Larry Sanders II - Why So Many Athletes Stay Broken: Mental Injuries Nobody Talks About | DSH #1625

Summary

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Digital Social Hour – DSH #1625

Guest: Brandon Jennings | Host: Dr. Larry Sanders II

Episode Title: Why So Many Athletes Stay Broken: Mental Injuries Nobody Talks About
Release Date: November 17, 2025

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Episode Overview

In this thought-provoking episode, NBA veteran Brandon Jennings joins Dr. Larry Sanders II for a candid discussion about the often-overlooked psychological challenges faced by professional athletes. The two delve into the hidden mental injuries that can follow physical trauma, the unique pressures of life on and off the court, and the importance of holistic support for athletes, especially youth. Jennings shares personal insights from his journey, his efforts to destigmatize mental health, and his ongoing mission to empower the next generation through education and mentorship.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Athlete Injuries: Physical and Mental (00:30–05:36)

• Physical Injuries & Longevity:
  Jennings discusses his career longevity and relative lack of serious injuries, emphasizing daily stretching and balance work (02:08).

  “I stretch a lot. I'm real, real limber. So, you know, I work on my stretch and my balance, something I do every day.” – Brandon Jennings (02:08)

• Mental Health Following Injury:
  Jennings highlights how every physical injury often leads to a mental hurdle, using high-profile examples like Derrick Rose and Ben Simmons (04:34).

  “I feel like every physical injury ultimately equates to a mental injury…if you're not treating a physical injury with some kind of mental therapy, you're usually going to be, like, you know, I hate to say it, but kind of like Derrick Rose.” – Brandon Jennings (04:34)

  Sanders underscores the disconnect many people have between physical and mental recovery (05:04).

2. The Global Mental Health Crisis in Sports (03:57–04:22)

• International Work & Youth Support:
  Jennings discusses his global camps in Grenada, Egypt, and Taiwan, aiming to bring basketball and mental health resources to underserved youth.

  “My message is mental health. Making sure these kids get the mental health resources they need as well as the basketball attention." – Brandon Jennings (03:57)

• Stigma Abroad:
  He notes that some countries lag behind in mental health acceptance, though they are more open to holistic approaches (04:21).

3. Coping Strategies: Substance Use and the NBA (06:21–07:33)

• Marijuana as a Coping Aid:
  Jennings details how marijuana eventually became a valuable tool for coping with pain and sleep issues in the NBA, though he started using it only after his brain development years (07:10).

  “Once I got into the NBA and my second year in the league and pains from my body and not being able to eat and flying here and flying there, marijuana did become an aide, you know. It helped a lot, bro.” – Brandon Jennings (07:10)

  He clarifies he doesn’t encourage youth use and discusses the evolution of NBA policy around marijuana (06:50).

• Travel & Recovery Challenges:
  The conversation covers how travel and scheduling add immense strain, negatively impacting both physical and mental health (07:35–08:53).

4. League Structure & Player Welfare (08:15–09:55)

• Too Many Games:
  Both agree that the NBA season is excessively demanding (09:09). Jennings shares that the shortened “lockout year” (62 games) was both manageable and competitive (09:39).
• Player Wellbeing vs. Entertainment:
  The duo discuss how injuries to star players also hurt league revenue and quality of play.

5. NBA Culture: Expression, Identity & Transition (11:28–12:45)

• Self-Expression & the NBA Evolution:
  Jennings explains that he was “six years ahead of time” with his style and personality, but early in his career athletes were discouraged from ventures outside basketball or even personal fashion (11:28).

  "When I came in the league, it wasn’t really cool for guys to do anything except for play basketball...shut up and dribble, you know, and that was really the stigma." – Brandon Jennings (11:31)

  Today’s NBA is far more open to individuality, brand-building, and fashion (12:21).

• Rookie Hazing & Trash Talk:
  The conversation turns to on-court trash talking, the necessity to earn respect, and the rougher culture facing rookies of his era (13:44–14:50).

