Vanessa Simmons Gets Personal: Family, Fame & Keeping Her Life Private

Summary

Podcast Summary: For Good
Episode: Vanessa Simmons Gets Personal: Family, Fame & Keeping Her Life Private
Release Date: June 3, 2025

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Introduction

In this heartfelt episode of For Good, host Joseph "JoJo" Simmons sits down with his eldest sister, Vanessa Simmons, to delve deep into their shared upbringing, experiences in the spotlight, and the delicate balance between family life and personal privacy. The conversation offers listeners an intimate glimpse into the Simmons family's dynamics, Vanessa's journey as a mother and entrepreneur, and their collective approach to mental health and personal growth.

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Family Dynamics and Upbringing

JoJo and Vanessa reminisce about their childhood, highlighting the contrasting experiences of growing up between their mother's house in Queens and their father's residence, famously showcased in MTV’s Run's House. Vanessa emphasizes the importance of their parents' consistent communication and the strong work ethic instilled in them.

Notable Quote:

• Vanessa Simmons [04:25]: "My mom made sure that she was able to be independent. And that was a powerful image to see as a young woman growing up."

JoJo adds that despite their privileged upbringing, both siblings worked hard for their own achievements, debunking misconceptions about their life being effortlessly comfortable.

Notable Quote:

• JoJo Simmons [05:09]: "We all work for our own money, and we've all worked extremely hard."

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Experiences in Reality TV

The sisters discuss their time on reality TV shows like Run's House and Growing Up Hip Hop. Vanessa reflects on the lessons learned from reality TV, emphasizing authenticity and the value of showcasing one's true self.

Notable Quote:

• Vanessa Simmons [11:46]: "The best thing I realized is being your authentic self as much as possible to really give people something to relate to."

JoJo contrasts the controlled narrative of Run's House with the more unpredictable nature of Growing Up Hip Hop, expressing gratitude for being able to rebrand and share his authentic self through the latter.

Notable Quote:

• JoJo Simmons [12:14]: "In Run's House, it was family, it was togetherness. That's what sold Run's House. It was authenticity."

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Balancing Career and Motherhood

Vanessa opens up about her transition into motherhood and how it intertwined with her acting career. She shares strategies for maintaining balance, such as selecting passionate projects and relying on a supportive "village" to manage responsibilities.

Notable Quote:

• Vanessa Simmons [26:53]: "Being a mom has been a journey that taught me a lot about patience, being present, and serving as the best example I can be."

JoJo echoes the importance of not losing oneself amidst the responsibilities of parenthood, reinforcing the idea of chasing personal dreams while nurturing one's family.

Notable Quote:

• JoJo Simmons [29:21]: "Don't ever lose yourself as a mother."

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Vanessa’s Brand and Wellness Advocacy

Vanessa introduces her new wellness brand, Euphoria, which focuses on educating and empowering women to live vibrant, balanced lives. She discusses various wellness practices, such as somatic workouts and breathing exercises, aimed at addressing mental health and emotional well-being.

Notable Quote:

• Vanessa Simmons [32:03]: "Euphoria is all about educating people on things they can do to live a more vibrant, euphoric way of living."

She emphasizes the importance of passing down these wellness tools to her daughter, Ava, ensuring that the next generation is equipped to handle life's challenges healthily.

Notable Quote:

• Vanessa Simmons [35:04]: "I want her to have tools that she can use to thrive in life."

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Mental Health and Therapy

The conversation shifts to the significance of mental health and the role of therapy. Vanessa advocates for removing the stigma surrounding therapy, highlighting its benefits in processing emotions and fostering personal growth.

Notable Quote:

• Vanessa Simmons [60:19]: "Therapy is so important because we need to connect and express ourselves freely without being judged."

JoJo aligns with this perspective, underscoring the importance of fostering environments where individuals feel supported and empowered to seek mental health care.

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Sibling Relationships and Support

JoJo expresses deep gratitude for Vanessa's unwavering support during his darkest times, particularly her role in advocating for his participation in Growing Up Hip Hop. Vanessa shares her feelings of protecting her siblings from negativity while recognizing the necessity of personal growth through challenging experiences.

Notable Quote:

• Vanessa Simmons [47:53]: "It's never fun to see your sibling go through a dark time, but it's part of life that helps us grow."

JoJo praises Vanessa for her role in helping him rebrand his image and regain confidence, highlighting the profound impact of sibling support.

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Personal Memories and Legacy

The siblings reminisce about cherished family moments, such as vacations and gatherings, emphasizing the importance of legacy and familial bonds. They discuss the legacy of their father, Rev Run of Run DMC, and its influence on their lives and careers.

Notable Quote:

• JoJo Simmons [53:18]: "I feel so much closer to my father knowing who he was before becoming my father."

Vanessa shares her admiration for the forthcoming Run DMC documentary, reflecting on the insights it provided into her father's life and legacy.

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Closing Thoughts

As the episode wraps up, Vanessa shares updates on her ongoing projects, including her work in television and film, as well as the continued development of her wellness brand, Euphoria. Both sisters express their commitment to using their platforms to inspire and uplift others, reinforcing the podcast's core message of healing and personal growth.

Notable Quote:

• JoJo Simmons [62:31]: "I want people to come out of watching this with quotables and feel inspired."

Vanessa concludes by reiterating the importance of community and support systems in achieving mental and emotional well-being, leaving listeners with a powerful message of empowerment and resilience.

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Key Takeaways

• Authenticity Matters: Embracing one's true self fosters genuine connections and personal growth.
• Balancing Roles: Successfully managing career aspirations alongside family responsibilities requires dedication and support.
• Mental Health Advocacy: Removing stigma around therapy and prioritizing mental well-being are crucial for thriving in today's world.
• Legacy and Family: Understanding and honoring family legacy can provide strength and direction in one's personal and professional life.
• Empowerment Through Wellness: Educating and empowering individuals with wellness tools can lead to a more vibrant and fulfilling life.

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This episode of For Good offers an enriching narrative on navigating fame, maintaining personal integrity, and fostering strong familial bonds, all while advocating for mental health and wellness. Vanessa Simmons' candid storytelling serves as an inspiration for listeners to prioritize their well-being and embrace their authentic selves.

Transcript

[Jojo Simmons]

Lately, I've been teaching Mia how to ride her bike. And I had to remember who taught me how to ride my bike.

[Vanessa Simmons]

You remember that?

[Jojo Simmons]

I just remember you teaching me and pushing me, looking back and you were no longer holding and saying, you're doing it, Jojo. Oh my God, you're doing it, Jojo. And me being like so proud to make you proud. That's the vision I always have of you as a big sister, like, metaphorically wanting good for me.

[Vanessa Simmons]

That memory is crazy because it just came back to me. Like, it takes balance.

[Jojo Simmons]

You chase, you still chase. What you want in life and. And age doesn't matter, Kids doesn't matter. But don't ever lose.

[Vanessa Simmons]

You don't ever lose. You make sure you are taking and scheduling me. Time, self care. Still going after the dreams that you have. Don't let motherhood hold you back. We're just brought up in a different way. You can be fully a woman and sexy and not have to. Privacy is power, but secret is sacred. We were on TV. From what I think I was like 20. That was a lot of our life we gave to the public. Sometimes putting too much eyes ruins things.

[Jojo Simmons]

What's good, everybody? It's your boy, Jojo Simmons. And this is the For Good podcast, where we focus on the good and never the bad, where we're measured on what we do and not what we have. Today, I literally have family in the building. My real family, my older and eldest sister, Vanessa Simmons.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Guys, you know, this is actually officially my first podcast in person. I've never done this before, like, and.

[Jojo Simmons]

I got you out to do it with me.

[Vanessa Simmons]

My very first podcast. This is crazy. Look at you, all professional. Got your cards?

[Jojo Simmons]

I got my two cards.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Exactly.

[Jojo Simmons]

That's what I told Little Easy E when I invited. I'm ready to go. I mean, you know, I always felt like I wanted to get into this lane, you know, before we get into these questions. So I figured that, you know, it had to be right and I had to have the right setup and I had to have the right team. And I really have to shout out my team. Behind the scenes of Three is Four. That's really helped me with my questions and my cue cards and getting this place set up and just everything, you know, from the logo. So, like, I really gotta give kudos to my team. And I think that people always undervalue what a good team can mean for you when you have them, you know what I mean? And you can really use them to. To really help you expand your vision, you know? What?

[Vanessa Simmons]

I mean, a team is everything. If you don't got a right team in place.

[Jojo Simmons]

Right.

[Vanessa Simmons]

It's not going to fly the way you really want it to. So teamwork is everything. And I'm excited to be here. Look at you, all professional.

