character...I'll write them a letter at the end of the season.” (22:04)
  • Both Crystal and Karen discuss the ways acting can blur emotional boundaries, emphasizing the need for therapy and self-care.

5. Overcoming Shame and Adversity as a Single Parent

• On Strength and Resilience:

  • Reflects on her experiences as a single mother facing food insecurity:
    • “So many things affect your quality of life, including the relationships, the people you have in it. And I had a lot of people in my life that were undermining my ability to move forward. I had to detach from them.” (28:19)
  • Identifies shame as both a motivator and obstacle, informed by her parents’ strength as survivors of Jim Crow-era hardships.

• Learning to Ask for Help & Find Community:

  • Shares her gratitude for Feeding America and the importance of accepting help.
    • “It was about handling my own personal business but also...letting people come and help me, reaching out, saying, I need help.” (31:55)

6. Grief and Legacy

• Losing Her Mother:

  • Karen lost her mother in 2016, a pivotal event that changed her view on purpose and motherhood.
    • “I learned from my mother to be very deliberate about what I needed to do...she really did put us first for so long in her life.” (35:28)
  • Inspired by her mother’s unfulfilled dreams to live fully and intentionally, passing on those lessons to her own children.

• Parenting Her Daughter:

  • Rather than imposing her own script, Karen prioritizes affirming her daughter's confidence and authenticity:
    • “Most of the things I talk to Lena about are around confidence, about how you imbue your choices with authenticity, creating a life that looks like yours and not somebody else's.” (39:13)
    • “You're going to be with Lena for the rest of your life. I say to her, make sure you like her.” (39:57)

7. Redefining Motherhood & Womanhood

• Motherhood is Overrated?

  • Karen provocatively distinguishes between the ability to mother and society’s pressures to have biological children:
    • “I think that we, as women, are sold this thing that being a mother is the ultimate experience for a woman—maybe behind being a wife...and I strongly disagree.” (41:19)
  • Encourages women to define fulfillment for themselves, with or without motherhood, echoing sentiments by other public figures like Jennifer Aniston.
    • “There are many areas where you can nurture and support and love and care in the same way that I do for my children. The number one area is to raise themselves up.” (41:24)

• On Fertility, Age, and Pressure:

  • Both discuss the pressures women face regarding fertility and relationships, encouraging living with intention and without imposed timelines.
  • “If this is meant to be, it's going to be. I'm going to continue to be present, continue to enjoy life.” – Crystal (47:39)

8. Love, Relationships & New Beginnings

• Navigating Long-Distance and Blended Family:
  • Karen opens up about her long-distance relationship with her fiancé Ade, soon to be a stepmom, and navigating the evolving nature of family.
  • Finds that distance can be a blessing for busy lives:
    • “It actually works really well because I have such a busy life. If he were around me all the time, I think we would get on each other's nerves.” (53:33)

9. Lightning Round: Quick-Fire Favorites (55:33–56:59)

• Favorite screenplay: Casino (55:48)
• Favorite character: Dawn Edwards, her current role (55:58)
• Favorite playwright: Lynn Nottage (56:12)
• Favorite day off: With her children and fiancé in Cabo (56:18)
• Guilty pleasure TV: Zatima (56:40)
• Life mantra: “Choose you.” (56:51)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On creative friendships:
  • “Your relationships don't need to be transactional.” – Karen Pittman (08:25)
• On building characters:
  • “At the end of every season...I'll write them a letter...because we share this space, we share a body.” – Karen Pittman (22:06)
• On intentional parenting:
  • “Who's around my kids, who comes into my home...you don't invite everybody into your home.” – Karen Pittman (19:01)
• On moving forward after hardship:
  • “To be human is failing...not as the worst possible thing to happen, but as a function of just being human.” – Karen Pittman (30:46)
• On womanhood’s definitions:
  • “Maybe you don't need to freeze your eggs. Maybe there are other options. Physically having a child is, you know, very, very difficult...but you can nurture and support and love in other ways.” – Karen Pittman (42:24)
• Guidance to her daughter:
  • “Make sure you like her. Make sure you take care of her...you're going to be with her for the rest of your life.” – Karen Pittman (39:57)
• On priorities:
  • “Choose you.” – Karen Pittman (56:51)

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Timestamps of Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|---------| | 04:05–05:15 | Karen’s childhood, "big feelings," and developing creativity | | 10:56–12:08 | Portrayal of Dawn & evolution of Black female representation | | 14:32–15:17 | Real-life inspiration for roles (mother/son dynamic) | | 17:46–19:26 | Balancing motherhood, career, and intentional boundaries | | 22:04–23:28 | Writing letters to characters for closure as an actor | | 28:19–32:43 | Overcoming shame, single motherhood, feeding America | | 33:28–36:21 | Impact of her mother's passing on her own motherhood | | 39:13–39:57 | Raising her daughter with authenticity and confidence | | 41:19–44:01 | Redefining motherhood, social pressure on women | | 47:39–49:07 | Fertility, navigating relationship and family decisions | | 53:33–54:43 | Long-distance relationship; blending busy lives | | 55:33–56:59 | Rapid fire (favorites and mantras) |

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Tone & Style

• Warm, honest, sisterly, and vulnerable
• Deeply affirming; grounded in experience, faith, and healing
• Wisdom delivered with humor and humility

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For anyone seeking inspiration on modern womanhood, motherhood, and authentic living, this episode with Karen Pittman provides both practical wisdom and soulful reassurance.

