Why Not Me w/ Tika Sumpter

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Why Not Me w/ Tika Sumpter"

Podcast Information:

• Title: Keep it Positive, Sweetie
• Host: Crystal Renee Hayslett
• Guest: Tika Sumpter
• Episode: Why Not Me w/ Tika Sumpter
• Release Date: May 18, 2025

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Introduction and Background

In the episode titled "Why Not Me", Crystal Renee Hayslett welcomes Tika Sumpter, a multifaceted talent known for her roles in blockbuster films like Sonic the Hedgehog 3, her directorial debut at Sundance with The Night Off, and her upcoming projects including an Amazon MGM romantic comedy in collaboration with Tyler Perry. Beyond her screen presence, Tika is also an NAACP-nominated producer, director, children's book author of I Got It from My Mama, and the creator of an animated podcast for kids, Adventures of Curiosity Cove.

Early Life and Education

Tika shares her humble beginnings in Queens, New York, reminiscing about her childhood adventures and the close-knit community she grew up in. She recounts her first encounter with conflict on her block and how those early experiences shaped her resilience and determination.

Tika Sumpter [06:30]: "I climbed trees, ate blackberries, and even had my first fight on the block. But that fight taught me I could handle challenges."

Career Beginnings

Her passion for the arts was ignited at a young age. Tika recalls watching shows like The Cosby Show and feeling a deep desire to be part of that world. Her initial foray into acting began with after-school specials and commercials, including a memorable Curve perfume commercial.

Tika Sumpter [15:15]: "Nothing about my journey is overnight. It was a long, steady climb with each small success validating my path."

Breakthrough and Major Projects

Tika discusses her perseverance in the entertainment industry, highlighting the gradual accumulation of roles that led to her significant breakthrough with One Life to Live. She emphasizes the importance of maintaining a day job while chasing acting dreams, dispelling the myth of overnight success.

Tika Sumpter [17:04]: "Making it is a series of steps, not just one big leap. Each role, no matter how small, builds towards the bigger picture."

Collaboration with Tyler Perry

A pivotal moment in Tika's career was her collaboration with Tyler Perry. Together, they co-wrote and co-produced Sisters in Italy. Tika shares the emotional journey of creating the film, from its inception to its tangible realization, highlighting Tyler Perry's unwavering support and efficient execution.

Tika Sumpter [31:05]: "When Tyler told me we're doing this, it was like falling on my knees on the street. It turned my dream into reality overnight."

Personal Life and Marriage

Tika opens up about her personal life, including her marriage to Nick and the beautiful family they've built together. She reflects on the challenges of blending different upbringings and temperaments, emphasizing the importance of setting boundaries and maintaining a strong, supportive partnership.

Tika Sumpter [44:41]: "Setting boundaries and understanding each other's backgrounds has been crucial in building our life together."

Creative Ventures

Beyond acting, Tika is deeply invested in creative projects that foster emotional intelligence in children. Adventures of Curiosity Cove and her book I Got It from My Mama are products of her dedication to empowering the next generation through storytelling.

Tika Sumpter [46:26]: "We wanted to create something that not only entertains but also teaches kids about emotional intelligence and the importance of having a voice."

Advice and Insights

Throughout the conversation, Tika offers valuable advice to aspiring artists and individuals striving to achieve their dreams. She underscores the necessity of persistence, building multiple streams of income, and the importance of having a support system.

Tika Sumpter [55:22]: "You can start everything right now. It doesn't have to be perfect from the beginning. Just take that first step."

Audience Interaction

The episode concludes with a listener's question about helping a partner get their life in order before marriage. Tika and Crystal provide thoughtful advice, emphasizing the balance between supporting a partner and maintaining one's own well-being.

Tika Sumpter [60:32]: "Find a happy medium where you can support him without feeling like you're carrying the weight alone. It's about mutual growth and understanding."

Conclusion

Crystal and Tika engage in a fun "This or That" game, showcasing their camaraderie and light-hearted dynamic. Crystal wraps up the episode by encouraging listeners to explore Tika's various projects and to stay connected through social media.

Crystal Renee Hayslett [65:14]: "Make sure you go get her book, check out Adventures of Curiosity Cove, and follow Tika at @ika_sumter on Instagram."

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Key Takeaways:

• Persistence Pays Off: Tika's journey in acting was marked by consistent effort, multiple small roles, and overcoming setbacks.
• Support Systems are Crucial: Her collaboration with Tyler Perry and her supportive marriage highlight the importance of having strong allies.
• Empowering the Next Generation: Through her children's book and podcast, Tika is committed to fostering emotional intelligence and self-expression in kids.
• Balancing Personal and Professional Life: Tika emphasizes the need to set boundaries and support one's partner while maintaining individual growth.

Notable Quotes:

• Tika Sumpter [06:30]: "I climbed trees, ate blackberries, and even had my first fight on the block. But that fight taught me I could handle challenges."
• Tika Sumpter [17:04]: "Making it is a series of steps, not just one big leap. Each role, no matter how small, builds towards the bigger picture."
• Tika Sumpter [55:22]: "You can start everything right now. It doesn't have to be perfect from the beginning. Just take that first step."

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This episode serves as an inspiring testament to Tika Sumpter's dedication, resilience, and multifaceted talents. Listeners are encouraged to pursue their dreams with tenacity, embrace their journeys, and support one another in their paths to success.

Transcript

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

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. The place where we heal, grow and learn together. This week's guest is the beautiful, multi hyphenate talent, Tika Sumter. She's an NAACP nominated producer, director, children's book author, and a podcast creator who's been steadily redefining what it means to move with ambition, grace and grit in Hollywood. We're talking about none other than Tika Sumpter, a powerhouse talent who starred in a billion dollar blockbuster like sonic the Hedgehog 3, made her Sundance directorial debut with the Night off, and is co producing and starring in the new Amazon MGM rom com in collaboration with Tyler Perry. Oh, and did we mention that she's also releasing her first children's book, I Got it from My Mama, and creating an animated podcast for kids. In today's episode, we're talking about storytelling, motherhood, ambition, and the creative fire that drives one of Hollywood's most inspiring voices. Get ready for this conversation, guys, because you do not want to miss it. Tika, thank you so much for coming. I've been waiting for this.

[Tika Sumpter]

Oh, my. I've been waiting for my phone call, unfortunately. I was like, and when's she gonna call me? And.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

You'Re like, when I getting that call, girl, you and Tyler both. I think I was getting a side eye from both of y' all for kind of.

[Tika Sumpter]

I was like, oh, so who's on Keep it punk?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Oh, and I still haven't been. You're like, why am I not on?

[Tika Sumpter]

I get it, though. Sometimes you like, you know, with your friends, you're like, I don't. You know, you're busy. I'm trying to get it together. I'm figuring it out and I want.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

To have it right when I call.

[Tika Sumpter]

On certain people, girl, it's right.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes. And it's perfect. This is the perfect timing.

[Tika Sumpter]

Perf. How are you? I am, I'm like, bursting with joy right now. First of all, for you, because I have known you for a long time.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes, yes, you were.

[Tika Sumpter]

I mean, I'll tell the story. You were an extra on Stomp the Yard too, right? Yes. And Will Packer produced it and I was on it. And I just remember how. Of course you were with one of the leads. They were like, where's the pretty girl?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Ok.

[Tika Sumpter]

Her hair is cut. And I'm like, your hair's all cut. And I was like, she pretty? And you're just you were just so present and so not trying hard to be anything but who you were.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

And I just always wanted to kind of. I was like, are you okay?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

You were so sweet to me.

[Tika Sumpter]

I, like, I don't know why I was gravitating toward you, but I do now. I just always saw, like, you're just. There's something. Such a good spirit there. You're beautiful.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

I love you. You too. Dropped it. Same thing. I was like, you are stunning.

[Tika Sumpter]

Thank you.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

And I remember that and how kind you were to me in that moment. And then fast forward, like two years later, you booked Candace on have and have Nots. And I walk up to you as I'm a PA at that time. This is like, I just started. Yeah. I was a PA at the studio and I remember walking up to you saying, hey, Tika, I don't know if you remember. And before I could even get. He's like, crystal, yes. Oh, my God, girl. I was like, because, you know, like, you're an extra. And like, some people like you, you were a well established actor at that time. So I was like, I was still.

[Tika Sumpter]

Fresh and, you know. But I'm nice to anybody. Yeah, but I'm nice to everybody. I don't care what you can do for me if your spirit is great. I actually became really good friends with another extra on One Life. She's my friend now. I just. But you're not just that.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

You don't just go there to be an extra.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Right.

[Tika Sumpter]

There's more in your world that's coming, obviously, so. But I don't care. It's like you're a good human, but the fact that we saw each other on halves and you were. I can't believe you were pa.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes.

[Tika Sumpter]

I always feel like I remember you as the head of the department.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah. No, I started at the bottom. Now we here.

