Juneteenth Joy: Celebrating Our Stories, Our Freedom & Our Future

Summary

The Breakfast Club | Juneteenth Joy: Celebrating Our Stories, Our Freedom & Our Future

Release Date: June 19, 2026
Host: Lauren LaRosa (The Black Effect Podcast Network & iHeartPodcasts)
Guests: Jason Weaver, Marseille Martin, Crystal Renee Hayslett

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Episode Overview

In a special Juneteenth episode of "The Latest with Lauren LaRosa" on The Breakfast Club, Lauren explores the deep significance of Juneteenth—its history, its meaning for Black joy and freedom, and the vital importance of Black storytelling. The episode features rich interviews with prominent Black artists and creators, including Jason Weaver, Marseille Martin, and Crystal Renee Hayslett, who discuss the impact of representation, authentic storytelling, intergenerational responsibility, and supportive community. The tone is celebratory, candid, and deeply reflective, combining historical context with contemporary conversations.

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Main Topics and Themes

Juneteenth: History, Meaning, and Joy

[03:47 - 10:30]

• Historical Context: Lauren breaks down Juneteenth’s origin, highlighting that June 19, 1865, marks when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, were informed of their freedom—years after the Emancipation Proclamation. This delay is both a specific historical injustice and a metaphor for ongoing denials and delays in Black freedom and recognition.
• Importance of Storytelling: The episode champions not just telling stories of struggle, but also those of Black joy, resilience, and progress.
• Current Relevance: Lauren draws parallels between delayed justice then and present-day struggles, urging listeners to continue pushing for progress in all spheres.
• Quotable Moment:
  “If you let it, if you allow people to tell you who you are and who you are not, if you allow people to hide information and education from you, they will always be able to control you.” – Lauren LaRosa [09:05]

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Featured Conversations

1. Honoring Dr. Opal Lee and Juneteenth Activism

[12:50 - 13:35]

• A recorded message from Dr. Opal Lee, the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” sets the tone for the importance of institutional and grassroots recognition.
• Notable Quote:
  “The enslaved in Texas were told they were free for two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation freed them … When those people came in from their labor and somebody read that to them, we started celebrating. And we’ve been celebrating everything.” — Dr. Opal Lee (via Lauren/Jason) [13:12]

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2. Jason Weaver on Authentic Black Storytelling and “The Chi”

[19:20 - 27:05]

• Authenticity in Representation: Weaver discusses “The Chi” and its mission to authentically portray Chicago, not just as a site of violence, but of deep community and history.
• Responsibility & Impact: As a series regular, Weaver reflects on his role’s significance and the responsibility of portraying real, layered characters.
• Memorable Quotes:
  • “One of the things that I’m really, really proud about is that we are showing the beauty of the community. … The south side and west side … are plagued with violence in certain ways, but, you know, there’s also communities there with heart … where those stories have never been told, and they haven’t been told in a beautiful way.” – Jason Weaver [19:20]
  • “With Shad’s character, it really showed in a very authentic way the obstacles that he was being confronted with … And not a lot of those stories are told from an honest and respectful point of view.” – Jason Weaver [25:33]
• Generational Resonance: Weaver shares how viewers, especially Black men, relate to his character’s journey post-incarceration and the hope it inspires.

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3. Marseille Martin on Intentionality, Early Career, and Black Creative Power

[28:24 - 41:19]

• Navigating Hollywood Young: Martin reveals the sacrifices and unique challenges of entering the spotlight at age five—from moving cities to battling stereotypes around Black hair on set.
• Speaking Up & Self-Advocacy: She emphasizes the importance of self-knowledge and voicing what isn’t working—wisdom for young creators and professionals.
• Producing and Supporting Others: Martin details her journey creating the film “Little”, working alongside Kenya Barris and Will Packer, and launching her own production company to uplift other Black creatives.
• Quotes & Insights:
  • “There’s so many things that you could talk about and, you know, relate to when it comes to just what it was like growing up in that space. … I feel like just as a whole, the things that you don’t even think about, such as just your childhood just switching” – Marseille Martin [28:24]
  • “It starts with understanding the question behind the question: ‘Okay, this isn’t working. Why?” – Marseille Martin [32:54]
  • “My mom says a lot: what's for you is what's for you, and what's for you won’t miss you.” – Marseille Martin [39:02]
  • “Trust the plan, trust the process, find joy in the process, is what’s the most important thing … what’s the rush?” – Marseille Martin [41:19]

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4. Crystal Renee Hayslett and Lauren LaRosa: Sisterhood, Navigating Conflict & Representation

[44:39 - 54:51]

• Candid Reflections on Career and Empathy: Lauren shares personal lessons about work transitions, empathy for other Black women in media, and conflict resolution—especially as she relates old experiences to her current role at The Breakfast Club.
• Sisterhood & Solidarity: Lauren and Crystal discuss the pressures of being Black women in public, the value of vulnerability, and the need for space to simply “be.”
• Representation on Mainstream Platforms: Lauren celebrates the visibility of “real Black girls”—authentic voices, natural hair, and culture—on major media platforms, directly challenging tokenism and the “one at a time” mentality.
• Quotes & Moments:
  • “It’s important that in doing that, it was like, this is how I feel, and this is why … but at the end of the day, there’s going to be other women that are going to go through some real tough times with somebody else. … I want to show people that, like, you can have an issue, but, like, we don’t have to allow it to…” – Lauren LaRosa [51:32]
  • “They’re cutting platforms. They’re taking Black people out of media. They’re shutting our voices down. So imagine if, like, we’re showing it and now you see it more.” – Lauren LaRosa [54:40]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Progress and Celebration:
  • “Celebrating holidays like Juneteenth are so important … I think all days of the year, 365, Black Joy should be something at the forefront of our lives.” – Lauren LaRosa [10:56]
• On Authentic Media Representation:
  • "We all bring this big, you know, mixture … into the pot, and it works. But in real life, I was like, man, I worked really hard to get here. I can't let this situation control and change everything I work for." – Lauren LaRosa [54:40]

