IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson Tap Into Your Vulnerability with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson
Oct 15, 2025
In this engaging discussion, former NBA players Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson share their journeys from the court to the mic as co-hosts of the podcast All The Smoke. They delve into their childhoods and the pivotal family influences that shaped their values. The duo tackles the importance of healthy masculinity in parenting, emphasizing vulnerability and emotional intelligence for their sons. They also reflect on community engagement, activism after George Floyd, and the realities of co-parenting, offering insights that resonate far beyond sports.
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Authenticity Changed Their Narrative
- Barnes and Jackson say showing your real self post-career helped reshape public perception of them.
- Social media later allowed them to reveal vulnerability and extend their influence beyond on-court roles.
How All The Smoke Began
- Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson started All The Smoke by hanging out, smoking, and being authentic after retiring.
- They pitched Showtime, fought network skepticism, and won Sports Podcast of the Year their first season.
Raised By Grandparents And Community
- Stephen Jackson was raised by his grandparents and a circle of women in a small town that protected and supported him.
- That community belief helped him become an NBA player despite early mistakes.