Jared and James

Why do we spend so much time complaining about things we actually have the power to change? Being optimistic doesn’t mean ignoring everything that’s wrong. You can acknowledge the problems in the world while still believing things can get better. You can recognize that your team is down 29 points and still believe there’s a chance to come back. You can get rejected five times and still believe the...

This week, we're honoring the late, great Mike Ditka by diving into his hilarious performance in Kicking and Screaming, one of my all-time favorite comedies. Honestly the most underrated movie of all time. I’m breaking down the funniest moments, the most iconic quotes, and why this movie deserves way more love! Then we’ve got A tribute to a football legend who also delivered a legendary comedy per...

What if being grateful for your life doesn’t mean you have to stop wanting more? In this episode, we talk about the balance between gratitude and ambition, and why not being is a big factor in preventing gratitude. I get into why gratitude can sometimes feel forced, and why we need more examples specific to us. I get into why constantly telling yourself that “life is short” can actually make it ha...

What's the greatest sitcom of the 90s? Is it Seinfeld, Friends, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air or something else entirely? We're kicking off this Rabbit Hole Roundup with a debate about some of the most iconic sitcoms of all time before diving into a hilarious, underrated comedy starring Bernie Mac and Ashton Kutcher: Guess Who? Then, we're getting into something a little deeper. Sylvester Stallone s...

The Fast & Furious movies are known for fast cars, ridiculous stunts, explosions, and somehow surviving things that should be physically impossible. But hidden underneath all of that are some surprisingly powerful lessons and quotes. In this episode, I break down 5 bits of wisdom from the Fast & Furious movies and the deeper meaning behind them — from Han's lesson about character and knowi...

To start things off we’re taking a trip back to one of my favorite childhood movie franchises: Spy Kids! I recently rewatched the movies and realized that the first two still hold up all these years later. We’ll talk about what made them so great, why the first two are still my favorites, and how the later movies compare. Then we’re getting into some bigger life lessons: celebrating the accomplish...

Have you ever felt like you always have something to prove? For much of my life, my first instinct when someone doubted me, judged me, or told me I couldn't do something was: I’ll show them. Whether it was being doubted as an athlete, trying to prove my worth to certain people, dealing with negative comments about my speech challenges, being bullied— I always felt this need to prove people wrong....

This week’s RHR we’re starting with one of the biggest movie debates of all time: What is the best Shrek movie? These movies are hilarious, nostalgic, packed with incredible music, and are some of my favorites. Then I dive into a clip from Eric Thomas about why reading and gaining knowledge means very little if you never put it into action. We talk about learning versus actually practicing what yo...

What are you actually embarrassed about? We’re taught from a young age to worry about what other people think—but what if some of the things we’ve been told to be embarrassed about are actually the things we should be proud of? In this episode, I share some personal examples of things I’ve been told were embarrassing and explain why I see them completely differently. From putting yourself out ther...

This week I’m diving into George Costanza’s five best lies from Seinfeld. George as we know is a lot of things-a short stocky bald man, but he’s also a hilarious amazing liar. Then we get into some bigger life lessons. Ne-Yo shares an incredible story about Andre 3000 trusting himself when people told him not to release one of his biggest songs. From there, I share a clip from Quaison who explores...

Did you miss these deeper lessons in Spider-Man: Brand New Day? 🕷️This might be my favorite Spider-Man movie yet, and underneath all the action is a powerful message about identity, healing, self-love, and learning how to use the things that make you different. In this episode, I break down 5 lessons from Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Peter Parker spends the movie struggling with who he is and who ot...

Football is BACK! So of course we’ll be talking the biggest NFL stories. But first, I’m explaining why Tokyo Drift is my favorite Fast & Furious movie. From Han and the cars to the music, Japan, and the overall vibe, there’s just something about this movie that works for me. Then we’ve got some powerful creator and entrepreneurship wisdom. Hoodie Allen talks about why you can’t let past succes...

What if one of the biggest lessons about confidence came from a Nickelodeon sitcom? In this episode, I dive into one of my favorite episodes from Victorious—the Bird Scene—and why I think it teaches an incredibly important lesson about creativity, self-worth, and the need for approval. We all want encouragement and support, but what happens when our happiness, confidence, or willingness to create...

