Rainn Wilson wanted to find inner happiness. So he got on a plane. Many planes.
The actor, who memorably played scheming, egotistical Dwight Schrute on B次元官网网址淭he OfficeB次元官网网址� has crisscrossed the world to explore how people in different countries find their glee.
The result is a new Peacock series that follows Wilson looking for some deep answers as he takes in a drag show in Thailand to getting in a boxing ring in Ghana. The show premieres Thursday, in time for Mental Health Awareness Month.
B次元官网网址淚 wanted it to be a personal voyage of like, B次元官网网址楬ey, can this make me happier? Can I share my journey? Can I share my story?B次元官网网址� But, at the same time, I wanted it to be something for everyone B次元官网网址� you could feel like youB次元官网网址檙e going on that trip, too.B次元官网网址�
Armed with global data on happiness, Rainn visits countries both high and low in happiness, digging into philosophy and history and his own story. He quotes philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche and scrubs elephants.
In Iceland, which is high on the happiness index, he goes skinny-dipping in a cold fjord, plays with adorable lambs, eats ice cream and swallows a bottle of cod liver oil. He asks why cold climates seem to produce happier people and if the Icelandic embrace of being flexible in the face of an ever-changing climate is important to happiness.
B次元官网网址淚celand is a land of contradictions. IB次元官网网址檝e never met more individualistic folks than the Icelanders. TheyB次元官网网址檙e all so quirky and wonderful and interesting. And at the same time, they really love their collectivity,B次元官网网址� he says over Zoom.
B次元官网网址淭here was this incredible balance in Iceland between radical individuality and personal expression and also really trusting the collective and feeling part of the collective. We havenB次元官网网址檛 worked this out in America yet.B次元官网网址�
The series is based on a book by Eric Weiner, a former NPR international correspondent who admits he was a little nervous when Wilson first came on board.
B次元官网网址淗e was Dwight from B次元官网网址楾he OfficeB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� goofy, funny Dwight. And I thought, B次元官网网址極h, no, really?B次元官网网址� But then I quickly discovered that Rainn Wilson is not Dwight, and IB次元官网网址檝e had a chance to get to know him a bit,B次元官网网址� says Weiner. B次元官网网址淎nd he is a very thoughtful, very curious, actually very serious guy, the way a lot of comedians and comedic actors are.B次元官网网址�
Wilson starts the series by revealing on camera that he comes from unhappy family, has battled depression starting in his teens and has anxiety disorder. It was key for him to acknowledge that to fans and viewers.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 super-important to share your struggle,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淚n the current environment and the Instagram-ification of American life, everyone looks happy and well-curated and in awesome locations and coping perfectly. And someoneB次元官网网址檚 at home alone suffering.B次元官网网址�
If Iceland is on top, the show also visits Bulgaria, which ranks low on happiness, Wilson explains that the countryB次元官网网址檚 long history of being subjugated B次元官网网址� by Ottomans, Nazis and Soviets B次元官网网址� has led to mistrust in government and strangers. Perhaps, then, self-expression brings joy and so might trust in the authorities?
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 realizing why I feel so at ease in this place,B次元官网网址� he says on the show, B次元官网网址淚 think IB次元官网网址檓 Bulgarian. IB次元官网网址檓 a worrier. IB次元官网网址檓 a pessimist. For as long as I can remember, IB次元官网网址檝e walked a constant tightrope in avoidance of bad feelings.B次元官网网址�
Wilson joins a crowded field of new celebrity travel hosts, which includes Zac Efron, Chris Hemsworth, Stanley Tucci, Macaulay Culkin and Ewan McGregor. But few travel shows have their host dress up like a Viking, drive a tuk-tuk or skateboard in the former Soviet bloc.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 basically philosophy on the road,B次元官网网址� says Weiner, who is B次元官网网址淭he travel is the candy that gets you to the main course of these really big philosophical issues about suffering and happiness and meaning and trust and all these issues that Rainn wrestles with.B次元官网网址�
What is the secret to happiness? The show indicates that the answers may not be as complicated as we think it is B次元官网网址� and it may include getting very, very cold.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a set of tools. There is finding community, being of service to others, connecting to nature. Meditation. Gratitude, Wilson says. B次元官网网址淐old immersion therapy or cold and heat therapy. ItB次元官网网址檚 not rocket science.B次元官网网址�
And, appropriately, you might add travel to that list. Wilson this time wasnB次元官网网址檛 traveling to sit on a beach and sip a coconut cocktail B次元官网网址� although thereB次元官网网址檚 nothing wrong with that, he insists B次元官网网址� but to learn.
B次元官网网址淭raveling to find joy is something that everyone can do. But it does involve getting to know strangers, connecting with them, finding community, learning, getting humble,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淭ravel itself can be a great antidote to disconnection and unhappiness.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址擬ark Kennedy, The Associated Press
READ MORE:
