For Good

In this solo episode of the For Good Podcast, Joseph "JoJo" Simmons reflects on gratitude as more than a holiday tradition — but a daily practice that reshapes how we move through stress, pressure, and life itself. From slowing down to appreciating the small wins, JoJo shares why gratitude has become one of his most important tools for mental clarity, peace, and growth.

In this special solo episode of the For Good Podcast, Joseph "JoJo" Simmons takes a moment to slow things down and speak directly to the listener about gratitude — not as something tied to gifts, success, or milestones, but as a mindset that changes how we experience life.

JoJo reflects on a realization that stopped him in his tracks: how much stress quietly shapes our health, our decisions, and our sense of peace. From that moment, he began shifting his focus toward gratitude — especially for the small, often overlooked things we tend to take for granted.

Throughout the episode, JoJo shares honest thoughts on moving at your own pace, resisting comparison, and understanding that your journey doesn't need to match anyone else's timeline. He emphasizes the importance of honoring small steps, trusting the process, and recognizing that consistency — not speed — leads to real growth.

This episode touches on:

• Why stress can quietly run our lives if we let it

• Learning to move at your own pace without comparison

• Practicing gratitude for the small, everyday wins

• How slowing down can create clarity and peace

• Why small steps often lead to the biggest breakthroughs

Rooted in reflection and intention, this episode is a reminder that gratitude isn't just something we practice during the holidays — it's something that can ground us, protect our mental health, and reshape how we show up every day.

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From grief and growth to balance and burnout — every guest we've had on The For Good Podcast has shared one common truth: healing starts from within.

In this special "For Good Reflections" episode, Joseph "JoJo" Simmons brings together powerful moments from past conversations, featuring guests opening up about how they care for their mental health, protect their peace, and stay grounded when life gets heavy.

You'll hear wisdom from voices like Dreka Gates, Vanessa Simmons, Angela Simmons, Lil Eazy E, Corvain Cooper, and more — each revealing their personal tools for healing, reflection, and self-preservation.

Whether it's therapy, faith, fitness, mindfulness, or simply slowing down, these stories remind us that mental health isn't just maintenance — it's movement. It's how we stay aligned with our purpose, break cycles, and live For Good.

In this For Good Reflections episode, JoJo Simmons revisits powerful moments from past guests as they open up about how they care for their mental health, protect their peace, and find balance in the middle of life's chaos.

From therapy and faith to fitness and mindfulness, these reflections reveal what healing really looks like behind the scenes — unfiltered, honest, and deeply human. Because taking care of yourself isn't selfish — it's For Good.

In this episode, we reflect on:

• The daily practices that protect our peace and mental clarity

• How therapy, faith, and fitness help us stay grounded

• The importance of slowing down and creating boundaries

• What healing looks like when life gets heavy

Why mental health is more than maintenance — it's movement

How are psychedelics reshaping mental health, spirituality, and healing? Journalist and author Madison Margolin joins Joseph "JoJo" Simmons on the For Good Podcast to explore the intersection of plant medicine, faith, and emotional wellness. She opens up about growing up between traditional Judaism and counterculture, how psychedelics helped her understand her inner world, and why healing often feels messy, sacred, and nonlinear.

Madison Margolin is a journalist, author, and spiritual storyteller who has spent years exploring the intersection of psychedelics, Judaism, and healing. She joins Joseph "JoJo" Simmons on the For Good Podcast for an eye-opening conversation about how plant medicine can open doors to self-awareness, emotional growth, and spiritual connection.

Madison shares how being raised between traditional Jewish practice and the counterculture movement shaped the way she sees the world. She breaks down the role psychedelics can play in confronting trauma, understanding your inner child, and reconnecting with a deeper sense of purpose.

JoJo and Madison also discuss her personal practices — from meditation to prayer to psychedelic exploration — and how these tools can support mental health when approached with intention. She explains why healing doesn't always look peaceful, how spirituality has guided her through difficult seasons, and what most people misunderstand about psychedelics today.

Together, they dive into:

• How psychedelics can support trauma healing and emotional clarity

• The connection between Judaism, mysticism, and plant medicine

• What it really means to integrate spiritual experiences into everyday life

• Why intention, guidance, and mental preparation matter in any healing journey

• How storytelling can help destigmatize conversations around mental health and psychedelics

🔌 Subscribe to the For Good Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen.

McKenzi Brooke has spent most of her life in front of a camera — but who is she outside the viral videos? The TikTok star, dancer, actor, and storyteller joins Joseph "JoJo" Simmons on the For Good Podcast to talk about growing up online, separating her real identity from her internet persona, navigating pressure at a young age, and turning criticism into fuel.

