Why You Keep Repeating the Same Relationship Patterns | Vienna Pharaon on Healing "Origin Wounds"
03/10/2026 | 58 mins.
Licensed therapist and bestselling author Vienna Pharaon joins JoJo Simmons on the For Good podcast to unpack how our childhood experiences shape the way we show up in relationships. Drawing from her book The Origins of You, Vienna explains how "origin wounds" form — and how understanding them can help us break unhealthy patterns in love, family, and life. Why do we keep repeating the same relationship patterns — even when we know they aren't good for us? In this episode of the For Good podcast, JoJo Simmons sits down with licensed marriage and family therapist Vienna Pharaon for a powerful conversation about how our childhood experiences shape the way we love, trust, and connect with others. Drawing from her bestselling book The Origins of You, Vienna introduces the concept of "origin wounds" — the emotional patterns formed in our earliest relationships that often follow us into adulthood. Throughout the conversation, Vienna breaks down how family dynamics, unmet emotional needs, and early experiences can influence everything from communication styles to the partners we choose. She also shares how self-awareness, accountability, and intentional healing can help people break cycles and build healthier relationships. Together, they explore: • What "origin wounds" are and how they develop • Why we repeat relationship patterns without realizing it • How childhood experiences influence the way we communicate and connect • The role of self-awareness in breaking unhealthy cycles • Practical ways to start healing and building stronger relationships This conversation is a must-watch for anyone who's ever wondered why certain patterns keep showing up in their relationships — and how understanding your past can help you move forward differently. 🔌 Subscribe to the For Good Podcast on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Vanessa Simmons Joins as Co-Host | A New Era of the For Good Podcast
03/03/2026 | 52 mins.
Vanessa Simmons officially joins JoJo Simmons as co-host of the For Good Podcast. In this powerful season premiere, they open up about Vanessa's first encounter with racism, the challenges of modern parenting, and why changing your mindset is the foundation for doing good — even on your hardest days. It's a new season and a new chapter. Vanessa Simmons joins her brother JoJo as the official co-host of the For Good Podcast — and the conversation starts with honesty. Vanessa reflects on her first encounter with racism as a child and how that moment shaped her awareness of the world. Together, they unpack what it means to grow up, raise children, and navigate a world that feels more visible — and more dangerous — than ever before. They also dive into: • The pressure of being a "helicopter parent" in today's world • Wanting to protect your children without holding them too tight • The balance between safety and open communication • Why having a bad day doesn't mean losing a good mindset • What "focusing on the good" really looks like in real life This episode sets the tone for the season: we're all facing obstacles, but it's about how we see through them. The For Good Podcast isn't about pretending life is perfect — it's about choosing perspective, growth, and intentional change. New energy. Real conversations. Same mission. 🔌 Subscribe to the For Good Podcast on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.
The Power of Emotional Intelligence with Dr. Marc Brackett
02/24/2026 | 52 mins.
What if the real key to better relationships, stronger leadership, and personal growth isn't grinding harder — but understanding your emotions? This week on the For Good Podcast, JoJo and Vanessa sit down with Marc Brackett, founding director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and author of Permission to Feel, to unpack why emotional intelligence may be the most important skill we're not taught. From parenting and partnerships to business and brotherhood, Dr. Brackett explains how naming, understanding, and regulating our emotions can transform the way we show up in every area of life. What if the key to better relationships, stronger leadership, and real personal growth starts with understanding your emotions? This week on the For Good Podcast, JoJo and Vanessa sit down with Dr. Marc Brackett — founding director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, professor at Yale University, and author of Permission to Feel. Dr. Brackett has spent his career studying how emotions shape our decisions, performance, parenting, and purpose. In this powerful conversation, they explore: Why emotional intelligence is more important than IQ
How suppressing feelings can quietly damage our relationships
The difference between reacting and responding
How parents can raise emotionally intelligent children
Why men especially struggle with emotional expression — and how to change that
Practical tools to name, understand, and regulate your emotions
Dr. Brackett shares actionable strategies you can start using today — at home, in business, and in your community — to build healthier communication, stronger connections, and a legacy rooted in emotional awareness. Because on the For Good Podcast, we focus on the good — and emotional intelligence might be one of the most powerful tools we have to create it. 🔌 Subscribe to the For Good Podcast on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Breaking the Cycle: How Fathers Shape the Mental Health of Black Boys | Dr. Alvin Thomas
02/17/2026 | 1h 3 mins.