Transcript

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[Karen Pittman]

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[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Calling all my sweeties to the forefront. I'm your host, Chris Renee Hazel, and this is the Keep It Positive Sweetie Show. Our guest this week has been in our minds, but after the Netflix series Forever, she is forever seaming it in our hearts. Kids, family, please give a very warm welcome to Karen Pittman. Karen, thank you so much. I'm sorry for all the technical difficulties this morning. No, thank you for your patience. You look absolutely stunning. So beautiful.

[BambooHR Representative]

Thank you.

[Karen Pittman]

It's a joy. I've been trying so hard to get to keep it positive, sweetie.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Do you know what I mean? I'm gonna try so hard to get on here.

[Karen Pittman]

I know.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

I remember we met each other. It was about two years ago at Essence. Women of Hollywood and you were in the line with Chantal. And I had just started watching the morning show and I was like, oh, my goodness. I was like, it's Karen Pittman. And Chantal introduced us and I was so excited to meet you. And you are. Just the first time I watched the show and you came across the screen, I was like, who is this woman? You literally radiate through the screen. You really do.

[Karen Pittman]

Oh, I'm so glad. It's a. It's a really good show. It's a good platform for. For the stories that I like to tell. And you know how important it is to surround yourself with people who really want to do the thing you want to do, but also will run at the pace. Run. Yeah. And these folks are. Are keeping up pace that I like to tell stories at. And it's a real gift to be on the show. Excited for you to see season four.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Because you go, I cannot wait. So excited. Cannot wait. What was it at an early age that really drove you to. To the arts that made you want to pursue acting and singing?

[Karen Pittman]

I think really it was. It was a strong desire to self express. I don't think it was any. Nobody in my family had this desire, had this need as much as I did. And I was one of those young girls with big feelings, like, big feelings. Like no one knew how to help me process any of the stuff that I was going through. No one knew how to talk me down. No one knew how to get me out of my moods. And it was really about going into that space as a child and into my imagination. It was imagination work. And that's some of the most important work, I think, that children do when they just have time to play. Part of the challenge with technology and devices is that children don't experience those. That other side, the other emotional side that we try to keep them away from happiness and, oh, everyone's joyful and actually there's. There's aspects to life that you contend with emotionally that are a little dark. Yeah. And as a child, you build up emotional resilience, Right? Yeah. And for me, I did that at very early age. I was just born with a lot of big feelings. So singing and acting was my. Was my way of processing some of it. And my parents just left me alone to go do it.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

I love that. Were you an only child?

[Karen Pittman]

No, I have four other siblings and they're. They could be actors. Do you know what I mean? They're not. Yeah. Because they have their own drama. But it was a big family. It was a Family of seven.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Wow.

[Karen Pittman]

Yeah. Yeah. And we're all still close. Close. But have. You know, our paths have diverged, and. And my brother. My eldest sister and my brother live in Nashville. Wow. My other sister is a doctor. Yeah. Yeah. Nashville.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

My sister just got her doctorate. She also works in the health field as well, and she lives in Nashville.

[Karen Pittman]

Amazing. Yeah. Oh, wow.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Yes. She went to Hum Fog. Super smart. So I'm sure you're familiar with Hug.

[Karen Pittman]

Wow.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Are you kidding me?

[Karen Pittman]

Am I coming? Yeah.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Yes. That's where she went to high school.

[Karen Pittman]

I was talking to somebody the other day in Nashville. They were like, yeah, Whites Creek. I was like, whites Creek. Do you remember White's Creek High School?

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Yes.

[Karen Pittman]

Such a long time ago. I was like, oh, my God. Yes.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

It's such a small world. I love that your parents allowed you to be free, because a lot of times, especially when in black culture, they have so much structure because we've had to. Right. So the fact that your parents allows you to be free and look who you've become because of that freedom is so beautiful. I love that and the way you're able to express yourself.

[Karen Pittman]

Yeah.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

So most recently, you captivated our screens with forever. It is a culture phenomenon. Like, we. Absolutely.

[Karen Pittman]

It's a changer. Listen, it changed so, so much. That thing changed.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, it did.

[Karen Pittman]

Never been a part of anything like that. Huge, huge, huge, huge.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

So good. Like, I was glued to the screen, like, next. Next episode. It was so good. Mara had talked about you and her being friends for a long time. What was that process like? Because I know when writers are writing, there's characters or people that come to their mind as. As they're writing. Like, wait, this is Karen Pittman. Was that one of those moments where Mara called and said, hey, girl, I got a role for you? Or is this something you had to actually audition for?

[Karen Pittman]

No, I did not audition for it. And we. Well, Mara and I came back into each other's lives in a real Way in 2009, and I was pregnant with my daughter, and we started spending time together as mothers. And, you know, I'd always known that she's a writer. She's doing extraordinary television shows over decades of time centering black women. And I just admired her and supported her as a friend. Of course I'm an actor, but I just never thought about, you know, Crystal, you get to. You get to a point in your life when you understand that you don't need to actually access someone for their resources. Like, your relationships don't need to be transactional.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

I wish everybody knew that.

[Karen Pittman]

Yes, yes, yes. Some people in my life are just there. They're CEOs, they're doing things. You know, is there synergy between what I do and their brand or between what I do and their writing and what I do when they're directing? Probably, but it's. It's really just about supporting that friendship, supporting that relationship, and being there for that person. And so for many, many years, that was me and Mara, and we went on a girls trip to go see Usher in Vegas. The very, very last show. We have a friend in Usher's publicist, so he got us some tickets. And, you know, we were. Hey, you know, we were trying to do it. We were doing it all. And we woke up, just hung out. Girlfriends.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Yes, you need that. That's so important.

