Your Waiting Season Can Prepare You For Purpose with Aspen Kennedy

A role can open doors, but a single “no” can protect your future. We’re joined by actor Aspen Kennedy for a candid conversation about faith, purpose, and the real-life decisions that shape a creative career when the timeline feels uncertain. Aspen shares how he found acting almost by accident, why mentorship matters, and what it meant to come full circle in the industry through projects like Queen Sugar.

We also dig into the deeper stuff: influence, humility, and why storytelling is not just entertainment when you’re trying to leave a legacy. Aspen talks about The Forge and the unexpected reach it had across countries and cultures, plus the responsibility that comes with being “graced” to do work that touches people. If you care about values-driven work, Christian faith in Hollywood, and using a platform to edify others, this conversation stays practical without getting performative.

One of the most moving parts is Aspen’s personal testimony around forgiveness and obedience in private, and how God used that heart work to prepare him for a bigger assignment on screen. We also unpack scarcity mindset and career boundaries, including how to turn down opportunities that don’t align with your vision, even when you need the money or momentum.

Listen, share this with a friend who’s in a waiting season, and subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next. If our conversations help you, leave a review and tell us what part hit home.

Before you go - here are three ways to continue elevating your legacy & connect:

1. Follow @ElevateCollection.co on Instagram along with your host, @alexandriareed.co & @Jordanhawkins.co
2. Subscribe to never miss an episode and get exclusive content
3. Share this trailer with three people who need to hear it

Remember: Your influence is just the beginning. Your legacy is the destination.

See you soon, where influence meets legacy.

Transcript

Welcome And Meet Aspen Kennedy

SPEAKER_01 0:32

Welcome back to the Melite Collection Podcast. We're so glad you're joining us today. We're excited to introduce you to our friend Aspen Kennedy. Welcome to the podcast, Aspen.

SPEAKER_00 0:40

Thanks for having me. Super excited.

SPEAKER_02 0:41

I get really excited. I'm super excited for this one, y'all. Not only is Aspen our friend, Aspen is actually my cousin. Yes. So this one's really, really cool for us to be able to do because this is also legacy. Special. Yep, it is. Truly. Truly. Okay, so we know Aspen is a father. He's a son. He's a brother. He's an actor. He's a husband. He's all the things. But tell everybody who Aspen is. All the manifestations of Aspen.

SPEAKER_00 1:09

I love that question. Uh I think about it often, but I'm like, how do I describe myself? But if I had to pick a couple words, genuine, loving, uh, creative, uh, empathetic, uh, inspired all the time, you know. So that's that's me. I love Jesus too. So he loves Jesus.

SPEAKER_02 1:25

He loves Jesus. I love Jesus and I cuss a lot, but I do love Jesus. He's working on me.

SPEAKER_00 1:31

That's it.

SPEAKER_02 1:31

He's working on all those for um tell us what do you do now? We know actor, but tell us how you got there at least.

SPEAKER_00 1:41

Funny thing. So I did uh a couple like print and film jobs as a kid, like commercial, I think it was like a Kellogg's commercial for Mr. Chuck on WKNO, something like that. It's crazy I remember that, but um, you know, when I went to school, I realized I wanted to do something with television, like MasCon, but I realized like I don't want to be a news reporter. So I was like, all right, what can I do in a TV space, but not have to be a journalism or like a journalist? And randomly, my sophomore year at college, I worked at the Apple Store on campus. And this girl randomly comes in, she says, Hey, do you have your schedule for next semester? You should take fundamentals of acting, it would be good for you. So I was like, I actually need to take an arty lecture. So I took it, fell in love with it, and I felt like that was the first thing that didn't feel like work or that I dreaded about having to go to class, and I was like, okay, this is what I want to do. And uh lo and behold, my professor was a working actor at the time. He was like, Hey man, this is something you want to do, you should stick with it. And uh, funny thing, fast forward to graduation, we end up working on the same show, different episodes, Queen Sugar on uh Oprah Winfrey's network. So it's funny how it worked out.

SPEAKER_02 2:37

It is funny how it worked out. I love Queen Sugar.

