Matthew McConaughey On Why Texas Will Always Be Home

Matthew McConaughey is reflecting on his decision to leave Hollywood behind and embrace life in Texas, a state he’s always considered home.

Speaking on the Good Trouble with Nick Kyrgios podcast, the Oscar-winning actor shared insights about how the move to Austin reconnected him with his roots and gave him a sense of balance, as first reported by People. 

When asked by host Nick Kyrgios what Texas means to him, McConaughey, 55, described his idea of home in terms of a natural rhythm. “Home, for me, is where a mile feels like a mile. An hour feels like 60 minutes,” he said. The actor contrasted this with how time can feel distorted in places like Hollywood or even while on vacation. “At home, my pace, my flow through life, feels like it is on time,” he explained.

McConaughey returned to his home state in 2014 with his wife, Camila Alves McConaughey. 

McConaughey spoke warmly about life in Austin, which he described as “the blueberry in the tomato soup of Texas.” While acknowledging the often divisive political landscape of the state, he finds a certain harmony in the contrast. “I live in Austin, which is a liberal city in a very conservative state. I like that push and pull. I like the structure of the red around the freedom of the blue,” he said.

Despite his deep Texas roots, McConaughey embraces the state’s adventurous spirit. “A lot of Texans are very connected to home,” he noted, “but we have a spirit of ‘get out there, go off, use your passport, boy. Go travel, and come back and tell us some stories.’ ”