Inside Conan: An Important Hollywood Podcast - Sona Revisits CONAN in Armenia (Feat. Joel McHale and Conan O'Brien)

Episode Date: March 22, 2023

Sona Movsesian joins Mike and Jessie to discuss traveling to Armenia with Conan for Conan Without Borders. The conversation is briefly hijacked by Joel McHale and Conan O'Brien, who wander into the studio for twenty minutes of delightful chaos.Got a question for Inside Conan? Call our voicemail: [phone] or e-mail us at [e-mail].

And now, it's time for Inside Conan, an important Hollywood podcast. Hello. Hello. Hi, Jesse. Hi, Sweeney. It's so good to see you again. It's been a while. I know it has.

And hello, listeners. Welcome back to Inside Conan, an important Hollywood podcast. We're still here. We're still important. Yes. We're still a podcast. And we're starting a new season. That's right.

And this season is special. It's called Conan on the Road. That's right. We're just going to talk about Conan traveling, whether it's, you know, his travel shows or Conan's favorite remotes and not just Conan, but sometimes he's had guests or celebrity friends hit the road with him or on their own. Yes. Basically anytime Conan left the studio to go do something outside. Yes. It's outside Conan. Cause you know, studios are stuffy like, who wants to talk about that stuff?

No, let's get some fresh air. And you're probably in your car or out for a walk listening to this anyway. So let's all go on this road trip together. That sounds good to me. I know. So hop in. I got some snacks. Right.

And you know what? Let's catch up because I... That's right. I haven't seen... Well, no, I've seen you. I haven't pretend seen you in six months. That's the thing. You know what? Let's catch up because I- That's right. I haven't seen, well, no, I've seen you. I haven't pretend seen you in six months. That's the thing. You know what?

So let's pretend catch up. We'll pretend catch up. No, we're actually friends. That's what's so crazy. Yes. In spite of doing this podcast together. I keep thinking, well, this will be the episode. I know, we're going to fight.

Right, but we haven't fought yet. We haven't fought. In fact, we went out to dinner as a foursome. Yes, that was fun. With our significant others. Right, right. It was really fun. I matched up with your boyfriend

and you took my wife, Cynthia. I've been waiting for years to make that happen. No, but we did something that I haven't done, I think, since college. Yes. Which is take tequila shots. Oh my God. Yeah.

That's right. How did that happen? Whose idea was that? Did the waiter just bring them over? Well, we went to this great restaurant, Salazar. Yes. And my friend Travis works there. That's it.

And he just immediately brought out four filled to the brim tequila shots. And I couldn't believe that we all did it. We all just did it. We did it. It was pure pressure. It was. In its purest form. It was like, oh, it's free.

We were like teens. Cool. I guess I'll do it. Yeah. We were like four teenagers at someone's parents' house. Yeah. So that was fun. Yeah.

So we've kept in touch. Yeah. But we've both been up to some stuff separately as well well one thing I did because we talked about it last season I was thinking of doing this

ridiculous open water swim that's right I didn't want to bring it up in case you hadn't done it or drown I'm an incredible understudy. But, so I signed up for that stupid Alcatraz swim.

The Alcatraz swim. And I did it. You did it? Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's amazing. And I, the water is 61 degrees and I didn't wear a wetsuit. So, I know. Was that, did people think you were insane? Because how many other people weren't wearing wetsuits? Well, I found out there's, up in San Francisco, there's a giant war between swimmers who don't wear wetsuits and swimmers who do wear wetsuits.

Do the non-wetsuit think those wetsuit people are cheaters? And just soft. They're not. Soft-bellied. The announcer, when we were done, he goes, all right, first let's announce, you know, the results of the people who really didn't do the race, the wetsuit swimmers. No way.

And I was, I loved it. But that's three quarters of the swimmers. And they were like, you, they're like. It's still a hard race,

I think, even with a wetsuit on. Yes. It's just not. Well, you know, listen, you go a little faster

and you're nice and warm and cozy. You're more aerodynamic. Yeah. Yeah. You're like a sea otter out there. What if I got a wetsuit that was like inflatable so it kind of floated too? I mean, is that possible?

You sure? And add a jet engine in the back? Yeah. An e-wetsuit. Start a new category for the race. But I wanted to kiss that guy because I didn't know that was coming. And he goes, and now the people who actually swam the race. So did that mean that you like placed because you were one of the few that actually did it?

I came in in my age category. And in my age category, I came in fourth. That's incredible. Out of four people. Isn't that incredible? The key is to wait till, don't do sports until all your competition dies off. Yeah. Yeah.

That's, it's great. I'm like. But it is, it's interesting that the people that did finish are there. I mean, they're all really good in your age group. Uh, sure. No, I came in second out of four. Oh, you did? Yeah, I was stunned.

I got a, I got a. I got a stupid medal. I got a medal. I couldn't believe it. It was hilarious. For your trophy case at home. Yeah. Speaking of travel. Yes.

That's actually the theme for this season of Inside Conan. No one segues like you do. We're also this season going to be covering the Kona without borders series. Right. Well, you mentioned that travel, right? Yeah.

Okay. But, um, yeah, but no, that took us all over the world. Right. Including to Armenia.

Armenia. Right. Armenia. Armenia. Is where we went with our first guest. Yes. Sona Movsesian. Sona Movsesian,

who also is our great friend. Yeah. Oh, no, we love Sona. And hilarious. Yes. Sona Movsesian. Sona Movsesian, who also is our great friend. Yeah. Oh, no, we love Sona. And hilarious. And she's, oh, man, she is so great. She had two babies and wrote a book over the pandemic. I was really upset about that. Yeah, that seems normal.

It's too much. Yeah. It's making me feel inferior. Yeah. Oh, and we have a little note, something to mention. We do. As you're soon about to hear. Yeah, it's a little tease.

Our conversation with Sona was briefly hijacked by Conan O'Brien and Joel McHale. That's right. This was unplanned. It was very unplanned. And it sounds that way. Yes. I don't think they knew we were in here when they barged in. They wanted to use... They're like, oh, okay, well, we're stuck. They just wanted to throw a football around in way. Yes. I don't think they knew we were in here when they barged in. They wanted to use...

They're like, oh, okay, well, we're stuck. They just wanted to throw a football around in here. Yeah. It's time for macho activities. So here's our interview with Sona and Conan and Joel. Well, Sona, I'm obsessing. Welcome back to Inside Conan. That's right.

Thank you guys so much. And I feel off... Your 20th appearance. I'm really late and I'm sorry. Yes, perfect. Joel, hello. Hey, I know you. True to Seattle.

That's right, go see. I've known Jesse. No, no, no. Sona, you stand. We have a chair. Sona, please. We also have a chair. Sona, please. Okay. We also have a mic.

Sona, let them forage for themselves. This is the podcast where Conan interrupts other podcasts. Yes. I heard there was a podcast about myself. And I wanted to come and hear and interject about me. I'm having a wonderful salmon curry bowl. Yes. And then I, salmon curry bowl. Yes. And then I, Andy Richter.

No. You have that disease where you think you're Andy Richter. I'm Andy Richter. This gentleman, this Joel McHale comes stumbling by. Oh my God. And I say, you've got to come right now and let me show you our cool hangout space. What do you think of the new digs?

They're fine. Put the cans on. Would you? Wait a minute, wait a minute. You put, wait a minute. Let me get this straight. You went to the trouble to put on a headset and cans just to say, it's fine.

I just wanted to make sure the velvety fog was coming through my voice. And it sounds like it is. You can turn it even, turn it down even more. Turn the bass up. This is a beautiful building. It's gorgeous.

I'm very jealous of all your success. You should be. It's really nice. I don't know, it's really like one of the nicer buildings on Larchmont.

And this is a shithole of a neighborhood. Yeah. You know what? This building's in foreclosure. So we're glad you got in. What is this? one of the nicer buildings on Larchmont and this is a shithole of a neighborhood. You know what? This building's in foreclosure, so we're glad you got in. What is this a front for? We need you to write a check. I brought you in because I want you to bid on it.

