The Breakfast Club - DONKEY: To People Who Don’t Prioritize Men’s Mental Health

Episode Date: October 8, 2026

Charlamagne Tha God Gives Donkey Of The Day To People Who Don’t Prioritize Men’s Mental Health. Listen for more. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BreakfastClubPower1051FMSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. I'm Lacey Mosley, author, actor, stand-up comedian, creator, and host of Scam Goddess Podcast. The True Crime Comedy Podcasts, all about robbery, fraud, and those who practice it. Each week, I bring on an amazing guest. Ooh, I scammed them. What?

I can talk to you for an hour. You're a generational yapper like me. That's why I had to make yapping a job. And now you can catch full episodes of my show on YouTube. Start listening to Scam Goddess on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast. I'm Hamza. And I'm Martin.

And we're the host of Out of Character. The best podcast in the world. It's really funny in a good time. Really? Yeah, yeah. I think statistics just came back and we're one of the funniest two guys with mics. And that's pretty hard to beat right now. But it's true, actually.

Why should people listen to us? Tell them. Well, we're trendy. We're funny. We're topical. You get all your news here. Not, you know, the facts, but maybe our takes on it and everything in between. So listen to Out of Character on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever we get your podcast.

Lisa, tell them about our new show. We have a new podcast. It's called Don't Lie to Me. I'm Lexi Youanu. We're two best friends, 22 years apart, but so close at heart. And I'm Lisa Di Giulio, the old one, which means we have wildly different references, occasionally different opinions. And at this point in my 50s, I've lived it all. Now in my 30s, being the founder of new shoes, good taste is my best.

business. Listen on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, this is Kylie Breakman. Angel Geratana. Jeremy Colhane. Patrick McDonald. And we're the hosts of the Artists on Artists on Artists on Artists Podcast. The Improvised Character Comedy Podcast

where each week a new panel of artists discuss their craft. Join us for a panel of Eurovision participants. And we do a little Halloween sometimes. Does the Pope dress up? He winks on Halloween. He gets right up next to microphone. I hear you can almost hear the eyelashes hit each other.

You never seen Italy so quiet as when the Pope gets up to wink on Halloween. Listen to Artists on Artists on Artists every Thursday on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A donkey thing that he on, he on, a bunch of donkeys around here. It's time for Donkey of the Day. I got the Donk of the Day for these. They made me the Donkey of the Day by the things that I said. Some donkey today's just sell themselves. It was you.

What accountability are you taking? I'd have made donkey today on the breakfast club. That being said, I want to start off with this donkey right here. Yeah, it's donkey today. Oh, donkey of today for Thursday, October 8th goes to everybody out there who claims to care about men's mental health until a man actually starts prioritizing it. Now, this has been sparked because of the conversation surrounding Stephen A. Smith and the backlash to his comments. board Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Lane Johnson. Let's listen to Stephen A's comments.

Nine start as you finish the game went out. And now the brother sat up there, one of the all-time graces of the offensive line. And what did he do, Shaq? What do he do, Jordan? He went like this. You know what? I'm going to call it quits. Now he calls it quick.

Not four season. Not an off-season. Oh, no, no, no, no. After being subjected to this, he said life is a little bit too short. I need to focus. What did he say? His mental health and my life. Am I making it up?

No, you're right. Did he say that? I'm definitely sure. So the brother, four games in to the 2026 season, a dude that has been in the league forever, sits back and says, I need to focus on my mental health and as an offensive tackle. And this brother say, hey, my life matters. It's time. I'm going to call it quits, my mental health.

Now, Stephen A has since clarified his comments and apologized. Let's listen to those. I'm sorry that when I was on television earlier this morning on first take, people misconstrued me minimizing mental health. I would never do that. Hell, I had mental health issues. 2017, when my mama passed away, God rest of soul, I spent two years with a level of misery I didn't know existed.

