The Higher Valleys Podcast

Spencer Paysinger & Jelani Jenkins

Welcome to the Higher Valleys Podcast, where former NFL teammates Spencer Paysinger and Jelani Jenkins trade real conversations about fatherhood, sports, ambition, identity, and life after the game. Each week, we unpack the tension ambitious fathers face: chasing success, strengthening marriages, and raising emotionally secure kids… without losing ourselves along the way.

  1. 3D AGO

    PAC: Alexys Feaster

    Episode Summary Jelani and Spencer open up about Mother’s Day, fatherhood, and what it really means to build legacy as a dad—beyond one holiday or one “perfect” gesture. They swap stories about kids’ performances, community events, and the quiet moments that remind you why showing up matters. The episode then zooms out to culture and Hollywood: the British vs. American actor debate, the specific lane for Black American performers, and how public opinion can reshape an athlete’s entire narrative, using Stefon Diggs as a case study. Things culminate in a powerful sit-down with producer Alexys Feaster, who bridges sports and entertainment, champions athlete storytelling, and helps unpack gender dynamics, accountability, and collaboration in both work and relationships. Topics Covered Mother’s Day as a simple but meaningful space to honor moms and model love for kidsThe contrast between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day expectations and narrativesEmotional impact of children’s performances and why those moments hit so deeplyCommunity events and movement initiatives as tools for health and connectionCultural representation in media and the British vs. American actor debateHow Black American actors are positioned in Hollywood and what roles they are (and aren’t) offeredBritish actors studying the Black American experience from a distanceThe idea that there are forces and structures in Hollywood shaping which stories and faces leadThe pretrial process vs. trial outcomes and how public opinion can become a permanent labelPersonal reflections on Stefon Diggs and how athletes get framed by narrativeWhy accountability and self-reflection matter in personal relationshipsAlexys Feaster’s work bridging sports and entertainment and advocating for athlete storytellingCollaboration and ownership of one’s story as keys to impactful projects and personal growthClosing reflections on gender dynamics, care in conversation, and what it means to support mothers wellHighlight Quotes “The pretrial process can be more damaging than the verdict, because public opinion becomes the sentence.”“Owning your story is not optional—it’s the only way you keep other people from writing it for you.”Where to Find Us Instagram: @highervalleyspodcast TikTok: @highervalleys Send us Fan Mail

    1h 10m

  2. MAY 6

    PAC: SOUL Cole

    Episode Summary Jelani and Spencer sit down for a live Higher Valleys conversation with mindfulness leader and former NFL player Soul Cole, recorded at the Pro Athlete Community Accelerate conference in Phoenix. They open with real-life updates—ten-year anniversaries, LA proximity to fame, and what it means to be “in the mix” without being starstruck—before shifting into the deeper work of presence and grounding. From self-talk in the mirror to breathwork, storytelling, and emotional intelligence for underserved youth, the episode explores how to help high-performing athletes regulate, reconnect to their source, and carry those tools back into their families and communities. Topics Covered Ten-year anniversaries, simple family-centered celebrations, and building rituals at homeGrowing up in LA, proximity to celebrity, and how “just more reps” changes what feels normalFirst live Higher Valleys recording: context from the Pro Athlete Community conference in PhoenixWho Soul Cole is: former NFL player, coach, author, breathwork and mindfulness facilitatorSoul Impact: his nonprofit work bringing mindfulness and emotional intelligence to underserved youthChildren’s storytelling and Mighty Soul Adventures as an entry point into mindfulness for kidsBeing a “father figure” and role model even before becoming a parentSupporting high-performing athletes who are always in motion, performance mode, and comparisonUsing breathwork and grounding practices to reconnect athletes to their sourceHow Soul Cole's approach began: talking to himself in the mirror with intention and authorityBringing that same intentional self-talk and presence into peer-to-peer work with other athletesHighlight Quotes “We just have more reps than most people—it’s the concept of proximity.”“This podcast is about fatherhood, and even though you’re not a father yet, you’re a father figure for so many.”“My approach started with me literally talking to myself in the mirror with intention and authority—now I’m saying that to my peers the same way.”Tap in with SOUL https://soulimpactfoundation.org/ https://www.soulcolethebrand.com/ https://www.instagram.com/b_cole16 https://www.linkedin.com/in/soulcole Where to Find Us Instagram: @highervalleyspodcast TikTok: @highervalleys Send us Fan Mail

