Club 520 Podcast – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Club 520 – Trevor Jackson on being CHILDHOOD STAR, hooping w/ Chris Brown, DREAM roles
Original Release: January 8, 2026
Host: DJ Wells with co-hosts Jeff Teague and Bishop B Henn
Guest: Trevor Jackson (actor, singer, Indianapolis native)

Overview

This episode welcomes multi-talented Trevor Jackson, known for his journey from child star to prominent actor and musician. Trevor discusses his unique upbringing in Indianapolis, breaking into Broadway as a kid, transitioning through Hollywood, music, and TV, and the joys and pitfalls of early success. The conversation is lively, personal, and often hilarious, giving listeners insights into pursuing dreams, surviving the business, and balancing multiple passions — from childhood skateboarding to acting in “Superfly,” hooping with Chris Brown, dream superhero roles, music, and more.

Key Topics & Discussions

1. Trevor’s Indianapolis Roots and Early Start

• Hometown Shout-Outs:
  • Trevor's family is from "Naptown/Marion," and he shares fondness for his city and support for the show's hosts.
  • (04:33) Trevor Jackson: "I wanted to say too on camera and just to y’all, I’m proud of y’all too, man. This is amazing what you guys have built and everybody knows the show..."
• Started Early:
  • Began moving and working by age 8; family from Marion, lived around the city before chasing dreams.
  • Did not attend high school in Indy — moved for work/touring.

2. Life as a Child Star

• Lion King on Broadway at Age 8:
  • Trevor played Simba for three years on the Broadway tour, performing eight times a week and balancing stage, school, and a taste of “real work.”
  • (10:46) Trevor Jackson: "Do that eight times a week... I did that for three and a half years. From 8 years old to 11? Yeah."
• School Struggles:
  • Never felt built for the traditional school system, preferring creative outlets to monotonous tasks.
  • (07:38) Trevor Jackson: "I don't think I was built for the school system. It's a thing that builds employees and not bosses and entrepreneurs... I hated it..."

3. Family, Money, and Staying Grounded

• Breadwinner as a Kid?
  • Though Trevor supported the family, he insists it was always “our house,” emphasizing gratitude and humility.
  • (06:13) Trevor Jackson: "Is it my house? Sure, but it’s our house, you know, it’s a house that we helped build."
• Mom’s Support:
  • Mom ensured he still had a childhood, skateboarding and playing ball; made him choose between skating and performing.

4. On Pursuing Passion and Perseverance

• Knowing His Path:
  • Realized his destiny at 8 while performing, relishing the power to bring people joy and, later, to inspire perseverance.
  • (08:29) Trevor Jackson: "I knew I was meant to do when I was eight because I was doing Lion King... and I just wanted to do that. I want to bring that."
• Creative Integrity:
  • Says true happiness comes from never feeling “trapped,” staying true to passions despite industry pressures.

5. Dating, Fame, and Entertainment’s Double Standard

• Navigating Relationships in the Spotlight:
  • Trevor jokes about the hard phase ("from like age 12 to 16, I was... Come on, pick me.") and how fame altered dating dynamics.
  • (14:40) Trevor Jackson: “From like age 12 to like 16, I was... Come on, pick me.”
• Critique of Entertainment Culture:
  • Candid about hypocrisy, especially regarding public personas versus private reality, for both men and women.

6. Breakout Acting Roles & Behind-The-Scenes

• Superfly Lead:
  • At 20, fulfilled a childhood wish for "Matrix"/"Blade"-style action, even convincing producers to let him audition for the main role.
  • (16:25) Trevor Jackson: “Wearing a long leather jacket and whooping ass was a dream of mine that came true...”
• Fan Encounters & Misconceptions:
  • People confuse him with his tougher characters; recounts being approached in public about roles in "Superfly" and "Grownish."
  • (19:15) Trevor Jackson: “I get approached about a lot of stuff... 'Why you do Zoe like that?' I’m like, guys, it was in the script. I did my job!”