6. Mental Health, Therapy, and Social Stigma (15:00–17:32)

• Destigmatizing Therapy:
  Both Sanders and Jennings openly discuss going to therapy and the shame that surrounded it in their youth (15:00–15:14).

  “My mom had me…see a therapist when I was, like, 11. At the moment, there was some acting out or, like, some behavior issues…she was like, nah, you know what? Let's see an alternative. Let's see what therapy is.” – Brandon Jennings (15:14)

• Value of Cross-Cultural Mentorship:
  Jennings describes how an early therapist became a formative father figure, influencing his worldview and helping overcome racial assumptions (15:42–16:38).

  “Someone like that investing in me and giving me that father energy…shows that there’s no separation, bro. People just create it.” – Brandon Jennings (16:38)

• Forgiveness:
  A moving discussion on forgiveness—not for others, but for yourself—highlights the toll of resentment (17:17–17:58).

  “Your resentment isn't punishing them, it's punishing you...you're choosing not to drink the poison anymore.” – Brandon Jennings (17:51)

7. Empowering the Next Generation (18:20–19:55)

• Jennings’ Current Focus:
  Alongside music ventures, Jennings is passionate about youth camps emphasizing holistic development, mental health, and financial literacy (18:26).

• Ebook for Student Athletes:
  He launches a free “student athlete” ebook/course focused on personal growth, branding, business development, and financial literacy, navigating topics from social media to cryptocurrency (19:07–19:55).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On injury and mental health:

  “Every physical injury ultimately equates to a mental injury...if you’re not treating a physical injury with some kind of mental therapy, you’re usually going to be…like Derrick Rose.” – Brandon Jennings (04:34)

• On NBA culture past and present:

  “When I came in the league, it wasn’t really cool for guys to do anything except for play basketball…shut up and dribble.” – Brandon Jennings (11:31)

• On coping and marijuana:

  “I don’t believe in that. I believe in development and, you know, once I got into the NBA…marijuana did become an aid…helped a lot, bro.” – Brandon Jennings (07:10)

• On forgiving others:

  “Your resentment isn't punishing them, it's punishing you…you're choosing not to drink the poison anymore.” – Brandon Jennings (17:51)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:30–02:20: Early Discussion—Injuries, longevity, and career transition
• 03:57–04:22: Mental health focus in youth basketball camps domestically and abroad
• 04:34–05:36: Hidden mental injuries among professional athletes
• 06:21–07:33: Marijuana, NBA culture, and coping with stress
• 07:35–09:09: Travel, fatigue, and the toll of NBA scheduling
• 11:28–12:45: Changes in NBA culture, athlete self-expression
• 13:44–14:50: Trash talk and rookie hazing
• 15:00–16:38: Breaking the stigma of therapy and finding mentorship
• 17:17–17:58: Resentment and forgiveness
• 18:20–19:55: Giving back via camps, mentorship, and athlete education

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Episode Tone & Takeaway

This episode flows with candor and warmth, blending vulnerability with real-world advice. Jennings’ insights reveal the complexities of athletic identity, the importance of mental health, and the need for holistic athlete development—especially as the business of sports evolves. Listeners come away with an understanding of how trauma, resilience, and purpose intersect in the hidden corners of professional sports, and how mentorship and proactive support can change lives.

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Transcript

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[Brandon Jennings]

Kids get the wrong message when they see it. They think I've been doing it my whole life. And, you know, and I don't believe in that. Once I got into the NBA and my second year in the league and pains from my body and not being able to eat and flying here and flying there. Marijuana did become an aide, you know. It helped a lot, bro.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

All right, guys. Dr. Larry Sanders here. Someone taller than me. It doesn't happen often. Six, nine, man. Six nine. Yeah, it's only happened three times in 1600 episodes.

[Brandon Jennings]

Oh, really?

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Yeah.

[Brandon Jennings]

Yeah. You pretty tall, right?

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Not bad, right, for an Asian. Yeah.

[Brandon Jennings]

Yeah.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

You haven't seen too many Asian style than me. You ready for poker tonight or what?

[Brandon Jennings]

Yeah, I'm ready.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Yeah. You've been studying up on the game?