[Jojo Simmons]

Yeah. So let's get into it.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Let's get into it. What you got?

[Jojo Simmons]

Okay, so I'm going to start off light, you know.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Okay.

[Jojo Simmons]

So obviously we came on the scene. You know, people know us from Run's house, right?

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yes.

[Jojo Simmons]

But, you know, they don't really know that we grew up in Queens. Right before the show, a lot of people, like, you're from Saddle river, you're from Saddle river, you're from la, you're from la. A lot of people think not from LA at all. Runs house was in LA for, and I don't know why.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Not at all.

[Jojo Simmons]

It was in Jersey.

[Vanessa Simmons]

It wasn't a set. It was our house.

[Jojo Simmons]

So a lot of people don't know also that, you know, our mom was in. Was in Queens our whole life, and our dad was in Queens originally and then moved to Jersey.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Right.

[Jojo Simmons]

Could you explain in your point of view and perspective, what were the differences between Run's house and Mom's house? And how did mom keep us grounded?

[Vanessa Simmons]

What's the difference between Run's house and Mom's house? Well, there was definitely a difference, but I will say that our parents definitely stayed in lockstep to really raise us on a. You know, just raise us in a way that they had proper communication, so, you know, everything stayed consistent for us. But I would say that Mom's house definitely taught me the value of work ethic. My dad did, too. Daddy did, too, as well. That's why I say they stayed in lockstep. But, you know, Mommy, once you saw a different work. I saw a different work. She was a single mom for a while, raising us three after she and, you know, dad divorced. So we got to really see, for me, as a woman, it was really powerful to see her go out and really make it happen no matter what. There was nothing that was gonna stand in the way of, you know, providing for us outside of what, of course, you know, my daddy gave her and stuff, but she. She made sure that she was able to be independent.

[Jojo Simmons]

No, of course.

[Vanessa Simmons]

And that was a powerful image to see as a young woman growing up.

[Jojo Simmons]

Yeah. I think a lot of people always like, oh, your dad probably gave you everything growing up. I was like, honestly, my mom gave me a lot of. A lot growing up. Not to say that Daddy didn't give me, you know, things growing up. But my mom made sure I never needed for nothing. I wanted for nothing. If I wanted the new Jordans, it was mommy going to Jamaica Avenue and going to get me the new Jordans.

[Vanessa Simmons]

They both. They both did, you know. No, but what I'm saying is daddy's girl.

[Jojo Simmons]

But I feel like the difference was a lot of people think we're just these high and mighty. Oh, these kids, they don't know. They don't know. They're not humanized. They don't know the people. They don't understand that different life. And I think what people don't understand is, yes, we were raised very privileged, and Daddy obviously very famous, very wealthy, and, you know, we need it for nothing. But like you said, we saw mommy work extremely hard, and we learned the value of a dollar, the value of work ethic, and the value of getting our own money. Because I think a lot of people get it misconstru. And say, oh, your dad just gives you money and he just takes care of you. And they don't know that. Me, you, every last one of us down to Russy. We all work for our own money, and we've all. We work extremely hard.

[Vanessa Simmons]

How about the fact that I had a job straight out of high school? Remember when I worked in the mall at Rampage? His mommy was like, you need to understand the value of a dollar. You're gonna go and get a job. My first job was Abercrombie and Fitch. Second was at Rampage. So, like, we really learned the value of work ethic, and we learned that on both sides. So we just had a good balance of. One side was definitely very Hollywood, and there was a lot of those factors. And then the other side was just straight, like, almost working class.

[Jojo Simmons]

It was working class. It was real. It was. It was. I was the kid that when I was at the mommy's house, I would go outside and play with all the kids on the block and daddy's house. I always felt like I was in the house and doing other things. You know what I mean? So, not to say they weren't both fun places, but it was two different experiences that gave us the grounding of saying, well, I know this part of it, and I know that part of it.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yeah. Like, we weren't riding our bikes around Saddle river, but in, you know, Queens, New York. We were riding our bikes to our friends.

[Jojo Simmons]

You were taking a bus to school, all type of things like that.

[Vanessa Simmons]

No, I still took service.

[Jojo Simmons]

I'm telling. I'm telling I'm telling daddy. Daddy's gonna watch this. Let me not tell him that you.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Took car service to school every day. I took Ollie's.

[Jojo Simmons]

There was one time you took a bus with your friend to school.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I did.

[Jojo Simmons]

And I said, did daddy know? Remember?

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yes.

[Jojo Simmons]

All right, let's get into a little.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Bit to the city and stuff.

[Jojo Simmons]

All right. So speaking of Run's house.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yes.

[Jojo Simmons]

What is your favorite and funniest Run's House memory?

[Vanessa Simmons]

Oh, my God. There are so many good memories from Runs House, but I definitely loved the vacations we got to take when we went to Colorado. And you guys all came with me from my first modeling job.

[Jojo Simmons]

I remember that.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Remember I did. It was like, an athletic brand. And then also Hawaii trip when Miley was there and we had all our friends and we were filming. Like, I feel like those were just some of the most amazing experiences. But, like, just filming the show in general, it just felt like, you know, it just was fun.

[Jojo Simmons]

What was the funniest memory you. You could think. Because people always ask me this, and it's hard for me. I'm like, I don't know. We were funny every day. Like, all we did was be funny.

[Vanessa Simmons]

They had to reel us in sometimes.

[Jojo Simmons]

All right, guys, remember the Beats. Remember, these are called the Beats. Remember the Beats, guys? Because a lot of people think, oh, Runson, was it real? Was it very real? Extremely real. It was stories that was actually going on in our home that we would basically cover on TV for people to see what we were going through. And, you know, we would have beats, and that's basically, like, not lines, but it's like staying in the parameters of what you need to be speaking on. And we would just. You know, it's like improv for us. I felt like Run's House was like, improv for us. Like, it wasn't acting, but it was like, all right, we're gonna put you all in a room and talk about Russy breaking his game, boys, and just go off. And it always was just.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Because that was what was happening.

[Jojo Simmons]

Right? It always just felt like. I think we sleep on the fact that we were also, like, prepared to all be actors in that kind of sense, because we weren't acting, but it was like, improv.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I have a good memory. So first season of Runs House, we had just started filming, and Angela and I wanted to move out into our own apartment, and our dad gave us a budget, and we had an idea.

[Jojo Simmons]

Lucky you guys. I never.

[Vanessa Simmons]

No, no. But the budget. Listen, the budget was a decent budget, but what we had in mind was something different. So they took us to see what we explained we wanted, and those were millions of dollars, and then took us to what our actual budget is. And I think that that was the most real reactions you have ever seen. Like, what do you mean?

[Jojo Simmons]

Like, this is what we can afford.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Like, this window is facing a brick wall right now. Like, that is not my aesthetic. That is not.

[Jojo Simmons]

That was real. Real reactions. Like, that was like, wait, hold on. So I thought y' all knew, like, okay, they're gonna show some stuff we can't afford, and they show us some stuff we can afford, and it's gonna look so totally different. You really thought, all right, bring us to some. I. Wait. So.

[Vanessa Simmons]

And there were some things that we were like, we could deal with this. And they're like, well, it's still over your budget, so we. To take you to what you can afford and what you can't. And it. It was just.

[Jojo Simmons]

It was the funniest memory on. On Run's House.

[Vanessa Simmons]

That was. Like I said, there's so many seasons.

[Jojo Simmons]

Seven. Oh, yeah, ten. Because of Daddy's Girls.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yeah, Daddy's Girls. We moved out here. It was. It was years. So those were some amazing memories, but definitely the apartment, the vacations. God, I can go on for forever. Moving to LA was a big one, and it got really real. Remember, I didn't realize that you didn't want us to leave at the time.

[Jojo Simmons]

I cried for a different reason, but I'm not gonna tell the people why.

[Vanessa Simmons]

You cried for a different reason.

[Jojo Simmons]

I wasn't crying because you guys were leaving. I was mad at something.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I was crying cause we were leaving.

[Jojo Simmons]

All right, sure, guys. I let the world keep believing that, you know, I let the world.

[Vanessa Simmons]

It felt so bad. I was like, oh, my God.

[Jojo Simmons]

I remember a producer or somebody from the show came to me, was like, did. Did you do that purposely? I was like, nah. He was like, good job. You did good.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Come on, don't ruin the episodes like that. He's fronting. He was crying.

[Jojo Simmons]

No, it was real tears. But it was a whole bunch of emotions happening that day. You guys leaving was part of it, but it wasn't like, oh, my God, my sisters are leaving. I really didn't care that much. It was just. I was also. I had a conversation with somebody earlier in that day. It was a lot of things going on that, you know, I just, you know, things I was going to do at those times. And during filming, it just came all. Came out for some reason.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I don't Know, we have some really real memories on there too. Like, for sure. Raw moments that happen.

