Woman Run The World (Loren's trip with Femmitforward Cruise)

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Woman Run The World (Loren's Trip with Femmitforward Cruise)"

Podcast: The Latest with Loren LoRosa
Host: Loren LoRosa (Black Effect Podcast Network, iHeartPodcasts)
Date: February 25, 2026
Featured Guest: Crystal Renee Hazlett (Actress, Stylist, Host of "Keep It Positive, Sweetie")
Special Appearances: Amber Grimes, Jess, Erin Welsh
Theme: Women in media, authentic sisterhood, growth, and conflict resolution

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Episode Overview

This episode centers on Loren LoRosa’s transformative experience at the Femmitforward Cruise—an event designed to uplift, celebrate, and unite Black women in media and entertainment. Alongside special guest Crystal Renee Hazlett, Loren reflects on career journeys, upholding authenticity, fashion, facing career challenges, and the realities of "mean girl" culture versus genuine empowerment among women. The conversation is candid, uplifting, and packed with advice for anyone seeking inspiration in their personal or professional growth.

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Major Discussion Points & Insights

Loren’s Reflections from the Femmitforward Cruise

Timestamps: 02:33, 06:28

• Loren speaks on returning to New York feeling “centered” after the cruise, emphasizing rest and spiritual grounding.
• Describes the cruise as “so many Black women...just here, about to get on this boat and just do stuff that we be doing. We just doing the things.”
  • “Just walking in and seeing all of us...so inspired by Heather, by you, by like everybody that's like here and just doing the things that we do.” (06:28)

Women Supporting Women: Authenticity Over Competition

Timestamps: 07:23, 13:38, 15:00–21:10

• Crystal and Loren highlight finding inspiration in each other and the supportive energy of the cruise community.
• Discussion of fashion and self-expression—“Every day is your day.” (Advice from Loren’s friend/stylist Jayvon James)
  • “He always tells me, stop saving outfits. You can't show up here not right.” (15:00)
• Crystal gives Loren her flowers for thriving in media and joining The Breakfast Club.
• Loren recounts her nonlinear path to a permanent position, stressing perseverance and taking value from simply being in the room, not just the promise of a paycheck.
  • “I didn't think that I was going to be paid...I'm literally sitting with the best in the industry I want to be in. Y'all think I'm not gonna come in here every day and ask questions? I'm just grateful to be in a space of learning.” (21:10)

Navigating “Mean Girl” Culture and Real Empowerment

Timestamps: 25:54–34:10

• Loren opens up about public and personal challenges, specifically addressing a viral HR incident with co-host Jess and how it shaped her growth and empathy.
• She draws parallels from past experiences, detailing how she developed understanding for others in tough situations and prioritizing unity over rivalry:
  • “If we never decide to be friends in real life, I want to show people that, like, you can have a...issue, but like, we don't have to allow it to...Like, at the end of the day, you gonna go through some things that only I will understand...Women don't get to see that often because normally it is only room for one of us, right?” (30:50)
• Both women reflect on the importance of Black representation in mainstream media—celebrating true diversity, style, and heritage beyond surface-level inclusion.
  • “They cutting platforms. They're taking Black people out of media...I love the fact that you've got two, real Black girls—...because we really, from around, we talk how we talk, we come from certain things...our nails, our hair, our lashes, the edges is laid…We're doing all of that on this mainstream media platform and you don’t see that.” (33:02–34:05)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On showing up and celebrating community:
  “It's so many Black women...and we just full of love. Cause you can get so wrapped up in all the other stuff, especially my job. So just seeing that...I'm so inspired by Heather, by you, by like everybody that's here and just doing the things that we do.” — Loren LoRosa (06:28)

• On value and working for free:
  “I was just grateful to be in a space of learning. I didn't do it thinking, ‘Oh, eventually one day they gonna pay me.’” — Loren LoRosa (21:10)