[Brandon Jennings]

Yes, sir.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Let's get it, baby. I might have to put some money on you.

[Brandon Jennings]

Let's do it.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Let's get it.

[Brandon Jennings]

Yeah.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

You gamble a lot?

[Brandon Jennings]

Not. I don't gamble a lot, but I like to play cards.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Yeah.

[Brandon Jennings]

You know, so.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Yeah. You hooping a lot right now?

[Brandon Jennings]

Not so much, but I did hoop this year a little bit.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

How was it in Taiwan?

[Brandon Jennings]

It was cool. It was smooth, bro. Taiwan was dope. Played in the doctor for a little bit this summer. Ended up, like, hurting my wrist. So I was gonna do some stuff with the big three, but that actually just called me up a couple days ago, but I couldn't. I'm still nursing this wrist, bro.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

You broke it?

[Brandon Jennings]

I sprained it.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Damn.

[Brandon Jennings]

Yeah, sometimes you wish you would have broke it because your sprain is like, you know. You know, you don't have a cast and it's hard to heal, so, you know.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Yeah, Sprain lingers, right?

[Brandon Jennings]

Yeah. Damn.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

It's that one of the worst injuries you've had?

[Brandon Jennings]

I don't get injured a lot, bro. The most I've had is in sprains. Sprain my ankle, sprain my wrist. That's it, though. Torn acl. No, like, no crazy stuff.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

You do a lot of preventative stuff because that's impressive.

[Brandon Jennings]

I stretch a lot I'm real, real limber. So, you know, I work on my stretch and my balance, something I do every day.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Yeah, yeah, that's. That's impressive for playing as long as you have to not have a major injury. That's like some bronze right there.

[Brandon Jennings]

Thankful, bro.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Yeah, let's go. Is ball the main focus, though? Are you thinking about other ventures? Where are you at right now?

[Brandon Jennings]

Yeah, for sure. I mean, I've been retired now for, like, man, since I was 26. I'm about to be 37, so last year was the first year me playing overseas and, like, you know, since I've been retired. So I just been a serial entrepreneur since, man, you know, started artist incubator, did some stuff in music with ovo, cut some records, bro. And, yeah, just been fortunate enough to be in some good rooms, bro. Do my foundation stuff right now. I just came back from Grenada doing a camp for some kids, and I went to Egypt a few months ago as well. So globally, just trying. So good, so good, so good.

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[Brandon Jennings]

Trying to connect through basketball. But, you know, my message is mental health.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Yeah.

[Brandon Jennings]

Making sure these kids get the mental health resources they need as well as the, you know, the basketball attention.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Were you seeing kids in those countries struggle with mental health, too?

[Brandon Jennings]

For sure.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Really?

[Brandon Jennings]

1000.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

It's a worldwide issue.

[Brandon Jennings]

They're more behind than we are. You know, they're just catching up to the fact that they're. They're actually dealing with, you know, mental health issues. You know, the stigma is very high overseas.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Yeah.

[Brandon Jennings]

You know, we're more accepting over here in America, but they're dealing with it, and they're more accepting to holistic, you know, resources and wellness. So it's dope.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Yeah. Do you see a lot of athletes struggle with mental health, too?

[Brandon Jennings]

For sure, for sure. For sure. You know, I feel like every physical entry ultimately equates to a mental injury. You know, that's how nerve endings, you know, they kind of end up in your brain, you know, so if you're not treating a physical injury with some kind of mental therapy, you're usually going to be like, you know, I hate to say it, but kind of like Derrick Rose, you know, it's kind of tough for him to mentally get over things because there was no. I don't. I don't know how much attention was to the mental. You know, it's a lot of physical attention.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

So that's great advice, man, because people don't even connect the two dots, right? They. They sprain an ankle and they don't associate that with a mental thing.

[Brandon Jennings]

Right.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

What about Ben Simmons, too? Right?

[Brandon Jennings]

Yeah, for sure. Yeah.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Like, he was an all star and then had some injuries now, it seems like, because he's still the same athleticism, but.

