Vanessa Simmons Joins as Co-Host | A New Era of the For Good Podcast

Summary

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For Good Podcast: A New Era — Vanessa Simmons Joins as Co-Host

Podcast: For Good
Host: Joseph "JoJo" Simmons
New Co-Host: Vanessa Simmons
Release Date: March 3, 2026
Episode Theme: Family, Healing, and Intentional Growth — Introducing Vanessa Simmons as Co-Host

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Episode Overview

This milestone episode of For Good marks the start of a new era: JoJo Simmons welcomes his sister, Vanessa Simmons, as the permanent co-host. Together, they set the tone for a season rooted in honest, vulnerable conversations on mental health, growth, family, parenting, legacy, emotional intelligence, and wellness—especially from Black perspectives. With laughter, candor, and sibling chemistry, they discuss redefining "wellness," navigating parenting in a wired world, intentional living, generational healing, the power of support, and what it means to build a purpose-driven platform together.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Origin Story: How Vanessa Became Co-Host

• Manifesting Family & Purpose: JoJo and Vanessa describe how the idea to co-host came at the perfect time—JoJo was already looking for a female co-host when Vanessa called, seeking a meaningful new chapter.

  • "You gave me an answer without having to look. It was like God gave me that answer." — JoJo (03:19)

• Family First: Both highlight the power of sibling dynamics and the deeper impact of building something together beyond individual careers.

  • "I couldn't think of a better session space … than here on For Good." — Vanessa (03:36)
  • "Family, in a whole, is stronger together." — JoJo (10:38)

• Intention Behind the Show: The podcast is intentionally designed to be a no-judgment, love- and growth-centered space for real conversations, not hype.

  • "It’s all positivity. It’s all love, and it’s all intentionality." — JoJo (06:53)

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2. Vulnerability & Growth — On Aging, Stepping Out of Comfort Zones, and Personal Evolution

• Embracing Change with Grace:

  • Vanessa shares her journey raising her voice, overcoming fear of judgment, and inhabiting new spaces as she enters her 40s.
    • "I'm getting older... I really need to push myself out of my comfort zone to really reach peak, you know, performance of what I'm capable of." — Vanessa (07:07)

• Sibling Banter:

  • A humorous exchange on “feeling old” and Vanessa’s tech struggles ("She couldn't even find the search bar on Slack!") brings lightness and relatability to the episode. (07:57)

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3. Legacy, Collaboration, and Brand Alignment

• Merging Passions:

  • Vanessa introduces her wellness platform, Euphoria, and discusses how its mission aligns with For Good’s ethos.
    • "Euphoria is perfect... aligns with everything that we believe in. Why not? It's a no brainer." — JoJo (15:50)
    • "It’s the perfect marriage to do it together." — Vanessa (15:51)

• Redefining Wellness:

  • They dig into what “wellness” really means—moving away from buzzwords to a holistic, personal, and balanced approach (16:10–17:25).
    • "Taking care of yourself — mind, body, soul...finding that balance to really thrive in life." — Vanessa (16:10)

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4. Parenting in the Internet Age: Protecting & Trusting

The Challenge of Boundaries with Preteens

• Navigating New Norms:

  • Vanessa and JoJo share candid struggles around raising daughters (ages 10 and 12) amid changing expectations, social media, and “growing up too fast” pressures.
    • "So many things that they do that I never did at Ava's age..." — Vanessa (28:50)
    • “I'm still in protection mode... I won't let Mia go up the hallway in school.” — JoJo (32:54)

• Letting Go vs. Holding On:

  • Both reflect on how the internet has shifted parents’ sense of safety.
    • "I almost feel like the Internet made the world less safe." — JoJo (34:12)
    • Reminiscing on their own childhood freedoms versus the caution they feel as parents today (blocks 34:21–39:56)
      • "We were allowed to go outside … now it’s like, I’m not letting Mia do that. Are you crazy?" — JoJo (37:55)
      • “I don’t even let my daughter do sleepovers...just family sleepovers. That’s it.” — Vanessa (39:02)

• Mutual Respect for Parenting Styles:

  • The complexity of enforcing boundaries, meeting kids in the middle, and resisting judgment from others:
    • “There's no right way to parent. There's only your way.” — JoJo (32:56)

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5. The Impact of the Pod: Community, Intentionality, and Learning Out Loud

• Memorable Guests:

  • JoJo shares highlights and how every guest brings something unique—whether a celebrity or “just someone doing good in the world.”

    • “All have been special people in different spaces...and even the people with not as much followers get the same amount of love sometimes.” — JoJo (19:52)

  • Guests Who Stand Out:

    • Dr. Cheyenne Bryant (first episode, deep dive on relationships)
    • Dr. Alvin Thomas (on “fathers,” recent favorite)
    • Angela Simmons (Vanessa’s sister—and soon, Vanessa would love a roundtable with all siblings)

• Mutual Growth & Transformation:

  • Both co-hosts discuss how the podcast has changed them personally, and how learning from guests’ stories inspires their own healing journeys.
    • “I've seen such a huge transformation in you since you've started this podcast...” — Vanessa (19:52)
    • “I'm learning with each of these guests...about myself, about things they do and study.” — JoJo (20:22)

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6. What’s Next: Expanding the Platform, New Perspectives, Women’s Voices

• More Woman’s POV:

  • Vanessa will add depth on motherhood, self-worth, and growth as a woman—a perspective in high demand.
    • “I want to talk about things that matter to women—motherhood, self-worth, just making us better human beings every day.” — Vanessa (21:25)
    • “We needed the woman’s POV...to have a woman here to double down on that, defend your voice...” — JoJo (21:19–22:31)

• Family-Centered Healing:

  • Plans to bring in more Simmons siblings and maybe even Rev Run for conversations about legacy and generational wisdom.
    • “If I could have a dream guest, I would love to interview Dad.” — Vanessa (45:29)
    • “Jay Z...I want to humanize Hov, bro. Nobody asks Jay Z about his mental health.” — JoJo (46:56–47:28)

• For Good as a Movement:

  • Expanding into live events, wellness festivals, and community initiatives.
    • “I see us doing For Good festivals...live podcasts, performances, food trucks, yoga...this is a community for us.” — JoJo (41:34–42:05)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Healing as Daily Practice:

  • “This is a breath away and a breather. A moment away from what feels bad...it's to change your mindset.” — JoJo (43:01)

• On Building with Family:

  • “Why wouldn't I want to come in and help you? I'm the same big sister that helped you to learn how to ride a bike.” — Vanessa (13:52)

• On Parenting Fears Today:

  • “Am I being too much of a helicopter mom...you just know the dangers of the world and want to protect them.” — Vanessa (33:06)

• On Setting Boundaries Online:

  • “You don't like the way something is—block it. Comment, something someone said—block it, get it out your life, uproot it.” — Vanessa (44:08)

• On Names & Evolution:

  • “We speak about evolution, we speak about growth. Sometimes it's in changing your name. God told me to do it.” — JoJo (50:18)

• On Good Vibes Only:

  • “We focus on the good, never the bad. We’re measured by what we do, not what we have.” — JoJo (52:24)

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Standout Timestamps

• [03:19] — JoJo on divine timing & Vanessa joining as co-host
• [06:53] — Defining For Good’s foundational values (positivity, love, intentionality)
• [15:50] — The synergy of Euphoria (Vanessa’s wellness platform) and For Good
• [16:10] — Vanessa’s thoughtful definition of “wellness”
• [27:32–33:06] — Honest reflections on modern parenting, letting go, and the internet’s impact
• [37:55] — JoJo and Vanessa reminisce about pre-internet childhood freedoms
• [41:34–42:05] — Plans for For Good as a lifestyle/community movement
• [46:56–47:28] — JoJo’s dream guest: Jay Z, for a truly human, mental health-focused interview
• [52:24] — Episode closes with the signature For Good tagline

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Looking Ahead

What Listeners Can Expect:

• A stronger focus on wellness, especially for women and mothers
• Deep dives into generational healing and legacy
• Real talk about parenting, boundaries, growing up in the spotlight, and daily intention
• Sibling chemistry—laughter, vulnerability, lessons learned
• A “good vibes only” community fueled by purpose, positivity, and honesty

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“This podcast… is what takes you away from when you had a bad day… It is to change your mindset. That doesn't mean we're not going through things… It means we're seeing through it.”
— JoJo Simmons (43:13)

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Hosts:

• Joseph “JoJo” Simmons (now embracing “Joseph Simmons Jr.”)
• Vanessa Simmons

Connect:

• Subscribe, comment, and engage for more episodes centered on living For Good — inside and out.

