October 30, 2025 • 46 mins
Not everyone lives up to the title “Sis.” On this episode of Levels to This, Sheryl Swoopes and Terrika Foster-Brasby get real about friendship—when to cherish it, when to check it, and when it’s time to move on. Gucci Mane’s recent revelations about fake friends who took advantage of him while he was ill inspire Sheryl and Terrika to consider their own experiences with loyalty, gossip, and boundaries. The duo breaks down how to know who’s really in your corner. Plus, they play a hilarious game of Keep, Reassign, or Terminate to test what different types of friends deserve. This one’s equal parts funny, honest, and maybe a little too relatable.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Levels to This is an iHeart women's sports production in
partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find
us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you
get your podcasts.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Hey, what's up, everybody, it's your girl, Therika Foster Bradsby.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
What's good y'all, it's your girl, Cheryl Swoops Hey.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
And this is the Levels to this podcast. This is
the show where we talk about the levels to the
ship that women go through. And we have a good
podcast for you guys today. We're really gonna have some
real talk today.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
But first Cheryl, y'all all the.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
And y'all negative woods girl, can't wait, can't wait, you know,
And the timing of it is so good, like I
need you, I need a friend in my life. I'm
so excited about afro Tech. This is the first time
that I actually will attend. I'm speaking on a panel
(01:08):
on Thursday. But listen, I'm so excited to be in
a different just a different space because you know me
and technology, and.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
I love this song.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Not my cup of tea, but I'm excited. Excited. I
get to see you, I get to see my oldest brother.
So my oldest brother he's a tech geek, so he's
his company brought him down so he'll be here all day.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
So, yes, yes it's James. I'm not have that. How
about that? You wait until I tell him that you're covering?
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Wait, now you know, James is my job. That might
be the one brother I love more than Brandon. That's
the one brother I tell Brandon.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Yeah, you do, I'm gonna tell her. I'm gonna tell him.
I'll make sure and I'll make sure.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Hell I listen to this episode, don't listen to Brandon. Yeah, Bran,
Brandon begets sensitive?
Speaker 3 (02:10):
What for real? For real?
Speaker 2 (02:14):
For real?
Speaker 3 (02:14):
You like that? Really? Really, James, James, don't be in
the streets with you like I do. James, don't be
outside with you for real? But no, that's what I
love that. I can't wait wait to see you. Yes,
it's gonna be same thing.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
It's gonna be a good time. Definitely make sure you
let me know what time is your session. I don't
know if it's open or not, but I will definitely
try to come any work is okay, it's open, facts all,
let me know.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
But yeah, hey, what are you doing in the eighth.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
So I'm I'm in Houston because I am a delegate
for the National Paneltic Council.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
Conference.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
So for those out there who are unaware of what
the n p a C is, it's the total counsel
of all of the nine historically black fraternities and sororities.
And so every two years they have a national conference.
And this year I was selected as the delegate from
my council in Hartford to represent at the Big at
(03:14):
the Big conference, and so this is my first time
going to this conference.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
And so I'm so excited.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
And I would say that I'm going alone, but see
what y'all don't know about the women of Sigmacameroe is
that we are never alone. So the moment that I
pop up, I know, I know, I know, I ain't
by myself.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
We're gonna show up the show. Yeah, what we do.
Is it always in Houston? It's not.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
It's in a different location every year or every conference.
Last conference, I believe it with Chicago, and so this
year it is in Houston.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
So I'm excited.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
It's gonna be from Thursday through which is today through Sunday.
So yeah, so I leave Sunday evening and my flight
leaves late on Sunday on purpose, even though I'm done
with the conference stuff. After church service, the church ends
at like eleven, But I could not leave after eleven
(04:12):
because see, I got a game on Sunday at one
o'clock in the afternoon, and I can't be in nobody's
air on nobody's airplane when my game was on. I
got to be you see my coach. I got to
be able to see my team. We the best team
in football. So I booked my flight after the football
game went off.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
Wow, priorities, I love it. But listen, you'll be proud
of me. I'm trying to be better when it comes
to your doll. I'm I'm actually going to the Texans
game on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
Look at your new game.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
Well, I got my CJ Stroud Jersey, I got my
textee year. I'm gonna be in that than tee. I'm learning,
I'm learning.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
I am so proud of you, Suiryl.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
And because I'm so proud of you, I'm not gonna
talk shit about the team.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
I'm gonna just be like, have a good time. I'm
gonna have a good time, don't talk shit.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
About I'm gonna talk ship.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
I'm wait until I'm gonna wait until the end because
you know.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
What a good friend wait to the end because we're
gonna win anyway.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
Good luck with that. Congratulations, congratulations.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
Friends be sometimes I am.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
It is what it is. That's what that's what that's
what friends do. That is what friends do.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
But you know what happened when friends don't be acting
like they got no sense?
Speaker 3 (05:39):
It may be time for you to revalu wait some friendships.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
And that's exactly what we're gonna talk about today, is
exactly when is the time for you to reevaluate your
friendships because some friends, some friends are here for season.
Some friends are here for a reason. So you gotta
you gotta know when it's time to do some friendship audits.
(06:03):
And that's that's what we're gonna talk about today. So
let's just go ahead and take this thing to the
next level, all right, So we are going ahead and
(06:24):
take this conversation to the next level because I want
to tell the people exactly what made me think about
this subject. So it's been popular over the last week
or so that rapper Gucci Maine has come forward with
his new book called Episodes, and he's talking about being schizophrenic,
(06:45):
being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and all the things that
he's gone through over the last many years. And one
interview that I saw was on the Breakfast Club. He
was talking to Charlamagne and he was talking about friendships,
and he specifically spoke about how when he was going
(07:07):
through one of his episodes, one of the things that
he used to do is that he used to give
away stuff. He used to give away his jewelry, he
used to give away money. He used to like just
and mind you this Gucci. We talked about Gucci, jewelry.
Ain't like no look quick two three dollars like this
is a song called Jewelry, a couple of commas in it.
(07:29):
It's a few commas in them. I just want to
know what I'm saying exactly. And he was saying, I
gave away stuff, and these people knew that I was
not well and that I was not in my right headspace,
and yet they were still taking my stuff and they
were still accepting it, and they were basically taking advantage
(07:50):
of me.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
And I needed to find new friends.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
And it led me to think about today's topic, which is,
at what point in time do we need to do
a friend audit, Like, at what point do we need
to look and think maybe it's time to just like
evaluate who we actually consider to be friends, Like we
(08:13):
just need to do a temperature check. So sure, first
thing I want to ask you is have you ever
done have you ever done.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
A friend audit?
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Like, have you ever actually sat back and thought about
evaluating your circle?
Speaker 1 (08:28):
Oh wait, it's gonna be a good conversation because here's
the thing.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
Here's the thing. I don't have a lot of friends.
I have associates mm hmmm.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
And the people that I consider friends are really really
really true friends. Like that's probably on one hand one hand,
But it's so funny that you asked that, because not
too long ago I have to just kind of separate
(09:03):
like cut ties with someone that I you know what, now.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
That I think about it, she wasn't even a friend.
She was an associate.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
She was an associate, although I would call her CIS
and things like that, which is a whole nother conversation
because to me, everybody ain't just this. Everybody don't deserve
to be called fis. But this particular one, I was like, Yeah,
that's my cist. But come to find out, no, no.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
No, you were just an associate.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
And the reason why I know that she really wasn't
a friend is because when I did it like, it
didn't hurt, it didn't bother me. I ain't skipped a beat,
I ain't missedbeat, and clearly she didn't either. But it's
really good when you say we need to do a
friend audit, because I don't think we do that enough
(09:58):
because so many times we'll look at it and say, yeah, we.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
Grew up together. Girl, I've known you. We've known each
other since we were ten.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
But when you're ten and now you're fifty four, so
much shit changes within that time. So the things we
had in common are liked to do or that we
thought made us friends at the age of ten, now
what they have to do with right now, like what
(10:27):
they got to do with right now.
Speaker 3 (10:29):
And yes, that's exactly what I'm talking about. And like.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
When I say like, so for me, when I say
a friend audit, I'm not even necessarily saying like I'm
trying to cut you off, but I am saying like
I need to evalue, Yeah, I need to evaluate, like
what level of friendship are we really on? Are we
like really friends? Are we like sisters. Are we just
(10:57):
sore roars? Are we just I know you? Like we
have acquaintances in the same circle, Like maybe you're somebody
who I held in the regard as like a friend
and I have really need.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
To just demote your level.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
So I'm not saying we still can't be cool, but
like maybe we just aren't or should never be as
close as I thought we once were. Like there's so
many different ways that we have to do that, and
we have to do it without feeling guilty, because that's
the other thing.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
That's the other thing, Like you just mentioned because.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
You've been friends for so long or I've known you
for so long, we have because women women are loyal.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
Most of us are.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
Yeah, yeah, most of us are loyal, and out of
the loyalty that we have, we will try to remain friends.
And I'm using air quotes with someone because we've been
cool for twenty years, so out of loyalty, I feel
like I still got to invite you to my birthday party.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
Yeah, I still got to ask.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
You, do you want to come to the thanksgiving to
the friends?
Speaker 3 (12:00):
I still got to say.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
You know, make sure you include when the reality is
I don't really rock with you like I used to,
Why I still gotta do this?
Speaker 3 (12:08):
And you shouldn't you really shouldn't, you know, tee.
Speaker 1 (12:11):
When I think about a friend, like, to me, a
real true friend that's not necessarily somebody that you talk
to every day.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
That part.