[Brandon Jennings]

Right. Yeah. Paul George, John Wall, you go down the list, you know, it's tough, you know, I think gain confidence, you know, get back in that. That same realm is mental, you know, it's mental how they got there. They said the game is 90 mental, but sometimes it's not respected in that same way. You know what I mean?

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Yeah. Did you find yourself, when you were playing, struggling with that?

[Brandon Jennings]

I did, you know, at times, and not so much on the court, you know, on the court, I was. I was beasting, you know, I think off the court, you know, me getting into basketball so young, I didn't really have a support system. I didn't really have a stable base. So, you know, know, I was. I was like lunch meat, you know, I was. I was just there for like, the wolves and the vultures, bro. And like I said, I was hooping on the court, but off the court, it was like a whirlwind. So, you know, I had to get a handle on that.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Wow. Yeah. Cause you're living two lives, right? You got the basketball life. That's your main job. But then you have a whole life off the court.

[Brandon Jennings]

Yeah. I mean, multiple. Multiple lives. You got your family life, you got your basketball life. You have your, you know, you as an entity off the court. And how you going to expand outside of the game? There's a lot to think about.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Yeah.

[Brandon Jennings]

And at the time, you know, marijuana was banned in the NBA, so. So I had a lot of, you know, back and forth with the NBA as far as, you know, the future of the NBA, where it should go, you know, Marijuana use.

[Entrepreneur/Coach/Author]

And the debate always came back was like, you know, if it's not federally.

[Brandon Jennings]

Legal, it's never going to be legal. And, you know, you know, we're always going to test for it. That's not true. I knew it wasn't going to be true and now it's not true. You know, it's not federally legal and it's still legal in the NBA. You know what I mean? So.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Oh, it's still illegal.

[Brandon Jennings]

It's still legal. Not illegal. Yeah, yeah, they, they, well, it's become legal. They don't test for it anymore. Yeah, you know, I mean, so yeah, man, you know, I started smoking late. You know, I was like 22, so I know about, you know, your cognitive dissonance and your brain, your development. And I was, I was big on that. And that's why I don't really promote smoking because I think kids get the wrong message when they see it. They think I've been doing it my whole life. And, you know, and I don't believe in that. You know, I believe in development and, you know, once I got into the NBA and my second year in the league and, you know, pains from my body and not being able to eat and flying here, flying there, marijuana did become an aid, you know, it helped a lot, bro. So. But until that point, I didn't even use it.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Damn. So you couldn't even eat, you said.

[Brandon Jennings]

I mean, it's tough, you know, you come in three in the morning, you just flew on this plane, you know, you get in late, you know, you need to put some on your stomach, but then you need to sleep as well. But your time, you know, you just on, you know, time difference, you three hours, three hours behind. So in your mind, you feel like it's 11, but really it's 3am, you know what I mean? So. And you know, marijuana has a sedating factor to it that, you know, push you to, you know, push you down.

[Entrepreneur/Coach/Author]

So I think a lot of guys use it for that, allows them to get that rest, you know, you, you're up, you're amped up, you know, just played in the game, bro. You bumping, bumping Dwight Howard and Joe.

[Brandon Jennings]

Kim Noah for 40 minutes. And now I gotta go slate out arrested, you know, you know, so it helped with that transition, I bet.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Yeah, traveling's tough on the body, man. I used to travel and then film, but now I have to travel the day before, dude, it's too tough. Like, by the time I land, I'm exhausted.

[Brandon Jennings]

Yeah, bro, you need that time Ahead. Yeah. Recharge, refuel.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Yeah. That's why playing on the road's so tough.

[Brandon Jennings]

Right.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Because you got to basically gas yourself on the way there and then you're tired by the time the game starts.

[Brandon Jennings]

Yeah. It's not always that break in between, you know, sometimes you jump right into it, which I hope they shorten the season, man, or like limit the games a little bit, you know. I know the fans don't really like that so much, but, you know, for the guys and their bodies, their mental, you know, they could just make a better quality basketball.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

I mean, dude, ACL tears this year.

[Brandon Jennings]

Crazy.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Crazy, right?