[Jojo Simmons]

Yeah. So we also do growing up hip hop. Right. And what would you say you learned because you're an actor? Right. What would you say you learned from reality tv? And, you know, would you ever do it again? Not to say that growing up isn't coming back, but it's been a while. And would you. If you were approached with a show about you, would you ever do it again? And what did you learn from your past experiences with the shows that we've done?

[Vanessa Simmons]

I would definitely do reality TV again. I think it's a great way to keep up with the people who support you and people who have been supporting us since Run's House. It's a great way to let them catch up with us and see what's going on. Because I'm learning that people want to know. You know, I'm a little bit more reserved. I don't show as much. And I realize that people always are writing me, like, what's going on with that? You know what? I would definitely do it and showcase my life as it is. What's really going on? You know, being a mother, balancing acting in Hollywood, being an entrepreneur, all of that. I learned a lot being on reality tv. I think the. The best thing I realized is being your authentic self as much as possible to really give people something to relate to is what I learned really sticks and what people really resonate with.

[Jojo Simmons]

It's true.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Just. Just having a pie of authenticity. And so I've learned that that is the best way to go into reality TV is just being your authentic self. And for me, reality TV can sometimes be a little bit salacious. So I like to stay away from that and really just show a behind the scenes peek of what it's like to, you know, go after your dreams in a real way, which is what I've been doing since Ren's House.

[Jojo Simmons]

I have to agree with that. And I think what I've learned from doing reality TV in the two different shows, Runs House and Growing Up Hip Hop are on two different stratospheres. And that taught me that there's two different levels to the reality TV shows. There's the ones where it's super family, like we did, and it's super positive. And then there's ones like Growing Up Hippo, where we don't control the narrative as much, and the bad sides of us, like me came out a lot where I didn't want, and we have no control over that. And we don't sometimes have control over how it's being edited. And I'm not coming at anybody over at that franchise. I appreciate the people that gave me the opportunity to be on Growing Up Hip Hop. But I'm just saying that there were moments that I was upset visibly, and they knew that because edits just didn't make me seem in the best light. In certain arguments, they play on those emotions, entertainment. But in Runs House, we never had to play on that. In Run's House, it was family, it was togetherness. That's what sold Run's House. It was authenticity. It was the organic relationships that we had with each other as siblings. And my dad that really loved all his kids and had all of us under one roof. You know what I mean? So that was the difference I learned in reality tv. And I'm always, always open to doing reality TV again. Because like you said, I think it is a route to promote what you want. As long as you can control your narrative on the show and not have to entertain through things that they feel are entertaining or people playing on your.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Emotions and blowing it out of proportion. Cause it's very easy to do that on camera. But just being yourself and allowing that to shine through and let that be the thing that people relate to.

[Jojo Simmons]

Okay, you're the oldest sibling. Okay. And before I get into this question, I find it funny that a lot of people think I'm the second. And they don't know that Angela's actually older than me. You know how many people came to me like, you're not older than Angela. You don't come after Vanessa. I'm like, no.

[Vanessa Simmons]

You know how many people think that Angela's older than you? Yes.

[Jojo Simmons]

I don't believe that. I've never heard that. So then she's the oldest. And what are you, the second?

[Vanessa Simmons]

I don't know where I fall. I just don't. Like I said, I'm more reserved. I keep to myself a little more.

[Jojo Simmons]

So what do you think you were like as a big sister?

[Vanessa Simmons]

That's a. That's a. That's a crazy question. I don't know.

[Jojo Simmons]

What do you mean, you don't know?

[Vanessa Simmons]

What.

[Jojo Simmons]

What do you like? You know, people envision themselves of something to somebody. Like, this is how I see myself. How do you see yourself and how did you see yourself as a big sister?

[Vanessa Simmons]

I feel like I'm the person who always had to keep things in order, in line, ringleader to, definitely the ringleader. But I'm always the person. I feel like I definitely like Strive to be an inspiration to you guys, but also make sure that everyone stays on track. I'm the one that I. I hear this news through the grapevine, and I'm calling you, like, yo, what's. What's going on?

[Jojo Simmons]

Like that.

[Vanessa Simmons]

No, no, we're not like that.

[Jojo Simmons]

Yeah, I mean. I mean.

[Vanessa Simmons]

So I'm the peace bringer.

[Jojo Simmons]

Yes, you are the peace bringer.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I do know that.

[Jojo Simmons]

I always.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I don't like people arguing and going back and forth. I don't like that.

[Jojo Simmons]

So what? I've always, you know, I have this vision of you as my sister in my mind since a child.

[Vanessa Simmons]

What is that?

[Jojo Simmons]

And it's a good vision because lately I've been teaching Mia how to ride her bike. And I had to remember who taught me how to ride my bike. And you remember that I was like, five and we were in New York.

[Vanessa Simmons]

You were maybe like three or four.

[Jojo Simmons]

In Queens when mommy had the apartment in the corridor, like Bayside or something like that. Forgot the town. And I just remember you teaching me and pushing me and me driving and me riding and looking back, and you were no longer holding and saying, you're doing it, Jojo. You're doing it, Jojo. And me being, like, so proud to make you proud. So, like, that's the vision I always have of you as a big sister, like, metaphorically wanting good for me, wanting to say, you're doing good. You know what I mean? So that's, you know, just explaining, like, you know. Yeah, it's dope. Don't cry. Don't cry.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Why would you call me out? I guess the cameras can pick it up. But, yeah, that memory is crazy, because when you said that, it just came back to me. Like, I remember being in that hallway vividly. I was so young, maybe 9 or.

[Jojo Simmons]

10, and I was like.

[Vanessa Simmons]

And I remember you bike had training wheels and everything, but you didn't know how to ride a bike. I think you were young. I think you were three. I don't think you were.

[Jojo Simmons]

I was very young.

[Vanessa Simmons]

And I remember seeing you down the hallway and this being like, you got it. You got it. It reminds me, you were so excited, Ava and Mia, of our daughters. Because that's how Ava Ava calls me or her. Her mini me. And.

[Jojo Simmons]

Oh, we gonna get into them, their relationship.

[Vanessa Simmons]

They are something else.

[Jojo Simmons]

So speaking of you as the biggest sister and the eldest, how would you describe your relationships with each of us, each of your siblings?

[Vanessa Simmons]

Well, there's a lot of us.

[Jojo Simmons]

There's a lot of us. But you can skim through us. It's not. Look, okay, I'll start you off. Angela, what's your relationship like with Angela and not like, how do you. How would you describe y' all relationship? Because you guys are always the big sisters, the two girls that always were going out. And Angela would always try to kind of chase after you a little bit as she got along.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I let her. I let her. Angela was with.

[Jojo Simmons]

You'd leave her at times.

[Vanessa Simmons]

No, but okay. When we were younger, of course, when I was going to sleepovers with my cousins and stuff, it would be like, angela, you can't.

[Jojo Simmons]

She said, my cousins. Like, they're not our cousins.

[Vanessa Simmons]

As we got older, it was cool hanging out with Angela. She came on spring break with me.

[Jojo Simmons]

Yep.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I remember we had our first apartment together in the city. I took her to her first club. All of those things. Like, me and Angela, we have had some fun, and it's been amazing. We got to record that on Daddy's Girls, so the world got a little glimmer of that. But, man, me and Angela definitely were and still are very close. Like, we created a business together that was crazy.

[Jojo Simmons]

You guys always talk. You guys see each other, I think the most out of all siblings because Angela's kind of living out here now. So you're here. She's everywhere in New York, but she's here.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yeah, Me now.

[Jojo Simmons]

Let's go. How do you. How would you describe you? Even though we just had a little moment, but how would you describe your relationship with me? Because I know I could be a little off. I've gotten better. But I'm the sibling that could be a little off the ring.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I reel you in. Yeah, you even came.

[Jojo Simmons]

They've seen that on Growing Up.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yeah, I reel you in. That is. That is facts. I'm. I'm like, I said that that peacemaker part of me that's definitely with you. And like, my younger siblings, I reel everybody in and just give you a different pov. Like, if you're upset about something, I'm always be like, jojo, let's think about this in a different way. Rearrange the energy.

[Jojo Simmons]

You're right.

[Vanessa Simmons]

And bring the peace back.

[Jojo Simmons]

Now let's get into, you know, Diggy, and we'll talk about Darius A. But Diggy as I want to talk about your relationship with him, because you guys are both actors. You guys are in the same space. How'd you, like, what would you describe your relationship? You guys give each other advice. Do you guys speak about acting gigs and stuff like that?