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Key Timestamps

• [03:47] – Lauren’s opening monologue about Juneteenth’s significance and themes of storytelling and Black joy.
• [12:50] – Dr. Opal Lee’s message and the historic importance of Juneteenth.
• [19:20] – Jason Weaver on authenticity in Black storytelling and responsibility.
• [28:24] – Marseille Martin on childhood stardom, self-advocacy, and creative ownership.
• [44:39] – Lauren and Crystal Hayslett on sisterhood, empathy, and the need for more genuine representation of Black women.
• [58:37] – Lauren’s closing words: encouragement to find joy and pride in Blackness on Juneteenth.

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Takeaways

• Juneteenth as a Platform for Reflection and Joy: The episode re-centers Juneteenth not just as a historical milestone, but as a call to celebrate Black life, resilience, and ongoing struggles for recognition and justice.
• The Power of Black Storytelling: Through in-depth conversations, the episode demonstrates how authentic stories—of struggle, overcoming, joy, and complexity—shape community and individual self-understanding.
• Intergenerational Wisdom and Support: Insights from guests of different generations reinforce the importance of lifting each other up and creating space for new stories and perspectives.
• Sisterhood and Solidarity: Lauren and her guests highlight the necessity of supporting one another in spaces that weren’t built for them, and the transformative impact of visible, authentic representation.

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Closing

Lauren’s final message channels the heart of the episode: “Happy Juneteenth! … I hope you’re listening to this conversation and you’re feeling happy and proud to be Black, and happy and proud to, you know, take today to just … feel like that.” [58:37]

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Listen if you want:

• A candid, insightful celebration of Juneteenth
• Engaging interviews with creators shaping the future of Black storytelling
• Wisdom about sustaining joy, building community, and the necessity of authentic representation

Transcript

[Lauren LaRosa]

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[Jason Weaver]

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[Lauren LaRosa]

Yes, it's me again. And we prepped.

[Myles Gray]

Prepped.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Oh wow, oh wow, oh wow. It's the time for empowerment and I've got a message for you. You gotta think about sexual health no matter what. When when or with who?

[Marseille Martin]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Lauren LaRosa]

To all you lovers out there, ain't no judgment. This is your cue.

[Jason Weaver]

Guess who.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Guess who's better. It's time to talk about a part of HIV prevention. Talk to a health care provider and visit care for the culture.com to learn more. I'm the home girl that knows a little bit about everything and every body. You know, she don't lie about that, right? Lauren came in hot. Hey, y'. All, what's up? It's Lauren LaRosa. And this is another episode of the latest with Lauren larosa. This is your daily dig on all things pop culture, entertainment news, and all of the conversations that shake the room, baby. Now, today, we are blackity, blackity, black, y'.

[Jason Weaver]

