For Good

In a culture that celebrates busyness, choosing to slow down can feel almost impossible. Tricia Hersey believes that's exactly why it matters. As the founder of The Nap Ministry, she has built a movement around the idea that rest isn't a reward for hard work but a vital part of being human. In this episode, Tricia joins JoJo and Vanessa to unpack the roots of burnout, challenge our assumptions about productivity, and explain how rest can help us reconnect with ourselves, our communities, and the lives we actually want to build. In This Episode, JoJo, Vanessa, and Tricia discuss: (00:00) Introduction (02:24) The Movement That Started With a Nap (07:35) Why So Many People Feel Guilty Resting (14:48) The Hidden Cost of Constant Exhaustion (23:16) Small Ways to Reclaim Your Time (29:08) Returning to Your Humanity Through Rest (34:46) What Burnout Looks Like in Real Life (40:34) Why Healing Requires Imagination (50:22) Rest Is Not Something You Earn Tricia Hersey is an artist, theologian, author, and the founder of The Nap Ministry, a movement dedicated to reclaiming rest as a human right. Drawing from her background in spirituality, community organizing, and cultural trauma studies, Tricia challenges the cultural obsession with busyness and advocates for rest as a pathway to healing, imagination, and liberation. Through her bestselling book Rest Is Resistance, speaking engagements, and community work, she has helped spark a global conversation about burnout, wellness, and what it means to live beyond grind culture. Resources Mentioned: Tricia’s Book, Rest Is Resistance: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0316365211 Connect with Tricia: Tricia’s Website: http://www.triciahersey.com Tricia’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tricia-hersey-15919b3b/  The Nap Ministry’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenapministry  The Nap Ministry’s X: https://x.com/thenapministry  The Nap Ministry’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Thenapministry/   The Nap Ministry’s Website: https://thenapministry.wordpress.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/  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

Most people think confidence comes after success. Nicole Kalil believes the opposite. As a leadership coach, speaker, and bestselling author, she teaches that confidence isn't built on achievements or external validation but on trusting yourself. In this episode, Nicole joins JoJo and Vanessa to break down the psychology behind real confidence, explain why action matters more than positive thinking, and share practical tools to overcome comparison, imposter syndrome, people-pleasing, and self-doubt. In This Episode, JoJo, Vanessa, and Nicole Discuss: (00:00) Introduction (06:47) Confidence Starts With Self-Trust (10:30) Escaping the External Validation Trap (15:56) The Truth About Imposter Syndrome (21:01) Owning Your Power Without People-Pleasing (24:59) Why Action Builds Real Confidence (35:28) Why Even Great Leaders Lack Confidence (41:53) Boundaries That Build Self-Confidence (46:25) Raising Confident Kids Without Perfectionism (50:57) The Daily Habit That Builds Confidence  Nicole Kalil is a leadership coach, keynote speaker, bestselling author, and confidence expert. She is the author of Validation Is For Parking and the host of the This Is Woman's Work podcast, where she explores leadership, ambition, confidence, and personal growth. Through her coaching, speaking, and workshops, Nicole helps individuals and organizations develop stronger leaders by building confidence from the inside out. Resources Mentioned: Nicole’s Book, Validation Is For Parking: How Women Can Beat the Confidence Con: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1544532695  Connect with Nicole: Nicole’s Website: https://nicolekalil.com Nicole’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicolemkalil/  Nicole’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThisIsWomansWork  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

As the daughter of a pastor in Baltimore, Dr. Thema Bryant witnessed firsthand how people carried pain, grief, trauma, and unanswered questions before they ever sought professional help. Prior to becoming a psychologist, she was answering crisis calls and listening to people navigate some of life's hardest moments. Those early experiences sparked a lifelong mission to help people heal. Today, as a psychologist, ordained minister, author, and former president of the American Psychological Association, Dr. Thema helps individuals move beyond survival and into wholeness. In this episode, she joins JoJo and Vanessa to explore trauma, mental health, cultural identity, spirituality, and the courage it takes to tell yourself the truth about how you're really doing. In This Episode, JoJo, Vanessa, and Dr. Thema Discuss: (00:00) Introduction (04:05) The Power of Acknowledging Your Pain (06:14) Cultural Misunderstandings and Misconceptions (09:12) Why We Hide Our True Selves (11:14) Why Authenticity Beats People-Pleasing (16:04) Building Small Wins Into Your Routine (20:31) From Surviving to Thriving Dr. Thema Bryant is a psychologist, ordained minister, author, professor, and former president of the American Psychological Association. Known for her work at the intersection of mental health, spirituality, and trauma recovery, she has dedicated her career to helping people heal, grow, and reconnect with their authentic selves. Through her therapy practice, books, speaking, and The Homecoming Podcast, Dr. Thema empowers individuals to move beyond survival mode and create lives grounded in wholeness, resilience, and purpose. Resources Mentioned: Dr. Thema's Book, Matters of the Heart: Healing Your Relationship with Yourself and Those You Love: https://www.amazon.com/dp/059371914X  Dr. Thema's Book, Homecoming: Healing Trauma to Reclaim Your Authentic Self: https://www.amazon.in/dp/0593418328  Dr. Thema's Book, Reclaim Yourself: The Homecoming Workbook: https://www.amazon.com/Reclaim-Yourself-Thema-Bryant-Ph-D/dp/0593715292 Connect with Dr. Thema: Dr. Thema's Website: https://drthema.com/ Dr. Thema's X: https://x.com/drthema  Dr. Thema's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thema-bryant-8105ba89/  Dr. Thema's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.thema/  Dr. Thema's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHomecomingPodcastwithDrThem  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/  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

