Podcast Summary: The Tamsen Show

Episode: “It Can’t Rain Forever” — Kandi Burruss on Reinvention and What Comes Next

Host: Tamsen Fadal
Guest: Kandi Burruss
Date: February 18, 2026

Overview

In this dynamic and empowering episode, Emmy-winning host Tamsen Fadal sits down with multi-hyphenate superstar Kandi Burruss—Grammy-winning songwriter, entrepreneur, Broadway producer, performer, and reality TV staple. Their frank discussion centers on the secrets of continual reinvention, weathering personal and professional storms, harnessing confidence, and the practical realities behind Kandi’s relentless ambition. Aimed at women facing midlife transitions, the conversation is brimming with actionable advice, inspiration, and no-nonsense real talk about overcoming fear and taking up space—at any life stage.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. A Day in the Life: Discipline, Routine, and Family Anchors

• Kandi’s Work Ethic:
  • Typical days start as early as 3:30am for performances, vocal training, and fitness routines—even before the day officially begins.
    • “My vocal coach said I need to get up and get on the treadmill and wake my body up. So at 4am I was on the elliptical machine.” (Kandi, 03:22)
  • Physical health tangibly supports her creative and mental clarity, and she notes newfound energy with consistent workouts.
• Protecting Her Peace Amidst Scrutiny:
  • Navigating public scrutiny (especially amid her divorce), she acknowledges social media as both a platform for love and a breeding ground for criticism.
    • “I have people who love me, then I have people that hate me who can’t wait till I mess up or do something that they can drag me for.” (Kandi, 04:19)
• Non-Negotiables and Family Rituals:
  • A daily pep talk with her kids:

    “I say, ‘Are you ready to conquer the day?’ And they say, ‘Yeah’... I’m good at being my own cheerleader. I’m trying to teach them the same...” (Kandi, 06:51)

  • Ages of her children: Ace (almost 10), Blaze (6), Riley (23), and bonus daughter Kayla (29).

2. The Power and Path of Reinvention

• Early Ambitions and Breaking In:
  • Didn’t consider music a viable career until 9th grade; formative influences included Atlanta’s early ‘90s R&B boom.
    • “Some kids grow up... like ‘I want to be a singer’... but it didn’t sound like a real possibility...”
• Prayers Manifesting Dreams:
  • Achieved her prayer: hit record before graduating high school (“Just Kickin’ It”).
    • “I prayed every day, ‘Dear God, please bless our group to get a record deal and let us have a hit record before I graduate.’ And it happened exactly that way.” (Kandi, 10:46)
• Longevity over ‘One Hit’:
  • Determined not to become a one-hit wonder or a cautionary tale.
    • “I did not want to be a one hit wonder. I did not want to be one of those child stars that go broke.” (Kandi, 12:01)

3. Songwriting and Storytelling for Women

• Songwriting as Therapy:
  • Draws from real life—especially relationships—for her anthems.
    • “I vent in my songs... I pull that inspiration and make a hit with it.” (Kandi, 16:01)
  • “No Scrubs” was inspired by a past relationship.

    “It was a guy I had dated... Now, mind you, he’s gone on to do great things himself...” (Kandi, 16:35)

• Breakthrough with “No Scrubs”:
  • Initially written for Kandi and Tiny, but given to TLC after LA Reid’s interest; the decision changed her career.

  “No Scrubs is the gift that keeps on giving... it opened up the door for me to be able to write for so many other people.” (Kandi, 15:03)

4. Reality TV, Accountability & Business Acumen

• The Real Housewives Years:
  • Joined with reluctance but stayed for 14 seasons and multiple spinoffs.

    “I was on there for 14 seasons and like seven spinoffs.” (Kandi, 21:28)

  • Used the show’s timeline to turn ideas into action:

    “If I even mentioned wanting to do something at the beginning of filming, it was my intention to have it done... by the time we were done filming.” (Kandi, 22:49)

• ‘No Time’ is Not an Excuse:
  • Calls out busy-women inertia, challenging excuses around lack of time or resources.

    “Saying that you don't have enough time is really just an excuse...” (Kandi, 24:05)

  • Start before you’re perfect and use accountability—public or private—to fuel action.

5. Entrepreneurial Life & Breaking Taboos

• Business Portfolio:
  • Bedroom Kandi (sexual wellness):

    “I was before my time, especially like in the black community, it was hush hush to talk about sex openly...” (Kandi, 31:22)

  • Candy Coated (cosmetics): An extension for her salesforce and audience.
  • Advocates for open conversations about sexual health as a normalized, empowered space for women.

