Nick, I find myself in similar mindset when I travel and talk with people. Over the years, I visited a few places. I discovered that the reason I gravitated to many places was that people made these beautiful locations even richer. I met a wonderful person called Juan in Lugo, Spain. Last October and November, I took two planes and two trains to live in Lugo for 32 days. I like to be a so-called fish out of water, learn the culture, work on language skills, and write. I’ll treasure that experience for the rest of my days. Plus, it was a deliberate choice which made it even more grand. Question: Have you ever made an effort, not media or work related, to go somewhere new and take joy in everyday being a learning experience?
Jul 31, 2022·edited Aug 4, 2022Liked by Nick Offerman
So enjoyed your chat. You said you're in a European city. Apart from casual conversation, what do you do to get acquainted with where you are, when time allows?Guided walks? Museums? You bet I have a vested interest in asking. Yeah, okay, I'm a historian. And a European (well, I was until Brexit) Feel free to ignore. 😀 (I'm in Madison, WI)
Ed from Milford, NH here. As my wife, Tory, and I get ready to take our camper, Hayduke, to northern VT for a week, I was wondering - are you going to take your Airstream out later this year? It seems that you are pretty busy working and traveling, which means you could really use some serious down time camping. Time to stretch out on that zero gravity chair outside your camper with an ice-filled glass of bourbon - make mine Makers Mark. Enjoy and be well.
Hi Mr. Offerman, Tristan H. from Tucson AZ here. I have been loving being a part of this substack and much appreciate listening to/reading your thoughts. Do you have any advice or sage wisdom for a 25 year old who was in a career but has been burnt out and now is completely lost in what they should do? After going into school for 5 years (nursing) and devoting their life to this career, being burnt out and not wanting anything to do with it had made things difficult. Thanks very much!
How far back do you go when looking for questions worth your while? A couple installments back? Or do you keep a list of worthy queries dating from way back towards the beginning? I remember reading several questions in episodes past whose potential answers piqued my interest (some of which I myself wrote, of course 😉), though the exact questions escape me at the moment. Of course, it would be nice of us Muleteers to keep providing you with a fresh pot of inquiries, but I feel there are some old ones stashed away begging for your attention. Just wondering if we will ever know the thoughts His Donkey-ness thinks on those perhaps-forgotten inquiries?
I will be putting my feet up this afternoon to listen and read. In the meantime, I made some kickass deviled devil eggs for a snack. I was really hungry. I'm drinking water. I'm going to rest, and when I sit down and shut up, I'll have plenty of content to sip on by the fire. Thank you, as always, for putting kindness into the world. I know just with a glance that you're being kind and smiley.
With gratitude,
Jessie Hammersmith, RN
Des Plaines (OG), Dekalb, and Lombard (transplant), IL (deep roots)
Hallo en goedenavond! I guess by those beautiful low clouds you may be in the Netherlands?! We were just there. Paradise. I hope you can get to some of the beaches in North and South Holland - really peaceful. (And if you are not in the Netherlands, let me down gently.)
You mentioned how you get fascinated with how things work and how people live -- have you ever found yourself somewhere that, for whatever reason, you thought you just wanted to stay longer... even indefinitely? Sometimes a vacation or business trip can turn into a place-affair.
Nick, thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to do Donkey Thoughts 💭, I was on my way north and enjoyed listening to all the podcasts in reverse sequence! So fortunate to be able to hear your thoughts and your deep smooth voice with velvet lips. I find the experience very relaxing and light hearted. I thought of so many questions I’d love to hear the answers to, but unfortunately couldn’t put paper to pen since I was driving solo for 12 hrs.
While I was up north I got news from you that you would indeed be interested in a T- shirt swap! Thanks so much.
My husband and I have perused several of your books and have decided we are made of the same cloth. We love exploring nature, gardening, woodworking, white water and canoe camping. While my husband has traveled the globe with his work filming directing and producing with North Carolina Public TV, I have traveled little. After traveling to the French Alps with an Installation Artist George’s Rousse (his works are mind blowing). I was so captivated with the wilderness, I stayed alone on Mont Granier all night shooting photos and wandering in the altiplano. I thoroughly experienced the uniqueness of that mountain shot some fabulous images, and terrified a large animal by inadvertently sneaking up on it In moonlight darkness….