All.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I mean, we black every day. It's the black effect, period. Like, we are so intentional. I am so intentional about a lot of things that I do in my life, but especially when it comes to platforming. Growing up in a household that was black as hell and a family that was black as hell. Juneteenth and the celebration of Juneteenth have always been something I've been consistent in our family even before people was getting off work for it. So I'm really excited today to bring you guys this episode and center black storytellers and storytelling and black storytellers who are doing it in a way that is a progression. I think, you know, we can have various conversations about whether or not you love every black story you see or how it's told or, you know, do we lean into trauma? Do we lean in the joy? I think, you know, black people are full of so much of everything from the good, the bad, the ugly. And our stories deserve to be told because it all stems from a place, a place of not the opposite of progression, a place of being held down, a place of being told what we could not do and how we could not do it and being put in positions, you know, from the abilities to not be able to do things like vote or learn or read or, you know, even get together in community and fellowship because we were looked at as threats if and when we did. It all stems from that. So to me, you know, I think it's always gold to see those stories be told by people who have the same mission and that same energy of, you know, what is the why and how do we keep the progression going? By understanding that our stories stem from something that is so deep, over 400 years deep. And that's what we're going to do today. On the Latest with Lauren LaRosa, the podcast. Y' all love the conversations that shake the room. And today I will be highlighting them, a few of them that we've been blessed to have here at the Latest with Lauren LaRosa on the podcast. Now I want to talk a bit about Juneteenth before we get into the highlighting of those interviews. And latest. And normally here at the Latest with Lauren LaRosa, we check in behind the scenes of the grind, which is where we ask the question, how are you really doing? Like, what's the check in? Like? So today we're going to check in behind the scenes of the ground, but we're going to educate. We're going to talk about what is Juneteenth and why it's important to celebrate. Let's get into it. So Juneteenth officially is the celebration marking the day, June 19, 1865, where the Union, under the leadership of Gordon Granger, arrived to slaves in Galveston, Texas, and informed them that they were free, that they were no longer enslaved people. Now, this is important because we know about the Emancipation proclamation that happened January 1, 1863, and we know that the Civil War ended in April of 1865. So a lot of people are probably wondering, well, how were there people that were still enslaved? Well, like I said, black people weren't allowed to do much. And I know you guys have heard these stories where, you know, we weren't allowed to educate, we weren't allowed to read. They limited how much we, you know, were able to. To build community and. And talk amongst each other. And our information traveled, which is why things like the underground railroad, you know, created, you know, people who traveled the underground Railroad created their own languages and songs and passageways and ways to communicate and signal various things. Because the people that were keeping us down knew that the more that we could educate, the more that we could fellowship, the more that we could come together, the more that we could understand and know about ourselves and the more that we knew what should be awarded to us, things would change and we could no longer be owned or controlled. But legally, we were no longer supposed to be being owned or controlled. But the message was delayed. And yes, so this was one year after the Senate passed the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery on April 18, 1864, when those slaves in Texas were alerted six months after it was passed in the House on January 31, 1865. But the people, the powers that be in Texas, they knew. They knew what was going on. They knew what was up, but they chose not to because, again, and it's so crazy how, like, you know, some of the monikers from those day from. From that day in that still exists today within our communities. If you let it, if you allow people to tell you who you are and who you are not, if you allow people to hide information and education from you, they will always be able to control you. And I know then back in 1865, it wasn't about what was allowed because people were literally being slaughtered and killed. Families were being separated. People were being sold as if they were pieces of clothing, you know, so we didn't have much to try and rebel with, even though there were people that did that tried that successfully did. But those stories are not told. But, you know, I think celebrating holidays like Juneteenth are So important, number one, because I think all days of the year, 365, Black Joy should be something at the forefront of our lives. But if not all days, I think of all the holidays, Juneteenth, you know, is one of them where it should be, you know, just a day of joy, because you have the right to literally, if no other reason why, just because of that. But also, I think it's a day to continue to have the conversations of the fact that there were things that were denied then and delayed then when it came to the freedom and the allowance and what was allowed of black people. And there are still things being denied and delayed today in 2026. So when we're having these celebrations today, when we are being blackity, blackity, black, y' all all, when we are talking about Juneteenth, it is important to understand why we are doing it and. And to know where to put our foot down and to still rebel and have conversations and push back against certain things that we are not seeing today, although very different, and we always are, you know, so thankful and honor our ancestors who made that a possibility for us, which is, you know, I think, where the joy of this holiday comes from. It's like we've been through so much. Our people before us, enslaved people before us, people that lost their lives, fighting to make sure we had what we have now, went through so much that we deserve to celebrate and. And just feel a peace of mind for that, although there is still more work to do. You know what I mean? So today, I want this episode to feel like that, because behind the scenes of the grind, you know, normally on Juneteenth, I'm out, I'm celebrating, I'm barbecuing, I'm a, you know, electric sliding. Today, I'm literally just taking the time to rest and to be with family and people I love and that be my joy and my peace for the day. But also just really being grateful and thankful for what I, as a black woman, am allowed to accomplish and do in the world today and thinking about the people who made that possible for me to be able to do that. There was a video that was posted by Shonda Rhimes last year on Juneteenth that I saved to put on the podcast here today, but also repost across social media this year for Juneteenth. And the video is of Dr. Opal Lee. She is also known as the Grandmother Juneteenth. She spent a lifetime advocating for Juneteenth's national recognition through decades of grassroots work because it's a federal holiday and some people, not all do have work off work on this day. But this didn't happen until 2021. That's what I mean by things being delayed for us still, even though we celebrate what we get, we are very honest about what we still are owed. So in. In 2021, Dr. Opali's efforts were honored as she stood beside President Biden when Juneteenth was finally signed into law. Black history is America's history. And you know, what is being denied and delayed when it comes to black people isn't a black people's problem. It's an American problem. We should always put that at the forefront of our celebrations today and every day and of our conversation. So let's take a listen to Dr. Opal Lee and then we'll get into some other conversations with, you know, some black creators and artists that are doing the work through their storytelling, like Marcel Martin, like Jason Weaver, like podcaster and actress Crystal Renee Hayslett. Let's take a listen to Dr. Opalu. There may be some of you who don't know what Juneteenth is. The enslaved in Texas were told they were free for two and a half

[Jason Weaver]

years after the Emancipation Proclamation freed them. They watching our churches and they pray

[Lauren LaRosa]

for freedom to come. And it finally did when General Gordon Granger and 7,000 colored troops from New

[Jason Weaver]

Jersey and New York made their way to Galveston, Texas.

[Lauren LaRosa]

And he read General order number three

[Jason Weaver]

that said all slaves are free.

[Lauren LaRosa]

When those people came in from their

[Jason Weaver]

labor and somebody read that to them, we started celebrating. And we've been celebrating everything.

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Paramount is now the home of all your BET favorites.

[Lauren LaRosa]

That sounds nice.

[Paramount Plus Announcer]

With all new episodes of all the Queen's Men.

[Lauren LaRosa]

You stand up when you talk to the Queen.

[Paramount Plus Announcer]

Plus a whole new world of movies like Gladiator 2. I must have Power. Original series like the Shot.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Life comes at you fast, whether you ready for it or not.

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[Lauren LaRosa]

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New home.

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[Lauren LaRosa]

That's all that matters to me.

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[Lauren LaRosa]

All right, y', all, now it's time to get into the conversations that are going to shake the room as if the room has not already been shaken. Okay. If you are not feeling, you know, educated about Juneteenth and like, as a black person, you know, you getting all the hugs and all the loves and all the things so far in this episode, the. The rest of this conversation will definitely do that for you. So let's get on into a conversation that I had with Jason Weaver. Now, we know Jason Weaver as the voice of young Simba and the Lion King. Just can't wait to be king. We've heard the story about the amazing business deal that set him up for a lifetime of amazing payment that his mom negotiated around that time for him. But more recently, we have seen him portray a character in this. In the Shy a, a show that is entering its eighth and final season, created by an amazing black storyteller, Lena Waithe. And the Shy does an amazing job of talking about Chicago, which is an inner city that is often talked about so dark and so cold. And you know, you hear about the, you know, the number of black people killing black people and all those, all those things. But this show adds warmth and love and community and, and substance and presence of real community to Chicago. And Jason Weaver's character, shy does an amazing job of showing a man trying to come up against the odds in the midst of all of that. So let's talk to him a bit or flashback to when I talked to him a little bit. And you guys can catch this full episode on a previous episode of the ladies with Lauren LaRosa if you want it. But here is a preview of that conversation. Let's get into it. So you talk a bit about, you know, just being from Chicago and the authenticity of the show and all the things I think a common question I hear the casket ask are like, you know, how do you keep it authentic and, you know, stuff like that. But what are some of the, like, responsibilities that you feel as a person that, you know, I got a Chance to talk to the younger cast. Right. And I know a lot of them are from Chicago, but you being older, seeing the changing of times of how black television goes from something like a Steve Harvey show to, you know, what we do or don't have now, and you're from Chicago, it's like a double whammy there. It's like you understand the importance of a show like the Shot, but you also are free from Chicago and understanding the point inside that as well, too. So what you. What are you dealing with when you're walking on set day to day because of that?

