Episodes

  • The Fight for Representation in Hollywood: Natasha Ward-Shaw on Colorism, Confidence, and Change
    Oct 14 2025
    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.

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    40 mins
  • Just JoJo: Birthday Edition — Redefining Legacy Beyond the Spotlight
    Oct 7 2025

    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.

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    38 mins
  • From Burnout to Billions: John Thompson III on Resilience & Redefining Success
    Sep 30 2025
    What happens when chasing success costs you your health? Business leader and executive coach John Thompson III joins Joseph “JoJo” Simmons on the For Good Podcast to share how burnout at 25 reshaped his life, why being passed over for promotion became a turning point, and how his ACES framework helps people stack their deck for success. John Thompson III spent over 20 years leading teams at GE and United Technologies, generating more than $1 billion in sales — but his biggest lessons came from failure and burnout. At just 25, the pressure of career and school landed him in a psychiatric ward, forcing him to redefine what success really means. Today, John is an executive coach, financial advisor, and author of Stack Your Deck: How to Be an Ace in Business and Life. He joins Joseph “JoJo” Simmons on the For Good Podcast to talk about his ACES framework (Attitude, Connection, Empowerment, Strength), what being passed over for promotion taught him about resilience, and why leadership is really about creating other leaders. They dive into:
    • The truth about burnout and how to build a balanced life

    • Why your attitude shapes everything — and how to shift it

    • The lessons his grandmother’s poker games taught him about resilience

    • Redefining success beyond titles, money, or promotions

    • Why quitting alcohol gave him the clarity to create at a higher level

    This episode is a powerful reminder that success isn’t about the cards you’re dealt — it’s about how you play your hand. 🔌 Subscribe to the For Good Podcast on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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    47 mins
  • From Rapstyle Mondays to Run’s House: JoJo & Zach Reunite
    Sep 23 2025

    What happens when your childhood best friend also becomes your partner in music, TV, and life? For JoJo Simmons and his day one, Zach, the answer is a journey that spans from first grade classrooms to middle school rap battles, to forming Team Blackout and appearing together on Run’s House. In this episode of the For Good Podcast, JoJo and Zach revisit the funny, heartfelt, and sometimes wild stories that shaped their brotherhood — including the infamous Rapstyle Mondays battles that got so big they were banned by the school, and the moment JoJo realized he’d rather team up with Zach than risk losing to him in a battle.

    Zach reflects on the surreal experience of living a “double life” in high school, riding the bus with classmates one moment and being picked up by MTV producers the next. He opens up about the pressures of perception — what it was like to be recognized on the street, receive fan letters, and even adjust how Team Blackout parked their car just to “protect the brand.” JoJo and Zach share memories of recording endless tracks in the basement on cassette tapes, chasing record deals, and the lessons they learned from dreaming big as teenagers in the spotlight.

    But this conversation isn’t just about nostalgia. JoJo asks Zach what it meant to become godfather to his daughter Mia, and Zach opens up about why he takes that role so seriously. They talk about opposites attracting in friendship, how family support kept their bond strong, and how music gave Zach both an outlet and an alter ego that built his confidence. Today, Zach has transitioned into life as a music educator, carrying forward the same passion that started in those freestyle circles. This episode is a celebration of friendship, growth, and the bonds that stand the test of time.

    JoJo and Zach also discuss:

    • The moment JoJo asked Zach to be godfather to his daughter Mia

    • How Team Blackout formed and the lessons they learned chasing their rap dreams

    • The realities of being young, on TV, and navigating fame in the MySpace/TMZ era

    • Why music became Zach’s therapy and gave him confidence as a quiet kid

    • A heartfelt message for Reggie

    This episode is a celebration of friendship, growth, and the bonds that stand the test of time.

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

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    1 hr and 16 mins
  • Hip-Hop, Hard Lessons & Healing: Dr. Sahpreem A. King’s Journey of Redemption
    Sep 16 2025
    From producing platinum records to surviving bankruptcy — twice — Dr. Sahpreem A. King has lived a life of highs, lows, and powerful transformation. A hip-hop producer for legends like SWV and Wyclef Jean, he went from the top of the music industry to losing everything, rebuilding himself not once but twice, and ultimately finding purpose as an author, educator, and founder of Soular Astronauts. In this deeply honest conversation with JoJo Simmons on the For Good Podcast, Dr. King opens up about the defining moments that shaped his journey: the block party in Amityville that first sparked his love of hip-hop, writing the first-ever book on hip-hop production, and the harsh financial lessons that taught him humility after early success. But the most powerful part of his story goes beyond music and money. Growing up surrounded by domestic violence, Dr. King repeated the same cycle in his first marriage before realizing it had to end with him. He shares how looking into his son’s crib became the turning point that pushed him to seek help, take accountability, and break generational trauma. Dr. King opens up about:
    • Building a career in hip-hop and writing the first-ever book on hip-hop production

    • How financial collapse and the 2008 housing crisis taught him humility

    • Growing up with domestic violence, repeating those patterns, and choosing to break the cycle for his children

    • Living with ADHD and reshaping education through multiple intelligences theory

    • Why failure is a teacher — and why he now looks forward to it

    This powerful conversation reminds us that transformation is possible, no matter where you start.