SPEAKER_00 2:39

Yeah, it's my favorite show too. I loved it.

SPEAKER_02 2:41

I know I was really sad

Finding Acting By Surprise

SPEAKER_02 2:42

when it ended.

SPEAKER_00 2:43

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 2:44

Okay, so talk us through. I know we talked about Kellogg's, but talk us through like your projects that you've gone and how you've developed, like some of your favorite like features here.

SPEAKER_00 2:53

Yeah. Uh I think for me as an artist too, like I realized there's a difference between like TV acting and film acting and theater as well. But I would love to do theater one day on Broadway, who never knows, you never know. But um, I realized like, hey, I want to be able to tell stories that impact people because those are some of my favorite films, like Pursuit of Happiness, uh, John Q, like okay, movies that I've actually watched that wasn't just entertaining, but it was truly like, okay, I thought about life differently. So I was like, as an artist, those are the types of stories that I want to lend my creativity to. So uh just anything that just really you know moves people because again, anybody can entertain somebody, but if you can truly have an impact and responsible over that platform that you're giving through film or through music or whatever, you understand that you don't just have a fan base, but you actually have more power to be able to change somebody's life through something you care about doing. So that's how I look at you know, the my medium, so to speak, when it comes to like film.

SPEAKER_01 3:45

Well, that's everything that we stand for. How do you use your influence to create a legacy? You know, and that's what it's all about. I think so many people do garner this influence and do get this platform, and and we get so busy in the moment that that sometimes we do forget, like hey, I I can have an opinion here, I can make a difference, I can make a change. Are there any causes that you're super passionate about that you definitely want to influence?

SPEAKER_00 4:11

Uh I feel like an umbrella topic for that would be just edifying people, you know, just to be able to help whoever, like uh regardless of gender, regardless of age, you can find like a universal story in a film, so to speak, and really uh impact somebody because uh I did a project called The Forge a couple years ago, and even to this day I still get DMs about from people who have to translate messages from India or Italy, or they were atheists, but it's just like, hey, when I saw that film, it hit something in me. I'm like, okay, people are reaching out that I from countries that I've never been, uh, from different backgrounds of life and walks of life, but they were inspired by something that I was graced to do. I'm just like, okay, there's something here. There's just to be able to find those stories and steward those stories to be able to uplift people, you know. And I feel like that can reach anybody in any nation, any language, because I've had that experience of just like that's the things I want to continue to do.

SPEAKER_02 5:03

It's so beautiful. You said something that stuck out to me just now, and you said being able to do this, there's something that I'm graced to do. Yeah, I think that's the part that people miss. Yeah. Is that it's one thing to have the ability to do something or to be talented, but there's a different grace that can be on you to actually do something, do it well, and reach. Now, we talk about storytelling, as you said, through film and through the different roles that you play. But I want to go back just a touch here on your story. And the reason I want to do that because as a believer, yeah, you know, how do you overcome? You overcome by the blood lamb and your testimony. So I think that a lot of that is in storytelling, right? And as with humanity, how do we connect through storytelling, being able to identify yourself and someone else's story, being able to, you know, see, let's say in the forge, you know, see the character, what was it, Isaiah? Yep. Isaiah, see what he was going through, see yourself in that,

Choosing Stories That Change Lives

SPEAKER_02 6:02

and be like, oh wait, hold on. Yeah, like I connect with that, and let me see what I'm supposed to take from this. Yeah. Was there anything it's so funny because I act like I don't know because I ask you the questions. Yeah. But I I want you to share that, share a story of getting you to this point, some things that you may have had to push through in order for you to be graced to do this.

