Bullseye with Jesse Thorn Yahya Abdul-Mateen II
Feb 13, 2026
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, an Emmy-winning actor known for Watchmen, Aquaman, and Wonder Man, talks about staying grounded amid press runs and avoiding hype. He reflects on approaching forty and applying lessons, why he took Wonder Man, developing Simon’s loneliness and charm, and dreaming of owning a farm to unplug and reset.
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Don't Make Work Your Whole Life
- Step back from centering your life around work and trust you can disappear.
- Do things outside the job so you have a life when you're not performing.
Use Your Resume To Regain Confidence
- Remind yourself of real achievements by rereading your resume when confidence wavers.
- Use verified facts about your past to ground your self-worth instead of others' opinions.
Application Multiplies Growth
- Growth comes from applying what you learn, not just accumulating ideas.
- Yahya says doing the new right repeatedly produces exponential personal change.
