Trevor Jackson is no stranger to the spotlight — but in this episode, he opens up like never before. From starring in *Grown-ish* and *Superfly* to dropping his most personal album yet, Trevor has seen every side of the industry. He shares how the machine behind music and film is built on money, influence, and perception — and why not having that machine can leave even the most talented artists overlooked. After going through a painful breakup and tearing his Achilles, Trevor found himself at his lowest — and wrote an entire album in just two weeks. He talks about being told he was "too clean" to be marketable, walking away from major labels, building his own company (Born Art), and reclaiming his freedom as an artist. This conversation dives deep into mental health, validation, self-love, creativity, and the hard truth about how things really work behind the scenes in Hollywood. If you’re a creative, an artist, or someone chasing something bigger — this episode will hit home. Trevor Jackson is creating on his own terms now, and he’s not holding back. This is the most honest, unfiltered, and inspiring version of him the world has seen. 00:00 Intro01:39 Creative Collaborations and Directing03:49 The Art of Music Videos04:48 Creating the Greatest Breakup Album07:39 The Creative Process and Challenges19:34 The Shit List24:26 The Journey and Inspirations30:34 The Decline of Traditional Musicianship31:21 The Art of Performance31:40 The Drive for Excellence33:06 Current Acting Projects and Future Plans34:55 The Impact of Technology on Human Interaction39:14 The Role of AI in Creativity42:06 Personal Growth and Self-Reflection54:30 The Importance of Therapy56:51 The Power of Positive Self-Talk01:00:35 The Power of Art and Creativity01:01:19 Learning Through Video Games01:01:36 Navigating the Music Industry01:01:52 Signing with Atlantic Records01:03:46 Challenges in the Music Industry01:08:15 Born Art01:09:55 Financial Realities of Acting and Music01:18:09 Touring and Fan Experiences01:21:17 Personal Goals and Legacy   Follow Trevor Follow ⁠⁠Arrad (podcast host)⁠⁠    LISTEN / SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST: ⁠⁠SPOTIFY⁠⁠ ⁠⁠APPLE MUSIC⁠⁠ ⁠⁠YOUTUBE⁠⁠   CONNECT WITH US: ✩ ⁠⁠Ourselves (production team)⁠⁠:  ✩ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ✩ ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠ ✩ ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ ✩ ⁠⁠Facebook