Nick Offerman

[00:00] This episode is brought to you by Allstate. Checking Allstate first could save you hundreds on car insurance. Not checking your pockets before putting clothes in the washer? [00:09] Oof. Enjoy your freshly cleaned and completely destroyed earbuds. Yeah, checking first is a good plan. So check Allstate first for an auto quote. It could save you hundreds. You're in good hands with Allstate. Potential savings vary subject to terms, conditions and availability. Allstate North American Insurance Company and affiliates, Northbrook, Illinois. [00:29] . [00:34] Hello everyone, welcome to another episode of Good Hang. Boy, what a guest we have today. Um, [00:40] My brother, Nick Offerman, who, as you know, was... [00:47] instrumental in making Parks and Recreation the hit that it was and played the beloved Ron Swanson. And it's just a wonderful friend, person, person. [00:56] actor. We talk about so many good things today. We talk about Parks and Rec. [01:02] Getting the job, how it felt to be on a show that meant so much to us. We talk about Cleopatra. [01:09] how he feels about her and would he hit that. And we also talk about his book, Little Woodchucks, his amazing new book that is out now and how he feels deeply about how important it is to make things. So please, please get ready for Nick Offerman. But before we get to Nick, we always do this thing, right? We talk to somebody who knows Nick, we get a question to ask Nick.

[01:39] April Ludgate, [01:40] Um, you know her, you love her. She's zooming in from New York. Plasie? [01:51] This episode is presented by Allstate. Checking Allstate first could save you hundreds on car insurance. That's smart. Not checking that the fake roast chicken is, in fact, a fake roast chicken before chomping into a wing. Rookie mistake. Yeah, checking first is smart. So check Allstate first for a quote that could save you hundreds. You're in good hands with Allstate. Potential savings vary. Subject to terms, conditions, and availability. Allstate North American Insurance Company and Affiliates. [02:19] Northbrook, Illinois. [02:29] Hello? Hello? [02:31] Hi, Plaus. Hi. Hi. Thank you for doing this. I know you're about to... [02:40] go, I think you're about to go on stage. [02:42] Oh my God. Have you been sitting there since the last time I did your podcast? Yeah. [02:48] I'm so sorry. I live here now. Oh, my God. And I know you don't have a lot of time, but I felt like there was nobody better than [02:57] to ask a question to Nick Offerman than you. Oh, I know. [03:01] Well, first of all, you know that we are... [03:04] Birth... [03:05] brothers. Yeah, talk about that. Nick and I have the same birthday, June 26th, the day that the Pied Piper

[03:12] Led the children of the rats into the water. Real story, folks. [03:19] And you can feel the Pied Piper energy coming out of both of us. Jason Schwartzman also has his birthday on June 26th. So does Paul Thomas Anderson, actually, but he's not in our club yet. But, um... [03:32] Yeah, so we have this birthday text message chain, which I almost want to read out loud because it's so funny. Because we only write on it on our birthday, and it's always in medieval talk. It's you and Nick and Jason Schwartzman? Me, Nick and Schwartzman, yeah. Can you read just a little bit of it? Okay, hold on. I got my phone. Okay. [03:53] This is like sacred territory. Okay, here's one that Nick wrote. [04:02] Mighty powers and health to you, my fellow birthday triplets. Let us dance under the moon and delight Gaia for another 12 moons with our dark japes. And an emoji that I can't, don't want to describe. [04:18] This is another one from Nick. Dear my birthday beauties, it's 9 a.m. on our birthday in New Zealand, and I'm sending you both a massive load of my fulsome... [04:29] Oh, earth sign love. I thought it said urine when I read it on my birthday. But now I'm seeing it clearly. I thought he said a massive load of my urine. That sounds like it could be him. But earth sign love, which I believe is bear like, right? Bear like. Oh, the bear. Right.

[04:50] I wrote back, and my load to you, my brother. [04:54] But it was a different load that I was talking about. [04:59] That's just a little taste. That's a little taste. And it is how Nick talks. Do you remember meeting him for the first time? I think it was probably literally on set. [05:07] I don't remember. I think he scared me, you know, at first. [05:13] You scared me a lot. Why? [05:15] In a good way. No, just because I think, no, he was so funny, but I was always like, [05:20] trying to replicate his... [05:23] like behavior on set. Like I'll never forget. I mean, you guys all taught me how to really be on set. Cause I didn't, you know, I didn't really, I'd only done one job, so I didn't know. But like, I remember... [05:34] Nick kind of put, not put me in my place, but like kind of reminded me of something. I've probably told you a story, but like where I was like, you know how when you're on set, you get treated, like actors get treated like babies and it's so, such a weird vibe. Like when I haven't worked for a while and then I go back, I'm like, this is so weird. No wonder why actors get so weird because everyone treats you like a baby, like you can't do anything. And I remember like, I was just sitting in my little chair or something and I wasn't doing [06:04] And I was like, [06:05] Uh, sure. I'd take a coffee or something like that. [06:08] And then Nick was sitting next to me, like reading a book or something. And he looked over and he went, [06:13] Don't forget. [06:14] that you can get up and get your own coffee. It's right over there. And I know that sounds kind of like an asshole thing to say, but I didn't take it like that. I was like, you're fucking right.

[06:27] I was like, I don't need that. [06:29] little [06:30] PA over there to walk over there in my eyesight and pour me a cup of coffee. I'm like, because you get in that zone on set where you just turn into like a couch potato where you're like, and he reminded me, it like jolted me. I was like, I'm never going to ask for coffee again. [06:47] Ever. And I never have. It's so true. And you never have. [06:51] And anytime anyone brings you coffee, you just throw it in their face. I slap it on the bottom so it goes, not only the liquid, but the cup right on their forehead. [07:02] He's so... [07:03] He is very paternal. [07:05] And he was very paternal on set. Like when Nick was there, he would know his lines and he loved to goof around, but he wanted to get the job done. Like he was daddy energy for sure. Yeah, he was daddy. But he really did. You both, though, you both had such a perfect balance of like professionalism and. [07:25] But and fun. [07:27] And it was a very, very good for me to witness because it was like I wanted to I wanted to be good for him and for you. Like I always wanted to be prepared and but then also be ready to fuck around. And yeah, it's. [07:41] I loved that about working with Nick. Yeah. And... [07:45] I have to say like the, [07:47] The April and Ron stuff... [07:50] started early. I think it was season one when you two started doing stuff together. And it was really helpful for both of your characters. It was so helpful. I think I'm trying to remember I have one memory of like that. Remember that episode when we were like in the grocery store?

[08:09] Or something. I think that was one of those early on ones. I'm thinking, I think there was an episode in season one when he hurts his neck. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Right? And he's stuck in a chair. [08:22] Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And then I like go, I like go into his, I like stand in his office and, [08:28] And I'm like, I'm like kind of his assistant that day or something. And we, we barely say like anything to each other. Yeah. We just like stare at each other. And then like, it's almost like we're telepathic. We were telepathic. Yeah. Both of you are very good at saying little and talking slowly. And it's funny that he uses the word ursign because he really is like, [08:51] One could classify him as a bear. He is a bear. [08:56] he's a man in a very, you know, you don't find a lot of like, [09:02] men who can build things. I mean, [09:06] in this profession. I wonder if that's a lie. [09:12] I don't think he can. I don't think he's actually doing it. It's so weird. I've never actually seen him build anything. [09:20] You ever seen him with a hammer? I haven't. Nope. [09:24] And I've seen where he does it, but there's other people in there. [09:28] So true. And he comes in and says, I made this canoe, and it's like, [09:32] When? [09:33] Yeah. [09:35] When? Yeah. When exactly? What question do you think I should ask him?

[09:40] What does it feel like when you jerk off to every episode of Parks and Rec when you're watching? Let's get a real question that I can actually ask. All right. Okay. I have two questions. Okay. One, have you ever seen a ghost? [09:53] I want to hear like [09:56] if he has any like... [09:59] other realm... [10:00] stories. Oh, interesting. I don't know where he would land on that in the on the woo woo scale of being open. Me neither. [10:07] Me neither. Like for real, I want to ask him. Yeah. Like, do you believe, like, do you believe in ghosts? Like, do you believe in that? Have you, have, do you have a good story? And yeah. [10:16] Do you believe... [10:18] in hell. [10:19] No, don't ask him that. I won't. Believe me, I won't. Okay. Okay. How about, do you remember a good time we had working together? Sorry. Sorry. You're right. No, you're right. You're right. I just immediately want to know, like, if you had to haunt one person, I'm [10:42] In the afterlife. [10:45] Who would it be? And also, how'd you get started in showbiz? I don't know. Are any, am I, are these, is this anything? [10:57] Yeah, these are good. These are good. Okay. Here's my real question. Okay. [11:02] If. [11:03] Bill and Ted's excellent adventure happened to you in real life. What time period would you go to and who would you fight?

[11:12] Perfect. You know, he's going to have some. Perfect. Perfect question. [11:17] okay good that's perfect who would you fight and would you take me with you yes you know you want to you know you want i mean i have to say you guys were like a strong duo for a million reasons but [11:30] Both you and Nick have a fortitude, like a way where you could face... [11:35] You guys are very... [11:37] emotionally and physically strong. I mean, you and Nick were the only two cast members to play on the Parks and Rec softball team. That's right. [11:47] Still got my uniform. All right. Well, we got our question. I don't want to keep you. You okay with time? All right. I'm not okay with time. Okay. But why? Do you want to do something else? [12:00] No, but you told me you only had 15 minutes. Okay. I'm out. Baby, I'm out. Watch me. In less than an hour, I'm going to be on that stage ripping apart. What do you have to do between now and the show? I am interested before I let you go. What's your routine? I'm literally supposed [12:17] 20 minutes. I'm going to get a shower. I'm disgusting right now. Oh, you're at home. Okay. You're not at the theater. We're okay. I didn't time my day out very well. Okay. Okay. Okay. Thank you for doing this. But I can actually do anything. Yeah. If I really put my mind to it, it's going to be a nightmare getting a cab. I, this is what I literally am going to do. Yeah. Get a shower in like the, in like two minutes. I believe in you. Then I'm going to run the, [12:41] to Sixth Avenue. And I literally mean it. I'm going to run. It's rush hour. And I'm going to hail a cab. And that cab is going to fly me up there and it's going to be exhilarating. And then I'm just going to, I just hope I won't, you know.

[12:53] If I can get myself in character in time. [12:56] I'll start in the cab. I'm going to let you go right now. Codependently, I'm worried about you. And I'm... [13:01] Okay. Thank you for doing this. Thank you, Pauzy. Love you. Miss you. Love you. Love you and love Nick. Yeah. [13:07] Okay. Okay. Thank you. All right. I hope you get out of this sometimes. Okay. Okay. Drink water. Okay. [13:15] This episode is brought to you by Visible. Let's be honest. Wireless can feel like a world of traps, expensive bills, hidden fees, and promises that just don't hold up. You start to feel stuck. [13:26] Don't fall for the trap. Escape to Visible, the ultimate wireless hack. Get unlimited data and hotspot powered by Verizon. One line, all for just $25 a month. Taxes and fees included. You heard that right, just $25 a month. Get great coverage and a reliable connection with Visible. Switch today at Visible.com and start saving on wireless. Terms apply? See Visible.com for plan features and network management details. [13:56] Hold on. Sit down on the mic. Get on the mic so I can... Oh my God, Nick. Okay, listeners, Nick has brought me a bag of treats. God, I love... What do we got? What do we got? In case we talk about making things... Yes, which we will. This is... The first project in my book is a slapstick. Little woodchucks. Because... And I thought you would appreciate this. When Lee and I... Do you remember Lee, by the way? Of course, yeah.

