Side Dish: More Joel Kinnaman

Podcast Summary: Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Episode: Side Dish: More Joel Kinnaman (May 7, 2026)

Episode Overview

In this side dish episode, host Jesse Tyler Ferguson shares an intimate dinner at Crudo e Nudo in Santa Monica with Swedish-American actor Joel Kinnaman. The conversation is unscripted, warm, and candid—just as promised by the podcast’s core concept: authentic celebrity conversations over a great meal. This episode dives into Joel’s formative time as a Texas exchange student, his early days in acting, the challenges (and tedium) of aging for his role on For All Mankind, family connections to Sweden, and the cultural leap from Stockholm to Hollywood, all peppered with humor and vulnerability.

Relocating to Texas as a Teen ([02:59]–[06:06])
Joel’s Young Acting Journey & Nepotism ([06:11]–[10:13])
Aging on Screen: Playing Ed Baldwin in For All Mankind ([12:40]–[19:16])
Home, Family, and Dual Citizenship ([20:08]–[23:47])
Culture Shock: From Swedish Film to Hollywood ([24:12]–[27:12])
Notable Quotes & Standout Moments

Relocating to Texas as a Teen ([02:59]–[06:06])

Joel shares how he ended up in Texas as an exchange student:
- He originally chose the West Coast on his application, but instead was placed in "Hell Valley, Texas" (later realizing it was Dell Valley, near Austin).
- Joel humorously recalls the rural and somewhat eerie scene of driving past old, run-down cars “becoming part of the landscape” at his host family’s house.
- His experience with the first host family was difficult: “No one was happy in the house.” ([04:39])
- Eventually, his football coach, Coach Walden, took him in as part of his own family, offering him relief and kindness—a welcome contrast.
Reflection:
“That was your first experience with America, was Texas… and yet you still kind of knew you wanted to come here?”
“No. No, I didn’t know. That was later.” ([06:02]–[06:06])

Joel’s Young Acting Journey & Nepotism ([06:11]–[10:13])

Early acting and a “mischief period”:
- Joel admits to a rough patch in his early 20s, describing himself as a “little south side fuck boy” ([06:22]), bartending, partying, and being “annoying…pretty negative life.”
- He started acting as a child, landing a soap opera role at 11 due to his sister’s connections. He refers to himself jokingly as a Nepo baby:
  “I’m a total Nepo baby.” ([10:13])
- His sister was an accomplished actor, starring in the Oscar-nominated film My Life as a Dog.
- Joel credits proximity to the acting business for his early opportunities, but notes his path diverged before acting drew him back.

Aging on Screen: Playing Ed Baldwin in For All Mankind ([12:40]–[19:16])

Portraying the same character over decades:
Jesse praises the unique challenge:
"It's such a unique challenge that…very few actors ever get to play…to live a full season of a TV show in that age is really a remarkable challenge." ([13:30])
Kinnaman’s take:
- The hardest ages to portray were 60 and 70, because “it’s so dependent on how you’re living…there’s guys in their 40s that walk around stiffer than some guys in their 70s.” ([14:08])
- Details the physical and mental toll of prosthetics:
  “The makeup was…so tough to get on. It was like five and a half hours…I wanted to burn my face off with a blowtorch.” ([14:55]–[15:19])
- His days during those shoots could last up to 19–20 hours, with the constant discomfort of prosthetics.
- Meditated to cope, recalling: “That I didn't…rip my own face off or someone around me’s face off during that show is like a miracle because I was like boiling internally.” ([16:13])
On legacy and cultural change:
“Having a job like that now…it’s like, I don’t know, being an influencer. TikTok dances. And they will by the way, be on the moon doing their TikTok dances.” ([18:10]–[18:18])

Home, Family, and Dual Citizenship ([20:08]–[23:47])

Malibu vs. Sweden:
- Describes the 2018 Malibu wildfires—he narrowly missed them, being in Costa Rica, but his partner’s brother managed their home and dogs amidst chaos.
- Joel reflects on the emotional tie to Sweden:
  “When I'm back home, I feel like rooted and connected in a way that I don't do here…but I think I'm probably happier here.” ([21:13]–[21:43])
- Shares the emotional math of seeing aging parents:
  “My dad’s 82…let’s say he lives another 15 years…and I go home twice a year, so I’m seeing him…30 more times.” ([22:10]–[22:29])
- Family compromise: about “a fifth” of their time in LA will be spent in Sweden.
- Joel candidly talks about his father’s health (“he just drinks a little too much,” [23:05]) and the positive impact of sauna use for longevity.
Longevity advice:
“Jumping in a sauna three times a week for over 30 minutes will decrease your general mortality with 40%...It's huge.” ([23:33]–[23:44])