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Transcript

[Amazon Music Narrator]

Ever notice how ads always pop up at the worst moments when the killer's identity is about to be revealed during that perfect meditation flow. On Amazon Music, we believe in keeping you in the moment. That's why we've got millions of ad free podcast episodes, so you can stay completely immersed in every story, every reveal, every breath. Download the Amazon music app and start listening to your favorite podcasts. Ad free included with prime, the new

[JoJo Simmons]

season of the For Good podcast.

[Vanessa Simmons]

It's your girl, Vanessa Simmons. I am so happy to be joining the For Good podcast as the co host with my brother Joseph Simmons, where we will be talking about all things good.

[JoJo Simmons]

This is what takes you away from when you had a bad day. This is what this podcast is about. It is to change your mindset. That doesn't mean we're not going through things. It doesn't mean we're not having issues. It doesn't mean we're not facing obstacles. It means we're seeing through it. His mom comes out and she's like, hey, you know, you can play here all you want, but he can't play here. That was my first encounter with racism.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I'm struggling with. Am I being too much of a, like, helicopter mom? You just know the dangers of the world and you want to protect them. But then I'm like, I don't want to hold on too tight, that I lose that element of communication with her because, like, oh, my mom's just too strict. It is, Jojo. It is tough.

[JoJo Simmons]

I almost feel like the Internet made the world less safe because listen to this.

[Vanessa Simmons]

It did.

[JoJo Simmons]

What's good, everybody? It's your guy, JoJo Simmons. And welcome back to the For Good podcast where we focus on the good, never the bad. And we're measured by what we do, not what we have. Today is a special episode, y'.

[Vanessa Simmons]

All.

[JoJo Simmons]

Y' all have seen the growth with this podcast. Y' all see how well the first episode did with this person and you saw the conversations take off. But now we're leveling up in a huge, huge way. I am officially introducing my new co host. Yes. If you guessed it right, in the sweepstakes in the giveaway, you were correct if you thought that it was going to be none other than my big sister, Vanessa Simmons. This is family. This is purpose. This is for good. Vanessa, welcome back. Or should I say welcome home to the For Good podcast.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Thank you. Feeling good. Are y' all gonna run a clap track right there?

[JoJo Simmons]

Can we get a. Danica, can we get. Can we get a track clap for her? Let's get a track clap. Thank you. Yeah, we got like, we got like four or five people in the studio, so that's the best.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I just wanted, I wanted a proper introduction and I'm feeling good. I'm, I'm excited about this new chapter and, you know, using my voice on your. This amazing platform that you built. So.

[JoJo Simmons]

Yeah. Thank you. You know, before we get into it, you know, I can tell people kind of how this came to be. You know, as a team, we internalize as we, as we've grown pretty quickly on, you know, Instagram, YouTube, and we're getting a lot of numbers, we're getting a lot love and engagement. You know, Danica, myself, the team, we all kind of was like, you know, what would a co host look like? And it was laying heavier on my mind and my heart that I needed a co host and it needed to be a female, obviously. And we had made kind of a short list of people we were interested in speaking to. And then literally the same week you called me and said you wanted to be a part of something special and you wanted to be a part of something different, and you really loved what I was doing here and you. And you wanted to kind of, you know, exude that good, too. So it was like you gave me an answer without having a look. It was like God gave me that answer.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Well, we were just having a regular check in talk and you told me, you know, we're going to be looking for a co host. And I said, cut those auditions. Just let me come in, you know, and I'm working on taking up more space and actually using my voice. Sometimes I hold back and, you know, fear of judgment and everything that's going on in the world. So this is me being very intentional about using my voice and I couldn't think of a better session space and do it than here on For Good.

[JoJo Simmons]

Appreciate it. I'm happy that you're here. I know that we've seen a lot of success on all the reality TV shows together, so I don't think this will be any different. And I'm sure my community, our good people, are excited that you are our co host and that we're going to be doing this, you know, from now on. It's a family thing and we really going to do this. So I want to get into the first question. Obviously this is a special episode. You're not like a guest. You're more like a host now. But we're going to be talking to each other. I want people to understand these Episodes. Now that, you know, I'll still be giving you guys the just JoJo segments, of course you guys are going to be getting the Just JoJo segments. What would the 4 Good podcast be without my thoughts? Right. But, you know, I want these, these episodes when it's just you and myself. I just want us to chop it up and have questions for each other and just talk about things that could be relatable. Like even like how you kind of just said like, you know, we were just talking about our daily check, talking with our daily check in. And a lot of siblings probably don't even do those daily check ins and talk. So I think us being able to be siblings on here and be relatable and insp people is going to be fun. So, you know, as we get into it, I wanted to ask you, like, what was, you know, what was your reaction to the numbers though, from our first episode? It did a lot like Wildfire did. Over half a million views on Instagram. We're over 100, you know, some thousand views on YouTube. You know, it's been doing well. What was your reaction when you saw all that love that you were receiving?

[Vanessa Simmons]

I was actually kind of shocked. You know, you come and you do podcasts. Excuse me, you come and you do podcasts and you speak and, you know, you're as candid as possible. But then when the reality comes out and, you know, it's presented and now people have to, you know, look at it and critique it and perceive it, you get a little bit nervous. And I got so much love and so much support and it was just such a nice reminder that I am loved and appreciated for the things that I do. And I just want to kind of be able to continue to, to do that throughout my career, through my journey. And yeah, I was surprised, honestly, you

[JoJo Simmons]

know, and that's why I love this podcast. Although you were in one of the first episodes in the beginning when it started, this podcast has grown to be. But it's always the intention. Was it to be a place of positivity, love and no judgment? And I'm happy that you felt that love from our subscribers, from our fan base, from our community, because that's what this is about. No matter who we interview, from any A list celebrity down to a person that just does good in the world, Right? It may not be a celebrity. It's about receiving love. And that's every episode, every person that we've brought on here has received love, no matter their following count or no matter what they spoke about. You know they received love. And that's what I love about this podcast. It's all positivity. It's all love, and, you know, it's all intentionality. You know what I mean?

[Vanessa Simmons]

I love that. I think the world needs a lot more positivity and reinforcement in that way. So it's a blessing to be able to do that, to be able to do this with family. It's not even going to feel like work. I don't feel like we're working.

[JoJo Simmons]

Oh, no, we're chilling right now. We're talking.

[Vanessa Simmons]

We're talking. So it's really the best situation for me. And like I said, pushing myself out of my comfort zone this new season, you know, I'm getting older and adjusting in a lot of ways, and I feel like I really need to push myself out of my comfort zone to really reach peak, you know, performance of what I'm capable of.

[JoJo Simmons]

You know, I find it funny, and I know you probably got a question to get into, but you said. When you just said you're getting older. You know, all my life, I've never seen you as, like. I've always seen you, like, the person that helps or knows everything. I would say everything, but has the answer because you are a bit older. But I never looked at you as older. And when you told me your age the other day, oh, my God, I

[Vanessa Simmons]

was like, damn, yeah, that was so rude.

