Shows
The Higher Valleys PodcastAdapt or Fade AwayIn this episode, Jelani and Spencer talk about what happens when your environment—and your body—start sending messages you can’t ignore. It starts with a yellow jacket nest in the yard, but quickly turns into a deeper convo about maintenance—physical, emotional, and generational.Spencer shares a spiritual moment in Joshua Tree that made him reevaluate how he treats his body, while Jelani reflects on food sensitivity, recovery, and how both have started tuning into signals they used to override. They get into the myths around bounce-back culture, the hidden cost of pushing through pain, and why...2025-08-051h 49The Higher Valleys PodcastLife After Us.In this deeply moving and expansive episode of Higher Valleys, Jelani and Spencer hold space for one of the most important and often avoided conversations—legacy planning and death.What begins as a casual catch-up turns into a profound dialogue on life insurance, wills, family trusts, and the emotional weight of preparing for the inevitable. With raw honesty and personal stories, they reflect on the financial tools that can protect a family’s future and the emotional intelligence required to confront mortality—not with fear, but wi...2025-07-2943 minThe Higher Valleys PodcastListen to YourselfIn this episode, Jelani and Spencer peel back the layers on fatherhood, time, and the creative process. From summer chaos to smoothie meltdowns, they wrestle with the beautiful tension of being providers, protectors, and creators—all at once.What starts as a vent session about school start dates and nap-time escapes turns into a reflection on how our childhoods show up in our parenting today. They talk energy management, post-COVID recalibration, and that elusive art of being present when your whole world demands productivity.Jelani shares a win with his son’s po...2025-07-231h 56The Higher Valleys PodcastLiberation Starts at Home w/ Héritier LumumbaIn this episode, Jelani and Spencer are joined by global activist, father of three, and former pro athlete Lumumba—a man who lives at the intersection of truth, freedom, and fatherhood. What begins with lighthearted reflections on potty training setbacks and “Major Payne” parenting moments unfolds into a deeply layered conversation on identity, trauma, and generational healing.Lumumba opens up about the spiritual and political journey of reclaiming his African name, growing up disconnected from his father and culture, and how becoming a parent called him deeper into his purpose. Together, the tr...2025-07-161h 16The Higher Valleys PodcastA Dream ReimaginedIn this episode, Jelani and Spencer reflect on the meaning of Independence Day—from the literal fireworks in Inglewood to the symbolic ones lighting up in the culture, politics, and fatherhood. What starts as playful banter about neighborhood geography, backyard fireworks, and Beyoncé concerts evolves into a powerful conversation about legacy, displacement, and redefining what it means to be free.Spencer opens up about the emotional process of losing the home his family had in escrow—what it meant to him as a father, husband, and steward of his community. Jelani honors the symbolism of this moment and e...2025-07-081h 07The Higher Valleys PodcastTwo & Through w/ Justin TinsleyIt’s the first guest episode of Higher Valleys, and we had to kick things off with family—literally. Journalist, author, ESPN personality, and proud dad Justin Tinsley joins us to talk fatherhood, legacy, and what it means to try to figure it all out while building something bigger than yourself.From vasectomy stories to navigating dad guilt, from the legacy of icons like Biggie, Nipsey, and Kobe to the little moments that actually define fatherhood—this conversation is real, reflective, and full of laughs. We swap stories about raising kids, chasing careers, managing marriages, and wh...2025-06-291h 18The Higher Valleys PodcastRaising Kids While The World Burns.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 hilari...2025-06-251h 13The Higher Valleys PodcastWelcome to Higher Valleys: Pilot EpisodeWelcome 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...2025-06-1845 min
No Straight PathTapping into the Power of the Mind with Jelani JenkinsToday, we have another inspiring episode about an athlete pivoting to a different world. Jelani Jenkins, a five-year NFL vet and certified mental performance coach, joins us to tell his story. In response to his challenges after leaving the NFL, Jelani founded Postseason, an app facilitating athletes’ journeys to growth, success, and fulfillment beyond sport. During today’s conversation, Jelani shares some of the blockages he overcame and how he works to help other athletes in a similar space do the same. We touch on defining and measuring success and explore the connections between Postseason and Jelani’s journey out of...2023-04-1347 min