[Tika Sumpter]

Oh, my God.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Ok. Ok. Yeah, I started there and I remember it was just a breath of fresh air because you just, you know, sometimes with actors and just this industry period. Not even just actors, you don't know what you're gonna get from one day to the next. Like, y' all can be having a great con in one setting. And then you'd see them and they.

[Tika Sumpter]

Act like, yeah, they like.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Who are you? Who. I'm sorry, what conversation?

[Tika Sumpter]

God, we talked about God.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

We did. I don't know him. He be like, you don't.

[Tika Sumpter]

Good luck.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

They're like, crazy.

[Tika Sumpter]

You're like, we literally had a deep. I was crying, literally.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

You don't Remember? Oh, my God. Yeah. So I've had instances like that. But to see you and then you, like, just embracing the way you did just as a young black woman, still trying to figure it out and navigate this industry and find my footing and to see where I fit in, and it meant a lot.

[Tika Sumpter]

Oh, my God.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

And then to have you as a. Now is this years of friendship.

[Tika Sumpter]

Oh, my God. Years of friendship. And, like, I don't know. I'm just so. I'm just proud of you. And I'm just. I'm so happy to be here. And I'm so happy to kiki with you and to, like, meet your whole crew and. Yeah, girl, it ain't where you start.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

It's not.

[Tika Sumpter]

It's where you finish. And you have. You're gonna keep going.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

So I'm proud of you. I'm proud of you too. So I'm excited to have you on today because I want people to know more about you, just like your journey and where you are and all the amazing things you've done. Your resume is outstanding.

[Tika Sumpter]

Thank you.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

I'm so proud of you.

[Tika Sumpter]

Thank you.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes. So take us back to Queens, New York.

[Tika Sumpter]

Oh, my God.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Young Tika.

[Tika Sumpter]

Little Tika.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Little Tika. I want to know, like, from the.

[Tika Sumpter]

Beginning, I just honestly, like, I asked my mom, like, who was I? She was like, you were just observant. And I love to go outside, stay outside till the light came on. Literally. Tika. And like, I climbed trees. Like, there was this crazy BlackBerry tree in my friend's yard, which is so weird to have in, like a concrete jungle, right? But it was huge. We would climb in and just eat blackberries and we would go to each other's houses and, like, it was amazing. Like, that block was like, I lived there until I was like 10 years old. I remember everybody's name, you know, it was like, top cat, New. Like, it was like all those names. You're like, are those real names? Yeah, no, those are real names. Well, they're fun names. You know what I mean? Like, nickname. But like, yeah, I would hang out. I got into my first fight on the block. Girl, I didn't want to fight. It was a surprise jumping. And I was like, what's happening?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

I know a jump.

[Tika Sumpter]

Well, sort of. It was like, I like, came. My friend's like, tika, come. And I was like, okay. I'm like this little, like, think of a little, like 8 year old, 9 year old, like, okay. And I'm like, they're like, you gonna fight her? And I Remember the girl's name? I ain't gonna say it. They like, you gonna fight her? And I was like, fight? Like, fight? I was like, I didn't fight.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

What initiation?

[Tika Sumpter]

It's like a gangland, right? And so, literally, I had to fight this girl. And all I know is I don't know if it was an angel or God. I don't know what it was. I blacked out, and I ended up, like, taking her and swirling her around. It felt like a cartoon. Bloop, bloop, bloop, bloop, bloop, bloop. And then I threw her into a thorn bush.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

No.

[Tika Sumpter]

And then she was like, I'm done. I don't want to fight you. I was like, period. Look, if young teeth could say period, it'd be period. Please don't bite me.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Please. I didn't want to do this anyway.

[Tika Sumpter]

And I went home, so. But, like, that was my. Like, it was like, I didn't fight every day, but that was my first fight.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes.

[Tika Sumpter]

The block was so amazing. And. Yeah. And my house felt like we had a house. And then I looked at it recently online, and it's so tiny.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Isn't that crazy? I just went back to my hometown in November, and I was taking them. We were going to the house we lived in, and I was like, it felt so much bigger when I was a kid. Girl, you couldn't tell me that wasn't a mansion.

[Tika Sumpter]

Girl, I thought I lived in a mansion.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes.

[Tika Sumpter]

And it wasn't. It was not same. And I was like, that thing is so tiny. But it felt so mighty for me as a little girl and for my mom and dad, you know, to buy a house during that time, which was not. Not a lot of people were buying houses at a young age. And so, yeah, so that was my little time. And then I moved to Long island when I was 10.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

And they say, that's not New York.

[Tika Sumpter]

People are like, girl, that's not New York. That's our word. Oh, God. Be quiet. I'm gonna look at the camera. Be quiet. Just be quiet. Quiet. It's New York. Okay.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

That is funny. Being in New York, I feel like it's a melting pot, and it's a place where you have access to so many things. So whatever it is that you want to do, there's something in that city that you can tap into to help build that character. What drew you to the arts? And was that something at a young age, or was it later on in life where you're like, this is what I Want to do?

[Tika Sumpter]

That's a good question. I remember in Queensland on Saturday mornings watching, like, shows, like cartoons. I remember the Cosby Show. Not a. You know, I remember a different world. Like, you know, like, all those things as a kid, and you're just. I just remember. But one thought I do remember is, I want to be in that thing.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

In that. Inside that thing.

[Tika Sumpter]

Inside that thing.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes.

[Tika Sumpter]

I don't know how. Like, it was just a little planted seed. Like, I remember that as a kid. That line. I want to be in there.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Wow.

[Tika Sumpter]

And so that's all I had. Like, there was no, like, wish. Like, oh, I'm gonna do it, girl.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

Like, let's. Let's go do the arts, Mom, I want to be. What are they doing? Nothing. It was just that seed. I remember it was like a spirit of, like, I want to be in there. Because it was just like, you saw Rudy, you know, you, like, saw all those things. And then when I went to Long Island, I. I don't know, I kind of grabbed it. Woke up more, you know, And I don't know exactly why it woke up more, but it felt, like, more feasible. Because by the time I was, like, 15, 16, working at a movie theater.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

I worked at a movie theater.

[Tika Sumpter]

You did?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes. It was summer. I was just a concession girl.

[Tika Sumpter]

Not just. We sold. Girl. Girl, I upsold well. For $5 more, you can have this. For $2 more, you can have this. Okay, sure. Throw it in. Yeah. So I worked at a movie theater, and it felt like I was next to my dream.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Wow.

[Tika Sumpter]

You know? And I was able to make some money, go to New York on the Long Island Railroad on the weekends, take classes. Didn't know. I literally went to Barnes and Noble and got a book on, like, how to become an actor. Because I didn't know. Like, I didn't the information. There was no, like, Internet. I don't even think there was an Internet at that time.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah. No, not when we were back in 19.

[Tika Sumpter]

So ridiculous.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Like, the Ice Age. You're like, girl, what? How long ago? Wasn't that long ago.

[Tika Sumpter]

It wasn't that long ago. I know, but it feels. Kids make us feel it.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

They do.

[Tika Sumpter]

Like, if you. If you were born in 1985 or 1990, I'm like, Girl, like, calm down.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah, calm down. Because it definitely makes me feel old when I see those. I'm like, all right. Missed it by a few years. Calm down.

[Tika Sumpter]

I know, but, yeah, no. So I would go to New York and kind of try to figure. I was just trying to figure it out. That's it. Like, literally trying to figure it out.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

So, no, there was no real path. It was just the path happened when I graduated high school and my mom moved to North Carolina and she's like, are you coming? And I was like, no.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Wow.

[Tika Sumpter]

I'm going to go to New York and I'm going to go to school and I'm going to try this other thing. And I really thought I was going to go to school, become a publicist, and then figure out a way in.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Tika, get out of here. That was my.

[Tika Sumpter]

Shut up.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

That's my dream. That was my dream. Yes. No, I went to college. I was a mass comm major with an emphasis in pr.

[Tika Sumpter]

And you. You wanted to.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

I wanted to be a publicist for athletes. Yeah, I wanted to, like, Wait a second, me too.

[Tika Sumpter]

But, you know, I like, loved basketball at that time. Like Michael Jordan. Like, I just. I loved basketball. I was like, I'm going to somehow get in that world, too. I was all over the place. But, yeah, I wanted to be in the arts. But the crazy thing is our paths.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes.

[Tika Sumpter]

And how similar.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Very similar.

[Tika Sumpter]

But I didn't finish school.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Okay, so what happened?

[Tika Sumpter]

What was the money?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

What? Come on, let's keep it real.

[Tika Sumpter]

Like, I couldn't afford it. I was at a private. I don't know what I was thinking. I was at a private college, couldn't afford it. They basically were like, you pay this bill.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

Or your classes are dropped and you have to leave. I was living in their apartments on Roosevelt Island. It was a doorman building. That's how private school. Like, it was nice, I must say.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah, that's.

[Tika Sumpter]

Girl. It wasn't a dorm. It was an apartment. With other people.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes.

