1 00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:02,360 Speaker 1: Calling all my sweeties to the forefront. 2 00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:06,360 Speaker 2: I'm your host, christ and this is the Keeping Positive 3 00:00:06,400 --> 00:00:12,080 Speaker 2: Sweetish Show. Sweety's my next guest. I've known for a 4 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:15,160 Speaker 2: very long time. She's an actress, a wife, a mom, 5 00:00:15,240 --> 00:00:18,720 Speaker 2: and she's literally living example that God wings happen if 6 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:20,120 Speaker 2: we can take the time to see them. 7 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:22,920 Speaker 1: Sweeties, give a very warm. 8 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:27,360 Speaker 2: Welcome to my dear friend, Edwena Finley Edwena. 9 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:30,720 Speaker 3: He love christal of my gosh for united and we 10 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:31,240 Speaker 3: are here. 11 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:34,720 Speaker 2: It really does. It feels amazing. How are you feeling today? 12 00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:37,800 Speaker 4: I am blessed, Holly favor, I feel good. 13 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:39,960 Speaker 1: You should. I feel amazing. 14 00:00:40,159 --> 00:00:43,400 Speaker 2: I'm happy to have you here, excited about your book 15 00:00:43,440 --> 00:00:44,919 Speaker 2: and all the things you have going on. 16 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:46,760 Speaker 4: But I want to take it back. 17 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:48,560 Speaker 1: Okay, back in the time. 18 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:52,920 Speaker 2: Twenty fourteen was when if Loving Years Wrong came out. 19 00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:55,760 Speaker 2: I was a costumer, you guys, I used to actually 20 00:00:55,800 --> 00:00:59,760 Speaker 2: put on Edwena's shoes. In twenty fourteen and twenty fifteen 21 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:02,480 Speaker 2: came the costume designer, and that's when I learned that 22 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:06,120 Speaker 2: jewel Tones was your jam and still it was this 23 00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:08,280 Speaker 2: day when you came in, I said, jewel Tones is 24 00:01:08,280 --> 00:01:08,800 Speaker 2: still in you? 25 00:01:08,959 --> 00:01:11,880 Speaker 1: Like you remember absolutely. 26 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:14,720 Speaker 2: I think as a costume designer, we learned so much 27 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:17,920 Speaker 2: about the person, really, even more than the character. We 28 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:20,040 Speaker 2: learned what you like, what you don't, like your body, 29 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:22,440 Speaker 2: and like what you feel comfortable in. And I always 30 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:24,959 Speaker 2: remember you loved Jewel Tones. So it's like something that 31 00:01:25,080 --> 00:01:29,199 Speaker 2: just was semented into my head. Jill Tones Readwena. Yes, 32 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:31,679 Speaker 2: But I mean I know that's when I met you, 33 00:01:31,720 --> 00:01:33,640 Speaker 2: but I know there was so much more before we 34 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:35,640 Speaker 2: got to that point, So tell us everything. 35 00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:38,880 Speaker 3: So I was born and raised in Washington, d C. 36 00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:41,640 Speaker 3: I kind of grew up as an arts kid. So 37 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:45,080 Speaker 3: my first memory of performing was around five years old. 38 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:46,000 Speaker 4: I was doing. 39 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:50,559 Speaker 3: Musicals and plays, and I grew up in the church, 40 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:53,160 Speaker 3: so a lot of my arts background was in church. 41 00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:56,720 Speaker 4: Wire, Praise Deem, I'm a ministry all of that. 42 00:01:57,320 --> 00:02:00,520 Speaker 3: And then when I became you know, only kind of 43 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:03,760 Speaker 3: school age, my mom let me go to a high 44 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:07,800 Speaker 3: school for performing arts. Shout out Tokellington School of the Arts, Washington, DC. 45 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:10,800 Speaker 3: And then when I was sixteen years old, I was 46 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:13,040 Speaker 3: at that crossroads of Okay, what am I gonna do 47 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:13,600 Speaker 3: with my life? 48 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:13,919 Speaker 4: Yeah? 49 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:17,799 Speaker 3: Right, And there were some people in my family that said, well, 50 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:19,480 Speaker 3: you should be a doctor, you should be a lawyer, 51 00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:22,520 Speaker 3: you know, get a safe job. But then there were 52 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:25,360 Speaker 3: others that said, hey, you've been doing the arts for years, 53 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:27,000 Speaker 3: maybe you should continue on that path. 54 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:28,840 Speaker 4: And so I really had to pray. 55 00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:31,560 Speaker 3: And I just remember at sixteen years old hearing God 56 00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:35,160 Speaker 3: speak and tell me I'm calling you into arts and entertainment. 57 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:37,320 Speaker 4: And that was the turning point. 58 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:41,359 Speaker 3: I ended up being accepted into NYU's Teach School of 59 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:44,480 Speaker 3: the Arts, which office is a very prestigious drama program, 60 00:02:44,919 --> 00:02:48,960 Speaker 3: study drama there, and then it was okay, God, I'm 61 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:51,440 Speaker 3: about to come out of college, like now what. 62 00:02:51,160 --> 00:02:52,200 Speaker 1: What real world says? 63 00:02:53,320 --> 00:02:56,639 Speaker 3: And so I was able to fortunately get an agent. 64 00:02:56,840 --> 00:03:02,280 Speaker 3: Right before graduating, I internarned at the public Theater. That 65 00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:04,720 Speaker 3: was Shakespeare in the Park Joseph pat Public Theater in 66 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:07,799 Speaker 3: New York, and that was under folks that were doing 67 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:12,440 Speaker 3: those plays with Sona Lathan, Joe Morton, Jeffrey Wright. And 68 00:03:12,560 --> 00:03:15,919 Speaker 3: so I was interning with them, right and helping them 69 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:18,680 Speaker 3: run lines and making sure that they had what they needed. 70 00:03:19,160 --> 00:03:21,400 Speaker 3: And it was Shakespeare, so I would, I would, you know, 71 00:03:21,480 --> 00:03:23,440 Speaker 3: help them with their lines, and then I would memorize 72 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:26,600 Speaker 3: all these grand soliloquies, you know, and kind of pretend 73 00:03:26,639 --> 00:03:29,080 Speaker 3: when everyone went home, I would take the stage and 74 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:30,480 Speaker 3: like pretend I was. 75 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:32,840 Speaker 4: Playing the role Wow. Yeah. 76 00:03:32,880 --> 00:03:35,720 Speaker 3: And then but shortly after coming out of college, I 77 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:39,600 Speaker 3: was doing a lot of theater and Shakespeare, and then 78 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:41,800 Speaker 3: I got cast on The Wire. So it was very 79 00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:43,840 Speaker 3: funny because The Wire. Any of you who used to 80 00:03:43,840 --> 00:03:47,120 Speaker 3: watch The Wire on HBO, you know it is a 81 00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:50,680 Speaker 3: gritty show, right, And so my character Tasha, I was 82 00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:54,280 Speaker 3: playing kind of a sidekick to Omar Bless Michael K. 83 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:56,360 Speaker 4: Williams, Yes, And so. 84 00:03:56,440 --> 00:04:00,000 Speaker 3: We would like kill Barkstales by day ended at night 85 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:03,160 Speaker 3: I would run to the Shakespeare Theater performing well sh 86 00:04:03,280 --> 00:04:08,040 Speaker 3: don these big beautiful velvet robes, you know, sing classical music. 87 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:09,960 Speaker 4: And then in the morning it was like shoot him 88 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:10,560 Speaker 4: up Bank Bank. 89 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:13,360 Speaker 3: And so that in some ways, it's kind of how 90 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:15,640 Speaker 3: my career has been, like moving in and out of 91 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:18,880 Speaker 3: very different types of characters and very different types of roles. 92 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:20,719 Speaker 3: But that's one of the things I really enjoyed about 93 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:21,480 Speaker 3: being an actress. 94 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:22,560 Speaker 1: Yes, I can imagine. 95 00:04:22,600 --> 00:04:22,720 Speaker 4: Now. 96 00:04:22,720 --> 00:04:24,920 Speaker 2: What was it like working with Michael kay Williams. I 97 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:27,400 Speaker 2: got to meet him. I think it was like. 98 00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:30,360 Speaker 1: Tyler's forty fifth birthday. 