[Jason Weaver]

Oh, man. That's another great question. I. I think that one of the. The. The things I'm most proud of with our show and being in Chicago is that, you know, we explore the elements of violence in street life. Yeah. Which is a reality in Chicago. And everybody knows that that seems to be amplified more in mainstream media than anything when people are referencing Chicago. But one of the things that I'm really, really proud about is that we are showing the beauty of the community. We are showing the solidarity and the unity that does exist in the community. Yeah. The south side and west side and some of the more underserved communities in Chicago and the Chicagoland surrounding Chicagoland area. Yeah. Are plagued with violence in certain ways. But, you know, there's also communities there with heart, like the community of Inglewood has heart in history. The community of Woodlawn, Park Manor, Chatham. You know, I mean, there's so many communities there that are comprised of black and brown people where, you know, those stories have never been told, They've never been acknowledged, and they haven't been told in a. In a beautiful way, too, the way that they're depicted visually. You know, I think Lena and the directors and the producers do an amazing job of actually presenting the south side as a thriving, beautiful and colorful community. You know, even when the show is, like, set in the wintertime, the things that are shot interior, they feel very warm. The homes feel welcoming. You know, the conversations within the home feel relatable, even if you're not from the south side of Chicago. So that's one of the many things that makes me very proud to. To be associated with the show and represent on behalf of it as well.

[Lauren LaRosa]

So your character first. I have a question. Last year, or maybe even been earlier this year, I can pull up. Let me see what the date on that was. I would have to pull it back up, but I saw it was like a. One of the trades, obviously, like Deadline or Variety. They announced that you and what's her name, hall, were now going to be series regulars, but you had been a regular on the show already.

[Jason Weaver]

Well, that's, that's what a lot of people. That's what a lot of people had assumed. I was always technically. Since I first came on the show on season four, I was always technically or contractually referred to as a recurring character. What ended up happening was, is that I think, you know, because with the shy, everything is kind of unpredictable. And I think Lena plays a lot on synergy and connection and flow and authenticity in her ability to tell a story. And I just think over time, the type of character shot is or was and how his story was so relatable to a lot of people, but also because he was so layered as a character and nuanced, you know, as a character, I think it just made for interesting stories to be built around him, and the audience responded well to that. And so over time, they just kind of kept me on.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Right.

[Jason Weaver]

And, you know, I, I think when season eight finally came around and they realized that that character in particular contributes so much to the overall story, arc and storyline of the show, that's when they decided to, you know, promote me to series regular, which I'm, I'm very grateful for. I'm, I'm very grateful that I got the opportunity to be recognized in that regard in the last season. But even prior to that, prior to becoming a series regular, you know, I was still very honored and proud to be a part of the show. And, you know, anything that was required of me, whether it was heavy lifting or just playing more of a supportive role, you know, I was, I was always enthusiastic, you know, to meet the challenge because again, you know, for me, it's about telling a great story and it's about, you know, representing something that, you know, that I believe in and that I'm proud of. So, you know, cause I was the

[Lauren LaRosa]

regular folk watching, I'm like, hold on now. I mean, did that because the reason why I brought that up, because I was like, I know that the shy has like so many twists and turns in the storyline, so I wonder if you on the talent side were ever like, okay, I know I'm here, and I know I'm a part of the story. Story, but is this something that happens just in case it'd be like, no.

[Jason Weaver]

Bang, bang. I mean, that, that's exactly what it is. I, I, you, you hit the nail on the head. I mean, you know, Lena has this saying during our table read. She was like, yeah, y' all, you know, knock out these lines, get it right, you know, sell these lines, because, you know, anything can happen on the shot. Nothing's guaranteed. Nobody's guaranteed. And. And, you know, as an actor, it keeps you on edge because, you know, each and every week, you got to come with it. You know, there's never a relaxed position that you should ever find yourself in as a creative period. But, you know, especially on that show, you were always kind of, well, man, is my character gonna make it next week? Am I gonna get killed or. And I think a lot of that was based on your performance and how the audience reacted to you and their engagement with your character. So thankfully for me, I think, you know, a lot of people liked genuinely like Shot and could see that at his core, he was a good guy. And. And they ended up kind of rooting for him. So that gave me, you know, that. That ability to stay around a lot longer.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I think with Shot, it's like you feel like everybody. Everybody has a Shot in their family or knows a shot, like somebody who just honestly is just, like, trying to do the right thing. But you. You play in the cars you were dealt to a certain extent, but you are you. There is a boundary or a cut off with you as a human.

[Jason Weaver]

Yes, yes. No. It's so funny that you would mention that. I have so many. I have so many black men in particular, that range in age, you know, who have dealt with similar circumstances in their personal lives, you know, that.

[Myles Gray]

That.

