Podcast Summary: Keep It Positive, Sweetie

Episode: Work Life Harmony w/ Melissa Proctor
Host: Crystal Renee Hayslett
Guest: Melissa Proctor (CMO of Atlanta Hawks, Co-Founder of Privita Health)
Date: October 19, 2025

Episode Overview

This lively and heart-centered episode of Keep It Positive, Sweetie welcomes Melissa Proctor – artist, trailblazing executive, mom, and entrepreneur. Host Crystal Renee Hayslett dives deep into Melissa’s inspiring journey from a determined teenage "ball girl" to the C-suite of the Atlanta Hawks, and now, co-founding the innovative wellness center, Privita Health. Together, they candidly explore ambition, leadership, women in sports, creativity, resilience, motherhood, and redefining work-life “harmony.” The episode culminates in an exclusive tour of Privita Health, highlighting proactive health, longevity, and community wellness. Inspiring, practical, and sprinkled with laughs and wisdom, the episode is a testament to carving your own lane and uplifting others along the way.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Early Ambition and the Power of Persistence (03:10–08:00)

• Crystal & Melissa reminisce about their first meeting and Melissa’s determined teenage years.
  • At 15, Melissa decided to work for the NBA, calling and writing letters (with her artwork) to the Miami Heat every day until she got a chance.
  • Persistence Pays: Jay Sable, the Heat’s equipment manager, eventually recognized her heart and let her try out for the ball kid role—making her the first female ball girl.
• Memorable quote:
  • “If you have pride...She would always say, you gotta kiss ass till you could kick it.” – Melissa Proctor (08:20)
• Lesson: Treat everyone with respect, never be above any job, and don’t let “no” stop you.

2. Building Character & Career Lessons from Humble Beginnings (08:00–10:30)

• Melissa learned humility and respect by working “grunt” jobs and being exposed to all kinds of people, from celebrities to executives.
  • “It doesn’t matter what stage of career you’re at, you should always be able to humble yourself to go and do whatever it takes to get the job done.” (09:36)

3. Leadership, Imposter Syndrome & Defining Your ‘Why’ (10:35–17:15)

• Melissa’s Leadership Path
  • She wrote her book, From Ball Girl to CMO, primarily for her daughter, inspired by her late mother’s wisdom.
  • After being laid off at 8 months pregnant, persistence led her to the Atlanta Hawks, where she gradually (often through relationships and being helpful) worked her way up.
  • She initially resisted the CMO role because she enjoyed being a creative “free agent,” but her CEO told her: “I want you to do this job because you DON’T want it. Most people want it for money or power. Sports don’t pay...I want you because of your why.” (15:28)
• Imposter Syndrome & Growth
  • Melissa sought an executive coach, uniquely embracing vulnerability and the opportunity for self-awareness.
  • “I have a no jerk policy.” – Melissa Proctor (10:20); she screens candidates on how they treat assistants and front desk staff as a measure of true character.

4. Women in Sports, Representation & Authenticity (20:37–24:34)

• Challenges & Opportunities:
  • Melissa describes the evolution of women’s roles in the NBA: “I almost see being a woman in sports as a superpower.” (21:28)
  • Early in her career, she faced overt dismissiveness: “We don’t pay you to think. We pay you to do what we tell you to do.”
  • As a Black woman CMO, she frequently experiences being underestimated, even by security staff unaware she’s an executive.
  • “I was changing his perspective or stereotype of what an NBA executive looked like.” (22:54)
  • Melissa doesn’t define herself by her job title and warns against identity entanglement with corporate positions.

5. Creativity & Art: Balancing Passion and Profession (17:31–18:39)

• Melissa once had a robust art career but shares how “creating for money” dulled her passion.
  • She now embraces creativity as a tool for business innovation.
  • “Now, I say that I use my creativity to find creative solutions to business challenges.” (18:27)

6. Work-Life Harmony & Guiding Principles (32:23–36:42)

• Melissa’s “Starting Five” Guiding Principles (anchored for all career/life decisions):
  1. Marrying creative and strategic thinking
  2. Relentless learning—adding new skills/tools
  3. Financial security and generational wealth
  4. Work-life harmony (not balance)
  5. Authenticity—being herself always and everywhere
  6. (Bonus) Staying rooted in Atlanta due to her daughter’s attachment to home
  • “Every decision I’ve made, I ladder it up to those. If it does, it’s something I know I’ll be happy with.” (35:47)
  • Crystal is inspired to find her own “starting five” after hearing this framework.