Culture Shock: From Swedish Film to Hollywood ([24:12]–[27:12])

Career lift-off:
- Joel recounts his rising star in Sweden, winning the national film award for Easy Money.
- Describes the daunting leap to Hollywood:
  “It’s a big move to…come to Hollywood. Back then, there wasn’t that many people that had done it…it was basically Stellan Skarsgård, Peter Stormare, and Lena Olin.” ([25:08]–[25:32])
  - Felt pressure to succeed:
    “I kept telling everyone in interviews…I’m going to Hollywood…people were like, why do you do that?…Because otherwise I want to like…I don’t want to give myself an out.” ([25:52]–[26:38])
  - Struggled initially once in LA—auditioning was harder in person than sending tapes from Sweden.
  - “But yeah, and then I got The Killing.” ([27:12])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On family in Texas:
“No one was happy in the house.” ([04:39]) — Joel Kinnaman
On his wild period:
“I was, like, working in bars and just kind of being a little south side fuck boy…just annoying, and you know, just sort of a pretty negative life.” ([06:22], [06:50]) — Joel Kinnaman
On acting prosthetics:
“It was brutal…the whole day was just wanting to like, rip my own face off because everything was itching constantly.” ([15:19], [16:13]) — Joel Kinnaman
On the generational passage of time:
“My dad’s 82…let’s say he lives another 15 years…and I go home twice a year…so I’m seeing him…30 more times.” ([22:10]–[22:29]) — Joel Kinnaman
On moving to Hollywood:
“I don’t want to give myself an out. I want to, like, put that pressure on myself to not give up.” ([25:52]–[26:38]) — Joel Kinnaman

Structure & Tone

The tone throughout is relaxed, honest, and at times irreverent, with both host and guest sharing personal perspectives, insecurities, humor, and a sense of wonder about the unpredictable paths of life and career. The camaraderie over dinner brings out Joel’s light sarcasm (“Total Nepo baby”), candor about difficulty, and thoughtful reflection on family and transatlantic identity.

For fans of Joel Kinnaman, industry insights, or candid talks about personal growth, emigration, and acting’s physical toll, this episode is a must-listen.

Podcast Summary: Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Episode: Side Dish: More Joel Kinnaman (May 7, 2026)

Episode Overview

Relocating to Texas as a Teen ([02:59]–[06:06])
Joel’s Young Acting Journey & Nepotism ([06:11]–[10:13])
Aging on Screen: Playing Ed Baldwin in For All Mankind ([12:40]–[19:16])
Home, Family, and Dual Citizenship ([20:08]–[23:47])
Culture Shock: From Swedish Film to Hollywood ([24:12]–[27:12])
Notable Quotes & Standout Moments

Relocating to Texas as a Teen ([02:59]–[06:06])

Joel shares how he ended up in Texas as an exchange student:
- He originally chose the West Coast on his application, but instead was placed in "Hell Valley, Texas" (later realizing it was Dell Valley, near Austin).
- Joel humorously recalls the rural and somewhat eerie scene of driving past old, run-down cars “becoming part of the landscape” at his host family’s house.
- His experience with the first host family was difficult: “No one was happy in the house.” ([04:39])
- Eventually, his football coach, Coach Walden, took him in as part of his own family, offering him relief and kindness—a welcome contrast.
Reflection:
“That was your first experience with America, was Texas… and yet you still kind of knew you wanted to come here?”
“No. No, I didn’t know. That was later.” ([06:02]–[06:06])

Joel’s Young Acting Journey & Nepotism ([06:11]–[10:13])

Early acting and a “mischief period”:
- Joel admits to a rough patch in his early 20s, describing himself as a “little south side fuck boy” ([06:22]), bartending, partying, and being “annoying…pretty negative life.”
- He started acting as a child, landing a soap opera role at 11 due to his sister’s connections. He refers to himself jokingly as a Nepo baby:
  “I’m a total Nepo baby.” ([10:13])
- His sister was an accomplished actor, starring in the Oscar-nominated film My Life as a Dog.
- Joel credits proximity to the acting business for his early opportunities, but notes his path diverged before acting drew him back.

