Bowen Yang thinks being present is overrated (encore) - Wild Card with Rachel Martin

Summary

Wild Card with Rachel Martin – Episode Summary: Bowen Yang Thinks Being Present Is Overrated (Encore)
Release Date: February 27, 2025

Introduction

In this encore episode of Wild Card with Rachel Martin, host Rachel Martin welcomes Bowen Yang, the acclaimed actor, writer, and comedian known for his groundbreaking role on Saturday Night Live (SNL). Celebrated as one of the New York Times' Top 10 Podcasts of 2024, Wild Card diverges from conventional interview formats by utilizing a unique deck of cards to prompt guests with unexpected and profound questions about their lives. This episode delves into Bowen Yang's journey, his introspections on fame, personal growth, and his nuanced perspectives on being present.

Round One: Memories

Exploring Childhood Pride and Pivotal Choices

Rachel and Bowen kick off the conversation with the "Memories" round, prompting Bowen to reflect on formative moments from his past.

Proud Childhood Moment:
Bowen shares a heartfelt memory from first grade in Montreal, where his unstructured drawing time led him to create a clown with blue hair, which his teacher submitted to an art contest. This unexpected recognition won him 20 Canadian dollars, serving as his first taste of creative validation.
Quote:

"I remember in the first grade, or year one, as we called it in Canada... And then I won a full 20 Canadian dollars. And it was the first. I think it was a pretty vital moment of, like, creative validation for me growing up."
(05:18)
Choosing a Different Path:
Reflecting on his academic journey, Bowen discusses his initial pursuit of a chemistry major at NYU and the subsequent realization that medicine wasn't his calling. Influenced by an interview with Steve Carell, Bowen made the pivotal decision to abandon his medical aspirations, leading him to embrace comedy as his true passion.
Quote:

"And then I was like, I can't do this. Walked over to the proctor, said, I'm gonna avoid my test. Thank you very much."
(08:51)
Follow-up Quote:
"That was a moment where, you know, like, the door slid. Like, it could have really gone one way or the other."
(09:45)

Round Two: Insights

Self-Observations and Personal Growth

In the "Insights" round, Rachel delves into Bowen's current self-awareness and personal observations.

Desired Qualities:
Bowen expresses admiration for individuals who effortlessly connect others, fostering relationships and creating social harmonies. He contrasts this with his own experience, where social interactions can be draining, leading him to question if his tendencies make him selfish.
Quote:

"I have that same thought where I'm like, oh, Am I. Does this make me, like, a selfish person?"
(13:24)
Balancing Individuality and Collectivism:
Discussing his individualized approach to life, Bowen acknowledges the challenges of balancing personal needs with collective responsibilities. He recognizes the importance of integrating past experiences with present awareness to enrich his current state.
Quote:

"I don't do that enough. And that is what kind of hampers me a bit."
(17:08)
Coping with Public Scrutiny:
Bowen touches on the pressures of being in the public eye, emphasizing the need to balance authenticity with self-censorship to maintain personal integrity without succumbing to paralysis from overthinking.
Quote:

"I think what you're saying is that you want to have more of a balance."
(18:37)

Round Three: Beliefs

Philosophical Reflections and Metaphysical Musings

The "Beliefs" round invites Bowen to explore his deeper convictions and philosophical viewpoints.

Beliefs He Let Go Of:
While initially hesitant to answer, Bowen eventually discusses his skepticism towards supernatural phenomena, balancing his scientific allegiance with a belief in a meta-reality that transcends empirical evidence.
Quote:

"I am generally a skeptic with things... But I feel like there is this meta reality or something that exists that people can tap into."
(23:15)
Designing the Afterlife:
Bowen envisions an afterlife that blends whimsy with meaningful reflection. He imagines it featuring roller coasters to capture joyous sounds and a "library of screenplays" documenting individuals' lives, allowing a non-deterministic exploration of personal narratives and interactions.
Quote:

