A (2:43)

I know that's right. Listen, I'm so proud of you. Like you've gained so Many accolades and nominations. Have you had time to just really sit in it? Because I know you're so busy. When do you find time to just be like, wow, this is my life right now.

B (2:57)

When I come out and sit in my chair, like, I. The door opens, and I. I see all of these faces that are clapping, that are smiling, and it's not because the DJ has prompted, you know, people to do it. I can see what God's assignment is when I'm walking out. And I. And I'm always walking out going, lord, wow. Or when I walk down the hallways and see, you know, my name. And I go, this is what I dreamed about. Or when, you know, like, people send me a picture of, like, I'm on my pictures on the billboard outside, and I go, oh, my gosh. That's like. That's my. That's me.

A (3:38)

Yes.

B (3:39)

My voice get all high. What? That's Sherry. So that is when. When I'm here and I see it, or when people come and tell me, you know, my husband, he passed away, and we used to watch it together, or my mom and I watch it together, or, you know, they just tell me what. What the show means to them, and I just go, thank you, Lord. And then I start crying.

A (4:05)

I love it. That's beautiful. I'm happy that you actually find time, because sometimes life can be so busy and pass us by. We look up and, like, wait. I accomplished all these things, but I didn't really get to sit in it. So I'm happy that you daily can sit in it and find time to just be grateful. It's so beautiful. I love that.

B (4:22)

I don't know if I get to, like, you know, take breaks or anything, but I guess it's just. I wanted the dream for so long. So sitting in it and seeing that. I was at Howard University yesterday when all of the young people kept coming up and hugging me, Go, Ms. Sherry. I want my own talk show. I. I got to sit in it by seeing I'm a living embodiment of what you were dreaming about. So touch me, hug me, talk to me. And that's when I go, lord, oh, my God. Oh, my God, you help. You blessed me with this.

A (4:57)

Oh, that is beautiful. Something that resonated with me is your new series. It's Never too late. I was 38 when my career took off. And, Sherry, when I tell you, I looked around the room, and I was like, everybody is either, like, 10 years younger than me, 12 years younger than me, and there were so many moments where I Felt like I was late to the party. And as I gained my footing, I realized, you know what? You're right on time. Because everything that I gained, the knowledge that I learned during the waiting period, it really, like, it just equipped me for everything that I was stepping into. What did you do to maintain the waiting phase to, like, really get to where you wanted to get to?

B (5:40)

You know, it's so funny, when I first met you, Crystal, and you came on the show and you told that story, I. So it so resonated with me because it's like, now you go, you're right where you supposed to be at the time you were supposed to be there because you were ready. He could trust you with this assignment. And I remember I was at a church one time, and the pastor said, some of us have not had our dream come true, but sometimes you have to mature into the reality of that dream. Because if something happens or there's a crash or burn, if you haven't matured into it, you're gonna crash and burn. You're not gonna know how to get back up. So I think a lot of times when people have this, you know, success too quickly and they don't have anything up under them going, I can keep pushing because I know God didn't done this for me when. When this happened. I know this has been happening. I know I have this experience, and you are right where you're supposed to be, and he has seasoned you up so that when you. When you come out and people adore you and appreciate you, it's because they can relate to all that life experience you are bringing into your character. It is right when I tell you, girl, I sit on my couch, and I mean, my talk show couch. And I'm like, lord, why you. You gave me this talk show. 54 years old. You know, I'm tired. You know, I ain't got no stamina. Lord, who is this person sitting? I'm gonna tell you that one time, Lorenz Tate, he came on the show, and he was sitting across from me, and I said, okay, who? I know I know him. But his name slipped from my mind.

A (7:16)

Yes.

B (7:16)

Lorenz Tay.

A (7:17)

You.

B (7:18)

You watching this. I know who you are. Like, everything he had ever done, old dog, you know, like, every. And I was like, but I can't remember his name. And we talk, and I was like. And then God just gave it to me. I mean, Janet Jackson came. I jumped up, and I said, I think. I didn't. I think I gotta go to the bathroom. Like, it's. I Go, why you give it to me now when I'm, you know, I can't run out there and be dropping it like it's hot and running up and down the stairs and. Because he's like, cuz I need you to be settled. That's why. Because if I gave it to you in your 20s, you'd be all out in the streets. You'd be going to these clubs, you wouldn't be home and getting sleep when you supposed to. You wouldn't be. You'd be feeling yourself. Angels wouldn't be able to do nothing with you because they like, she in the club, she had some kind of party. She ain't. So we're supposed to be. I forgot what you asked me.

A (8:11)

No, you answered it. Yeah, like I asked you. Like, what did you do in that waiting phase? In the mean.

B (8:16)

Yeah, Crystal in the waiting phase. Everything that I did, I am able to use in this talk show space. I just, you know, when it didn't happen for me in the talk show realm, I really got back to my stand up. And stand up is what I do when I first sit in my chair. I do stand up. I was, you know, I'm able to talk for 90 minutes on the stage. So I can do, you know, 19, 20 minutes in that chair. So that worked together. When I was on the View, I learned how to read a prompter. You know, I do that every day. When I was a co host on the show Dish Nation, I was by myself in, in the studio in LA while debrat and everybody in Head Crack were in Atlanta. So I had to pretend look in that camera and pretend like we were all together. So that's how I talk to my audience. Even though I'm reading words on a prompter, I talk to them like we're all in the room together. So all of that experience that I had, I took it and I used it for what I am doing right now. So it is, you know, you got to look at everything you're doing. How is it, how you're going to be able to use it for what you're doing right now, which is what you were able to do.

