The Great Creators with Guy Raz

Actor Rainn Wilson is best known for playing Dwight on "The Office," but in recent years he has become a mental health and spirituality advocate through his books and production company, SoulPancake. He joins Guy to talk about auditioning for the role of Michael Scott, the deep anxiety he faced as a young actor, his ensuing search for inner peace, and why he believes performing can be a spiritual act.

Rainn’s book is called “Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution”.

This episode originally aired in April 2023.

Links from the show:

• Rainn and Steve Carell give a tour of the set of "The Office"
• The documentary "Laughing Matters," produced by Rainn's production company with comedians talking about mental health
• Rainn quizzes Billie Eilesh ("The Office's biggest fan")
• Rainn on the difference between The Office and Saturday Night Live
• Rainn and Steve Carell talk about pandemic-related stress and give advice on how to overcome it
• Rainn and chess master Magnus Carlsen talk chess and metaphysics

For more conversations like this – with guests ranging from Stephen Colbert to Ice Cube to Jason Sudeikis – go to https://www.thegreatcreators.com.

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Singer-songwriter Cody Jinks shares his journey from heavy metal frontman and part-time bouncer and forklift driver to country music’s top independent artist. He talks about enduring years of poverty in order to keep 100% ownership over his publishing (“it was worth it”); how he wrote the 2x-platinum track “Loud & Heavy”; finding sobriety; and evolving his sound into his 40s.

Cody’s new album is called “Change the Game”.

Links from the Show: 

• “Loud & Heavy” ​
• “Sober Thing”
• Cody’s website
• Cody’s Instagram

For more conversations like this – with guests ranging from Lainey Wilson and Shania Twain to Jeff Tweedy and The Smiths’ Johnny Marr – go to https://www.thegreatcreators.com.

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Every weeknight, Louis Cato performs live in front of a few million people as the band leader for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. He arranges the tunes, sets the tone, and plays multiple instruments himself; Colbert calls him a “musical genius”. Today, Louis talks about the multi-decade journey that led him here – from listening to “only Jesus music” in his youth and then having his mind blown by the Rolling Stones, to dropping out of the Berklee College of Music and touring the world, to a near-fatal accident that still affects him to this day. He even sings us a few beautiful bars. Louis’ most recent solo album is called “Reflections”.

Links from the show: 

• Louis being introduced by Stephen as the new Late Show band leader in 2022 Introducing Louis Cato and The Late Show Band!
• Louis’ NPR Tiny Desk Concert Louis Cato: Tiny Desk Concert
• Louis performing “Reflections” on the Late Show
• Buy Louis’ album “Reflections”
• Louis’ Instagram

See all our episodes – including conversations with Tom Hanks, Jason Sudeikis, Bjork, and many more – at TheGreatCreators.com.

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Jacob Collier has been called the “Mozart of Gen Z” by the New York Times. As a teen, his one-man-band performances went viral and led to a cold email from (and friendship with) music legend Quincy Jones – something he discusses in this episode. 

He also talks about his childhood, where he gets his ideas, why doesn’t make pop hits, and his most recent album, Djesse, Vol. 4. The album features an eclectic range of collaborators, from T-Pain to Chris Martin of Coldplay… plus, 100,000 other voices. Really!

Get Jacob’s album Djesse Vol. 4 here: https://shop.jacobcollier.com/

More links from the show: 

• Jacob’s rendition of Pure Imagination and 
• Jacob directing an audience choir Jacob Collier - The Audience Choir (Live at O2 Academy Brixton, London)
• Jacob’s Tiny Desk Concert (2019)
• Jacob’s YouTube channel
• His Instagram
• TikTok

See all our episodes – including conversations with Tom Hanks, Jason Sudeikis, Bjork, and many more – at TheGreatCreators.com.

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Ryan Tedder is the lead singer of OneRepublic and the producer and songwriter behind countless hits including Adele’s Rumor Has It and Beyonce’s Halo. Tedder even sold his own catalog for a reported $200 million. He joins Guy to talk about growing up in a religious family, tackling his stagefright (“I was shaking backstage”), using personal experiences to write hits, working with star musicians, and how to choose singles in the TikTok age. This episode was originally released in 2023.

Links from the Show

• Ryan Tedder performing “Apologize” solo for BBC Music
• OneRepublic’s music video for “I Ain’t Worried” featured on Top Gun: Maverick 
• Music video for Adele’s “Rumor Has It” co-written by Ryan Tedder
• Music video for Beyonce’s “Halo” co-written by Ryan Tedder
• Music video for Paul McCartney’s “Fuh You” co-written by Ryan Tedder
• Ryan’s Instagram
• His TikTok
• His Hit-Making Course

See all our episodes – including conversations with Tom Hanks, Jason Sudeikis, Bjork, and many more – at TheGreatCreators.com.

