Keep it Positive, Sweetie

Episode: "You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea" with Jordyn Woods

Host: Crystal Renee Hayslett
Guest: Jordyn Woods
Release Date: May 4, 2025

Episode Overview

In this deeply personal and wide-ranging episode, host Crystal Renee Hayslett invites fashion designer, entrepreneur, and wellness advocate Jordyn Woods for an intimate conversation. Together, they explore themes of authenticity, resilience, wellness, grief, personal growth, and finding balance as a public figure. Jordyn shares the pivotal moments that shaped her career, how she navigates public scrutiny, her entrepreneurial ventures, and the lessons she's learned about self-worth. Real talk, laughter, and vulnerability abound, making this episode a true reflection of the podcast’s commitment to healing and empowerment.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Meeting & Basketball Life

• Backstory: Crystal and Jordyn recall meeting at an NBA game and share stories about passionate basketball fans.
• The Reality of Dating an NBA Player: Jordyn discusses being the girlfriend of Karl-Anthony Towns (often called “Cat”), handling rowdy fans, and trying not to react to provocations.
  • "Do I turn and look? Yes. Do I react? I try not to." (Jordyn, 01:56)

2. Growing Up in Hollywood & Work Ethic

• Childhood in LA: Jordyn grew up close to Calabasas with industry ties due to her dad’s work as a sound engineer.
• Perception & Reality: Hollywood can make one jaded, but exposure to other cities (like New York and London) gave her fresh perspectives.
  • "You grow up in LA and you're not really super impressed by anything." (Jordyn, 04:00)
• Privilege & Hustle: Acknowledges her privilege but stresses the work and challenges behind the scenes; has had a job since age 15.
  • "Just because you're around people who have certain things doesn't mean you have it." (Jordyn, 06:43)

3. Living Abroad & Life Experience

• Modeling Opportunities Abroad: Moved to New York at 18 to model, then to London—a transformative experience.
• Life vs. College: Values her life experiences as her education, though dreams of attending Stanford persist.
• Wisdom from Travels: Significant personal growth from living in different cities and traveling to places like Nigeria.

4. Wellness, Community, and Mental Health

• Diet & Longevity: Crystal shares learning (from Stanford visit) that a plant-based diet, community, spirituality, and movement all support mental clarity and longevity.
  • Jordyn expresses intent to further embrace wellness practices.
• Fitness as Therapy: After her father’s passing, Jordyn turned to fitness as a form of healing, later launching her fitness platform “First Place” to make working out less intimidating for others.
  • "Consistency is more important than intensity." (Jordyn, 30:40)

5. Grief, Loss, and Healing

• Losing Her Father: Jordyn’s father passed from pancreatic cancer when she was 19, shortly after her modeling career began to take off. She shares the shock, her initial denial, and the spiral into distraction and lack of boundaries.
  • “You just learn to live with it... That Hole is never closed, but you just learn to live with it.” (Jordyn, 19:14)
• Support in Relationships: Her own grief journey allowed her to help Karl-Anthony cope with the sudden loss of his mother during COVID, deepening their connection and healing.

6. Navigating Confidence, Body Image, and Social Media

• Body Image in Hollywood: Candidly discusses persistent struggles with body dysmorphia, pressure to conform, and practicing self-grace.
  • "Your individuality is your greatest gift." (Jordyn, 24:24)
• Public Scrutiny & Cyberbullying: Shares how she withdrew from social media after intense bullying and why she now values privacy and boundaries. She’s mindful about what she shares, especially living in New York and for safety reasons.
  • "My trauma and experience kind of created that blockage." (Jordyn, 33:42)
• Advice on Social Media: Advocates for taking breaks from negative energy online and recognizing that most criticism is projection.

