Podcast Summary: Keep It Positive, Sweetie

Episode: “Working While Waiting” with Sherri Shepherd
Host: Crystal Renee Hayslett
Guest: Sherri Shepherd
Date: December 1, 2024
Podcast by: The Black Effect & iHeartPodcasts

Overview

This uplifting episode of "Keep It Positive, Sweetie" features a candid, heartfelt conversation between host Crystal Renee Hayslett and comedian, actress, and talk show host Sherri Shepherd. Through laughter, vulnerability, and faith-driven wisdom, the two discuss the nonlinear journey of chasing your dreams, the lessons learned during the waiting period, the realities of Hollywood, setting boundaries, mental health, and supporting others without losing yourself.
The episode delivers empowering messages about timing, gratitude, faith, resilience, and the importance of owning your uniqueness.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Waiting Season: Faith, Timing & Preparation

• Both Crystal and Sherri share experiences of feeling “late” to their careers. Sherri reflects on how everything she did during her waiting period helped prepare her for her current success.
  • “You’re right where you’re supposed to be at the time you’re supposed to be there because you were ready. He could trust you with this assignment.” – Sherri (05:52)
• Sherri references a pastor who said sometimes you must “mature into the reality of that dream” (06:10)—success too soon can result in a harder fall if you haven’t built resilience.
• Every job and experience along the way—stand-up, The View, Dish Nation—became a critical puzzle piece in her talk show career. (08:16)

2. Gratitude, Perspective, and Connection

• Sherri describes moments when she feels deeply grateful for her show’s renewal and the impact it has on viewers.
  • “I see all of these faces that are clapping, that are smiling, and it’s not because the DJ has prompted... I can see what God’s assignment is when I’m walking out.” – Sherri (02:57)
• Meeting people who share how much her show means to them brings Sherri to tears and keeps her grounded. (03:39)
• Visits to places like Howard University remind her she is a living embodiment of someone else’s dreams. (04:22)

3. Life in Hollywood: Uphill Battles and Owning Your Worth

• Sherri opens up about doubting her worth and facing assumptions about her success.
  • “Somebody said, ‘you must have slept with Jamie [Foxx] to be on this show.’... It hurt my feelings so bad because I was like, I work for this.” (00:03, repeated at 36:44)
• Discusses impostor syndrome and feeling out of place alongside more credentialed or younger colleagues, especially on "The View." Yet, her mistakes became necessary for her growth. (09:52)
• “All things work together for the good of them who love the Lord...” — applying Romans 8:28 to her journey. (10:52)

4. Working with Tyler Perry & On-Screen Alliances

• Both Crystal and Sherri recount the fast pace, intensity, and chaos of working with Tyler Perry—including his iconic phrase:
  • “His favorite saying is, ‘What is taking so long?’” – Crystal, echoed by Sherri (22:32)
• Highlights from filming Perry’s new film, Straw, including learning to accept compliments and the humor found in high-pressure moments.
  • “Why am I Henrietta? ... I’m single, how I’m gonna tell some man I’m playing Henrietta?” – Sherri (17:02)
• Describes camaraderie and challenge in working with Taraji P. Henson and Teyana Taylor. (19:05, 23:05)

5. Setting Boundaries and Navigating Friendships

• As Sherri has risen, she’s had to shed relationships and say “no” for her own mental health and sanity. (27:01)
  • “I can’t be the support system for everybody because it’s dragging me down... I have learned to say no. I say no a lot, and it’s no with a period.” – Sherri (27:20)
• Cherishes enduring friendships, like her 30-year bond with Niecy Nash, emphasizing security and the ability to pick up where they left off without guilt or jealousy. (29:52, 32:53)
  • Tyler Perry’s boundary advice: “You got to be friends with people that if you don’t talk to them for six months, you can pick that phone back up, and y’all carry on where you left off.” – via Sherri (33:12)

6. Mental Health, Therapy, and Spiritual Grounding

• Sherri and Crystal openly discuss anxiety, panic attacks, and impostor syndrome in the public eye. Both highlight the need for therapy and support systems.
  • “If God gave you the assignment, it’s something that you have that He wants to use to touch people.” – Sherri (37:11)
  • Both cite scripture for comfort (Philippians 4:6, Romans 8:28).
• Sherri advocates for seeing others with compassion instead of engaging with negativity or haters:
  • “Show me that person the way you see them, because you love everybody… I find myself praying for people more.” – Sherri (40:37)
• On boundaries with energy: learning not to give energy to social media critics and understanding people act out of pain and fear. (40:58)