So here’s the questions I would like to know most. In your wanderings through the world and wilderness when did you feel most captivated by your surroundings and where did you find your biggest adventure? Please say more about adventure and the most spectacular tree you’ve ever seen.
Thanks for the tip about the Devils Biscuit in one of your answers to my question.. Oh and have you gotten the hang of the switch blade draw knife Roy sent you?
Hi Nick! Zoë here from the UK. I’m just curious to know what your favourite part of the process is when working on one of your touring shows or a play? Personally I always like seeing the model box or costume designs.
Nick! Nick, Nick, Nick! I have asked questions over the last few months and I thought you were keeping a log and going to get to them later! Whoops! Since they're probably lost in the digital woodwork, here are a few to add to the pile:
- Have you considered that religion is all just seeking out a life and death without suffering? Do you think humans are too busy suffering to realize they could, you know, like, not do that?
- What you described in your post is my heaven on earth. Being home with nothing to do, no obligations, and no worry. I'm like a butterfly, floating between tasks and hobbies. Being forced to sit still is very uncomfortable, but it's also rest for the spirit. Do you have any daily rituals around rest or relaxation? (My mother-in-law encouraged me to get the Calm app so you can read me a bedtime story, so I'm doing that tonight and hopefully I'll sleep better)
- Finally, Have you ever been to Des Plaines, IL? Will you pronounce it for our other Muleteers? And did you have a favorite stop in DP (not Double Penetration)? High school for me included marching band, getting into mischief with friends, and post-game outings to Barnaby's, Steak & Shake, or Denny's. Baker's Square, and all of those places except Steak & Shake are gone now. Kind of a bummer. I'm hoping you'll have some favorite places to stop the next time I'm in town.
As you decide which question is best for your mood and energy, I will also say that I really appreciate the candid nature of your posts. I have been posting on Substack since a little while after I discovered yours and have found it... kind of lonely :/ Other social media sites it seems like the communication goes two-ways, at least in terms of "likes" and "shares". But here, it's kind of like yelling into the deep abyss. I asked on Jeff Tweedy's Starship Casual if we could get a bookclub going, and I'm going to try to create a subreddit to get that going. I'm happy to bounce between the platforms - listening on here, chatting over there, while I figure out what kind of content resonates with people. I used my words to describe Healthcare, but nobody seems to be hearing me. So I'm going to leave it for a while, put it all in one place, and figure out a path that lets me continue talking without exhausting myself into a headachey motionless lump. You are a good person, putting good energy into the world. It nourishes me, and I know I'm not alone. Neither are you. And when you make it back to Des Plaines/Chicago/Lombard, I'll look forward to sharing a space with you in REAL LIFE!
Love,
Jessie Hammersmith, RN
Lombard, IL (and you know, some other places in IL)
Hello from North Florida, where we also had nice clouds today.
A question for you, one at which I find myself grappling with increasing frequency. You have a successful acting career, which is obviously sufficient to occupy your time. But you've also chosen to engage your woodworking passions in an entrepreneurial mode. What is your philosophy and/or advice to those considering making a hobby into a side gig, but without the desire to go full-time?
FYI: I did the trip on the cheap. Total cost, including living expenses: $2200 (approx.) for 32 days! I wanted to let people know that traveling to the Continent does not have to be expensive to be enjoyable.
Question: This is Jeff from Maryland. As an actor, what do you feel are the some of the most important acting performances on the silver screen (other than the Chris Pratt blooper reels from Parks & Rec)? Thanks!
In response to your request for more questions , I pose this anecdote the leads to a query: The other day you came up in a conversation with writer friend of mine. You see, we are creating a swordsmith character for a project of mine and we said "this character should love metal, metallurgy, bladesmithing and swords with the same amount of passion and flair as Nick Offerman conveys in his podcast about woodworking" (for which we obtusely pigeonhole Donkey Thoughts)... so in light of your request for inspiring questions, I ask this: Have you ever blacksmithed, bladesmithed any other kind of hot metal in need of hammering? If yes, what have you done? If no, why not?