[Vanessa Simmons]

Diggy is so crazy because I'm having a hard time accepting my younger siblings as adults now. And they're full on adults. And Diggy, you know, he was living out here in la, so like, we got to see each other quite a bit. We just talked about life. It's like getting to know him as an adult.

[Jojo Simmons]

As an adult, right. So that's a child.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Different world. He was a child and now I look up and like we're having conversations and I'm like, wow, this is Diggy.

[Jojo Simmons]

He's very insightful. He's very smart. He's always been smart, but, like, he's very insane.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I love that he'll have a three.

[Jojo Simmons]

Hour conversation with you. Yeah, it's. He's very insightful.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yes.

[Jojo Simmons]

How would you describe your relationship with Darian and Tiffany on mom's side?

[Vanessa Simmons]

Those are my little sisters, you know, like me and Darian, we can have very candid conversations. She calls me a lot for advice. You know, she's into modeling and beauty and all that. So she's always calling me for advice on that. Tiffany as well. But Tiffany is kind of the same thing as Diggy.

[Jojo Simmons]

Like me too. It's still hard for me not to.

[Vanessa Simmons]

See Darian are the same age.

[Jojo Simmons]

But Tiffany to me will always be the baby because she's the youngest on mom's side. So I'm like, wow, you're 21, 22, and you're like old now. Like, it's crazy to me. You do makeup, you do hair, you do.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Because I still feel like I'm in my 20s, so.

[Jojo Simmons]

As you should.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I'm having a really hard time with my younger siblings being in their 20s. When I remember when I first moved to LA, I was buying Tiffany dolls from American Girl Doll. Now I got a daughter that's into American Girl Doll.

[Jojo Simmons]

You got Mia. Oh, my God. We'll discuss Mia all having a shopping spree in American Girl Doll.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Oh, Ava had a shopping spree. You know, they.

[Jojo Simmons]

All right. And the two other youngest, Russie and Miley, how would you describe. Because, you know, we don't. To keep it real, we don't see Miley and Russy as much as we want because we travel a lot and they're not.

[Vanessa Simmons]

They come out here. They come out here a lot.

[Jojo Simmons]

They do. You do. You might see them. But I'm like all over the place.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yeah, Miley. A completely different generation. So I just try to find the relatability so I can slide in there and not feel like, yeah.

[Jojo Simmons]

When I went to a sweet 16, I was like, okay, this is. I can't see. All right. You know what I mean?

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yeah. But I felt old. I'm like, Miley is 16.

[Jojo Simmons]

And as Russy as a screenwriter, because, you know, he's a screenwriter. And I know Mike, your fiance, he's a screenwriter as well.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yeah.

[Jojo Simmons]

How's your relationship with Russy? Do you ever, you know, did you connect him and Mike when it comes to stuff like that?

[Vanessa Simmons]

They talk all the time about scripts. Rusty is always sending Mike scripts, asking for his opinion. And so I love that they can have that relationship together to kind of rift on, like, professional stuff and, like, bond, create a relationship for themselves outside of me just being, you know, that person. You have that relationship with Mikey and I have.

[Jojo Simmons]

Oh, yeah. With Mike. Yes. Mike and I, we bounce ideas off each other. But Russy and I's relationship is ill because it's a sports one. We love the Knicks and, you know, the Giant football, and, like, so we talk sports. Like, I'm gonna. I'm actually taking him. Gonna take him to the Garden soon and we're gonna go see a game and stuff like that.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I wanna come.

[Jojo Simmons]

You gotta. You love to be in la. You don't. You don't, like, come to New York. You're allergic to New York.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I love New York. New York is my roots. New York is my home. That's where I feel most connected. Like, that's where I grew up. But, you know, life had other plans for me to be in la.

[Jojo Simmons]

So. Speaking of that, we'll get off the siblings questions after this last one. After what I told you and really thinking about and speaking about your relationships with each and every one of us, how does it feel to know that we consider you such a good sister?

[Vanessa Simmons]

I'm honored to know that you guys think that, because I know sometimes I can get, you know, distracted in my own little world, as we all can now as adults. So I. I love that you guys consider me a. A good big sister. So thank you.

[Jojo Simmons]

All right, now let's move on to you and this whole LA not coming to New York thing. All right?

[Vanessa Simmons]

I don't not come to New York. Covid kind of messed all of that up. I was more consistent.

[Jojo Simmons]

You're right. You were more consistent. You were flying out.

[Vanessa Simmons]

A Covid just wrecked Havoc and.

[Jojo Simmons]

I know, but some people don't know what made you move to Los Angeles. Why did you stay? And do you ever miss New York?

[Vanessa Simmons]

Oh, three part question.

[Jojo Simmons]

Yep.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Okay. So moving to LA has always been a dream of mine, since I've been young. Mommy said, oh, you've always said, mommy, I'm gonna move to Los Angeles. I'm gonna live in Beverly Hills. I'm gonna be an actress. This is from when I was like 11 or 12. So the minute I got that opportunity and you know, the world got to see a little bit in Daddy's Girls, I moved to la. I was like, I'm gonna make this dream happen. But it's like a time warp. You get pulled in here and you know, going into the world of acting, like, you really gotta be really persistent and really dedicated to the craft. So time can pass really quickly when you're out here, you know, following a dream. And then I started a family. Family. So that was my biggest, you know, motivation of staying in Los Angeles. I may have come back to New York, you know, during COVID had I not had a family. But my daughter's a California girl, she's an LA girl.

[Jojo Simmons]

So we know it, we know it.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Where we, you know, I was talking.

[Jojo Simmons]

To me, I was like, you know, Vanessa just raised a mini her like.

[Vanessa Simmons]

You think so?

[Jojo Simmons]

A mini you.

[Vanessa Simmons]

You think so?

[Jojo Simmons]

Do I think so?

[Vanessa Simmons]

Oh, she acts just like her dad's.

[Jojo Simmons]

I asked, I said, I said, is.

[Vanessa Simmons]

She not hilarious though?

[Jojo Simmons]

No, she has the Waynes.

[Vanessa Simmons]

She's hilar. She kills me.

[Jojo Simmons]

She has the weird comedic gene for sure.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Who are you?

[Jojo Simmons]

Dwayne's comedic gene is definitely part of her DNA. She's got it.

[Vanessa Simmons]

She might be a standup comic. She might be.

[Jojo Simmons]

So you were just talking about family? Yes, and staying cause of Ava and all that. You were the first sibling to have a kid. What was the transition like from womanhood to motherhood?

[Vanessa Simmons]

Oh, that transition happened together. So you see, I had Ava when I was. I got pregnant. I was 29 going into 30. So it was really like a whole new chapter, you know, age wise. Now I'm going to be a mother, so things were going to change. So becoming a mother kind of grew me up. You know, in your 20s, you're still really searching for yourself. As I was turning 30 and having a child, I was like, okay, Vanessa, this is me to myself. You're going to have to really grow up. And so Ava, Ava Marie is my daughter. She has.

[Jojo Simmons]

Don't forget the Waynes.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Ava Marie Jean Wayne Waynes. Yeah. She has grown me up. She has made me embrace womanhood in a way that before I was like scared. I was nervous. I was like, 30 is such a big number. I feel like I'm still growing up. And then motherhood came and was like, no, you ain't got no time to think about this. So I'm growing up with Ava, essentially, and it's been definitely a journey and taught me a lot. Taught me a lot about patience, taught me a lot about being in the present moment, not always living in the future. You know, sometimes as a person working in entertainment, you can always be looking to the future. What's the next project? What's the next thing? What's the next move? Parenthood makes you focus and be in the present moment, and there's so much power in that. And that is what I have been, you know, working with over these years. Just being present, being patient. You know, from New York, we. We can be a little bit impatient at times and just being the best possible example that I can be, not only to my daughter, but to my nieces, my nephews, my siblings. Just constantly, every day, I'm just working on being the best possible version of myself.

[Jojo Simmons]

What kind of parent would you say you are? What's your parenting style? Are you like one of those soft style parents? Like what? What's your parenting style? What kind of parent are you?

[Vanessa Simmons]

You? Oh, like what is it the gentle parenting?

[Jojo Simmons]

Yes, but not soft, gentle parenting. Are you one of those, like, what would you describe your parenting style?

[Vanessa Simmons]

I'm a little bit of a mix of very traditional. Very, like, traditional with the way I raise her. But then, you know, we do have the new age gentle parenting added to it. But, you know, I can be strict at times. I just always want to instill in my daughter the best possible values and morals. So, yeah, I guess I'm a little bit of a mix between gentle parenting and traditional, you know, but I'm very, very hands on. So, like, I have people that help me. And, you know, it does take a village to raise a child, but I'm very, very hands on.