[Tika Sumpter]

And I basically. They were like, if you can't pay your bill, you have to leave. And I was like, mom, hey. She's like, I don't have it.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

And I was like, she's like, apply for, you know, loans or whatever. They're like, you. Somehow I couldn't get it or whatever. And I basically left. And I was like, what am I gonna do? How can I get fast money? I was like, dancing on a table, kidding.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Listen, she's like, joking.

[Tika Sumpter]

Nah, I have to say math.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Cause you went, really? Hey, listen, you gotta do what you gotta do. This is insane.

[Tika Sumpter]

It's insane. No, I know. People like, Tika was dancing girl. No, no, but I was kidding. But, no, I had to waitress. So like every actor.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes.

[Tika Sumpter]

I just started waitressing and I was like, my Actual, real. My plan A, which was going to school, whatever. But my real plan A actually was to act. So it was like, let's do it, let's go.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

That's it.

[Tika Sumpter]

I literally got thrown in, like, thrown out of school. Thrown into just the wild.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

So what was your first role that you booked?

[Tika Sumpter]

My first role that I booked. Okay. So I did two things. I booked, like, I still have videotapes. It's crazy. I have VHS tapes.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Oh, wow. Okay.

[Tika Sumpter]

In 1900. So I started doing these, like, after school special shows.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Oh, cute.

[Tika Sumpter]

Yeah. And actually there's this actress who's like, working now, who. We used to do them together.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

And then. And then I did a Curve commercial. Do you remember Curve perfume?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes.

[Tika Sumpter]

I said, duane read now.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

In the drugstore.

[Tika Sumpter]

I'm not trying to.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

If anybody was that thing.

[Tika Sumpter]

So I was in a Curve commercial I shot in New York City. And it was so cool. I was like, this is so cool. So I started.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

That was a big deal then. Girl. Was that girl.

[Tika Sumpter]

It was the girl.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes.

[Tika Sumpter]

I couldn't afford Curve.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Right.

[Tika Sumpter]

So, yeah, I shot a commercial and then I started shooting more commercials. And then I got into voiceovers.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Okay.

[Tika Sumpter]

And so, yeah, that's how it all started.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

That is amazing. I love that. What was that? Like, how many from the quitting or getting kicked out of school? Basically, like, you gotta go. You gotta go to busing tables to that first commercial. Like, what was that? Because a lot of people think, like, oh, she just. Overnight.

[Tika Sumpter]

Nothing about my journey is overnight.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah, right.

[Tika Sumpter]

It was overnight for a long time. A long overnight. It was the longest overnight ever.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Right.

[Tika Sumpter]

It was in and out. Right. Because here's the thing about this entertainment industry. When you're first starting, especially, like, you still have to keep your job to pay your bills.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Tika, I be trying to tell these children today.

[Tika Sumpter]

Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

You have to work until you get there. You can't just.

[Tika Sumpter]

No. And I booked a commercial. Like, there was no, I can't quit. That's a one off.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

You know what I mean? Like, and people think, oh, I got the thing. No, you have to keep your job. I kept my job until I got One Life to Live. Another job until I got One Life to Live.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Wow. How many years was that?

[Tika Sumpter]

That was. Oh, my God. It feels like a blur. Honestly, in New York feels like a big blur in my head because it was like, going between, like, struggling but also making it in a way. And I feel like making it is steps. It's not just one big thing. Like, people are like, when Was your big break. I'm like, big breaks are in pieces. Right. When you book your first commercial, you're like, dude, that was. And then I booked a covergirl voiceover. I did Rihanna's. You've got the CoverGirl commercial. What? Yes. When she was the covergirl.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes.

[Tika Sumpter]

I did a ton of voiceovers. Like, a ton of voiceovers. And so it was like steps of like. Okay, yeah. The industry's saying yes, yes. But not fully.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

I can't leave my job yet.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Right.

[Tika Sumpter]

And so it was like, it was a validation that I'm on the right path. I'm on the right path. Yeah, yeah, it was a validation.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Sometimes you need that.

[Tika Sumpter]

You need it. And I think what people need to know most is like, again, like, making it is steps. It's not just some people do make it like that. I don't know. I always thought. And I thought I would be that one.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

You know, you're shooting in New York, and you're like, I'm gonna walk by this set.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

And they're like, wait, director, stop, stop. Who is that?

[Tika Sumpter]

Who is she?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Stop. Every time she was there.

[Tika Sumpter]

Yeah, every time I. And I'd walk slowly, and I'd look outside, I'd look at the production. Like.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Walking past Law and order suv. You're like.

[Tika Sumpter]

You're like, is anybody out here gonna. No one. Cause you hear these stories. I used to hear Natalie Port and was like, picked out of a. You know, whatever. And like, all these people are picked out.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

And I was like, have a football stadium. Like, somebody saw her on the jumbo trying to find that girl. I'm like, girl, that is not my story.

[Tika Sumpter]

That's not my story. That's not my story. But I thought it was gonna be.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

But.

[Tika Sumpter]

And that was okay. But so, yeah, I mean, so I kept my job. And then I. So actually, I opened Soho House. The first Soho House in New York.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Shout out. Soho.

[Tika Sumpter]

Okay. Yeah. It was when no one understood what Soho House was.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

Or a private members club. Now everybody knows it's a thing.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

And they were like, you have to be a member to get in. And it was like, people. I'm talking amazing people would walk in and the lady would be like, sorry, are you a member? And I'm like, that's.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Do you know who that is? No.

[Tika Sumpter]

You have to let them in. She's like, sorry, but you can apply to be a member, you know? And you're like, oh, my God. So I worked there for a while, and I opened the first one, and Then I walked out and quit. And because I couldn't take. It was. There was a lot of entitlement going on there that I couldn't take anymore. I mean, people are great. People are great, but also, people aren't great.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah, I know what you mean.

[Tika Sumpter]

Yeah. And then I booked, and then after that, I. I'm sorry. You can ask me any question you want. You can interrupt me.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah, you're good.

[Tika Sumpter]

I'm just excited to be.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

No, I love.

[Tika Sumpter]

So, yeah. And then I, like, literally walked out, and I'm, like, having a New York moment, like, crying down the street because I'm like, I don't know what I'm gonna do. God, I've auditioned. I've done the commercials. I've done things here and there. Like, I. I want to be part of this industry.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

And I felt like, it's been a minute, and the struggle feels long when you're in New York.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

I can. Yeah. I struggled here in Atlanta, so I can imagine a New York struggle. The cost of living.

[Tika Sumpter]

Cost of living.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Just like the. Just the life. Yeah. Yes.

[Tika Sumpter]

Just. Just. It's rough. I mean, partying is fine. Like, I did go out a lot in New York. That was fun. But. But what was not fun was, like, when is this gonna happen? Like, when is this dream actually gonna work? You know, that was placed in my mind when I was such a little kid.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Right.

[Tika Sumpter]

You know, And I'm walking down the street crying. A lady's like, are you okay? I'm like, I did have a boyfriend at the time. He was great, and he was a little older than me, and he was like, look, I got you. That was the first time that I had somebody to fall on in my life, say, like, I'll take care of you. Literally, a week later, I booked One Life to Live. Literally. Literally one summer. They're like. They're.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

They.

[Tika Sumpter]

They. You. You got the part, you know, for One Life to Live. And I was like, what? So I was like, so? You don't need to take care of me. I can take care of myself. I'm so independent. Okay, girl. But, like. Yeah. So that journey to even my first job was such. I would not change it for the world.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Same. Yeah. No, you can't. I think those people. The moments that happen in between landing what we would say, your first big job are so vital.

[Tika Sumpter]

Vital.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Oh, my God.

[Tika Sumpter]

Vital.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Because they literally can, like, make or break you. And if it happens too fast, it can break you. But those little moments really build character. They build tenacity. Yes. And the grit. Yes.

[Tika Sumpter]

I really do believe I can pivot. You ain't gonna catch me on my back foot.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

And I can. I can get out of this mud. Put me in any mud.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

I'll get out of it. Because I've. I've seen people go through worse.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

And I've also. I've had my own journey of just like, okay. Knocking on doors. Knocking on doors.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

I mean, I knocked on a casting director's door after I went to the casting. This is me in New York. This is. This is my. This is why I love being, like, naive sometimes too. Like, when you're younger, you're like, why not me? Like, literally my brain was like, why not?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

So I went to an audition. I didn't get it right.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah, but why didn't I get it?

[Tika Sumpter]

Why didn't I get it right? So I went to the audition and I was like, you know, I had braids in my hair and they were looking for like, curly hair girls and whatever. Whatever. Whatever.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Right.

[Tika Sumpter]

They were looking for you anyway, so I was like, I went in with my braids or whatever, and so I walked out. Whatever. Do you know that day I went and took out my braids.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Uh huh.

[Tika Sumpter]

And you know when your hair is crinkly?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes.

[Tika Sumpter]

So I had crinkly hair.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

I went the next day and knocked on the casting director's door. Hi. They were like, hi. I was like, I was here yesterday.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

I'm back.

[Tika Sumpter]

I was here. I'm back. You said you wanted curly hair, Tika.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

No. You did.

