David Duchovny knows a lot about success — he’s a Golden Globe-winning actor who has had iconic roles from The X-Files to Californication. But as a literature PhD dropout turned director turned songwriter and novelist, David is more interested in failure and what it can teach us. Adam and David discuss the value of falling short of our goals, the perils of success, and whether nice people really finish last. David’s new podcast Fail Better is out now. Transcripts for ReThinking are available at go.ted.com/RWAGscripts
Ted audio collective.
We gotta, as a culture and as a country, accept our ls and grow.
Grow from our ls and call me a loser, and I'll say thank you.
Hey, everyone, it's Adam Grant.
Welcome back to rethinking my podcast on the science of what makes us tick.
With the Ted audio collective.
I'm an organizational psychologist, and I'm taking you inside the minds of fascinating people to explore new thoughts and new ways of thinking.
My guest today is David Duchovny.
You probably know him best as an actor.
He won Golden Globes for his starring roles in the X Files and Californication, and had iconic appearances in Zoolander and the chair.
But he's also a best selling author of four novels and a screenwriter, director, and singer songwriter.
And he's been the subject of a song, an unusually catchy one by Bree sharp.
I hold it in as best I can.
I know I'm just another fan, but I can't help feeling I could love this secret agent man.
I'm not him waiting to discover me.
I got it bad for David Duchovny.
David Ducovni.
Why don't you love me?
Why don't you love me?
David's new film is Bucky effing Dent, and he's the host of a new podcast, Fail better.