We've made terrible mistakes. It comes with a gazebo. It's so clean. It's well made. It's like a Scientology hangout. that's it comes with a gazebo yeah it's very it's so clean it's well made it's like a Scientology hangout that's weird

we don't get into that that's funny you mention that that's in the second half hour they're the 4pm look see it's too nice I've decided I just turned

it's beautiful everyone seems to like each other which also I'm suspect it's cause you're here that'll tip you off. Everyone's behaving.

As soon as I walk out. The second you leave, chairs go through the window. You've been working with Sweeney since the 60s? Please, why would you upset him like this? It's so funny that you guys get along so well. Well, Mike Sweeney, I met him. We had a radio program that we did with Jack Benny. There was no television at that point.

There was no TV. And here you are. But then when TV was invented, we that point. There was no TV. And here you are. But then when TV was invented, we decided to make the most of it. Yeah. Will you change your name from Ski Balan? Will you change your name from The Beatles to America

on our afternoon drive show? We've just had a lot of great moments together. You know, our problem is we introduced The Beatles too early. That's true. We introduced them when they were the Silver Beatles in 1961. Yeah, like that Pete Best.

You're gonna love Pete Best. He's great. Yeah, we beat it. This is great. Jessie, I haven't seen you in a while. I know. And I was so happy to run into you on the street. Yeah, you came bounding up to me like a puppy. I did.

It was great. Yeah. And then I gave you a treat. You did give me a treat. And I slobbered, as I tend to. I don't know if you know this, she got her start at a little show on E! called Dr. 90210.

Botched abortions. Did you know they started out together? Wait, botched abortion show? On E! It sounds like something they would do. She's as dark as I remember. How did you guys know each other? I worked on the soup.

Joel gave me kind of my first job in Hollywood. I didn't, but if it weren't to me. Yeah, well, your people did. Yeah, me kind of my first job in Hollywood. I didn't, but. Yeah, well, your people did. Yeah, she was. You tried to stop it. You tried to stop. I was like, there's a lot of aborted fetus jokes in this packet. Can we maybe dial back to three?

She was so funny that she smartly got out. So you were there for a while. And then you came to work for us. That's right. Yeah. That's so cool. she was so funny that she smartly got out. So, she was like, I'm with Jolt. I was there for a while. And then, then you came to work for us. That's right. Yeah.

That's so cool. I mean, literally this was 2007. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Oh, you were there a while. I was,

I was there. I left and there was a spinoff of the soup called The Dish that was for girls. Right. It was the soup. Because the soup

was only for men. Well, our demo was women in their 40s. Literally, it was... But this was for women in their 30s. Oh, right. Yeah.

How did The Dish do? I don't know that show. The Dish, well, it was hosted by Daniel Fishel, who was Topanga from Boy Meets World. Oh, yes. Yes.

I remember that show. We've got millennials in the house. I watched that. That's like when you say LeVar Burton and they're like, reading Rainbow and you're like,

Geordie LaForge. And then someone goes like, Kunta Kinte? Mike Sweeney is waiting for someone to mention Red Buttons. Anyone Red Buttons? I'm amazed that Sweeney

went with the Henley today. You never see him in a long sleeve three button shirt. I'll show you some looksey went with the Henley today. You never see him in a long sleeve, three button shirt. I'll show you some looks. Okay. Whoa, whoa, whoa. No, that's okay. We're good.

We're good. We're good. I've seen you. Sweeney and I have been all around the world together, as I have with Jesse on the Conan Without Borders episodes. We've been everywhere. Have you been to- Not everywhere.

Not Seattle, though. Yeah. Well, that doesn't really... You and I have hung out in Seattle. Yeah, we totally have. That's where we met, on the back. Really? The last two rows of...

Well, I had met you on the... This is a lie coming. This is not a fucking lie. Go ahead. All right. True story. We were on Peter Thiel's jet. You're not on the logs, though.

Now I believe you. We were in the cargo hold. You were... Well, you were... I had appeared... This was on the 1230 show a couple times. Yeah. And then. I knew you from being on the show. Then my wife, I married into Seattle.

Yes. And. Literally. Yeah. My wife Liza's from Seattle. And so we were up, we were up in Seattle. I think we were for Thanksgiving, I think, or something like that. Yeah. Which is a holiday. In Seattle. And so we were up where we, we were up in Seattle for Thanksgiving, I think, or something like that. Yeah. Which is a holiday, uh, because I'm a Jehovah's witness, so I don't celebrate any

of that. But, uh, we were, you were in the lab, we were getting, I was like, oh, hi. And I was very golden retriever, like it at with you at the gate. And then you were the last row of the Alaska and we were the second to last. Yes. It last row of the Alaska. And we were the second to last. Yes. It was an Alaska Airlines flight. You guys were the very last row, you and Sarah. Liza and I were the second to last row.

I think we were also wrestling kids into very- Well, that's why they put you in the back. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, they knew what they were doing. Well, people kept walking to the bathroom and they would be waiting

and then they would see Conan and then they would see Conan. And then you could see them question themselves and be like, this is not how it's all supposed to line up. It's a snapshot. There's this misconception that celebrities are jetting around the world. Right. I hear you tell you that Joel McHale and I are holding down the last row of an Alaska Airlines flight. Well, Air Alaska's first class is in the back. Yeah, it doesn't go back.

And you can smell the disinfectants coming out of the bathroom. That's now going back 12 years ago. I think it was. That muscle just held. That's how old I am. When you were in your late 20s. Thank you. That's very nice.

Wow. No wonder they hired you as a dish promoter. Promoted. Proms. Thank you. That's so sweet. Wow. No wonder they hired you as a dish promoter. Promoted. Promoted. Thank you. I love, because I knew that you guys

were friends and it meant, it felt like somehow I had done it even though I had nothing to do with it and wasn't a part of it at all.

I think you tried to drive a wedge between us at some point because Conan would say stuff like, you know, Jesse said a couple things about you and then you tested the waters

with what that was. Yeah. Which was, you just, you know, you sometimes touch people too long, like the long hug. I think he might have been

testing the waters to see if he could do that. I was just trying to find out what's acceptable. I want to know who that guy is. Oh, that's Sean. Can you see him too? Is he there? No, he's not there. He's not in this building, did he? You know what's acceptable. I want to know who that guy is. That's Sean. Can you see him too? Is he there?

No, he's not in this building, did he? You know what's so funny? Sean is crouching in the corner like there's been a drug raid and he's hoping no one notices him. And there's no camera that picks him up in here. This is nice.

This is, I mean, this is the last thing you thought was happening because you were headed, were you headed to your dentist or were you just running errands? I was supposed to pick up Sarah at the airport like 10, 15 minutes ago. She's in the last row.

Where is she? It's Burbank. It's fine. She's fine. Oh, yeah, she's fine. They have that Guy Fieri restaurant where you can get almost anything. Chili. Yeah.

Put in a plug. Burbank Airport is the best airport. It is the greatest airport. It's a good secret airport. People don't really know. A lot of Alaska Airlines flights. It was a secret airport. It's a good secret airport. People don't really- A lot of Alaska Airlines flights. It was a secret airport. Now, once they hear this podcast-

Don't go. There's a gas leak. I feel like we should turn this podcast back over to Sona. To the guy in the corner. What the fuck were they talking about? It's a little show called Inside Conan, where they explore behind the scenes. All right. Let's me to it right now. called Inside Conan, where they explore behind the scenes.

All right, let's me to it right now. It's the dirty secrets. Are you sure? Because Sona was preparing for this show with guacamole. And I think there was another kind of soup. Yeah, I was. I was eating with Sona when you walked up and then this all happened. I prepped for all my podcast appearances.

I take them very seriously. Yeah. What you just experienced now was a happening. Yes. This regular podcast was happening when suddenly, you know, Conan O'Brien, Joel McHale comes smashing through the door. Anything can happen here. Anything will happen. Yes.

The guy. Oh, remember the time you and I were having dinner together and we end up. We looked at that nightclub that you were looking at a building on La Brea.

Yeah, I wanted to buy a nightclub. Yeah, I wanted to buy a nightclub. But we went to La Republic. Yeah, we went to La Republic

just to grab a bite. Right. Because we were looking for a space maybe before we found this space. La Republic. You two went on were looking for a space maybe. That was on purpose? Before we found this space. La Republic?