Speaker 1 (12:22):
But I know that if I pick up the phone,
I text you, I call you, we can go years
without seeing each other or maybe even without talking. But
I know that as soon as I pick up the
phone and I call you, you were going to answer,
You're gonna respond, And that to me is like what
(12:42):
a true friend is. Yeah, And just like you said,
why do we feel guilty when we're like, you know what,
I'll rock with a bitch like that. It's like, but
I've known her for so long, I have to invite,
you know what, not just her, him too, I have
to invite them.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
But here's the one that gets me. All right, I'm
gonna use you and I as.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
An example, because so many times when you use other people,
they'd be like she was talking about me.
Speaker 3 (13:11):
I don't even know you like that. So I'll use
you and I.
Speaker 1 (13:15):
You and I friends, and you happen to go to
a game, to a party, you you in some environment
that I'm not in, and you happen to be friends
or at least you know people there right that are like, yeah,
that be Cheryl.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
I can't stand her. Got all the things to say
about me behind my back.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
Now you as my homegirl, my sister, my sorer, my
all those things, ain't my friend?
Speaker 3 (13:51):
Do you address that or do you just stand in
it and either not your head whatever whatever, or just
let it go? How do you handle that?
Speaker 2 (14:03):
That's a very good question, Cheryl, and I feel like
you may already know how to Rika would handle that
the purpose, but for the purposes of this conversation, you know,
for the scenario, I will address it like this. I
think you should always say to that person, if that
(14:24):
person is your friend, Hey, listen, you can feel.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
How you want to feel about Cheryl.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
You can have whatever opinion you want to have about Cheryl.
But I'm gonna need you to save that shit for
when I'm around. That's how I would handle it, too,
because I can't sit here and let how you feel
about Cheryl ain't got nothing to do with me.
Speaker 3 (14:44):
But you ain't about to sit here and talk about
my girl in my face.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
Yeah, So I'm gonna need you to take that shit
elsewhere or reserve that shit for another group. But here's
the thing, t Rika, they already know, don't even bring
that shit up when I'm around, Like, that's my thing.
Y'all already know. If y'all gonna talk shit about Shiryl,
y'all ain't gonna do it. When so Rica walk in
(15:08):
the room, y'all gonna do that. No, I don't even
say that ship. That's the one when they bumping, they
kicking their homegirl because they homegirl say something up.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
Them.
Speaker 1 (15:20):
Yeah, I'm using you and I as an example because I, yes,
I know how you're gonna respond. I think you know
how I'm gonna respond. But the problem is there's not
enough of us to do that. And if you if
you call me your real truth, if we're really truly friends,
you're not gonna let that happen.
Speaker 3 (15:41):
You Listen.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
I've been in rooms before where a situation like that
has happened, and I address it, and then I kindly
excuse myself cause if you're doing it to her, you're
probably gonna do it to me too.
Speaker 3 (15:56):
But you really have done it to me, and it's
just better for me to like remove myself from that situation.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
I don't even understand how people can feel comfortable. Like
That's when I start to draw questions because when you
come back to me and say such and such said this,
that and a third about you, my question then becomes
why did they feel so comfortable to have that conversation
in front of you? Either you have allowed that kind
of conversation to happen previously, or you have participated in
(16:26):
this conversation in some way that they cool with coming
to you with that. I ain't never finna be like that,
Like you're never going to be able to talk shit
about my friends in front of me, because I'm checking
at sharing immediately, just immediately he Hey, that's my girl.
Speaker 3 (16:40):
Cut that out.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
And I'm not even necessarily coming off rude about it,
like I'm in a laugh and manner, but you know,
I'm for real where I'm like, hey, listen, y'all, y'all
ain't don't do that right now, don't do that. That's
my girl. Don't do that, y'all. Do take that over
there or wait till I leave. But and if you continue,
then like we really need to have a one on
one because is like for real, like not even joking
(17:01):
but like, I can't be in a situation where you
are dogging somebody that I'm cool with like that, because
that makes me feel fake, disrespecting me to right, right, right,
And so I look at and for those who didn't
hear the interview, because I know it was, it was
a long interview with Gucci man and.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
What's his wife's name.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
Yeah, First of all, shout out to her, yes, for
holding it down and basically for saying, listen, I'm not
I'm not about as your wife. I'm not about to
allow you to put yourself in certain situations when you
are sick, right when you're.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
Not who you are.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
But back to your point when you said that about listen,
if you are really truly this man's friend, then you
should know his condition, right, and you should know when
then he's sick or when he's having an episode, when
he's going through something. We're not medical professionals, but as
(18:07):
a as a friend, and if he came to you
and said, here, bro, take my million dollar.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
Necklace, why would you do that?
Speaker 2 (18:19):
That wouldn't be a sign in your head that's something
ain't right now.
Speaker 1 (18:22):
Because first of all, if I'm your friend, I'm gonna
go I'm gonna just go buy you your own if
I'm trying to give you something.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
That part, But like, at what point.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
Did you did you say, let me let me call
Keisha or let let let me let me figure out something,
because I know, I know this is my homeboy, and
I know he's having an episode or he going.
Speaker 3 (18:45):
Through something right now.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
Even if you don't know that he has schizophredio, or
if you didn't know that he was bipolar or whatever, like,
even if you didn't know his condition, something about that
ain't said right with you. Great to just be like this,
ain't even really in his mannerisms to act like that
like something is up, you ain't think one time.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
And when you said that sometimes we have to do
a friend on it. That's why he said. You know,
when I went to jail and came back, I had
to get rid of it. I had to give me
some new friends. I had to cut them off, to
cut them off. But you would probably know better than
me because I don't.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
I don't have the same type of celebrity that you do,
and so I can only imagine how many people over
the years have gravitated to you or have tried to
be cool with you, or have maybe expressed a level
of friendship to other people that they have with you
that they really don't have just because of who you are,
(19:45):
to take advantage of your name, to take advantage of
your star power. Because that's the other thing too, It's
not even always about like a monetary value. It's I know,
if I'm cool with Chryl swoops, I'm gonna get, I'm
gonna get, I'm gonna get, I'm gonna be out, sign out.
Speaker 3 (20:00):
It is right.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
How do you or how have you been able to
spot like those people who like, really you really know
that they really only trying to be around because of
how we can benefit them tee.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
That that's what's so hard, because you notice I started
off the conversation by saying I don't have a lot
of friends, and that is by choice, right. But there's
the other side of that, though, is it it's actually
not not disappointing, but like sometimes it's it is lonely
(20:37):
because I'm like, I don't know why you really want
to be my friend. What's your My first thought is
what's your motive?
Speaker 3 (20:43):
What you're trying to make us?
Speaker 4 (20:45):
Right?
Speaker 3 (20:46):
And a lot of times it's genuine I I have.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
But as I've gotten older, I'm just like, listen, I
ain't really trying to make no new friends.
Speaker 3 (20:56):
I don't need no new friends new friends anyway.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
But it was really hard when I was younger and
I was playing because everywhere you go, you know, like
trying to tell the difference between a fan and a friend. Yeah,
you get you can be both, right, Like you could
be my friend and be and be a fan. But
I know, I know the difference, and I know when
it's real and I know when it's genuine. So like
(21:22):
back when I was younger and like at the height
of my career, just having just random people show up
and coming out. And that's not just friends, that's even
family or people who claim to be family.
Speaker 3 (21:33):
Okay, so that's a different that's a different story.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
But just the reason why I don't have a lot
of friends is by choice, because I'm like listen, I
don't have the energy or the time to try to
figure out your why, right, Like why do you want
to be my friend?
Speaker 3 (21:51):
Why do you want to be here? What are you
looking for? So it's it's hard.
Speaker 1 (21:57):
And so when I sat there and I listen to
the interview, like part of me like my heart just
hurt for him, because you're already dealing with enough with
your your schizophrenia and being bipolar, that the last thing
you need is to try to worry about or figure out.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
Like who is my real friend? Who really my real friends? Yeah?
Yeah yeah.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
And to add to that is sometimes when you have
a certain level of power, you don't really want everybody
to know your business like that anyway.
Speaker 3 (22:41):
So we have a tendency of.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Divulging only certain information, even to some of my closest friends.
Like I have friends who I know I can tell
anything to, and I just like and I just know it.
And then I have other people who I'm cool with,
and I will tell you some things in my business,
but I can't tell you everything and my business, you
know what I mean. I can't tell you like I
can't tell you every everything, right, And it makes you wonder,
(23:06):
like even if I didn't necessarily know that this is
everything that was going on, there's still a level of
what he was going through that you should have been
able to observe if you were really there for the friendship,
if you are really there to be like to hold
it down for your boy, Like and I've heard this
before from people who have said this about me, like
(23:28):
te we always knew you might, you know what I'm saying,
Like if anybody about the hood, if anybody leaving Detroit
like Finna be something, we always knew it was gonna
be you, so we you know, make sure that like
we don't let people speak bad on your name. We
don't let people like they made sure that like they
held me down in the best way that they could
from what they were able to do, and that is
(23:48):
always appreciated and respected without knowing anything that I was
going through, they were able to be like listen, like
we wan't going to let nobody come at you crazy
wanting to let like even now I have friends home,
when I get angry and I put something out there
and I'll be like, fuck these bitches they blah blah
blah blah. Then be in my inbox like I know
we don't talk like that, but you got way too
much going to let these people get up fund of
(24:12):
your skin. Delete that syst like you don't want nobody
to come at you. And I respect that because that
to me lets me know like you really trying to
make sure that I'm good without even really knowing anything.
But but you got those people who really don't quite
see the bigger picture. They only see what you can
do for them, and so they will be like, oh,
(24:33):
me and Arrica go way back. No bitch me, and
you just kind of went to the same elementary school.
