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Sept. 18, 2025 - The Joe Rogan Experience
02:46:26
Joe Rogan Experience #2381 - Taylor Kitsch
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j
joe rogan
48:19
t
taylor kitsch
01:52:54
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Speaker Time Text
unidentified
Joe Rogan podcast, check it out!
The Joe Rogan experience train by day, Joe Rogan podcast by night, all day 85.
joe rogan
Yeah, drop some headphones on the cost.
unidentified
Damn.
joe rogan
Yeah, you have to, well, see, if you ever gonna shoot something at 45, you really want to be comfortable at twice that.
taylor kitsch
Okay.
joe rogan
So I'll shoot 90.
I'll shoot 100 yards.
Yeah.
Yeah, because that way when you get into 40, it seems normal.
taylor kitsch
Yeah, right.
joe rogan
It seems easy.
taylor kitsch
It's an easy day.
unidentified
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
It's all just about like effectively.
taylor kitsch
Would you take a shot at 85?
unidentified
No.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
No, no, no, no, no.
taylor kitsch
That's far.
joe rogan
You might take a follow-up shot.
Like, you know, the animals are already going to go down.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
You can, if you can, you should always get a second shot on them.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
So I'll take a second shot at 85, but I would.
taylor kitsch
Have you had one and it just fucking ran, just gone?
joe rogan
Oh, yeah.
taylor kitsch
Like 200, 300 yards.
joe rogan
What do you mean?
taylor kitsch
Like if you shoot it and you know hit it?
Yeah, hit it and it just goes into the bush and you got to track it, find it.
joe rogan
Yeah, you can track them though.
taylor kitsch
Yeah, just leaking all over the place.
joe rogan
Yeah, blood trails.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
Especially if you use a large mechanical broadhead.
taylor kitsch
So I've shot one deer in my life and it was after loan and I was on Latrell.
joe rogan
After Lone Survival?
unidentified
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
And I was with Latrell and a couple other SEALs on his ranch.
And, you know, you're surrounded by SEALs.
So it's like, he's like, let's get you one.
I'm like, yeah, let's go.
And so we're on the ranch.
Have you been there?
joe rogan
No.
taylor kitsch
Oh, it's great.
And I don't know how many acres, but he had, used to have like giraffes on the ranch and shit.
It was crazy.
You would literally just be out there and there's a couple giraffes.
And I think they're gone now.
But we pull into this like opening and he's like, there's going to be some deer on the right.
Lo and behold, couple deer.
He's like, okay, take that one.
Pull out the M4.
We're pretty far, but not crazy.
And I'm nervous, man.
Of course, I've trained with the M4 and for loan and all this stuff, but I've never like shot shot.
And so I hit it and he's like, fucking great shot.
Let's roll up.
Roll up, no deer.
And you can hear it, though.
And it's like, just losing his fucking mind.
unidentified
Oh, no.
taylor kitsch
And I'm like, oh, fuck.
And so the other seal, he's like, let's go.
So we walk and walk and walk and finally get around this corner, and we have to put him down with a pistol.
And I was like...
joe rogan
Why'd you have to put him down with a pistol?
taylor kitsch
Just because we walked right up on it and it was just dying.
Yeah.
And so I was just like, okay, this is part of it.
joe rogan
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
And then we, you know, ate it and all that kind of stuff.
But it was.
joe rogan
That's the good part.
taylor kitsch
Yeah, it really is.
But that was my one experience.
But I did, I did go with my bro loves hunting.
And we went out in Montana and there's on a friend's ranch in the backcountry.
And he was Bo.
And I love tracking animals for photography.
So it's the same thing.
Watching the wind, getting up fucking before light hits, just getting deep.
You're way up there too.
Calling, all that kind of stuff.
And it's just so fun.
And once you get in tight, your adrenaline's just buzzing.
And we had eyes on this like big boy.
And so then I'm doing the, he's like working his way up the mountain up this pass.
And I'm doing the antlers against the tree and then the antlers and getting it angry, getting it worked up.
And it starts bugling even more.
And you're like, I'm not even taking the shot.
And I'm like, this is fucking legit.
And he pulls his fucking mask down and he's like getting into it.
I see him like army crawling up there.
Missed.
But we had a blast.
It's more of like a bonding experience, man, than anything for us.
joe rogan
It's a very intense experience, especially because they scream.
And the sound like gives you goosebumps.
taylor kitsch
It does.
joe rogan
Especially when you're close to them.
unidentified
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
And it just goes through your body.
It shakes you.
Yeah, yeah.
joe rogan
Yeah, there's nothing like elk.
taylor kitsch
I know.
I know.
joe rogan
It's really fun.
unidentified
Yeah.
joe rogan
But it takes a lot of work.
taylor kitsch
It is.
You earn it.
joe rogan
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
It's a different hunt, right?
Than just rifle.
It's just rifle up there, at least in that area, it's like sometimes your hunt's under an hour.
You know, with bow, you're in one.
This is days, possibly.
Oh, for sure.
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah.
joe rogan
Especially if you want to get within 50.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
And then that's the magic.
unidentified
Yes, yes.
joe rogan
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
Throwing up the grass, checking it all the time.
Fuck, it's so fun.
joe rogan
You live in Montana now?
taylor kitsch
I do.
joe rogan
How long have you been out there?
taylor kitsch
Five, just over five years now.
joe rogan
That's awesome.
taylor kitsch
Well, this man, flying into Austin, I was here 16 plus years.
So it's just memory fucking lane.
joe rogan
It's crazy.
taylor kitsch
Crazy.
This is where it all started, man.
joe rogan
Really?
unidentified
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
Like Friday Night Lights.
We were like school for the deaf just down the street.
Land in the airport.
Dylan Field was just across the airport.
So so many memories of Pete and I. We were staying at the Four Seasons shooting the pilot.
Learned to box here at Richard Lord's.
If you don't know this guy, he's fucking amazing.
joe rogan
Richard Lord?
taylor kitsch
Yeah, Richard Lorde.
There's a dock on him, actually.
He's up.
I don't even know if he's still around.
He was pretty old when he taught me how to box.
But wicked dude, just zenned out.
He was probably in his mid-60s.
So he'd be up there now.
But yeah, Pete literally was like, before we hit camera, it was like, hey, you want to go box?
And I was like, all right.
joe rogan
Fucking.
taylor kitsch
And I loved it.
I loved it.
And I still boxed.
Pete Bird.
joe rogan
Yeah, he loves boxing.
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
Of course.
L.A. Of course.
I do not spar with him anymore.
It's Dirty Pete is his fucking boxing name.
I bet you he didn't fucking tell you that, did he?
joe rogan
Why is it Dirty Pete?
taylor kitsch
Because he's earned that, man.
He's so, you know, you'll do body shots only or stuff like that and spar.
Keep each other honest.
Right.
But fuck, you get him once.
There's no rules.
unidentified
There's no rules.
taylor kitsch
And it's like you're on camera in like a week or something like that.
Yeah, and then you like take it and you're kind of shocked at first.
It just goes from like two to 11 so quick.
joe rogan
That's funny.
taylor kitsch
But yeah, it's the best workout.
joe rogan
We have a gym connected here.
So last time he was here.
taylor kitsch
No way here?
joe rogan
Yeah, it's right next to our shoes.
taylor kitsch
No shit smart.
joe rogan
So we worked out together and cold plunge, the whole deal.
unidentified
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
He gets after it.
taylor kitsch
He does.
He does.
He pushes.
I mean, even when we shot American Prime Evil, he was his little garage set up, man.
Cold plunge, steam room.
Like, it's, he's got to have it.
joe rogan
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
He's got to have it for that brain of his.
Yeah.
joe rogan
Yeah.
American Prime Evil was fucking awesome, dude.
unidentified
Thanks, man.
joe rogan
That show is so good.
I started watching it with my wife, but she's like, nope, gotta go.
She can't handle.
These get intense.
That's a fucking intent, but also probably super accurate.
Like one of the most accurate representations of what life was probably like in the West back then.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
Yeah.
I learned so much on that, man.
I mean, living in Montana, I got to this cowgirl friend of mine who I met at that ranch had been working with this shaman just outside of Livingston.
And I was telling her I'm playing a guy that kind of raised by Shoshone and all this.
And like that was kind of where I hung my hat of like, if this guy lost his family at six or seven and then adopted or sold to the Shoshone, this is who he is.
He's more Shoshone than he is white.
So I started working with this shaman, which was incredible.
And then went down to the Shoshone Reservation, Wynn River, worked with the elders there.
It's tough, man, because obviously going there, you're like, and they knew I was coming, but it's like you're talking to these elders and it's like we meet five minutes in and I'm like, so what do you, what do you guys do when you bury your wife?
And you're asking these heavy, heavy questions.
joe rogan
Cultural questions.
unidentified
Yes.
taylor kitsch
That is true meaning behind it all.
So she took a long beat and she's like, I'll get back to you on that.
I'll get back to you on that.
And then I went into this other room at the school there and this other elderly woman comes in a wheelchair and she sits there and she's like, what do you want to know?
And so we just sat there for hours and she was incredibly transparent and just really open.
And I would take all this and go to Pete and be like, listen, if we're going to, we got to honor these guys.
So let's do it right.
And he was all ears.
And the Shoshone was very tough to learn.
joe rogan
When you say working with a shaman, like, what did you do?
unidentified
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
So we'll do like two-hour sweats.
joe rogan
Like a sweat loss.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
How do they have that set up?
Like a fire in the middle of it or something?
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
So it's fire is always burning before you start to sweat.
And then he'll grab river rocks from Yellowstone River.
And then the fire's going, and he'll bring these rocks that are in the fire into the middle of the sweat lodge.
And there's four doors to this one.
And you'll fast the day before.
And he'll put the river rocks in the middle.
And they're smoking hot, right?
And then he brings river water from a spring or whatever.
And then you have you fast and then you have your intention ties.
So you would sit down with him for an hour or two and talk about what you want out of this.
Sometimes it's like, do I want to have a kid?
Or a buddy of mine was using heroin for something.
So I would bring him and have a sweat and just give him my energy in this sweat to help him.
Or my dad passed or something.
Or some, it can be light too.
It doesn't have to be so heavy.
But he's been amazing.
Like before, like I start a movie in a couple weeks.
And I'm just going to go do a sweat and get ready for that.
And I just, whatever he's going to, energy he's going to give me to go into this shoot.
And then for the, for Prime Evil, it was fucking beautiful.
Like I wasn't a good rider.
I'm still not on horses.
And he gave me, like, my horse has a feather.
If you really watch, I had four horses in it, but my first horse has a feather in him.
And I wanted to do all these and honor the horses, which obviously the Shoshone do.
So he just taught me a shit ton about just to honor that tribe and honor what they do and to be as authentic as possible.
So that helped me root Isaac so much.
But yeah.
joe rogan
That's such an intense character.
And imagine you're playing a guy who's a white guy who's like deeply ingrained with Native American life.
And so it's like, it's all, it's very conflicted.
There's a lot going on there.
But you want, you want to embody what this guy would be like.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
Yeah.
And you're, you meet him when he's mourning, right?
And he's lost his wife and his son, and he married into the tribe.
So the female chief, I married her daughter and had a son.
And so when you meet Isaac, he's just in mourning.
And everything is full circle.
Everything is circular with them.
So the only way he could reunite with his family is to is to die honorably.
So that influences the way I fight.
So the way Isaac fights is all in.
Wild.
Wild.
Like biting.
I just got chills thinking about this.
There's a fight, I think, in episode two, which was fucking insane.
And we didn't rehearse.
This is very Berg.
And we have these, one guy's blackfeet, unbelievable guy.
And I kept using him because he's a great stuntman.
And so Pete's like, you guys are going to fucking roll down this hill.
And I want you to fight your way to the river.
And then we'll cut.
And then I want you to fight in the river.
This is like maybe 28 degrees in that river.
unidentified
The safety guy is like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
taylor kitsch
This is not cool.
And this is all like on the go.
So JJ Dashnaw, my double, is like all in.
He loves this.
This is near the end of the shoot too.
So, and everyone's game.
And that fight was just so fucking intense.
joe rogan
So is it choreographed at all?
taylor kitsch
Nothing.
joe rogan
Nothing.
taylor kitsch
Literally nothing.
joe rogan
So how do you know like when he's going to punch or you're going to punch?
taylor kitsch
So during, if it's you and me, it's like you will walk the area, make sure there's no sticks or whatever that we're going to impale us.
And during the fight, I'll be like, okay, I'm going to flip you.
joe rogan
Oh, wow.
taylor kitsch
And then it's like, okay, I'm going to get on top.
joe rogan
So you have to say it.
unidentified
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
And then Pete will be yelling behind camera to be like, okay, now work your way on top of him.
And then we'll fight, work our way, roll, work our way.
And then he's like, okay, find a rock, kill him.
joe rogan
Jesus Christ.
taylor kitsch
And then that war cry, which I'm so proud of.
I worked on that forever.
And I had talked to Pete about it for, you know, months before, but we're just rolling so quick.
And I told our A camera, Brett, to get in tight.
I mean, any shot with Pete is fucking tight, which I love.
And I'm like, B, I'm going to, I'm going to do this war cry.
So don't go down to him.
And he's like, gotcha.
And so when I did it, Pete finally called Cut and he goes, what the fuck?
I was not fucking ready for that.
And it's those moments, though, that he allows you to just go, you know?
unidentified
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
Well, he's such a smart guy.
taylor kitsch
He is, man.
When he's dialed, he's like lone.
He was just so present and early.
And he just, I mean, we were surrounded by SEALs, as you know, every take.
And I don't think you could do what we did in prep of just like no producers, no Pete, no nothing.
It's just every morning, 7 a.m., 8 a.m., we're up on the mountain with SEALs with Ray Mendoza and amazing guys.
And we, first week is like first day, man.
I'm Canadian, so I haven't shot a fucking gun in my life.
joe rogan
The first time you ever shot a gun was a lone survivor?
unidentified
Yes.
joe rogan
That's hilarious.
taylor kitsch
So first, Chris Karachi, who's a fucking legend, a man's man.
And he, I think he was like one of the, on the first team, SEAL team units and the deepest voice you've ever heard in your life.
And like a fucking man.
And he took me under his wing.
And so our first day was live fire.
And Karachi took me aside.
He's like, hey, it's you and me.
And I'm like, let's go.
And I'm like as fit as I ever have been.
I was running Town Lake doing the MRF every fucking three times a week with weighted vests and just at Lake Travis High School there doing pull-ups.
And it was unbelievable fun training for that.
And first day was live fire.
And that fucking gets you right.
That you do not fuck around.
And they make sure of it.
And then I haven't, I hadn't met Marcus yet.
And Foster had drove down, I think from Texas to New Mexico with Latrell.
I was pretty jealous of that.
It's like, oh, you got to spend some real time with Marcus.
And I was playing Mike, obviously, who is Marx's best friend.
And so we're on this fucking range doing live fire, like upside down, reloads, combat reloads, jamming, blindfold.
It was just, it was full on.
And Emil's actually a great shot.
Marcus comes, everything goes full stop.
And right when he's coming, there's a PA on the other side and she's bringing fucking banana shakes out, which is not a good look for these actors.
And Marcus looks at these shakes and he looks at the actors and he's like, what the fuck is happening?
You guys don't get shakes in between.
And one of the actors just shamelessly goes up and grabs one of these banana shakes and he's just talking to Marcus, meeting him for the first time.
unidentified
And I'm like, you might want to put that down.
Like, wait till he fucking leaves before.
taylor kitsch
But, and then it's just a beautiful experience, man.
The second week of training, we were doing sim munitions.
Have you done that?
unidentified
No.
taylor kitsch
Oh, you would love it.
So this will break skin.
And they hurt.
It's like hard plastic, paint-tipped.
And they fly like that, right?
They arc?
Yeah.
joe rogan
Because they don't go as fast.
taylor kitsch
Right.
And so we have Sims now.
And Mike would, my guy decides if we push left, push right, if we engage, get the fuck out of here.
Let's buy ourselves some time, whatever.
I got to make these calls.
And so the SEALs are in tally gear.
And they're like, go up the mountain with Taliban gear.
They're all dressed in tally gear.
So we meet up at the bottom of this fucking mountain and they're all in Taliban gear.
And you're like, oh, God.
We're so fucked.
So they're like, give us 10 minutes.
And when you get ambushed, we're going to watch and we're going to engage.
And we're going to see what you do, see what you've learned the last week.
And you're like, all right, let's go.
So it happens.
And you're just walking, right?
Just like we are in the film.
You're just walking and waiting to get ambushed.
You know shit's about to hit.
And so they hit and you hit the ground right away to figure out where the bullets are coming.
And you can hear them, which really sets you straight.
And so I'm looking over at Emil and I'm like, fucking 12 o'clock.
They're just straight up in these trees.
I'm like, 12 o'clock, fucking push right.
We got to get the, cause we're in this open field.
I just got chills.
We're in this open field.
And I'm like, get the fucking cover, dude.
We got to fucking fight our way to cover.
And Emil's like taking his time.
And he's like, bro, ah, fuck.
All right.
It's fucking intense.
And I'm like, push right.
I got foster behind me who's like so in it.
He's fucking crawling through cactus and like bleeding.
And I'm on the ground crawling, screaming at Emil.
Marcus comes out full.
We got hammered.
I literally don't think we got through a mag.
Like, and Marcus comes out and we're not laughing, but it's too light.
Like we're taking it too lightly.
And I'm like, Emil, you got to push, man.
If I'm pushing, if I'm telling you, so Marcus comes in and he's like full stop and he goes, I thought he was going to rip Emil.
And he comes over to me and he's like, is this funny?
And I'm like, no, sir.
And he's like, do you understand the stakes of this?
Like, every one of you are fucking dead.
You're all fucking dead.
And so he just rips me.
He's like, it's your fault.
This guy doesn't want to fucking move.
Make a move.
Like, you're dead.
Do you understand that?
unidentified
And I was just like, just leveled, right?
taylor kitsch
And it's a beautiful learning curve for me.
And we got better.
But I mean, anytime, there's one time, I won't kill you with these stories, but one time I was like fucking proud of myself.
Like we got in a ditch.
It was too much.
Simmunition, same thing.
And we got in a ditch and we're all here.
And I'm fucking looking downrange like, like fucking, we're in one.
We're still in a fight.
And then no joke, Mark Simos, the sniper SEAL, grabs my fucking shoulder.
And he's like, boom.
And I'm like, where the fuck did you come from?
Like, that's how good these motherfuckers are, man.