[Jojo Simmons]

I would say, speaking of a village, and I know you are hands on that I do know, speaking of taking a village to raise a child, how do you balance being a mother in your career, and how do you handle those conflicts when they come up? Like when you have, you know, certain things to do and you need to figure out, obviously, Mike is very hands on as well. Yeah, but how do you handle that type of life? How do you balance that?

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yeah, I'm a very on the go mom. So, you know, like I said, I like to be very hands on with Ava and everything pertaining to her life. But then at the same time, I am a person that works in entertainment, so I Make sure that I only take on projects that I'm super passionate about, only projects that I know I can give a hundred percent to. And I love doing what I'm doing at every moment in that career so that I can also come home and be a very hands on, you know, mom. Challenges are gonna come up, you know, that's inevitable. But, like, I'm thankful that I have a tribe here. I have people that can help me. I have, you know, Ava's nanny is the same nanny that Mike had growing up.

[Jojo Simmons]

Wow, you did tell me that. So she raised Mike. Well, not raised, but she watched Mike help raise Mike and now she's helping raise Ava.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yeah, she's been on since she's been three months, I think. When Ava was three months, I booked Project Runway and that was like early on in motherhood and I was like, should I take this job? And, you know, what do I do? And you know, dad was like, no, you. You take this job and you get the help. You figure it out. You get help and you continue doing what you're doing. Being a mom. A lot of people think that being a mom is some sort of deadline to, like, your goals and dreams. Like, oh, well, now I have to, you know, throw those away. That's not true. It's a whole new inspiration that you get when you become a mother. So still have those goals, still have those dreams, still have those things that you want to achieve, go after. And because you go after that, you're serving yourself so that you can also serve better at home. So it's important not to lose yourself as a mother. And that's what I've been working with. Just trying not to lose who I am, but then also be a very hands on and active mom at home. I think it helps and it goes hand in hand, if that makes sense.

[Jojo Simmons]

Yeah, people needed to hear that. I think a lot of women, and my wife as well, struggles with feeling like, oh, man, I have kids and I can't just be on the go and I can't just. But you can. And it may not be as easy, but there's ways to do it.

[Vanessa Simmons]

It takes balance.

[Jojo Simmons]

You chase, you still chase. What you want in life and age doesn't matter. Kids doesn't matter. Obviously, you know, you want to be responsible and you want to take care of yours, but don't ever lose you.

[Vanessa Simmons]

You know, don't ever lose. You make sure you are taking and scheduling me time. And me time might be, you know, self care. Me time might be still going after the dreams that you have. Don't let motherhood hold you back. But. But it is a huge responsibility. It's just going to take some organization. Journaling. I have to wake up every single morning, do my stretches, do my prayers, meditations, and journal so that I can keep on track. And, you know, that's a way to do it.

[Jojo Simmons]

So staying on Ava for a minute. Funny moment. Funny moment.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Oh, God.

[Jojo Simmons]

Yeah. Let's tell the people, because this happened, what, two months ago, when your daughter Ava convinced my daughter Mia that Tanisa and I were not her parents and that you were her mom and that they are actual sisters and that we stole her from you. We stole Mia from you.

[Vanessa Simmons]

God. So we touched on this. Ava's imagination is very active, and she's a storyteller, and she.

[Jojo Simmons]

Storyteller for real, huh?

[Vanessa Simmons]

She could write scripts.

[Jojo Simmons]

Tidney says, how did she come up with such an intricate, intricate plot?

[Vanessa Simmons]

Very intricate.

[Jojo Simmons]

I'm like, wait. Like, that was impressive. She had Mia confused, like, you're not my parents.

[Vanessa Simmons]

But she said I was joking. Remember I bust in on her. Cause you called me, like, what's going on?

[Jojo Simmons]

I was mad as a father. My heart broke into. Cause Mia was like, you're not my dad, Mia. Vanessa's my auntie. Vanessa's my mom. And she said, ava sent me a picture. Ava sent me a picture of Auntie Nessa holding me. And we saw the picture. It was you holding Ava. But they look like each other as babies. So she could have. She's like, look, this is her holding me. And you guys took me.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I. I couldn't believe. Ava was like, it was a joke. And did she say her name was actually Eva?

[Jojo Simmons]

Yeah, she said, my real name is Eva, and it's not Mia. And y' all took me into.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Ava's got a very.

[Jojo Simmons]

I was ready to cry as a dad.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Vivid imagination.

[Jojo Simmons]

I was like, what? So do you not. Well, she's like, no, but I still want to be here. But I'm just saying this is what I'm told, and I don't know. And I'm like, she was so confused.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Why would Ava do that?

[Jojo Simmons]

I was broken in two. I was so hurt. That's why I called you, yelling.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Oh, my God.

[Jojo Simmons]

But that was a. I'm like, what's that funny moment?

[Vanessa Simmons]

And Mommy said she knew, too. They. They wrote Mommy a whole message. And my mommy said.

[Jojo Simmons]

She said, I thought they was just.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Joking, but Mommy said, I don't know how they made this story up. Where did this come from?

[Jojo Simmons]

Like, my daughter, she's a screenwriter like Mike.

[Vanessa Simmons]

She's a actor like you.

[Jojo Simmons]

She's got all comedian everything thing.

[Vanessa Simmons]

She's got all the best parts of us, for sure.

[Jojo Simmons]

All right, let's talk about you, your brands, and your brand.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Okay.

[Jojo Simmons]

How does your brand tie into you being a girl mom, and why is the message important to you?

[Vanessa Simmons]

Okay, so my new brand that I'm working on is all about bringing awareness to just the wellness world in general. It's called euphoria, spelled U4I A just to play on letters and numbers. You know that I'm a huge marketing person. I just love to get deep into it and, you know, find fun ways to create brands. And it's just all about educating people on things they can do to live a more vibrant, euphoric way of living. I feel like we're living in unprecedented times and our generation is having an interesting time just living life and balancing it all. We deal a lot with, you know, mental health things, just people dealing with different stressors and triggers. And I want to find the ways that people can thrive the best. So it's all just about educating people, bringing awareness, giving tips and tricks, finding the best experts I can find to interview and to get people the information they need to thrive. So, and it was. It's inspired by myself. Through the years, I've overcome depression number of times, deal with anxiety, social anxiety, I mean, you name it, I've probably dealt with it. And so I was like, you know, I can't be the only person and going through this type of stuff. So let's find the answers we need so that we can have a better quality of. Of living and bringing awareness to things people don't know. Like, do you know what somatic workouts are?

[Jojo Simmons]

What, what's that?

[Vanessa Simmons]

Okay, so our body stores a lot of emotions and just past traumas in our body that could make us gain weight, lose weight, have our nervous system off balance. So somatic workouts are just little movements we can do to, you know, feel better and release those emotions. Most people have no idea what that is. So euphoria me doing. Yeah, I'm losing weight right now. Like, there's a lot of talk. I have this picture I just posted online, and everyone's like, oh, gaining weight.

[Jojo Simmons]

You know, talking about you and. And beauty and that and.

[Vanessa Simmons]

But this is, this is somatic workouts is the way that I'm releasing any emotions I'm storing in my body, any stress I'm storing in my body, and, you know, releasing it and it'll help you lose weight. But that's just one of the many things that I've researched and found that can help us. Breathing exercises, the power of self care, the power of making sure that you're keeping your gut in balance and what that plays in your mental. Like, there's just so many different things I feel like, that are not talked about. And I just want to bring and put wellness into the spotlight. And these are also. You said, how does it play into me being a mom?

[Jojo Simmons]

Yeah, girl mom. Because I think that obviously you told us why it's important to you, because it's something that you're passionate about, because it's you. It's what you believe in, it's what you've went through. You feel like you need these things too, and you want to educate the world on the things that you use. So how does that tie into you having a daughter and her looking up to you and seeing that you're starting a brand like this for essentially everybody but women, really?

[Vanessa Simmons]

Well, of course, I love to give her the example of going after your dreams and, and, and making a difference and an impact in the world, but just to be able to give that knowledge to her, to pass down to her so she can have, as she matures and becomes an adult and may go through life, stress and, you know, different things. I want her to have tools that she can, you know, go and say, hey, I can go and do this breathing exercise and I'm gonna feel better. I don't have to resort to drinking or, you know, other things that may not be so good for you, but just really finding the source and the root of ways to thrive in life. I want her to have those tools in her, just in her Rolodex, in her arsenal. And of course, I want to impact the world so that they can have it as well. I feel like we've been giving a really, really great platform. And just like what you're doing here, the Feel Good for Good podcast, feels.

