Transcript

The Grind Don’t Stop: Isaac Keys on Reinvention, Resilience & Realness

From Mick Unplugged Podcast · Episode page · Watch on YouTube

· 31 min · 7,069 words · 85 timestamped sections

This is the full, timestamped transcript of "The Grind Don’t Stop: Isaac Keys on Reinvention, Resilience & Realness", an episode of Mick Unplugged Podcast published December 18, 2025 (31 min, about 7,069 words). It mentions 24 people, works and ideas, including Morehouse College, Isaac Keys, NFL (National Football League), Power Book IV: Force, Start with Why ("why" vs "because" framing).

What this episode is about

Isaac Keys shares his personal journey of reinvention and resilience as an actor, former athlete, and new author, discussing the motivations behind his book and the importance of self-acknowledgment, particularly for Black men. The conversation emphasizes the need for vulnerability and mental health awareness as essential components of personal and communal growth.

Key takeaways

  • Behind every 'why' lies a 'because'—dig deep for meaning beyond the obvious goals.
  • Honoring personal victories nurtures growth—resilience blooms when we cherish achievements.
  • Men carry silent burdens—recognition can be the unspoken cure for hidden struggles.
  • The best inspiration comes from not fearing your potential; dare to live beyond limits.
  • True change requires the courage to blame oneself first—self-responsibility fuels progress.

What is discussed, and when

  1. – 5:00: Isaac Keys, Morehouse Hall of Fame, Start with Why
  2. – 10:00: The Grind Don't Stop. It Just Changes., The Wire
  3. – 15:00: Isaac Keys, University of North Alabama
  4. – 20:00: Product of your environment, Sean Cwell
  5. – 25:00: Get Shorty, Jurassic World, Essence Festival, Product of your environment
  6. – 30:00: Isaac Keys

Notable quotes from "The Grind Don’t Stop: Isaac Keys on Reinvention, Resilience & Realness"

  • In this episode, I sit down with actor, former athlete, new author Isaac Keys.
    about Isaac Keys · at
  • Quarterbacks, man. Like two-time all-American, inducted into the Morehouse Hall of Fame. So, one, I just want to tell you congratulations, man.
    about Morehouse Hall of Fame · at
  • Your because, right? Simon Synynic wrote the book a while back called Start with Why? and everybody was really trendy to know what your why is.
    about Start with Why · at
  • And then when I heard you were writing a book and the title grabbed me, right, the grind don't stop. It just changes.
    about The Grind Don't Stop. It Just Changes. · at
  • Title has been floating around in my head for probably the last 16 years you know and it derived from the wire. It was a phrase where what the actor said, he said, The game…
    about The Wire · at
  • Right. And you know the caveat to that is that started before like I walked on to University of North Alabama as my official freshman year.
    about University of North Alabama · at
  • Nine friends being bad, you'll be the 10th. it's like your environment, you become a product of your environment, even if just by an accessory because you were just there.
    about Product of your environment · at
  • It. It probably took a role a couple it did a couple roles, but when I got the role on Get Shorty, I got that role.
    about Get Shorty · at

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

  • Isaac Keys — Person · 4 mentions · first at
  • Sean Cwell — Person · 1 mention · first at
    In. It's like myself and one other guy who became successful in Mo house 2, a safety. Sean Cwell, still my one of my best friends to this day. But I bring it up because he had…

Books & papers

Companies & orgs

  • Morehouse College — Company · 6 mentions
  • NFL (National Football League) — Company · 4 mentions
  • Power Book IV: Force — Company · 3 mentions
  • Get Shorty — Company · 2 mentions · first at
  • Jurassic World — Company · 2 mentions · first at
    But honestly, I'm tell you, Jurassic World, I played a control room security guard in Jurassic World and I saw and I had a scene with Chris Pratt and I saw how he commanded the room. I saw how he.
  • Morehouse Hall of Fame — Company · 1 mention · first at
  • The Wire — Company · 1 mention · first at
  • University of North Alabama — Company · 1 mention · first at
  • Essence Festival — Company · 1 mention · first at
    Group, being around some other actors which was like at a panel discussion in Essence Festival, I was around some actors and I just was watching. I saw how they move and I just…
  • Will Trent — Company · 1 mention · first at
    Almost 18 months since I worked on that show. I picked up a role here, Will Trent and some things like that. But, it's like also again the grind stop. It just changes cuz if…
  • Power (franchise) — Company · 1 mention

