For Good Podcast
Episode: Just JoJo: Birthday Edition — Redefining Legacy Beyond the Spotlight
Host: Joseph "JoJo" Simmons
Date: October 7, 2025
Main Theme
In this introspective, birthday-edition solo episode, JoJo Simmons uses his 36th birthday as an anchor for a candid exploration of legacy, purpose, growth, and what it means to carve out an authentic identity beyond fame and family. Through honest storytelling and self-reflection, JoJo discusses the journey of growing up in the spotlight, hard-won lessons about work ethic and mental health, and how family and faith continually ground and inspire him to build a meaningful legacy rooted in intentionality and impact, not just celebrity.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Birthday Reflections & The State of the Journey
- (01:00–02:40) JoJo opens up about gratitude for his journey so far and his ongoing growth.
- "You don't always have to be where you want to be in life, but you do have to start going where you want to go. I won't lie—not where I want to be, but I'm going where I want to go. And that's all that really matters." (01:14)
- Acknowledges his legacy as part of the Simmons family (Run DMC, Def Jam, etc.) but redefines legacy as the personal impact you leave, not just what you're born into.
2. Growth, Purpose & Changing Definitions of Success
- (03:30–06:15) JoJo walks through his evolving definitions of success:
- Early ambitions centered on fame and recognition—“I wanted to be a rapper, an entertainer. I didn't see myself being an interviewer, a journalist, a host...” (04:12)
- Accepting unexpected callings—podcasting, hosting, and business emerged organically:
"It's funny how the universe and God work—he's trying to put something in front of you, but you keep pushing it away. Now look at me: I love being a host and interviewer." (05:19)
- Work Ethic: Hard lessons on preparation and determination, originated from "winging it" as a kid and learning nobody hands you anything—every opportunity requires hard work.
- "Nobody's going to hand you nothing. Nobody's supposed to give you nothing in life." (06:10)
3. Legacy: Beyond Family, Beyond Fame
- (08:20–11:00)
- “Legacy...is the impact you leave when you leave the earth. You can't just batch us all in together and say, ‘the kids were there on TV.’ I want them to add me to the legacy because of what I did." (09:05)
- He challenges the assumption that legacy should be inherited—he’s proud of his family’s accomplishments but is intent on creating his own chapter.
4. Identity & Carving a Path Outside the Spotlight
- (11:05–17:45)
- Growing up under scrutiny: advantages of the spotlight come with lack of privacy and pressure to perform.
- "It’s hard to have a bad day when you’re a person that’s in the spotlight...Once you become part of that, you gotta take the good with the bad." (12:11)
- He found individuality in starting Three Is For and Who’s House Entertainment, building platforms not as “JoJo from Run’s House,” but Joseph Simmons, the entrepreneur, advocate, and businessman—especially in cannabis and wellness, spaces new for his family.
- "Doing things my family never did, but with the same entrepreneurial blueprint." (14:45)
- Trials as a young rapper weren’t about living up to his father, but about honest aspiration—wanting to be like the successful man he admired.
- “I never let stuff get to me...if you let people’s opinions determine your worth, what are you doing it for?” (16:38)
5. Overcoming Setbacks & Finding Courage
- (17:48–19:55)
- Perceived privilege can cause others to shut doors—“Getting in the rooms is relatively easy, but staying is harder...Sometimes even when we prove ourselves, the door is still shut.” (18:38)
- Pushes through with transparency and integrity—insists on being seen for current work, not family name:
- "Take away my last name—see a man trying to build a company, take care of his people. That's all I'm here for." (19:30)
6. Purpose: Family, Faith & Giving Back
- (21:10–27:00)
- Fatherhood and partnership light the fire of intentionality and daily purpose:
"My kids are 100% my purpose. My wife too. When my daughter was born, I knew I had to do something—not just be a good dad, but provide, give, make sure she never feels pain." (21:25) - His definition of purpose shifted from fun and survival to deeper service.
- Community motivation is inseparable from personal goals—advocacy, wellness, and education are now core reasons to work.
- “My personal goal is to teach. My personal goal is to educate. My personal goal is to motivate. And I think that all ties in with my career.” (25:50)
- Fatherhood and partnership light the fire of intentionality and daily purpose:
7. Mindset Shifts & Staying Centered
- (27:00–31:30)
- Letting go of anxiety and embracing calm:
- “Worry less and do your best. You realize in life: worrying more just makes it worse.” (29:15)
- Prioritizing peace over drama, and healthy conversation—even in conflict.