So it was like, it was just an amazing experience.
joe rogan
When you train for something like that, like, how much time is spent?
Like, when you know you got the role, then you know you're going to film.
Like, how much time do you give yourself to prepare for something like that?
taylor kitsch
Longer.
I love prep.
So I do.
Yeah.
joe rogan
Why do you love that?
taylor kitsch
The more time I can root myself into this guy, especially when the stakes are so high, like Murph.
I mean, physically, was, I did this little comedy in Canada.
And if you watch this movie, and I was training for loan during this movie.
So it's called Skirwink Trail in Newfoundland.
Beautiful fucking trail.
And it's me, my best friend of 30 years and my assistant who is a great guy.
And we're training for loan, getting ready, doing like 50-pound runs, weighted vests, all this kind of stuff, Skirwink Trail.
So if you watch this movie, like at the beginning to the end, my body goes from like this to just fucking stacked in this movie.
And so there's that.
But obviously 90% of this is mental, right?
The SEALs.
And so I just love that.
I love the prep.
I love that pressure.
Pete did a beautiful thing bringing 19 guys died on the op and the rescue mission.
So it was like he brought all the families.
I think it was a week before we hit camera.
And man, you know, I'm going, I'm in the elevator at the Hyatt in Santa Fe or Albuquerque.
And I'm fucking nervous.
Like, throw up nervous because I'm meeting Dan Murphy now.
And I'm like, did I do enough?
Am I really fucking ready?
Am I worthy of this shit?
And then we all have that fucking voice in our head that's like, you're a pile of shit.
You didn't do enough.
You're not ready.
And that's why I prep so much because it eliminates, it's like a fight, right?
UFC or anything.
These guys fucking, you prep to eliminate that self-doubt so you can be like, I'm fucking ready for you.
You know, so it's the same mentality.
And so that was my first words to Dan were like, I'm going to everything I have into this.
I'm going to do it as authentically as I know how.
And he was just so fucking gracious with me, gave Mike's firefighter patch and just told me some amazing stories.
And I'm super close with the Murphy family still.
I love Prep, man.
I think it's, you got to have it, especially with Pete's process.
Like, if you're, he's so off the cuff sometimes.
And if it's an idea he has on the day, which he really leans into his gut instinct, and obviously that's guided him pretty fucking beautifully.
But you just got to be ready for anything.
And if you don't prep, you're not rooted.
You're not ready for anything, you know?
So that one was a special one.
Yeah.
joe rogan
Do you, what, when you get into a character, like, like if you're doing Lone Survivor, do you try to stay in that character all day long?
Like, do you try to do you break for lunch and just be yourself?
taylor kitsch
I try for sure.
But you're still.
joe rogan
Do you try to stay in the character?
taylor kitsch
No, I try and be with you in the moment at lunch.
And not, even though it's really weird, though.
It is weird because you're on location on top of the fucking mountain.
You're taking this ski lift up there.
joe rogan
And it's so important to be this guy.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
Yeah.
And then you're having lunch with the Taliban guys.
unidentified
You know?
taylor kitsch
And they're coming and they're like, hey, man, we're big fans.
joe rogan
Oh, God.
taylor kitsch
And you're like, this is fucking weird.
joe rogan
Yeah.
We're supposed to be shooting at each other in 20 minutes.
taylor kitsch
I'm about to fucking blow your head off, man.
And so, I mean, Wahlberg's quite light in between.
So that can be infectious in a good way.
Ben is very, like, he carries that weight in a beautiful way.
That's why he's so good.
Emil's quite light.
But yeah, there's definitely a tone, right?
Especially when you're surrounded by the SEALs.
It's such a quick reminder of what you're doing or serving.
But yeah, you're up on that mountain having a sandwich, helping camera crew move their shit.
And then lunch is always quick.
So you're right back into it.
And it depends on the day.
Like, if I know like the climb up to Murph's death was you're just carrying more weight that day.
You just cannot fuck around.
You better get that fucking right.
joe rogan
Right.
taylor kitsch
And I remember being, Emil comes up to me and he's like, hey, if we get off tonight, I'll go full circle with this.
If we get off tonight, you want to go see Eddie Vetter?
And I'm like, fuck yeah.
I love me some Vetter.
And that was in Albuquerque.
And so we go to Vetter, meet him.
Vetter calls him up, sings a couple songs to him.
It was an unbelievable night.
And Pete the next day comes up to me and we're back up in the mountain doing some fall off the cliff.
We're doing that the next day.
And Pete's like, hey, you're death scene.
I want to talk about it.
And I'm like, all day, what do you want to know?
I got some thoughts on it.
And, you know, I talked to Marcus in the hotel and he remembers one specific thing he'd like me to do.
And so Murph brought, was pushing himself up with his rifle, climbing up this rock.
So I'm like, that's really all I want to make sure for Marcus's sake that I get that in.
And he's like, yeah, yeah.
We're going to shoot this in a parking lot just outside off the highway in Albuquerque.
And I'm like, yeah, right.
And he's like, no, no.
I want to control the light and have a beautiful landscape behind Murph.
And I'm like, Pete, you're fucking killing me.
We're going to do this in a fucking parking lot.
And so it was my last day as Murph.
And I love music.
I always have a playlist for whatever character.
And Explosions in the Sky, who's Austin, who was at the time Austin-based, great guys.
And Pete uses them all the time.
And they're just acoustic.
No lyrics, which is, they're fucking amazing.
And so there's one song that has a heartbeat in it.
And that was my song for Murph.
And it slows down in it.
And so I go, you know, prepping in the trailer.
I walk down through this fucking parking lot and I'm like, oh, dude, I'm not in it.
I'm not ready for this.
And then I'm getting mad at Pete for putting me in a parking lot to do this shit.
I'm looking at fucking Sandia Hotel, getting ready to go like this most epic death on, you know, it doesn't get more epic than that guy, really.
Put in the tunes and they built this big stage that was like four feet high in the rocks and then surrounded it by green screen and cameras on the phantom camera, which is that uber slow motion.
That's where you see the spit coming out of Murph's mouth and all this.
And I just broke down.
Like, just I puddled myself right before it was just like months and months and months of thinking about it and prepping and putting so much pressure.
And then I had explosions in my head.
And I was like, God damn, this is like you're overwhelmed with emotion.
And Pete comes up and he's like, get it out.
And so I took five minutes, camera crews waiting.
We did like, I told Pete, I want that rifle to him to climb up with the rifle.
And I think we did three takes.
And then the camera crew, Jacques, was a, he's a DP.
He DP'd American Prime Evil, but he was a camera op on loan.
And he was working that slow-mo camera.
And he just goes to Pete.
He's like, we've got it.
We've got it.
joe rogan
Was it weird watching it on film knowing that you shot it in a parking lot?
Like trying to.
taylor kitsch
This is the first time I told this story.
Very much.
Like we would go.
We went and the first time I saw this film, man, was in, I think it wasn't Redskins.
It was Denver, the Broncos.
We go and show this to the Broncos.
And Robert Griffin III was the quarterback, I think.
Yeah, he was there.
And I was with Ben Foster, and Ben had seen it.
And I was, I watched it the first time with the Denver fucking Broncos sitting in this theater.
And I was a mess.
A mess.
Yeah.
It's just the pressure, right?
I think.
joe rogan
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
But I love it.
joe rogan
Do it honor.
taylor kitsch
Yeah, truly.
And then my first email was to Dan, his dad, and he thanked me.
And that's all that really.
And Marcus.
But yeah, they thanked me.
And that was really all I fucking need.
joe rogan
That's got to be a very intense kind of a role because you're playing a real human being whose family's still alive.
taylor kitsch
Maureen, Johnny, Dan, the whole family.
And there's a destroyer, fucking beach, male UPS, or not UPS, but like a fucking stamp or whatever named after him.
There's fucking, it's insane.
There's all these huge honorary plaques and statues and all this kind of stuff.
So if you let it like overwhelm you, it definitely can.
Yeah, but it's been, I mean, that's where all this, my love for these guys is, is really stemmed from that.
You know, that's where it's like, I've played SEALs a lot.
And it's, it's, I'm never raised military or my grandfather, sir, but it was, it's an infectious group, man.
It's like a brotherhood that's so real.
joe rogan
Exceptional humans.
taylor kitsch
Truly, truly.
And people don't understand these guys are the best fucking problem solvers on the planet.
They're doctors.
They're lawyers.
They're fucking smart.
And so I don't know.
I've just been embedded.
And I think once you're in with these guys, you know, you don't take it for granted.
It's like I made calls to a buddy of mine that one of the most decorated SEALs alive.
And he trained me for loan, Ray Mendoza.
He just came out with Warfare, that movie.
That's his best friend, his story.
And unbelievable guy.
But I'll call Ray.
And Ray was doing second unit on Terminalist Dark Wolf.
And he's like a brother to me.
And no joke.
You're like, hey, man, I need a favor.
And he's like, he'll fucking bury someone for you, man.
This guy, like, yeah, what do you need?
What is it?
And it's like, it's just that whole brotherhood that it's like unquestionably, undeniably loyal.
joe rogan
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
And like Marcus, like, I mean, we're chatting a lot lately just because I'm shooting in Huntsville in a couple weeks and he's not far.
But like my sister, I took some time off to help my sister because she was using drugs.
And I just needed somewhere to fucking go.
Just, I can't be in Austin.
I tried LA.
She's still using.
She's still relapsing.
I fucking Marcus.
Call Marcus.
I'm like, let's, this is what's going on.
He's like, bring her here.
Bring her to the ranch.
There's no fucking fentanyl.
There's no heroin.
There's no meth on this fucking ranch, man.
Bring her here.
And so She's not using at the ranch.
So we went to the ranch and 10 days, I know she's going to be fucking clean because there's just all we're doing is driving around looking for hogs or like hanging out, fishing, whatever it is.
But he's just a beautiful guy, man.
And where he is now is just, he's lighter on his feet.
It's so beautiful to see.
He was hurting on loan, going through a lot of fucking surgery still, all this stuff.
So they're just so loyal and just great guys.
joe rogan
Yeah, very, very exceptional people.
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joe rogan
Have you been paying attention to what they're doing in Texas for veterans?
unidentified
Yes.
joe rogan
Ibogaine initiatives.
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
Awesome.
joe rogan
Huge.
taylor kitsch
Awesome.
joe rogan
It's so remarkable how effective it is.
Yeah.
And how many people, it's completely saved their life and changed their life.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
You know, and I was just thinking about that for your sister.
You know, I don't know.
taylor kitsch
Yeah, she's clean 10 years now, just under 10.
joe rogan
That's amazing.
taylor kitsch
Yeah, thanks.
She's a nurse now.
joe rogan
Oh, wow.
taylor kitsch
Which is incredible.
That's great.
Yeah, she's, it's really kind of like that's where that nonprofit comes from.
I just started it called Howler's Ridge.
And I didn't even know, like, when she got clean, like, there's some fucking crazy stories I can tell you.
But she's, she got clean and she hit me up and she was at a sober escape with all the girls she got clean with.
And I'm like, what is that?
And it's basically a reunion with all the people that you went through, your sober living or whatnot.
The last place she got clean was, she was supposed to be there 90 days.
She's there nine months.
unidentified
Whoa.
taylor kitsch
Yeah, that's what I said.
And so she was at this sober escape.
And so Howler's Ridge is basically a place.
I think we all know an addict if we're not ourselves.
And we're going to help vets as well.
But it's the sober side of addiction.
So it's a place anytime you're using, at least through my experience, watching my sister die a couple times, get Narcanned a couple times.
I mean, I've seen her detox on my fucking kitchen floor, which is the worst fucking sight of anybody to watch someone in so much pain.
But this spot is for her, you know, where it all started.
And this is, I think, anytime you're using, right, we're all habitual humans.
You work out six, seven times a week.
You need that for your brain.
So do I. And once you get in that habit, I change.
If I don't work out in three, four days, I'm a fucking asshole.
And I get depressed.
joe rogan
Yeah.
unidentified
Yeah.
joe rogan
Like I get anxious.
taylor kitsch
Yeah, very.
joe rogan
Yep.
Me too.
taylor kitsch
And I get, and I beat the shit out of myself.
joe rogan
Right, mentally.
Yeah.
I feel terrible.
unidentified
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
So we all create this environment, whether it's good or bad.
joe rogan
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
And I think with my sis, I just didn't have anywhere to take her.
And I needed to pull her out because there was a time I, she relapsed like four or five times in LA.
And I was just finishing True Detective when I got her.
And I mean, there's stories, but like, it's pretty fucked up, that whole system.
Because you have someone that's dying, right?
It's someone you raised or your brother or fucking best friend, whatever.
And I bring her to this, well, first she had to detox, which is an incredible story.
My mom calls me and she's like, she's been using for this long.
And I go full hero mode.
I didn't even know what fentanyl was.
unidentified
Really?
taylor kitsch
Yeah, I didn't.
This is right after True Detective.
I really wasn't exposed to it.
I knew heroin, of course.
joe rogan
So what is this like 12, 13 years ago?
taylor kitsch
Yeah, right in there.
You didn't know what fentanyl was?
No.
I knew like with the seals, they had fentanyl patches for the pain.
And then, of course, like, but that's really all I fucking, if that.
Like, obviously I educated myself on it after, and it's 20 to 25 times worse than heroin.
It's a deathbed drug.
Put you to sleep.
And so I got this call and I'm like, I'll get her sober in two weeks, bring her down, like hero mode.
And she comes and I had no idea what was going on.
And she had used right before she flew.
And so she was in withdrawal.
unidentified
Oh, God.
taylor kitsch
Oh, God is fucking right, man.
And your muscle contractions are so bad that I had this little one bedroom apartment in Marina Del Rey, 15, like literally a hallway from here, about this long, actually.
And it's late.
And she's just pacing because she can't sit still because the muscle contractions are so bad.
And I'm like, Shells, just take, go to bed, take my bed and just try and sleep.
She's like, no, no, no, no.
You don't understand.
I have to move.
And so she tried sleeping, going, laying down.
Muscle contractions are so bad.
She fell off the bed.
And I'm like, okay, let's go for a walk.
And the beauty of our relationship and what I think was a huge factor in getting her clean was the transparency.
Like, you got to fucking be real with me.
Tell me when you used, tell me how often, like everything.
And she did, which is so tough to hear.
And so we ended up walking down Abbott Kinney at three in the morning and no one's obviously out there.
And we just did this crazy walk and talk and I'll never forget it.
And it's just heartbreaking.
And I get her and I call, I'm like, I don't even know if she needs to detox.
So I call the hospital, Marina Del Rey, and they're like, no, we don't take anybody that's using right now.
They have to be detoxed and we may be able to help them after.
So I'm like, okay, what the fuck is, okay, we got, got to detox.
And so I call this place and they're like an hour away.
And she's like, I have a bed for her and bring her at 6 a.m.
I got this little Wrangler, a two-door Wrangler, and she's in the back seat, my mom in the front, and she's like almost kicking the fucking glass out because the muscle contractions of my Jeep.
And I was like, holy, like, such a wake-up call that I had no idea it was this bad.
So reality's kind of setting in.
And she kept asking for methadone.
I want methadone.
Cause she had detoxed before on methadone.
And so I go to this fucking house and I knock on the door and she's in the back seat.
She's got her little backpack and it's this fucking woman, like butchy presence.
She opens the door.
She's like, just a matter of fact, where's your sis?
And I'm like, oh, she's grabbing her bag.
She's like, well, bring her here.
I'm like, okay.
Shells, let's go.
She comes and Shells is like, I need, doesn't say hi, nothing.
She's like, I need methadone.
And she goes, well, when did you use blah, blah, blah, and all this?
And she tells her and she's like, oh, you haven't even bottomed out yet.
We don't treat drugs with drugs here, honey.
You're going to, you're going to have some Gatorade and some topical muscle relaxer and you're going to sweat this out.
And it's funny now.
But Shelby goes to her knees and she's like, I need methadone.
She goes, no, no, no.
What did I just say?
And she's like, you're getting Gatorade, muscle relaxer, and you're going to watch some movies.
And you can smoke, no phone.
She was incredible.
Four and a half days later, she called me and she's like, your sister's good.
Bring her to a sober living just by Venice High.
And it's 30,000, like when someone's fucking almost ready to go, you're, I'll do anything, right?
And they know this.
And so it's 30,000 for the month.
And it's a sober living.
You'll have one session, which isn't enough because she has some trauma.
And with a psych.
And I was like, one in 30 days?
One every week.
And I was like, we need a lot more than one a week.
And so I drop, and my sis was a runner.
And so you sign this fucking contract.
And it's like, if she runs, if she leaves, if she does this, this, this, and that, you, she's out.
We kick her out and we keep your money.
Two hours in, gone.
I get a call.
unidentified
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
I get a call from this LA number.
And I'm like, no fucking way.
Okay, there's 30 grand gone.
I'm going to find another one.
She went to another one, little better, cool.
Yeah, I got twice a week.
Two days later, she runs again.
So I'm down 65K in three days.
And I'm like bleeding cash.
And then I figure out like another spot.
She stayed like 30 days, relapsed.
And then, yeah, she kept relapsing.
And then multiple times, Narcan, up in Calabasas, there's a place and she left.
And this one girl, she had night terrors.
And so they would, she had, I would walk around, Joe, with this fucking Ziploc bag of pills of like antidepressants for her night terrors, sleeping pills, all these things to just take away this trauma for whatever beat it would be within her, right?
And there's an amazing doc up there and South African guy that deals with women, addicts, and trauma.
And she was there for a while and that was really great.
And she got a hold of these sleeping pills and they're supposed to give you one every night.
And the girl put the bottle up on the little half door.
You know, those doors, swinging doors.
Yeah.
And so she grabbed the bottle.
And she was, as a lot of these sober livings are, they're pretty incestuous.
And the guys sleep with the girls, vice versa, obviously.
And she was dating a kid named Mike there.
And so she went to that part of the house and said goodbye to Mike.
And to this kid's credit, he was like, that's a little weird.
You didn't say goodnight.
You just said goodbye.
And so she goes up, hammers 60-something sleeping pills.
Oh, Jesus.
Yeah.
And he goes and tells, he's like, hey, this ain't right.
You got to go check on her.
So long story short, call the ambulance.
And the medic, to his credit, is like, go grab the fucking bottle.
And grabs a bottle and shows this medic.
And he's like, we're pumping her stomach right now in the ambulance.
And what saved her life were their time release.
Isn't that fucking crazy?
unidentified
Wow.
taylor kitsch
Yeah, wild.
