Keep it Positive, Sweetie

Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell, founder and lead pastor of 2819 Church and New York Times bestselling author of Contend: Standing Boldly for Biblical Truth While Winning the War Within, joins Crystal Renee Hayslett for a conversation that becomes much more than an interview. Philip and Crystal talk about why truth can initially feel extreme, the urgency behind his preaching,  and what it really means to suffer well. The conversation moves through singleness, marriage, holiness, ambition, influence, purpose, and the danger of allowing the things we pray for to become more important than the God who gave them to us.  And in one of the most personal moments of the season, the conversation turns toward Crystal’s own surrender, the responsibility that comes with influence, and a reminder Philip returns to throughout the episode: the fruit may be beautiful, but God is still the reward.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kirk Franklin has spent more than three decades changing the sound of gospel music, connecting with generations of listeners, and making choices that continue to push culture forward. But after 20 GRAMMY wins and a career most artists could only dream of, Kirk says he still approaches every record like he’s a new artist. In this episode, Crystal sits down with Kirk to talk about where that hunger comes from, knowing the difference between evolving and chasing relevance, and what he’s learned after more than 30 years of creating and leading. They also get into his new album I AM WHAT I AM, working with GloRilla again, writing about hope when life has shown you how hard things can get, and what success can make both easier—and more dangerous. This is a conversation about hunger, wisdom, and purpose—and what happens when you’ve already made history but still believe there’s more ahead.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chandler Moore has spent years helping people find language for faith, surrender, and worship. But in this season, he’s using that same voice to tell a much more personal story—one that includes treatment, recovery, and the parts of healing that don’t fit neatly into a testimony. In this episode, Crystal sits down with Chandler to talk about why he chose to share I Checked Into Rehab, what he thought honesty might cost him, and how getting healthy has reshaped the way he sees strength, surrender, and his relationship with God.  This is a conversation about truth, healing, and surrender—and what it looks like to choose yourself, trust God, and keep doing the work while the story is still being written.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two-time GRAMMY Award winner Lucky Daye joins Crystal Renee Hayslett for a conversation about freedom, emotional growth, creativity, and what comes after you’ve already proven that your gift works. With more than 2 billion global streams and a new album, ALOUD!, Lucky is entering one of his most expressive chapters yet. In this episode, he opens up about what living without permission means to him, how he knows when to trust his vision, and how vulnerability continues to shape the way he writes about love. He and Crystal also talk about staying focused when comparison is everywhere, resetting when things don’t go as planned, and what still feels exciting after the accolades. This is a conversation about freedom, self-awareness, vulnerability, and growth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lauren Speed-Hamilton’s love story may have started in a way the world watched unfold, but the life she’s built since then has required a different kind of faith, growth, and intention. In this episode, Crystal sits down with Lauren to talk about becoming a mother after years of waiting, making room for joy and grief at the same time, and what marriage looks like years after the cameras stop rolling. This is a conversation about love, identity, and answered prayers—and what it means to live fully inside the life you once hoped for.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dante Pride has built a life at the intersection of realness, music, ministry, marriage, and faith. In this episode, Crystal sits down with the artist and pastor to talk about what happens when visibility increases and why grace should never become permission to stay the same.  They get into growing alongside your spouse, protecting what matters as success grows, the tension between faith and fear, and what real transformation looks like when God is still working on you.  This is a conversation about grace and growth — and the courage to let God change you without losing who He called you to be.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Imani Ellis has built more than an event—she’s created a space where culture, creativity, and community can grow together. In this Season premiere episode, Crystal sits down with the CultureCon founder to talk about what it means to evolve something that’s already successful, how faith shapes the way she leads, and why building something meaningful should never cost you your identity. They get into the woman behind the work, the responsibility that comes with creating for a community, and how Imani is learning to make room for her own growth along the way. This is a conversation about culture, calling, and becoming, and the work of staying grounded while the vision keeps getting bigger.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the Season 12 finale of Keep It Positive, Sweetie, Crystal sits down with bestselling author, speaker, and faith leader Nona Jones for an honest conversation about what healing really looks like when forgiveness doesn’t immediately take the hurt away. Inspired by her new book, The Power of Petty Prayers, Nona opens up about trauma, rejection, betrayal, anger, boundaries, and the difference between saying you forgive and actually doing the deeper work of healing. This conversation is about faith without pretending, healing without rushing, and learning how to tell God the truth about what still hurts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special episode of Keep It Positive, Sweetie, Crystal turns the mic around and answers questions straight from the Sweeties. Nothing is off the table as she opens up about the woman she’s becoming, love, boundaries, and discernment. This episode is honest, fun, and a personal check-in about faith, growth, love, purpose, and becoming.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Keep It Positive, Sweetie, Crystal sits down with Grammy-nominated artist and songwriter Johnny Venus as he steps into a new chapter and gears up for his solo album release. Johnny opens up about what it feels like to carry the vision more personally, how his solo work is revealing new sides of his creativity, and what he’s learning about trusting his own taste. It’s a conversation about identity, creativity, purpose, and what happens when you give yourself room to follow your own voice.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.