What Is the Yurttt? Joseph 'JoJo' Simmons on Building a Creative Studio on a Farm, Friendship, and Fatherhood
Description
Fatherhood, emotional intelligence, and men's mental health shaped their bond—now JoJo and Kris are using storytelling to build something bigger.
In this episode of For Good, Joseph "JoJo" Simmons and his co-founder Kris Karl take you inside the yurt on Karl Family Farms—the creative HQ of their values-driven studio, 3isFor. JoJo and Kris first crossed paths as teenagers in North Jersey, but it took decades, fatherhood, and a shift in priorities to turn a surface-level friendship into something much deeper.
Now leading a values-driven company rooted in storytelling, they reflect on how emotional intelligence, vulnerability, and values helped them build a creative studio on a working regenerative farm in New York's Hudson Valley. This episode lays the foundation for the For Good podcast — a space where mental health, legacy, and purpose-driven work take center stage.
In this episode:
- The North Jersey high school days—and why they didn't truly connect until later in life.
- How becoming fathers changed the way they move through the world.
- Why the yurt became the heartbeat of 3isFor.
- What emotional intelligence looks like inside a business partnership.
- How storytelling can be a tool for healing, impact, and generational change.
Meet your hosts:
Joseph "JoJo" Simmons is best known for Run's House and Growing Up Hip Hop, but his real evolution began off-camera. A husband, father, entrepreneur, and mental health advocate, JoJo received the Phoenix Arising Award from the Black Mental Health Alliance for his work promoting emotional intelligence and men's mental health—especially in Black communities.
Kris Karl is a regenerative farmer, investor, creative thinker and co-founder of 3isFor. With a background in public service, Kris brings a deeply rooted perspective to storytelling and sustainable business. As a husband and father, he's committed to doing work that aligns with his values—from the soil to the studio.
Links and Resources:
- Follow @forgoodpodcast on Instagram
- Follow @3isfor on Instagram
- Follow @karlfamilyfarms on Instagram
- Follow @dadventuresinfarming on Instagram
Subscribe to the For Good podcast on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Timestamps:
- 00:00 Introducing the Podcast and Co-Founders
- 02:25 High School Memories and Friendships
- 04:46 Meeting Dave Dow and Forming Bonds
- 06:55 Navigating High School Challenges
- 18:03 Privilege and Grounding
- 20:07 Business Ventures and Cannabis Industry
- 25:51 Pivoting to Content Creation
- 33:01 The Power of Storytelling in Cannabis
- 34:40 Addressing Stigmas and Building Community
- 36:42 Intentional Content Creation
- 37:52 The Journey of Building a Business
- 42:09 Redefining Modern Masculinity
- 47:39 Diverse Approaches to Cannabis Consumption
- 57:21 The Yurt: A Creative Space
- 01:00:27 The Strength of Partnership
- 01:07:11 Upcoming Episodes and Conclusion
United States
This episode really got me thinking. It’s rare to hear honest conversations around emotional growth, especially from men in the public eye. I’ve been doing a lot of personal work lately, trying to understand how I connect with people on a deeper level. One thing that surprised me was learning about how our birth moon phases might play a role in our emotional patterns. I found this through https://moonphasesoulmates.com . It’s a simple tool, but it actually helped me reflect on a few relationship habits. Stuff like this, paired with real conversations like JoJo’s, makes growth feel way more possible.
Great show