• On overcoming personal rivalry and representing unity:
  “Women don’t get to see that often, because normally it is only room for one of us, right?...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 worked for.” — Loren LoRosa (30:50–32:23)

• On authentic empowerment spaces versus empty “brunch” culture:
  “Sometimes you come to these [spaces] and everything is like, ‘Oh my God, I'm in the apartment, we're all in white, and it’s like, y'all not even nice’...Being here in this space and...I know Heather...she’s gonna curate this where it’s like, if that ain't your personality, she's gonna break you down before we get back to where we going on Monday.” — Loren LoRosa (33:02)

• On intersectionality and mainstream platforms:
  “They cutting platforms. They're shutting our voices down. They don't want people like me and Jess...We talk how we talk. We come from certain things...The edges is laid, like, we doing all of that on this mainstream media platform, and you don't see that.” — Loren LoRosa (33:02–34:05)

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Key Segments & Timestamps

• Loren returns from Femmitforward cruise, sets episode theme – 02:33–03:40
• Crystal joins, women celebrate their community and achievements – 05:17–07:23
• Rapid Fire Session—fashion, lifestyle, "girl get up" anthem – 07:45–09:36
• Candid career breakdown—working for the love, not just money – 13:38–21:10
• Empathy, public conflict, and supporting other women – 25:54–32:23
• Calling out “mean girl” culture vs real empowerment – 32:49–34:10

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Episode Takeaways

• Empowerment is action, not just aesthetics: The women discuss how real support, vulnerability, and connection trump the performative nature of some “empowerment” events.
• Rising through adversity: Loren’s journey through unpaid labor to her dream role is a testament to perseverance and belief in one’s own abilities.
• Sisterhood over competition: The conversation models conflict navigation, empathy, and prioritizing professional unity and visibility for Black women.
• Authenticity as resistance: Loren and Crystal’s insistence on presenting their true selves in every space ("the edges is laid!") challenges mainstream media norms and celebrates Black womanhood.

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Closing

Loren wraps by encouraging listeners to check out Crystal’s podcast, "Keep it Positive, Sweetie," and thanks her “low riders” for tuning in, promising more intentional conversations and future live episodes.

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For listeners seeking raw advice on career development, sisterhood, and navigating complicated spaces as a Black woman in media, this episode is a must-listen.

Transcript

[Lauren LaRosa]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human Whether you're calling the wise woman in your life, video calling your girlfriends across the country, or checking in on someone who always knows how to make you smile, staying Connected Matters those small conversations, shared laughs and quick hellos are what keep relationships strong even when life gets busy. Some of the most life giving conversations start with just a phone call. That's why AT and T guarantees a network you can rely on so you can focus on the moments and and people that matter the most. That's the AT&T guarantee. AT and T connecting changes everything. Terms and conditions apply. Visit att.comforward/guarantee for details.

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[Erin Welsh]

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[Lauren LaRosa]

I'm the homegirl that knows a little bit about everything. And everybody knows you don't lie about that, right?

[Commercial Voice]

Lauren came in hot.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Hey y', all, what's up? It's Lauren LaRosa and this is 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.

[Crystal Renee Hazlett]

The grind.

[Lauren LaRosa]