    “A woman who wasn’t necessarily a porn star... saying, hey, yes, we like to have sex and we need to be able to experience an orgasm too.” (Kandi, 31:37)

• Advice for Would-Be Entrepreneurs:
  • Fear of judgement is the biggest limiter.

    “A lot of the things that we don’t do is by fear of what other people think. … and I say f*** ‘em.” (Kandi, 32:48)

6. Personal Growth, Resilience, and Forward Motion

• Embracing the Storms:
  • “It can’t rain forever.” (Kandi, 37:02)
  • Kandi openly discusses the hard seasons (personal and professional), emphasizing resilience and persistence.

  “Lately, I feel like I’ve been going through a stormy season. But, honey, summer is coming.” (Kandi, 37:02)

• Leaving Doors Open:
  • Not shutting the door on Real Housewives, but now prioritizing new challenges, and refuses to be put in any professional box.

7. Broadway—Full Circle, Onstage and Offstage

• Broadway Journey:
  • Started in musical theater as a youth; re-ignited that dream in adulthood.
  • Has performed (Chicago, Newsical, & Juliet) and produced (Thoughts of a Colored Man, The Piano Lesson, The Wiz, Othello, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone).

    “Now I’ve produced four Broadway shows... and now I’m about to do Joe Turner’s Come and Gone. So that’s five.” (Kandi, 38:36)

• Performer and Producer:
  • Deliberately maintains a role in both creative and business sides to avoid typecasting.

    “I wanted to remind them I can be talent or I can produce. … Either or, not one or the other.” (Kandi, 39:20)

  • Is currently starring in & Juliet (playing Angelique) while producing Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, starring Taraji P. Henson and Cedric the Entertainer.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On daily discipline:

  “My vocal coach said I need to get up and get on the treadmill and wake my body up. So at 4am I was on the elliptical machine.” (Kandi, 03:22)

• On inspiration and persistence:

  “It’s not just about getting it, it’s about keeping it. Longevity is the hardest thing to maintain in the entertainment [industry].” (Kandi, 11:52)

• On launching new chapters:

  “Stop thinking you have to be perfect on day one... the reason why I figured that out quickly [on Housewives] is because the audience was my accountability partner.” (Kandi, 25:49–26:16)

• On taboo topics and self-acceptance:

  “A lot of the things that we don’t do is by fear of what other people think... and I say f*** ‘em.” (Kandi, 32:48)

• On resilience:

  “I always say, it can’t rain forever. … Lately, I feel like I’ve been going through a stormy season. But, honey, summer is coming.” (Kandi, 37:02)

• On happiness as the end goal:

  “I’m still figuring it out... but what I do know is, the major factor in that is happy. I’m gonna be happy in whatever I do.” (Kandi, 45:16)

Highlighted Segments & Timestamps

• Morning Routine, Vocal Prep, and Social Media Challenges: [03:00–06:31]
• Parenting Pep Talk & Self-Cheerleading: [06:31–08:36]
• Origin Story and Early Career: [09:23–13:12]
• Songwriting Breakthrough (“No Scrubs”) and Grammy Moment: [13:12–16:00]
• Empowering Women through Lyrics & Personal Stories: [16:00–17:07]
• Transition to Reality TV & Housewife Accountability: [19:48–22:49]
• Making Dreams Happen—No Excuses: [24:05–26:15]
• Sexual Wellness Entrepreneurship, Breaking Silence: [30:14–32:10]
• Resilience, “It Can’t Rain Forever” & Facing Storms: [36:22–37:24]
• Broadway Dreams: Performing and Producing: [37:24–44:06]
• On Happiness and Next Steps: [45:16–46:34]

Advice and Takeaways for Listeners

• Hype yourself up daily; instill self-confidence rituals for yourself and your family.
• Don’t wait for rock bottom—start researching and acting on your ideas now, even if you feel unprepared.
• Accountability (from others or yourself) is key to making goals reality.
• Don’t let fear of judgement prevent you from pursuing what matters most, personally or professionally.
• Prioritize your joy and fulfillment—success means little without happiness at its core.

Conclusion

Kandi Burruss exemplifies continual reinvention, fearlessly embracing new chapters while resiliently weathering every storm. Her approach—equal parts discipline, vulnerability, confidence, and straight talk—provides listeners with tangible inspiration and practical advice for building one’s “second act,” and refusing to be boxed in by their past or by others’ expectations.

Follow Kandi to join her journey of reinvention, and stay tuned for her latest projects on Broadway and beyond.

For more insights and updates, follow @thetamsenshow and @kandi on social media.