[Brandon Jennings]

Crazy.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

It's too many. And these are star players, so them not playing is hurting their revenue. I bet their ticket sales 1000%. Yeah. What do you think? 10 minute quarters?

[Brandon Jennings]

I think the game is. It should be as long. I just think the amount of games, you know, like.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Oh, the amount of games.

[Brandon Jennings]

Yeah. It's crazy.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Yeah.

[Brandon Jennings]

Plus preseason, plus playoffs, you know, I've lived that. Yeah. You know, and preseason's no joke. You know, pre. Pre season, like getting yourself ready for preseason is. Is. Is, you know, is a strain on the body. So, you know, it all plays a factor, you know, I think we're seeing it play out in real time, too.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Yeah. Yeah. When you break it down like that, that's over 100 games a year you're playing, plus the practice and travel. That's a lot on the body.

[Brandon Jennings]

A lot, bro.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Damn. That's nuts. Yeah. 82. You think it should be closer to 60 or.

[Brandon Jennings]

Yeah, 60. I played in the lockout year. I think we had 62 games that year. It was a good year. Yeah, yeah, it wasn't bad. We started in like December, you know, but we played like three games a week. It was crazy. You know, we were trying to play catch up, but, you know, if done the right way, for sure.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

You still follow the league pretty actively right now?

[Brandon Jennings]

My friends, you know, friends and people I consider family and whatnot, but I'm just so busy that I don't get much TV time.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

It's changed a lot since you played, right? The style of play?

[Brandon Jennings]

Yeah, yeah, for sure.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

I mean, feel just 40 threes a game.

[Brandon Jennings]

No, for sure it changed a lot. But, I mean, I ran into a GM from ogm, from the Bucks a couple weeks ago and he said to me, he was like, bro, you're like.

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[Brandon Jennings]

Six years ahead of time. You know, your gameplay, your swag, you know your approach to the game, what you do, you as an entity. Because when I came in the league, it wasn't really, it wasn't really cool for guys to do anything except for play basketball. You know, the moment you drop a song or you're known for fashion, they're like, is your team winning? You know, if you're not winning, then we don't want to know about anything else that you're doing. You know, shut up and dribble, you know, and that was really the stigma. You know, there was a dress code at the time. When I was in NBA, you couldn't really express yourself, you know, and that's me. Like, I'm very expressive when it comes to what I wear and like, so it felt like a. More of a cage at the time. And now, you know, there's a lot more freedom in the NBA and it's, it's a dope league. You know, I Wish I was 24 right now going into the NBA. I think I would, I would have a, have an easier career now.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

There's a lot of fashion in an NBA. They have guys recording them walking in now, right? And it's all about the fashion.

[Brandon Jennings]

All about it. You know what I mean? I was like that off the court, but you couldn't really show up like that on the court. It was suits, you know, it was a dress code when I was in the NBA.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Damn.

[Brandon Jennings]

Oh, yeah.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

When did they get rid of that?

[Brandon Jennings]

After I left. Ah, for sure, for sure, for sure.

[Entrepreneur/Coach/Author]

Yeah.

[Brandon Jennings]

Yeah.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

How did Allen Iverson get away with it?

[Brandon Jennings]

They started it after him.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Oh, after him. Okay.

[Brandon Jennings]

You know, I think. I think it was the Malice in the palace that kind of enforced the dress code, and they kind of tightened up the league because there was a, you know, overall cloud over the NBA.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

You know, did the. Did the fan Hecklin never get to. You ever been talking?

[Brandon Jennings]

No, not really. I don't really hear fans. For real, man.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

You're locked in.

[Brandon Jennings]

I'll be locked in, bro.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Yeah. Whenever I see Draymond, like, getting a fight, I'm like, why? Yeah, you know.

[Brandon Jennings]

Yeah.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

I mean, I get it, I guess, but some of them be saying wild stuff.

[Brandon Jennings]

Nah, they do. They do, but, you know, that's. They paying their money. Let them. Let them talk, man. I mean, any day, it's entertainment.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Yeah.

