The Higher Valleys Podcast

Jelani and Spencer close out Thanksgiving with a sprawling conversation that moves from farting on airplanes to reimagining the holiday feast, from losing family recipes to a five-year-old navigating questions about his hair. They debate whether cranberry sauce deserves a seat at the table, fantasize about oxtails and plantains joining the lineup, and remember the greens that conjured ancestors. T...

Jelani and Spencer navigate the delicate balance between coaching and nurturing as fathers—from Spencer stepping into flag football coach mode to Jelani's lesson on troubleshooting with his kids. They celebrate wins like Madden doing dishes unprompted, debate the absurdity of rappers saying reading isn't important, and discuss why the "pause" culture reveals masculine insecurit...

This episode takes an unexpected turn—what starts as a lighthearted gripe about overly cheerful school drop-off teachers spirals into a raw conversation about discipline, memory, and the invisible marks our parents left on us. Jelani and Spencer swap stories about getting punished as kids—switches in public parks, belts chosen from the closet, stomach punches that sent them flying. They laugh thro...

In this episode, Jelani and Spencer move from Mercury retrograde and astrology to aliens and the Atlas Comet, from Lego obsessions to their kids' endless art projects, and from millennial parenting to the weight of vulnerability. What starts as banter about tech glitches and barbecue chicken left on car roofs becomes a reflection on raising kids they've never seen before—living room kids...

Spencer skips a championship parade to sit in the pocket with Jelani—and what unfolds is a masterclass on legacy, presence, and the long game. Baseball becomes metaphor: the quiet between pitches, the pressure in the ninth, the heads-up play no one sees coming. Jelani celebrates his son’s white belt and the way confidence finds a voice. They talk work trips, restraint, core memories, and why the f...

In this episode, Jelani and Spencer move from the Cash Money vs No Limit verzuz battle to the future of student athletes in the super school era. What starts as nostalgia for Southern hip-hop becomes a sprawling conversation about education, identity development, and what happens when money enters the equation too early. Then they pivot to the NBA gambling scandal involving Chauncey Billups and Te...

( Episode Summary) A winding conversation about what we're losing and what we're holding onto. Jelani and Spencer move from Michael Irvin debates to D'Angelo's passing, from birthday party survival mode to the weight of rest. They wrestle with Black icon losses, the difference between stamina and greatness, and what happens when God sends a spiritual sign to slow down. (Key Mom...

Episode Summary In this episode, Jelani and Spencer move from pumpkin patches to the ethics of AI, from fatherhood fears to legacy-building anxiety. What starts as Halloween banter about spiders and scary movies becomes a sprawling meditation on greatness, presence, and what it means to stay human in an age designed to automate you. They wrestle with LeBron's need for an ideology, James Frank...

Spencer and Jelani celebrate reaching episode 17 - officially past the average podcast failure rate - before diving into wide-ranging conversations about AI, athlete accountability, and the intersection of technology and humanity. The episode takes unexpected turns from YouTube consumption habits to AI ethics, Mark Sanchez's shocking incident, Diddy's sentencing, and WNBA player empowerm...

In this episode of Higher Valleys , Spencer and Jelani span the spectrum—from football field wars to fasting hacks, fatherhood lessons, and navigating today’s cultural divides. They open with Spencer reliving Oregon’s rise to national prominence and the cultural reset that helped the Ducks shed their “middle-of-the-pack” label. Jelani reflects on Florida’s struggles and envies Oregon’s consistency...

In this episode of Higher Valleys, Spencer and Jelani open with the beautiful chaos of home renovation. Spencer shares how living among half-unpacked boxes and a house that needs a full electrical and plumbing overhaul is teaching him patience, presence, and the art of slowing down. Jelani relates with his own delayed housewarming stories, framing it all as a reminder that life moves in seasons an...

In this episode of Higher Valleys , Spencer returns from a family trip to Jamaica with stories of island detours, resort culture, and an unforgettable quest for the world’s best KFC, while Jelani reflects on the gratitude and collaboration that shine through in Jamaican life. As fall settles in, the hosts celebrate “hoodie season,” trading laughs about crunchy-leaf ASMR and sharing how small joys...

In this episode of Higher Valleys , Spencer and Jelani get real about what it means to be fathers in transition. From navigating personal anxiety and moments of dysregulation, to apologizing to their kids and showing up with honesty, the conversation goes deep into vulnerability, legacy, and resilience. They share stories of parenting through tough mornings, moving homes, and managing sickness in...

In this episode of Higher Valleys , Spencer and Jelani kick off with moving day madness, the meaning of Labor Day, and how this season can be a time to either ramp up or recalibrate. From late school pick-ups to their kids’ first karate classes, the hosts share the hilarious, humbling, and powerful lessons that come with parenting. Spencer reveals his unlikely “weapon of choice” and why the elemen...

In this week’s episode, Jelani and Spencer explore the unspoken rules of parenting, cultural identity, and community responsibility - all through the lens of real-life fatherhood moments. From a deep dive into Indigenous and Black American histories to the hilarity of raising left-handed kids in a right-handed world, this episode is packed with laugh-out-loud stories, social commentary, and heart-...

In this episode of Higher Valleys , Spencer and Jelani open up about the magic of returning to Los Angeles, the lessons that come with buying a new home, and the deeper meaning of what it takes to hold space for your family’s dreams. From spontaneous moments with friends to the joy of seeing their kids light up in familiar places, Jelani reflects on how being back in LA rekindled inspiration and r...

Episode Summary In this week’s episode of Higher Valleys , Spencer and Jelani cover everything from back-to-school energy and concert season to the deeper layers of freedom, preparation, and legacy. The guys kick things off with some laughs about kids returning to school, big playground upgrades, and the underrated power of fresh merch. Jelani shares his powerful experience seeing Clipse live in V...

In 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...

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 reflec...

In 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. The...

In 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 a...

In 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....

It’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 Kob...

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...

Welcome 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 conversatio...