The Joe Rogan Experience #2468 – Luke Grimes (March 13, 2026)

Episode Overview

Joe Rogan sits down with actor and musician Luke Grimes, best known for playing Kayce Dutton on Yellowstone. In a sprawling, candid conversation, they discuss creative careers, stage fright, country music, outdoor life in Montana, the evolution of MMA, the pitfalls and pleasures of fame, the nature of addiction, hunting, grizzly encounters, Bigfoot lore, and the changing American landscape. The tone is relaxed, humorous, and reflective, alternating between deep dives into personal growth and freewheeling comic tangents.

Creative Careers & Yellowstone’s Success

Main Discussion:

• Luke discusses his acting journey and creative process, the huge success of Yellowstone, and how nobody expected it to blow up as it did.
• They reflect on Taylor Sheridan’s extraordinary work ethic and ambitions, with both Joe and Luke praising him as a unique creative force.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps:

• “Did you have any idea [Yellowstone] was going to be what it is?”
  — Joe Rogan [00:32]
  “No, I don’t think anybody did... Taylor was really, you know, hot at the time.”
  — Luke Grimes [00:46]
• “There’s not a lot of humans like him… it’s almost like a real-life Rocky story.” — Joe Rogan on Taylor Sheridan [02:27, 02:42]

Managing Success, Passions & Parenting

• The balance between acting, music, and being a new parent.
• Stage fright: Both discuss anxiety before going on stage and how imposter syndrome is common among artists.
• Luke shares how he started performing music live at 39, overcoming fears after a push from his music manager and the loss of his father.

Notable Quotes:

• “I still get stage fright right now—really bad.”
  — Luke Grimes [08:28]
• “Everybody who’s sane gets imposter syndrome.”
  — Joe Rogan [09:15]
• “One of my father’s last things...was like, if there’s anything you want to do while you’re here, do it.”
  — Luke Grimes [11:05]

The Music Industry vs Acting

• Crossover between acting and music, and public perception of authenticity.
• Citing Oliver Anthony blowing up via YouTube, Joe compares the gatekeeping of acting to the democratization of music online.
• Luke admits his “story” in music isn’t dramatic, but he works hard at it to prove legitimacy.

Notable Quotes:

• “The thing with music is the story of the person... I do come from nothing..."
  — Luke Grimes [14:17]
• “Music, especially today, you can blow up on YouTube, but in acting, you have to get cast—picked for stuff.”
  — Joe Rogan [21:43]

Artistic Authenticity, Comics, & LA’s Influence

• The pressures of fame, how LA breeds conformity among actors, and why comics begin to water down their material for TV.
• Joe describes LA as a “velvet prison” for artists, especially comedians.

Notable Quotes:

• “Everybody was trying to become the same person, but they don’t know who that person is.”
  — Luke Grimes [19:16]
• "As soon as [comics] get on television...they start tempering their material."
  — Joe Rogan [20:22]

Life in Montana: Escape & Simplicity

• Luke describes moving to Montana with his wife and young child, seeking stillness after the LA hustle.
• The influx of newcomers, tensions with locals, and funny anecdotes about being unwelcome ("Go Back" scrawled on cars).
• The privilege and joy of living close to nature, away from fast-paced urban life.

Notable Quotes:

• "I have no FOMO about anything anymore."
  — Luke Grimes [38:31]
• "Everything’s a pleasure up there, man...if you need any sort of fast pace or socialization...not gonna happen."
  — Luke Grimes [43:04]

Hunting, Wildlife, and Montana Stories

Themes:

• Elk and deer hunting as a challenge: conditioning, gear, and the spiritual and practical aspects.
• The surreal experience of elk bugling and the beauty of the outdoors.
• Importance of gear and training: “You can’t just get off your couch and go elk hunt in the mountains.”
  — Joe Rogan [102:42]

Memorable Moments:

• Luke’s tale of “tapping out” halfway into his first elk hunt due to the physical demands [100:18].
• The analogy of humans experiencing a rut like deer—“If humans had a rut, I would go on vacation during that time.”
  — Joe Rogan [97:34]

Grizzly Bears, Danger & Survival Instincts

• Grizzly and black bear encounters, bowhunting grizzlies, and the insane size and power of these animals.
• Weapons talk: the importance of the right firearm for defense in the wild [133:09].
• Cam Hanes’ extreme hunting pursuits, and the perspective that hunting keeps predator/prey relationships healthy.

