On the surface, Stick might look like a show about golf—but at its core, it’s about people. In this exclusive interview, Stick creator and executive producer Jason Keller breaks down the emotional and structural DNA of the A24-backed series, which stars Owen Wilson as a once-celebrated golf pro who’s now floundering as a club salesman and part-time coach. When he crosses paths with Santi (Peter Dager), a young golfer with raw talent and a fractured past, and Zero (Lilli Kay), the group’s heart and compass, a beautifully messy road trip unfolds—one that challenges each of them to confront their demons, break old patterns, and maybe even heal.
Keller explains how golf, a sport often played alone and wrestled with mentally, was the perfect metaphor for the show’s deeper themes: internal battles, emotional distance, and the slow work of building community. With a cast that includes Marc Maron, Mariana Treviño, and a diverse writer’s room spanning Gen X to Gen Z, Stick crafts something rare—an emotionally rich, multigenerational dramedy that never talks down to its audience. Instead, it invites us to listen, reflect, and lean into connection, even when it’s uncomfortable.
In this conversation, Keller shares the inspiration behind the series, how the generational gaps in the writer’s room helped shape the show’s tone, and why Stick is ultimately about choosing people—even when life tries to keep us apart.