For Good Podcast

Episode: Angela Simmons: From Whippin' Pastry to Single Parenthood & Dating in the Spotlight
Host: Joseph "JoJo" Simmons
Guest: Angela Simmons
Date: August 26, 2025

Episode Overview

In this heartfelt episode, JoJo Simmons welcomes his sister, entrepreneur and advocate Angela Simmons, for an open exploration of fame, family dynamics, legacy, single parenthood, healing, body image, and authentic living. The episode traverses their shared history as children of hip-hop royalty, the highs and lows of growing up on reality TV, and Angela's journey as a single mom and businesswoman. The Simmons siblings delve into personal anecdotes, generational lessons, vulnerability, and wellness routines—offering listeners tangible insights on self-growth, healing, and intentionality.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Growing Up Simmons: Sibling Dynamics & Family Legacy

• Sibling Banter & Roles

  • Angela playfully remarks on JoJo's self-proclaimed protector role despite being the youngest:

    "You just happen not to be born before me and born before Vanessa, but technically, because you're the boy...you feel like you are older, but you're not. And I'm older than you, and I think you do forget that." (03:30)

  • JoJo recounts stepping up to defend Angela in elementary school, forming the roots of his protector complex. (04:00–04:50)

• The Realities of Growing Up in the Spotlight

  • Realization of fame came gradually for the siblings, not from household attitude but from public response:

    “There was a concert that woke me up one day. Like, I feel like we were on the side of the stage as we normally would be. I'm like, these people really like him...That's dad.” — Angela (06:53)

  • On being recognized after "Run's House":

    “It was in Times Square in New York. Like some random group noticed me and said it and I was just like, oh, they told us. Like, remember they warned us...” (08:13)

• Family togetherness as a legacy

  • Both celebrate their father’s priority of closeness:

    “Kudos to dad for keeping us always so close knit and family oriented...he made sure family was the first thing.” — JoJo (16:27)

Entrepreneurship, Pastry, and Owning the Hustle

• Starting Pastry and the Jay-Z Co-sign

  • Angela details launching Pastry with Vanessa and being immortalized by Jay-Z’s lyric:

    “It's dope because it really is a New York staple song...I live, breathe, I am New York...to be a part of like the New York song, like, come on.” (10:02–10:38)

  • Designing for girls and surpassing Jordan sales:

    “They told us y'all sales surpassed Jordan this week...And we toured the world...lines 3,000 plus people long...” (11:49)

• Transitioning to Independence

  • Angela and Vanessa naturally diverged in career paths—no drama, just evolution:

    “We never, like, had a sit down. Like, yo, so you finna do this, I'm gonna do that. It was just like life happened.” (16:48)

• Misconceptions of Privilege, Reality of Grind

  • Angela sets the record straight:

    “People think we have a head start. We don't...when we walk in these rooms...they think, you got it already, or it's easy for you. So you're not the person that walks in with your hustle. And everyone says, I fully respect it. It's more like, we respect where you come from. And then they sit back, and we got to sit back and make the work happen and then show what we did times 20.” (19:03–19:29)

  • JoJo echoes that value, not legacy, earns respect:

    “You can have all the resources and connections in the world, and if you don't bring value to the room, it won't matter.” (20:01)

Body Image, Wellness, and Healing

• Childhood Insecurities & Family Impact

  • Both candidly recall how teasing and childhood wounds stuck with Angela:

    “I also knew I was bigger than all y' all and not fat, but it felt fat, right? So, like, I had my little journal and I used to write that down and I hated it. So I was like, okay...And that is how I made the change." (24:04)

  • JoJo apologizes for past teasing, Angela acknowledges its effect but embraces her growth. (23:48–24:50)

• Transformation through Fitness

  • Angela credits trainer Mike T for catalyzing sustainable healthy habits:

    “When I'm all in on something, I'm all in...he taught me how to eat and to work out.” (25:15–25:54)

  • On wellness as a lifestyle:

    “If you feel good, then everything else follows. People who are their happier self produce happier environments and more grows there.” (26:14)

• Regimens & Mental Health

  • Angela and JoJo discuss discipline, daily routines, and the gym as essential mental tools:

    “Meditation. Gotta pray. Gotta listen to positive stuff first thing in the morning...Then it’s straight to body.” (27:10)

• Plant-Based Living & Food Choices

  • Angela has been vegetarian/vegan for nearly two decades; she supports autonomy in food choices.

