Jason Momoa | This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von #636
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Jason Momoa initially pursued marine biology and worked odd jobs before being discovered for "Baywatch Hawaii" at 19, which launched his acting career.
- ❖He founded Mananalu, an aluminum-canned water company, out of a strong environmental commitment to eliminate single-use plastic, inspired by his "waterman" heritage.
- ❖Momoa co-created, produced, co-wrote, and directed "Chief of War" as a "love letter" to his Hawaiian people, aiming to authentically portray their history and culture.
- ❖He describes rock climbing and motorcycling as essential therapies that provide focus and clarity amidst his busy life.
- ❖Momoa and Dave Bautista developed a strong working relationship based on mutual respect and a shared commitment to storytelling over ego, leading to their new film "The Wrecking Crew."
- ❖His son, Wolf, is following in his footsteps, having landed a role in "Dune" as Leto Jr. through his own audition.
Insights
1From Marine Biologist to Actor
Momoa's career trajectory was accidental, starting with a marine biology path in Iowa and Colorado, which abruptly shifted at 19 when he was cast in "Baywatch Hawaii" while visiting his father.
I was born in Hawaii... moved to Iowa... I did marine biology... I always wanted to be a marine biologist... TV show came. And I ended up getting it. It changed everything. I was 19.
2Environmental Entrepreneurship with Mananalu
Momoa founded Mananalu, an aluminum water company, after observing the prevalence of single-use plastic on flights and realizing the environmental impact. He approached Ball, the can manufacturer, to create the first aluminum water can with a screw top.
I started this company called Monalu... eight years ago. I was on a flight and you know, you're flying over... you see a Coca-Cola in aluminum can... and they give you those little shitty Dani water bottles... I went to Ball... I said, 'I'm going to make a water bottle with you, a water aluminum cans.' And they're like, 'We're not a water company.' I was like, 'Well, you are now. I'm awful, man. Let's do this.'
3Cultural Preservation through "Chief of War"
Momoa's passion project, "Chief of War," is a historical drama about uniting Hawaiian kingdoms, filmed in the native Hawaiian language. He considers it a "love letter" to his people, aiming to bring their history and culture to the screen in an authentic way.
I did this show, Chief of War... it's all about Hawaii... it would have been really beautiful to be in Hawaii before the white man arrived... it took me a long time to make that show... that was the first thing I ever created. So I was co-creator and produced it, wrote co-wrote it and then directed like the finale... it's my baby to my people. And we did it in Alo Hawaii. So we did it in our in our in our native language. Yeah. tongue.
4Rock Climbing as Therapy
Momoa uses rock climbing as a crucial form of therapy and meditation, as it demands complete focus, clearing his mind from the constant activity and ADHD-like tendencies.
my main love is rock climbing... I travel the world rock climbing... I love um just the fear and the problem solving... I think I'm very very much... I'm not diagnosed ADHD, but I'm just I'm there's a lot of things going on and I feel like when I ride motorcycles and I go rock climbing, it's just like you can't do anything else but be there. So that's just like a little bit of my therapy or meditation.
Opportunities
Circular Water System for Hospitality (Mananalu/Boomerang)
Implement a closed-loop system for water in hotels, hospitals, and schools, where aluminum bottles are sterilized, refilled with local water, and reused on-site. This eliminates plastic waste and transportation emissions by creating a self-contained water supply system within each establishment.
Lessons
- Consider switching to aluminum or reusable water bottles to reduce single-use plastic consumption, as highlighted by Jason Momoa's Mananalu initiative.
- Find a "flow state" activity like rock climbing or motorcycling that demands complete focus, serving as a personal therapy or meditation to clear your mind.
- Explore opportunities to connect your professional work with your cultural heritage or personal passions, as Momoa did with "Chief of War," to find deeper fulfillment.
Notable Moments
Drowning Experience and Quitting Smoking
Jason Momoa recounts a near-drowning experience off Maui where his surfboard leash snapped. This traumatic event, where he felt his breath taken away, immediately caused him to quit a two-pack-a-day smoking habit, as he would vomit if he tried to smoke afterward. This illustrates a profound, life-altering experience that led to an immediate and permanent change in a deeply ingrained destructive habit, highlighting the power of extreme adversity as a catalyst for personal transformation.
Miles Davis Cocaine Story
Jason Momoa shares a story from Miles Davis's biography where Davis, high on cocaine, spilled his drugs in his Lamborghini, panicked about getting caught by police, hid for hours, only to realize later it was just snow on his shoes that he mistook for spilled drugs. This anecdote humorously illustrates the paranoia and distorted perception that can come with drug use, providing a vivid, albeit second-hand, cautionary tale.
Quotes
"I'm kind of the kind of person like pretty high energy and I'm really really generally happy. Like I'm like Christmas morning every morning. I'm pretty happy. I don't need coffee. I'm jazzed."
"I don't have any more, per se, dreams as an actor. Like, I never thought I'd get this far in the first place... The biggest dream to me was to like make a TV show or movie for my people. Make a real true authentic Hawaiian story. Like I did that."
"I don't do podcasts that much cuz I always get in trouble. So, you're my second and it was wonderful. And dude, I'm just It's awesome to meet you, man."
Q&A
Recent Questions
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