Was Run’s House really reality? Or was it just for TV? Vanessa Simmons joins her brother Joseph "JoJo" Simmons on the For Good podcast for a rare conversation about growing up in the spotlight, setting boundaries, and balancing fame with real life.

As children of Rev Run of Run-DMC, Vanessa and JoJo have had a unique journey from Run’s House to Growing Up Hip Hop, learning how to navigate the industry while protecting their peace. Vanessa opens up about why she keeps her relationship private, the inspiration behind her self-care brand, U4IA, and how she’s helping others prioritize wellness. They reflect on their tight-knit relationships with all of their siblings and what it means to raise the next generation of Simmons with intention.

Vanessa and JoJo also discuss:

• Low times and how they’ve each struggled with depression or social anxiety.
• What it was really like growing up with Rev Run as a dad - the family dynamic behind the scenes.
• JoJo shares a childhood memory that brings Vanessa to tears.

Links and Resources:

• Follow @vanessajsimmons on Instagram
• Follow @forgoodpodcast on Instagram

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

Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 Welcome to For Good
• 00:01:35 You Need the Right Team Behind You
• 00:02:18 Growing Up with a Single Mom in Queens
• 00:04:28 Privileged but Not Spoiled: Our Upbringing
• 00:06:23 Run’s House Wasn’t Scripted
• 00:10:27 Lessons Learned from Reality TV
• 00:13:40 Being the Family Peacekeeper
• 00:15:02 My Relationships with All My Siblings
• 00:21:37 Being a Good Sister Means So Much
• 00:22:13 Missing New York While Living in LA
• 00:24:01 How Motherhood Changed Me
• 00:27:01 Balancing Career and Motherhood
• 00:29:47 Your Daughter Pranked My Daughter
• 00:31:53 The Spotlight on Self-Care
• 00:35:02 Using Our Platforms to Make a Difference
• 00:36:18 Living in the Public Eye Makes You Hyper-Self-Aware
• 00:38:06 Women Are Still Judged by Their Looks
• 00:39:45 Embracing a More Modest Style
• 00:41:34 Keeping My Daughter Grounded in LA
• 00:42:19 Privacy Is Power
• 00:44:36 Seeing Our Family in the Headlines
• 00:45:58 Remember When You Lived on My Couch?
• 00:51:02 Family Vacations with Our Kids
• 00:52:57 The Impact of the Run-DMC Documentary
• 00:56:18 What’s Next: New Projects
• 00:57:51 Motherhood Is My Driving Force
• 00:58:21 What Do You Do for Your Mental Health?

At just 20 years old, Dontrell “Trell the Trainer” Britton was leading 30 to 40 of the toughest men in prison through intense yard workouts. Surrounded by lifers and hardened criminals, he learned that self-mastery is the only way out, whether behind bars or in the real world. He breaks down how his childhood forced him into survival mode, how he manages the PTSD from his arrest and imprisonment, and the habits he built to truly change his life.

Now a fitness entrepreneur and influencer, Trell shares how structure, discipline, and financial literacy helped him transition from incarceration to making a lasting impact. On this episode of the For Good podcast he and Joseph "JoJo" Simmons discuss how fitness builds mental strength, why Black men need safe spaces to heal, and why we need to stop celebrating surviving prison and start creating systems that prevent incarceration in the first place.

Trell also opens up about:

• Why checking in on your people’s mental health is more important than ever
• How men, especially Black men, can move beyond suffering in silence
• His journey launching Glizzys Vegan Food Company, a plant-based hot dog brand

Links and Resources:

• Follow @trellthetrainer on Instagram
• Follow @forgoodpodcast on Instagram

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

00:00 Welcome to the For Good Podcast w/ Trell the Trainer
02:42 Survival Mode - Growing Up in a Tough Environment
06:42 PTSD from Prison & Surviving an FBI Home Raid
14:00 Why Black Men Suffer in Silence & How to Break the Cycle
18:00 Opening Up About Emotions Blew Up My Social Media
23:33 Finding an Emotion Deeper Than Anger - Real Healing Starts Here
26:35 Becoming the Unofficial Prison Fitness Coach at 20
30:32 The Power of Keeping Small Promises to Yourself
35:13 Wealth Isn’t Fast Money - Why Long-Term Thinking Wins
42:58 Why I Invested in Glizzy’s Vegan Food Truck
49:18 Don’t Want to Be a Player - Ready for Real Love
01:00:59 What Every Man Needs Before Dating
01:04:31 The One Shift That Changed My Life Forever
01:07:42 Wrapping Up - Thanks for Tuning In!

Fatherhood, emotional intelligence, and men’s mental health shaped their bond—now JoJo and Kris are using storytelling to build something bigger.

In this episode of For Good, Joseph “JoJo” Simmons and his co-founder Kris Karl take you inside the yurt on Karl Family Farms—the creative HQ of their values-driven studio, 3isFor. JoJo and Kris first crossed paths as teenagers in North Jersey, but it took decades, fatherhood, and a shift in priorities to turn a surface-level friendship into something much deeper.

Now leading a values-driven company rooted in storytelling, they reflect on how emotional intelligence, vulnerability, and values helped them build a creative studio on a working regenerative farm in New York’s Hudson Valley. This episode lays the foundation for the For Good podcast — a space where mental health, legacy, and purpose-driven work take center stage.

In this episode:

• The North Jersey high school days—and why they didn’t truly connect until later in life.
• How becoming fathers changed the way they move through the world.
• Why the yurt became the heartbeat of 3isFor.
• What emotional intelligence looks like inside a business partnership.
• How storytelling can be a tool for healing, impact, and generational change.

Meet your hosts:

Joseph “JoJo” Simmons is best known for Run’s House and Growing Up Hip Hop, but his real evolution began off-camera. A husband, father, entrepreneur, and mental health advocate, JoJo received the Phoenix Arising Award from the Black Mental Health Alliance for his work promoting emotional intelligence and men’s mental health—especially in Black communities.

Kris Karl is a regenerative farmer, investor, creative thinker and co-founder of 3isFor. With a background in public service, Kris brings a deeply rooted perspective to storytelling and sustainable business. As a husband and father, he’s committed to doing work that aligns with his values—from the soil to the studio.

Links and Resources:

• Follow @forgoodpodcast on Instagram
• Follow @3isfor on Instagram
• Follow @karlfamilyfarms on Instagram
• Follow @dadventuresinfarming on Instagram

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

Timestamps:

• 00:00 Introducing the Podcast and Co-Founders
• 02:25 High School Memories and Friendships
• 04:46 Meeting Dave Dow and Forming Bonds
• 06:55 Navigating High School Challenges
• 18:03 Privilege and Grounding
• 20:07 Business Ventures and Cannabis Industry
• 25:51 Pivoting to Content Creation
• 33:01 The Power of Storytelling in Cannabis
• 34:40 Addressing Stigmas and Building Community
• 36:42 Intentional Content Creation
• 37:52 The Journey of Building a Business
• 42:09 Redefining Modern Masculinity
• 47:39 Diverse Approaches to Cannabis Consumption
• 57:21 The Yurt: A Creative Space
• 01:00:27 The Strength of Partnership
• 01:07:11 Upcoming Episodes and Conclusion