You two went on purpose. It wasn't just. It was right after I did the show and you were like, hey, we're going to look at the building. Do you want to come look? And I was like, well, let's look at a building. So he looked at a building because we were, it's before we found this space. We were looking for a space where we could congregate. I remember that place. That place.

Before you say who we saw, but we saw somebody else there. Two different people that were like, oh, there's those people. What are you talking about? Well, at the same restaurant. Yeah. Because Allison Janney was there with Phil, Feed Phil.

Oh, yeah. So they were there. Wow. And we talked to them. And they were doing a podcast. They were doing a podcast. And then we were sitting. And then out of the corner of my eye,

I saw a gold prospector enter the restaurant and i like someone with a beard a massive beard and there's david letterman and the next thing you know we're sitting with him yeah uh he kept coming over going like try the fish and then he would hand the bread over and he was like we have to go talk to him like no no i mean you know what i mean like huge treat. We're being invited over to, and we sat with them for four hours. It was not four hours. Dave will tell you it was not four hours.

He would not tolerate four hours with two idiots like us. I'll tell you in person because here he is. Oh my God, and look who he's with. Red Buttons. He needs no introduction You guys were talking and I And then he turned to me and goes Do you just make noises

Cause I was like So he's a fan Yeah he was a big fan I think he almost remembered who I was by the end I think that night you were also Your wife's waiting at the airport for you. Like, where the hell is Joel?

Yeah, she was doing a lot of piecework. And, boy, she's exhausted. It's like a 24-hour flight. Well, I think, all right. I think, Conor, it's great to see you dressed up for work. And, you know,'s so hilarious?

I did a workout this morning and I'm wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt. Think about it. Your great-grandfather wore like nine different kinds of tweed probably and had a stick and walking through muck. His feet were wet and he

was probably herding sheep and fucking a couple of them. I'm no he wasn't my grandfather so that's your great grandfather and then your grandfather he got on a ship right because uh you know like there was a potato famine this is also my half of my you've done your reading like my like my grandfather's last name was smidger bakken and they were like what's your last's last name was Smidgerbocken. And they were like, what's your last name? And he was Smidgerbocken. Like, it's Jackson now.

He's like, sounds great. And he migrated to Juneau, where they were killing the sheriffs. If you were in the Gulf. And then all of a sudden, like, my dad. You come to your parents who are like, oh, they got a higher education. They became professors. And then you come up and cut to you in your building wearing leisure wear. Top of the world. And I want to congratulate you on joining the army.

This is incredible. This is my going to the dentist office. Okay, so what? You have your excuse for your dress like a G.I. Joe from the 50s. I'm saying how great is that? You're saying your ancestors would be proud. Or they would be like, how did this was...

No, I'm saying it's such a cool thing. I usually dress... Jess is dressed like... You have good style. You have good style. Thank you. That sounds like you know you're being recorded. I do know I'm being recorded

and I respect you, and I think you're one of the best people. No, it doesn't look like doll's clothing or anything like that. That's fine. I'm just saying that if your grandkids are like, wait, you guys will be super, like, you will have done well, and you're wearing, that's such a great. That's why they said that.

It's so great. I'm saying it as a compliment. I know everything that comes out of my mouth sounds sarcastic, but I'm saying, no, it's like a success. No, no, it's a terrible, terrible insult to all of us. We're out. Thank you for letting me be on the podcast.

Oh, thank you. You're welcome. We burst in and create a bit of excitement and I guess I misread the situation. What? Come on, we got to get out on a lap. Let's get out on a lap. Well, it's still hot.

Zone, I'll see you at Victory Park. Yeah, okay. Peace out, everybody. That's right by your house. Thanks for still hot. So, I'll see you at Victory Park. Yeah, okay. Peace out, everybody. That's right by your house. Thanks for stopping by. Good to see you, Joel. All right, bye. Bye, Joel.

Good seeing you. Bye, Cone. I'm sorry you guys can't catch up if it's not on camera. All right. And we just keep this going, right? Yeah. Hi, Jessie.

How are you? Wow. Hi, sweetie. Well, holy cow. That was crazy, right? How lucky we are. Oh, boy. Let me follow Conan and Joel McHale.

Who's going to want to care? No, Joel won't sign the release. He's a real pain that way. And Conan as well. Conan doesn't want to be on this podcast. And he's suing to get his name off it. That's been in litigation for all four seasons. And half his face.

And half his face. He was successful. Yeah. He wants the, he just wants us to use the skull portion. So, hi. Hi, guys. We were saying. That was a fun interruption.

Yeah. That was great. That probably feels like your whole life is just, you finally get a moment to yourself and then Conan interrupts it. I know. I have my time away from him and then he just bursts in anytime he senses that I'm enjoying myself. Yeah. That you've relaxed slightly. Yeah. That must've reminded you of the birth of your children. I remember he burst in with Joel. Yeah. In the delivery room. Yeah. That must have reminded you of the birth of your children. I remember he burst in with Joel. Yeah, he did. Then into the hospital room.

In the delivery room. Yeah. Yeah. And he started doing a lot of bits. And they did a podcast. Right, right. Yeah. On camera.

Oh my God. Here comes the placenta. Oh my God, you guys. Wow. I'm really happy to see you two. I'm really happy to see you. I'm happy to see you too. Yeah.

Sona, okay. We want to talk about you. We really do. That's why we all came here. Jesse's all business. I know. Just trying to move things along. Sure.

You are technically still Conan's assistant. Is that true or no? Technically still. Yes. Okay. You know what? I've worked for him for so long that I or no? Technically still. Yes. Okay. You know what? I've worked for him for so long

that I just can't detach completely. Yeah. So I would say in a week I do maybe one or two things for him. Okay. David does everything else.

So that justifies my existence. So you're more of a figurehead assistant. Kind of. I mean, I still, you know, want to make sure he's okay. I still, like, right now he asked me to lunch and I was like, yeah, I have to go to lunch with him.

You have to go. That was being the assistant. I don't know. Once a week I'll eat with him. Yeah. That's me working for the boss. You know, yeah, I don't know. So how do you dip in?

Like, in other words, you see all the email requests for stuff he needs done and you're like, oh, I'll do that one. No, people still email me, not realizing I'm not his assistant anymore. And then instead of just bouncing it over to David, I send it to him and Conan. And I'm like, look, I'm doing something. So, right. Is that what you say in the email?

Look, I'm doing something. Yeah, that's all she writes. Yeah, I'm justifying my existence as your assistant. But I don't think I could ever, I know this sounds sad, but I can't ever stop being his assistant. I don't know why. I really love that job.

It's like Stockholm syndrome. This is really an intervention. Yeah, I know. We're going to extract you from a very messy... I really love this job. I really have fun with this job. It's fun. Well, it has morphed into so much more than an assistant.

You're now a co-host of his podcast. Yeah, yeah. But, you know, that could all go away and then what's left? Yeah, I guess you go back to picking up dry cleaning. Or writing more. New York Times bestseller books. Yay, I guess you go back to picking up dry cleaning. Or writing more. New York Times bestseller books. Yay, one week. That's all you need.

It takes us one week on the bestseller list and then you can say I'm a New York Times bestselling author. Everything changes too. You're in better placement in stores, which I didn't know. Oh, really? Oh, that's great.

Yeah. It's very exciting. And then you could just brag about it to everybody. Oh, well, that's the key. Why do anything if you can't brag about it? I know. That's the only point.

I know. I keep thinking like, how do I introduce myself to people? And I think I still introduce myself as Conan's assistant. I don't think I can ever be like,

I'm on a podcast and I wrote a book. I'm an author. Yeah, I'm an author. People know. You don't have to tell them what you do. People don't. I mean, you get tons of love for the podcast. I don't know. I don't read it. I don't pay attention. No, but I just mean when you're out and about. You're smart. Yeah.

Well, yeah, that's true. People have recognized my voice, which is cool. Yeah. That's fun. Well, I feel like people recognize you a lot more after the Conan and Armenia show, which is— Jesse, what a nice segue. Really? Beautifully done.

