Host Jesse Jackson welcomes George P. Brooks for a B-side episode that steps outside Springsteen to focus on music, life experience, and purpose. George, a longtime mental health advocate and founder of the Meta Association, shares his Memphis upbringing shaped by diverse music, his lifelong love of Green Day, and how recovery from addiction led him to nonprofit work supporting Black male mental health, recidivism, and fatherhood. He discusses surviving homelessness and two heart attacks, the barriers men—especially Black men—face in seeking therapy, and the importance of safe spaces, unplugging from social media, journaling, and basic health screenings. The conversation also explores faith, grace in public discourse, and George’s conservative values, before closing with a call to treat people with respect and be better each day.
00:00 B-Side Welcome
00:37 Meet George Brooks
01:48 Wrestling and Memphis Roots
02:35 Memphis Music Upbringing
03:52 Discovering Green Day
05:40 Service and Nonprofit Mission
07:07 Recovery and Resilience
08:02 Men and Mental Health Stigma
13:31 Social Media and Unplugging
14:57 Faith and Spiritual Journey
18:22 Politics and Conservatism
20:55 Core Conservative Values
22:44 Black Culture And Welfare
23:42 Law Order And ICE
24:53 Black Conservatism History
26:13 Polarization And Hypocrisy
29:01 Where America Is Headed
31:05 Divisiveness For Profit
31:41 Unplugging And Batman
33:15 Mens Mental Health Tips
34:32 Where To Find George
35:51 Final Thoughts And Farewell
36:35 Closing Song I Wish You Well
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