Kel Mitchell: No Mistakes, Just Lessons

Kel Mitchell (All That, Kenan & Kel, Good Burger, author of Blessed Mode: 90 Days to Level Up Your Faith) joins us to discuss his early career as a 90’s Nickelodeon star and the major life events that shaped him into the man of faith he is today. He details his class clown and theatre beginnings, finding his comedy partner in Kenan Thompson, and the impact of the diversity shown on All That. Kel draws comparisons between his childhood in the southside of Chicago where he lost loved ones to gun and gang violence and the trauma young celebrities face in Hollywood. He discusses getting married at an early age and dealing with anxiety stemming from confusion over whether people loved him for his comedy characters or his true self. Kel opens up about his suicide attempt, how his faith led him to pursue a path toward mental wellness, and his journey to becoming a youth pastor. Mayim and Kel consider the mental health impact of living in communities touched by violence and intergenerational trauma.

Mayim explains the long-term effects of complicated grief on the brain in another installment of Ask Mayim Anything.