Embracing creative transformation with Rainn Wilson—from creative evolution to spiritual revolution

Rainn Wilson is a hat man. To be clear, he doesn’t sell hats, collect hats, design hats, or even knit hats for his two pet pigs, Amy and Baron Von Snortington. He wears them—many of them, in fact. Actor, author, podcaster. Company founder, philanthropist, activist. Truth seeker, sufferer, human—these are just a few of the hats resting on Rainn Wilson’s proverbial hat rack, one positively overflowing with achievements and milestones collected throughout his undeniably impressive – yet undoubtedly unique—career.

While you might know him for his iconic portrayal of Dwight Schrute in “The Office,” what you might not know is that, behind the scenes, Rainn Wilson has been building a creative and philanthropic empire. 

He’s co-founded media-company-with-purpose, Soul Pancake, and launched an educational non-profit for women and girls, LIDE Haiti. He’s an advocate for mental health awareness, searching for the answers to life’s most complex questions in his heartwarming Peacock series, Rainn Wilson and The Geography of Bliss. He’s written multiple books—The Bassoon King and Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Awakening – and recently launched his latest project, the Soul Boom podcast.

It’s clear that Rainn Wilson is a person of incredible integrity—not only for his impressive creative resume but also his relentless pursuit to make the world a better place. In addition to an undeniable supply of creativity, talent, and drive, Rainn’s ever-evolving creative success is, in part, due to his willingness to embrace growth and transformation—both professionally and personally. 

“Transformation is part of the artistic process,” says Rainn. “You transform a blank page into a beautiful poem or illustration. You transform a blank computer screen into an animation or video. You transform a silent, empty room into a space filled with sound, music, and rhythm. Art is inherently transformative—as are humans.”

I was lucky enough to interview Rainn Wilson about his impressive career—from creative evolution to spiritual revolution. What resulted was a profound and insightful discussion about choosing the creative road less traveled, the ongoing reinvention of self that lies at the heart of creativity, and the pearls of wisdom he’s collected along the way.

Rainn Wilson’s creative career has been as multifaceted as it’s been impressive. However, all of his creative pursuits are woven together by a common thread – his unyielding pursuit of creative growth and unwavering commitment to authenticity.

“I’ll be honest – the first thing I wanted to be was a bus driver,” Rainn says. “This was back in the 70s when people paid with coins, and I just assumed the bus driver got to keep the money, so I decided that’s what I wanted to do.”

Once Rainn realized the wheels on the bus didn’t make the world go ‘round, he considered various other career paths – sci-fi writer, high-school English teacher, therapist, even international relations and public policy – but one underlying passion trumped everything else. 

“Secretly, I wanted to be a professional actor,” Rainn says. “At age 20, I decided – I’m going to do it. I’m going to commit to acting, and I’m going to get the best training possibIe. But I knew that, if I wanted to do it, I would have to commit whole hog and really go for it.” 

Rainn’s journey from aspiring actor to cultural icon was far from an overnight success, spending years learning, working, and mastering his craft. But in the words of Dolly Parton, you can’t have a rainbow without a little Rainn.

“I had a very limited idea of who I was as an artist,” says Rainn. “I just viewed myself as a quirky character theater actor – I thought I would do plays, play the weird guy, the villain, or the crazy clown, and hopefully make enough money to pay the bills.” 

“While I knew who I was as an actor when I started auditioning, I still had room to grow. I learned how to listen and respond, improvise, and create characters. I built this skill set before I started expanding, giving me an incredible foundation on which to build my career. There’s something to be said for spending many years mastering your craft or passion.” 

However, a single audition would forever alter the trajectory of his career. Cast as the enigmatic Dwight Schrute in the American adaptation of “The Office,” Wilson’s portrayal of the eccentric, beet-farming oddball endeared him to audiences worldwide, earning him critical acclaim, multiple award nominations, and a fervent fan following. 

“Being on The Office was beyond my wildest dreams as an actor – I never thought I would have a film or TV career, let alone be a series regular on a super popular significant show,” Rainn says. “I didn’t even see it as a remote possibility.”

While Rainn finally found himself in Dwight place at Dwight time after many years of rejections, setbacks, and paying his dues, he reminds us that, for most of us, luck is simply what happens when preparation meets opportunity. 

“One of the drawbacks and strengths of the internet is that we’re exposed to wildly talented people every day – but they’re one in a billion,” he says. “For us run-of-the-mill regular artists, it takes years, and you can’t rush it. Do you know how many rejections I had before being cast as Dwight? Thousands and thousands – but I kept going.”

“Resist the TikTok inclination to ‘be discovered’ or be brilliant right off the bat,” says Rainn.” Find the best teachers. Learn from people more knowledgeable than you. Study, master your craft, and do the work.” 