So I got this call and I lost my mind for giving her the bottle.
But yeah, she, at that point, she kind of just fucking ran again, went to a drug house.
She hates using needles so someone would shoot her up.
So as you know, if you're fucking sober 92 days, whatever it was, if you use what you were using before, you're fucking gone.
Yeah, exactly.
So they dropped, it's a fucking movie.
They dropped her off at the stoop of this hospital and she got Narcan.
I didn't know any of this part.
I didn't, I wasn't privy to this yet.
I'm just driving around looking for her.
And anyway, she's just to go back to that environment.
I'm like, I'm out of money.
We got to, I got to send you back home to Vancouver.
And she's like, you put me to Vancouver, I'm going to die.
And I'm like, well, it ain't working well here either.
And she was at a psych ward on 34th and Lamar.
That was a fucked up story, but for like 10 days.
But anyway, she got, she went to this place called the Westie House in New Westminster, just outside Vancouver.
And it was a woman's only.
And she was there.
She ran there and I got her back in and she got clean and hasn't looked back since.
joe rogan
She ran again.
taylor kitsch
I know, man.
Vancouver.
joe rogan
Phone calls must be rough.
taylor kitsch
I didn't even know what Al-Anon was.
And I was at 360 Bridge.
There's a church just across 360 Bridge.
And I was at this Al-Anon.
And I'm waiting.
I didn't, Shell's has been gone.
So I'm waiting for the call of like, okay, she's finally overdosed and gone.
And so I'm a mess.
And I'm in Al-Anon just waiting for this call.
And I'm judging everybody in this fucking Al-Anon.
Like, there's this woman across to me.
She's like, yeah, my husband, he used.
And yeah, I got Christmas with him.
And I'm like, fuck, that's easy day.
I'm like, you don't even know what the fuck I'm dealing with over here.
And then you hear another story and you're like, that's bullshit.
You guys are pussies.
All in my head.
And so I just listen.
It does help or help me a lot.
And I come out and this one guy, he's like, hey, you're heavy.
You got to, you want to talk or anything?
You didn't say a word in there.
And I'm like, right when he said that, my sis called and she was downtown Vancouver and she had just used and got scared straight.
Some guy had followed her and sexually abused a friend of hers in front of her.
And she's like, I can't do this no more.
So she was scared straight.
And she's like, that's what got her sober?
She got, she was downtown Vancouver, called me and she's like, can you get me back in Westie House?
And I call Susan was her name and call her back and I'm throwing everything.
I'm like, I will fucking support you guys.
Can you give us a bed?
Can you get her one more time?
I know she's not allowed back and all this.
And she goes, I'll call you back.
And she got, she got her bed and she was there nine months.
Wow.
Yeah.
Yeah.
joe rogan
So what was it that finally kept her sober?
Did she say that?
taylor kitsch
That's a fucking good question.
joe rogan
Jamie, can you tell Jeff to bring in the coffee?
unidentified
That's a good question.
taylor kitsch
I know at times it was like she has, we have nieces and nephews and she wanted to get clean for them, but that didn't last.
I think it was that moment of getting scared straight.
Like you just can't keep doing this.
joe rogan
Rock bottom.
taylor kitsch
Yeah, I think that's what it is.
It's so subjective, right?
joe rogan
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
We all know somebody that's like, I stopped drinking yesterday.
joe rogan
Yep.
taylor kitsch
Done.
Like my buddy over there, you just met.
It's just like he went for a few weeks and he hasn't had booze since.
And it's like, sometimes it just clicks and they're like, fuck this life.
I don't want it anymore.
And some just can't break that habit.
joe rogan
But yeah.
taylor kitsch
Oh, my God.
Thanks, Jamie.
But yeah, she's a lot like me, too.
Super, I'll steal some.
joe rogan
Still some dog.
unidentified
Thanks, man.
taylor kitsch
Yeah, it's a beautiful story.
joe rogan
It tragedies.
taylor kitsch
It ends well.
joe rogan
It ends well.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
Yeah, but it very well couldn't have.
I mean, imagine if that guy didn't say goodbye.
What is goodbye?
Why goodbye?
What the fuck's going on?
Yeah, that one guy probably saved your sister's life.
taylor kitsch
And I want to fucking kill that guy, by the way.
Because he relapsed with her and used with her at that drug house.
It's fucking sad.
I know, man.
So that, like, for me, is a big part of Howler's Ridge.
And then with the vets, we just chatted.
I love these guys and the families.
And so hopefully we'll have, you talk about Ibogaine.
I know we can't do that in Montana yet, hopefully.
But I hope up there on Howler's Ridge, we can, maybe in a year or two, we'll see what happens, that we can do some of that up there.
joe rogan
I think it's going to be so effective in Texas that it's going to spread.
And I think the fact that they're starting with veterans because these guys don't get any support.
taylor kitsch
I know.
joe rogan
You think about what they have to go through when they go off to war, the things that they experience.
And then they come back and they've lost friends and they've seen their buddies get blown up in front of them.
And they just, they're all fucked up.
And then they're hooked on pills.
taylor kitsch
And the pills are just, you can cookie monster a fucking jar if you want and they'll refill you.
And there's different outlets like Virginia, Hawaii, Florida, doctors in each one that are sending you.
joe rogan
Yep.
taylor kitsch
And it's, that's, you literally at your doorstep, you're getting these jars of pills.
It's like you're giving, and these guys obviously have addictive personalities.
That's what makes them so fucking great.
joe rogan
Yeah.
That's one thing like that's a weird thing, right?
The addictive tendency can actually make you great at something.
unidentified
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
Well, beautiful, right?
joe rogan
Yeah, I mean, if you use it.
If you harness it, but it can go sideways on you, which is really weird.
taylor kitsch
It is.
That's one thing.
And it's funny because not that I'm cocky or was cocky with Dark Wolf, but I had played this guy already before, and I lose my trident in it.
And Mendoza's kind of getting the parade rest ready and the whole ceremony ready for it.
And he's just a brother of mine.
And it was a big moment that I learned because these workups, say you work up on a Thursday and you go at 2 a.m. to 7 a.m. and you go take a couple guys out and you come back, whatever, celebrate, probably have a few drinks, and then you have another workup on Tuesday.
But let's say you and I go in the fight and I die on that Thursday op.
You're back in workup Tuesday morning.
So this is one thing that really kind of punched me when I was talking to Mendoza because he was talking about some stories where he lost somebody.
And I was like, there's literally no fucking time to mourn.
There's no time to register the loss of this.
So you're just harnessing this pain and this, all these emotions.
joe rogan
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
And you're just like, okay, I guess I'm back in the fight.
And I'm going to do this for at least another few months before I'm out of my six-month tour.
And that really kind of knocked me out.
And that set me free to play this guy a lot more like just knee-jerk emotion and way more of a live wire because it's like who we talk about how subjective mourning is.
You know, it's like everyone mourns differently.
joe rogan
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
So it's like, I just made that choice with Ben of just like, this guy's just a fucking mess and let him just emotionally make these decisions then.
And that's where I took him.
joe rogan
Did you have conversations with other vets that were addicts and that were fucked up from war and just had all sorts of different kinds of ways of dealing with trauma?
taylor kitsch
All the time.
All the time.
It's so common.
unidentified
It really is.
joe rogan
It's insanely common.
Yeah.
It only makes sense.
It would be crazy if it wasn't common.
taylor kitsch
I know.
joe rogan
Think what you're asking them to do.
taylor kitsch
I know.
And we don't know the half of it.
joe rogan
No.
taylor kitsch
We really don't.
joe rogan
We don't know any of it.
We don't experience it.
If you don't physically experience it, you're just making things up.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
You know?
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
And I mean, I think obviously with Red Wings and stuff like that with Lone, but then you talk to these guys in between takes and they're pretty transparent, which is beautiful that they're talking about it and all this.
But it's like, where are they putting this fucking energy after they're out?
Like they got to find another purpose that's so fucking heightened when you're serving.
There's no bigger purpose.
You're fucking killing bad guys.
joe rogan
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
Like that's incredible.
With your brothers right next to you.
Like that's a heavy fucking thing to carry.
And then when they come out, now what?
I'm going to go walk fucking Walmart and just be a dad.
And that's just a whole nother life.
joe rogan
That's one of the things I really loved about Hurt Locker.
taylor kitsch
Yeah, fuck me.
joe rogan
It was such a good movie.
And it was so good the way he explained or the way it played out how this guy just could not go back to normal.
Like it just wasn't working.
He didn't give a fuck.
He'd rather be back out there.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
Downright.
taylor kitsch
I mean, you look at Marcus, too, after Red Wings.
He went back to Ramadi.
joe rogan
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
Which is wanted to die with his boots on.
I mean, these guys are fucking, this is kind of the UFC, right?
Of like, these guys are modern day fucking gladiators, warriors.
And I know they're not in the front lines or downrange, but it's like you got a guy like Marcus or the Mendoza or these guys that are just truly born warriors.
There's just, they are a different breed.
joe rogan
Well, that's why they get it through buds, too.
unidentified
Yeah.
joe rogan
You got to be a different kind of human.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
Yeah.
More mental than physical.
joe rogan
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
I mean, Mendoza was running buds too.
And he would say a lot of times you look at these fucking scrawny guys.
Yeah.
joe rogan
Those are the ones that make it.
taylor kitsch
And then you got the D1 athletes that haven't had or gone through a whole lot because they're gifted athletically.
Up here, though, they're not as strong.
And that fucking scrawny guy over there is bringing that D1 athlete with him.
joe rogan
Yeah.
unidentified
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
Those stories.
joe rogan
That's kind of the case with fighters too, sometimes.
Sometimes it's the guys that aren't talented that wind up being champions because they're tougher and they work harder.
unidentified
Yeah.
joe rogan
Because they don't have it given to them easily.
You know, they can't half-ass in the gym.
They have to be all in.
unidentified
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
It's the life.
It's the sacrifice.
What are you willing to do?
joe rogan
And you have to be all in in that job.
Both jobs.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
And comfort can kill you.
joe rogan
Oh, yeah.
In everybody's life.
unidentified
Yeah.
joe rogan
Yeah.
I hate it.
taylor kitsch
I know.
I know.
joe rogan
I hate it.
unidentified
I know, man.
joe rogan
I would have thought that one day that I'd be wealthy and that I'd be just fucking chilling and going to the beach.
Like, no, no.
Now you're going cold every morning.
And yeah, no, I fucking hate it.
I think it's the enemy.
taylor kitsch
It really is.
joe rogan
The enemy of happiness.
unidentified
Yeah.
joe rogan
Really?
taylor kitsch
Even like me with acting, it's like I live for it.
I love it.
And I honestly do believe I've just worked my way through stubbornly.
Like I'll just outwork people.
It's not like I was gifted this talent or it truly isn't.
I'll just outwork people.
And then now it's like 44 now, which is crazy.
And now I'm starting to be like, okay, you're thinking about kids.
You're thinking about, I need a little more balance.
But then I start this balance and it scares the fuck out of me and I don't like it.
joe rogan
How does it scare you?
taylor kitsch
Just, it's the comfort, right?
It's like, oh, kitsch, don't take this.
Just go keep fly fishing.
Keep, you know, just go on a motorcycle trip.
Which is great.
And I'll still do it.
But I'm just so conscious of it of like, don't get fucking comfortable.
Don't think.
Don't rest on your work.
You know?
joe rogan
Comfort's not bad if you earn it.
unidentified
Right.
joe rogan
But you got to earn the fuck out of it.
Where like when you're sitting on that couch, you know that you actually need to recover.
Like, if you're going to keep going, you need to recover.
So like watching South Park is probably good for you.
unidentified
Yeah.
Yeah.
joe rogan
Actually like medicine.
unidentified
Yeah.
Yeah.
joe rogan
You know, just fucking let me just zone out and do it.
unidentified
True.
True.
joe rogan
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
But there is that, I think, I don't know.
Do you have that with the fear of failure still of just like of it all falling apart?
That and like I'm on set in two weeks and I'm fucking scared.
joe rogan
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
And it's a heavy role, shit ton of dialogue.
joe rogan
That's because you're doing the right thing.
taylor kitsch
It's kind of fun.
joe rogan
It's what you're supposed to be doing.
taylor kitsch
But I can't sit on that fucking couch because I'm like, what the fuck are you doing, kids?
joe rogan
Well, now you can't sit on the couch because it's getting ready to be go time.
Yeah.
But that's why you're doing what you do.
I mean, you have to be a little scared of what you do.
You have to be.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
Like Monday I'm going elk hunting.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
Kind of freaking out.
Which you always do.
Because it's hard.
taylor kitsch
Yeah, it is.
joe rogan
I got in shape.
I got like, did a lot of cardio, a lot of leg workouts because you're huffing it up those mountains.
I shot three hours of arrows today.
taylor kitsch
Fuck.
joe rogan
Three fucking arrows.
I'm pulling three hours.
I'm pulling back an 80-pound bow.
taylor kitsch
No joke.
joe rogan
Yeah.
It's a lot of work, man.
I work hard, but it's because when it's there, you want to be prepared.
So leading up to it, I get like fucking super serious.
I get like really like where it's, it's with me all day long.
It's with me when I'm pushing my team.
taylor kitsch
I know it.
joe rogan
With me when I'm putting in my underwear, with me when I'm sitting in the cold plunge, I'm thinking about the mountains because it's a hard thing to do.
And that's why I do it because I love it.
But it's also because it's a hard thing to do.
And when you're getting ready to do like a role that's like a fucking intense role, the nerves are a good thing.
They're your friend.
unidentified
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
That keeps you on it.
joe rogan
You're a sick feeling.
You can't eat.
That's your friend.
taylor kitsch
Or you're looking through my girlfriend.
joe rogan
Yeah, you barely listen to it.
taylor kitsch
Running lines.
joe rogan
Yep, yep, yep.
taylor kitsch
Fucking, what if I do this in this scene?
joe rogan
Uh-huh.
But they want to talk about Taylor Swift's engagement, right?
I can't.
taylor kitsch
And then you're an asshole.
joe rogan
Right.
Like, what did you say?
You're not listening.
I was listening.
I just spaced out for a second.
I'm sorry.
unidentified
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
And then you go back to being spaced out after apologizing.
Or I'll just literally be like, I'm going on a bike ride.
And I'm gone for two, three hours.
And then I'm running shit in my head.
It's so true.
But it's the same.
I equate it to like when we're rolling.
It's like, you ain't hiding no more, kits.
You're fucking, you're in it.
It's the same thing.
Once you get exposed to that elk, it's like, this is your fucking moment.
Yeah, we're going to see if you did the work.
joe rogan
Yeah.
Yeah.
100%.
Yeah.
I think people, everyone needs something like that, but it scares people so they shy away from it.
And they look towards something that's guaranteed.
You get a guaranteed paycheck.
taylor kitsch
It's easy.
joe rogan
It's simple.
But that's the, that's your enemy.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
That's how it, that's how your life becomes this just dull shade of gray.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
I know.
joe rogan
Yeah.
Not good.
You're very fortunate.
You're very fortunate.
You've been able to do what you love and that what you love is, you know, it's, it's very exciting.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
Like, and it's very exciting to other people.
It's very rewarding.
Like, I, dude, I fucking loved you in American Prime Evil.
taylor kitsch
Oh, thanks.
joe rogan
That role.
taylor kitsch
That was my gladiator.
joe rogan
That was intense.
That one scene where you're getting changed and you see all the fucking cuts all over your body.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
You're like, whoa.
Like, it just.
taylor kitsch
Scene, I lost a bunch of weight for it.
And then Howard Berger did my makeup for that, and he's fucking incredible.
And that scene, man.
joe rogan
That scene meant a lot because it's everything.
You saw the guy is raw, naked with his Shoshone brother and covered in scars.
taylor kitsch
And then goes into that teepee with the chief, the mother of his wife that he lost.
And I wrote that scene, man.
Whoa.
Yeah.
And so Pete and I came up with It's Only Pain.
And then I broke my foot and got a fucking bone cut out of it on that show.
And you know the scene where they cut a bone out?
So there's a scene where I go down to get horses and I kill five or six guys at this skinning camp.
And I think it's episode two.
And Betty Gilpin, who's amazing, comes down and she's like, didn't trust me.
And she comes down.
I have to kill these guys.
During that sequence, I broke this, my foot and they call cut.
And I go to Dashnaw, the stunt coordinator.
And I'm like, oh, it's broken.
And he's like, I've worked with him for 15 years.
And he's like, don't fuck with me.
And I'm like, no, Dash, it's broken.
I got this shooting pain in my groin.
And he's like, get the fuck out of here.
And I'm like, yeah.
So finish the scene and they spray fucking biofreeze on my foot.
And I'm like, guys, it's broken.
Like, I'm fucked.
And so I go to Bozeman and he's like, it's this small bone right on the side of your foot right there that goes up and down right here.
joe rogan
Next to your toe?
taylor kitsch
Connecting my big toe.
It's on the side bone on my big toe.
And so he's like, oh, you can wear a boot.
It's a small bone, so you won't need to, it'll heal itself.
So I go back and I'm in a boot doing this fucking show.
And I got a six foot six Wrangler.
So when I get off that horse 90% of the time, I think his name's BJ.
Great dude, big cowboy.
And he's below me off camera taking my weight because I can't step off the horse because I'm in a fucking boot.
joe rogan
Medical boot.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
And then six weeks goes by or a month and I go back to Bozeman, take my boot off.
And he does one last x-ray and he's like, you need to be in surgery today.
unidentified
Oh, no.
taylor kitsch
That's what I said.
That's a shitty call in Netflix and Pete.
And so I got surgery.
And then right before surgery, he's like, we can pin it, but you're going to be super active.
And it may not take.
Or I can cut it out and put bone wax on it.
joe rogan
Bone wax.
unidentified
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
Didn't know there was a thing that I don't know either.
joe rogan
So you just said cut it?
unidentified
Yeah.
joe rogan
Because you wanted to go back to work.
unidentified
Yeah.
joe rogan
So they cut a chunk of bone off.
And what is bone wax?
taylor kitsch
I think it just is a protective coating over it.
Ooh, look at this.
joe rogan
Commonly supplied in sterile sticks usually requires softening before it can be applied.
It's generally made of beeswax.
Softening agent uses paraffin or petroleum jelly and it's smeared across the bleeding edge of the bone, blocking the holes and causing immediate bone hemostasis.
taylor kitsch
Still don't know what it means.
joe rogan
I don't know what this means.
A tamponade, tamponade effect, but closure of blockage as if by a tampon, especially to stop bleeding.
