Conan, Sona, & Gourley's Spouses Take Over The Podcast | Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend

Hello and welcome to a very special. episode of Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend. My name is Liza Powell O'Brien and I am. here with Amanda Lund and Tak Biroyan, the spouses of Matt Gourley and Sona. Movsesian respectively. Welcome to Summer Spouses. Doesn't that. make you think that there's going to. then be a fall spouse and like they're. going to have to get remarried to new. people every season so that there's. something to put on the air? >> Oh oh my gosh, summer spouses.

>> Right? I mean I can take a break, you. know. I could use a break. >> Heard. By the way, that is a very good. idea. Um okay, how has this been so far for. everybody? >> It's been great. It's the first time for. me. You've done this before, right? >> I have not done like what I haven't done. is sort of the. being yourself and and talking about. your life on a podcast. >> show is what I call them. Do you and you. do them, right? >> I I not like this. I mean I have like.

one chit-chat show with my friend Maria, but it's behind a paywall and I'm pretty. convinced that like no one is listening. So it feels very safe. This is scary cuz. people are like. >> listening. >> eyes and ears, eyes and ears. >> Fewer every second, I think. Maybe on. this one. >> out there forever. >> Right. Also that. Yeah. >> Yeah, but it felt like fun to be in the. hot seat a little bit. >> Did your spouse act a little bit. differently in this room with you in it?

>> That's a good question. I I was getting. like supportive nods. from him. >> From Matt, yeah. >> okay. Did he look Was there fear in his. eyes? >> Um. he told me right before. we came in and he was like, "It's okay. Like you can Whatever you He said, "You. can speak freely.". >> Okay. >> And so I kind of got the green light a. little bit. >> Does that mean that you're not usually. encouraged. >> to speak. No, that.

>> I've signed a non-disclosure. >> was. okay. >> What about you? Was Sona different? I. assume it was always Sona, right? >> Yeah, yeah. She was kind of giving me a. "You embarrass me.". >> But was she also. Was she also um. Just watching, it felt like she was also. maybe a little quieter. Like she was. really interested in hearing what you. had to say. >> Yeah, yeah. She was letting me talk. For. a change. >> Yeah, exactly. That's not the norm. >> Yeah, no it is. We're we're cool.

She was about the same. She's always. herself. That's like her thing, right? Like no matter what circumstance. >> really. It's not typical, I don't think. >> It's not. >> And how about your kids? Does one of. them take after each of you? Are they. like from somewhere else entirely? >> I think so. I think Mikey is more Sona, cuz he's like very adventurous and just. hardheaded and stubborn. And Charlie and he's very extrovert. And. Charlie is more like, you know, he's.

more me. >> Uh-huh. >> he loves to draw and he likes to do his. own thing and like look at his monster. books. >> Yeah. >> And um just sort of do his own thing, you know? >> Yeah. Yeah, we just got these great. thank you notes from them for their. birthday presents, which was adorable. and I'm going to frame them because I. don't have little kids right now to to. do that with and. and one of them drew a picture and the. other wrote Michael. Thank you, Michael. And Sona was like they This couldn't be.

a better representation of how different. our kids are from each other. >> it. >> Is one of them more social than the. other? >> Depends on the day. >> Uh-huh. >> Sometimes Mikey gets a little shy for. some reason. It's kind of weird and. Charlie steps up and like tells the. jokes, you know? Which is like so like. unexpected, cuz he's more of an. introvert, you know? >> Yeah. But he can tell that like the. usual host isn't there, so he's filling. in. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> But I would say they're, you know, they're equally social kids and, you.

know, they always approach other kids. and talk to them, introduce themselves. It's really cute. >> That's very cute. >> Well, I think you're such a natural at. this. >> Well, I'm just nosy. >> That's a great quality. >> Oh, thank you. Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Have you just been like watching Conan. all these years like I could do it? >> No. >> Better? >> No. No, I had a nightmare once. I I. don't know what brought this on that I. was supposed to go out in front of. people and entertain them and I had a.

pan- I've never had a panic attack in my. life. I had a panic attack in my dream. because I thought I had to go do that. thing that he does and there's no way I. could do it. So, no, I never. watch or listen to him doing what he. does and think, "Ah, like let me at it.". No. >> No sweat. No. >> Are you guys a little bit closer in. terms of your skill set, maybe? Cuz. you're both performers. >> Yeah. I Yeah, probably a little bit cuz. well, we cross over a bit. Like Matt. will be on my shows and.

I'll be on his stuff sometimes. So, yeah, we do some crossover stuff. >> favorite kind of perform- like is it. theater or is it TV acting? Is it. >> I probably theater. I You know, I really. actually love podcasting. It's just I I. just really, really. like it. There's just so much creative. freedom in it and like you probably I. don't know, maybe you felt that when you. did your show. >> Yeah. >> too. >> Well, yes. There were I mean, I felt. It was It was It was no, it was It was. great. I couldn't believe I got to do.

it. It was also I signed myself up for. so much work that I started to be very. grumpy and. >> That was a lot of research for you. >> of research and writing and and I was. doing it sort of in in lockstep with my. younger kids' last 2 years of high. school and then he graduated and I was. like, "We're done with school." And I. sort of felt like I don't want to write. any more papers. And then it was it was. kind of funny, but so it felt like a. really it felt like a limiting format.

that I had set up, but I liked that. I I. appreciate boundaries and stuff like. that because I'm, you know, terrified of. improvisation, so here we are. Yeah, so it's a very different type of. of podcasting. >> Do you have any other projects coming. up, podcasting or otherwise? >> Um I don't have any other podcasting. projects coming up. No, I have um I have. a a theater piece in a in an um. in a festival in Aspen in. >> Nice. What is. >> That sounds wonderful.

>> I feel like theater is. >> Where is that right now? Is that like is. that what's happening? Like. >> You can't AI that. You know what I mean? >> Right. >> Well, it's like how live shows are the. sort of backbone of the music industry. right now, I think. And um yeah, these. people are into experiences that you. cannot that not every single person in. the world can just get. >> Mhm. >> Yeah, and podcasts are dead. >> Right, exactly. That's what we've decided. Sorry, Yeah, and we're done with that. Um yeah, no. I I think uh.

in other parts of the world, too, like. in in London and Europe, I think there's. a lot of theater happening in like sort. of grassroots seaways and um I think the. US is having a bit of a difficult moment. with the funding issues, but. but I don't think it will ever not quite. completely go away cuz it's so human. But yeah, but maybe this is the new. campfire. RIP summer s'mores. I mean, I don't know. if it's totally gone forever. Um okay, let's see. We have other.

prompts here. How has the podcast impacted your lives. and if so, how? >> Well, we get like Sona gets recognized. all the time now. >> Really? >> She's like a full-blown celebrity at. this point. >> Wow. >> Was that Was that happened after you got. married? >> Yeah. >> Was that weird? >> Uh. >> to go through that transition with her? >> I mean, she people kind of knew she was. when we were dating, but like now when. when when to YouTube with the podcast. and everything cuz people knew her from. the remotes from the show before.

But now it's the podcast is a huge and. everybody just like. I know your voice. Oh my god. And then. like. people freak out now and like. >> for pictures? >> Uh Sona actually says, "Can we take a. picture?". >> Oh my gosh. That's great. >> that. That is that's so generous. >> With her camera? >> Oh yeah, her camera. We have a. collection at home. >> Record it all. All my fans, a wall of them. >> But um it was so weird. We We were in. Hawaii um like like a week ago and we.

went to. Where did we go? We went to the the. Diamond Head hike. >> Oh yeah, yeah. >> And there was like the booth where you. park and these two girls are working in. there and. and Sona's like, "Watch this. They're. going to know who we are.". And we we we drive up and our cousin our. cousin from Australia um. to Steve, he's there. And so we drive up and they're like, "Hi." Like, "Hi, can we park here?" And. they're like, "No, you have to buy. parking. Uh you have to go you have to.

pre-arrange parking or you have to go. drive down the tunnel and park there.". And then our cousin Steve's like. "Mate, do you know who she is?". And she's like. >> "It's Sona.". >> And then she they got all giggly all of. a sudden. Yeah, like she got they got. like super stoked. I was like, "Oh my. god.". Never going to live this down. >> Sona. >> And I was like, "So now that this. happened, can we park there?". And they're like, "No, you still got to. go down the tunnel.". >> Celebrity has its limits.

>> Yeah, that was that was it. >> Yeah, I I feel like you can kind of. identify a podcast listener in the wild. You know, you can be like, "That. person's going to approach.". >> Yeah. Yep. >> There's a lot of approach. >> Yeah, I have none of that because people. were coming up to him before I knew him, and so I can't, you know, I can't tell. who knows him for what. People still. come up to him and say, "I love your. show.". >> Mhm. >> And I'm thinking, which one? What? There. isn't a show unless this is a show. Maybe it's a show. >> And I bet like the travel show has. brought in new audience, probably, cuz.

that's a whole different vibe. >> Yeah. >> What vibe? >> I think for me it's been interesting. because. like both Matt and I are both like we. work like gigs, you know? And then. especially podcasting, it's like you'll. do a podcast like on a. Yeah, and then having something that. is such so regular, it's like the 9-to-5. job at this point, you know, which I. never would have thought podcasting. would have been for us, but it's like, okay, yeah, this is like we're Yeah,

this is the career, you know, which is I. don't think either of us could have. foreseen that. >> Right. >> That it was going to be like podcasting. was like the stable thing because right. now like everything's so influx with the. other parts of the industry, you know? So that's been really cool. And then. also post-YouTube, Matt gets recognized. all the time. And but there's like. certain places where you can kind of you. think there's a higher chance of it. happening. Like any any theme park, like. he'll usually get recognized a couple of. times.

>> often are you in a theme park? I want to. ask. >> You know, and when I met Matt, like he. had worked at theme parks, but he was. like, "I'm not a theme park person." But. then having a kid, he's like a total. Disney dad now. It was like the minute. we took Glenn for the first time to. Disneyland and like he saw her light up. when she saw Mickey Mouse, like he. cried. >> Aw. Okay. >> He couldn't but he was like, "This is so. magical." And now they're like he's. taken her to the to Universal like a. lot. Like he'll play hooky days where. >> She's his beard.

>> Yeah, I think. >> Yeah, going for him. Like actually. because. she he takes her to go see the. Waterworld Stunt Spectacular. >> Okay. >> Um into the point where they're like. regulars now. And so I don't know if. you're familiar with Waterworld the. movie. >> Yes. >> Okay, yeah, you're a big big fan. >> Huge. >> Yeah, very much. Kevin Costner. >> Okay, yes, thank you. Okay, so there's. the villain in it. It has some funny. name. I don't remember what it is, but. anyway, he's Oh, look, they're all. getting their phones. I feel so. powerful. I never have this in my.

another podcast. Um anyway, so. >> The Deacon. >> The Deacon, the Deacon. Okay, so they're. like Glenn's a big fan of the Deacon. And after the stunt show, they wait and. talk to the Deacon and like take. pictures with him. But apparently he's. retiring. Okay. So so they got to go. catch his last show. >> Is he going to be replaced by someone. else? >> I I guess like I don't know. >> And well, then she'll have to be in on. those auditions, I think. >> Yeah. So like yeah, Glenn could play the. Deacon. >> So who here actually listens to this.

podcast? >> I used to listen regularly. And then I. got a little uncomf- uncomfortable with. >> Uh-oh. >> with like that every- talking about our. lives and stuff. So I just kind of was. like I. >> It's like not looking at the comments. anymore on. >> Yeah, yeah, yeah. So I uh now I just. watch like chunks of it on my feed. >> Okay. >> Have you and Sona had like boundary. conversations about what you are. comfortable with her sharing? >> No. We probably should.

>> We We have a guy with a contract. >> I mean, I don't want to be like, "Don't. talk about this. Don't talk about this.". Like it comes with the territory, you. know. >> Yeah. >> Also, do you feel Okay, because for on. on our end, I I am always impressed with. um. sort of Conan's innate sense of. boundary. I think he's got he I would. not be good at that. I'm I'm a blabber, and he. >> Yeah, we can tell. >> Yeah, well, everyone's information, too, so don't tell me anything. Um.

No, but he has a very, I think a very. good inner compass about um. how not to hurt anyone, basically. >> Oh, yeah, yeah. >> Um and not share things that, you know, shouldn't really be shared, even if they. would get a big laugh. So, I I have. never even had that thought. >> Oh, how interesting. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, the same with Matt. I feel like I. kind of just trust him. There was only. one time. one time. This is a while ago, but it was it was. actually like 4 years ago when Glenn was.

a baby, and I don't know what they were. gabbin' on about in here, but there was. something about like Matt had the. monitor. Maybe I gotten an alert from. like our We have like a Wi-Fi connected. monitor in the nursery, and I'm sitting. there in like the dark nursing Glenn, and she's like asleep on me, and all of. a sudden I just hear, "Hello." And it's. Conan's voice coming through the baby. monitor. And I was like like so scared. I didn't know what was happening.

Um. And I was like. "Hello. Like hello, I'm the baby's. sleeping." And then I just hear like. this laughter, like chuckling over there, and I was. just like, "What is happening?" And then. Matt was like, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Like I guess I don't know what bit they. were doing where he was like, 'Here, and. I can even like talk through the. monitor.'" And he didn't know that I was. in there with the sleeping baby. And I. think that was the only time when I was. like, "I don't like that.". >> Yeah, right. I don't like that at all. >> Thank you.

>> No, thank you. >> But but otherwise, um I listen to some. episodes of the show, um but I hear a lot of it being edited, because Matt's always working on it. So, you know, I'm like around in the back. house in his office where he works, and. I always hear lots of, you know, I hear. the raw audio, and I hear get to hear. what's taken out. >> Do you ever disagree with an edit? >> No, but sometimes I will say not like. I'm taking any credit, but there's times. when I'm I'm advised like, "Oh, yeah,

maybe that could go or stay." Maybe just. a couple times. I get to I get to like a. little hear some of the notes too that. are. >> And he's receptive to that? >> Oh, I mean, yeah, like he'll do whatever. I say. I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding. Um no, but it's it is cool to hear him. editing it, you know, and just to see. that what he takes out. It's never like. really big things cuz they're such pros, especially when it's just the three of.

them, you know, a lot of that is just. what they record is what you hear. Yeah. >> September is Childhood Cancer Awareness. Month and Team Coco has something. special coming with Hyundai Hope on. Wheels this September. So, stay tuned. Every 36 minutes a child in the US is. diagnosed with cancer. For nearly three. decades, Hyundai Hope on Wheels, supported by Hyundai, its dealers, and a. portion of every new Hyundai vehicle. sold, has invested more than 300. million dollars in childhood cancer.

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>> The car itself is fantastic, and I love. Hyundai, and I love my car, but this. Hyundai Hope on Wheels that they're. doing is I mean, it's it really makes it. even nicer to drive a Hyundai. When you. know they're behind this cause, I know. people who've been impacted by childhood. cancer, and so driving a car and a with. an in a company that I know. >> cares. >> cares and works towards doing something. about it. It It's It makes the ride so. much nicer. >> I think this is a lovely thing that.

Hyundai is doing and uh excited to that. we're even just a tiny part of it. Join. the fight to end childhood cancer. Hyundai Hope on Wheels. >> I want to ask if there's ever and been. anything from a guest that's been edited. out that you. >> I mean that's I mean these guys know. you, I'm sure. That's every podcast, right? >> I mean it happens, but it's it's. actually less than you would think. Like. we give everybody the same disclaimer. when they walk in, you know, this is a. safe space. We'll take out anything you.

want. Just let us know either in the. moment or afterwards if you're driving. home or the next day if you feel. uncomfortable about something. We'll 100% take it out, and it's really. rare that that that happens. It happens. It's just very. It doesn't happen often. >> And does anyone ever call in after they. hear their episode and say, "I want you. to. >> I don't know I've never heard of that. >> I've never heard of that happening. Every once in a while, like maybe once. or twice a year, like sometimes the. order might change a little bit. Like it. might be like, "Oh, like this was great. We should put this more up front." But.

for the most part, it's kind of like the. kind of like the TV show. I mean it was. kind of like shot on tape and then so. yeah, that was kind of. >> might be the first. >> Right, exactly. Yeah. People always ask. me especially, "Is he like this at. home?". Like this being however he is out in the. world. Um. and. and he he is who he is no matter what is. happening. Like all the time. In the. mirror, no one around, he's always doing. his stuff. Bits, all of that. There is. no It's There is no um.