Even Rainn’s big break was far from an easy road; when The Office finished its first season on NBC in 2005 with low ratings, nobody thought it would continue. 

“When we started, we just wanted to make a good TV show,” said Rainn. “We hoped it would stay on the air, that we could pay off our student loans and credit cards or eventually buy a house. We had no idea it would be such a positive and healing force for millions of people around the globe.” 

But, by the close of its second season, The Office had become an Emmy-award-winning series with a cult following; by its sixth season, it had become one of the biggest shows on television, and Rainn Wilson was a household name.  

“We knew while we were on The Office that it was incredibly special,” Rainn says. “Having people share how much the show meant to them, helped them, healed them, brought their families together, and got them through the darkest times of their lives – I mean, it doesn’t get better than that.”

In addition to the show’s phenomenal success and undeniable impact, one of Rainn’s key takeaways was the thriving, collaborative creative environment it fostered. 

“Everyone had an input,” he recalls. “They could change their lines, improvise, give script ideas. We would always go into the editing room and give notes and feedback, and creating a warm, welcoming, communal creative space built on collaboration was something I took with me.” 

Despite the show’s unparalleled success and his rise to fame and fortune, Wilson still grappled with a cycle the Buddhists call “the hungry ghost” – a constant longing for something more.

“The Office was beyond my wildest dreams, yet I was still chronically dissatisfied with what I had. It was never enough, and I often felt an urge for more,” says Rainn. “I’d always think about what was next: how can I get more movies? How can I get a development deal? How can I get commercials or get a better agent?”

“While we knew we were in the good old days on The Office, I wish I had enjoyed it more deeply. I think it shows that no matter how good you have it or how much you’ve accomplished, it can be hard to be grateful when you have your sights set on the next role, project, or achievement.” 

Despite his success, Rainn’s hunger to evolve became the catalyst for his next creative shift, catapulting him into a new phase of his career – producing, directing, and creating content with purpose. 

“Once I came out to LA, I started doing a little more writing, producing, and directing,” says Rainn. “My interests expanded, and I realized I had a very limited idea of my creative scope. It’s so common for creatives to want to try something new, think outside the box, and flex their creative muscles. But often that part of ourselves also shuts it down, telling us, ‘That’s stupid, you can’t do that,’ – and that’s the enemy of creative evolution.”  

So, in 2008, Wilson co-founded Soul Pancake – a budding YouTube channel turned thriving digital media company dedicated to creating inspiring and uplifting video content and exploring what it means to be human – from gratitude experiments and kitten therapy to the art of human connection. 

“Once The Office took off, suddenly I had a platform,” Rainn explains. “I was one of the first celebrities on social media right around the time that it started, and people cared about what I thought! I felt a responsibility to use my platform to make the world a better place, which drove my mission beyond just being a quirky character actor on a great TV show.”

Soul Pancake would become an eight-year passion project for Rainn, one that produced over 3,000 video projects with the purpose of driving real-world impact and awareness – all while balancing his stardom at the peak of The Office’s success.

“For many years while I was on The Office, I was also helping run Soul Pancake,” he says, recounting the company’s inception. “I’d often be on the phone attending pitch meetings, watching videos, and giving notes while shooting the show, or even running straight from The Office set to Soul Pancake headquarters to shoot video content.”

But, even as the company flourished, Wilson’s hunger for spiritual curiosity and creative evolution coalesced, ultimately leading to his most ambitious and introspective project yet.

“Originally, before we shifted to creating inspiring branded content, Soul Pancake was going to deal with spirituality,” Wilson explains. “Soon enough, I again started to question: what does the world need right now? How do I use my talents and faculties to address those imbalances? How do we have deeper, fresher, irreverent, fun, meaningful, profound, elevated, spiritual conversations and make them relevant for everyone?” 

Amidst the global lockdowns of 2020, Rainn began outlining ideas for a new project in his Notes app between grocery lists, sci-fi novel concepts, and stand-up comedy quips. Before he knew it, he had over 300 pages of wisdom and a new creative hat to add to his already burgeoning hat rack – author of Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution.

“The book was rejected by 12 of the 13 publishers we sent it to,” says Rainn. “That’s really what being creative is like in one sentence, isn’t it? Twelve rejections to one acceptance – but that’s just how it is! You’ve just gotta keep pushing.”

This monumental shift from “quirky comedy actor” to “spiritually enlightened author” was a crucial creative evolution for Rainn; while it was a professional risk transitioning from the version of him that his fans knew, his desire for authenticity led him to leverage the creative he was to become the creative he wanted – and needed – to be. 