[Jojo Simmons]

Good to be here.

[Vanessa Simmons]

You know, like, we just wanna make impacts in the world and we wanna use our platforms for those, for that type of good. So I hope all that made sense.

[Jojo Simmons]

No, it definitely made sense. And, you know, I know you started getting into, you know, something that bothered you. You posted a picture and it goes in with this next question I had. Anyway, so we'll jump into it. I know myself. I've struggled with my confidence by being on reality tv.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yeah.

[Jojo Simmons]

And as a woman, how did the show and being constantly being in a public eye affect your self Esteem and confidence.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Oh, it makes you super self aware, which can be a good thing, great thing to be self aware, but then also you can get into overthinking. It makes you really look at yourself. But it also sometimes being on those shows, it always makes you want to be able to only present your best possible self. You only want to hear the good, but that's just not life. And you know, like I was saying, like I posted a picture recently and people are like, oh, you're pregnant, you gained so much weight, you're thick. You know, a whole lot of comments that go along with that. But I've shared my journey in the past with like weight loss and you know, the effect that it has on my mind and all that kind of stuff. But this time I'm not so bothered because I started working on the business Euphoria because now I know how to deal better with stress. Now I know how to, you know, actively be on a wellness journey and get back to a place where I'm like super comfortable. So the, the, the outside comments and, and, and all of that, it's not bothering me as much this time around because I'm like, you know what? I have peace.

[Jojo Simmons]

Right.

[Vanessa Simmons]

And that is the ultimate thing I feel like we're all really looking for. And that's the whole inspo behind Euphoria is being able to, to provide information so people can have peace with, with themselves and be confident, showing their full selves.

[Jojo Simmons]

Yeah, I think the, the main thing, self confidence is self confidence. Like you have to be at peace with what you know about yourself and who you are. You know what I mean? So it's true. It's, it's being about it. Nothing that anybody can say can shake you if you know who you are and you're confident in who you are.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Exactly.

[Jojo Simmons]

So regardless of, you know, their accomplishments, I've heard a lot of women talk about how they are still measured by their beauty. Can you share your thoughts on this?

[Vanessa Simmons]

Where? See, I feel like yes, social media has done a number on society and it has really skewed like beauty standards and how women view themselves. Again, this is why I started Euphoria. I want people to feel beautiful from the inside. Sounds cliche, but I feel like that's where everything is really cultivated. It's from the inside out and that's how we should be judging ourselves from how we feel in the the inside and then what we're giving forth on the outside and to really be able to really shine and show our best possible version of ourself. It starts on the inside. It's an inside job. It's about how you really are feeling. That's what you're going to be emitting to the public. And so I just always want to be an advocate for people to. To feel their best so that they could give their best and, you know, prioritize themselves in a way that they could build themselves up to present their best possible version of a self. And it's not about the outside. The outside looks come from the inside. I don't know. I feel like I keep saying the same thing over and over, but it's.

[Jojo Simmons]

Because it's the truth. But what you're saying is the truth, and you can't. You could say it many different ways and in many different languages, but it all just comes back to one answer.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I'm trying to find the best way to put it, but it keeps coming back to the same point, is it's what's on the inside and how we are cultivating our inside world is what we're gonna give to the public. Public.

[Jojo Simmons]

So speaking on what's on the inside and beauty and women, I've always found, because, you know, you and I have had these conversations in the past that you don't know that I remember and that I don't always, like, honored that and respected that. You've told me these things.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I thought. You thought. I'm babbling, usually, like big sister stuff.

[Jojo Simmons]

I listen. I'm a listener. That's why my wife loves me.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Spit it back. What did I tell you?

[Jojo Simmons]

No. But. No. I've always found your more conservative stance on not showing too much skin extremely powerful.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Really?

[Jojo Simmons]

Can you explain that choice and what it means to you? Because, you know, we've had conversations in the past, and you're like, you know, I could come out and be that way, but I wasn't raised that way. I come from a different era, and that's the generation I come from. You've told me this is like, we didn't need to show our skin. We just had to come with our brain and ourselves. So can you explain the choice to still be that conservative woman of.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Of.

[Jojo Simmons]

I'm not saying that these other women don't have morals, but like, a different moral code than, you know, some other women.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I won't say I have a different moral code. I'm just me, authentically me. That's who I've always been. And it translates over to my fashion choices because I love the era of old Hollywood. I am more traditional. I won't say I'm, like, conservative. Like, I'm, like, overly thinking it when I get dressed, but, like, it's traditional, just my style and. And who I am. I'm a girl who used to compete in pageants. So, you know, we were just brought up in a. In a different way. Like you. You can be fully a woman and sexy and not have to exude that with your fashion choices. I think it just goes back to me just being who I am. It. It. It's just a part of who I am. It's not anything like I consciously do. It's a piece of me now, you.

[Jojo Simmons]

Being that way, obviously, you raise a daughter, and obviously that eeks onto her. You're raising her in Los Angeles where, you know, there's nothing but glitz and glam and hair and makeup.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yes.

[Jojo Simmons]

How do you make sure she has a healthy self image, self esteem?

[Vanessa Simmons]

I just allow her to be herself and make sure that I'm nurturing that in every way possible. And just make sure that she knows that she's loved in every way and, you know, just to be as supportive as possible as I can in every different season of her life.

[Jojo Simmons]

Right.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I think that's the best way to raise a kid, is just to really be supportive and to nurture those things.

[Jojo Simmons]

Very true. All right. Speaking of a kid, you were the first one to have a kid in a Simmons family. Of the siblings, I'm obviously the only one married. I got married on TV and growing up hip hop. Hold on.

[Vanessa Simmons]

How do you know I'm not married and hiding it?

[Jojo Simmons]

Cause if you didn't tell me, I'd be very upset on this podcast right now. You telling us? Are you telling me something? Oh, and Angela's in a public relationship, as we know, right?

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yes.

[Jojo Simmons]

Why have you decided to keep your relationship more private than Angela and I? Obviously, like I said, I got married on Grown Up Hip Hop for the world to see. They know I'm married. I go out, they ask me about my wife Angela. We know she's in a very public relationship. Some people know you are with Mike. The people that know know.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yeah.

[Jojo Simmons]

If you know, the people that don't know really don't know, they don't know. Why have you decided to keep your relationship more private?

[Vanessa Simmons]

Because I feel like for myself, there are just pieces of my life that I'd like to keep to myself. And privacy is power, and what's secret is sacred doesn't go for everything, but for myself, like, we were on TV. From what I think I was, like.

[Jojo Simmons]

20 I was about 15 when I started.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yeah, from 20 years old. And we spent almost like eight years on TV. That was a lot of our life. We gave to the public. And so when I had the opportunity to just reel it in and keep some things to myself, I enjoyed that. Sometimes putting too much eyes ruins things. And Mike and I, we started dating at very, very young age. We've had a lot of ups and downs in different seasons, and. And it's been better for me just to keep everything in house. And like I said, like, it's sacred. So you want to. I want to shield it, and I want to protect it. I don't even show Ava off that much. And it's on purpose. I don't want people to walk down the street and see my daughter out and be like, oh, that's Vanessa Simmons daughter. I want her. If she wants to be in the.

[Jojo Simmons]

Public eye, she has to choose it.

[Vanessa Simmons]

She'll choose that. I don't want to push that on her too early. It's an intense decision for life, so I want her to have that option. And like I said, what secret is sacred? I enjoy that. No one really knows, and no one can get in and find out the intricacies of my life.

[Jojo Simmons]

You gotta keep something for yourself.

[Vanessa Simmons]

And it feels good. It feels powerful. I love that.

[Jojo Simmons]

So speaking about Angela, public relationships and us being a public family. Family.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yeah.

[Jojo Simmons]

What is it like seeing your siblings. Family. In the headlines as the big sister? Right. How do you feel when people are saying crazy things about us?

[Vanessa Simmons]

Oh, I want to get in those comments, and I want to. I want to. I want to turn up. But, you know, sometimes you just feed the fire more that way, so you just stay out of it and just let people run around wild with any opinions or, you know, assumptions they may have, and just let them do that and understand that that's just part of being in the public eye. But sometimes you want to get up in those comments. You want to be like, you don't know what you're talking about. Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. And sometimes I type stuff out, and I just have to be like, you know what?

[Jojo Simmons]

Leave it alone. Delete it.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Right. What are you doing? It's gonna. That's gonna end up being a headline. So, you know, you choose and you pick your battles, and you could make.

[Jojo Simmons]

A headline off a headline.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Oh, the days that. That my family, that we are in the headlines. The days that we are in the headlines. I'm off, offline. I can't. I can't take it.