[JoJo Simmons]

I didn't know you was that old. Damn. I never thought about it that way. I'm like, damn, you old. When did you get to that age? And I'm not gonna tell your age here, but like, damn, when did that. It's Google.

[Vanessa Simmons]

It's Googleable.

[JoJo Simmons]

Cause, you know, you were. She was. You know, by the way, guys, so. Because she's on a for good podcast, anybody that has a job or is in a corporate job, you probably may use an app called Slack. And she did not know how to navigate through Slack. And I was like, just go to the search bar and look for the chat. She couldn't even find the search bar.

[Vanessa Simmons]

No, it's not that I couldn't find the search bar. It was just.

[JoJo Simmons]

She was out here saying, hi, it's Vanessa. Nice. To the automated message.

[Vanessa Simmons]

No, the app kept prompting me to say, hi, team. Hi, team. And it would not go away.

[JoJo Simmons]

We thought you was really saying hi.

[Vanessa Simmons]

No, we were like, hey, I was just trying to get out of that prompt so I can get to the business and see what's going on, to jump into the business.

[JoJo Simmons]

All good, all good.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Oh, My goodness. Yeah. Like, like you just said, like, how old? Like you didn't realize how old I was. And you know, like, I think that it's starting to actually hit me, like, okay, you really a full on adult. Like, I know it. I'm a mom. You know, I've been doing stuff for years. But the actual reality of stepping into my 40s is what made me really realize, like, oh, it's real. Like, I'm like, am I considered middle aged?

[JoJo Simmons]

Is that like, I don't, I don't, I don't.

[Vanessa Simmons]

That is what it is. That is. I've been having these conversations with my friends and.

[JoJo Simmons]

So your 40s is your middle age. I mean, I guess so because you. They say your life expectancy is.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I don't want to talk about life.

[JoJo Simmons]

All right, all right, well, we'll switch something real dark. Let's switch the subject. Let's switch the subject.

[Vanessa Simmons]

But yeah, stepping into your 40s is a whole new world. And yeah, I'm just trying to push myself out of my comfort zone in this new season and, you know, be the best I can in this stage. Yeah, this is gonna do this for me. I could, I could feel the energy.

[JoJo Simmons]

No, no, I believe it. I believe it. So, you know, did you have a question or. No, you already got into this.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I do have a question. So what made you realize that I should be a permanent co host versus a one time guest?

[JoJo Simmons]

Yeah, I mean, you know, I think it's a culmination of everything you said and what I kind of said a bit earlier in this, in this episode when we started is like, all the love you received was obviously an amazing feeling for us over at the, you know, in the forego universe as a team. It was like, okay, we knew it was gonna be big. I always, I was telling the team, I was telling everybody. I was like, if I sit down with Vanessa, it's gonna. It's gonna go like wildfire. And for me to. I knew that that would happen. And, you know, to answer your question of why I thought you should be a full time host. Well, obviously, like you said, we were having our daily chop ups and we were looking for a host. And I'm like, who better than to work with family? I think, and not just the Simmons family, but I think family and a whole is stronger together.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Absolutely.

[JoJo Simmons]

We've always seen it. Whenever we work together, the success is 10 times multiplied. Yes, we're successful in our own lanes and our own routes, but whenever we work together, it's always, it's Always successful. So I knew. I didn't know I had a chance to even get you as a co host. So when you offered to do it, I was hyped. I got off the phone, started calling the team. Vanessa wants to be my co host because I know it's going to work with the fan base. They love our family. They love us together. They loved our episode. I'd be a dummy. You know what I mean? To not look at it in a business way and also look at it in a personal way when it's like, well, we're relatable people. We know each other. We grew up together. We have a lot of the same ideologies. So I just thought that it was the perfect thing for me.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Now, why would you not think that I would do it? Why do you think you could not get me? Like, I'm some, like, I mean, you

[JoJo Simmons]

know, you, Angela Digg, Russ, everybody's busy. Everybody has careers. You're an actor. Angela does what she does. Digg does. So, like, I'm never trying to take any bandwidth from you guys or tell you guys to put other things to the side to come on this journey with me. This is a journey. This isn't the biggest podcast in the world yet. It's a journey. Yes, we have a community, but we're still building. We're still getting things going. We're still, you know, making something special here. So to ask somebody to come on this journey with me is not a hard, you know, ask, but it's a. It's a real ask of saying, yo, we're building something here, and are you willing to get your hammer and your. And your. And your tools out and your screws and build? You know what I mean? So for you to come here and say, yeah, I want to build, that's all I needed to hear. And that's what makes me excited, you know what I mean, is that you came on and you saw what we had going, and not even a year later, you're like, let me take that role on, right? And then even from watching you come on, it blew up like wildfire. And guess who wanted to come on after Angela, right? And what did you think about? You know, that was my next question. Anyway, it was like, so Angela called me after our episode, right? And she was like, well, you know, why didn't you have me on the episode?

[Vanessa Simmons]

Do you think that that was like. She called, she saw me on.

[JoJo Simmons]

I think she saw and she saw. Not only did she see the love, I think she also saw the. The Fun that it looked like we looked like we had a lot of fun. And Angela's all about fun. Who wouldn't want to do that? Why am I missing out on fun? Right, Exactly. That was Angela's thing. So I just wanted to know, like, you know, how did you feel about her reaction, you know, to after, like, to wanting to be on? Like, how did that make you feel? Cause she said, like, oh, I see Vanessa's on there, and I feel left out. So how did that make you feel when I told you that?

[Vanessa Simmons]

Well, I mean, I thought when I saw her on there, that was the next natural thing to do, is to interview other people in the family and, you know, start conversations in that way. So I didn't think anything of it, but to know that she came on because she saw me on it, I was just like, okay, yeah, yeah.

[JoJo Simmons]

You know, I spoke to her, and I wasn't even gonna. Like. I said, I don't try to take any bandwidth from you guys. But was appreciative of her as well to come on the show. Cause everybody around me is like, it's easy to get your family on the show. I'm like, yeah, it is easy.

[Vanessa Simmons]

It really is. You know, the thing is, you really have to reach out and ask and know that we see the vision we see. You know, why wouldn't I want to come in and help you? I'm the same big sister that helped you to learn how to ride a bike.

[JoJo Simmons]

Yes, Understood. I'm still the same, you know, I just, like. I like to build and never ask. That's just how I always been, you know what I mean?

[Vanessa Simmons]

I can understand.

[JoJo Simmons]

That's just how it is. You know what I mean? It is what it is. But I'm, like I said, happy that you both got. Both of you guys came on, and maybe we'll get her back on here.

[Vanessa Simmons]

No, we absolutely need to have a roundtable talk all through.

[JoJo Simmons]

Hey, I'm trying to get Diggy there, you know.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Oh, and Diggy.

[JoJo Simmons]

But, you know, he's. He'll. He'll find his way on the podcast one day.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Diggy definitely needs to have.

[JoJo Simmons]

He's chilling right now. You know, he's. He's chilling, so I love that for

[Vanessa Simmons]

him, you know, I love that for him, too. So, you know that I've started a wellness platform called Euphoria, which is just all about educating people on, you know, wellness, mind, body, soul. I'm getting into doing collaborations with film projects that are also centered around, you know, wellness and health and wealth and all not wealth, but hey, it's all wealth.

[JoJo Simmons]

Yeah, that's wellness. Yeah. The real wealth is physical health and wellness.

[Vanessa Simmons]

And how do you see euphoria and for good connecting?