Products & tech

Concepts & topics

Full transcript with timestamps

In this episode, I sit down with actor, former athlete, new author Isaac Keys. And you're going to get to know the real Isaac Keys. Like, we talk about so much. We talk about his journey. We talk about his because we talk about the depth of why he decided to write this book and to write it now. And we're going to talk about if he can really understand 50 Cent or not the first time he met him. Ladies and gentlemen, I present my friend Isaac Keats. This is make unplugged. Let us uncover the because that thing that drives you. That thing that fuels you. I'm ready if you are. Let's go.

Isaac, how you doing today, brother? Oh, man. That is a excellent introduction. I I appreciate that. Thank you very much. And yes, man. I'm doing well today. I'm happy to be here on the show, man. I'm glad we can connect. I'm I'm the honored one, man. Been a huge fan of you since your days at Morehouse when you were cracking heads and sacking quarterbacks, man. Like two-time all-American, inducted into the Morehouse Hall of Fame. So, one, I just want to tell you congratulations, man. But two, just proud of the man that you are, bro. Proud of the man that you are.

Wow. Thank you. I appreciate that. And, you know, to take it back, I think, you know, we got to see where you came from, you know, to see where you're going. You know what I mean? I like to look back on things and give myself a pat on the back at times just appreciation of what I have been able to accomplish and how I've been able to help anybody else, you know, accomplish any of their dreams.

And to me, that is so important, man. Especially for men, and I'm going to be honest and go there for black men. A lot of times, we don't take the time to accept the flowers when they're given to us. I I know you're a huge mental health advocate. So am I. Sometimes we just need that encouragement, man. Like it we can't be tough all the time. Like it it was cool back in the day to be the tough kid to to say you can handle it, man. But but that's a lot of pressure. That's a lot of stress. And sometimes, man, we just don't take enough time to to appreciate what we've accomplished. So, I'm telling you, I'm glad you appreciate

I appreciate that. Thank you, man. I appreciate that. I I think into what you're saying is that we have to celebrate ourselves. You know, it's always the joke about what a father gets for Father's Day gifts and what a mother gets for Mother's Day gifts. And you know, it's always a running joke, but I mean, it's true in a sense because, you know, as men, we've been taught and groomed for the most part to be able to take on so much and like it's not about us, not about us. It's about who providing and making sure we provide for the family, make sure everybody else is good. But I think there's room for balance. There's [snorts] room for both.

like you need to be celebrated for everything that you do because if not you start develop type of resentment for the things that you are doing and you're accomplishing when you don't feel like you're being seen and celebrated and that starts as as a kid. You know the best way to get to a kid is to be let them be seen celebrated and appreciated and teaching that up. I think there's room for both. It's just that we you know our older generation we just weren't taught that because the men had to carry so much on their shoulders.

They they couldn't know their emotions and show their you know how they felt and you know there was no time for that. You know there was no time for pity part. I got to get him to go to work tomorrow. I ain't got time to be dealing with all of that. But I think there's now there's room for both. And I think that that we have it's up to us to be able to celebrate our friends, celebrate each other, and support one another as much as we possibly can as men. And honestly, the strength and vulnerability.