I actually sought an endured therapy, which rescued me. And be honest with you, if it wasn't for that, and the existence of my daughters, I don't even know if I'd be here. That's how bad I was. I'm not only sensitive to mental health issues. I'm very aware of it. But when I was talking about Lane Johnson earlier this morning,

I wasn't talking about him in mental health. I was talking about how the Eagles and how chaotic this situation is can drive you to it. This is a top three right tackle in the NFL. And yet after week four this season, this man says I've had enough. I'm not joking about him.

I'm looking at the Eagles because of how chaotic it is. But I would tell you this. Congratulations to him on an illustrious career. He is a surefire for first ballot hall of favor. Now, this is bigger than Stephen A. Smith. Okay, I tell you all the time. to talk about issues, not individuals.

If I say I'm giving Stephen A. Smith donkey today, y'all start telling me all the reasons you don't like Stephen A. Smith instead of focusing on the actual issue. And World Mental Health Day is Saturday. God has given us an amazing opportunity to teach and learn with this discussion. So let's not sit around arguing about whether or not you like Stephen A. I don't want us to miss the point here. And the point is this. Why do we keep telling men to prioritize their mental health?

But when they actually do, we question their decisions. Okay. let me tell y'all something about lane johnson this man played 14 seasons in the nfl six-time pro bowl a two-time super bowl champion one of the greatest offensive linemen of his generation but what you might not know is that lane johnson has been battling anxiety and depression for years okay just like i have just like so many of us do okay he was diagnosed with anxiety while he was in college at oklahoma in 2021 he missed three games because he was dealing with severe withdrawal symptoms after stopping antidepressant medication you don't

need to hear from me. We have Lane Johnson talking about it himself. Let's listen. I was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder in college. The monster kept building and building and building. It finally came to a point where I said, I'm not going to take it anymore. This is the first time anybody's seeing you publicly speak since you've come back to the Eagles. What happened that day? The first game against Atlanta, I told my mom, I said, something's really, really wronged me. I don't know exactly what it is. I said, I'm miserable. I know my mind isn't right. I know my body isn't right. So I left, went back home. I didn't have any communication with the Eagles. Johnson wrote that he has secretly been battling depression and anxiety for a long time.

Trying to describe that of people that have no clue or what it's like. It's very difficult. You lose touch of your sense of self. You lose touch of what's really going on around you. And what we really tend to do is lock up, not want to say anything. I felt bad for my team, but there were signs that this wasn't something that was new to spur of the moment. This was going on for, you know, months. Lane Johnson admitted he'd been hiding his struggles with anxiety and depression from his friends and family because he was ashamed. My brothers, I know we all can relate, but when you see a man who makes his living standing in front of 300-pound defensive linemen, Okay, the epitome of what this society would call masculine.

When this man, when this man isn't comfortable telling his people, okay, closest to him that he's struggling mentally, we know we got a serious issue. Lane Johnson wasn't afraid to get hit by some of the biggest, strongest men on the planet, but he was afraid of being judged for admitting he needed help. Okay, how many men out there listening to the sound of my voice can relate to that? How many of y'all are going to work right now? Taking care of your families, paying bills, showing up for everybody else, but men are there. mentally and emotionally, you're not doing well. And because you're still getting things done, everybody assumes you're fine. Okay, we've confused the man's ability to function with his ability to cope.

Oh, and let's not factor in that he was an NFL player. Okay, he's made over $186 million in his career. I know what y'all thinking. He's fine. Listen, just because somebody is successful doesn't mean they're happy. Okay, it don't matter what's in his bank account. What's going on in his head and heart? Just because they're making money doesn't mean they're mentally healthy.

And just because they're strong enough to carry everybody else's problems, doesn't mean the weight isn't crushing them. Okay, now here's what makes Lane Johnson's story so important. This is why you have to use opportunities like this to teach. When he stepped away from football in 2021, he went and got help. Okay, and as you just heard, he returned to the NFL and continued playing at an elite level. He didn't give up on himself. He took care of himself.

So now, years later, after 14 seasons, two Super Bowl championships, and everything he's accomplished, he's making a not. decision to put his mental health and his family first. Drop on the clues bombs for Lane Johnson, man. What a man. Okay, what a strong human. I respect it. And that's something that people should not feel the need to question.