If I'm checking in behind the scenes of the grind, we are definitely on the roll with the conversations. I told you guys I would be bringing you more sit down conversations. I'm finally back in New York from the Finland at Sea Fit Forward cruise that I did. And I'm not. I got rest last night. I was like. And I didn't feel guilty about it. I got rest last night. I wasn't up all night preparing for the podcast or, you know, any other thing that I do. This morning I woke up a bit earlier, though. It was up at 3:00am Normally, you know, I get a little hour or two more. But yeah, like, I. I'm in a very centered space and I want you guys to be able to like, really experience the cruise with me. So you know where that centered space is coming from. One of the conversations that I had while on the cruise was with Crystal Renee Hazlett, you know, from Zatima. She's also done work with Tyler Perry Studios and still does, I believe. I mean, outside of just the show. But she was like styling behind the scenes at point. But you know her because she is also on Black Effect. She's one of our podcast cousins. She has the podcast. Keep it positive, sweetie. And baby, her podcast audience, I told y' all in one of the last episodes, they are, they show up for her. So my low riders, we got to take a lesson out their book when we get ready to do our live sit downs. All of that is coming. Live podcasts are coming. But I wanted you guys to hear some of the conversation. So I put together a few of my favorite clips from the conversation because it was just so impactful and everybody needs a little bit of this. Let's get into it. So we talk a bit about just the journey through all of the things, figuring out life after TMZ Breakfast Club, and we just have fun with the audience. Then we had a conversation about showing up and looks and how you show up. Because Crystal Renee Hazard, let me tell y' all something about my girl, okay? She is pieces. I saw a post of her on Instagram the other day, baby. Big Bottega baddie. Okay, The Bottega, like the designer brand stuff is I don't feel like you always have to be in designer to be stylish, but y' all know I'm a fashion girly, so I do love my brands, but she puts together the pieces whether they're super design or super expensive. Or not. But oh my gosh, she had this bag on her Instagram the other day. So we talk a bit about it and have a little bit of fun. And we also getting. And then we also get into the whole mean girl conversation. We talk about whether these empowerment brunches and cruises, like, are they really effective or not? And of course, we talk about just everything ascension wise and things that you guys have been seeing from me over the last year. She brought up, you know, everything that has happened here on the show, including the live HR meeting that wasn't supposed to happen on there. Let's take a listen.

[Crystal Renee Hazlett]

My girl, Lauren Lorasa.

[Amber Grimes]

Let's go.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Hey, y'.

[Crystal Renee Hazlett]

All.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Oh, wow.

[Crystal Renee Hazlett]

They love you.

[Lauren LaRosa]

It's like, hey, Lauren. Like, okay.

[Crystal Renee Hazlett]

I love it. How are you?

[Lauren LaRosa]

I'm good. I'm blessed. I'm really inspired by you.

[Crystal Renee Hazlett]

Thank you. No, they're real. This drive, these women here are amazing. I'm serious.

[Lauren LaRosa]

You know, I'm new in the podcast space. We're podcast cousins. We are podcast cousins. Black Effect Podcast network. And I'm like, all these people are here and they're excited and I'm like, girl, you. You doing this.

[Crystal Renee Hazlett]

Thank you. Thank you so much. I'm just a call away. You got my number, so.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Oh, I'mma call you.

[Crystal Renee Hazlett]

Call me.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I'll call you.

[Crystal Renee Hazlett]

I love it. Well, I'm so excited to be here. We kicked off yesterday with Monica and the karaoke and y' all sounded so good. Y' all really did. What has been your favorite moment so far?

[Lauren LaRosa]

You know what? I had a great time yesterday. Like a real good time. Probably had too much fun, but when I was walking on the cruise, like when we were about to like get through all the check ins and stuff, I was like, this is so fly. It's so many black women. And like, we just here, we about to get on this boat and just like do stuff that we be doing. And you know what else? Cause y' all know we be doing the things. Okay. We just doing the things, right? But that's been my favorite part though. Just walking in and seeing all of us. And then Donye was doing a hot girl walk and y' all was singing and just. I thought Keisha Cole was here and it was just y'.

[Commercial Voice]

All.

[Lauren LaRosa]

And I'm like, yo, we really, really do be like, so full of love. Cause you can get so wrapped up in all the other stuff, especially my job. So just seeing that has been like such. I'm like, so inspired by Heather, by you, by like everybody that's like here and just. Just doing the things that we do.

[Amber Grimes]

Yeah.

[Crystal Renee Hazlett]

There's so many women that I've ran into that I've seen on Instagram that I follow that I'm inspired by like, oh my goodness.

[Lauren LaRosa]

And they also cute. Everybody got like, they fly. They taller in person and they're so sweet.