- Family and faith as daily anchors:
- “Faith is something you can’t see—believing even when it’s impossible. When discipline and motivation fade, faith is what keeps people going.” (30:54)
- Celebrating simple joys—this birthday, just “cake with my wife and 2 kids at the dinner table, just looking at what I’ve created—that’s great to me.” (32:05)
- Letting go of anxiety and embracing calm:
8. Handling Setbacks & Remaining Motivated
- (32:15–34:40)
- Mantra for resilience: “A setback is a pause, not a stop. I may have a setback for 30 seconds, but I never let it stop me.” (33:08)
- The work is for his family, not the “applauders or the crowd”—external validation can’t define the journey.
9. Looking Forward: Hopes, Impact, & Advice
- (34:45–37:20)
- Dedication to expanding his creative studio, Three Is For, and making the For Good podcast a “positive, intentional space.”
- “Positivity is needed...it's like a cleansing coming over here to For Good after watching all that other content that may not be positive.” (36:07)
- Advice for those seeking purpose:
- “Find what makes you happy...Find yourself, and once you find yourself, you find your purpose...Don’t let other people’s expectations decide who you’re gonna be.” (36:55)
10. Mental Health Check-In & Closing
- (37:20–38:33)
- JoJo’s current state: proud, inspired, not content but deeply motivated.
- “Every day I work hard. Every day I go hard...Still to this day there are people who don’t believe in me. That doesn’t matter to me...Mentally, I feel like we’re gonna have a killer next year and years beyond.” (37:40)
- Closing wisdom:
- “You don't always have to be where you want to be, but you do have to start going where you want to go in life.”
- “Some of us aren't where we want to be, but some of us aren't even trying to go where we want to go. So make sure that you’re trying to go where you want to go.” (38:15)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On Legacy:
- “It’s great to come from a legacy, but what legacy means to me is the impact you leave when you leave the earth.” (01:21, 08:20, echoed throughout)
- On Generational Weight:
- “Don’t just batch us all in together. I want them to say: Rev Run did this. Russell Simmons did this. JoJo Simmons grew out and did this.” (09:05)
- On Resilience:
- “You either lay down or stand up. I choose to stand up...Win or lose, every morning I wake up and try to win.” (16:53)
- On Purpose:
- “My kids are 100% my purpose...You can’t expect some other man to take care of mine.” (21:25)
- On Calmness:
- “Worry less and do your best. We are truly not in control of certain things that happen to us in life...When you let things go and do your best, good always comes out.” (29:11)
- On Faith:
- “Even when the discipline and motivation fade, faith is what keeps people going. Faith means believing in something—even if it seems impossible.” (30:55)
- On Mindset:
- “A setback is a pause, not a stop. I never let it stop me.” (33:08)
- On Community:
- “Positivity is needed. It’s like a cleansing coming to the For Good podcast.” (36:07)
- Advice:
- “Find what makes you happy...Don’t let other people’s expectations decide who you’re gonna be.” (36:55)
Timestamps for Key Segments
| Segment Topic | Start (MM:SS) | |-------------------------------------------------------|---------------| | Introduction & Birthday Reflection | 01:00 | | Work Ethic & Learning as a Young Man | 04:55 | | Legacy & Redefining Success | 08:20 | | Growing Up in the Spotlight; Individuality | 11:05 | | Pressure & Finding Courage Amid Expectations | 16:35 | | Entrepreneurship & Building For Good/Three Is For | 18:10 | | Family, Faith, & Purpose Evolutions | 21:10 | | Balancing Goals & Community Service | 25:30 | | Mindset: Calm, Peace & Letting Go of Drama | 27:00 | | Handling Setbacks, Staying Motivated | 32:15 | | Looking Forward & For Good’s Purpose | 34:45 | | Advice for Finding Purpose | 36:55 | | Mental Health Check-In & Closing | 37:20 |
Episode Summary
Joseph "JoJo" Simmons delivers a heartfelt, vulnerable solo episode for his 36th birthday, unpacking what legacy, purpose, and growth truly mean—far beyond a last name or public fame. He shares stories of overcoming expectations, learning from setbacks, and staying true to his path and passions, all while centering community, family, faith, and mental health. With an approachable, down-to-earth energy and his signature transparency, JoJo frames healing not as a trend but a lifelong journey—and reminds listeners that true purpose can only be found, and legacy built, by daring to step outside the spotlight and do the work for oneself and one’s community.