For Good

What if the freedom you’ve spent your whole life chasing is actually keeping you trapped? Oxford professor and Chasing Freedom author Simukai Chigudu joins JoJo and Vanessa to explore how history, inequality, and family can quietly shape who we become. Growing up in post-colonial Zimbabwe, Simukai saw how the past can live on across generations — and later recognized it in his own perfectionism and relentless drive to achieve. From the numbing effect of social media to the unexpected resilience he witnessed in communities facing crisis, he challenges how we think about struggle, dignity, and what it means to be free.

In this episode, JoJo, Vanessa, and Simukai discuss:

(00:00) Growing Up in Colonialism’s Shadow

(07:08) What Freedom Doesn’t Fix Overnight

(11:01) Colonial Legacies Inside Modern Institutions

(16:58) The History Erasure That Strips Away Dignity

(20:31) The Power of Community in a Crisis

(30:10) When Staying Informed Starts to Numb You

(36:53) The Stories We Miss When We Stop Listening

(43:59) When Achievement Becomes Its Own Prison

(48:13) Escaping the Tyranny of the Shoulds

Simukai Chigudu is a political scientist, author, and professor at the University of Oxford whose work explores inequality, public health, politics, and the systems that shape everyday life. Born and raised in Zimbabwe, he draws on both personal experience and his study of communities navigating political and public health crises.

Resources Mentioned:

Simukai’s Book, Chasing Freedom: Coming of Age at the End of Empire: https://a.co/d/0cxaJREu

Simukai’s Book, The Political Life of an Epidemic: Cholera, Crisis and Citizenship in Zimbabwe: https://a.co/d/06jM8Yp2

Connect with Simukai:

LinkedIn

X

Connect with JoJo:

JoJo’s LinkedIn

JoJo’s Instagram

For Good Instagram

3isfor Website

Connect with Vanessa:

Vanessa’s Instagram

Vanessa’s Facebook

U4IA Now

If this episode inspired you, leave a review and share it with someone who could use the message. The best conversations don't end here — they continue through the lives we impact.

Parenting, Family Relationships, Kids and Social Media, Parenting Advice, Family Traditions, Childhood Memories, Raising Kids, Digital Parenting, Social Media and Children, Freedom, Equality, Equity

What happens when your big sister lets you in on the biggest Christmas secret? JoJo and Vanessa Simmons are back for another For Good Family Meeting, and JoJo wants answers about the day Vanessa ruined Santa Claus for him. From Sidekicks and old-school arcades to the Run’s House days, the siblings revisit the things they miss about growing up -- and the memories they’re now trying to create for their own kids. They also get real about raising kids in a world of instant gratification and why a little boredom might be a good thing. A little nostalgia, a lot of sibling banter, and a reminder that some things are worth holding on to.

In this episode, JoJo and Vanessa discuss:

(00:00) Introduction

(04:23) The Christmas Vanessa Ruined Santa Claus

(11:08) The Childhood Classics They’d Bring Back

(24:00) New York Roots and Reality TV Secrets

(36:54) The Case for Letting Kids Be Bored

(42:22) Turning Your Influence Into Real-World Impact

Connect with JoJo:

JoJo’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-jojo-simmons/

JoJo’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jojo_simmons/

For Good Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forgoodpodcast/

3isfor Website: https://3isfor.com/

Connect with Vanessa:

Vanessa’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanessajsimmons/

Vanessa’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vanessajsimmonsxo/

U4IA Now: https://www.instagram.com/u4ianow/

If this episode inspired you, leave a review and share it with someone who could use the message. The best conversations don't end here — they continue through the lives we impact.

Parenting, Family Relationships, Kids and Social Media, Parenting Advice, Family Traditions, Childhood Memories, Raising Kids, Digital Parenting, Social Media and Children, Family Values, JoJo Simmons, Vanessa Simmons, For Good Podcast, For Good Family Meetings

David Royce’s biggest business lessons came from a job he was once embarrassed to have. Since then, he’s built and sold multiple companies, including growing one of the largest residential pest control businesses in the country. In this episode, David joins JoJo to share the systems, sales strategies, and leadership lessons that took him from a struggling salesperson to an award-winning entrepreneur. But after decades of chasing big goals and bigger exits, he also opens up about what success couldn’t give him, and how therapy, fatherhood, and slowing down changed what he’s building his life around now.

In this episode, JoJo and David discuss:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:40) The Early Lessons That Shaped His Success

(09:48) How Failure Made Him a Top Seller

(16:48) The Price of Building Something Big

(21:31) Learning to Lead by Letting Go

(26:26) Turning Customers Into a Force for Good

(29:03) The Inner Work Behind His Next Chapter

(34:11) Growth as a Lifelong Measure of Success

David Royce is a serial entrepreneur and the founder of multiple successful businesses, including Aptive Environmental, one of the largest residential pest control companies in the U.S. He was named Ernst & Young National Entrepreneur of the Year in 2015 and has built his career around scaling businesses, developing leaders, and using entrepreneurship to create impact.