[Tika Sumpter]

Yes, I did.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

You like, this is what you wanted, right?

[Tika Sumpter]

This is what you wanted. Cause you wanted me, I'm sure, Right.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

You just wanted different hair.

[Tika Sumpter]

Hair.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

So here it is.

[Tika Sumpter]

Here it is. Can you talk about out of your mind? She was like, oh, you're sweet. No, no, unfortunately. Thank you, though. We already. We found our purse.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Thank you.

[Tika Sumpter]

She was just like. And I was like, okay.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

I just wanted to come back, but I let you. But, you know, I hadn't ran into her again on any other projects.

[Tika Sumpter]

They were like, what is happening? She's so green. Green means very new. Yes, but like.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

What? Right? What?

[Tika Sumpter]

Who does that?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Tika Sumter.

[Tika Sumpter]

Thank you.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes. Who does that? I love that about you, though. And I feel like that is a part of your character of, like, having that. Why not me? You know, that makes you have the confidence to go after the things that you want.

[Tika Sumpter]

It's so true. It's the. Why not me? It's the thing that won't let you sleep at night. Like, I gotta do this.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes.

[Tika Sumpter]

Like, I have to do this. There is no other option for me. I just don't see myself in any. Obviously, you grow and you do certain different things. And you. You know, you do. You're an actress, but you also have this. And there are different things, but, you know, that ultimate dream of, like, wanting to act is something that you cannot let go of.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

No.

[Tika Sumpter]

And I knew that in my spirit, deep in my soul, no matter how many people got picked over me, you know? And also, I was the girl. I remember Asia. Naomi King.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes.

[Tika Sumpter]

Yes. Okay. That's who it was. Yeah. So she used to say, I used to see you in auditions and castings, and she's like, you were so focused. You wouldn't talk to anybody. Cause, you know, cast. This is when you used to go into casting and, like, there's a room and everybody walks in, and everybody's like, hey, girl. Hey, how you, girl? You know, and you're like. And she's like, you used to be so.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

So.

[Tika Sumpter]

Like this and not. It didn't matter who walked in the room. That was me, too. Like, I was like, I don't care.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

I'm just going to be me and I'm going to get it.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes.

[Tika Sumpter]

And. And she. She was like, I just admired you. You just. And, you know, I was like, you did. I said I was.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

You know, she is so. She's beautiful, and she's an incredible actor. Incredible actor. Yes. Love her. I love that. So was there ever a role that you auditioned for that you were like, I wanted that so bad. And then you see who got. We don't have to say who got it, but you see who got it. You're like, I couldn't.

[Tika Sumpter]

I think that is the life of an actor. Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

You like?

[Tika Sumpter]

Yeah. Oh, my God, there are so many roles. Think of every role. Every. Probably every role I didn't get, I probably wanted.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

You wanted bad.

[Tika Sumpter]

Bad. And I'm talking about like, okay, let me make this look like, you know, let me make this look like a slave cabin. Like, I'm gonna get lighting. Like, let me make this look like. No, no, seriously.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Like, I'm gonna give y' all taking these braids out. I'm gonna give you slave.

[Tika Sumpter]

I'm gonna give it to you, and I'm gonna do this. You know what I'm saying?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Oh, I know we gonna do this. So you're that actor that's.

[Tika Sumpter]

I'm like, I'm gonna get this. I mean, every audition I ever have Done. I put my all in. Not really. Sometimes I'm like, I don't even want to do this sometimes.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

But, yeah, you do get those. Your agent sends you stuff, and you're like.

[Tika Sumpter]

You're like, ah. You. You see what I've done?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

You see if I can, you know.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

If you want me or not. Come on. Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

You like, for me? You just want me to beg, right? Sometimes that is what they want.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

Yeah. No, but, yeah. I think that there are so many auditions that I haven't gotten that I've wanted, but I literally believe what is for me really is for me.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah. No, for sure.

[Tika Sumpter]

Every time I've missed out on something and whatever happened with that thing, I'm like, that's why.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

That's why, baby. Yes.

[Tika Sumpter]

You know what I mean?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes.

[Tika Sumpter]

Or every time I think I missed out on something, I'm like, ooh, thank God.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Cause there are some shows that I had auditioned for, and I'm like, dang, I really wanted that. And then the show ain't here.

[Tika Sumpter]

It ain't here.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Like cancer at the first season. Like, guys, like, I'm protecting you. I'm trying to let you know what I have for you is for you, and it's gonna have some longevity to it. So just hold on.

[Tika Sumpter]

Just hold on.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Just relax.

[Tika Sumpter]

Yeah, and that reminds me of, like, when you. You know, Tyler. Tyler. Tyler Perry, you know, he always is like, you didn't want to do the. Hey, I heard this. I heard. Yeah. And I'm like, that's not true.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

I heard that Oprah had to call you.

[Tika Sumpter]

She did call me, and she's like, I don't do this. I was like, okay. You know, but ultimately I did. But I remember I have the audition tape still.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Really?

[Tika Sumpter]

For Candace? Yeah, I still have the audition tape. And I'm like, I put the audition in. What do you mean? I didn't want to do it? I don't remember. I guess when it was offered, then I was like, oh, I don't know. Blah, blah, blah. But I did it, and I'm so glad I did.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

Because it connected the dots in so many different ways. Not only because the fans are incredible.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Oh, my goodness.

[Tika Sumpter]

But because, you know, obviously we all are. We do business with Tyler. Yes. You know, he's a friend. He's a. He's all these things. Big brother, you know? And so it's just nice to, like, wow. If I didn't take it or if I didn't do the thing. There's so many reactive things that might have not happened.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes.

[Tika Sumpter]

So I really do believe what is for you really is for you.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes. Let's talk about a full circle moment with you and Tyler. You co wrote and co produced Sisters in Italy. Is that the name that you guys are sticking with or is it still untitled?

[Tika Sumpter]

Tyler said sisters in Italy. I'm like, okay, I gotta be Sisters in Italy. I don't know. At first it was called sis. Like, hey, sis. Like, sis.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Oh, that's cute. Yeah, isn't that cute?

[Tika Sumpter]

But then it was like, they're like, no. He's like, we gotta change something else. So right now it's Sisters in Italy. Unless it turns into something else. But yeah, that's crazy.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Full circle moment that come about even just from the. Did you decide, like, I wanna write a story about sisters. How did that come about?

[Tika Sumpter]

So the initial idea was. Came from me in terms of I wanted to write something. I am a middle child, and sometimes I feel like the world's on my shoulders in my family. And I was like, I wanted to write something where it's also fun and wanderlust while dealing with, like, depth, like travel, but also, you know, two sisters who can't agree on anything after their mom dies and leaves them in. In Italy. And one is kind of just all over the place. Can't.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Which is Bresha.

[Tika Sumpter]

Which is Bresha Webb. Shout out Bresha.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Love her.

[Tika Sumpter]

And the other one is me. And it's this idea that you can be raised in the same household but have two very different outcomes.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

So good.

[Tika Sumpter]

Yeah. And so it's like, we either figure it out in Italy or we don't. And so I, you know, and then I brought on a writer, my friend Kimi Ando Catuno, to help me co write and kind of re establish some things and rework it. And we did it together. And then I had it, and, you know, I had it, and then it didn't work out. I had it for some years. And I was like, okay, because, you know, you don't want to call your friends.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Exactly.

[Tika Sumpter]

You know, you just don't want to call your friends.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Like, hey, come do my podcast.

[Tika Sumpter]

Yeah, you don't want to call your friends. I get. Not really.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

But no, it's totally different. It's totally, totally different.

[Tika Sumpter]

Ask somebody to do a movie.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Movie. That's different. Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

And so I called him and I was like, look, can I send this to you? He was like, yeah. He called me, like, within the week. He's like, I love it.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

I look, shout out to you that Is him.

[Tika Sumpter]

I love it.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

Let me make some phone calls. Shout out. Make the phone calls, child. I was doing something here in Atlanta. I walked out of a coffee shop. I get a phone call from T. He's like, we're doing it. Amazon wants to do it. Just like that.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Just like that.

[Tika Sumpter]

I fall on my knees, and I just like, screaming. People are like, tika, are you okay?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Now it's like you're in the middle of the street.

[Tika Sumpter]

Yeah, I'm in the middle.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Totally different from New York street. Crying.

[Tika Sumpter]

There we go.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

Yeah. That's my. Like, are you serious? You know, and so I had that moment, and I was just like, wow. Something that I created and is being put on the big screen.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah. And it.

[Tika Sumpter]

And it's different for him because he's never directed anything that he didn't write.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Everything because Tyler is the writer, creator, producer, director. The things. All the things. Bing, b, boom, bop, boom, bop, bam.

[Tika Sumpter]

And, like, I'm like, I. I was. And he was like, okay, so we are going to do this. And he told me the month. He was like, worse. I was.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

You're like, this is happening. Whoa.