[JoJo Simmons]

I mean it's, it's the brand ethos. It ties in perfectly. For good represents mental health, wellness, health, lifestyle. So like euphoria is just basically another version of me. For good. It's another version of what we're doing. It aligns perfectly. There's synergy there, there's. Everything you're doing represents what we do. So why wouldn't we collab? Why wouldn't we partner? Why wouldn't we do it together? Why wouldn't we lift each other's brands up while we're pushing the same narrative? Right? Like, yeah, we could be pushing the same narrative, but we could also be doing it together. And it can all, you know, so that's why I thought that it was perfect. And you know, once again the team and I when you came on was like perfect. Euphoria is perfect. And you know, it goes with everything that we believe in. It's not anything against, you know what I mean, what we're doing. So why not? It's a no brainer for me, you know what I mean?

[Vanessa Simmons]

I think it's the perfect, perfect marriage to do it together. So I'm excited to be now doing this with you.

[JoJo Simmons]

Speaking about wellness, the word wellness, Yes, A lot of people use. A lot of people use that word a lot. You throw it here, getting thrown around a lot. Wellness, wellness, wellness, wellness. What does the word wellness actually mean to you? Like, what does wellness actually mean to you?

[Vanessa Simmons]

Oh, okay, let me think. I have the habit of answering really quick before I think so let me take a moment. Wellness to me would be. One being. Well, what does that look like, you know, for each individual? I think that it's definitely something that is personal and different to every person. But there are some main things that go along with wellness, like taking care of yourself, taking care of your mind, taking care of your body, taking care of your soul, however that looks to you, and finding that balance to really like thrive in life. Like, how could you find the ultimate, like just well being? I don't know if that makes sense or if I'm just like talking in riddles.

[JoJo Simmons]

No, no, it makes sense. I was actually gonna say I usually have things to add, but I feel like you explain wellness perfectly. You know what I mean? It's the well being of you.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yeah.

[JoJo Simmons]

It's the well being of your lifestyle. It's the well Being of your health, your mental health, your physical health, the way you think wellness is, how well

[Vanessa Simmons]

you're doing, merging it all together, all those aspects.

[JoJo Simmons]

It's about being well. You know what I mean? So I think you answered that perfectly. You may have thought you was talking in riddles, but you.

[Vanessa Simmons]

A little bit.

[JoJo Simmons]

You said it perfectly. This episode is brought to you by Van Dammes, the most luxury energy drink on the market. Stay. Whoa.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Okay, so you're 35 episodes in. Who are your most memorable guests besides me, and what made those conversations stand out to you?

[JoJo Simmons]

Wow. See, it's hard because every guest to me is special. Like I always say, every. After every episode, I'm either calling Danica or I'm telling the guests. Like, this was my favorite, you know, conversation. I think you heard me say it, you know, so, you know, it's hard to pick, but memorable. I mean, you know, I know a lot of people want me to pick the celebrities. I think Cheyenne Bryant was a great one, especially because she was the first episode. But, like, we got real deep on that one. Obviously, the Drinker Gates one was a great one to do.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yeah.

[JoJo Simmons]

But I really enjoyed the. You know, the most recent one that just came out was Dr. Alvin Thomas about fathers. You know, speaking. We had a really.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I think I saw that on.

[JoJo Simmons]

Yeah, that one just came out. And that one, you know, is about fathers. It was when I. That was definitely one of my favorite conversations. We got real deep. Then there was some other ones that haven't even came out yet that we've been shooting that have been real memorable for me too. But, you know, I'd have to say that each and every one of them have been like my little babies that come out. And, you know, I watch them myself. Not all the time. I'm not gonna say I watch all the way through sometimes, like when I'm. Obviously when we're editing and we're making.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Sure.

[JoJo Simmons]

But, like, because I'm very busy shooting them, so sometimes it's hard to watch them while I'm also shooting them. But I watch them and I'm intentional about it, and they all really make me excited. I really watch myself, and I'll be interested in the questions and I'm interested in the answers. So I can't give you a. Like, a pinpoint. My favorite. I could just say that, like, I'm just happy the community's growing.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yeah.

[JoJo Simmons]

And that I haven't been bored with any guests. Right. Like, I've been. I've been. You know, I mean. And I say that in a joking way. But, like, I've been. I've been happy with. With the guests that we've been getting. They all have been special people in different spaces, in different places, with different followings. You know what I mean? And the crazy thing is, like, even the people with not as much followers get the same amount of love sometimes on YouTube and a lot of comments, you know what I mean? And that just shows you, you know, the. The community that we're building. So, yeah, I love them all. So far. I've been. I've been loving them all. There's really. No, I can't pick. Pick one.

[Vanessa Simmons]

And I could see why. I feel like you learn a lot from every conversation that you have with the different guests. And I could see the, like, change and transformation in you, even with the way that you communicate. Like, I feel like, okay, JoJo is a boss. Like, you know, I always thought you were amazing. You're my younger brother. But, like, I've seen such a huge, like, transformation in you since you've started this podcast, and I think it's just amazing. So I can see why it would be. Be hard to, like, pinpoint who's your favorite, because you're growing with.

[JoJo Simmons]

I'm learning. I'm learning. Yes. I was telling Danica this. I'm learning with each of these guests, and I'm learning about myself, and I'm learning about things that they do and things they study. So it's dope.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Does it make you stop and go back and, like, think about a conversation you had with someone on the pod and be like, okay, how can I incorporate all the time thinking into my life or lifestyle?

[JoJo Simmons]

Or sometimes it solidifies what I'm doing is right. Or if I'm wrong, Like, sometimes I hear a therapist or a doctor come on and give advice. I'm like, oh, I was doing that anyway. So, you know, it solidifies, and I like that. But speaking about my favorite episodes on this podcast, now that I'm no longer alone, what can people expect now from you as the co host on the podcast?

[Vanessa Simmons]

What can they expect from me? I guess I just offer a woman's POV a little bit older and maybe mature than you. But you've. Like I said, you've matured so much.

[JoJo Simmons]

We needed the woman's pov. We have a lot of women supporters.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yeah.

[JoJo Simmons]

And I want to talk about things that matter. Tired of looking at me all the time.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yeah. I want to talk about things that matter to women as it pertains to motherhood, as it Pertains to self worth as it pertains to all the things that could make us just better human beings every day.

[JoJo Simmons]

Yeah. No, I agree. I think, you know, that's another thing. That's why we were so serious about having a woman's point of view. It was like, it wouldn't matter if you wouldn't have been able to do this. We would have still found a woman. Because I was huge on, like, I want my woman supporters to know that I want their voices to be heard as well. And obviously, I don't pick a side on this podcast. I'm right from wrong. If you're right, you're right. You're wrong. You're wrong whether you're a woman, woman, or a man. And I know they feel that, you know, through the screen. But to have a woman here to kind of double down on that and defend your voice or speak in certain situations when we have guests, it's important, because I can't speak for a woman. I can only speak for what I see in my woman or how I see how she thinks. But, yeah, I think you bring in that flare, that woman's touch. They say to the home, you know what I mean? It makes it a special place, you know?

[Vanessa Simmons]

Have you ever had tennis on? Have you?

[JoJo Simmons]

No, we were. We are going to. We were going to do an anniversary one, but things got busy at those times. But she's going to be coming on. She will.

[Vanessa Simmons]

She's a well of information, an amazing DIYer. Like, she knows you guys is home. Amazing. And I would love to sit down.

[JoJo Simmons]

And, you know, she's you. She's like, you, in a sense. She's a hermit. I call y'. All. Is she like, yeah, y' all like to stay in the house until y' all better pop out. Then when y' all pop out, y' all shine and y' all shine. But that's just. That's my wife, you know what I mean? She's a superstar in everything that she does, but, you know, she likes to be inside, you know what I mean? And I can't falter for it, you know, that's the.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I'm sure you ain't.

[JoJo Simmons]

Probably why we work is I like to be outside, and she likes to be inside, but she keeps me inside, and I don't care to be outside when I'm with her. But, like, I'm always on the move, guy, and she's like, I just want to relax in my bed.

[Vanessa Simmons]

You are always on the move. You've always been, like, growing Up. You used to be up early and gone out on the streets playing with your friends, bike riding.