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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • From Super Bowl to Saving Lives: Bryant McKinnie Gets Real About Mental Health
    Sep 9 2025

    Bryant McKinnie spent over a decade dominating the NFL, becoming a Super Bowl champion and Pro Bowler. But after the game, he discovered that true strength has nothing to do with size or speed—it’s about being vulnerable, telling your story, and creating safe spaces for others to share theirs.

    Now, through his B Major Foundation and events like Cocktails and Conversations, Bryant is changing how men—especially athletes and men of color—approach mental health. He sits down with Joseph "JoJo" Simmons on The For Good Podcast to share his journey from the locker room to community leadership, and why trusted voices like his are critical for shifting the conversation.

    In this episode, they talk about:

    • The hidden struggles athletes face after retiring from professional sports

    • Why the locker room was more than just a place to prepare for the game—it was a safe space for brotherhood and honesty

    • How to push past the “tough it out” mentality that keeps so many men silent

    • Why self-care is just as necessary as training your body, and how to start putting yourself first

    • The lessons losing teaches us that winning never could

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

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    31 mins
  • Angela Simmons: Dating Drama, Mental Health & Why She Attracts 'Protectors' (Part 2)
    Sep 2 2025

    Angela Simmons sits down with her brother Joseph "JoJo" Simmons for Part 2 of their conversation on the For Good Podcast, and this time they're getting into the real—relationships, dating, and navigating life in the public eye. Angela addresses why she's attracted to "protectors," explaining that she sees people past their reputation and judges them by their character, not street gossip.

    She opens up about the pressure of dating publicly since she was 17, from Bow Wow's music video to now, and why her love life became a "thing" that overshadows her other work. Angela gets honest about her recent situation with Yo Gotti and why she didn't immediately tell JoJo when things ended, plus how she handles being constantly dragged into drama she wants no parts of.

    The siblings also dive into:

    • Why Angela dates "protectors" and how she sees past people's reputations to their hearts

    • The viral picture collage that had the internet making assumptions about her dating history

    • Her breakup with Yo Gotti and why she went quiet during that time

    • That viral Nicki Minaj challenge in stilettos and why she brought heels to the gym

    • Angela's Angels and her Christmas toy drive - the philanthropic work people don't talk about

    • Her wellness world she's building and why everyone needs a one-stop shop for health

    • Mental health routine - 15-20 minutes of phone-free prayer and grounding every morning

    JoJo gives Angela her flowers, telling her she's "the definition of a strong Black single woman" and that if people really knew her, they'd watch their tongues. He acknowledges how she's figuring it out daily in an industry that's not easy to survive, always doing it with dignity and pride.

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



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    27 mins
  • Angela Simmons: From Whippin' Pastry to Single Parenthood & Dating in the Spotlight
    Aug 26 2025

    When Jay-Z rapped "in the kitchen like a Simmons whipping Pastry" about their family business in "Empire State of Mind" Angela Simmons knew she made it. She sits down with her brother Joseph "JoJo" Simmons on the For Good podcast to reveal what really happened behind the scenes of Run's House, how she and Vanessa Simmons built the Pastry empire that got Jay-Z's attention, and why Rev Run saying "no" became her biggest motivation.

    In this unfiltered sibling conversation, Angela opens up about her breakup with Yo Gotti and why she's drawn to certain kinds of men. JoJo hints that she has a type, leading to honest talk about dating patterns and relationships. She also gets real about the unique challenges of raising her son as a single mother and the childhood body image insecurities that JoJo admits he contributed to by calling her "fat" during arguments.

    Angela also recalls the exact moment she realized she was famous - standing in Times Square after Run's House aired when someone asked for her picture. She and JoJo also break down the pressures of being from a successful family and why having famous parents actually makes it harder, not easier.

    Also:

    • Pastry outselling Jordan Brand at Foot Locker
    • Body transformation from insecurity to fitness obsession
    • Plant-based lifestyle and wellness routines for mental health
    • Why Simmons kids don't get handouts despite the famous name

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    43 mins