[Tika Sumpter]

I was like, why can't everything happen like that?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

I know. That's the power of Tyler Perry, man. That man, he can push the needle and move fast.

[Tika Sumpter]

So that was a full circle moment for me.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Beautiful. I actually got to come on set this. Oh, my gosh. And we do Italy every summer, so. To see Italy, darling.

[Tika Sumpter]

We do Italy every summer, so I got to come on set.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

I got to come on set. And he's like, go outside. It looks like just like Portofino. And I was like, darling, yeah. What is this? Atlanta? Portofino. Like, he literally. I was like. I felt like I was in Italy. Like, it was so cool. But then you actually got to go to Chicaterra. Where else? Did you guys shoot it in Chicaterra?

[Tika Sumpter]

Yes.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

So we hike there every summer.

[Tika Sumpter]

Okay.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

So that is one of my. That is one of the most picturesque little towns I've ever seen in my life.

[Tika Sumpter]

I said, y' all about to be overrun, ma' am. Cause when this movie come out, everybody want to go there.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

No. Is so beautiful.

[Tika Sumpter]

The. The fact that they built a replica of where we went.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

Literally every. I went and cried. Like, he was like, I want you to come see it and see what you think. I was like, I just started crying.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

I was like, this can't. This is not real.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes. Yes.

[Tika Sumpter]

He's like, it's real. It's your dream.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Oof.

[Tika Sumpter]

Ma' am, it's your dream.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

You gonna make me cry? Yeah. And I was like, because that's him.

[Tika Sumpter]

That's him.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

And then when we went there, I.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Was like, this is that. Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

This is it. Yeah, this is it. And he was, like, happy. All right. He's like, this is your thing. This is your thing, Tika. And from the producing standpoint, there's music in it that Bresha sings. I had to be in the studio with her picking every. He's like, you're producing your thing. Like, you. This is your movie, Tika. He's like, I'm in charge of the directing stuff. Like. He's like, but I want you. You can. I was like. He's like, this is. What do you want? I tell everybody to go to you? And I was like, isn't that beautiful?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

To have a black man, the giant that Tyler is. Say, it's in your hands. I'm giving you. This is you. I'm not. Because most people try to come a lot, even studios, they'll come in and you'll have this amazing idea, and then by the end of the. You're like, this was not what I.

[Tika Sumpter]

What? This is not what we started with.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes. Yeah. Wow.

[Tika Sumpter]

You know, and I don't mind being flexible, and, you know, you gotta be flexible, but he is a person who, when he says he's gonna do it, he does it.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

And he does it in a good manner of time. It's not like, let's. Let's do this for five years.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

No, 10 years.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

He gets it done.

[Tika Sumpter]

Gets it done.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

And so I'm really excited for everybody to see it. And, you know. You know, I'm just. I'm just really excited that it happened like, I did it.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

I better get an invite to the premiere. That's all I'm saying.

[Tika Sumpter]

Of course.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Darling. Darling, I have to see it.

[Tika Sumpter]

I cannot hear. You will be at the premiere.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes. And maybe a few, like, screenings. You know how you, like, send it, like, before it comes out?

[Tika Sumpter]

Oh, you know, you.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah. I need that exclusive.

[Tika Sumpter]

You got that sneak peek. I like it, girl. You know you will be.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

That's amazing.

[Tika Sumpter]

Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

So Tyler has been a part of your life and.

[Tika Sumpter]

For a long time.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

For a long time. And for a lot of amazing monuments and milestones in your life.

[Tika Sumpter]

Yes.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Speaking of, you met your husband. I was. I remember the. It was the wrap party. I'm sure it already kind of been happening, but I remember I said.

[Tika Sumpter]

You were like, oh.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

I said, there's something going On.

[Tika Sumpter]

I know. And she's sitting next to him a little too long. Yeah, y' all.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

They look too friendly.

[Tika Sumpter]

Like, it's not like, let's just act, you know, it was not.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

It wasn't.

[Tika Sumpter]

We weren't giving private. It was like, we're not together, like, at all.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

It was like, we go together real bad.

[Tika Sumpter]

Real bad. I know.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Like, two weeks later. So I think you may call me the next day, like, girl. So. Yeah. What you saw is what you saw.

[Tika Sumpter]

What had happened, happened.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

What had happened, happened. So we know Tyler has this big thing, like, where he doesn't really like for actors to date, because sometimes it can cause, like, issues.

[Tika Sumpter]

Messy.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

How did that happen? Like, what was it like? Was it the moment you saw him, you were like, ooh, Officer. What was his name? Officer Justin.

[Tika Sumpter]

Officer Justin.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Justin.

[Tika Sumpter]

How is that? Me and my husband. So crazy. So crazy to me. Yeah. No. Another insert of Tyler Perry. Yeah. It's like, you know, my butt always looking at somebody, like, maybe, right?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

That's me now.

[Tika Sumpter]

Maybe.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Is there a future there?

[Tika Sumpter]

I know.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

You're like, at this age. I'm like, is that my husband or no.

[Tika Sumpter]

Yeah. Or is it just a few nights? No, I'm not kidding.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Not kidding.

[Tika Sumpter]

Yeah. No, I. I saw Nick. He was in the makeup room with Gavin Houston, and there was. There was a few other people there, and I had my dog with me, and I passed the makeup Lola, who I had before everybody.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes.

[Tika Sumpter]

And I passed the makeup room, and I went.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Oh, yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

And I went in. I was like, hey, everybody. And then Nick's standing there, and he's like, oh, what's your dog's name? I'm like, lola.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

But I'm Tika.

[Tika Sumpter]

Yeah. No, no. And he goes, is it a girl or a boy? And I go, lola. He was like, I was so nervous talking to you.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

He's like, sister Dicagra. People, I want to hear. Oh, the dog's name is Lola. It's definitely a girl. You missed all that.

[Tika Sumpter]

And so. And then I walked out the room, and I go, no, I'm not dating any actors. I'm done. I'm not doing any actors. No, no, no. I'm not gonna do it. And then our first scene, which is on tape, somebody sent it to me the other day. That was our very first seed. It was the end of the day. He made me laugh so hard, and he was so cute, and I was like, maybe.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Wow.

[Tika Sumpter]

And then, of course, Tika. I talk about myself this way. Tika goes. And she's like, oh, if you guys ever go out or anything, here's my number. Just call me. I'll come with you guys. What the hell, right?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

What the heck, Tika, don't do that.

[Tika Sumpter]

What the helly? And he didn't call me really. He thought I was married. I go, what? Why would I give you my number? Right? He was like, I don't know. I just got like, no way. There's no way you would be single. You know? And I didn't. I thought you, like, whatever. Okay. So then we went to Tyler Lefley's birthday at an all black club. Nick at an all black club. Nick was at an all black club with another guy who worked on the show who was white too. And Nick was just like.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Cool, cool.

[Tika Sumpter]

And I was like, are you okay?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Do you need anything? Are you fine? Is everything okay?

[Tika Sumpter]

Do you need anything? Are you sure you're good? He's like, why? Why wouldn't I be good?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

I'm good. You're married. Why are you asking all these questions? What's the problem, Right?

[Tika Sumpter]

I'm like, no, I just want to make sure you feel comfortable, like you. He's like, no, I'm good, girl. Go sit down. Like, what are you doing? And I think that was my nervousness. Like, I was like. And then his friend had to tell him, she likes you.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

He's probably like, what?

[Tika Sumpter]

He's like. He literally said, what? No. No way. And he's like, she likes you.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Oh, man.

[Tika Sumpter]

And then that night, he was like, okay, let me. And then that night. This is history. We sealed the deal.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

I love it. Now you have a beautiful daughter.

[Tika Sumpter]

Beautiful daughter.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

You had it. Oh, my gosh. Your wedding was absolutely stunning.

[Tika Sumpter]

Thank you so much.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Oh, my God.

[Tika Sumpter]

Thank you.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

That was a good time.

[Tika Sumpter]

That was so fun.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

We danced. My feet hurt, like, for two days afterwards. We danced for some.

[Tika Sumpter]

We had so much fun. I'm so glad everybody came early.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes.

[Tika Sumpter]

So that we could hang out. We got to kiki in the pool and just talk and just see your face. And Tyler showed up for me in so many ways that people have no idea about.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

That's him.

[Tika Sumpter]

That he's just. I'm like, just always standing. You know, my dad died when I was younger, and he's like, I'm standing in the gap for him. And I was like, I'm like, bawling, like, just so many things that he does that nobody knows about. And he's just, I don't care what y' all say. I don't care what anybody say. Like, this man Stands in the gap for so many people. You have no idea. And so, yeah, it was an amazing wedding. And I still got my man. You still got your pain in my back.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

That's what I want to ask you. Because, you know, a lot of black women, we. We try to, like, stick to our brothers.

[Tika Sumpter]

Yes.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

We leave hope for them.

[Tika Sumpter]

Yes.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

At what moment were you like, I'm gonna try this? Was that your first?

[Tika Sumpter]

No.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Okay.