[Crystal Renee Hazlett]

Like everybody's so kind. Uh huh. Energy. I love it. All right, before we take a deep dive in, I'm gonna break the ice with a little rapid fire.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Okay.

[Crystal Renee Hazlett]

This will help us get to know

[Commercial Voice]

you a little bit.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Okay, you ready?

[Crystal Renee Hazlett]

All right. In the perfect world. Heels, sneakers or slides.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Heels.

[Crystal Renee Hazlett]

Group chat. Voice note queen or I'll text you later.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Energy child. My voice notes to be podcast voice notes.

[Crystal Renee Hazlett]

That is so do they have like where you can actually fast like make the speed em up now?

[Lauren LaRosa]

They do. Oh, so not. They be speeding through my voice notes. I be so serious and it be a lot happening. Then I'll come back with the. Oh my God, I'm sorry I got cut off in the last one. They'd be speeding. I did not know that.

[Crystal Renee Hazlett]

Okay.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I must be a girl.

[Crystal Renee Hazlett]

Even on Instagram, like timestamp get me through it.

[Erin Welsh]

Okay.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Do Girl get Up has been my, my, my thing. But for real, I like future a lot. I be, I put on like when I want or Little baby. What's the one that's like, what's the song? What's the name of the song? It's hitting so many of them. But no, there's one song that I always listen to by Lil B. It'd be like, how are you gonna tell us? We never gonna look.

[Commercial Voice]

Shoot.

[Podcast Narrator]

What is it?

[Lauren LaRosa]

It's like he say something like, we don't ones or like we never gonna feel like, oh, I don't know, I'll figure it out later. But it's this little baby song and I play that all the time. He talked about pushing a button in the Maybach too, I think. Okay, same song. But yeah, little baby future, but Dolce Girl get up. Huh? I like that one too. So girl get up. Dolce has been my theme song recently. And then that one part where she be like, what's the agenda when the it girl black come on. That one. That little part right there. I put it on all my songs and all of that. Cause I be feeling that like, yeah, y' all be trying to really play with us when we out here doing it up.

[Crystal Renee Hazlett]

That's so true. That is so true.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Hey, y', all, what's up? It's Lauren LaRosa. And you know, I give you your daily dig on all things pop culture, entertainment, news, and all of the conversations that shake the room, baby. And for me to give you all of factual content when I get into the details. I gotta make some phone calls. I'm calling lawyers, attorneys, managers, publicists. Shoot, I'll even call your mama if she's the person that's gonna give me the exclusive I need. But did you know that 2026 will mark the 150th anniversary of the first ever phone call. It took place on March 10, 1876. And from the call that sparked it all to the first long distance phone lines, the first line across America, the first line across the Atlantic, the first round the world call, the first commercial cell Service, the first 911 system. AT&T has been connecting people for 150 years in so many different ways. I'm just happy that somebody's going to answer the phone because how else would I bring y' all the news all up in the people business, but they answer.

[Commercial Voice]

Thank you.

[Lauren LaRosa]

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[Lauren LaRosa]

It's the new me and it's the old them. Everybody's on their journey and your journey is different to theirs.

[Amber Grimes]

This woman's History Month, the podcast if youf Knew Better with Amber Grimes spotlights women who turn missteps into momentum and lessons into power.

[Jess]

I think coming out of where I

[Lauren LaRosa]

came from, I'm from The Bronx.

[Jess]

I think I grew up really poor. I didn't know that then because I very much use my creativity to romanticize life. And I'm like, my mom did a really good job of like, you step back and you're like, whoa.

[Crystal Renee Hazlett]

We.

[Jess]

I don't know how we made it. So a lot of my life was like, built out of, like, survival to get to the next place. Like, my drive, my like, tunnel vision of like, I gotta be better, I gotta achieve this was off the strengths of, like, I want to make a better life for us.