Nick, I find myself in similar mindset when I travel and talk with people. Over the years, I visited a few places. I discovered that the reason I gravitated to many places was that people made these beautiful locations even richer. I met a wonderful person called Juan in Lugo, Spain. Last October and November, I took two planes and two trains to live in Lugo for 32 days. I like to be a so-called fish out of water, learn the culture, work on language skills, and write. I’ll treasure that experience for the rest of my days. Plus, it was a deliberate choice which made it even more grand. Question: Have you ever made an effort, not media or work related, to go somewhere new and take joy in everyday being a learning experience?
So enjoyed your chat. You said you're in a European city. Apart from casual conversation, what do you do to get acquainted with where you are, when time allows?Guided walks? Museums? You bet I have a vested interest in asking. Yeah, okay, I'm a historian. And a European (well, I was until Brexit) Feel free to ignore. 😀 (I'm in Madison, WI)
Ed from Milford, NH here. As my wife, Tory, and I get ready to take our camper, Hayduke, to northern VT for a week, I was wondering - are you going to take your Airstream out later this year? It seems that you are pretty busy working and traveling, which means you could really use some serious down time camping. Time to stretch out on that zero gravity chair outside your camper with an ice-filled glass of bourbon - make mine Makers Mark. Enjoy and be well.
Hi Mr. Offerman, Tristan H. from Tucson AZ here. I have been loving being a part of this substack and much appreciate listening to/reading your thoughts. Do you have any advice or sage wisdom for a 25 year old who was in a career but has been burnt out and now is completely lost in what they should do? After going into school for 5 years (nursing) and devoting their life to this career, being burnt out and not wanting anything to do with it had made things difficult. Thanks very much!
How far back do you go when looking for questions worth your while? A couple installments back? Or do you keep a list of worthy queries dating from way back towards the beginning? I remember reading several questions in episodes past whose potential answers piqued my interest (some of which I myself wrote, of course 😉), though the exact questions escape me at the moment. Of course, it would be nice of us Muleteers to keep providing you with a fresh pot of inquiries, but I feel there are some old ones stashed away begging for your attention. Just wondering if we will ever know the thoughts His Donkey-ness thinks on those perhaps-forgotten inquiries?
Morgan, from NC
Holy Cow that T-Shirt is amazing!! That is some old-school beauty right there... and thank you so much for answering my question!!
The answer is, a beautiful Nick-Grown garden. Now we shall egg you on to find this serendipity!
I will be putting my feet up this afternoon to listen and read. In the meantime, I made some kickass deviled devil eggs for a snack. I was really hungry. I'm drinking water. I'm going to rest, and when I sit down and shut up, I'll have plenty of content to sip on by the fire. Thank you, as always, for putting kindness into the world. I know just with a glance that you're being kind and smiley.
With gratitude,
Jessie Hammersmith, RN
Des Plaines (OG), Dekalb, and Lombard (transplant), IL (deep roots)
Hallo en goedenavond! I guess by those beautiful low clouds you may be in the Netherlands?! We were just there. Paradise. I hope you can get to some of the beaches in North and South Holland - really peaceful. (And if you are not in the Netherlands, let me down gently.)
You mentioned how you get fascinated with how things work and how people live -- have you ever found yourself somewhere that, for whatever reason, you thought you just wanted to stay longer... even indefinitely? Sometimes a vacation or business trip can turn into a place-affair.
Oh one more question who was the most amazing artist you’ve ever worked with?
Nick, thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to do Donkey Thoughts 💭, I was on my way north and enjoyed listening to all the podcasts in reverse sequence! So fortunate to be able to hear your thoughts and your deep smooth voice with velvet lips. I find the experience very relaxing and light hearted. I thought of so many questions I’d love to hear the answers to, but unfortunately couldn’t put paper to pen since I was driving solo for 12 hrs.
While I was up north I got news from you that you would indeed be interested in a T- shirt swap! Thanks so much.
My husband and I have perused several of your books and have decided we are made of the same cloth. We love exploring nature, gardening, woodworking, white water and canoe camping. While my husband has traveled the globe with his work filming directing and producing with North Carolina Public TV, I have traveled little. After traveling to the French Alps with an Installation Artist George’s Rousse (his works are mind blowing). I was so captivated with the wilderness, I stayed alone on Mont Granier all night shooting photos and wandering in the altiplano. I thoroughly experienced the uniqueness of that mountain shot some fabulous images, and terrified a large animal by inadvertently sneaking up on it In moonlight darkness….