[Jason Weaver]

That kind of run parallel maybe to what Shot has experienced, even being incarcerated maybe at one point in their lives and trying to re. Enter back into society and be given a second chance. And not a lot of those stories are told from an honest and respectful point of view, you know what I mean? I think with Shad's character, it really showed in a very authentic way the obstacles that he was being confronted with and that he had to hurdle over. And even the decisions that he made in his mind, whether to sway left or right, whether to stay legit or whether you go back into the gangster world. Even when we explored those things, they were explored in a very honest and respectful and authentic way, which I think allowed especially a lot of the. The. The black men who became later on familiar with our show find something to connect with, you know what I'm saying, in the show. So. So that was good. And I. And I was happy that I was able to serve in that regard as an actor and helping to tell that story, because, you know, that does impact me. It does matter to me. When other brothers come up to me and they, and they share their stories with me and how through, you know, watching the show in some kind of way, it maybe gave them, you know, some additional insight or maybe gave them, you know, some more hope, you know, and knowing that there, there's a silver lining, that there's light at the end of the tunnel, even for them. So I'm glad that I was able to serve in that regard.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Now, next up, we have a conversation with Ms. Marseille Martin, who is one of my favorite creators in Hollywood. And I say that all the time, not just because she's amazing as an actress and on camera, but I think, you know, she is so young, but she is so intentional. She does a lot of work in the community when it comes to HBCUs and black students and black conversations and centering, you know, people that are trying to work and continue to tell stories in Hollywood as, as black people young and old. And she's just done so much in such a little time because she's so young. But I just love her energy, I love her spirit, and I love how she cares about us. For real. For real. So we were at the campus of Howard University, which is a renowned HBCU Historically Black college university, and we were having a conversation for the HBCU First Look Film Festival, which is an amazing organization that centers black storytellers and helps, you know, funding when it comes to that as well. And we talked a lot about her journey and, you know, what it looks like for her to be doing everything that she's doing and being intentional about being black while doing it. Let's take a listen. So you embarked on your career at a really young age. And we talk about, you know, in the business and being able to do all these things, but what were some of the opportunities or challenges that came with the opportunities of being in the spotlight so young?

[Marseille Martin]

Oh, my goodness. I mean, I will put it in perspective that I started when I was five. So the complications that we had going from, I mean, Dallas to LA and then going from Huntington beach to Burbank, which is a two hour drive going back and forth from the studio, I mean, it was just a lot of sacrifice that came into it as it is for anybody who has a passion. And I believe, I mean, there's things in the little details that like, a lot of people don't even think of. Such as, like, you know, who's doing your hair? You know, how's your, how's your hair going to look? A lot of people don't know how to do black people's hair. And then when, you know, we're able to fix that with the amazing Roxy Lindsey, who is such a, like, per. Like a perfectionist when it comes to black women hair, of course. But, I mean, there's just. There's so many things that you could talk about and, you know, relate to when it comes to just what it was like growing up in that space. But I feel like just as a whole, the things that you don't even think about, such as just your childhood just switching, you know, just shifting from. With me being a little girl from Dallas, Texas, going from a public school that I was at for many years and then going to homeschool, you know, such as that, and just, like, the different shifts that that puts on a perfect person and what it takes on. So I feel like it was a lot of changes that happened, but I think with me being an old soul and always around. I'm not going to say old grown people all the time. I used to be around my aunties, and I was like 8 years old, and they was telling me about their divorce stories and stuff, and I'm like, exactly, girl. Like, this is what you have to do. So going from that to then going on a set that, you know, it's legendary, that I also saw as, like, my aunties, like Jennifer Lewis, it was basically the same thing, you know. So I think it. Just being able to kind of change my mindset at such a young age and not really thinking about how crazy the shift is from someone else who meets the eye, but just, you know, having fun, trying to find the fun in everything that I do. I think that was the most important thing.

[Lauren LaRosa]

You talk about the shift. I can't imagine at such a young age what that feeling was like. But do you remember when you were like, oh, oh, things are different for me than the kids that I started going to school with. Like, when you kind of realize, like, okay, I'm a celebrity, these things are happening.

[Marseille Martin]

Okay, I will say when I went from my public school in Dallas, Texas, where I was with the same people for many, many years, and then moved to Huntington beach, where it was just a bunch of white kids, I went to, like, a ymca and I had, like, this, like, white feature, very, like, out there. Jolly, yes, baby happy. And most of. And sometimes. Sometimes I would be, you know, absent because I would have to work. So when I come back, I was like, I was working and, you know, I was a middle school kid talking about I had. I had to work, you know, I was at work. So that's when I kind of realized the shift and how different I was from just other kids. And, you know, it was different at the time, but I was. There was something in me that was very vocal about being, like, talking to my parents and being like, listen, y', all, this. This ain't going to work. I was like, this is not going to work. I need to find something else. And that's when I moved into homeschool, and then my mom became my teacher. And then we had some amazing, amazing tutors on the Blackish set that helped me out so much. And I Then eventually I had the same tutor up until I was finished with school. So at the end, it was very helpful, you know, but that was definitely the shift of, like, wow, this is. This is different.

[Lauren LaRosa]

So growing up in the industry and growing up around the arts, you said something important. Like, you said you were able to go to your parents and say, this is not working for me. Like, I need to change schools, because whatever just wasn't on point for you to do what you need to do. Right.

[Paramount Plus Announcer]

Yeah.

[Lauren LaRosa]

As a creative. And a lot of, you know, the students and the people here are probably creators of businesses, and they're young and are figuring things out. What would be your. Be your message to them about being able to say, hey, this is not working for me, so that they're their best selves when they're showing up and trying to create their projects and. And do different things? Because you did that at a very young age.