"I would love there to be a few roller coasters... and a library of screenplays that are for people's experiences in life."
(26:19)
Additional Insight:
Bowen elaborates on his desire for documentation and dialogue, highlighting a personal longing to preserve and reflect upon life’s moments.
"I just love reading dialogue that is literally real because, like, most of it is boring, but I feel like the way dialogue sort of reads off the page when it's real is fascinating to me."
(28:34)

The Prize: Memory Time Machine

As the game concludes, Bowen earns a "trip in our memory Time machine," allowing him to revisit a cherished moment without the intent to change it. He chooses the morning he was moved to the SNL cast, a moment of profound personal significance. Bowen describes waking up at dawn to watch the sunrise in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, capturing the serenity before his life took a dramatic turn into the public spotlight. This reflection underscores his appreciation for quiet, introspective moments amidst the chaos of fame.

Quote:

"I just said what I have to do is get up at the crack of dawn and you need to take a long walk and you need to just sit on a bench in Prospect park... And just take this in."
(29:51)

Conclusion

Rachel expresses heartfelt gratitude to Bowen Yang for sharing his intimate stories and reflections, highlighting the unique and thoughtful nature of their conversation. The episode wraps up with credits acknowledging the production team and contributors.

Notable Quotes

On Over Privileging the Present:

"I feel like being present is overrated... I forget that I have been through tough things before."
(16:24)
On Authenticity and Public Disclosure:

"Authenticity is dangerous and expensive." – Tina Fey
"I've been re-evaluating what it means or, like, how worth it it is to, like, be honest about everything."
(19:12)
On Social Connections:

"I just have boundless like so much bandwidth for a lot of people in their life."
(13:12)

Final Thoughts

This episode of Wild Card offers a profound exploration of Bowen Yang's personal and professional journey, blending humor with deep introspection. Through the innovative card-based format, listeners gain intimate insights into Bowen's experiences, beliefs, and the moments that have shaped his path to success.

Transcript

Bowen Yang (0:00)

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Rachel Martin (0:16)

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Rachel Martin (0:45)

Hey there, it's Rachel, and this week we're bringing one of my favorite conversations back to the top of your feed. It's with a guy who seems to be everywhere right now. Maybe you saw him in the Saturday Night Live 50th anniversary special or alongside Ariana Grande in Wicked Bowen. Yang is riding high right now and having a damn good time in the process. I talked with him this past spring in a moment when he was trying to figure out how to navigate his new level of fame and all the expectations that come with it. He was thoughtful and so lovely and I think you're gonna dig it. Take a listen. How do you get in your own way?

Bowen Yang (1:27)

Hmm. I get in my own way by like over privileging the present.

Rachel Martin (1:35)

That's so interesting. Cause everyone wants to be in the present.

Bowen Yang (1:38)

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I feel like that's overrated. I feel like being present is overrated.

Rachel Martin (1:43)

I'm Rachel Martin and this is Wildcard, the game where cards control the conversation. Each week, my guest answers questions about their life, questions pulled from a deck of cards. They're allowed to skip one question and to flip one question back on me.

Bowen Yang (2:01)

Not that I'm like permanently camped out at the present, but I do forget about the past. I forget that I have been through tough things before.

Rachel Martin (2:13)

So I gotta tell you, I take research very seriously. My team and I spend hours digging through articles and profiles of our guests, trying to understand them. Right. This is serious work. And of course, this is what I did to prepare for my conversation with Bo and Yang. I knew a lot about him already, though, like the fact that he's the first Chinese American cast member on Saturday Night Live. I know the inside jokes from his podcast Las Culturistas, which he hosts with his best friend Matt Rogers. But I also have to cop to the fact that the research for this interview was just a good time because I had an excuse to watch a lot of SNL clips. The iceberg that sank. The Titanic. The Chinese spy balloon. The tiny desk. Intern Bowen Yang, classics all. But as much as I love him on snow, it was the 2022 Rom com fire island that made me fall in love with Bowen Yang. He turned what could have been a light and easy role as the best friend who never gets the guy into something heartbreakingly real and joyful. So it is my very great pleasure to welcome Bowen Yang to our show. Bowen, thank you for being here.