99 00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:33,279 Speaker 2: He was at the house and this is before he passed, 100 00:04:33,279 --> 00:04:36,920 Speaker 2: and he was the kindest soul. His energy was just 101 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:40,520 Speaker 2: like it was crazy. He was so nice, though. What 102 00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:42,120 Speaker 2: was it like actually getting no work with him? What 103 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:42,599 Speaker 2: an honor? 104 00:04:43,320 --> 00:04:43,520 Speaker 4: You know. 105 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:47,080 Speaker 3: It was one of my very first TV shows, and 106 00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:49,880 Speaker 3: so you know, by that point they had been on 107 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:50,960 Speaker 3: for a season and. 108 00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:53,680 Speaker 4: It had already kind of developed a lot of buzz. Right, 109 00:04:53,880 --> 00:04:56,040 Speaker 4: so here I am coming in as a young actress. 110 00:04:56,600 --> 00:05:02,080 Speaker 3: He was so welcoming, so loving, yes, so generous, you know, 111 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:04,159 Speaker 3: and he just became like a big brother to me. 112 00:05:04,560 --> 00:05:06,120 Speaker 3: And there was a point where God put it in 113 00:05:06,279 --> 00:05:10,080 Speaker 3: my spirit to start writing these inspirational columns. And he 114 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:12,359 Speaker 3: is one of the people that kept emailing me. He's like, 115 00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:14,640 Speaker 3: keep these coming, keep these coming, keep these coming. Theies 116 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:17,240 Speaker 3: up blessing me, keep these coming. And it was, you know, 117 00:05:17,320 --> 00:05:19,479 Speaker 3: scriptures and verses. And I didn't know, like all I 118 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:20,680 Speaker 3: knew was God told me to do this. 119 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:22,520 Speaker 4: I didn't know how it was going to be received. 120 00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:26,919 Speaker 3: And I also didn't know until he passed, some of 121 00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:29,159 Speaker 3: the things that he was going through at that time. 122 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:32,200 Speaker 3: I didn't know we were working together, but I didn't 123 00:05:32,240 --> 00:05:34,279 Speaker 3: know a lot of the personal things that were happening, 124 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:37,320 Speaker 3: and so that meant a lot to have that encouragement 125 00:05:37,360 --> 00:05:40,679 Speaker 3: from him. So now all these years later, it's almost 126 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:42,840 Speaker 3: like a part of my purpose too. Like I remember 127 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:46,080 Speaker 3: Michael in just such a beautiful way, and I think 128 00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:49,760 Speaker 3: about how in our industry a lot of people are 129 00:05:49,839 --> 00:05:51,120 Speaker 3: experiencing things. 130 00:05:50,839 --> 00:05:52,960 Speaker 4: That we may not know from the outside. 131 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:55,800 Speaker 3: Absolutely right, and so it's important for us to lean 132 00:05:55,839 --> 00:05:58,040 Speaker 3: into our calling and the things that God calls us 133 00:05:58,080 --> 00:06:00,799 Speaker 3: to do because we have no idea how we're blessing 134 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:01,240 Speaker 3: each other. 135 00:06:01,360 --> 00:06:03,400 Speaker 2: Yes, that is so true, and I'm glad that you 136 00:06:03,839 --> 00:06:05,720 Speaker 2: You didn't know the why, but you kept putting it 137 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:08,000 Speaker 2: and he was like, he's sitting these I need it. 138 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:10,840 Speaker 2: So you know, even if you're reaching one person, you're 139 00:06:10,839 --> 00:06:11,880 Speaker 2: doing what God told you do. 140 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:15,120 Speaker 1: The assignment was understood. That is so good. Do you 141 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:16,560 Speaker 1: still write those so? 142 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:19,239 Speaker 3: Honestly, a lot of that has been poured into this book. 143 00:06:19,279 --> 00:06:20,400 Speaker 3: The world is waiting for you. 144 00:06:20,839 --> 00:06:24,440 Speaker 5: So you were practicing then and didn't really even know it, right, 145 00:06:24,480 --> 00:06:27,320 Speaker 5: it was just about obedience, and so I feel like 146 00:06:27,360 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 5: along the way, God has just given me these things 147 00:06:29,760 --> 00:06:33,479 Speaker 5: to do in obedience, not realizing that Oh, as you 148 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:37,120 Speaker 5: follow this path of obedience, here's where it's gonna lead. 149 00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:39,839 Speaker 3: So funny enough, when I was on set not too 150 00:06:39,839 --> 00:06:43,119 Speaker 3: long ago with the Residents at Shondaland, I was there 151 00:06:43,279 --> 00:06:45,359 Speaker 3: and this executive in production came up to me and 152 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:48,120 Speaker 3: she said, did you used to write a blog like 153 00:06:48,320 --> 00:06:52,120 Speaker 3: fifteen years ago called it Weena's Words of Wisdom? 154 00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:55,200 Speaker 4: It was like, yes, how do you know that? 155 00:06:55,360 --> 00:06:55,720 Speaker 1: Yeah? 156 00:06:55,760 --> 00:06:58,560 Speaker 3: She said, my mother used to publish them every month 157 00:06:58,600 --> 00:07:00,000 Speaker 3: in her Christian women's magazine. 158 00:07:01,279 --> 00:07:02,200 Speaker 1: Are you kidding me? 159 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:03,400 Speaker 4: I am not kidding. 160 00:07:04,040 --> 00:07:06,880 Speaker 3: Wow, it's like even now things that were done ten 161 00:07:06,960 --> 00:07:10,200 Speaker 3: years fifteen years out of obedience. Yes, and so this 162 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:14,240 Speaker 3: maybe about last month they asked if they could put. 163 00:07:14,120 --> 00:07:15,760 Speaker 4: Me on the cover of the magazine. 164 00:07:15,840 --> 00:07:17,800 Speaker 3: Yeah. It was like, wow, It's just so funny how 165 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:19,000 Speaker 3: everything comes full circle. 166 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:20,400 Speaker 1: It really does? It? Really? 167 00:07:20,480 --> 00:07:20,720 Speaker 3: Does? 168 00:07:20,840 --> 00:07:22,880 Speaker 1: You talk about playing all these different characters. 169 00:07:22,960 --> 00:07:26,720 Speaker 2: Your range is so dynamic, Yes, from the Wire to 170 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:30,880 Speaker 2: the Power and then recently Shonda Rhyme's the Residence. I 171 00:07:30,880 --> 00:07:34,080 Speaker 2: don't know if I DMG or text you, y'all. I'm 172 00:07:34,120 --> 00:07:36,440 Speaker 2: always behind on the shows, right, so I wasn't too 173 00:07:36,480 --> 00:07:39,000 Speaker 2: behind on this one. But my brother Marquis kept saying 174 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:41,480 Speaker 2: you got to watch the Residents. So it's like, oh, yes, 175 00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:42,840 Speaker 2: I said, my girl ed when it's on there, I 176 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:43,480 Speaker 2: gotta watch it. 177 00:07:44,240 --> 00:07:44,480 Speaker 1: Y'all. 178 00:07:44,480 --> 00:07:48,000 Speaker 2: When I say she stole the show had me hollering. 179 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:52,600 Speaker 2: I said, I did not know she was this funny girl. Well, 180 00:07:52,640 --> 00:07:55,640 Speaker 2: I say stole the show. You were so funny. And 181 00:07:55,640 --> 00:07:57,720 Speaker 2: then I saw the threads and people coming and I 182 00:07:57,800 --> 00:07:59,320 Speaker 2: was like, they are loving her. 183 00:08:00,320 --> 00:08:06,120 Speaker 3: That was miss Sheila, y'all took the cake. That was 184 00:08:06,160 --> 00:08:09,240 Speaker 3: such a fun character. I loved her down and I 185 00:08:09,320 --> 00:08:11,760 Speaker 3: was so excited that people loved her too. 186 00:08:11,960 --> 00:08:15,120 Speaker 1: Yes, Oh my goodness, it was so good. Where did 187 00:08:15,120 --> 00:08:15,480 Speaker 1: you go? 188 00:08:15,640 --> 00:08:18,640 Speaker 2: Like what places did you pull from for the comedy part? Yeah, 189 00:08:18,960 --> 00:08:21,480 Speaker 2: I'm talking about And it was like you weren't even trying. 190 00:08:21,520 --> 00:08:24,480 Speaker 2: You were just funny. I was like, this girl is 191 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:25,960 Speaker 2: a natural, you know what. 192 00:08:25,960 --> 00:08:27,400 Speaker 4: And thank you for that. You know. 193 00:08:27,480 --> 00:08:29,920 Speaker 3: It's kind of this combination, like a lot of times 194 00:08:30,640 --> 00:08:33,280 Speaker 3: my work tends to be dramatic, right, it says, you know, 195 00:08:33,360 --> 00:08:34,840 Speaker 3: that's the type of work I've done a lot, But 196 00:08:34,880 --> 00:08:36,920 Speaker 3: then I have done some comedies like Get Hard with 197 00:08:37,080 --> 00:08:41,120 Speaker 3: Kevin Hard and Will Ferrell Deep you know. But but 198 00:08:41,240 --> 00:08:44,240 Speaker 3: sometimes when you're a dramatic actor. They don't always know, 199 00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:48,000 Speaker 3: like you have a whole other side me being from Washington, 200 00:08:48,360 --> 00:08:54,000 Speaker 3: DC and feeling very passionately about the African American culture 201 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:56,959 Speaker 3: of Washington, and in fact, I myself had been creating 202 00:08:56,960 --> 00:08:59,320 Speaker 3: a show called Chocolate City that was rooted in the 203 00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:03,680 Speaker 3: African American culture of DC, and specifically that White House culture, 204 00:09:03,720 --> 00:09:07,040 Speaker 3: because we don't see that expressed on screen, especially when 205 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:09,560 Speaker 3: it comes to White House shows. So that's exactly where 206 00:09:09,600 --> 00:09:11,559 Speaker 3: I was when I got the script from the Residents, 207 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:13,600 Speaker 3: and when I read this character, I said, oh, this 208 00:09:13,760 --> 00:09:18,160 Speaker 3: is my opportunity to really create a multi dimensional character 209 00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:24,400 Speaker 3: who is herself, who is fully herself, and who's. 210 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:25,800 Speaker 4: Not who works in the White House. 