For Good Reflections: How We Protect Our Peace

Podcast: For Good
Host: Joseph "JoJo" Simmons
Date: December 9, 2025

Episode Overview

This reflective episode of For Good centers on the theme of protecting your peace and the critical importance of mental health routines. Host JoJo Simmons, drawing from both personal experience and powerful moments from past guests, offers a “mental health mashup” — an open-hearted collection of advice, stories, and self-care practices. Through vulnerable storytelling and candid exchanges, JoJo and his guests explore how healing oneself fosters growth in families, communities, and wider legacies.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Value of a Mental Reset

• JoJo’s Approach (00:00):
  • Every morning, JoJo begins his day with meditation and prayer, intentionally creating space to “take a mental reset.”
  • Encourages listeners to make vulnerability a strength and to “prioritize your mental health.”

2. Real-Life Routines for Mental Health

• Physical Exercise and Identity (01:31-02:53)

  • Former Athlete shares how staying active, especially after retiring, counters “brain fog” and provides structure.
  • Acknowledges the struggle of redefining identity post-career, emphasizing, “Who am I as an individual?” after years defined by being an athlete.

• Morning Prayer and Digital Boundaries (03:01-04:22)

  • Angela emphasizes beginning her day with prayer and positive input, sometimes through wordless worship music.
  • Discusses deliberately putting her phone aside for 15–20 minutes to “check in” and “not jump into rash decisions.”
  • Memorable moment:
    • Angela jokingly explains her “give me a second” texts signify taking that crucial mental pause.

• Community & Faith (04:26-05:55)

  • Euphoria Founder calls daily self-care “a regimen,” highlighting workouts, meditation, prayer, and staying spiritually connected to God.
  • Emphasizes the power of community, saying, “We need to be able to express ourselves freely and…just get it out.”
  • Therapy is reframed as normal and necessary: “Sometimes you just need therapy to process different life triggers and different life situations.”

3. Breaking Stigma and Embracing Therapy

• Therapy in Black Communities (05:36-07:10)

  • Mental Health Advocate and Euphoria Founder break down cultural stigma, pushing for mental health openness.
  • “It doesn’t mean something is wrong with you because you need therapy.”

• Resilience, Ambition, and Setbacks (07:25-08:46)

  • Entrepreneur stresses goal-setting, enduring losses, and shedding tears as real expressions of handling pressure.
  • “You’re not a boss until you take a loss.”

4. Managing Burnout, Writing, and Rituals

• Written Release and Alchemy (10:35-11:45)

  • Mental Health Practitioner shares morning routines: exercise, writing out negative thoughts, and literally burning the paper as a release.
    • “I truly burn it. Write it out, burn it, and it literally…you will feel like a weight has lifted off you.”
  • JoJo responds: “I think that’s the biggest part for me…If I could focus on me first, then everybody else can get 100% of me.” (11:45)

• Personal Adaptations (11:45-12:24)

  • JoJo talks about solo time — whether by rolling a joint, reading, or reflecting before interacting with anyone else.

5. Creativity, Play, and Non-Productivity

• Reclaiming Play (13:03-14:45)
  • Nail Artist encourages “hobbies you will NOT turn into a business,” practicing play for its own sake.
    • “Get you some hobbies that allow you to play…like you are a little kid.”
  • Shares aerial hoop and DIY nail design as personal examples.

6. Setting Boundaries, Grieving, and Alone Time

• Alone Time and Emotional Expression (14:51-16:07)

  • Community Member, reflecting on losing a parent young, describes using solitary time in the shower to “let it all out” because “I can’t let my little ones ever see a weak point in me.”
  • Advocates for trusted conversation and setting boundaries: “Let that person feel something off of you.”

• Safe Spaces and Listening (16:07-17:02)

  • Advocate and community members note that therapy—or even “just listening”—is vital, especially for Black men who don’t feel heard.
  • “A lot of men don’t feel heard. So just having somebody listen really helps…even if you don’t have the answer.” (16:46)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• JoJo Simmons:
  • “Mental health isn’t something you figure out once. It’s something you practice daily.” (17:54)
  • “If I could focus on me first, then everybody else can get 100% of me.” (11:45)
• Angela:
  • “Sometimes I put a pause on it…at least 15 to 20 minutes…I need to make sure…I can get to it.” (03:43)
• Euphoria Founder:
  • “[Therapy]…takes the stigma off…the topic of needing therapy. It doesn’t need to be something negative. Sometimes you just need to talk it out, and that’s okay.” (05:55)
• Mental Health Practitioner:
  • “Write this, write it out, burn it…it literally…you will feel like a weight has lifted off of you.” (11:13)
• Nail Artist:
  • “Get you some hobbies that allow you to just play…one hour a week, you just play.” (14:10)
• Community Member:
  • “As a man, I might take a shower, I might just let it all out. I can’t let my little ones ever see a weak point in me.” (14:54)
• Mental Health Advocate:
  • “We all deal with trauma. It don’t matter if we come from a different tax bracket.” (16:07)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00–01:31: JoJo’s personal morning ritual and call for a “mental health reset.”
• 01:31–02:53: Former athlete on losing athletic identity and mental health after sports.
• 03:01–04:22: Angela details her morning prayer and boundaries with technology.
• 04:26–05:55: Euphoria Founder on community, faith, and destigmatizing therapy.
• 07:25–08:46: Entrepreneur on ambition, setbacks, and emotional release.
• 10:35–11:45: Mental Health Practitioner shares burning negative thoughts as ritual.
• 13:03–14:45: Nail Artist on play, hobbies, and resisting over-productivity.
• 14:51–16:07: Community Member explains alone time, grief, and boundaries.
• 16:07–17:02: Advocate and Community Member describe the importance of being heard.
• 17:54–end: JoJo’s closing reflections and encouragement for ongoing self-care.

Takeaways

• There’s no single “right” way to protect your peace; self-care is personal, ranging from spiritual practice to movement, writing, creative play, therapy, or simply giving yourself permission to rest.
• Breaking generational cycles and stigma around mental health—particularly in Black communities and among Black men—remains an ongoing journey.
• Vulnerability, honest conversation, and intentional boundaries are recurring themes for sustainable well-being.
• JoJo’s signature blend of humility and humor welcomes both serious reflection and playful experimentation—reminding listeners that legacy is “built on love, not ego,” and that mental health is a daily practice.

“Focus on the good, never the bad. Measure by what you do, not what you have, and make sure you take care of your mental health.” — JoJo Simmons (17:54)