Thought we might bring you on to talk about that. I'm happy. I think that show changed so much for me. That's one of the reasons we wanted to talk about it. And also, yes, this season we're kind of focusing in on Conan outside of the studio, out and about. Yes. Remotes. I feel like he could do like 15 seasons just on his remotes.

Wow. That's the plan. Are you listening, Sirius? Yes. We wanted to talk about the big trip to beautiful Armenia. Yeah. So that was our second Conan Without Borders show. Yes.

After Cuba. And how did that come about? I know that Sweeney, you were involved in pitching that. Way before that. It's funny how things happen organically, especially with Conan. Like in 2012, when he was doing a Clueless Gamer with Blay, and he wore a Yerevan t-shirt. Yes. And that led...

I'm assuming you gave him that. I did give him that. Oh, great. You gave him that shirt. I did. Because Yerevan's the capital of Armenia. Yes, thank you. And you got an email from something called Yerevan Magazine.

Yes. They had seen the Clueless Gamer and they saw Conan, they were writing to thank him for wearing that shirt. Yeah. And they wanted to make him an honorary, like the Irish ambassador to the Ukraine. And they invited him to visit Armenia. So that was the initial seed of inviting him. I completely forgot about that.

I was going to say, it's how excited people get whenever they see Yerevan on anything. And seeing it on Conan O'Brien is huge. For my people. Is there someone whose whole job it is to just watch all TV and look for mentions of Yerevan? There doesn't even, I mean, I think

everyone has like a detection. It's like, oh, there's a Yerevan shirt on someone who's not Armenian and then they just find it and then they spread it around to everybody. Just like, make sure you see this.

Yeah. Support. Support Conan. Yeah. Well, whenever I meet someone from Armenia and I say, oh, I've been to Yerevan,

they're like, why? And it's like, guys, this isn't the right attitude to have about your country. Oh, no. They're like, you're not Armenian. What were you doing there? It's like, well, it is an open city. Anyone can visit.

You know, and I start and then I say, no, we loved it. I had a wonderful time. And they start arguing with me, you know. Well, I think because most Armenians now don't live in Armenia. No, we're most of us live outside diaspora. Yeah, it is. It is. And, uh, you know, my husband's from Armenia, you know, I met tech cause of the show. We wanted it. We wanted to, yes. Can you tell us the story? Well, we went to comic-con for our, you know, we do a week of shows there and then i was leaving on a late train on sunday so i was like let me just go to comic-con yeah and i met him on the

floor through a mutual friend and then he's like i know you you went to armenia with conan and i go yeah and then that opened up a conversation and then two years later we were married well and it's so great because part of so part of the premise Sona to Armenia was he wanted to do a matchmaking service there. Yes. Right. To introduce you to an Armenian, a nice Armenian man that would make your grandmother happy. Yes. And it kind of worked out that way.

Yeah. Indirectly. You didn't meet anybody in Armenia on that trip, but as a result of the show, you eventually did meet your husband. Well, you guys also set up this matchmaker in Armenia, and I had absolutely no idea. Then we go there.

Oh, God, you didn't? Oh, did we spring that on you? Yes, you did. We're terrible people. You did. No, you guys are so proud of yourselves, you assholes. You guys are so proud of yourselves you assholes you guys are so proud of yourselves you're like oh my god you dicks it was probably your idea sweetie

no I don't think so not at all no the whole idea the premise like Jessie said of the show part of it was that your parents and your grandparents wanted you and also Conan was going to bring gifts back for your parents you your grandparents wanted you. And also Conan was going to bring gifts back for your parents.

Like they wanted you to visit with them and they gave us a shopping list. And one of the things besides a nice rug and et cetera was a husband for you. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's all Yaya wanted. My grandma. Your grandma, yes.

She didn't, I think she knew who Conan was, but didn't care there were cameras. She's like, this is a new person for me to tell that I want my granddaughter to be married. And, you know, it's really sweet. I don't want to bring it down, but you know, that aired in November and Yaya died in December. And so having that on film was really special. And then six months later I met Tack. So, you know, I mean, it kind of worked. It did. So you met Tack literally the following summer after the show. Yes.

Wow. So. Yeah. Wow. And what did he, did he say he had watched the show? Yeah. He said he watched it. Because he grew up, actually grew up in Armenia.

He was. He's a former Soviet. Oh, wow. Yeah. Wow. Yeah. He speaks Russian. Oh, cool.

That seems useful. Does it? I don't know. Unfortunately, it does. No, that was. Yeah, that trip was meant so much. I have always wanted to go to Armenia. Yeah, I was wondering if that was something that in the back of your mind, you thought, OK, someday I'll get to go. And you just, you know, the opportunity hadn't arisen yet. Well, no. So I went to an Armenian private school near Montebello. And I went there until 10th grade. And then I left. But their senior year trip is always to Armenia. So had I stayed, I would have gone with my senior class. And all my friends had gone.

And I just didn't. I didn't go. So that was always kind of a regret probably, right? That you missed or... Definitely not regret for leaving the school. No, I just, but missing the trip. Oh, definitely. Yeah, I know. I was really bummed to miss it.

I had huge FOMO. Cause it is one of those, it's like everybody wants to go to Armenia at some point, you know, and just kind of go there. It's like a giant Glendale. So it's really, it's just really- There's a big Americana mall. There's a cheesecake factory. It's like a giant Glendale. So it's really, it's just really There's a big Americana mall. There's a cheesecake factory.

Hey, 38 car washes in one block. I'm back home in Glendale. So many tracksuits. I can say it. I can say it. You can say it and I can laugh. I can say it too. So many tracksuits. Okay. Oh no.

I'm in trouble. I guess that's really disparaging. many tracksuits. Okay. Oh no, I'm in trouble. I guess that's really disparaging. Oh my God. Yeah. No. I don't know how many people know about the giant Armenian Dyspora. The Diaspora. Yeah.

The Diaspora. You took a long time to get that out. I don't know how to pronounce words. The Diaspora. That's one ofpora. You took a long time to get that out. I don't know how to pronounce words. The diaspora. That's one of those words I'm always terrified to see. Oh, yeah. Because I don't know how to say it. Yeah.

Yeah. I think you tried every version of it right there. So. That was a journey. That was a journey. So, yeah. I mean, what were your expectations going did and how were they how were they met when you when you actually landed there i'm not gonna lie i think because growing up you heard about how

they were recovering from the soviet union there was no electricity sometimes there was no running water so i thought i was going to like a third world country. Yeah. And when we got there, Yerevan is like a really kind of bustling modern city. So I was really surprised about that. I was surprised at how little I understood their dialect. Oh, interesting. Because I speak Armenian, but I speak Western Armenian. They speak Eastern. And it's a very different dialect.

Is it actually different or it's a very different dialect. Is it actually different or is it just the accent is different? No, the like sentence structure is different. Some of the words are different and they have a lot of Russian in their Armenian. So I've learned it a lot more now that I'm married to Tak.

But when I was there, I had no idea what a lot of people were saying. Would you pick up on that now that once you came back here that like, oh, they're, they're Eastern and Western. Yeah. Yeah.

You can tell, you can tell who's from, who's, which Armenians are from Iran, which Armenians are from Beirut. There's just different, like, yeah,

they all have different words they use. It's slang. Yeah. Yeah. Latin America is, that way with Spanish, there's like different,

yeah, there's just different slang in every single country in South America. Yeah. And syntax. Yeah. That's just how it is. Yeah, like my parents are from Istanbul and they use a lot of Turkish words when they speak Armenian. But, you know, I don't know. I think you do know.

Yeah, I was fascinated. In Yerevan, everything was so new because it was all built since 1989, basically. It felt like, even though the city is really old, but so many of the buildings are post-Soviet. Yes. Yeah, they are. They are. Yeah, it was on the old Silk Road that, you know, so it was an old, going back to ancient Greece, it was kind of a crossroads for trade and everything. See, I didn't even know that. You know so much more about,

because you guys do so much research. So I just made that up. Try to fill the air here. You guys really do. I will say this, because I've mentioned this before when I've talked about this episode, is I'm the only Armenian person who was involved with the show.