[Karen Pittman]

We needed it so badly, I didn't even realize it, but the sphere was, you know, had just opened. Like, we were just vibing. Just vibing. And next morning, went to have breakfast, and she said, you know, I'm doing this thing. I'm doing this character. She had seen me in a play that a sister named Dominique Marisot had written years ago called Pipeline. And it was about a mother who was grappling with her daughter, her son maybe ending up in the school to prison. Pipeline, which, you know, is. So it's very serious and a real thing in our. In our community, in this country. And. And so she loved that role. And that was really the last time I had done a mother role that had depth and nuance and layers, written by, obviously a black woman. And. But I had been offered other things in between, you know, but not with the same nuances, not with the same, you know, care. So Amara, you know, asked me about, hey, would you have some time to look at this role? I was like, yeah, sure, girl. Let me see what you got. Right? And so stop playing around. You. Mara brought a kill. Right?

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

That part.

[Karen Pittman]

Let me see that job. Yeah. So. So, yeah, and it just was synergistically. It just worked in so many ways. Dawn is like that mom that we all know, but, like, just. Just recently came into herself. Do you know, we. We. We couldn't have seen her, like, 10 years ago.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Right.

[Karen Pittman]

Believed that she existed. But with the visibility of an African American president and an African American first lady, and the visibility of people like Stacey Abrams and Toni Morrison and Oprah Winfrey, we suddenly understand that there are black women who have incredible wisdom, who represent feminism in many different ways, but are very, very well, healthy. Yes. They've cr. Financial Independence for themselves and been able to lift their families at the same time, we really do believe that that person exists in the world. So, yeah, this is me throwing my hat in the ring of what a ambitious and well intentioned and ferocious wealthy mother looks like in the black community who's grounded love and community. You know, that's. This is my take on it as an artist. I know so many women like Dawn. My mother was a version of Dawn. She aspired to be dawn in many ways. Yes. I'm certainly her child in that way. So. Yeah.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Oh, no. You captivated Don. It was perfect. Like, there was no other person to play that role. You were the perfect fit for it. And you and Wood, like, I love the whole family dynamic. I actually got to interview your son on the show, Justin. When was it? Bet Michael. Yes. For.

[Karen Pittman]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Bet Media House. Yeah. Michael Cooper Jr. I got to introduce him, interview him. And he was such a light. And he talked about how amazing it was working with the both of you and working with Mara and just the experience that he took from that coming from Texas and just kind of looking around like, do I belong here? And rallied around him and made sure that he really was comfortable in that space. Because I know how daunting it can be sitting. I don't know for sure, but I can imagine how daunting it would be sitting in between you and Wood and being like, what is going on right now.

[Karen Pittman]

Yeah. Yeah. The great part about Michael is that he's smart enough to know that he doesn't know everything. You know, Come on. He's not one of those. He's smart enough to know that he doesn't know everything. And he's. Yeah, he's open to other people's wisdom, but also, I mean, me and Wood were simply like, tap into the wisdom.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Karen Pittman]

That you already have inside of you. And he is Justin.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Karen Pittman]

So many ways he's believable because he is just. And he's really just starting. He's such an incredible artist. And I mean, I think you guys are going to see him evolve in this beautiful way over his career. I can't wait to see what happens. But this character was a perfect fit for him. Perfect fit.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

No, it definitely was. I love the way Mara showed the black community and different dynamics. He talked about you being the wealthy family, but then you go to the not so wealthy part of town and it still shows the beautiful family dynamic and the different characters. Even love his dad about how he was a little out there, but it Shows all these different characters and how even in the craziness, we're all so much alike than not. And I wanted to ask you, when it came to playing that part, what were some of your real life experiences that you pulled from to really. To really captivate and create your character the way you did?

[Karen Pittman]

Real life experiences? Well, I have a son who's entering college this year. And so, you know. Yeah. So to have the anxiety and the drama.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Yes.

[Karen Pittman]

Of trying to get your son to finish his college application, to. To formulate a plan and then stick with it. You know, Don says. When he says, oh, you just got it all planned out, and she's like, no, no, we have a plan that was definitely taken from my. My life. My son looked at my kids, looked at forever with me.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Okay.

[Karen Pittman]

And they were a lot. Because they never look at any of my stuff they really wanted to see. And. And I got the series during Black History Month in February. Like, you got. Y' all got it in May. I could watch it in February.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Right.

[Karen Pittman]

And they watched it with me, and they were like. They wanted to binge watch the whole thing, one after the other after the other after the other. And they were like, mom, we've had that conversation. My son said, we've had that conversation a few times. Right. So that was definitely something that I took that. That love and affection and real sense of respect and admiration, which is a very important form of love. I think people underestimate the importance of admiration for someone in your life. We admire them deeply. Is the same experience I have with my partner Ade, my fiance. And I brought that to my relationship with Wood, Just this real respect for him. Yeah. And that's something to show your children.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Absolutely. No, for sure. You talked about actually getting a watch. This is the first show your children actually watch with you. How did that feel, as a mother, to sit down and watch a show that your children wanted to binge watch?

[Karen Pittman]

It was great. I mean, they didn't. I thought, are they going to. Are they going to like it? And of course, as an actor, you know, you're picking yourself up. You're like, why did I wear that in that scene? Oh, my God. But then they. You know, what ended up happening, happening and resonating with me was this sense of them understanding, you know, what I'm doing. Yeah. Where. Where I am when I'm not with them. They know the only. Only thing as important to them is this life I live where a purpose. Hopefully I'm doing something in the world and sharing myself and Actualizing and self realizing. But so, you know, oh, okay, so this is what you do.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Karen Pittman]

Because all they see is like, you know, the Instagram, the social media work, you know, all that kind of stuff. But there is a lot of work that goes into it. And I think they. It sort of suddenly dawned on them that, oh, this is. This is actually good. This is why you do all this. Interesting. Yeah.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

When it comes to being a mother and balancing your career and balancing motherhood, what are some of the principles and things that you put into place so that you can balance it?