compartmentalization of his character or. his, you know, nonsense. So, he he is what you see is. what you get no matter where who you. are. Um is that how does that compare to you. guys? Especially with like this show. >> Pretty much, yeah. And just to. just to say about Conan like it was just. so refreshing when I first met him to. see that he's like that in real life and. he's just this great awesome guy. And. sometimes you meet people and they're.

like uh. it's not like that on on TV, you know? >> Yeah. Right. >> But yeah. >> like who like who? >> I'll tell you later. Uh but yeah, he's I love Conan and he. said some very nice things about me and. I just Well, he means to reciprocate. Yeah, he's the most. >> them even when you're not listening. He says them even when you're not. listening. Okay. That's the real test. >> Uh but as far as. uh Sona, yeah, she's basically the same.

person everywhere. >> Is there ever any time in your lives. together where she is someone a little. like Conan used to say when my. grandmother called, he could always tell. she was on the phone because I would. suddenly sprout a bonnet. And hello and how are you? You know, that kind of like I yeah, I just you. know, I Zelig'd right back to her. whatever she was giving. So, is there. anything that gets Sona to do that or. no? >> I maybe when she's making some kind of. like professional call on behalf of.

Conan like making reservations. Hi, this. is Sona calling from Conan O'Brien's. office. >> A prof- a professional voice. >> Yeah, the professional voice. Yeah. But. she's always like. >> You got a recording of that, Sona? >> She's extra nice to other people like. you know, like the staff and you know, people at restaurants and and hotels. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. That's pretty much the only. difference. She gets even nicer. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, that's good. >> Yeah, it's a good way to go. >> There's such like a magic charisma that.

they all have together and like. well, Conan obviously is a total pro and. then Sona and Matt are just like they're. such good laugh laughers. >> Yeah, they get. >> Like it makes you feel so safe in a. podcast to have that like they're just. looking at you beaming wanting you to. succeed and supporting you with their. laugh, but they also. >> They like stand up for themselves, you. know, like he's a he's a big. he's a big presence in any room and but. they they hold their own which I always.

really happy to hear. >> It's it's so it is just truly magical. Feel like Matt is basically the same, but I don't know if like Sona and Conan. are like true extroverts because they. come across super extroverted and it. seems like they are. >> I I wouldn't I mean I would have assumed. that you know, that he is, but I don't. really. you know, think of things that way so. much, but then during during the. lockdown part of COVID, um I was uh. benefiting from some of the changes like.

I didn't have to drive to a bus stop at. 6:30 in the morning. I didn't have to. make a bunch of meals before everyone. left for the day and so and we were all. just together and you know, that sort of. hunkered down thing that and the so the. kids and I were all kind of at the. beginning sort of happy about it and and. I looked over at Conan and he was like a. houseplant that no one had watered in. four months. He was visibly starting to. wilt. >> Yeah. >> And I thought, oh, this is what people. mean when they say extroverts get energy. from other people.

>> Yes. >> He does and I I don't. I think I takes. energy from me to to be social and so. it's a real like he's very extreme that. way. So, what about Matt? Matt doesn't. seem that extreme. >> He's I mean like on the podcast you'd be. like, oh, he's an extrovert, but I think. he and I are both similar where we like. we love to socialize and be around. people, but we're introverts. So, we got. to come home and just like power down, you know, and like just kind of chill. out for a little bit. >> They call that extroverted introverts, right?

>> yeah. Oh, okay, maybe that's what he is. >> Yeah, that's what I am, too. >> Oh, it is. Okay, yeah, yeah. >> Like after this, I'm just going to go. pass out in my car. >> But yeah, we'll just see you part car. >> Well, we drove separately, that's why. But yeah, I'm going to need a nap. >> Uh-huh. >> And uh maybe a meal. >> Yeah. Yeah, you need a little cookie or. something. >> Yeah, I don't know. >> It's like you gave blood. >> Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. >> I know. >> vans. >> Exhausted, you guys. >> Yeah, exactly. Oh my god. Let's get out. of these chairs.

>> What are they doing? >> Okay, this has been great. >> Yeah. >> Um let's hope we're all still married to. these people by the next time it. >> I Yeah, I thought we did good. We could. have gone a lot harder maybe if they. invite us back for false vows exactly. >> Next year. >> We had a really good time doing this. I. hope people had fun listening to it and. tune in next week when you will get to. hear all six people around the table at. the same time. >> Oh boy.