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Hilary Swank is one of just 14 women to win not one but two Academy Awards for Best Actress (Boys Don’t Cry, Million Dollar Baby). And as you’ll learn today, her life story just as remarkable as her career: from growing up in a trailer park (“it was no big deal”) to moving to L.A. as a teenager and living with her mom in their car for a time while chasing her dreams, to her breakthrough role as Brandon Teena in the indie film “Boys Don’t Cry” – a performance that earned Hilary an Oscar, and just $3,000. She also reflects on playing a transgender character as a cisgender woman; which movie she feels doesn’t get nearly the credit it deserves; and how she envisions the next chapter of her career after becoming a mother last year.

Hilary’s newest film is called Ordinary Angels.

Links from the show: 

• Oscars acceptance speech for Best Actress in Boys Don’t Cry
• Acceptance speech for Best Actress in Million Dollar Baby
• Boys Don’t Cry Memorable Moments
• Freedom Writers (2007)
• Ordinary Angels (Feb 22, 2024)

See all our episodes – including conversations with Tom Hanks, Jason Sudeikis, Bjork, and many more – at TheGreatCreators.com.

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Regina Spektor is one of the most critically-acclaimed and respected singer-songwriters of the past 25 years. She’s also one of the most thoughtful and open guests we’ve had on this show. 

Today, you’ll learn how Regina went from medical receptionist writing lyrics on post-it notes to rising star in the NYC music scene; how she overcame her fear that record labels would meddle with her art; why “invisibility” has been her greatest creative asset; the songwriting process behind beloved songs like “Samson”; and her thoughts on finding fresh ideas while handling “adult” responsibilities and raising her two young children.

Links from the show: 

• “Samson” official music video
• “Fidelity” music video
• Her Tiny Desk Concert
• Dan Smith of Bastille talking about Regina with Guy
• Orange is the New Black opening credits
• Her new album: Home, Before and After

Listen to, or watch, all our episodes – including conversations with Tom Hanks, Jason Sudeikis, Bjork, and many more – at TheGreatCreators.com.

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David Chang is the founder of Momofuku, a culinary brand that grew from a single 600-square-foot location to include a Michelin-starred restaurant, a bakery and dessert chain, and a line of consumer packaged goods. David joins Guy to talk about opening his first restaurant after his epiphany about ramen on a trip to Japan; the panic and anxiety he felt in those early days; and how he’s learned to become a better leader and reject the toxic elements of “kitchen culture”.

Links from the show: 

• Bon Appetit on Momofuku Inc.
• Jimmy Fallon and David Chang have a hot wing eating contest
• David shows how to make chili-crunch carbonara
• David explaining the mystery of his pork buns to Vice
• David makes leftover fried rice
• David’s Shiitake and Swiss Chard Soup with Hand-Cut Noodles Recipe
• Momofuku website
• David’s podcast
• David’s Instagram

See all our episodes – including conversations with Tom Hanks, Jason Sudeikis, Bjork, and many more – at TheGreatCreators.com.

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Dan Aykroyd was the youngest cast member on a brand new comedy show called Saturday Night Live when it premiered in 1975. In addition to iconic performances as Julia Child and a Conehead, Dan also created a real blues band called The Blues Brothers with fellow cast mate John Belushi. In this episode, Dan talks with Guy about playing drums behind Muddy Waters, his fascination with paranormal science that led him to create Ghostbusters, what he thinks of the female-led Ghostbusters reboot he helped produce, and the reason he thinks he's done with acting.

Links from the show: 

• Coneheads sketch
• Bass-O-matic sketch
• Ask President Carter sketch
• The Blues Brothers on SNL
• Soul Man
• Crystal Head Vodka
• Zombie Town Trailer

See all our episodes – including conversations with Tom Hanks, Jason Sudeikis, Bjork, and many more – at TheGreatCreators.com.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jake Johnson is an actor, comedian, writer, and director who is best-known for playing Nick Miller on the sitcom New Girl. He’s also one of the voices of Spiderman in the animated movies and he wrote, directed, and stars in the new comedic thriller Self Reliance.

In this episode, Jake shares a life story filled with hilarious and poignant moments – from struggling with dyslexia and dropping out of high school, to finding his calling in the arts, to his complicated and ultimately close relationship with his late father. 

Plus: Jake’s highs and lows on the set of New Girl, dealing with occasional performance anxiety that “physically hurts”, his chemistry with co-stars Max Greenfield and Anna Kendrick, keeping his addictive personality under control, and how the inspiration for “Self Reliance” came from a Japanese game show.

Links from the show: 

• Jake's film, Self Reliance, on Hulu
• Nick’s advice podcast, We’re Here to Help
• Jake on Drunk History, a show he’s credited with inspiring
• Nick Miller Being Relatable for Four Minutes Straight: Youtube
• Minx on Starz
• Stumptown

See all our episodes – including conversations with Tom Hanks, Jason Sudeikis, Bjork, and many more – at TheGreatCreators.com.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.