[Jojo Simmons]

You don't like it.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I don't like it. Everyone's gonna feel differently about things, and you just let them do what they do. It'll die down. There'll be another headline the next day. Everyone moves on.

[Jojo Simmons]

But if you feed it, always gonna be even worse.

[Vanessa Simmons]

And then. Yeah, and then you bring the attention to yourself. And I don't particularly like attention on me. I like. I like the attention when I go to work. I like the attention when I'm doing my job or I get to act and stuff. I like that kind of tension. But as far as my personal life, I don't want people talking and discussing. That's uncomfortable for me. Some people thrive off that not judging.

[Jojo Simmons]

I want to talk about. As we start coming in towards the end of this podcast, I want to talk about the relationship that you, Angela and myself have, and particularly I want to talk about how you and Angela fought for me to be on Growing Up Hip Hop. And you guys really gave me a rebrand and a second chance in my career that I really, truly needed.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yeah.

[Jojo Simmons]

How did it feel to see me going through what I went through in my darker time and in my darkest times? Because you guys know I contacted you guys a lot and told you contacted me.

[Vanessa Simmons]

You lived with me.

[Jojo Simmons]

You can say it. You can say it.

[Vanessa Simmons]

You lived with me. You slept on my couch before I had Ava. You.

[Jojo Simmons]

You know, after I had that issue in Queens. Yeah. Dad wanted me to in la.

[Vanessa Simmons]

And with you, it was very like Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Like, you know what? We're getting you out of New York. Go live in LA with Vanessa. She's. Go live in Fresh Prince of Beverly Hills.

[Jojo Simmons]

But how did it make you feel as the oldest sister to see what I would, you know? Cause until we got to growing up Hip hop, you know, that even besides living with you and, you know, I was in the headlines a lot, and just a lot of things said about me. And I think, you know, I've been dragged through the mud a lot in my career, and that's okay. I took it like a champ, and it hurts me a lot still. I still deal that trauma of being a child and not fully being able to be confident in myself because of lies and things that were said about me. How did it make you feel seeing me go through that?

[Vanessa Simmons]

That I hated it? It's. It's never fun or. Or interesting to see your sibling go through, like, a dark time. You want to be able to just, like, take all of that away and shield them. Like, that's always been My position as an older sister. I just always wanted to shield you guys from any negativity, but you can't. In life, you got to go through those seasons so that you can grow and you can become better. So it just is what it is. But I am happy that I was able to be there and you were able to come and live with me. You know, we were able to bond and hang out and.

[Jojo Simmons]

And you got pregnant. That's when you got pregnant with Ava. We won't get into that story. I was sleeping on the couch.

[Vanessa Simmons]

No, I was already. I think by the time. By the time we found out, I was already, like, two months.

[Jojo Simmons]

We won't get into that story. You're wrong.

[Vanessa Simmons]

You're wrong.

[Jojo Simmons]

I'm sure I'm wrong.

[Vanessa Simmons]

You're wrong. Mike wasn't even. Mike laughs because he'd be like, no, no, no.

[Jojo Simmons]

Right?

[Vanessa Simmons]

I was already. I was already along. We just didn't.

[Jojo Simmons]

So bringing me along on growing up hip hop.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yes. We fought for that.

[Jojo Simmons]

What made you fight for that? Because, you know, I came in a time where the franchise kind of needed a rebrand or reboot, and they needed some guys. And I remember getting a call from you and Angela, and you're like, yo, I've been fighting for you since two seasons ago. And da, da, da, da. And then Angela's like, yo, they need another guy. Please just be you. We need comedy.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yeah.

[Jojo Simmons]

And I came, and I just. I remember telling Tenes, I said, I'm a go, and I'mma never look back. I said, I'm gonna go there, and I'm gone. Cause they. You know, it was like I was a filling. It was like, all right, we'll see how you do.

[Vanessa Simmons]

You see how you do. You took over.

[Jojo Simmons]

I did two episodes, and I just got on there, and I took the advantage of the opportunity that you and Angela gave me, because I knew I was like, this is an opportunity that my friend Keezy always used to tell me, like, if you get another chance to get on tv, show people who you are. Because Run's house was cool, but that was your childhood, and people grow, and they evolve. And he was like, you're such a. A cool dude and stand up dude and, like, get on there and just be you. And I think I got on there, and I was authentic, and I was able to work with you guys again, and it made it comfortable for me. I was able to work with little Eazy E, who I already knew, and it made it comfortable for me. So, like, how did that feel? Us finally being able to work together, us doing those scenes together, it felt like runs house almost a little bit.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Well, first of all, there was no way there could be a show called Growing Up Hip Hop where you weren't able to show your story. You had such a unique story going on behind the scenes, and people just didn't know your different, you know, struggles, your different, you know, victories and wins. It just wasn't a story that was being told. I was like, there's no reason. There's a show called Growing Up Hip Hop and Rev Run's oldest son is not on it. Like, let him come on here and shine. And then you got on and you took over. You shared your family stuff more than I did. You. You really gave them you your authentic self. Like I was talking about earlier with reality tv, you were able to come on and just give them that. And I feel like that's what made you so relatable and for people to really relate with you. And then you were the comedy element too. Like, but that's just you. But that's just. Like I said, that's just you being authentically you. But there was no way there could be a show called Growing Up Hip Hop without you on it. So I'm happy that it all got together and they got you in and you were never gonna be a fill in how.

[Jojo Simmons]

So let's talk about, you know, Malibu. Malibu Christmas.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Oh, that's such a.

[Jojo Simmons]

What do our family vacations mean to you? What is it like when all of us are together as adults with our own kids?

[Vanessa Simmons]

It's so surreal, honestly. And, yeah, this past Christmas, we got to do Malibu together. The kids were begging for months to have this moment. And we had a great time. The kids entertained each other and we were able to connect as adults and siblings and really, you know, kick back.

[Jojo Simmons]

And I will say shout out to Angela and Gotti for putting that together and wanting his family. They're out there, us out there. Like, it was his family. It was us. It was like a. It was a beautiful time. It was like Memphis, New York, Jersey, Louisiana, all in one place. The food where his mother cooked amazing food. So, like, I mean, I love it because I know Mia wanted to see Ava so badly. It's like it was one of those moments where we didn't even have to watch the kids, right?

[Vanessa Simmons]

It's like they were just Eva, Mia, and SJ was doing their own thing.

[Jojo Simmons]

Joey was just in his room running around.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Joey, you know, and we got to do just kick back and relax as Adults and, and. And watch our creations play. And just. I felt like we were young all over again. Except we did have the responsibility of our kids, but we were. It was like being young. It's an amazing, full, full circle moment. And Diggy came along.

[Jojo Simmons]

Diggy.

[Vanessa Simmons]

And we got to play cards and Uno. That was fun. So it was just a good family time. And those. Those moments are the memories that. That are gonna be important for our kids and for ourselves.

[Jojo Simmons]

Growing up family and not growing up.

[Vanessa Simmons]

We grown. I'm still talking about growing up. Grown.

[Jojo Simmons]

We are growing up. We still young. We still young. We young at heart. We young in the mind. We young everywhere. You know what I mean?

[Vanessa Simmons]

Young at heart.

[Jojo Simmons]

We just grown when it comes to how we make our business decisions.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Absolutely.

[Jojo Simmons]

You know what I mean?

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yeah.

[Jojo Simmons]

But family and legacy is what it's all about. That's what I feel when I get all our kids together and I got a little Joey III and, like, it just reminds me of legacy and family. And when I speak of legacy, you know, I. I finished watching the Run DMC documentary on Peacock on the way here on the plane, so.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Good.

[Jojo Simmons]

You want to speak about that a little bit. How did you feel about that documentary?

[Vanessa Simmons]

I was in awe. I loved watching, you know, the origin story of the group.

[Jojo Simmons]

A lot of stuff we didn't know.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Probably learning more about who even DMC was growing up. Even learning stuff about Daddy that I didn't know before. And I was just in awe. And when it ended, I wanted to watch it again.

[Jojo Simmons]

I wanted to. I wanted more. I wanted to episode because I texted Daddy said, I'm really loving the documentary. It's great because I told this to little Eazy E in the interview I had with him. I said, he tells me all the time how he feels closer to his dad when he hears about him or sees certain things. And I said, I feel so much closer to my father knowing who he was before becoming my father, or even this in the moment he's in now. Because out of the three of us, I am the baby. And. And not to get deep, but our parents divorced when I was what, three, four years old, so I didn't really experience their togetherness. But I also didn't experience him in the height of run because by the time I'm older and able to really cope with what's going on, he's irreverent. You know what I mean? So I feel like I got to smile and be proud and be like, that's me. Like, my mistakes, my flaws, my success. Is everything. It's a little bit of me in him, you know what I mean? Like, I see it's a lot.

