Rainn Wilson Reveals Why Playing Dwight on The Office Didn’t Make Him Happy

Rainn Wilson is best known as Dwight Schrute from The Office , one of the most iconic characters in TV history. But behind the legendary role, he faced burnout, fame overload, and the realization that success alone would never make him happy. On The Burnouts Podcast , Rainn Wilson joins Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni for an unfiltered interview about life after The Office . He opens up about chasing bigger movies, more money, and more fame in Hollywood, why it left him unfulfilled, and how he reinvented himself through spirituality, mental health practices, and his bestselling book Soul Boom . This Rainn Wilson interview is filled with behind-the-scenes stories from The Office , hilarious unscripted Dwight Schrute moments, the lessons he learned from sudden wealth and celebrity, and why finding purpose matters more than success. Whether you are a longtime fan of The Office , curious about Rainn Wilson’s career beyond Dwight Schrute, or searching for meaning in a burnout culture, this conversation is raw, funny, and packed with insights you will not forget. Chapters 00:00 – Dwight Schrute & the paradox of fame 04:00 – Why The Office didn’t make Rainn Wilson happy 09:00 – Burnout, ego, and chasing “more” in Hollywood 12:00 – Reinventing life through spirituality 18:00 – From SoulPancake to Soul Boom 24:00 – The mental health crisis & phones 30:00 – Behind the scenes of The Office (Dwight improv moments) 37:00 – Money, fame, and family lessons 44:00 – Advice Rainn Wilson wishes he knew in his 20s 50:00 – The future of storytelling and purpose FOLLOW US Phoebe Gates Sophia Kianni Rainn Wilson FOLLOW THE BURNOUTS Instagram TikTok LinkedIn Support What We’re Building Phoebe and Sophia aren’t just your hosts—they’re the founders of Phia, a VC-backed fashion-tech app helping shoppers find the best prices across retail and resale. Download the app , try it out, and leave us your feedback. About The Burnouts The Burnouts brings you raw, unfiltered conversations with today’s top founders, creators, and culture-shaping entrepreneurs. Hosted by Stanford roommates turned startup co-founders, Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, the show goes beyond the headlines to share the real stories, lessons, and mindsets that define your 20s. Past guests include Paris Hilton, Chelsea Handler, Kris Jenner, Karlie Kloss, and other icons redefining culture today. Subscribe for more interviews with leaders, creators, and entrepreneurs shaping our generation. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.