Rainn Wilson

Like, that was so funny. Oh, my gosh, you're new here? Like, come sit at our lunch table. And, oh, my God, you made me laugh. Oh, he's funny. And... And when you're 16, I felt this glow and I was like, that's it, this is what I'm doing. I had been a colossal nerd before that point. I had a chess team and played the bassoon and- Yeah, you didn't tell me you were on the chess team.

Like, that was so funny. Oh, my gosh, you're new here? Like, come sit at our lunch table. And, oh, my God, you made me laugh. Oh, he's funny. And... And when you're 16, I felt this glow and I was like, that's it, this is what I'm doing. I had been a colossal nerd before that point. I had a chess team and played the bassoon and- Yeah, you didn't tell me you were on the chess team.

Like, that was so funny. Oh, my gosh, you're new here? Like, come sit at our lunch table. And, oh, my God, you made me laugh. Oh, he's funny. And... And when you're 16, I felt this glow and I was like, that's it, this is what I'm doing. I had been a colossal nerd before that point. I had a chess team and played the bassoon and- Yeah, you didn't tell me you were on the chess team.

Okay, all right, we'll get into it. But I was never very good on the chess team, and that was a long time ago. But yep, chess, Model United Nations, Computer Club, ceramics club, you name it, every nerdy pursuit you could do. But once I got that kind of validation for making people laugh, I was like, that's it. I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm gone. I'm, you know, I'm a drama nerd now.

Okay, all right, we'll get into it. But I was never very good on the chess team, and that was a long time ago. But yep, chess, Model United Nations, Computer Club, ceramics club, you name it, every nerdy pursuit you could do. But once I got that kind of validation for making people laugh, I was like, that's it. I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm gone. I'm, you know, I'm a drama nerd now.

Okay, all right, we'll get into it. But I was never very good on the chess team, and that was a long time ago. But yep, chess, Model United Nations, Computer Club, ceramics club, you name it, every nerdy pursuit you could do. But once I got that kind of validation for making people laugh, I was like, that's it. I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm gone. I'm, you know, I'm a drama nerd now.

You know, come hell or high water. And my path was set at that point. So that's, that's how it works.

You know, come hell or high water. And my path was set at that point. So that's, that's how it works.

You know, come hell or high water. And my path was set at that point. So that's, that's how it works.

I... speak about this a little bit in Soul Boom and also in The Bassoon King. When I got out of acting school, I was 23, 24, 25 years old, trying to make it as an actor. You know, really broke, barely getting by. And I became very unmoored in a lot of ways. There were certainly a lot of hedonistic pursuits going on.

I... speak about this a little bit in Soul Boom and also in The Bassoon King. When I got out of acting school, I was 23, 24, 25 years old, trying to make it as an actor. You know, really broke, barely getting by. And I became very unmoored in a lot of ways. There were certainly a lot of hedonistic pursuits going on.

I... speak about this a little bit in Soul Boom and also in The Bassoon King. When I got out of acting school, I was 23, 24, 25 years old, trying to make it as an actor. You know, really broke, barely getting by. And I became very unmoored in a lot of ways. There were certainly a lot of hedonistic pursuits going on.

I grew up a member of the Baha'i faith, like you mentioned, which I'm incredibly grateful for. And I learned and was kind of educated in so many beautiful true, wise teachings that I think foundationally stayed with me and ultimately really helped me. But I needed to rebel. I needed to leave that world of my parents behind and go to New York City and make my own way.

I grew up a member of the Baha'i faith, like you mentioned, which I'm incredibly grateful for. And I learned and was kind of educated in so many beautiful true, wise teachings that I think foundationally stayed with me and ultimately really helped me. But I needed to rebel. I needed to leave that world of my parents behind and go to New York City and make my own way.

I grew up a member of the Baha'i faith, like you mentioned, which I'm incredibly grateful for. And I learned and was kind of educated in so many beautiful true, wise teachings that I think foundationally stayed with me and ultimately really helped me. But I needed to rebel. I needed to leave that world of my parents behind and go to New York City and make my own way.

I wanted to be an artist in New York City, and I didn't want anything to impede that. So what I encountered, when I look back at it now, was a real severe mental health crisis. And I was in my early mid-20s. And in the 90s, people were not talking about mental health crisis. There were no books on mental health crises.

I wanted to be an artist in New York City, and I didn't want anything to impede that. So what I encountered, when I look back at it now, was a real severe mental health crisis. And I was in my early mid-20s. And in the 90s, people were not talking about mental health crisis. There were no books on mental health crises.

I wanted to be an artist in New York City, and I didn't want anything to impede that. So what I encountered, when I look back at it now, was a real severe mental health crisis. And I was in my early mid-20s. And in the 90s, people were not talking about mental health crisis. There were no books on mental health crises.

The word anxiety was not in the lexicon other than, you know, it was something you felt if, you know, you were afraid you were going to be late for a movie. You know, there wasn't... It wasn't an idea kind of entrenched that, you know, there's an epidemic of loneliness and anxiety and depression and addiction. So I started facing those demons without any help, without any money.

The word anxiety was not in the lexicon other than, you know, it was something you felt if, you know, you were afraid you were going to be late for a movie. You know, there wasn't... It wasn't an idea kind of entrenched that, you know, there's an epidemic of loneliness and anxiety and depression and addiction. So I started facing those demons without any help, without any money.