[Vanessa Simmons]

A bit of you in him.

[Jojo Simmons]

Like, even him, how he brought together the group. He was the. Like, the leader or not, but you call him a leader, but not because he.

[Vanessa Simmons]

He was the organizer.

[Jojo Simmons]

It's because he organized it and he led them to the water. And the leader doesn't always mean, like, I'm the leader. Nah. It meant that he really put that play together. And it reminded me of me, of how I always want people around me to succeed and I always, like, I see talent. It also showed me that Daddy knew talent. He knew DMC was talented. He knew Jay was talented. He knew the three of us together are gonna be monumental. It goes back to what my partner and myself, Dave, we talk about being delusional about your success. That people don't even see it. But you see it.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yeah.

[Jojo Simmons]

Daddy was delusional to the fact. No. That I'm going to be the biggest star in the world. You have to have a slight bit of delusion. Think I'm gonna be that. Because it seems so unobtainable. But people that really see it and manifest it, they seem delusional to people, but in their head, they're not.

[Vanessa Simmons]

But it was destiny because the way it manifested, the way it all came together was almost instant. Did you see the first song they recorded was.

[Jojo Simmons]

Right? It was instant.

[Vanessa Simmons]

What was the first song? It was a song.

[Jojo Simmons]

It's like that. And then sucker MCs.

[Vanessa Simmons]

What? The first songs they recorded in that.

[Jojo Simmons]

Attic were their biggest records.

[Vanessa Simmons]

That's incredible. That's amazing.

[Jojo Simmons]

Two of the biggest records, you know what I mean? So I really enjoyed that documentary. I learned so much more about the group, so much more about Daddy, you know, really miss Jay. Obviously, that part teared me up.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Absolutely.

[Jojo Simmons]

What a lot of people don't understand is like, those are Daddy's brothers and they're uncles to us. So losing Jay was losing an uncle to us. And I remember where I was that night. We were at church where we found out that information. And it was a hard. It was hard on. On the whole family. Still is very hard on. On all of us.

[Vanessa Simmons]

And it was unbelievable.

[Jojo Simmons]

So I do everything that I can to be as close as I can to his sons and do what I can, you know, help them with the Jam Master J's brand in New York because. And Because I just wanted. I just want to help them. They're like cousins to me, and I love them and. And it's an unfortunate situation that we lost Jay that early.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yeah.

[Jojo Simmons]

All right, let's talk about. Because we get. We're coming to the end now. I just have. I just want to know what else you have going on and is there any, like, projects that we should be aware of? So when you hear a question like that, you know, now we're really coming towards the end. Anything new going on, Vanessa? What should we be aware of? I know you're on a million shows, and one time I turned on TV and you was killing this doggone lady, and I was like. I called you, like, you're a murderer in this shit, yo. What? I'm like, you did great. I was scared of you.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Well, yeah. Deadly Entanglement is still on bet. Plus a movie I did with Monica Calhoun that was, like, a complete amazing experience being able to work with a legend like her, you know? The strike just ended, so industry is picking back up. I'm getting back into TV and film, so definitely expect some new projects. Nothing I can talk about quite yet.

[Jojo Simmons]

I know how this world goes.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yeah, you know how it goes. But there's some good stuff. I'm very proud of myself that I've been able to actually fulfill my dreams of being an actress. So still going after that, working on Euphoria and just making that a global brand and bringing as much awareness to the wellness community as possible for our people, you know? And, yeah, you can just follow me on Vanessa J. Simmons at Instagram. I keep everyone updated on all the new stuff that's. That's happening.

[Jojo Simmons]

So what have you been?

[Vanessa Simmons]

It's such a hard question, you know.

[Jojo Simmons]

It isn't really a hard question. I mean, you answered it perfectly and said, it's such a hard question.

[Vanessa Simmons]

After answering, I'm like, I should talk about that project or that project. But just know there's a lot in the world.

[Jojo Simmons]

Just let them know there's a lot of stuff in the world.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I'm very blessed.

[Jojo Simmons]

So what are you excited about? What inspires you right now? Is there, like, a book, a podcast, a show, a song that inspiring you in this moment and not in this exact moment, but, like, in this season?

[Vanessa Simmons]

Oh, motherhood. Consistently.

[Jojo Simmons]

It's crazy because E said the same thing, that that's what inspires him is.

[Vanessa Simmons]

His family, you know, just keeping everything moving. It's motherhood being a good example for my daughter, fulfilling my dream so that she can see that good example. It's all intertwined, and motherhood is my driving force and inspiration these days.

[Jojo Simmons]

All right, last question. I always love to end the show with my favorite subject because I told you that I've always, I've dealt with depression as well and all that. Mental health.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yes.

[Jojo Simmons]

So somebody watching out there that deals with mental health issues, can you tell them what is your, what do you do for your mental health? What have you done for your mental health lately? What is your regimen? What do you do for yourself to make you get into that mind of peace?

[Vanessa Simmons]

That's all. What euphoria is all about is bringing awareness and bringing different, you know, topics to the surface so people can thrive and, you know, be better. For myself, it's the self care regimen that I do and it's getting up definitely working out so important on days when I'm not feeling so good or things are not going right, if I just pause, pause and go work out, you get those happy endorphins rolling and you can change the course of your day. Meditating and prayer, you know, very deeply spiritual and connected with God. And so that's my main source. He, he gives me all the peace that I need and the clarity that I need. So God plays a big part and, and community. Being able to be able to just talk to somebody, connecting with people, that's very important. Like minded minded people. You know, if you need to get a therapist or someone to talk through things with, it's all about connecting and being able to share, you know, your story, share bits of yourself and be able to, you know, talk and connect.

[Jojo Simmons]

Speaking of getting a therapist in therapy, I think in our culture and I speak about this, it's, it's, it's shunned upon and it used to be shunned upon to even have a therapy, like something was wrong with us or we couldn't express ourselves. How do you like, what is your feeling on therapy and why people should take advantage of having a therapist?

[Vanessa Simmons]

Therapy is so important because like I said, to thrive as humans, we need to connect and we need to be able to express ourselves freely and sometimes candidly without being judged and just getting it out. There's so much power in just getting it out and being able to talk to somebody. And it doesn't mean that something's wrong with you because you need therapy sometimes you just need therapy to process it. Different life triggers and different life situations, different things life throws at you, you need someone to just talk to and it doesn't mean that something's wrong with you. And again, that's a big part of why I'm starting euphoria. It's so that people. It takes the stigma off of, you know, the. The topic of needing therapy. It doesn't need to be something that's negative. It doesn't mean that something's wrong with you. Sometimes you just need to talk it out, and that's okay. And you'll feel a hundred percent better once you do that. So I' about advocating for mental health awareness. I'm all about, you know, encouraging people to talk and create communities so that they can thrive. Because that's. That's the way to thrive, is we. We gotta keep a good balance. No one can just be all work and no play and. Or all work. And you need a balance to make everything work.

[Jojo Simmons]

And that's why I want these conversations to feel like when you come on the For Good podcast is like, not a therapy session. But I want you to. Anybody that comes here to just talk. And even though I just explained to you how I see you as a sister, stuff like that, I'm sure that helps your mental a lot. That really makes you feel good. And I think therapy and mental health has to do with just picking people up and making them feel good, because it costs you nothing to make somebody feel extremely happy that day. You know what I mean?

[Vanessa Simmons]

It costs you nothing.

[Jojo Simmons]

It costs you nothing.

[Vanessa Simmons]

This was like a therapy session. I'm not gonna lie. Y' all those questions for me.

[Jojo Simmons]

I appreciate you coming up here, Nessa. I truly do love, as my oldest sister, you've always been a supportive sister, a supportive person. You've always reeled me in, like you said, and I appreciate all my siblings. But I'm always gonna appreciate you in a special way because you are the eldest and you did see everything first. And you had to dip your toe in the pool first to make sure we don't all drown.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I had to dip my toe in the pool first to make sure we all don't drown.

[Jojo Simmons]

Exactly.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Okay.

[Jojo Simmons]

And I really appreciate you coming. And this conversation was great. And it did feel like a therapy session. And that's what I wanted to feel, and that's what I, you know, want the people to see. I want people to come out of watching this with quotables and feel inspired.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I hope I gave some quotables.

[Jojo Simmons]

You did. You did. I appreciate you. I appreciate you. I appreciate you guys. It's your guy, JoJo Simmons. It's the 4 Good podcast where we focus on the good and never the bad. We're measuring on what we do and not what we have. Peace, guys.

[C]

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