Quotes:

• “The relationship where [grizzlies] have zero fear of people—that’s not good.”
  — Joe Rogan [136:00]

Martial Arts, Jiu Jitsu & Self-Control

• Joe encourages Luke to start Jiu Jitsu, sharing stories of latecomers like Anthony Bourdain who started at 58 and became obsessed.
• The humility and confidence martial arts instill, why fighters rarely provoke street fights, and how real-world violence is best avoided.
• Parallel lessons between fighting, bombing on stage, and resilience in life.

Notable Quotes:

• “The best thing about fighting is it teaches you not to fight.”
  — Joe Rogan [56:45]
• “If you can choose what's hard in your life, you'll be way better off."
  — Joe Rogan [91:18]

Addiction, Substances & Coping Mechanisms

• Honest talk on substance use: alcohol, nicotine, the lure (and dangers) of harder substances, and why ambition saved both from self-destruction.
• The way addictive personalities can be harnessed for good.

Quotes:

• "The thing about being an addict is, if you can focus on something good, you can really excel."
  — Joe Rogan [89:35]
• “There's some sort of gift in having some ambition… anytime anything would get too dark, I’d course correct pretty quick.”
  — Luke Grimes [125:34]

Bigfoot, Urban Legends, and Pseudo-Science

• Amusing dive into Bigfoot sightings, folklore, why hunters don’t see them, and skeptical analysis.
• Brief foray into ancient history, fossils, and the Younger Dryas impact theory wiping out North American megafauna.
• Flat earther and government conspiracy talk—why skepticism is up but some theories are off the rails.

Quotes:

• “If humans were here...that puts it in the timeline where Gigantopithecus could’ve been alive.”
  — Joe Rogan [141:49]
• “I feel like we know now it can't be real because of how many trail cameras there are in the world.”
  — Luke Grimes [137:21]

Artificial Intelligence, Art & The Human Element

• The rise of AI in music and creativity: technical skill vs. the irreplaceable spark of human creation.
• Will AI ever write a truly great song or joke? Both doubt it can capture the essence, connection, or inspiration that comes with genuine lived experience.

Quotes:

• “It’s only doing it derivatively… At least it’s a person. You know?”
  — Joe Rogan [157:01]
• “But you can get behind a person as an artist. Their stuff... until they aren't underground anymore.”
  — Luke Grimes [157:11]

Reflections on Fame, Working Hard & Staying Grounded

• Both speak to avoiding ego traps of celebrity and the value of honest self-assessment.
• Rogan shares his writing process—essays, riffing on ideas, showing up every day for inspiration.
• Luke details a "pressure cooker" process for recording his album—writing songs in the studio, raw and emotional.

Quotes:

• "Once you start believing your own hype, you’re screwed."
  — Luke Grimes [91:59]
• “You have to show up, keep showing up. And eventually…this idea is so good.”
  — Joe Rogan [110:43]

Notable Timestamps

• [00:27] Binging TV, Yellowstone’s expansion
• [06:06] Balancing acting, music, and being a parent
• [11:29] First live music show, overcoming nerves
• [17:58] Early days of UFC and combat sports explosion
• [37:22] Luke’s move to Montana, life post-LA
• [55:38] Physical confrontation, Jiu Jitsu, and street fighting philosophies
• [100:00+] Elk hunting tales, outdoor strategies, coping with Montana’s elements
• [141:49] Ancient North American history, Bigfoot as ancient species, fossils
• [154:32] Digital life vs. nature, AI learning from online behavior

Memorable Moments & Humor

• Joe’s perspective on the dangers of golf addiction [03:37]
• “If humans had a rut I’d go on vacation” — Joe Rogan [97:34]
• Detailed accounts of seeing grizzlies up close (“they look at you like—am I gonna eat you?”) [131:13]
• Debunking of Bigfoot audio (“I don’t buy that for a second.”) [145:40]
• “Yellowstone made everyone want to move to Montana. Locals are PISSED.” [38:44, 39:08]
• Joe riffing on Flat Earthers and moon landing conspiracies [147:00, 150:41]

Final Thoughts

This episode is a dynamic exchange between two self-aware creatives with a shared love for nature, authenticity, and healthy skepticism. Full of actionable life advice, hilarious real-life stories, and deep insights into the realities of fame and inner life, it’s a must-listen for fans of Yellowstone, outdoor adventure, or unfiltered, wide-ranging conversation.