[14:23] Um, we've had so much fun. We go on tour and Lee does what she makes one of these on stage with a bench while I sing and I'm a jackass. And when we were picked, when we were figuring out the projects for the book, I said, look, [14:39] Any kid that you go in the woods with and you're like, let's find a good stick, let's make something – [14:46] A good percentage of kids are going to be like, this is a sword or a gun or it's like, this is an implement of violence. Let's make war or whatever. Yeah. We do. You know, I hate that about us, but we have it. So I said, we have to have a weapon in the book, but I have a comedy weapon, the slapstick. I see. Yeah. So for those that don't know, the word slapstick came from this. [15:09] And this says butt joint on it. Which is a type of wood joint. It's not something prurient. You know, I've never used a slapstick. Many haven't. I mean, I had never heard of one. Yeah. It's from like Commedia dell'arte or Punch and Judy shows use them. Mm-hmm. [15:25] And it's, and the great thing is you can pretend to hit people. [15:29] And it makes a noise. And, you know, and so you make a reaction. Yes. And you have comedy. You can do spanking. You can do fake spankings. [15:39] I want to talk about your book and all the stuff you make in it. [15:46] What before? Well, hold on. You also brought a water bottle? Yeah, sorry. Is that your Offerman Woodshop water bottle? It is, yeah.

[15:54] but that I, you know, I have that too. I have one of those. I just got rid of the one you gave me that huge one from making it. Yeah. I finally wore it out like a month ago and I replaced it. Are you a big, um, we're going to get into a lot of stuff today, but how much water do you drink a day? Generally? I've been doing a lot of working out cause I did a job where I had to work out. Brag. Uh, not a, not a huge deal. Um, I got, well, I got super jacked for a job. How much can you live? [16:24] What are you lifting these days? I lift... [16:29] cyber trucks. I do two cyber trucks. You go up to them and lift them up. And then I put people in them. But I got crazy. And then I did actual wrestling. Oh, my God. I trained with a wrestler. [16:45] There's so many places to go from what you just told me, because number one, I've wrestled with you in a small way on set, and you're very strong. Thank you. You have the body of... [16:57] You have the carriage of someone who I feel like would be good at wrestling. Did you wrestle when you were in high school? I tried. My uncle was a wrestler, and I tried wrestling. Quite honestly, my dad was great at basketball and baseball. So I went out for wrestling one year. It was like, no thanks. How come? It was really hard. Yeah, it's so hard. And I wasn't great.

[17:27] To overcome. The vision quest, if you will. Yeah, exactly. And in your 50s, though, when you have to get buff, that's hard. I was unable to approach the lunatic friend. [17:38] But I've always loved being an athlete. Yeah. And so I've always maintained an athleticism. [17:46] But it was actually pretty fun. I worked with this great trainer named Grant Roberts who does this. Yeah. And he's super good at it. [17:57] and there was nothing crazy, a bunch of protein. But remember when Pratt was doing Guardians, like he had to eat crazy amounts of food all the time? Yeah, the good thing is I'm a former pro wrestler. Your character was. There's no like shower scene where I'm like languorously, you know, showing my Chris Pratt abs. Right. In fact, it's in my contract with that language. [18:27] Nick Offerman today in high school in Manuka, Illinois. He's like athletic kid in the drama club. And I'm not saying that those two things don't go together. It's just in the 80s. [18:39] Like, what was it like being a drama kid and a sports kid? The thing is, I, there wasn't a lot of culture. And when I say this, [18:48] I love my town and my family, but there wasn't a lot of counterculture. So we had the Beatles, but only their first three records.

[18:59] When I got to college and they were like, check out the White Album, I was like, what? [19:05] I already loved Please Please Me. [19:09] And so... [19:10] Like the drama kids weren't fully drama kids and the jocks weren't fully jocks. Yeah. Because I think the school and town were small enough and there just wasn't a lot to do. I was definitely a polymath and I think it was just because I hadn't figured out what I was going to do. Yeah. And so I was just kind of trying everything. Do you remember what made you try out for your first play? Like, you know. [19:40] like a super eight movie from our fishing cabin when I was like 11. And it was when you go to the [19:47] Cubs game and you get a free Jersey three quarter length, like white body blue sleeves, Cubs. And on the back was a Keebler elf, uh, tree and the Keebler elves sponsored the Jersey. And, uh, [20:01] I'm in that jersey, and the camera's going around every family member, and they're all, like, ducking away from the camera. And it gets to me, and I'm literally going, like, just pointing at myself and making faces like you have found. If you have a camera, you found the right camera. Isn't that funny that, like, you can see that sometimes in people where they, like, even just your reflection in, like, the store window or a mirror. Like, I used to do commercials on my bathroom sink in the mirror to myself,

[20:31] like one day, someone's going to be looking at my face. I mean, Megan had my champion wife, Megan Mullally, had the wherewithal. Big fan. She knew, like when she was a kid, she would sit in a room and do Barbara Streisand records into a hairbrush to the point where she could now perfectly, she's like a Broadway star because she did that. [21:01] I loved Jim Ignatowski, Christopher Lloyd's character on Taxi. Oh, yeah. Where I was like, that guy's so weird and scary, but he's super funny. I feel like that's somehow what I'm drawn to. [21:15] But I had no – it wasn't until late when I was trying to figure out where to go to college that I was like, oh, you can – [21:24] I can try and do acting as a job. And, you know, very early on in your career, in my career, we meet. [21:32] in Chicago. And we're both kind of in Chicago in the early 90s, trying stuff, just... [21:39] Like, you know, [21:40] trying to, [21:41] get hired. And, but how do you get to Chicago from like, how do you move there? I had this crazy moment, uh, [21:49] where I took my girlfriend, who was a year older than me, to audition at the University of Illinois for their dance department. And to this day, it's so miraculous. I must have been loitering in the hallway because these two theater students, who I then came to know, I don't remember how it started. I wish I had a film of this. Somehow it was like, hey, kid, why are you loitering in the hallway of the theater facility?