Amen to that. Amen to that. I'm going to come to your book in a second, Isaac, but I love asking all my guests this question. And that question is, what is your because, right? You know, Simon Synynic wrote the book a while back called Start with Why? and everybody was really trendy to know what your why is. But I like to go deeper and ask what's your because that thing that's deeper than your why, right? Your why is probably your family, your kids, your spouse, your commitment to your job. But when I say but why, that sentence usually starts with well because and that's what I care about. So if I said Isaac Keys today,

what's your because brother? I love that question. I love the deafness of it. I started off with having, you know, I just had this strong drive of just wanting more for myself. And as I started to kind of put the words together, I knew I was just I was afraid not living up to my potential. My potential, not anybody else's, my potential. Like I didn't want my life to be a waste. I saw so much coming up growing up of people who become product of their environment or just made excuses for not accomplishing goals or becoming the best person they possibly could be. And it, you know, I think it probably instilled for my parents. They they had a higher standard for me and for my sister to be better, be the best version of ourselves we possibly could be. And I always carried that with me.

And I was always attracted to people who had that same type of ambition or same type of goals that I didn't like to be around people who were lethargic or wanted to be a victim or, you know, decided to blame everything on someone else. I also learned a phrase later on in life is that, you know, blame starts with you. So once you take the blame on yourself then it makes look outlook on everything else a lot easier. Well, what could I have done different in that situation that I probably could have learned from like ah okay it just helps you you taking it on in that aspect and I think it's just my wise just I had to you know and my because I just wanted to be I wanted more for myself and once I had one for myself then I mean I could spread it out to others my loved ones and to other people around and they can see what I went through and what I accomplished or what I didn't accomplish and learn from it and I think that was

important to me and even to this day it's like they're still driving fat you know we get old a little bit now you know we be like you know I ain't in the gym as hard, you know, I don't have that same fire as I did when I played, but I'm still in the gym, you know, and it's like, so, you know, and I always that's other part I just never wanted to just just settle.

I just couldn't take settle in mediocrity. And I don't even like you ask my friends, they get mad at me because I'm like, "No, that ain't it, you know, like like we do more. Let's do more." And and that's also a mirror effect. That's me talking through the mirror, talking to myself, too.

Man, I love that. And again, that that's why you are one of my not just favorite actors, not just favorite authors, not just favorite athletes. You're one of my favorite people, bro, in the world because I know your story a little bit. Like I said, I've been a huge fan of yours.

And then when I heard you were writing a book and the title grabbed me, right, the grind don't stop. It just changes. And it it paralleled so much of almost what you're you just hit on, looking at the mirror. Sometimes we got to look at the mirror,

right? and go back and say, "Oh, this is how this happened, or this is what shaped me, or this is the story that made me who I am, good, bad, or indifferent,

and I now know how to adjust, right? Or how to hit that grind in a different genre or a different space,

because it just changes, right? I I I think it's so important to be able to share our stories because that's what we grow and that's what helps other people." Just by you saying that and the title and you know grabbing grabbing you and captivating you was what I want to do. I just this this title has been floating around in my head for probably the last 16 years you know and it derived from the wire. It was a phrase where what the actor said, he said, "The game don't stop. It just changes." And that's because it's just different people, but the game is still the same.

And I was like, "Well, man, the wind through life and everything." It's like, I could never just stop. Like, you know, the grind of just like, okay, having to get up and work for this one thing here, uh, whether it's football, get up to work up and work a job that you don't necessarily want to go to, but okay, it don't stop there because what are you going to use that job for to help you in the next endeep? What's what's that going to lead to? And when you sit back and look at the process, you're like, "Wow, I did this job over here. I didn't really care for, but it taught me that I don't want to do that type of job anymore." And that it leads me to this other direction of something I feel more fulfilled in. Whether it's that, whether it's, you know, your career choice, whether it's school opportunities, whether it's sports and it was I chose to take my stories always started from adolescence, elementary school all the

way to present day to use my stories in a relatable capacity that people can be like, "Oh, wow. I it may not been NFL but that was similar to the corporate job. I worked at AT&T and then had to switch over to you know Microsoft or whatever it may be and it's like it's just been on my heart to share because when we do interviews like this you may ask a question how you get to the NFL and I got two minutes to tell you or you know how you get acting and I got to tell you I'm like no it didn't happen that easy. I want to take you step by step to understand that this this was none of this was just easy and the process is what taught me you know to be able to keep on going and the grinding the grinding just molded me become the type of person to be able to deal with certain things or strengthen me to handle certain situations so when I see him again okay I know how to handle this you know it's it's the learning curve is

one of the most important things you can have in life how how quick are you able to adapt and change to the new situation or new agenda or the activity that's in hand. And you know, a lot of times we're on our own way. We're hard-headed. We're stubborn. We're on our own way and we don't see it and we like, "Okay, no, it's changed. So, let's change with it." And it's okay to do that.