[Amber Grimes]

If youf Knew Better brings real talk from women who've lived it, unpacking career pivots, relationship lessons, and the mindset shifts that changed everything. Listen to if youf Knew Better with Amber grimes on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

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[Crystal Renee Hazlett]

Are you the friend who arrives early or fashionably late?

[Lauren LaRosa]

So late. But you came early today. Fashionably early. I came early because I was here for my last obligation. So I was like, all right, let me not go find any bars because might not make it back on time. The little baby song is called All In. There we go. All in. Yes, that song. Sorry, I had to get that off.

[Crystal Renee Hazlett]

Good, I'm glad it came to you.

[Lauren LaRosa]

All right, here we go.

[Crystal Renee Hazlett]

Something people think is glamorous about your career, but it's actually chaotic, child.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Sitting in them interviews and talking about, talking to people. Everybody's like, oh my God, who's your favorite interview? Who's your favorite person to talk to? And I'm like, it's a blessing. It's not. I mean, maybe not chaotic, but it's just like you don't ever know what you're getting. And you come into an interview is literally especially because we. It's four of us. So it's like playing spades. It's like, yeah. So it's like, you know, you, you know what, everybody's like rolling the room and just did this video and it was so on point. You know, Charlotte's gonna go into, like, the mental health stuff and, like, the really deep things and envy going, okay, so take us back to the beginning. Jess gonna be funny, and she's gonna ask me. You're like, how did that even come into your head, girl? But it gives the interview character and color. And then I come in with the, like, the news and the media stuff and, like, whatever was trending and things they probably don't want to talk about. But you just don't know what you're gonna get from a person. And it can be a little nerve wracking, even though we make it look so easy.

[Commercial Voice]

Yes.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I always am like, ooh, I'm about to ask this. And when I ask this, you know what I'm saying? All right.

[Crystal Renee Hazlett]

Yeah. Oh, no.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I mean, you don't have a choice.

[Commercial Voice]

Yeah.

[Lauren LaRosa]

No.

[Crystal Renee Hazlett]

Oh, my goodness, no. I still get nervous when I do interviews.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Put it on your hoe. He said put it on. Yes. Go, Simon. It hurt you?

[Crystal Renee Hazlett]

Yeah. Surprise me. Okay.

[Lauren LaRosa]

But my friend Jayvon, Jayvon James, who, like, styles me and does creative direction and stuff for me, he always tells me, you saving these outfits, girl, every day is your day. He always tells me, stop saving outfits. You can't show up here. Not right.

[Commercial Voice]

No.

[Crystal Renee Hazlett]

As soon as I saw you, I said, I approve.

[Lauren LaRosa]

You see how we be doing it? That's what I was talking about, like, us doing the things we be doing. It's been a lot of this whole.

[Crystal Renee Hazlett]

I've been here.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yup.

[Crystal Renee Hazlett]

Yes.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I love that.

[Crystal Renee Hazlett]

I just love us. Can we give it up for us? Oh, my goodness. I love it. Now, Lauren, you've been thriving in the media space for years, but most recently now you have this new position on the Breakfast Club that we've all listened to for years and watched as well.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I want to know when you got

[Crystal Renee Hazlett]

the news that this was actually your permanent position and you were on this show, how did you prepare mentally? Or were you already ready to walk into that space?

[Lauren LaRosa]

Didn't really come like that.

[Crystal Renee Hazlett]

How did it go?

[Lauren LaRosa]

Take me through that. One.

