Overview of #2468 - Luke Grimes
Joe Rogan interviews actor and musician Luke Grimes (known for Yellowstone) in a wide-ranging conversation covering Grimes’s acting career, late-start music project, stage fright and creativity, MMA/UFC fandom and training, life changes after moving out of LA (Montana/Austin), hunting and outdoors life, addiction and substance lessons, and practical tips for creatives and athletes. The tone is conversational with long personal anecdotes, practical advice, and reflections on craft, discipline and lifestyle.
Main topics discussed
- Luke Grimes’s rise (Yellowstone) and relationship with Taylor Sheridan; the show’s cultural impact and how success changed things.
- Transition to music at 39: how he got a manager, first shows (Billings, Stagecoach), touring realities and the “pressure cooker” studio process.
- Stage fright, imposter syndrome, and how performance anxiety affects actors, musicians and comedians.
- UFC/MMA history and personal fandom: early UFC, why the sport mattered, training culture (BJJ, jiu-jitsu), and favorite fighters (Fedor, Anderson Silva, Loma, Usyk).
- Martial arts practice: starting late, drilling vs. live rolling, belts and skill levels, risks and rewards.
- Gambling, Vegas culture, and Dana White anecdotes.
- Moving out of Los Angeles: living in Montana (and Austin), pros/cons, community friction with newcomers.
- Hunting and outdoors life (elk, deer, grizzlies), physical preparation and gear tips.
- Creativity and craft: writing processes for music and comedy, Stephen Pressfield’s War of Art and Stephen King’s On Writing.
- Addiction and substance reflections: nicotine, alcohol, hard drugs, and recovery perspective.
- Cultural observations: Hollywood groupthink, fame’s effects, technology/AI, conspiracy topics (Bigfoot, flat earth) briefly.
Key takeaways
- Creative work requires routine and presence: show up, do the work, and trust the muse (Pressfield’s “show up” advice reiterated).
- Late starts are fine: Grimes began performing music publicly at 39 and emphasizes preparation, humility, and hard work.
- Pressure can be productive: time-limited sessions (“pressure cooker” recording) force decisions and honest output.
- Stage fright and imposter syndrome are common—even experienced performers feel them; beta blockers and practice help, but the cure is continued exposure and refinement.
- Martial arts benefits beyond fighting: discipline, humility, confidence, emotional resiliency. Drilling is essential to form muscle memory before live rolling.
- Losses (in art, sport, life) are valuable—they drive improvement and character growth.
- Real-world experiences (hunting, mountains, community) can be restorative and re-center perspective away from screens and fame.
- Avoid dangerous training partners: spazy strength without control can injure training partners; pick partners wisely.
- Practical health tips: merino wool base layers for cold hunting, electrolytes and glutathione help mitigate hangovers, and hydration while drinking reduces immediate damage.
Notable anecdotes & highlights
- Music debut: first live show at 39 in Billings, Montana (~1,200 people), and fourth show was Stagecoach festival — major nerve-wracking early moments.
- Oliver Anthony story: rapid rise from one song to fame; advice to avoid predatory record offers and stay grounded.
- Early UFC fandom: Rogan traces his obsession back to UFC 2 on VHS and the formative impact of seeing real cross-style fights.
- Dana White gambling stories: extreme losses (hundreds of thousands to millions) and how it affects promotion decisions.
- Anthony Bourdain’s late-life jiu-jitsu addiction: started training in his late 50s, became a disciplined practitioner.
- Hunting and elk complexity: physical demands of mountain hunts, merino layers, conditioning strategies (Tabata on Airdyne, weighted vests).
Practical tips & recommendations
For creatives (writers, musicians, comedians)
- Treat creativity like a job: show up consistently, even on low-output days.
- Use time pressure occasionally (e.g., write/record in short windows) to force authenticity.
- Keep drafts, record quick demos on phone/computer to capture fleeting ideas.
- Read: War of Art (Pressfield) and On Writing (Stephen King) recommended.
For martial arts beginners
- Start drilling one-on-one before heavy live sparring; repetition builds automatic movement.
- Avoid training with uncontrolled partners (blue belts who spaz) to protect knees and joints.
- Expect layers of progress: basic competence in 1–2 years with consistent training; elite requires daily, long-term commitment.
- Compete age-appropriately; injuries happen—pick partners and coaches wisely.
Outdoors / hunting
- Condition legs and lungs for mountain hunts (hill sprints, weighted step-ups, farmer carries).
- Dress to be cold (layering, merino wool base layers) and carry spare gear.
- Practice wind management and stealth; glassing and timing are essential.
- Bring practical communications (Starlink/portable satellite options) if remote.
Health / substance notes
- Hydration and electrolytes are crucial to reduce hangover severity.
- Liposomal glutathione can aid alcohol metabolism and recovery (consult a doctor).
- Quitting smoking often entails changing drinking habits—expect linked cravings.
- Substance use often hijacks ambition; channel addiction-like focus into positive disciplines.
Memorable quotes
- “Show up on time every day — the muse will reward the ritual.” (summary of Stephen Pressfield idea)
- “Losses are very important — they’re important in fighting, they’re important in life.” (on resilience)
- “If you can choose what’s hard in your life, you’ll be way better off.” (on training and perspective)
- “People who know how to fight rarely get into fights.” (on the paradoxical benefit of training)
Bottom line
This episode is a long, free-flowing conversation mixing craft (acting, music, comedy), athleticism (MMA, jiu-jitsu, hunting fitness), personal life choices (moving from LA, parenthood), and real-world hard-earned wisdom about discipline, humility, and risk. It’s particularly useful for anyone curious about late-career creative pivots, the mental side of performance (stage fright, imposter syndrome), and the discipline required for high-level combat sports and backcountry life.