[Brandon Jennings]

And you got to remember that, you know, like, it's like an actor on the screen.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Right.

[Brandon Jennings]

Someone may hate your. Your role, but it's just your role. I mean, the movie. Yeah. You know, they don't know you personally, so you can't really take it personal. You know what I mean? Yeah. So I think you gotta remember that.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

I mean, every. Everyone likes a villain, right? Whether it's Dylan Brooks, Draymond, whatever.

[Brandon Jennings]

Yeah.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

It sells tickets.

[Brandon Jennings]

Yeah.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Yeah. Were you big on talking on the court, though?

[Brandon Jennings]

Oh, yeah. I'm trash talking.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Yeah.

[Brandon Jennings]

Oh, yeah. Yeah.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

You like getting people's heads?

[Brandon Jennings]

Oh. I mean, I'm not so much intentional about it, but it's just a part of my game, you know, once I get amped up.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Yeah.

[Brandon Jennings]

And then, you know, I lead with respect. I'm not. I'm not a disrespectful basketball player, but, I mean, it can go there. Oh, yeah. You know, I've had my KG moments and my. You know, I played against some guys.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. What's the craziest to talk about?

[Brandon Jennings]

I mean, KG got and got kind of rowdy.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

That's not surprising with him. Yeah.

[Brandon Jennings]

Yeah. I mean, I think really, I gained a reputation in the NBA that, like.

[Entrepreneur/Coach/Author]

You know, even as a rookie, like.

[Brandon Jennings]

I wasn't really one to be played with for real. Like.

[Entrepreneur/Coach/Author]

I'm not too proud of it, you know?

[Brandon Jennings]

Cause it took a lot of therapy, understanding. But yeah. Yeah, I was kind of a crash out a little bit, so I had to. You know what I mean? And so it was more about just. Just, you know, being cool and playing the game and, you know, I kind of got that respect. So that was good.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

I mean, back when you were playing, rookie hazing was pretty big deal, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So I don't blame you. You kind of want to defend yourself a little bit.

[Brandon Jennings]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I have my versions of it.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Yeah.

[Brandon Jennings]

Brandon Jennings, man, thanks for being open about therapy.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

I just started going myself.

[Brandon Jennings]

Oh, good.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Yeah. Start my second session next week.

[Brandon Jennings]

Nah, dope, bro. Proud of you, bro.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

I'm glad that, like, we could talk about it now before. So much shame, right? Yeah.

[Brandon Jennings]

Yeah, right? Yeah.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

When I was growing up. You were growing up?

[Brandon Jennings]

Yeah.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Even saying that when you were growing up probably, like, was shameful.

[Brandon Jennings]

Right, right, right. Yeah. But I was fortunate, bro. My mom had me, you know, she was anti medicine, so she had me see a therapist when I was, like, 11.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Oh, wow.

[Brandon Jennings]

Yeah, bro, like, at the moment, there was some acting out or, like, some behavior issues. You know, when it went like the whole community was putting everybody on drugs, you know, all the kids on drugs. She was like, nah, you know what? Let's. Let's see an alternative. Let's see what therapy is.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Respect.

[Brandon Jennings]

It was dope, bro. You know, I got dope perspective. It was a dude, you know, I grew up in the hood, so this was an old white dude taking me out to lunch, you know what I'm saying? Talking to me about my feelings. So it gave me a whole another perspective on not only just therapy, but, like, on the white race.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Yeah.

[Brandon Jennings]

You know what I mean? Like, it was foreign to me at the time, so it was dope.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

That's valuable to get that perspective. Right. Because a lot of people grow up in one perspective.

[Brandon Jennings]

Not for sure, bro. And it's like they get handed a bunch of people who give them a negative experience, and they. It taints their. Their image, you know, of the overall culture, you know what I mean? And, like, I see that all the time because that's what that's given to them. And fortunately, I was given, like, a different example. And then, you know, he became like a father figure, bro. So it's like, you know, someone like that investing in me and giving me that father energy, and I'm a little.

[Entrepreneur/Coach/Author]

Black boy, you know what I mean?

