The Office's Rainn Wilson on meaning and happiness
ReThinking
TED
4.7 • 626 Ratings
🗓️ 14 November 2023
⏱️ 51 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Rainn Wilson was a late bloomer: he landed the role of Dwight Schrute on “The Office” after over a decade of struggling as an actor. But success didn’t solve all of his problems — and it even created some new ones. In this live conversation for the Authors@Wharton series, Adam asks Rainn about his unlikely journey to stardom and how it led him into exploring the insights that philosophy, psychology, and the world’s great spiritual traditions can offer on modern life’s existential questions. They also discuss Rainn’s favorite moments from “The Office” and do some improv when Dunder Mifflin invites a certain organizational psychologist to talk to Dwight.
Transcripts for ReThinking are available at go.ted.com/RWAGscripts
ReThinking is produced by Cosmic Standard. Our Senior Producer is Jessica Glazer, our Engineer is Aja Simpson, our Technical Director is Jacob Winik, and our Executive Producer is Eliza Smith.
For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/rethinking-with-adam-grant-transcripts
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Hello, it's Ed Gamble here from the off-menu podcast. |
| 0:02.6 | James A. Caster here. |
| 0:03.7 | And we are currently being brought to you by co-op's new meals range, served. Served is all about making midweek meals delicious yet effortless. It's ready to cook meals prepared with fresh ingredients that's ready in just 30 minutes, taking the hassle out of cooking without breaking the bank. Choose from one main and two sides for £7 for co-op members. The meal serves two, so that's £3.50 each. |
| 0:23.7 | Oh, that's flavours worth six. the bank. Choose from one main and two sides for £7 for co-op members. |
| 0:21.4 | The meal serves two, so that's £3.50 each. Oh, that's flavour's worth sitting down for, Ed. Without the hassle of all the prep, you can pop into your local co-op or get it delivered right to your door in as little as 20 minutes through co-op delivery, Uber Eats, Deliveroo, or Just Eat. £8 for non-members ends 28th of October. Co-op Group membership required. Subject to availability, see co-op.com.com. U.K.4 slash served for details. Delivery partners, teas and Cs apply. Dinner is served. Welcome to Curries. You're looking at the A-rated Hoover Pro-Wash Series 5 washing machine with proactive wash tech to remove up to 99% of daily stains. |
| 0:55.9 | Wait, she just said that without moving |
| 0:57.9 | your lips. I'm using telepathy. |
| 1:00.2 | It uses less energy than talking. |
| 1:01.9 | So, do you know what I'm thinking? |
| 1:04.3 | Yeah, and I don't know why penguins |
| 1:06.0 | can't fly either. Delivery, installation |
| 1:08.4 | and recycling for only 35 pounds. |
| 1:10.7 | Energy efficient tech made easy. |
| 1:12.6 | At Curries, add installation and recycling up basket and 21st of the tempteries and sees apply. |
| 1:16.9 | Building a coffee business? Serving the best Americano in town is up to you. But winning back time |
| 1:21.4 | and growing your business, leave that to sum up. Take orders and payments anywhere with the new |
| 1:25.3 | sum up terminal. Turn occasional customers into regulars with a free loyalty program. |
| 1:29.9 | And with the sum-up point-of-sale system, you'll always know when you're running low on your best-selling blends. |
| 1:34.4 | Visit sumup.co.uk to learn more. |
| 1:40.5 | Hey, everyone, it's Adam Grant. |
| 1:42.5 | Welcome back to Rethinking, my podcast on the Science of What Makes Us Tick. |
| 1:46.8 | I'm an organizational psychologist, and I'm taking you inside the minds of fascinating people to explore new thoughts and new ways of thinking. |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from TED, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of TED and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.