As three-time Emmy Award winning actor Rainn Wilson walked across the stage of the packed Rose Theatre on Wednesday night, loud cheers erupted from the audience.
“It’s so rowdy up in here,” Wilson said looking around the room. “Every college has its own vibe and this one is the crazy shriekiest college.”
Wilson, known widely for his role as Dwight Schrute in “The Office,” took the stage with his deadpan comic style. Despite cracking a few jokes every couple of minutes, he discussed his faith, spiritual journey and how it led to the creation of SoulPancake, a “mission driven” company that explores the connection between creativity and spirituality.
SoulPancake began as a media organization that found its voice when it started its YouTube channel in 2012. SoulPancake encourages people to “chew on life’s big questions.” Its mission is to develop thought provoking content and creative engagement in hopes that it encourages people to explore what it really means to be a human while challenging them to begin their spiritual journey.
“SoulPancake is a culmination of who I am as a person,” Wilson said. “Looking back at it, that’s the journey I needed to take, the investigation of truth. If you stick with your journey really great things will happen.”
Wilson explained the involvement of Robby Novak also known as Kid President, the 9-year-old YouTube sensation who’s partnered with SoulPancake.
“We brought him in because he was joyful and we wanted more joy,” Wilson said.
After answering audience questions, Wilson received a standing ovation and more cheers as he left the stage smiling and waving to the audience.
“My favorite part was how he seemed so open to everything, and he wasn’t trying to push his beliefs on anybody,” Eric Bourgeois, a public relation junior, said. “He wanted to encourage everybody to find their own truth.”