[Marseille Martin]

Yeah. I think it starts with understanding the question behind the question of, like, okay, this isn't working. Why isn't it working? What are you feeling like? Tell me what the perfect scenario is. How do we get to that point? And I think even at that age, it was trying to understand myself before saying what I had to say to everybody else outside of that. Right. Which I definitely had to learn, you know, just growing up, because I was a person that would say something, and then someone would ask me why, and I was like, hmm, I don't know. So I think to be able to understand where it's coming from, the feelings that are rooted into it, it's helped me so, so much, whether I'm learning with journaling or even, like, I'll do these voice memo diaries of just me talking, just. It can be like the most crazy ramble or whatever.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Is it like a diary or, like, what. Talk us through the.

[Marseille Martin]

It's like a voice memo. I would. I mean, I guess you can call it a diary, but it's just a brain dump of things that I have on my mind because, I mean, it could be very overwhelming at times, so. And then you'll have all these questions. I'm like, okay, how do we. How do we come to the solution?

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yes.

[Marseille Martin]

And. And just go from layer to layer to later to layer, because it's truly like an onion, you know, just trying to figure out what is the core. The core situation.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Right.

[Marseille Martin]

Which has helped me. Which has helped me so much. So I think that would be my advice to people, is to learn yourself. Constantly learn yourself. Don't rush your process. Don't rush into making a decision. I think it just. It definitely helps in the long run. And just your growth as a whole.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Deciding to get behind the camera for you and, you know, creating projects and producing. Was that something that you were always doing, or was that something that, you know, one day you were like, hmm, what is this? I want to try it. Like, how did that come about?

[Marseille Martin]

When I created little with my family, that was honestly the peak of everything, was being able to actually see something that me and my parents created in our living room turn into something that we go to Atlanta and we're filming for three months, and you are just really seeing your dreams come to reality, which was very surreal for me. And if you've watched little before, there's one scene in particular where I. It's literally when Jordyn wakes up and she has these big old clothes on. She got this huge hair, and she's just now waking up. She's trying to look for her glasses, and then she tries to see herself in the mirror, and she's just shook.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yeah.

[Marseille Martin]

And even I think that was one of the first scenes that we shot, and I was like, wow, I cannot believe. I. I just. I just remember me and my mom going band for band on. Like, what she was gonna wear, what she's looking, like, what is she saying? And then me actually doing that with a whole production, everybody saying, like, doing it for takes on takes, and it just was so special. And then to have that and then to realize, like, oh, I could do this over and over and over again, like, this is fun. That's how genius productions came about. And I could do it for other people, not just for me to feel this, but for other young black girls who want to be in front and behind the camera, other black boys who want to pursue anything, anything that they want. It's like I. I understood what that energy was. Yes. And how much I wanted to share that with other people.

[Lauren LaRosa]

What are things that you. So when you're doing little, you, mom, your family, your home, y' all figuring it out, and then you're on set, Right. What were some things that you were realizing that you had been learning all along the way that helped you a lot at that time? That somebody right here, right now could be, like, hyper focusing on because it'll get them point where they could go out and do a production with Friends next month, next week. What are some of those, like, core things that you were like, I see what you did there. God, I didn't even know that this was preparing me.

[Paramount Plus Announcer]

Ooh.

[Marseille Martin]

Oh, that's a tough one.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Mom said, use your resources.

[Marseille Martin]

Oh, look, my mom is right here.

[Lauren LaRosa]

She's like, yeah, mom's right here in the front, y'.

[Hoda Kotb]

All.

[Myles Gray]

Mom.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Mom is right here in the front.

[Marseille Martin]

The fan is killing me.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Absolutely.

[Marseille Martin]

Yeah. I mean, like, my mom was saying, definitely using your resources. I think connection is everything. The reason even why Little came about is because of Kenya Barris and Will Packer. And, of course, Kenya created Black Ish.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yes.

[Marseille Martin]

So we had the idea, but it wouldn't have been able to come to fruition the way it did without the team behind it. And it's genuine. People who want to see you win, you know, it's not just there. We're in it for the money, or they were in it because I'm a prodigy or, you know, or whatever the. Whatever story you make in your head.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yes.

[Marseille Martin]

But it's.

[Lauren LaRosa]

You better claim that.

[Marseille Martin]

Wow.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Y' all heard that?

[Marseille Martin]

I mean, I was. Yeah, nine. I was nine when that. That conversation started. You know, So a lot of people can see that in different ways. You know, they can see it and, you know, go with some kind of story that it's not true, or I'm just the face or whatever, but they saw a girl with a passion, with an idea, and wanted to follow suit with it, you know, And I think that is the most important thing is just following your heart with people who want to protect it, you know, because that's not. I mean, that's not around a lot.

[Lauren LaRosa]

You know, we were just talking about that.

[Marseille Martin]

Yeah, good people. Absolutely. Just genuine good people who you just want to be around. You know, you never want to be around. No fake people, of course. But I think it's just important to just curate your team, find your team, find your energy that you want to be around, and just create your plans and go from there. We had a plan.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yes.

[Marseille Martin]

And I think that was. That was important. So I think that Was one thing is using your resources. Another thing my mom says a lot is what's for you is what's for you, and what's for you won't miss you. I say it every time, and I say it here because there was a minute where, I mean, I was just on Black ish for, like, it was, what, nine years of my life? I'm almost dead, and I feel like I was starting to, as an actor, become stagnant or like, you know, as a whole, I'm growing up in front of everybody's eyes as Diane, not as Marseille, you know, So I think as a whole, I had to sit back and it was more of a complicated experience to find myself because of it and little in creating my production company and also turning into the person I truly want to be. Yes. Which is an overall creator. I'm just a creator at heart. I just like having fun building businesses and stuff. That's just really just what I want to do, you know, And I just. I think as a whole, that's what I wanted to be and what I was destined to be. And I. I realized, like, you know, as long as I follow my path, as long as I trust in God, as long as I don't stress about it, no pressure, just do what is at hand. And then if I. I know that God is not going to put anything in my heart, in my mind, in my gut, that it's not supposed to be. It's not supposed to be there. You know, it's everything that I think, everything that I feel, it's like, okay, this is. This is here for a reason. I'm feeling this way for a reason. So when everything came about, I was just like, wow, this is just really God's journey. And even though I created little at nine, I didn't film it until I was 13. I didn't get the record until I was 14. You know, I didn't create my production company until I was 14, 15. I didn't start actually selling stuff until I was 16, 17, you know, I didn't start getting the recognition for it until I was 18, 19, you know, so I think to be able to trust the plan, trust the process, find joy in the process, is what's the most important thing. Because then you realize, like, wow, this is perfect timing, and what's the rush?

