Menu
Sign In Search Podcasts Charts People & Topics Add Podcast API Blog Pricing
Podcast Image

Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend

Ken Burns

23 Mar 2026

Transcription

Chapter 1: What does Ken Burns feel hopeful about in his friendship with Conan O'Brien?

3.457 - 23.124 Conan O'Brien

Hi, my name is Ken Burns, and I feel hopeful about being Conan O'Brien's friend. Well, Ken, you shouldn't be, because this is the takedown of Ken Burns. Right. You have coasted way too long. 50 years of coasting. Just, oh, everybody loves their Ken Burns. That's why all the henchmen are here.

0

23.405 - 25.708 Unknown

Yeah, get him, boss. Get him, boss.

0

26.008 - 28.111 Conan O'Brien

I have with me two people who don't read.

0
0

30.187 - 31.689 Conan O'Brien

I'm pretty sure they don't write.

31.989 - 33.491 Sona Ovsessian

We read magazines.

33.892 - 35.374 Conan O'Brien

Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot about Us Magazine.

Chapter 2: How does Ken Burns view the historical myth of 'us vs. them'?

35.414 - 38.257 Conan O'Brien

That does count as my 1990s is showing.

0

42.022 - 64.887 Unknown

Fall is here. Hear the yell. Back to school. Ring the bell. Brand new shoes. Walking blues. Climb the fence. Books and pens. I can tell that we are gonna be friends. Hey there, welcome to Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend, joined by Sonam Obsession.

0

65.067 - 72.18 Conan O'Brien

Hi. Matt Gourley is out. He is on paternity leave, and we wish him and his lovely family the best. God, I'm smooth.

0

Chapter 3: What insights does Ken Burns share about his docuseries 'The American Revolution'?

72.641 - 75.366 Conan O'Brien

And then David Hopping joining us.

0

75.446 - 76.048 Unknown

How are you, David?

0

76.068 - 81.618 Conan O'Brien

I'm good. How are you? Sona, you said that you heard from your father. Yes. Gil.

0

82.058 - 82.399 Sona Ovsessian

Gil.

0

82.94 - 83.641 Conan O'Brien

Was this yesterday?

83.701 - 85.144 Sona Ovsessian

This was last night. Yeah.

85.324 - 88.47 Conan O'Brien

Last night he called you and he was unhappy. What happened?

88.49 - 90.554 Sona Ovsessian

He texted me. He was angry.

Chapter 4: How did Ken Burns' series 'The Civil War' influence American culture?

90.594 - 105.016 Sona Ovsessian

He saw a clip online and he got angry about something I said. And, you know, my parents are, you know, they're traditional people. Yeah. And I am. I got a mouth. And why are you laughing so hard?

0

105.056 - 108.782 Conan O'Brien

No, but you know what, Sona? You're a modern woman of the world.

0

108.862 - 109.463 Sona Ovsessian

Thank you.

0

109.583 - 117.275 Conan O'Brien

You've been here. You've been there. You've been to Porter Square. You've been you've seen it all. Some say you've done it all. And your father.

0

Chapter 5: What personal anecdotes does Sona share about her father's reaction to her podcast?

117.315 - 120.681 Conan O'Brien

Yeah. Was born in a very small village.

0

120.741 - 121.382 Sona Ovsessian

Yes, he was.

0

121.522 - 122.243 Conan O'Brien

Where was this?

0

122.223 - 143.582 Sona Ovsessian

This was in Turkey, what used to be Armenia. Thank you very much. But yeah, he was born in Turkey and he was in a small village, immigrated here. They're traditional people, my parents. And I say a lot of things on this podcast that are not traditional things. And so yesterday he texted me and he's like, I can't believe you talk like that on the podcast.

0

144.123 - 159.198 Sona Ovsessian

And he said, you're a mother, you have kids. He went on for it. And I was like, oh my God, my dad's actually upset. couldn't think of which clip he would have been upset about. I say jizz so many times on this podcast.

Chapter 6: How does Ken Burns relate historical events to contemporary issues?

159.218 - 169.831 Sona Ovsessian

You say everything. I talk about dicks. I talk about vaginas. I talk about like heated rivalry all the time. I couldn't, I was like telling tech, I was like, did I, is there one thing that was egregious?

0

169.851 - 180.163 Conan O'Brien

It's like saying to Santa Claus, thanks for the gift. And Santa's like, what? You know what I mean? And then he's got to think about the 55 billion gifts he's given out.

0
0

181.167 - 186.896 Conan O'Brien

Right. But you are. Yeah. You're the Santa Claus of filth. You're just constantly it's butts.

0

Chapter 7: What lessons does Ken Burns believe history teaches us about current times?

186.996 - 194.887 Conan O'Brien

It's buns. You know, you you love it. And so what did you say? Did you defend yourself to your dad?

0

194.907 - 218.455 Sona Ovsessian

No, I was just like, I really needed to figure out which thing upset him. So I said, which clip? And then he said me. I appeared on my friend Rick's podcast. I know. Oh, Rick, yeah. Rick Glassman. And I was on his podcast and we released a clip, not even from this one. So I'm like, clearly he never watches this podcast because otherwise he'd be really pissed. Yeah. It was that podcast.

0

Chapter 8: What closing thoughts does Ken Burns leave about American optimism and history?

218.475 - 220.056 Conan O'Brien

And what were you talking about?

0

220.376 - 225.781 Sona Ovsessian

I said the word fuck like twice. Okay, wait a minute. And my dad was upset about it.

0

226.001 - 228.343 Conan O'Brien

So he can't ever listen to this podcast.

0

228.363 - 228.864 Sona Ovsessian

Never.

0

229.124 - 235.229 Conan O'Brien

Because I saw some of you with Rick and it was very tame compared to what you do every day here.

235.329 - 235.93 Sona Ovsessian

Yes.

235.91 - 242.417 Conan O'Brien

Now, let me paint a picture for the people listening. Your father is very distinguished, very handsome.

242.618 - 242.818 Sona Ovsessian

Yes.

243.198 - 244.059 Conan O'Brien

An older gentleman.

Comments

There are no comments yet.

Please log in to write the first comment.