And I I think that is so important, man. You know, I do a lot on leadership with corporations and and we talking about being able to change. Some people say adjust, but there are times that you just literally have to change, man. Like like sometimes adjusting isn't enough, right? when you're going up against that big 320 lb left tackle, right? You can't just adjust cuz he's adjusting too, right? And and that's what I tell people. Life is adjusting with you. And so that success, whatever that level of success means to you,

there are moments where you just got to change because adjusting isn't enough. Talk to us about that in your journey, man.

I think it's it was my journey was is was full of changes and I don't think it would ever stop. And I think if you're not changing, adapting, adjusting, then you're not growing.

And if you're not growing, then you're dying. And you know, that's not what we look for. I look forward to the change. Some people are very scared to change. They're very, you know, timid of like, oh, I don't want to change. Or then people like, well, they said I change. Well, I mean, depending on your circumstance and your situation, you should change. Well, let's say evolve. You okay? You can still have your core, who you are, but as time goes on, your values change, your morals, and things like that. Some things may remain the same, but your your values change because now you have a kid. Now you have to you live life a little different when you have children or you know you lost a loved one. You lost your your your parent or lost some a significant other.

You're different now. And it's okay to be different. It's just as long as you're starting to have understanding of what your your difference is now. And you know this is not I'm not an expert in any of this. This is my life experiences that make it unique to me. And it's like it it works and it helps to be able to talk it out like we're talking right now. So I welcome change because change brings more experiences. It brings moments and experiences and then experiences create more life. So you know I just I look forward to it.

You know sometimes all changes aren't as good as others. But when you change your mindset it's like well you know okay acceptance is probably one of my biggest things that helped me and hindered me in the time

because you had to learn when to use it. Not accepting a lot of things pushed me to walk on in college because I wanted to play football. Not once but twice. It pushed me to, you know, when I could they told me I had to sit out a year and I just didn't I didn't hear the co like I didn't hear them. I just kept going to practice in spring practice in Morehouse. NFL not being picked up in the draft like I thought I was going to be. I didn't get picked up till a month later which I talk about all this in the book and I put it in layers. I could have stopped. I could have accepted that but I didn't accept it. And now when I look at acceptance is now in relationships because with so much I was so much intact and so indulged into what I was trying to accomplish as a person that I was emotionally unavailable for relationships outside of that.

And I tap into the how that affected relationships and how you know one of my dating scenes and all those type of things. You know I really tap into this book like this book is a deep dive in the vulnerability of just my stories in life that I think that we all similarly go through. We just don't always talk about it. I love it, dude. I want to go a couple of places. The first place I want to go is that story your freshman year, right? So, you walk on and I know this story a little bit, but I want you to elaborate for for the audience, right? So,

you were not supposed to actually stay for practice, right? Like, you're supposed to come back in the summer. It's like, hey, if you didn't play last year, spring practice ain't for you. We'll see you in the summertime. And Isaac Hayes knucklehead or Isaac Keys knucklehead was like, hey, you know what?

If they don't say nothing, I ain't going to say nothing. Right. And you know the the the caveat to that is that that started before like I walked on to University of North Alabama as my official freshman year. And I walked on because in high school I was playing out of position my senior year. I played linebacker all the way up and I had a passion and a and a drive to play linebacker. Waiting my turn, waiting for my time to start. Senior year it comes along the coaches say, "You know what? We're going to move your offensive line." I say, "What coach?