7. “Burning Sands” and Difficult Roles

• Handling Backlash from the Greek Community:
  • Got "a bunch of flack" for exposing fraternity hazing culture, but sees it as necessary truth-telling.
  • (20:17) Trevor Jackson: "If I were to make a movie about a basketball player who did steroids, it doesn’t mean every basketball [player] does steroids, but this particular person did..."
• Hardest Role:
  • “Burning Sands” required deep immersion, sleep deprivation, and emotional intensity.
  • (25:20) Trevor Jackson: "Burning Sands, I think was one of the hardest ones... I tried to not get sleep. I just tried to, you know, put myself in that space."

8. Almost-Cast Stories & Dream Roles

• Near Misses:
  • Auditioned for countless roles, including eventual leads in “Snowfall.” Chosen by John Singleton before the network recast.
  • (27:23) Trevor Jackson: “Snowfall. I remember I auditioned for like eight times... Singleton casted me... then the network... recast the whole thing.”
• Superhero Aspirations:
  • Dreams of Marvel/DC roles: older Miles Morales, Blue Marvel, Black Batman, especially passionate about comic book lore.
  • (28:32) Trevor Jackson: "But a dream role is anything Marvel, anything DC. That’s my dream. I’m a nerd, man..."

9. Trevor’s Music: Creation, Healing, and Vulnerability

• Breakup Album:
  • Newest project, “I Love youe, Goodbye,” is his “most vulnerable,” written after heartbreak and an Achilles injury.
  • (31:01) Trevor Jackson: “I just dropped an album. It’s called I Love youe, Goodbye. The greatest breakup album of all time. Super, super proud of this project.”
• Healing Through Music:
  • Writing the album helped him process pain; music is about honesty and helping listeners through hard times, especially breakups.
• Remaining Discreet:
  • Won’t call out exes in songs, “I was never be that specific, you know what I’m saying? ...I wanted to wonder.” (32:14)

10. Live Shows, Anthem Nerves, and Performance

• Performing for Large Audiences:
  • Discusses nerves and thrill of singing the national anthem at major venues – SoFi Stadium (70K people), Colts’ Lucas Oil (50K).
  • (32:53) Trevor Jackson: “I just performed at the SoFi... 70,000 people. Lucas Oil ain’t that many... I always feel a little pressure though...”
• Famous Anthem “Fails”:
  • Panel jokes about Fergie, Carl Lewis, and the inherent risk—“everybody’s waiting for somebody to mess up.” (33:25)

11. Balancing Acting and Music

• Which Is Harder?:
  • For Trevor, music comes smoother due to greater hours and comfort, whereas acting is more technical, especially in stage plays.
  • (35:37) Trevor Jackson: “I guess it depends... But I’m in the studio every day... comes a little easier, for sure.”

12. Industry Reflections: Directing, Black Sitcoms, and Representation

• Behind the Scenes – Directing:
  • Best directors know what they want and minimize retakes; some pad with endless takes out of uncertainty.
  • (38:58) Trevor Jackson: "Best directors to me are actors who understand acting and understand what they need and go in there and know the shots that they want."
• Black Sitcoms and TV’s Changing Culture:
  • Laments how new shows won’t achieve the “lynchpin” longevity of classics like “Martin,” “Fresh Prince,” “Living Color.”
  • (44:21) Trevor Jackson: "Sitcoms in general, though, are kind of like...they're kind of dead because people are too sensitive."
• Proud to Play a Black Doctor on TV:
  • Finds meaning in representing “options” for young Black viewers beyond stereotypes.

