The Higher Valleys Podcast

We covered everything this week on Higher Valleys — from flag football to fallout shelters.

In this episode, Spencer & Jelani unpack what it means to raise confident, self-led kids while navigating the pressures of youth sports, legacy, and a world that feels more chaotic by the day.

From first football practices and childhood goggles to NIL deals, $8 million transfer offers, and the realities of a world on the brink of global conflict — it’s all on the table.

In This Episode:

• The hilarious reality of seeing your kid’s first football practice
• Spencer’s legendary sports goggles & Jelani’s neck roll confession
• Should we coach our own kids? The push-pull of being Dad vs. Coach
• The case for not playing tackle football until high school
• How karate & backyard wrestling shaped our athletic foundation
• Breaking down the $8 million NIL story out of South Carolina
• The hard truth about modern college sports & capitalism
• Preparing our kids for confidence—not just success
• When the world feels like it’s on fire: war, politics, and being present
• Why community & curiosity matter more than ever

Quotables:

“We don’t own our kids. Our job is to guide them.” 

– Jelani

“It’s not mental errors… it’s mental elasticity.” 

– Spencer

“You can teach key skills without ramming your child’s head into another child’s head.” 

– Jelani

Join the Conversation:

We want your take. Your stories. Your laughter. Your disagreements.

Send us a voice message at speakpipe.com/highervalleys and your message might show up in a future episode. Whether it’s your youth sports hot takes, dad wins, or how you’re preparing for a wild world — let’s talk about it.

Listen now on:

Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeart | Amazon | RSS

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome to Higher Valleys — a podcast where fatherhood meets ambition, legacy meets curiosity, and two dads lean all the way into the mess and the magic of raising kids while chasing dreams.

In this debut episode, Spencer Paysinger and Jelani Jenkins—former NFL athletes, creative leaders, and present-day dads—pull back the curtain on why this podcast had to exist. Born out of backyard conversations, journal entries to their kids, and a shared desire to redefine what it means to be a present father, The Pilot lays the foundation for what Higher Valleys is all about.

This episode isn’t polished. It’s real. It’s full of laughs, storytelling, and hard-earned insights about parenting, partnership, ego, discipline, legacy, and the invisible emotional labor that comes with being a father in today’s world.

In this episode:

• Why we don’t believe in choosing between dreams and family
• The Kendrick Lamar lyric that inspired the name Higher Valleys
• How our childhoods shaped the way we show up for our kids
• The unspoken power of present fatherhood
• Letting go of the “stoic provider” model and choosing emotional presence
• How our wives keep us in check — and why that’s a good thing
• The daily mental chess of parenting children without losing your mind
• Why this podcast is part of a historical ledger we’re leaving behind

Quotables:

“We don’t have all the answers—but that’s not gonna stop us from looking.”

— Spencer

“You can build a legacy outside the home and inside the home at the same time.”

— Jelani

“We’re not raising kids… we’re raising their compass.”

— Jelani

Why Higher Valleys?

Inspired by a Kendrick Lamar lyric from Worldwide Steppers, the phrase “higher valleys” captures what this podcast is about: depth with elevation. We’re going beyond the surface. We’re digging into the hard stuff. But we’re also building something higher—for ourselves, our families, and the generations that follow.

Join the community:

We’re not just talking to fathers, we’re talking with them. This podcast is the start of a movement—and we want to hear from you.

Got a story, a lesson, a laugh, or a meltdown you learned from? Hit us up on IG, Substack, or Discord (coming soon).

Listen now on:

Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeart | Amazon | RSS

Send us Fan Mail