From her close bond with her family to the creative honesty behind her music, McKenzi opens up about the parts of her life people don't see — and what it really means to stay grounded when millions are watching.

McKenzi Brooke is one of TikTok's biggest breakout creators — a dancer, actor, musician, and storyteller who built a massive following by being relatable, creative, and unapologetically herself. But behind the viral moments is someone who has been performing since childhood, learning how to grow up while the internet watched.

In this episode of the For Good Podcast, Joseph "JoJo" Simmons sits down with McKenzi for a raw, thoughtful conversation about identity, pressure, confidence, and the power of knowing who you are beyond the screen.

McKenzi opens up about what it's really like to grow up in the public eye, how she separates her real personality from the one people assume she has online, and why she still considers herself "just a normal girl with weird quirks" despite millions of fans.

They go deep into:

• Growing up online and learning to stay authentic while the world watches

• Finding her voice beyond dance — from acting to storytelling to writing music

• Using heartbreak and friendships as creative fuel in her songwriting (yes… she thanks her exes for the inspiration)

• The support system that keeps her grounded — especially her brother and her mom

• How to handle comparison, hate, and pressure as a young creator ("Haterade is Powerade" might be the best quote of the episode)

• Why being underestimated became her superpower

McKenzi also shares the moment she was invited to the United Nations for women's empowerment — and what it felt like to be the youngest person in the room.

This episode is a reminder that the internet doesn't always show the full story — and that staying grounded starts with knowing yourself first.

Subscribe to the For Good Podcast on TikTok, Spotify, Apple, and everywhere you listen.

What happens when a lifetime journalist turns the camera inward? Award-winning CNN editor and author John DeDakis joins Joseph "JoJo" Simmons on the For Good Podcast to talk about truth, grief, mental health, and the painful losses that shaped him as a man, husband, and writer. He opens up about losing his sister and son, why men need to cry more, and how storytelling became his path toward healing.

John DeDakis spent decades shaping the news at CNN — but the stories that shaped him were the ones rooted in personal loss, truth, and resilience. The award-winning journalist, novelist, and writing coach sits down with Joseph "JoJo" Simmons on the For Good Podcast for one of the most heartfelt, emotionally open conversations of the season.

John opens up about losing both his sister and his youngest son, how grief never truly ends, and why he believes men must learn to feel instead of suppress. He and JoJo dive into how journaling, mindfulness, and honest emotional expression saved him from breaking — and how those same tools can help others heal, too.

They explore:

• What CNN's fast-paced newsroom taught him about truth, storytelling, and integrity

• How grief changes a man, a marriage, and the way you show up in the world

• Why tears are necessary, not weak — and how "your tears become bullets" when you hold them in

• The evolution of journalism, misinformation, and the responsibility of telling real, human stories

• How he used fiction to process pain and why writing from a woman's perspective changed his life

• The sixth stage of grief — and how finding meaning rebuilt his purpose

In one of the most powerful moments of the episode, John shares that the proudest accomplishment of his entire career isn't CNN, his books, or the awards — it's the choice to fight for his marriage after losing his son. A raw, honest, deeply human conversation about love, loss, truth, and living "for good."

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Dreka Gates didn't set out to build a wellness empire — it found her. When COVID forced her into isolation on 60 acres of Mississippi land, just miles from where her great-grandmother once farmed, everything shifted. One day, while working the soil, she fell to her knees in tears — not because she bought the land, but because she realized: "This really belongs to me."

In this powerful conversation at Black Week, Dreka sits down with Joseph "JoJo" Simmons to share how she transformed her healing journey into a seven-figure empire — from Love's Harvest, her cannabis company, and the first Black woman-owned dispensary in Mississippi (built with a $2 million investment into a 100-year-old building), to Dreka Rose emotional wellness eyewear, a 60-acre regenerative farm, and even an AI avatar that connects with people one-on-one.

But this episode isn't just about success — it's about the spiritual, emotional, and mental work it takes to sustain it all. Dreka opens up about the practices that keep her grounded, from burning negative energy each morning to breaking generational cycles while building generational wealth.

What You'll Hear:

• Why self-mastery is the foundation of every business move she makes

• The $2M lesson she learned investing in experience, not just space

• Why cannabis could've been a trillion-dollar industry for Black and Brown communities

• The "sandwich method" she uses for tough negotiations — firm, but rooted in love

• How she uses AI and gaming to meet people where they are

• Why she left the church at 13 to find her own spiritual path

• Her healing journey to the Amazon jungle with shamans

• What she'd tell her 13-year-old self who bet on herself before she had proof

This is a story of alignment, ownership, and audacity — and what it means to truly build For Good.