You have a tampon on your foot, bro.
taylor kitsch
Yeah, I do.
joe rogan
That's crazy.
taylor kitsch
Oh, God.
joe rogan
So does your foot fuck with you now?
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
It's if I'm fly fishing or on uneven ground, it's or if I'm doing, you know, if I'm tracking or doing something side healing, which I fucking hate.
unidentified
Right.
taylor kitsch
Side hill hiking, I hate it.
I have a terrible knee as well.
That's where it bites.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And then, yeah, so I dealt with that.
We had to, I had to be on the couch for six weeks.
But my first day back was those two scenes.
And I had called Pete and I'm like, hey, I wrote this scene.
I'd love, because that scene was exposition with my mom at first.
We were talking about red feather and stuff.
And I'm like, this is my first day back after losing them that I haven't seen her since I've lost her daughter and her grandson.
So this guy can't get through anything.
So that was the crutch.
And thank you for noticing.
That's the crutch of that whole arc to that guy.
joe rogan
Yeah, it was an intense scene because it was so realistic.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
Like, that's what a guy would look like.
Like, I hate when you see someone who looks like they've been living an easy life.
unidentified
Yeah.
joe rogan
And they take their shirt off.
And they're supposed to be like in some rugged outdoor environment.
taylor kitsch
He just looks soft.
joe rogan
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
Or he's stacked and incredible.
joe rogan
He's like tan in the gym.
Yeah, eating creatine.
No, you looked like a hard man, like a hard man who's been through some fucking hand-to-hand combat.
It looked very realistic.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
Did you have to starve yourself for that?
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
How much did you have to lose?
Just to get time.
taylor kitsch
I had time, which was great.
I lost 30 for that.
unidentified
Whoa.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
That's a lot of weight.
Yeah.
But I had done it.
I did this one film called The Bang Bang Club here.
I was just living off Lamar here.
And I play this drug-addicted true story about these war photographers right before the, during the apartheid, right before the first free election, Mandela's election.
Kevin Carter is his name.
He won a Pulitzer for this epic shot that he took.
Got a lot of flack for it and ended up taking his own life.
But that, I had 30 days to prep and I lost 35 in 30 days.
Whoa.
And I remember going just over I-35 here to this dock, and my heart rate was fucking low 20s.
unidentified
Oh, God.
taylor kitsch
Because all I was doing was running coffee.
And I would, the broth can be super salty, sodium heavy.
So I'd filter that and then just have broth and broccoli for dinner.
joe rogan
Oh, my God.
You're just starving yourself.
taylor kitsch
Yeah, it was bad.
And then I got a thyroid problem from that.
And that doc, that doc was like, hey, you're going to fail this physical, just so you know.
And I'm like, what do I got to do?
I'm going to Africa next week.
And he's like, do some push-ups.
So I did push-ups and got my heart rate into the low 40s.
And he's like, okay.
Wow.
joe rogan
I know.
That's crazy.
taylor kitsch
That's hurting.
joe rogan
You were probably kind of dying.
unidentified
Yeah.
joe rogan
That's nuts, dude.
taylor kitsch
And then I was hurting.
They would shoot me out on Bang Bang Club, like, just shoot your coverage and go.
Go back to bed.
And then I ended up getting a nutritionist there.
And she helped me a little bit.
But that was a quick shoot.
But that's where I think I fucked my body on that one.
unidentified
Wow.
taylor kitsch
And then Koresh again lost weight for that.
joe rogan
That was great, by the way.
taylor kitsch
Thanks.
joe rogan
That fucking whole Koresh.
unidentified
Talk about fear.
joe rogan
It's so crazy.
taylor kitsch
I know, man.
joe rogan
What is it like doing that movie?
Because it's another real life.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
That was, I was just prepping right there, too.
That was almost too long a prep.
Here's me saying I love prep, but I had six months to get into that headspace.
And it just, the last month, I tried to pull out of the show.
joe rogan
Really?
taylor kitsch
Yeah, because I was just, this is, I was just, you're holding, hoarding all this energy.
And I lost the weight learning to play guitar and sing, which was a fucking comedy.
I'm fucking terrible.
joe rogan
Yeah, he was terrible too, though.
Yeah, he was.
taylor kitsch
That literally helped me.
I would listen to Dave and I'd be like, wow.
joe rogan
This guy sucks.
unidentified
He's shit.
I had no idea how he got people to follow him with that fucking terrible scene.
joe rogan
If I was in that call, I'd go, yo, we got to reevaluate.
This guy is not Christ.
He is not the leader.
taylor kitsch
He's actually kind of fucking terrible, right?
unidentified
Should we leave?
Sucks.
joe rogan
His fucking music sucks.
What is it like getting in the headspace of someone who's that depraved, too?
And who has that kind of like sick control over people?
taylor kitsch
Why?
Figure out the why.
joe rogan
Did you figure it out?
taylor kitsch
Yeah, I think so.
Yeah.
Go to his childhood, which was fucking terrible.
Of course.
joe rogan
Like, you don't become a cult leader who everyone's awesome when you're a kid.
taylor kitsch
Two great, healthy parents.
joe rogan
Always giving you hugs, siblings.
And you decide to be a cult leader.
unidentified
No.
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
He memorized the Bible by 15.
Whoa.
Which is fucking that says enough right there.
joe rogan
Hudson Tense.
taylor kitsch
But he was like tied to a radiator on his birthday and abused pretty hard.
joe rogan
I almost bought his car.
taylor kitsch
Oh my God.
joe rogan
I tried to pull the trigger in his car.
He had a 1968 Camaro and a buddy of mine texted me and said, yo, David Kresh's car for sale.
And he knows I'm a car head.
And I'm like, are you?
I love cars, especially old muscle cars.
unidentified
Yeah.
joe rogan
I got a bunch of them.
And I have a 69 Camaro.
And I was thinking about, at the time, I didn't have any Camaros, but I was thinking about getting like a 68 or a 69 or a 67.
I like the 69.
It's a little more like a little wide body.
But then I found out it was Koresh's car.
I was like, whoa, that would be wild to try.
I went to the comedy store.
David Koresh's Mustang.
taylor kitsch
In Texas.
joe rogan
Or David Kresh's Camaro, rather.
But then I thought about it.
I said, you know what?
I don't want it.
I don't want anything from that guy.
I don't want to emoji.
I don't want to hold his steering wheel.
taylor kitsch
No.
joe rogan
I don't want to sit in his seat.
I don't want it.
taylor kitsch
No.
joe rogan
I don't want it.
Also, what a piece of shit.
That guy's a preacher.
He's driving around in a muscle car.
Like, for sure, right there and then.
Terrible season muscle car.
taylor kitsch
Ego.
A little bit of an ego.
joe rogan
A little bit of ego.
I mean, not that you can't enjoy.
I love them.
I think they're one of the greatest accomplishments of American engineering in terms of like a piece of functional artwork.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
American festival cars.
I love them.
taylor kitsch
I'm that way with motorcycles, too.
And I got to set, we shot actually, and Waco wanted nothing to do with us.
joe rogan
Divorce.
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
Rightfully so.
So we shot that in Santa Fe.
joe rogan
I'd like to change that.
taylor kitsch
Yeah, man.
joe rogan
And Waco's a great town, by the way.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
It's grown like enormously, too.
But his motorcycle came for sale, and obviously they knew we were making it.
I kicked tires on it.
And they wanted just, it was probably worth two grand.
They wanted 15 or something.
And it was just like, go fuck yourself.
unidentified
Right.
taylor kitsch
They were just like, honestly, like you just said, what am I going to do with his moto?
joe rogan
Yeah, I thought it was, I thought it was silly at first.
And then after a while, I'll be like, I can't do this.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
Yeah.
Before we opened up the comedy mothership in town, I was under contract for this place called the One World Theater that was also owned by a cult?
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
No way.
joe rogan
Yeah, the One World Theater.
You know where it is?
It's on B Cave.
Well, this is what's fucked up about the story.
Ron White performed there once because they have concerts there.
And Ron White did stand up and we were talking about opening up a club and he said, you should buy that place down on B Cave.
It's the fucking shit.
It's a beautiful theater.
I think it's for sale.
I played there once.
It's amazing.
I was like, all right.
Well, Ron White's the fucking man.
If he tells me, I'll go check it out.
And I check it out and I'm like, yeah, we could do this.
Let's do it.
And so sign the contracts, all that.
And then I get a call from my friend Adam.
He goes, hey, did you ever watch the documentary on that cult?
I'm like, oh, no.
There's a documentary.
The documentary is called Holy Hell.
And it's about a guy who's a gay porn star and a hypnotist that was a yoga instructor.
taylor kitsch
Oh, my God.
Checking out Hollywood.
unidentified
Yep.
joe rogan
So his yoga instructor in Hollywood.
And then the cult in Waco gets taken down.
And then he is on the run now because now the cult awareness network starts going after all these cults after Waco.
They're like, hey, you know, people's children are getting kidnapped essentially by these fucking maniacs.
And, you know, winds up being like, Waco, we got to stop these cults.
And so he moves to Austin and changes his name and has a theater.
You know, this is the 90s.
You could get away with changing your name.
Nobody, no internet.
And so this guy has his followers build him this theater so he can dance in front of them.
Holy documentary is bananas.
And I see the documentary.
I'm like, oh my God, I got to get out of this.
After I see the documentary, I'm like, I got to get out of this deal.
I got to get out.
And fortunately, there was a problem.
Fortunately, there was a problem.
Because, you know, you got a bunch of cult members building a place.
They're not going to do it to code.
unidentified
No.
joe rogan
And so it was.
taylor kitsch
Just like his residence.
joe rogan
Yeah, there was a lot of shit that was wrong, a lot of wacky shit.
They didn't want to pay for it.
I'm like, let's just.
So it cost me a little bit of money and I got out of it.
And then we eventually got the Ritz on 6th Street.
And that's the perfect spot anyway.
But it was the thing of being in that building, knowing what happened.
I'm like, I can't handle this.
taylor kitsch
Different energy.
joe rogan
100, 200 people wasted their life with this asshole for 20 fucking years.
And there was a bunch of them crying at the end of the documentary.
Like, I lost my life.
My life is meaningless now.
I thought I was going to be with them forever.
Now I'm a dog walker.
I'm like, oh, my God.
I know.
I can't carry that in this club.
I can't feel it.
I'd have to tear the building.
I just thought it'd be silly.
Oh, building built by a cult.
Perfect.
We'll take it.
But the reality is, every cult winds up being the same thing.
The guy wants all the money and he wants to fuck everybody.
It's almost every one of them has the same profile.
taylor kitsch
And fear-based.
joe rogan
Always.
unidentified
Always.
joe rogan
Always fear-based.
Always, everybody else is the enemy.
I'm the solution.
The nutty thing about this guy, though, is that he would do this thing to these people called the knowing, and you had to earn it.
And when you earned it, it was this very special, ceremonious moment, and he would put his hands on their head and he would do something to them.
And these people would feel God.
They would experience God.
And I know that it has to be some sort of a placebo effect or psycho-somatic, something where your brain triggers this energy.
But all these people that called him a fraud, that fucking hated him, I wasted my, they all talked about that moment like it was the greatest moment of their life still.
They're like, I gained a connection to God and to the universe that to this day was the most profound and loving moment of my life.
It's like, yeah, the guy was a total piece of shit.
Scam artist, con man, liar.
Everything was wrong.
Yet he was still capable of doing that thing to them.
taylor kitsch
Conditioned them over years.
joe rogan
Well, he had them thinking about the moment that it was going to come one day.
And then he would take it away from them.
And then, and then one person would get it and they would all sit around and watch.
And they're like, when am I going to get it?
But when they got it, they would all be like, it's because we know that the brain produces psychedelic chemicals.
And I guess you can trick it, which is, I think, what a near-death experience is.
I think a near-death experience, your body's like, it's over.
Flood the gates.
Yeah.
And then it rolls through.
And then you go down the tunnel and light and all the jazz and you meet dead people.
I think this is possible with everybody.
You just have to achieve the right state of mind.
I know people in kundalini yoga, the people that are like heavy into it can fucking completely trip balls.
taylor kitsch
Really?
joe rogan
I had a buddy of mine who had done DMT.
taylor kitsch
Oh, yeah.
joe rogan
And then he really done DMT a couple times, so he knew what the experience was.
And then he really got into Kundalini yoga.
And he was doing it for like six months.
taylor kitsch
And then what is Kundalini?
joe rogan
It's a very specific kind of yoga that involves like deep breath work and there's a lot of like head bobbing.
It's very strange, but it's you achieve a DMT-like state.
He's like, you achieve a full-on psychedelic experience doing kundalini.
And I was like, whoa.
And I've always thought about like trying it and practicing it.
taylor kitsch
I'm like, yeah.
joe rogan
I don't have the time.
I don't have the time.
I'm too busy.
I can't think about some new thing to be obsessed with.
But my point is that there is some little trigger in your brain that if you can trick your brain into snapping over to on, it just fucking cult guy did it to those people.
As much as they hated him, as much as they knew he was a fraud, he fucked everybody.
The crazy thing is like they didn't know that everybody was getting fucked.
And so like one guy leaves the cult and he sends out this group email like, hey, this guy's been hypnotizing me and fucking me for like 10 years.
And they're all like, I thought it was only me.
And then it became crazy where everybody had a story.
Everybody had a story.
He would charge them money for these experiences.
And then he'd fuck them.
taylor kitsch
Of course.
unidentified
Jesus.
joe rogan
Hilarious.
But terrible.
unidentified
Yeah.
joe rogan
And so I didn't want that building.
taylor kitsch
Like, I didn't want Karesh's car.
Let me look at that contract again.
No.
joe rogan
So when you were getting close and you wanted to pull out, was it just the heaviness of carrying around this guy's weight?
taylor kitsch
Yep.
Yep.
And then I called my manager, Steph, and she's like, give it a day.
And then the Dowdo brothers, who wrote and directed terrific guys.
And I called John.
And I think one thing that set me free probably on month three, because I was really stuck on everything we've just said of like, why am I playing some guy that's pretty fucking reprehensible in a lot of ways?
But a real person.
Yeah.
joe rogan
We did real damage to people.
taylor kitsch
But I was judging him.
And that was like really a big block for me because I couldn't understand him more.
And so once I started to not cast judgment or my own judgment on him and just try and understand and root him, then I was like, okay, I'm going to fly now.
Of like, this is his childhood.
This is why he's doing this.
And so it's your guys' job can judge away and do all this.
But for me to play this guy, I can't bring that to him.
Right, right, right.
Yeah.
joe rogan
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
So that has to be.
Yeah.
joe rogan
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
I got to do it and try and root that.
joe rogan
When you got done with the role, was it like a thing that you had to cast off yourself?
taylor kitsch
Like Bang Bang Club fucked me.
I was hurting pretty bad after I didn't know my process very well.
And, you know, Kevin Carter was just really, really troubled.
And I think it was Mandrax, which is an animal tranquilizer that he would take.
unidentified
Oh, boy.
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
And he would have night terrors and all this.
There's photos of him.
Like, they called it the Bang Bang because they had these police scanners.
And once they would go, this is early 90s in South Africa.
And once they heard it on the scanner, it's like a bang bang.
And they would be there a lot of times before the cops, like some kind of civil rights or civil fight would happen and they would get hear it on the scanner and they'd go like scooby-doo kind of shit.
They'd get there before the cops a lot of time or the military and they'd be in the middle of this shooting it photographing it.
And you see pics of Kev that are just like him in like one shoe high, hiding behind like a fucking barrel in the middle of this gunfight.
Like they would get really into it.
And then he was a guy that just kind of took everything to heart, you know, of just he would see some fucking pretty abysmal shit and just be like, take it, you know, wear it.
And it just hammered him.
And so he would take these drugs and just to sleep and just to get over or get through it.
But yeah, that was really tough coming out of him just because I didn't know myself enough or process be able to really kind of.
joe rogan
You almost like became a part of him.
Yep.
taylor kitsch
And then the weight and all that.
And then with Dave, yeah, I was so ready to gain the weight back and just wipe my hands with it.
I always go on a motorcycle trip after, and that sets me free, helps me a lot.
I'll write letters and just burn them.
That helps a lot.
They say when you're like, if I get therapy or something, or it's like write a letter and literally watch it burn.
And that is something like that's a mind trick, I'm sure.
Just like if there's trauma or something.
joe rogan
You can figure out a way to let it go that way.
Like a ceremonial purging.
taylor kitsch
Exactly.
Yeah.
joe rogan
Yeah.
So that was bang bang was harder than Quoresh on me.
Because you would like not, you hadn't been used to carrying around someone else's thoughts.
taylor kitsch
Exactly.
And that was the first time I started having really bad nightmares in South Africa.
And I just, that started fucking with me a lot.
And then I was really happy.
It was only a four-week shoot.
joe rogan
Did you try that tranquilizer, whatever the fuck it is?
Do you know what it's like?
unidentified
No.
taylor kitsch
I've only smoked weed three times in my life.
joe rogan
Nothing else?
unidentified
Nothing.
joe rogan
Little booze?
taylor kitsch
Little booze, yeah.
Yeah.
First time.
joe rogan
But just weed.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
Wow.
taylor kitsch
Savages with Oliver Stone.
Oh, no.
joe rogan
Oliver goes hard.
taylor kitsch
He does.
joe rogan
I was surprised.
He still smokes weed.
taylor kitsch
Oh, my God.
And I was in rehearsal, and he asked me, and I hadn't smoked weed ever before.
joe rogan
Oh, my God.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
And I'm playing this guy, obviously a seal, but that smokes weed, grows weed, sells weed, gets into the cartel.
joe rogan
And you smoked with Oliver Stone the first time?
taylor kitsch
No, my first time, he gave me some of his medicinal, and I went with a buddy who smokes weed all the time and staying at the Shangri-La in Santa Monica while we were filming.
And my buddy brought over a bong, a water bong.
Oh, no.
joe rogan
Oh, no.
That's not how you do it.
If you're going to do it the first time, this is what I tell you to do.
Just go like this.
That's it.
unidentified
That's it.
joe rogan
Just a little hit.
You got to dip your toes in there.
That drug is also known as Qualudes.
unidentified
Oh, interesting.
joe rogan
That's what Qualudes are.
unidentified
Wow.
joe rogan
Qualudes is a brand name for it.
unidentified
What does it say it's doing to your brain?
Oh, it's a muscle relaxer.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
There you go.
joe rogan
How do you say that word?
Methiquoqualone?
Methiqualone.
Qualone?