[Crystal Renee Hazlett]

All right.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Okay. No, but so. So let's go back to when I first got the yes. Used to have. It was supposed to be one day. Remember they were doing a rotating seat. They didn't know me from a can of paint, and I was doing everything I could just to, like, get a shot at the seat because I knew I wanted to quit my job. And I was like. Because I'm. My background is in marketing, so I'm like, okay, this is a rollout. So I'm gonna quit my job, and I'm gonna tell the world that I quit my job on the Breakfast Club. That's how I had it in my mind. So when I finally got the yes, the guest host, they're like, oh, we'll give you a day. Because they didn't know me, so they didn't know if I would come in there and my chemistry wouldn't work with the guys. Like, whatever. And when I got the call and they were like, okay, you can do the day. Actually, you can do two days. That I was like. I was like, okay, this is the thing. All right, fast forward. We get through all the process or whatever, and I started to see the need. Like, when I was there, before there was any real conversation, I just started to feel like I could add value even if I wasn't going to be on camera. Because at that point, I think we all knew, like, okay, Jess is going to be the third seat. And for me, I was just like, man, I gotta pay rent. I know I can add value whether I'm on camera or not. I'm open. So I started seeing, like, okay, production wise, here's, like, some things that I could add to this part of the show, to this part of the show, to this, to that. And one day we were talking after the show, and Charlemagne was like, do you think we could kind of center ourselves more, like, in the news space, kind of like TMZ does? I said, 100%. And he was like, how do you think we could do it? I was like, well, you need me. And then I was like, and after that, it's easy because y' all have the culture, like, working at tmz. I was there for eight years. It's like, TMZ is really great at what they do work, whether you love them or hate them or love how they do it or hate how they do it. And they lead conversation, so they're always relevant. But the Breakfast Club is like, that's where the heart is at. Like, that's home. You know what I mean? You trust them, you want to hear from them, you care about them, you care about their lives. And when I got in that room and I saw that from the inside, because I've been a fan of the show forever, so I knew that. But being in there, I'm like, oh, this is like, really what culture is like? When people talk about the culture, I'm like, oh, this is really it. It's the fact that people come here and they feel safe and, like, the conversations are safe. They hard and tough sometimes or funny, but they're safe. So I was telling him. I'm like, man, there's nowhere. When you look around right now, who else can marry news Possibly being first and leading conversation with actual culture and trust. There's nobody doing that. You guys could be big. Like, not be. You guys are. I remember saying to him, like, do you not know who you are? Like, you're not gonna listen. Like, Howard Stern could. Y' all do a tmz. Y' all could run circles with your eyes closed around the tmz. You just need to figure out what the landscape is and how you insert what you're already doing with what I know how to do. That was the first conversation we had about it. And then it took some time. I was doing a lot of things for, like, no money. Like, for a long time. Probably for, like, months and months and months. And to be honest, I didn't even start getting paid until I came to, like, when Jess went on maternity to leave. That is what made it, like, a real thing. Not because she wasn't there, but because she said, hey, Lauren can come in and let her come in here. Because they were trying to figure out what they were going to do. Up until that point, we were trying to figure out if I was even going to be able to be paid to be behind the scenes, because money was just like, you know, right now, people aren't paying. People in entertainment. Teams are shrinking. So when she did that, and they were like, okay, cool. Like, let's make it a thing. They were like, well, we gotta find a way to pair. So at that point, when I came back, I was being paid finally. You know what I mean? So, like, that was like. And that was, like, a moment. Like, I remember I was in the car with my mom, and I was listening to the show, and I heard Jesse, and I was like, she told me, yeah, yeah. When I was listening to the show and then Charlamagne text me and said, hey, I don't know if you'd be interested, but just said she would, like, you can come in and be here while she's out, if you're open to it. And I was like, okay, cool. But I'm in the car. My mom taking her to, like, a checkup. My mom started crying. I'm like, what are you crying for? And she's like, no, this is just such a good thing. Because I was trying to figure out a lot of stuff at that point. Like, I had moved into an apartment. I didn't Even know I was gonna pay the rent. I didn't care because I was like, something's gonna work itself out or I'm going to work it out. And then that happened. So that kind of like. So it was kind of like there's been so many iterations of like, here's a job. But it didn't really happen, like, just with that one call. So I hope that answered the question. No, it did.

