Podcast Summary: The Breakfast Club – INTERVIEW: Kelly Rowland, Method Man & DeVon Franklin on “Relationship Goals,” Love Challenges, and Hip Hop

Date: February 5, 2026
Hosts: DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha God
Guests: Kelly Rowland, Method Man, DeVon Franklin

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the upcoming film Relationship Goals, produced by DeVon Franklin and starring Kelly Rowland and Method Man. The film is inspired by Pastor Michael Todd’s bestselling book, and the conversation delves deep into the movie’s themes of love, vulnerability, self-growth, grief, and the realities of modern relationships. The guests and hosts share personal stories relating to relationships, mental health, work-life balance, and how hip hop’s treatment of love has evolved over time. The episode is filled with candid, insightful moments and humor, resonating with anyone interested in love, healing, and Black creativity in Hollywood.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Turning “Relationship Goals” into a Movie

[01:44 – 02:27]

• DeVon Franklin shares his inspiration, citing Will Packer’s success with Think Like a Man and the impact of Michael Todd’s book during the pandemic.

  • “When I saw what [Will Packer] did with Steve Harvey's book... I said, wait a minute. This Relationship Goals book has so many great principles. Why don't we do that with this?” – DeVon Franklin ([01:50])

• The film stars Kelly Rowland as Leah and Method Man as Jared, exes competing for the same newsroom job who pursue a story on “Relationship Goals” for Valentine’s Day, sparking self-reflection and romantic tension.

2. The Creation & Impact of the Movie’s Original Music

[03:08 – 03:41]

• Kelly Rowland and Method Man recorded an original song, “Complicated,” organically inspired by the story, rather than contractual obligation.
  • “I got the script. I read the script. I was inspired, went into the studio...writing from Leah’s perspective. It just kind of worked.” – Kelly Rowland ([03:18])
  • Method Man: “Let me bark on this joint.” ([03:41])

3. Art Imitating Life: The Cast’s Personal Connections to Their Roles

[04:09 – 04:41]

• Kelly identifies with Leah as someone who tries to keep control while dealing with underlying grief.
  • “She’s so in control…when she has control of everything, she’s feeling like, I got this…She also is dealing with a whole bunch of internal stuff. Grief is a big one for her.” – Kelly Rowland ([04:09])

4. Wardrobe, Fashion, and Female Empowerment

[05:21 – 06:20]

• Kelly Rowland acted as Executive Producer and collaborated on wardrobe, believing wardrobe is a statement of female power.
  • “Women are powerful…I think it should be unapologetic. And sometimes it does start with how you feel on the outside, your wardrobe.” – Kelly Rowland ([06:20])

5. Vulnerability, Social Media, and the Realities of Modern Relationships

[07:41 – 09:41]

• The hosts and guests discuss unrealistic expectations from social media and the need to define relationship goals personally, not by others’ standards.
  • “I think that social media and everybody actually believe in the hype...we have to peel back layers…this movie does a really great job of peeling back layers and being honest in that way.” – Kelly Rowland ([08:36])
  • “Everyone wants to live in their purpose. Sometimes they just don’t know what it is...it’s always gonna be someone who wants to keep up with the Joneses. But very few Joneses want to keep up with anybody.” – Method Man ([09:41])

6. Workplace Romance and Boundaries

[10:15 – 11:35]

• Can relationships flourish in the workplace? The consensus: It’s possible but requires strict boundaries, discretion, and equality of power.
  • “Boundaries. I think you make an excellent point.” – Kelly Rowland ([11:09])
  • “Use discretion…and think with integrity, because once that’s gone, everything is up for grabs.” – DeVon Franklin ([11:12])

7. Grief, Personal Healing, and Authentic Love

[11:35 – 13:13]

• Kelly recounts how her real-life grief after losing her mother influenced her performance.
  • “Right after I had Titan, that’s when my mom passed…So I remember when we shot the scene that day…I felt that so tough because we are like—a lot of people are dealing with grief, but you don’t know that it comes in waves.” – Kelly Rowland ([11:41])
• DeVon Franklin: Love is the most powerful force. The film aims to restore hope in love, especially for those healing from hurt.

8. Work-Life Balance: Myth or Reality?

[14:11 – 15:47]

• Method Man and Kelly Rowland agree that “balance” is a myth; priorities shift daily.
  • “Work-life balance is a myth.” – Charlamagne Tha God ([15:04])
  • “There’s no such thing as balance. You’re just figuring out which is the priority that day.” – Kelly Rowland ([15:10])
• Small gestures of consideration and integration matter, e.g., Kelly leaves post-its for loved ones ([16:18]).

9. The Role of Faith and Therapy in Love

[16:45 – 18:36]

• DeVon Franklin advocates for both faith and therapy.
  • “Anybody who has found love or wants love has to have faith…Therapy is about the trauma. And most of us have had a lot of trauma in this area of love, dating, and relationships.” – DeVon Franklin ([17:12])
  • “When you don’t do therapy, then you bleed on your partner and want them to be your therapist.” – DeVon Franklin ([18:02])
  • Kelly Rowland: “That is exhausting. We’re supposed to be living life abundant…trying to figure that stuff out for ourselves first.” ([18:53])

10. Unconditional Love, Boundaries, and Knowing When to Move On

[19:44 – 20:44]

• What if unconditional love is demanded in a toxic dynamic? DeVon Franklin emphasizes everyone has a breaking point, and sometimes leaving is the greatest act of love.