211 00:09:25,840 --> 00:09:29,079 Speaker 3: But it is not from that area of sixteen hundred 212 00:09:29,080 --> 00:09:33,360 Speaker 3: Pennsylvania Avenue, right, And because I was raised in Washington, 213 00:09:33,480 --> 00:09:39,360 Speaker 3: I know Southeast, I know from whence others come. So 214 00:09:39,679 --> 00:09:41,560 Speaker 3: I said, you know, what I want to do is 215 00:09:41,760 --> 00:09:45,040 Speaker 3: honor the people that are not always honored on screen. 216 00:09:45,400 --> 00:09:49,440 Speaker 3: And it became about creating that type of character, you know, 217 00:09:49,520 --> 00:09:52,800 Speaker 3: but also not making her a stereotype, right, like giving 218 00:09:52,840 --> 00:09:54,680 Speaker 3: her these levels and layers and colors. 219 00:09:55,679 --> 00:09:57,559 Speaker 4: The fact that she's just funny, you know what I mean? 220 00:09:57,600 --> 00:09:59,959 Speaker 3: And I feel like when it comes to black women, 221 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:03,080 Speaker 3: we get together. You know, there's just a certain humor 222 00:10:03,120 --> 00:10:05,520 Speaker 3: and a vibe that we can share, and so I 223 00:10:05,559 --> 00:10:07,920 Speaker 3: wanted I wanted that to be reflected on screen too. 224 00:10:08,040 --> 00:10:10,680 Speaker 3: So I'm glad that that all came through. And just 225 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:13,800 Speaker 3: as an actor, I was also doing improv. You know 226 00:10:13,960 --> 00:10:18,000 Speaker 3: a lot of elements in the show they allowed me 227 00:10:18,080 --> 00:10:20,880 Speaker 3: to improv. And also you know I went to UCB 228 00:10:21,280 --> 00:10:24,600 Speaker 3: and these different improv programs, so it kind of brought 229 00:10:24,640 --> 00:10:25,200 Speaker 3: it all together. 230 00:10:25,360 --> 00:10:26,040 Speaker 1: I love it. 231 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:29,240 Speaker 2: Now, tell me about how this audition came apart and 232 00:10:29,280 --> 00:10:31,360 Speaker 2: what was that whole journey? Like, I know, sometimes it's 233 00:10:31,640 --> 00:10:34,079 Speaker 2: you callbacks and other times it's like you're the one. 234 00:10:34,760 --> 00:10:35,880 Speaker 1: What was this process like? 235 00:10:36,040 --> 00:10:39,320 Speaker 3: So this is a very interesting process because, as you know, 236 00:10:39,520 --> 00:10:43,400 Speaker 3: I'm big on manifestation and big on manifesting the God 237 00:10:43,480 --> 00:10:46,880 Speaker 3: dream over your life and like I said, with obedience, 238 00:10:46,920 --> 00:10:48,839 Speaker 3: like sometimes God will call you to do things or 239 00:10:48,840 --> 00:10:50,199 Speaker 3: maybe drop something in your spirit. 240 00:10:50,240 --> 00:10:52,320 Speaker 4: You may not quite understand why, but you just go 241 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:52,800 Speaker 4: for it. 242 00:10:52,920 --> 00:10:53,319 Speaker 1: Yeah. 243 00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:58,880 Speaker 3: So one April Fool's Day, I got this vision of 244 00:10:58,920 --> 00:11:01,160 Speaker 3: because my social media manager was like, what. 245 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:03,480 Speaker 4: Should we do? For April Fool's Day, what should we post? 246 00:11:04,080 --> 00:11:07,520 Speaker 3: And somehow we got this idea of posting me on 247 00:11:07,600 --> 00:11:12,839 Speaker 3: a Shonda lamp poster, and so she literally photo shopped. 248 00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:14,520 Speaker 4: Me and I thought it was ridiculous. I thought it 249 00:11:14,559 --> 00:11:14,880 Speaker 4: was so. 250 00:11:15,080 --> 00:11:19,360 Speaker 3: Funny, you know, she photoshopped my face like on to 251 00:11:19,520 --> 00:11:23,080 Speaker 3: this existing Shonda lamp poster. And then we announced this 252 00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:26,440 Speaker 3: big new role that I was doing, and so, you know, 253 00:11:26,559 --> 00:11:27,800 Speaker 3: I thought, oh, this is hilarious. 254 00:11:27,800 --> 00:11:28,679 Speaker 4: Like you could still see the. 255 00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:34,320 Speaker 3: Getty Images like label on the picture, but the way 256 00:11:34,400 --> 00:11:37,199 Speaker 3: people were like, oh, look at God, this is amazing, 257 00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:40,160 Speaker 3: this is wonderful. Gods open all these doors for you, 258 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:42,600 Speaker 3: you know. And I was afraid to be like, y'all, 259 00:11:43,440 --> 00:11:45,040 Speaker 3: it's a. 260 00:11:47,679 --> 00:11:48,640 Speaker 4: But as I. 261 00:11:48,559 --> 00:11:54,199 Speaker 3: Started seeing their comments, it started elevating my face. It 262 00:11:54,280 --> 00:11:58,160 Speaker 3: was like, could God do something like this? And it 263 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:02,400 Speaker 3: helped me to start taking the limits off of my 264 00:12:02,520 --> 00:12:04,439 Speaker 3: own imagination of what God can do. 265 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:07,320 Speaker 4: Well, let me tell you by that exact day. 266 00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:13,320 Speaker 3: The following year, I was on set at Shondaland filming 267 00:12:13,360 --> 00:12:16,480 Speaker 3: this new show, The Residents, and of course that poster 268 00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:19,880 Speaker 3: ended up coming out which had my actual face on it, 269 00:12:20,679 --> 00:12:23,400 Speaker 3: you know. And so there's this chapter in my book 270 00:12:23,440 --> 00:12:26,120 Speaker 3: called this Time next Year, Yes, And it's really all 271 00:12:26,200 --> 00:12:30,600 Speaker 3: about like declaring and speaking into existence, prophesying your next year. 272 00:12:30,840 --> 00:12:34,280 Speaker 3: What can God do by this time next year? And 273 00:12:34,360 --> 00:12:37,920 Speaker 3: so for me, you know, when I got that script 274 00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:40,839 Speaker 3: for the Residents, it just hit me like, okay, Like 275 00:12:40,880 --> 00:12:43,920 Speaker 3: I had received maybe three scripts that same week, and 276 00:12:43,960 --> 00:12:45,640 Speaker 3: so I was just kind of going through all of them. 277 00:12:45,640 --> 00:12:49,240 Speaker 3: But that highlighted for me, Okay, lean into that. And 278 00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:51,439 Speaker 3: that's exactly what happened with me. If Loving You is wrong, 279 00:12:51,840 --> 00:12:55,720 Speaker 3: I'd received all these prophecies about Oprah, about Tyler, and 280 00:12:55,840 --> 00:12:59,280 Speaker 3: about Georgia and about Tyler Perry Studio. So that's four 281 00:12:59,320 --> 00:13:03,079 Speaker 3: I've received prophetic worries about all four. So when if 282 00:13:03,160 --> 00:13:07,000 Speaker 3: Lovin You was wrong offer came on Oprah's network with 283 00:13:07,160 --> 00:13:11,440 Speaker 3: Tyler filming in Georgia at Tyler Perry Studios, I knew, Okay, 284 00:13:11,600 --> 00:13:13,199 Speaker 3: this is a part of the God dream that has 285 00:13:13,520 --> 00:13:14,680 Speaker 3: that was over my life. 286 00:13:14,960 --> 00:13:16,920 Speaker 4: This is a role that I'm supposed to accept. 287 00:13:16,720 --> 00:13:19,120 Speaker 1: Yes to talk about when you actually went to. 288 00:13:20,760 --> 00:13:22,640 Speaker 2: Was the open studio and then he went to Tyler 289 00:13:22,640 --> 00:13:24,480 Speaker 2: Perry and put your feet on the ground. 290 00:13:24,640 --> 00:13:25,280 Speaker 1: Yeah. 291 00:13:25,360 --> 00:13:28,040 Speaker 3: So in the book, I give this story about how 292 00:13:28,440 --> 00:13:29,160 Speaker 3: I'd received. 293 00:13:29,320 --> 00:13:31,800 Speaker 4: You know, I received prophecies first of all Oprah. 294 00:13:31,840 --> 00:13:34,880 Speaker 3: Then I received prophecies about Tyler and Tyler Perry Studios. 295 00:13:35,040 --> 00:13:37,720 Speaker 3: So I felt like I need to make a bold 296 00:13:37,840 --> 00:13:41,600 Speaker 3: manifestation move in the direction of what God is speaking. 297 00:13:42,160 --> 00:13:45,040 Speaker 3: So in twenty eleven, which is the very year that 298 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:50,280 Speaker 3: OWN opened, I went inside of the lobby and I 299 00:13:50,360 --> 00:13:52,240 Speaker 3: literally just wanted to put my foot on it. 300 00:13:53,040 --> 00:13:54,199 Speaker 4: And I asked one of the. 301 00:13:54,120 --> 00:13:56,200 Speaker 3: People that worked there, do you mind taking a picture 302 00:13:56,200 --> 00:13:58,640 Speaker 3: of me in front of this sign? And it said 303 00:13:58,720 --> 00:14:00,760 Speaker 3: own Oprah Winfrey Network. Like, I said, will you take 304 00:14:00,760 --> 00:14:02,120 Speaker 3: a picture of me in front of this sign? 305 00:14:02,520 --> 00:14:03,079 Speaker 4: She did. 306 00:14:03,679 --> 00:14:06,880 Speaker 3: I posted it to Facebook that day along with the 307 00:14:06,920 --> 00:14:10,280 Speaker 3: scripture Joshua one, three wheresoever the soul of your footshel tread, 308 00:14:10,360 --> 00:14:11,400 Speaker 3: God will give unto you. 309 00:14:12,440 --> 00:14:12,840 Speaker 4: Well. 310 00:14:13,240 --> 00:14:16,480 Speaker 3: Later that same year, I was in Atlanta on the 311 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:17,400 Speaker 3: way to the airport. 312 00:14:17,440 --> 00:14:18,920 Speaker 4: I was with Kelvin and I. 313 00:14:18,920 --> 00:14:21,080 Speaker 3: Said, wait, wait, wait, take me to Tyler Perry Studios. 314 00:14:21,080 --> 00:14:22,680 Speaker 3: He was like, well, we're going to miss our flight. 315 00:14:22,880 --> 00:14:24,640 Speaker 3: I said, no, I need you to take me to 316 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:28,720 Speaker 3: Tyler Perry Studios. So we drive there. You know, we're 317 00:14:28,760 --> 00:14:31,080 Speaker 3: at the guard's desk. I was like, do you guys 318 00:14:31,080 --> 00:14:33,880 Speaker 3: offer tours or can I like sched on tour for 319 00:14:33,960 --> 00:14:34,560 Speaker 3: like right now? 320 00:14:35,040 --> 00:14:37,120 Speaker 4: He was like, ma'am, no, this is not open to 321 00:14:37,160 --> 00:14:37,720 Speaker 4: the public. 322 00:14:38,240 --> 00:14:42,000 Speaker 3: Here's a postcard which I recently found out postally almost 323 00:14:42,120 --> 00:14:42,520 Speaker 3: years ago. 324 00:14:42,680 --> 00:14:44,880 Speaker 4: He was like, here's a postcard. Go on, now you 325 00:14:44,920 --> 00:14:45,960 Speaker 4: know about your travels. 