*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "request-WEB:cd1da9f9-3c3b-4838-a03d-3a5db580ec36-3" data-testid= "conversation-turn-8" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> Are we truly supporting Black boys emotionally — or just expecting them to be "strong"? Psychologist and researcher Dr. Alvin Thomas joins Joseph "JoJo" Simmons on the For Good Podcast to unpack the mental health crisis impacting young Black men, the critical role fathers play, and how we can break generational cycles before it's too late. Dr. Alvin Thomas, nationally recognized psychologist and leading expert on Black fatherhood and youth development, joins Joseph "JoJo" Simmons on the For Good Podcast for a powerful and solution-focused conversation about the emotional well-being of Black boys. In this episode, Dr. Thomas challenges the idea that strength means silence. He explains how emotional suppression, lack of safe spaces, and generational trauma are quietly shaping the lives of young Black men — and what fathers, parents, and communities must do differently. JoJo opens up about his own experiences as a father, leading to an honest dialogue about vulnerability, discipline, and how to raise boys who are confident, emotionally intelligent, and secure in who they are. They dive into: The silent mental health crisis impacting Black boys Why emotionally present fathers change everything How generational trauma shows up in parenting Practical tools for raising resilient, confident young men Breaking harmful stereotypes around masculinity 🔌 Subscribe to the For Good Podcast on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts
Grief Isn't Weakness: Dr. Rheeda Walker on Mental Health & Healing in Black Communities
02/10/2026 | 46 mins.
Psychologist and mental health advocate Dr. Rheeda Walker joins Joseph "JoJo" Simmons on the For Good Podcast for an honest conversation about grief, trauma, and the cost of silence in Black communities. Together, they unpack why naming pain is essential to healing, how generational survival shapes emotional health, and what it truly takes to begin healing — individually and collectively. Mental health is often discussed, but rarely addressed with honesty — especially in Black communities. On this episode of the For Good Podcast, Joseph "JoJo" Simmons sits down with Dr. Rheeda Walker, psychologist, researcher, and leading voice in mental health advocacy, for a necessary conversation about grief, trauma, and emotional survival. Dr. Walker shares how personal loss and lived experience shaped her work, why silence around mental health can be just as harmful as trauma itself, and how grief shows up in our bodies, relationships, and communities. Together, JoJo and Dr. Walker explore what healing actually looks like when people are taught to "stay strong" instead of processing pain. The conversation expands into cultural expectations, emotional labor, and the importance of creating safe spaces for vulnerability — especially for Black men and women navigating grief without support. They also discuss: Why grief doesn't have a timeline — and why rushing healing can be harmful
The difference between surviving trauma and actually healing from it
How stigma keeps people from seeking help
What doing good looks like when it comes to mental health and community care
This episode is a reminder that healing isn't weakness — it's necessary, intentional, and deeply human. 🔌 Subscribe to the For Good Podcast on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.
What if healing yourself was the first step to changing the world?
This is a space for grounded, soul-level conversations about mental health, emotional intelligence, personal growth, and what it means to live with intention. Here, healing isn't a trend, it's a lifelong commitment. Through vulnerable storytelling and honest reflection, For Good helps us reconnect with purpose, reimagine legacy, and choose growth — for ourselves, our families, and our communities.
At the heart of it all is Joseph "JoJo" Simmons, the son of hip hop royalty, Rev Run of Run DMC, and a multi-faceted entertainer, entrepreneur, husband, father, and mental health advocate. From MTV's Run's House to Growing Up Hip Hop, JoJo's journey has been public but his evolution has been deeply personal.
After facing public scrutiny in his teens, JoJo took a step back from the spotlight to prioritize his mental health. He reemerged as an advocate, determined to use his platform for good. In 2023, he received the Phoenix Arising Award from the Black Mental Health Alliance, honoring his commitment to wellness and emotional literacy in the Black community.
JoJo brings a rare mix of humility, humor, and heart to every episode. Whether he's speaking solo or sitting with a guest, he creates space for listeners to reflect, reset, and rise together.
Expect episodes that explore the power of emotional intelligence in real life, mental health beyond buzzwords — especially for Black men and fathers, breaking generational cycles through inner work and intention, and what legacy looks like when it's built on love, not ego. You'll also hear honest, unfiltered stories that inspire growth, healing, and a deeper connection to purpose.
Notable guests include:
Dr. Cheyenne Bryant: Life coach and psychology expert dropping truth bombs on relationships and accountability
Lil Eazy-E: Reflecting on his father's legacy and the controversy surrounding his death
Trell the Trainer: From prison to purpose: using fitness and emotional vulnerability to help Black men heal
Vanessa Simmons: On protecting her personal life while growing up in a public family
Steve Lobel: Behind the music industry grind: on hip-hop success, grief, and staying grounded
Corvain Cooper: From life in prison to presidential pardon: a story of transformation, justice, and second chances
Jesce Horton: Building one of the most respected Black-owned cannabis brands with Carmelo Anthony
For Good is a production of 3isFor, a values-driven creative studio founded by childhood friends JoJo Simmons, Kris Karl, and David Dow. The three co-founders come from vastly different backgrounds — hip hop royalty, regenerative farming, and media production — but their values are the same. Together, they build with purpose, tell stories that matter, and champion regenerative business as a model for healing industries, communities, and the planet.
Listen if you care about:
- Growing from the inside out
- Breaking cycles and redefining what success looks like
- Building legacy with intention, presence, and purpose
- Using your voice and story to create real, lasting impact
New episodes every Tuesday.
Follow @forgoodpodcast on Instagram for behind-the-scenes moments, live convos, and episode drops.
Be for growth. Be for healing. Be For Good.
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