Combination of drug known as Mandrax, sewn primarily in Europe containing 250 milligrams of methiqualone and 20 milligrams of diphenhydramine, diphenhydramine.
taylor kitsch
In a single tablet.
Whoa.
joe rogan
Commercial production was discontinued in many countries during the mid-1980s due to widespread misuse, addiction, and associated public health concerns.
Yeah, you know when a popular drug gets pulled, it's pretty bad.
taylor kitsch
Yeah, that was no joke.
joe rogan
So just because that was the first time you'd ever tried carrying around someone's thoughts, that was worse.
Because he was so fucked up.
taylor kitsch
And I was that actor where it was like, I got to be in trauma too then.
joe rogan
Right, right, right, right.
taylor kitsch
Definitely.
joe rogan
Real.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
But it comes out.
That's the fucking thing.
It comes out in the role.
Like, it seems real.
Like, as nutty as Daniel Day-Lewis's process is, when that motherfucker is that guy and there will be blood, you believe it.
taylor kitsch
I drink your bench shake.
joe rogan
He's fucking there, man.
He's dialed in.
He's the best.
But it's just that process has got to be fucking soul-crushing.
unidentified
Yeah.
joe rogan
Because you lose you.
You lose you and now you're some fucked up person like David Koresh.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
Having nightmares, living in a fucking mini hotel room in South Africa.
Like lonely as fuck.
Yeah, it's no joke.
That was no joke.
But I've learned my process a lot more.
joe rogan
Did you have to refine it on your own?
Did you get help?
taylor kitsch
It was Waco that really kind of set me straight in my process, really helped me figure out like my me because it's all self-exploratory shit as well is acting.
And then you're just way more conscious of it of like, okay, like even with relationships of like, okay, that's, I can get quite short, like be like True Detective, I was oddly an asshole through the whole thing.
And I had my best friend of 30 years with me helping me on that.
And I was drinking like to blackout.
And that's not me.
I don't drink much, but I was just a fucking mess.
And my buddy was, is like played in the NHL, AHL, was a fighter.
Like he would fucking murder me.
joe rogan
You'd get shitty with him.
taylor kitsch
Really shitty with him.
And I would poke him.
joe rogan
That's booze, bro.
taylor kitsch
I know.
joe rogan
Booze.
taylor kitsch
It is just the worst.
I know, man.
joe rogan
It's the worst for that.
So really people get themselves into situations that they really should not be in.
taylor kitsch
And I would poke them, man.
And we'd go to this shithole bar.
It's called Sports Harbor.
I don't even know if it's open anymore, but I would fuck around.
And I didn't have to find out, but I definitely was getting that really, I was conscious of it.
And he would have to have a moment with me of like, hey, you said this last night.
joe rogan
Do you think it was partly because you're trying to play a detective and detectives are kind of fucked up?
taylor kitsch
In the closet, just a mess.
joe rogan
So do you think that's what it was?
taylor kitsch
Yeah, I do.
Yeah.
Because after I shed it, or after it wrapped, I was with my sis right after, but I was fine.
I didn't touch anything.
But during, I was no bueno.
unidentified
Wow.
taylor kitsch
Even getting ready for this, I play this director of corrections in Texas.
It's a true story about the longest hostage situation in the U.S. in a prison.
It's 11-day hostage negotiation, and Freddy Carrasco is going to be played by Luna, Diego Luna, who's, I can't wait to see what he fucking does with this.
But I play the director of corrections.
So we're negotiating for 11 days.
And he's got to be quite hard on the guys in his war room.
And he kind of comes in and he takes over the negotiation.
And he's never done a negotiation before.
So he makes a mistake here or there.
And he fucking pays the Piper psychologically for it because it doesn't end great.
And so I'm starting to get into that mindset.
And when I'm with a buddy or something like that, I can be quite short.
And you start to see it filtering in.
I'm like, okay, Jim is settling in me.
Like I can start to feel it a little bit more.
I get a little more reactionary.
unidentified
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
That's so creepy.
It's like you're getting haunted.
You're kind of getting haunted by your characters.
But that's, dude, that's why you're so good.
I think that's, there's something to that, man, because you're fucking believable.
You know, like, I've seen you in a bunch of movies, but it doesn't matter whatever the fuck you're doing.
I believe, even though I know, oh, that's Taylor Kitch.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
I've seen him in Lone Survivor.
I've seen him in this.
I've seen him in that.
When you're in that, the same as the Daniel Day-Lewis thing, he's that guy.
He's that fucking guy.
And even though you know who he is, that's how good he is that he's still that guy, even though you know who the fuck that is.
unidentified
Oh, I know.
joe rogan
It's like the trick works.
taylor kitsch
That fucking monologue Daniel Day has on the porch where he's like, I don't, to his brother, I think it is, where he goes, I don't like people.
joe rogan
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
Oh.
All fucking time.
joe rogan
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
He is the best to do it.
joe rogan
Such a complicated character he played, too.
taylor kitsch
I know.
joe rogan
There was so much to it.
taylor kitsch
He's got something coming out soon, too.
His son, I think, directed it, which is going to be a fucking banger.
I think he plays a soldier that comes back or the trailer just.
joe rogan
Yeah, that's right.
I saw a trailer recently.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
That fucking thing of carrying a guy around like that, whether it's the detective or Quoresh or the bang bang guy, it's like, that's got to be fucking exhausting.
unidentified
Yeah.
joe rogan
Because you're like real light in real life.
You're friendly and like, hey, what's up?
unidentified
How you doing?
joe rogan
I was, because I didn't know.
I didn't know what you're going to be like.
Everybody's different, you know?
taylor kitsch
I heard horror stories of you.
joe rogan
Have you really?
No.
unidentified
No.
joe rogan
I try to be nice.
taylor kitsch
I was just with Sheridan the other day.
joe rogan
Oh, Taylor?
I love that guy.
taylor kitsch
Yeah, man.
unidentified
Beauty.
joe rogan
I love him.
taylor kitsch
And of course, Pete and Carr.
Everyone's like, you're going to have a fucking blast.
joe rogan
No, for sure.
Everybody told me that about you, too.
taylor kitsch
Oh, great.
unidentified
Yeah.
joe rogan
But, you know, you don't know.
I know.
I'm glad I didn't meet you while you're on Fold True Detective in full character.
You know, because full character is fucking crazy.
You're kind of hunted.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
You got to live it.
You got to live it.
I think, I mean, you look at anybody that's great at anything.
You have to, it's amount, it's the amount of sacrifice you're willing to give to it.
joe rogan
Yeah, you have to be all in all the time.
taylor kitsch
And I think it's that like the fear of failure.
And also, I don't want to fucking watch it and be like, oh, kids, you didn't.
joe rogan
Right, right.
taylor kitsch
That would kill me.
joe rogan
Right.
taylor kitsch
That would fucking kill me.
joe rogan
Yeah.
The watching a guy phone it in is the worst feeling as a consumer of the show.
Like a passenger on the ride, watching someone phone it in.
You're like, no, dude, do another take.
unidentified
Yeah, that's through my mouth.
joe rogan
Thank you, motherfucker.
What are you doing?
You going through a divorce?
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
What's going on, baby?
taylor kitsch
They're out there, man.
joe rogan
Can't lock in.
taylor kitsch
I've worked with some pretty fucking huge names that have apologized after a film or at the premiere or something that were like, hey, I'm sorry, man.
I just wasn't there.
That's kind of like in my head.
I'm like, no, I know.
joe rogan
Yeah.
Oh, I had Charlie Sheen on yesterday.
taylor kitsch
Oh, no way.
joe rogan
Yeah.
And he was talking about his time doing anger management about he was still really fucked up and just doing way too many drugs and he was trying to be locked in.
And he was and he just didn't do it.
And then he didn't want to do it anymore.
So he was miserable while he was there and he's all fucked up and he's like apologizing to everybody now.
I was like, I am so really?
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
He's a sweetheart of a guy, like a really nice guy.
taylor kitsch
He's sober eight years, almost eight years.
joe rogan
Amazing.
Yes.
Yeah.
Yeah.
unidentified
Damn.
joe rogan
But, you know, you can see the itch behind his eyes.
taylor kitsch
Right.
joe rogan
You know, that's a struggle.
That sober is a struggle sober because that guy went through it for so many years.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
The stories that he was telling about like literally how 1 a.m. to 7 a.m. would go by like that.
And then all of a sudden someone was pounding on his door.
It's time to go to work.
He's like, I am high as fuck on crack.
And he goes, and so I have to lie in bed.
So he'd lie in bed.
I'd try to close my eyes.
He goes, I'm not taking a nap.
He goes, I'm cracked out of my mind.
My whole body's vibrating.
And he goes, and then I took an ice cube and I stuck it up my ass.
taylor kitsch
Get out of it.
joe rogan
And the ice cube woke him up and got him back.
Like he was literally falling asleep on the set.
And he said, give me a couple minutes.
And he shoved an ice cube up his ass.
taylor kitsch
That movie writes itself.
joe rogan
Bro, that guy went so fast.
taylor kitsch
How do you figure that out?
joe rogan
You know, you're just going to the fridge.
I got to wake up.
He's literally falling asleep.
How do I wake up?
Shove an ice cube up my ass.
taylor kitsch
I guess it works.
joe rogan
What were the other choices?
unidentified
Stick a fork into an electric socket.
joe rogan
How did you get to an ice cube up your asshole?
unidentified
Oh, my God.
joe rogan
But he was going that hard.
unidentified
And, you know, it just he's so lucky he didn't die.
taylor kitsch
So were the uppers and downers and everything.
joe rogan
The crack.
Well, people that he, the girl he smoked crack with the first time he ever smoked crack with eventually overdosed.
He told a story about the first time he smoked quack.
Brutal.
This girl who was a crackhead, she gave him a blow job while he took his first hit of crack.
He said, to this day, I can't top that experience.
He goes, to this day.
He goes, I probably shouldn't say that.
He goes, to this day, this is the greatest moment of my life.
unidentified
Wow.
taylor kitsch
Holy shit.
joe rogan
Like, oh, my God.
taylor kitsch
Isn't there a doc on him that just came out?
joe rogan
Yeah, that's what it's about.
Yeah.
He wrote a book and he did a dog.
taylor kitsch
Oh, he did.
joe rogan
Yeah.
Dad.
He's doing movies again.
unidentified
Is he?
joe rogan
Yes.
He's excited to be working again.
He was kind of a little bummed out that it took so long for him to get a job again.
But yeah.
I mean, you know, he got a lot of investments.
Yeah.
A lot of money.
taylor kitsch
A lot of insurance in the studio.
Yeah.
joe rogan
But now he's sober for eight years.
So wow, good for him.
taylor kitsch
Holy shit.
What is this?
60 now?
joe rogan
He's in his 60s.
He actually looks good.
taylor kitsch
Does he?
joe rogan
So for a long time, he looked terrible.
And I said to him, I go, dude, you look better than I've seen you.
I mean, I hadn't seen him ever in real life.
It was the first time I ever met him.
But he looked good.
He looked healthy.
Look remarkable for a guy that's gone through fucking abused 20 years of redlining the machine.
unidentified
Just bam!
joe rogan
20 years of crack.
taylor kitsch
I'm going to watch that doc.
joe rogan
Oh, it's the doc is great.
It's really entertaining, too.
It's really well shot.
It's really all shot.
Yeah, really well edited.
taylor kitsch
And that story family is pretty epic.
unidentified
Yes.
joe rogan
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Oh, Martin Steele is the fucking camera.
taylor kitsch
Come on.
joe rogan
Yeah.
unidentified
Damn.
joe rogan
Yeah, no.
We talked about Apocalypse Now, too, which is really crazy because he was on the set when he was eight years old.
Eight or ten?
Ten?
Ten.
Ten years old.
So he's 10 years old in the Philippines on the set of Apocalypse Now while it's being filmed.
Yeah, helicopters, fucking Robert Duvall, everything.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Dude, he was there.
10.
unidentified
Oh, my God.
joe rogan
And your dad's Martin Sheen.
taylor kitsch
And the Philippines back then, too.
joe rogan
Dude, I love that movie so much.
I wear this watch.
This is the Willard.
This is a reproduction of the watch that Martin Sheen wore.
taylor kitsch
No way.
joe rogan
Apocalypse Now.
Yeah.
It's my favorite watch.
Yeah.
Because of that.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
Because, well, it's a nice watch.
It's a Seiko.
But like, they all, the Vietnam soldiers all got Seikos because they were like super durable and reliable.
unidentified
Look at that.
joe rogan
That's him with a mad.
taylor kitsch
Oh my God.
joe rogan
I didn't fucking get it in there, but.
Oh, my God.
On the set of Apocalypse Now in 1979.
That is crazy.
taylor kitsch
Oh, how old was Martin Sheen then?
joe rogan
Looks pretty young.
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
I mean, what a legend, though.
joe rogan
It seemed like in the movie, he was in his early 30s, right?
taylor kitsch
Damn.
joe rogan
Yeah.
unidentified
Crazy.
joe rogan
I mean, and you wonder why.
And then 10 years later, literally 10 years later, he's doing Platoon.
taylor kitsch
Oh, my God.
joe rogan
Which is the next epic war movie.
unidentified
Oliver Stone's directing Willem Dafoe.
joe rogan
Who's the other guy?
The other guy with Scarlett.
taylor kitsch
Tom.
Who is it?
joe rogan
Yes.
Dude, that guy ruled in that movie.
taylor kitsch
Yeah, he did.
joe rogan
He seemed so scary.
taylor kitsch
Willem's an amazing guy.
unidentified
Amazing.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
That guy's.
I love that guy and everything.
He was great in John Wick.
He's great and everything.
taylor kitsch
He really is.
joe rogan
He's great and everything.
unidentified
Yeah.
joe rogan
Willem Dafoe's the fucking man.
Yeah.
But like to be there at 10 watching your dad filming the Apocalypse Now, and then 10 years later, you're in platoon and Oliver North is directing you and your narration.
Oh, excuse me.
unidentified
Oliver.
joe rogan
Oliver North.
That's hilarious.
Oliver Stone is directing you and you're doing the narration.
Like the whole thing is nuts.
unidentified
10 years.
joe rogan
How do you adjust to that?
taylor kitsch
No, you don't.
unidentified
Well, that's how you adjust one word.
joe rogan
Yeah.
unidentified
Crack.
joe rogan
Well, it took a while.
taylor kitsch
That was his drug of choice.
joe rogan
It started with Coke.
When that girl blow him, when the girl gave him a blowjob while he was smoking crack, it was crack from then on out.
It's like, I get it now.
taylor kitsch
It's a hard sell.
Damn.
joe rogan
It's just crazy that it's crazy that he's alive.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
But one of the things that we were saying that I was talking to him about, I was like, no one could understand what you went through because no one has ever done that.
No one has ever been Charlie Sheen at 20 years old and been in platoon and you're the toast of the town and you're a baby.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
You know, you're just getting out of high school.
You know, like what?
A baby.
And then the world's your oyster.
You're doing blow every night.
It's chaos.
Just nuts.
You're off the rails.
And every time you fail, you succeed better.
Like every time you go into rehab, there's a better movie waiting for you on the other side.
There's no consequences career-wise.
taylor kitsch
God.
joe rogan
And he just keeps doing it.
taylor kitsch
It's like the baseball movie.
unidentified
God.
taylor kitsch
I love it.
Major League.
Oh, thank you.
joe rogan
Oh, he was awesome in that movie.
The bass.
Yeah.
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
I grew up watching that.
joe rogan
Yeah, dude.
That guy's been in some great fucking movies.
He's been in some great fucking movies.
But to be him and to, you know, to know, there's no blueprint for that kind of thing.
taylor kitsch
What was his bottom out?
Did he tell you?
joe rogan
He kind of like there was a bunch of bottoms out.
taylor kitsch
Yeah, losing.
joe rogan
And then eventually.
taylor kitsch
He was two and a half men or something.
joe rogan
Yeah, it was that.
And then it was his behavior afterwards.
And then he did, he very apologized to Chuck Laurie.
He says, we've talked.
I've apologized.
We're friends now.
Like, thank God.
unidentified
Like, because I've lived in LA, Charlie?
taylor kitsch
I wonder.
joe rogan
Remember, I don't think he said.
I don't think I asked him.
I don't know if he's still there.
But he's been completely sober for eight years.
taylor kitsch
Good for him.
joe rogan
Yeah, good for him.
taylor kitsch
Holy shit.
joe rogan
Like, if he can do it.
taylor kitsch
Yeah, no shit.
joe rogan
That guy could do it.
And he seems to get it.
taylor kitsch
Oh, both of them.
joe rogan
Barringer was in that, too.
That's right.
That's crazy that they put that completely different roles.
Behringer and Platoon was so scary.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
Scared the fuck out of me.
taylor kitsch
Damn.
I love that shit.
unidentified
Yeah.
joe rogan
It's just amazing that that guy's life arc to go from being a child on the set of Apocalypse Now to 10 years later starring in platoon.
taylor kitsch
I think Apocalypse was like a two-year shoot.
Three.
joe rogan
Yeah.
unidentified
No.
joe rogan
We were talking about it yesterday.
Yeah.
I thought it was even more than that.
I think the entire production asking for forever.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Francis Forkopla, man.
taylor kitsch
Come on.
joe rogan
He nailed it.
To this day, I will watch that movie every now and then and just sit there and go, fuck.
taylor kitsch
Back then, too, to make a movie like that.
unidentified
Yeah.
joe rogan
In 79.
unidentified
Oh, my God.
joe rogan
Come on, man.
That movie was epic.
And it was like one of the first realistic war movies.
taylor kitsch
Then you got platoon.
joe rogan
Like, yeah, yeah.
taylor kitsch
Epic.
joe rogan
Yeah.
It's crazy that he's, you know, he experienced both of them.
One as a child watching his dad and one as a star and all within the span of a decade.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
Which is like 2015 was yesterday, man.
taylor kitsch
I know.
joe rogan
That's the first time.
taylor kitsch
And the most formative years.
joe rogan
10.
Yeah, 10.
What were you doing at 10?
unidentified
It wasn't in the Philippines.
joe rogan
That was the other thing.
He was like, I didn't know that that world existed.
He goes, I was living in Malibu, you know, in this beautiful town on the beach.
You know, everybody's like happy and wealthy.
And his dad's a movie star.
Then all of a sudden he's in the Philippines.
And he's like, in Francis Four Copla, had all these sketchy people on set all the time.
Like he was an artist.
He's a nut.
Like, everybody, come on and hang out.