326 00:14:46,520 --> 00:14:49,600 Speaker 3: So I was cresfalling got back in the car, but 327 00:14:50,160 --> 00:14:52,080 Speaker 3: as Kevin was pulling away, I said no, no, no, Sap 328 00:14:52,080 --> 00:14:55,560 Speaker 3: stop stop. I got out the car, ran to the 329 00:14:55,840 --> 00:15:00,000 Speaker 3: to the fence, slipped my foot under, set a prayer 330 00:15:00,680 --> 00:15:04,400 Speaker 3: and declared that same scripture, Joshua one three, where'soever the 331 00:15:04,440 --> 00:15:05,440 Speaker 3: soul of your foricial track? 332 00:15:05,560 --> 00:15:07,920 Speaker 4: I will give unto you? And I raced back in 333 00:15:07,960 --> 00:15:08,200 Speaker 4: the car. 334 00:15:08,280 --> 00:15:11,960 Speaker 3: We drove to the airport and literally my next time 335 00:15:12,040 --> 00:15:15,240 Speaker 3: there here I was being welcomed by Tyler in that 336 00:15:15,320 --> 00:15:16,440 Speaker 3: exact same place. 337 00:15:16,800 --> 00:15:18,640 Speaker 4: That's one of the stars off loving you is wrong. 338 00:15:19,000 --> 00:15:21,280 Speaker 3: And my next time at the Oprah Winfrey Network, I 339 00:15:21,400 --> 00:15:23,760 Speaker 3: was sitting on the stage in front of all these 340 00:15:23,800 --> 00:15:28,400 Speaker 3: press outlets. Yes doing you know, doing this interview? And 341 00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:31,040 Speaker 3: that was nine to nine. It was nine nine twenty 342 00:15:31,080 --> 00:15:33,400 Speaker 3: eleven when I first went to Oprah's and it was 343 00:15:33,560 --> 00:15:36,480 Speaker 3: nine nine, twenty fourteen, when If Loving You Is Wrong 344 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:39,720 Speaker 3: premiere the exact same day, and then this year on 345 00:15:39,920 --> 00:15:42,520 Speaker 3: nine to nine is the exact day that my book 346 00:15:42,720 --> 00:15:46,120 Speaker 3: was released. And who interviewed me but the Oprah Winfrey. 347 00:15:46,760 --> 00:15:48,880 Speaker 3: So that's amazing, you know. I always tell people God 348 00:15:48,920 --> 00:15:50,680 Speaker 3: does have a plan for all of our lives, that 349 00:15:50,720 --> 00:15:54,480 Speaker 3: it's very specific and even dated, and I, you know, 350 00:15:54,520 --> 00:15:56,800 Speaker 3: I try to let people know that there's a sense 351 00:15:56,840 --> 00:16:00,880 Speaker 3: of urgency around the timing of your obi and the 352 00:16:01,040 --> 00:16:04,360 Speaker 3: timing of when you step out to do the thing 353 00:16:04,400 --> 00:16:06,680 Speaker 3: that He's called you to do, because the world is 354 00:16:06,720 --> 00:16:09,840 Speaker 3: waiting for you. We make it about ourselves for such 355 00:16:09,880 --> 00:16:12,120 Speaker 3: a time as there we're born, for such a time 356 00:16:12,280 --> 00:16:15,840 Speaker 3: a little rol time, yes, as this, you know, And 357 00:16:15,880 --> 00:16:18,320 Speaker 3: so dates like that nine to nine, you know, And 358 00:16:18,360 --> 00:16:20,440 Speaker 3: there's many other stories that give in the book two 359 00:16:20,520 --> 00:16:23,480 Speaker 3: examples of that. But I think that God does things 360 00:16:23,520 --> 00:16:25,360 Speaker 3: like that for a reason, to remind us that. 361 00:16:25,360 --> 00:16:28,760 Speaker 4: He is on a schedule, right He's on a schedule, and. 362 00:16:28,680 --> 00:16:29,760 Speaker 1: He's waiting on us to get on it. 363 00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:34,080 Speaker 4: Thank you. The world is waiting for us. 364 00:16:34,120 --> 00:16:36,400 Speaker 3: And I think that if we really lean into that, 365 00:16:36,400 --> 00:16:40,720 Speaker 3: that we will allow ourselves to show up in the 366 00:16:40,760 --> 00:16:42,560 Speaker 3: world in an even bigger way. 367 00:16:43,000 --> 00:16:43,520 Speaker 1: I love that. 368 00:16:43,680 --> 00:16:48,360 Speaker 2: Now our industry is over glamorized sometimes you know it's 369 00:16:48,680 --> 00:16:52,920 Speaker 2: a very glamorized industry. But you talked about sometimes we 370 00:16:53,000 --> 00:16:56,360 Speaker 2: can limit our imagination. But in those moments, that's when 371 00:16:56,400 --> 00:16:59,120 Speaker 2: you activated your faith or took the limits off. What 372 00:16:59,200 --> 00:17:03,440 Speaker 2: were some times throughout your career where your imagination really 373 00:17:03,480 --> 00:17:06,160 Speaker 2: wasn't kicking in and you were feeling like, come on, Lord, 374 00:17:06,200 --> 00:17:09,000 Speaker 2: I need you to make something move, make something shake, 375 00:17:09,040 --> 00:17:12,919 Speaker 2: Because I know those moments happened. But we see the wire, 376 00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:15,040 Speaker 2: we see the loving you is wrong, we see the 377 00:17:15,080 --> 00:17:18,520 Speaker 2: residents and the power, But what are those in between moments. 378 00:17:18,200 --> 00:17:19,480 Speaker 1: Like how do you navigate those? 379 00:17:19,680 --> 00:17:22,320 Speaker 3: Well, actually one of those was connected to when when 380 00:17:22,359 --> 00:17:23,639 Speaker 3: if loving you was wrong ended? 381 00:17:24,119 --> 00:17:24,399 Speaker 4: Right? 382 00:17:24,440 --> 00:17:26,399 Speaker 3: And so when if loving you was wrong ended, I 383 00:17:26,480 --> 00:17:28,560 Speaker 3: knew it was ending. So of course now it's I 384 00:17:28,600 --> 00:17:31,320 Speaker 3: need another job, right, I need my next show? What's 385 00:17:31,320 --> 00:17:32,600 Speaker 3: my next show going to be? And so I just 386 00:17:32,640 --> 00:17:35,240 Speaker 3: started praying about it, like just putting it out there. Okay, God, 387 00:17:35,320 --> 00:17:37,520 Speaker 3: you got me right, Like, what's what's the new show 388 00:17:37,600 --> 00:17:41,360 Speaker 3: going to be? And so from January when we had 389 00:17:41,359 --> 00:17:44,840 Speaker 3: pilot season, it just became all about get the new show, 390 00:17:44,880 --> 00:17:45,520 Speaker 3: Get the new show. 391 00:17:45,840 --> 00:17:45,959 Speaker 4: Now. 392 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:49,080 Speaker 3: The caveat is that I was also pregnant during that time, 393 00:17:49,400 --> 00:17:53,399 Speaker 3: so I felt a time table ticking as well, because 394 00:17:53,520 --> 00:17:56,320 Speaker 3: May was when the baby was due, so I was pregnant. 395 00:17:56,320 --> 00:17:57,920 Speaker 3: My and my husband were going to name the baby 396 00:17:57,920 --> 00:17:59,200 Speaker 3: Brooklyn because we met. 397 00:17:59,080 --> 00:18:00,840 Speaker 4: In Brooklyn, we got married in Brooklyn. 398 00:18:00,840 --> 00:18:03,639 Speaker 3: So we're like, yeah, let's nay the baby Brooklyn. Well, 399 00:18:03,800 --> 00:18:05,560 Speaker 3: maybe I don't know. A couple of weeks later, my 400 00:18:05,640 --> 00:18:09,120 Speaker 3: husband was praying and he said, he said, God is saying, 401 00:18:09,200 --> 00:18:12,919 Speaker 3: name the baby London. And I said, why would we 402 00:18:13,000 --> 00:18:15,640 Speaker 3: name our baby London? Everything, like, our whole love story 403 00:18:15,680 --> 00:18:19,800 Speaker 3: is Brooklyn. And he said, God said, Brooklyn is our past, 404 00:18:20,240 --> 00:18:24,520 Speaker 3: London is our future. She's going to bring great joy 405 00:18:24,560 --> 00:18:26,880 Speaker 3: to our family. Name her London Joy. 406 00:18:27,240 --> 00:18:28,440 Speaker 1: What wow? 407 00:18:28,800 --> 00:18:33,440 Speaker 3: So by faith we name the baby London Joy. Now 408 00:18:33,640 --> 00:18:38,719 Speaker 3: for me, internally with the job thing, I'm still like, okay, 409 00:18:38,800 --> 00:18:41,760 Speaker 3: it's January February, by ch April Bay. You know, I 410 00:18:41,800 --> 00:18:43,720 Speaker 3: wanted to show in LA because I'm about to have 411 00:18:43,720 --> 00:18:46,560 Speaker 3: a baby. I wanted it all right there, and it 412 00:18:46,600 --> 00:18:48,840 Speaker 3: didn't happen, and I was like God, and so I 413 00:18:48,840 --> 00:18:53,360 Speaker 3: started wondering should I like, should I continue pursuing acting? 414 00:18:53,600 --> 00:18:55,399 Speaker 4: Is it over? Are you telling me that I should 415 00:18:55,440 --> 00:18:56,480 Speaker 4: do something else now? 416 00:18:57,520 --> 00:19:02,280 Speaker 3: And literally, by August I received. 417 00:19:01,760 --> 00:19:04,840 Speaker 4: A call about a show. 418 00:19:06,160 --> 00:19:12,720 Speaker 3: Called The Power that literally was filming in London, and 419 00:19:12,760 --> 00:19:20,440 Speaker 3: they moved my entire family to London to begin filming 420 00:19:20,520 --> 00:19:22,520 Speaker 3: an entire new show. 421 00:19:25,040 --> 00:19:27,679 Speaker 2: Your husband's a man of God too, because he's the 422 00:19:27,760 --> 00:19:30,640 Speaker 2: lyric spoke to him and told him and told him. 423 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:34,600 Speaker 3: And these little girls grew up with British accents, and 424 00:19:34,680 --> 00:19:38,280 Speaker 3: their names were all over London, London, and Victoria London 425 00:19:38,320 --> 00:19:42,879 Speaker 3: and Victoria everywhere. The street that we walked down to 426 00:19:42,920 --> 00:19:46,680 Speaker 3: take them to Nursey was Kelvindon Road, my husband's name is. 427 00:19:48,000 --> 00:19:49,840 Speaker 3: And then we go to another part of London and 428 00:19:49,840 --> 00:19:52,879 Speaker 3: it said Weena circle, at Weena Square, and Weena close, 429 00:19:52,920 --> 00:19:57,760 Speaker 3: said Weena everywhere. So God was letting us know, Oh, 430 00:19:57,840 --> 00:20:01,199 Speaker 3: I had this set up for you the whole time. 431 00:20:01,680 --> 00:20:05,440 Speaker 3: It wasn't according to my timetable. And I thought that 432 00:20:05,560 --> 00:20:10,719 Speaker 3: because my timetable wasn't working out, that that meant, oh, 433 00:20:10,760 --> 00:20:11,920 Speaker 3: I need a shift course. 434 00:20:12,440 --> 00:20:14,160 Speaker 4: But no, delayed is not denied. 435 00:20:14,680 --> 00:20:17,000 Speaker 3: And so I talk a lot about that in the 436 00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:20,040 Speaker 3: book too, about that waiting season and how we just 437 00:20:20,119 --> 00:20:23,359 Speaker 3: have to continue to keep our faith and move in obedience, 438 00:20:23,560 --> 00:20:27,480 Speaker 3: in obedience. We named her that Wow, and then God 439 00:20:27,480 --> 00:20:28,760 Speaker 3: brought the manifestation up. 440 00:20:28,800 --> 00:20:29,640 Speaker 1: It really did. 441 00:20:30,280 --> 00:20:32,520 Speaker 2: I feel like your whole life is just a trail 442 00:20:32,560 --> 00:20:36,320 Speaker 2: of obedience, you know, And if people could really just 443 00:20:36,520 --> 00:20:38,479 Speaker 2: learn to hear the voice of God and trust it 444 00:20:38,880 --> 00:20:40,720 Speaker 2: and obey it. And when you get those prompts to 445 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:42,480 Speaker 2: why do I keep feeling like I should do this? 446 00:20:42,520 --> 00:20:43,919 Speaker 1: Because that's God telling you to do it? 447 00:20:44,520 --> 00:20:47,600 Speaker 2: Do it, you know, and move swiftly because we are 448 00:20:47,640 --> 00:20:50,639 Speaker 2: on his timetable and a lot of times things aren't 449 00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:52,639 Speaker 2: moving when we wanted to because we're not in the will. 450 00:20:53,160 --> 00:20:55,840 Speaker 1: That is so oh my god, so profound. 