[JoJo Simmons]

I just want y' all to hear that. Cause people be thinking, I didn't grow up like normal because they saw Run's house and they're like, you didn't live a normal life. You didn't play outside. I'm like, bro, where was I living in for 15 years? In the television screen?

[Vanessa Simmons]

We were.

[JoJo Simmons]

Somebody literally commented. Somebody was like. Cause I had commented on, like, this post, and they were like, you don't know. You remember in the supermarket, right, where they used to have the printed things with the little red machines and you could rip them out for coupons? Oh, yeah, you could just rip them. I haven't seen it. So I saw a post about it and I was like, oh, I remember these. And somebody commented like, you don't know nothing about this, so you never went. I said, so I've never been to the grocery store. They were like, you. I saw you on tv. You wasn't doing none of this. I said, so quick question. I didn't have a childhood because I was on TV. And I said, I started TV at 15. Where was I for 15 years? Stuck in the television and, like, just

[Vanessa Simmons]

waiting for play to start.

[JoJo Simmons]

It makes no sense. So I'm happy that you. You let the people know. Like, I was up and outside every day all the time.

[Vanessa Simmons]

You was up early and be like, where's Jojo? He's down the street at Gorpitz house.

[JoJo Simmons]

Or not Gurpreet's house. Yes. We grew up in an Indian, predominantly Indian neighborhood. And I had a lot of Punjabi friends growing up, which I'm proud of that, you know, to speak on that. And I know it's nothing to do with the question, but to double. To speak on that a little bit, that growing up in that area was my first recognization of is when I first recognized that I was able to adapt to different cultures and that I was able to learn different cultures and meet different cultures. Because I don't know if I've ever told this story on this podcast, but my first interaction of racism wasn't towards me or a black person. It was towards my friend Gurpreet.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Oh, really?

[JoJo Simmons]

So this is a true story, and that's why I'm happy you brought that up. I was outside playing with Caprit. I had a lot of Indian friends growing up. I had all type of races of friends, but I had a lot of Indian friends growing up. And I remember there was a kid that lived around the block that I had met. He was a white kid, and we had made friends, and he was like, yo, come to my house. Come play. And we used to play all the time. My mommy met his mom. It was all good. And, you know me, this guy had a cool backyard. He had a tree house, basketball hoop, everything living around the corner from us. And Gurpreet's my best. Like, one of my best friends. So I'm like, I want to bring Gurpreet. Like, yes, we go all. Come play. So I bring Gurpreet over the next day to go play. And we're playing, and his mom comes out, and she calls me to the side, and she's like, hey, you know, you can play here all you want, but he can't play here. And these were around the times, like, 9, 11, and all that happened already. And people were looking at people with turbans in a very funny way. But she didn't know. And I'm not gonna fault her fully because people were scared. But that was my first time not understanding why my Indian friend couldn't play with my white friend. But I always knew as a kid, like, they didn't mess with black people. And it was like, I wasn't seeing it towards me. I was seeing it towards a whole nother race and culture. So that's why I say, like, I, you know, I know, you know, I used to be playing outside with Gurpreet, but, like, growing up in that area really showed me a lot of different things. Like, I learned. I know the language, the Punjab language. I know some of the Punjab language.

[Vanessa Simmons]

You do?

[JoJo Simmons]

For real?

[Vanessa Simmons]

No, I had no idea, like, for real.

[JoJo Simmons]

Like, I know to say yes is si. Just like, just like in Spanish is to say no is nay. I know the curse words. They teach me the curse words. You know, I was like, I was. I was. I know a couple things. So I understand that culture, and I didn't mean to go into that story, but you just reminded me that that's what this podcast is about, is for me to be vulnerable and me to tell stories of my upbringing. But that was my first encounter with racism. You know what I mean? Was living in. I'll say, Bellrose, New York. You know what I mean? That was my first encounter. So, yes, I was outside all day, every day, and those are the things I used to run into. Yeah, you were outside.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Okay, well, talking about upbringing, and, you know, our upbringing, and now we are both parents. We have pre. Tween. Pre. Preteens. Yeah. We have preteens. I have a 12 year old. My daughter just turned 12. You have an.

[JoJo Simmons]

She'll be 10 in a few days.

[Vanessa Simmons]

10. Oh, so you're so. Okay. The girls are getting into beauty. They're into all the things. Where's the line for you with Mia being 10? And when do you say no?

[JoJo Simmons]

When Ava sends her nails, that's when I say no.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I am so sorry.

[JoJo Simmons]

No, no, no, no, it's cool. Sorry. No, no, it's cool. I'm not tripping her cousins. I never want to take away the camaraderie and the fun. Yeah, I'm not that guy. I don't never want to be that dad. But I also have to lay a line down where it's. I need. I need to have some type of, you know, decision making when it comes to Mia at this young age. Because this is a age where it matters, you know, now.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Absolutely.

[JoJo Simmons]

So I really. I basically let her do everything. But I don't believe in makeup and I don't believe in the nails. And yes, she does have little makeup that she's allowed to play with in the house. Cause I say I meet her halfway. I don't want to be that dad. It's like, no, no, no. She can play it in the house. She can do it on the FaceTime with her cousins and her friends. She can't wear it outside of the house. Only thing you can wear outside the house is lip gloss.

[Vanessa Simmons]

And I respect that. And you know, it's pretty hard raising a kid out here in LA because I just feel like there's so many things that they do that I never did at Ava's age growing up. Like, she wants nails and I've taken her to the salon and she's gotten short.

[JoJo Simmons]

Let me double down on the nails thing though.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Wait.

[JoJo Simmons]

Cause I want to add to that. So she sent me her nails and you know me. And were they tall? They were decent size. They were not what a 9 year old should have on her doggone hands. So I was trying to find a way to like, not raise my, you know, raise my shit. You know what I mean about him. So she got him, she put him on, and she's in her room hook up thinking she's grown.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Well, I got a funny story. I got a funny story about that.

[JoJo Simmons]

I'm like, those nails are coming off. She's already like getting mad at me. So I'm like, I go in the room and Tenise is like, relax, Let her wear them in the house for 24 hours. But remember, this is how you get her. She has a basketball game tomorrow. You tell her she can't wear them for the basketball game. And that was my way out. So I was like, all right, Mia, you can wear them around the house for 24 hours, but tomorrow you have a basketball game, you can't play with them anyway. And she took them off and I told him, you ain't putting them back on ever again. She was mad for a little.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Never again.

[JoJo Simmons]

When you get a little older or something or grow your nails out, I don't know. But I just don't think a nine year old needs males. And now a nine year old definitely don't need no makeup. Because I'm trying to teach in my house that beauty doesn't come with the makeup. Yes, your mother uses it. Yes, your aunt uses it. Yes, everybody in your family uses it. But you know, you can make that decision when you're old enough, but you shouldn't make feel like that's going to define you looking any prettier than you actually are.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Oh, I 100% agree with that. I don't think that it should define who you are or your beauty in any way. I do let Ava play around with makeup. And like I said, I have taken her to the nail salon to get nails done before and she is a little bit older than Mia, so she just turned 12. But there is a line. It's really hard to set these boundaries without seeming like you're being too overbearing or too strict, you know, So I have a really hard time with this. Now. Her dad wants her to have absolutely nothing good, but she's going to her grandparents house over the weekend, coming back from the nail salon, has her nails as, you know, all the things from Sephora, and it can get out of control really fast.

[JoJo Simmons]

Dang. As a dad, I'd feel disrespected. Mike, I would have been mad. I know he's his mother, so you can't say nothing to your mother, but it's like she's a papa too. She's coming home. As a father, you want to be able to set the standard in your household. He's the man of the house, so you know what I mean. I get it though, you know, it's hard.

[Vanessa Simmons]

She's getting it.