[Crystal Renee Hazlett]

And thank you for giving us an insight on that because you touched on so many key points. One, working for no money, being in a position where you needed the money but was willing to do it for free until they decided to pay you, showing your value. I think a lot of times we miss that moment. Like, I just want to get here and forget the steps to get you there.

[Lauren LaRosa]

And I want to say something too. Like, when people talk about doing things for free, it's like, okay, I'm going to do it until they pay me. I didn't think that I was going to be paid. I didn't think I was going to have a job there. Like, I knew that they didn't have at the time for what I was being told there was. It just wasn't a role for me. They hired what they had already needed. I was like, this is the best of the best. And if I can come in here every day and learn and be around this until whatever else happens, I'm going to do that. As long as y' all tell me I cool to come, I'm gonna come. I didn't do it thinking like, oh, eventually one day they gonna pay me. I'm gonna get a job. I'm like, yo, I'm literally sitting with the best in the industry I want to be in. Y' all think I'm not gonna come in here every day and ask questions? You know what I mean? I'm just grateful to be in a space of learning.

[Commercial Voice]

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[Lauren LaRosa]

for your life it's the new me and it's the old them. Everybody's on their journey, and your journey is different to theirs.

[Amber Grimes]

This Woman's History Month the podcast if you Knew Better with Amber Grimes spotlights women who turn missteps into momentum and lessons into power.

[Jess]

I think coming out where I came

[Lauren LaRosa]

from, I'm from the Bronx.

[Jess]

I think I grew up really poor. I didn't know that then because I very much use my creativity to romanticize life and I'm like, my mom did a really good job of like, you step back and you're like, whoa.

[Crystal Renee Hazlett]

We.

[Jess]

I don't know how we made it. So a lot of my life was like built out of like survival to get to the next place. Like my drive, my like tunnel vision of like, I got to be better, I got to achieve this was off the strengths of like, I want to

[Lauren LaRosa]

make a better life for us.

[Amber Grimes]

If youf Knew Better brings real talk from women who've lived it, unpacking career pivots, relationship lessons, and the mindset shifts that changed everything. Listen to if youf Knew Better with Amber grimes on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Erin Welsh]

Usually on this podcast Will Kill youl. We talk about the diseases, infections, and biological threats that can make us really sick.

[Podcast Narrator]

But right now, we're doing something a little different.

[Erin Welsh]

We're stepping back and looking at what the human body needs to keep going.

[Podcast Narrator]

When you consider what we know about sleep in humans, there's one rule that comes out we are predictably unpredictable sleepers.

[Erin Welsh]

We're talking about why sleep works the way it does, why our bodies don't follow neat rules, and why modern life makes rest so hard to come by.

[Podcast Narrator]

The second half of our series takes us to the digestive system with a multi part series on what happens after we eat. Okay, I just have to say that all of my favorite words apparently are digestive words.

[Erin Welsh]

Sphincter, peristalsis, duodenum. It's fascinating, it's funny, and it matters so much more than you think.

[Podcast Narrator]

Episodes of our new series run from January 20 through February 17 with new episodes every Tuesday on the Exactly Right Network.

[Erin Welsh]

Listen to this podcast will kill you as part of the Exactly Right Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.

[Podcast Narrator]

Podcasts on the Adventures of Curiosity Cove Podcast what if the Right Fit isn't what everyone expects? In the case of the Right Fit, Ella explores movement, confidence and belonging and learns that not all strength looks the same. Tennis is powerful, fast, focused, and kind of fun. Strong swing Ella this Women's History Month story introduces kids to women who change sports by trusting themselves and moving differently. A thoughtful episode about identity, courage, and helping kids discover where they truly belong. So it's okay if I'm not quite sure what my thing is yet. It's absolutely okay when and if you do find a sport you love, you may be the next Gertrude, Tony or Venus at Curiosity Cove. Listen to Adventures of Curiosity Cove every Monday from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app app, Apple Podcast or wherever you get your podcast.

[Lauren LaRosa]

So, okay, 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 spaces. So I'll say that first.