SPEAKER_00 6:26

Yeah, truly. So uh ironically, similar to Isaiah, the character in the forge, uh, Isaiah was dealing with some anger issues because his father left. However, uh, I was raised by my mom, you know, I didn't have dad growing up, but this had to be like 2019 when I felt this urge or this unction, so to speak, to reach out to dad and just, you know, have a conversation. And I didn't understand why God wanted me to do it. I was just like, hey, I'm not angry at him. I just feel like I'm I'm an adult at this point, so I don't understand what the conversation would be. But uh just following that urge, so to speak, we had a conversation and like fast forward to 2023, getting this script and this opportunity. I'm like, okay, here's a character that goes on this journey that now that I know God took me through to that I didn't understand at that point. Why do you want me to reach out and forgive? I'm not mad. Like, but he wanted to clear the space for me to be able to be that vessel on a bigger scale because now I see so many other people are learning how to reach out to forgive somebody or reach out to have a conversation. And I just thought that, okay, this is weird, okay, I'll do it. And then seeing the fruits of that after the fact is just like, oh, it was literally bigger than me. To be able to say, Hey, can I get you to be obedient in your private time? Because I'm trying to also free so many other people from the same thing around the world. So just um, you know, understanding my journey and understanding that, you know, God has always been there because I'm just like, okay, I can't make this stuff up, you know, like the same story that I kind of went through, you know, seeing that played out in film, but also seeing the millions of people who have been impacted by it is just like, okay, literally everything we are set out to do is for a purpose. But sometimes we don't understand it in that moment. Because again, in that very second, I was just like, why do you want me to reach out? Like, I'm not mad, like I'm not angry. Cool. Yeah, okay. I just, you know, it was just, yeah, literally, just I thought I was cool, but it was just like he wanted to work out something in my heart to be able to reach so many other people, and now I understand, like, okay, that was your purpose for that. So it was it was a blessing to me. It was an experience for me as well.

SPEAKER_02 8:16

Do you think that that forgiveness or that season of experiencing that was that at all a slingshot? Did you feel like that pulled you back to propel you forward at all? Or do you feel like it cleared the space? Or was there any block trying to articulate? You you know what I'm talking about.

SPEAKER_00 8:32

I get it. I get it. So it wasn't, but like I said, on the other side of it, I understood like, okay, this has been literally God is the author of our lives. So it's just like he's he wrote the story from the beginning, but it's just like I didn't understand walking those pages out. But when I look back and read the chapter, I'm just like, oh, it all makes sense. You know, but I'm I'm glad that I exactly hindsight, but I'm I'm glad I'm be I'm able to like look back and understand the fine tunes or those defining moments to say, okay, that's when God was present and leading me to this thing I was one, afraid to do, two, didn't understand why he wanted me to do it, or three, it's just like didn't make sense, but it's just like it always added up to his his ultimate plan.

SPEAKER_01 9:12

We're learning that on our journey too. One of the things that we say here frequently is that the path is perfect.

SPEAKER_00 9:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 9:17

And there have been so many moments where we've had growth together where you're like, I feel like we wasted time, I or I feel guilty. I wasted time, but then it comes around, right? Like we

Forgiveness And Obedience Off Camera

SPEAKER_01 9:27

toured these warehouses at one point because we were like, We what if we have a studio or what if we have a warehouse, but it just didn't come together. But we had spent several days doing it. But one of the things we did was find a vendor who was local and now they've become our vendor and it saved us a tremendous amount of money. And time. And time. Or, you know, we went, we got invited to like a college football um training facility, and we were like, we don't really know where we're going, what business is gonna come of this. And you know, over a year later, it's come up in a completely different opportunity. So it's exactly what you're saying. Sometimes you have to walk that path with blind faith, not knowing what's going to come of it. And it may not actualize the way you're thinking it is. It may not be this equals this in the moment. Like it's cool to see how it shakes out later on down the road.

SPEAKER_00 10:13

That's the truth. And it's funny you say that too, because uh literally this this past week, my wife she found we played worship music around the house, but we came across this song that says, uh, waiting time is not wasted time. And it's just been that's been my my, I guess, song of the week, so to speak, is just really grounding me of okay. All right, God, like sometimes if things get quiet, I don't know what's going on. Because as a human in the flesh, you can get frustrated, like, okay, I feel like I'm doing everything that's needs to be done. You know, I feel like I'm being a good steward or I'm responsible over what's in my control, but nothing's happening. But at the same time, when I realize, like, okay, God, like help me continue to remain a good steward, help me remain prepared for when the opportunity comes, because I know it's gonna come. I know you're gonna move on my behalf, but also having that perspective of, okay, maybe this isn't happening right now because you're preparing me or you protect me from something, or you are it the thing may be all it may already be ready, but at the same time, like you're just strengthening me right now, or you're giving me more uh, I guess, just preparation for it when it comes. But uh, yeah, like you said, nothing is wasted when you truly are waiting and dependent upon God to move on our behalf for sure.