451 00:20:56,720 --> 00:21:02,000 Speaker 2: Wow. I am just like speechless right now. That is beautiful, 452 00:21:02,560 --> 00:21:06,119 Speaker 2: Thank my goodness. So you are a wife, you're a 453 00:21:06,160 --> 00:21:11,080 Speaker 2: mother of two beautiful daughters. You are a powerhouse. How 454 00:21:11,119 --> 00:21:13,280 Speaker 2: do you even manage it all? You know now that 455 00:21:13,400 --> 00:21:15,719 Speaker 2: you your career, you got a book. Now you're traveling 456 00:21:15,760 --> 00:21:19,600 Speaker 2: the world, the world, y'all. She didn't just do a 457 00:21:19,800 --> 00:21:23,680 Speaker 2: state side tour. Okay, you went to Dubai. You were 458 00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:26,080 Speaker 2: just in Africa. You were in Cape Town and then 459 00:21:26,119 --> 00:21:27,240 Speaker 2: Where else did you go to London? 460 00:21:27,320 --> 00:21:29,000 Speaker 4: Yeah? I was justin you had to go to London, 461 00:21:29,040 --> 00:21:30,400 Speaker 4: New York. I haven't been in London yet. 462 00:21:30,440 --> 00:21:33,119 Speaker 1: That's coming, Okay, okay, you gotta go to London. 463 00:21:33,200 --> 00:21:33,280 Speaker 3: Ye. 464 00:21:33,760 --> 00:21:35,879 Speaker 1: Yes, in New York and you're bunting everywhere? 465 00:21:35,880 --> 00:21:40,040 Speaker 2: How are you balancing at marriage and the children and everything? 466 00:21:40,520 --> 00:21:40,840 Speaker 4: You know? 467 00:21:41,080 --> 00:21:43,840 Speaker 3: One of the things that I realized as far as calling, 468 00:21:44,080 --> 00:21:47,520 Speaker 3: yes and even vision right. And so in the book 469 00:21:47,560 --> 00:21:48,960 Speaker 3: and the World is Waiting for You, I talk a 470 00:21:48,960 --> 00:21:53,040 Speaker 3: lot about vision and a lot about calling and how 471 00:21:53,920 --> 00:21:58,000 Speaker 3: you know, our our purpose stays the same, but the 472 00:21:58,080 --> 00:22:01,480 Speaker 3: method shifts, right and the things that we're called to 473 00:22:01,520 --> 00:22:05,639 Speaker 3: shift as well. And so there's seasons maybe when you know, 474 00:22:05,680 --> 00:22:08,800 Speaker 3: and you know as a performer, where the performing part 475 00:22:08,880 --> 00:22:10,480 Speaker 3: is like the main, main part. 476 00:22:12,080 --> 00:22:12,720 Speaker 4: And then there's. 477 00:22:12,520 --> 00:22:16,679 Speaker 3: Seasons where God is calling us to expand our territory 478 00:22:16,800 --> 00:22:20,160 Speaker 3: and that includes family and to be honest. At first, 479 00:22:20,240 --> 00:22:21,879 Speaker 3: like I received prophetic words that I was going to 480 00:22:21,920 --> 00:22:23,919 Speaker 3: have a baby, you know, and that I was going 481 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:26,160 Speaker 3: to be married, like all these things, I was very 482 00:22:26,160 --> 00:22:29,760 Speaker 3: focused on career. But as the Lord began to open 483 00:22:29,920 --> 00:22:32,919 Speaker 3: up these other parts of my life, just like we 484 00:22:32,960 --> 00:22:34,040 Speaker 3: say about vision, if he. 485 00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:35,840 Speaker 4: Gives you the vision, he'll give you the provision. 486 00:22:36,480 --> 00:22:41,240 Speaker 3: So it's really been about, Okay, having these specific things 487 00:22:41,240 --> 00:22:45,600 Speaker 3: in place to accommodate that enlarge territory, right, So like 488 00:22:46,040 --> 00:22:48,760 Speaker 3: being able to structure my time in such a way 489 00:22:48,760 --> 00:22:50,800 Speaker 3: that I'm giving my husband the time that he needs, 490 00:22:51,040 --> 00:22:53,200 Speaker 3: that I'm giving my children the time that they need, 491 00:22:53,640 --> 00:22:55,640 Speaker 3: while also being called to write a book and also 492 00:22:55,680 --> 00:22:57,679 Speaker 3: being called to travel the world in these different things. 493 00:22:58,040 --> 00:23:01,479 Speaker 3: And so there's some practical aspect of the book If 494 00:23:01,520 --> 00:23:03,600 Speaker 3: Love You is Wrong as well, I mean gets wrong, 495 00:23:05,720 --> 00:23:08,200 Speaker 3: there's some practical aspects of the book The World Is 496 00:23:08,240 --> 00:23:10,480 Speaker 3: Waiting for You as well, where I like, take people 497 00:23:10,480 --> 00:23:13,960 Speaker 3: through a time map and help them to identify what 498 00:23:14,040 --> 00:23:14,919 Speaker 3: are the top. 499 00:23:14,760 --> 00:23:17,760 Speaker 4: Either goals or roles that you have in life, and. 500 00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:20,640 Speaker 3: How can you begin to structure your time every day 501 00:23:20,960 --> 00:23:23,199 Speaker 3: to match the things that you've been called to in 502 00:23:23,240 --> 00:23:26,159 Speaker 3: the different areas of your life and your abundant life. 503 00:23:26,280 --> 00:23:28,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, that is so good because a lot of times, 504 00:23:28,080 --> 00:23:30,640 Speaker 2: especially people who have dreams like we did, a lot 505 00:23:30,680 --> 00:23:34,040 Speaker 2: of times, the resources that they really have in reality 506 00:23:34,160 --> 00:23:36,960 Speaker 2: don't match the dream, you know, so they need those 507 00:23:37,000 --> 00:23:39,480 Speaker 2: practical tips to help them get there or even like 508 00:23:39,560 --> 00:23:42,159 Speaker 2: to be prepared, cause you talk about make sure that 509 00:23:42,280 --> 00:23:44,520 Speaker 2: you are ready for what you're praying for, because a 510 00:23:44,560 --> 00:23:46,000 Speaker 2: lot of times like, God, I'm ready for this, and 511 00:23:46,040 --> 00:23:48,000 Speaker 2: he's like, no, you are not, And you wonder. 512 00:23:47,760 --> 00:23:50,400 Speaker 1: Why he's like delaying it. What you think is a delay. 513 00:23:50,480 --> 00:23:52,960 Speaker 2: Because you're not ready, right, So he has to get 514 00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:55,080 Speaker 2: that toolbox fool, so that when it's time for any 515 00:23:55,040 --> 00:23:57,199 Speaker 2: to be like all right, gone, then you have everything 516 00:23:57,240 --> 00:23:57,640 Speaker 2: you need. 517 00:23:57,760 --> 00:23:58,520 Speaker 4: It's so true. 518 00:23:58,720 --> 00:24:01,879 Speaker 3: And I think also we as women also, like you know, 519 00:24:01,960 --> 00:24:04,040 Speaker 3: we want to have it all, right, you want to 520 00:24:04,080 --> 00:24:06,120 Speaker 3: have it all. We want to be successful in our careers. 521 00:24:06,119 --> 00:24:08,800 Speaker 3: We want husband, we want children, we want all these things. 522 00:24:09,200 --> 00:24:12,159 Speaker 3: But what I've noticed is that there are adjustments that 523 00:24:12,200 --> 00:24:15,479 Speaker 3: we have to be prepared to make in our lives 524 00:24:15,560 --> 00:24:18,399 Speaker 3: in order to accommodate these new things. Okay, if you 525 00:24:18,440 --> 00:24:20,240 Speaker 3: want to be if you want to be a wife, 526 00:24:20,480 --> 00:24:23,159 Speaker 3: right like, okay, then you have to start preparing in 527 00:24:23,240 --> 00:24:26,680 Speaker 3: that way. And there's and a lot of that is service. 528 00:24:27,240 --> 00:24:30,040 Speaker 3: A lot of that is rooted in service. And so 529 00:24:30,160 --> 00:24:32,080 Speaker 3: I think that, like you said, as far as the 530 00:24:32,160 --> 00:24:35,480 Speaker 3: industry and how glamorized it is, if you adopt an 531 00:24:35,520 --> 00:24:38,040 Speaker 3: idea that everything's supposed to be about you. 532 00:24:39,600 --> 00:24:41,440 Speaker 4: Then you may not be prepared to be a wife 533 00:24:41,600 --> 00:24:41,920 Speaker 4: or a. 534 00:24:41,840 --> 00:24:45,119 Speaker 1: Mother because hello, because I've heard you become last. 535 00:24:45,119 --> 00:24:49,000 Speaker 4: When even Jesus. 536 00:24:48,640 --> 00:24:53,120 Speaker 3: Said, the greatest is the least. Yes, right, the greatest 537 00:24:53,200 --> 00:24:55,600 Speaker 3: is the least, and that and that really is true 538 00:24:55,600 --> 00:24:57,480 Speaker 3: when it comes to being a wife and a mother. 539 00:24:58,000 --> 00:25:01,520 Speaker 3: So so you're negotiating these different roles like in the public, 540 00:25:01,560 --> 00:25:03,840 Speaker 3: you baby an author, you maybe a podcast, your baby 541 00:25:03,880 --> 00:25:06,560 Speaker 3: an actor, all these things. But then, and honestly, I 542 00:25:06,640 --> 00:25:08,760 Speaker 3: learned a lot of that from Viola. From Viola Davis, 543 00:25:08,840 --> 00:25:09,440 Speaker 3: I learned. 544 00:25:09,240 --> 00:25:10,920 Speaker 4: A lot living with her. 545 00:25:11,119 --> 00:25:15,879 Speaker 1: Yeah, let's talk about that your life. I'm just like 546 00:25:16,560 --> 00:25:18,840 Speaker 1: this moment, like God has really had his head, like 547 00:25:18,920 --> 00:25:20,560 Speaker 1: he's over, like boo boo boom. 548 00:25:21,200 --> 00:25:24,760 Speaker 2: You live with Viola Davis, and she's like still someone 549 00:25:24,880 --> 00:25:27,000 Speaker 2: very near and dear to your heart and prominent in 550 00:25:27,040 --> 00:25:30,200 Speaker 2: your life. Let's talk about that, because that is I'm 551 00:25:30,240 --> 00:25:33,080 Speaker 2: just like and Wita, life is crazy. 552 00:25:33,520 --> 00:25:35,680 Speaker 3: Well when I told you that, you know, God told 553 00:25:35,680 --> 00:25:38,520 Speaker 3: me to start writing this inspirational column at uenas words 554 00:25:38,520 --> 00:25:42,320 Speaker 3: of Wisdom. She also along with Michael Kay would receive 555 00:25:42,440 --> 00:25:45,920 Speaker 3: them and say, keep going, keep going, keep writing this. 556 00:25:45,920 --> 00:25:47,359 Speaker 4: This is so inspiring to me. 557 00:25:48,119 --> 00:25:51,280 Speaker 3: And so not long after I came out of college, 558 00:25:52,119 --> 00:25:55,600 Speaker 3: she and her husband ended up commissioning me to help 559 00:25:55,680 --> 00:25:59,680 Speaker 3: write this one person show for them, and so that's 560 00:25:59,680 --> 00:26:02,679 Speaker 3: really how our relationships started. And then when I was 561 00:26:02,800 --> 00:26:04,600 Speaker 3: casting a show in LA they said. 562 00:26:04,400 --> 00:26:05,600 Speaker 4: Oh, well you can live with us. 563 00:26:05,960 --> 00:26:06,280 Speaker 1: Wow. 564 00:26:06,600 --> 00:26:11,560 Speaker 3: And so my introduction to Hollywood was really with them 565 00:26:11,600 --> 00:26:13,640 Speaker 3: and through them and living. 