[JoJo Simmons]

Yeah.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I had to tell her to take off makeup the other day. We were going to the mall, she was going to see a movie with her friend and makeup, blush, everything. Mike's like, she got a full face of makeup. You didn't see it and like, gotta go to her and tell her, you

[JoJo Simmons]

know, you gotta stuff be making me

[Vanessa Simmons]

wanna cry, tone it down, take it down a notch. Like the kids are wanting to be adults way too fast these days. And I will say, as a mom, gets hard to set those boundaries. People may be mad at me for saying, but it does. Like you want to.

[JoJo Simmons]

How can somebody be mad at you? Nobody knows how to parent the right way. There's no right way to parent. There's only your way, you know. And there's mistakes every parent is gonna make, you know what I mean? And you know, like I'm gonna take

[Vanessa Simmons]

her to get her nails done. It's the teeniest, tiniest little.

[JoJo Simmons]

You try to meet her in the middle.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I'm trying. Exactly. I'm trying.

[JoJo Simmons]

And that kind of goes right into my next question about it. Because like, you seem like you have some type of trust with Ava. And I'm building that with Mia with little things. But I'm like, how do you know when to let go as a parent? And when do you stop protecting and start trusting? Cause I'm still in protection mode. I won't let Mia go up the, up the hallway in school. She had to go change her uniform for basketball because if she was in the wrong color and she was like, I'm gonna run to the bathroom. I was like. And I just still walk to the bathroom, stand outside of it because I'm just still in protection mode. Just like it's like my baby.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I'm glad this came out.

[JoJo Simmons]

I feel like I'm the type person she'll get kidnapped in 0.26. Cuz the movies done did it to us. As soon as you look away, your kid is gone.

[Vanessa Simmons]

So I have been struggling with this terribly lately because like I said, Ava turned 12, she's in a middle school right now. We're at 6 to 8th. I drop her to the door every day, pick her up every day. Everyone knows Ava gets picked up, dropped off. These kids are coming out, they got their own bikes, they're riding to and from school on their bikes. They're walking to and from home alone. Ava's like, oh, my friends were going to Starbucks the other day and I wanted to. I'm sorry, I can't. I'm. I wasn't ready for that. For her to walk to Starbucks after school at 11 with her friends. And then I'm like. And then I'm struggling with. Am I being too much of a like helicopter mom of a hover mother? Cause like, you just know the dangers of the world and you want to protect them. And we also don't come from just any old background. So it's really important that I protect my child. But then I'm like, I don't want to hold on too tight that I lose that element of communication with her or like her feeling like she can open up to me because like, oh, my mom's just too strict. It is, Jojo. It is tough.

[JoJo Simmons]

No, it's tough. And you know, you know, I don't know what it is and maybe it's the Internet and this is weird to say, but I almost feel like the Internet made the world less safe because listen to this.

[Vanessa Simmons]

It did.

[JoJo Simmons]

At 11, 10, 9, I was walking to McDonald's all the way up blocks from mom in Queens. I was going to parks, I was riding my bike on highways. I was doing bad, dumb stuff, bad, like, and I was safe. And I got home every night before when mommy told me to get home. And I'm like, I thought about Mia at my age. I said nine years old. I said I was a whole grown up.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yeah, we didn't have phones, we didn't have cell phones.

[JoJo Simmons]

I was making my own food at 9, I was, you know, walking to the corner store. Let me tell you something. This is a true story. And kids that growing up in New York or young kids know, my grandfather could send me to the corner store to get him cigarettes. And they would sell them to me because they knew I wasn't no 9 year old trying to smoke cigarettes. They were for Danny, you know what I mean? Like, he would. Because he used to walk with me every now growing up, we used to always go to the same corner store. He would get like his cigarettes, his bagel, whatever, coffee. And there was points would be like, go get me cigarettes, son. You know, he'd call me son. And I would be able to go to the store at 9, 10 years old and get grandpa cigarettes.

[Vanessa Simmons]

That's crazy. Now that was a lie belief or the store.

[JoJo Simmons]

A lot of stores. But again, growing up, that's how we. I guarantee and tap in with me subscribers in the comments, they're gonna tell you so many kids grew up like that because it was also a respect in the neighborhood of knowing that kid wasn't gonna do nothing dumb. That kid was going home to give those cigarettes to their mother, the grandmother, whoever was, you know, I mean, because that a lot of the times you sent your kid to the store to go get stuff.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yeah.

[JoJo Simmons]

So that's why I'm saying the times Are so different. Is. You heard me. I was riding my bike on the highway.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Jojo. I was driving my bike, go meet my friend on the block over next to ours. And we would go drive all the way up Union Turnpike, all the way to Lake Success, all the way to Macy's. All like on a bike. No cell phone. No way for our parents to get in touch with us. Just knowing that I had to be home before it got dark.

[JoJo Simmons]

No cell phone. You remember the night where I was gone?

[Vanessa Simmons]

I had a beeper.

[JoJo Simmons]

You don't remember the night I was gone so long. Y' all was all driving around the neighborhood. JoJo.

[Vanessa Simmons]

No, I don't remember that.

[JoJo Simmons]

I must have blocked out of my mind Jersey.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Oh, was I college?

[JoJo Simmons]

You was. Was in college. We must have came home.

[Vanessa Simmons]

No, I didn't know I was.

[JoJo Simmons]

No, no, you were riding with mommy in the car.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I know. Absolutely. I do not remember the story unless it's so traumatic to me that I pushed it away.

[JoJo Simmons]

I was in St. Mary's at the time, and I was insane. This was towards the end of my New York stint when daddy was like, you're done. You know what I mean? He had. He had. I guess he had called the house looking for me because, you know, St. Mary's must have told him I was. Was doing something wrong in detention, whatever, and I wasn't there. I was staying out late night. It might have been like 10pm, 11pm on a school night. And I just remember y' all coming looking for me. And I was walking home already. Anyway. And I remember coming home and mommy was like, your father called. Call him back. And his only words were, you're coming to Jersey.

[Vanessa Simmons]

What time was it that I don't remember this? I was 100% at college.

[JoJo Simmons]

You know why I was away at

[Vanessa Simmons]

St. John's I know, I remember.

[JoJo Simmons]

You must have came home for a little bit. And mommy was like. Cause, you know, mommy used to come out and be like, jojo, come home. And I used to be at least around the corner up there, you could hear, but I was a little bit further. I was like a park. I'm not gonna tell you what I was doing at the park, but I was at the park, you know what I mean? And we were chilling, you know what I mean? And I was coming home. And I remember your loud ass voice. That's why I know you were there. You know, my memories are very distinct. The ones I do remember.

[Vanessa Simmons]

You sure it wasn't Angela?

[JoJo Simmons]

Nope.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I came home from College.

[JoJo Simmons]

You live St. John's was it you? Was it 15 minutes away?

[Vanessa Simmons]

Less than. But I acted like. I acted like I went to school in Texas.

[JoJo Simmons]

As I'm saying, you were around the corner, bro. You act like you couldn't have came home 15 minutes of the block.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I didn't. I had a car.

[JoJo Simmons]

You had a car. You had the Mitsubishi. I remember exactly the car. You had the black drop top. Yeah, the black drop. Come on. That's why you can't tell me. My memory is. I have the memory of an elephant. I'm telling you, Jojo. But I only say this to say that that's the freedom we had growing up was, you know, we were allowed to go outside. We were allowed to, hey, just be back at a certain time, and our parents weren't really looking for us all day. Now it's like. I'm not letting Mia do that. You, Craig, walk to the corner store. Are you crazy? She might not come back.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I didn't let Ava go to the Starbucks with her friends. That was literally maybe five minutes.

[JoJo Simmons]

We used to be at the mall with our friends at 10.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Drop us off.

[JoJo Simmons]

Drop us off. Be back for you.