[Crystal Renee Hazlett]

We love her too, a person.

[Lauren LaRosa]

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, the 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 happening. For me, it was like if I were in her place, how would I feel? And I'd actually been in her place and not to that extent where my mom got 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 put my bank day to day. Like literally. So I was like, yo, I'm like trying to Skype in tmz live in the hospital and all that. And I'm like, I can't do it anymore. Like I'm not myself right now. I need his 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 it's like the white. White people, they're like, like, yeah. So they're very. Like, sometimes they can. I think people in those spaces can be kind of toned in to what their 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 hands. Cashing the clay. 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. My role or if I don't 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 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, you're showing up 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.

[Commercial Voice]

Right?

[Lauren LaRosa]

So I had to have a certain empathy for Jess and just understanding that, like, that was also my first time being at a post.

[Commercial Voice]

Pregnant.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Not. No, not pregnant. Not yet. That didn't. No, not that. No, that was my first time being that up close and personal with someone who was pregnant 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 The. 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 says it to this day like, you were so hard to be mad. Cause you were coming 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 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 gonna win in this by making this a me versus you thing. So 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's 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. Can I cut this? Oh, sorry. This is how I feel, and this is why I don't f with it. But, like, at the end of the

[Crystal Renee Hazlett]

day,

[Lauren LaRosa]

that's why I go to the

[Commercial Voice]

bar before,

[Lauren LaRosa]

but at the end of the day, I want. Like, there's going to be other women that are going to 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 want to show people that, like, you can have a. A issue, but, like, we don't have to allow it to, like. Like, you know what I mean? Like, at the end of the day, you gonna go through some things that only I will understand. I'm gonna go through some things 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 telling me, ooh, just like me. And I'm like, yeah, girl, this. Just because I be reporting doesn't mean she like, oh, so you really from around? Yes. Like, but I think that women don't get to see that often because normally it is only room for one of us, right? So y' all got to, in real life, see, like, okay, the conversation of really room for one of us, it's there, but it's like, how long we gonna sit in that? Like. Cause 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, what I'm great at is what I doing, what I'm great at. And when you narrate it too, and people have 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 into the pot and it. 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 worked for. It cannot. I met so many of them places to go.

[Crystal Renee Hazlett]

I love that. 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, 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.

[Lauren LaRosa]

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. Cuz sometimes you come to these faith and everything is like, oh my God, I'm in the apartment, we're all in white, and it's like, y' all not even nice.

[Crystal Renee Hazlett]

For real. And I walk past you on the

[Lauren LaRosa]

street, you know what I mean? But being here in this space and cuz I know Heather and what she be on, I'm like, no, she gonna curate this where it's like, if that angel personality, she gonna break you down before we get back to where we going on Monday, right? And that's why we decided 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 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. They're shutting our voices down. They don't want people like me and Jess. 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. 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 that and now you see it more. And so now we don't all got to be in white, smiling and doing.

[Podcast Narrator]

Really care for each other.

[Lauren LaRosa]

We know how to work their ways.

[Crystal Renee Hazlett]

Exactly.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I'm a wife. It's the wife.

[Commercial Voice]

It's the wife.

[Lauren LaRosa]

It's the wife. It's the right. The wife got, y'.

[Commercial Voice]

All.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Cause y' all know what I'm talking about. If he hookah there and grits and shrimp and Y' all know exactly what I'm talking about.

[Crystal Renee Hazlett]

You actually funny, too. That is so good.

[Lauren LaRosa]

At the end of the day, I always tell you guys, y' all could be anywhere with anybody, my low riders, having this conversation. But y' all choose to be right here with me, and I appreciate you guys for that. I hope you guys have enjoyed this episode. Make sure you check out Crystal's podcast again. She is also on the Black Effect Podcast network. It's called Keep it Positive, Sweetie. These are very intentional conversations. I'll see you guys in my next episode. This is an I heart podcast. Guaranteed human.