And so it was I was almost like, what if they say something that's just going to offend my entire community? And then I'm just completely ousted. And of course, the opposite happened. And I think it's a testament to you guys and the researchers and everybody who's involved in editing it, how you made a show about a culture that people in the culture are very proud of. Oh, that's so nice to hear. And it's really, it really is. It's amazing how you guys do that.

You've done that with every country you've gone to where you've, it's, you know. We cut out a lot of stuff. That stuff's available and we'll put that, we have a separate website. If you want to be offended. If you subscribe to Coco Plus. It's available. We have a separate website. If you want to be offended by Conan without borders, please join our elite service. I know, especially Armenians, they hold their breath to see how people will address the genocide question. And the fact that Conan said it and talked very openly about it and we went to the memorial, he just became a god to Armenians after that.

I thought that was just a beautiful segment. It was. I did like being on commercial television or where there's commercials. It was actually after five acts of comedy, you came back and just went into this serious segment about you visiting the the memorial yeah which was i think i always found it very moving and beautiful well i i think also we were walking around i there were all these city i mean i hadn't gone to it before but there were all these villages that were affected by it. And I knew my grandparents was, my grandparents' village was affected by it. But I was like, what if it's not etched in stone? What if I can't find it? And then when we found it, that was like, oh, it just became so much

more real. I remember that when you, when you found that on the wall there and it was. Yeah. Yeah. How was that for you? I mean, cause I was very aware of like, this aware of myself when I'm doing anything. I don't want to like be like, oh, I got to do things. I hope they don't give me funny hats here. That's just what those two would do. But it is. It is something that hit me. I was like, oh, my God, I'm in Armenia with Conan O'Brien.

What happened that this is my life right now? It is really strange that that even existed. That's how you ended up visiting Armenia. Right. Instead of sticking it out with that high school that you hated in Montebello. No. You thought you were kicked out of it. Oh, no, no.

I left it on my own. I left it on my own. Yeah. Just in the middle of 10th grade for no reason. No, it was one of those moments where I was like, okay, you know, you get an idea of where you've come from and where you are. And both of those kind of like came to a head there. And it was crazy.

It was just crazy. But you can't think about it too much, like you said. No. Or it just, it doesn't make sense anyway. So why dwell on it? It is hard to process. But I understand that. But also you have always, you're one of those people I get so jealous of because you said, I don't really pay attention to the camera. You're not self-aware. And I think that is such a gift that you have.

Thank you. Oh, you're fantastic always. Well, I think it's a, you know, even with the podcast, I'm like, if this goes terribly, it's not my name on the podcast. I have nothing to lose because I also, you know, I don't want to be a performer. So if it doesn't go well, it doesn't matter. And I think there's something really kind of liberating about not having anything to lose. Those weekly lunches. Tax deductible. Man, it must be so infuriating.

There's so many people in L.A. that come here like just dying, just dreaming of getting on camera. And then someone is like, I don't care. I don't want to be here. I guess I'll do it. And it seems the more I don't care, the higher I go. Oh, look at me. Sorry, everyone else. Falling on up.

Look at that. Sorry, every waiter and waitress I've had. I kind of don't assist anymore. Yeah, I guess on the podcast. I don't know. Were there points? I just recently rewatched Conan in Armenia. Conan and Sona in Armenia.

Why did we just say Conan? Yeah, man. Were there points where you were, I really love the dynamic you have where he's kind of like your dad and sort of, you know, like embarrassing you a lot in front of people. Did you ever actually feel embarrassed of him? I mean, we went out a lot into like, I don't know, we went to like a flea market and he's, you know, haggling with people and picking really erotic paintings. Oh, God. I guess I just wonder. Yeah, I do think, you know, part of the process is him just doing a lot of bits off camera, too.

Yes. And there were moments off camera where i was just like i just want to take this in i don't need a bit all the time i never talk about this because i i don't want to like you know offend conan but there especially all the bits that happened like there was a police escort yes we had a police escort the entire time we were there like we were dignitaries and so you know he made a lot of fun with it. And I'm looking out the window. I'm like, just shut up. I'm trying to look at the Armenian landscape. Yeah. Like just just stop with the bits. Let me take this in. But it's his it's what he does. It's like he can't stop. Yeah. This wasn't on camera. It would still be happening.

I think is the truth. It does. Yeah. But I mean, actually shooting stuff. No, I thought everything we did was just a lot of fun. I didn't really like when other people around are laughing, then you just don't really care as much that, you know, he's doing something that might be embarrassing because he's only embarrassing himself. Right. Right. Yeah. And Armenians, I mean, they seemed to have a really good sense of humor about everything. Yeah. Yeah. Like they picked up quickly. I mean, and part of it might just be that Conan looks so funny to begin with. I think I think that's how it is when we go anywhere is that. Right. The way he looks is in such contrast, like there are people who can tan and they have dark hair and, you know, and then there's this giant white man.

And yeah, and he's acting like a big goof and they don't know who he is. And they're just like, OK, we'll just let this guy scream in the middle of this market. And, you know, I watched that again. And I'm just like, he's like, oh, now that's the food of my people. And he picks up a potato. And he just goes, potato! In this giant warehouse. It's echoing.

And then I was like, oh, wow, I can't believe he just, I'd forgotten he just yelled that. But then he just kept yelling it for five minutes. Yeah. But you know, when you're there making the show, you're like, this is great. You're like, get those reactions. Right, right, right.

Get cutaways, get cutaways. Yeah. Get cutaways. Get cutaways. I know. What I think is fascinating, too, there's the cameras and then there's a group of people behind, like you guys and Jason and like the local crew, the local producers, all just kind of huddled around. And the way everybody just sort of stays out of the shot is always so fascinating to me. Hopefully, that's our biggest fear is like when I say it's where all of a sudden someone's like going, move, move. And you're like, fuck, I'm in the shot.

I'm in the shot. I'm in the shot. I'm in the shot. Sometimes I'll just turn and pretend like I'm a bystander and walk away. Just pick up an orange. That guy turns up at every location and then turns and walks away. I know. Well, I remember when we went to the matchmaker's house,

she just kept presenting one guy after the other that had all these big red flags. Oh, and that was just shooting fish in a barrel. It was just, and everybody was dying and we were in this house. It was really funny. I remember being crouched under her desk or something. I was really, I was crouched and hiding and trying not to laugh out loud because-

We're kind of in her study living room. And it was, we had our equipment there. So there wasn't a lot of places to hide. Yeah. But, oh my, she just kept showing one guy. She had like 80 guys. And she's like, do you want to look at more? And we're like, yeah. Keep it coming.

We'll cut it down. They were like from age 17 to 82. Yeah. All red flags. During that, was any part of you actually like, let me check these guys out? I was. I actually was. I was like, it would

be nice to like meet somebody and then it you know again none of them really were viable suitable yeah right what about other just around yerivon were there ever any like fans that came up and and you thought oh i don't know maybe you know what uh my birthday dinner the server at my birthday dinner oh my birthday dinner was a hot guy. Yes, I remember that. Yeah, and he was lighting those cognacs on fire and, you know,

blowing them out of here. You had to drink it and it was flaming. Oh, right. It was like flaming going down your throat. Yeah, that's true. Yeah, that was a really fun dinner

because we were eating like plates of lamb and then flaming cognac right i was glad i didn't throw up i know i got pretty wasted i don't think i drank the flaming i'd remember a flame going down my throat yeah i feel like you did i feel like you just didn't notice that it was on fire everybody did everybody on the table had to like you got probably pressured into it yeah yeah oh so that guy was hot. Yeah, that guy was hot.

I remember we kind of were like maybe trying to get his number or something. Yeah, he wasn't into it. Yeah, he might have been gay. I don't know. He could have been. Yeah, he could have been.

Yeah, there's no other logical explanation. I want to fucking bang you. Hey! Well, I'm glad we solved that mystery. It's worth waiting back in. Oh, my God. You know what?

I remember how didn't we, I mean, it's pretty much going halfway around the world. I remember getting into that hotel and we had to hit the ground running the next morning and shoot. Yes. And I was like, I've got to wake up. That's a really long flight because we went over the North Pole. Yes. Right. There's like an Emirates flight to Dubai.