🔌 Subscribe to the For Good Podcast on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.

What really goes into writing the stories that define hip hop? Journalist, author, and NYU professor Kathy Iandoli joins Joseph "JoJo" Simmons on the For Good Podcast to talk about her new book The Diary of a Recovering Madman with Gucci Mane, the pressure of documenting cultural icons, and how storytelling can save lives. She opens up about vulnerability in hip hop, the role of mental health in the industry, and what it means to find purpose through pain.

Kathy Iandoli has spent nearly three decades shaping how the world sees hip hop — from writing God Save the Queens and Baby Girl: Better Known as Aaliyah to co-authoring Episodes: The Diary of a Recovering Madman with Gucci Mane. But behind the bylines and book deals is a story about healing, resilience, and the power of truth.

In this episode of the For Good Podcast, Kathy sits down with Joseph "JoJo" Simmons to talk about the emotional weight of telling other people's stories, the responsibility that comes with documenting hip hop's biggest voices, and how vulnerability has redefined her career. She opens up about her own journey through grief and burnout, what it means to evolve alongside the culture, and why storytelling is a form of therapy — not just for artists, but for the writer too.

They dive into:

• The making of The Diary of a Recovering Madman with Gucci Mane

• The intersection of mental health and hip hop culture

• How Kathy's writing helped her process personal loss and identity

• What the next generation of storytellers can learn about truth, empathy, and legacy

🔌 Subscribe to the For Good Podcast on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Transformation coach and author Alechia Reese joins Joseph "JoJo" Simmons on the for good podcast to share how she went from surviving domestic violence and suicidal thoughts to discovering her purpose — helping others create lives that not only look good, but feel good.

On the outside, Alechia Reese had everything — a successful career, a beautiful home, and a loving family. But behind the image of success, she was silently struggling, planning to take her own life. What happened next changed everything.

Alechia joins Joseph "JoJo" Simmons on the for good podcast to talk about how hitting rock bottom led her to find her purpose, heal from abuse, and rebuild her life with intention. Now a transformation coach, author, and host of the Triggered AF and Got Value podcasts, Alechia helps people align their success with fulfillment — proving that no matter what you've been through, you still got value.

In this powerful conversation, they dive into:

• The moment that saved her life and redefined her purpose

• Surviving and breaking free from domestic violence

• How low self-worth keeps people trapped in painful cycles

• The power of intention and emotional healing

• Why effort, readiness, and self-truth are key to transformation

"Everything that glitters isn't gold — and sometimes the 'no' you fear is the 'yes' you need."

Subscribe to the for good podcast on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Hollywood has long struggled with representation — and Natasha Ward Shaw has spent more than 20 years fighting to change that. The casting director, producer, and acting coach sits down with Joseph "JoJo" Simmons on The For Good Podcast for a powerful conversation about diversity, colorism, and what it really takes to open doors for Black women in entertainment. From interning on Fat Albert to casting, producing, and coaching some of today's most talented actors, Natasha has built a career rooted in purpose. She shares how she's fought to make sure darker-skinned women are seen as leading ladies, how confidence can transform an actor's career, and why representation isn't a trend — it's a responsibility. The conversation also dives into how Natasha balances fighting for others while protecting her own peace, what true inclusion in Hollywood should look like, and why she believes faith and family are the foundation for longevity in any industry. JoJo and Natasha open up about:

• How colorism and bias still show up in casting rooms
• Why confidence is the foundation for success
• The importance of creating real opportunities, not just token representation
• How faith, family, and joy keep her grounded through the fight

Subscribe to The For Good Podcast on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Short Description Turning 36 isn't just another year—it's a checkpoint. In this special birthday edition, JoJo Simmons opens up about growth, fatherhood, and redefining what legacy means beyond fame. From faith and family to business and purpose, he reflects on how far he's come and the lessons that keep him grounded.

Full Description In this Just JoJo: Birthday Edition, JoJo Simmons steps into his 36th year with gratitude, growth, and a new perspective on what really matters.

He reflects on life beyond the spotlight—what it means to come from a legendary family yet still build your own name, purpose, and peace. From lessons learned as a husband and father to the mindset shifts that helped him find calm and clarity, JoJo shares how he's learned to "worry less and do his best."

Through honesty and reflection, JoJo opens up about carving out his own identity, choosing faith over fear, and redefining legacy as impact rather than image.

They dive into:

• What legacy really means beyond fame or family name
• The lessons turning 36 has taught him about growth and peace
• How faith and fatherhood gave him deeper purpose
• The power of intention, resilience, and gratitude in building a meaningful life

🎂 Subscribe to the For Good Podcast on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.