566 00:26:13,320 --> 00:26:15,119 Speaker 4: With an introduction, yeah, you know. 567 00:26:15,320 --> 00:26:17,640 Speaker 3: And she would take me with her everywhere the late 568 00:26:17,720 --> 00:26:21,520 Speaker 3: night talk shows, to interviews, you know, and to magazine 569 00:26:21,520 --> 00:26:24,639 Speaker 3: shoots on set, and I just got a chance to 570 00:26:24,760 --> 00:26:28,399 Speaker 3: soak it all up, to learn to experience. And so 571 00:26:28,440 --> 00:26:32,280 Speaker 3: that level of mentorship and love in those very intimate 572 00:26:32,320 --> 00:26:36,719 Speaker 3: ways were so key. And through her, I saw how 573 00:26:37,119 --> 00:26:40,640 Speaker 3: public life and private life like, I saw the difference. 574 00:26:40,720 --> 00:26:43,240 Speaker 3: I saw, you know, being a star but also being 575 00:26:43,240 --> 00:26:46,320 Speaker 3: a servant, yes, right, and she modeled that in such 576 00:26:46,359 --> 00:26:48,760 Speaker 3: a beautiful way. And so these are some of the 577 00:26:48,960 --> 00:26:51,240 Speaker 3: lessons that have also poured into the book and that 578 00:26:51,280 --> 00:26:53,399 Speaker 3: I've also just cherished in my own life that I 579 00:26:53,440 --> 00:26:54,440 Speaker 3: received from Viola. 580 00:26:54,520 --> 00:26:58,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, man, that is amazing. Shout out miss Viola Davis. 581 00:27:00,080 --> 00:27:03,199 Speaker 2: She is an icon, a great in our industry and 582 00:27:03,240 --> 00:27:05,840 Speaker 2: even in our culture, something we look up to. So 583 00:27:05,920 --> 00:27:08,879 Speaker 2: that's amazing that you had that firsthand mentorship from her. 584 00:27:09,160 --> 00:27:11,359 Speaker 1: What does mentorship mean to you? And how are you 585 00:27:11,359 --> 00:27:11,800 Speaker 1: giving back? 586 00:27:11,800 --> 00:27:14,520 Speaker 2: So, I know, you and your husband you founded co 587 00:27:14,640 --> 00:27:15,880 Speaker 2: founded Abundant Life. 588 00:27:15,920 --> 00:27:18,560 Speaker 1: You or you're paying it for it, So let's talk 589 00:27:18,600 --> 00:27:19,000 Speaker 1: about that. 590 00:27:19,400 --> 00:27:22,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, I've been doing Abundant Life University for 591 00:27:22,520 --> 00:27:25,040 Speaker 3: over fifteen years, you know, before. 592 00:27:24,760 --> 00:27:26,879 Speaker 4: Ever getting into the industry. 593 00:27:27,160 --> 00:27:29,919 Speaker 3: You know, like it was always important to me to 594 00:27:29,920 --> 00:27:32,000 Speaker 3: be pouring into other people's lives. 595 00:27:32,320 --> 00:27:34,639 Speaker 4: And that's another thing. No matter where. 596 00:27:34,400 --> 00:27:37,560 Speaker 3: You start, you don't have to have, you know, some 597 00:27:37,600 --> 00:27:40,560 Speaker 3: big podcasts or some big TV show or anything like 598 00:27:40,640 --> 00:27:43,119 Speaker 3: that to affect the people around you. 599 00:27:43,600 --> 00:27:44,919 Speaker 4: The world is waiting for you. 600 00:27:44,960 --> 00:27:49,360 Speaker 3: That's your neighbors, that's your your schoolmates, you know, that's 601 00:27:49,400 --> 00:27:52,119 Speaker 3: the people at church. That can be anyone in your 602 00:27:52,200 --> 00:27:55,159 Speaker 3: neighborhood community. You know, you don't have to have some 603 00:27:55,240 --> 00:27:57,280 Speaker 3: big platform in order to do that. And so when 604 00:27:57,280 --> 00:28:00,320 Speaker 3: I started, I started very small. I was feeding almost 605 00:28:00,359 --> 00:28:03,879 Speaker 3: you know, doing all these things. And meanwhile, during that time, 606 00:28:03,920 --> 00:28:07,440 Speaker 3: my income was right near the poverty line, Like I 607 00:28:07,480 --> 00:28:11,000 Speaker 3: did not have much, but I did have a calling yes, 608 00:28:11,160 --> 00:28:13,600 Speaker 3: and so I knew that whatever it is I have, 609 00:28:14,119 --> 00:28:16,919 Speaker 3: that's what I'm being called to give. And so as 610 00:28:17,040 --> 00:28:20,040 Speaker 3: the platform has grown, you know, that just means that 611 00:28:20,119 --> 00:28:23,320 Speaker 3: more and more people can come in, right, And so 612 00:28:23,480 --> 00:28:26,440 Speaker 3: with Abundant Life you and now this program, the God 613 00:28:26,520 --> 00:28:30,640 Speaker 3: Dreamers Academy, we are just inviting so many people from 614 00:28:30,720 --> 00:28:33,600 Speaker 3: around the world to participate, to go through the book 615 00:28:33,880 --> 00:28:37,120 Speaker 3: and then also to join us in manifesting that God 616 00:28:37,200 --> 00:28:40,720 Speaker 3: dream that's over their lives. My husband, Kelvin and I 617 00:28:40,800 --> 00:28:44,360 Speaker 3: just really believe that God has a purpose and a 618 00:28:44,440 --> 00:28:48,520 Speaker 3: dream over everyone and if people need that help, that 619 00:28:48,520 --> 00:28:51,080 Speaker 3: that guidance to help pull it out of them and 620 00:28:51,120 --> 00:28:54,040 Speaker 3: bring it to past, you know, that's that's what we do. 621 00:28:54,680 --> 00:28:56,320 Speaker 3: So yeah, so anyone you can go to the world 622 00:28:56,440 --> 00:28:59,280 Speaker 3: is Waiting dot org and find out more about the 623 00:28:59,320 --> 00:29:00,440 Speaker 3: God Dreamers Academy. 624 00:29:00,600 --> 00:29:01,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's amazing. 625 00:29:01,600 --> 00:29:05,120 Speaker 2: Yes, please tapping you guys, you have said that your 626 00:29:05,160 --> 00:29:07,720 Speaker 2: faith has been the anchor in this industry for you. 627 00:29:08,400 --> 00:29:10,480 Speaker 2: Can you share a moment where leaning on God really 628 00:29:10,560 --> 00:29:12,160 Speaker 2: changed your trajectory in your career? 629 00:29:12,440 --> 00:29:18,200 Speaker 3: Yeah? You know, early on I received this offer for 630 00:29:18,280 --> 00:29:21,080 Speaker 3: this huge contract and it was so much money, and 631 00:29:21,120 --> 00:29:22,960 Speaker 3: I told you. I was like, I was living in 632 00:29:23,040 --> 00:29:25,000 Speaker 3: low income house and I did not have a lot 633 00:29:25,000 --> 00:29:28,560 Speaker 3: of money, and suddenly this contract came with all this 634 00:29:28,680 --> 00:29:30,680 Speaker 3: money attached to it, and it was in Hollywood, and 635 00:29:30,680 --> 00:29:32,600 Speaker 3: it was just you know, I was like, Wow, this 636 00:29:32,680 --> 00:29:34,800 Speaker 3: is my big break, Like, oh my god, this is that. 637 00:29:35,520 --> 00:29:37,240 Speaker 4: But it came with a nudity clause. 638 00:29:38,560 --> 00:29:40,720 Speaker 2: Don't they always all the big ones come with It's 639 00:29:40,720 --> 00:29:45,560 Speaker 2: a heavy I was like, why, oh why, what do 640 00:29:45,680 --> 00:29:46,760 Speaker 2: I do right? 641 00:29:47,520 --> 00:29:51,120 Speaker 3: And that was a place of conviction for me, and 642 00:29:51,200 --> 00:29:55,440 Speaker 3: I felt like I want I want what they're offering. 643 00:29:55,960 --> 00:29:57,360 Speaker 4: I want the opportunity. 644 00:29:57,440 --> 00:29:58,360 Speaker 1: I love the role. 645 00:29:59,680 --> 00:30:01,760 Speaker 3: But if that means that I have to perform nude 646 00:30:01,800 --> 00:30:04,360 Speaker 3: in order to get it, then that might mean I 647 00:30:04,400 --> 00:30:05,760 Speaker 3: have to wait a little bit longer. 648 00:30:06,800 --> 00:30:08,520 Speaker 4: And so I didn't sign it. 649 00:30:09,880 --> 00:30:12,600 Speaker 3: And I and I went back to hearing the sirens 650 00:30:12,640 --> 00:30:16,440 Speaker 3: outside my window and the rats running across the street 651 00:30:16,680 --> 00:30:19,880 Speaker 3: and people, you know, stopping drug fights and all these things. 652 00:30:20,280 --> 00:30:21,400 Speaker 4: But I just believed. 653 00:30:21,440 --> 00:30:24,200 Speaker 3: I was like, God, I honored you, and I just 654 00:30:24,280 --> 00:30:26,160 Speaker 3: believe that you're going to open the door for me. 655 00:30:27,040 --> 00:30:30,800 Speaker 3: And three years later, I was invited to Hollywood again. 656 00:30:31,080 --> 00:30:33,720 Speaker 3: This time it was not with this huge contract it 657 00:30:33,800 --> 00:30:35,240 Speaker 3: was not first class everything. 658 00:30:35,760 --> 00:30:37,400 Speaker 4: It was literally two minister. 659 00:30:37,760 --> 00:30:41,240 Speaker 3: It was to speak to other artists of faith, and 660 00:30:41,280 --> 00:30:44,120 Speaker 3: I was phone out there to do that. And the 661 00:30:44,160 --> 00:30:47,000 Speaker 3: next day a friend invited me to a place called 662 00:30:47,080 --> 00:30:47,880 Speaker 3: Running Canyon. 663 00:30:49,080 --> 00:30:49,320 Speaker 4: Yeah. 664 00:30:49,560 --> 00:30:51,920 Speaker 3: You know, it's like kind of this big mountain, you know, 665 00:30:51,960 --> 00:30:53,680 Speaker 3: like this hill right in the middle of Hollywood. 666 00:30:53,680 --> 00:30:54,800 Speaker 4: So we're hiking, hiking, hiking. 667 00:30:54,840 --> 00:30:56,960 Speaker 3: We get to the top and you know, up there, 668 00:30:57,000 --> 00:30:59,360 Speaker 3: you feel like you're just like you can see everything. 669 00:30:59,880 --> 00:31:03,680 Speaker 3: I literally felt like I was overlooking the Promised Land. Wow, 670 00:31:03,800 --> 00:31:07,200 Speaker 3: it just just swept over me. And there was this 671 00:31:07,360 --> 00:31:09,880 Speaker 3: sign in the distance that called my attention, and I 672 00:31:09,880 --> 00:31:11,160 Speaker 3: couldn't make out all the words. 673 00:31:11,200 --> 00:31:12,400 Speaker 4: I was trying to piece it together. 674 00:31:12,680 --> 00:31:15,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, and finally my friend was like, come on, let's go. 675 00:31:15,920 --> 00:31:16,320 Speaker 4: Let's go. 676 00:31:17,680 --> 00:31:20,960 Speaker 3: And so two days later, my last night in La, 677 00:31:21,800 --> 00:31:25,240 Speaker 3: I'm walking with another friend and my camera suddenly takes 678 00:31:25,240 --> 00:31:27,480 Speaker 3: a picture by itself and flashes. 679 00:31:28,840 --> 00:31:30,680 Speaker 4: So I'm looking at her the same way you're looking 680 00:31:30,680 --> 00:31:30,960 Speaker 4: at me. 681 00:31:31,120 --> 00:31:32,800 Speaker 3: We're looking at each other and then looking at the 682 00:31:32,840 --> 00:31:36,760 Speaker 3: camera like, how did that happen? So I picked up 683 00:31:36,800 --> 00:31:38,320 Speaker 3: the camera to turn it over to see what it 684 00:31:38,320 --> 00:31:39,160 Speaker 3: took a picture of. 685 00:31:41,040 --> 00:31:43,840 Speaker 4: It was sign that I saw. 686 00:31:44,680 --> 00:31:49,680 Speaker 3: I got the seals of Running Canyon, Wow, two days prior, 687 00:31:51,160 --> 00:31:55,480 Speaker 3: now up close and perfectly framed inside of my camera, 688 00:31:56,400 --> 00:32:00,280 Speaker 3: and it said, from Harlem to Hollywood, You're a star. 689 00:32:01,040 --> 00:32:02,560 Speaker 4: Congratulations. 690 00:32:03,520 --> 00:32:09,760 Speaker 1: What literally the breakdowns? 