[Karen Pittman]

Well, well, you know, Crystal, this is my perspective on having it all. It's a juggle. You can't have one ball in your hand for very long before you throw in the other one up. Right, right. So that's my perspective on it. And it's about prioritizing. But I think one of the things I share with actually all the women that I work with, because I have the great privilege of working with Mara, and it's a woman led, woman centric sort of production and set. And then I had this great privilege of honor working with Mimi and Janet Reese and Charlotte on the morning show. Yes. And the bottom of all of these choices is this very intentional decision to do it with love, to do it with care, do it in a thoughtful way.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

And.

[Karen Pittman]

There'S nothing, you know, flip about how these choices are made and how we live. And you know what? We do this, the shows, we. The episodes, you know, that we work on the things. That is a very intentional space. And I found that that's very important with family.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Absolutely. Yeah.

[Karen Pittman]

Who's around my kids, who comes into my home? You know, I saw sinners. You don't invite everybody into your home.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Come on.

[Karen Pittman]

I heard Ryan. I said, yeah, Brian, that's exactly right.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Yes. Everybody could not come into your house.

[Karen Pittman]

Nobody can come in here. No. Thank you. So all of that is just very intentional. That's one of the things that I put in place. Yeah.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

That's amazing.

[Karen Pittman]

What about you?

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Well, I'm not a mom, so really, for me, it's balancing.

[Karen Pittman]

No, I know that. I mean, but you have family right around you.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

And how do you.

[Karen Pittman]

What's your.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, honestly, I plan vacations with them. When I have downtime, I make sure I bring everybody out so we can have some time together and just be present. For me, I'm always traveling, I'm always working. And that time, especially as I get older and I realize that my time with my parents is fast, it's quickly dwindling. Down. It's like, I need to make the most of these moments where I have them with me, so. So I call them my kids now. I'm like, all right, kiddos, what are we doing next? So I love spending time with my parents, and I have siblings, and they have children, so spending time with them is a lot of fun. For Labor Day, we just took a. We did, like, a yacht day in Miami, and I took the kids to the ice cream museum, and we did a beach day so they could build sandcastles. So I do all the things that I would do with my children.

[Karen Pittman]

Yeah.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

And they have fun.

[Karen Pittman]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. You have fun.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Bring them into my world and share the fruits of my labor, honestly. So, yeah.

[Karen Pittman]

Yeah.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

That's what I do.

[Karen Pittman]

Yeah.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

It's a good time. You talked about playing the role in Pipeline, and I want to know, because that was such an emotionally intense role for me. When I'm playing Fatima, it takes me a little while to come out of that character. How long does it take you to come out of characters, especially something like this in Pipeline?

[Karen Pittman]

Pipeline was hard. That was. That was eight shows a week. Six. Eight shows a week. Six days. Right. A week. You know, I, I, I couldn't. When I'm doing a play, I can't. I can't in it. Yeah. I just don't. And I try not to take too many roles like that where you bring them home. My kids were very young at the time, so it wasn't as. As tough on them. But, you know, same level of anxiety that dawn has, but much more. A lot of things were manifesting in her. In Naya's son, character's name, Naya, and Naya's son, that were really much more urgent for her. But at the end of. What I will say is at the end of every season with a character, no matter about working on television, no matter how. How long or short the season is, if I'm doing a character, I'll. I'll write them a letter at the end.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Really, you might want to think.

[Karen Pittman]

Yeah. With Fatima or whatever you're working on. I write. I write a letter to the character at the end of the season. And I and I, because we share this space, we share a body. Yes. And that's a real. That's a world in and of itself. Yeah. So I write her a letter, and I. I thank her for all the experiences that we've had, and I sort of, you know, in my own way, sort of share what I felt, what impacted me, and, you know, say I'm going to say goodbye now. We're going to see each other again and I'm sure they will, whatever, but great job and talk to you soon and all that kind of stuff. It's really helpful.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

I can imagine that being helpful. I'm going to take that on. I like that idea.

[Karen Pittman]

Yes.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

I never thought about that.

[Karen Pittman]

Because it's hard enough to kind of say goodbye to. You guys have a very intense schedule, right?

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. Right.

[Karen Pittman]

Yeah. So you run the. You run the gamut of emotions. Right. And you really do have to take care of yourself.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, no, I do. I'm telling you, like when I come out of filming, I literally feel like I'm schizophrenic. Like I feel like I've lost my mind because it's so many different ranges of emotions in two weeks where I'm like, my body doesn't know the difference. My body doesn't know that I'm acting. It's like, do we need to go admit yourself into a psych ward? Like what's happening right now?

[Karen Pittman]

You do. You need to have a therapist. If you're an actor, you don't have a therapist. That's a hard thing. You know what I mean? Like you. Absolutely. Because you do have to run through those actual emotions and those things live in your body. I mean, people talk a lot about. Acting is not a mental thing. Acting is really, really physical, emotional. There's a psychological kinesthetic experience. And so. Yeah, yeah, I certainly have that experience. And in my shows we don't run through our work in a sort of. At a sort of marathon pace. Right. Very rather sprint.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Karen Pittman]

You guys run through it at a sprint. We run it at a marathon. So you're constantly conserving energy and not letting it all out. I love that thing about the morning show is that we, or even forever is that human beings don't change that much. So the conditions upon which you actually let it out have to be a very extreme. And that maybe happens once in a season, not over episodes of time. Do you know?