[Paramount Plus Announcer]

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[Lauren LaRosa]

That sounds nice.

[Paramount Plus Announcer]

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[Lauren LaRosa]

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[Lauren LaRosa]

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[Lauren LaRosa]

That's all that matters to me.

[Paramount Plus Announcer]

Your BET favorites are now on Paramount Plus. Subscribe now.

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[Lauren LaRosa]

Now, last but not least, we got my girl Crystal Renee Hasley from the Keep it Positive Sweetie podcast, which she's one of our Black Effect cousins. And what I love about Crystal is that, you know, she's spiritual, she's fashionable, she's such a girl's girl, but she's also like non judgmental and just a real person to have a good conversation, a heartfelt conversation with. And I think, you know, sometimes, like I know me, I can only speak for myself. I don't want to speak for all black people because I hate when people do that. For myself as a black woman that is navigating so much in life on a daily basis and family, you know, personal, professional, all the things I really enjoy. People who just give you a breath of fresh air sometimes. Like, it's not about the struggle, though I don't mind talking about that. I'm not one of those people that feel like you can't. It's not about all of the hype and the entertainment glitz and glam with Christopher Nay Haysley. It's really just about a subs. Like a conversation full of substance and depth in feeling and allows you to feel. And I think sometimes when you walking into the world, I mean, I know like I get up on a daily sometimes and instantly I'm on like a. The world is not going to humble me. I'm a black woman and it's like dang, like, you know and I know black men that you walk into the world as well and there's like a let me protect myself or shield myself or get myself ready for the world. So it's, it's always amazing when there are spaces or conversations created that allow you to take that off and just feel and just be a person. And Christopher Nay Haisley is that I got a chance to talk to her during the Finland at Sea cruise, which was a cruise. All black women. 1500 black women on a cruise, baby. Nothing but good vibes, double Dutch drinks and electric slides. Okay, y' all hear me shout out to Heather Lowry, who put that together under the forward program. But we. We had a really great conversation just about some spirituality, career go, growth, and. Yeah, just like a real girlfriend chat. So let's get on into it right now.

[Starbucks Advertiser]

So.

[Marseille Martin]

Okay.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I'll just preface this conversation with saying that I get asked about this a lot, and I don't ever mind talking about it, because I feel like all of y' all that watched it were able to learn something from it and be able to see yourself in it. And that's why I never mind talking about it. Even though me and Jess are in a way different. Different space for sure. So I'll say that first. We love her too, of course. But, you know, I think if I'm being real, it was like I understood. Like, I was able to sit that day and have the conversation the way that it did. And even throughout the process, when little moments was happening and it was going viral and I was like, you know, acting like I didn't know what was happening. I was having. For me, it was like an hour in her place. How would I feel? And I'd actually been in her place, and not to that extent. When my mom got sick when I was working at tmz, my mom was battling cancer. She's good now. But when I. Thank you. But when I was working at tmz, I remember I had to take leave from work to be with my mom. I got to a point where I couldn't even think day to day. Like, literally. So I was like, yo, I'm, like, trying to Skype in TMZ live from the hospital, all that. And I'm like, I can't do it anymore. Like, I'm not myself right now. I need to just be with her and go through this. They hired another girl. They hired another black girl. Not only did they hire her, they sat her right where I would sit, and they would give her all. And you know, they white as hell, so they. They don't even, like, they, like. Because, you know, it's like white people that, like, be around black people, and then it's like the white. White people, they're like, black. Yeah. So they're very. Like, sometimes they can. I think people in those spaces can be kind of tone deaf to what they're doing, image wise. Right? So you have people that are really upset calling me. Like, why would they sit her? Like, they just popped one black girl out, popped another one in, right? And it was causing. Like, she was there, and she was being put in positions to do things and, like, whatever. And she wasn't comfortable But I had already talked to her a bit before I stepped out, so we had a little bit of a rapport. But I remember the fans of the show, they were making it at tnt. They were making it such a thing with me and her. Her name is Kashay Maclay. She works in Indianapolis now, Tennessee. She's somewhere now she's a Beyonce reporter for USA Today, though she's doing very well after tmz. But I remember reaching out to her and just being like, look, even when I come back into my role or if I want ever come back, I want you to understand that, like, I have no issue with. Business is business. You know what I'm saying? And I know it's not you. I know that there are things happening around you that you might not be aware of. Even if you're aware there's nothing you can do. You're just showing up every day to work. So fast forward into the Breakfast Club situation. I'm like, okay, God, now I see why you had me in that situation a few years back, because now I'm able to be here and be like, okay, your son of every day to work. You're not really in control of what's happening, but you can't act like you don't know what's happening, right? So I had to have a certain empathy for Jess and just understanding that, like, that was also my first time being that up close and not pregnant.

[Marseille Martin]

Not yet. That didn't.