[Tika Sumpter]

No, but I've tried, you know, I've. I sound like a hoe. Like, I've tried it all. Oh, my God.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

All the players. Oh, my God.

[Tika Sumpter]

I got. What is that song? I got White boy in barrasa. You beat me, Father Rasa. You know, he's like, jesus. No, I mean, I've. I've had, like, I've lived, you know, I mean, I'm 44 years old and so. So I love black men.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah, for sure.

[Tika Sumpter]

And I dated black men and I wanted to be with black men. And my daddy was black. You know, my mama's black.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Your brother, My brother, my uncle.

[Tika Sumpter]

Black, black, black.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes.

[Tika Sumpter]

Like, and I've dated, you know, people that I just get along, like.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah, you don't see colors.

[Tika Sumpter]

I don't see. I see you, but I'm like. I also am. Like, you're just fine.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

And you're smart and you're fun. And to me, it's not this. It's just, how do you treat me?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Right?

[Tika Sumpter]

Right? Like, how do you love me? Whether it's for a long time or not? It's like, how do we get along? Do I like talking to you?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Right.

[Tika Sumpter]

You know, and I've loved. I've. One day when I'm 89, I will write a book. Yes, I will write a book.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Okay.

[Tika Sumpter]

Okay.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Please tell all.

[Tika Sumpter]

I'll tell all before I croak. Good luck in life.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Right. Literally. Literally, this is how I live.

[Tika Sumpter]

But no, I just. There's not like a thing where I'm like, I want to date a white man. I think people feel like, oh, you know.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah. And I feel like a lot of women, sometimes they get to that point where, like, let me just try something different.

[Tika Sumpter]

Just trying it.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Just try. Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

I mean, look. Look at the numbers. I mean, I don't know. I mean, I don't know. Yeah, you got. Whether it's white, whether it's Asian, whether it's Indian, whatever. It looks like you just gotta try. As long as they treat you good and as long as they find in love is hard.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

It is hard.

[Tika Sumpter]

No matter what color you are.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Ma' am. Talk about it.

[Tika Sumpter]

Keeping love is even harder.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes. I want to ask you about that because you're dealing with two different upbringings, two different temperaments. How was that adjusting? And, like, even I know. Nick and I have talked, you know, like, in the very beginning, he was like. I said, like, how do I. You know what I'm saying? I'm like, bro, you gotta. This is a sister here. You know what I'm saying? Everybody, you know what I'm saying? The family comes with everything. Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

And that was what I did do as I got into therapy. Cause I thought he was the problem. But then Amira was held up, and it was like, oh, girl, you not that cute right now. You know what I mean? Like, there's a lot of things I had to deal with, including boundaries for everybody.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

Including what I will accept from family or not. And including making this new family. Yes. You know what I mean? Like, then when you have a child, that's a whole other thing. But, yeah, we're very. We grew up very different.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes.

[Tika Sumpter]

Where his parents. There was. No. Like, they don't rely on him for anything, you know, that's just not how he grew up.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes.

[Tika Sumpter]

And so understanding. Not that my mom relied on me, but I was like, I made it.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

I got you.

[Tika Sumpter]

I got you.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

And your mama be right there with you, child.

[Tika Sumpter]

She complained the other day, I don't go nowhere no more with you. You know? And I was like, that's because you're like, I gotta take care of you for real. Like, you're like, I want pasta and lobster.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

No. Yeah, you're right.

[Tika Sumpter]

I got a black girl with a rasa. My tikka.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

And she.

[Tika Sumpter]

We eat pasta. I'm like, girl, come on. Like, sit down. Yes.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

But that is the difference. Especially when you have your own family.

[Tika Sumpter]

It's a big difference. It's a big difference when you have your own family. And then. Yeah. And so you just have to learn to set boundaries. And marriage is not easy. You know, it's. And I know people are gonna be like, it's easy if it's good, you know? And I'm like, that's. It's good. We love each other. It's just you go through constant changes, fixes, and constant. Like, you know, and then change with your child. And there's just so many dynamics in a household.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes.

[Tika Sumpter]

And so to hold it all together is like. It's. It's. It's a lot.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

You know, and then having time for yourself. But he's an amazing dad.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

And he treats me well and more than well. And we are building our lives and continuing to build our lives and happily.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

It's a beautiful life.

[Tika Sumpter]

Thank you.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah, it really is.

[Tika Sumpter]

Thank you.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

I love that. And you have a beautiful daughter, Ella.

[Tika Sumpter]

Thank you.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

You created the Adventures of Curiosity Cove, and then you have a new book. I get it from my mama. And Ella inspired this.

[Tika Sumpter]

Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

And I heard you say earlier that one of your first gigs was doing, like, after school, like, videos. So I feel like the Curiosity Cove kind of ties back into what you were doing in the very beginning.

[Tika Sumpter]

It's so crazy.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Isn't that crazy?

[Tika Sumpter]

It's so crazy how. And I was doing cartoons, too. Voiceovers.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes.

[Tika Sumpter]

So it just. It's crazy how it all melds together. We started Adventures of Curiosity Cove. Aocc. If you can't remember Adventures of Curiosity Cove because Ella, when she was younger, like 3, 4, she would ask us to tell her stories off the top. Like, off the dome.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah. Don't remember. Tell me a story.

[Tika Sumpter]

Tell me a story. Like, I was like, give me a hot 16. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So there was this girl, right? And she lived down, you know, it's like, I had to tell all these stories, and then she's like, another one. I was like, another one. I was like, girl, I don't know real storytelling. I'm exhausted. And so we were like, when she got older, she started getting into kids podcasts. She'd be like, mom, can you turn on my podcast? You know, we were in the car or she was in the bath, and I was like, oh, you love podcasts. Storying. We tell stories. Why don't we create something that would be amazing, that we think we can do really well into a podcast? And so we created Adventures of Curiosity Cove, which is about emotional intelligence. And this little one of the stories in there or series is Ella the Curious, this little third grader, kind of her coming of age story in third grade, and then a bunch of other one offs, but. And then out of that, I created, you know, I got it from my mama with Ella on the COVID So, yeah, it all worked together.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes. It's beautiful. I actually read it this morning, and it's such a cute book. And I love how she. Like children, do they often imitate everything they see?

[Tika Sumpter]

Yes.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

And there was a morning you were making. You're making the pancakes, and she spilled the batter trying to get the cinnamon. And you, like, just leave. Please leave. And then she did the same thing to the kid at school. And I loved how the emotional awareness where you're teaching her how to apologize. And then she, in turn does the same thing with the kid at school.

[Tika Sumpter]

Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

That was so good. I was like, wow.

[Tika Sumpter]

Yeah. It's like we. We think, you know, we love to talk about how kids are. All the best things that kids have about us, you know, And I think sometimes we don't talk about the challenging things and the things that they mirror.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes.

[Tika Sumpter]

Right. And so I wanted to give parents a pass to say we all mess. Like, I wanted to show them we mess up. Yes, we all mess up. And the mom had to actually apologize to the kids. I didn't realize how much apologizing I've had to do as a mom.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Mm.

[Tika Sumpter]

To a child.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

To a child. Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

And I always. People, you know, some people are like, some people think they'll lose their power. And I'm like, I am giving her the best power ever because she has a voice.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes.

[Tika Sumpter]

Come on. You know, we talk about. We want our kids to have voices when they get older. If they don't have it when they're younger, it's gonna be hard to find when they're older.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

So true. Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

So I just tried to create that world. And I want parents and kids to have fun reading. I love when it's fun for me to watch something with my child. When it's not, it's like, oh, my God, I'm gonna fall asleep or read something. And I'm like, not that book. Please not that book. Please not that book again. I don't wanna read it. Please. Shalom love. Please read it. I'm like, I don't wanna read it. You read it.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Right? Read to me.

[Tika Sumpter]

You read to me. You know, so. Yeah. So Ella loves it. And I hope, you know, other families do too.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes. You are also a part of the Sonic Hedgehog franchise.

[Tika Sumpter]

Yes.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

And you're one of the few black women that are part of a billion dollar franchi. What does that feel like?

[Tika Sumpter]

Say that again, Chad.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

One of the few. Let me give it to you better. One of the few African American women that are part of a billion dollar franchise. Okay, baby girl.

[Tika Sumpter]

A blessing.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

A blessing.

[Tika Sumpter]

A blessing.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

And what I love about Paramount, what they did was even when I came in to read for it, it wasn't a normal audition, really. No, it was. I walked in a room in a hotel with almost everybody from Paramount. Like, everybody.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Wow.

[Tika Sumpter]

At this long table. And James Marsden was sitting there and there were recording tapes here. I didn't know who any of these people were. I didn't know Who? I didn't even. I don't even know who the cast. I didn't know who anyone was. I just walked in and I was kind of like, here, sit here.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Here's your script.

[Tika Sumpter]

And I was like, okay. And we had a whole read through in front of everybody who was part of it. This thing.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Wow.

[Tika Sumpter]

And then they were like, okay, great, thank you. And I was like, okay, okay, bye. I don't know what's happening.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Right.