A (9:27)

No, Absolutely no. I'm hearing you talking, I'm like, it's a mirror of my journey, literally. There were so many times where I questioned. I like to question God, but there are so many moments I'm like, lord, what am I doing? Why do you have me doing this? I just didn't understand the steps that he was ordering for me.

B (9:43)

And.

A (9:44)

And I always pray God Order my steps. But then sometimes, like, this is really the step you want me to take.

B (9:49)

Absolutely.

A (9:50)

But it makes sense.

B (9:52)

It's so funny when he, it does make sense. When, when I was a co host on the View, I'm like, lord, I don't even know as much as these women. When I tell you how many times I fell on that show, fell and failed show going, I don't know. I thought I was gonna get up on that show like Juanita Bynum and be given a deep word every day and explaining to people what, what politics is. I didn't know none of that. I, I, I made so many mistakes, but I needed to. In order for me to be who I am today, I needed to make a bunch of mistakes and learn and learn how to course correct. I needed to learn how to deal with, you know, social media people when they get on their thing and they be hating on you. Now, don't bother me. You can only say whatever you want. I know how to swipe. I even got to answer you back, you know, I know not to. I learned how not to give people my energy. I learned how to, you know, know that when I open up my mouth, it's just people that's not going to agree with me. And that's okay. So it's like everything was that scripture, Romans 8:28. All things to all things work together for the good of them who love the Lord and to the called according to his purpose. So it's like, I know everything that I have done up until this point is working together for me to do this show. Yes.

A (11:07)

I love that. That is so good because I definitely resonate with you on that. One thing that I noticed when I come to your show, I was telling my line producer this. I was like, every time I go to Sherry's show, I feel so seen. I love the way that you come. No ser. Seriously, the way you come out and hug on us. And I remember one time you didn't see me before the show and you came, so I didn't see you before. Let me give you a hug. Like, the fact that you even remembered, like, I didn't see Crystal and I was like, this woman has so much going on. And to remember little old me, you know, it just meant so much. And every time I leave, the conversations that we have on your show just leave me so full and I just feel so seen. I just want to thank you for that because a lot of people, you don't. It feels like just, okay, interview next, you know, but you do not make me feel like that.

B (11:51)

Thank you so much. And I was looking for you all day. I was like, well, I saw everybody and I said, it's Chris. I thought y' all said Krista was coming and I don't know where you were. I didn't see you when I walked in and I didn't get to come upstairs, but I was looking for you. And then you were there and I was like, okay, you here? But I, I always knew how I wanted my show to be. I've been dreaming about a talk show since I saw Oprah Winfrey doing hers. And I've been a. I've been a guest on a lot of talk shows. And I knew experiences that I liked that made me feel full and seen and experiences that I didn't like Crystal. And I loved it when the host would come and acknowledge me, even if they had never met me before and put me at ease about being on their show. That. And I said, I want to be able to do that. I want to be able to hug people and really let them know this is a safe space. You are, I promise you, we gonna have fun. You have nothing to worry about with me and, and, and that. I know you. I've watched, you know, episodes of what you've done. I follow you. I'm, I'm completely blessed that you're here. So thank you for that, girl.

A (13:00)

Yes. No, I'm telling you, I was like, I. I literally feel seen every time I walk out. So thank you. Because, like, we both experience it can be the complete opposite sometimes.

B (13:10)

Yes.

A (13:11)

Seeing that showed me how I need to move forward. I learned so much from so many people that I look up to. And that's definitely something I took away from you when I left your show.

B (13:19)

Thank you, girl. Well, you're going to use it when you have yours. So there we go.

A (13:23)

Thank you. You are so multi talented. You do comedy, you do movies, television. Now you have your own talk show. You and I have something in common. We both have worked with the incomparable Tyler Perry. Listen, honey, I gotta tell you, I got a sneak peek of straw.

B (13:44)

Oh, you did.

A (13:45)

Sherry. Sherry.

B (13:49)

My Siri's going off going, huh, baby?

A (13:54)

You embodied the character so beautifully. It was so grounded. The dance that you and Taraji did in your scenes, I was blown away. When the credits rolled, we were like, oh, my gosh. And like, Deval was there. It was so many people in the room and we were both like, Sherry killed it. And I just want to give you your flowers and ask you what Was it like working with Tyler? Because I know what it's been like working with him and the amazing things that he has instilled in me as an actor. But what was that experience like for you?