There's all these weird fucking people around.
taylor kitsch
Three-year fucking shoot.
joe rogan
Yeah, in the jungle.
taylor kitsch
Yeah, literally.
joe rogan
Using helicopters from the army.
And he was saying that one time the army had to take the helicopters back because there was rebels and there was a little bit of a scene.
Yeah, they had to borrow the helicopters.
taylor kitsch
There's another movie.
joe rogan
They had the whole scene rigged.
They had the river was rigged with explosives.
They're ready to film the scene.
And they were like, no, we need our helicopters back.
taylor kitsch
Holy fuck, man.
joe rogan
We need to go kill some people.
taylor kitsch
Old school movie making, though.
joe rogan
Yeah, man.
I mean, if you could go back in time to be on the set of any movie ever, what would it be?
taylor kitsch
Damn.
I mean, I've got to.
I had dinner with Gibson one night, Mel Gibson, and I worked with Brendan Gleason.
So maybe Braveheart.
That was a big one for me.
joe rogan
That was a big one.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
Boy, that was made everybody want a sword fight after you.
He's totally fuck something up.
taylor kitsch
Totally.
joe rogan
Get out of that movie.
taylor kitsch
Truly.
God, damn.
That one was big.
joe rogan
What a movie.
taylor kitsch
I mean, come on.
When the king pulls his house, he pulls the helmet off the king and he sees he's fighting for the other side.
And then you cut to Gibson, those fucking blue eyes that are trying.
He's trying to register that it's the king, his king.
And that moment for me was just like, oh my God.
Yeah.
Just beautiful.
joe rogan
Yeah.
Mel Gibson can make a fucking movie.
taylor kitsch
He really can.
He really can.
unidentified
You know what?
joe rogan
I watched again recently?
Apocalypto.
taylor kitsch
Amazing.
Same, by the way.
joe rogan
No, it's a blockbuster movie where no one speaks English.
unidentified
Yep.
taylor kitsch
And no big movie stars.
joe rogan
Yeah.
No big movie stars.
No one speaks English.
It's fucking amazing.
taylor kitsch
It is.
joe rogan
And he used like real people that lived there.
unidentified
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
Good for him, man.
joe rogan
Good for him.
taylor kitsch
What a fucking swing.
unidentified
Yeah.
joe rogan
He's a fascinating guy.
Like, his brain is like, he's just rattling all over the place all the time.
First time he's on the podcast, he had a pen and he couldn't stop clicking it.
taylor kitsch
Oh, God.
joe rogan
Like, the entire time.
Click, click, click, click, click, click.
I'm like, you fucking crazy person.
Put the pen down.
unidentified
Oh, man.
taylor kitsch
That was a cool dinner, though.
He told me some stories of Braveheart.
unidentified
Wow.
taylor kitsch
Just riding the horse to all these cameras, like ripping the horse to one camera, seeing the shock, going to the next, seeing the shock, going in, doing the speech, going, looking at playback.
unidentified
Wow.
taylor kitsch
Just like, and then he's like falling asleep, standing up.
He was so tired.
Like, that's like epic stuff.
And talk about realism.
Like, those fights still hold up.
joe rogan
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
That soundtrack.
Come on.
joe rogan
That was an incredible movie.
taylor kitsch
Like, my dad played the bagpipes.
He played actually in the world championships in 95 in Scotland.
Really?
Yeah.
joe rogan
From Canada?
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
Went to Scotland.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
unidentified
Wow.
taylor kitsch
And then he, so the pipes to me, like, I remember he was an alcoholic and not a lot.
He wasn't around a lot.
And he, I remember some of my best memories was like, you know, the fucking sound of the pipes when you're putting air in.
It's the worst sound in the world.
It's like a rabbit getting bludgeoned.
And we would be at Christmas, all my cousins, his side of the family, and he would walk downstairs and you could hear this, these fucking pipes getting air put in.
And you could tell he had a few.
And he would come up and stand in the middle of the living room and just rip the pipes.
And everyone's just like full stop and just beautiful.
And he'd play in Barbados.
He worked in Barbados doing a lot of like the pavers, the golf pass, and he'd play at funerals.
Wow.
And when did he do in the world championships?
I don't know.
That's a good question, but it's a great story.
So Primeval, I was fly fishing in the Madison, just West Yellowstone.
I had four days off.
So I went home to a Bozeman and was fly fishing.
Only my favorite spot in West Yellowstone.
My bro calls me and he's and I'm like, I just caught like a 20-inch rainbow or something.
And I'm fucking ripping into my brother being like, this fucking, I'm killing it.
The rod's on fire right now.
And he's like, ah.
So my dad raced cars as well.
And his race car name, or we called him Gooey growing up.
And he's like, Gooey's got 48 hours to live.
And I was like, ah, fuck.
All right.
Literally, just verbatim like that.
Like, I saw him the last 19 years, I saw him twice.
And one time was in Montana, and he had early onset dementia.
And my brother drove him down.
Great stories there.
But so I drive, I take my adventure van, drive up to Kelowna, my hometown.
And I've got this big beard from Prime Evil.
And I hadn't talked to one of my brothers in years.
And then I was still close with the oldest and get to the hospital.
And he's, I turn his wheelchair around.
And I'm like, hey, hey, Gooey.
And he's like, who the fuck are you?
unidentified
Whoa.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
And he's on like oxygen.
And I'm like, I'm your youngest son.
And he's like, what are you doing here?
And I'm like, I'm just here to say hi and hang out for a couple days.
And he was like on point.
Like his brain was going.
And it was a little like, I hadn't seen my one bro forever.
joe rogan
How long had it been since you'd seen him before that?
taylor kitsch
Years.
A couple years.
Yeah, probably two years.
joe rogan
And is it dementia that he didn't recognize you or the beard?
taylor kitsch
No, the beard.
It was the beard.
And I was limping with that fucking toe.
And so we go up to his room.
This is a Friday at noonish.
And he's great, though.
Like, so we had this young doctor.
He's like 40, great guy.
I go and sit down with him.
He's like, I'm like, dude, he's dialed.
Like, what do you mean he's going to fucking die?
Like, he's on point.
And he's like, this is what happens sometimes when somebody like this, he doesn't know he's dying, but he is once like all three of us brothers, all three of his sons were there.
And it's like a high.
And everything, he's just dialed into it all and just very present.
joe rogan
Because everybody's there.
unidentified
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
And he's like, the doc is like, man, I have a feeling all three sons haven't been together with him.
And I'm like, in 25 years.
And so we were all there.
And I had my assistant back in Santa Fe.
And I was like, hey, my dad played for Kelowna Pipe Band.
And I was like, call her.
I'm like, you got to help me here.
Get a piper and to come play for him at the hospital.
And she's like, on it.
And she was great.
And the next, the next, or Friday night, I'm like, Gooey, what do you want for breakfast?
And he's like, give me something I shouldn't have.
Give me like a fucking Costco muffin and a stupid amount of whipped cream and a coffee.
And so, of course, I go overboard and bring him this fucking ridiculous, the big chocolate chip muffin and the coffee.
And the next morning, but he had gone from like dialed to he's hurting.
And so we got this piper to come.
We fucking, we're not allowed to do this.
We bring him out in the courtyard and the piper comes and he's asleep.
And she's like, what do you want me to play?
Like they know of my dad that he had played for the Kelowna pipe end.
And I'm like, I don't know many songs.
And I just obviously amazing grace and stuff like that.
And so she just rips it.
And he wakes up.
And we're all buckled emotionally, right?
Because this whole, the pipes to us is just like, that's our father.
That's like our only memory, one of our only memories for him.
So she plays two songs and he's fallen asleep again.
And he wakes up and he's, and I'm like, Gooey, you got one more song.
And he's like, okay, he was a mama's boy, loved his mom.
And she was amazing.
And he's like, play one for my mother.
So I think at that point, he knew he was about to go see her.
And yeah, so we have all this on video.
And his brother was there and his wife and his best friend growing up.
And so we fucking, the nurse comes out after the pipes.
They're not, obviously the whole fucking hospital can hear this.
And so we're obviously got caught.
And she's like, bring him up now.
And so we're like, yes, yes, ma'am.
So we fucking have him in his bed.
And you know, those like wheelchair ramps?
It's like a hard 90 degree.
He's out.
He's sleeping.
And my middle, I'm the youngest of three boys.
My middle bro's big.
And then my other bro's like 6'2, big boy too.
And we're fucking, we got him and we're stuck in that turn.
So now it's like weekend at Bernie's.
And this is like a pain movie where it's like, he's fucking, I'm like, hey, Gooey's stuck.
Boys, he's stuck.
We can't get over this fucking corner because the bed's too long.
And we're dying.
Like we needed a laugh.
And so I look down and Goee's arm is like fucking crooked, jammed in that bar.
Oh, no.
Yeah.
So I'm like, oh, whoa, whoa, back up a bit.
So we back, loosen up.
And it's like, it's not broken, but he didn't feel any of this shit.
So we're like crying laughing because it's like a weekend at fucking Bernie's mom.
It's our dark humor, man.
You got to laugh in those moments.
joe rogan
Yeah, yeah, exactly.
taylor kitsch
And yeah, because we were just buckled 10 minutes earlier.
Get him to the room and he's in and out sleeping.
And the next day on Father's Day, I had to drive back to Bozeman.
And we have dark humor.
And so everyone's in the room.
And I'm like, all right, get the fuck out of this room.
Everybody, like, like a joke, but the nurses are like, oh, my God, what happened?
I'm like, oh, I'm sorry.
It's a joke.
I just want 10 minutes with him.
And then I got to go.
I got to go back to work, but I'm going to say goodbye.
And so they leave.
And he's like kind of in and out of consciousness.
And he would wake up and look right through you.
Like he's trying to be with you or present.
I don't know.
That's kind of how I took it.
And he's fighting consciousness, I guess.
And small little side note, I was driving and the shaman who was helping me for Prime Evil, he texted me once I got into Canada.
And he was like, hey, I had a dream.
You got to fucking call me.
And I'm like, I don't know if I believe this stuff, but I'll call you.
And so I call him and he's like, hey, something's up.
And I'm like, I've told three people that my dad's going.
And he's like, I had a fucking dream that you're about to lose someone.
I don't know if they're close to you.
And I hate calling.
This is a crazy call, but I'm going to listen to this.
And I'm like, man, I'm on my way to say goodbye to my dad.
He goes, okay, that's what it is.
Yeah.
joe rogan
Weird is that.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
What is that?
I know.
I don't know what that is.
I'm still, and he's like, how, tell me about your dad.
What kind of guy was he?
I'm like, not very present.
He drank a lot.
And, you know, some regrets, of course, and this and that.
And he goes, okay, I'm going to set up an altar and pray for him.
And this is what I think is going to happen.
He's not going to cross over very easily because of the life he's lived.
And so when I'm one-on-one with my dad, I started the conversation.
I'm like, Gooey, it's me.
And out.
And he had soft hands.
That's one thing I remember.
So I grabbed his hand and our humor.
unidentified
I'm like, yeah, these are a little fucking soft, Gooey.
taylor kitsch
Like, maybe you should have worked harder.
unidentified
Like, no calluses, like nothing.
taylor kitsch
Just, you know, just trying to, and then I went into like the nonprofit and I'm going to do this and I'm going to try and get back and this and that.
And I promised him.
And during that conversation, he would try and like be conscious and he was fighting to be there present.
But he was, I think, gone.
And then two hours, I left.
And then on the way home, I broke all and he had passed on Father's Day.
And then I was back to work on Tuesday fucking riding banana bread.
unidentified
Wow.
taylor kitsch
My horse.
Yeah, with like Shea Wiggum, who's an amazing actor.
He played Jim Bridger and that.
But yeah, Pete was great with me.
joe rogan
Did that help you like hold a feeling of loss for your character?
taylor kitsch
I think it, I mean, how crazy art simulating life and vice versa.
I'm playing a guy mourning.
joe rogan
Right.
taylor kitsch
And then all of a sudden, like my father, who I didn't really have died, but it's still your dad, you know?
And Pete was like, hey, this, you know, do you want to ride banana bread into this, into this shot or walk them?
And I'm like, I'll ride him in.
And I was doing a scene with Shea Wiggum.
It was beautiful because I was upset that some knew that it's my news to tell, you know, but some had already knew the crew.
So I was a little rattled at that when I got to set because everyone was very fragile with me, which I understand.
But I was like, whoever told you guys, it's not your story to fucking tell.
It's mine if I want to share it with the crew or whoever.
But so I was a little upset on set, but then a lot, it was so beautiful, man, because a lot of these older guys on set would just come up and be like, man, my father was this guy to me, this guy, but you know, I just, I feel you.
And they would share all their father stories.
So it was a beautiful experience.
And Pete was great, and Betty Gilpin was amazing.
And that scene, I just buckled, like walked away from the Fort Bridger, and I just was pretty emotional.
And Pete was like, amazing.
And then we shot the scene.
He's like, go home.
And then I got to my trailer.
And literally to the minute of when I went down, that was the minute he got cremated.
Wow.
Yeah.
And then, but I do think it was really cathartic to be playing that guy.
And then I had a beautiful sweat after.
And I mourned him the right way.
You know, it did knock me, though, for like, I'd say six months after.
I was like, what am I doing?
Am I doing everything or enough?
Am I living my life enough?
Because even if he's not in your life, you're still like to witness that is, it was heavy.
joe rogan
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
But I had mourned him right.
And, you know, I'm in a good spot now, but it was an interesting thing of you just take stock, I guess.
I've never lost somebody close to me, especially in that way.
So, yeah, it was just a blessing to be still on set working and doing that.
joe rogan
Yeah, sometimes you just need to appreciate people.
And sometimes it takes a loss before you appreciate others sometimes.
It's just like you just get too used to people.
You get too used to them being around.
You take them for granted.
And then if they're gone, you just.
taylor kitsch
That's, you know what, Joe?
That's what I was fucking literally saying.
He's just gone just like that.
joe rogan
Lived in New York.
I had a best friend that was a drug addict.
And he was a crack addict at one point in time.
And then later, he started getting into harder stuff like opiates.
And he died of an overdose.
And I moved to LA in 94, but we stayed friends.
We hung out.
He would come out to visit me.
I'd go to visit him, but he was always fucked up.
He was always a mess.
Came to my house once, detoxed.
I didn't know that that's why he wanted to come to LA, but he came to LA and he was just so sick.
He just laid in bed for four or five days.
Brutal.
And then, you know, a couple days later, you had to go back to New York.
But he died of an overdose.
And another buddy of mine that I'm good friends with called me up.
And we were all tight together.
He called me up.
And it just never made sense.
I was like, how is he not here?
unidentified
Yeah.
joe rogan
How is he gone?
It just fucked me up where I knew he was going to die.
I knew it was going to happen, but I couldn't believe it happened.
And then, you know, you got to go back to work.
unidentified
I know.
joe rogan
Back to life.
You know, just and you feel so like a piece of you is missing.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
Like the world doesn't make sense.
taylor kitsch
True.
joe rogan
A person isn't in the world anymore.
It's so hard to imagine until it actually happens.
So abstract almost.
taylor kitsch
And like you said, even if like I had, I had enough time to understand he was going.
joe rogan
Right.
taylor kitsch
But when they're gone, it's just totally different.
joe rogan
Yeah.
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
And then you just take stock and you're like, okay, am I doing enough?
Am I whatever it is?
unidentified
It's just.
joe rogan
You tell people you appreciate them sometimes.
Yeah.
Sometimes that's all it takes.
taylor kitsch
You forgave them.
joe rogan
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
Like I didn't hold, I wasn't that son that was like, fuck, where were you?
Why didn't you do this for me?
Blah, blah, blah.
joe rogan
He is who he is.
taylor kitsch
Yep.
And you learn that as you get older.
joe rogan
Yeah.
People are who they are.
And people also, they grew up with monsters.
That's the other problem.
If you try to pretend that, you know, your parents should have their shit together because you have your shit together and they were your parents.
No.
Well, because who raised them?
They were raised by people living in the depression.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
They were raised by animals.
unidentified
Yeah.
joe rogan
Like, yeah.
We've only been truly civilized.
taylor kitsch
Truly.
joe rogan
Humans have only been truly civilized for the last few decades.
taylor kitsch
Truly.
joe rogan
I think most of history is just horrific barbarism.
It's just slaughter and crime.
And repeat.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Over and over and over again until we developed the ability to communicate how bad that is.
taylor kitsch
And it doesn't fix it.
joe rogan
It fixes it a little.
It gets it makes it a little better, but still, still, even today.
You know, there's.
taylor kitsch
But the pipes.
So every time I hear the pipes, I'm like, ah, it gets you.
unidentified
Yeah.
joe rogan
Oh, I'd imagine now.
taylor kitsch
I do want to go to Scotland.
joe rogan
Scotland's beautiful.
taylor kitsch
Yeah, I haven't been there.
joe rogan
I've been there a few times.
unidentified
Really?
joe rogan
I love it.
Yeah.
I love it.
People are very cool.
It's not overcrowded.
And if you can get past the rain, which is kind of a good break every now, especially if you live in L.A. Yeah, it's a good break to see rain everywhere where they're like, good luck starting a fire out there.
taylor kitsch
Yeah, yeah, right.
And to go into the highlands and maybe take a motorcycle trip.
Or I do want to go and watch those world championships.
Oh, yeah.
joe rogan
Oh, the highlights.
taylor kitsch
So the guy, I hired three pipers for his funeral.
joe rogan
Oh, wow.
taylor kitsch
And I pull in, I got this on fucking video.
And I pull into the parking lot, a little church in the middle of my town.
And they're doing the fucking putting the air in the bag.
And I was like, this time it crushed me.
And I took a video from my truck and I went out, introduced myself.
And he's like, you're not going to fucking believe this.
And I'm like, he's an older guy.
And he's like, I played next to your father at the World Championships.
joe rogan
Wow.
Wow.
taylor kitsch
Like, just randomly, this is the guy playing the funeral.
Wow.
And he was fucking amazing.
And he stayed a while.
And then it was like this little church.
You go into this little gymnasium kind of spot.
And he stayed and played in the back.
And some of my, that I didn't know, but some of my dad's favorite songs.
So I had those on video too.
But it was just beautiful.
Wow.
Yeah.
And it brought all three boys back together.
You know, now we're on good terms.
It's been super cathartic.
I was the only one to speak at the funeral.
And I'm in the pew, and it's his sister who I hadn't seen in a decade.
And my two brothers and their kids.
And my oldest is just a puddle.
He's just, he's wearing sunglasses and just a mess.
And the priest was actually quite great.
He was funny.
