Nick Offerman - Empathy, Nuance, & Good Hard Work

Mountain & Prairie with Ed Roberson

Nick Offerman is an actor, author, humorist, and woodworker who is best known for playing the legendary character Ron Swanson on NBC’s Parks and Recreation. But his success as an actor is just the tip of the iceberg– he’s written five New York Times bestselling books, is the narrator of three of Wendell Berry’s audiobooks, and owns and operates Offerman Woodshop, where he and a small collective of woodworkers handcraft everything from spoons to furniture to canoes. And as many of you know, Nick is a staunch advocate for conservation, responsible land stewardship, and sustainable agriculture.

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Nick’s most recent book is titled "Where the Deer and the Antelope Play: The Pastoral Observations of One Ignorant American Who Loves to Walk Outside," and it’s an excellent, thought-provoking read. It follows Nick on a series of adventures through the American West and English countryside– adventures driven by his desire to better understand conservation, recreation, and humans’ connection to the land and wild places. Along the way, he explores everything from the legacies of John Muir and Aldo Leopold to regenerative agriculture, without shying away from tough, complex topics, such as industrial farming and the conservation movement’s impact on Indigenous cultures. The book also hits on so many underlying ideas that are often explored here on Mountain & Prairie, including nuance, empathy, compassion, curiosity, and doing work that makes the world a better place. I loved the book, and I highly recommend it.

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I met up with Nick in Los Angeles at Offerman Woodshop, and we had a fun, inspiring, and at times hilarious conversation about everything from Aldo Leopold’s Land Ethic to Nick's work as a “traveling clown.” (His words, not mine!) We started out by discussing the life-changing moment when a friend handed him a Wendell Berry book, and how Wendell’s writings and philosophy continue to be one of Nick’s most important sources of inspiration and instruction to this day. We discuss why hard work and being of service to others are so deeply embedded in Nick’s DNA, and the critical role that artists can play in solving societal challenges. We talk about authenticity, the importance of being even-keeled, the need for nuance and open-mindedness, the skill of self-deprecation, enjoying the process of creating, not passing judgment, and much, much more.

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"Where the Deer and the Antelope Play" was just released in paperback, so follow the links in the episode notes to pick up a copy. If you’re a longtime listener, I know you’ll love it. There are also links to Offerman Woodshop, Nick’s touring schedule, and all of his other books, so click through and check it all out.

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A thousand thanks to Nick for inviting me to his shop for such an amazing conversation, and thank you for listening. Hope you enjoy!

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• Nick Offerman
• "Where the Deer and the Antelope Play" (now in paperback!)
• Offerman Woodshop
• Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/nick-offerman/

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TOPICS DISCUSSED:

• 3:30 - A self-deprecation showdown
• 5:30 - The impact of Wendell Berry on Nick’s life
• 10:15 - Of Nick’s family and upbringing, and tying back to Wendell Berry
• 15:15 - Nick telling the story of when he “made it,” and how that impacted his work ethic
• 18:30 - Of the ethos of taking the time to do hard things
• 23:15 - The impact of a conversation between Nick and Wendell Berry
• 29:00 - More about Nick’s book, "Where the Deer and the Antelope Play"
• 42:15 - How Nick discusses serious topics with a lighthearted demeanor
• 47:30 - How Aldo Leopold influenced Nick
• 51:45 - A great story about Wendell Berry and the need for artists
• 55:15 - How and when Nick developed his authenticity
• 1:02:00 - The two jokes Nick has written in his career
• 1:05:45 - What good work looks like
• 1:18:00 - Discussing how to pronounce words and the importance of not passing judgment
• 1:23:15 - Coming back to “good work”

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