Aging on Screen: Playing Ed Baldwin in For All Mankind ([12:40]–[19:16])

Portraying the same character over decades:
Jesse praises the unique challenge:
"It's such a unique challenge that…very few actors ever get to play…to live a full season of a TV show in that age is really a remarkable challenge." ([13:30])
Kinnaman’s take:
- The hardest ages to portray were 60 and 70, because “it’s so dependent on how you’re living…there’s guys in their 40s that walk around stiffer than some guys in their 70s.” ([14:08])
- Details the physical and mental toll of prosthetics:
  “The makeup was…so tough to get on. It was like five and a half hours…I wanted to burn my face off with a blowtorch.” ([14:55]–[15:19])
- His days during those shoots could last up to 19–20 hours, with the constant discomfort of prosthetics.
- Meditated to cope, recalling: “That I didn't…rip my own face off or someone around me’s face off during that show is like a miracle because I was like boiling internally.” ([16:13])
On legacy and cultural change:
“Having a job like that now…it’s like, I don’t know, being an influencer. TikTok dances. And they will by the way, be on the moon doing their TikTok dances.” ([18:10]–[18:18])

Home, Family, and Dual Citizenship ([20:08]–[23:47])

Malibu vs. Sweden:
- Describes the 2018 Malibu wildfires—he narrowly missed them, being in Costa Rica, but his partner’s brother managed their home and dogs amidst chaos.
- Joel reflects on the emotional tie to Sweden:
  “When I'm back home, I feel like rooted and connected in a way that I don't do here…but I think I'm probably happier here.” ([21:13]–[21:43])
- Shares the emotional math of seeing aging parents:
  “My dad’s 82…let’s say he lives another 15 years…and I go home twice a year, so I’m seeing him…30 more times.” ([22:10]–[22:29])
- Family compromise: about “a fifth” of their time in LA will be spent in Sweden.
- Joel candidly talks about his father’s health (“he just drinks a little too much,” [23:05]) and the positive impact of sauna use for longevity.
Longevity advice:
“Jumping in a sauna three times a week for over 30 minutes will decrease your general mortality with 40%...It's huge.” ([23:33]–[23:44])

Culture Shock: From Swedish Film to Hollywood ([24:12]–[27:12])

Career lift-off:
- Joel recounts his rising star in Sweden, winning the national film award for Easy Money.
- Describes the daunting leap to Hollywood:
  “It’s a big move to…come to Hollywood. Back then, there wasn’t that many people that had done it…it was basically Stellan Skarsgård, Peter Stormare, and Lena Olin.” ([25:08]–[25:32])
  - Felt pressure to succeed:
    “I kept telling everyone in interviews…I’m going to Hollywood…people were like, why do you do that?…Because otherwise I want to like…I don’t want to give myself an out.” ([25:52]–[26:38])
  - Struggled initially once in LA—auditioning was harder in person than sending tapes from Sweden.
  - “But yeah, and then I got The Killing.” ([27:12])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On family in Texas:
“No one was happy in the house.” ([04:39]) — Joel Kinnaman
On his wild period:
“I was, like, working in bars and just kind of being a little south side fuck boy…just annoying, and you know, just sort of a pretty negative life.” ([06:22], [06:50]) — Joel Kinnaman
On acting prosthetics:
“It was brutal…the whole day was just wanting to like, rip my own face off because everything was itching constantly.” ([15:19], [16:13]) — Joel Kinnaman
On the generational passage of time:
“My dad’s 82…let’s say he lives another 15 years…and I go home twice a year…so I’m seeing him…30 more times.” ([22:10]–[22:29]) — Joel Kinnaman
On moving to Hollywood:
“I don’t want to give myself an out. I want to, like, put that pressure on myself to not give up.” ([25:52]–[26:38]) — Joel Kinnaman

Structure & Tone

For fans of Joel Kinnaman, industry insights, or candid talks about personal growth, emigration, and acting’s physical toll, this episode is a must-listen.

wavePod

Summary

Episode Overview

Table of Contents

Relocating to Texas as a Teen ([02:59]–[06:06])

Joel’s Young Acting Journey & Nepotism ([06:11]–[10:13])

Aging on Screen: Playing Ed Baldwin in For All Mankind ([12:40]–[19:16])

Home, Family, and Dual Citizenship ([20:08]–[23:47])

Culture Shock: From Swedish Film to Hollywood ([24:12]–[27:12])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Structure & Tone

Transcript

Summary

Episode Overview

Table of Contents

Relocating to Texas as a Teen ([02:59]–[06:06])

Joel’s Young Acting Journey & Nepotism ([06:11]–[10:13])

Aging on Screen: Playing Ed Baldwin in For All Mankind ([12:40]–[19:16])

Home, Family, and Dual Citizenship ([20:08]–[23:47])

Culture Shock: From Swedish Film to Hollywood ([24:12]–[27:12])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Structure & Tone