[Vanessa Simmons]

It was a different time.

[JoJo Simmons]

That's what I'm saying. You think it was the Internet?

[Vanessa Simmons]

It was a different time, but there was always danger.

[JoJo Simmons]

That's what I'm saying.

[Vanessa Simmons]

There was always danger.

[JoJo Simmons]

That's what I'm saying. What makes it more dangerous today?

[Vanessa Simmons]

I don't know. Why do we hold on so tight? Because it's not like we were hurt when we were out there. We were perfectly fine.

[JoJo Simmons]

Perfectly fine. I can't remember one time I was scared.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I don't even let my daughter do sleepovers. Like, it's just.

[JoJo Simmons]

Yeah, I don't do that either.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Just family sleepovers.

[JoJo Simmons]

Yeah, that's it.

[Vanessa Simmons]

That's it. That's it.

[JoJo Simmons]

We're not doing sleepovers ever.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Going to someone else's house?

[JoJo Simmons]

If you asking me, I ignore the question. Dad, can I sleepover? Yeah. So you want a Dairy Queen? What? Ice cream you said you wanted. Oh, my God.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I'm not doing sleepovers. It's so scary. But I used to be gone listen

[JoJo Simmons]

at my friend's house, no cell phone. No offense to any other parent or anything out here, but I just don't know y' all like that. I might. You maybe seem cool, but I don't know how you run your household. I don't know what's.

[Vanessa Simmons]

You don't know anything.

[JoJo Simmons]

Some people be having guns in the house. Yeah, a lot of stuff that you don't think about, right, oh, my dad's a cop. And then, you know, and you don't

[Vanessa Simmons]

know what the kids are doing when,

[JoJo Simmons]

you know, come on. You know what I mean?

[Vanessa Simmons]

I was scared. Remember when I sent Ava to sleep away camp with her school astro cam? And I was. I was shook. I was praying I had an air tag on her. They were like. They were like, no cell phones.

[JoJo Simmons]

I remember that.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I'm like, this is crazy.

[JoJo Simmons]

I could never.

[Vanessa Simmons]

It was so uncomfortable. Like, I was so uncomfortable for the whole four days that she was away. But it also. That. That situation also helped me to let go a little bit, but I'm still not letting go.

[JoJo Simmons]

But I also think that was good because you also let her be her and find her personality.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Remember I was calling mommy.

[JoJo Simmons]

I was just like, oh, I was scared for it for you, but I knew that she was gonna be fine. I remember saying, like, damn, Vanessa crazy.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yeah. She was ziplining out there. She was having the time of her life.

[JoJo Simmons]

But that creates character, you know, And I think that's also what created us in character, was, you know, we were able to be outside a little bit more. And I'm not saying that the character's not being created now through whatever they're doing, but I think it created a lot of character, in my opinion.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yeah. Parenting is. It's really not easy now. I really have such a deeper level of respect for, you know, our parents now that we're adults and we're parents ourselves. Like, you can look and be like, wow, this is not easy. And to have so many kids. I got one.

[JoJo Simmons]

Yeah. That's what plays into me, not blaming them for anything that I felt, like, traumatic or anything that I felt like I wasn't happy for or happy with as a. As a child. I. I realized me going through being a dad and being a parent is they just doing the best they can.

[Vanessa Simmons]

And they were growing, too. They were that age for the first time. Like, we are this age for the first time, and they were overwhelmed, and they. You know, like, they were.

[JoJo Simmons]

They're growing, too. Is that they were grown, too.

[Vanessa Simmons]

And even to this day, this is their first time being the age they are right now. Like, we're always all just learning.

[JoJo Simmons]

Yeah, I agree. I agree. You got something else for me or what we doing?

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yes. That was a good conversation.

[JoJo Simmons]

Yeah. You didn't. Got lost. You forgot about.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I forgot about the cards. Yeah. What are you most excited about for this next chapter of Forgood?

[JoJo Simmons]

Oh, the growth. I mean, you know, universe. We got the merch Dropping. We got a couple other things dropping, but I'm just excited to just do more episodes, show more of my personality now that you're here. I don't have to always fully be in interview mode. I can be in chill mode sometimes. I can joke around, like I like to do at times. So, like, I'm just excited for the growth and seeing the community grow. Like, I see this being more than a podcast. It's a lifestyle. I see us doing four good festivals where we're doing live podcasts, and there's performances and there's food trucks, and there's things that's. This is what I envision for you.

[Vanessa Simmons]

And there's yoga and there's workouts, and us Pilates.

[JoJo Simmons]

This is what smoothies. You see what I'm saying, though? This is what I envision for you guys. This is what I envision for the viewers, the watchers, the subscribers, the listeners is a community for us. Not. You didn't see me say for me. I said for us. Not for her, for me, and just for us. I want to create the community for us, and we are creating it. It's created. It's here. And that's what I'm excited for. I'm just excited for more people to learn about us and to come here and. And grow with us. Because what I have realized is everybody that's learned about this podcast automatically is attracted to it because it's good. There you go.

[Amazon Music Narrator]

That's attractive.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Good. Feels great, you know, like, it feels attractive.

[JoJo Simmons]

Like, good feels good. I like good. Feels good.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Good feels good. I didn't want to use good again,

[JoJo Simmons]

but I like that. That's like a T shirt. Good. Feels good.

[Vanessa Simmons]

It just feels. Come on. Who doesn't want to feel good? Who wants to? You know? Like, there's so much stuff we have to worry about, and, you know, it's good.

[JoJo Simmons]

Good. We want to be good, but you just caught it. That's what I made this for, and it's what we made this for. Is. This is a breath away and a breather. A moment away from what feels bad.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yeah.

[JoJo Simmons]

This is what takes you away from when you had a bad day. This is what takes you away from when you're just not thinking right. This is what takes you away from when you feel like you're not eating right. This is what takes you away from when you just need to feel like you need some motivation. This is what takes you away from when you just feel like you want to be inspired. This is what this podcast is about. It is to change your mindset. It is to say, you know what? I want to turn that podcast on so I can change my mindset for the day. I can change my mood, because over there, they're nothing but happy. That doesn't mean we're not going through things. It doesn't mean we're not having issues. It doesn't mean we're not facing obstacles. It means we're seeing through it. We're seeing it through. That's what this podcast is about, is we don't judge anybody that comes on here. We don't judge anybody that watches, it, listens, it engages with us. Because this is what this is about. I don't even allow nasty comments. We are deleting them, we are blocking them, and you are getting out of here.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Block them.

[JoJo Simmons]

Because you do not deserve to be in a community where all we want to do is exude good.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I absolutely love that. And it just needs to be more of a practice for everyone. You don't like the way something is, block it. Whether that be a comment, whether that be something someone said to you, block it. Get it out of your life. Uproot it. Get rid of it.

[JoJo Simmons]

All right, so, you know, I want to ask you, are there topics or guests you personally excited to bring to the show? Like, if you can bring, who would be your top guest to get on this show and you can think beyond the stars and what's some topics you would like to talk about on this show?

[Vanessa Simmons]

I touched a little bit on it earlier, but I definitely want to tap into motherhood and ways that I can inspire mothers, new mothers, mothers who have been doing it for. For a while, who have several children. I just want to be able to inspire mothers. I know there are other platforms that do that, but I really would like to come from this POV and it being all set in the world of what's good and what will help mothers feel good. Definitely health and fitness is really important to me because it's helped transform me and in so many different ways. And so I always love to be an inspiration in that world and also learn more for myself as well. If I could have a dream, a

[JoJo Simmons]

dream guest, I'll give you mine after yours. I'll give you my dream guest dream interview.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I would love to talk to. You know what? I would love to interview Dad. I feel like he would really give some amazing gems. He literally is that for me every day. Like, if I'm freaking out, things are going bad. I mean, it can seem like at the worst and he's gonna find something positive to give to me that actually genuinely makes me feel better after, you know, the call of me breaking down and being like, oh, my God, everything is just a mess. I think he would be so good for.