Move it off the line? You told me if I did this, this, and this over the summer and came back with this type of physicality, speed, and everything, then lineback position mine, I paid my dudes. I earned my way up to this point. And now you're moving me to an offensive line. And I had a decision to make. I had a decision to make at that time to whether I'm going to continue playing football either with my friends, the camaraderie, or I'm just going to say no, I'm not getting my way. I'm just going to quit. Like you say, my daddy and my mom are the original quitter. And my dad, I say this in the book, my dad said, "If you're going to flip burgers, be the best burger flip there is. You going to flip do fries, whatever, maybe do the best you can do." So, I made a choice at that point, and I'll get to where we going to Morehouse. And I just think it's important to build and again share it in the book is that I made a choice

and I said I'll be the best center on offensive line being undersized, you know, underweight in a sense, be the best center I possibly be. And I end up making all conference that year as a center. And our team was successful. You know, we lost eventually in the playoffs, but we were successful. And that led me to want to go to college. I still want to go to college. I want to play football in college. North Alabama came about because a best friend of mine was going there. I said, "I want to walk on." What do they say they want to do? I said, "I'm play line." They said, "No, we're going to have you play tight end."

Wow. I just don't have no say on the matter, I guess. So, you know, I I and then again, I made a decision and I was not a good tight end at first, but as the year progressed and I committed myself to it, I became a good tight end and a red shirt that year, but I was going to be in competition for the next year of playing, you know, starting tight end. I just didn't like the school. It didn't feel like college. It was twofold for me. I feel like, you know, my college days said college would be the best time of your life. It should be. And I agree, you know. So I think when I was went going to college I I didn't feel that way. Football was starting to come along but I was still in play position I wanted to play and it didn't feel like college to me and that's how Morehouse started coming visually into the picture and eventually I end up going there and to allude to your story the part that

you were talking about earlier is I had to sit out there first year I came in Morehouse transfer I had to sit out a year because I couldn't transfer laterally division two division two even though totally different conference. Later on in life, I find out that I could have played that year. But that's how God works. I didn't play that year, that season, transferring to Morehouse. Thought I was. So, I was a Joe student. Whole chapter in the book about being a Joe student because that's a different type of life, especially if you've never been one. You play sports all your life.

Now, you just ain't the student. It's different. So, spring came, I went off of spring practice. Spring started weightlifting and and drills. And he said, "Coach came out, new coach, new coach came into the school, said, "If you weren't here last year, then go ahead and go home and then come back when training camp starts." I saw guys starting to pack up their stuff, getting their shoes, having a head down like, "Okay, we're here." Last year, I just looked I just looked away and I just I don't know what came on me, what where I had the fortitude, the gumption to be able to like, he ain't talking to me.

He ain't talking to me. And I just kept going to workouts. Nobody said anything. I don't know if the coaches pay attention and knew. Nobody said anything. I just kept putting the work in. It's like myself and one one other guy who became successful in Mo house 2, a safety. Sean Cwell, still my one of my best friends to this day. But I bring it up because he had the same type of mindset. And that's why I think we became so close as well too because again being around people that can sharpen the iron you know that you're around that you have some of the same ambitious with.

And so yeah I kept going and that's how Morox career started. I love that man. I love that. And speaking of change I want to I want to have this conversation with you because I feel like we have this in common

knowing your story the way I do. Okay. When we talk about change, the biggest lesson in change that I had to learn aside from myself

was [clears throat] my circle. Yes. Right. when when your standards change, which they should. As you grow and as you evolve, your standards change and and when your visions change and when your vision of success changes, a lot of times the people around you need to change, too, because the the ones that are holding you back are usually ones that are applauding to your face, right? But behind your back, they're trying to keep you where you are. talk about one the importance of your circle changing and two how yours has changed as you have continued to evolve as you continue to do it.

It was there's one thing that about the change you're speaking of that gravitate me to the character of Diamond Samson part four force was that when he came out he he wanted to be a changed person. He didn't want to do the same things he did before. But sometimes when you're trying to let go of your past the other people want to hold on to it because your past benefits them. who you were before benefits them because either one they're stuck and they want to have misery loves company or two they just know that hey they don't want to see you be better than them in a sense and those are the people that you can't be around.