SPEAKER_02 11:16

This is a this is for so many things. But we talk about that all the time. Absolutely. These we have these days where we record and we batch episodes and they're and they're amazing, but it always ends up being what we need to hear in the exact season, the exact moment that we're in. I'll you I'll go after you because I know you want to sing too.

SPEAKER_01 11:36

I was just gonna say, like when you're in that moment of waiting and you're doing all the right things and you're feeling the frustration and you're you can feel your body moving into scarcity, how do you continue on your path? You know, like what if you're on that path? And this happens to us all the time. You're feeling that moment of scarcity and something comes your way, but you know it doesn't fit on your journey in this moment, but you need the money or you need whatever, or you know, a script passes you, but it maybe it doesn't align with you know projects that you want to work on. Like, how do you continue to steward yourself in that moment and not say yes from a place of scarcity?

SPEAKER_00 12:11

There's been opportunities that have uh has come my way before, and it was like you said at a time where I wasn't working and the project came through, did the audition, they sent an offer and negotiated, but at the same time, I had this feeling in my heart, I'm like, hey, this really doesn't align with my vision from a fleshy perspective, it's like, okay, it would be crazy to turn this down right now because I'm not working. This was before the baby was born. So I'm just like, this could lead to more doors, it was a premium network, but I'm just like, I didn't have peace about it. Talked to my wife about it, turned it down, and lo and behold, the whole reason why I had the strength to do so is because God had done that before. So fast rewinds like a year before that, had an opportunity, another major streamer, and the the role was perfect. It was just like, I'm like, this would be something I would want to do. But at the very end of the description, it was like, okay, nudity requires. So I'm like, okay, that's no bound, that's that crosses my boundaries. I I don't want to do that. And um, you know, they sent over the pay and everything, it would be if I pursued that opportunity. But I was just like, this doesn't align with my vision for my career. Turned it down. I was like, man, like it's something how the flesh can remind you, like, okay, that was stupid. Maybe I'll never get called in again for this opportunity from this casting team. But I realized, like, okay, it's nothing wrong with saying no. And right after that, a bigger opportunity came that was fit just for me, something I really love.

Waiting Without Wasting Time

SPEAKER_00 13:27

So I'm like, okay, God, you did that last time I turned it down when I was uncomfortable. Turn it down. You'll do the same thing. So it was less of me and my power versus like, okay, God, you've taken me through this before. I didn't know what was on the other side, but you showed up, so I know that you don't change, regardless of my insecurities, or regardless of me not knowing how this is gonna turn out, but you you can do the same thing. Lo and behold, he did the same thing, opened another door for the biggest film that I did at the time. So I'm just like, he doesn't change. So anytime that you know I have anxieties about things, it's just like, or not knowing what's next. I'm like, every time I didn't know what was next, God, you did. So let me return to that place of surrender, saying, like, even if I'm again frustrated about don't know what it's gonna look like, you know, again, being an artist too, everything isn't linear. You don't know when the next project is, but I'm like, the constant has been you. So I'm just reminding you in this moment when I don't know that you know, and I trust you, and I know that you're gonna come through. Not because you owe me anything, but that's just because who you are and uh he always comes through.

