Where Everybody Knows Your Name with Ted Danson & Woody Harrelson (Sometimes)
Guest: Mark Ruffalo
Episode Date: October 15, 2025
Podcast by: Team Coco
Episode Overview
This episode reunites Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson—iconic “Cheers” alums—with their longtime friend and renowned actor Mark Ruffalo. Through witty banter and heartfelt storytelling, the trio delves beyond career highlights into vulnerability, struggle, courage, and hope. Mark shares formative stories from his youth, discusses his well-known environmental activism, explores grief and mental health, and gives a deep, behind-the-scenes look at his latest project, “Task” on HBO Max. Genuine rapport and thoughtful candor make this a meaningful, inspiring listen.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Catching Up & Community
[01:08–03:13]
- Ted expresses admiration for Mark's acting range and Woody’s community building skills.
- Woody checks in from Paris, confirming frequent shifts between Austin and Maui.
- Mark and Woody reminisce about forging family-like bonds on set, setting the tone for sincere conversation.
2. Riotous Stories from the Set
[03:15–05:09]
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Mark and Woody recall a faux bar fight turning unexpectedly real in New Orleans during "Now You See Me" filming.
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Mark’s wrestling background surfaces as they joke about physicality and self-defense.
“I was a wrestler. He handles the head, I could take the legs. We’re like the perfect combination.”
—Mark Ruffalo [05:14]
3. From Wrestling Mats to the Stage: Finding Their Tribe
[06:10–16:29]
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Mark details his shift from high school wrestling (with brutal weight cuts) to drama class, inspired by the energy and diversity in the drama department.
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Woody and Ted share their own stories of discovering acting, emphasizing live performance's intoxicating effect and the joy of making people laugh.
“My first scene, a big laugh. And I was like, this is what I’m gonna do for the rest of my life.”
—Mark Ruffalo [10:13]“That big laugh did it, right?”
—Woody Harrelson [11:15] -
Woody learns the art of not being upstaged:
“Afterwards, my mom said ‘that little Jimmy was back behind you during your song, doing the funniest dance.’ That’s where I learned about upstaging.”
—Woody Harrelson [12:54]
4. Courage, Tragedy, and Growth
[19:38–29:44]
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Ted calls out Mark’s “courage,” referencing both activism and artistry.
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Mark attributes his bravery to an early sense of wanting to be liked, but also tells of loss and resilience:
- Recounts a saying from his samurai-trained karate teacher:
“He wrote on my sword, ‘Courage conquers all’… it’s been like a mantra of mine throughout my life.”
—Mark Ruffalo [22:47] - Shares the impact of his best friend’s suicide and resulting vow to live fully for both of them.
“After that... I saw what suicide does to a family and friends... I said, okay, I’m living for all of us now.”
—Mark Ruffalo [27:56] - Recounts a saying from his samurai-trained karate teacher:
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The trio discusses depression—treatments, ongoing management, and how responsibilities, especially parenthood, can be grounding.
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Woody describes escaping a bout of depression in 1980s New York by immersing in fiction:
“Getting into these other characters’ lives... was one of the most helpful things for my, you know, rather destructive thinking.”
—Woody Harrelson [35:01]
5. Empathy, Activism, and “Task”
[39:47–49:49, 51:43–74:25]
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Mark unpacks the genesis and complex character work of “Task,” his HBO Max show, which explores trauma, empathy, and redemption.
- He explains the show's layered, deeply human protagonist and the value of shadowing real FBI agents for authenticity.
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Ted steers discussion to empathy in life and art, which segues into Mark’s activism against environmental and social injustice.
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Mark critiques the lack of empathy in U.S. policy, economics, and incarceration, highlighting how economic disparity—not just culture wars—is driving division.
“The real war is a class war… It’s what I see.”
—Mark Ruffalo [62:35] -
Storytelling’s power to foster empathy and drive social change is championed:
“There have been so many documentaries... but that [the film Dark Waters] changed more laws... It’s storytelling, and storytelling is empathy in action.”
—Mark Ruffalo [64:01]
6. Reflecting on Hope, Grief, and Moving Forward
[54:46–76:20]
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The challenges of modern society are discussed frankly, with Mark and Ted emphasizing hope, engagement, and the gifts found in hardship.
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Mark frames the current era as an “apocalypse” only in the sense of a revealing—an opportunity to rethink and rebuild.
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Ted and Woody discuss environmental justice, renewable energy, and the urgent need for engaged citizenship.
“I see people actually getting engaged who weren’t engaged. And we need to be engaged. We need to be awake.”
—Mark Ruffalo [59:42] -
Mark and Ted talk about their children and grandchildren as sources of hope and reminders of why the fight for a better world continues.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On purpose and resilience:
“Every terrible thing that’s happened to me has always been a gift inside of it. Even when somebody dies, they’re actually leaving you a gift of learning something.”
—Mark Ruffalo [55:12] -
On empathy’s role in healing and justice:
“We all want to be witnessed… you don’t have to forgive me for what I did, but I do want you to see me.”
—Ted Danson [49:04] -
On class and division:
“The real war is a class war… They’re having us fighting a culture war, but the real war is a class war.”
—Mark Ruffalo [62:35] -
On storytelling’s unique power:
“What is storytelling, other than empathy in action?”
—Mark Ruffalo [64:01] -
Woody reflects on not owning a phone:
“We should all have a right not to be digital. We’re like forced to be digital. We don’t have a choice.”
—Mark Ruffalo [53:13]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Introduction and catch-up: [01:08–03:13]
- Bar fight story & wrestling chat: [03:15–06:09]
- Theater beginnings & first big laughs: [06:10–16:29]
- Discussion on courage & loss: [19:38–29:44]
- Depression and finding purpose: [29:46–36:53]
- Dealing with dyslexia & memorization: [37:02–39:47]
- Deep dive into “Task” / FBI character: [39:47–49:49]
- Empathy, activism, and the class war: [51:43–63:12]
- Storytelling as activism (“Dark Waters”): [63:39–66:32]
- Reflections on family, hope, and climate: [74:25–76:20]
Tone & Style
The conversation is affectionate, vulnerable, and sincere—balancing irreverent humor with raw honesty. The language is conversational, peppered with real-life anecdotes, occasional profanity, and a camaraderie that brings forth warmth and wisdom.
Conclusion
This episode offers a moving, authentically human exploration of where art, activism, and personal history intersect. Listeners gain insight into Mark Ruffalo’s life and philosophy, Ted and Woody's enduring friendship, and the crucial role of empathy in navigating a world full of challenge and change. The episode closes with mutual appreciation and a call for hope, engagement, and community.
Recommended Next Step:
Stream “Task” on HBO Max for more of Mark Ruffalo’s nuanced performance, and keep tuning in to “Where Everybody Knows Your Name” for more unscripted, heartfelt conversations.