Earn Your Leisure Podcast

Episode: Joey Bada$$ on Modern Fatherhood, Relationships & Building Family Legacy
Hosts: Rashad Bilal & Troy Millings
Guest: Joey Bada$$
Date: October 27, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings sit down with rapper, actor, and entrepreneur Joey Bada$$ for a candid conversation about his journey as a modern father, the dynamics of committed relationships today, and the intentional steps he's taking to build a meaningful family legacy. Joey opens up about how his upbringing shaped his views, the importance of partnership with his fiancée, and how he applies a business mindset to personal growth and family formation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Changing Face of Fatherhood and Masculinity

Timestamp: 01:55 – 02:36

• Joey’s approach to masculinity: Joey is presented as a positive example of masculinity in 2025, focusing on responsibility, partnership, and emotional maturity.

• Intentional example setting: Joey acknowledges the media's mixed messages around masculinity and seeks to stand as an “old soul” and conscious role model.

  "I'm all for the collective and I think that one of the main things that we need to be doing as a people is getting right with each other...the family aspect is a lot of healing that gotta be done in that."
  — Joey Bada$$ (02:36)

2. Family & Community Roots

Timestamp: 03:41 – 06:43

• Family-Oriented Upbringing: Joey describes growing up surrounded by a large, supportive family and realizing not everyone has that experience.

• Gaps in Early Role Models: Although he had community, Joey didn't see many examples of loving romantic partnerships or marriages, which impacted his vision for his own future relationships.

  "Even though there was family, even though there was like community, I didn't really see relationships being developed and, you know, cultivated like that."
  — Joey Bada$$ (04:35)

• Intentional Creation: Joey emphasizes the need to intentionally build the relationship and family dynamic he didn't witness as a child — both for himself and for future generations.

3. Applying a Business Mindset to Relationships

Timestamp: 06:43 – 10:39, 10:39 – 15:43

• Relationship 'Meetings': Joey and his fiancée hold regular sit-downs, sometimes even renting WeWork offices, treating their relationship like a business partnership by mapping out short- and long-term goals.

  "We like to have meetings with each other...we had one of our meetings...put the goals on the board...really plan it out. What's the long term, what's the short term, what's the now..."
  — Joey Bada$$ (05:13)

• Modeling for Their Son: The couple includes their infant son in their process, envisioning a future where family collaboration and goal setting are normalized.

  "This is the type of future that we want to build...where they could grow up being like, oh, you know, mom and dad in the middle meeting room again."
  — Joey Bada$$ (10:45)

• Navigating Together: Joey stresses that relationships thrive on shared vision and accountability — simply "floating in space" as individuals leads to drift and disconnection.

  "Some people are passengers on their own plane...some people don't even realize they could get into the cockpit or...captain's seat and steer the whole thing where they want to go."
  — Joey Bada$$ (11:05)

4. The Importance of a Value-Driven 'Vetting Process'

Timestamp: 13:15 – 16:40

• Relationship as a Contract: Joey compares choosing a partner to signing a business contract — know your non-negotiables, values, and terms upfront.

• Honest Communication: Advocates for tough, early conversations about life plans, values, and financial habits ("let's get right to it") as an act of respect and intentionality.

  "You gotta be with a candidate that you feel like you're gonna do good business with...the business mindset does align with it because...at some point we gonna have to ask each other real questions."
  — Joey Bada$$ (14:20)

• No Time for Games: Joey's approach is to immediately ask the deep questions, noting that this surprised his fiancée because she wasn't used to that level of directness.

  "At the beginning, it'll almost be like, what you asking me these questions for? And I'm like, girl, cause I'm serious. Like, I'm trying to...I ain't trying to play around."
  — Joey Bada$$ (16:14)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On modeling change for the next generation:

  "It's just kind of like creating what we feel we should have seen, becoming that. Becoming the change that we want to see."
  — Joey Bada$$ (10:39)

• On shared direction in relationships:

  "It's all about mapping it out...If you're not steering, you're just going to end up somewhere you never even planned on going."
  — Joey Bada$$ (11:22)

• On early, open conversations with his partner:

  "I sure did. You know, get right to it. A lot of tough questions at the top...because I'm serious."
  — Joey Bada$$ (15:48)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:55 – 02:36: Framing Joey as a modern masculine role model
• 03:41 – 06:43: Joey’s family background and relationship influence
• 05:13 – 06:43: "Relationship meetings" and setting goals as a couple
• 10:39 – 13:15: Planning family legacy and business parallels in partnership
• 13:15 – 16:40: Vetting, values, and communication in choosing a life partner
• 15:48 – 16:40: Early, in-depth conversations with his fiancée

Conclusion

This episode offers a deeply personal look at how Joey Bada$$ intentionally creates family legacy while redefining black masculinity for a new generation. Through honest reflection and practical examples, Joey's story models how openness, deliberate communication, and a ‘business-minded’ approach can empower families and communities.