B (14:26)

It was so funny because Tyler will text me and he'll say, sheri, I had a screening, and this was so good, and, you know, you were so good. Or he'll text me, like, after the screening, he'll say, you know, what did y' all think about Sherri Shepherd? And he'll send me the video, and then you can hear him go, okay, don't say nothing more, because I don't want to get a big head, which makes me laugh. And we were talking about it, and I don't take compliments very well. So he was telling me how much he liked me and how I was doing, and I just totally skipped over it. I said, I love what Taraji did and Teyana, and, you know, you even had Sinbad. And so he said in all caps. He said in all caps, accepted what I'm saying to you. And hold on, because I'm going to get this right. Because, I mean, he said. He said, you did that? All caps. Accepted. I said, received. And I said, well, the movie was well done. You pulled on my heartstrings. And he said, why is you talking about the movie and not you. You killed it. You. He said, get off my phone till you accept their reality. That was a couple of weeks ago. And I said, well, I ain't going to text you because it's hard for me to accept compliments. So we. I guess we going to be talking for a minute. So I said that.

A (15:40)

Why is it hard for you to accept compliments?

B (15:43)

Why is it. You know, because it's just like. Because I know it's just not about me. And I. And I. And I've worked so hard. I guess I've been disappointed so many times and had so many people say no. And I've had so many people tell me, you're not good enough. You too. You too this. You to that. You too short. You're not pretty enough. You too fat. You too this. I've heard that my entire career. It's almost like being 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.

A (16:20)

Yeah.

B (16:21)

Have to step back and say thank you. So when Tyler does, it is too much. I'm thankful that I got to work with him. How was it working with him? Girl? Was. It was the most chaotic process I ever. With my dad gone, life. I know I ain't never worked. Like I said. I said, I've never worked like this before. I was clutching my pearls. Every dog on scene, they was, you know. And I was like, he. We did one very emotional scene, and he goes, all right. And that's why, you know, Sherry ain't a talk show host. And I was like. He was like, moving on. And I go, wait a minute. What? We only did it one time.

A (17:01)

Yes.

B (17:02)

I was gonna do it, like, 12 more times. He was like, no, I got what I need. I was like, but I didn't give you what I'm supposed to. I'm supposed to break down into tears. And he said, I don't need all of that. And then he kept. This is what he kept doing. I'm trying to keep. This is a drama, this movie with Teyana Taylor, Taraji Henson, and me. It's a drama. So I don't get to do a lot of dramas, Crystal. I do a lot of. And he named my character number one Henrietta. So I said, hey, Mr. Perry, why everybody else got a young name? Why. Why am I Henrietta? When I tell you I bugged that man every day? And he said, what do you want? She said, I don't give a damn. Janisha Quintaba, Theresa Nicole. I can't do no Henrietta. I'm single. How I'm gonna tell some man I'm playing Henrietta, right? So he let me. He let me change the name. But I was supposed to do. I was supposed to walk to the bank, I guess, to do a scene where I opened the door. He goes, cut. Why are you walking like Beyonce? This was a pivotal scene. I got my emotions. I'm just like, you know, because I do a drum. I'm like this. And he goes, what? And then everybody started laughing. He's like, I. I don't need the sex. That's why I named your ass Henrietta. And I said, I'm not. What? And then there was one scene, girl, where I had to say. I don't know. I had to say, taraji, I want to go home. He goes, cut. What's with the sexy talk?

A (18:40)

Oh, my God.

B (18:41)

And I'm exhausted.

A (18:42)

That was. That whole situation was exhausting.

B (18:46)

When I tell you, I was like, what do you. I'm not talk. Talking sexy. That's desperation. He goes, no, it's sexual. So working with Tyler, I loved it. And in the middle of it, and let me. Taraji is a beast of an actress.

A (19:04)

Yes.

B (19:05)

And she was she was filming Fight Night at the same time with Kevin Hart and then filming this movie, but in the middle, so she can cry at will. Chris, I don't do dramas. I gotta talk shows. I don't be. I don't have to cry all the time. It take me three days to get into my crying, and then I gotta hold on to it. Yes, it. Right in the middle. You got. So I'm in the middle of crying, and all of a sudden, Taraji goes, so, Tyler, how many times you been on Sherry show? I've been on Sherry's show twice. Then Tyler goes, well, I've been on once, but I'm going back. And I go, what are y' all doing?

A (19:38)

How are y' all doing this? Stay in it.

B (19:41)

I clutch my pearls. I said, I never worked like this in my life. But you know what? It's. Everybody's going to enjoy it.

A (19:48)

Yes, they are.

B (19:49)

I love working with Ty. He just. He encourages me.

A (19:55)

He.

B (19:56)

He just. And you. You know this. He's so uplifting. He will answer those calls when I have a question, when I'm down, when I need advice. He ain't gave me no money yet. He ain't gave me no car yet. I didn't see a list of people I know he done bought some cars for. Yes, but you'll be buying cars for comics. Listen, listen.

A (20:19)

Hello, Tyler. I know you're watching.

B (20:23)

I need a call.

A (20:24)

You have to get Sherry a car.

B (20:27)

Or can I just stay in a wing at his estate?

A (20:31)

Oh, my goodness, Sherry. Why did I tell him one day? I was like, I could just, like, live here. You would never know I was here. He was like, no. I said, or I could build on your land. You would never know I'm here. He was like, no, maybe I need.