Connect with David:

David’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/david-royce-22539425

Aptive Website: aptivepestcontrol.com/

Connect with JoJo:

JoJo’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-jojo-simmons/

JoJo’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jojo_simmons/

For Good Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forgoodpodcast/

3isfor Website: https://3isfor.com/

If this episode inspired you, leave a review and share it with someone who could use the message. The best conversations don't end here — they continue through the lives we impact.

Personal Growth, Entrepreneurship, Mental Health, Leadership, Purpose, Community, Culture, Faith, Mindset, Self-Improvement, Relationships, Legacy, Inspiration, Growth, Impact, Conversation, Storytelling, Wellness, Motivation, Personal Development

What happens when the woman everyone knows for making them laugh finally takes off the mask? Tisha Campbell joins JoJo Simmons alongside her son, Xen, for a deeply personal conversation about the life behind her iconic roles, her autism advocacy, and the journey that inspired her book, The A Word. JoJo and Tisha open up about raising sons on the autism spectrum, navigating the emotions surrounding a diagnosis, and letting go of the futures they once imagined for their children. Xen shares what communication and sensory experiences feel like from his perspective, while Tisha reflects on fighting for support, setting boundaries, and learning to embrace who she truly is.

In this episode, JoJo, Tisha, and Xen discuss:

(00:00) Introduction

(03:00) Tisha’s Unexpected Path to Stardom

(08:42) The Characters That Grew With Tisha

(12:50) Turning Personal Grief Into One Last Shot

(19:38) The Side of Autism We Rarely Hear About

(30:29) The Freedom of Finding Your Voice

(37:12) Why Early Intervention Takes Persistence

(39:58) The Safety Conversation Parents Can’t Skip

(48:50) The Day Tisha Took Off the Mask

(57:58) The Courage to Show Up as Yourself

Resources Mentioned:

Tisha’s Book, The A Word: A Mother’s Journey Through Autism and Love: https://a.co/d/0hF1kEfa

Connect with Tisha:

Tisha’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamtishacampbell/⁠

Tisha’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/SimplyTisha1

Connect with Xen:

Xen’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xenthemarvellegend/

Connect with JoJo:

JoJo’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-jojo-simmons/

JoJo’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jojo_simmons/

For Good Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forgoodpodcast/

3isfor Website: https://3isfor.com/

If this episode inspired you, leave a review and share it with someone who could use the message. The best conversations don't end here — they continue through the lives we impact.

Personal Growth, Entrepreneurship, Mental Health, Leadership, Purpose, Community, Culture, Faith, Mindset, Self-Improvement, Relationships, Legacy, Inspiration, Growth, Impact, Conversation, Storytelling, Wellness, Motivation, Personal Development

The music industry creates the songs people turn to in their hardest moments -- but who takes care of the people behind the music? Hilary Gleason, co-founder and executive director of Backline, joins JoJo and Vanessa to unpack the mental health struggles artists, crew members, and their families face behind the scenes. They discuss burnout, mental health stigma, the pressure to always perform, and how fans and the industry can better support the people behind the music. Hilary shares how healthier boundaries, stronger support systems, and accessible care can create a more sustainable future for the people behind the music.

In this episode, JoJo, Vanessa and Hilary discuss:

(00:00) Introduction

(03:50) Breaking Mental Health Stigma in Music

(09:50) The Warning Signs We Mistake for Success

(19:21) Taking Care of the People Behind the Music

(32:43) The Boundaries That Keep You Well

(39:46) The Mental Health Lesson Hilary Learned Herself

Hilary Gleason is the co-founder and executive director of Backline, a nonprofit connecting music industry professionals and their families with mental health and wellness resources. Through Backline, she works to make mental health support more accessible for artists, crew members, and the wider music community.

Resources Mentioned:

B-line hotline: Call 855-BLINE99 or text 254-639

B-line Website: https://backline.care/b-line/

Connect with Hilary:

Hilary’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hilltops_/

Hilary’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hilarygleason

Backline’s Website: https://backline.care/

Backline’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/backlinecare/

Connect with JoJo:

JoJo’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-jojo-simmons/

JoJo’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jojo_simmons/

For Good Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forgoodpodcast/

3isfor Website: https://3isfor.com/

Connect with Vanessa:

Vanessa’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanessajsimmons/

Vanessa’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vanessajsimmonsxo/

U4IA Now: https://www.instagram.com/u4ianow/

If this episode inspired you, leave a review and share it with someone who could use the message. The best conversations don't end here — they continue through the lives we impact.

Personal Growth, Entrepreneurship, Mental Health, Leadership, Purpose, Community, Culture, Faith, Mindset, Self-Improvement, Relationships, Legacy, Inspiration, Growth, Impact, Conversation, Storytelling, Wellness, Motivation, Personal Development