Rob Riggle: Actor, comedian … and Marine Corps lieutenant colonel

Key Concepts

• Teamwork and Adaptability: The parallels between the Marine Corps and improv comedy in terms of teamwork, reacting to unexpected situations, and thinking on one's feet.
• Resilience and Overcoming Adversity: The importance of a "never say die" attitude, thick skin, and the ability to overcome failure, drawing from experiences in both the military and the arts.
• Commitment to a Career: The distinction between wanting to do something and knowing you can, and the necessity of full commitment to a chosen path, even when it requires a day job.
• Serving Something Bigger Than Oneself: The value of contributing to a cause or entity larger than individual interests, whether through faith, service organizations, or national duty.
• Continuous Growth: The idea that in fields like the arts, stagnation leads to decline, emphasizing the need for ongoing learning and development.

Summary

This transcript features an interview with Rob Wgle, a comedian with a unique background as a former Marine. Wgle discusses his new memoir, "Grit Spit and Never Quit: A Marine's Guide to Comedy and Life," and draws connections between his military service and his career in comedy, particularly in improv.

Teamwork and Adaptability in Military and Comedy

Wgle highlights the significant role of teamwork in the Marine Corps, a principle he found directly transferable to long-form improv comedy. He explains that in improv, the focus is on serving the scene and making it the funniest and best it can be, rather than individual performance. This mirrors the military's emphasis on collective effort and shared objectives.

He addresses the perceived dichotomy between the rigidity of the military and the free-flowing nature of improv, arguing that there are strong similarities in the required mindset. Both demand constant adaptation to unpredictable situations. In the military, one must adjust to evolving circumstances daily. Similarly, in improv, performers face unknown scenarios, dialogue, and actions from their scene partners, necessitating quick thinking, response, and the ability to "write on your feet."

Resilience and Overcoming Adversity

Wgle emphasizes the necessity of developing a "thick skin" in the Marines, which involves overcoming failure and persevering when knocked down. He describes this as a "never say die attitude." He draws a parallel to the arts, where artists frequently face rejection, setbacks, and obstacles. The ability to "dust yourself off and get back in there" is crucial for sustained success in both domains.

The Journey to a Comedy Career

Wgle recounts his realization that he "wanted" to pursue comedy professionally, distinguishing this from merely knowing he "could" do it. He stresses the importance of full commitment to a career path, even when it's not immediately lucrative and requires maintaining a day job. He notes that even after securing initial opportunities, there's an ongoing uncertainty that demands dedication.

Experiences in Dangerous Environments and Their Impact

The interview touches upon Wgle's experiences in dangerous environments, including deployments to Afghanistan after 9/11. He discusses how harrowing experiences can inform comedy, suggesting that the resilience and perspective gained from such situations can be channeled into creative work.

USO Tours and Personal Commitments

Wgle shares his experience returning to the Middle East in 2007 as a correspondent for "The Daily Show" and participating in a USO tour while still in the Marine Corps Reserve. He reveals a personal motivation for this: during his own deployments, he never received a USO show and felt "ripped off." This led him to make a personal pledge to perform for troops if he ever had the opportunity.

The Concept of "No Finish Line" and Continuous Growth

Reflecting on his career, which he describes as entering a "third act" as an author, Wgle articulates a key learning: "there is no finish line." He challenges the notion that reaching a certain professional level allows for complacency. In the arts, he asserts, "if you're not growing, you're dying," underscoring the continuous need for personal and professional development.

A Pitch for Service

Wgle concludes with a pitch for young people and the general public to consider serving something "a little bit bigger than yourself." He suggests various avenues for this, including faith, the Peace Corps, or the Marine Corps. He expresses his belief in the United States as a "fantastic" country with a strong foundation, acknowledging its imperfections but emphasizing its potential for improvement and the value of serving and protecting it.

Conclusion

Rob Wgle's memoir, "Grit Spit and Never Quit: A Marine's Guide to Comedy and Life," explores the profound connections between military discipline and the creative demands of comedy. His journey illustrates the transferable skills of teamwork, adaptability, and resilience, and the importance of unwavering commitment and continuous growth in pursuing one's passions. The overarching message is one of perseverance and the value of contributing to something larger than oneself.