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Right. Absolutely.

[Karen Pittman]

Yes.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Oh my goodness, no. For sure.

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[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

You had mentioned in an interview with Feeding America that it takes a lot of strength to be a single mom, and it takes even more strength and resilience to be a single parent while facing hunger and trying Your hardest to put food on the table for your kids. The biggest obstacle was overcoming the shame. Shame I felt. And in this Kips community, I know there are single parents and we are living in a day where the economy is, the unemployment rates are at an all time high, but the cost of living is not going down. How did you overcome the shame that you felt during that time? And, and why do you feel like you felt shame?

[Karen Pittman]

You.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

You didn't put yourself in that predicament. Why do you think you felt that?

[Karen Pittman]

Well, I mean, I absolutely felt like there was some part of it that I needed to be accountable for. I needed to be responsible for. So many things affect your quality of life, including the relationships, the people you have in it. And I had a lot of people in my life that were undermining my ability to move forward. I had to, I had to, you know, detach from them. Yeah, in a way. And, and I understood that because those people had my attention and I was paying them a lot of attention. And by paying, I mean, you know, I mean like I had attention to spend, you know, and I didn't. I needed to be focused on it. So in the areas where I needed to be responsible, I had to look at that and I had some shame around it. The shame is one of those interesting things. Shame. The word should derives from shame.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Karen Pittman]

I should have done, you know.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Right.

[Karen Pittman]

It's an interesting thing. As a human being in that condition, you can either use it to motivate you or you can use it to stay down. And my parents were manifesters. You know, my parents raised in Jim Crow. So they had to think very strategically about how they were going to live in the world and still be able to be successful and still be joyful and raise children that were joyful.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Right.

[Karen Pittman]

Well, I come from that stock that's in my DNA, that's genetic for me. So the way that I dealt with my feeling of shame and the stigma was really just to be reminded of where I came from and from whom I belong to or to whom I belong and to really deliberate and think about my parents and what they had been through. Is one of those times where you think to your parents like, they had five kids. Yeah, I have two. And I am not doing what I need to do with my children. And how do I make that? Okay, I made some mistakes.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Karen Pittman]

To be human in the human condition is to make mistakes.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Absolutely.

[Karen Pittman]

I do feel like part of being a human is failing, is accepting failure and not as the worst possible thing to happen, but as A function of just being human. So I think really it was for me to. To do the work of writing my path.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Karen Pittman]

To. Course. Correct. And that was reaching out to Feeding America. Who had a, you know, who had a church that I could go to and get fresh fruits and vegetables. Not just can, you know.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Right.

[Karen Pittman]

But the reason why I like Feeding America is because they do. You know, so many of these urban areas are food deserts. You have to go on the bus and go there and go over there to get actually fresh vegetables. It's really, really tough. You know, easier to get frozen or canned or. But it's not always the healthiest thing for you and your family. And you want to raise healthy children. A sickly child is, you know, just so exhausting.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Karen Pittman]

Disheartening. You know, nothing worse than. Not than having a child that's unwell, like. Yeah. You know, so. So really it was about handling my own personal business, but also, you know, about letting people come and help me, reaching out, saying, I need help. I need.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

It's so hard for people to ask for help nowadays. It's so hard.

[Karen Pittman]

It is. My children were great motivators for me, though. I also thought, who do I want them to be in the world? And. Yeah. So that's kind of how I got over it. But I also feel everyone has their own journey. Crystal. Yep. Part of why I love this podcast, because it is about keeping it positive. Yeah. I mean.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Karen Pittman]

Laying in ditch, only one way but up.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

You know what I mean? Yes.

[Karen Pittman]

You can't go no further. You know, so that's. That's one of the things that I, you know, I genuinely believe I've manifested some extraordinary things in my life when I had no choice but to put out my hand and ask for help. That's right.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. No, for sure. You talked about how the loss of your mom in 2016, how it gave you a new perspective on what it meant to be a mother. How did that shift your perspective in that moment?

[Karen Pittman]

Well, many things. I mean, towards the end of my mother's life, she, you know, let me know that she hadn't done everything she wanted to do.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

She had not.

[Karen Pittman]

She had not. She had not been able to do everything she wanted to do. And she could feel the decline. You know, she could feel it was, you know, she was going to have to leave this world. And I just remember thinking, I don't. I don't want to. I don't want to be in that position. Yeah. I don't want my. She would say, like, I had These children, I really wanted to be a good mother. I wanted to do the right thing by them. And I understood that pull. But I also saw that her choice made her feel small. And my mother was enormous force of life. She was just. This happens when your life force goes in the direction not of your own life. Right, right. So your own journey, your own purpose, rather your purpose. You feel like your. Your individual purpose is. So I learned from my mother to stay focused on what I needed to be very deliberate about what I needed to do, speaking to this spiritual advisor that I have. And, you know, because I still have sort of a deep conflict with that. Just maybe yesterday I was talking to her about. Day before yesterday, I was talking to her about it. She said, I don't want you to make the assumption that your mother isn't completing the things that she wanted to do in this life where she is now, you know, her. Her purpose and her energy and her force, her life force goes on and some of it goes on in you. And that gave me great solace to think that maybe she didn't complete it here while she was with me, but she is completely where she is now. You know what I mean? Yeah. Oh, that's such a gift. Wow. Thank you for that advice, you know.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Karen Pittman]

Because it means we're never wasting time. You know, we're never losing time. We're. We're going to finish everything that we need to. So. And my mother was an extraordinary for gift of a parent. I mean, she really did put us first for so long in her life. So in pragmatic ways, but also in very purposeful, strategic ways, too. Both my parents were scientists. I don't know if I told. No, really, they were both. They were both scientists, but such artists in their work as scientists and educators and just so smart and intelligent, so. And my mother very much gave me the representation of a woman who's not only beautiful, but extraordinarily intelligent. I understood I needed both. Needed to be both of those things in her, watching her. So.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Karen Pittman]

Yeah.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Wow. Well, I know she is smiling down on you, for sure. And I love that your spiritual guide told you that you are living out some of the things that she probably wanted to do. So I'm glad that you.