[Tika Sumpter]

And then they called and they were like, they'd love for you to be part of it.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

That was it.

[Tika Sumpter]

Wow.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

That was it.

[Tika Sumpter]

That was it. It went from knocking on the door. This is curly hair. You want me to. Yeah, we want you.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

This is what we want. Yes, we want you.

[Tika Sumpter]

And so, and writers direct. The. Our director, our cast, our crew, our producers. They have treated me like gold.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

That's good.

[Tika Sumpter]

They have made me feel amazing. Like an actress should feel.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes.

[Tika Sumpter]

Like, when she's part of something that is making the company a lot, you know? And I'm just proud to be part of a franchise. Not everybody gets to do that, so.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

That's so true. I'm proud of you. Thank you. That is amazing. Now, did Ellie get to watch that.

[Tika Sumpter]

Oh, my God.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

And hear your voice? Did she. Did you say, hey, I'm doing it. I'm in this movie? Or did you just let her be? Like, wait, is that you?

[Tika Sumpter]

No. So she saw the first one she. When she was like, three.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Okay, four.

[Tika Sumpter]

She was. That's the first movie she sat through and was like. And I had to, like, fall out of a building. And she's like, I don't like that part, mama. She's like, I love Sonic. And now she's like. Because she'll be like. Sometimes she's like, mom, I don't want you to leave. Like, you know, she's like, we said something the other day. I go, you don't want me to be an actress anymore? She goes, no, you have to be in the Sonic movies. Like, I don't care what else you do with the Sonic movies. You gotta keep that going. But yeah, no, she's obsessed. She's obsessed and she loves video games and she loves, like, that whole world. So I took her to the headquarters of SEGA in Burbank and she was. It was fun. So I'm just. I'm like, super proud. That's the one thing that she can watch that I'm in, you know?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

And. Yeah, so, yeah, you're right.

[Tika Sumpter]

The has and have nots, baby.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

She is not watching. She's like mom. She'll be like, mom. I don't like when she act like that Candace character.

[Tika Sumpter]

No, she'll be like, sometimes it's. You.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Gotta see some similarities.

[Tika Sumpter]

Yeah. She's like mirror.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah, that is funny. What is next for Tika Sumter?

[Tika Sumpter]

What is next? Ooh, that's a good question. I think I have so many things in the pipeline. I'm kind of like you. Like, I'm into building. I never want to be only relying on a system that easily throws people out. Right. And so I am building my company, Fort Sumter Media to content to content to product and through the world of. Of women at the center, moms at the center. And yeah, there's a lot of things coming up right now. It's the book. There's some great podcast stuff coming up once the contracts are signed. And oh, Watson. I play. Yes, yes. Morris Chestnut.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

I love his new show. Love it.

[Tika Sumpter]

Okay. Shout out Morris on Watson. So I'm excited about that. That's coming up. There's a two part finale that I'm. And then. Yeah. Survival of the Thickest is out. I play the love interest of the.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

I just started watching that yesterday while I was getting my hair braided. So. That show is funny.

[Tika Sumpter]

It's funny.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

It's so good.

[Tika Sumpter]

It's really funny. Michelle Buteau is the creator. She's amazing and funny. Tasha Smith, Tank Bell. Like I said. So that. And then, yeah, there's a few other things that are in the works. So, I mean, there's always gonna. I feel like you got 50 million, 11 jobs and do.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

And do. Yes. You had to. And that's another thing. People think once you like, like reach success that it just, it's easy. No, you have to keep building from that place. It doesn't stop.

[Tika Sumpter]

You keep. And you just. I feel like your dream grows in a different way.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

It does, right?

[Tika Sumpter]

Like, you don't have a one stop shop. Like, it's done. It's like, oh, I want to stretch myself here. That's for me. Where I'm at. I'm like, I want to do this.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

You know, so I love that for you.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

I remember you called me one day. I think it was right after I got the soccer team. You like, girl.

[Tika Sumpter]

I said girl. A soccer team. Okay. Keep it positive, sweetie. I was like, you're part of a soccer team.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

And I love that though.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

But I love that we can call each other and like have hey, girl, how? And what. And how can I get in? You know, these are conversations that we have. And, like, podcasting, like, how did you do this? Like, knowing that you have a girlfriend that you can call and the same. I can call you and like, tika, I'm trying to do this. Give me some guidelines.

[Tika Sumpter]

Yes. Yeah, anytime. Like, and that's what we need to do. Share information. Because information is power.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes.

[Tika Sumpter]

Right?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

And so I. I'm. I was so proud when I read that that you did that you bought. You know, you're part of this soccer franchise. And I was just like, you're like, girl, girl, girl, you got a journal. You got. You got merch.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Merch, merch.

[Tika Sumpter]

So, yeah, I'm just really proud of you. But again, the dream just grows in a different way while you continue to do the thing that you've always wanted to. That's me.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Exactly. I love that. I remember you said. You just said something about being part of an industry that can just throw you away. And that was like, after we came at strike. And I told you that, too, I said, girl, after that strike, I said, I gotta. I can't depend on this, because it gets. It's easy to, like, have all this money coming in, because acting pays the bills, you know, Especially when you're on a show that goes for as long as our shows are gone. Yours is on nine years, Nine seasons. Isn't that crazy?

[Tika Sumpter]

Just nine seasons.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Nine seasons.

[Tika Sumpter]

That's a long and counting time.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah. Most shows normally stop around five or six.

[Tika Sumpter]

Five or six if you're lucky.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

If big if.

[Tika Sumpter]

That's not normal. No, that's Law and Order.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yep, exactly.

[Tika Sumpter]

Law and order is like, 20 crazy.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

That's probably like Grey's Anatomy, too. They.

[Tika Sumpter]

Grey's Anatomy, like, it's very rare.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Very rare. So, girl, keep your job, baby, and keep working. But you have to build to people. You have to keep building because they think, like, oh, this is just the one thing I'm going after. You have to build from that.

[Tika Sumpter]

You build from it. And what I love about today is literally, you can start right now.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes.

[Tika Sumpter]

It doesn't have to look pretty. It could be what it is until you grow.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes.

[Tika Sumpter]

Like, if you want to do something, literally, you can. And there's so much access now and information.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

So much.

[Tika Sumpter]

And I'm like, oh, I'm gonna do everything.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes.

[Tika Sumpter]

You know what I mean? And do it well. But, like, you're just. I don't know. I think you are a complete inspiration to so many. And to I. All your friends.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Thank you.

[Tika Sumpter]

And, you know, it made me be like, let me get up Let me stop watching this show and go, let.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Me write my book. Write my own show.

[Tika Sumpter]

Yeah. Like, just do exactly. Writing. Writing. So I'm doing that, too. Just writing and creating and, like, ownership.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes.

[Tika Sumpter]

You know, that is so important.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

And we were talking before we started filming about Tyler was the one that really kind of showed us what ownership.

[Tika Sumpter]

Real ownership, real ownership looks like.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

And for us, what it looked like and how. Because we didn't. We don't see a lot of people in those positions or to know that, hey, no, you should be doing this, and this is how you need to set up your deals. And when you do your contracts, you should be asking for this. And there were so many things, like, afterwards, they're like, why is this not already taken care of? I'm like, oh, I didn't know. No, ask for that.

[Tika Sumpter]

Ask for it.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

And that's the thing when you can call somebody who's in a position of power. Can I just tell you something? I go in every room now and I say, I can tell who doesn't have power and who does.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes.

[Tika Sumpter]

And I say, I have seen real power move. Like, real power.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes.

[Tika Sumpter]

Not middleman energy. Real power.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Who she sound like? Ashana? Shawna be like, yeah, this ain't it. She said, just like, you okay. Yes.

[Tika Sumpter]

Okay. Because I'm not playing with y' all.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes.

[Tika Sumpter]

I need somebody who can make decisions and who can make it happen. So every time I. Even now, like, you still. People think again when you're in these positions that you don't get roadblocks, and you don't get people saying, well, no, you gotta go. This is the route, how it normally happens.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Right.

[Tika Sumpter]

And I'm like, yeah, but how else can we get around normally?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Mm. How else can we get. I like that. And Because I'm not a normal girl, because.

[Tika Sumpter]

And why does it have to be normal? Like, let's knock that over.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Groundbreaking things. Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

Yeah. And then also give me the people who can make real power. Like, who. Who has a yes or no?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes.

[Tika Sumpter]

You know?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

And I've seen it so many times, and very few have it in the industry.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

Very few have it.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Right.

[Tika Sumpter]

And Tyler's one of them.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah, he. For sure.

[Tika Sumpter]

One of them.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

How lucky are we to be blessed by God?

[Tika Sumpter]

Sorry, I break out in songs sometimes. You don't have to.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Tika, you are absolutely amazing. Before we close out, we do what is called our positive outcomes Listener letter. This is where our listeners write in, ask us a question, and we give them advice. You down?

