Once We Were Spacemen

Episode: "Once We Were Failures"

Release Date: December 3, 2025
Hosts: Nathan Fillion & Alan Tudyk

Overview

In this candid, humorous episode, Nathan Fillion and Alan Tudyk—longtime collaborators since their Firefly days—take a deep dive into the themes of success and failure. Sharing honest reflections, industry anecdotes, and signature wisecracks, they explore what it means to "make it" in Hollywood, how setbacks have shaped them, and why finding joy trumps chasing validation. This is an episode for anyone navigating creative careers, peppered with wild audition stories and the kind of heartfelt, tongue-in-cheek banter only these best friends can deliver.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Many Roles of Fillion & Tudyk (00:30)

• Alan and Nathan riff on the odd mix of characters they've played—aliens, robots, chickens, etc.—highlighting the unpredictability of a creative career.
• Memorable line (Alan, 00:30):
  “I tend to play weird people. Usually aliens and robots and things that don’t have romance.”

2. Nathan’s “Doctor” Revelation (01:36)

• Nathan reveals he’s now “Dr. Nathan Fillion” thanks to an honorary doctorate after giving a commencement speech.
• Quote (Nathan, 01:52):
  “I didn’t graduate from this university. I transferred...I dropped out, started my career, moved to New York and met the grand Alan Tudyk...the most wonderful burrito waiter in all of New York.”
• They joke about the perks (or lack thereof) of honorary degrees:
  Nathan (03:03): “The only thing that as a doctor, I’m allowed to prescribe is more cowbell.”

3. Defining Success & The Realities of Opportunity (03:38–07:55)

• Alan candidly discusses not viewing a stacked IMDb as “success,” emphasizing personal growth, preparedness, and learning.
• Alan (04:42):
  “Every job is an opportunity to learn. I do a little postmortem on the job...I try to pick up something from every job so that I’m always improving.”
• Both discuss myths around actors picking their roles, explaining that, for most, choices are dictated by the opportunities that appear—not ambitions.

4. Learning to Say Yes—and, Especially, No (06:46)

• Alan shares anxiety around choosing projects, recounts almost taking a sitcom “for the wrong reasons,” and the importance of trusting his gut.
• Alan (06:52):
  “...what to say yes to, and what to say no to...Do I follow my gut instinct and say, no, I don’t want to do this?”

5. The Art of Being Directable and Humble (08:16–10:17)

• Alan stresses the value of being open to learning, taking direction, and not letting ego get in the way. “Ignoring a casting director’s note,” he says, “is why I was the 117th choice for Resident Alien.”
• Alan (09:49):
  “Listen and learn...showing off may not [work].”
• Nathan underscores the importance of gratitude and humility.

6. Gratitude, Luck, and the Perils of “First Rise” (11:01–14:48)

• Nathan shares a vulnerable story about almost returning to soap operas after a “rocket rise” (Saving Private Ryan, Spielberg) followed by a year of unemployment.
• Nathan (12:46):
  “That year of unemployment made me understand how tenuous success in this industry can be and how grateful I am to be working.”
• They discuss how sudden success can spoil people who haven’t faced rejection, and the danger of entitlement.
• Alan (15:12):
  “Luck’s a huge part of it. I feel like it goes in cycles, too.”

7. Creativity as Survival (15:38–16:57)

• Alan finds renewal and grounding through writing—emphasizing creating for self-fulfillment more than external success.
• Alan (15:57):
  "When it works, it’s so fulfilling...If I get something good, I feel better about existence."

8. Boldness and “Acting As If” (18:02–23:07)

• Nathan shares his strategy for auditions: “pretending to be bold” by playing “Nathan Fillion, professional actor,” even when he’s nervous.
• Nathan (18:51):
  “You’ll see how terrible everyone can be, because of nerves...I decided I’m going to walk into this room playing a character, and that character is Nathan Fillion, professional actor.”
• He takes back control in auditions—standing when told, starting over without apologizing, and giving casting directors permission to direct him.
• Nathan (21:10):
  “I give them permission to direct me...I’m totally into changing it. I’m directable. This is Nathan Fillion, professional actor. You can direct me.”

9. The Realities of Being a Character Actor (23:14–27:18)

• Alan discusses auditing for “the guy” vs. the character role—admitting “I don’t get acting” in the “normal guy” sense, thriving when roles have quirks.
• Alan (25:32):
  “You’re not gonna make it. He told that to a lot of them. [But] he told me...‘You’re not gonna be a leading actor, but you are gonna be a character actor...sometimes the characters can be the leads.’”
• He notes the joy in now leaning into roles that genuinely fit him and in creating his own opportunities through writing.