And then my other brother was in front of me and he was a puddle.
And he doesn't like speaking.
And I don't either.
As me, I get a little nervous or whatnot.
I'm always good if I'm in character or hiding behind something.
But the priest was like, okay, now's the time to say something.
unidentified
And the whole church is just like.
taylor kitsch
And I look at Damon, my other brother, Brody, and then Damon looks back at me.
Priest looks at me.
He's like, now's the time.
joe rogan
Oh, so you just had it.
It was you.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
And then my auntie, Lee, just squeezed my hand.
I'm like, I'm fucking saying something, aren't I?
She's like, yes, you are.
So I get up and I just said, you know, if there's any light to this whole situation, it's that all three of us brothers are back on great terms now.
joe rogan
Oh, that's great.
taylor kitsch
Yeah, it's great.
That's cool.
Yeah.
Yeah.
joe rogan
And then right back to Prime Evil.
taylor kitsch
Yeah, right back to Primeval.
joe rogan
Go get on banana bread.
taylor kitsch
Take it out on those motherfuckers.
Man.
Yeah, what a trip.
What a trip.
joe rogan
Yeah, that is a crazy experience, man.
When you were doing the Koresh thing, what was the thing that fucked you up the most about playing him?
About even preparing to play him.
taylor kitsch
Trying to root him emotionally to those circumstances that were so foreign.
Like the emotional beats of like, I just didn't understand it.
I didn't understand how someone could do what he did.
And then he was very woe is me.
Like he played the victim incredibly manipulatively well.
And I would always say he's like a great coach.
And he would, a great coach would be like, with you, he could train you and push certain buttons, but then he'll do something totally different with someone else and incredibly manipulative.
So I think just trying to root that and understand, I don't think I'll ever understand some of the actions, obviously, to that level, like how someone can do that.
But it is all out of fear and insecurity and trauma.
Like that part of it, I did understand.
And memorizing the Bible as a defense mechanism.
Because when he's with, there was over 20 theologians that would get on the call with him.
And I listened to child protective service calls, obviously all the Nesner calls, which was played by Michael Shannon, who's amazing.
And every time he got his back to the wall and they had a point or had something or had a level up on him, he would go right into Bible speak, which nobody could keep up with him on.
So he would gain that upper hand.
And I would just go into a fucking dialogue about a dragon with one eye is about to come and show its face and bare its teeth and take the children.
Like, what the fuck do you say to that?
You know, if you're on the call, and you're trying to have a rational conversation of like, let the children out.
joe rogan
Right.
taylor kitsch
We want these kids out.
And he goes right.
And he just goes into this Bible speak.
You're like, there's no real rebuttal to that.
And that was, he did this with child protective services too on those calls.
He would just go right.
And that was such an anchor to him because nobody could play a card like that.
unidentified
Right.
joe rogan
Because as soon as you say words from the Bible, you're right.
You have to be right.
taylor kitsch
And he's married.
joe rogan
He's literally quoting the Bible.
unidentified
Yeah.
joe rogan
And you're going to argue with me?
You're arguing with the Bible.
unidentified
Right.
joe rogan
It's Trump card.
taylor kitsch
Truly.
joe rogan
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
Truly.
And he would go to like Oxford and have debates with theologians in the classes.
And that's how he recruited a lot of people that he would win these debates and they would come and join, come to Texas.
Like really, like he would write these letters to people and send tapes to Australia and get them to come.
unidentified
Wow.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
Like this was incredibly smart guy.
Like that you have to give to him.
joe rogan
Isn't it so fucked up that someone with a brain that works that well would choose to use it in that way?
taylor kitsch
All just fear.
I mean, even the way like he's talking about God and the end of days and how he needs to bear, I think around 22 children that are going to go up with him and ride a cloud up there and all these crazy things.
He had the answers to aliens.
joe rogan
What was that answer?
taylor kitsch
I can't remember, but people, I do want to know.
To your point, though, it's like he ended up shooting himself in the head, right?
Which ironically, you don't go to heaven if you do that, which is, but also, like, he does all this shit.
And I don't know, just that was a big thing for like Paul Sparks and I, who played my right-hand man, of like when we shot that death scene, of like, man, like, I do wish, to your point, he was still alive and we could learn shit.
You know, all these guys, they end this.
Like, they drink the fucking Kool-Aid in the bed or the fucking, like, it's such a fascinating perspective that I do wish we could break that down and maybe learn something from this than just him shooting himself in the head and burning a burning in the house.
joe rogan
What you could learn, what you could learn, like, especially after the event, like the raid on the compound and everything.
Like, what could all the people are dead?
Like, what could you learn from that guy then?
He's going to be so fucked up.
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
I mean, nine people survived that.
One of the survivors, Thibodeau, was there with us, his drummer.
Oh, wow.
Every day.
Whoa.
And yeah.
And what did he say?
He was like, it goes back to your point that he still was thinking that he's coming back.
joe rogan
Oh, my God.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
Wow.
So he, I know.
unidentified
Wow.
taylor kitsch
And this didn't come out until our last week of shooting because I got along incredibly well with him.
And he did give us, he did write a great book and give me insight to moments that I asked to be in the show.
But I mean, he was going, I don't know, to North Dakota or the Dakotas to someone had blueprints for an alien warship.
And he was going to see these blueprints.
unidentified
And we're just in between takes.
taylor kitsch
We're in between takes, sitting in our set chairs, and me and Paul Sparks.
And we're like, hey, what are you doing after this?
After we rap.
And he went on and told us he was going to look at blueprints to this warship.
And we're like, okay.
Wow.
Copy that.
Yeah.
So those are the type of guys, though, that wind up in calls.
joe rogan
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
Sweet man, like very helpful, was great to us and was very open.
But I mean, a lot of majority of people are followers, right?
joe rogan
So, well, there's a lot of people out there that have brains that don't really work that well.
unidentified
Right.
taylor kitsch
Just truly.
joe rogan
That's just how it goes.
unidentified
Yeah.
joe rogan
It's a very unfortunate roll of the dice, but your brain does not let you navigate through life very well.
And you need someone to hold your hand and tell you what to do, even if it's completely illogical.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
And those people wound up becoming followers.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
I think it was the new light.
He called it the new light.
This is a while ago, but I think it was the new light.
Dave woke up and he got all everyone together.
And he's like, I just had a word with God and it's the new light something.
And it's where I'm going to, I'm the only one now that is going to sleep with the women.
And this guy named Norm, I think he was Australian or anyways, this guy was like, fuck that shit.
I'm out.
And like 20, 30 people laughed, but a lot stayed.
joe rogan
A lot stayed.
Yeah.
You're always going to get people that stay, and then they think that if they stay, he'll like them even more now.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
And those other losers who are in the way of them getting attention from Dave now are going to be tired.
I'm staying.
Fuck that.
unidentified
Yeah.
joe rogan
I'm Team Koresh.
You can fuck my wife.
taylor kitsch
Throw a fucking jersey on.
joe rogan
Nuts.
taylor kitsch
It is, man.
It is.
joe rogan
It's a weird thing that people have encoded in us to look for a leader.
taylor kitsch
I know.
joe rogan
Very strange.
taylor kitsch
I know.
joe rogan
You know, I think it's just from tribal DNA.
That's what I think.
taylor kitsch
Yeah, that's a good point.
I never thought about that.
joe rogan
If when we were groups of like 150 people, the only way we could survive, you got to listen to the wisest, most experienced person, and that's the tribal leader.
That's how it always was.
It was the greatest warrior, the one who knew where the fish were, the guy who knows what you're supposed to eat and not eat and where the danger is.
And that guy's going to help you, keep you alive.
And we always have that in everything.
We have it in businesses.
There's always like one top monkey at the top of the carrot.
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
Fucking carrot.
joe rogan
It's weird.
But you see it in chimpanzees too, man.
It's crazy.
It's a primate behavior.
All those chimpanzees, they have a tribe leader.
They have one guy who's the fucking top chimp.
He's running shit.
It's weird, man.
It's like it's encoded in us.
And so for people that aren't that smart, someone like David Koresh can totally exploit that and go, I am the leader.
And you're like, wow, I'm so glad I met you.
I was lost without you.
You are found now, my son.
You are found.
And also, I'm like, that guy's so confident.
He must be.
I'm not confident.
taylor kitsch
He did say tanks were coming and they're here.
So literally, that was a big moment.
That was a big moment.
Wow.
joe rogan
That must have been for me.
taylor kitsch
The seven seals.
He was rewriting the seven seals, his final days.
Oh, boy.
I know.
joe rogan
The whole raid on the compound thing is nuts.
taylor kitsch
It is.
joe rogan
When you see the fire coming out of the tanks, you're like, what did you guys do?
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
There's a guy that ironically was Dick de Gurin, his lawyer.
And he was speaking in Santa Fe when we were shooting this.
So I'm like, full fucking stop.
We're going to hear Dick de Guerren speak.
joe rogan
He's speaking about Waco?
taylor kitsch
He's speaking about his experiences as a lawyer.
Wow.
And he did.
And I went and introduced myself.
And there's a crazy story.
It was Dave's mom who called him and was like, this is what's happening.
Would you go help?
Blah, blah, blah.
He was on a fishing trip, I think.
And he's like, yeah, I'm going to go.
So he showed up to the compound on the perimeter that was set.
And he's like, I'm that guy's lawyer in that house.
You need to take me over there.
FBI puts him in a fucking tank.
And he goes to the front door in a tank.
And the door has this big piano.
I've tried getting this in the show and we couldn't.
But so there's a big piano at the front door, blockade.
Dave wasn't allowed to walk by the windows, all this kind of stuff.
This is deep into the 51-day standoff.
And Dave's right-hand man and played by Paul Sparks and another, his lawyer, Harvard grad, I think, answer the door.
And Dick's like, oh, I see the bullet holes in the ceiling, couple bodies that the ATF didn't allow you to take out.
You got a case here, but where's Dave?
And they show him the house and all this kind of stuff.
And so they're back in the foyer and the piano's against the wall and they're talking.
And he's like, okay, I don't, I want to help, but I don't know where Dave is.
And he's leaving.
And he's like, you got a fucking case.
And the right-hand man just goes, Dave was in the fucking piano listening to this whole thing.
joe rogan
What a psycho.
taylor kitsch
And so he got back in the tank, and Dave got briefed of their walk through there.
And anyways, Dick DeGuerin was his lawyer on that.
What a fucking story, though.
joe rogan
How crazy.
taylor kitsch
And I wanted to be in that piano and shoot that.
joe rogan
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
That would have been unbelievable.
joe rogan
Yeah, that would have been an important part.
taylor kitsch
I know.
joe rogan
It's an important part of the story.
taylor kitsch
It really is.
joe rogan
That's how nuts he was.
He hid in the fucking piano.
taylor kitsch
So scared to get shot or didn't trust anything.
But those guys apparently in that tank, they were like ripping Dick DeGuerin and like spitting on him and doing this kind of shit because they're like, you do know they just killed a bunch of ATF guys in that shootout as well.
And you're going to go fucking be this guy's lawyer?
Fuck you.
Yeah.
Yeah.
joe rogan
Right.
unidentified
So.
joe rogan
But the thing, like, what started off the feud?
I don't even remember like who how did bullets wind up flying?
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
So it was Dave had he was selling like homemade bulletproof vests and was like had these I know fucking and the ATF were kind of spiraling out like their funding was about they were about to get defunded and they needed a win.
They needed it.
What was it?
The Ridge Ruby.
unidentified
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
There you go.
So they dropped the ball huge on Ruby Ridge, right?
joe rogan
Say that again.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
So which is at the very beginning of Waco and they needed a fucking win here.
Find a cult leader into weapons selling ammunition, I think, and bulletproof vests and this kind of stuff.
And this guy's got these kids and all this is perfect.
And that started it of just like, we're going to go get this guy.
And there's a famous tape that we put in the show too, where Dave was like, you know, why didn't you just like he did this run all the time and was kind of just out and about working on the house, running around.
He had a fucking go-kart track around the compound.
And he's like, why wouldn't you just arrest me when I'm on a run, when I'm on this or that?
But they needed a lot of press and they needed to get funded again.
So they made this a spectacle and then it fucking turned into what you saw.
Like they were, they wouldn't let fire trucks come and take that fire out.
That's a fact.
And then they're playing that music of animals being like mutilated into the compound.
Yeah, then they were flying the ATF flag.
I asked for that to be put in, but we didn't put it in.
But they were flying the ATF flag while it was burning down.
Wow.
Yeah.
It's legit.
unidentified
Wow.
taylor kitsch
Crazy, man.
Wow.
They needed a win.
unidentified
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
And then...
That's so dark.
I know.
I know.
Picture I-35 right here, fucking tanks and all these armored trucks, everything going down I-35.
It's incredible.
You know, and they're just sitting right in front of the house.
And 51 days is fucking crazy.
That is crazy.
Yeah.
unidentified
Wow.
taylor kitsch
I know.
joe rogan
It's just hard to believe that they would do that.
But then you read the Ruby Ridge thing.
unidentified
Yeah.
joe rogan
They shot a woman while she was holding her baby.
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
The kid in the back, I think.
unidentified
Yeah.
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
The dog.
joe rogan
Shot a kid, dog.
Yeah.
And for what?
taylor kitsch
I know.
unidentified
For what?
taylor kitsch
For nothing.
I know.
joe rogan
Yeah.
It's weird, man.
It's weird.
You could be an assassin for the government.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
unidentified
And even just think you're just doing your job.
But it's like, this is, this seems pretty fucking criminal, guys.
taylor kitsch
It's a lot.
joe rogan
Horrifically.
taylor kitsch
It's a lot.
unidentified
It's just hard to believe that they would.
77, six people died.
joe rogan
The video is.
taylor kitsch
20, 20-something kids.
joe rogan
Driving over the house in the tank and shooting fire into it.
And then they denied doing that.
They denied doing that with the tank, shooting fire.
taylor kitsch
But you could watch it.
joe rogan
You could watch the fire come out of the tank.
unidentified
Yeah.
joe rogan
It's horrible shit, man.
taylor kitsch
I know.
What a role.
unidentified
So when you get out of that role, would you stop playing that guy, man?
joe rogan
How long does it take for you?
You go back to being you?
taylor kitsch
Probably, I bet you a month, six weeks till you shed it.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Go do something that makes you feel you and alive.
Motorcycle ride, something get the fuck out.
joe rogan
Did you like dream of that guy?
taylor kitsch
Oh, yeah, not anymore.
joe rogan
But you did?
taylor kitsch
Yeah, oh, yeah.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah, your subconscious.
It's funny because it's like that's you marry yourself emotionally to said circumstance.
And so my subconscious, and I'm sure a lot of actors will say, it's like you're wide open.
And so you're more vulnerable.
I'm way more emotional.
And so because you just do the work and you're just your subconscious is open.
So it might, your dreams, once I start dreaming a little fucking crazy visceral stuff, that's when I know I'm getting closer for sure.
Wow.
Yeah.
joe rogan
You're like, you're getting haunted.
taylor kitsch
A little bit.
joe rogan
It takes six weeks to detox you and fucking exercise the ghosts.
taylor kitsch
And then it's like you play this guy.
You know what's fucking crazy?
It was ACL.
And I was walking and prepping for Waco and randomly out of nowhere, this guy is talking about Waco and that it never happened.
Like this is so random.
And I was with my buddy who's out there.
And I was like, holy shit, what the?
We got to do this story now.
Like there's people out there that believe that it's just one conspiracy theory that never happened.
joe rogan
That's okay.
taylor kitsch
And I was like, what?
joe rogan
There's people that believe everything though.
taylor kitsch
I know.
joe rogan
If you could figure out the conspiracy, there's a whole group of people on Reddit dedicated to it.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
You're late to the party.
Any conspiracy, just fill in the blank.
There's a bunch of people that think space is fake.
It's a whole online community of people that don't believe in space.
unidentified
Yeah.
joe rogan
Okay.
There's people that believe a lot of people.
unidentified
Big.
joe rogan
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
Just to say that alone just feels like, sorry.
joe rogan
Yeah, it's people that like flat earth is not crazy enough.
They want to take it to the next level.
The next level is space doesn't even exist.
Okay.
taylor kitsch
You know, when you get older and people will just straight up, like when they talk at you, telling you false shit.
unidentified
Right.
taylor kitsch
You're like, okay.
joe rogan
Okay.
taylor kitsch
Usually I'll bite and be like, you're an idiot.
This is what is actually happening.
But no, now it's like, all right.
joe rogan
Sometimes it's exhausting, though.
taylor kitsch
You just shut up.
unidentified
I know.
joe rogan
That's so fake.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
But they like double down, triple down on it.
Yeah.
unidentified
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
I just had one of those moments.
joe rogan
You used to be a lot more of those people before the internet.
taylor kitsch
I know, man.
That's a dangerous game.
Yeah.
I don't read shit, which has really helped me.
joe rogan
Oh, yeah.
taylor kitsch
It really likes.
joe rogan
It's very healthy.
taylor kitsch
Yeah, it is.
Like, I don't read any reviews.
joe rogan
Good for you.
taylor kitsch
Any of that.
I learned the hard way, man.
I got hammered on John Carter.
That put me in a dark spot.
But yeah, had to rebuild everything.
But yeah, you're down that tunnel and you're just like, like, they're not just like, he's a bad actor.
It's like, this guy should die.
joe rogan
Yeah.
You're a terrible person.
unidentified
Yeah.
joe rogan
It's nuts.
Personally, the world would be better if you were never born.
unidentified
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
Like, whoa.
Damn.
joe rogan
Fuck.
I know you're just trying to write a saucy article, but holy shit.
taylor kitsch
That's a lot of fucking sauce.
joe rogan
A lot of vitriol there.
unidentified
Yeah.
Yeah.
joe rogan
It's weird, man.
People, but that's, you know, they like doing that to people they don't know.
taylor kitsch
It's zero accountability.
It's so easy.
joe rogan
And now, because of social media, anybody can do it.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
You never used to hear people's opinions before.
You had a movie in 1979.
The general public either went to see it or did not.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
And it was like a word of mouth thing.
And then there was like Siskel and Ebert and whoever else is reviewing stuff.
unidentified
Five other reviewers.
joe rogan
That was it.
And if the New York Times said it was good, you'd go see it.
unidentified
Yeah.
joe rogan
Yeah.
But now it's like fucking everybody.
taylor kitsch
Negative always beats.
joe rogan
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
taylor kitsch
You get more clicks on a negative hit.
And then, you know, that was the beauty of like Friday Night Lights.