Speaker 3 (24:38):
That's it. And because we went to the same school,
don't make us friends. I don't even know you. I
don't even know you. I got people home with the
college might be like, yeah, girl turned up, and I'll
be like, girl, you didn't even talk to me at college.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
You walked right by me in the cafeteria when I
didn't get the start on the softball team and I
was on the bench.
Speaker 3 (24:59):
You act like you ain't you know me? Like I
wasn't on the team. This now all of a sudden,
you know me. Imagine that. Stop it imagic, stop it.
I like, stop it. I don't know. I just had
someone say to me the other day.
Speaker 1 (25:16):
They were like, well, speaking of friends and friendship, they
were just like, I haven't heard from her in like
a month, so she must not be my friend. And
my response though, was, first of all, have you reached
out to her right like? You don't know what your
friend is?
Speaker 3 (25:35):
Going through because so many times.
Speaker 1 (25:38):
And I read this other day too, and it just
said check on your strong friends sometimes, because your strong
friends are the ones that are always checking on you.
Speaker 3 (25:45):
But then I said to her, I said, is this
like normal? Is it abnormal? Do y'all typically talk every
day or once a week or what?
Speaker 1 (25:55):
And she was like no, I just having her from her,
I said, well, then you probably should. If you're that concerned,
you probably should check on her, right. And So the
reason why I say that is because again, some of
my closest dearest friends, we may not talk for four
(26:17):
or five months.
Speaker 3 (26:18):
Yeah, but I know you a real one. I know
you go hold me down.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
I know that you know where our friendship stands, right,
and we don't have to talk every single day for
me to let you know that or for you to
let me know that. And the same thing with you was,
you know, like when it comes to social media and
things like that, and this is from random people that
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (26:40):
So I'm will take this opportunity.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
Right now to say to all of y'all who hold
me down on social media when they be coming for
your girl, right, y'all got to know how much that
means to me how much I appreciate it because you
don't have to do it. Yeah, those are some real
ones out there in the crazy world of social media,
and and it doesn't go unnoticed. Like I really truly
(27:03):
appreciate that. So just like for my handful of friends
that I have, they do the same thing. They like, girl,
if you don't get off of social media, and we
got it, let let us handle it you fun.
Speaker 3 (27:15):
We got you. Yes, yes, yes, yes. We call those
our social goons. I have some social goons, Like they.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
Just they got time, They got time to hold it
down for you. They like, don't you mess up your bag?
Speaker 3 (27:29):
Don't you don't you do it? We got you.
Speaker 2 (27:31):
So listen, what we're gonna do real quick is take
a very short break, and when we come back on
the other side of the break, I'm gonna play a
game with Cheryl.
Speaker 3 (27:38):
I'm gonna play a little game.
Speaker 2 (27:39):
It's gonna be fun. We're gonna play a little game.
Stay stay tuned, all right, everybody. So we're about to
play a quick little game.
Speaker 3 (27:55):
And this game is called keep, reassign, or terminate.
Speaker 2 (28:01):
He reassign kind of like start bench cut, like start
bench cut, keep yep, reassign a sign or.
Speaker 3 (28:11):
Terminate or terminate. Okay, I'm gonna throw out some.
Speaker 2 (28:15):
Scenario and you let me know if your friend in
this scenario, let me know what you're doing with her?
Speaker 3 (28:24):
Okay, are you key resigned? Reassign her?
Speaker 2 (28:28):
So reassign is like, maybe you ain't my friend, maybe
you're just an associate.
Speaker 1 (28:31):
Maybe, and then's terminating is na, she gotta go? I
got you, gotta keeping terminating. I got you, now, reassign,
I understand. All right, let's go.
Speaker 3 (28:41):
Okay, let's go. All right, all right?
Speaker 2 (28:42):
Are you gonna tell me what you're doing too? Yeah,
I'm gonna tell you what I'm yeah, yeah, yeah, okay, okay.
Brand number one frand number one is this friend who
will text you and be like, Sheryl, I am so
proud of you.
Speaker 3 (28:55):
You're doing amazing. She will tell you when she sees
you on the side or pulls you to the.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
Side and says, Cheryl, I love everything you're doing. You're awesome.
But will never publicly share your stuff, will never publicly
comment on your stuff. She will never publicly give you
your give you your flowers. She always cheers.
Speaker 3 (29:17):
You on in the what you're doing with her. Resign
or terminate. I think I'm gonna have to reassign.
Speaker 1 (29:31):
Because because you because because you've got some good stuff
about you. But I but the fact that you don't
ever do none of this stuff publicly. I need to
reevaluate our relationship.
Speaker 3 (29:46):
I don't reassign you for now.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
For now, we don't assign that we are on the
same I'm reassigning because clearly we cool something about something
ain't right that you can't You can't show me this
love in public way.
Speaker 3 (30:00):
One.
Speaker 1 (30:00):
She's the one that I'm like, hmm, when you up
in these rooms, are they talking bad about me?
Speaker 3 (30:05):
What you're doing? What you're doing?
Speaker 2 (30:08):
See what I'm saying, Like, you can't publicly say nothing,
but you can do that. Let meet something right, So
let's just read we're gonna reassign her. Okay, all right,
friend number two, Okay, this friend always expects grace, bitch, bye,
don't know, but don't never you finished, bye bye. This
(30:35):
friend always wants grace. Okay, always want to excuse, always
got an excuse. Something happened, some came up, I didn't whatever.
But when it's time for her to apologize for some
ship she didne did.
Speaker 3 (30:49):
Then said whatnot. Whatever. She never can she never got never,
never got it for you do what you're doing with her?
I said, bitch.
Speaker 5 (30:57):
Bye, There is no listen. She is terminated. Terminate her
and there is no I'll to be back.
Speaker 1 (31:10):
No, man, you got to go because how are you
always expecting grace?
Speaker 2 (31:16):
But you can't give none, can't give none? Okay, all right,
I got two more, friend number friend number three. Friend
number three.
Speaker 3 (31:27):
Is genuinely proud of you. Okay.
Speaker 2 (31:29):
Friend number three definitely likes seeing what you got going on.
But friend number three.
Speaker 1 (31:36):
Also feels like she needs to have the same So
it's like a competition all the time.
Speaker 2 (31:43):
You get into the club, she gotta get into the
club too. You got VP status. Let her find out
somebody who give her vp P status.
Speaker 3 (31:50):
You win an Emmy.
Speaker 2 (31:52):
She wants an oscar. Like what we're doing with this
friend because there are no plans out there. That feels
like one hundred is a competition.
Speaker 3 (32:06):
Oh this one. I'm gonna tell you what I'm gonna
do with her.
Speaker 1 (32:11):
Tell me.
Speaker 2 (32:13):
I I might keep her because all she gonna do,
and this is petty me. All she gonna do is
motivate me to be better. Ah, Okay, okay, okay, okay,
that's all she gonna do.
Speaker 3 (32:27):
Now, that's what you won't because because she always because she.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
Genuinely is happy, because she genuinely is happy for you.
So it's not like the fake happy. It's the I'm
happy for you, but I want what you won't. And
it's like, can you just be happy for me?
Speaker 3 (32:43):
And like like let that be it.
Speaker 2 (32:45):
But since you want to be happy for me and
won't what I won't, then cool sis challenge You're gonna
challenge me to be better every single time?
Speaker 1 (32:52):
Okay, I see that, but I think like I'm not
gonna terminate her for that reason, right, like if she
the one is gonna always keep me and to see,
I don't.
Speaker 3 (33:04):
Even want to resign.
Speaker 1 (33:11):
I need I need to like put a pause, right
Like I don't want to reassign her, but I need
to put a pause on her and I need to
watch her a little bit.
Speaker 3 (33:23):
Yeah you know what I mean?
Speaker 1 (33:26):
I do, I do, I get So I ain't got
time for that for you to be oh yeah you
want to bring me girl, but I'm about to go
get this ego feel me.
Speaker 3 (33:37):
It's like, why is everything always I don't have to
compete with you. I don't want to do that. I
don't want to do that. I don't want to compete
with you. It's crazy.
Speaker 2 (33:45):
Is I actually have a friend like this where it's
like I actually have a friend like that, love her down,
but it's just like everything in the competition says And
maybe maybe they don't see it like they're trying to compete,
but it's just little things, sugar work.
Speaker 3 (34:00):
They see that, they see that, and I'm just like,
what we doing, Like what we're doing?
Speaker 1 (34:06):
I have those people too, right where it's even if
you talk about, oh my god, girl, I want on
this vacation and it was great and da da da,
and then she don't come back.
Speaker 4 (34:18):
With girl, I went to so and so five years ago,
and let me take it. I'm like, dang, but you're
just like, hey, that was my vacation right.
Speaker 3 (34:30):
Five years ago. Like you always gotta get up me. Yeah,
you know what I'm saying, understand, I don't have time
for that.
Speaker 2 (34:39):
See, it's like I don't want to get rid of
you because I'm not saying you're a bad friend.
Speaker 3 (34:44):
It's just you gotta you gotta cut that out. You
know what I'm saying. You gotta cut that out. That's
why I said I don't want to I don't want
to keep reassigned to terminate. I want to put a pause.
Speaker 1 (34:53):
Because like what's gonna happen at some point is almost
say enough is enough, and then we gonna butt here
and then it's gonna be terminated.
Speaker 3 (35:02):
Yeah, yeah, okay, the last scenario though, hy it's the
last one. This is the last friend. This friend.
Speaker 2 (35:14):
Calls you, hangs out with you, supports you like you know,
this suld you in your mind, this is your road
dof and then this one thing happens to you. Could
be lost, a job could be lost, a parent, could
be break up with your whatever. But this one thing
(35:38):
happened to you and you really needed her, and she
ghosted you.
