Ryan Bingham joins Joe Rogan to discuss his dual career as both the lead actor in Taylor Sheridan's hit series Yellowstone and a touring country musician. Bingham, who plays Kayce Dutton on the show, started his music career remarkably late, performing his first live show at age 39 after being discovered by a music manager who called him out of the blue.

The conversation explores Bingham's transition from Los Angeles to Montana, where he now lives about an hour south of Missoula with his wife and 18-month-old son. They discuss the creative process behind both acting and songwriting, with Bingham describing his unique approach of writing songs in the studio the day before recording them to maintain authenticity.

Rogan and Bingham delve into martial arts, particularly Brazilian jiu-jitsu, sharing stories about Anthony Bourdain's late-in-life obsession with the sport and the Gracie family's revolutionary impact on combat sports. The discussion touches on creativity and the artistic process, with Rogan referencing The War of Art and On Writing as essential reads for understanding the creative mindset.

Taylor Sheridan's Impossible Work Ethic and Creative Output

Sheridan writes 10 television shows single-handedly while maintaining an active social life, which Bingham calls 'impossible' compared to other impressive creators like those who could direct Unforgiven-level films.

Sheridan's background story resembles 'a real-life Rocky story' - he was scrambling around until almost 40, then buckled down when he had a kid on the way and 'kept his foot on the gas.'

Despite his massive workload, Sheridan 'has a good time too' and maintains relationships with family and friends, leading to the joke that 'the moral of the story is don't play golf.'

Late-Start Music Career and Stage Fright Reality

Bingham's first live performance was at age 39 in Billings, Montana for 1,200 people: 'I blacked out. Like, not drinking. Like, I just blacked out on nerves, dude.'

His fourth show ever was at Stagecoach festival, demonstrating the rapid progression from complete beginner to major venue performer within his first few shows.

The decision to pursue music came after his father's death, who conveyed 'if there's anything you want to do while you're here, do it' - leading Bingham to think 'what's the worst thing that can happen? I'm another actor who made a goofy album.'

Stage fright remains intense: 'I still get a little bit of the, you know' with imposter syndrome thoughts like 'they bought a ticket, you're not good enough for them to have spent their money.'

Montana Living and California Transplant Tensions

Locals write 'go back' in dust on California license plates, with Montanans fiercely identifying by generation: 'Third generation Montana' as a point of pride.

Bingham lives about an hour south of Missoula and describes the daily experience: 'I drink my coffee every morning looking out the window and it looks like a painting and it never gets old.'

The mountains provide constant centering and humbling effects: 'when you're surrounded by those mountains and you look out at them every day, it like centers you and it humbles you.'

Future challenges include schooling for his son, as there's limited educational infrastructure in rural areas, potentially requiring a move closer to Missoula or keeping 'a cabin in Montana' while living elsewhere.

Dana White's Legendary Gambling and Vegas Observations

When Rogan arrived at Red Rock Casino, Dana White was already down $600,000: 'it was a normal night for him. And he wasn't even nervous.'

White coaches other players like Taylor Luan in blackjack, with Luan losing $125,000 in five minutes before recovering to win $100,000 and quitting ahead.

They've moved to baccarat because 'you can bet more per hand' - up to $500K per hand, with White having told stories about losing $6 million in one night.

Rogan theorizes that Slap Fight exists as 'Dana's gambling money' - a revenue source outside UFC so he doesn't lose his UFC money to gambling.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and the Gracie Family Legacy

Anthony Bourdain started jiu-jitsu at 58 with zero athletic background and became obsessed, training everywhere while filming and competing in tournaments: 'he would train everywhere on the road.'

The Gracie family changed martial arts forever, with Rickson being the family boogeyman: 'if Royce ever got beat, throw in Rickson. And everybody's fucked.'

Rickson was so dominant he would 'go and do these seminars, teach it to all these black belts, and then he would roll with all of them non-stop and just tap out everybody.'

Brazilian jiu-jitsu emerged from no-rules fights in Brazil in the 1930s, with the Gracies competing in 'giant crowds in Brazil' with 'no time limits, no gloves, no nothing.'

Creative Process and Artistic Philosophy

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield teaches treating creativity like there's a muse: 'if you treat it like there is a muse, like there is a god, a goddess that will give you ideas as long as you pay respect to the muse.'

The key is consistency: 'You have to show up on time every day, sit there and do it. And some days you get nothing. But you just got to keep showing up.'

On Writing by Stephen King demonstrates how some artists need substances to access creativity, though 'his later work is just not comparable' after getting clean.

Bingham's latest album used a 'pressure cooker' method, writing songs the day of or night before recording: 'there was never a demo. There was never, it was straight from heart-brain tape.'

Elk Hunting Challenges and Montana Wildlife

Elk hunting requires serious conditioning: 'you really got to go for it' with Rogan doing 'Tabatas on an air dyne bike' and 'box step-ups with weighted vests' to prepare for September hunts.

Bingham had to tap out on day four of his first elk hunt: 'my legs stopped working. I didn't know I had it, it was like this' due to the extreme physical demands.

Grizzly bears behave differently than black bears: 'Grizzly looks at you like this, locks on you. Like am I gonna eat you?' versus black bears that 'want to get out of here.'

A 70-year-old neighbor hit a deer on his motorcycle at 70 mph, 'killed the deer' and was 'back on the bike' about a month later, demonstrating the toughness of Montana locals.