[22:19] said they were theater students and I said what does that mean and they said you can study acting and I was like you gotta be fucking kidding me like because I told my guidance counselor at school that I want to be an actor and he was like that's not available you can't do that and then I said I want to be a musician and he was like come on what are you gonna do with that that'd be really interesting to dig into this guy's forgotten dreams for sure sounds like there's a lot going [22:49] So then I met these students that were like, we're going to this great state school. They have a conservatory program. [22:56] And I said, okay, so you become an actor, then what? And they said, you can get paid to do plays in Chicago. And I was like, I took them by the lapels of their coat and was like, are you fucking kidding me? They told me you can't do that. I heard no one makes any money. I did. I had no idea that this was happening. I just want to say I relate because I didn't know anyone who was an actor growing up. And although I wasn't discouraged in that way, it just didn't seem like a job. [23:26] what do you mean? Like be an actor? Yeah. Like it just seemed like that's stupid. And so we meet in nine, in the early nineties in the attic of a house. That's right. All I remember is that you always love to punch me in the arm. Yeah. I have a thing about, which I took as a compliment big time. Uh, it is, it's a love tap really. But you know, I, I think, you know, and again, I might, this might be revisionist history, but I remember when we met, uh,

[23:55] You felt very familiar to me, even though we didn't know each other, even though at the time you were kind of in deep character for a play. [24:05] Oh, right. That's right, because it was during Clockwork Orange at Steppenwolf, and I was riding a big motorcycle, and I had a shaved head. I was experimenting with what Nick was going to turn out to be like. I had a shaved head, but I kept the front inch of my hair down into a full beard, and I dyed it different manic panic, like punk colors. So it looked really scary. [24:35] to the Jim Ignatowski of it all, which is like, you are able to look scary, but you're not a scary person at all. Which I've learned to appreciate. There was a time when I'd be like, shut up. I'd pull my knife out on you if you said that. Yeah. [24:52] And then I'd apologize. Yeah. I mean, I remember talking to you, I guess punching you in the arm. I remember talking about the play that you were in. I remember that company. [25:05] Different ways into the same creative experience. I feel like they are kind of a big soup now, but at the time it was very important that like serious theater and then improv and sketch and they were like, never the twain shall meet. I'll tell you something. So this is like early to mid 90s. I was so ignorant even then that if I had I had no idea that like I was a big fan of SNL as a kid.

[25:35] could get an audition or anything. I had no idea. In fact, I remember just thinking like, you guys, so you guys make stuff up in a bar? Like what we were performing works of literature. Yeah. Believe me, we felt that vibe and we were like, yeah, we know it's, uh, we have some notes. It's three hours long. I have to say, if I may just digress, you have some of the best posture. [26:05] And it feels like that. Thanks a lot. And that feels like it comes from a core training, like a. [26:11] You have great posture. I do. I mean, thank you. It's something that I do have to think about, especially after our show. Everything I got offered was like somehow overweight, overweight, [26:23] uh, barbecue master. And it's all these guys in their tidy whities in the mirror crying. [26:32] And the first couple of us like, this is interesting. And then I realized, Oh, I need to, I need to stay in shape so that I can get a variety. You love to transform your bod. You are, you come from a physical body place with a lot of your characters. And, and, and I do feel like it's, [26:52] You know, so Ron Swanson on Parks and Recreation had a physicality to him that felt like you understood really early on and played with. [27:03] And you talked about it a lot. It's really interesting to me.

[27:06] But before we get to that, because I do want to talk about that, let's just talk about you getting that part. I know you've spoken about it a lot, but I think the physicality was part of the part, was like what you understood really fast about him. Because you're right. In the wrong hands, he's a joke. He's a total clown. Sure. Sure. [27:25] I'm sorry, I'm being a little moved by we've never talked about our show. And I also haven't seen our show. [27:34] Wait, are you crying? No, I'm not crying. I thought you were going to cry. I was thinking about this pork dish. [27:44] We haven't talked about our show. No, we haven't. I mean, we've talked about it with each other all the time. For sure, but not in this way. No, not publicly. I mean, where do we even start? People totally like it. Can you think of it? Listen, I just came here from a book tour in the UK. Yeah. And guess how I close every show? [28:04] and candles. And I had these incredible, these two sisters named Flo and Joan opening for me. They're these super funny sisters who do funny songs. And I mean... [28:15] When you say I'm in a crowd, a theater of 2000 people, and you just say Parks and Recreation or Ron Swanson, the roof flies off the place. I know. And you're just like, you guys, that was a long time. That was a long time. You know, my son just turned 17, which is when we started the show, 17 years ago. Holy cow. And I know. Think about that. And the fact that there's still...

[28:40] People are still dressing up for Ron Swanson and [28:43] at Halloween and people said that you got us through the pandemic and people are saying my kids just starting it. And like, it's, it's unbelievable. I don't, I mean, I know we knew I got to say, and I, I think I can speak for us both. We were old enough to, [28:58] And I don't know, maybe a little... [29:00] We knew what we had at the time, you and me. We really did. For sure. And we tried to enjoy every minute of it, but... [29:07] Like, [29:09] Ron Swanson is, would be in the hall, is in the hall of fame of characters. I mean, he is, he is this person that people feel, what is it like, what is it like, what [29:20] almost 20 years later, interacting with that kind of, [29:26] Like, how do people interact with you? It's interesting. I mean, mostly, first of all, I'm so stupidly grateful, like from soup to nuts. And also, people are so... [29:37] nice to me and respectful. I think of Ron, like people approach me with a deference and also a little fear. Um, but they're, they are really polite to me where I, they, I usually have to say, please call me Nick or, you know, cause they're shaking and they're scared. Mr. Swanson, if I may. Yeah. May I approach Mr. Swanson? May I approach the bench? They do. And, um, and so I'm for all [30:07] It's certainly weird, too. There are thorns on the rose or pits in the peach of, like –