Speaker 3 (35:44):
Now you don't know why.
Speaker 2 (35:46):
Could just could be something was going on in her life.
Could be maybe she don't handle things, what could be anything.
But all you know is when you needed her most,
she wasn't here for you cheap reassign or terminate.
Speaker 1 (36:02):
No, I'm keeping her. I'm keeping her because of all
the things you said. One if I already know what
our relationship is, even though I'm going through this horrific
time and I really need you. I know that there's
got to be a really good reason why you didn't
(36:25):
reach out to me. Yeah, So what I'm going to do,
after I've had time to deal with whatever this is
I went through, I'm going to reach out because I
need to know if you're okay right now, I'm gonna
keep it. And mind you, I don't have to many
friends anyway, I just people. I can't just be letting
(36:53):
these all.
Speaker 2 (36:55):
I could rid of her.
Speaker 3 (36:56):
I'm down the boat. Yeah no, no, no, no, no
out And based off of all the things you said, now,
she she my road doll. She my road doll. I'm
gonna keep her. See, I'm with you on that one.
Speaker 2 (37:07):
I'm with you on that one where it's like, if
you're not here what I need you the most, it's
gotta be a reason. And everybody doesn't handle everything the same.
So like it's cool, like I'm not I'm not gonna,
I'm not gonna. I'm not gonna terminate a friend over
something like that, you know what I'm saying, Like not
not something like that. And if I really feel that
(37:28):
bad about it, like if it's really.
Speaker 3 (37:30):
Bothering me that you weren't here, for me during that moment.
Speaker 2 (37:34):
We're cool enough for me to be like, let's have
a conversation because I really felt like I needed you
and you weren't here, you know.
Speaker 3 (37:39):
What I mean.
Speaker 1 (37:40):
And I was like, no friendships are about that's what exact.
It's okay for me to be upset with you, you
upset with me. We have a conversation. We talk about it,
because that's what I would do. I'd be like, listen, I.
Speaker 3 (37:50):
Don't know what you had going on, d but I
went through this, and you know how much I really
needed you. You on there, bitch? Why right? Why exactly?
And it is what it is like we keep it.
Speaker 2 (38:02):
I'm sure it will keep it moving. So last thing
that I will say is, I know, Keith, friends keep friends.
Speaker 3 (38:12):
Sign and terminade. You have to figure out what you're
gonna do. So listen. I know earlier you was on
your Drake mode talking about ain't no new friends, but
no new friends.
Speaker 2 (38:27):
But I will say that over the course of the
last five or six years, I maybe have gained some
new some new people that like I really care about
that we have built a relationship, and I don't know
if I would say like we are friends and even
some who I've known, and and something has happened that
(38:49):
has caused us to become closer than we were because
I've got a few friends, I'll say friends.
Speaker 3 (38:54):
I have few friends. Well, I've known for about ten
years now.
Speaker 2 (38:57):
And in the beginning, we weren't really that like we
were just high and by or smile when we see
each other in public.
Speaker 3 (39:02):
But that's cool.
Speaker 2 (39:03):
But something happened where maybe we were at an event together,
or maybe we were out of town together for something,
and I got to know them, like whether I wanted
to or not, I kind of was forced to and
we built a relationship. And so I say all this
to say, if in twenty twenty five, somebody wanted to
(39:24):
be friends with you or me, whoever, do you have
a criteria?
Speaker 3 (39:31):
Like are there are there.
Speaker 2 (39:32):
Things that someone has to bring to the table, the
energy that they got to have for you for me
to even consider it?
Speaker 3 (39:40):
Like what, like what what you got to bring for
me to even consider us being friends? Suyl said, not shit, nothing.
Speaker 1 (39:49):
I just I'm very easy going, laid back, like I
if I'm if you and I are going to be friends,
like I just want somebody that we can said, we
can chat we can talk about shit.
Speaker 3 (40:03):
I ain't judging you, you ain't judging me. Don't bring
no drama like I got enough of that. I got
enough of that.
Speaker 1 (40:08):
But I'm gonna say this and I'm gonna be real
and take it out. You want to take it, I don't.
I don't need rich friends, but I need somebody who
can pay for my meal sometimes instead of me always
being the one saying I got it, Like I'm really
(40:32):
not trying to be any type of way.
Speaker 2 (40:34):
But.
Speaker 3 (40:36):
For real, yeah, yeah, because you one time when we go.
Speaker 1 (40:41):
Out to eat, I can't be the one that's always
talking about giving me the check, bring me to chit,
and nobody says.
Speaker 3 (40:47):
No, I got it this time.
Speaker 1 (40:51):
Yeah, Like treat me sometimes because I'm always I'm gonna
always treat.
Speaker 3 (40:55):
You when I can. I'm gonna be like, it's on me,
I got it, So how about you got it this time?
Speaker 2 (41:02):
I respect that one hundred percent because there is definitely
a perception that like it always has to be on
the person at the table who makes the most. No, but.
Speaker 3 (41:15):
What a sister going through might be.
Speaker 1 (41:18):
This might be a bad month for me right right,
and I might need five six drinks on you on
you on you.
Speaker 3 (41:28):
First of all, this don't come if you can't afford
what we're doing anyway.
Speaker 2 (41:33):
But no, I feel I feel that and I respect
that one because I am I am too one of
those people. That's like, listen, the energy you got to
bring to me is authenticity to like, don't be who
you think I want you to be or who you
think you need to be in order to be in
a circle, because I can spot a fake and I
(41:53):
don't like it. You know what I mean, I'm no
how she get down, none know how she is for real?
That don't work with me, right, And so I need
you to bring honest Steve. I need you to bring
like be be you be who you authentically are. And
if we vibe, we vibe. If we don't, that's cool.
If this is just that we hung out this one time,
(42:15):
that's cool. But like for me to continually see you
and want to kick it with you and want to
like build a relationship, if that's what we're gonna call it, Like,
you just gotta be yourself and and that's just it's
it's a difficult thing, but you just got to normalize
showing up.
Speaker 3 (42:30):
Who you are. That's it. Just it is what it is,
is what it is.
Speaker 2 (42:34):
So I got a challenge to all of our listeners
to this episode, do a friend audit, Like, do a
friend audit. And when you do a friend audit, I
need you to go on our Instagram and give a
shout out to the person who made the cut. You
know what, she'd been my best friend for thirty years
(42:55):
and we've been cool, and she hold it down for me,
shut off the stuff. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (42:58):
I like like, I like them, Tell them like, do
all that, let them know that you appreciate them. So,
especially especially in the climate we're living in right now,
it's nice to hear. It's nice to hear.
Speaker 1 (43:12):
Yes, listen, you made the cut. No, but I appreciate you,
like I appreciate you for holding it down.
Speaker 3 (43:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (43:20):
I like that.
Speaker 3 (43:21):
Yes, you made the cut.
Speaker 2 (43:23):
So when we come back, we are gonna go ahead
and level this thing out. We will be back, all right, y'all.
So I love our conversation today talking about friendship holding
(43:46):
it down. Absolutely love it. I have a friend in Cheryl.
Cheryl is such an awesome friend, y'all. She's my friend,
she's my sores. Oh oh, and Founder's Day is coming up,
So if y'all like the show y'all folks from as
she roll Love for November twelfth.
Speaker 3 (44:02):
It's happening.
Speaker 2 (44:03):
But I just wanted to show y'all that I went
to the meal one time and I got this package and.
Speaker 3 (44:09):
I was like, who is that's from?
Speaker 2 (44:12):
And it was from my sis Chiryl with these affirmation
crayons and they say beautiful, brilliant, brave, and bold, and
I thought that these were so amazing, and I just
wanted to say thank you for being my friend, for
being my sister, and for always finding ways to lift
(44:33):
up my spirit.
Speaker 3 (44:33):
So I appreciate that right back, as Sis, I love you,
so call you you were.
Speaker 2 (44:38):
Real because you because because I'm one of the ones.
Speaker 3 (44:40):
That social media like, I'm gonna need you, needs you
to back that comment.
Speaker 2 (44:45):
You are real.
Speaker 3 (44:46):
You really holds it down, hold it down anyway. So yeah,
go ahead and level us one to.
Speaker 1 (44:54):
Listen talking about friends, it's all almost this says so good,
so good. A true friend doesn't just listen to your words.
They hear the silence too.
Speaker 3 (45:12):
That touched me today. It touched me today, and it yeah.
Speaker 2 (45:19):
And sometimes it's the things you don't say. Sometimes it's
the things you don't say mm hmm.
Speaker 3 (45:28):
And that was a true friend. Here's that.
Speaker 1 (45:31):
Here's the silence too, because we all can just talk
talk talk talk.
Speaker 3 (45:35):
But are you hearing me when I'm silent? Yeap?
Speaker 2 (45:39):
Are you paying attention? That's a really good one. That's
a really good one. Well, everybody, I hope that you
have enjoyed today's conversation. It has definitely been a good one.
Thank you guys for listening to Levels to This. We
will be back next week with more next level conversations
just about the real ship that we go through as women.
Speaker 3 (46:01):
And keep on.
Speaker 2 (46:03):
Just sharing with us all of your thoughts because remember
this isn't just our show.
Speaker 3 (46:07):
It's our show, so we want to hear from you.
You got to leave us a review.
Speaker 2 (46:11):
In Apple Podcasts. You need to email us at Levels
too this podcast at gmail dot com, tell us what
you thought of what you want to talk about next,
and you'd better be following us on Instagram at ltt pod.