7. Motherhood and Intentional Parenting (36:42–39:05)

• Crystal highlights Melissa’s intentional parenting and open communication with her daughter Marley:
  • “I often ask her, how can I be a better mom?” – Melissa Proctor (37:51)
  • Melissa adapts to feedback from Marley, prioritizing her needs when balancing work commitments and new entrepreneurial ventures.

Privita Health Tour & Holistic Wellness Discussion

Introduction to Privita Health (39:16–44:23)

• Melissa & Dr. Trevor Turner introduce Privita Health, a Buckhead, Atlanta wellness center focused on longevity, orthopedics, and innovative wellness.
  • Services range from IV therapy, AI-powered massage, full body imaging, plasma exchange, and personalized supplements.
  • Proactive, personalized, and data-driven health “designed to help you live as well as you can for as long as you can.”

Facility Tour & Advanced Health Technology (46:18–65:00)

Notable Segments:

• DEXA Scanner for bone density and body composition (48:18)
• Therapeutic Plasma Exchange – reduces toxins and microplastics, with growing evidence supporting prevention of cognitive decline (49:07)
  • “There’s no other tool in medicine that really reduces mold, heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, and now microplastics all together in a single session.” – Dr. Turner (48:55)
• Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber for healing and recovery (52:10)
• IV Therapy personalized based on unique micronutrient profiles (53:13)
• Fluoroscopy & Advanced Ultrasound for diagnostics, including dynamic orthopedic evaluation and preventive cancer screening (53:43; 55:39)
• Personalization & Data Collection
  • Use of glucose monitors and wearables for understanding and optimizing individual health (62:02)
  • “I want every patient to become a citizen scientist.” – Dr. Turner (63:05)
• AI Massage Table (ESCAPE) – first in Georgia – customizable, relaxing experience (57:23)

Practical Wellness Insights

• Blood Sugar and Fasting
  • Both Crystal and Melissa have discussed using glucose monitors and intermittent fasting to improve health, manage energy, and prevent chronic conditions (64:11–67:03).
  • “For me...I was doing 16/8 intermittent fasting...and I have so much energy, I don’t feel that 2 or 3 o’clock crash anymore.” – Crystal (64:54)
  • Dr. Turner supports the sustainability of fasting protocols and personalizing approaches.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You gotta kiss ass till you can kick it.” – Melissa Proctor, reflecting her mother’s wisdom (08:20)
• “I want you to do this job because you don’t want it.” – Melissa’s CEO, on her becoming CMO (15:00)
• “I have a no jerk policy.” – Melissa Proctor (10:20)
• “Every decision I make, I ladder it up to my starting five.” – Melissa Proctor (35:47)
• “I almost see being a woman in sports as a superpower.” – Melissa Proctor (21:28)
• “If I was a greeter at Walmart tomorrow, I would be equally as cool and still very much me.” – Melissa Proctor (24:14)
• “I want every patient to become a citizen scientist.” – Dr. Trevor Turner (63:05)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment/Theme | Timestamp | |-------------------------------------------------|------------| | Early ambition & NBA “Ball Girl” story | 03:10–08:00| | Perseverance and treating everyone with respect | 08:00–10:30| | Book, motherhood, and leadership insights | 10:35–17:15| | Creativity and walking away from paid art | 17:31–18:39| | Women in sports & representation | 20:37–24:34| | Work-life harmony & guiding principles | 32:23–36:42| | Intentional parenting and Marley | 36:42–39:05| | Introduction/tour of Privita Health | 39:16–44:23| | Detailed facility/wellness walkthrough | 46:18–65:00| | Intermittent fasting, blood sugar, and health | 64:11–67:03|

Tone & Language

The conversation is honest, supportive, often witty and always grounded in real-life experience, humility, and hope. Crystal’s warmth and Melissa’s candor combine for an episode that feels like a masterclass in work, life, and self-care—delivered by friends who genuinely want everyone to thrive.

In Summary

This episode exemplifies the Keep It Positive, Sweetie spirit: celebrate the journey, honor your story, stay authentic, and reach back as you climb. Whether you’re building dreams from scratch, facing setbacks, navigating “imposter syndrome,” balancing work and motherhood, or seeking to level up your health, this conversation is overflowing with wisdom, practical tools, and heartfelt encouragement.

Learn more:

• Privita Health - Website & Socials
• [Melissa Proctor’s Book: From Ball Girl to CMO]

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