[Karen Pittman]

Yeah.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

That is so beautiful. I lost my mother at a very young age. And I always, always wonder what she wanted to really do, you know, and if I'm making her proud. So I think that's every daughter's hope. Yeah.

[Karen Pittman]

Yes. For sure. Yeah. I think we're both sort of living. Living that out. Right.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Karen Pittman]

Since my mother died, my career has, you know, shot up like crazy. Yeah. Last eight years. And I know that has to be her life force in me and around me. Right. And pushing me forward in many ways. So something that as a mother and daughter, we probably couldn't have done if she were still here. That level of energy and support, you know how it is sometimes. There's are sometimes mother and daughter sometimes fighting with each other, but. So I'm gifted to have had the mother that I had.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, absolutely. What are some things that you have sewn into your own daughter when it comes to doing everything that she wants to do, living fully. And I'm sure you're an example of that to her every single day. But what are some things that you tell her?

[Karen Pittman]

Well, my daughter's different, Crystal. She's so different from me. Really. I have to say this. Oh, my gosh. I would never have met anyone like Lena had I not born Lena into the world. Like, I would never. I would never have met her because she would never. She would never want to mess around with me, you know, I mean, she would never want to. I'll mess with her is what she would probably be like. She just would never want to have anything. To. What do I teach my daughter? What was the question again?

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. What are some things that you sewn into your daughter when it comes to living her life fully? And I was saying that you probably are a great example for her in that every single day.

[Karen Pittman]

Yeah. Yeah. And the reason why I brought that up is because she's so different.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Karen Pittman]

So what I give Lena has to be very specific.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Got it.

[Karen Pittman]

Doesn't hear everything I say. Do you know what I mean?

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Karen Pittman]

You know where this. And do that said and that other. She's like, ma, I ain't like that. So just. I don't do that or whatever she says. So I have to be very, very strategic about what I tell her. Most of the things that I talked to Lena about are around confidence, about how you imbue your choices with authenticity, creating a life that looks like yours and not like somebody else's.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Oh, yeah.

[Karen Pittman]

You know, I tell her, you want your life, you don't want somebody else. You want the life that is meant right for you. And so that's a. That's. I give my children a lot of agency, a lot of power. Their opinions matter a lot to me. They don't have a lot of experience. My daughter's only been in the world 14 years.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Karen Pittman]

But I Make sure that she knows she knows herself best. You know, I also make sure that she. She loves herself, you know.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Karen Pittman]

You're going to be with Lena for the rest of your life. I say to her, make sure you like her. Make sure you take. You know what I mean? Like, that's your. That's your boo. That's your, you know, a boom. Like, you need to. You need to make sure that you're taking care of her and that you're having fun because you're gonna be with her for the rest of your life. Yes. So all those things that you know are important.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Absolutely.

[Karen Pittman]

My daughter's a Virgo.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Is it her birthday? Has it passed yet or is it coming up?

[Karen Pittman]

It's next week.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Next week.

[Karen Pittman]

Okay, it's next week.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Happy early birthday, Lena.

[Karen Pittman]

She's going to love that.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, absolutely. Now, you once said that motherhood is overrated. What did you mean by that?

[Karen Pittman]

Pregnancy, labor, delivery, all the things. Crazy, crazy. It's a lot of pain, a lot of discomfort, a lot of physics. I mean, I think that we as women are sold that, you know, we are sold this thing that being a mother is the penultimate experience for the old. Rather not penultimate, is the ultimate experience for.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Karen Pittman]

A woman maybe behind being a wife. Do you know what I mean?

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Yes.

[Karen Pittman]

And I, I, I've had both spirit experiences, and I. And I strongly disagree. There are women in the world who don't have children, and I wouldn't say they're missing out. You know, I would say there are many areas where you can nurture and support and love and care in the same way that I do for my children. And the number one area that women can do it is to raise themselves up, is to support themselves, is to, you know, be their own mother and their own father in many ways. You know, so, so, yeah, that's what I meant by that. I mean, it's. It is. It has been rewarding. Like, I did really need children to grow up. And I remember being a child wanting, you know, a young girl wanting children. Yeah. Even more than I wanted a husband, I wanted children. But, but, yeah, but I think that, you know, you don't necessarily free. Maybe you don't need to freeze your eggs. You know, maybe you don't need to, you know, you know, stay with that guy because you really do want to have kids and you. Do you feel like that biological clock is ticking? Do you know what I mean? Maybe you don't need to do that. Maybe there are other options. Do you know? So physically having a child I think is very, very difficult. Cool. And raising children is, you know, next level. But having said that, I have a very good friend of mine who's pregnant right now, and if she's listening to this, I want her to know it's worth it. Keep going. She's 37 weeks along, and she's about to have her baby. And if she's listening to this, I want her to know you can do it, and it's going to be great. It's fun. It's a great path is celebrated.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Right.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

That is funny, but you really just spoke to me because I am 42, and I. I just opened up about going to the fertility doctor. I haven't had any children. Yeah. And you're right. Sometimes we stay in relationships because we feel like our biological clock is ticking. There are times where we feel like we're missing out on something. And society has put this great emphasis on marriage and having children. And. Thank you. Because even just in. What you just said gave me some peace about where I am in my life, and things are great, you know, and I don't have to put the added pressure on myself.