So until then, keep your mentals ground level and we
will be back peace.
Speaker 1 (46:30):
Listen to Levels to This on America's number one podcast network, iHeart,
open your free iHeart app and search Levels to This
with Cheryl Swoops and Tarika Foster brasby and start listening
Levels to This is an iHeart women's sports production in
partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find
us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you
get your podcasts.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Hey, what's up, everybody, it's your girl, Therika Foster Bradsby.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
What's good y'all, it's your girl, Cheryl Swoops Hey.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
And this is the Levels to this podcast. This is
the show where we talk about the levels to the
ship that women go through. And we have a good
podcast for you guys today. We're really gonna have some
real talk today.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
But first Cheryl, y'all all the.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
And y'all negative woods girl, can't wait, can't wait, you know,
And the timing of it is so good, like I
need you, I need a friend in my life. I'm
so excited about afro Tech. This is the first time
that I actually will attend. I'm speaking on a panel
(01:08):
on Thursday. But listen, I'm so excited to be in
a different just a different space because you know me
and technology, and.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
I love this song.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Not my cup of tea, but I'm excited. Excited. I
get to see you, I get to see my oldest brother.
So my oldest brother he's a tech geek, so he's
his company brought him down so he'll be here all day.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
So, yes, yes it's James. I'm not have that. How
about that? You wait until I tell him that you're covering?
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Wait, now you know, James is my job. That might
be the one brother I love more than Brandon. That's
the one brother I tell Brandon.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Yeah, you do, I'm gonna tell her. I'm gonna tell him.
I'll make sure and I'll make sure.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Hell I listen to this episode, don't listen to Brandon. Yeah, Bran,
Brandon begets sensitive?
Speaker 3 (02:10):
What for real? For real?
Speaker 2 (02:14):
For real?
Speaker 3 (02:14):
You like that? Really? Really, James, James, don't be in
the streets with you like I do. James, don't be
outside with you for real? But no, that's what I
love that. I can't wait wait to see you. Yes,
it's gonna be same thing.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
It's gonna be a good time. Definitely make sure you
let me know what time is your session. I don't
know if it's open or not, but I will definitely
try to come any work is okay, it's open, facts all,
let me know.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
But yeah, hey, what are you doing in the eighth.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
So I'm I'm in Houston because I am a delegate
for the National Paneltic Council.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
Conference.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
So for those out there who are unaware of what
the n p a C is, it's the total counsel
of all of the nine historically black fraternities and sororities.
And so every two years they have a national conference.
And this year I was selected as the delegate from
my council in Hartford to represent at the Big at
(03:14):
the Big conference, and so this is my first time
going to this conference.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
And so I'm so excited.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
And I would say that I'm going alone, but see
what y'all don't know about the women of Sigmacameroe is
that we are never alone. So the moment that I
pop up, I know, I know, I know, I ain't
by myself.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
We're gonna show up the show. Yeah, what we do.
Is it always in Houston? It's not.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
It's in a different location every year or every conference.
Last conference, I believe it with Chicago, and so this
year it is in Houston.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
So I'm excited.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
It's gonna be from Thursday through which is today through Sunday.
So yeah, so I leave Sunday evening and my flight
leaves late on Sunday on purpose, even though I'm done
with the conference stuff. After church service, the church ends
at like eleven, But I could not leave after eleven
(04:12):
because see, I got a game on Sunday at one
o'clock in the afternoon, and I can't be in nobody's
air on nobody's airplane when my game was on. I
got to be you see my coach. I got to
be able to see my team. We the best team
in football. So I booked my flight after the football
game went off.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
Wow, priorities, I love it. But listen, you'll be proud
of me. I'm trying to be better when it comes
to your doll. I'm I'm actually going to the Texans
game on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
Look at your new game.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
Well, I got my CJ Stroud Jersey, I got my
textee year. I'm gonna be in that than tee. I'm learning,
I'm learning.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
I am so proud of you, Suiryl.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
And because I'm so proud of you, I'm not gonna
talk shit about the team.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
I'm gonna just be like, have a good time. I'm
gonna have a good time, don't talk shit.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
About I'm gonna talk ship.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
I'm wait until I'm gonna wait until the end because
you know.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
What a good friend wait to the end because we're
gonna win anyway.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
Good luck with that. Congratulations, congratulations.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
Friends be sometimes I am.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
It is what it is. That's what that's what that's
what friends do. That is what friends do.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
But you know what happened when friends don't be acting
like they got no sense?
Speaker 3 (05:39):
It may be time for you to revalu wait some friendships.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
And that's exactly what we're gonna talk about today, is
exactly when is the time for you to reevaluate your
friendships because some friends, some friends are here for season.
Some friends are here for a reason. So you gotta
you gotta know when it's time to do some friendship audits.
(06:03):
And that's that's what we're gonna talk about today. So
let's just go ahead and take this thing to the
next level, all right, So we are going ahead and
(06:24):
take this conversation to the next level because I want
to tell the people exactly what made me think about
this subject. So it's been popular over the last week
or so that rapper Gucci Maine has come forward with
his new book called Episodes, and he's talking about being schizophrenic,
(06:45):
being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and all the things that
he's gone through over the last many years. And one
interview that I saw was on the Breakfast Club. He
was talking to Charlamagne and he was talking about friendships,
and he specifically spoke about how when he was going
(07:07):
through one of his episodes, one of the things that
he used to do is that he used to give
away stuff. He used to give away his jewelry, he
used to give away money. He used to like just
and mind you this Gucci. We talked about Gucci, jewelry.
Ain't like no look quick two three dollars like this
is a song called Jewelry, a couple of commas in it.
(07:29):
It's a few commas in them. I just want to
know what I'm saying exactly. And he was saying, I
gave away stuff, and these people knew that I was
not well and that I was not in my right headspace,
and yet they were still taking my stuff and they
were still accepting it, and they were basically taking advantage
(07:50):
of me.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
And I needed to find new friends.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
And it led me to think about today's topic, which is,
at what point in time do we need to do
a friend audit, Like, at what point do we need
to look and think maybe it's time to just like
evaluate who we actually consider to be friends, Like we
(08:13):
just need to do a temperature check. So sure, first
thing I want to ask you is have you ever
done have you ever done.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
A friend audit?
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Like, have you ever actually sat back and thought about
evaluating your circle?
Speaker 1 (08:28):
Oh wait, it's gonna be a good conversation because here's
the thing.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
Here's the thing. I don't have a lot of friends.
I have associates mm hmmm.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
And the people that I consider friends are really really
really true friends. Like that's probably on one hand one hand,
But it's so funny that you asked that, because not
too long ago I have to just kind of separate
(09:03):
like cut ties with someone that I you know what, now.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
That I think about it, she wasn't even a friend.
She was an associate.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
She was an associate, although I would call her CIS
and things like that, which is a whole nother conversation
because to me, everybody ain't just this. Everybody don't deserve
to be called fis. But this particular one, I was like, Yeah,
that's my cist. But come to find out, no, no.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
No, you were just an associate.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
And the reason why I know that she really wasn't
a friend is because when I did it like, it
didn't hurt, it didn't bother me. I ain't skipped a beat,
I ain't missedbeat, and clearly she didn't either. But it's
really good when you say we need to do a
friend audit, because I don't think we do that enough
(09:58):
because so many times we'll look at it and say, yeah, we.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
Grew up together. Girl, I've known you. We've known each
other since we were ten.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
But when you're ten and now you're fifty four, so
much shit changes within that time. So the things we
had in common are liked to do or that we
thought made us friends at the age of ten, now
what they have to do with right now, like what
(10:27):
they got to do with right now.
Speaker 3 (10:29):
And yes, that's exactly what I'm talking about. And like.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
When I say like, so for me, when I say
a friend audit, I'm not even necessarily saying like I'm
trying to cut you off, but I am saying like
I need to evalue, Yeah, I need to evaluate, like
what level of friendship are we really on? Are we
like really friends? Are we like sisters. Are we just
(10:57):
sore roars? Are we just I know you? Like we
have acquaintances in the same circle, Like maybe you're somebody
who I held in the regard as like a friend
and I have really need.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
To just demote your level.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
So I'm not saying we still can't be cool, but
like maybe we just aren't or should never be as
close as I thought we once were. Like there's so
many different ways that we have to do that, and
we have to do it without feeling guilty, because that's
the other thing.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
That's the other thing, Like you just mentioned because.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
You've been friends for so long or I've known you
for so long, we have because women women are loyal.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
Most of us are.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
Yeah, yeah, most of us are loyal, and out of
the loyalty that we have, we will try to remain friends.
And I'm using air quotes with someone because we've been
cool for twenty years, so out of loyalty, I feel
like I still got to invite you to my birthday party.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
Yeah, I still got to ask.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
You, do you want to come to the thanksgiving to
the friends?
Speaker 3 (12:00):
I still got to say.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
You know, make sure you include when the reality is
I don't really rock with you like I used to,
Why I still gotta do this?
Speaker 3 (12:08):
And you shouldn't you really shouldn't, you know, tee.
Speaker 1 (12:11):
When I think about a friend, like, to me, a
real true friend that's not necessarily somebody that you talk
to every day.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
That part.
Speaker 1 (12:22):
But I know that if I pick up the phone,
I text you, I call you, we can go years
without seeing each other or maybe even without talking. But
I know that as soon as I pick up the
phone and I call you, you were going to answer,
You're gonna respond, And that to me is like what
(12:42):
a true friend is. Yeah, And just like you said,
why do we feel guilty when we're like, you know what,
I'll rock with a bitch like that. It's like, but
I've known her for so long, I have to invite,
you know what, not just her, him too, I have
to invite them.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
But here's the one that gets me. All right, I'm
gonna use you and I as.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
An example, because so many times when you use other people,
they'd be like she was talking about me.