In this edition of Rabbit Hole Roundup, I'm giving you my unpopular take after finally watching the entire Fast & Furious series... I honestly don't think there's a bad movie in the franchise! From the original movies to Tokyo Drift, Hobbs & Shaw, and everything that came after, I think you have to judge each movie on its own merit. Sticking with Fast & Furious, I'm also counting down...

In this episode, I dive into one of the biggest misconceptions I had after reading “The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle. I thought mindfulness meant I could control every thought, eliminate anxiety, and always be happy. I quickly learned that wasn't the case. I discuss why you're not your thoughts, why I don't believe happiness is simply a choice, how our physical and mental health work together, a...

Was Dunkman the greatest dunk contest ever?! I'm breaking down the absolutely INSANE finals from last Tuesday, including some of the most creative and athletic dunks I've ever seen—and why these guys inspire my own dunk journey! Then we're talking Toy Story 5 and why, despite a little possible recency bias, this might actually be my favorite Toy Story movie yet. We'll get into the emotional moment...

Advice is everywhere. From parents and teachers to coaches, social media, and motivational speakers, everyone has an opinion on how you should live your life. But not all advice deserves to be followed. Some advice works great for certain people, but other phrases get repeated and we don't understand why. In today's episode, I break down some of the best and worst advice I've received over the yea...

In my new Rabbit Hole Roundup first up, I came up with one of my favorite lists yet: 5 songs I'm “not” embarrassed to know every word of. As someone who spent years as both a camper and camp counselor, I've been exposed to plenty of songs that somehow became permanently ingrained in my brain. Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift etc.…let's just say there are some songs I know WAY too well. And don't lie—yo...

I turned 30 on August 17th!!? And honestly… it's a little scary and a little exciting at the same time. It feels crazy even saying it. There was a time when I almost didn't make it past 18 after going through the acute phase of my life-threatening illness. Now, all these years later, I'm entering a new decade with big dreams, big goals, and plenty still left to accomplish. In this video, I reflect...

Rabbit Hole Roundup 136! And this one is a BIG one because I'm officially 30 as of yesterday! I talk about turning 30, why getting older doesn't mean you have to lose your inner kid! Then we dive into Spider-Man: Brand New Day! I absolutely loved the movie and explain why I think it could be one of the best Spider-Man movies yet, while also addressing my brother's criticisms who saw it with me. I...

Today's episode is about one of the greatest lessons I've ever learned from the Rocky movies. Rocky never won the fight in the first film, yet millions of people still walked away feeling like he was the true winner. Why? Because sometimes the biggest victories aren't found on the scoreboard. From Rocky to Cape Verde's incredible World Cup run, my own college basketball tryouts, asking out girls d...

In this episode of the Rabbit Hole Roundup, we're talking my favorite Key & Peele skits ever which will of course be a ton of fun. We've also got new summer music from Shaboozey, Chiddy Bang & Flo Rida. I also review the new Masters of the Universe movie. Then we dive into the sports world with a recap of Dunkman Group C featuring Isaiah Rivera, Darius Clark, Miller, and more, before break...

Why do so many people struggle to move on from their past? Whether it's painful memories, people who hurt us, or even the belief that our best days are behind us, the past has a way of keeping us stuck if we let it. In this episode, I talk about why healing is about more than just time, the difference between remembering and living in the past, and how we can create a future that's even better tha...

Summer isn't over yet—and I'm here to prove it! This week on Rabbit Hole Roundup, I'm counting down 10 songs you need to keep summer and keep the good vibes going, from classics like *All Star* and *I Gotta Feeling* to newer hits and songs that instantly remind me of summer camp. We need to stop declaring summer over in early August! Then I react to a powerful conversation from Joel Madden and Tra...

What can Derek Jeter teach us about chasing our dreams? In this episode, I break down one of my favorite lessons from Derek Jeter an all time great athlete who played the game the right way—why he ran every single play out, no matter how impossible it seemed. I also dive into: Why most people quit too early My six-year content creation journey My dunk journey The New York Knicks' incredible champi...