Interview With Nathan of Average Joe: The Joes Strike Back by Hildee Weiss
Nathan Griffin, tell your fans about yourself.
I spent the majority of my younger years growing up in New Hampshire. My parents were (and still are) very understanding of my need for adventure, my quirks and my creative side. As a kid, I was always in the middle of some new 'art project,' which usually consisted of me making a huge mess and leaving it for my parents to clean up as I had moved onto something else. I also spent a much of my time outdoors, building forts, sitting around in the woods listening to birds or 'tracking' native wildlife with what I thought at the time were impeccable skills. I always thought of myself as 'the weird kid.' I was constantly amazed by those things that most people don't find all that interesting (ie. watching ants build their home under the front porch). I'm the youngest in my family so I think that provided me with a lot more freedom than my siblings. My brother and sister were always as good to me as older siblings can be. I could never relate much to my brother because he's four years older than me. It's only now, as adults, that we're finding common ground. My sister and I, on the other hand, got along great. After four years in the Air Force, I spent one year at the University of South Florida. I was pursuing a degree in photography but I quickly learned that to "be a photographer," one need not have a degree. I haven't been back to school in two years, though I have plans to start again in January. There are all sorts of things I would love to major in but I'm sure in the end, I will find myself doing SOMETHING in on the creative side.
Describe your romantic history: were you more the shy type or the player or in between?
To be completely honest, if someone were to write a book on my "romantic history," it would consist of an introduction...and a section on the author. Being the 'oddball' that I was, I didn't discover the magic of women until I was in my late teens. This isn't to say that I've never dated or experienced love but I lacked the confidence in myself to pursue the girls I had crushes on. Even with all of my romantic notions, I was always the guy who ended up hearing the cliche phrase, "You're a really nice guy. You're sweet and funny but... I like you as a friend, that's all."
What made you decide to go on Average Joe 4? What were you hoping to accomplish?
Average Joe 4 wasn't something that I set out looking for. At the time, I was living a relatively comfortable life. I had a job, I had friends and I was free to pursue whatever came my way. One of the casting directors actually found a profile of mine online with some of my photography and my writing and sent me an e-mail, suggesting that she'd love for me to show up at their casting call. I thought "what the heck... why not." I understood the premise of the show but my motivations were less about finding love than they were about having a new experience and learning more about myself than I already knew. A situation such as that provides a person with MANY opportunities to push themselves, grow as a person and learn what their limits are. It's a lot like climbing a mountain.
What was your first impression of Anna?
Obviously she's an attractive woman, but my first two reactions were, "Wow. This is an unexpected twist" and "I wonder what she looks like without all that makeup." I knew that going into the show, we would be vying for the affection of a 'beautiful woman.' In my experience, most beautiful women don't give me the time of day because the lifestyle they lead is completely contradictory to the lifestyle I lead. Anna was unexpectedly down-to-earth.
How would you describe yourself to all of those potential Janes out there?
I'm the guy who is easy to approach and easy to talk to. I put a lot of pressure on myself but when it comes to other people, I'm extremely understanding. I like adventures and trying new things. I'm creative so I spend a lot of my time working on artwork, writing and taking pictures. I love good conversation. I love to laugh. In general, I love life...the ups and downs and everything in between.
Describe your perfect date.
Not this question again!! I'm up for anything when it comes to dates. Obviously a 'perfect' date should be something that both people can enjoy together. I'm also an avid supporter of good conversation so I don't tend to frequent bars or noisy restaurants. I'm the kind of guy who's more than happy bringing lunch to the beach, sitting on a pier, going for a walk... throw in a small amount of thoughtfulness and creativity, and you've got a good date.
Who were your closest friends/allies from the show? Why?
Out of all of the guys I met on the show, the ones I would consider my closest friends would have to be Aaron C. and Josh. It never made it past the editing room but I'll be completely honest and say that I shed a tear (yeah i know, right) when Aaron left the show. He and I were both the quiet guys in the house so while everyone else was off being a part of "the show," Aaron and I were sitting on the couch talking about the real world. It's like being at summer camp as a kid; you make really great friends, you see them leave one by one and you don't get a chance to actually say goodbye. Josh was the same. He and I had a lot really good conversations about what we considered to be worthwhile things. He is the most genuine guy I know and we still keep in touch.
Without giving anything away, what was your favorite memory of the show?
There are so many great memories that I brought back from the show, it's hard to choose just one. Obviously being picked to join Anna for an 'up close and personal' encounter with Shamu was great!
Do you feel that you were perceived accurately on the show? How so?
I knew what I was getting myself into when I went on the show. More importantly, I knew that I was not the type of person to do or say anything that I would regret later. I never offered anything of myself that I wouldn't normally. I never said anything that I didn't want to say. So as far as how I was represented on the show, I believe it to be accurate. As far as how I am PERCEIVED by the viewers... that's still open for debate.
Tell us about your special time with Shamu and Anna.
*laughs* Was it intentional that you put Shamu before Anna in this question? To be honest with you, I felt both guilty and flattered that she had chosen me to join her. It was obviously 'her moment' and I didn't want to interfere with the experience but I was more than flattered that she had chosen me to join her. I believe she knew it was something that I would really enjoy. It may not have been a 'one-on-one' date but for those few minutes, it sure felt like one!
Tell us about lumpstuff.com How and why did you start it?
Lump is a character I stumbled on while doodling in my sketchbook. It took a few months to develop my style but once I had, I was drawing everyday. My ideas come from everyday experiences, my sometimes odd outlook on life and my own emotional backdrop. I had always known I was not alone in the world but it was only through my artwork that I began to realize just how many people have felt the same way, experienced the same things and were looking for a place they could feel at ease. Lumpstuff.com was created for that very reason. It is my hope that through my artwork, I can show people that it's okay to feel, to love, to dream and to be a little different now and then.
What do you think the future holds for Nathan Griffin?
With so much going on right now, it's hard to think about the future. There are road trips I still want to take, photography/art projects I've been putting off, family and friends I haven't seen in ages and a huge list of random things I have yet to accomplish. I'm going to Peru with my father in October, which is something that we have been talking about since I was younger. I'm looking to expand on lumpstuff.com in terms of merchandising, marketing and licensing as I feel it's something that more people could benefit from. I'm headed back to school in January and I've got plans to get back into volunteering.
How can fans reach you if they want to get in touch?
Drop me a line at averagenathan@gmail.com.
Nathan, thank you so much for talking to us.
You can e-mail Hildee Weiss at HildeeW@SBCGlobal.net
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