[Lauren LaRosa]

No, not yet. No. That was my first time being that up close and personal with someone who was prepping and then just recently had a baby and going back, I never experienced that. That close. So I'm like, oh, like, when people talk about all of the things that happen, like, I'm like, oh, that's a real thing, and I'm watching it happen. So as a woman, I'm like, bro, it's no way that even though I know she's upset and she don't want me here right now, if I can step in, she's having a tough day. If I can step in. If I can. She saved it to this day. Like, you were so to be mad at, because you come in every day so refreshed. And I'm like, well, one of us had to. Because, like, I knew that it wasn't us personally, and I knew that I wasn't her problem. I was actually her partner in that. But she just wasn't at the place where that was something she wanted to. You know what I mean? And I couldn't force that and I also felt like, too. Like it was above us. I just was getting the brunt of it because I was a physical representation of what needed to happen, happening from a bigger standpoint, way above our behavior. That wasn't happening. So as I took all that into mind, you know, when everything happened, I was just like, look, I'm not going to win in this by making this a me versus you thing. So what can I. What I can do is, like, I have to come in here and be honest about how I felt. Because, I mean, the world is seeing it. There's nothing I can do now. Everything out there on the table, so, you know, let's do it. But for me, it was important that in doing that, it was like, this is how I feel, and this is why I want. Oh, sorry. This is how I feel, and this is why I don't f. With it. But, like, at the end of the

[Marseille Martin]

day,

[Lauren LaRosa]

that's why I go to the broadest y. But at the end of the day, I went like, there's gonna be other women that are gonna go through some real tough times with somebody else. And even if we walk away from this not liking each other at all, and it's not that, but in my mind, I was like, even if that's the case, if we never decide to be friends in real life, I wanna show people that, like, you can have an issue, but, like, we don't have to allow it to. Like, you know what I mean? Like, at the end of the day, you gonna go through some things that only I. I'm going to go through something that only you will understand. Because we're. We're both here in this space. We look like each other. We both, like. I remember sitting down and talking to her the first time we met in real life. And she was like, you just like me. And I'm like, yeah, girl, Just because I be reporting doesn't mean she like, oh, so you really come around? Yes. Like. Like. But I think that women don't get to see that often because normally it is only room for one of us. So y' all got a real. See, like, okay, the conversation of what you doing for one of us, it's there, but it's like, how long are we going to sit in that? Like, because for real. For real, what Jess does and what she's great at is what she does and what she's great at. What I do and what I'm great at is what I do and what I'm great at. And when you marry the two. When people begin to see that, like, now we have the committed relief. We have the news, we have the mental health. We have the issue. Like, we all bring this big, you know, mixture of. Into the pot, and it works. But in real life, I was like, man, I worked really hard to get here. I can't let this situation control and change everything I work for. It cannot.

[Marseille Martin]

Like, I have so many other places to go. I love that.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Thank you for that. And I think so many women can say something, a lot of things in what you just said, but I love how you showed we can have conflict resolution. There's going to be conflicts, yeah. It's inevitable. But there's a way that we can. And then you realize we're actually more alike than not. And a lot of times, I think people that we have situations with, the conflicts with, once we actually sit down with that person, we see so many different similarities. And we're like, wow, I actually see myself in you. And you know what else, too? Coming on this cruise, I was like, man, I know Heather. So I know it's gonna be, like, real. Because sometimes you come to these space, and everything is like, oh, my God, I'm in apartment. We're all in white. And it started. Y' all not even nice.

[Starbucks Advertiser]

For real.

[Lauren LaRosa]

If I walk past you on the street, you know what I mean? But being here in this space, and because I know Heather and would she be on, I'm like, no, she gonna curate this, where it's like, if that is your personality, she gonna break you down before we get back to where we going on Monday, right? And that's why I was excited to come here. But that was my. My energy too, with that. I'm like, yo, we can do all the other. The mean girl stuff and all of that, but at the end of day, the day, it's like, we gotta learn that, like, it's us or it's nothing. They cutting platforms. They taking black people out of media. They. They're shutting our voices down. They don't want people like me. And just people got mad at me because I said, I love the fact that you got two. We real black girls. Like, and not because of our skin tone, because light skin, dark skin. I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about, like, we really. From around, we talk how we talk. We come from certain things. We eat certain things.

[Myles Gray]

Things.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Our nails, our hair, our lashes. The edges is laid, like, we doing all of that on this mainstream media platform, and you don't see that. So imagine if, like, we're showing it and now you see it more.

[Myles Gray]

Right?

[Lauren LaRosa]

And so now we don't all got to be in white, smiling and don't really care for each other. We know how to work it.

[Jason Weaver]

Exactly.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I don't know why it's the white. It's so nice. It's so white. The white got y'.

[Marseille Martin]

All.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Cuz y' all know what I'm talking about. Hooping hair and grits and shirts. Y' all know exactly what I'm talking about. You actually funny, too.

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[Lauren LaRosa]

That sounds nice.

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[Lauren LaRosa]

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[Lauren LaRosa]

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[Lauren LaRosa]

Unbelievable.

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[Lauren LaRosa]

That's all that matters to me.

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[Lauren LaRosa]

All. This has been another episode, a very special episode of the latest with Lauren, the Rosa, your daily dig on all things pop culture, entertainment news and all of the conversations that shake the room in celebration of Juneteenth. So I hope if you are listening to this you somewhere, you know, whether you're just getting off work, you spent the day off work, just resting, whatever, doing whatever brings you joy. I hope you're listening to this conversation and you're feeling happy and proud to be black and happy and proud to, you know, know, take today to just, you know what I mean like we a one crack it and just take the day to feel like that. I tell you guys every single episode. Y' all could be anywhere with any old body talking about all of these things but y' all always choose to be right here with me. I appreciate that so much my lowriders. I'll see you guys in my next episode. Happy Juneteenth. This is an I heart podcast. Guaranteed human.