I know Stephen A. talked about the Eagles doing so terrible. But I think if they were undefeated, Lane would have still walked away because it's not about what's happening on the field. Once again, it's about what's happening in his head and heart. Lane Johnson has nothing else to prove at what point has a man done enough to earn the right to say he's had enough. And I'm not saying people can't discuss what his decision means for the Philadelphia Eagles. That's sports.

Okay, that's what sports commentators do. But there's a difference between discussing how losing Lane Johnson affects the Eagles and questioning whether his mental health is the legitimate reason to walk away, especially when this man has been telling us for years what he's been dealing with. Okay, that's what Stephen A fell short. And I'm glad he apologized. And I know he's going to apologize again on first take today as well. But this is bigger than Stephen A.

not focus on the individual this is bigger than football that's not even the issue the issue is that after all these years of conversations around mental health and people speaking out about their mental health we still have a strange relationship with men in suffering okay we admire the man who pushes through pain we celebrate the man who never takes a day off the man who puts everybody else's needs before his own the man who's exhausted but keeps going because people depend on him we call that man strong but when a man recognized recognizes that something is hurting him and decides to make a change, suddenly we start questioning his toughness. Why is a man considered strong when he sacrifices his mental health for his career, but weak when he sacrifices his career for his mental health? Please make that make sense for your uncle Shala. You know I'm a little slow. Okay, my head bad. I failed one of those standardized tests when I was young and they had me at LD classes for a while. You know I'm not the highest grade of weed in the dispensary, so this don't make sense to me. And I know some of y'all are also thinking, well, everybody can't just quit their job because they're stressed. Of course not.

We all have responsibilities. Bills don't stop coming because you're having a bad day. Your kids eat, you know, life doesn't stop because you're struggling. Well, your kids need to eat, okay? And life doesn't stop because you're struggling. And I don't want you to stop your life because you're struggling. But taking care of your mental health doesn't always mean quitting your job. Sometimes it just means going to therapy.

Sometimes it means taking some time off. Sometimes it means having an uncomfortable conversation with somebody you love. Sometimes it just means admitting you need help And sometimes it means walking away from something that's no longer good for you The problem is we've taught so many men that their value is based on what they provide Okay, that they don't even know a lot of men don't even know who they are when they're not providing something And that my brothers is a terrible way to live okay because being dependable doesn't mean you're indestructible And I want people to understand something else

A man shouldn't have to have a mental breakdown before we take his mental health seriously Okay, why can't we respect somebody for recognizing the warning signs before everything falls apart? That's what we're supposed to want people to do. And I think a lot of people love the idea of mental health awareness more than they love the reality of it because awareness isn't easy. Okay, you can post a quote. I see y'all all the time telling people to check on their strong friends, but actually supporting somebody's mental health might require you to accept the decision that inconveniences you. and that's when we find out how much you in society really care. Now, let me land this, okay?

This Saturday, October 10th is World Mental Health Day, and I think that's important because mental health shouldn't only become a conversation when somebody has a breakdown, when somebody dies by suicide, or when a celebrity publicly tells us they're struggling, we should be paying attention to our mental health every single day. And that's exactly why I'm having my mental wealth expo this Saturday. Okay, that's not a shameless plug. It's a plug.

All right, I have absolutely no shame in telling you about my six annual Mental Wealth Expo. It is a completely free event. Open to all ages at the Joelle and Diane Bloom Wellness and Event Center in Newark, New Jersey from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is my six year doing it. Why? Because I don't just want us talking about mental health. I want us doing something about it. Okay, I want people to have access to information, resources, and conversations that can help them understand themselves and the people they love. Okay, salute Elaine Johnson for continuing to be open about his struggles. You never know how many other men might hear his story and finally decide to get help themselves. And to everybody who claims they care about men's mental health, I want you to ask yourself one question.