B (20:42)

To say something different. Because I was like, can I take my clothes off? And he goes. He goes, why is everything about sex with you? And I said, tyler, this house is calling for me to be naked. Like, I'm supposed to run butt ass naked through this house. And I said, huh, Tiana. She was like, yeah, we gotta do that shit. Ooh, excuse me. And I was like, I'm telling you, like, I'm supposed to go swim in all these pools, right? I need. I ran through that was like. It's just. It calls for me to take my clothes off. I was the last one to leave. And I said, I thought we were spending the night. He said, no, you gotta go home.

A (21:27)

Listen. That's his favorite line. All right, so y' all ready? Bye.

B (21:32)

He's standing on that stairs for a minute to see you through. And I was like, drop me off here. Cause I'm about to go back. I'm about to sneak back into this house till I found out the Tyler got wild boar and giraffes and all kinds of stuff that will eat a black lady.

A (21:48)

Absolutely. Yes.

B (21:49)

I got back into that car and I left so there. I love Tyler. That is incredible.

A (21:55)

Oh, my gosh. We. Everybody loves how he's just amazing. And I'm glad you got to experience that. One thing I do say after working with him, we. You look around you like, why is every everybody moving so slow? Like, come on, let's move it. Because we know this done faster. And I had to catch myself to kind of just slow down. Because I'm used to running circles around everybody because I worked with him from a PA all the way to an actor.

B (22:21)

Yes.

A (22:21)

So I've been used to that fast pace for so long that I have to even catch myself sometimes and say, okay, Crystal, slow down. You can breathe. Enjoy it for a little bit. But I know what you mean.

B (22:32)

His favorite saying is, what is taking so long?

A (22:36)

Oh, yes.

B (22:37)

What is going on?

A (22:39)

Yep. That is his favorite line. I can hear it in my sleep. Is like. It haunts me sometimes.

B (22:45)

Oh, my God. Sometimes he'd be like. Because we'd have outside scenes. He'd be like, Sherry. I could hear him on the megaphone. Sherry, what is taking so long? I'm like, because I'm getting into character and now you didn't. Took me out of character. Now I gotta. I need 10 minutes.

A (23:00)

Yes. No, seriously, what did you do to prepare for that role?

B (23:05)

It was literally. I play A Straw is about a Taraji. I don't remember the name of her character, but she just. She's just trying to make ends meet for her and her daughter, and she's trying to, you know, survive. And she gets caught up in more than she can handle and tries to go to the bank. And I'm the bank manager, Nicole, and I think that she has. Is robbing our. It's a bank robbery. Teyana Taylor is the hostage negotiator. And so there's a bunch of hostages in the bank. And we all think that Taraji is robbing this bank. And how our relationship, Taraji and I, we get closer, and then we really get to see who she is, including Tiana and Taraji. And I memorized. This is something I wasn't used to. Crystal. I was in 36 scenes. I spoke in 23 of them. I memorized it in three days. Wow. In three days. And there was one point with Teyana. It was so much going on, girl. And Teanna looks at me as a hostage negotiator because I said, taraji. I don't remember a character's name. She not coming out. And Taraji goes, what's my line? Do you know my line? I go, no, you're lying. When I say, no, I don't know you're lying. And so we go back, she was like, well, I think I say this. And I go, well, I don't know what you say, because when you got to say your thing for me to say my thing. Now. Here you go. What is. What is going on back there?

A (24:31)

Oh, my God.

B (24:32)

Diana, Sherry, what is going on? We jumped. And I would do it all again. Yes.

A (24:43)

Yes. I love it. Well, congratulations. And I cannot wait for it to come out. I'm telling you, the audience is going to have their job. Like, our jaw was on the floor. So I'm excited for it. And congratulations again on that.

B (24:55)

I appreciate it.

A (24:57)

You work with some of your close friends. I work with some of my close friends. What is it like working with close friends and then also setting boundaries because as you've climbed, you've taken people along with you. What does that journey?

B (25:11)

I love working with my close friends, and I become close friends from working with people that I just love. And like Deval. Oh, my gosh.

A (25:20)

Yes.

B (25:21)

Oh, my gosh. He and Kadeen. When I tell you for life, I keep saying to you, we got to get together because there's something about you that my spirit just connects with. Like, we'll have a good time.

A (25:33)

Yes.

B (25:33)

Pajamas. If you invite me over to your house to spend the night.

A (25:38)

I love.

B (25:39)

How you, you, you, you, you show the couch. I will have you on.

A (25:42)

I will. Yeah, I will. Come on over. I got wine. That's it, girls, we can watch movies. What's your favorite movie?

B (25:51)

Oh, man, I. I really want to see Cooley High again. Like, that's okay.

A (25:55)

So we can have a Cooley High.

B (25:56)

Night, like an old school night. And. And. And what's that one that Ryan Reynolds was in and he like. I like romantic. I love romantic. I don't want nothing scary with nobody breaking in the house and killing you and all of that. No, none of that. So just those kinds of movies and. But so it's. So it's just like meeting people in my life, you know, newer people. I love connecting, but I love working with friends because you just got a Chemistry. You got a chemistry that you can work with, and it shows. When you have chemistry, the hardest thing is to work with somebody. And I have worked with people that I can't stand. Can't stand, you know, when you have to manufacture that chemistry.

A (26:37)

Yeah.