[30:14] Ron's [30:16] politics or Ron's what Ron represented sort of as a paradigm. Some people with poor reading comprehension were like, oh, he's he's a shotgun guy. Like, finally, so that so they mistook Ron for sort of things they wanted to. [30:36] to represent in themselves. Yeah. [30:39] And usually it was something old fashioned or right wing ish, like misogynistic or violent or anything like that. And so that's been weird, too, where people love the character. And I've even had people argue with me online where they'll say something about. [30:57] Like they'll say, Ron definitely would have voted for this jerk. And I'll be like, hang on, hang on one second. And I'll call Mike, sure, the main creator and writer and say, somebody said this. And he would give me a pair. He would whip out a perfect paragraph of that's hilarious. But also why Ron, for example, anybody that went from the world of business to the world of politics, Ron would think was a fool. [31:27] Because Ron's like, what are you doing? You were a capitalist. And so then I would, you know, this is back when I used to participate, when social media wasn't just a cesspool. Yeah. But I would go back and say... [31:41] here's what Mike Schur says. And they'd say, nope. They would say, no, you guys don't know. You guys don't know shit about Ron Swanson. And I was like, well, I'm just going to leave it there. Yeah. I thought I did, but I guess you got me on that one. Do people come up to you and say, people call me Ron Swanson? Yeah. I get that a lot with Leslie Knope. People say I'm like Leslie Knope. And usually that means like, to your point, it can

[32:11] work hard and I'm fighting the good fight, it can mean I kind of drive everybody crazy and I talk too much and I'm, you know, like it can mean a million things. I, I mean, I, I feel like when I think of Leslie Knope, I think of her, her ebullience the most, like that, that sometimes, and sometimes when people are like that, it's a very heroic characteristic, but it can be too much because you're like, okay, like I, I'm doing what [32:41] And when people say that to me about Ron Swanson, it's like it usually means – [32:49] They're taciturn. Yeah. Like, and they're like, you know, like I imagine a husband in the grocery store carrying like 112 pounds of stuff and his wife's like, let's just get a cart. He's like, no, I got this. I got it. I'm just keep going. And so being too stubborn or like relying too much on. I could just remember us doing scenes together and I would have a hundred words to your [33:19] And I would just circle around you in that office, just like, and you would just sit and watch me. And it was like old archetypes of like the, you know. [33:31] different animals, two different animals in the same room, basically. And that was what's so fun is playing those energies. And then as we got more comfortable, like flipping those energies and having fun with those energies, but like those early days of just being, you know,

[33:47] Able to just kind of come in and buzz around while you stood your ground was so fun. It was a really fun game. And just picturing that, you describing it and me picturing it, made me think of Shauna Malway Tweep on B-Cam on a Scooty scooter. And we would always make her laugh, and she would slam into the wall. Yeah, the camera operators were in the room with us a lot, and they were part of the family for sure. [34:17] And we would make them laugh. And you talk pretty, you don't talk as slow. You talk differently than Ron, but you talk pretty slow. I'm the slowest talking. How do you do that? I don't know. Anything that I see myself in, even now, I'm like, pick it up, man. Like, what is your deal? Oh, my God. I'm the exact opposite. I'm like, babe, take a breath, dude. I mean, now that I have a podcast, I hear myself, and I'm like, whoa. And I'm like, whoa. [34:47] enjoy when people like praise some acting work and I'll, and you know, I have to watch everything like, like, like watching your baseball swing to make, you know, see what's working. Um, [35:00] And every time I speak my dialogue at this pace. Well, I feel like I can do an impression of you. Can you do an impression of me? I would never want to. Really? I'm going to do you right now to your face. I don't have it in me. [35:17] Well, I have it in me.

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[37:02] Maximum range based on EPA estimated combined fuel economy and a full tank of fuel. Actual mileage and range may vary. [37:10] This episode is brought to you by Ultima Replenisher. You know what no one has time for? Over-the-top wellness trends. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for taking care of yourself, but being healthy should make your day better, not harder. And that's where Ultima comes in. With all six essential electrolytes, Ultima provides balanced hydration that fits right into your day. Available in delicious plant-based flavors with no sugar, calories, or carbs. Shop Ultima on Amazon or in-store at Target and Whole Foods Market. [37:40] Thank you. [37:43] - When you were playing Ron, [37:45] On the show, what did you do? Like, what were some, like, ways to get into that character? Like, was it wardrobe? Was it the mustache? Was it? I mean, it's funny. Megan, we've been together for 25 years. And only about five years ago, God bless her. I mean, you've seen the crazy ways. I, I, I. [38:07] I never get cast as, like, good-looking people. So I get cast as, I'm like, okay, great. I'm going to shave the top of my head off and have, like, Larry from The Three Stooges hair. And Megan's like, there was one time I was doing a play, and she wouldn't let me get in bed because I looked so upsetting. And I slept on the couch for two nights before I figured out I could put on a stocking cap. And then I got in.

[38:37] Stanley said, you know what? I really don't like your facial hair. Oh, my God. Bless her heart. I know. After 20 years of it. I mean, I think she has liked it at times. Sure. But it's a practical thing where she said, it's a mouthful of thistles. Yeah. We're getting into it. And I was like, well, when you put it that way, it is like a bristle brush. It's like the kind of brush that farmers have to get the mud off your work boots. [39:07] It's a really stiff bristle. And if you have sensitive skin at all and you have a make-out sesh, you can just be totally red-faced. Right. Yeah. And so now we negotiate. So I've got some work, and so I'm maintaining a mustache for the moment. But in a couple weeks, I'll be shaving it. Yeah. And something I've noticed is my talking changes. Oh. When I have the mustache... [39:33] I call it my constipative rictus. It's like a sort of invisible clamp comes over me and, and things become more stentorian and more like Sam, the Eagle from the Muppets, like where my, I can feel my brow more. And when I shave, I look 15 years younger and I, and I just become boyish where I'm just like, okay guys. Yeah. What's up? [39:59] Um, but, [40:00] Do you give free mustache rides until you shave your mustache? I don't. You've always charged for mustache rides. I've always charged, yeah. And I've always thought that was rude. So we do this thing where we talk to someone who knows our guests to get a question from them. So we talk to Aubrey. Oh, Jesus.