Do you really want the men in your life to be mentally healthy? Or do you just want them mentally healthy enough to keep doing whatever it is you need them to do? Because there's a difference. Okay? Please give everybody who only cares about men's life. mental health when it's convenient, the biggest he hog. I'm sorry. I could be long-witted about that topic. No, that's all good, but I think a lot.

I thought Stephen A. Smith needed it. Okay, well, give Stephen A. Smith the donkey ended up. Give him the biggest thing. But I don't want people to focus on the individual. But people are going to do that anyway. You know what I mean? People are going to, whether you give them donkey or whether they already eating them up in the comments.

But he can't have apologized. He's going to apologize. Yeah, he can't. handle it and he is the person who also accepts you know the consequences for actions like that as well oh he's in one of the intros for the donkey yes he's the one that says I'm a big boy you give me donkey today I know I can handle you know what I mean yeah I'm giving Stephen A donkey today plenty of times but I just don't want people to focus on the individual I got you it's a little bit of both though it's a little bit of both though with Stephen A he's such a giant's fan that the Eagles losing

this is what that was his way of stab you see how we're talking too much about Stephen A right now how that happens just that fact that's what I'd be talking about like and me he's talking about like He's talking about giants. You see what I'm saying? But that's what I know. Listen, if there's one thing I know, it's that words. Yeah. Okay?

We can, we be, stay on the road. Let's stay on the road. Okay. But the way he was like mocking it, you know, yesterday, I just, he got a little part of the way, you know what I mean? So that's why I was. It was more about that. Yep.

He's just focusing on him. That's all. That's the issue. Men's mental health. Do you really want the men in your life to be mentally healthy? Or do you just want them mentally healthy enough to keep doing whatever? whatever it is you need them to do. I see Charlemagne's blood pressure rises,

so let's keep moving. All right. All right. Now, when we come back, Just Fix My Mess. 800-585-105-1. If you have relationship problems and you're having issues and you need Jess's help, call her up right now. Phone lines are wide open. It's the Breakfast Club. Good morning.

Donkey of the day is sponsored by renowned personal injury attorney Michael the Bull Lamensoft. Don't be a donkey when you need a fighter on your side. If you're ever injured, go to Michael the Bull.com. That's Michael the Bull.com. And when you mess with the bull, you get the horns. I'm Lacey Mosley, author, actor, stand-up comedian, creator, and host of Scam Goddess Podcast. The True Crime Comedy Podcasts all about robbery, fraud, and those who practice it.

Each week I bring on an amazing guest. Ooh, I scammed them. What? I can talk to you for an hour. You're a generational yapper like me. That's why I had to make yapping a job. And now you can catch full episodes of my show on YouTube. Start listening to Scam Goddess on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

I'm Hamza. And I'm Martin. And we're the host of Out of Character. The best podcast in the world. It's really funny in a good time. Really? Yeah, yeah. I think statistics just came back and we're one of the funniest two guys with mics.

And that's pretty hard to beat right now. But it's true, actually. Why should people listen to us? Tell them. Well, we're trendy. We're funny. We're topical. You get all your news here.

Not, you know, the facts, but maybe our takes on it and everything in between. So listen out of character on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Lisa, tell them about our new show. We have a new podcast. It's called Don't Lie to Me. I'm Lexi Youanu. We're two best friends, 22 years apart, but so close at heart. And I'm Lisa DeGulio, the old one, which means we have wildly different references, occasionally different opinions, and at this point in my 50s, I've lived it all. Now in my 30s, being the founder of new shoes, good taste is my business. Listen on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, this is Kylie Breakman. Angel Geratana. Jeremy Colhane, Patrick McDonald.

And we're the hosts of the Artists on Artists on Artists on Artists Podcast. The improvised character comedy podcast where each week a new panel of artists discuss their craft. Join us for a panel of Eurovision participants. And we do a little Halloween sometimes. Does the Pope dress up? He winks on Halloween. He gets right up next to the microphone. I hear you can almost hear the eyelashes hit each other. You never seen It leads so quiet as when the Pope gets up to wink on Halloween. Listen to Artists on Artists on Artists on Artists every Thursday on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.