Speaker 3 (13:11):
I don't even know you like that. So I'll use
you and I.
Speaker 1 (13:15):
You and I friends, and you happen to go to
a game, to a party, you you in some environment
that I'm not in, and you happen to be friends
or at least you know people there right that are like, yeah,
that be Cheryl.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
I can't stand her. Got all the things to say
about me behind my back.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
Now you as my homegirl, my sister, my sorer, my
all those things, ain't my friend?
Speaker 3 (13:51):
Do you address that or do you just stand in
it and either not your head whatever whatever, or just
let it go? How do you handle that?
Speaker 2 (14:03):
That's a very good question, Cheryl, and I feel like
you may already know how to Rika would handle that
the purpose, but for the purposes of this conversation, you know,
for the scenario, I will address it like this. I
think you should always say to that person, if that
(14:24):
person is your friend, Hey, listen, you can feel.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
How you want to feel about Cheryl.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
You can have whatever opinion you want to have about Cheryl.
But I'm gonna need you to save that shit for
when I'm around. That's how I would handle it, too,
because I can't sit here and let how you feel
about Cheryl ain't got nothing to do with me.
Speaker 3 (14:44):
But you ain't about to sit here and talk about
my girl in my face.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
Yeah, So I'm gonna need you to take that shit
elsewhere or reserve that shit for another group. But here's
the thing, t Rika, they already know, don't even bring
that shit up when I'm around, Like, that's my thing.
Y'all already know. If y'all gonna talk shit about Shiryl,
y'all ain't gonna do it. When so Rica walk in
(15:08):
the room, y'all gonna do that. No, I don't even
say that ship. That's the one when they bumping, they
kicking their homegirl because they homegirl say something up.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
Them.
Speaker 1 (15:20):
Yeah, I'm using you and I as an example because I, yes,
I know how you're gonna respond. I think you know
how I'm gonna respond. But the problem is there's not
enough of us to do that. And if you if
you call me your real truth, if we're really truly friends,
you're not gonna let that happen.
Speaker 3 (15:41):
You Listen.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
I've been in rooms before where a situation like that
has happened, and I address it, and then I kindly
excuse myself cause if you're doing it to her, you're
probably gonna do it to me too.
Speaker 3 (15:56):
But you really have done it to me, and it's
just better for me to like remove myself from that situation.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
I don't even understand how people can feel comfortable. Like
That's when I start to draw questions because when you
come back to me and say such and such said this,
that and a third about you, my question then becomes
why did they feel so comfortable to have that conversation
in front of you? Either you have allowed that kind
of conversation to happen previously, or you have participated in
(16:26):
this conversation in some way that they cool with coming
to you with that. I ain't never finna be like that,
Like you're never going to be able to talk shit
about my friends in front of me, because I'm checking
at sharing immediately, just immediately he Hey, that's my girl.
Speaker 3 (16:40):
Cut that out.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
And I'm not even necessarily coming off rude about it,
like I'm in a laugh and manner, but you know,
I'm for real where I'm like, hey, listen, y'all, y'all
ain't don't do that right now, don't do that. That's
my girl. Don't do that, y'all. Do take that over
there or wait till I leave. But and if you continue,
then like we really need to have a one on
one because is like for real, like not even joking
(17:01):
but like, I can't be in a situation where you
are dogging somebody that I'm cool with like that, because
that makes me feel fake, disrespecting me to right, right, right,
And so I look at and for those who didn't
hear the interview, because I know it was, it was
a long interview with Gucci man and.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
What's his wife's name.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
Yeah, First of all, shout out to her, yes, for
holding it down and basically for saying, listen, I'm not
I'm not about as your wife. I'm not about to
allow you to put yourself in certain situations when you
are sick, right when you're.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
Not who you are.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
But back to your point when you said that about listen,
if you are really truly this man's friend, then you
should know his condition, right, and you should know when
then he's sick or when he's having an episode, when
he's going through something. We're not medical professionals, but as
(18:07):
a as a friend, and if he came to you
and said, here, bro, take my million dollar.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
Necklace, why would you do that?
Speaker 2 (18:19):
That wouldn't be a sign in your head that's something
ain't right now.
Speaker 1 (18:22):
Because first of all, if I'm your friend, I'm gonna
go I'm gonna just go buy you your own if
I'm trying to give you something.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
That part, But like, at what point.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
Did you did you say, let me let me call
Keisha or let let let me let me figure out something,
because I know, I know this is my homeboy, and
I know he's having an episode or he going.
Speaker 3 (18:45):
Through something right now.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
Even if you don't know that he has schizophredio, or
if you didn't know that he was bipolar or whatever, like,
even if you didn't know his condition, something about that
ain't said right with you. Great to just be like this,
ain't even really in his mannerisms to act like that
like something is up, you ain't think one time.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
And when you said that sometimes we have to do
a friend on it. That's why he said. You know,
when I went to jail and came back, I had
to get rid of it. I had to give me
some new friends. I had to cut them off, to
cut them off. But you would probably know better than
me because I don't.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
I don't have the same type of celebrity that you do,
and so I can only imagine how many people over
the years have gravitated to you or have tried to
be cool with you, or have maybe expressed a level
of friendship to other people that they have with you
that they really don't have just because of who you are,
(19:45):
to take advantage of your name, to take advantage of
your star power. Because that's the other thing too, It's
not even always about like a monetary value. It's I know,
if I'm cool with Chryl swoops, I'm gonna get, I'm
gonna get, I'm gonna get, I'm gonna be out, sign out.
Speaker 3 (20:00):
It is right.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
How do you or how have you been able to
spot like those people who like, really you really know
that they really only trying to be around because of
how we can benefit them tee.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
That that's what's so hard, because you notice I started
off the conversation by saying I don't have a lot
of friends, and that is by choice, right. But there's
the other side of that, though, is it it's actually
not not disappointing, but like sometimes it's it is lonely
(20:37):
because I'm like, I don't know why you really want
to be my friend. What's your My first thought is
what's your motive?
Speaker 3 (20:43):
What you're trying to make us?
Speaker 4 (20:45):
Right?
Speaker 3 (20:46):
And a lot of times it's genuine I I have.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
But as I've gotten older, I'm just like, listen, I
ain't really trying to make no new friends.
Speaker 3 (20:56):
I don't need no new friends new friends anyway.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
But it was really hard when I was younger and
I was playing because everywhere you go, you know, like
trying to tell the difference between a fan and a friend. Yeah,
you get you can be both, right, Like you could
be my friend and be and be a fan. But
I know, I know the difference, and I know when
it's real and I know when it's genuine. So like
(21:22):
back when I was younger and like at the height
of my career, just having just random people show up
and coming out. And that's not just friends, that's even
family or people who claim to be family.
Speaker 3 (21:33):
Okay, so that's a different that's a different story.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
But just the reason why I don't have a lot
of friends is by choice, because I'm like listen, I
don't have the energy or the time to try to
figure out your why, right, Like why do you want
to be my friend?
Speaker 3 (21:51):
Why do you want to be here? What are you
looking for? So it's it's hard.
Speaker 1 (21:57):
And so when I sat there and I listen to
the interview, like part of me like my heart just
hurt for him, because you're already dealing with enough with
your your schizophrenia and being bipolar, that the last thing
you need is to try to worry about or figure out.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
Like who is my real friend? Who really my real friends? Yeah?
Yeah yeah.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
And to add to that is sometimes when you have
a certain level of power, you don't really want everybody
to know your business like that anyway.
Speaker 3 (22:41):
So we have a tendency of.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Divulging only certain information, even to some of my closest friends.
Like I have friends who I know I can tell
anything to, and I just like and I just know it.
And then I have other people who I'm cool with,
and I will tell you some things in my business,
but I can't tell you everything and my business, you
know what I mean. I can't tell you like I
can't tell you every everything, right, And it makes you wonder,
(23:06):
like even if I didn't necessarily know that this is
everything that was going on, there's still a level of
what he was going through that you should have been
able to observe if you were really there for the friendship,
if you are really there to be like to hold
it down for your boy, Like and I've heard this
before from people who have said this about me, like
(23:28):
te we always knew you might, you know what I'm saying,
Like if anybody about the hood, if anybody leaving Detroit
like Finna be something, we always knew it was gonna
be you, so we you know, make sure that like
we don't let people speak bad on your name. We
don't let people like they made sure that like they
held me down in the best way that they could
from what they were able to do, and that is
(23:48):
always appreciated and respected without knowing anything that I was
going through, they were able to be like listen, like
we wan't going to let nobody come at you crazy
wanting to let like even now I have friends home,
when I get angry and I put something out there
and I'll be like, fuck these bitches they blah blah
blah blah. Then be in my inbox like I know
we don't talk like that, but you got way too
much going to let these people get up fund of
(24:12):
your skin. Delete that syst like you don't want nobody
to come at you. And I respect that because that
to me lets me know like you really trying to
make sure that I'm good without even really knowing anything.
But but you got those people who really don't quite
see the bigger picture. They only see what you can
do for them, and so they will be like, oh,
(24:33):
me and Arrica go way back. No bitch me, and
you just kind of went to the same elementary school.
Speaker 3 (24:38):
That's it. And because we went to the same school,
don't make us friends. I don't even know you. I
don't even know you. I got people home with the
college might be like, yeah, girl turned up, and I'll
be like, girl, you didn't even talk to me at college.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
You walked right by me in the cafeteria when I
didn't get the start on the softball team and I
was on the bench.