So here’s the questions I would like to know most. In your wanderings through the world and wilderness when did you feel most captivated by your surroundings and where did you find your biggest adventure? Please say more about adventure and the most spectacular tree you’ve ever seen.
Thanks for the tip about the Devils Biscuit in one of your answers to my question.. Oh and have you gotten the hang of the switch blade draw knife Roy sent you?
Hi Nick! Zoë here from the UK. I’m just curious to know what your favourite part of the process is when working on one of your touring shows or a play? Personally I always like seeing the model box or costume designs.
Nick! Nick, Nick, Nick! I have asked questions over the last few months and I thought you were keeping a log and going to get to them later! Whoops! Since they're probably lost in the digital woodwork, here are a few to add to the pile:
- Have you considered that religion is all just seeking out a life and death without suffering? Do you think humans are too busy suffering to realize they could, you know, like, not do that?
- What you described in your post is my heaven on earth. Being home with nothing to do, no obligations, and no worry. I'm like a butterfly, floating between tasks and hobbies. Being forced to sit still is very uncomfortable, but it's also rest for the spirit. Do you have any daily rituals around rest or relaxation? (My mother-in-law encouraged me to get the Calm app so you can read me a bedtime story, so I'm doing that tonight and hopefully I'll sleep better)
- Finally, Have you ever been to Des Plaines, IL? Will you pronounce it for our other Muleteers? And did you have a favorite stop in DP (not Double Penetration)? High school for me included marching band, getting into mischief with friends, and post-game outings to Barnaby's, Steak & Shake, or Denny's. Baker's Square, and all of those places except Steak & Shake are gone now. Kind of a bummer. I'm hoping you'll have some favorite places to stop the next time I'm in town.
As you decide which question is best for your mood and energy, I will also say that I really appreciate the candid nature of your posts. I have been posting on Substack since a little while after I discovered yours and have found it... kind of lonely :/ Other social media sites it seems like the communication goes two-ways, at least in terms of "likes" and "shares". But here, it's kind of like yelling into the deep abyss. I asked on Jeff Tweedy's Starship Casual if we could get a bookclub going, and I'm going to try to create a subreddit to get that going. I'm happy to bounce between the platforms - listening on here, chatting over there, while I figure out what kind of content resonates with people. I used my words to describe Healthcare, but nobody seems to be hearing me. So I'm going to leave it for a while, put it all in one place, and figure out a path that lets me continue talking without exhausting myself into a headachey motionless lump. You are a good person, putting good energy into the world. It nourishes me, and I know I'm not alone. Neither are you. And when you make it back to Des Plaines/Chicago/Lombard, I'll look forward to sharing a space with you in REAL LIFE!
Love,
Jessie Hammersmith, RN
Lombard, IL (and you know, some other places in IL)
Hello from North Florida, where we also had nice clouds today.
A question for you, one at which I find myself grappling with increasing frequency. You have a successful acting career, which is obviously sufficient to occupy your time. But you've also chosen to engage your woodworking passions in an entrepreneurial mode. What is your philosophy and/or advice to those considering making a hobby into a side gig, but without the desire to go full-time?
Thank you, and thanks for the podcast.
FYI: I did the trip on the cheap. Total cost, including living expenses: $2200 (approx.) for 32 days! I wanted to let people know that traveling to the Continent does not have to be expensive to be enjoyable.
Question: This is Jeff from Maryland. As an actor, what do you feel are the some of the most important acting performances on the silver screen (other than the Chris Pratt blooper reels from Parks & Rec)? Thanks!
In response to your request for more questions , I pose this anecdote the leads to a query: The other day you came up in a conversation with writer friend of mine. You see, we are creating a swordsmith character for a project of mine and we said "this character should love metal, metallurgy, bladesmithing and swords with the same amount of passion and flair as Nick Offerman conveys in his podcast about woodworking" (for which we obtusely pigeonhole Donkey Thoughts)... so in light of your request for inspiring questions, I ask this: Have you ever blacksmithed, bladesmithed any other kind of hot metal in need of hammering? If yes, what have you done? If no, why not?