The Higher Valleys Podcast

Spencer and Jelani kick off with Grammys talk: Olivia Dean's divine feminine energy ("a hug that lasts 2-3 seconds too long"), Bad Bunny winning Album of the Year and headlining the Super Bowl, and Kendrick's performance. They debate the Pro Bowl's flag football format with zero stakes, and Spencer shares his Pro Bowl snub story—losing to Lorenzo Alexander by half a tackle in special teams. They celebrate L...

Jelani's breaking ice in his Maryland driveway while Spencer's complaining about 72 degrees in LA—but the real temperature check is on resilience. From teaching Cairo that a waffle to the toe isn't a crisis to Jelani's 93-point Bop It domination over his five-year-old, the guys explore how fathers set the bar for their kids' grit. They dissect private school navigation for Black families in LA, debate wheth...

Spencer returns from Cabo recharged and ready—this is the real start of 2026. He and Jelani unpack Indiana's historic national championship run as proof that the NIL/transfer portal era is leveling college football in ways we've never seen. They debate whether it's a Cinderella story (spoiler: it's not—the talent stacks up), celebrate Mendoza's iconic fourth-down conversion, and wrestle with the cost of ath...

Spencer and Jelani are back after the holiday break, and they're not buying into the "new year, new you" pressure. This episode digs into stamina over motivation, building systems that prevent creative burnout, and the intentional work of making memories with their kids. From Big Bear ski trips and lost Pokemon cards to teaching children how to solve problems independently, they explore what it means to raise resilie...

This episode is about letting go and starting fresh. Spencer reflects on cutting his hair as a ritual of renewal, while Jelani shares the emotions of watching his kids and classmates performing for the holidays. They explore how trust is built through small acts of freedom, why Christmas still matters despite the noise, and what it means to define happiness on your own terms. From Hollywood's billion-dollar power plays to the ...

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. The guys unpack Jelani's son as...

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 insecurity. The conversation shifts to Child...

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 through the pain, but underneath it all...

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 instead of bedroom kids, children ...

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 future of hip-hop might sound more l...

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 Terry Rozier - unpacking how sports b...

(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 Moments)

Michael Irvin: The 100% Guy

Spence...

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 Franklin's $50M exit, and Jelani&apo...

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 empowerment.

🤖 AI: Tool or Tyrant?

• Jelan...

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, while Spencer details the behind-th...

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 and pivots we can’t always control .

F...

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 become fuel for big goals. They dive ...

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 the family — while still finding humo...