Soul Boom

Penn Badgley Returns to Redefine What Faith Truly Means

Nov 26, 2024

Penn Badgley, known for his roles in Gossip Girl and You, shares his unique journey from child actor to a spiritual thinker. He discusses the struggles of fame and the emotional toll on young stars, exploring love and personal growth within Hollywood's complex landscape. Delving into his Baha'i faith, Penn reflects on finding fulfillment through connection, community, and understanding personal sadness. The conversation offers profound insights on navigating identity, artistic transformation, and the impact of societal perceptions on mental health.

56:38

Episode guests

Penn Badgley

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Penn Badgley discusses the struggle of separating personal identity from his roles, particularly post-'Gossip Girl', amidst public scrutiny.

The conversation explores the complexities of love as depicted in 'You', framing the character Joe Goldberg as a representation of toxic relationships.

Badgley's spiritual journey through Baha'i faith influences his artistic expression, driving a desire to communicate deeper connections and love through storytelling.

Deep dives

Navigating Identity in Acting

The actor discusses the challenge of separating personal identity from the characters they portray, emphasizing the struggle faced in their early career during 'Gossip Girl'. The intense scrutiny from the public made it hard to establish a sense of self outside of the roles, especially when fame arrived before maturity. This led to a detached relationship with the character of Joe Goldberg, as a means to cope with external expectations. The actor has since learned to embrace their artistic journey while reconciling this duality between personal identity and professional roles.

Intro

4min

Exploring Love, Fame, and Spirituality in Entertainment

16min

Hollywood's Paradox: Profit and Principle

6min

The Complex Dance of Identity and Character in Acting

2min

Fame, Fulfillment, and the Human Soul

6min

Finding Fulfillment Through Connection

16min

Exploring the Complexities of Love and Media

6min

Actor Penn Badgley (YOU on Netflix, Gossip Girl) joins Rainn Wilson to dive into his lifelong search for meaning. Penn shares how his journey from being a child actor to playing the infamous Netflix villain Joe Goldberg, discussing the challenges of fame, toxic love, and Hollywood's misconceptions about happiness. They dive deep into the role of spirituality in navigating despair, societal change, and the lessons Penn learned through his Baha’i faith. This episode offers profound insights on love, identity, and the power of artistic transformation.

Penn Badgley is an acclaimed actor, best known for his roles in Gossip Girl and You. A member of the Baha’i faith, he is also a director, producer and spiritual thinker advocating for a deeper understanding of love and humanity.

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