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Pivot Podcast

Boris Kodjoe on importance of confidence in reinventing himself —from tennis to business to Hollywood, 20 years of marriage, overcoming racism, fatherhood, and the power of staying true to yourself in a changing world.

Pivot Podcast

The Pivot Podcast Network

Sports, Football, Society & Culture

4.93.1K Ratings

🗓️ 21 October 2025

⏱️ 69 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

“Winning and losing is very close together, it’s really how quickly we can pivot in order to take advantage of the next opportunity that comes along.” Boris Kodjoe In this eye-opening episode of The Pivot Podcast, actor, producer, and entrepreneur Boris Kodjoe sits down with Ryan, Channing and Fred to talk about his incredible journey—from growing up biracial in Germany to moving to the US to his transition from tennis to Wall Street to building a decades-long career in Hollywood, while balancing fame with family. Boris opens up about the values that shaped him, the lessons he's learned through marriage with actress Nicole Ari Parker, and how he continues to pivot with purpose in an ever-changing industry. From fatherhood and fitness to cultural identity and career longevity, this is a deep, honest, and inspiring conversation with a man who’s done the work—on and off the screen. Boris explores what it means to live with intention: how growing up in a Ghanaian‑German family influenced his choices, how therapy saved him in the darkest times, and how his strained relationship with is own father paved the path to his real-life dream role of being a father. Embarking on twenty years of marriage, Boris reveals what the secret to not just staying together but staying happy in unity, defying odds in an industry that challenges relationships and the simple rules him and his wife follow to make it all work. We dive into his latest professional work and ventures — including his directorial debut, his role in the film starring alongside his wife and gives the guys the scoop of what it was like filming Real Husbands of Hollywood and what's next for that crew. He also shares how his business and philanthropic interests, including work with his foundation and Full Circle Africa, continue to push him to expand his horizons. Whether you’re juggling career changes, nurturing relationships, or looking for insight into re‑invention, this episode offers an honest look at one man’s evolving definition of success — and how staying true to self makes all the difference. Thanks to our friends at Chomps for sponsoring this conversation- Go to https://chomps.com/PIVOT or use code PIVOT to get 15% off your Chomps order and free shipping! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

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0:29.6

Boris Kojo is more than a pretty face, although he's that as well.

0:33.6

He was raised in Germany where he faced racism and discrimination because he looked

0:38.4

different than everyone else. And with his father moving back to his homeland of Ghana while Boris was

0:43.8

just a child, he had no one to help him navigate these situations or someone he could even relate to.

0:50.1

Tennis was his avenue to channel his energy. And according to Boris, it changed his life or saved his life.

0:57.4

Tennis brought him to the United States and to VCU. That led him to acting class, which was supposed to help him learn English.

1:04.4

And instead, it gave him a career. We shared laughs over embarrassing music video appearances. We talked about how therapy has helped him and we learned how to keep a Hollywood marriage

1:15.8

alive for over two decades.

1:17.9

And it's certainly not by becoming swingers.

1:20.5

He's the doting father of two whose whole life changed when his daughter was born with

1:25.2

Spina Bifida.

1:26.3

But there was a positive to that. It also brought his father back into his life. This was more than a conversation. It was cathartic in so many ways. You might say it felt like therapy. The Pivot's fantastic sit down with Boris Kojo starts now. Hey, hey, hey. That's how people. Oh, all right, all right. There you go. What's up, man? What's up, Bob? Good. Good. This is hey. That's how people? Oh, what's happening? There you go.

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