Liberation Starts at Home w/ Héritier Lumumba

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 about the spiritual and political journey of reclaiming his African name, growing up disconnected from his father and culture, and how becoming a parent called him deeper into his purpose. Together, the trio explores what it means to raise free Black children in a world still entangled with colonial systems—from language to legislation, education to emotional expression.

From rethinking the school-to-prison pipeline to confronting the myths around cannabis, this episode is part memoir, part masterclass. We talk presence. We talk purpose. We talk truth.

And we close, as always, with a moving Legacy Letter—this time from Lumumba to his three young sons, as he commits to breaking cycles and building memory with intention.

🔎 In This Episode:

• How trauma rewires the inner voice—and how coaching can sound like war
• Parenting with empathy instead of shame (even when you’re losing patience)
• Why reclaiming a name is deeper than semantics—it’s spiritual resistance
• How intergenerational absence fuels present-day purpose
• Dr. Bird’s insights on reading, language, and early development
• The quiet roots of the school-to-prison pipeline
• Why cannabis has been both medicine and weapon—and why that matters now
• Building a digital legacy our grandkids will feel
• Legacy Letter: Lumumba speaks to his sons about truth, presence, and love

💬 Quotes to Remember:

“When you bring logic into a kid’s world, you lose. You’ve got to bring relatability.” – Spencer Paysinger

“I was the only one in my white institution of family going through a Black experience.” – Lumumba

“I don’t know any other way than to seek the truth. Because it’s the only place you can build from.” – Lumumba

“One of the biggest head starts in life is knowing where you come from.” – Lumumba

“Get ‘em ahead of the curve. That’s the game.” – Dr. Bird (via Lumumba)

📍 Call to Action:

If this episode cracked something open in you—send it to a father, freedom-fighter, or educator in your life.

Got a Legacy Letter to share? Want to reflect on how you’re raising free kids in a complex world?

🎧 Drop us a voice note. We’d love to hear from you.

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