I remember being high school I would you know during football season I was with my athletes who we had be on the same program. Well come basketball season I wasn't playing basketball I was waiting for baseball season to start. So during basketball it was like my off seasonason at the time and next thing you know the allure of street activities. I was hanging out with more my friends who had more gang affiliation or more street allure you know and it was putting me into a whole other environment that I was attracted to that I was all into as well as well as time goes on you realize you know as a young age you're very immature in the fact of what your value of life is. And I remember a point my senior year when a friend of mine got murdered and it could have easily been me.

But it set off something in my head that was like, you know, you talk about what pivotal moments and change like that. It set off something in my head that was like, okay, that could have been me. So there's some changes that I need to make in my life about where I'm at, who I'm with, and how I go about it. Especially if I want to have a future cuz this made me feel like I was like anybody else. I was no different. You know, I can have a great honor role, but still be out here doing some stuff in the streets. which I have no business doing. And you know, I make sure I tell those stories because I think they're relatable to our young generation because I tell them all the time. If you have 10 friends, I mean, if you have you have 10 friends being bad, you you'll be the ninth. Like you like nine friends being bad, you'll be the 10th. Like, you know, it's like your environment, you become a product of

your environment, even if just by an accessory because you were just there. You may have not even done it. But we have a lot of people that's in the cemetery or in prison right now just because they were in the same place at the wrong time.

Yep. And I think it's so important that you it's about your support group because we all be supported to talk about we talked about earlier giving each other flowers. You need to see people that value you that want to see you do well to say hey Ike you know what man you might be a little drunk or something at this point. We going to get to the crib. You know what I'm saying? Like take you home because they value who you are and what you how you look. Like the simplest thing is that. But also celebrate you. Celebrate because I'm on this show because I'm also going to celebrate them. They got a promotion you know. So I think that the change and you know the product of the product of your environment is is key is very key.

I love that man. I love that. So now I want to I want to pivot to your acting career.

When did you know that that was going to be your new space to evolve and be you?

You know I that's a great question because I I think about it for so long I didn't know. I just know something like people think that oh you want football initially you just went to acting like no I was trying to find I didn't acting wasn't even on the the board

like I was literally just okay well let me see if I do personal training you know I work out all the time I could do maybe do that so I started doing personal training saw friend over here was doing some marketing gigs in in the city I started doing that and you know and I also was dealing with the mental part of it because football left me. I didn't leave football. I still wanted to play the game and I was still willing to do everything that I possibly could to get back on the field to give somebody an opportunity because I said I had so much left in the tank that I was so much reserved because they didn't allow me to play as much as I wanted to.

Yeah. And much as I wanted to or sometimes they said that I should have and it was frustrating. I was angry and I was like I still wanted to prove myself in the sport. So acting came about by default because again being around some people in a good group, being around some other actors which was like at a panel discussion in Essence Festival, I was around some actors and I just was watching. I saw how they move and I just saw and was just seeing black men doing their thing on the TV screen and representing black men. Well,

yeah. I started to kind of have this fixation with, okay, well let me do acting. People looking at me like, "Oh, you going to do acting? You got to take acting class at first." I'm, "Okay, fine." You know, I have no problem because I understood that from the game of football and life.

So, it took a while cuz I'm telling you, I used to be in acting classes and finally go to LA. I would I would drive out there from Phoenix where my house was and overnight and try to just fit in, sit on sleep on my friends couches or cousin couch and, you know, watch do audition or go to acting class. And I would be intimidated in class cuz it'd be people in there were really good. They already almost had the lines memorized. We just got them. The way they knew so much more than I did,

it was intimidating at first and I still didn't know at that point the actress is gonna be for me. But it was I just put both feet forward into it. Jumped into it. It probably took a role a couple it did a couple roles, but when I got the role on Get Shorty,

I got that role. But honestly, I'm tell you, Jurassic World, I played a control room security guard in Jurassic World and I saw and I had a scene with Chris Pratt and I saw how he commanded the room. I saw how he came in the presence and I was like, I can do that. I want to do that. And if you don't I tell the actors that, you know, maybe doing extra work or just getting in the game right now. I say if you don't look at me or look at other actors and say I can do that, then you're in the wrong business. What you going to do? You should There's nothing wrong with saying I can do that cuz there's roles out here for everybody.