To Dubai. And then to Yerevan. Yeah. Then a jet to Yerevan. It was, you know, and people ask me how long we were there, thinking we were there for weeks. No. Yeah. Than a jet to Yerevan. It was, you know, and people ask me how long we were there, thinking we were there for weeks. No. And I think we were there for- Two and a half, three days. Yes!

Was it really that- No way. Three full days, I think. I think so. Three or four full days of just shooting. Oh, wow. Yeah, we hid it. Because we did it so much. And then Conan was on three shows, too. Yeah. He was on two late we did it so much. And then Conan was on three shows too. Yeah. He was on two late night shows.

You guys played like flip cup. Oh my God. On the late night show. Yes. I remember. You were just getting drunk the whole time. I really was. And I was like, I'm home. Yes.

This is home. This makes sense. That TV host was kind of cute too. You know what? There were two guys that were the host of a show, the armed comedy show, and I kept in touch with both of them. Oh, that's nice. They came to visit the show in LA. Yeah, they did.

They did. I kept in touch. And then one of my favorite things ever, Conan, we started doing this on all the Conan Without Borders travel shows. Oh, yeah. I was trying to get him on local soap operas. Yeah. Like the more serious the show, the better. Like they'd always,

I think the countries would always pitch Conan on a comedy show. And it's like, yeah, but to put him in a drama. No, he's a serious actor. Yes, exactly. With gravitas. We're filling out his resume. Yeah.

But that outfit for the Armenian soap opera, they put a black wig on him. And then they dyed his eyebrows black. And he looked like Richard Kine. Yeah. They tried everything to make him as Armenian as possible and it did not work. It was so, with that shot where I watched again, the camera starts on him and his goons, but it starts on their feet and it pans up to see Conan. And he's just like with a cigar, you know, and I don't know if you remember, but I invited 20 people to that tape. I don't remember that.

And you were and you and rightfully so you and Conan to hate when it's a big group from all the same people. Like, you know, if it's like a group of like 20 people, it can disrupt the taping. I feel like you guys don't like big groups. Well, we try to keep a tiny footprint when we zip around. Yeah. No, no, no. When we aired the show for the audience in L.A. Oh, I apologize.

Oh, right. Yeah, which gave it the soundtrack. Right. But for the audience in LA, which gave it the soundtrack. And you found out right before we were about to show the show that I had 20 people. And you met a lot of them. And you're like, you guys going to laugh? You were so nervous. That's what I say when I meet everybody. I know.

That's how he warms up the crowd. I know. But I think you were worried that they were like, you guys going to laugh? I wasn't worried about them. But no, that's an old thing. And like back in New York and just when you have a studio audience, you don't want, ideally, you don't want a big group. Yeah. Of like 12.

The same group. The same group because they tend, if they're not good, that's 12. It's as if you've just eliminated 12 seats in the audience. Does that make sense? No, I agree with you. Because nobody from the group will laugh as an outlier. Right. Like no one's going to laugh on their own.

Or maybe they'll be great. But if they're not a good group. Yeah. And sometimes groups tend to be, yeah, they have some- The same sensibility, the same, yeah. It's a bachelorette party. And they're not, exactly, they're not fans. Yeah, yeah. They have a different agenda for being there, so the same, yeah. It's a bachelorette party. And they're not, exactly, they're not fans. Yeah, yeah.

They have a different agenda for being there, so. Yeah, yeah, I know. I remember and I was like, oh my God, I did. I invited 20 people and I should have known better. No, but that was perfect. But luckily they were laughers. Well, it was a show about Armenia. We specifically, for that,

like for when we'd screen the travel shows, we always, whatever, we'd put a call out for people from whatever country we're going to. So that was perfect. Yeah. Well, and also I think because they saw my grandparents on and they all knew them and they were just, and I think I remember they lost it when they saw Conan in the soap opera, just because they know Armenian soap operas and seeing Conan try to pass off as being Armenian. I think he had one line of dialogue. That's all he could handle.

One word. Yeah, one word, maybe. It was Hedy Kai. Smoking a cigar. I loved that show. That was rude. People still bring it up to me all the time. They do?

Yeah, it's been, what was that, 2015, I think?. People still bring it up to me all the time. They do? Yeah. It's been, what was that, 2015, I think? And people still bring it up to me. Yeah. What was the reception like when people first saw it? Were you just getting bombarded? Yeah. I think I've been to every Armenian fundraiser that you could possibly go to. Yeah, you like got the key to Glendale, didn't you?

Yeah. It was so much fun. You sat in a float. Yeah, I sat. That was huge. What was that? I didn't know this, but Armenians have a float in the Rose Parade every year. Oh, cool.

And they asked me if I would be on the Rose Parade float. So I went at like four in the morning and went and sat on a float for six hours. I have no idea. On New Year's Day, right? In the beginning, you're like, this is so exciting. And then like by hour three, you're like, oh, okay. By 4.20 a.m.

You're like, oh. My hand hurts from waving. I'm in Pasadena. It was so fun, though. That was really cool. And also now, you know, we're getting, so my husband and I,

we have our twin boys and we're looking at preschools. Yeah, my Soviet husband. And we're looking at preschools and we're thinking about sending him to Armenian school. And some of them have wait lists. The one in Montebello? There's actually we were like, are there any near where we live? And there's like three. I mean,

there's a million of us everywhere. But it does help to just be like, you know, I don't know if you know this could you just slip a DVD copy DVD maybe this will change your mind

wait list you say here's this episode I was in with A. Conan O'Brien my kids are very poorly behaved but check out this CD how did your family like watching the episode? Oh they loved it Brian. My kids are very poorly behaved, but check out this CD. How did your family like watching the episode? Oh, they loved it.

And I think it really meant a lot to my dad, especially that, you know, I talked about his family and his parents who were both orphans. Yeah, they think. And I think everybody was just really happy with how it turned out and how fun it was. Yeah. And they were really proud of that.

I was. First of all, they've been very proud that I work for Conan. Really? Yeah. I think that, you know, everybody in my family knows who he is and knew who he was before I started working for him. And then when I started working for him and then they found out he was just a nice person, that was another. And then, you know, my, when my grandma passed away in December, I mean, Sweeney, you came to her funeral, which meant a lot. And, and Conan came to my parents' house. And, and so it's, you know, they, I think that more even than the episode,

the fact that I work with all these non-Armenians who are just so kind and nice and very understanding of our community and our culture. It means a lot to them. So that's really sweet. You know, it was really sweet that you did that. Oh, of course. No, well, she was adorable. She was so sweet.

She was adorable. She was really cute. Yeah, she was really sweet. I didn't know you did that, Sweeney. That is nice. I'm not going to try. I wore my best sweatsuit. Oh, you ruined it. I showed up. I had to ruin try. I wore my best sweatsuit. Oh, you ruined it.

I had to ruin it. I know, I know. He warmed up the crowd. I warmed up the crowd. No more than 10 people allowed at this funeral. You guys are going to laugh, right? Oh, shit, shit, shit. It's a funeral.

Oh, I get so confused. No, I was really... Chalemi also came. A lot of people from the show, you know, came in. That was really funny. Chalemi, you'll find Chalemi and me at a lot of funerals. We just checked the paper. They were surprised to see you there.

Right, exactly. It doesn't matter who they are. Have we met them? Not met them. Chalemi and I are there every Friday morning. Creeps. We're a couple of creeps. Sometimes, you know.

Funeral crashers. Vince Vaughn and Will. We cycle up to the widows. Oh my God. Your husband seems like a great man, but are you ready to step up? Speaking of your grandmother and your parents, we brought some gifts back for them.

Yeah. And one of them was that painting. Yes, the beautiful. It wasn't that erotic. It's not erotic. No, she's not. But it's a little. It always reminded me of Tiffany Amber Thiessen

from Saved by the Bell. That's who I see when I see that painting. Okay. Yeah, I see it. So is that still hanging in their house? It never hung in their house. It was under the bed and it's always been under the bed. I mean,

guys. There's two inches of dust on it. But they didn't throw it out. Because that would incur the curse. We should hang it up here. Oh, yes. Bring it in. I think it would have much more of a purpose in Conan's building. I agree.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. He should have to deal with the consequences. And I assume all those candied pomegranates we bought. Oh, God. They're still under the bed. Oh. I would think those would age better than the painting, the way they look. No, they were really exciting.