[40:21] I know. And there's nothing we can use. It's barely usable. [40:28] Born on the same day. [40:30] of that and she might [40:32] Read us a little bit of some text that you guys had back and forth. Nothing bad. Nothing bad. You guys share a birthday. And – [40:43] I feel like there was, you know, there's so many people that talk about on the show, obviously, that we worked with and that we love. But Ron and April's relationship to me, especially in the rewatch, is very special. Most of the podcasts so far, I'm willfully not crying, by the way. Yeah. Like, I know that you would like some crying. I don't care either way. [41:13] Ron and April. I know. I'm in trouble. Ron and April. I have a lot of love for all of this subject matter. I know. [41:26] Wait, I have tissues. [41:30] Don't hit me with the slapstick. Look, I have good hanged tissues. I'll just keep them here just in case. All right. [41:37] No, but Ron and April, because... [41:45] If we're going to extend the mommy-daddy metaphor, definitely Aubrey slash April was our daughter on that show. And we both of our characters kind of helped raise her and loved doing it. And by doing it like any good parent, you learn something about yourself by doing it like.

[42:04] You know, Leslie learned that like her... [42:07] kind of, [42:07] pushy ambition it needs to be replaced with like a gentle listening as to what people want and need from her and ron learned what ron didn't learn it ron learned what rap music was yeah yeah what but i mean what was it like doing scenes with aubrey like [42:30] I mean, it was so fun because she – [42:35] She could meet me in my own game. [42:43] One of the formative things when we started the show was I said to the guys, I just couldn't believe it. [42:52] I couldn't believe that they created a part for me. Like, I was so aware that if someone had said to me, write your dream part, I would have written something so much stupider because I'm not sure. You know, like I would have been like, OK, he's got a fucking he's got a motorcycle and he always wears T-shirts, no sleeves. It would have been like some 12 year old version of like it's he's like David Lee Roth. [43:22] been very superficial. And in my final audition with you, which I, you know, I had to audition for five months to get the job. Wow. I didn't know it was that long. Yeah. It was, well, it started with, it started with Adam and I were brought in to read for a role named Josh. Right. And it was, it was chemistry reads with Rashida. Right.

[43:47] And, [43:48] If you're going in to read a chemistry for a TV show, guess who you don't want to walk in the fucking door? Adam Scott. Adam Scott, fucking chemistry machine. Fucking charisma. Believe me, I had to do scenes with him. I was like, this guy. I'm like his plumber, if I'm lucky. [44:05] And gorgeous. Both of you have gorgeous hair, though. Yeah, they were. And people should know this is your hair. It is. But they also photographed the fleshy parts. But so so that was crazy. And that didn't work. And somehow Mike and Greg also were stuck on me. Thank God. I mean, they called my agent and said, it's not going to happen. [44:28] If you can imagine, we're not going to cast you as someone who Rashida has to kiss. [44:34] If you can wrap your head around that. But we really want you on the show. And there's this part of Amy's boss. [44:43] That should have really been like 20 years old. Yeah. Yeah. I think they were thinking a lot older in the beginning. Yeah. But, and I was, and I was like, I don't, great, whatever. And so then they had me come in and they read every guy in the world. So then finally it, it, it, the net got as wide as possible. Then it narrowed, narrowed, narrowed. And they brought me in one more time for like, and, and Mike said, okay, we're looking at like eight guys. [45:13] Mike said, all right, we're going to have you come in and read with Amy, and this is it. This is going to be it. And it was one of those things, this happened to me a lot, where –

[45:23] I got the job and it blew my mind. Also, you cried. We called you and you cried. Oh, I sobbed my eyes out. I mean, I said to Mike, I'm going to, I was like, I'm going to, I said, I'm going to openly sob, but I want to stay on the phone. [45:41] I was 38 years old. Like I had been through a lot of experiences where I almost got a life changing job. And this one was so much better than any of them had been. [45:53] Off of parks, I do want to talk about the other stuff that you have done and are doing. [45:57] Thank you. [45:58] Favorite episode. I know it's hard to pick, but just like, you know, pick one. [46:03] Don't overthink it. I have two answers in there, and it's funny. But one is called Ron and Tammy, and one is called Leslie and Ron, I believe. But I mean – [46:15] You know, Megan is just... [46:18] the most wickedly funny person I've ever met. And getting to, again, the alchemy of, of what Mike and the writers came up with for her to do, you know, the two of us banding together against this evil librarian, slapping her face with like a big cock of beef jerky. Like, we're just like, Mike knew that, you know, he was like, do you think Megan would? [46:48] got the library right. Those people over there. I'm like, what? The people that run the library are like, Tammy, that's insane. That's so funny. But they, they know that. Yeah. But then the, you know, the entire series paying off in this episode, that was such a gift. That was like this crazy one act play. Yeah. Um,

[47:11] Oh, God. Oh, here it comes. [47:15] I love that episode so much. And it was so like our senior year. That was the other thing. Totally. It was like senior year. We got to be in that. We got a whole week together in that room. That whole thing that they did with where, you know, Ron – [47:33] That whole story going into that last season was so gorgeous because they had laid so much pipe for Ron to swallow his pride and come to ask you for a job. And then the way it all went down, that was amazing. [47:48] Possibly the greatest thing about the show for me was the history of me and Tammy bred so much hilarity. But then what developed between Ron and Leslie was... [48:02] was, was the first time in my life that, you know, that I was counted on by a show to, uh, [48:08] you know, to carry some emotional weight. Yeah. And it was, and also I think just like a great example of like the different kinds of love. I mean, we really lionize romantic love and we'd make a lot of art about it, but there's so many different ways to love. And, [48:25] love platonic love and friendship and the idea of like, [48:30] being there for each other and being going through things with each other and like mentor mentee and then equals. And then, and just, and also just the idea if we're to really widen out that people don't have to agree to treat each other with respect. Totally.