B (26:38)

So, you know, so it's great. Set the. Setting the boundaries. I have learned at this age, I can't take the weight of everybody on my shoulders. I just can't. It's too hard. Life is too short. I gotta make sure my son is taken care of. He's on the spectrum, and I gotta make sure, you know, he's taken care of. And, you know, so a lot of people I've had to. Everybody can't go on the journey with you.

A (27:01)

Yeah.

B (27:01)

And it's not usually you who changes. It's the way they look at you now.

A (27:06)

Yes.

B (27:07)

I can't buy all y' all Beyonce tickets. I had to buy my tickets. Now everybody mad at me because we ain't going to the Beyonce concert together. It's like I've learned to say no.

A (27:19)

Yes.

B (27:20)

I can't be the support system for everybody because it's dragging me down and I'm having palpitations in my heart. So I have learned to. Sometimes you have to distance yourself for your mental sanity, which I have learned to do. And so there's my boundaries. And I've learned to say no. I say no a lot and no. And it's no. With a period, it's no. I wish I could, but I can't. I can't do it.

A (27:49)

Yes. Yes.

B (27:50)

Which really means I won't do it.

A (27:52)

Come on. That's my favorite word. No. My friends, you say no so easily. Yes. No.

B (28:01)

Yes. No. Exactly. Because people read the. They get on the Internet and they start reading these dumb ass sites. How much is this celebrity worth? And if you go on that site, it look like I make enough money to take care of the world.

A (28:13)

Right.

B (28:14)

I don't know what they're talking about.

A (28:16)

Right.

B (28:17)

No. So a lot of. As soon as I hear the phone, can you accept a collect call from this cousin? No, ma'. Am. No, sir.

A (28:27)

Yeah, that's no money. Yeah.

B (28:29)

No money for books. No putting on the books. Can't do it. Old boyfriends coming back, old friends coming back that I knew when I was in second grade. So second grade. Not second grade. Where we could just like, shoot the breeze and talk about what we doing. And where we at second grade when we shoot the breeze. And as I go, okay, what's good? Talking to you. Well, hold on, Wait a minute. Sherry, you girl, you know, Here we go.

A (28:58)

Here we go.

B (29:01)

Say no.

A (29:01)

Yes. I love that you spoke on letting certain people go and, like, they can't. Everybody can't come along with you. What are some things that you've had to shed as you continue to ascend?

B (29:14)

What are some things that I've had.

A (29:15)

To shed or people or things that you had to realize? I can't. This can't come with me.

B (29:21)

I realized because some people are not able to accept where you have gotten now. And they wanted to stay the same, and things don't stay the same. Things are constantly changing. Things are constantly moving. And, you know, those people who want to, you know, stay the same, it's hard to bring them along because you don't want to stay the same. You want to ascend. Like prime example. Niecy Nash and I have been friends for close to 30 years.

A (29:51)

Wow.

B (29:52)

That's my ride or die. There are times we've talked for three, four hours. Early in the morning, she would call me before I got to talk show. I can't talk that early, and I'm in another time zone in the morning, and we would just talk. I've been with her through the hard times. She's been with me through the hard times, and we celebrated things together. She's very busy right now. She's winning awards. She's at awards shows. She's doing a lot of stuff. I'm very busy. But she's now in the company of people that we can only dream about meeting. She's in those rooms now. And those people, she's got their personality. They love her. And so now she's doing things with people who are. I've never even met them, you know, but I'm not jealous. I'm so happy to see her in those spaces. Now she can invite me to the super bowl with Travis. Whatever Kelsey she working with on her show, just the same way Taylor Swift invited Ice Spice. She gonna be over there with Taylor Swift and all of the Kelsey family. I want that invitation. I know she taking her. Her husband, but it's like, when I look at her, I'm so happy that you're in front of these people, and I don't expect you to be. I'm never in there going, well, tell. Invite me. I'm an actress too. Why don't you talk to someone so. And tell them I'm looking. I don't do that. I don't put that pressure on her. Go be. Because I know where I'm at in her life when you need the real deal and you got to talk and you got to get that girl. Are we gonna go over to. You know, when she says me, we gonna go over to his house and we gonna freaking break a window. She gonna call Sherry when she got to talk about the deep stuff and the stuff that's just, like, behind the smile and behind the red carpet stuff. That's Sherry.

A (31:43)

Yeah.

B (31:44)

You know, so I. And that's the one thing I thought of. It's like our friendship has endured because I'm. When, you know, Niecy got three pilots to do a talk show, and I was on a guest on her pilots because I don't one thing I know how to be a guest on a pilot. You think that that was hard for me because I wanted that.

A (32:04)

Yeah.

B (32:04)

But my friend was getting the blessing, and I kept saying, well, if she get a talk show, that opened up the room for me.

A (32:11)

That's so good.

B (32:12)

And she's that way with me. Like, she can cheer me on even when she's not working. There was a period of time Niecy wasn't working, and I was booking all the jobs, you know, and so we've just had this enduring friendship where we know it doesn't matter who is in our life. It doesn't matter that, you know, somebody recognizes one. Sometimes people recognize Niecy. They don't even know who I am. But then sometimes we somewhere, and they'll recognize me. They don't know who Niecy is. And then one time we was in New York, we got lost. They thought Niecy was Nene Elites, and they thought I was Star Jones. They didn't recognize any one of us. So it's. It's. And we laughed all night.