Like, I never, there weren't reviews, really.
And I was just, we didn't have social fucking media.
We're in Austin.
No real producers on set or writers.
We're kind of Pete set it up so great.
And you're just going there slinging, trying shit, failing, trying again.
It was such an amazing experience.
joe rogan
Without all the extra.
taylor kitsch
Yeah, without any of the weight of like, is this going to be successful?
unidentified
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
What does that even mean now?
You know?
joe rogan
Yeah.
Well, do they still do focus groups when they do a film?
unidentified
Yes.
joe rogan
They still do.
Definitely.
So that's kind of like a small yeah.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
It is kind of because you're like, well, who are these people?
unidentified
Yeah.
joe rogan
They might be like, you went to Oklahoma's.
Yeah.
Like, by the way, I like Oklahoma.
unidentified
Yeah.
joe rogan
There's certain spots where, you know, like if you wanted to tank a movie, you'd do a focus group and, you know, some moron community where everybody's on fentanyl.
unidentified
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
joe rogan
You guys watch this movie.
taylor kitsch
I slept through half, but I don't like that guy's hat.
joe rogan
Did they get paid?
Is that like a job?
taylor kitsch
I don't know.
That's a good question.
joe rogan
I bet they do.
I bet they do, which is then you have to factor in: okay, what kind of a person is getting paid to do focus groups?
They might be a failure.
They might be a really dull-witted, dumb-minded person, and they get to decide the direction of this movie.
taylor kitsch
And like, I don't like the ending.
Yep, reshoots, $20 million reshoots.
joe rogan
40% of the audience said they didn't like the ending.
40% of the audience wouldn't pass a piss test.
Yeah, true.
taylor kitsch
Even like John Carter was like one of the highest tested movies in Disney's history.
And we got hammered, obviously.
But it's like, I don't know how much that moves the needle or anything.
joe rogan
I think people distrust the media more than they trust the media now.
But if something sucks, like if a critic says it sucks, it still works.
Like if I see a one-star review, I'm like, oh, that movie supposedly sucks.
unidentified
Yeah.
joe rogan
Like, I don't give it any other thought.
It still does work.
But if something's really good, people go, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Fuck the critics.
taylor kitsch
Fuck critics.
This movie rules.
joe rogan
Like, look at Adam Sandler's movies.
The critics always hate them.
The audiences always love them.
Always.
taylor kitsch
It's the most lopsided.
joe rogan
I know.
unidentified
It's crazy.
joe rogan
His movies.
taylor kitsch
He's such a sweet movie.
joe rogan
He's the best.
He's the nicest guy of all time.
And he's a great regular actor, too.
Uncut Gems was bananas.
That movie gave me so much anxiety.
I was like, don't do it.
He played that guy, that gambling addict, so well.
So believable.
taylor kitsch
Great directors, too.
Yeah, it's just, it's smart.
joe rogan
But his comedies, I love his comedies.
They're fun.
And I love that I can watch with my kids.
Like, he's got funny.
Like, Jack and Jill is funny.
It's fucking silly and ridiculous.
And Al Pacino's in love with his sister, who is him.
It's funny, man.
It's a funny movie.
It's so stupid and silly.
Yeah.
But the critics hate those movies.
taylor kitsch
They hate them.
joe rogan
Like, okay, what are you going to see?
It's an Adam Sandler movie.
He's really good at making this kind of movie.
If you want to go see a fun, lighthearted, silly movie.
With a lot of heart to it.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
His movies are the ones to go to.
But critics hate them.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
They don't, it doesn't matter.
If people love it, that's what matters.
unidentified
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
I mean, Terminalist season one.
joe rogan
Yes.
taylor kitsch
We got hammered.
Yes.
And the people spoke, man.
joe rogan
Yeah.
It did matter.
taylor kitsch
That's why I'm here.
Yeah.
Like, that's why Dark Wolf is dark.
We're doing it.
You know, it's because people wanted to see why Ben is fucking the way he is and made that decision.
Yeah.
If it didn't, there's no way we would have got that green light.
There's no way.
joe rogan
Well, because it's written by Jack.
So Jack Carr, who's a good friend of mine, who's an awesome human being and also a SEAL, and writes and had the goal.
This is how crazy Jack is.
Had the goal of first becoming a SEAL, getting military experiencing, and then becoming a great writer.
Like he had it in his head.
taylor kitsch
Did he really?
unidentified
Yes.
joe rogan
He always wanted to be a SEAL.
He always wanted to serve.
So he wanted to do those things, get real life experience.
And that guy has a love of history.
taylor kitsch
It's incredible.
Believable.
joe rogan
Incredible love of history.
taylor kitsch
Walking encyclopedia.
joe rogan
He's so brilliant.
And his recall is phenomenal.
But imagine that kind of decision making.
I'm going to be a SEAL.
I'm going to go get deployed.
I'm going to get military combat experience.
And then I'm going to go write books.
Dang.
taylor kitsch
That was his bestsellers.
Seven or eight.
joe rogan
And right out of the box, Terminalist, his first book is fucking incredible.
It's incredible.
But the guy prepared for it his whole life.
Like he's a voracious reader, voracious reader, reads constantly, can recommend books constantly.
He's always great about that.
And so his first book out of the gates, like he'd been pairing for it his whole life.
taylor kitsch
I mean, when he comes on the set, and we're shooting this episode five, he came to Budapest and his energy, like he's like a kid in a candy store, man.
It's like, I'm fucking gassed out, tired, and like just getting beat up.
And here comes Carr, and it's just the light.
He just brings an energy to that set that is just like, man, we're so lucky to be here.
And you're like, you know what?
You're kind of fucking right.
unidentified
We are.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
And I just love that guy, man.
Super supportive.
Right when I got the role.
joe rogan
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
He's like, not pressing me.
He's like, I know you played a SEAL before.
If you want any of my notes who Ben is, and he's like, if you want that long leash, here it is.
Like, I trust you.
Like, he's been nothing but amazing with me so far.
joe rogan
So he's a brilliant guy.
taylor kitsch
He really is.
joe rogan
Yeah, he really is.
taylor kitsch
Super caring.
joe rogan
Yep.
Yeah.
Well, just a great man.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
Like a truly great man.
Yeah.
It's so cool when a guy like that gets to write stories that really reflect the true lives that he led.
And then he knows a lot of his friends lead.
And it's real.
It's like he has an understanding of it that obviously the success of his books and the success of the series, that understanding just translates in a way like, oh, this is very authentic.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
Even like little notes, man, I would get with the gun work and all that kind of shit.
And obviously you listen, but it's just like he comes at you of just more excitement.
And you don't take it personal.
You can't.
And you want to get it fucking right.
When you have him and Jared Shaw, who's another SEAL, and Mendoza, who's a SEAL, and we got a Army Ranger who writes a lot of it.
Like we're surrounded by these guys every day.
So if they want, if anything is not authentic, you're, I mean, the bullshit meter is like fucking two feet away.
unidentified
Right.
taylor kitsch
You know?
And I love that, though, because they're doing a lot of my work for me, helping me, making me look like fucking Ben.
joe rogan
Right.
You know, he's a complicated character, too.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
A lot of that stuff, like one of my best buddies, a SEAL, and had like 200 guys under him, fought in Ramadi and bomb specialist guy, wicked dude.
And there's a moment in the CIA room in episode one that was written.
And then I kind of, I've been hearing this from him for so long.
And so it's kind of ingrained in me of just like how there's always someone to answer to.
And you're never really getting the full transparent part of what they're putting you out for.
So I'd heard all these stories for like the last, since loan, I met him on loan.
And so that scene, I was like, this is for you, man.
I'm just going to fucking go and have at it with this CIA guy.
And he was at the premiere and watched it and love that beat.
But it's like, I get to serve, you know, some of these guys that they don't get to have those moments.
joe rogan
Right.
taylor kitsch
You know, and that's so fun for me to just fucking go and light them up in that room.
One of my favorite scenes.
joe rogan
Cathartic.
unidentified
Yeah.
joe rogan
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
So I steal from these guys.
Even like, and I get it, I got hammered or Ben got hammered for being the twist of season one, right?
I'm the guy who kind of orchestrated a lot of it.
And I was talking to Marcus because I'm like, how the fuck am I going to root this guy, this SEAL that's like best friends with Reese?
And now all of a sudden the twist is like, man, I had a hand in this.
I'm the guy that put you guys down that tunnel on that op.
And your whole fucking platoon died for the most part.
And I just literally, it was like a little moment that I had with Lattrell where he was talking about going back and dying with his boots on.
And I was like, really settle into what that means.
This warrior is just decidedly going to die over there serving.
It's beautifully tragic.
And I was like, that is where I hung my hat with Ben of like how I can root this crazy twist of like, I'm making this decision for you, but you're going to go die with your boots on instead of this fucking, you're going to die rotting in this hospital bed, no insurance, your family, all this kind of shit.
I'm like, I'm going to take that decision for you.
So that's where I rooted Ben for season one.
Wow.
Yeah.
And then I go and open the Mike Murphy Museum with Dan and Marcus and a lot of other SEALs, obviously.
And a lot of the SEALs were like, I fucking get it.
You know, but a lot of people just were like, how could you?
And I get that part too.
But it was just like.
joe rogan
Both things are true.
Yeah, truly.
Yeah.
Both things are true.
How could you?
And I can't.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
He's a human being.
Yeah.
And, you know, that's one of the reasons why the show is so interesting.
Because people are fucking super complex.
taylor kitsch
And how fucking gray it all is.
joe rogan
Yep.
taylor kitsch
And how it goes back to like you're in mourning of a buddy.
You broke this promise.
His family's dead.
And now I'm on an op and I get in front of the guy that killed this guy's family.
I'm going to fucking put him down.
Fuck this.
I'll take the beauty of Ben 2 in this is he's accountable for it.
Like I'll take it.
Take my trident then.
I do it all over again, which is a beautiful thing.
And I think he does.
Like it's, it's a very, it's an emotional reaction that, you know, frays his life and the other character, Rafe's character.
He gets his trident taken.
But it's, that's one thing we were talking about earlier of just like, it's so fucking gray.
And in these really split decision moments that you have.
And these guys aren't fucking robots out there.
It's like they're emotional.
They're fucking trained like better than anybody.
But at times, they have to make these decisions that is like, okay, you're going to fucking put those girls on the black market or sell them or put them in the sex trade.
You don't get to live anymore.
I'm going to do that.
But that's a beautiful thing too.
joe rogan
Yeah, and people can relate to it.
Because totally.
If you were in that scenario, what would you do?
And most people would like to believe that you're not going to live anymore.
taylor kitsch
Yes.
Exactly.
We have these talks on set all the time.
You are American primeval.
We can romanticize the 1850s, or at least I did at the beginning of like, this guy's a fucking mountain man.
This is sick.
Like he's a motherfucker.
Like if I, if you see me on the river in 1852 and you're like, I want your jacket.
You're going to just come up and kill me and take my jacket.
unidentified
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
Like that's how fucked up the 1800s were back then.
Lawless.
joe rogan
Lawless.
taylor kitsch
And so we started shooting and I was like, we're shooting at 10,000 feet up there and you're cold and we're still spoiled, obviously.
Your trailer's 50 feet away.
But it's like, fuck this.
I'm like, there is nothing in me that would want to be in the 1850s.
joe rogan
Nothing.
taylor kitsch
Nothing.
joe rogan
No.
I can't believe people made it through.
taylor kitsch
I can't either.
joe rogan
It's hard.
taylor kitsch
I can't either.
joe rogan
And those people were living in the lap of luxury compared to people who lived 4,000 years before.
taylor kitsch
Oh my God.
unidentified
Good point.
taylor kitsch
200 years earlier.
unidentified
Yeah.
joe rogan
It's nuts.
I mean, it's like what we were talking about earlier.
Civilization is super recent.
I mean, it's not, obviously, there's ancient Egypt and all that stuff.
But I mean, what we're dealing with right now is super recent.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
Relative safety, relative security.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
Relative, you know.
taylor kitsch
I mean, do you, do you, when you go hunt, you're Utah, backcountry, wherever you're going, you're going to be in the shit.
It's going to be beautiful and quiet.
unidentified
And like, I live for that.
Yeah.
joe rogan
Well, that's why Montana is a great trailer.
It's a great place to hunt too.
And Montana is a truly wild place.
unidentified
Yes.
joe rogan
I mean, outside of Bozeman.
Right.
taylor kitsch
30 minutes outside.
joe rogan
Yeah.
30 minutes outside.
You've got like a truly beautiful, incredible, unjust unif you've never experienced the mountains, like the true mountains, especially when there's some snow on the ground and the wind's whistling around.
It's like, it's majestic.
It's like the most extraordinary work of art that nature created.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
There's something about like mountains.
It's just like awe-inspiring.
taylor kitsch
It's like, wow.
Perspective sinks into you.
You're in the moment.
joe rogan
And it's weird that very few people live near them.
taylor kitsch
I know, right?
joe rogan
It's when you get there, when you get there, you're like, oh my God, I want to see this every day.
taylor kitsch
Then you're on a flight to New York and two days.
joe rogan
I lived outside of Boulder for a while.
taylor kitsch
Oh, beautiful.
joe rogan
And it was like that every day.
It's like you're just driving through these mountains.
You're like, this is incredible.
Like this view that you have is like a vitamin.
unidentified
It really is.
joe rogan
It restores your soul.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
Look at this place.
And it's not a coincidence that people in mountain communities are chilled out.
taylor kitsch
Yeah, you're right.
joe rogan
It's not a coincidence.
They're surrounded by this overwhelming majesty of nature.
And it's humbling.
taylor kitsch
Yeah, it is.
joe rogan
It makes you a little chiller.
taylor kitsch
Totally.
unidentified
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
And I think for me, too, it's so good for the brain for all those reasons.
But also, it's just like, if I'm sitting around feeling sorry for myself or whatever it is, bored, it's like, it's your fucking fault if you're bored out there.
unidentified
Right.
taylor kitsch
There's a thousand hikes.
Go get into wildlife.
Go to the national park.
Go for a fucking walk.
Anything.
joe rogan
Fix your perspective.
taylor kitsch
Truly.
And it does.
joe rogan
It does.
taylor kitsch
It does.
After an intense role or whatever it is, once I land in Bozeman, man, I get on the bike or whatever, go fly fish.
It's like, it's a beautiful thing.
joe rogan
And there's less people there.
unidentified
So it's like, you don't feel the buzz.
Yeah.
Relax.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
unidentified
Relax.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
I just bought a $35 fucking protein shake before I came here.
joe rogan
In Austin?
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
unidentified
I was like, what the fuck is this?
joe rogan
I look up.
taylor kitsch
Yeah, it's like, I don't know, probably like koala DNA that's going to get me hard for the next seven days or something.
joe rogan
Grass-fed tallow.
Yeah.
unidentified
Yeah.
joe rogan
Where'd you go?
How's it doing?
How do they charge 35 bucks for a smoothie?
That seems a lot more complicated.
taylor kitsch
I keep adding shit.
I was adding.
joe rogan
You're adding proteins.
taylor kitsch
Yeah, creatine.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
But I was like, what's happening?
joe rogan
Yeah, it's not Montana.
But even Austin, like compared to where I lived before, I lived in LA.
And living here is like, there's only 2 million people.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
It's so much more.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
Yeah.
joe rogan
Like what they think is traffic is adorable.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
It's cute little traffic.
taylor kitsch
It's true, man.
It's true.
LA is insane.
joe rogan
It's just a terrible way to live.
taylor kitsch
It really is.
unidentified
Yeah.
joe rogan
It's a terrible way to live.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
And I think I get how people used to want to live there because it was the center of the TV business and the comedy business, but it's not worth it, kids.
unidentified
No.
No.
joe rogan
It's not good.
taylor kitsch
I mean, nothing's being filmed there anymore.
It's rare.
It's just.
joe rogan
It's weird, right?
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
It is.
joe rogan
How did that happen?
taylor kitsch
I don't know.
joe rogan
How did they fuck that up?
unidentified
I know.
joe rogan
How did you fuck up the one spot where everybody wanted to move to to be an actor?
You fucked up.
Through that spot?
unidentified
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
And they have everything.
Mountains, beaches, fucking.
joe rogan
You can get to the mountains to the shore in two hours.
You're up in Big Bear.
unidentified
Yeah.
joe rogan
You're down in Santa Monica.
Two hours.
Yeah.
It's nuts.
taylor kitsch
Studios, everything's there.
unidentified
Yeah.
joe rogan
And they fucked it up.
unidentified
Yep.
Brutal.
taylor kitsch
What the fuck is happening?
joe rogan
I don't know.
I know.
I don't know.
I'd blame politics, but I think there's a lot of other stuff going on, too.
I just think the people running it, it probably takes exceptional people to have real vision and learn how to keep stuff together.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
I don't know.
joe rogan
I don't know either.
taylor kitsch
I'm not a big fan of LA.
joe rogan
Yeah.
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
I lived here for 17 years.
joe rogan
Did you love it here?
taylor kitsch
I did.
joe rogan
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
I love the lake life.
joe rogan
It's nice.
taylor kitsch
It's fucking amazing.
joe rogan
It's a chilled city, too.
It's genuinely good people here.
unidentified
Yeah.
joe rogan
There are normal people.
Yeah.
You know, in LA, everybody is like a failed actor, wanting to be an actor, trying to get on a reality show, looking to be a TikTok influencer.
So everybody's got something.
taylor kitsch
And they want something from you.
unidentified
Always.
Always.
Yeah.
joe rogan
And every connection they make is like a networking thing.
Every new friend becomes someone who's an asset.
taylor kitsch
An asset.
joe rogan
Yeah, because it's like very transactional.
Yeah.
taylor kitsch
Gross.
unidentified
Yeah.
joe rogan
It's gross.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
Well, listen, brother, you're a very interesting guy, and you've got some awesome stories, and you're a really great actor.
And so I've been a fan for a long time.
taylor kitsch
Likewise.
joe rogan
This was really fun.
taylor kitsch
Thank you.
Thanks for having me.
joe rogan
My pleasure, brother.
Tell everybody one more time.
Terminalist, Dark Wolf, it's available now on Amazon.
taylor kitsch
On Amazon.
joe rogan
Which is great.
And I know the Terminalist killed it for Amazon.
taylor kitsch
Yeah.
joe rogan
It was a huge one.
taylor kitsch
We're number one right now.
joe rogan
That's amazing.
Yeah, thanks.
That's awesome.
It's a great show.
unidentified
It's a great show.
All right.
joe rogan
My pleasure.
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