[48:45] Remember that? [48:48] Um, [48:49] Okay, speaking of beautiful roles, Nick... [48:53] The Last of Us... [48:55] Oh my God, let's both get a tissue. [48:58] That was so good, Nick. Well, thank you. That was so beautiful. I mean, I remember texting you right after, and congrats on winning the Emmy. Yeah, crazy. I mean, it was so – how did you get that part? Well, I wrote a joke about this. They needed a guy who could use a shovel, and there are only three of us in Hollywood. [49:21] Harrison Ford passed, and Jane Lynch was not available. [49:28] Uh... [49:29] Craig Mazin, who wrote that, I mean, everyone knew that. [49:34] When you read that script, you were like, this is going to, if we don't fuck this up, this is going to win awards or whatever. For many years, my godson had a Little League team and I sponsored it. It was the Offerman Woodshop Little League team. And Craig... [49:53] was one of my little league dads. So I was just friends with him from... [49:59] a pretty wholesome place. Um, [50:02] And we had expressed some mutual affection for each other's work over the years. But he got a hold of me and was like, I'm sending you something and you have to do it. And I read it. [50:13] And it was funny because Megan and I had just had a talk about –

[50:16] that I still to this day, my vice is that I overload my calendar with fun. I have seen that in real time. We worked on making it together, really fun show together. You would tell me your year and I would think this too shall not, this isn't going to hold too many things. The problem is that, [50:34] And it's I love it. It's all. Yeah. But that's that's my vice. That's my problem. Yeah. And Megan and I just had a talk about where I was like, OK, I'm going to take a break. I'm going to do less. And this thing came in and they needed me in Calgary for a month. [50:51] And I didn't have the month. Yeah. And so... [50:55] But I read the script, so I had Megan read the script, and she was like, guess what, buddy? You're going to Calgary. Okay. Okay. [51:05] We I mentioned it. We made a really fun show called Making It. [51:08] about [51:09] makers and like the process of making it. You have Little Woodchucks, the book that's all about like [51:16] your guide to tools and tomfoolery, but it is... [51:20] The idea of making things has always been very important to you. You've spoken about it a lot, the spirituality of it, like how important it is for your life, your peace of mind. You work primarily with wood, but all different types of material. [51:34] Why are you writing, and you've written many, many books. This book is for little people. How do you get little people, young people, to get interested in making things, and why is it important for them to do that? I just took my mom and dad on this book tour with me in the UK, and we were just talking about how they brought me and my siblings up in a house where it wasn't talked about. They just taught us all to sustain the family.

[52:04] it's a meal or, you know, if we are mending our clothing or building, making firewood, building out buildings, we'd gardened. Um, and woodworking is a, is a great way to think about [52:16] What's this made of? Yeah. And that it's true of everything. Who's making this? Who made this car? Who made these shoes? Who made this pie? Are they having a good time? Yeah. Are they being cool with our resources, the way they're making this car? Or, you know. Yeah. Beautiful. You can feel it in here. It's awesome, Nick. So I love it. Thank you. People are responding really well to it. Yeah, it's great. Yeah. [52:40] All of us. I'm a kid who looks at a screen too much. We all understand that. And making things with each other, whether it's your family or your neighbors or your co-stars, is a great way to not look at a screen and still have a delightful life. Can I show you a prop? [52:58] Yes, of course. The thing sitting in my shop is, so I want to make a guitar because I tour and I do songs. And I thought if I do that with a guitar I made, I'm done. I can just do that for the rest of my life. Guitars are daunting. So I started with a ukulele. [53:20] So this is a mahogany ukulele. [53:28] just the bodies and the necks waiting to be put together, uh, [53:33] This is beautiful. It's instruments. So I think probably instruments and boats. Can you play the ukulele? Can you play something for us? Let's see if it's in tune.

[53:50] Would you like to hear my ukulele song? Yes, please. [53:56] Whiskey, you were sent from heaven above. [54:03] But too much of either will earn me a shove From my wife, whom I'd like to stay the husband of I love beer and whiskey, perhaps a bit too much Given the chance I'd fall off a bar stool daily To keep me out of the pub and also out of Dutch I make things like this soprano ukulele [54:33] I'll give you one more verse. [54:54] Silence your tablet and ejaculate a sigh to the sweetly strumming sounds of ukulele. [55:05] Oh, Nick! That was so good! There's more, but that felt like enough. Now you're going to get me going. Now you're going to get my waterworks going. Okay, we're going to end our interview today with a speed round.

[55:24] Um, [55:26] You got the wrong guy for a speedrun. I know. I wouldn't need you. [55:32] I should just do one snap or two snaps. [55:37] All I'm allowed. But you mentioned hot takes and people having hot takes and how we don't really need hot takes. I want your hot takes on history and philosophy. Okay. Because I know you love history. You love philosophy. I'm going to try lightning round today, but I'm going to only ask you questions about history and philosophy. [55:56] That's pretty daunting. Okay. I know. Well, don't worry. It won't be hard. Aristotle. [56:02] Smart or weird? Smart. Kierkegaard used different pseudonyms to debate. What would be a pseudonym you would use to debate? Oh, um... [56:14] Pylotus. [56:16] Freud. Yes or no? No. [56:21] I say no, too. Okay. [56:26] True or false? The unexamined life is not worth living. True. I think, therefore, I am. True or false? [56:37] False. Okay. [56:39] you cannot step twice into the same river. Oh, true. That's a, that's a huge one. That's, that's on my, [56:47] It's up on my board. Is it? Oh, yeah. It's something that occurs to me a lot, you know,

[56:55] uh, [56:57] There's nothing you can never recapture, especially in our business. Um, you know, if like, if, if we ever, uh, had cause to do some sort of reboot or something, if parks and rec, uh, [57:11] It's not the same river. Different river. Yeah. Can't step twice into the same river. No. I'm a joker. I'm a smoker. I'm a midnight toker. True. [57:22] Now we're moving on to history. Okay. What was the coolest thing Egyptians invented? [57:29] Man. [57:30] In your opinion. This is a guess because I'm not sure if that was Egyptians. I was going to say irrigation. Yeah, I think so. But yeah, they did. If people disagree with that, they're wrong. Cleopatra, smash or pass? Pass. [57:49] The Vikings got to America before... That shit is tired. Yeah. [57:54] The Vikings got to America before Columbus. Why doesn't anyone talk about that? [57:59] Um, because, uh, because the Vikings did not have good PR. [58:05] Columbus had a great record. [58:07] Pressure up. Columbus didn't even set foot on the mainland. [58:12] He hit an island. [58:15] Okay. And now we get to Aubrey's question for you. So Aubrey had, she had a few questions. Her first one was, do you believe in ghosts? Okay. No. [58:25] But I don't disagree. When people do, I believe them.