SPEAKER_02 14:22

That is so just so on time for just what is the life that we have been living in this last couple weeks of just things that we've experienced. And everyone has said honestly, the words when you're like talking, you asked Aspen about what are the things that keep you and all of those things, and the words that describe you, all of these things, and you've all you said all these trigger words, but the things that I'm holding steadfast to right now in a season where it is extremely uncomfortable. One is steady. I know that God is the only one that can steady me. Period. And I think a lot of times being high achieving, a control freak, all the things, it's something that I think I can control and I cannot. My second one is surrender. Surrender has been my word for the week. I literally have a I had to create a whole playlist for myself called surrender of surrendering to God. Like I can't control any of this. At the end of the day, I know that you've got me and everything that is happening in my life around me is going to work out for me and not to me. And then at the end of that, for me, it has been not necessarily a word, but a name, and it's Isaac. So you know the story of Abraham and Isaac. And the story of Abraham and Isaac, for those that don't know, is he's basically asked to sacrifice his son. He's asked to sacrifice his son. So give up something that he loves so so much. He's asked to um to sacrifice him, and it does not make sense. It does not make sense to Abraham at all, but he has to be so resolute in the fact that he knows that God knows his heart. He knows that there is something better on the other side. He knows that there's nothing else I can do but trust. So he has to surrender to this and he is obedient, but then there is a what is it, a animal?

SPEAKER_00 16:27

Ram in a bush. A ram in a bush.

SPEAKER_02 16:28

I always want to say like a lamb in a thicket. I don't know why I want to say that. And maybe it's because a lizard

Turning Down Roles Without Peace

SPEAKER_02 16:32

thicket, I don't know. Um, but that's there for him to sacrifice. So it's such a beautiful thing when you can take a step back. And Jordan, you and I have had this conversation this week of like, I don't know why I have so much peace this week or why I feel so light this week. And it's just you have to surrender some of these things and know that like at the end of the day, like what is for me will not pass me.

SPEAKER_00 16:57

Yep.

SPEAKER_02 16:58

And that has to be enough.

SPEAKER_00 16:59

Yeah. It's so good. That's so good.

SPEAKER_02 17:03

I could just like throw this microphone again, but Urban will kill me.

SPEAKER_01 17:07

This has been such a blessing. Aspen there are a lot of people coming into this space, and it's easier. That's not the term I want to use, but there's so much more exposure these days, right? It's uh you can become famous on TikTok. You can become a success overnight.

SPEAKER_02 17:25

Jordan's practicing her renegade dance in case you go into another family. I I am that and the woe. And the woe.

SPEAKER_01 17:33

What advice do you have coming for those coming up in this world who are you know are garnering an influence, who do want to, you know, go down that actor, actress path? It's not an easy journey. Like, what advice do you have for them?

SPEAKER_00 17:47

Man, as it's coming to me now, because I I love great questions, but you know, understanding that influence, what does that even mean? You're like, I'm influencing somebody to think this way, do this, buy this product, but it's just like, what is my true, my heart's intent to be able to speak to you or to for you to see this film or for you to watch this podcast? It's just like I feel like a lot of times God can trust us with the platform if he understands that okay, if our hearts are aligned with his, then he can trust us to get his message out or to touch his people. Because think about it, a lot of times when people start brands or ideas, they want people, they want to influence people, the masses of people. They want the fans, the followers, the audience, the global reach. But it's just like, what are you gonna do when you get those people? Like, do you genuinely care about these people? Do you genuinely because again, we may not have all the answers for those people, but we know God does. So it's just like I may not know what it looks like. Uh, but like I said, he graced me to understand, hey, if I put you in the entertainment industry, it's not just to entertain people, it's to impact people. And I still may not know what they look like fully as he continues to reveal it, but it's just like understanding that as as much as I can dedicate myself with the strength and guidance of the Holy Spirit to keep me dependent upon him, it's just like you'll show me what influence looks like. So I guess to kind of like sum that up, truly understanding that what purpose is for you. You know, do you want to, what do you want to do with your business? How do you want to use the the sports and entertainment to like connect people? Is it for the goodness of people, for the better of uh betterment of humanity, or is it just like I want everybody to look at me? Because that the moment that it gets to that for anybody in any uh field, it's just like that can become an idol to say, hey, I want to be successful to have this much mut this much money, this much influence. It's but it's just like the less it is about you, the more you can have more space and capacity to genuinely let God move through whatever uh endeavor or entertainment space it can be. So I hope that sums it up. No, that's perfect.