691 00:32:11,760 --> 00:32:12,720 Speaker 4: I collapsed. 692 00:32:13,360 --> 00:32:15,560 Speaker 3: And then when I got back to New York the 693 00:32:15,600 --> 00:32:17,719 Speaker 3: next day, you know, I'm sitting with all of this, 694 00:32:18,200 --> 00:32:21,120 Speaker 3: And then I remembered that my uncle, uncle Howard, he 695 00:32:21,240 --> 00:32:23,800 Speaker 3: was a pastor in Maryland who passed just a few 696 00:32:23,880 --> 00:32:26,560 Speaker 3: days before my trip. I remembered that before he passed, 697 00:32:26,560 --> 00:32:28,760 Speaker 3: he a prophesied to me, but I couldn't remember what 698 00:32:28,840 --> 00:32:29,240 Speaker 3: he said. 699 00:32:29,360 --> 00:32:29,680 Speaker 1: Wow. 700 00:32:29,800 --> 00:32:32,080 Speaker 3: So I started looking everywhere. I remember that I recorded it. 701 00:32:32,120 --> 00:32:34,800 Speaker 3: I video recorded it, so I was looking for the video. 702 00:32:34,960 --> 00:32:37,400 Speaker 3: I finally found it. I pushed play, and here is 703 00:32:37,480 --> 00:32:42,200 Speaker 3: my now deceased uncle looking into the camera, prophesying to 704 00:32:42,240 --> 00:32:44,160 Speaker 3: me that God is about to take me to Hollywood 705 00:32:45,440 --> 00:32:51,040 Speaker 3: and the instructions that the law wants me to know, scriptures, instructions, everything. 706 00:32:51,600 --> 00:32:54,719 Speaker 3: Soon there after, I was casting a show in Hollywood, 707 00:32:55,000 --> 00:32:57,360 Speaker 3: living with Viola on red carpets. 708 00:32:57,400 --> 00:32:58,920 Speaker 4: My entire life changed. 709 00:32:59,440 --> 00:33:02,000 Speaker 3: And while we were on the red carpet Forget Hard 710 00:33:02,200 --> 00:33:03,720 Speaker 3: with Kevin Hard, Will Ferrell. 711 00:33:03,960 --> 00:33:06,920 Speaker 4: We're on Hollywood Boulevard in front of the Chinese Theater. 712 00:33:07,360 --> 00:33:09,880 Speaker 3: I'm doing all this press, you know, and then look 713 00:33:10,000 --> 00:33:14,200 Speaker 3: up and I see that I'm standing in the exact 714 00:33:14,720 --> 00:33:19,080 Speaker 3: same spot where I was when that camera took the 715 00:33:19,120 --> 00:33:20,080 Speaker 3: picture by yourself. 716 00:33:20,240 --> 00:33:23,080 Speaker 2: Oh Lord, this God is just winking out over your life, 717 00:33:23,360 --> 00:33:24,200 Speaker 2: just winking. 718 00:33:24,320 --> 00:33:24,720 Speaker 1: He's like. 719 00:33:26,200 --> 00:33:28,160 Speaker 3: I looked up while I was on the red carpet 720 00:33:28,200 --> 00:33:31,240 Speaker 3: and literally almost collapse right there. And so the first 721 00:33:31,320 --> 00:33:33,680 Speaker 3: chapter of the book is from Harlem to Hollywood, and 722 00:33:33,720 --> 00:33:36,480 Speaker 3: it's all about that prophetic journey and the fact that 723 00:33:36,880 --> 00:33:40,480 Speaker 3: God already his vision for us is already ahead of 724 00:33:40,520 --> 00:33:44,760 Speaker 3: where we are. Just take the steps in obedience because 725 00:33:44,760 --> 00:33:46,240 Speaker 3: he already hasn't planned out. 726 00:33:46,760 --> 00:33:48,240 Speaker 4: But that's just an example. You know. 727 00:33:48,360 --> 00:33:51,040 Speaker 3: Sometimes we're being called to say no to things yes, 728 00:33:52,040 --> 00:33:53,840 Speaker 3: and we don't know how it's going to turn out. 729 00:33:53,840 --> 00:33:55,240 Speaker 3: We think, oh, we have to say yes. I have 730 00:33:55,240 --> 00:33:57,080 Speaker 3: to say yes, because if I say no, then what's 731 00:33:57,120 --> 00:34:01,160 Speaker 3: going to happen to me? But when we honor God, yeah, 732 00:34:01,200 --> 00:34:02,400 Speaker 3: he also honors us. 733 00:34:02,440 --> 00:34:05,680 Speaker 2: He does, and it's always way more worth it than 734 00:34:05,760 --> 00:34:07,440 Speaker 2: if you said to say yes to that thing. 735 00:34:07,480 --> 00:34:09,920 Speaker 1: You know, you're suppoed to say no to I'm. 736 00:34:09,800 --> 00:34:14,640 Speaker 2: A living testimony and yeah, you know, and it's always 737 00:34:14,680 --> 00:34:17,719 Speaker 2: that when and then you look back, like I knew 738 00:34:17,760 --> 00:34:20,719 Speaker 2: I shouldn't have done that, you know, and there was 739 00:34:20,760 --> 00:34:23,399 Speaker 2: always that still small voice that was trying to guide 740 00:34:23,440 --> 00:34:24,360 Speaker 2: you in the right direction. 741 00:34:24,920 --> 00:34:29,319 Speaker 1: So you have to listen to that. This is God 742 00:34:29,360 --> 00:34:31,600 Speaker 1: has his hand on your life. 743 00:34:32,080 --> 00:34:33,960 Speaker 4: Do you hear me, not. 744 00:34:34,200 --> 00:34:36,160 Speaker 1: Good Edwin, I'm glad we're sitting down because. 745 00:34:35,960 --> 00:34:41,120 Speaker 4: I did not. Yeah, like we hear time were able. 746 00:34:40,960 --> 00:34:43,040 Speaker 1: To do me too. This is so good. 747 00:34:44,440 --> 00:34:47,680 Speaker 2: Lord have mercy, Okay, because even like when it comes 748 00:34:47,719 --> 00:34:49,719 Speaker 2: to nudity app I'm the same way, like that's something 749 00:34:49,760 --> 00:34:52,799 Speaker 2: I won't do because I haven't had children yet. 750 00:34:52,800 --> 00:34:54,239 Speaker 1: But I'm like, if I do, that's just. 751 00:34:54,120 --> 00:34:56,480 Speaker 2: Something I don't ever want to have to explain or 752 00:34:56,600 --> 00:34:58,080 Speaker 2: just have it out there because now they can do 753 00:34:58,120 --> 00:35:00,239 Speaker 2: anything with your body. And it's just like there are 754 00:35:00,280 --> 00:35:02,319 Speaker 2: certain things I just want to keep sacred, you know, 755 00:35:03,239 --> 00:35:05,319 Speaker 2: There's certain things I'm not gonna show. I was like, 756 00:35:05,320 --> 00:35:06,920 Speaker 2: if there's a way we can do it where I 757 00:35:06,960 --> 00:35:09,120 Speaker 2: will not show these things, then we can work around it. 758 00:35:09,160 --> 00:35:12,319 Speaker 1: But I'm not. These are my hard lines. 759 00:35:12,000 --> 00:35:13,719 Speaker 3: In the sand that I'm not going to cross, and 760 00:35:13,760 --> 00:35:16,360 Speaker 3: I think that's so important to share too. Sometimes we 761 00:35:16,440 --> 00:35:20,160 Speaker 3: can be afraid to have clear lines yes right. And 762 00:35:20,200 --> 00:35:22,480 Speaker 3: so as a young actor, I mean literally, my agents 763 00:35:22,480 --> 00:35:24,640 Speaker 3: were like, well, if you're not willing to appear nude, 764 00:35:24,760 --> 00:35:27,360 Speaker 3: then you'll never work in this town. Like I received 765 00:35:27,480 --> 00:35:30,719 Speaker 3: that kind of messaging and felt, you know, it was 766 00:35:30,800 --> 00:35:34,960 Speaker 3: like God's voice and their voice was just always in conflict. 767 00:35:35,200 --> 00:35:37,600 Speaker 3: So I just want to encourage anybody that's watching. If 768 00:35:37,640 --> 00:35:40,120 Speaker 3: there are certain things that you know that you don't 769 00:35:40,160 --> 00:35:43,200 Speaker 3: feel comfortable with, whether it's in your industry or whether 770 00:35:43,239 --> 00:35:47,160 Speaker 3: it's in your life, lean into that spirit that that's 771 00:35:47,200 --> 00:35:50,960 Speaker 3: telling you, that's gently guiding you no, no, it's okay 772 00:35:51,000 --> 00:35:54,040 Speaker 3: to say no, while also believing that there's a yes 773 00:35:54,239 --> 00:35:58,200 Speaker 3: that's going to come straight from God and that's already 774 00:35:58,239 --> 00:36:00,920 Speaker 3: prepared for you. That's gonna be even and better than 775 00:36:00,960 --> 00:36:01,200 Speaker 3: the no. 776 00:36:01,560 --> 00:36:04,080 Speaker 1: Yes. Oh that's so good. I just got a script. 777 00:36:04,080 --> 00:36:06,520 Speaker 2: I'm doing a movie in Houston in like two weeks, 778 00:36:06,560 --> 00:36:11,000 Speaker 2: thank you. And I remember he was tak telling me 779 00:36:11,000 --> 00:36:12,560 Speaker 2: about and I was like, oh, yeah, this sounds great, 780 00:36:12,920 --> 00:36:14,480 Speaker 2: got the script great? 781 00:36:14,600 --> 00:36:16,560 Speaker 1: And then oh, I just got this idea. 782 00:36:17,040 --> 00:36:18,920 Speaker 2: Have you can I remember the name of the movie 783 00:36:18,920 --> 00:36:20,319 Speaker 2: and I was I was like, okay, so I want 784 00:36:20,360 --> 00:36:22,000 Speaker 2: to see you that. He was like the two couples, 785 00:36:22,160 --> 00:36:23,840 Speaker 2: He's like, they were sitting in chairs, they were in 786 00:36:23,920 --> 00:36:26,239 Speaker 2: the nude and this idea just came to him. 787 00:36:26,239 --> 00:36:27,400 Speaker 1: And that's how I was looking. 788 00:36:27,160 --> 00:36:31,920 Speaker 2: As I'm on the phone like say why not And 789 00:36:32,239 --> 00:36:34,160 Speaker 2: I was like m I was like, I don't. I 790 00:36:34,200 --> 00:36:34,719 Speaker 2: don't do that. 791 00:36:34,760 --> 00:36:36,480 Speaker 1: I don't do nudity, and he was like, no, it's 792 00:36:36,520 --> 00:36:36,840 Speaker 1: gonna be. 793 00:36:37,040 --> 00:36:40,160 Speaker 2: Then it went to even further, well you know, it 794 00:36:40,160 --> 00:36:42,319 Speaker 2: won't even be your breast, like we can like yeah, 795 00:36:42,320 --> 00:36:44,640 Speaker 2: that's exactly how they'll like, it'd be a I like, 796 00:36:44,680 --> 00:36:47,000 Speaker 2: it won't even be it won't even be you. And 797 00:36:47,040 --> 00:36:50,440 Speaker 2: I was like, no, we're not doing that. And the script, 798 00:36:50,640 --> 00:36:54,160 Speaker 2: the final script came out. The contract comes and I 799 00:36:54,200 --> 00:36:57,200 Speaker 2: see nudity in the contract and I'm like, my writer 800 00:36:57,320 --> 00:36:59,560 Speaker 2: says no nudity, like I only have certain things that 801 00:36:59,600 --> 00:37:03,560 Speaker 2: I'll show that I'm okay with. And so he's like, yeah, 802 00:37:03,520 --> 00:37:04,600 Speaker 2: I want to call you and go over the script 803 00:37:04,640 --> 00:37:06,600 Speaker 2: and I said yeah. So it was so funny he 804 00:37:06,680 --> 00:37:08,920 Speaker 2: cause and we're going over the script. He said yeah, 805 00:37:09,000 --> 00:37:11,120 Speaker 2: he was wren thing and I was like yeah, seene six. 806 00:37:12,520 --> 00:37:17,680 Speaker 2: Let's go on and get to that. Let him go 807 00:37:17,719 --> 00:37:20,759 Speaker 2: over heres, and it says in the nude. And I 808 00:37:20,880 --> 00:37:23,440 Speaker 2: was like, so this is what I will do and 809 00:37:23,480 --> 00:37:25,040 Speaker 2: what I want to do. And he was like, I 810 00:37:25,040 --> 00:37:27,239 Speaker 2: can work with that, but if you have to stay 811 00:37:27,280 --> 00:37:31,360 Speaker 2: in your ground, you know, because if not, you'll be 812 00:37:31,400 --> 00:37:33,799 Speaker 2: doing things that you'll look back and regret. Yeah, and 813 00:37:33,800 --> 00:37:35,000 Speaker 2: I don't want to look back and regret. 814 00:37:35,080 --> 00:37:39,200 Speaker 3: Can I just insert this story because this is really important. 