    52 min

  3. APR 29

    Thriller

    Episode Summary Jelani and Spencer unpack what it looks like to parent with both strength and softness—especially inside youth sports, where pride, pressure, and old wounds can show up fast. From spring-break chaos to sideline coaching, they talk discipline as trust-building, how to protect a kid’s joy, and why confidence has to be owned from the inside. The conversation widens into legacy and culture: the NFL Draft as a living metaphor for dreams and community, the challenge of telling honest stories about icons like Michael Jackson, and the urgent need to treat athlete trauma (Michael Beasley) with real care—not content, not spectacle. Topics Covered Spring break rhythms + parenting in real timeCoaching your kid vs. controlling your kid (sideline boundaries)Letting kids enjoy the game and learn through experienceResilience without “legacy obsession” (LeBron + sons as a lens)Confidence + identity (milestones, goggles, internal goals)The NFL Draft: pressure, decisions, and community behind the scenesBiopic storytelling: what gets omitted, and why it matters (Michael Jackson)Joe Jackson, genius, and the cost of extraordinary circumstancesTrauma as a trap vs. a source of resilience—nervous system realitiesAthlete mental health (Michael Beasley): media narratives vs. specialized helpThe “too many tabs open” metaphor for unresolved traumaModeling vulnerability, accountability, honesty, apology, and growth at homeHighlight Quotes “Don’t turn their childhood into your legacy.”“The goal isn’t control—it’s confidence.”“Trauma is like having too many tabs open—you’re still running everything, even when you think you’re fine.”Where to Find Us Instagram: @highervalleyspodcast TikTok: @highervalleys  Send us Fan Mail

    1h 48m

  4. APR 15

    Guilty Pleasure

    Episode Summary Spencer and Jelani wrestle with the tension of loving art created by complicated people—using Kanye as the mirror. They move through mental health, accountability, and the weight of cultural influence, while grounding the conversation in real life: festivals, performance, fatherhood, legacy, and what it means to teach the next generation how to hold truth with compassion. Topics Covered Supporting the art vs. supporting the artistKanye’s music, controversy, and cultural imprintMental health in public discourse + where accountability beginsNostalgia, ethical consumption, and the reality of “cancel culture”Live performance: stage presence, craft, and why it matters (Coachella)Talking to kids about death and life’s cyclesFatherhood: discipline, coaching, and emotional supportLegacy, ancestors, altars, and cultural ritualCareer transitions and growing through new seasonsCommunity, presence, and living the whole storyHighlight Quotes “It’s not a zero sum game when it comes to supporting art and artists with complicated lives.”“The energy of a performance can inspire or haunt us—it’s the art that touches our core.”“Supporting someone includes embracing all their flaws, their highs and lows—it’s complex, but human.”Where to Find Us Instagram: @highervalleyspodcast TikTok: @highervalleys Send us Fan Mail

    1h 58m

  5. MAR 25

    Heaven Sent

    Jelani and Spencer unpack what “authentic” really means in today’s music—how hip hop carries cultural memory, why the internet demands perfection, and how social media can turn every moment into a verdict on the artist. From Jack Harlow to LaRussell to the over-the-top Spider-Man trailer discourse, they explore critique, grace, and the difference between performance and real identity. Then they shift inward: fasting, health discipline, and the quiet work of fatherhood—building legacy through what you practice when nobody’s watching. The conversation widens into spirituality (learning to notice signs without getting swallowed by the feed) and returns to sport and future-making: youth development, WNBA momentum, and what flag football signals about where the game is headed. Topics Covered Authenticity debates in music (Jack Harlow / LaRussell)Social media pressure, fan expectations, and “perfectionism” cultureSpider-Man trailer critique + how we consume artFasting, kettlebells, and building discipline for healthBody image + the athlete experience after the gameFatherhood moments, core memories, and legacy choicesSigns from the universe + staying spiritually awareYouth sports: team development + parental supportWNBA growth and the business of women’s sportsFlag vs. tackle football + what the future game looks likeWhere to Find Us Instagram: @highervalleyspodcast TikTok: @highervalleys Send us Fan Mail