A (32:51)

Oh, I love that.

B (32:53)

So you have to be around people I feel who are secure. Who knows, you know, who know who they are in your life. You have to. And Tyler said this to me because I said, Tyler, I asked him about boundaries, and he said, here, 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 can carry on where you left off. They ain't going. You don't never call me. Why? You don't invite me to nothing. Why? That's what I was dealing with. Why I can't go here with you. How come you telling them you not? I couldn't. I was going to. And so I started having to go, okay, you're. You're Not a person I can take with me. This place I have to put you on the. In the outer.

A (33:36)

Yes. Oh, that's it. I've dealt with the same thing as I've gained fame and just navigating friendships. So it's good to know that you were able to, like, find good people like Niecy that you could do life with. And it's so important I have friends like that, too, where I can call her. Six months. It's never, like, you know, acting brand new. Nothing like that. It's just like, hey, how you doing? Let's catch up. Like, literally didn't skip a beat.

B (34:04)

That's not acting. Not acting brand new. But knowing you're busy.

A (34:08)

Yes.

B (34:09)

Like, you're busy, and I understand you're busy, but it's not going to affect our friendship because I'mma be here so I can tell you what's going on in my life and you can tell me and we'll. And then I understand you can't talk for hours like you used to.

A (34:21)

Yeah, yeah.

B (34:21)

You gotta go. Having people in your life. Because I have other people in my life that I talk to, and they're. They're busy.

A (34:27)

Yeah.

B (34:27)

You know, they got to be on a set or they got to go and do something, and I go, okay, But I know. You know I love you, and you. I know you love me, and it's just a very quick. But we check in with each other, so I, I. The people in my life, they don't resent, and I'm. I'm grateful for that.

A (34:45)

That's beautiful. I love that you touched on mental health. What are some things. Do you have a therapist? What are some things that you do to really just keep your mental health strong with everything that you have going on? Because I know for me, I dealt with my first anxiety attack last year, just the weight of it all, and worried about, how am I supposed to keep all this up? And what if it doesn't last? What if the show gets canceled? All these different thoughts crept in and literally had my first panic attack. And that's when I really got a therapist and really started talking through things and realized that if I'm grounded in my faith, what am I worried about?

B (35:20)

Yes.

A (35:21)

Philippians 4 and 6. But I wanted to know, what are some practices that you do just to really keep your mental health strong?

B (35:28)

I hate that you went through that. If you ever go through that, call me, girl, because I'm good. I'm a good listener, and I'm a good, you know, having gone through that, having attacks of I'm not worthy, why do I have it? And other people who I feel of more talent to me, why they don't have it. And I'll be in tears, can't breathe. You know, just like, what if they find out I'm a fraud, that I can't do this? Do I deserve it? Because I don't have the degree that they have, you know, that this came to me. Somebody said one I did when I used to. I played Sheila on the Jamie Foxx show. One of the. And we're best of friends because we work together on Jamie Foxx. And somebody came on and they had done like a couple lines. Now, I was a recurring on the show because I made Jamie laugh. He kept bringing me back. And she was a comic. And she said this to me. She said, girl, you good on here. But everybody talking, they said, you know, you must have slept with Jamie to be on this show. Like, you know, like, they trying to protect me. And it hurt my feelings so bad because I was like, I work for this. You know, you good, but you ain't that good. And it just really hurt my feelings. And I would go into these panic attacks, like, I don't deserve this because there's people funnier than me. Why am I on the View is people who have more knowledge than me. What it just in this season of my life, like, maybe before the talk show, I realized, you know, what if God gave you the assignment? It's something that you have that he wants to use to touch people. And whatever he gave. Like when I walked through that, when that door opens and it says, welcome, Sherry shepherd, after I pray, where I am weak, you are strong. Fresh mercy, fresh grace, fresh energy and fresh jokes. I already know. Walk into what God has already written.

A (37:25)

Yes.

B (37:26)

And God wrote it for this to be Sherry show. And I know you got to know who you are, too, Crystal.

A (37:32)

Yeah.

B (37:33)

Everything that he's given to you, all of the gifts he's using and who. Who I am. You could take me off this show and 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.

A (37:45)

They will not.

B (37:45)

We are all unique and have our own gifting that is so different from somebody else. I cannot. I watch Taraji and Straw. Love to be at that level that she is. I got to do the work. That girl could hold her head, she'd be. Every time I looked around, she was crying.

A (38:04)

Yes.

B (38:05)

And laughing and crying. Go to the bathroom, Tyler. It's a crying. I'm on the flow. Gotta do a whole hour of storytelling in my mind to get the tears.

A (38:17)

But.

B (38:18)

Yeah, but I said, God is calling Taraji to do what. What Taraji does, but he's calling me to do what nobody can do.

A (38:27)

Yeah.

B (38:27)

I'm the one that I'm. I'll have Tyler on the flow cracking up. And when we talk, I'm that one that he comes to for to feel good and be able to let go and laugh. That's what I do.

A (38:40)

Yes.