815 00:37:39,640 --> 00:37:42,359 Speaker 3: I had a very dear friend in the industry who 816 00:37:42,880 --> 00:37:45,640 Speaker 3: got a huge break, like when we came out of college. 817 00:37:45,680 --> 00:37:49,600 Speaker 3: I mean, he got a huge break and said yes 818 00:37:49,640 --> 00:37:51,759 Speaker 3: to it. But there were a lot of things. There 819 00:37:51,760 --> 00:37:54,480 Speaker 3: were a lot of things in it that really compromised 820 00:37:54,520 --> 00:37:55,760 Speaker 3: his values and morals. 821 00:37:55,960 --> 00:37:58,880 Speaker 4: But he said yes to it and became a big star. 822 00:37:59,239 --> 00:38:02,120 Speaker 3: Big star was on the cover of buzzes and on 823 00:38:02,160 --> 00:38:05,560 Speaker 3: the cover of magazines, and on the cover of billboards. 824 00:38:04,960 --> 00:38:06,000 Speaker 4: And you know, all these things. 825 00:38:06,000 --> 00:38:09,520 Speaker 3: Became a big star, earned lots of money. But then 826 00:38:09,560 --> 00:38:13,759 Speaker 3: he became an alcoholic because it was very difficult for 827 00:38:13,920 --> 00:38:19,319 Speaker 3: him on the inside to grapple with what he was 828 00:38:19,400 --> 00:38:22,480 Speaker 3: doing every day. It was like the stardom and the 829 00:38:22,520 --> 00:38:26,279 Speaker 3: fanfare and the money was not enough to fill him 830 00:38:26,520 --> 00:38:31,000 Speaker 3: up compared to how he was giving his soul every day. 831 00:38:31,800 --> 00:38:35,759 Speaker 3: And unfortunately he's no longer with us. And so I 832 00:38:35,880 --> 00:38:38,799 Speaker 3: just want to say that as a cautionary tale. We 833 00:38:38,960 --> 00:38:42,879 Speaker 3: can think that the money, that the fame, that the 834 00:38:42,960 --> 00:38:46,520 Speaker 3: followers you know, are all just like, oh, that's what 835 00:38:46,640 --> 00:38:49,640 Speaker 3: life is about. And then you get there and it's 836 00:38:49,800 --> 00:38:53,920 Speaker 3: not enough. But if you know that you are rooted 837 00:38:53,960 --> 00:38:56,839 Speaker 3: and grounded and you are in the place where God 838 00:38:56,840 --> 00:38:59,480 Speaker 3: has called you to be, there's a sense of peace 839 00:38:59,719 --> 00:39:03,719 Speaker 3: that there the prosperity is coming. But you don't have 840 00:39:03,840 --> 00:39:07,480 Speaker 3: to compromise your peace for prosperity. You can have both. 841 00:39:08,000 --> 00:39:09,160 Speaker 1: You can really have both. 842 00:39:10,000 --> 00:39:13,719 Speaker 2: Eduena, I don't know what's left to say. 843 00:39:14,680 --> 00:39:17,560 Speaker 1: That was good. I've been blessed. 844 00:39:17,760 --> 00:39:19,879 Speaker 2: It's funny you said that because I just had tied 845 00:39:19,960 --> 00:39:21,799 Speaker 2: Trivin on and he was talking about when he got 846 00:39:21,800 --> 00:39:24,120 Speaker 2: his first two Grammys and he said he got back 847 00:39:24,120 --> 00:39:26,000 Speaker 2: to the room, he said, look about the box, and 848 00:39:26,040 --> 00:39:28,440 Speaker 2: it was just like it was a reminder of everything 849 00:39:28,440 --> 00:39:33,560 Speaker 2: he sacrificed, his family, children, time, and it was like 850 00:39:33,760 --> 00:39:34,480 Speaker 2: was it worth it? 851 00:39:34,840 --> 00:39:37,400 Speaker 1: And it didn't feel him the way he thought it would. 852 00:39:37,160 --> 00:39:42,319 Speaker 2: And that changed his mindset and perspective on how he 853 00:39:42,360 --> 00:39:43,600 Speaker 2: looked at it. And I said, yeah, and I said, 854 00:39:43,680 --> 00:39:45,600 Speaker 2: you wanted the next time because you weren't coveting it. 855 00:39:46,000 --> 00:39:46,640 Speaker 1: He got it again. 856 00:39:46,640 --> 00:39:50,240 Speaker 3: He wasn't even because he wasn't what he wasn't hitting. 857 00:39:50,640 --> 00:39:53,480 Speaker 3: He wasn't coveting. Did you see that biblical language? He 858 00:39:53,640 --> 00:39:57,239 Speaker 3: wasn't coveting it, and therefore the Lord gave him even 859 00:39:57,680 --> 00:39:58,440 Speaker 3: even more. 860 00:39:59,040 --> 00:40:01,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, but it's a real thing, like we think, like 861 00:40:01,160 --> 00:40:04,120 Speaker 2: the followers, like you said, the money, all these things 862 00:40:04,120 --> 00:40:07,400 Speaker 2: are gonna make us happy. And yes, you have upsense 863 00:40:07,440 --> 00:40:08,960 Speaker 2: of peace when you don't have to worry about how 864 00:40:08,960 --> 00:40:11,239 Speaker 2: you're gonna get your next meal. You know, it does 865 00:40:11,280 --> 00:40:14,080 Speaker 2: bring that, but it does not feel your soul, especially 866 00:40:14,120 --> 00:40:17,560 Speaker 2: when you're selling it. Honey, you just you ap preach 867 00:40:17,600 --> 00:40:19,960 Speaker 2: for me. Y'all, going and get the book. The world 868 00:40:20,040 --> 00:40:22,640 Speaker 2: is waiting because it is waiting for you. All right, 869 00:40:25,080 --> 00:40:26,879 Speaker 2: this is so good? Is there anything else you want 870 00:40:26,880 --> 00:40:27,560 Speaker 2: to share with us? 871 00:40:27,719 --> 00:40:27,839 Speaker 1: Is? 872 00:40:27,920 --> 00:40:28,239 Speaker 4: I would? 873 00:40:28,239 --> 00:40:30,319 Speaker 2: We would love to follow you or we can find 874 00:40:30,360 --> 00:40:32,280 Speaker 2: where we can we buy the book, all the things 875 00:40:32,400 --> 00:40:33,359 Speaker 2: we want to support you. 876 00:40:33,400 --> 00:40:38,040 Speaker 4: Thank you, thank you. So I know, right, so far 877 00:40:38,120 --> 00:40:39,080 Speaker 4: and so like. 878 00:40:39,640 --> 00:40:41,560 Speaker 3: Oh but I knew we were going to be this full, 879 00:40:41,600 --> 00:40:45,920 Speaker 3: And I do want to say to you, Crystal, because 880 00:40:45,920 --> 00:40:47,920 Speaker 3: I feel like you embody a lot of the things 881 00:40:47,920 --> 00:40:50,120 Speaker 3: that I'm talking about and that we're talking about in 882 00:40:50,160 --> 00:40:51,000 Speaker 3: this conversation. 883 00:40:51,800 --> 00:40:54,360 Speaker 4: You from the moment I met you, I feel like 884 00:40:54,400 --> 00:40:55,839 Speaker 4: you've had such a servants heart. 885 00:40:56,480 --> 00:40:59,080 Speaker 3: You've had such a servant's heart, You've had such a 886 00:40:59,160 --> 00:41:02,120 Speaker 3: humble heart, and it's been beautiful to see how God 887 00:41:02,160 --> 00:41:04,800 Speaker 3: has exalted you. Thank you, you know, and the fact 888 00:41:04,800 --> 00:41:06,759 Speaker 3: that you know it's not lost on me that you 889 00:41:06,840 --> 00:41:10,160 Speaker 3: started this interview saying I used to I used to 890 00:41:10,239 --> 00:41:14,120 Speaker 3: put on her shoes on if loving you is wrong, right, 891 00:41:14,200 --> 00:41:16,680 Speaker 3: And now you're an actress yourself, and now you have 892 00:41:16,800 --> 00:41:18,480 Speaker 3: this great platform and great career. 893 00:41:19,040 --> 00:41:19,239 Speaker 4: You know. 894 00:41:19,360 --> 00:41:22,160 Speaker 3: But but that just goes to show those when we 895 00:41:22,280 --> 00:41:26,200 Speaker 3: humble ourselves, we will be exalted. A lot of times 896 00:41:26,200 --> 00:41:27,759 Speaker 3: we think we have to exalt ourselves, we have to 897 00:41:27,800 --> 00:41:30,160 Speaker 3: exalt ourselves. We got to tell everybody about ourselves. We 898 00:41:30,200 --> 00:41:32,520 Speaker 3: got to make sure we put ourselves out there. 899 00:41:33,040 --> 00:41:37,240 Speaker 4: You know. But like you started your career serving. 900 00:41:36,960 --> 00:41:39,799 Speaker 1: Yeah, and I loved it and loved. 901 00:41:39,520 --> 00:41:41,480 Speaker 4: It because you have a gift of service. 902 00:41:41,880 --> 00:41:44,080 Speaker 3: And now even through the podcast and all the other 903 00:41:44,120 --> 00:41:47,279 Speaker 3: wonderful things that are happening. You're still serving it's but 904 00:41:47,320 --> 00:41:49,680 Speaker 3: it's now a greater level. So I just want to 905 00:41:49,760 --> 00:41:53,160 Speaker 3: express how proud I am of you who you are, 906 00:41:53,320 --> 00:41:55,720 Speaker 3: who you've become, but you are the same person. 907 00:41:55,880 --> 00:41:56,799 Speaker 1: Thank you so much. 908 00:41:56,920 --> 00:42:00,440 Speaker 2: Yes, I mean that, and you are to thank you 909 00:42:00,440 --> 00:42:02,480 Speaker 2: you as well, and you are still in Waena like, yes, 910 00:42:03,120 --> 00:42:04,160 Speaker 2: thank you so much. 911 00:42:04,600 --> 00:42:04,839 Speaker 4: Yeah. 912 00:42:04,880 --> 00:42:08,000 Speaker 3: For those of you who want to join the community, 913 00:42:08,120 --> 00:42:09,960 Speaker 3: the world is waiting for you. You can get the 914 00:42:09,960 --> 00:42:13,239 Speaker 3: book everywhere books are sold. You can also come on 915 00:42:13,320 --> 00:42:16,080 Speaker 3: over to the website The World is Waiting dot org. 916 00:42:16,360 --> 00:42:19,120 Speaker 3: We have the Dreamers Academy. You can also connect directly 917 00:42:19,200 --> 00:42:22,759 Speaker 3: in with me. You can also follow me on Instagram, 918 00:42:23,080 --> 00:42:29,360 Speaker 3: on Twitter or x on Instagram, on x TikTok at 919 00:42:29,760 --> 00:42:33,000 Speaker 3: Edwena Findley and on Facebook Atwena Finley Dickerson. 920 00:42:33,520 --> 00:42:34,440 Speaker 4: Come on the journey. 921 00:42:34,480 --> 00:42:37,400 Speaker 3: The world is waiting for you, and I cannot wait 922 00:42:37,480 --> 00:42:39,520 Speaker 3: to see what God is going to do in your 923 00:42:39,600 --> 00:42:41,520 Speaker 3: life by this time next year. 924 00:42:41,760 --> 00:42:43,040 Speaker 1: Thank you so much, Adwena. 925 00:42:43,360 --> 00:42:47,240 Speaker 2: I am proud of you and I'm just this is amazing. 926 00:42:47,239 --> 00:42:51,359 Speaker 2: This conversation has blessed me. I am fool Yeah, thank you. 927 00:42:51,440 --> 00:42:54,680 Speaker 2: I see everybody shaking their head behind the scenes is yeah. 928 00:42:55,160 --> 00:42:58,120 Speaker 1: Everybody's like, yes, this has been good. Thank you so much. 929 00:42:58,239 --> 00:43:01,080 Speaker 4: Welcome, Yes the counsitive sweetie. 930 00:43:01,160 --> 00:43:04,480 Speaker 1: Yes, the world is waiting for you. Get it now 931 00:43:05,360 --> 00:43:09,440 Speaker 1: because I'll say it so you're like, this is all 932 00:43:09,440 --> 00:43:11,360 Speaker 1: we gotta do. That video was like this is my 933 00:43:11,400 --> 00:43:13,520 Speaker 1: friend and Weena, she wrote a new book. You better 934 00:43:13,600 --> 00:43:17,279 Speaker 1: go get it. And then they be like, no time 935 00:43:17,320 --> 00:43:21,840 Speaker 1: about your book, Sonase, thank. 936 00:43:21,680 --> 00:43:24,880 Speaker 2: You so much for joining me for another conversation. Remember 937 00:43:25,239 --> 00:43:27,440 Speaker 2: you don't have to have a big platform to affect 938 00:43:27,440 --> 00:43:30,080 Speaker 2: the people around you. The world is waiting for you 939 00:43:30,719 --> 00:43:33,120 Speaker 2: until next time. He did positive sweeties,