11. Casting & Creative Process

[23:50 – 26:24]

• Casting Method Man was an organic decision after a chemistry read with Kelly Rowland.
  • “Within two minutes, we were like, all right, bet, there it is.” – DeVon Franklin ([24:55])
• Method Man and Kelly Rowland praised each other's professionalism and acting, not just their musical stardom.

12. On Men, Vulnerability, and Change

[27:18 – 31:08]

• The movie deliberately portrays a Black male character who changes and seeks healing.
  • “Men can change…He’s made mistakes, but he is serious about atoning for those mistakes.” – DeVon Franklin ([27:18])
• Method Man explains why vulnerability is tough for men but essential at home.
  • “You have to sacrifice part of yourself to be vulnerable...but when he comes home, he wants to have peace...this is where he can be vulnerable.” – Method Man ([29:11])
  • Extended metaphor: true vulnerability is when “you can poop with the door open” ([30:20])

13. Healing Bitterness & Embracing Hurt

[31:42 – 34:22]

• The conversation explores how past hurts can turn to bitterness, blocking new love; the film shows Leah moving from emotional guard to openness.
  • “When you open up your heart, you open up to help, but you open up to hurt as well...The admission price for love is faith.” – DeVon Franklin ([32:05])
  • “It’s okay to hurt…because when you feel, that’s when you can heal.” – DeVon Franklin ([34:14])

14. Lists, Needs, and Women’s Expectations

[35:48 – 37:36]

• Kelly Rowland reflects on her own “list” of relationship requirements and realizing that “wants” and “needs” are often different.
  • “I thought I knew what I wanted, but Tim gave me what I needed, and that was the difference.” – Kelly Rowland ([36:22])
• Beyoncé once advised Kelly to take inventory after a breakup instead of just mourning the loss ([37:15]).

15. Self-Compromise Versus Self-Betrayal

[37:36 – 38:43]

• Kelly shares: Choosing Tim was not a compromise but learning self-worth and overcoming “daddy issues” to select a good man.

16. Forgiveness & Family

[38:43 – 40:04]

• Kelly discusses reconciling with her father, learning about her roots, and the impact on her relationship with husband Tim and their children.

17. Hip Hop’s Evolution on Love

[40:05 – 42:12]

• Method Man discusses generational changes in hip hop’s handling of love and relationships, critiquing the current lack of substance and diversity in the music.
  • “Experience is king, to be honest…Substance…and you only think of these things when you get my age. You want something that matters, something you can feel.” – Method Man ([41:39])

18. What Should Audiences Take Away?

[43:19 – 44:26]

• The film aims to spark authentic conversation about all types of relationships, not just romantic.
  • “It provokes conversation…relationship goals for even the friends…you see how relationship goals as a whole, not just romantically, are really important.” – Kelly Rowland ([43:23])
• Method Man: “I just want people to root for these people in this film. Root for their relationships as well.” ([44:21])
• DeVon Franklin: “It’s a rare thing where you can watch a movie that entertains you, but also makes you think, ‘Oh, shoot, there’s some things I can change and apply to my personal life.’” ([44:26])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “When you don’t do therapy…you bleed on your partner…you want them to be your therapist.” – DeVon Franklin ([18:02])
• “We’re supposed to be living life abundant…not constantly triggering ourselves and others.” – Kelly Rowland ([18:53])
• “The admission price for love is faith…if you’re not open, you’re never going to receive it.” – DeVon Franklin ([32:05])
• “I thought I knew what I wanted, but Tim gave me what I needed.” – Kelly Rowland ([36:22])
• “Work-life balance is a myth.” – Charlamagne Tha God ([15:04])
• “All this is TV. Home life is more grounded in reality for me.” – Method Man ([14:11])
• “Men can change.” – DeVon Franklin ([27:18])
• Method Man’s vulnerability metaphor – “When you can poop with the door open and your significant other’s there, that’s vulnerability.” ([30:20])

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------------------|-----------| | Movie Inspiration & Plot | 01:44–02:27| | Creating Original Song | 03:08–03:41| | Cast on Role Connections & Grief | 04:09–04:41 | | Fashion, Power, and Female Empowerment | 05:21–06:20 | | Social Media & Relationship Expectations | 07:41–09:41 | | Workplace Romance & Boundaries | 10:15–11:35 | | Dealing with Grief as Love Challenge | 11:35–13:13 | | Work-Life Integration | 14:11–15:47 | | Faith & Therapy | 16:45–18:36 | | When to Let Go of Unconditional Love | 19:44–20:44 | | Casting & On-Set Anecdotes | 23:50–26:24 | | On Men, Vulnerability, and Change | 27:18–31:08 | | Healing Bitterness and Embracing Hurt | 31:42–34:22 | | Lists, Wants vs Needs (Kelly on Tim) | 35:48–37:36 | | Compromise vs Self-Betrayal | 37:36–38:43 | | Forgiveness, Family, Roots | 38:43–40:04 | | Hip Hop’s Evolving Take on Relationships | 40:05–42:12 | | Audience Takeaway, Legacy of the Film | 43:19–44:26 |

Tone & Language

The tone was lively, vulnerable, and insightful—full of playful banter but grounded in real, sometimes painful, lived experience. The guests spoke with candor and warmth, offering hope and honesty about love’s challenges and the ever-evolving journey of self-growth.

Summary Takeaway

This episode uses Relationship Goals as a springboard for a much-needed dialogue on modern love, healing from trauma, the importance of self-awareness, and the necessity of both faith and therapy. Kelly Rowland, Method Man, and DeVon Franklin offer both humor and heart, making this a must-listen for anyone on their own relationship journey. Listeners are left with the message: Keep hope alive, define your own relationship ideals, and do not fear the work of healing—because love is worth it.