13. Basketball Stories & Hooping with Chris Brown

• Hooping at the BET Experience:
  • Claims he scored the most (26 points) but got overshadowed by Chris Brown (25) in a star-studded celeb game.
  • (48:41) Trevor Jackson: “I had the most points, but nobody talked about that. I had 26, Chris had 25. Talk about it...”
• Celebrity Hoopers:
  • Names Chris Brown, Quavo, NLE Choppa, and others as serious players. Trevor claims competitive edge in his entertainment circle.
  • (50:11) Trevor Jackson: “I was one of the best [celebrity ballers]... when I was at my peak.”

14. Shoes, Style, and “Touching the Grass”

• Adidas Collab & Shoe Talk:
  • Club 520 and Adidas celebrate their partnership on air, gifting kicks and joking about wardrobe choices.
• Barefoot Preference:
  • Trevor loves being barefoot for “the science/electricity” of grounding, often wears Timbs or Crocs otherwise.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Childhood in the Arts and Family

• (06:13) Trevor Jackson: "It's our house, you know, it's a house that we helped build. And I'm never that person. I've never been that person. I can never be, you know, but there are...guidelines and boundaries that I think as long as people respect each other."

Life Philosophy & Perseverance

• (08:29) Trevor Jackson: "I want to create projects and things like that to, you know, when people are at that finish line, about to give up. Hey man, keep going. One more step."

Handling Fame

• (19:37) Trevor Jackson: “I love fan interactions. I was a fan first before I was an artist...whenever I meet a fan...I always try and give them all my attention, all my love. Because I know how impacted I was when I was, you know, meeting somebody that I looked up to. You can really change the course of somebody's life with one word, with one hi, with one hug.”

Representation & Black Excellence

• (43:36) Trevor Jackson: "I was thankful that I get to play a doctor on tv...a lot of young black men will see and be like, oh, I can do that also. That's an option as well."

Dream Roles & Geek Life

• (28:32) Trevor Jackson: "A dream role is anything Marvel, anything DC...I'm obsessed with all of those characters and stories and I want to play one."

The Healing Power of Music

• (31:01) Trevor Jackson: "I just dropped an album...Super, super proud of this project. It's the most vulnerable I've ever been on record."
• (31:40) Trevor Jackson: "Within the first two weeks after I got back, I made the album and it just...helped me a lot...what I was talking about before, how I just want to help people through those times. That's what this album is."

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Time (MM:SS) | Description | |---------|--------------|-------------| | Naptown origin, childhood career start | 04:32 | Trevor’s family, leaving Indy to work young | | Lion King/Broadway memories | 10:46 | Details the child star grind and schooling | | Reflections on family & money | 06:13 | His views on supporting family, sharing joy | | On school and creative impulse | 07:38 | Why Trevor hated standard school | | Pursuing joy versus pressure | 08:29 | Moments that shaped his outlook | | Auditioning for blockbuster roles | 27:23 | “Snowfall,” Black Panther, dream roles | | Marvel/DC obsession | 28:32 | Trevor’s nerdy side revealed | | Hardest acting challenge: “Burning Sands” | 25:20 | Immersion, backlash, recovery | | New album & heartbreak story | 31:01 | Achilles, music as therapy | | National anthems & performance nerves | 32:53 | Comparing big venues, Fergie/Carl Lewis jokes | | Black sitcoms & TV legacy | 44:21 | Media culture and representation | | BET Experience hoop stories | 48:41 | Chris Brown, celebrity basketball rankings | | Style, shoes, and "grounding" barefoot | 41:29 | Candid talk on comfort and science |

Final Notes & Tone

• Atmosphere: This episode shines thanks to its easy camaraderie, frequent laughter, and Trevor’s openness—whether reflecting on childhood, art, sports, or personal growth.
• Takeaways:
  • Professional success often masks years of unseen work, sacrifice, and struggle.
  • Family, authenticity, and perseverance, not fame, are at the heart of Trevor’s philosophy.
  • Musicians/actors/athletes in the public eye always face misconceptions, but also the privilege to shape culture for the next generation.

For fans and new listeners alike, this is a must-listen for honest, entertaining, and motivational insight into the life of a modern multi-hyphenate star.