About this episode
Martin Kove , a legendary actor, martial artist, and cultural icon best known for his role as John Kreese in The Karate Kid and Cobra Kai shares the powerful story behind his enduring career and evolving legacy. From growing up in Brooklyn with big dreams to co-founding a family entertainment company with his son, Kove opens up about how legacy is not just what you leave behind — it’s what you build every day through belief, resilience, and intention. In this intimate conversation, Martin reflects on the value of persistence in a cutthroat industry, the importance of being respected by your peers over chasing fame, and the lessons he hopes to pass on through both art and family. He speaks candidly about the missed roles, the defining wins, and how tenacity shaped his path. With new projects like The Prodigal Son — a Western-inspired series and cigar line created alongside his son — Kove proves that legacy isn’t built at the end of a career. It’s forged along the way through passion, perseverance, and purpose. CHAPTERS 02:27 – Defining Tenacity: The Root of Every Legacy 04:03 – When Talent Isn’t Enough: Rejection in Hollywood 06:11 – The Phone Call That Changed My Legacy 08:08 – Owning the Failures That Build Your Future 10:02 – The Real Meaning of “Making It” 12:11 – Building a Legacy with My Son 14:03 – Why the Dream Still Drives Me After 50 Years