Crystal

She's an NAACP-nominated producer, director, children's book author, and a podcast creator who's been steadily redefining what it means to move with ambition, grace, and grit in Hollywood.

We're talking about none other than Tika Sumter, a powerhouse talent who starred in a billion-dollar blockbuster like Sonic the Hedgehog 3, made her Sundance directorial debut with The Night Off, and is co-producing and starring in the new Amazon MGM rom-com in collaboration with Tyler Perry.

We're talking about none other than Tika Sumter, a powerhouse talent who starred in a billion-dollar blockbuster like Sonic the Hedgehog 3, made her Sundance directorial debut with The Night Off, and is co-producing and starring in the new Amazon MGM rom-com in collaboration with Tyler Perry.

Oh, and did we mention that she's also releasing her first children's book, I Got It From My Mama, and creating an animated podcast for kids. In today's episode, we're talking about storytelling, motherhood, ambition, and the creative fire that drives one of Hollywood's most inspiring voices. Get ready for this conversation, guys, because you do not want to miss it.

Oh, and did we mention that she's also releasing her first children's book, I Got It From My Mama, and creating an animated podcast for kids. In today's episode, we're talking about storytelling, motherhood, ambition, and the creative fire that drives one of Hollywood's most inspiring voices. Get ready for this conversation, guys, because you do not want to miss it.

Tika, thank you so much for coming.

Tika, thank you so much for coming.

You're like, when am I getting that call? Girl! You and Tyler both. I think I was getting a side eye from both of y'all for a while.

You're like, when am I getting that call? Girl! You and Tyler both. I think I was getting a side eye from both of y'all for a while.

Oh. And I still haven't been. You're like, why am I not on it?

Oh. And I still haven't been. You're like, why am I not on it?

And I want to have it right when I call certain people. Girl, that's right. Yes. And it's perfect. This is the perfect timing. Perfect. Yes.

And I want to have it right when I call certain people. Girl, that's right. Yes. And it's perfect. This is the perfect timing. Perfect. Yes.

You were so sweet to me.

You were so sweet to me.

No, drop that. Same thing. I was like, you are stunning. Thank you. And I remember that and how kind you were to me in that moment. And then fast forward like two years later, you booked Candace on Heaven Have Nots. And I walk up to you as I'm a PA at that time. This is like I just started. Yeah, I was a PA at the studio.

No, drop that. Same thing. I was like, you are stunning. Thank you. And I remember that and how kind you were to me in that moment. And then fast forward like two years later, you booked Candace on Heaven Have Nots. And I walk up to you as I'm a PA at that time. This is like I just started. Yeah, I was a PA at the studio.

And I remember walking up to you saying, hey, Tika, I don't know if you remember. And before I could even get it, it's like, Crystal, yes! Oh, my God, girl! I was like, because, you know, like, you're an extra. And, like, some people, like, you were a well-established actor at that time. So I was like.

And I remember walking up to you saying, hey, Tika, I don't know if you remember. And before I could even get it, it's like, Crystal, yes! Oh, my God, girl! I was like, because, you know, like, you're an extra. And, like, some people, like, you were a well-established actor at that time. So I was like.

Yeah, no, I started at the bottom. Now we here.