[JoJo Simmons]

If we're good, I think dad would be great. I'd love to have him on here.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yeah.

[JoJo Simmons]

You know, hopefully we can get him on here. But he isn't my dream guest. Even though he would be a great guest and I would be so excited to have him, I feel like the three of us would have some great conversations. I even feel like him and I would have some good stuff to talk about since they call me Baby Rev right now.

[Vanessa Simmons]

You do. You. You sound more like him. You've always sounded like him, but for some reason, right now, you sound even. Even more like him. I don't know why you are. Everything about you is transforming into dad, like.

[JoJo Simmons]

But my dream guest, and I've probably said this before, is the greatest to ever do it. Who his name is J to the Z Hova. The great Hov. I want to sit down with Jay Z. I'm putting that out there. Jay Z, if you ever watch this, you might be watching it. Who knows? I want to sit down with you. I just want to be around somebody that's done a lot.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yeah.

[JoJo Simmons]

And, of course, became successful the way he's became successful, made a lot of good decisions. And, you know, I'm not like everybody else that's like, oh, I want advice from Jay Z. Yeah. I think Jay Z gives great advice, but I think he says a lot of stuff that we already know. It's all about motivating us. But I just want to be around him and ask him so many different questions. Nobody asked Jay Z about his mental health. Nobody asked Jay Z about a lot of different.

[Vanessa Simmons]

No one's asked Jay Z about his mental.

[JoJo Simmons]

I mean, maybe, but I've never seen a lot of humanizing questions towards Jay Crazy. It's always like, he give. He's giving advice. He's talking about music. And of course I want to talk about music, but I want to humanize hov, bro.

[Vanessa Simmons]

You want to. You want to. You want to. You want to know what. What he is like?

[JoJo Simmons]

I want to know who Shawn Carter is. I want to know Shawn Carter in Marcy Projects. You know what I mean? I want to know Shawn Carter, you know, as a child. I want to know Shawn Carter as a brother. I want to know Sean Carter as an uncle, as a father.

[Vanessa Simmons]

We don't know any of those.

[JoJo Simmons]

We don't know any of that. And I think that this podcast is the perfect space for Shawn Carter, AKA Jay Z, to do it. So that's my dream guest to have, because I really do look up to hov. Like, he's one of the guys I look up to.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I like that. That's. HOV is definitely a huge inspiration for me too. And, like, and we can get Beyonce

[JoJo Simmons]

and HOV can come together if they want.

[Vanessa Simmons]

You know, I mean, we said true.

[JoJo Simmons]

Because I want to know who Beyonce is, too, as a child, you know, I would love to know that too.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Love to talk to Beyonce and have a moment. Moment to interview her. That would be definitely on the top of the list for sure.

[JoJo Simmons]

So, yeah, those are. Those are our dream guests. And, you know, I wanted this episode not to kind of feel like anything. Not deep, you know, not deep combos, but the introduction, not having you here and just how this. This vibe is gonna feel as we. As we, you know, do this. And we've got a lot of other, like, remote episodes we got coming up. We got a lot of fun episodes we're gonna be giving to people. So I really just want to. To do a. What do you say, a grand opening. I guess we'll call this the new season of the 4 Good podcast, where we now have a co host. It's my big sister, Vanessa. Guys, like, this is great. I'm excited. I know that more blessings are coming our way for working with each other, and I wouldn't have had it any other way. Before we get out of here and close them out, I usually tell people where to find you, but you don't have to. They can find you here.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Right here at the 4 Group podcast.

[JoJo Simmons]

So how do you want to. How do you want to help me close out? Before I get into our tagline, you, you know, you know, talk to the people, let them know you're here to stay, you love them, and to make sure they subscribe, hit that subscribe button, too, and leave some comments. I'll be seeing. We get a lot of views, but I don't see enough comments. Sometimes on YouTube, I need comments. I want to know what y' all talking about. Talk to me. And I'm looking at them, too. I'm looking at the comments, and I'm looking at the subscribers go up. So make sure y' all hit the subscribe button, bong right here, and, you know, talk to them.

[Vanessa Simmons]

That's just so much pressure to just be like, talk to them. But it's your girl, Vanessa Simmons. I am so happy to be joining the For Good podcast as the co host with my brother Joseph Simmons, where we will be talking about all things good. And I'm looking forward to it.

[JoJo Simmons]

I like how you call me Joseph Simmons because that's more the name Joseph Simmons Jr. That I've been going by. Like, I'm JoJo to some people. I'll still go by JoJo because I know people know me for that. I've built a brand off JoJo. But yes, guys, I go by Joseph JoJo Simmons now.

[Vanessa Simmons]

He even changed the name on his phone. Don't even. I used to have you saved as JoJo. It don't Joseph. I can't even find that. It's Joseph Simmons.

[JoJo Simmons]

You know why? Because, you know, it's just growth. You know, we spoke. We speak about evolution, we speak about growth. And I figured my growth, sometimes it's in changing your name. And God told me to do it.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I can appreciate it.

[JoJo Simmons]

God said, walk in a room as Joseph and not as Joseph. JoJo every time. Wow. You know, and.

[Vanessa Simmons]

And was JoJo the young you and Joseph.

[JoJo Simmons]

But he also said, don't ignore the fact of what JoJo can do for you. So, like, if somebody wants to pay you to be jojo, like, be JoJo. But this is a new evolution. Earlier, my brother's a boss. That plays into everything for me. It's like, if I want to be seen as a boss, if I want to be moving as a boss, then. Then I want to be. Call me by my government name. Call me by the name you put on my check.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Got it?

[JoJo Simmons]

You know what I mean? That's kind of how I've been.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Address him as Joseph.

[JoJo Simmons]

Address me as Joseph. But you can still call me JoJo. I won't hate you if y' all in public and you call me jojo. I love you. Even though sometimes they call me Diggy, it's very weird.

[Vanessa Simmons]

You know, they mix up all our. I don't know sometimes if it's on purpose.

[JoJo Simmons]

I thought it was on purpose, but then Diggy told me one day that somebody called him JoJo. And I was like, okay, I feel better about that then, because I just

[Vanessa Simmons]

feel like they go running them like it's just all of us. Like there's a Run's house in them.

[JoJo Simmons]

Funny, because one time, you know, when I was in, like, young. In high school, you know, daddy's name is Rev Run. And I guess somebody must have thought his last name was Run. And they. They came to me and they was like, oh, Jojo. Run. What do you think I started doing? I ran. You don't tell somebody, a black person. You don't tell a black person run. And they don't start running. You ask questions later. I started running. He said, oh, JoJo, run. I started running. And then Dave was like, no, he thinks Your name is JoJo. Run. I said, okay, my fault. So quick, little funny little story for you guys. This is the four good podcasts with my new co host. Actually, I'm gonna talk to the wide shot. Let me talk to the wide angle. I don't have to talk to just the solo. I'm gonna talk to the wide. This is the wide right here. Right? I'm talking to the wide. I gotta talk. Make sure. I want to make sure I'm talking to the wide because I was gonna talk to the solo because I'm usually, like, the only person as a host, but now I'm a co host because I got a co host. And we're gonna make sure that Vanessa learns the tagline so she can eventually say it.

[Vanessa Simmons]

What is the tagline?

[JoJo Simmons]

We about. We about to. To say, you know the tagline. This is your guy, JoJo Simmons, and

[Vanessa Simmons]

this is Vanessa Simmons.

[JoJo Simmons]

And this is the 4 Good podcast where we focus on the good, never the bad. And we're measured by what we do, not what we have. We are. We're checking out. Till next time. You got JoJo, Vanessa. Peace. Love you guys.