    “I always wanted SJ...to be vegetarian or vegan...But being plant based or vegan—it’s a difference, you feel different.” (28:40–29:46)

  • Both stress research and non-judgment towards dietary paths. (30:03–31:22)

Parenthood, Loss, and Support Systems

• Single Motherhood after Loss

  • Angela faces the unexpected death of SJ’s father with vulnerability:

    “It changed me as a person...I went into therapy the day after it happened...It was the only way for me to start processing what was in my head..." (31:55–33:06)

  • JoJo shares the emotional weight of the final interaction with SJ's father and the shared sense of responsibility:

    “His last words to me were, ‘aight, bro, hold it down.’...I have to make sure I have a relationship with SJ...because that was where his last words to me was, hold it down.” (33:33–34:28)

• Hardest Aspects of Single Parenting

  • Angela reveals the loneliness of decision-making:

    "Who do you share everything with?...I’m the final word. It’s like the weirdest, eeriest thing..." (35:11)

• The Importance of Family Support

  • The Simmons extended family’s involvement acts as a crucial support net:

    “Blessed that we have a large family and blessed that everybody's tight knit and able to kind of, like, play and cover all the bases.” (36:36)

• Cousin Bonds & Generational Echoes

  • Angela and JoJo reflect on the fiery, loving dynamic between their kids, who are being raised like siblings:

    “They have got a dynamic duo, but they're weird because they're arguing...and still want to play with each other." (38:05)

Authenticity, Healing, and Choosing Growth

• Inner Growth & Emotional Intelligence
  • The conversation repeatedly circles back to intentionality, reflection, and healing. Angela cites therapy, self-work, and breaking generational cycles as essential:

    “Therapy. I went into therapy the day after it happened. Like, immediately...breaking down...how I felt, because there were things I needed to say...” (32:01)

  • JoJo adds:

    “For Good is about healing for real...breaking cycles and redefining legacy isn’t just a hashtag.” (Summary of the core message throughout)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Angela on what fame feels like:

  “We never looked at [Dad] like that. That's dad. So I just feel like we never thought about it, like, in that way.” (06:53)

• Jay-Z’s lyric validation:

  “Jay Z just said, like a Simmons whipping Pastry. We were like, what?...it's dope because it really is a New York staple song.” (10:02)

• On public perceptions of privilege:

  “People always think, like...you got it already, or it's easy for you...but...the expectation bar is here. You don't get to start over the same way someone else starts over. Everyone's looking at you already.” (19:03)

• On parental boundaries and independence:

  “I don't like being told no. So I said, I'm a figure it out. And then I turned around and got the same apartment he said no to.” (18:12)

• On body image and confidence:

  “But as a kid, I struggled with it terribly.” (25:57)
  “The better I feel, the better everybody else can feel. The better mom I can be, the better friend.” (26:33)

• On healing and therapy after tragedy:

  “Therapy. I went into therapy the day after it happened...it was the only way for me to start processing what was in my head.” (32:01)

Important Timestamps

• 03:30: Angela on sibling dynamics and age roles
• 06:53: Angela on first realizing her father's fame
• 08:13: Angela on realizing her own fame post-"Run’s House"
• 10:02: Angela on Pastry’s launch and Jay-Z shout-out
• 11:49: Pastry surpasses Jordan sales
• 16:27: JoJo on the legacy of family closeness
• 19:03: Angela on the reality of hustling as the child of celebrities
• 24:04: Angela on body image struggles and self-transformation
• 26:14: Angela on wellness and creating a positive environment
• 31:55: Angela on becoming a single mother after loss
• 33:33: JoJo's emotional recollection of SJ's father's last words
• 35:11: Angela on the hardest part of single motherhood
• 36:36: Angela on the critical importance of family support
• 38:05: The sibling/cousin dynamic between their kids

Tone & Style

• The episode is lively, direct, candid, and loving—full of sibling banter and vulnerability.
• Both JoJo and Angela keep it real, blending humor, wisdom, honesty, and emotion in equal measure.

Conclusion

This episode of "For Good" is a powerful, meaningful conversation that goes beyond celebrity to illuminate authentic growth and healing. Angela Simmons' story underscores that true legacy is built through intention, resilience, and love. It's an essential listen for anyone navigating transitions, healing from loss, or striving to break generational cycles with courage and grace.

End of Part 1 – Tune in for Part 2 as the discussion moves into Angela’s candid reflections on dating and life in the public eye.