Most people know the headline. Few know what Korey Wise lived through. At just 16 years old, Korey Wise was wrongfully convicted in the 1989 Central Park jogger case and sentenced to years in prison for a crime he did not commit. While the world debated the case, Korey was fighting to survive inside some of New York's toughest prisons. In this powerful conversation, Korey sits down with Vanessa and JoJo Simmons to share the story behind the headlines. He reflects on his childhood dreams, the reality of being sent to adult prison as a teenager, the daily fight for survival, and the moment the real perpetrator, Matias Reyes, unexpectedly approached him behind bars years later. Korey also opens up about life after exoneration, the challenges of rebuilding, the struggle to heal from unimaginable trauma, his faith, his daughter, and what keeps him moving forward today. This episode is not just about injustice. It's about resilience, survival, purpose, and the strength to keep going when everything has been taken from you. If this conversation moves you, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. #forgoodpodcast #koreywise #exoneratedfive#centralparkfive

In this powerful and deeply honest conversation, Lecrae sits down to talk about far more than music. From growing up caught between hip hop culture and faith, to building Christian rap on his own terms, he shares the challenges of navigating identity, purpose, and public perception while carving out a lane that didn't fully exist before him. Lecrae opens up about the highs of fame and success, the internal battles that came with it, and how depression, anxiety, therapy, and vulnerability became part of his healing journey. He also speaks on activism, family, fatherhood in the social media era, and why creating safe spaces for honest conversations matters now more than ever. Throughout the episode, Lecrae drops powerful reflections on faith, mental health, self-worth, and learning how to separate who you are from what you achieve. This is a real conversation about healing, growth, identity, and what it means to "move like you're already loved."

On this episode of the For Good podcast, JoJo Simmons sits down with civil rights activist, organizer, and Florida Rights Restoration Coalition Executive Director, Desmond Meade. Desmond's story is one of the most powerful journeys of redemption, healing, and purpose you'll ever hear. From homelessness, addiction, and incarceration to becoming one of the leading voices behind Florida's Amendment 4 — restoring voting rights to more than 1.4 million returning citizens — Desmond opens up about what it truly means to rebuild your life and dedicate it to serving others. Throughout the conversation, Desmond reflects on the untreated trauma that often shapes incarceration, the importance of second chances, and the life-changing moment in rehab that helped him discover his purpose through helping others. He also shares emotional stories about voting rights, dignity, humanity, and why love and community are ultimately stronger than division.

JoJo Simmons and Vanessa Simmons sit down for a real conversation about growth, healing, family, and the unexpected ways the For Good podcast has changed both of their lives. In this episode, the siblings open up about what they've learned from recent guests, how gratitude and self-awareness have shifted their mindset, and why intentional conversations have become such an important part of their personal growth journeys. Vanessa shares how the podcast helped her become more open again after years of feeling scrutinized in the public eye, while JoJo reflects on creating the platform as a space not only to help others—but to help himself heal too. The conversation also dives into sibling relationships, staying grounded through family, balancing faith and business, protecting your mental health online, and the importance of doing a "timeline refresh" on social media to become more intentional about what you consume every day. Want to refresh your social media feed with more positivity and purpose? Follow:https://www.instagram.com/romeobartleyjr/ https://www.instagram.com/mdmotivator/ Of course, the episode also brings plenty of laughs and nostalgia as JoJo and Vanessa revisit old family memories, growing up in the spotlight, and the hilarious story behind one unforgettable Jet Magazine outfit. This episode is a reminder that growth isn't always loud. Sometimes it starts with being willing to open up, reflect, and have better conversations.

What do you realize about your parents… once you become one? In this special episode, Joseph "JoJo" Simmons and Vanessa Simmons sit down with their mother, Dr. Valerie Vaughn, for a deeply personal conversation about family, parenting, and the lessons that shape who we become. As both now navigate parenthood themselves, they reflect on the structure, discipline, and values they were raised with—and the wisdom they understand on a deeper level today. Dr. Vaughn also opens up about being married to Rev Run of Run-DMC, navigating early fame, and raising children in the public eye. She shares how they maintained strong family values through it all, and how they've continued to build a healthy, supportive blended family after divorce. With decades of experience as an educator, she breaks down what it really takes to raise confident, grounded children—from consistency and accountability to emotional awareness and leading by example. JoJo and Vanessa open up about how those lessons continue to shape their lives, relationships, and parenting today. The conversation also explores raising kids in today's world and why being intentional about what you consume—especially on social media—matters more than ever. If you're a parent, thinking about becoming one, or reflecting on your own upbringing, this episode offers real insight into the lifelong impact of family.