10. Embracing Flaws & Redefining “The Guy” (27:18–28:46)

• Nathan describes learning the value of flawed, relatable characters:
  “Flaws are what make people like you...especially in comedy.”
• Alan, riffing, says that usually humor belongs to the oddballs—but Nathan combines humor with leading-man looks (“that’s rare”).

11. On (Not) Being “Good Looking” (28:46–30:26)

• Nathan self-deprecates about being “the ugly one” among his handsome friends, sparking more good-natured teasing from Alan.
• Nathan (29:02):
  “If there’s a secret to looking good for me, it’s keeping my distance.”

12. Memorable (and Awful) Auditions (30:32–33:17)

• The most embarrassing stories: Alan recalls sabotaging a sitcom audition by getting a horrible sunburn from a tanning bed (“I basically feel just a raw nerve”).
• The necessity of learning from creative failure and trying again (“It’s amazing I’ve worked. I’ve lucked out. Some people believe in me...I don’t know.”).

13. What Failure Teaches (33:17–34:52)

• Alan answers: “to enjoy life.” He reflects that earlier, he’d have mishandled success, and over time he’s learned to value family and friends above career validation.
• Alan (33:20):
  “The most important thing in my life now is my family, my closest family and my friends.”

14. Advice for Aspiring Actors (35:01–37:03)

• Alan’s core takeaway: “Make your own thing. Make your own thing with your friends. Things that make you happy, things that bring you joy. That’s what you should do.”
• Alan (36:53):
  “Find your joy. Pursue those things that bring you joy and create things with your friends and...fight for those. Fight for the things that bring you joy.”

15. The Roles That Got Away—and Making Peace (37:03–41:02)

• Alan won’t name his “one that got away,” but says all actors have one. Nathan reveals he auditioned for Josh Brolin’s role in "No Country for Old Men" and “nailed the audition” but recognizes it wouldn’t necessarily have led to Brolin’s career (“I really like the path I’m on”).
• Both reflect on the “meant to be” philosophy—how the roles you don’t get don’t define you.

16. Epic Failures with the Coen Brothers (40:33–42:14)

• Alan’s cringe audition story for "A Serious Man," using a failed “Jewish lilt” learned in Texas; the directors try to hide their discomfort. Alan laughs it off as part of the job.

17. Friendship and Mutual Influence (42:20–43:22)

• The episode ends with mutual appreciation for each other’s friendship, and some open admissions of having “stolen” performance styles and delivery:
  Nathan (43:17):
  “I have stolen more from you than I care to admit.”
  Alan (43:19):
  “That’s privileges of friendship. Come on. That’s life.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Nathan (03:03):
  “The only thing that as a doctor, I'm allowed to prescribe is more cowbell.”
• Alan (04:42):
  “I don't think of that as success, though. I see that as just work.”
• Nathan (12:46):
  “That year of unemployment made me understand how tenuous success in this industry can be and how grateful I am to be working.”
• Alan (36:53):
  “Find your joy. Pursue those things that bring you joy and create things with your friends and...fight for those.”
• Nathan (18:51):
  “I decided I’m going to walk into this room playing a character, and that character is Nathan Fillion, professional actor.”
• Alan (33:20):
  “The most important thing in my life now is my family, my closest family and my friends.”

Important Timestamps

• 00:30: Opening banter about character roles
• 01:36: Nathan becomes an “honorary Doctor”
• 03:38: Discussing success, choices, and learning from each job
• 06:46: Trusting instinct in choosing roles
• 08:16: The importance of being directable/ego checks
• 11:01: The role of gratitude and humility (Nathan’s unemployment story)
• 15:38: Alan on writing as fulfillment
• 18:02: Acting bolder than you feel (confidence in auditions)
• 23:14: Alan on being a “character actor” not “the guy”
• 33:17: What failure teaches—life lessons, not just career ones
• 35:01: Alan’s advice to new/struggling actors
• 37:03: The roles that got away (and why that’s okay)
• 40:33: Epic audition failures (Coen Brothers anecdote)
• 42:20: Friendship, mutual admiration and “stealing” from each other

Takeaways

• Success is personal growth and joy, not just credits or fame.
• Luck plays a huge role in creative careers.
• Resilience means learning from failures and continuing anyway.
• Gratitude, humility, and mutual support outlast ego and competition.
• Make your own opportunities—life and art are too short for gatekeeping.
• It’s okay to not be “the guy”—character, quirkiness, and oddball roles are all valid paths to fulfillment.
• Value your friendships, and don’t be afraid to “steal” what works from those you admire.

This episode is a testament to the importance of finding your lane, learning from stumbles, and creating not just for applause but for the joy and connection it brings along the way.