We opened that bottle of cognac that we brought and we drank it that day. I mean, yeah, everybody was. You brought that waiter back to set it on fire. Yeah, we flew in just to open that bottle. It was fun. I loved meeting your family and they were just as good on camera as you are because everyone's so natural. Yeah. It's like no one's thinking too much about the cameras being there or what, you know, what it's going to look like. Yeah.

What their good side is. Yeah. No, they're not those people. They were really nervous, though, about saying something stupid. Oh, really? Yeah. I mean, you know. They seem so, yeah, like Jesse's saying, so unflappable.

Go ahead. Yeah, but I think that they, I mean, they hit it well, or they just kind of like, once Conan started talking, they're like, okay, you know, he's mostly going to talk. Right, right. And we'll occasionally get to chime in. We'll nod. Yeah, yeah. But also that language teacher,

she also seemed really just sort of cool. Yeah, very natural. Conan took a language, the first segment was Conan, which he often does is like, I'm going to a new country. I need to be armed with some of the, I have to learn some language so I can survive. Yeah.

Oh, and those were, I mean, she had great, because she was teaching him some local phrases. Yeah. Like, I eat your liver. I die on your body. I die on your body. I die on your body.

Yeah. And then he was using those then we cut to him in the market in the show using trying out the phrases and people

I was like oh there's no way anyone's gonna know what these are and he was killing yeah he was yeah now he just like

he only remembers Bada Vin Spesek yeah yeah which is hello how are you and he says that to everybody he knows that in 15 languages right yes he says when he gets in an uber he says it automatically i'm from ireland whatever you're getting my armenian it's so true what does i'll eat your or i eat your liver i eat your liver uh you get it through that you get is like a you get is how

you say liver okay and it's a term of endearment like alone it's a term like you get it like you're my liver um but yeah that's how a lot of armenian words are like uh you know cucumber is and it's also something you call somebody who's an idiot. Like it's- A cucumber? A cucumber, yeah. Oh, that's great. There's just a lot of terms like that. Everything's market-based. Yeah, yeah. And they're very intense.

Like one of it is hookies. Like you're my soul, you know, but that's just really nice. Right. But do you get it? There's a lot of passionate- Yeah. Undertones. I like it.

Yes. And it's just like, I eat your gallbladder. Is that more formal or. And it's like, I eat your gallbladder. Is that more formal? Or is that a little like, let's, you know, break the ice. I eat your appendix is less formal. Very less formal.

Because you don't need it. And he vestigialized. I was just thinking, why has there not been an Armenian bachelor? Has there been? I feel like there should't they all yeah they are usually except that one who was yeah uh latino but there's been one black guy there was right i stopped watching after like after we talked about it when we were when we were herding sheep right i talked about the new season coming out with

with ben and then i actually met him last week oh you did yeah and i wanted to be like i talked about you when i was hurting sheep in armenia but i didn't say it no i didn't because that was amazing we drove out for i mean hours it felt into the countryside off road I mean in these SUVs hours on main roads and then we made a hard right turn on those

back roads. I really thought that was it for us. It was scary. That was insane. I remember it was just down like super steep incline. Yes. There were no switchbacks out there. It was like down, down, down, up, up, up.

Yeah. Where you thought, oh, this Jeep might tip backwards. And we couldn't really communicate. We just kept asking the driver, like, you know where we're going? And he was just kind of nodding. Uh-huh. Even the police escort was like, you, you guys are on your own. Yeah.

Good luck. But then we really got it. I mean, there were real shepherds out there wearing tracksuits. Yeah. Four or five miles

or six miles all of a sudden there they were. Yeah. Yeah. It was, it was so cool. It was beautiful.

Just seeing, you know, the mountain. Like I've seen so many illustrations of that growing up. And to actually see it in person felt surreal. But then when we're in the countryside, you could see it pretty clearly from where we were. I remember that. Yeah.

And then we put on those ridiculous outfits. And then we were just. That we had brought from LA, right? We brought from LA. We brought from LA. It wasn't like authentic. Yeah, they were just like polyester from Spirit Halloween. They were culturally correct.

Yes, no, they were. They were. Oh my God. But no, we of course brought them all the way from LA. Yeah, they were fit to you guys. Bring native garb from Burbank, California. Yeah. Yeah. No, but that was, it was, I mean, we herded

sheep. Like, that's just weird. It was weird. It was so fascinating though. I was like, I never thought I would ever do this in my life. No. I love that we were there for three days and we spent probably eight hours driving out to get a sheep herding segment.

You have to get the shot. You got to get the shot. You got to get it. But then we did get to go to that place. It was like a little distillery where they were making apple vodka. And then the women were making the lavash bread. The lavash was cool. That was cool.

That was cool. Because I've never seen it made. I eat it all the time. Yeah. But only women can make it. Yeah. Only women can make it. Only women can make it.

It's like an underground oven. You put it on what seems like a pillow and just smack it against the edge of the wall. Right. Wait till it cooks just for a little bit. That's basically like a pizza oven. It's that hot. Yeah. And then just take it out.

And only women can make lavash. Like it's traditionally only made. And is that true in the U.S. too? I mean, or what? There is a place in Glendale. Why is that rule? Yeah, there is a place in Glendale that does make fresh lavash.

And I think they've stayed true to it. I think it's only women who can really make it. Like you can't designate it kosher. You know, maybe there are lavash rules. I don't know, but it was so good. I wonder if there's a note on the packaging that lets you know only women have made it. Or if it's been sullied by a man's touch. Yeah. But I remember we ate, I was eating that lavash and then there was like feta cheese and some herbs and it was just delicious. It was so simple and it was so good. Well, it was all good.

I mean, it was probably cheese from the sheep. We were herding. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And they were very free range. Very free range. Yes. Free range. They had 800 miles to row.

Do you think you'll ever go back to Armenia? I will. I want to go with my kids. I was wondering. I want to take my boys there. Does Tak still have any family there? He does. He has some family that still lives out there.

A lot of them came out here, but he still has some family that lives out there. In Yerevan? In Yerevan. Oh, wow. So he still has family that lives there there. In Yerevan? In Yerevan. Oh, wow. Yeah, so he still has family that lives there. So we always talk about it. We also, you know, we went to Israel too, all of us together.

And there's an Armenian quarter in Jerusalem. And he's actually, we would love to make it like a trip where we go there, then go to the Armenian, like then go to Israel and, you know, just be very Armenian, like just hit every Armenian spot we could. Armenia it up. We just pop up everywhere. Like we went to Bethlehem, remember? And then there was an Armenian church right next to. Oh, wow.

Yeah. We're just wherever, anywhere that's even slightly religious. We're like, let's go and let's just stay there. I didn't know that. Open an outdoor mall. Don't forget the car washes. 30 a block. That's our Armenian guarantee.

That was the craziest thing about Jerusalem. I didn't know it was broken into four quarters. Yeah. And that one of the quarters was Armenian. That was the craziest thing about Jerusalem. I didn't know it was broken into four quarters. Yeah. And that one of the quarters was Armenian. It was the three biggest religions in the world. Right. And then Armenians.

Wow. And nobody questions it. It's just our little quarter. I know. I think that they're known for tile. The most war-torn, insane city in the world. Oh, yeah. And scoop out a quarter of it. That and Glendale.

All right, we're good. We just find a little spot and we take over. Exactly. And then that's it. It's good real estate. People are like, well, they're here. They've always been here. And so they then that's it. It's good real estate. People are like, well, they're here. They've always been here and so they just deal with it.