[Tika Sumpter]

I'm down for whatever you need.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

All right, let's do it. This one comes from Jennifer o' Neal, and she says, how do you give a man who you're dating potential husband? Oh, we just talked about that. To get his finances, profession, and life in order so we can experience a life together. Oh, that's tough.

[Tika Sumpter]

Wait, how do you. Let me understand this question.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

Basically, how do you get your man in order before you get married?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah. Or how do you give him the time to get his life in order? Like, you have someone that you feel could be your husband, but he needs to get his finances, profession, and life in order so that you guys can experience the life, basically. I know what you're saying, girl. Jennifer, you're saying you want him to be able to experience the life that you want.

[Tika Sumpter]

Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Cause sometimes, you know, you feel like you're in a position, and the person that you're dating may not be able.

[Tika Sumpter]

To meet you there. First of all, she has to understand he may never be at her position. And is that okay?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

That's. Yes. You have to be okay with that.

[Tika Sumpter]

And be real. No. Ask yourself, are you really okay with it?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah. Cause that's real.

[Tika Sumpter]

That's a real question.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes.

[Tika Sumpter]

And it's valid, and it is.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

And if that's not your thing, if it's a no, that's okay. Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

But if you want to help him try to grow, then maybe you can connect. Help connect dots. Maybe he's not that great at. At organization or whatever that is to get his flow going, Whatever that is. Finances or career. Maybe you can help connect. Help him connect the dots.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

Because you also don't want to feel like you're wearing putting more rocks in your backpack. You know what I mean?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

I do know what you mean. Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

And so there's a happy medium of feeling. Like, here are the things that I can help you with to get you on your way. But you have to get on your way.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

You have to do. Yes, yes, yes. And I think that's the point of having a partner.

[Tika Sumpter]

That's it.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

You know, having someone, like, we all have different strengths and weaknesses. And then if you pair together, like, okay, wait. You really are a go getter. You just need the right tools.

[Tika Sumpter]

There we go.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Well, I got this. Let me see. Let's connect and build this together for my toolbox.

[Tika Sumpter]

But I don't want to have to give you everything.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

I need to see what you can do on your own as well. Yeah. Jennifer, that's so good, T.K.

[Tika Sumpter]

Oh, thank you.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah. That was Great. So we're gonna play a quick game of this or that.

[Tika Sumpter]

Okay.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Well, I think I know this one. Well, maybe you like both of them. So, coffee date or wine night?

[Tika Sumpter]

Oh.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Ooh, right.

[Tika Sumpter]

Can I ask you a question?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

I know this is a quick game, but why are people so against going on a coffee date?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Well, I don't drink coffee.

[Tika Sumpter]

Well, tea.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Tea. Yeah. I do tea.

[Tika Sumpter]

Somebody asks me, will you go on a date?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Absolutely. Oh, a date. Yeah, absolutely.

[Tika Sumpter]

Well, you look down, so I feel like you won't. Yeah, Okay.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

I love wine.

[Tika Sumpter]

Okay. No, but I'm saying, like, some people are like, that's cheap.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

No, I've heard girls eat that. Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

I'm like, that's a great way to leave early if you don't. Aren't into it.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Right?

[Tika Sumpter]

Yeah.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Okay.

[Tika Sumpter]

I was, like, confused.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

No, I love that. That's great for, like, really, just. Just no pressure. I feel like coffee dates are no pressure.

[Tika Sumpter]

And dinner is long. If you're not into it, then you.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Got the pressure of him like. So what you doing late? Nothing. I'm going home.

[Tika Sumpter]

I'm leaving. Bye.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah.

[Tika Sumpter]

Okay. So I would. Do. I like wine.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Me too.

[Tika Sumpter]

Let's do a wine.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

All right. Wine date.

[Tika Sumpter]

I get a little, like, with wine, though, right?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

It's different. It's different attitudes or experiences you're gonna get. I feel like wine's like, yeah, what's going on?

[Tika Sumpter]

Yeah, Yeah. I was like, yeah, so what's going on?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah, what's going on?

[Tika Sumpter]

That's the third, fourth date.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Right? Okay, we'll stick to the coffee for the beginning. Netflix binge or spontaneous road trip?

[Tika Sumpter]

Ooh, spontaneous road trip.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes. Beach vacation or mountain escape?

[Tika Sumpter]

I love a beach vacation.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

I'm a water baby. I love water.

[Tika Sumpter]

It depends if the ocean is calm.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah. To kaba water. No, but you got to save somebody. Listen, even that Mediterranean water.

[Tika Sumpter]

Give me that Bahamas water.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

They're clear water I can see for miles and miles away. Yeah, give me that water. Dressing up in heels or chilling in hoodies?

[Tika Sumpter]

Hoodies.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Me too.

[Tika Sumpter]

Oh, gosh, girl, I can't. Look at me. I know you going somewhere.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

And I'm about to be riding some sneakers.

[Tika Sumpter]

I was like, this. This is. This is cute.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yes. You're always cute, girl. It don't matter what you put on.

[Tika Sumpter]

Thank you.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Staying in face mask or dancing all night?

[Tika Sumpter]

Face mask.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Like facials.

[Tika Sumpter]

Dancing all night.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah. That's a good time. Spicy tacos or sweet cupcakes?

[Tika Sumpter]

Spicy tacos.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Texting me all day or deep late night calls?

[Tika Sumpter]

Deep late Night calls. If I'm calling you, that's a problem. We need to be together.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah, I know. That's right. Oh, this is good. Rom com movie or true crime documentary?

[Tika Sumpter]

Rom com movie, yes.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Sharing secrets or keeping it mysterious?

[Tika Sumpter]

Mystery is not fun after the first time around.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Right?

[Tika Sumpter]

I've had mystery. No, thank you. No mystery. What is it?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Sharing secrets or keeping it mysterious?

[Tika Sumpter]

Sharing secrets.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Yeah, I love that. And then matching tattoos or matching outfits?

[Tika Sumpter]

Tattoos.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Do you have any tattoos?

[Tika Sumpter]

Yes, girl.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Okay.

[Tika Sumpter]

You can't see them now.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

So if you know, you know.

[Tika Sumpter]

If you know, you know.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

This has been. I knew this was gonna be a great episode. I love you.

[Tika Sumpter]

Thank you. I love you more.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Thank you for coming. I'm proud of everything you have going on. Seriously, guys, make sure you go get her book. Check out Adventures of Curiosity Cove and all the amazing things. We'll let you guys know when her movie's coming out. We're definitely gonna support you. Everything you have going on, make sure you guys follow Tika at Ika Sumpter. Is it? That's your Instagram?

[Tika Sumpter]

Yeah, Ika Sumpter is my Instagram.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Ika Sumpter. Follow her because you've been doing better on posting, girl. I have. I'm proud of you. Yes. I'm very proud of you, girl.

[Tika Sumpter]

I need help on TikTok though, because.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Oh, I got you.

[Tika Sumpter]

You know how many followers I have on TikTok? First of all, I don't even think they think it's me.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

This ain't Tika.

[Tika Sumpter]

This ain't Tika. Because she has 356 followers.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Oh, yeah. That's definitely not you. Okay, we'll talk offline about that.

[Tika Sumpter]

Can you guys help me? I. And not only that, other people have more than me of me. They're acting like me.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Oh, my God.

[Tika Sumpter]

And they're doing the. They did the. That challenge, the Boyz II Men 1, Remember, in Tyler's room. And my niece is like, your challenge is going viral. I'm like, what challenge?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Oh, my gosh. So you have to do it.

[Tika Sumpter]

No, it's old.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

It's old now.

[Tika Sumpter]

Then I look like a 1900s lady.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Late, late.

[Tika Sumpter]

You're late, ma' am. I mean, like, is it the dance? What is it?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Which one? I was just telling them the other day. I was like, I want to do that. That all the kids are doing it. Then they're like, what is it?

[Tika Sumpter]

Do they do this in the club?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

No, it's on Instagram. It's something that the kids are doing.

[Tika Sumpter]

Are they?

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

Michael Rainey like, all his videos on TikTok, that's all he's doing. He's dancing, like, on tables. It's like a. He does this, and then he does this little dance Savannah and her daughter just did. Zuri just did it, and then they, like, slide down walls and, like, it's, like, so cute. So we're all gonna do it together.

[Tika Sumpter]

He's like, no, we're not. Thank you.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

No, thank you.

[Tika Sumpter]

I love you.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

I love you too.

[Tika Sumpter]

It's great.

[Chris Renee Hazlett]

So good, guys. That was a great conversation. I hope you guys all received the message of, your time is your time, and whatever God has for you, he has for you. Tika's story and everything that she talked about was absolutely amazing. I love her journey. It was inspiring for me, and I love to know that I have a sister that we both can encourage and inspire each other. Thank you guys so much for tuning in to another episode of the Keep It Positive, Sweetie show. Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who could use a little positivity. You guys can follow me on Instagram and all platforms at lovechrystalrenae. In the meantime, in between times, stay blessed, stay encouraged, and remember to keep it positive, sweetie. I'll see you guys next time.