It's just how long can you sustain until that role comes for you in your life. Yeah. So, private Jurassic World didn't get shorty because it's longer. You know, we did three seasons with Get Shorty and I was able to develop a character that they probably didn't think was going to be there the whole time, all three seasons that they felt like,

wow, we he doesn't say much, but he commands the scenes and he has a presence and let's give him more lines. Give him more lines. And that's all you can ask for as an actor,

man. So, this is me giving you even more flowers now because I'm not an actor. never going to be never never going in that that world. But I know how competitive

and hard it is to work. Mhm. And [clears throat] bro, you were working and and I I need all the listeners and the viewers to understand,

you have folks that starting at the age of three, they are literally trying to get work in Hollywood or in film or in TV and it is highly competitive. So for you to dedicate yourself when you already have somewhat of a strike against you because you didn't grow up in the world of acting and entertainment, right? Like like it's a it's a community.

Like I I know that much. It's a community. Yeah. You not only did you break through, man, but like you're doing the damn. So I'm I'm really proud of you.

I thank you and I receive that and I like the fans and also that it is like again I would second that it's very competitive. For instance, like we shot Power for Force's final season. We finished July of last end of July of 2024. So, it's been over a year. It's been almost 18 months since I worked on that show. I picked up a role here, you know, Will Trent and you know, some things like that. But, you know, it's like also again the grind stop. It just changes cuz if that's not working in acting, then what else can I do? I can't just be in that box. So, then the book start coming around. I was like, "Oh, I should write the book and share this story where I can go take a deep dive into all of these these in instances and questions that people really ask me."

Take a deep dive into it. Also be my therapy because I'm sharing my story and looking into it and realizing like, "Wow, that's why I do that or that's why I act this way or you know, whatever it may be." But this game is something I the acting world is something I chose because it became my therapy as well because it was a place of outlet for me to be able to let go of some of the internal things that I may struggle or challenge with through character. But I also learned how to substitute my emotions to bring this character to life. But also I was able to be able to let go of a lot of things because now it made it freed me up. We talked earlier about how we walk around with this image and this you know how we had to be this angry or this tough guy. Well, acting created a safe place for me where I could go in here and cry if I need to cry or I could be as silly as I want to be in this acting world. But it opened

me up to feel more free and open to find out who I am as a person and then be confident with it.

That's the big thing. We find out who we are as a person. But are you confident with it? Are you able to understand that's who you are and walk in your your your light? acting helped me do that and I become a better person and you know you talk about you get these flowers is it's much appreciated but again it's like the process is kind of allow me to be that to be as we talked about earlier again is that to be the best person I possibly be.

Yes sir. Well the book is written. Do we have a launch date for it yet? We've been going back and forth on this because we want to make sure that we know we do it during the season of power as well. So we are going to do a pre-sale date. I'm saying probably in the next two weeks and I'll be announcing it all through social media. I'll make sure you know everything will be keys even the website where you can get the pre-sale books. And the great thing about that we do the pre-sale books they all books will be autographed by me personally and sent out to you. We have t-shirts on on the site and everything that we'll be able to have where the grind on stoppage just changes. I'm excited about this book.

I'm excited. I'm nervous. Elated. I'm all kind of different emotions about this book. Uh, so I just want to make sure I get it done and once it's out there, it's out there and just then we'll continue the conversation and discussion about it once people have a chance to read it.

I love it. So here's what I'm going to do. Yeah. And and I do this a lot for books that I stand behind and everybody knows. So the first 20 people, I don't care on what platform, Instagram or LinkedIn that messages me grind. Gr i n d.