[Karen Pittman]

No, I don't think so. There's. You know, Jennifer has said this. Aniston has said this. You know, I have nurtured and am a mother to many children. None of them are, you know, necessarily my own, but obviously not her own. But. But she is nurtured and supported, and that is a kind of mother. And I mean, there's also. If you. There are so many children that need love and support, it is. If you're not able to biologically have a child, it's not as if you can't have a child in your life. Now, listen, I love a baby. I love a baby.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, me too.

[Karen Pittman]

And I like to give it back. Right, right. And I love. Keep that. Every time I hear my. My kids, my kids will. If I hear a baby crying, my kids. My kids know already. I better get that crying baby away from my mother, because she hates the crying baby. She cannot take my nerve. Give me that. Let me fix that baby. Okay? I've got. But I can take care of that baby. Let me have the. It's very. On the train, on a plane, if I'm in a restaurant, like, mom, are you okay? I'm like, I'm fine. I'm just gonna stay in my chair. I'm not gonna go get the baby.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Not gonna go get the baby.

[Karen Pittman]

Yeah, yeah.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Like, I can make the baby stop crying. It's okay. Let me get the Baby, I have.

[Karen Pittman]

That's my special power. I can do it. Yeah.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

That is so funny because my nephew, he was a crier and I remember the first time they came to visit me while, when he was like, not even one, he was just a couple months old and I was like, he can sleep with me. And that baby cried. I was like, why did I tell him he could sleep in here?

[Karen Pittman]

But they were like, okay.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

I was like, but finally when he went to sleep, it was just like, oh, he's so precious. I'm like, he's precious when he's quiet.

[Karen Pittman]

But you know, he's so cute when he's being good. Yeah, no, that's true.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Yes, exactly.

[Karen Pittman]

How's that journey been for you though? Is your, has your, you have lots of nieces and nephews and you're. Do you feel, do you feel less pressure now at 42 than you felt maybe in your 30s? Or do you have you just resolved that you are going to be on this journey in a singular kind of a way and yeah. Navigate it as a woman just by just, I'm just navigating this conversation as a woman.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, no, that's so good, Karen. Honestly, I, I was so just focused on my career, focused on life and enjoying life as, as it was happening, being present. And then I started dating someone who really wants kids. So now it's like, oh, okay, so this is a thing, you know, and before I wasn't faced with that like kind of ultimatum, you know, And I think it was one of those things where I, as the conversation kept coming up, I said, well, let me just go see what's going on, how many follicles I have and everything. So that's how many follicles. Yeah, all the things. There's so much I just learned about my ovaries and uterus that I had no idea about.

[Karen Pittman]

Yeah, yeah.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

You know, when you go do the, do the. Right, the consultation. So all the work.

[Karen Pittman]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, a lot of work.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

And then you had that follow up appointment where they're like, okay, so here's the reality. If you're going to do it, you.

[Karen Pittman]

Got to do it now. And I'm like, you better hurry up. You better run on out this office and do it right now. Do it right now. Let us know.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

I was like, oh Lord. So I was like, let me just pray about it. And it's a long distance relationship. So after I prayed about it, I said, you know what, I'm not going to put the pressure on myself if this is meant to Be, it's going to be. And I'm going to continue to be present, continue to enjoy life. And yeah, that's where I am with it. But it is a lot and it can be daunting. When you go get that, that follow up meeting with the doctor and they're like, all right, so this is your reality. What are you gonna do? And you have 72 hours to figure it out. Not literally right, but literally right.

[Karen Pittman]

Yeah, yeah, but actually literally there's. I love that. First of all, I love that we're talking about this because it's like such a, such a real conversation. One the pressure that, that the world puts on you to actually be a mother and be a wife. And then I'm sure that happens when you're actually in a relationship where you really want to live in that space. I also think the other thing that happens is that a relationship changes so much when a child enter it, when you bring another person into it. So you really do want to be thoughtful, intentional, you know, it's going to change the entire dynamic of how you live with that person, how you see them. And my partner is also long distance. He has two children and I am, you know, going to be kind of a stepmom and I'm actually having to think about what kind of stepmom I want to be. That's what I mean.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Wow.

[Karen Pittman]

Yeah, it's a, it's like, okay, didn't see myself going in this direction, but here we are.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. Wow, that's amazing. You're going to be an incredible stepmom. I know you will.

[Karen Pittman]

I hope so.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. No, you will.

[Karen Pittman]

You will.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

How is long distance?

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[Ryan Seacrest]

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[BambooHR Representative]

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[IBM AI Representative]

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[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

For you. Like, is it in the States, on distance or like overseas? Long distance? For me, it's overseas.

[Karen Pittman]

He lives in New York and okay, in la, but it's such a wide. It's five and a half. Feels like another country.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Basically.

[Karen Pittman]

It's like another country. It really is.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Karen Pittman]

I mean, it's where the birds deuces. I hate it. Like, I'm not a long distance. If I didn't love that man so much. It's crazy.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, it is. And especially that time change. Like you're up late and he's up early. It's like, it's the worst.

[Karen Pittman]

And he's, he's got, he's Got this schedule where he has to be in the bed at a certain hour. And I'm like. You're like, you know. Yeah. Yes, yes. And, you know, three hours. It's interesting because he's three hours ahead of me, so I'm always feeling like when I wake up, I'm behind him, like I'm trying to catch up. Yeah. Weird. That's weird. In a relationship. And.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Karen Pittman]

But, you know, gosh, it actually works really well because I am so busy. It actually works out really well because I have such a busy life.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Yes.