7. Entrepreneurship – The Tox & Woods by Jordyn

• The Tox Franchise: Jordyn brings wellness treatments focused on lymphatic drainage, detox, and sculpting to Atlanta (Buckhead), inspired by her experience in LA.
  • "I wanted to bring my vibe in LA to Atlanta." (Jordyn, 27:58)
• Woods by Jordyn (Footwear Launch): Announces moving into footwear, with designs tailored for various body types, aiming for affordability and accessibility.
  • “I wanted to create a range of footwear... versatile for people of all calf sizes and size sizes.” (Jordyn, 40:24)

8. Day-to-Day Life and Balance

• A Typical Day: Early morning workouts (even on little sleep), business meetings, creative design, and supporting her partner’s career. Handles most of her business directly, valuing control after mixed experiences with partners.
• Keeping it Real: Admits life isn’t as glamorous as it may seem online: last-minute packing, doing her own makeup, and embracing imperfection.
  • "If you followed me on a day... I'm not as bougie as people think." (Jordyn, 44:09)

9. Style and Personal Favorites (Lightning Round)

• Go-To Essentials: Loves a great pair of shoes and a statement bag, regardless of what else she’s wearing.
• Favorite Shopping Places: Loves exploring, but for basics, chooses Aritzia.
• If She Could Swap Lives: "People’s lives are not what you think," but maybe Tyler Perry for his island.
• What She Wishes People Knew: Her intense work ethic. She does much of the work herself, not everything is shown online.

10. Advice Segment: Positive Outcomes

Letter from listener Sherry Holder about building confidence and career focus.
Crystal: Emphasizes morning routine, learning from successful people (Iman, books), and not reinventing the wheel for success.
Jordyn: Suggests setting daily, weekly, and monthly goals, focusing on showing up for yourself, and letting small improvements become routine.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jordyn on Survival and Privilege:
  "I do have the privilege of the platform... but I started working at 15 and I haven't stopped since." (06:43)
• On Processing Grief:
  "There is no right or wrong way to grieve... Just try to be around people that support you and love you." (18:02–20:06)
• On Confidence and Individuality:
  "Your greatest superpower is your individuality... If I can work on something I don’t like, I work on it. If I can’t change it, then just accept it." (14:47)
• On Social Media & Privacy:
  "I'm not an oversharer on the Internet anymore... I want to share more but then I overthink it and I draft it and I don't post." (31:38–33:41)
• Fitness Philosophy:
  "Consistency is more important than intensity." (30:40)
• On Entrepreneurship and Accessibility:
  "My goal is to have [my footwear] at a very affordable rate and accessible... I want you to have the ability to buy one and... not have to think about it too heavy." (40:53)
• Best Advice:
  "Don't take anything personal... People are projecting their insecurities." (Four Agreements reference, 49:04–49:10)
• Cracking Up:
  Jordyn and Crystal laugh about shopping, last-minute packing, and Crystal’s broken eyeglasses held together with a safety pin, showing their down-to-earth sides. (44:17)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Basketball Life & Fame: 00:46–02:50
• Growing Up in LA, Work Ethic: 03:25–07:21
• Living Abroad & Life Lessons: 07:56–13:17
• Father’s Passing, Grief Process: 15:47–19:27
• Coping With Grief, Healing With Karl-Anthony: 20:02–21:34
• Fitness as Therapy & First Place: 29:40–31:01
• The Tox, Wellness Entrepreneurship: 26:46–29:33
• Body Image, Confidence: 23:49–25:46
• Navigating Social Media & Privacy: 31:38–33:41
• New Footwear Announcement: 39:29–41:33
• Lightning Round on Style, Shopping, Life Swap: 45:02–47:41
• Advice to Listener (Positive Outcomes): 51:15–53:50

Closing Takeaway

This episode peels back the layers behind Jordyn Woods’ public persona, revealing her resilience, entrepreneurial spirit, and journey toward self-acceptance. It’s a candid look into the unique pressures of living in the spotlight and the personal growth that comes from facing life’s toughest moments. Throughout, Crystal and Jordyn keep it real, relatable, and always positive—reminding listeners to honor their journey, give themselves grace, and “keep it positive, sweetie.”