First 20 people, I'm going to buy the book for them. Wow. Okay. Then I'm also personally for I've got this this power circle. So there's a group of like 25 people that I work with individually to help build their brand, help grow their businesses.

I'm going to buy 25 copies for my power circle too. So make sure your publicist

reaches out to to me or my team personally. I'm buying 25 copies for for me. Actually, I'm gonna buy 30 because I have some family members that need to read this book, too. I'm gonna buy 30. Let's just I'm going to buy 40 for me.

Okay. Okay. 40 for me. And this is on this is on record. We're recording. I'm buying 40 for me. And then the first 20 people that message me grind,

I'm also going to buy 20 for them. I got you. And that's much appreciated. It's much appreciated. And I appreciate you supporting. You know, anything I can do to help support you as well is vice versa. And that's what that's how we build.

All love. All love. All right. I know you got to go. I'm gonna get you out of here on my rapid fire. Five questions.

Okay. Quick fire. You ready? Yeah. The first time you met 50 Cent, how hard was it to understand what he was talking about?

I got it. I was good. I was good. I understand. I talk with a slurry once in a while, too. Especially after a few drinks.

There it is. Who is your favorite person from St. Louis? Uh, favorite person from St. Louis would be my father.

There it is. There it is. Your postfilm meal, your your go-to meal after a day of filming is what? Uh, bone and ribeye cooked medium with mac and cheese and sauteed spinach.

Okay, I like it. I like it. Your dream role. If you could define your dream role, what would that look like?

My dream role would be there's two actually. It's either my dream role is either action hero, some type of action hero with a great story arc and also a a strong military role that really touches on the the depthus of the black military, the black man. probably I'd have loved to be a period piece and kind of go back and just have a real black crazy ensemble cast where we all kind of just could have come in different Yeah, different characters. I would love it.

I can totally see that. I can totally see that. All right, last one. Final chapter of the story of Isaac Keys is being written on that last page. What's one word that's going to define your legacy?

I'm just going to say something simple. It's not even more complex because I talk a lot. break it down with details, but happy

I think it's just going to be Yeah, I just by that time in the last chapter, you know, you find happiness along the journey and I think at that point at the end of that journey, it's still okay to say happy.

I love that, man. I love that. That's that's deep right there. Cuz I know where you're going with that. Is I love it, man.

I love it. Well, Isaac, bro, again, I appreciate you more than you know. This was an honor for me to talk to to one of the people that I look up to that I'm a huge fan of. So, thank you for everything you do. And I'm telling you this and I mean it, man. Like, there's anything I can ever do to support, you don't have to ask. You just tell me and I'm there.

I appreciate it, brother. And that goes right back to you. I appreciate you following my career and and sharing this conversation with us. It was great.

Yes, sir. Yes, sir. To all the viewers and listeners, remember your because is your superpower. Go unleash it. You've been plugged into Mick Unplugged. Don't just listen, take action. Rate and subscribe. Follow me on social and get the full experience at mickhuntofficial.com. Keep building, keep leading, and most importantly, keep dominating.

Questions about this episode

What is "The Grind Don’t Stop: Isaac Keys on Reinvention, Resilience & Realness" about?

Isaac Keys shares his personal journey of reinvention and resilience as an actor, former athlete, and new author, discussing the motivations behind his book and the importance of self-acknowledgment, particularly for Black men. The conversation emphasizes the need for vulnerability and mental health awareness as essential components of personal and communal growth.

What is mentioned in this Mick Unplugged Podcast episode?

24 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Morehouse College, Isaac Keys, NFL (National Football League), Power Book IV: Force, Start with Why ("why" vs "because" framing), Product of your environment. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "The Grind Don’t Stop: Isaac Keys on Reinvention, Resilience & Realness"?

The episode runs 31 min; the transcript is about 7,069 words in 85 timestamped sections.

More from Mick Unplugged Podcast

About this transcript: the episode's spoken words as captioned on YouTube, split into timestamped sections. Reclip.Me locates every person, work and idea in the text, keeps the time it is first named, and quotes the words around it verbatim. Last updated December 18, 2025.