7. Motherhood and Priorities

• Sherri discusses the challenge and joy of being a mother—specifically to her son Jeffrey, who is on the spectrum. Everything is prioritized around his well-being, sometimes turning down roles for his sake.
  • “Somebody once told me, there’s going to be a lot of spinning wheels in your life. Make sure Jeffrey’s not one of them.” – Sherri (43:15)

8. Health, Fitness & Longevity

• Both swap stories about the realities of staying fit over 40/50, changes in motivation, and the importance of modeling good health within the Black community.
  • “What started me to working out was Jeffrey, because he’s on the spectrum. I want to be here.” – Sherri (45:05)
  • “They say health is wealth. You either spend money staying healthy or spend it trying to get well.” – Sherri (46:22)

9. Advice for Aspiring Talk Show Hosts

• Sherri’s practical, faith-driven advice:
  • “You are doing it. So you are preparing yourself so that when that opportunity comes, you are there, you’re ready... Stop asking for permission.” (47:48)
  • Sherri describes how her podcast led to Image Awards and the talk show; urges Crystal to stay ready by creating her own opportunities.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Sherri on timing and faith:
  “If I gave it to you in your twenties, you’d be all out in the streets... He’s like, ‘cause I need you to be settled.’” (07:43)

• On navigating haters and negativity:
  “I learned how not to give people my energy... When I open up my mouth, there’s just people that’s not going to agree with me, and that’s okay.” (10:05)

• On accepting compliments:
  “I don’t take compliments very well... It’s almost like being an abused woman; that when you finally do get a nice man, you don’t know how to accept it. So I tend to gloss over the flowers.” (15:43)

• On boundaries and the myth of celebrity wealth:
  “If you go on that site, it look like I make enough money to take care of the world. I don’t know what they’re talking about.” (28:01)

• On enduring friendship:
  “It doesn’t matter who is in our life... we’ve just had this enduring friendship where we know it doesn’t matter who is recognized... That’s Sherri.” (31:44)

• On uniqueness:
  “You could try to put somebody in my place who is really good, but they’re not going to give you what I give you... We are all unique and have our own gifting that is so different from somebody else.” (37:45)

• On criticism and compassion:
  “If you don’t like the show, God bless you. Go support the other Black women who have a show.” (42:02)

• On priorities:
  “My first assignment is, I’m a mother... If you’re fulfilling the first assignment God gave you, he’s gonna bring everything back around.” (43:16)

Key Segment Timestamps

• 00:03 | Sherri recounts hurtful rumors about how she got her role on the Jamie Foxx Show
• 02:19 | Sherri expresses gratitude for her talk show’s third season
• 05:40 | Sherri on waiting for her moment and cumulative preparation
• 09:52 | On mistakes, impostor syndrome, and lessons from “The View”
• 13:44 | Insights about working with Tyler Perry and the making of Straw
• 17:02 | The “Henrietta” name debate—humor on set with Perry/Taraji/Teyana
• 22:32 | The Tyler Perry work pace; “What is taking so long?”
• 27:01 | Setting boundaries and saying ‘no’ as self-protection
• 29:52 | Sherri’s 30-year friendship with Niecy Nash—support and non-competitive love
• 34:45 | Mental health, anxiety, faith (Philippians 4:6), and necessity of therapy
• 36:44 | Processing hurtful industry rumors, embracing purpose
• 43:16 | Balancing motherhood and career priorities
• 45:05 | Sherri’s motivation for fitness
• 47:48 | Advice to aspiring talk show hosts—start before you’re given permission

Episode Takeaways

• Preparation in the Waiting: Waiting is not wasted—every experience teaches something valuable for the future.
• Gratitude and Self-Compassion: It’s vital to pause, reflect, and appreciate your journey.
• Setting Firm Boundaries: Protect your mental health and energy; know how to say no.
• Faith Anchors Everything: Spiritual grounding helps survive criticism and self-doubt.
• Community and Real Connections: True friends don’t compete or keep score; they support each other’s elevation.
• Embrace Your Uniqueness: No one else can bring what you bring—your journey and gifts are singular and needed.
• Invest in Yourself: Prioritize health, mental wellness, and keep doing the work—your opportunity will arrive.

Final Quote:
“You are doing it... Stop asking for permission. Keep doing what you’re doing and show people what you do, so you feel completely prepared when that opportunity comes—because it will.” – Sherri Shepherd (47:48)

For More:
Follow Crystal Renee Hayslett @lovecrystalrenee and the show @keepitpositive.sweetie on social media. Listener stories: keepitpositivesweetiemail.com

Summary prepared for those who want all the wisdom, laughs, and warmth of the episode—without missing a beat.