“Artists shouldn’t be limited by what they think they’re capable of,” Rainn says. “The only people who think they’re not capable of more are narcissists. So, as long as you can make sure you’re not a narcissist, there’s probably a lot more that you’re capable of.”

“All too often, we view ourselves as stuck and incapable of growth. While it can be uncomfortable and even painful, metamorphosis is vital for growth. Transform that pain into beauty – stand-up comics transform their pain into laughter; musicians transform their pain into a beautiful song. If we transform our experience into something beautiful, we can also transform ourselves, turning our limitations into something far greater.” 

This transformation once again paid off for Rainn, with fans showing overwhelming support for the book and urging Rainn to continue the conversation. 

“When I published the book, I didn’t know if people were going to like it – it was a risk for sure,” said Rainn. “But I did a big press tour and put my blood, sweat, and tears into promoting it, and people responded really positively! That’s when I knew it needed to be more than a book.”

As an experienced podcaster, launching the Soul Boom podcast was a natural progression for Rainn, inviting listeners to join him on his journey of self-discovery as he wrestles with life’s crunchiest questions.

“I think podcasting comes naturally to actors because we’re born storytellers and conversationalists,” he says. “There’s something so vulnerable about two people having a conversation in the same room – it’s so powerful and a great way to hear and tell stories, fill the time, and find laughter. It’s an incredible art.” 

Through candid interviews with artists, activists, and thought leaders, the Soul Boom podcast aims to delve deep into the human experience and shed light on everything from philosophy and spirituality to social justice and mental health.

As someone who is no stranger to mental health battles, Rainn hopes to normalize, destigmatize, and bring awareness to this important and prevalent issue – one faced by many artists and creatives. 

“Mental health is a huge, difficult, and complicated issue for everyone, but especially for creatives – otherwise, you wouldn’t be an artist,” says Rainn. “I have an anxiety disorder myself, so I’m wired to be anxious. There needs to be an acknowledgment that mental health struggles are real – anxiety, depression, loneliness, addiction, alienation – and that you’re not alone in suffering and struggling with them.”  

At its core, the Soul Boom podcast is a testament to Rainn Wilson’s commitment to authenticity, growth, and spiritual exploration, continuing his creative journey while giving fellow artists, thinkers, and changemakers a platform to share their own wisdom.  

“I’ve had so many deep, meaningful, profound, inspiring, funny, heart-moving conversations,  and we’ve only recorded 19 episodes so far,” Rainn exclaims. “I just interviewed Serj Tankian, lead singer of System of a Down. I’ve had amazing stand-up comics like Neal Brennan and Bobby Lee and New York Times bestselling author Arthur Brooks, who just wrote a book with Oprah”. 

“I even got to interview one of my idols, Jeff Kober – an actor, philosopher, and meditator –  and I just burst into tears; I had no idea it would hit my heart the way it did. I’m so excited to share these inspiring people’s work because it deserves to be out there.” 

Yes, Rainn Wilson has worn many hats throughout his life and career. However, looking back on his creative journey, he reflects that – while the increasing demand on creatives to “wear all the hats” can be daunting – it’s crucial to invest in the business of yourself and be your own biggest advocate. 

“My dad was an artist, and he hated marketing himself,” Rainn says. “He just wanted to create beautiful things – he didn’t want to hustle and network and connect, which is essentially a requirement of creatives nowadays.”  

“The way I see it is you’ve got your creative hat and your business hat. When you’re creating, just be an artist – whatever that might mean – and go wherever your muse, soul, or voice takes you. When it’s time to hustle, remove your artist hat and put on your business hat. Say to yourself, ‘I’m my own manager. I’m my own advocate. What do I do with what I just created? Do I put it on social media? Do I knock on doors? Do I hand out demos? Do I email my idols and mentors? How do I proceed?’ It might be a pain in the butt, but it’s crucial to be able to shift effectively between those two hats.” 

In an industry characterized by fleeting fame and ephemeral success, Rainn Wilson’s prosperous career is a testament to not only the relentless pursuit of one’s passions but also the transformative power of change. 

Moral of the story? Life’s too short to play it safe – or to stay the same. Whether he’s making us laugh donning a beet-stained suit or opening our minds through meaningful spiritual discussions, Rainn Wilson’s extraordinary creative journey shows we can do incredible things when we embrace the unknown, ask ourselves the important – and sometimes difficult – questions, and never stop striving toward our creative potential.

To finish with Rainn’s words: “Find your path through working, studying, and experimenting. Read books, travel, and fall in love. Try new things, embrace life’s experiences, and master your craft.”  

Listen to the Soul Boom podcast now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or anywhere else you get your podcasts.