
Mekai Curtis on Raising Kanan's final season, cliffhangers answered, 50 Cent's influence, becoming Kanan Stark, Disney Channel beginnings, his parents' sacrifices, Hollywood highs and lows, behind-the-scenes stories and balancing life beyond the character
From Pivot Podcast by It's Never Too Late To Pivot
June 12, 2026 · 52 min
About this episode
Mekai Curtis discusses his journey as an actor, the impact of his family, and the final season of Raising Kanan.
"Everything Gets Answered In Season 5..."Mekai Curtis On this Friday special of The Pivot Podcast, we sit down with actor Mekai Curtis, the breakout star of Raising Kanan, for an inspiring conversation about perseverance, family, and the journey to becoming one of television's most compelling leading men as part of Powerbook III's hit drama series. Mekai reflects on his early days as a child actor on Disney Channel, the sacrifices his family made to support his dreams, and how his parents' unwavering belief gave him the confidence to pursue a career in Hollywood. He opens up about the challenges of growing up in the entertainment industry, finding his identity as an actor, and the lessons that shaped him along the way. The conversation dives into his starring role as Kanan Stark in Raising Kanan, including the pressure of carrying a hit series, the show's massive success, and what it's been like collaborating with executive producer 50 Cent and an accomplished cast and creative team. Mekai shares behind-the-scenes stories, discusses the relationships he's built with his fellow actors, and reveals how he prepares for one of television's most complex characters. With Season 5…
People in this episode
Host: It's Never Too Late To Pivot
Guest: Mekai Curtis
Topics covered
- acting
- perseverance
- family sacrifices
- Hollywood journey
- Raising Kanan
- character development
- behind-the-scenes
Keywords
- Mekai Curtis
- Raising Kanan
- 50 Cent
- Disney Channel
- Hollywood
- acting career
- character Kanan Stark
- season finale
- behind-the-scenes stories
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Disney Channel
Books & works: Raising Kanan, Powerbook III
More episodes of Pivot Podcast
- Trae Young speaks his truth, the trade that fueled him, why he left the Hawks, regrets from Atlanta's ECF run, Washington future, MSG's villain, criticism, chasing greatness, protecting family, Jalen Brunson & De'Aaron Fox. · June 9, 2026 · 1h 10m
- NFL shakeups, NBA Finals & reality of change: AJ Brown, Myles Garrett, Jared Verse and OBJ headline a wild week in football as Ryan, Fred and Channing talk friendship, aging out, growing apart, and what it takes to keep going when things get tough. · June 5, 2026 · 51 min
- Greg Oden's untold story: Ohio State legend, drafted No. 1 before Kevin Durant, called a NBA Bust, the what-ifs, battling injuries, addiction, depression, misconceptions, the Miami Heat Finals run & life after basketball. · June 2, 2026 · 1h 8m
- Jason Wilson, best-selling author & Martial Arts Master, speaks on men hiding behind a mask, healing trauma, redefining masculinity, discipline as a tool, Mental Health, Martial Arts, emotional freedom, family values and why vulnerability is real power · May 29, 2026 · 1h 8m
- Kenny Smith NBA Champion, Inside the NBA, analyst, UNC hooper, never-told stories with MJ, Dean Smith wisdom, Rockets championships, Shaq & Barkley, Wemby, playing in Jordan era, on silence being loudest voice & his 2026 NBA Finals prediction. · May 26, 2026 · 1h 12m
- Thomas Davis Sr. former All Pro linebacker on hiding the pain behind NFL greatness: 3 ACL tears, playing through addiction, life after football, divorce, fatherhood, Luke Kuechly, and the Super Bowl decision he still regrets · May 19, 2026 · 1h 5m
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Pivot Podcast podcast page.