Speaker 3 (24:59):
You act like you ain't you know me? Like I
wasn't on the team. This now all of a sudden,
you know me. Imagine that. Stop it imagic, stop it.
I like, stop it. I don't know. I just had
someone say to me the other day.
Speaker 1 (25:16):
They were like, well, speaking of friends and friendship, they
were just like, I haven't heard from her in like
a month, so she must not be my friend. And
my response though, was, first of all, have you reached
out to her right like? You don't know what your
friend is?
Speaker 3 (25:35):
Going through because so many times.
Speaker 1 (25:38):
And I read this other day too, and it just
said check on your strong friends sometimes, because your strong
friends are the ones that are always checking on you.
Speaker 3 (25:45):
But then I said to her, I said, is this
like normal? Is it abnormal? Do y'all typically talk every
day or once a week or what?
Speaker 1 (25:55):
And she was like no, I just having her from her,
I said, well, then you probably should. If you're that concerned,
you probably should check on her, right. And So the
reason why I say that is because again, some of
my closest dearest friends, we may not talk for four
(26:17):
or five months.
Speaker 3 (26:18):
Yeah, but I know you a real one. I know
you go hold me down.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
I know that you know where our friendship stands, right,
and we don't have to talk every single day for
me to let you know that or for you to
let me know that. And the same thing with you was,
you know, like when it comes to social media and
things like that, and this is from random people that
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (26:40):
So I'm will take this opportunity.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
Right now to say to all of y'all who hold
me down on social media when they be coming for
your girl, right, y'all got to know how much that
means to me how much I appreciate it because you
don't have to do it. Yeah, those are some real
ones out there in the crazy world of social media,
and and it doesn't go unnoticed. Like I really truly
(27:03):
appreciate that. So just like for my handful of friends
that I have, they do the same thing. They like, girl,
if you don't get off of social media, and we
got it, let let us handle it you fun.
Speaker 3 (27:15):
We got you. Yes, yes, yes, yes. We call those
our social goons. I have some social goons, Like they.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
Just they got time, They got time to hold it
down for you. They like, don't you mess up your bag?
Speaker 3 (27:29):
Don't you don't you do it? We got you.
Speaker 2 (27:31):
So listen, what we're gonna do real quick is take
a very short break, and when we come back on
the other side of the break, I'm gonna play a
game with Cheryl.
Speaker 3 (27:38):
I'm gonna play a little game.
Speaker 2 (27:39):
It's gonna be fun. We're gonna play a little game.
Stay stay tuned, all right, everybody. So we're about to
play a quick little game.
Speaker 3 (27:55):
And this game is called keep, reassign, or terminate.
Speaker 2 (28:01):
He reassign kind of like start bench cut, like start
bench cut, keep yep, reassign a sign or.
Speaker 3 (28:11):
Terminate or terminate. Okay, I'm gonna throw out some.
Speaker 2 (28:15):
Scenario and you let me know if your friend in
this scenario, let me know what you're doing with her?
Speaker 3 (28:24):
Okay, are you key resigned? Reassign her?
Speaker 2 (28:28):
So reassign is like, maybe you ain't my friend, maybe
you're just an associate.
Speaker 1 (28:31):
Maybe, and then's terminating is na, she gotta go? I
got you, gotta keeping terminating. I got you, now, reassign,
I understand. All right, let's go.
Speaker 3 (28:41):
Okay, let's go. All right, all right?
Speaker 2 (28:42):
Are you gonna tell me what you're doing too? Yeah,
I'm gonna tell you what I'm yeah, yeah, yeah, okay, okay.
Brand number one frand number one is this friend who
will text you and be like, Sheryl, I am so
proud of you.
Speaker 3 (28:55):
You're doing amazing. She will tell you when she sees
you on the side or pulls you to the.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
Side and says, Cheryl, I love everything you're doing. You're awesome.
But will never publicly share your stuff, will never publicly
comment on your stuff. She will never publicly give you
your give you your flowers. She always cheers.
Speaker 3 (29:17):
You on in the what you're doing with her. Resign
or terminate. I think I'm gonna have to reassign.
Speaker 1 (29:31):
Because because you because because you've got some good stuff
about you. But I but the fact that you don't
ever do none of this stuff publicly. I need to
reevaluate our relationship.
Speaker 3 (29:46):
I don't reassign you for now.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
For now, we don't assign that we are on the
same I'm reassigning because clearly we cool something about something
ain't right that you can't You can't show me this
love in public way.
Speaker 3 (30:00):
One.
Speaker 1 (30:00):
She's the one that I'm like, hmm, when you up
in these rooms, are they talking bad about me?
Speaker 3 (30:05):
What you're doing? What you're doing?
Speaker 2 (30:08):
See what I'm saying, Like, you can't publicly say nothing,
but you can do that. Let meet something right, So
let's just read we're gonna reassign her. Okay, all right,
friend number two, Okay, this friend always expects grace, bitch, bye,
don't know, but don't never you finished, bye bye. This
(30:35):
friend always wants grace. Okay, always want to excuse, always
got an excuse. Something happened, some came up, I didn't whatever.
But when it's time for her to apologize for some
ship she didne did.
Speaker 3 (30:49):
Then said whatnot. Whatever. She never can she never got never,
never got it for you do what you're doing with her?
I said, bitch.
Speaker 5 (30:57):
Bye, There is no listen. She is terminated. Terminate her
and there is no I'll to be back.
Speaker 1 (31:10):
No, man, you got to go because how are you
always expecting grace?
Speaker 2 (31:16):
But you can't give none, can't give none? Okay, all right,
I got two more, friend number friend number three. Friend
number three.
Speaker 3 (31:27):
Is genuinely proud of you. Okay.
Speaker 2 (31:29):
Friend number three definitely likes seeing what you got going on.
But friend number three.
Speaker 1 (31:36):
Also feels like she needs to have the same So
it's like a competition all the time.
Speaker 2 (31:43):
You get into the club, she gotta get into the
club too. You got VP status. Let her find out
somebody who give her vp P status.
Speaker 3 (31:50):
You win an Emmy.
Speaker 2 (31:52):
She wants an oscar. Like what we're doing with this
friend because there are no plans out there. That feels
like one hundred is a competition.
Speaker 3 (32:06):
Oh this one. I'm gonna tell you what I'm gonna
do with her.
Speaker 1 (32:11):
Tell me.
Speaker 2 (32:13):
I I might keep her because all she gonna do,
and this is petty me. All she gonna do is
motivate me to be better. Ah, Okay, okay, okay, okay,
that's all she gonna do.
Speaker 3 (32:27):
Now, that's what you won't because because she always because she.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
Genuinely is happy, because she genuinely is happy for you.
So it's not like the fake happy. It's the I'm
happy for you, but I want what you won't. And
it's like, can you just be happy for me?
Speaker 3 (32:43):
And like like let that be it.
Speaker 2 (32:45):
But since you want to be happy for me and
won't what I won't, then cool sis challenge You're gonna
challenge me to be better every single time?
Speaker 1 (32:52):
Okay, I see that, but I think like I'm not
gonna terminate her for that reason, right, like if she
the one is gonna always keep me and to see,
I don't.
Speaker 3 (33:04):
Even want to resign.
Speaker 1 (33:11):
I need I need to like put a pause, right
Like I don't want to reassign her, but I need
to put a pause on her and I need to
watch her a little bit.
Speaker 3 (33:23):
Yeah you know what I mean?
Speaker 1 (33:26):
I do, I do, I get So I ain't got
time for that for you to be oh yeah you
want to bring me girl, but I'm about to go
get this ego feel me.
Speaker 3 (33:37):
It's like, why is everything always I don't have to
compete with you. I don't want to do that. I
don't want to do that. I don't want to compete
with you. It's crazy.
Speaker 2 (33:45):
Is I actually have a friend like this where it's
like I actually have a friend like that, love her down,
but it's just like everything in the competition says And
maybe maybe they don't see it like they're trying to compete,
but it's just little things, sugar work.
Speaker 3 (34:00):
They see that, they see that, and I'm just like,
what we doing, Like what we're doing?
Speaker 1 (34:06):
I have those people too, right where it's even if
you talk about, oh my god, girl, I want on
this vacation and it was great and da da da,
and then she don't come back.
Speaker 4 (34:18):
With girl, I went to so and so five years ago,
and let me take it. I'm like, dang, but you're
just like, hey, that was my vacation right.
Speaker 3 (34:30):
Five years ago. Like you always gotta get up me. Yeah,
you know what I'm saying, understand, I don't have time
for that.
Speaker 2 (34:39):
See, it's like I don't want to get rid of
you because I'm not saying you're a bad friend.
Speaker 3 (34:44):
It's just you gotta you gotta cut that out. You
know what I'm saying. You gotta cut that out. That's
why I said I don't want to I don't want
to keep reassigned to terminate. I want to put a pause.
Speaker 1 (34:53):
Because like what's gonna happen at some point is almost
say enough is enough, and then we gonna butt here
and then it's gonna be terminated.
Speaker 3 (35:02):
Yeah, yeah, okay, the last scenario though, hy it's the
last one. This is the last friend. This friend.
Speaker 2 (35:14):
Calls you, hangs out with you, supports you like you know,
this suld you in your mind, this is your road
dof and then this one thing happens to you. Could
be lost, a job could be lost, a parent, could
be break up with your whatever. But this one thing
(35:38):
happened to you and you really needed her, and she
ghosted you.
Speaker 3 (35:44):
Now you don't know why.
Speaker 2 (35:46):
Could just could be something was going on in her life.
Could be maybe she don't handle things, what could be anything.