[Karen Pittman]

So if you were around me all the time, I think we would get on each other's nerves.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

See, that's my problem.

[Karen Pittman]

Yes, yes. We would get on each other's nerves.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. And when you're used to your space, it's just one of those things where you like your space. So.

[Karen Pittman]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. For example, he was here with me. Sean, you know Sean Harris. Extraordinary.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Amazing. We love him.

[Karen Pittman]

He was here doing my hair, my makeup, and hairstylist Marcia Hamilton was here. And, and he just came in like, what, What? You know, he loved it. At first. He thought it was really cute, but now he's like, this is like. And I'm like, this is my life. This is real here. This is a real thing. But, you know, when he comes in, it's like, this is completely taken over the entire. And I'm like, yeah, yeah. This is what I do. You know? And so that's always.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, yeah, I, I know exactly what you mean.

[Karen Pittman]

Yeah.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Well, I wish you. Right. What is this?

[Karen Pittman]

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. But no, it is, it's great. We're, we're. I'm madly in love with him. I'm, you know, I'm not going anywhere. He proposed, and I'm about two weeks now.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Would you move?

[Karen Pittman]

Karen, I, I, he lives in New York. I actually moved away from New York. We met when I was about to move to la. Like, literally, he's coming there, which is a great, great a gift that works.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

I love that.

[Karen Pittman]

Yeah.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

I love that for both of you. And I'm gonna pray that nobody gets on anybody's nerves.

[Karen Pittman]

Yeah. Well, good luck.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Right? Exactly. Karen, before we get out of here, I want to play a quick game with you.

[Karen Pittman]

Great.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

It's called Real Rapid Fire. So I'm just gonna ask you a question, and you're gonna give me the first thing that comes to your mind.

[Karen Pittman]

Okay, I got Rapid Fire.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Okay, perfect. It says your favorite screenplay of all time.

[Karen Pittman]

Casino.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Oh, that's a good one. Favorite character You've got.

[Karen Pittman]

This is hard right now. It changes. But right now it's Dawn. Don Edwards. Yes. Favorite playwright, Lynn Ottage, for sure. Yes.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Favorite way to spend your day off when you do get a day off with.

[Karen Pittman]

With My Children, with Ade in. In Cabo San Lucas.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Oh, yeah. Come on. Cabo St. Lucas, I love. And that's not far from you, so that's perfect.

[Karen Pittman]

No, it's so. It's so close. Yes.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

I love that. Favorite guilty pleasure TV show.

[Karen Pittman]

Zatima.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Hey, that's my girl. And then your favorite quote or mantra to live by.

[Karen Pittman]

Oh, God, choose you.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

I like that. Yes. That's what you tell your daughter.

[Karen Pittman]

Choose you.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Karen, thank you so much. You have season four of the morning show coming out. Forever has been slated for season two. I'm so excited about that. I can't wait for both of them. Is there anything else we need to be abreast on or anything we need to put on our radar that you have coming up?

[Karen Pittman]

Just know September 17th it's only on Apple TV. Plus, you're going to see the morning show and it's a great season. Please watch.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

We're going to watch. No. I'm so excited. You're phenomenal in that show, so I cannot wait. Cannot wait. Thank you so much.

[Karen Pittman]

Thank you, Crystal, for this. I love you so much. You are the best at being Crystal. I love it.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Thank you. I love you, Karen. This is a delight. Way to start my day. I do apologize again for the technical difficulties.

[Washable Sofas Advertiser]

No worries.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

Thank you for your patience and you were so gracious. Thank you.

[Karen Pittman]

Okay, we'll talk soon.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

All right, love. Have a good one. Thank you so much, Karen Pittman, for sharing her journey and specifically her perspective on motherhood with us. I took so much from this conversation that it's going to resonate with me, and I hope it resonates with you, too. In the meantime, in between time, keep it positive, sweeties. Foreign.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Get ready to power up your play with Nintendo Switch 2. Power up the visuals with 4K support and a bigger, more vivid screen. Power up the fun with exclusive new games like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong bonanza. Nintendo Switch 2 all together, anytime, anywhere. Games rated E to E10 plus games and systems sold separately. Compatible TV required for 4K display.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

What kind of man would let this happen to his family?

[Ryan Seacrest]

Inspired by shocking actual events, I'm working.

[Karen Pittman]

On the story about the Murdochs.

[Washable Sofas Advertiser]

Their abuses of power are playing out in real time.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Starring Academy Award winner Patricia Arquette and Jason Clark.

[Karen Pittman]

It's only cheating if you get caught.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hulu Original Series Murdoch Death in the Family New episodes Wednesdays on Hulu and Hulu on Disney plus for bundle subscribers. Terms apply. Can small acts make a real impact in the world? Sometimes a small thing has the power to become more something big and meaningful. And when it comes to helping children, no act is too small. When you fill up your at the Purple Giving Pump at Shell, a portion of your purchase will be donated to support charities in your community. The Giving Pump Easy to stop, easy to donate from 9125 to 10 31, 25 participating Shell stations will donate a minimum of $0.01 per gallon of the fuel pump from the Giving pump or a minimum donation of 300.

[Karen Pittman]

Wednesday at 109 Central on BET an all new episode of 106 in Sports from executive producers LeBron James and Maverick Carter. It's a new top five countdown with hosts Ashley Nicole Moss and Cam Newton.

[Crystal (Podcast Host)]

They're breaking down the top moments in.

[Karen Pittman]

Sports culture and entertainment and highlighting both established pros and the stars on the come up. Watch the all new series 106 in sports Wednesday at 109 Central on BET or catch up the next day on bet. Plus.