And are you going to teach the boys Armenian? We're speaking to them only in Armenian now. Oh my gosh. But again, we speak two different dialects and then when tax parents come,

they speak to them in Russian and then my parents speak to each other in Turkish in front of them. Oh my gosh. They're going to be like, they're never going to speak. I was going to say,

I would be like, I don't know what you want me to say. Yeah, I don't know what you want me to say. I'm going to use my hands a lot. They're just going to type emojis to you. I'm going to point to things I want in my mouth. Yeah, no, one of my boys already uses his hands a lot,

like Armenians. Like he was trying to lift something and his brother was standing on there and he went like this, like get up something and his brother was standing on there and he went like this like get up like why are you on there and it was such an Armenian thing to do

I love that and you know he just got it from seeing us be like just talk with our hands a lot and stuff that's great yeah

it's pretty great yeah so what I mean what's next for you do I ever have a plan? I love that you don't, though. No, I think it's very how things go.

You know, people used to ask when I started in TV, I was like, I need to do this. I need to do this. I need to do this. And then I just got to listen. I'm like, this is fine. Yeah. Working for Conan's fun. It's cool. I like it. I get paid. It's fine. So I think after that, I was just like, all right, I'll do that.

I'll go to sit on a panel for auto advertising in a podcast. Literally anything anyone asks me, I'm like, sure, I'll do that. I'll try that. Why not? And so, you know, whatever comes next, who knows? I'm remodeling my kitchen right now. All right. Okay.

You got a Pinterest? No. I love that you're balancing, like I'm remodeling the kitchen. And oh, I just was cast in the lead of a new independent movie. It's like, that would be plausible too. Sure, I guess I'll do that. Yeah, they offered me the lead, second lead. I'll be the ambassador to Armenia.

Oh, there's got to be a political future. Oh, yeah. I love that. No, who wants to go into politics? What an awful world. Isn't it? What's the difference between politics and Hollywood? Oh, man.

Oh, my. The Hollywood I'm in? Oh, what? No, I'm in a good Hollywood. Yeah. I mean, you know, everything here is chill. Right? We're not like, no one's like grabbing our ass and like being like

Yeah. I don't know. Unfortunately not. Yeah. What's it gonna take? I put it out there every day. Yeah. I don't know. What are you guys gonna talk? What's the next remote?

No, we're going to do a whole season on remotes and travel shows. That's very cool. And yeah. And get some people we haven't spoken to yet. Probably some we already have. Yeah. Um,

and I don't know, he's got to do more remotes so that we can keep, the tail can keep wagging the dog. Yeah. That's right. Yeah. Even though there's like 700 we could talk about. Yeah. Do you guys miss, you guys miss it? Traveling, editing remotes the dog. Yeah. That's right. Yeah. Even though there's like 700 we could talk about. Yeah, there are.

Do you guys miss it? Traveling? Yeah. Editing remotes and stuff? Yeah. Yes. I mean. That was most of my travel.

Yeah. That's right. It really was. It would be intense and surreal. Like we'd be in Greenland for two days. Yeah. And then be right back here. And then in the editing bay for four days. Yeah. And then be right back here. And then an editing day for four days.

Yeah. And then edit right away. And you're like, were we among all those icebergs? I guess so. There's photos of it, but we were literally there, like the icebergs in Greenland.

It was on our way out. So we were in the capital and we had to fly an hour north to go to the icebergs. And they were like, you have an hour. You're going to miss your flight. Yeah. Or we'd miss our flight.

You have an hour out there and you have to get everything in an hour and get back in Hightail to the airport. And they were melting as we were out there. That's right. Oh, no. I don't know if you know about climate change. Oh. But yeah.

I don't believe in it. So that, it wasn't for the footage. I'd be like, oh know about climate change. Oh. But yeah, so. I don't believe in it. So that, it wasn't for the footage. I'd be like, oh, we were never. Yeah. Do you ever get frustrated that you can't see more when you guys are there because you're working so much? Yes, we're working. Yeah. I'm always just making a note.

That always frustrated me. Yeah, is that how you felt? Because I usually just keep a running list of notes of like, well, when I come back, I'll do all this better. Right, right. Yeah. Did you ever get to go back? Yeah. Yeah.

I went back to Tokyo and I went back to Mexico city and love both of those cities so much. You went back to Cuba. Oh yeah. That's right. I went back to Cuba. I went back to Mexico city and I went to Berlin cause my wife was working there and I got just a few months after we were in Berlin.

And that was one of my favorite things ever because she was working and I got to just be like, I'm going to go look at the Berlin Wall and not have to worry about what the shot looks like. Yeah. So that was great. It really is hard sometimes to travel because you are, like I was in Armenia,

but we would spend hours in a specific location. So you're not really like out there looking at everything, but you're looking at it in a different way. Yeah. Which is also better and worse in ways because you're getting access you would never get in a lot of cases. Like, oh, I would never get to go behind the scenes of this thing if I was just visiting here on my own. Right. But you also don't get a chance to explore at all. You can never wander off.

Or sometimes we would wander off. Like, I would notice you or I, Sweeney, would take, we'd be like, okay, I'll make eyes with you. You're going to take five minutes and go back through that market real fast or I'm going to do that. Right. But you'd have so little time. Yeah, there was no time going to do that. Right. But you'd have so little time. Yeah. There was no time. Well, that's exciting. I love that you've been to places with Conan that now you want to bring your kids back

to Jerusalem and Armenia. That's great. Oh, yeah, for sure. And there's probably others we didn't even get to talk about. No, no. I was in Japan the same time you guys were there for my honeymoon. For your honeymoon. Oh, right.

Yeah. So I had a very different- Did we bother you? No, we were never in the same city. Well, thank you. Yeah, so I had a very different... Did we bother you? No, we were never in the same city. Well, thank you. Yeah, thank you, Sona. So good to see you. I will come back anytime.

Oh, please do. I love you too very much. We love you. We love you unconditionally. Thank you, Sona. Thank you, Sona. I love Sona. Yes, it's a great way to come back

to start a new season. It was a great way to ease back into the season. It was, because she's... She's a good guest. Yeah, she's great. Yeah come back to start a new season. It was a great way to ease back into the season. It was, because she's... She's a good guest. Yeah, she's great. Yeah. And we have a listener. It's not exactly a question.

We usually read listener questions on the show. Yes. This one is, I think, more of a listener complaint. Oh, better still. Let's just start doing listener complaints. I'm here for it. Exactly. I know. Don't open those floodgates.'m here for it. Exactly. I know.

Don't open those floodgates. I take it back. Okay. It says, Jesse and Mike, take this all in fun. Oh boy. A summer hiatus?

Question mark. Hey, this is podcasting, not a cushy late night show that has long summer breaks. Conan and Andy Richter still drop their pods every week. No summer hiatus for those folks.

Or maybe you have other jobs as the next Conan show is in limbo. Of course you do. That Conan squeezed you for all your funny, but now you need to go out and create crazy for other shows. Seriously, I work in Saudi Arabia and your podcast and the Conan and Andy Richter podcast actually make my weeks a little more enjoyable. Cannot wait for your fall startup. I hope you have not run out of Inside Conan guests. Love the pod. Need more. Wow. Craig. Okay. That's a nice... It was actually a nice email. That's not a complaint. I wish I got more complaints like that. Compliment wrapped in a complaint. Yeah. If other people want to complain like that, please have at it. But it's true. We did take off some time. We took off a long break, but you and I both took other jobs. We did.

And now we're back. And we have not run out of guests. Yes. Much to the contrary. But we've refused to do other podcasts while we've been gone. That's right. We've been loyal to this podcast. I have especially because no one's asked me to do a podcast. Yes, that helps. That really helps. But we

hope that we will be back in your ears every week now, Craig. Yeah. And I think you're really going to like this season as we keep exploring Conan on the Road. Yes.

And hey, if you want to send us a complaint or a compliment or a question, you can always email us insideconanpod at gmail.com or you can leave us a voicemail 323-209-1079. And I think we're going to wrap this up by just saying specifically to Craig and nobody else, we love you.

Yes, Craigie. Inside Conan, an important Hollywood podcast, is hosted by Mike Sweeney and me, Jesse Gaskell You can rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts And of course, please subscribe and tell a friend to listen to Inside Conan on Apple Podcasts Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts or whatever platform you like best

It's the Conan Show Put on your hat, it's the Conan Show Put on your hat It's the Conan Show Try on some spats You're gonna have a laugh Give birth to a calf It's Conan This has been a Team Coco production