But all you know is when you needed her most,
she wasn't here for you cheap reassign or terminate.
Speaker 1 (36:02):
No, I'm keeping her. I'm keeping her because of all
the things you said. One if I already know what
our relationship is, even though I'm going through this horrific
time and I really need you. I know that there's
got to be a really good reason why you didn't
(36:25):
reach out to me. Yeah, So what I'm going to do,
after I've had time to deal with whatever this is
I went through, I'm going to reach out because I
need to know if you're okay right now, I'm gonna
keep it. And mind you, I don't have to many
friends anyway, I just people. I can't just be letting
(36:53):
these all.
Speaker 2 (36:55):
I could rid of her.
Speaker 3 (36:56):
I'm down the boat. Yeah no, no, no, no, no
out And based off of all the things you said, now,
she she my road doll. She my road doll. I'm
gonna keep her. See, I'm with you on that one.
Speaker 2 (37:07):
I'm with you on that one where it's like, if
you're not here what I need you the most, it's
gotta be a reason. And everybody doesn't handle everything the same.
So like it's cool, like I'm not I'm not gonna,
I'm not gonna. I'm not gonna terminate a friend over
something like that, you know what I'm saying, Like not
not something like that. And if I really feel that
(37:28):
bad about it, like if it's really.
Speaker 3 (37:30):
Bothering me that you weren't here, for me during that moment.
Speaker 2 (37:34):
We're cool enough for me to be like, let's have
a conversation because I really felt like I needed you
and you weren't here, you know.
Speaker 3 (37:39):
What I mean.
Speaker 1 (37:40):
And I was like, no friendships are about that's what exact.
It's okay for me to be upset with you, you
upset with me. We have a conversation. We talk about it,
because that's what I would do. I'd be like, listen, I.
Speaker 3 (37:50):
Don't know what you had going on, d but I
went through this, and you know how much I really
needed you. You on there, bitch? Why right? Why exactly?
And it is what it is like we keep it.
Speaker 2 (38:02):
I'm sure it will keep it moving. So last thing
that I will say is, I know, Keith, friends keep friends.
Speaker 3 (38:12):
Sign and terminade. You have to figure out what you're
gonna do. So listen. I know earlier you was on
your Drake mode talking about ain't no new friends, but
no new friends.
Speaker 2 (38:27):
But I will say that over the course of the
last five or six years, I maybe have gained some
new some new people that like I really care about
that we have built a relationship, and I don't know
if I would say like we are friends and even
some who I've known, and and something has happened that
(38:49):
has caused us to become closer than we were because
I've got a few friends, I'll say friends.
Speaker 3 (38:54):
I have few friends. Well, I've known for about ten
years now.
Speaker 2 (38:57):
And in the beginning, we weren't really that like we
were just high and by or smile when we see
each other in public.
Speaker 3 (39:02):
But that's cool.
Speaker 2 (39:03):
But something happened where maybe we were at an event together,
or maybe we were out of town together for something,
and I got to know them, like whether I wanted
to or not, I kind of was forced to and
we built a relationship. And so I say all this
to say, if in twenty twenty five, somebody wanted to
(39:24):
be friends with you or me, whoever, do you have
a criteria?
Speaker 3 (39:31):
Like are there are there.
Speaker 2 (39:32):
Things that someone has to bring to the table, the
energy that they got to have for you for me
to even consider it?
Speaker 3 (39:40):
Like what, like what what you got to bring for
me to even consider us being friends? Suyl said, not shit, nothing.
Speaker 1 (39:49):
I just I'm very easy going, laid back, like I
if I'm if you and I are going to be friends,
like I just want somebody that we can said, we
can chat we can talk about shit.
Speaker 3 (40:03):
I ain't judging you, you ain't judging me. Don't bring
no drama like I got enough of that. I got
enough of that.
Speaker 1 (40:08):
But I'm gonna say this and I'm gonna be real
and take it out. You want to take it, I don't.
I don't need rich friends, but I need somebody who
can pay for my meal sometimes instead of me always
being the one saying I got it, Like I'm really
(40:32):
not trying to be any type of way.
Speaker 2 (40:34):
But.
Speaker 3 (40:36):
For real, yeah, yeah, because you one time when we go.
Speaker 1 (40:41):
Out to eat, I can't be the one that's always
talking about giving me the check, bring me to chit,
and nobody says.
Speaker 3 (40:47):
No, I got it this time.
Speaker 1 (40:51):
Yeah, Like treat me sometimes because I'm always I'm gonna
always treat.
Speaker 3 (40:55):
You when I can. I'm gonna be like, it's on me,
I got it, So how about you got it this time?
Speaker 2 (41:02):
I respect that one hundred percent because there is definitely
a perception that like it always has to be on
the person at the table who makes the most. No, but.
Speaker 3 (41:15):
What a sister going through might be.
Speaker 1 (41:18):
This might be a bad month for me right right,
and I might need five six drinks on you on
you on you.
Speaker 3 (41:28):
First of all, this don't come if you can't afford
what we're doing anyway.
Speaker 2 (41:33):
But no, I feel I feel that and I respect
that one because I am I am too one of
those people. That's like, listen, the energy you got to
bring to me is authenticity to like, don't be who
you think I want you to be or who you
think you need to be in order to be in
a circle, because I can spot a fake and I
(41:53):
don't like it. You know what I mean, I'm no
how she get down, none know how she is for real?
That don't work with me, right, And so I need
you to bring honest Steve. I need you to bring
like be be you be who you authentically are. And
if we vibe, we vibe. If we don't, that's cool.
If this is just that we hung out this one time,
(42:15):
that's cool. But like for me to continually see you
and want to kick it with you and want to
like build a relationship, if that's what we're gonna call it, Like,
you just gotta be yourself and and that's just it's
it's a difficult thing, but you just got to normalize
showing up.
Speaker 3 (42:30):
Who you are. That's it. Just it is what it is,
is what it is.
Speaker 2 (42:34):
So I got a challenge to all of our listeners
to this episode, do a friend audit, Like, do a
friend audit. And when you do a friend audit, I
need you to go on our Instagram and give a
shout out to the person who made the cut. You
know what, she'd been my best friend for thirty years
(42:55):
and we've been cool, and she hold it down for me,
shut off the stuff. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (42:58):
I like like, I like them, Tell them like, do
all that, let them know that you appreciate them. So,
especially especially in the climate we're living in right now,
it's nice to hear. It's nice to hear.
Speaker 1 (43:12):
Yes, listen, you made the cut. No, but I appreciate you,
like I appreciate you for holding it down.
Speaker 3 (43:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (43:20):
I like that.
Speaker 3 (43:21):
Yes, you made the cut.
Speaker 2 (43:23):
So when we come back, we are gonna go ahead
and level this thing out. We will be back, all right, y'all.
So I love our conversation today talking about friendship holding
(43:46):
it down. Absolutely love it. I have a friend in Cheryl.
Cheryl is such an awesome friend, y'all. She's my friend,
she's my sores. Oh oh, and Founder's Day is coming up,
So if y'all like the show y'all folks from as
she roll Love for November twelfth.
Speaker 3 (44:02):
It's happening.
Speaker 2 (44:03):
But I just wanted to show y'all that I went
to the meal one time and I got this package and.
Speaker 3 (44:09):
I was like, who is that's from?
Speaker 2 (44:12):
And it was from my sis Chiryl with these affirmation
crayons and they say beautiful, brilliant, brave, and bold, and
I thought that these were so amazing, and I just
wanted to say thank you for being my friend, for
being my sister, and for always finding ways to lift
(44:33):
up my spirit.
Speaker 3 (44:33):
So I appreciate that right back, as Sis, I love you,
so call you you were.
Speaker 2 (44:38):
Real because you because because I'm one of the ones.
Speaker 3 (44:40):
That social media like, I'm gonna need you, needs you
to back that comment.
Speaker 2 (44:45):
You are real.
Speaker 3 (44:46):
You really holds it down, hold it down anyway. So yeah,
go ahead and level us one to.
Speaker 1 (44:54):
Listen talking about friends, it's all almost this says so good,
so good. A true friend doesn't just listen to your words.
They hear the silence too.
Speaker 3 (45:12):
That touched me today. It touched me today, and it yeah.
Speaker 2 (45:19):
And sometimes it's the things you don't say. Sometimes it's
the things you don't say mm hmm.
Speaker 3 (45:28):
And that was a true friend. Here's that.
Speaker 1 (45:31):
Here's the silence too, because we all can just talk
talk talk talk.
Speaker 3 (45:35):
But are you hearing me when I'm silent? Yeap?
Speaker 2 (45:39):
Are you paying attention? That's a really good one. That's
a really good one. Well, everybody, I hope that you
have enjoyed today's conversation. It has definitely been a good one.
Thank you guys for listening to Levels to This. We
will be back next week with more next level conversations
just about the real ship that we go through as women.
Speaker 3 (46:01):
And keep on.
Speaker 2 (46:03):
Just sharing with us all of your thoughts because remember
this isn't just our show.
Speaker 3 (46:07):
It's our show, so we want to hear from you.
You got to leave us a review.
Speaker 2 (46:11):
In Apple Podcasts. You need to email us at Levels
too this podcast at gmail dot com, tell us what
you thought of what you want to talk about next,
and you'd better be following us on Instagram at ltt pod.
So until then, keep your mentals ground level and we
will be back peace.
Speaker 1 (46:30):
Listen to Levels to This on America's number one podcast network, iHeart,
open your free iHeart app and search Levels to This
with Cheryl Swoops and Tarika Foster brasby and start listening
Hosts And Creators
Terrika Foster-Brasby
Sheryl Swoopes
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies!
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!