    1h 47m

  6. MAR 18

    Adult Puberty

    Episode Summary Midlife can feel like a second puberty—same awkward growth, higher stakes, and a clearer view of what actually matters. Jelani and Spencer unpack the 30–42 mental shift: mortality showing up in quiet moments, gratitude getting louder, and priorities tightening around family, health, and purpose. From youth sports lessons and NBA mythology to Ryan Coogler’s rise and Lauren Halsey’s community art, the through-line stays the same: storytelling is how we remember, how we heal, and how we build legacy—one honest chapter at a time. Topics Covered “Adult puberty” + the midlife mental evolution (especially for Black men)Aging, birthdays, and celebrating with intentionMortality, parenting, and the circle-of-life conversationsNBA storytelling + how viral moments become league mythologyYouth sports: grit, competition, and learning to fight for the reboundDiscomfort and adversity as the training ground for resilienceLauren Halsey’s South Central statue park + preserving culture through artRyan Coogler’s journey + representation, excellence, and staying the courseOscars, vulnerability, and the stories we choose to honorHealth (mental + physical) as the foundation for the climbWhere to Find Us Instagram: @highervalleyspodcast TikTok: @highervalleys Send us Fan Mail

    1h 18m

  7. MAR 11

    Losing the Plot

    Episode Summary Jelani Jenkins and Spencer Paysinger move through the real terrain of fatherhood: the tension between urgency and presence, the weight of legacy, and the responsibility of modeling humanity in real time. They talk discipline without ego, love with firmness, and the quiet work of teaching kids why standards exist. From ancestry and cultural roots to Nipsey Hussle’s long-view impact, the episode stays grounded in one idea: you cannot build a future you respect if you don’t honor where you come from, and you cannot raise resilient kids without first practicing accountability yourself. Topics Covered Daylight savings, birthdays, and noticing how time changes youAging and transition, and the temptation to “harden” as life gets heavierFatherhood as a path back to softness, not weaknessProtecting mom as a living lesson in respectExplaining the why behind rules so kids learn meaning, not fearAccountability as a parenting tool, not a punishmentBuilding resilient kids for the real world, not a curated oneRoots, ancestry, and making family lineage a lived traditionNipsey Hussle and “The Marathon Continues” as a legacy frameworkCollege athletics, athlete rights, and the shifting future of sportsWhere to Find Us Instagram: @highervalleyspodcast TikTok: @highervalleys Send us Fan Mail

    1h 38m

  8. MAR 4

    Reality Check

    Episode Summary In Episode 35 of Higher Valleys, Jelani and Spencer move through the messy real of life and performance: stress showing up as sickness, weather changes, and the raw vulnerability the NFL Combine can pull out of you when everything is being measured. They unpack how pressure distorts decision-making in sports, why highlight tapes have changed in the AI era, and how deception eventually collapses under the weight of truth. From there, the conversation shifts into fatherhood — kids, nightmares, transitions, and the quiet discipline of giving them space to struggle. The through-line is resilience: not the motivational kind, but the earned kind — built through honest failure, hard lessons, and facing reality without flinching. Topics Covered Health, wellness, and how stress can trigger physical breakdownsNFL Combine memories: exposure, vulnerability, and being evaluated under a microscopePerformance pressure in sports and the hidden costs athletes carryHighlight tapes then vs now, and what AI is doing to perception and credibilityThe consequences of faking results, and how reality catches upNightmares and fear in children, and how parents can help without over-rescuingTransitions: the power of warnings, preparation, and rhythm for kidsLetting kids fail on purpose so they can build real gritMichael B. Jordan as a resilience case study, plus reflections on current eventsHighlight Quotes “This is real shit.”“I live my truth.”“Go touch some grass.”Where to Find Us Instagram: @highervalleyspodcast TikTok: @highervalleys Send us Fan Mail

    1h 38m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Welcome to the Higher Valleys Podcast, where former NFL teammates Spencer Paysinger and Jelani Jenkins trade real conversations about fatherhood, sports, ambition, identity, and life after the game. Each week, we unpack the tension ambitious fathers face: chasing success, strengthening marriages, and raising emotionally secure kids… without losing ourselves along the way.

Information

  • Creator
    Spencer Paysinger & Jelani Jenkins
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    42
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Higher Valleys Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Higher Valleys Podcast