SPEAKER_01 19:41

I love to see on TikTok like Keith, I think Keith Lee is an incredible example. And I love when people are in his comment section of like, hey, we made the right one famous, y'all. Yeah, you know, you're taking you're taking the moment and you're like truly impacting those around you. We made the right one famous.

SPEAKER_00 19:55

Yep, yep, this is true. Humility is everything, truly.

SPEAKER_01 19:58

How has becoming a new father shaped this journey for you?

SPEAKER_00 20:02

It's been great. Uh, I'm still learning every day. She will be one on May 24th.

SPEAKER_01 20:07

So just

Fatherhood Legacy And How To Support

SPEAKER_01 20:07

that happened so fast. So fast. It happened fast.

SPEAKER_00 20:10

And uh again, even with that, it just showed me like, of course, having faith before, but just showing like how God created us in his image. But now I have a daughter who looks like me. She, a little small thing she does. I'm just like, wow, like I cannot make this stuff up. Like, okay, if God, you care about me as much as I care about my daughter, it's just like, man, like you know everything I need. You want the best for me. You want, you know, so it's just like I think that kind of helped me uh just relax more in who God is, who he is as a father. So it's been a blessing to see her grow and walking now. She just learned to walk in the last week. So I'm just like, man, like it's been it's been really good.

SPEAKER_02 20:44

Well, what you and Taylor have created now, you've created this family. What is the legacy that you hope to leave?

SPEAKER_00 20:54

I was actually at a panel uh back in November and we had to write down like what legacy is to us. And uh it's it's on our counter back at home, but I was just like, man, like I really want, you know, again, me not knowing what the full image looks like, but to please God in everything I do. I want to be able to fulfill everything he has for me because I know he wants the best for me. So it's just like to be able to glorify him, enjoy life, impact others through again, what he graces me to do. That's what I feel like my legacy is. The fact that my daughter and our future kids will be able to look back and say, hey, dad, he he knew who who God was, he believed in him, and God worked out everything for him, not just because it was like a material thing, but just because that's who God wanted to be. And he his heart was open to be able to let him do what he wanted to do through you know a legacy. So that that's what I want my legacy to be.

SPEAKER_01 21:41

Aspen, your words have been such a blessing to us today. What's one thing our community and our listeners can do to help elevate you in this season of your life?

SPEAKER_00 21:49

Uh tune in to some of the films uh, you know, I'm putting out there and I'm a part of, but honestly, more than anything about me, just trust God because he wants to do the same thing through everybody. So uh even if you never believed before, even if you uh don't know where to start, but just truly open your heart to like let him in. I feel like he can do tremendous things in everybody's lives. He just again he says without faith, it's impossible to you know please him. So it's just like we're gonna have moments where he's gonna want us to exemplify faith when we don't know. But when we don't know, that gives us all the room to let him in. So honestly, just let God in your life, truly.

SPEAKER_02 22:23

I'm just so grateful today. And y'all we will put all the things and all the show notes, we'll tag Aspen, all the things. Tag the projects that he's working on. We'll tag where you can find him. And he's so humble, y'all. Like he was in the forge. How many weeks did it spin up number one on Netflix? Uh see, I know you know the number. How many?

SPEAKER_00 22:44

It's funny because uh it's actually as of last month, is like the most liked film on Netflix, which is crazy. Insane. Yeah, in multiple countries, it stayed like the top three, and I forgot how many countries, but when it went to HBO Max, it was number one in 18 countries. So I'm just like, even with that, like I said, just the outreach of it being bigger than me, it's just like, wow, God, again, you graced me to be a part of a project that I enjoy, but the the fruit and impact of that is still touching people today. And even this is open doors for my last two films. Like my last two films that I've done, like they came as an open door from that. Like they were offers. I didn't have the audition. I'm just like, man, God, like you keep continually opening the door through something that I thought was like, oh, a cool project. But it was just like it truly continues to keep blessing me and other people too. So it's good. If you haven't seen it, check it out. It's on Netflix.

SPEAKER_02 23:30

We'll make sure it's all there for you guys. Thanks so much for being here, Aston.

SPEAKER_00 23:33

So good to see you guys. Thank you.