[58:30] Ah, well said. Do you do you believe in hell? [58:33] No. And if you could go back in a Bill and Ted kind of way where you could basically you could get that back to any point in history. And it sounds like a good movie. [58:47] You've never seen Bill and Ted. I missed a lot. Oh, my God. Fun. It's a great one. Well, anyway, they zap back in like a time machine. Right. And Bill. Yeah. And they go back and they're just Bill and Ted in different. And they're just two dummies. It's like dumb and dumber in a time machine. [59:03] And they so what if you could zap back in a time machine to any era, where would you go? Who would you fight? And would you take Aubrey with you? Oh, man. Yeah. If taking Aubrey is an option, of course. And weapons are involved by all means. Yeah. [59:21] I suppose I would go to the Roman Empire. I knew it. And I would have Aubrey fight them with her wiles. And I would discover Cumberland Sausage and take over the British Isles and become king. [59:40] Cumberland Sausage made people king? In my hands. [59:46] In this narrative? You'd be the sausage king. You're goddamn right, yeah. [59:51] Guys, we could do this. [59:58] Or you could try this sausage. Have you heard of caraway seed? Come with me. Why do you love history so much?

[1:00:08] I don't know. Do you? I do. I mean, I think because I'm fascinated with what assholes we are, you know. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But also what incredible creatures we are. Yeah. [1:00:28] uh, [1:00:29] And you look at, like, I don't know, a lot of what's going on in our world right now, it's astonishing that the lights are on. Like, it's pretty crazy that a civilization has even lasted this long. Do you believe in aliens? [1:00:47] I'm agnostic about all that. It seems like there is probably life in the universe. Yeah. [1:00:59] to be. [1:01:00] racist, whatever their appendages are. Yeah. Yeah. Um, [1:01:06] Thank you. [1:01:07] All of those things. I think there's a lot we will never know as humans, and I like dwelling in that. So if there are ghosts or spirits, I don't think hell exists because that's a fiction written in a book by people. [1:01:23] But that sensibility, whatever the afterlife is, I don't think anyone will ever know what it is. [1:01:37] I have no cause to disagree with that. Yeah. They just have never talked to me. That's a very Ron Swanson answer, actually. It's a very libertarian answer, basically, which is like –

[1:01:46] To each his own. Yeah. Yeah. Everyone should be allowed, you know, their own trip and to like what they like. And last question, Nick. What are you watching, listening? Where do you go right now to laugh? Where do you – right? There are two shows because – [1:02:05] I feel like it comes up a lot that there's not a lot of great, it's not a great time for comedy on television. Um, [1:02:13] Thank you. [1:02:14] The big hits like Hacks and Studio, those make us laugh quite a bit. But there are two that we've really loved that are more obscure that I would love to – [1:02:24] your listeners to know about. One's Australian and it's called Colin from accounts. Yes. Excellent show. So funny and also so heartwarming. It really moves me. And then there's one in England called, I think it's called such brave girls. Do you know that show? I do very well. Cat, [1:02:44] Kat Sadler. And I think the credits, the opening credits are the words spelled out in pubic hair on a tile floor, on a bathroom floor. And that's a great example of the tone of the show. Yes. It's so delightfully filthy and so funny. Yeah. [1:03:06] Um, that is a great show. That's a hilarious show. And those ladies are great. There's a lot of good stuff out there. You just got to find it. You just got to find it. Um, Nick, did we cover everything? I think we did. I think so. Yeah. You know, did we, did we weigh in on Aristotle? Yeah, we did.

[1:03:25] And you said pass on Cleopatra. You're not going to smash it. Come on. [1:03:31] I love you. I'm not going to step in that river twice. [1:03:40] Thank you. [1:03:40] You came all the way from England. You just landed. Thanks, buddy, for doing this. I know. Imagine how fast I would talk if I hadn't just gotten off a plane. Should we just try to do this like every month? Totally. [1:03:54] I love you. Thank you for doing this. I love you. Thank you. [1:03:58] And I can't wait to make something else with you soon, someday. Amen. Yeah, that would be awesome. But thanks for doing this and making this. And thank you for my slapstick. Is it mine? If you would like it. Oh, no, this is the one you travel with. By all means. It says butt on it. It does say butt joined on it. [1:04:20] It scares me a little bit. [1:04:23] Thank you so much, Nick Offerman, for being here today. I love you. [1:04:28] time with you. And for this polar plunge, I do want to just highlight something I didn't get a chance to talk to Nick about, which is, you know, we spoke a little bit about the physicality of Ron Swanson and how important it was for him to figure out that character. But do yourself a favor when you're watching Parks and Recreation, take a look at how Ron runs. It's one of my favorite things about Nick is Ron Swanson runs in a very specific way. And sometimes he wipes out.

[1:04:58] But... [1:04:59] I can't explain it other than to say it just gives me total delight. The choice Nick made to run the way Ron runs. And I'm gesticulating for those listening so you can't see, but it's just so funny. The tucked in shirt, the way Nick sits when he plays Ron Swanson, the way he stares, all that stuff is just like a master class, I think, in comedic acting. [1:05:29] trained actor learns. And I wouldn't know. But anyway, look, [1:05:37] He's... [1:05:38] That he's a it's a genius at work watching Nick work and so happy he could join us. Thank you for listening to Good Hang and we'll see you soon. Bye. [1:05:50] You've been listening to Good Hang. The executive producers for this show are Bill Simmons, Jenna Weiss Berman and me, Amy Poehler. The show is produced by The Ringer and Paper Kite. For The Ringer, production by Jack Wilson, Kat Spillane, Kaya McMullen and Alaya Zanaris. [1:06:08] original music by Amy Miles. [1:06:15] Have no fear. Chosen Foods is here to defend your favorite foods from the forces of seedy oils and sketchy ingredients. With cooking oils, salad dressings, and mayo, all powered by the good fats from 100% pure avocado oil and simple, delicious ingredients. Chosen Foods.

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