B (38:40)

Trying to be that person. I'm not trying to be Oprah. I'm not, you know, I want to emulate, but I. I am myself. And I think you have to be cool with who God made you to be. I don't want anybody other. I don't want anybody's path but mine. Because if I want to walk in your shoes, Crystal, I got to go through what you'd have been through, and that may be a little bit too overwhelming for me.

A (39:03)

Yeah.

B (39:04)

And I'm gonna definitely tell you if you want my blessings.

A (39:08)

Come on. I try to tell people that I'm like, be careful what you ask for.

B (39:12)

Be careful what you ask for. But I. I have. Yeah, definitely therapy. I. You must. If you are able to get therapy, I think it's so important to be able to talk to a person who is impartial, who can help you course correct and help you realize what is it that is blocking that flow.

A (39:31)

Yes.

B (39:32)

How do I let go? How do I. You know, I'm definitely. I missed my therapy appointment yesterday. I'm in a fetal position.

A (39:41)

Listen, I know I have to stay on top of that because it's so important. Thank you for sharing that.

B (39:47)

Well, you are doing, you know, what you were doing at the level. You're doing it. Crystal. You have to be at peace. You have to. Because, you know, to whom much is given, much is required.

A (39:58)

Yes.

B (39:59)

So. And everybody has something that they supposed to do to change the world. I believe that. But sometimes there are some people who are out there in public and have to deal with. With a lot of different things. And for you to be able to deal with can get overwhelming. Like, you're. You're a star. So it can. That can be so overwhelming. Then you get people who just. They don't like you because they're scared to try to do what you do. It's a lot of fear. And that's where they're coming from. Fear and resentment because they don't have enough courage to step out of their Comfort zone and do what you do. Ask. They don't have enough. You know, they don't. They. They want to be you, but they don't want to do the work of what it takes to be. Takes to be you. And so I always also, I ask God, show me that person the way you see them, because you love everybody, but show me that person the way you see them. And God shows me a lot. People on social media, they're hurting. They're, you know, they are lonely.

A (40:57)

Yeah.

B (40:58)

They're living vicariously through. And they're resentful because they are scared. And it gives me a different kind of compassion with, like, I'm not even gonna answer you back. I'm not gonna get mad. I'm gonna just swipe and delete and pray that God will touch you and give you the courage to step out of your comfort zone.

A (41:16)

Yes.

B (41:16)

I find myself praying for people more, and then it makes me laugh.

A (41:20)

Yeah.

B (41:20)

They come at me, you think you cute. That's what. You think you cute. You ain't cute. You ain't. And I go, oh, God bless you. Bless them.

A (41:29)

Yep, that's it. That makes me, like, wait. What they start feeling, then they start looking, and we're like, wait, am I better? Yes. You need to stop doing that. Seriously.

B (41:42)

You know what? I'm gonna just pray for you. If you don't like the show, why you so loud? Why you do this? Why you. You totally. If that's all you got from my show, God bless you. Yeah, something else is better for you. There's. And I said, but go support the other black women who have a show, because maybe.

A (42:00)

Exactly. Maybe you can get some what you need from somewhere else.

B (42:02)

But as for me and my household, Jeffrey's fine. Jeffrey's laughing. I'm good. Cher, you act so thirsty all the time with these men. Why you act so thirsty? I'm good. If you can't get a joke right, God bless you. Me and my. Me and mine. I'm good over here. He waiting. He waiting. I ain't thirsty.

A (42:23)

I know that's right. Me and mine. I love that. Speaking of your son, how do you balance motherhood and everything else you have going on? Because I can imagine that's a lot. You spoke on him being autistic. How is that managing that I always.

B (42:39)

Have to go, God, I give you everything. I give you my career, my relationship. Relationships or a relationship that I would like to be in. I give you, you know, Jeffrey, give me back what you want me to have. So I've Already given it to him. And I. So he gives me that. If I'm not able. I say no to a lot of stuff. Movie roles come up, and it's just like, no, I know I can't do that. I've done a talk show all, you know, for eight months. These four I got. I cannot go and do a movie, you know, So I have to say no. But I know God will give it back to me in some other way.

A (43:15)

Yeah.

B (43:16)

So that's my prayer in the mornings. And also, somebody once told me, there's gonna be a lot of spinning wheels in your life. Make sure Jeffrey's not one of them. So he's definitely priority. And if it affects him, then I go, my first assignment is, I'm a mother.

A (43:32)

Yeah.

B (43:33)

I can't be out if, you know, I come out to out there where you are, Crystal, and you're like, we gonna go here, we gonna go there. I'm like, no, because I gotta call Jeffrey. I gotta. I got a parent teacher conference. Zoom. I gotta do. I can't go out with y'. All. So he's priority. And then everything else goes after that. So you got to know what your priorities are, and you have to know if you're fulfilling the first assignment God gave you, he gonna bring everything back around. So for people thinking, you know, oh, I got it. I'm gonna lose out on this because he said he calls you to take care of that, which he gave to you. So if you're a mother and he gave you a child and you feel like I'm missing out, my time is going by. They gonna see me. Oh, yeah. If you doing that first assignment, he gonna bring it back around.

A (44:15)

Yeah, that's good. I love that. Something that you and I both connected over was our fitness journeys. And you have 50, and I'm fit over 40.

B (44:30)

There we go. Fit over the decades. I love it.

