(NewsNation) — Golden Globe and Emmy winner Jon Hamm is known for portraying America’s most iconic business executive, Don Draper, in “Mad Men.” Now he’s narrated the audio version of a best selling business book, “When Business is Love: The Spirit of Hästens at Work, at Play and Everywhere in Your Life,” written by Jan Ryde.
Hamm spoke with NewsNation’s “Morning in America” about the new book, his thoughts on business, which of his co-stars he’d want next to him on a long flight, his perfect burger, and what he’s watching instead of the NCAA tournament these days.
The following is Hamm’s conversation with “Morning in America” anchor Markie Martin, edited for clarity. Another clip from the interview is below.
“When Business is Love”
Markie Martin: We’ve known you as Don Draper. I’m currently loving you as Paul Marks on “The Morning Show” season three, which is trippy when you actually anchor a morning show yourself. These are very success-driven characters. And now this business book that you narrate — have you always been business-oriented before Hollywood?
Jon Hamm: I can pretty much with with absolute certainty say no. I’m loosely affiliated with the practices of business, which is kind of why this this project was so interesting to me.
MM: Tell us more about the book that you narrate here and why you took on the project to begin with?
JH: Well, I can’t really remember the genesis of it in a very detailed way, but I just remember thinking that the idea was intriguing to me. And the idea here is basically lead with love, lead with positivity, run your business, the way you would want to be treated as a person, as a co worker, as a boss, as an employee. And as I got deeper and deeper into what what Jan was really talking about, and learn the history of the company, Hästens — it’s an over 100 year old company — they started making saddles and beds back in the 19th century in Sweden, and have continued that tradition throughout and now basically make the best bed in the world. You think, “Okay, well, what’s that’s a pretty great message, do one thing and do it the best, and then treat your people and your customers and your employees like you would want to be treated.” So I thought that that was kind of a nice message to maybe get out there in these trying to.
MM: Absolutely, we can all use some more of that, and some kindness goes a long way. Talk to us more about Jan. He’s the author and the CEO of a company that sells these luxury beds that cost upwards of $1 million. Have you slept in one, Jon Hamm? And is it really that much better than my TempurPedic?
JH: Yes, is the short answer. Yes, I have slept in them. And yes, they are phenomenal. Obviously, the price points at certain levels are sort of hilariously inflated in some ways. They don’t start at $1 million by any stretch of the imagination. But but they are sort of a luxury item. And the idea is that they become this part of your life. We spend a third of our lives in bed, basically, and it’s an important part of our day. When you think about that it becomes as important as something like diet or mental health. And when Jan started looking at how they can create a better environment for that, this really led him to kind of thinking about mental health. And it’s a wonderful, wonderful kind of environment that they’ve created that started with a beautiful bed.
MM: Do you have any stories going back to your early days, even when somebody showed you love or kindness in the industry that you think really changed the game for you and how you have decided to treat others on on set and in business yourself?
JH: I think absolutely. When we look back on all of our careers, I think we can think of the the opposite example, right? The person who wasn’t so kind that led with the stick rather than the carrot. And you think, “Okay, there maybe there’s a better way to do it. And maybe when I when I get the opportunity, I’m not going to do it this way.” And Jan is providing this wonderful example. It’s not just a book about business, it’s really a book about how to live your life. There’s a better way and it works. People think, “Oh, you have to be this shrewd, cruel taskmaster to really get things done.” And that’s kind of the American way and how we have to kind of macho our way through this and it’s like, there is another way and it actually works a lot better and it’s more sustainable over time. I’ve certainly been the beneficiary of that. I’ve had wonderful teachers in my life and wonderful examples of people who are in the entertainment industry but also in teaching and in childcare, where I used to work. And that’s a wonderful sentiment.
Hamm’s wedding
MM: Speaking of love, you got married last year! Congratulations to you! I understand it was on location. How did that come to be?
JH: Yes, it was! It was a beautiful wedding. We got very lucky with the weather. It was in beautiful Big Sur. We just had our nine month anniversary a couple a week ago. So it’s very nice, and a new chapter and perfectly dovetailing with this project.
Going Ham with Hamm
MM: Well congratulations! You’re a beautiful couple. I was wondering if you’d play a game with us because we want our viewers to get to know you a little better. So we were thinking maybe a rapid-fire game that we’d like to call Going Ham with Jon Hamm. We are a morning show, so what’s the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?
JH: Brush my teeth.
MM: Okay, your competitive game of choice. What do you go madmen over?
JH: I like to play tennis. I like to play singles and doubles. I picked up tennis in my thirties and I love it. It’s a wonderful workout. It’s exciting. I haven’t tried pickleball yet, but I hear it’s quite good too.
MM: Okay, you and me both on a tennis game. Okay, you love to travel. What are three things you always have to pack? What’s in your suitcase?
JH: Oh, I always bring a book. Whatever it happened to be reading at the time. That’s not just because of my new audiobook. I love to read. I will always bring my Adidas Slides. This is not a pitch for Adidas to send me Slides! I’m telling you they’re the most comfortable things in the world. And I will always bring cash.
MM: Yeah, that’ll help you get from point A to point B. If you were on a long flight and you had to be squished between two former classmates from any project you’ve ever done, who are you sitting in between?
JH: John Slattery and Jennifer Anniston. That would be a fun row.
MM: If you could make your own hamburger what would be on it?
JH: I’m a simple guy. You know we have a place out in California called In N Out Burger, and it’s basically a burger, cheese, tomato, lettuce, a little mustard and ketchup and let’s get out a dill pickle and you go that’s it, man. Let’s go.
MM: What is one headline that you’re keeping up with these days? That story you’re following?
JH: God there’s too many. One I think we’re all concerned about the political landscape at the moment. I think that’s something we think about internationally and in this nation as well. I think most recently I’m following this horrible tragedy in Baltimore with the bridge collapse. I kind of reframe it of how amazing the people were to get the word out and keep people from driving onto that bridge. Unfortunately, we lost the six workers on the bridge. But how many cars were going across that bridge right before it happened? And the wherewithal of the harbor pilot to say, “This is not going well, somebody stop traffic on that bridge, because we’re not sure what’s going to happen.” It’s terrifying when something like that happens, because it just brings back so many memories, obviously, of tragedies that we’ve all lived through. So my heart goes out to everybody there in the city of Baltimore, and I hope they can clean it and build it back better.
MM: Who knows how many lives that mayday saved? And to end on a high note — I know that you’re a big sports guy. Did you watch that Iowa-LSU game last night, and who you got in the Final Four?
JH: Here’s what’s funny. I did not watch that game because I’m such a crazy hockey fan. I watched my St. Louis Blues beat the Edmonton Oilers in overtime. I literally watched it on my phone at — well, it wasn’t quite at dinner. I wasn’t that rude! But the Blues are still fighting for the last playoff spot, so I’ve taken my Final Four energy and moved it on my final one energy of trying to get the Blues over the hump into the playoffs. That’s all I care about.