[Brandon Jennings]

It's like shows that there's no. There's really no separation, bro. You know what I mean? People just create it, you know what I mean?

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Like, I agree, man.

[Brandon Jennings]

Let's all go blind and see how separate we really are.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Yeah. You know, Right?

[Brandon Jennings]

Yeah, bro. Just find something to be to say we're different, you know what I mean? So I learned at an early age my dad was. Was super. My dad went through so much, you know, with racism, but he's so anti racism. Like he would not let me or let anybody spew any hatred. And he just, he just had a very understanding and forgiving heart. And I think that that's the most important thing is just finding understanding and forgiveness. Because we all going through some bro.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Bro facts, you know, Forgiveness is so important to me.

[Brandon Jennings]

Thanks, bro.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

My father, he didn't forgive certain people in his life and I saw eat out his health.

[Brandon Jennings]

Yeah.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

So for me, it's like, let me forgive everyone even if they like really screwed me over, scammed me or whatever.

[Brandon Jennings]

Yeah, bro.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

I'm not going to live with that resentment.

[Brandon Jennings]

For real.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

It's not worth it.

[Brandon Jennings]

You already hurt me once, bro. You're not going to continue to hurt me for my life. Every time I think about, you know, like, I got you.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

But there's people living with that resentment, it's deteriorating their health, you know, because.

[Brandon Jennings]

I feel like, I feel like sometimes people feel like if they let go of the resentment, then they're letting the person off the hook.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Right.

[Brandon Jennings]

It's like your resentment isn't punishing them, it's punishing you.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Yep.

[Brandon Jennings]

They're going to get what's coming to them. You know what I'm saying? So it's like sometimes we feel like if we forgive them, we let them off the hook. But no, you just, you just, you know, you, you're choosing not to drink the poison anymore.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

I'm forgiving them for me, you know.

[Brandon Jennings]

Right.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

For my health. Yeah, dude. Yeah. Cuz I know everyone has their enemies or whatever, but it's just, it's not worth it.

[Brandon Jennings]

Right.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

You know? What's the, what's the next move for you though? What are you focused on this year? Music.

[Brandon Jennings]

Well, I'm. I'm heavy into my camps, my youth camps. Just giving back, you know. My purpose is in people, bro. Like, I have a huge passion for people, especially kids. And like I said before, like, I didn't have that support system. So I want to make sure I.

[Entrepreneur/Coach/Author]

Can build that, show the importance of it and create that for kids, you know, around the world, you know, some kind of support system and stability and community so that they go into these situations and go into life feeling supported, bro.

[Brandon Jennings]

Like, it's huge.

[Entrepreneur/Coach/Author]

It's huge, man. You know, and also teaching financial literacy, business development, personal development. I just dropped my ebook. It's on my website and it's the student athlete edition.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Nice.

[Entrepreneur/Coach/Author]

So it's directly for student athletes and it's a three week course, something to do every day and it starts with personal development, telling your story, knowing who you are, making sure all your socials add up, you know, until the same message. Branding, and then business development from marketing, networking, how to network, you know what I mean, what questions to ask. And then financial. I mean, in financial literacy, stocks, bonds, cryptocurrency, there's some AI in there. So just things to make them think and develop, you know, kids are getting money early now, man. Again, I deals and whatnot. So, you know, if they just register through my website, they can get the ebook for free, you know, and I want to, you know, it just goes under my umbrella of how I want to, you know, leave my stamp on the world, bro.

[Brandon Jennings]

For real.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Appreciate that. We'll link that in the video. For sure.

[Brandon Jennings]

Nah, for sure. Thank you.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Yeah, thanks for coming on, man. And good luck tonight.

[Brandon Jennings]

Nah, you do, man.

[Dr. Larry Sanders]

Appreciate it, sir. Check them out, guys. Peace. Wherever you guys are watching this show, I would truly appreciate it if you follow or subscribe.

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[Dr. Larry Sanders]

It helps us get bigger and better guests, and it helps us grow the team. Truly means a lot. Thank you guys for supporting. And here's the episode.