A (44:33)

Yes. And, you know, I feel like after that 40 hit, it got hard. We talked about this on your show. It was hard and harder to get the weight off. What really pushed you to, like, start this fitness journey? And you're on it like, you're so committed, and there's days I fall off, and I see, you know, like, let me get up.

B (44:51)

We all fall off. Girl, this ain't no. You know, you get to this age, Crystal, and you know this. It's like when we were in our 20s, we could eat a bunch of cheeseburgers. Stomach still be, like, little, you know? But now you see that cheeseburger you ate, you I do perimenopause and menopause. I'm with bloating all the time, you know, But I have to say, what started me to working out was Jeffrey, because he's on the spectrum. I'm like, I. What I can do to control my weight, I'm going to do. And. And I want to be here. I want to be here when my son, you know, gets married, if he chooses to get married. I want to be here for those pivotal times in his life. I want to be here for him to be able to filter out what's coming to him. We're in an election season where it's crazy and, you know, trying to help my son navigate through this. I need to be here, and I need to be healthy. So that's what really. It changes as you. As you get to a certain age. You know, I'm trying to fit into a bikini or booty shorts now. I'm trying to be healthy. That other stuff comes.

A (46:00)

Yeah, for sure.

B (46:01)

That's what really got me into weight training and, you know, eating right. Because I live an amazing life. The second chapter of my life. Because I'm in the second chapter of my life, I want to. I want to be healthy.

A (46:15)

Yes. It's so important. It is. They say the health is wealth, but it really is.

B (46:22)

Oh, my gosh.

A (46:22)

We put wealth in so many different categories, and we overlook the health part. That is, like, one of the main things.

B (46:30)

Absolutely. And that's the thing somebody said, you either gonna be. Spend a bunch of money trying to get better because you sick. Are you gonna spend the money trying to be ahead of it so that you don't get sick? Which is. Which is the way your energy gonna flow, because. And that's what I think about, too, a lot. I'm like, sherry, what's it gonna look like if you got sick? You know, and so that's what keeps me. That's what keeps me on that track of, okay, I'm gonna get up and work out.

A (46:59)

Yeah.

B (46:59)

It's gonna benefit me in that long run.

A (47:02)

Absolutely. Yes. I love that. And keep going, because you're not only inspiring so many other people, you're inspiring me to. So thank you for doing that and putting it out there, because we need to see that, especially in our community, there's so many health issues that they need to see People like us who are on TV in their homes every day saying, oh, this is important. Oh, let me do that. If it's working for Sherry, it's working for Crystal. This is something we can practice as well. So, yeah, keep that up, sis. I'm proud of you.

B (47:28)

Yeah, I'm proud of you too, girl.

A (47:29)

Thank you. Thank you so much. Before we close, you know that I also aspire one day to have my own talk show. What is one thing that you, as an accomplished talk show host, would give advice to?

B (47:44)

Me.

A (47:45)

Just someone who wants to do that one day.

B (47:48)

You're doing it. You are doing it. So you are preparing yourself so that when that opportunity comes, you are there, you're ready, and you're ready to walk into it. It's the faith without works is dead. So you are operating in it. Now. You said, for me, I couldn't get a talk show, and somebody says, start a podcast. Stop asking for permission to get at. Get a talk show from them. And I started a podcast. Two NAACP Image awards later. And then the talk show came. So I stepped out on faith and did my own thing. That is how. How you do it. The advice I will give you, keep doing what you're doing and show people what you do, and that person is going to. So that you feel completely prepared when that opportunity comes, because it will.

A (48:34)

Yes. Thank you so much, Sherry.

B (48:37)

All right, girl.

A (48:38)

It was an honor. This. I'm telling you, I haven't. I had Tyler on this couch, and I wasn't as nervous as when I knew I was interviewing you today.

B (48:45)

I said, girl, Shepherd, I was like, we gonna have a good time when you invite me to your house. I can't wait.

A (48:52)

I can't wait to have you over when you're in Atlanta. Please let me know so we get together, have a good girls night and watch Cooley High.

B (48:59)

I will, girl. I sure will.

A (49:02)

Have a good day. I love you.

B (49:04)

Bye. Bye.

A (49:04)

Bye. My conversation with Sherry was everything I needed and everything I hoped for. Much more. We unpacked so much, but what really resonated with me was what you do in the meantime while you're waiting for your dream to come to pass. A lot of times, I know for me, I felt like I was behind the mark or I was late to the party. But what I realized as I gained from footing and living out my passion and my dreams was that I was right on time. And everything I was learning along the way equipped me to handle where I am today. So just remember, no matter where you are in your journey, make sure you pay attention and learn all the lessons that you need to learn for when you get to where you're going. Thank you all so much for spending time with me today and a huge thank you to Sherman shepherd for all she poured into this show and me. I hope my conversation with Sheri inspires you and encourages you to keep pushing towards your dreams. Guys, you can follow me on all social media platforms at lovechristalrenee and you can also follow our show @keepitpositive. Sweetie, if you want to write into our positive outcomes listener letter, you can send us an email@keepitpositivesweetiemail.com in the meantime. In between meantime, you know what to do. Keep it positive, sweetie. See you guys next time.