Walton Goggins: Resilience, Authenticity, and Evolved Empathy

Key Quotes

"I know that there's a surprise guest and I saw Will the other night. I know and I almost did you keep it. You were so well, I didn't know who was it. I didn't know who like who the host was."

The speaker, Walton Goggins, expresses surprise and a touch of playful deception regarding the identity of the guest on the podcast. This highlights the show's format where some hosts are unaware of the guest's identity, creating an element of genuine reaction and spontaneity. Goggins' comment suggests he was privy to this secret, adding to the comedic setup.

"I mean, I think we all have thick skin like, you know, it's just a matter of being exposed to it. Look, I'm a poor kid from Georgia and, and my parents divorced, you know, I was three years old. Yeah, and, and I grew up around a bunch of, you know, when I say crazy, you say with love, with love, yeah, yeah, uh, curious and, really colorful, mhm, I like that, colorful, southern women, you know."

Walton Goggins attributes his resilience and "thick skin" to his upbringing in Georgia, characterized by a loving but unconventional family environment. He suggests that exposure to diverse and "colorful" personalities, even within a less privileged background, has shaped his ability to handle challenges. Goggins frames this upbringing not as a hardship, but as a source of strength and character.

"And then we start, you know, start and we meet everybody, nobody speaks English, we have an interpreter. It's just the two of us, five horses, I mean, seven, seven horses, five camels, and an interpreter, two horsemen, an eagle hunter, and a cook, man, like, it's legit, it's the real deal."

Goggins describes the authentic and immersive nature of his horseback riding trip in Western Mongolia with his son. He emphasizes the extensive support staff and the genuine, remote setting, underscoring the "real deal" experience. This quote conveys the scale and adventurous spirit of their journey, far removed from typical tourist activities.

"And literally at 14 years old, he said, 'I just need, give me, can I, can I use the battery?' Because there's no, you don't have cell phones, we only have, you know, little bitty batteries with us or whatever. It's like, you can use the battery if you use it up, use it up, whatever you want. He's like, 'I just need to listen to some music.' Yeah, he did. He sat in the tent, he came out about 45 minutes later, and he just looked up at me with this big beautiful grin on his face with a plane ticket and I'm kidding, with a plane ticket and he thumbs up like, 'I'm good, Dad, I'm good.'"

Goggins recounts a pivotal moment with his son during their challenging trip in Mongolia. After expressing unhappiness, his son's decision to use his limited battery power for music, followed by a newfound acceptance of their reality, signifies a significant personal growth. The son's eventual "I'm good" and plane ticket offer, while humorous, represents his successful navigation of the difficult situation.

"And then I immediately collapsed. Something was wrong. Something was really wrong. And my son looked at me, he's like, 'Dad, are you okay?' I you okay? Yeah, yeah, dude, I'm okay, I'm alright. I got up on the horse, rode for seven hours, don't remember it, had a couple of Advil. My wife threw in a bag. What I realized, you know, after a few days, is that I broke my rib."

Goggins details a serious accident during his Mongolian trip where he sustained a broken rib. Despite immediate pain and fear, he initially downplayed the severity to his son, demonstrating a commitment to continuing the journey. This quote highlights his resilience and the physical challenges faced, contrasting with the earlier advice he gave his son about facing reality.

"And I, I genuinely live every day like it's my last day. And what I mean by that is, you know, I know what it's like to be hungry, I know what it's like to be cold, I know what it's like to be uncomfortable. Yeah, I know now what it's like to wear really nice clothes. And because I've had this this beautiful, do you wear them well? Yeah, well, that's very kind of you to say, but, but I, you know, it's like, well, why, why do you think these people are letting you wear these clothes? I said, because I'm wearing them like I'll never get to wear them again. And that's the truth."

Walton Goggins expresses a profound appreciation for his current success, stemming from his past experiences of hardship. He lives each day with intensity, cherishing comforts he once lacked. Goggins emphasizes that his ability to wear nice clothes is not taken for granted, but viewed as a temporary privilege, reflecting a deep-seated gratitude and awareness of his journey.